Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Dumbest Question Ever

The last time I was at an out-of-town doctor’s office, I asked an honest dumb question.  I’d already been to this medical clinic twice, so when I arrived for the third appointment the receptionist handed me the iPad so I could check myself in. I know the drill, but I asked, “Do I have to do this? I was here four weeks ago and nothing has changed.” She replied, “Yes. That’s the only way we can check you in.” I wasn’t having especially happy thoughts as I sat there wasting my time answering the same questions with the same answers as last time. In retrospect, here’s a brilliant question: Why can’t the check-in process be two simple questions: “Are you here?” “Has your personal information changed?”

Here’s the backstory to James and John’s dumb question: “As the time drew near for Him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for His arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because He was on His way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, ‘Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village” (Luke 9:51-56 NLT). Obviously, James and John utterly misunderstood their Master and His mission.

I doubt that Jesus was shocked when these two disciples asked if they could burn the Samaritans to a crisp because they rejected Him. For Jesus had previously nicknamed them the “Sons of Thunder.” Perhaps James and John thought that calling down fire would demonstrate their zeal, love, and loyalty to Jesus. But Jesus let them know that they were to have a different spirit. They were to practice love, mercy, forgiveness, and forbearance. Burning up people was not on Jesus’ to-do-list. He didn’t come to destroy sinners but to give them the gospel and an opportunity to repent.

Jesus knew James and John’s fiery dispositions when He called them to be His disciples. But they had to learn the right way to use their enthusiasm properly and in the Spirit of Christ. They needed to use it against Satan and evil, not to destroy the very ones Jesus came to redeem and save.

After such an outrageous question from the brothers, Jesus may have rolled His eyes, shook His head, and sighed. We know they were reprimanded for their hateful attitude and proposal of revenge. After being with Jesus for years, shouldn’t they have known they were asking a dumb question? No matter, He didn’t miss the opportunity to teach the  boys of thunder that following Him meant they were to live a life of compassion.

Jesus’ deep empathy and love for humanity is beautifully illustrated throughout the four gospels. “But when He [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NKJV). Jesus still has compassion for all the lost and hurting people who will welcome Him into their life. Now we, as Christ followers, are to do the same.

 The Key: Stop asking dumb questions and start showing some compassion.

Several months ago, I wrote about my friend who was having a double mastectomy. Her surgery was complicated because she had zero body fat needed to reconstruct her breasts. When I told Dave, his response did not surprise me. “Did you tell her that you—I mean we—could donate some of ours?” After sharing that with my friend, we both cracked up (she more than I).

My friend is now home from the hospital. We spoke yesterday. The evening before, it hit her: part of her womanhood was permanently gone. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she teared up but then felt a nudge to turn on her television. There was Nick Vujicic, the evangelist born with no legs or arms, speaking about how God had used his disability to give people encouragement. She knew that God had offered her that nudging so she would refuse to feel sorry for herself.

The pity pot can be such a cushy place to stay, can’t it? When life is all about me, it can become my frequent resting spot. But what would life look like if I chose, instead, to find my comfort in Jesus’ loving arms? I would no longer dwell on how my troubles seem to outweigh God’s ability to make things better and would focus on Romans 8:28 which reminds us that all things work together for good “for those that love the Lord” and are called according to His purpose.

“For those that love the Lord.” What does that kind of love entail?

The Bible gives us a great example of Joseph who, though experiencing serious injustices, loved the Lord and refused to live with a victim mentality. Genesis 37:12-28 tells us that his jealous brothers threw him into a pit and then sold him to Egyptian slave traders who sold him to Potiphar, Pharoah’s captain of the guard.

Potiphar favored Joseph and put him in charge of his household…until, that is, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of assaulting her and he was thrown in prison. Once released (over a decade later), Pharoah put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt. From the pit to the palace.

You see, Joseph never suffered from self-pity. He always trusted that God would make something good out of something bad, and he was right. God wants to do the same for us. We never should get comfortable on the pity pot, an oppressive trap of the enemy. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us why. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Staying on the pity pot will keep us immobile. Joyless. Stuck on our wants. Unable to forgive and move on. Bitter. Selfish. And in a very, very dark place. If we want our light seen by others, we, like Joseph, must decide where it can shine best.

Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker

Grin Like a Possum

(I know the proper spelling is “opossum” but I’m choosing the Southern spelling.) When I was in sixth grade, our music teacher would roll the piano into our room and we would sing, sing, sing; I loved music class! We had a variety of songs in our book and the teacher would often let us choose what we wanted to sing. I remember singing about a possum: “Possum gravy can’t be beat, hi-a-way, hi-a-way home.” I’ve never had possum gravy, so I have no idea if it’s the best – I’ll just take the songwriter’s word for it! I’ve seen a possum bare its teeth and it looks like a big grin – a very ugly big grin.

