tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46794223949532934482024-03-12T22:52:59.332-05:00Random ThoughtsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-31291395183850201302017-09-19T11:09:00.002-05:002017-09-19T11:09:59.639-05:00If I Could Only Hide My Head in the Sand<b><span style="font-size: large;">Most of us have been told that you can't discuss politics and religion in mixed company. As a rule I don't discuss either in a public forum such as Facebook. I regularly engage people in those types of discussions but as a rule I avoid those types of forums because misinterpretation is too easy and they generally degenerate into clichés and name-calling, all of which accomplish nothing of much consequence. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">But today I am going to break that rule. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Over the course of the last few days my Facebook feed has been overwhelmed with stories of the supposed "Return of Jesus/End of the World." I did a little research and discovered that no reputable Biblical scholar holds this view and that one must turn some truly incredible theological summersaults to even come close to such a conclusion. This conclusion is achieved by mixing numerology, mythology, and such a bizarre reading of scripture that one would have to believe that sitting in the garage makes one a Honda. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">That wonderful bit of intellectual suicide was followed by another friend, a person whom I respect greatly, deciding to debate the role of women in the church....on Facebook. He used a specific passage of Scripture and then threw open the door for "discussion." I read some of the responses, sighed, and then hid the post.</span></b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">There was little regard for the Word in most of the responses and even less respect for differing opinions. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">And then to continue my two days of lunacy....I recently ordered a book from Amazon. I frequently order things from Amazon, the prices are generally lower and I don't have to drive over an hour to the closest Christian bookstore. This was a Christian theology book written by a well-known Christian author. I have developed a practice through the years of reading the endorsements of a particular book as well as the foreword of those books. This particular foreword was written by another Christian pastor and author. The foreword identified the author as an "evangelical superstar" in the very first sentence.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I almost threw the book away. "Evangelical superstar"? Excuse me, but I thought that the only superstar in Christendom was Jesus. But maybe that's part of what's wrong with the church today, we've made superstars out of mere men. The is a very real celebrity culture in Christianity today and it measures celebrity in the same ways the secular culture does. What does it say when a man is trumpeted as "America's pastor" has no theological training and has no real knowledge of biblical doctrine. I would dare to say that Jesus wouldn't be a "superstar" in today's culture...or Paul, for that matter. We have forgotten, either by deliberate choice or by neglect, that Jesus lived his live in the embrace of the outcast, giving his life for those whom others had judged to be unworthy. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">And then, as I listened to a podcast this morning I was made aware of a statement made by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 2013. The Archbishop stated "I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven..." (Washington Times, July 26, 2013). I can only shake my head. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Self-styled "prophecy experts," "evangelical superstars," and bishops who care nothing for the Word of God...what have we come to and where are we going? Without the Word of God the church is nothing more than a country club, which is what many of our churches have become. The Word of God is the plumb-line for our faith, that which all doctrine and teaching is to be measured against. The reason that the church has become so ridiculed and ineffective in our world is because we have abandoned the Word of God, both in our pulpits and in our personal lives. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">God forgive us.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-26242899841509184182017-09-07T09:13:00.001-05:002017-09-07T15:23:38.442-05:00Thinking About Old Friends<b>This morning in my devotional reading I read 2 Samuel chapter 1. This chapter records David receiving the news of the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. David's response is heartfelt, genuine and powerful. </b><br />
<b><br /></b> <b>As I usually do, I recorded my thoughts and reactions to this passage of Scripture. I felt that I should share them with you. </b><br />
