All posts by Leon Pippin

Ladies’ Hats and Hidden Preacher

I was usually bored in church services. So since women always wore hats, my best time-passing activity was studying their hats. Those with big hats I called “showoffs” and those with petite ones “shy” like me. This particular Sunday I sat behind a lady with a hat so large I couldn’t see the preacher no matter how I stretched, fidgeted, or crunched. So I leaned back in the pew and decided, if the roof sprung a leak, it wouldn’t matter, her hat was so large, I could hide under it and never get wet.

This Sunday, however, I listened to the sermon. Even though the preacher’s voice was monotoned and that large hat bobbed up and down, God’s voice penetrated all the distractions. The preacher explained that the Bible talks about two kinds of people God values. “Israel was his treasured possession”* and the church was his “own special possession.”** God made it clear that he has treasured possessions, the ones who wanted to live with him in heaven. All you had to do was let Jesus in your heart and bingo! I did that and became a T. P.

So I fell asleep that night knowing that if an oil lamp fell onto the wooden floor and turned our farm house into a flaming infernal God himself would be the first fireman on the scene to dash into those leaping flames. All right, angels, you watch as he dashes out of those flames with something wrapped in one of mom’s home made quilts. Me! Wow. The God of the universe to my rescue. I know I’m treasured for eternity!

*Psalm 135:4, **I Peter 2:9

Excerpted from my Childhood Memoir.

My next Umbilical develops a scientific fact about the human body you won’t believe.

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by Leon Pippin on May 6, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on May 6, 2013

http://leonpippin.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/ladies-hats-and-hidden-preacher/

I’ve Got a Secret

The television show “I’ve Got a Secret,” which aired from 1952 to 1967, captured the hearts of many Americans. Celebrities appeared on the show, signed their names on a large flip chart, hidden from the contestants who tried to guess their identity. The show fed the itch to discover some one’s secret. And it was all wrapped around the individual’s name. Well, I’ll let you in on a “juicy” little secret later.

What’s in a name anyway? Identity, character, individuality, connection, status, prestige for starters. Like Ezekiel who passionately longed for God’s word as we learned in last week’s Umbilical, so Isaiah echoed that passion of our hearts for God’s name. 26:8 Why is His name–the second of God’s possessions–so treasured?

Because His Son’s name Jesus is the only connection between God and us. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 A great motivator to claim His name.

Because his name purifies the lips of his people, enabling them to praise and call on him. Zeph 3:9 Interesting incentive to treasure His name.

Because knowing His name will drive us to seek refuge in Him. Psalm 9:10 Knowledge, heart–felt knowledge, like the intimacy between a husband and wife, provokes us to deposit our confidence exclusively in His name. Enoch knew God so well, God walked him from the earth right into heaven. Noah knew God so well, God helped him build a huge life boat to save him and his family. I’d say it’s a potent stimulus to nail down ownership of that name.

Because–here’s that “juicy” little secret–when timelessness swallows up time, then His name will be our identity for all eternity. When Christ returns he has promised to “write on you his new name.” Rev 3:12 And the mystery of it all is–that new name, which “no one knows but he himself,” Rev 19:12 will be shared only with those who cherish that name above all names.

Since we have this secret to share, let’s not keep that large flip chart hidden from others.

The second in a 3-part series on God’s possessions.

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by Leon Pippin on April 25, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on April 25, 2013

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Snatched from Flames

If your house were engulfed in flames, and you had just seconds to save a treasured possession, what would it be? Your lap top? That autographed baseball? Your grandmother’s jewelry? Your kindle reader? A photo album? That Picasso original?

What possession do you think God would snatch from those flames? Well, psalmist David must have heard the question. “O Lord, you have exalted above all things your word.” 138:2c   He certainly nailed that treasured possession for us.

The prophet Ezekiel must have heard it too. “I ate the scroll and filled my stomach with it.” Having prepared my heart, he then sent me with, “Go now to speak my words to the house of Israel.” 3:3, 4   What a God-given appetite!

Worn down by his self-appointed counselors’ words, Job confessed, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” 23:12   Oh, to have such an appetite!

Did you dash into those licking flames in virtual reality and snatch your treasure? Compare your choice with a grandson who braved the infernal, snatched his treasure, dashed out, hunched over, protective arms around it.

God and the angels watched as he, almost worshipfully, unwrapped his treasured possession—his great-grandfather’s German Bible.  Smiling, with a slight twinkle in his eye, God said, “That young man knows value, and you can shout that in any language.”

FYI: This is the first in a three-part series on God’s treasured possessions.

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by Leon Pippin on April 11, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on April 11, 2013

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A Special Invite

We all like to get an invitation to something special. Social event with dear friends, son’s wedding, 80th birthday celebration. However, nothing compares to Jesus’ invitation–“Pray with Me.” (See Matt 26:38-45) What a personal, powerful, privileged invite from our sacrificial Lamb Himself. He gave it to His disciples in that garden before the cross and He gives it to us after the cross.