For humans, what’s in a smile? Well, a smile is an affordable way to instantly improve our looks! A smile is a natural heartlift for the person who sees it. There are unspoken words in a smile, e.g., “You’re valuable,” “You’re appreciated,” “You’re doing a good job,” etc. My mom once told me, “Smile at people – it costs you nothing.”

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face, a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day” (Proverbs 15:13 MSG). When we smile at people, I think it actually helps them get through their day. When I accidentally nearly run over someone with my grocery cart, I’m hopeful that my apology and smile helps them to forgive me. (There’s a blind spot when I’m turning from one aisle to the next – I need a horn and a turn signal on my cart!)

Our countenance is important because it affects us, plus those who see our face. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Proverbs 17:22 NLT). If you think you have nothing to smile about, think again. “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? I fix my eyes on God and soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God” (Psalm 42:5 MSG). And remember that your smile is not about you, it’s about the person with whom you’re interacting. We need to smile for the other individual’s benefit; no doubt he/she could use it to brighten the corner of their world.

In the movie Top Gun Maverick, there’s a short dialogue between Captain Maverick and the Chief Warrant Officer Bernie Coleman. Right before takeoff for the test flight to hit Mac 10, Bernie says to Maverick, “I don’t like that look, man.” Maverick retorts, “It’s the only one I got.”

I sure like the look on Robin’s face when I see her twice a week. When I walk into the reception area of the fitness center, she flashes her big beautiful smile and makes me feel welcome and loved. Her instant nonverbal message says, “It’s good to see you; I’m glad you’re here!” What a big difference her genuine smile makes to everyone’s day! I just realized why she looks 20 years younger than her actual age – it’s because she smiles a lot! It takes more muscles to frown than smile, so Robin is living proof that’s true because she doesn’t have any wrinkles!

The Key: Do yourself and everyone else a big favor – smile!

Last week, I wrote about Jesus’ command for us to be salt, to add flavor as witnesses for him. Salt makes a difference. So should we. Unfortunately, too many Christians fail to recognize the need to make a difference in others’ lives. We are spoiled, we are selfish, and we fail to impact others the way that salt impacts food.

Adam, our son, recently traveled to Nigeria with some of his E3 Foundation team to look for ways to help with the Christian murders taking place in that country. His group had an opportunity to speak with 25 widowed women living in a refugee camp whose husbands recently were killed by an evil terrorist group determined to wipe out those who disagree with them.

Adam shared that the widows’ faith was remarkable. They trust that God works all things for good and for His glory, and He is the One they want to honor. Their husbands had been buried in a mass grave, they were left to parent their children alone and with no income, yet they chose to live out their love for God in a way everyone could see. They are salt, even though they are targeted to be killed.

Of the 4,849 Christians murdered for their faith worldwide, 3,490 were in Nigeria, according to “Open Doors’ World Watch List 2026”, yet overall, over 56,000 Nigerian civilians have been killed. The armed murderers, Fulani Muslims, enter villages with the sole intent to slaughter anyone who disagrees with them (largely, undefended, Christian farmers). The murderers have raped and abducted hundreds of victims, including children.

Nigerian churches abound (one boasts a seating capacity of over 100,000 people), yet with no guns for self-defense, they cannot physically defend themselves. Nevertheless, they do what they can to be salt. They create a thirst for the truth of scripture by offering hope to these villagers to help them live out their faith in a meaningful way.

Christians are called to be a preserving influence in society, helping to maintain moral and ethical standards and resisting corruption and decay. How do you show your saltiness? Do you recognize that your only purpose on this earth is to improve others’ lives? How do you flavor a conversation? An action? Are you an encourager? Fun? Adventurous? If you choose to keep to yourself and not spread your salt to others, you are missing an opportunity to fulfill your purpose, to make a difference.

We must engage with the world around us, to bring out the best in others. Like those Nigerian widows, we need to create spiritual thirst in others by living in such a way that others are drawn to the hope and joy they see in us. Let’s pray for God’s help in removing anything from our lives that diminishes our saltiness.

Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker

I was Born to Do This

I had a 14-inch-diameter corner post that had been useful in years past, but was no longer needed. It was nothing more than an annoyance to mow around. Naturally, the responsibility of removing the post fell to my son. I watched Aaron on the tractor as he expertly operated the tractor’s front-end loader and pulled up the huge corner post. I was impressed with how easy Aaron made this massive chore look – it was like pulling a toothpick out of an ant hill! I walked over and complimented him on a job well done! He shot me a subtle smile and matter-of-factly said, “I was born to do this.” I wasn’t about to argue with him because the proof was in the pudding.

