New and Improved

Posted on by

Back in 1971 when I was in grad school, one of my classes dealt with the legal ramifications of advertising claims. For example, no label could contain the word “new” or “improved” unless actual product change was measurable.

Companies worked hard to alter their merchandise just enough to claim they were new or improved, since advertising studies showed buyers were positively influenced by those words. But does new or improved always mean better? What’s wrong with a successful product staying the same?

On a recent shopping trip, new and improved became the cause for frustration. I don’t drink much coffee, so when I buy it, I spring for the good kind. But while standing in my regular grocery store in the coffee aisle, I suddenly had trouble finding my usual favorite. Eventually I saw why: new and improved packaging. Starbucks had forced me to spend extra time finding what I wanted, in the name of progress. Very irritating.

The next day I was at Walgreens in search of my calcium gummies and couldn’t find them, either. When I asked for help, the clerk pointed and said, “They’re right in front of you.”

“No,” I said. “They’re not,” I’d just spent several minutes impatiently scanning the shelves for the familiar kiwi green lid.

She reached for one of the bottles, but I shook my head. “That’s not it.”

“Yes it is,” she said, “just with a new label.”

She was right. New and improved. Maybe.

Is my reluctance to appreciate change a function of getting old? Young people see change as adventure. The unknown is a happy chance for a new beginning.

But is there such a thing as too much change?

We widows have been asked to embrace extreme change, a new single life that usually isn’t improved. How are we supposed to cope with that? God’s answer, like the answers to all questions, is in the Bible. We see he hasn’t changed from eternity past until now, and he’ll always be exactly like he is, because a way to make him new or improved doesn’t exist. He’s already perfect, just the way he is. So does he want us to follow his example and shun change?

The answer is no.

His Word says he’s eager to see change in us. When we embrace his plan of salvation, our change becomes radical. He makes us into new and improved people, bringing us closer to being who he intended us to be in the first place. So, despite his reality of never needing to change, he’s all for change in us.

As for all that new packaging? I’m trying to change my attitude.

 “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Triple Threat

Posted on by

I’m a devotee of Neosporin, the triple-antibiotic ointment used to avoid infection and hasten the healing of minor skin wounds. Having a history of finger cuts, knee scrapes and barefoot punctures, I’ve noticed that skin fixes itself much quicker if I smear wounds with Neosporin and cover them with Band-Aids.

While working around the house yesterday along with 3 Neosporin-slathered injuries in various stages of healing, I heard a question from the Lord: “Does your triple-antibiotic salve remind you of anything?” And right away the Trinity came to mind, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

In a way, these 3 “Persons” are our triple-remedy against evil. We can’t fight the devil in traditional ways, because he’s a cunning opponent who has nothing in common with skinned knees or cut fingers. We desperately need a way to avoid being infected by his evil schemes.

Ephesians 6 reminds us that when we’re battling him, we aren’t fighting fleshly wounds, so triple-antibiotic ointment won’t help. Instead we’re waging a more serious war, one with “the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil.” (v.12)

Those descriptions are scary, but God doesn’t want us to get lost in fear. Instead we’re to take advantage of our Trinity-triple-threat against all evil, Father, Son and Spirit. Together or as individuals they pack a powerful wallop against anything the devil can dish out, and we can have victory over evil only because of the three of them.

The Bible is full of people who Satan earmarked for attack, people who were given choices between his evil and God’s goodness, and not much has changed since then. Every day we’re all presented with the same two choices, and the difference between failure and success depends on two things:

  1. whether or not we really want to overcome evil, and
  2. whether or not we seek help from the Trinity-triple-threat to do so.

All of us have a natural bent toward evil. When we give in to it, we’re siding with Satan. When we fight it, we’re siding with God. The old cartoon with a mini-devil on one shoulder and a mini-angel on the other isn’t too far from the truth. But just as in the cartoon, we can’t overpower evil by ourselves. We need the triple-threat of the Father, Son and Spirit. They’ve already won over the devil (back at Calvary) and as a result, can see to it that we win, too.

Tonight as I re-bandage my superficial wounds and smear on fresh blobs of triple antibiotic ointment, I’ll picture the Trinity-triple-threat working on my behalf… which will knock that mini-devil right off my shoulder.

“Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.” (Romans 8:10)

A Dynamite Defense

Posted on by

My dog Jack and I love walking the quiet lanes of our neighborhood and are familiar with every block. He knows where the good smells are and prefers certain bushes. I like picking out the places where fiddle ferns and daffodils will soon flourish.

But for Jack, his favorite part of any walk is spotting small animals. He asked if we could name the areas where they hang out, since he looks forward to chasing them so much (despite never catching any). So now as we walk, we pass Critter Crossing, Squirrel Meadow, ‘Possum Pass, and Deer Forest.

At nighttime, the narrow roads are quiet, animals tucked into their nests awaiting dawn. But last night at ‘Possum Pass, Jack got a treat. When he stopped ambling and started running, I knew he’d seen something move up ahead, and by the time I caught up, he was playing with a light grey ‘possum the size of a football, nosing it to move and wagging his tail with anticipation.

But ‘possums play possum in response to imminent danger, and a giant dog bounding in your direction definitely qualifies. This one was lying down, stiff and silent, allowing Jack to nudge him without so much as twitching an ear. When Jack realized a chase wasn’t imminent, he lost interest, and the ‘possum had cleverly avoided an attack.

We can’t, however, give the ‘possum credit for making the decision to play dead. Playing possum is an involuntary response to danger, and these critters can’t help but do it. The process involves baring their teeth, going rigid, drooling, and emitting a smell much like rotting road kill. They can even be picked up and carried but won’t so much as quiver. (I have to give Jack credit for trying to be friendly in the face of that many negatives.)

I looked at the ‘possum and thought, “Not too smart, playing dead while the mouth of a potential diner investigated your body. People would never do anything that stupid.”

But then I thought about God’s point of view. The ‘possum was doing exactly as he’d been instructed, but what do we do? The dumbest thing ever: we ignore God’s instruction. And how often do we do it? Every day.

Despite that foolhardiness, our loving God offers to help. Just as he gives every animal a defense mechanism (like the instinct to play possum), he gives people the very best defense mechanism of all: himself. He offers to personally be our Defender in the ongoing battle for our souls. He defends not just from visible enemies but invisible ones, too, those that are more difficult to overcome. He protects, guards, shields, and preserves us in our struggle.

We don’t deserve it, but he does it anyway, hoping we’ll follow his instructions at least as well as the ‘possum does.

“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)