That prepositional phrase “with Me”–small, but significant–snagged my interest. We’re invited behind the “ripped curtain” to enter the Holy of Holies in His temple. When we kneel down to talk over our relationship with our eternal friend, companion, and forgiver–we are being washed and renewed through His redemptive love.

Every time our hearts cry out in “our garden Gethsemane agony,” suffering with disease, struggling with temptation, searching for deliverance, begging for wisdom, we rest in comfort and security from His unending invitation “Come pray with Me” and it saturates our souls. As we pray to our Heavenly Father, He prays to His Heavenly Father with us. It doesn’t get any better than that!

So what’s keeping us from RSVP immediately to his invite “pray with Me” on this Resurrection weekend with fervor and holy zeal as we remember that warm, personalized invite is applicable anytime, anywhere?

“Dear Eternal Inviter, we praise you for sending us our personalized invitation to look deeply into the One who has our unending welfare in his Calvary heart and nail-scarred Hand.

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by Leon Pippin on March 25, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on March 25, 2013

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An Aerobic Prayer

My affliction with cancer has deepened a thirst and hunger to be in the Holy Scriptures than I have ever experienced before. That catalyst probed an in-depth study of biblical prayers. And Elijah’s got an unforgettable one–a one-sentence, twelve-word prayer–“He stretched himself out on the boy three times [face to face] and cried to the Lord, ‘O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!’ The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.” ( I Kings 17:21-22) A “quickie ”cry, a “quickie” response. Now that’s an active, ambitious, animated, all-powerful, awe-full, AUDACIOUS prayer.

The riveting snag, the “three time” aerobic activity, puzzled me. But it seemed to be a symbolic act to suggest the Trinity’s action in this boy’s resurrection and echoed Isaiah’s outburst, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!” ( 6:3) The Energizing Battery, the Holy Spirit; the Life-Giver, Christ; and the Almighty Creator ,God. Elijah had all the big guns firing at one time. Nothing could have kept that boy dead!

When God’s behavior seems strange to you, dare to join the aerobic prayer class, stretch with the aerobic instructor, and see God resurrect “dead” life all around you? Our challenge: be modern-day Elijahs, helping others resurrect faith–their faith in God–and verifying it by their action.

Got a problem? Get alone with God and talk it over with him and–AUDACIOUSLY stretch out face to face on it–then get up and watch God bring things to life!

Wanna be an AUDACIOUS modern-day Elijah with me? leonpippin@gmail.com

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by Leon Pippin on March 21, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on March 21, 2013

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God’s Tattoo

When I was 12 years old, my oldest brother J C came home on furlough from the Navy. I saw a tattoo of a hula girl on his left arm. I asked him why he got that thing anyway. “Every time I flex my biceps, I remember how much I love Hawaii.”

Standing in line at the pharmacy one day, a young man told me, “This skull and crossbones tattoo on my arm helps me remember my behind-bars buddies.”

One of the main reasons an individual tells me for getting a tattoo is “to help me remember.”

The prophet Isaiah probably had the same idea in mind when he wrote “I [God] will never forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” 49:15, 16. He is referring to the Jews’ custom of puncturing their hands with a symbol of their city and temple as a sign of devotion.

Thinking about tattoos, I hear Jesus’ tender personal words to his doubting Thomas, “Put your hand in my scarred hand.” John 20:27 [my paraphrase.] Throughout eternity, Jesus will be inviting us personally, “See, at Golgotha, you were engraved on the palms of my hands forever.”

When you find yourself feeling alone in a crowd, forgotten by your family, or neglected by a close friend, then remember God’s tattoo, “I’ll always remember you.” [my paraphrase.]

You can further meditate on Isaiah 49:13-18 with Psalm 37:25-28 until, like Thomas, you exclaim,” My Lord and my God.” John 20:28

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by Leon Pippin on March 5, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on March 5, 2013

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Cupped in his Hands*

One day after school, some of us boys were walking home together, and a sparrow with a broken wing hopped in front of us. “Hey, a moving target,” one of the boys yelled, and they started pelting him with pebbles. He hopped faster to avoid the pebbles, but the boys threw faster and harder, laughing at him, trying to hop away from the stones.

I felt sorry for the bird, so I ran ahead, swooped up the sparrow, and cupped him in my hands. “Oh, look at the bird lover,” one of them said.

I petted the sparrow as another boy said, “Oh, come on, put ’im down, yer spoilin’ all the fun,” and peppered me and the sparrow with pebbles, then joined the others, laughing and tossing pebbles at other things.

I took the sparrow over to the underbrush, put him down, and talked to him. “You’ll be safe here. In a few days your wing will heal enough for you to fly.” He cocked his head up, so I squatted down and continued to talk to him. “Little broken-winged sparrow, the other fellows are gone, and if they knew I was talking with you, they’d probably put me away. But you didn’t fall to the ground without your Heavenly Father noticing you, so you’re in good hands.” I stood up, and, as I watched him hop into the tall grass, I said to him, “I wish my earthly father noticed me that way.”

