Got a Dongle for That? Connecting People Like Jesus Did

A co-worker called me recently looking for a rare computer cord with special ends. In the tech world, we call them "dongles." I didn't have exactly what he needed but I had two separate dongles that together created what he needed. 

I have drawers full of cords, connectors, dongles and the like at work. I have a full tote of cables, wires, CAT5, telephone cables, and HDMI cables at home in my basement. I love to pick them up at garage sales for a fraction of their cost new. At one point, I was getting a new dongle every week from Amazon. My wife said jokingly that I was a member of the "dongle of the week" club. 

Drawer of dongles

Why have so many cords and connectors? Well, in working with technology at church and enjoying it as a hobby at home, you never know when you're going to need one. Like my co-worker needing one recently. I'm glad I had what he needed. It allowed him to connect two pieces of electronic equipment. 

In our walk as Christians, we find ourselves "connecting" with other people. Some people are like a simple solitary speaker wire. They live simple, quiet, introverted lives. They keep to themselves and rarely socialize. Other people are like high-speed fiber optic conduits. You know when they walk into a room. They are a walking wikipedia of information, current events, and trivia. They're extroverted and enjoy meeting new people and name-dropping. 

Can you connect with both the introvert and the extrovert in your community? Can you relate to both the "Sons of Thunder" at the High School sporting event and the peaceful "Timothy" next door? Are you able to converse with John and Peter? It's not always easy. 

Christians who want to influence the world around them are wise to use "spiritual dongles" to interface with their neighbor. Ideas include shared hobbies such as hunting, fishing, or boating. Family can open the door to communication. Asking about their spouse, children, and grandchildren will go a long way in conversation. Questions about someone's background can lead to shared places, people, or events. Find out where they are from, when they moved to the area, and who they are related to. Additionally, current events can connect you to your neighbor. Talk about local, state-wide, and national current events to find shared interests and common viewpoints. 

Connecting with Others

Jesus involved himself in carpentry, fishing, and traveling on boats thus making "bridges" to those with similar livelihoods and hobbies. He asked the woman at the well about her husband, which opened quite a candid conversation. Conversation surrounded Jesus' hometown of Nazareth when Philip told his brother, Nathanael, about Jesus. Events and holidays such as the Festival of Tabernacles, the Sabbath, and Passover all play a part in Jesus' life connecting with other people. 

Just as those cords and dongles in our drawers help bridge connections between devices that otherwise couldn’t communicate, so too can we be the connectors God uses to bring people closer to Him—and to one another. Each of us has unique “ends” that fit certain people and situations. Some days, we might be the missing piece that helps someone make sense of life or faith. Other days, someone else may complete the connection for us. When we’re willing to meet people where they are—whether quiet or loud, near or far, similar or strange—God can use those everyday “connections” to share His love and truth in powerful ways. After all, even the most advanced system can’t function without a good connection.

The Wind Blows

 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going."

My wife and I were recently on vacation in Estes Park, Colorado. We had a beautiful cabin located within the YMCA of the Rockies at the mouth of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Each morning I saw outside on the porch with an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains. Most mornings were still with practically not a sound except for an occasional Steller's Jay or an Albert's Squirrel moving around. However, one morning, the wind was blowing. Now, I've heard the wind blow in Northern Lower Michigan all my life. It just kind of sweeps over the trees like a blanket. And this was different. 

Cabin at YMCA of the Rockies

The wind I heard in the Rocky Mountains was unlike any wind I had ever heard. It was like an entity moving from one place to another. It flowed up the mountainside and down into the valley. It zipped from one treetop to another. It would suddenly appear, although I could not see it, accompanied by a loud rushing sound and then quickly fade away like a shadow. And there were more than just one "winds." There were winds swirling all around - moving like invisible imps over the rocky landscape.  

Suddenly a Bible verse jumped out to me in my mind...Jesus said in John 3:8, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going." What was Jesus teaching about here? What was He comparing the wind with?

To find the answer, we have to back up to the beginning of the chapter. Jesus was teaching the Pharisee Nicodemus about the second birth. "You must be born again," Jesus said. "Born again of the water and the Spirit." The allusion was to Christian baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Nicodemus must have been scratching his head because he asked, "How can a man be born again when they are old?" Jesus repeated his statement saying that one cannot see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again. More head scratching and Jesus relieved Nicodemus' confusion by quoting the above verse about the wind. Then He went on to say, "So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 

View of Rocky Mountains in Colorado 

Just like the winds in the Rocky Mountains swept randomly and invisibly throughout the environment - God's Holy Spirit moves and works in our lives supernaturally, out of sight, and inconspicuously. Just read through the Bible, and you will see how the Holy Spirit worked in people's lives. Sometimes the Holy Spirit worked "loudly" like when Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead in Acts 5; and sometimes "quietly" when the Spirit would not allow Paul and his companions to enter Bithynia in Acts 16:7. 

