God Can

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 25
Dear Friend, I was flying a Southwest flight from Orlando to New Orleans. We were belted in and picking up speed as we raced down the runway. Suddenly the pilot’s voice broadcast in the cabin. My ears perked up since I had never heard the pilot speak during take off. What he said was, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” We all had a good laugh as the plane lifted into the air and turned towards New Orleans. That moment has often come back to me when facing some challenge in my life and I find myself running harder and faster. Like the “Little Engine that Thought He Could," the words of that pilot come to mind, “I think I can. I think I can!” Except the pilot couldn’t fly by himself.  While he had a part to play, he was merely along for the ride aboard a massive plane trusting in its power to take him and all of us aloft. When you start thinking it all depends on you, know that our Lord works with, in, and through our efforts yet, we, too, are along for the ride. We, too, have our part to play in the endeavor before us, yet we trust in our massive God’s power to be the wind under our wings. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7* I trust God can!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NIV
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Generous Thanks

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 24
Dear Friend, Driving with my daughter in the neighborhood in which I grew up, we paused by my childhood home so she could take a picture. A young man came to the door obviously wondering what we were doing. My daughter called to him, “My Dad lived here forty years ago.” He went back inside the home and out came his mother. After my daughter told her the same thing, that lady said immediately, “Would you like to see the house?” Not even, “Just give me five minutes to pick up a few things, “ but a “Please come right in.” She took us into every room in the house. Memories came flooding in. I could see my Mom and I decorating the Christmas tree, my sister standing by the plate glass window before her wedding dress, the room I shared with my brother and so much more. Can you imagine what I feel every time I think of the generosity of that dear lady in offering that kind hospitality to strangers? Thanksgiving simply overcomes me! As the Apostle Paul wrote, “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us.” 2 Corinthians 9:11* So this Thanksgiving, think of the many acts of generosity that have been shown to you in the last year – by the people in your life – by the Lord of your life – and give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving - E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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Eleven Years

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 19
Dear Friend, Eleven years ago this morning I boarded an airplane going from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles. We landed in Kansas City since every airplane in the air was required to land when the reality of the tragedies unfolding in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania began to hit home. For me the day became a simple adventure of making my way home with other stranded travelers. In a moment of extreme crisis, in a day when many believed America to be spineless, we saw amazing valor in three different locations involving thousands of people. In the midst of all of the horror, it felt good to be an American that day. It still does. In the days following 9/11, I was convinced that God was calling us to four specific actions. I still am. First, we are to comfort the grieving. For the families of those who died that day and in the conflicts abroad since then, life has been turned on its head. May our hearts go out to them. Second, we are to resist prejudice. Say “no” to the temptation to treat with less than dignity those people living in our country of Middle Eastern descent and especially those of the Muslim religion. We are Americans, however before we are Americans, we who follow Jesus are the people of grace. May we think, act, and speak as the people of grace. Third, we are to confess our sin to the Lord. If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14*). Our news is filled with stories of unethical behavior in our midst. We have absolutely no future as a nation if we say we fight the evildoer abroad while perpetuating deliberate sin within our own camp and among ourselves. Fourth, we are to be prepared. Preparedness in a time of uncertainty means remaining alert to the possibility of evil and choosing not to yield completely to the false security of “life as usual.” The most quoted scripture I heard in the days following 9/11 was Psalm 46:1-2. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.”
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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The Questions

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 18
Dear Friend, The Apostle Paul made a revealing assertion to the Christians of the ancient city of Corinth, ”For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” I Cor. 4:15* The word guardians variously translated can mean tutors, instructors, teachers, and trainers. The original word referred to those who walked a child to school and kept an eye on the child. Such a person was not a parent but more like a babysitter. “Though you have ten thousand babysitters you only have one father, one mother in the faith.” So Paul claims his unique role by urging his spiritual children to, “be imitators of me,” what all parents ask of their children. Also, like every parent he urges them to remember what he taught them, “of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere and in every church.” I Cor. 4:17 This leads to a number of profound questions! Who is the person who had the most to do with shaping your heart for and understanding of the Christian faith? A Mom, a Dad, a grandparent, someone at church, a friend, or someone else? For whom are you not merely a spiritual babysitter, but a mom or a dad? Are you having a Christ-forming influence in the life of another person (who may be a child or may be an adult)? Are your core convictions about our Lord and our Lord’s church clear enough that you consistently live them and can teach them regardless of where you are – everywhere and in every church? Such questions lead to gratitude for the spiritual parents in our lives and challenge us to be spiritual parents in the lives of others.
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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The Foundation

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 17
Dear Friend, The Washington Monument was in the news recently. After suffering some damage in the earthquake of 2011, it now appears the majority of the damage was near the top of the Monument and far above its sound foundation.  A sound foundation is key to the quality of anything you build. I watched a large multi-purpose building being built from the ground up. I was intrigued that the builder took what seemed like a quarter of the total time of construction to dig a huge hole and pour a tremendous amount of concrete in and around the solid rock underneath. I asked him why. He made it clear that the key to a sound building is a truly sound foundation. Upon what foundation are you building the work of your life? On what foundation rests the results of what you say, what you do, what you think and what you are? “Each builder must choose with care how to build on it [the foundation]. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:10b-11* Anything we do in life that does not have Jesus underneath it isn’t going to last. It’s that simple. One of the great hymns of the church is, “The Church’s One Foundation.” Another way to sing it is to insert your own name, “The Jenny’s one foundation…, “The David’s one foundation…,” “The Marty’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord…”
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
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The Smile

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 16
Dear Friend, After Oscar Pistorius ran in the 400-meter race in the recent Olympics, he told TODAY’s Savannah Gunthrie, “When I got on those starting blocks, I knew 400 is always a tough event. But I had these cramps in my cheeks, I was smiling so much.” He knew he had a tough race to win running through the challenge of legs made of spring steel. He also knew he was having an experience that felt beyond remarkable and utterly wonderful. And just think – our Lord has even more wonderful experiences in store for Oscar – and for you and me – not on a racetrack – but in the immediate presence of a loving God who actually cares. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christian people of Corinth is this extraordinary word:     “What no eye has seen,          what no ear has heard,                and what no human mind has conceived                    the things God has prepared for those who love him- these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.”                                                                 I Corinthians 2:9b-10a* The God who loves you has immense plans for you – plans you cannot possibly imagine – plans far greater than anything you may have ever seen – plans for your future and your hope. So may your smile be so wide you have cramps in your cheeks!
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NIV
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The Boast

Building One Another - Vol. 11, No. 15
Dear Friend, I have loved watching the recent Olympics in London. There were so many poignant moments. While there were a few athletes who boasted of their deeds, they were dwarfed in numbers by the countless winners whose humility, gratitude, and grace were utterly infectious. Sprinkled throughout the events we saw many athletes win their contest and immediately look upward or point upward or make the sign of the cross and you realized they were expressing gratitude and honor to the God who made them. The Apostle Paul offered a direct word to the Corinthian church that speaks to all of us.  “He [God] is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” I Corinthians 1:30-31* May our “boasts,” our celebrations of life’s large and little victories always be an affirmation of the reality and work of the Lord who loves us. “To God be the glory, great things he has done!”
With joy- E. Stanley Ott Copyright 2012 E. Stanley Ott *Scripture from the NRSV
To view archived issues and to subscribe: www.buildingoneanother.org