HAVE YOU USED SON BLOCK TODAY?

Did you ever get a real sunburn on your face? People did not have to know where you had been, they knew you had been in the sun for too long a time.

Physically, I am very susceptible to the sun’s rays and blister very badly. As a youngster we did not know about sun blocks or what the sun might do to the skin in causing cancer, etc. Many of us are paying the price for that lack of knowledge and the sun block that was needed. I remember the time when, after a particularly good day in the sun, I came home suffering a sunburn that literally caused blisters an inch high to appear on my shoulders. With no air conditioning at that time, I took the relief of a pallet in front of the screen door where the night’s cooling breeze could ease my pain.

Physically, we’re told we need sun block to keep out the harmful rays of the sun, particularly if we have skin tones that are lighter and more susceptible. I heartily concur and recommend it.

As I weighed the effects of sun block to act as a defense against burns that can be quite serious, I began to think of another kind of blocking that commonly takes place against another kind of SON! The more I thought about the analogy, the more it seem to have some applications that would be worthwhile considering.

Stay with me on this. I want to make the transition from the “sun block” which is needed to keep us healthy in body, to the “Son block” which we need to avoid to assure our spiritual health.

How shall I describe the benefits of not using “Son block?” Consider first the “sun block.” In the case of the “sun’s” influence upon us physically, we want to keep those powerful rays from causing their deep burning of the skin. To avoid this, we put the sun block on all exposed areas and it forms a protective shield. The greater the SPF the less dangerous UVA rays will penetrate the barrier to damage the skin. We are told that even when the sun is somewhat hidden on a semi-cloudy day, such rays are still present, so some kind of “screen” is recommended.

Now, what about “Son block?” The affect of God’s Son shining on and into our lives might be said to have the same results, minus the damaging burn and other possible negative ramifications. When the Son of God is allowed to shine on and deeply in your life, there may be the heat of a passion for Him that grows in the relationship, but there will be no burning, ever. No damage, in fact, for His Rays make for permanent spiritual health.

Sun block products often have guarantees that they make. The guarantee for NOT USING SON block, and allowing the Son to shine His truth deep within is the promise of life everlasting.

Now follow a bit of analogy as I pursue the levels of sun block that I use:

SUN BLOCK 15 – I USE TO MOISTURIZE AND HAVE TAD OF PROTECTION –

Application: SOME USE A SPIRITUAL SON BLOCK 15 TO GET JUST ENOUGH OF A DOSE TO KEEP THEM RELATED BUT NOT TOO DEEP. You know, use a little of the church language but keep involvement at a long-arm’s length.

I MAY USE A STRONGER SUN BLOCK #50 TO COVER ON A MILDLY CLOUDY DAY. IT’S STILL SUN BLOCK BUT JUST ENOUGH TO STILL CATCH A FEW RAYS-

Application: THEY USE THE SON BLOCK 50 OF JUST GOING TO CHURCH OCCASIONLY. Attend just enough not to be considered a backslider.

USE THE SON BLOCK OF PRAYING JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY. After all, God understands I have a lot of other things to get done.

USE THE SON BLOCK OF READING AND STUDYING THE BIBLE JUST A LITTLE TO KEEP A LITTLE RELIGION BUT NOT GO OVERBOARD. There are too many fanatics that cause more problems than good.

USE THE SON BLOCK OF JUST ENOUGH GOOD WORKS TO BE CONSIDERED GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD TO ACCEPT. Nobody’s perfect. It’s like using the “toning blocks” to make you look like you’ve had a complete “Son-job” but it’s only “skin” deep. Some use spiritual “tanning-beds,” but these, too, are not equipped to provide the real Son-shine.

USE THE SON BLOCK OF EXCUSES TO KEEP FROM TOO MUCH SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY. I CAN’T TEACH, OR SING, OR PREACH. I’M NOT GOOD WITH PEOPLE. Well, I honestly can’t.

THE BIG SUNBLOCK FOR ME IS LIKE #70. THIS IS TO KEEP ANY RAYS FROM GETTING ON ME ANYWHERE.

USE THE SON BLOCK #70 THAT SAYS DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT CHURCH – My religion is a private matter and I can worship anywhere.

ONE SON BLOCKER I HEARD SAID THAT HE DID NOT TAKE HIS CHILD TO CHURCH BECAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO INFLUENCE THE CHILD’S FREEDOM TO CHOOSE GOD OR NOT. This is putting the Son block #55 on the child, but leaving the world’s influence “unblocked” and free to influence. The child’s freedom of choice will be seriously jeopardized.

USE THE HEAVY SON BLOCK OF UNBELIEF. This will insure that no divine rays will shine upon and bring life to the one who has blocked the Son of God.

