Houston, We Have a Problem

 We are ruined by our own stupidity, though we blame the Lord.

– Proverbs 19:3

NASA’s original plan for the April 1970 Apollo 13 mission was to land on the moon, survey it and develop mankind’s ability to work in the lunar environment. But then came these fateful words from astronaut Jack Swigert: 

Houston… We’ve had a problem here.

That problem was caused by an oxygen tank explosion aboard the spacecraft, which nearly ended the mission in disaster. The crew was forced to return to earth without ever landing on the moon, and they had to improvise a way to conserve onboard electricity while reducing the buildup of deadly gases inside the cabin. More troubling still was that no one could determine if the damaged capsule would withstand the intense heat generated while re-entering the earth’s atmosphere.

Earth-based radar stations tracked Apollo 13’s progress home while NASA stayed in radio contact with the astronauts. But as expected, communications were lost when super-heated plasma built up around the spacecraft. It wasn’t until minutes later that Mission Control heard the astronauts’ voices break through the static. The prayers of millions of around the world were answered that day as Apollo 13 and its crew splashed down safely to earth.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that everyone’s plans — big or small — result in varying degrees of success or failure. And depending on the circumstances, we may feel like we have a handle on the situation … or that the situation has run amok. Maybe you feel like that today — and for good reason. But believe it or not, God is in control.  

This is a fundamental truth that every Christ-follower should embrace. One reason that we don't feel his power is because we can't see the big picture. We don’t know the life-changing people and situations that he’ll introduce to the mix. We also don’t have his vantage point of knowing what’s around the corner and miles up the road. Moreover, it’s hard for us to see a greater purpose in our lives when we're going through the pain of unemployment, lingering illness, family problems or even death. But God is in control. And for those who trust and follow him, he offers this assurance:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you,” says our Creator. “Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Have your best-laid plans led to frustration and depression? Don’t lose hope. God knows what we need — and he knows it long before we ask him for help. And when our plans align with his purpose, success is on the horizon.  

Swiss Army Knife

I know how to live when I am poor, and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough.

– Philippians 4:12

If it takes the right tool to do the job right, chances are that the Victorinox Swiss Army knife is that tool. 

First produced in 1891 for — as its name suggests — the Swiss army — this folding, all-in-one pocketknife is easily recognized by its red handle and cross logo. What's more, the iconic cutlery is produced in dozens of models with ingenious implements including corkscrews, tweezers, bottle-openers, can openers, and even nail files. Newer models feature everything from USB computer storage drives to laser pointers. And there’s even a 9-inch-wide version with 85 tools for the outdoorsman (or outdoorswoman) who has everything.

Speaking of having everything, God has blessed us with a nation of incredible abundance and wealth. And although millions of Americans seemingly do have it all, we live amidst an epidemic of discontentment. The more possessions we gather and the higher we climb the corporate ladder, the more unfulfilled and disillusioned we become. And rather than thanking God for his blessings and making the most of them, we wonder if that’s all there is to life.

This contagious disease comes with some nasty symptoms. Those afflicted often turn to alcohol, street drugs, illicit relationships and gambling to ease the pain. They find that things might get better for a while. But the hunger for fulfillment returns soon enough.

This problem is hardly new. And it's not confined to the United States or even Western society. In fact, the Bible addressed the issues of naught and disappointment centuries ago. And its advice is as valid today as it was back then.

First, let’s think about all the ways God has blessed us. That could include family, career, health and friends — to name a few. Next, we must quit comparing our possessions with our neighbor’s. Advertising agencies thrive when they convince us that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. 

The only remedy is found in the One known as The Great Physician: Jesus. And a growing relationship with him produces contentment because there's nothing bigger, better or more necessary in life. Comparisons fall away and material things lose their luster. With Christ as our Master, what was once so important soon fades into obscurity. 

Does this sound simplistic or too good to be true? Fulfillment is just inches away — the distance between our head and our heart. 

"Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants," Jesus invites us through Matthew's gospel. "Then all your other needs will be met as well."

