What Have You Done?

 

The Lord asked Cain, “What have you done? The question, of course, was not for information. The Lord was asking Cain to face the reality of his evil, the anger and the subsequent sin in his heart. Had Cain thought about the consequences of his act of rage? People who commit crimes of passion do not think of consequences. Passion is ruled best ahead of time. The Lord had warned Cain to beware, “Sin is crouching at the door” (verse 7). There is a ripple effect to sin, and it often begins by putting ourselves or our thinking in the wrong place. The way to keep passion controlling us is to move ourselves and our thinking to a better place. Cain remained in the wrong place. He did not heed the Lord’s warning, and his feeling of rejection moved to anger and to hate and to violence. 

The parental warning many of us have heard in childhood—“Keep the right company” is a form of the Lord’s warning. Think where you are emotionally. Where are your thoughts and words residing? Find the right company. Get your passions under control or they will rule you with consequences that do injury to yourself and others, sometimes, deadly consequences.

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    75th Anniversary of Memorial Baptist Church. Judy and I returned to Memorial in Arlington on Sunday May 1 to participate in the anniversary service. We enjoyed Sunday School,  the Worship Service, the Fellowship and the Dinner afterwards. The anniversary committee, pastor and church staff put together a wonderful day including communion, inspiring music, scripture and prayers, a mission emphasis, photos from church history  a memorial time for those who had died in recent years and time for people in attendance to visit and take pictures and catch up on the ways our children have grown. Our family was represented by Justin, Mairin and the Grands. Justin sang for the service a song that he wrote many years ago which is entitled "Benediction," and is used that way by Memorial regularly. Luke was not able to attend because he was preaching at Linden Heights, but he was ordained at Memorial and has a close connection. Jason is in California and could not make the trip. He was, also, a part of the church as a young adult. So, the people at Memorial where I served as pastor for almost twenty years know us and our family well. I am grateful to God for this ongoing connection to folks there. I am grateful for the pastor, Dr. Drew Hill, who leads them so well now.

    Our membership now is at Memorial Baptist Church in Staunton. We love this church, too, and are grateful that the Lord has given us this family of faith to share our lives and pastors who care for us. Judy and I have decided that we will only join Baptist churches that are named "Memorial." We couldn't do better!

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    Grandchildren. Stone, our four year old grandson, is learning the skill of negotiation. At a family gathering Saturday night we were celebrating Stone's Uncle Sean's birthday. Each person received a cupcake. When Stone got his cupcake he told his mother, "I want two cupcakes." She gently and firmly said "just one." Stone was immediately incensed and declared, "If I don't get two cupcakes I will never ever eat a cupcake again!" His negotiating technique reminds me of a story from the childhood of U. S. Grant. The father of the future general and president sent his son to purchase a horse. Grant wanted the horse badly. When he arrived to negotiate the purchase he told the owner, "Papa says I may offer you twenty dollars for the colt, but if you won't take that I am to offer twenty-two and a half, and if you won't take that, to give you twenty-five." Grant was eight years old. I'm sure that Stone will have improved his negotiating skills beyond the  president's technique by the time he turns eight years old, but for now his negotiating "threat" only sent the group into an uproarious laugh