AND OH, IT’S INTERESTING TO NOTE! WHEN I’VE USED THE SUN BLOCK I’VE NOTICED THAT I STILL FEEL THE DISCOMFORT – MY SUN BLOCK GETS IN MY EYES AND BURNS.

Application: FOR ALL THE BENEFITS OF SON BLOCK FOR THE ONE WHO DOESN’T WANT TO HAVE CHRIST VERY DEEPLY UNDER HIS SPIRITUAL SKIN, HE CAN STILL FEEL THE HEAT OF CONVICTION AND NO AMOUNT OF SON BLOCK CAN KEEP YOU FROM GETTING A REALLY BAD BURN AFTER IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE!

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN THE SON OF GOD IS ALLOWED TO SHINE DEEPLY IN YOUR LIFE, THERE MAY BE THE HEAT OF PASSION IN THE RELATIONSHIP, BUT THERE WILL BE NO FOREVER BURNING, EVER. THAT’S PART OF THE PRODUCT GUARANTEE.

IT’S IN THE PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Be encouraged today! Use the Sun Block but don’t block the SON!

HOW DOES ONE GET OFF A MERRY.GO.ROUND?

Recently, our family of eleven (6 adults and 5 children) went on a vacation together in eastern Tennessee. The first part of our trip was a three-day retreat in the mountains with other missionaries with whom we served in Bangladesh some 23 years ago. It was a time to catch up with each other’s lives, hear recent updates from the mission field and just enjoy a time of worship and fellowship with those we claim as family, as well. Additionally, it gave our grandchildren contact with folks that they hear about from time to time, to help them glean a little of their parents’ early experiences as Missionary Kids.

After the retreat, we drove a short distance to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where we planned to take in some of the local claims to fame. One such place we spotted seemed to invite the whole group’s interest, so we spent the better part of an afternoon being “chilled and thrilled” with the advertized 101 “mind boggling” mysteries of what was called WONDERWORKS.

As you can see, our minds were “hooked” already by the unique structure which housed the mysteries. It literally was an upside down experience for this family, especially me! There were every kind of mind confusing electronics you could imagine. For instance, the “tunnel” hallway to access the main displays was a simulated “bridge” through what appeared to be a seven foot pipe, completely darkened except for the constant spiraling ribbon of blue light. The affect on the eyes was so dramatic that though you knew the bridge was stationary, your mind told you that your whole body was revolving. I get a sensation of vertigo just recalling it. After this were encounters with every kind of mind teaser, including some very physical activities such as rock climbing,

lying on a bed of actual nails

and making enormous bubbles with 3 foot hoops dipped in vats of soapy water.

One mind messing “ride” I was challenged to take with son-in-law Kirk was a two-seater closed capsule in which we were completed strapped. In front of us was a screen on which a very psychedelic “roller coaster ride” was imaged while the capsule was put on “spin” to simulate the ride’s swerves and turns. I felt as though I’d been on the worst roller coaster I could ever image. When we climbed out of the capsule my legs, my body, everything, felt a wash of exhausted sensation that took 30 minutes to finally pass. I recognized with the immediate concern of my family, I should have left that experience unexperienced and vowed to do so in the future. I recognized the “going where no man has gone before” was not all that great. Fortunately, my taste has had no lasting affect on me. (By the way, if you are interested in checking out WONDERWORKS as a possible family activity, check their website and the UTubes available for viewing.)

The next day’s activity was a visit to the famed DOLLYWOOD, where the family was delighted to find a well-laid out theme park of rides, music shows and craft shops of every kind. Something for the whole family. If this sounds like a travel log, it kind of is, but I do have a point I will make before I close, so stay with me.

I enjoyed the time with family and watching the faces of my grands and their parents as they took in the variety of experiences. Having learned my lesson somewhat from the WONDER of the day before, I was less prone to push the proverbial envelope too far on rides, so I enjoyed watching those that did and getting a few pictures. I did take in what was advertized as their version of the “log chute” drench, and was properly soaked for the experience.

It was here at DOLLYWOOD that I began to think about the things that makeup the day- to-day passion of man generally. All about me I saw, and experienced to a degree, the seeking of things to “chill and thrill” the body and mind. My grands would go on a ride, scream through its particularly mind-blowing parts, emerge and plead to go stand in line for a repeated chill. That day we arrived to open the park, and they were still pleading for just one more thrill ride before the park closed, which it did as we left.

It caused me to think of man’s constant cycle of search for the meaning of life. Literally, a MERRY.GO.ROUND, ever seeking a new thrill, and he finds that each one is short-lived, and so like the rides of a theme park, come back to the place where it started with the result, a memory that will begin to fade as he steps out of the vehicle that took him through the experience, and a pocket with less than the price of admission to it. His cycle of life will have nought but that fading memory and sensation, and so, he will proverbially stand in line to repeat it again and again, or find a new thrill to replace it, resulting in the same scenario.