DIY Disasters

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

– Psalm 10:4

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work, shop, and eat. And an interesting side-note is that it also spurred a massive increase in home improvement projects. With millions of Americans opting — or forced — to stay home rather than travel or dine out, many people spent their idle hours upgrading their residences. More than 75% of the homeowners surveyed by Porch.com reported that they had completed at least one major project since the onset of the coronavirus. At one point, deck construction was up 275% and fence installations were up 144%. With money in hand and few places to go, consumers focused on making their home their castle.  

Many of these same consumers did just that by doing the work themselves. From building a backyard deck to installing indoor lighting, consumers can save thousands of dollars instead of paying a licensed professional. Websites, magazines and cable TV channels are devoted to showing these so-called DIYers how to do it right.

Of course, this comes with a hefty price for those would-be handymen and handywomen who discover that they’re in over their heads. The This Old House website features a DIY Disaster section that chronicles the woes of homeowners who thought they could do it themselves. One Colorado women wrote that because of her area’s extremely-high property values, she bought a condemned home for $160,000 just to enter the market. She thought she could afford to re-pour the house’s foundation — but she failed to calculate the additional cost of re-wiring, new ductwork and landscaping. And when the house was lifted during the foundation repair, the back 300 square feet of the structure collapsed! In the end, the ambitious DIYer paid $12,000 to transform her 2-bedroom house into an uninhabitable single-bedroom shack!

In many ways, this DIY disaster story has much in common with passages we find throughout the Bible. A recurring theme is that God has a grand vision for his people and a plan for achieving it. But mankind — through its arrogance and ignorance — decides that it knows better than the Creator, and sets out to do it themselves. 

Predictably, the results are both tragic and disastrous. In one of the earliest passages of Scripture, the devil convinces Adam and Eve that God is preventing them from reaching their true potential. Gullibly falling for Satan’s lies, the first man and woman eat the fruit that their Creator had commanded them to avoid. Unintended consequences such as illness, crime, poverty and death have plagued mankind ever since.   

Yes, there are some relatively simple household tasks that we can do ourselves to save time and money. But for the larger, more important projects that we can’t afford to foul up — whether they involve our homes or even our souls — it’s always best to call on a Pro. 

Best Friend Forever

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

– Proverbs 18:24

Who is your BFF (Best Friend Forever)? And for that matter, what’s the mark of true friendship?

Writer Elbert Hubbard defined a friend as “… someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” Actress Marlene Dietrich remarked that the friends who matter are the ones you can call at 4 a.m. But President Harry S. Truman was less sentimental about friendship. “If you want a friend in Washington,” he said, “get a dog.”

Maybe President Truman was onto something. After all, dogs are known to be loyal and committed. And it just happens that loyalty and commitment are rare qualities that God values in his people. Joshua — one of the great servant-leaders of the Old Testament — displayed this trait when he challenged the tribes of Israel to choose who they would serve: the false gods of their ancestors or the one True God.

“But for me and my household,” declared Joshua, “we will serve the Lord.”

Jesus also seeks total commitment from his modern-day followers. Rather than would-be believers who might help build his kingdom if it’s not too inconvenient for them, Christ demands an all-or-nothing relationship from those willing to give the little they have to eventually gain everything.

Is this unrealistic? Jesus’ disciples once thought so. One day, a rich young man asked Christ what he had to do to gain eternal life. Knowing what was in the man’s heart, Jesus reminded him about following God’s commandments about theft, adultery, murder, lying, and honoring one’s parents. When the man replied that he had kept these laws since childhood, the Savior told him that he lacked just one thing: the need to sell all his possessions.

Jesus knew that rather than loving God with all his heart, soul and mind (the first of the Ten Commandments), the rich young man was more devoted to his money. The would-be follower was crushed by Jesus’ harsh revelation, and he soon turned away.

How about you? As Christ-followers, we demonstrate our commitment and loyalty — as well as our friendship with the Savior — by showing kindness to those Jesus calls “the least of these.” They might be famine victims in Africa, tsunami survivors in Asia or fellow citizens in America who are picking up the pieces after a wildfire or tornado. But then again, those who most need our kindness might be much closer: perhaps next door, down the street or even across the living room. They might be total strangers. Or they could be your family members, your friends ... or even your BFFs.