Degrees

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Mike Benson

apolloNORMALLY, WITH NO phone or e-mail interruptions, I look forward to redeeming the time on a plane by writing, reading, or doing correspondence…
But after the battery on my computer ran out, and sitting next to someone for what seemed like forever, I finally struck up a conversation with my next-door neighbor. He was an engineer from the Houston area.
“Petroleum engineer?” I asked.
“No, I work for NASA,” he admitted.
And of course, for the next hour I’m sure that’s something he wished he hadn’t confessed. Like most people my age who grew up watching the build-up of manned space flight to Neil Armstrong leaving his footprints on the moon, I was an astronaut “wannabe” as a kid.
Here at last was my chance to talk to a genuine missle scientist and ask all my questions about space flight! He was patient and shared some incredible behind-the-scenes stories, including his role in the last Apollo space flight. But at one point I hit a nerve when I brought up what I thought was a simple “margin of error” question.
“What are the tolerances you build into the tragectory when you blast off and head to the moon?” I asked him. “For example, after you blast off, could you be just a little off, say like a couple of degrees off on your flight path, without it being such a huge problem?”
Out came his briefcase and his hybrid handheld calculator that would make a Texas Instruments T3000 blush and feel like a slide rule. In wnet the “very approximate” distance of 217,614 miles from earth to the moon (depending on the time of year and apoge of the moon’s orbit around the earth, of course). Fingers flew furiously for a few moments as some Einsteinian calculation continued.
“Be just two degrees off from when you blast off, and roughly talking into account the time and distance traveled,” he said as he turned his calculator toward me, “and you’ll miss not only your point of orbital entry, but you’ll miss the moon by a measly 11,121 miles.”
I wrote down that number on a torn off page of a USA Today that served as an impromptu notepad. “11,121.” I finally left my new NASA friend in peace, but I’ve never forgotten his conclusion or what it can tell us about the most important relationships and areas of our lives.
Add in enough time and distance, and be just two degrees off and you’ll miss your target by miles. I think that thought impacted me so much because it seemed to answer why and how the church of Ephesus had lost her first love. Just be two degrees off from a right heart attitude, add in enough time and distance, and an entire church can end up miles from God’s heart. John Trent, “How a 2 Degree Change Can Ruin or Renew Your Life,” HeartShift, 16-17
KneEmail: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent.” Revelation 2.4-5
Bible reading for 06.13.11: John 21; Ezra 6-8
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Choke

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Mike Benson

WHEN I WAS 16, I was an accomplished junior golfer…
I had played in many tournaments throughout my home state as well as in the United States Junior Amateur. My goal in life was to play professional golf.
At one point, I participated in a state-level tournament and was favored to win. However, although I played well early on, I choked in the last round and ended up well behind the leaders. I was devasted.
I came home and broke down in from of my mother. She consoled me, which is what mothers do. I realize now that I didn’t really need a mother’s tender consolation. I needed a hard-nosed coach to yank me out of my trough of self-pity and say, “Every competitor goes through failure! Learn a lesson from it and keep going!”
Because I didin’t have that kind of coaching, I didn’t know that getting nervous and tense during a competition was a common affliction in competitive sports. I didin’t know that I could overcome it. Instead, that one failure made me see myself as a failure–someone who couldn’t handle the heat of competition.
I played in other tournaments and often jumped out to an early lead, only to tighten up and fall back in the pack as the pressure mounted. My self-esteen was based on my performance–and I was performing terribly! I went on to land a scholarship and become a club professional for three years, but I never fulfilled my potential as a golfer.
Years later, I learned to loosen up, have fun and let go of the tension–and I won a local club championship. If I had learned that lesson earlier in life, who knows how far I might have gone as a golfer.
THOUGHT: Failure hurts. Whether you fail in marriage, business or golf, failure undermines your self-esteem as few other experiences can. But failure isn’t the final word on your life. It’s just one of the raw ingredients God uses to manufacture success. Os Hillman, “Confronting the Fear of Failure,” The Upside of Adversity, 194-195
KneEmail: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3.13-14
Bible reading for 04.25.11: Luke 18.24-43; 2 Samuel 21, 22
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Support

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Mike Benson

THE SEQUOIA TREES of California, known as Redwoods, are spectacular – towering as much as 300 feet above the ground…
Strangely, these towering trees have unusually shallow root systems that spread out just under the surface of the ground to catch as much of the surface moisture they can. And this is their vulnerability. Storms with heavy winds would almost always bring these giants crashing to the ground but this rarely happens because they grow in clusters and their intertwining roots provide support for one another against the storms.
When we are together, either as a family or a church, we provide this same support. Pain and suffering come to all of us. But, just like those giant Sequoia trees, we can be supported in those difficult times by the touch of one another’s lives. The knowledge that we have someone; that we are not alone; that there is someone who is willing to touch us, hold us – keeps us from being destroyed.
The apostle Paul said that we are “many members, yet one body” (1 Cor. 12:20), and he goes on in that context to tell us that every member is vital to the whole (1 Cor. 12:22-27). As the body of Christ are built up by one another. “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16). To stand alone will bring destruction – we need one another. Tell your brethren this week how much you need them and appreciate them. And be the support for your brethren that they need. Tom Moore, Hamilton, Texas
KneEmail: “That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” 1 Corinthians 12.25
Bible reading for 04.20.11: Luke 15.11-32; 2 Samuel 9-11
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Through

