Tom's Good News

Renovation

I am not sure if it is the builder in me, but I enjoy the remodeling shows on HGTV. My favorites involve the “Property Brothers” (Drew & Jonathan Scott), but I also like “Fixer Upper” with Chip & Joanna, “Flip or Flop” with Tarek & Christina, and “Love It or List it” with Hilary & David. They fascinate me with how they fix up and renovate homes, but the costs seem excessive.

Christy and I have renewed and repaired several homes, and the price was always an issue. The process began with a dream of how we could improve the house, then we explored options for the process, and last, we did the work itself. Most of the time we were still living in the homes as we renovated, but one remodeling was so severe we had to move out. Each home was enhanced by our efforts.

As I thought about those shows and our experience, God whispered in my ear about a different kind of renovation. God reminded me of this passage: “I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEB) God has a dream for remodeling our lives, and the cost has been paid in full.

Easter was a celebration of the power and possibility of newness of life. Now is the time to begin this process of renovation. Chip in “Fixer Upper” would call the beginning of this process “Demo Day”, and he loved it. I don’t think we appreciate this stage as much as he did.

We begin by removing what stands in the way of what we are building into our lives. We remove the brokenness, the harmful attitudes, and the clutter in our minds and hearts. We then make certain our foundation is secure by placing it on a deep and lasting relationship with Christ. And then we remodel by shaping our life to be more like Christ.

Renovation is a life giving and life long process, that we never give up on. We must be patient with ourselves and others on this path. Joel Hemphill wrote a song that expresses it well: “He's still working on me, to make me what I need to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, because He's still working on me.”

God is still working on us. I will see you in church. Remember, God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I love you too!

Tom

Lighthouses

Last month Christy and I had a wonderful vacation in Newport, Rhode Island. Christy loves lighthouses, so we went to see many along the coast in Newport and Cape Cod. The one pictured was one of our favorites, Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport. Christy is standing next to it on the left.

Castle Hill Lighthouse was built to guide vessels, especially in thick and foggy weather, into Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. To get to this lighthouse we had to walk through the woods on a trail covered with mud, snow, and ice. The walk was peaceful, but when we reached our goal we encountered a fierce icy cold wind.

I imagine seeing the light shining in the darkness and fog as a welcome sight. Across the bay, Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown, was the other guide. Together they kept ships on a safe passage.

As we celebrate Easter, it is important we remember Jesus as our lighthouse. He shines through the fog and darkness of this world, and nothing, not even death could stop him or put his light out. He points the way to a safe passage in our relationships with God and one another.

We have a choice to look for the light, and use the light as our guide. If we choose to ignore the light it is at our own peril. We are apt to crash into the rocks and sink into the depths of despair.

The message of Easter is that God’s light of love will always prevail. Even in the roughest storms, we can see the light and heed its message. We can depend on God.

A bigger question is can God depend on us. Jesus also invited us to be lighthouses of God’s love to the world. We are called to shine our light for the world to see and be drawn to safe harbor.

Easter is a good time to re-evaluate our attention to God’s light of love in Christ, and to reaffirm our commitment to being a light for others. As for me and my household, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!”

Let it shine, and I will see you in church. Remember, God loves us more than we can ever imagine, and I love you too!

Tom