<b><br /></b> <b><i>David's heart was broken by the death of Jonathan. The two men shared a friendship that was deep and affecting - and one-sided by human standards. A study of their friendship shows just how disparate these two men were; one a royal prince, the other a simple shepherd. Jonathan had before him all the glories and riches of a kingdom, David watched sheep and played the lyre. One was schooled by the finest minds in the kingdom, the other went to Vo-Tech and got a degree in shepherding. These two men could hardly be more different in position and background. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b> <b><i>But Jonathan and David shared something that is not learned by instruction alone: they shared a godly character. These two young men exemplified what godly character is all about. Their hearts were bent towards the LORD, each with a desire to honor Him. Their character was forged in the heart. True character is not a matter of instruction alone...almost all of us are taught right and wrong, but few of us seem well versed in its proper application. Character development requires more than instruction, it also requires demonstration. David probably had character modeled for him by his father and Jonathan may have seen character demonstrated for him by the prophet Samuel. Regardless of who it was, someone demonstrated godly character to these two when they were young, and the result was a life of blessing. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b> <b><i>Perhaps the most amazing aspect of their friendship was the selflessness that both of these men demonstrated. Each put the other's welfare ahead of their own. They were willing to lay their lives down for the other without regards to the cost. They each sought better for the other than they sought for themselves. In this sense they serve as an example of another who sought the benefit of others above his own:</i></b><br />
<b><br /></b> <b><i>Philippians 2:5-8<br /><sup><span style="color: black;">5 </span></sup> Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">6 </span></sup> who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">7 </span></sup> but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. <br /><sup><span style="color: black;">8 </span></sup> Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b> <b><i>These two men weren't perfect, far from it, but they demonstrate what is possible between men when the Spirit of God fills both. The best of human relationships are fallen and none of us are capable of Christlikeness on our own, but when the Spirit of God lies within the hearts of both amazing things are possible. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b> <b><i>It occurs to me that one of the problems in American society in our day is that we lack true character (not characters, there are plenty of those). Our leaders, in churches and in especially in politics, seem less concerned with character than with personal advancement. Perhaps that is why we seem to be so...lost.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b> <b><i>I believe that what we need are more men and women of godly character. Leaders willing to sacrifice self for others, willing to love with a sacrificial love willing to follow the example of Christ. I have been blessed to know men and women with that character, and I am blessed to have friends with whom I share a friendship like that of Jonathan and David. Oh that our country would know more of that. </i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-65425761460312515592017-02-22T15:13:00.000-06:002017-02-22T15:13:24.036-06:00The Hard Part of Forgiveness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNAVo8mKJoQ/WK39sR9NwDI/AAAAAAAAADw/F1mNzaTZ0_8o7xE1zAH1riUsYUmuMUA4gCLcB/s1600/Pat%2Bat%2B25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNAVo8mKJoQ/WK39sR9NwDI/AAAAAAAAADw/F1mNzaTZ0_8o7xE1zAH1riUsYUmuMUA4gCLcB/s320/Pat%2Bat%2B25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">This is a picture of my mom taken when she was 25. By my reckoning I was 2 or 3 years old at the time. My mother died last week at the age of 78. Cancer </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">had ravaged her body throughout and she made
the decision in November of last year to
discontinue her treatments. It took cancer to move me to
reestablish a relationship with her, to attempt to learn who she wa</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> and who she had become. I discovered as much
about myself as I did about her. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">To understand, or perhaps it is better to
say to begin to </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">understand the words that will follow
requires me to </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">cover familiar territory for some of you. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">My
childhood </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">was far from normal. My parents had a
difficult relationship that included abuse and neglect
of both his spouse and son. My father was an enigmatic
man of great talents but also great failings. His
was a difficult upbringing that I don’t believe he ever made
peace with, and those unresolved issues bled into every area of his life.
Eventually their marriage fell apart, my mother leaving him in the summer of
1976. Through a series of hard to understand events I found myself with no
family shortly after my 16<sup>th</sup> birthday. My parents never reconciled,
their marriage finally dissolved by my father’s death in 1983.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">There was little to no communication with either
parent and for many years I was unaware of either’s whereabouts. Needless to
say, this created lots and lots of unanswered questions. I had a poor opinion
of both for a number of years, until hearing from an aunt who finally began to
provide me with some of the answers that I had wanted for so long. This
interaction with my aunt reignited in me a desire to answer those questions
that had haunted me for so long, questions about rejection and reasons and
fears of being a man I didn’t want to be. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">My mother seldom gave me the answers I sought. She
didn’t want to reopen old wounds. She had remarried and was building a new
life. To be honest, for a long time I held hard feelings towards her over that.