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Mike Benson

THE KEY WORD is through…
God promises you will get through the waters of grief, the river of sorrow, the furnace of pain. Somehow you will get through. What you experience today will not last forever.
One encouragement here is God knows who you are. He is your Creator, and he calls you by name (Isaiah 43.1). You are His, and He will take care of His own. In time of sorrow you feel unimportant and unknown. God knows you, and you are important to him.
God also knows where you are. He knows when you’re fighting the current of the river of sorrow, when you’re walking through the firey furnace of suffering. Others may not know what you’re experiencing. One the outside you may have everyone believing you’re fine. But inside you’re about to drown. God knows — and He is there for you.
When Daniel’s three friends were thrown into the furance, the king watched (Daniel 3.22-26). And what he saw amazed him: the men were not harmed, and a fourth person was with them in the furnace.
God knows how you feel: alone, afraid, uncertain about the future, isolated, maybe rejected. God made you with your emotions, and he knows how they can overwhelm and control you. God will never condemn you for the way you feel. Tell him how it feels — He will listen.
God knows what you need. You need someone to share the pain, to walk through this long valley with you. He promises His presence. He also promises His love. God gave you His Son to conquer death and give hope.
Live on promises, not on explanations. Even if God explained by your loved one died, the answer wouldn’t end the heartbreak or quench the questions. Instead of explanations, God gives promises, which keep you moving ahead, giving hope and new strength.
You’ll get through your grief. It won’t end today or next month. But there is an end. Just face today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Don’t burn today’s energies on tomorrow’s problems that aren’t here yet.
You’re going to make it through. David W. Wiersbe, “Going Through,” Gone But Not Lost, 77-78
KneEmail: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43.2
Bible reading for 03.03.11: Mark 8.22-38; Numbers 28 – 30
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Encourage 3

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Mike Benson

I READ OF a TV program aired on PBS on the most staid of subjects–a library…
This, however, was the Library of Congress, and the PBS’s former chairman, Sir Hue Weldon, was standing in a forest of card index files. The program had all of makings of a slow-moving, dull documentary until…about halfway through, Dr. Daniel Boorstin, the Librarian of Congress, bought out a little blue box from a small closet that once held the library’s rarities. The label on the box read, “Contents of the President’s Pockets on the Night of April 14, 1865.” Since that was the fateful night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, every viewer’s attention was seized. Boorstin then proceeded to remove the items in the small container and display them on camera. There were five things in the box: a handkerchief, embroidered “A. Lincoln”, a country boy’s pen knife, a spectacles case repaired with string, a purse containing a $5 Confederate bill, and some old worn newspaper clippings. “The clippings,” said Boorstin, “were concerned with the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln. And one of them actually reports a speech by John Bright which says that Abraham Lincoln is “one of the greatest men of all times.” Today, that’s common knowledge.
The world now knows that British statesman John Bright was right in his assessment of Lincoln, but in 1865 millions shared quite a contrary opinion. The President’s critics were fierce and many. His was a lonely agony that reflected the suffering and turmoil ripped to shreds by hatred and a cruel, costly war.
THOUGHT: Everybody needs encouragement; especially those in positions of leadership. How do you support and uplift the leaders in your congregation?
KneEmail: “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Bible reading for 12.30.10: Revelation 21; Zechariah 13, 14
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Encourage 2

Posted on December 29, 2010 by Mike Benson

THERE WAS A daddy who had nine big strapping sons that formed the starting lineup of the best team that ever played baseball…
The daddy was the manager, and always found fault with anything his sons did. Let one of his sons hit a home run and he would say something like, “Boy, he put the ole’ apple right down the middle, didn’t he? Blind man coulda hit that one. Your grandma coulda put the wood on that one. If a guy couldn’t hit that one, there’d be something wrong with him, I’d say. Wind practically took that one out of here, didn’t even need to hit it much.”
And if you think that was bad, you should have heard him when one of them made a mistake. It was obvious that this wasn’t “home on the range,” because there was always a discouraging word. His sons could never please him, and if they did, he forgot it. When his oldest son, Edwin Jim, Jr., turned and ran to the centerfield fence for a long fly ball and threw his glove forty feet in the air to snag the ball and caught the ball and glove, his daddy said, “I saw a man in Superior, Wisconsin, do that a long time ago, but he did it at night and the ball was his a lot harder.”
THOUGHT: Those boys could have used some encouragement. What is true of sons in general is true of sons of God.
KneEmail: 19 “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:19-25
Bible reading for 12.29.10: Revelation 20; Zechariah 9-12
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Encourage!