The Holy Spirit can work in your life too. Scripture teaches that God's Spirit is a gift we receive when we are immersed in water baptism (Acts 2:38; Acts 19:1-6). Just like the wind, God's Holy Spirit is powerful, invisible, and you can't pin it down. Like the mountain winds that stir the still air, God’s Spirit moves through our lives—often unseen, but always transforming everything it touches.

12:26 - Sharing Scripture with a Stranger

My wife and I recently traveled downstate to visit our son and daughter-in-law at their new apartment in Novi. One of the things we did while there was take them out for brunch to a wonderful restaurant called First Watch. As our friendly waitress was bringing our drinks, I couldn't help but notice she had the date 12:26 tattooed on her throat. I was curious about it so when she moved on to another table, I Googled "12:26." The first answer that came up was a reference something called an "angel number" which was 1226. It explained that this number "suggesting a period of balance and harmony between spiritual and material pursuits." Huh?! I shared this info with the table and everyone thought, "Yeah, probably her angel number." But I wasn't convinced. My curiosity was piqued more. 

One reason I wasn't convinced was because our waitress' number had a colon. The colon separated the 12 from the 26. That indicates a date. December 26. I asked my family, "would you be embarrassed if I asked her what her tattoo means?" With their approval, I knew I had to ask.

Our waitress came back with our appetizer of 12 delightful pumpkin spice balls with cream cheese and chocolate dip. After setting them on the table, she asked if we needed anything. I quickly said, "No, but I have a question." "I'm sure you get this question all the time, but what does your tattoo mean?" She smiled, stood up straighter and said, "It's my birthday!" "Oh, nice," I said. Then she followed up with, "And it's also a Bible verse in Proverbs." "Oh, what does that verse say?" I asked. To which she responded that it's similar to the verse about iron sharpening iron and that it refers to a righteous person being a guide to their neighbor. Or on the flip-side a wicked person will lead them astray. She smiled again and then returned to her duties.

I was inspired and my heart was lifted when I heard her testimony. Right there in the middle of a busy restaurant, in a city unknown to me, she was sharing scripture with a stranger. How refreshing how powerful. 

"One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray." Proverbs 12:26

Try ChatGPT for Bible Study

Are you using AI in your Christian life yet? AI or Artificial Intelligence is all the rage right now. And every day, people are finding new usages for it. Companies have capitalized on AI for launching business start-ups. Marketing professionals are using AI to gain competitive advantages. Content creators on social media are using AI to write copy, generate images, produce videos, and so much more.

ChatGPT

Probably the first AI open to the public was ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a chatbot. Meaning it has an interface whereby you can talk to it and tell it what you want by way of "prompts." Basically you write a prompt using 3 key phrases. Tell the chatbot the ROLE it will play. "Act as a ________" You could say, CEO, Marketer, Copywriter, or whatever. Then tell it what to CREATE. This is the task you would like it to perform. "Create a ______" You could say, recipe, article, summary, or whatever. Finally, tell it how to output the results by saying, "Show as ________" You could say, list, pdf, spreadsheet, or whatever. 

Here are some example prompts we could use with ChatGPT.

• ACT as a teacher to CREATE an outline of the book of Luke and SHOW as a pdf. 
• ACT as a student to CREATE an essay on using AI for Bible Study. SHOW as plain text.
• ACT as a pastor to CREATE a sermon on Zacchaeus. SHOW as Presentation Slides.

Of course, you can just use plain language to talk to ChatGPT. Try some variations of the following:

• Explain the parable of the sower to me like a 3rd grader.
• How can I better love my uncle who won't forgive me?
• Why do scientists say the earth is billions of years old while Christians claim it is only thousands?

What to see the results of my ChatGPT queries?! Click here to read the responses. But better yet, try it yourself. There is a free account available. Visit http://www.chatgpt.com

Treasures in Heaven

Matthew 6:19-24

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heat will be also."

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if you eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

"No man can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Have you ever been the victim of theft? Have you ever had someone break into your house? Or your locker? Or maybe pick-pocketed you? It leaves you with a terrible feeling of being violated. You feel helpless and alone. Have you ever lost something because it was left out in the rain? Or because it got moldy? Or because animals tore it up? Again, it's an unpleasant feeling and makes you angry because the item is gone. 

Jesus talks about treasures or valuables in Matthew. He says, don't store up treasures here on earth where they can be taken away or rot. We store up earthly treasures when we spend all our money on what this world has to offer - pleasure, power, and prestige - while at the same time neglecting investing in what has eternal value.  It is also true that we will dump all our money and time into what we love most. If we desire to make heaven and eternity a priority in our lives, we will do well to invest our resources into it now. 

Jesus goes on to compare our eyes to a lamp. We don't use lamps too often today, so think of it as turning on your lights at night in a dark room. Flip the switch and the area is flooded with illumination. Everything becomes visible, clear, and colorful. The contrast is leaving the lights off and stumbling around in the darkness, stepping on things, and not finding our way. 