Hey, our Heavenly Father does.  Matt. 10:29

When you feel the pebbles of disappointment, resentment, and abandonment, hurled at you, you can also feel God pick you up, cup you in his tender hands, and reassure you, “You’re safe now. I’ll heal you and protect you through it all. You have my word on it, my eternal Word.”

Have you ever felt God cup you in his hands? Want to share it with someone? Let me know. Leonpippin@gmail.com

*Excerpted from my childhood memoir

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by Leon Pippin on February 26, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on February 26, 2013

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Free, again

All sweet nectar’s gone.
Wings entangled in a net.
O to fly free, again.          dlp

Recently our small group Bible study sang “O Happy Day, O Happy Day, when Jesus washed my sins away.” We sang with exuberance and energy, but I sensed something was missing, desperately missing.

Maybe we’re like an American Copper butterfly, sucking dried up nectar from a Mexican petunia, enmeshed in a net, our delight, spontaneity, and purpose also dried up, and trapped by lethargy, indifference, and cooled-off-first love, not realizing we’ve entangled our wings. We fly ignorantly into the net, wiggle and squirm, entangling ourselves till our struggles wear us out. Then with all resources and energies expended, we finally cry out to you God in desperation, “Creator of the butterfly and petunia, Give me back the deep delight of your freedom.” (Psalm 51:12)

When all of life’s sweet nectar–its pleasure, newness, and daily praise–sis gone out of living, we’re left, desperately needing fresh wind under our wings and needing the spiritual boost of the Lord Jesus’ reassuring promise: “My joy might be your joy and your joy  fully mature.” (John 15:11)

Tender, understanding, patient Father, untangle life for us, cup us in your healing hands, and whisper reassuringly to us, “When the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) Then we’ll fly off with renewed buoyancy–free in unfettered flight, findng that “our hearts leap for joy” again. (Psalm 28:7)  Amen

Have you recently felt that “leap for joy?” Please share. leonpippin@gmail.com

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by Leon Pippin on February 21, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on February 21, 2013

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A Wheelchair and a Story Book

A finger pointed at me and a voice yelled, “You didn’t bring me my Bible!”

As I was leaving the nursing home, a motorized wheelchair spun around in front of me, blocking the exit. Thinking the man had lost control of it, I stepped around him, but he popped a wheelie and ended up in front of me again.

“You didn’t bring me the Bible you promised almost two months ago!”

“I”m sorry. You must have me confused with someone else.  What’s your name?”

“Jerry. Now, where’s my Bible?”

“I’ll gladly get you a Bible, Jerry” and extended my hand. “I’m Leon.”

I purchased a Bible, had his name engraved on it and took it to him. He was in bed, his head covered with a blanket. “Jerry, I’ve got your Bible.” He threw back the covers, grabbed it, and clutched it, “My own Bible.”

“Jerry, why did you want a Bible?”

“I like the stories in it?”

“Well, then you’re a Christian?”

“Oh, no. I just like the stories.”

The next two weeks, we read and discussed the flood (his favorite) and Jonah. The third week we studied John 3. The fourth week, I asked him if he wanted to personally know the Author of all his beloved stories?

“Yes, I want to know ’im just like you do.”

“Whoever,” and that means you, Jerry, “believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”  He grasped my hand and he prayed simply that Jesus would forgive his sins.

“So now I’m a Christian!”

“Yes, you’re born again.” From then on Jerry started introducing me as ‘his Reverend.’

Three weeks later, the Lord took him home from stomach complications.

Now Jerry is sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing more stories he loves from the Author, the greatest Story Teller of all times.

Got an unusual conversion story? Please share it with others at leonpippin@gmail.com.

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by Leon Pippin on February 8, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on February 8, 2013

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Dialogue with Deity

Ere my feet touch the floor,
       and my mind shifts in gear,
              closer than breath, be near,
                     Lord, as never before.     dlp

Consider these three prayers offered before a cup of coffee, emails, or Fox & Friends:
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice.   Psalm 5:23
In the morning my spirit passionately longs for you.   Isaiah 26:9
Very early in the morning, Jesus got up to pray.   Mark 1:35

The phrase “in the morning” is symbolic of renewal: to make new again by replacing what is old, worn, exhausted, a dialogue with Deity before life’s bookends squeeze activities, commitments and appointments, yet unsanctified responsibilities, so tight there’s no time for God.

BEFORE you text family or friend, text the One who rejuvenated you in sleep and “never slumbers or sleeps,” and talk over the plans for the day with the closest companion you have.

Join me in prayer as we anoint each day with “Closer than breath, Lord, as never, never before.”

Have you written a prayer you’ve prayed to God?  Please share with us.  leonpippin@gmail.com

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by Leon Pippin on February 1, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Leon Pippin on February 1, 2013

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