I needed answers about my father and why she permitted the things that
happened. I came to understand that my mother had been a buffer between my
father and I, that she had taken many blows intended for me and had taken the brunt
of many blows intended for me. I came to understand that she left me behind, in
part, so that I could have the stability that a 16 year old needed, that she
trusted my soon to be adopted parents to be able to provide for me what she
could not. I cannot say that it was a noble act, but it was not as calloused as
I had come to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In the 34 years since my father died my mother was
able to piece her life back together. She married again, a man who loved her
and cared for her. They were good for each other. She had found a way to break
free of the chains of her past. She
discovered faith in Christ and turned her life around. She made an impact on
many people. She became someone I did not know. The question was and is....can
I break free of the memory as I have held it all these years? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">As Christians we are called to forgive, and I
believe that most of us genuinely try to forgive others. But we all have
trouble forgetting. Genuine forgiveness involves forgetting the offense, to
choose to no longer hold the offense against the person we have forgiven. There
can be no true forgiveness without forgetting. I had to choose to forget the
past, unanswered questions and all, if I was to truly embrace forgiveness for
both my parents. I had allowed my memories to color how I thought about and how
I related with my mother, sometimes unconsciously, sometimes deliberately. My
mother had become a different, a better person, and I was unwilling to let her
be that person. I limited my love and forgiveness for her by the memory I chose
to keep alive, and nobody suffered for it but me. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">As I spent a few days last week at my mother’s I
came to realize that my mother had become the person she was always meant to
become. She had been molded by her experiences into someone who made a
difference in the lives of others. She allowed what was to pass and became
someone I had never given her the freedom to become because I would not forget.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Sometimes it’s not so much who we need to forget but
the memory we hold of them.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Rest in Peace, mom. We all will miss you, even me.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-66610156055435106582017-01-02T11:41:00.000-06:002017-01-02T11:42:09.315-06:00Fresh Starts and New Years<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fresh
Starts and New Years<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve seen a
few New Years in my lifetime. That doesn’t mean anything other than I’m getting
older, which really only means that I was pretty adept at dodging cars while
playing in the street as a child. I have also made my share of New Year’s
resolutions throughout the years, but I don’t do that much anymore because I
came to the conclusion that anything worth making a resolution about was
probably serious enough to just go ahead and do. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Having said
that, I will take up your time and mine today by sharing some hopes and
resolutions for 2017:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1. <i>I resolve to be a giver of cheer this year.</i>
Those who know me would agree that I am usually a glass half full type of
person. The last two years have made an outlook more and more difficult, but as
a Christian I need to remember that God is still such in control and that the
word “oops” is not in His vocabulary. Everything comes into our lives for a
reason and according to His purposes (even the bad stuff) and it’s high time
that I began reminding myself of that and living in accordance to the confidence
that knowledge gives me. When I remember to have that outlook I will find that
my life will begin to bring joy to the lives of others once again.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2. <i>I resolve to be more thankful this year. </i> It’s too easy to slip into an attitude of
ungratefulness (is that a word?...spell check thinks it is). I/we live in the greatest
country in the world, regardless of who’s President, and we have more to be
thankful for than anyone else in the world. We need to quit thinking of what we
don’t have and comparing our lives to others and considering just how blessed
we truly are. Thankfulness flows out of hearts that are focused properly.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3. <i> I
resolve to sing more this year. </i>There is no better therapy for the blues or
the blahs than lifting up your voice in a song. I’m blessed with the ability to
sing pretty well but I don’t use that talent as often as I should. I have
decided to change that. It doesn’t matter whether you have lots of talent or
not....well, maybe it does (I suggest the car and the shower for those who don’t
have a lick of ability in this regard). You don’t have to only sing church
songs, sing love songs, country songs, silly songs (some of my
favorites)...just sing! I guarantee your heart will feel better because you
did. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">4.</span></b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>I
resolve to journal this year. </b></span></i><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the toughest one of all for me.