His statement, “I was born to do this,” reminded me of a song that the Happy Goodman Family made popular when I was in my teens. “Born to Serve the Lord” has been recorded by various artists, but nobody sings it like Vestal Goodman. The straightforward lyrics, penned by Bud Chambers in 1959, are as follows:

“From the dust of the earth my God created man. His breath made man a living soul. And God so loved the world He gave His only Son, and that is why I love Him so. My hands were made to help my neighbor. My eyes were made to read God’s Word. My feet were made to walk in His footsteps. My body is the temple of the Lord. I was made in His likeness, created in His image. For I was born to serve the Lord. And I can’t deny Him, I’ll always walk beside Him for I was born to serve the Lord.” Believers can be like Apostle Paul who had one passion, and that was to serve Christ by serving others.

Sometimes, when a subject of interest is over my head, I’ll ask an “expert” to explain it to me as if I’m in third grade. I like to challenge the individual to put it in the simplest terms so I can understand the answer as clearly as possible. Often times, Christ followers make following Jesus more complicated by thinking they’re supposed to be doing something earth-shattering for the kingdom of God. But Jesus very simply explained how we’re supposed to live as believers.

Jesus told His disciples, “You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one among you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give His life in exchange for the salvation of many” (Matthew 20:26-28 TPT). In our dog-eat-dog world these scriptures seem ridiculous to nonbelievers. But when we are good and helpful to others, we’re actually loving and serving God.

Believers were born to serve the Lord so, instead of being afraid that God will call us to go to Africa as missionaries, it’s more likely He’s calling us to get off the couch and do good to the people we rub shoulders with and also strangers. Jesus plainly states that, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. …Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:35-36,40 NKJV).

The Key: Let’s jump in with both feet and serve the Lord! We were born to do this.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Worst Party Pooper Ever

Jesus would often teach the crowds by telling parables (earthly stories with spiritual meanings). One of His most-familiar parables is about the prodigal son. However, there’s a great lesson regarding the other son too. In order to make the story simpler to write and read, let’s name the two brothers: Prodigal Pete is the younger brother and Selfish Sam is the elder.

So a father had two sons. Pete told his dad he wanted his share of the estate. So Dad distributed their inheritance between the two sons. Soon, Pete packed up and traveled to see the world. In no time he managed to waste all his inheritance in extravagant and reckless living. He was starving and homeless, so he begged a farmer to hire him to feed his pigs. Pete finally came to his senses and decided to go home, admit he was wrong, ask for forgiveness, and work as a hired servant since he didn’t believe he was worthy to be called a son after all he’d done. So when Pete arrived home, his dad was delighted, and immediately threw a “welcome home” party.

When Sam heard the celebration of music and dancing and was told that Pete had  returned home, he became angry and refused to go in the house. Not an ounce of forgiveness could be found in Selfish Sam’s heart. He was raging inside with the fact that Pete had dragged the family name through the gutter. Sam was not happy or thankful that his little brother had rejoined the family.

Sam’s dad left the party to find out why he was acting so terrible. Sam responded, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him. And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’” (Luke 15:29-32 NASB).

It’s interesting to note that Sam wouldn’t even claim Pete as his brother. He referred to him as “this son of yours.” But Dad reminded him that “this brother of yours” is worth celebrating! Sam’s self-righteous legalistic spirit demanded that Pete be punished with no room for mercy. Sam chose to stew in the juices of anger and bitterness and be a party pooper. A life lived with no love, forgiveness, or mercy is actually no life at all. Sam even tried to steal the moment of celebration from his brother and make it all about him. He claimed he had never done anything wrong. Well, maybe so, but because of his selfish attitude, hateful actions, and unloving words he proved he was in the wrong now! Glen Campbell would tell him to try a little kindness.

When someone in your life makes a genuine change for the better, don’t throw a wet blanket on their celebration of restoration. Show forgiveness and mercy and top it off with a blanket of love.

The Key: Don’t be a party pooper!

I am a stickler for rules and reasonable requests.  Right now, I’m sitting on a plane, watching passengers board.  The flight attendant just instructed us not to place two items in the overhead compartment.  The smaller item needs to go under our seats.  Two people in front of me placed both of their carry-ons above them, and now there is no room for other passengers’ suitcases. That irritates me. I want to rat them out to the flight attendant, and if my “don’t get involved” husband weren’t sitting next to me, I probably would.