As I have said it before in describing my mental gymnastics of comparing such thrill seeking to life in general, I am not opposed to having the fun offered by such as is found in these mind bogglers, and I only cite the examples to bring our thoughts to an important truth about man’s real “thrill” possibilities. But before I do, let me take you one day further in our family’s vacation experience.

Before turning our sights toward home, we left Pigeon Forge and heading southwest toward Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our target for experience was Ruby Falls and Rock City. The first, a cave down into a mountain, where we would have seen a waterfall so named, and the latter, a natural formation of rocks said to be a great adventure of walking and climbing. The cave’s combination of descent and necessary ascent was ruled out for the already weary group, and the heavy downpour of rain that threatened to continue as we arrived in the city put a “damp-er” on the Rock. Needing to head east before too late, we discovered an in-door activity we’d not been aware of before arriving. The Tennessee Aquarium on the river, and downtown, was a likely experience all would enjoy. Well, we did not know the half of it.

The two huge modern buildings which housed both fresh water and salt water life were magnificent in their construction and display of the underwater life of our planet. As we “wandered” and “wondered” through the 3-story sloping halls filled with enormous tanks of water, fauna and fish, we were put in visual, and sometimes in touch, with creatures beyond our imagination.

Let me pause to plug this place of experience. If you ever are considering a trip through or near Chattanooga, don’t miss taking time to take the self-guided tour through this facility. Young and “older” will enjoy, as we can testify. Check out their website – you’ll catch a little glimpse of what I mean.

Now, back to our experience there. One of the things that immediately impressed me and began to set my mind in reflective motion once more, was the section of the aquarium labeled Seahorses. On walking into this area, I expected to see very small creatures with their typical “horsehead” structure which gives them their name. I was not prepared for the size nor the wide array of variety in this animal’s kingdom. One that caught my attention most was called the “Leafy Seadragon” which I picture below.

Leafy Seadragon Photo by Todd Stailey
At first, I thought it was merely some of the vegetation floating in the water. On closer look, I saw the head and body in the midst of its leafy camouflage. My immediate thought was that God had certainly provided for the protection and propagation of this species. It could hide in its environment and thus elude would be predators very well. After all, it had initially fooled me.
While “wandering and wondering” the halls with our family, I was made aware of the fact that one of our grands, Keaton, had his notebook out and was writing down a lot of information about what he saw. His mother then began taking pictures of many things to save him the time and effort, relating that he had a great passion for all that the aquarium was showing him, and he wanted to keep the experience in his mind as long as possible. Needless to say, I was duly impressed with his desire.

This experience brings me to the point of this family vacation blog.

I have related to you, the reader, what consumed my mind as I thought about the “chill and thrill” rides of both WONDERWORKS and DOLLYWOOD, and how they spoke to me about the cycle of man’s passionate search for meaning in life. Now I have related an experience found at TENNESSEE AQUARIUM, where my grandson discovered something that for him would have more lasting memory and value. This same boy that enjoyed the rides and with the others, wanted just ONE MORE RIDE BEFORE THE PARK CLOSED, now was expressing something of more lasting value than the chill of a moment. I don’t know what Keaton will do with his knowledge gained. He may someday be one who uses such to build his own unique work of lasting value to him and others.

My point is this. Man’s search for meaning often misses the mark because he seeks that of the world’s short-term thrills and chills of experience. On the darker side of experience, the drug and addiction culture that is so rampant today is a very obvious example of the short-term thrill to escape an otherwise hopeless and helpless existence. The cycle which takes man on a roller coaster ride of thrill will not ever progress past the point of its beginning fix, will always push for a little more chill the next time around, and with a drive and passion that JUST HAS TO HAVE ONE MORE RIDE BEFORE THE PARK CLOSES. And what is true in this particular culture is also true in those who seek the experience of gaining the world of riches, which ever tempts them to give up everything to possess its claim on lives. It, too, has a thrill which is short-lived. One who gains and million wants to gain two, and so on it goes.

The lesson that Keaton shows me in his seeking of knowledge about life under the sea, is how much more is to be gained by growing in knowledge, and knowledge to pursue, to gain, to grow in one’s understanding of his world. Spiritually, man’s seeking after God is the really true passion that has an experience that lasts, growing daily in understanding one’s understanding of his purpose in life. It is here that peace of mind, joy in the journey, hope for the future, and love for God and man’s neighbor can be the thrill that lasts beyond the PARK’S CLOSING HOUR. It doesn’t just bring you back where you started, but take you on to greater thrills of the heart and mind than can ever be won by a roller coaster to nowhere.

Consider these scriptures that take us on a journey of growth, and be encouraged!

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 15:4a, 7, 10a, 11 “Abide in me, and I in you…If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you…If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love…These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”