I have had a truly “on again, off again” relationship with journaling (and blogging;
truth be told). But I have come to realize that one of the reasons that the
tough times have gotten to me is that I have a super-short memory when it comes
to God’s work in my life in the past. The simple act of recording my thoughts
about the day will give me a reference to look back to when the tough times threaten
to overwhelm me and that’s a great thing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">5. <i>I
resolve to pray more this year and talk less. </i>Nobody stays around long when
a person is constantly complaining about their situation or is always being
critical of others. The people in my life who are the toughest for me to be
around are folks just like that. Therefore I have decided that from this day on
I will take my concerns and complaints to God rather than sharing them unnecessarily
with other. Gods a better listener and when I shut up long enough to really
listen to Him I discover that He gives far better advice that any of you...or me. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">And lastly:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">6. <i>I
resolve to speak more words of appreciation and affection.</i> I desire to
become someone who give others hope and not discouragement, joy and not sorry.
In short, I want to be someone others want to be around because I help them
find joy in their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Is it too forward of me to say that I
hope these would by your resolutions as well?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy New Year</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-71471835207344489262016-12-21T18:11:00.005-06:002016-12-21T18:11:43.549-06:00Comfort and Joy...and other painful things this Christmas<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I love Christmas, always have. But I sometimes
wonder how much we love Christmas. I have noticed as I’ve grown older that
Christmas seems to have lost much of its specialness. Could that be a natural
part of growing up? I’m not sure, I mean, I was the guy who wore Santa Hats to
classes while a seminary student (in my late 30’s and early 40’s) and even in
the pulpit a time or two during the last 16 years. My family has always done
its best to celebrate the day and the season with as much happiness and joy
that we could, even when things seemed rather bleak economically, which has
been often. That’s gotten harder to do as the years have gone by, especially
with my health issues (I’m not allowed to climb ladders or get on the roof to
hang lights any longer) and the fact that my kids have gotten to the age where
they are moving away and establishing their lives in other places (what was
once a busy, noisy house of eight is now a much quieter house of four). I will forever miss those crazy, hectic times
but I also cherish the special moments that we have now.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But that’s not what I’m talking about. Our culture
seems to be making a mockery of much of the season, but especially the idea of
the Christ Child as the Prince of Peace and the concepts of comfort and joy. We
seem to have lost sight of the personal aspects of the story of the Christ
Child. Anyone who doesn’t believe me only has to visit any store during this
time of year. A smiling cashier or waitress is a rare person, and one who
probably hasn’t worked too long that day. Survey the lines at any Wal-Mart and
you will notice that they don’t seem to be bursting with Christian cheer or
charity. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But there are glimpses of hope. Very recently my
birth mother called me with what has to be considered discouraging news at the
least. I won’t belabor you with the sordid details but suffice it to say that
she and I have a very troubled past and only in the last two or three years
have been able to begin to piece together some semblance of a relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Regardless, she called to tell me that her cancer is
no longer in check. Her cancer has manifested itself in three different parts
of her body and she has been turned over to hospice for the last stages of her
life. I haven’t seen her since 1990 and we speak only occasionally. To be
honest, I have a difficult time giving her what she needs from me. Her news
couldn’t have come at a worse time for me (as if my time and life were somehow
more important than hers), but she has acknowledged her sickness and is
preparing herself for her last days. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Somewhere in the last twenty-six years my mother
converted to Catholicism and seems to have a strong faith. That faith is what
she clings to know. You see, part of her cancer is in her liver, and liver
cancer is painful and hateful and quick. What was a two year prognosis just a
short time before is now two months; two pain filled hateful months know that
nothing can be done. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As a minister, I am supposed to know exactly what to
do in this kind of situation, both by training and experience. But none of that
prepares you for the gut-punch that happens when it hits so close to home. The
fact that my mother and I were and have been estranged for forty years is not
important. She needs me and I am beginning to understand that I need her too. I