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Mike Benson

THERE WAS A large and restless crowd that had gathered toward the end of the pier…
Unable to restrain his curiosity, the man began to walk down the pier and investigate the cause of all of the noise and commotion. Upon investigation he discovered that the object of all the attention was a young man making his last-minute preparations for a solo journey around the world in a homemade boat.
Without exception everyone on the pier was pessimistic. All were actively volunteering to tell the ambitious sailor all the things that could possibly go wrong. “The sun will broil you!” “You won’t have enough food.” “That boat of yours won’t withstand the waves in a storm.” And of course, those familiar words, “You’ll never make it.”
When he heard all of these discouraging warnings to the adventurous young man, he felt an irresistible desire to offer some optimism and encouragement. As the little craft began drifting towards the horizon, the man went to the edge of the pier, waved both of his arms wildly, and began to shout, “Bon voyage! You’re really something! We are with you! We are proud of you!” John Powell, Fully Human, Fully Alive–17-18
KneEmail: 8 “Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands becameheavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” Exodus 17:8-13
Bible reading for 12.28.10: Revelation 19; Zechariah 5-8
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Eyes

Posted on May 3, 2010 by Mike Benson

ALTHOUGH THERE IS time and place for caring intervention between Christians, no one has the right or duty to “mote hunt” (Matthew 7:1-5)…
Christians are to look at others through caring eyes. Traits first perceived as negative may be positive when examined in the light of love. Without being naive, encouragers should make it a habit to put the best possible construction on any situation. The discourager sees John as stubborn, but the encourager considers him persistent and determined. The critic sees Jane as bossy, but the consoler sees her as an assertive person who gets results. The faultfinder says Bob talks too much, bu the the positive person says he is outgoing and friendly, a real people person.
A discourager is like a doctor with a poor bedside manner. Rather than seeing a patient, he sees a diagnosis or a source of income. Impersonal physicians can heal sick bodies, but they fail miserably in treating the fear, anxiety and loneliness that ails their clientele. In contrast, a good doctor sees each patient as a friend and treats the whole person. Encouragers see people while complainers only see problems. Aubrey Johnson in The Barnabas Factor, 70
KneEmail: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Bible reading for 05.03.10: Luke 22:21-46; 1 Kings 14, 15
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Encourage

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Mike Benson

EACH OF US lives some of our days in the war zone…
Weekly we face battles, challenges, and shock. When we see the missles whizzing by overhead, we need someone who will encourage us. Encouragement is transfusing some of your courage into another life. The Bible says, “In the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1). The book of Hebrews says we ought to be more and more involved in encouragement as those days approach. When the perilous times increase and the battles intensify, we will need encouragement more than ever.
One of the motivations behind Paul’s letters to the New Testament churches was his desire to encourage his friends. These early believers were members of churches scattered throughout the ancient Roman Empire, a time ruled by cruely and persecution. These persecuted, isolated followers of Christ, trying to make their way in the world, often met in caves and catacombs of Rome for mutual encouragement. They faced life-threatening challenges every day. Paul, who founded most of these churches, wrote to communicate his heart to them. In the beginning verses of almost every one of his letters, Paul labors to deliver a word of hope and affirmation:
“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the world world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of HIs Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” (Romans 1:8-9).
If you received a letter like that from Paul, wouldn’t you be encouraged? To know that he put you on his prayer list and prayed for you every day and night? David Jeremiah in The Joy of Encouragement
KneEmail: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10;25
Bible reading for 04.20.10: Luke 15:11-32; 2 Samuel 9-11
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One

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Mike Benson

WATCH THE POWER of one…
One good Samaritan rescued a wounded man on the Jericho Road. cf., Luke 10
One aged man (Noah) was instrumental in saving mankind from extinction. cf., Genesis 6; Hebrews 11:7
One man (Moses) who felt unqualified confronted a Pharaoh and led the Exodus. cf., Exodus 3
One woman (Esther) broke longstanding tradition, walked into the king’s throne room and saved an entire nation from genoside. cf., Esther 4
One boy (David) faced a nine-foot giant and saved the Israelites from slavery. cf., 1 Samuel 17
One boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish fed thousands. cf., John 6
One slave girl was instrumental in healing a world military leader. cf., 2 Kings 5
One vote gave Oliver Cromwell control of England in 1645.
One vote gave America the English instead of German language in 1776.
One vote saved Andrew Jackson from impreachment in 1868.
One vote gave Adolf Hitler control of the Nazi party in 1941.
KneEmail: “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11
Bible reading for 04.14.10: Luke 12:32-59; 1 Samuel 25-26
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Category Archives: Encouragement