The request over the intercom to “Please place your overhead items on their sides so that the overhead bin will hold more bags” is ignored by passengers three rows ahead of me.  I tell Dave that I’m going to let them know.  He suggests otherwise.  After all, I “haven’t been a flight attendant for 50 years.”  That irritates me too, and yes, I mean the selfish passengers and Dave. These rude ones need to be held accountable.

If that isn’t enough, the woman in the row ahead and to the right of me thinks it’s cute for her four-year-old son to entertain us for 20 minutes with “Jingle Bells” in his three-mile voice.  When he tires of that, we hear the “ABC” song.  Over and over and over again.  Why are the two old ladies in front of me looking at him and smiling and telling him what a wonderful voice he has?  They must be related.  Lord, help me.  I need ear plugs.

Personally, I believe that common courtesy has relocated to the “endangered species list.”  People who don’t crowd in lines.  Those who never say, “I’ve changed my mind and don’t want this hamburger, so I’ll just set it here by the Kleenex” but instead, do the right thing and return to its refrigerated compartment.  Drivers who don’t tail gate or swerve in and out of traffic to get to their destination two minutes earlier.  Dog owners who clean up after their pets.

Let’s face it.  Too many people have become “the exception to the courtesy rule.”  No doubt, you too can add to this list, but I wonder what would happen if people were held accountable…like the newlyweds who sent out this “Missed RSVP” notice: “We’re sorry you can’t make it to our wedding.  Our RSVP deadline has passed, and you unfortunately did not respond.  We would have loved to have you attend, but final numbers have now been turned in and your presence will be missed.”  Signed, “Bride and Groom.”

I find great satisfaction in this response, and I applaud the nerve of the future newlyweds…unless the one who responds late is me.  Case in point: within two months, I missed two very important get-togethers.  No excuses, for there was no one to blame but myself.  In those cases, accountability was not what I sought; I wanted mercy.

Who set a better example of mercy than Jesus Christ, clearly setting the example for how we all are to treat one another?  He never knew the “satisfaction” of holding his torturers responsible or of punishing his disciples who left him hanging to his death on the cross.  Quite the opposite.  “Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do.”

I read that and admit, I need to be a lot more like Jesus.  But what would Jesus do if the people did know what they were doing, like the plane passengers who were being disrespectful to the other passengers?  Would he confront them?  I would hope so.  And if he did, I would be the first to applaud.

Dear Lord, have mercy on my soul.

In the Bourbon County minutes from December 19th, 2017, the county voted to buy 2 Caterpillar 120M2 road graders. Presumably, those are still being used. According to the spec sheet, these tractors are 8 meters long and produce 106 dB when measured in accordance with ISO 6395:2008. That ISO standard says that noise levels for equipment that is 8 meters long should be measured from 16 meters away.

If a sound is 106 dB at 16 meters (~52 feet), it will be right around 102.9 dB at 75 feet.

Feel free to double-check my math. Here is the sound attenuation formula I used.

According to Bourbon County Ordinance 50-25, which Tran and Beerbower voted for, but Milburn voted against, the following is illegal:

Any noise greater than 55 dB outdoors (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) near sensitive areas (residences)….These measurements recorded within 75 feet from the source shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

The ordinance goes on to say that any person violating this ordinance is subject to a fine of not more than $500, with a new offense (and presumably another fine) for each day the violation is repeated.

Best I can tell, our elected officials have passed an ordinance that makes it illegal to operate a road grader during the day on roads where there is a house. Does the county buy new road graders that are smaller and quieter? Do the roads need to be graded by hand or mules now? Are all the roads in the county going to be paved so road graders are no longer needed? Who pays the fine? Is it the operator or the county commissioners?

Fortunately, the stakes are low for this particular ordinance. If the county ever tries to fine someone (or fine themselves) for breaking this ordinance and it ends up in court, I’m sure a judge would have a good chuckle, asking the two commissioners what they were thinking when someone they tried to fine $500 points out all the county operations that fall under the wide umbrella of 50-25.

It is silly and kind of funny. To be fair, everyone makes mistakes. Many mistakes are what we call honest mistakes. Other mistakes are considered negligence. The difference is whether the decision-maker acted with prudence or recklessness. Neither of the two commissioners who voted for it thought to ask, “How loud is the equipment the county operates compared to what we are trying to outlaw?” Neither of the two commissioners who voted for it thought to ask, “How loud is my air conditioner?” Neither of the two commissioners who voted for it thought to follow their lawyers’ advice when he suggested the proposal be given to the planning committee for consideration of the potential impact.

What do you think? Is 50-25 an honest mistake, or is it a sign of recklessness?

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