What we look at with our eyes greatly influences our thoughts, feelings, moods, and choices. A glance, a look, a peek, becomes so powerful when we realize the implications of those sights. They seem insignificant, but possess great influence. It is such a small action, but it leads our lives into a joyous, uplifting light or down into a great, depressing darkness. It can't be underestimated. 

Finally, Jesus sums his thoughts up with saying you have two choices: Serve God or serve money. They are mutually exclusive. They can't both exist at the same time. If you chose to serve God, your possessions, including your money is all Gods. You are a steward of them, working for Him. You live your life listening to God, reading His Bible, and doing what He leads you to do. 

Pondering the Future

Have you ever wondered how the world will end? Will it end with a BANG or a whimper? Will we go up in flames in a world war or will a deadly virus slowly take us out one by one? Or perhaps you won't be around when the world ends. Perhaps you will pass before it happens. Or Jesus may return before the world ends and takes us to be with Him. Don't know. I don't think anyone knows. 

The reason I'm thinking about the end times is because this past week several people in my circle have passed away. Their time on this earth was up and God called them home. While it is very sad to say "Good-bye" there is comfort in knowing their faith in Jesus was strong and their destination was sure. Their lives produced the fruit talked about in the Bible. Their lives were not lived in vain. Here is what we know about this world and passing on to the next.

This World is Not Our Home

Ocean Trash

1 Peter 2:11 in the Message Bible says, "Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it." God created a beautiful earth, but it is temporary and not our eternal dwelling place. 

We read in 1 John 2:17 about this world and its desires passing away. The verse is primarily talking about worldly desires such as lust, greed, and pride, but the overall point is that these fleshly desires will one day end along with the world we live in today. 

We are Tourists Here 

When was your last vacation? Where did you go? How long did you stay? Probably a week, maybe two. You didn't stay long (even though maybe you wanted to) because that wasn't your home. You were a tourist on vacation just visiting the area. 

This is the same concept the Bible mentions about our time on this earth. 1 Peter 1:17 says to, "live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." Our Biblical ancestors admitted they were foreigners and strangers on earth (Hebrews 11:13) in living by faith. 

Our Eternal Home Awaits

Cemetary

So if this world is not our home, and we are just passing through like a wide-eyed "fudgies" in Traverse City, where are we going to "hang our hats" eternally? I'm glad you asked. There is debate whether we will live, in heaven, or on a new earth, or some combination of the two concepts. What we do know for sure is that wherever it is, God will be there. Spoiler alert! The last chapter of the book says, "God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them." (Revelation 21:3)

Jesus went to prepare a place for us according to John 14:1-4. It's his Father's house. He says there are many rooms there. I'm not thinking small hotel rooms, but billionaire lake-side suites! 

In conclusion, we can take heart when a loved one passes away in the Lord. They have moved on to a better place. An eternal home prepared for them for 1000's of years where God lives with them. You can read more about this place here: 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Revelation 20:11-15

Resurrection and the Life

This weekend we celebrate the most important holiday in history of Christiandom. Easter. Or as some prefer to call it, Resurrection Sunday. This is the day we recognize that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, rose from the borrowed tomb, conquering death, thwarting Satan's plan, and ushering in a New Covenant and way to come to God. 

Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." Even more directly, He said in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life: He that belieth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." (KJV) This statement was at the same time a prophecy to his rising from the dead and a claim to be the means or the way of salvation. 

First, let's look at Jesus' words as prophecy. In the beginning, approximately 6000 years ago, according to to most Christians, Genesis records the story of Adam and Eve falling into sin. The serpent or Satan, deceived the couple into disobeying God's command. We read these prophetic words in Genesis 3:15, "he (the woman's offspring) will crush your head (Satan), and you will strike his heel." Christian scholars interpret the woman's offspring to be Jesus. The "heel strike" is commorated on Good Friday as Satan attemps to crucify and eradicate Jesus once and for all. The "head crushing" is celebrated Easter Sunday as we witness "death could not hold Him" (Acts 2:24) and he rises from the grave victoriously over sin and death. 

Several other Biblical passages point prophetically to Jesus' resurrection. David writes in Psalm 16:10, "because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay." Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 both predict in detail this historic event. Even Jesus himself spoke specifically about his death and resurrection when He said, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." 

Second, let's look at Jesus' claim to be "the life." Jesus is quoted as saying again and again in the Gospels that belief in Him is necessity to have eternal life. Belief in his claims to deity, kingship, and Messiahship. After His resurrection, we read in the books of Acts that the Apostles taught not only believing in Jesus, but also repentance of sins and baptism by immersion for forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Peter proclaims on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit." Our baptism is now vitally significant in that we become one with Jesus through a symbolic death and resurrection akin to His own. Romans 6:4 summarizes it like this, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life," 

Easter Sunday represents Jesus' victory of death, sin, and Satan. None of these have any power over Him any longer. This victory is won once and for all time! That is reason to celebrate! If you have made Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of your life, your future is certain and secure. If you haven't, why wait?  Maybe your own decision about Jesus will happen this week?!