It can happen to any of us I suppose. When we begin to study God’s word and grow in our understanding, we are always looking for that next nugget of truth that will light up our souls or impress the folks at Bible study. We will pass by something familiar in search of the “undiscovered insight,” and those insights do come from time to time. In the end, no one will ask us to declare our great insights. We wont need to explain the doctrine of baptism, the significance of the sacraments or to defend the resurrection. There will be no test on theology. No, all of these things will fall by the way side and we will face . . . a fruit exam.  

You see actions speak louder than words in every area of life. In sports, it’s not potential that matters, its performance. In raising children, it’s not the time you intended to spend with them, it’s the time spent. In marriage, it’s not the words you thought of saying, it’s the words that were heard. In Christianity its not the truths held, it’s the life lived. Consider this. “John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.’” (John 3:7-8) 

Well the people who heard his warning cried out and said, “What should we do?” Look at his message. “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” And to the tax collector he said, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to.” And to the soldiers he said, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely–be content with your pay.”  All this is simple practical truth. It applies to everyone and everyone understands it. The fruit exam is one that looks at the simple actions of our lives and asks, “Do these actions match the truths believed and the words spoken?” In practical terms… what is your fruit saying these days? telemicus out

The washing machine broke last week. It’s only about three years old. The technician that came out replaced a coupling but warned that the motor was going. As soon as he left and we started a load of clothes, it was clear that it was still not working. So, we called them back out.  This time, the owner came and said it was the motor, (the other part shouldn’t have been replaced at all.) He ordered the new motor and said he would be out on Monday to rewire the washer and install the new motor. We weren’t able to do laundry for several days. The man showed up as promised and repaired the washer and we are once again doing several loads per day, (I guess).  

During those days when the washer was diagnosed, but not working, we were in that odd place of knowing what needed to be done, but completely unable to do it. It’s a frustrating place to be. It’s not that we were “doing nothing,” but we were waiting for repairs to be done. You could say that our washer was “in repair.”  Here at the beginning of 2007 I suppose I find myself in somewhat the same condition as our washing machine last week. I know there are many things that I need to work on in my life. I need to be a better dad, I need to work on my countenance, and I need to be friendlier and less harsh. I need to be happier and less grumpy. I need to be holier and less – you know – me. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I am “in repair.” 

John Mayer has a new album out with a song called “In Repair.” One stanza says this:“Stood on the corner for a while
To wait for the wind to blow down on me
Hoping it takes with it my old ways
And brings some brand new luck upon me
Oh it’s taking so long I could be wrong, I could be ready” You may wish that a wind would come and take away some of your old ways. But, real change does not come with the wind. It takes courageous hard work. To be in repair means making the calls, doing the assignments, answering the hard questions, reading the books, listening to wise counsel and following the Lord with a whole heart.  

For this year, be brave and strong. Face the brokenness of your life and heart and do the work of being “in repair.”  telemicus out