MAY 2006
Dear Mt. Olive family and
friends,
Häagen-Dazs. Now those are
mouth-watering words! Is there anyone in
This frozen, tasty treat
debuted back in 1961, the year I started high school. Its creator, Reuben Mattus,
who lived in
But here’s something that may
surprise you as it did me. The words mean absolutely nothing! That’s right!
The words “Häagen-Dazs” do not mean anything!
Have you ever stopped to
think how frequently we throw words around that mean nothing? Nice sounding words. Flattering words. Patronizing words. But in the end, nothing more than empty,
meaningless drivel.
“I love You, Lord,” we say
and sing, but then stubbornly refuse to obey.
What empty words we speak! They
sound so nice, so holy, so pure, but how rank and putrid they really sound to
the One who says “If you love Me, you will obey what I
command,” (John 14:15).
“I promise!” we vow to our
God, our spouse, our children. “I give
you my word.” The expressions escape our
lips so effortlessly. Yet how painfully
they sting when on the receiving end of their hollow deception! A promise made and broken is worse by far
than a promise never made. We rightly mourn
the fact that one half of those who promise faithfulness to the Lord on
Confirmation Day end up leaving their God at the altar. How easily we forget, however, that as each
precious little child is baptized, we as individuals and as a congregation
promise “to assist in whatever manner possible so that ____ may remain a child
of God until death. If you are willing to carry out this responsibility, then
answer: Yes, as God gives me strength,” (hymnal, p. 14). Yet how many of us really mean it? “I promise?”
Frankly, that’s nothing more than a dish of Häagen-Dazs!
“I care” we say to the tired,
the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe
free. “I care” we say of those living in
unbelief and sin. “I care” we say of
those who are on the way to hell in a hand basket without faith in the Lord
Jesus. Sure we do! Häagen-Dazs! If we truly cared we’d stop throwing around
the pretty words and start throwing out the life preservers!
“I trust You, Lord,” we
boast. Then why do we sit when we should
be standing; tiptoe when we should be marching; retreat when we should be
advancing? What kind of sign from heaven
are we awaiting before putting our trust where our mouths are?
Let’s be brutally honest with
ourselves. We are so “Häagen-Dazsed” that we don’t even realize what liars we have
become. So quickly we find fault with
others; so reluctantly we acknowledge that we are, in part, the problem.
It is time that we
acknowledge that our sweet-smelling words are really a stench in God’s
nostrils. It’s time that we recognize
our meaningless words for what they are: lies.
Indeed, it’s time we stop pretending and start believing.
Fall back into the arms of
the One whose love is genuine, whose promises never fail, and whose tender care
goes well beyond words! Fall back into
the waiting arms of Jesus and go forward in His strength!
No more Häagen-Dazs for me!
Pastor Carl Henkel
Sunday Worship
~ 9:00am
Bible Class & Sunday School ~
10:30am
Coming Saturday, May 20th
The Great Give, Grow, and Grill Event