called her this morning (the trip has been impossible before now, but I shall
find a way) with the intention of gathering more information and encouraging
her as best I could. My words were polished and empathic...my understanding of
her condition was deep and my experience gave me the proper sense of timing, of
what and when to say just the right things. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But my words rang hollow in my heart and my ears, as
I’m sure they did in hers. We talked quietly, but there was a strength and
confidence in her words that was absent in mine. You see, my mother knew just
where she was and what was happening and she was at peace with it all. Her
peace, according to her, came from Jesus...the knowledge that she had given her
life to Him and that He had forgiven and received her into His family. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Friends, my mother knows real comfort and joy. I have often told my congregations/youth
groups through the years that joy is living in the confidence that God is in
control and that He keeps His word. But somewhere in the last two years I had
begun to lose sight of those words and the God who is the source of all true
hope. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And it took a woman with only two months to live to
wake me up from my spiritual slumber. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Maybe it’s time to put away the rush, the pressure,
the foo-foo of Christmas and take a long look at a dirty cattle stall, a tired
young family and the shepherds, filthy from their flocks, who came at angelic
invitation. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Where has the Christmas spirit gone? Where is our
comfort and joy? I want to tell you that we’ve lost it in all our cute Facebook
posts and Jesus- light. The truth is that the manger is powerless without the
cross and the empty tomb. Our comfort and our joy are to be found in the
perfect life of God’s perfect Son who died for us and rose again so that we
might one day be with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Like I believe my mother will be soon.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Merry Christmas<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-52834440268698818412015-12-14T11:31:00.000-06:002015-12-14T11:31:27.975-06:00While Shepherds....There are three messages that my parents gave to me during the sixteen years that I lived with them:<br />
<br />
1. I was ugly.<br />
2. I was unloved.<br />
3. I was unwanted.<br />
<br />
My parents managed to communicate those messages to me in every area of my life. They had, and still have, a profound impact on me. Unfortunately those messages have a way of forcing themselves back into my consciousness from time to time and can still wreak havoc with my heart and mind.<br />
<br />
I would be lying if I said that I haven't been struggling with them lately.<br />
<br />
Some of you will remember that this year has been a very difficult one for my family and I. Family struggles, job stress, and unemployment have taken a heavy toll on us. Each passing day without a paycheck or even interest from prospective employers creates more and more stress and makes the messages from the past even harder to wrestle with and to subdue.<br />
<br />
To be brief, I am lonely, hurting, and struggling to hold on to the belief that God loves me.<br />
<br />
Some of you are shocked that a minister would make such an admission. Others are uncomfortable with it. But the truth is that I have spoken the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. The people of God can and do struggle with despair and depression, and the sooner we can learn to talk about it honestly with each other the better.<br />
<br />
But that's not what I want to talk about.<br />
<br />
The gospel of Luke tells us that there were shepherds in the fields on the night of Jesus' birth. Scholars and theologians (of which I am neither) tell us that those shepherds were not at the top of anyone's social ladder. Shepherds were ceremonially unclean, unable to enter the Temple because of their association with unclean things. Shepherds were considered untrustworthy; their testimony not admitted in courts. No one wanted there daughters to marry shepherds because they were considered dishonest and immoral.<br />
<br />
Not exactly the picture we are familiar with in our church Christmas pageants.<br />
<br />
But the shepherds are precisely where I find my source of hope during this very difficult Christmas season. If God would dare to present the good news to a group of unworthy, unlovely, unwanted shepherds then he must believe that even someone as unworthy, unlovely and unwanted as me is worthy of the good news as well.<br />
<br />
I am sitting in the lobby of a McDonald's as I write this and I am surrounded by many types of people, people of whom I am sure there are some who are hurting as I am and others who would consider themselves unworthy of the love of God.<br />
<br />
The church has sanitized the story of the Nativity. So very few of the mangers on display show the mud and straw, the dirt of a stable. I have never seen shepherds dressed in dirty robes, covered in the dirt of the Judean hillsides and the fatigue written on their faces. Mary and Joseph are always calm and peaceful...never showing the signs of stress and exhaustion that are the natural byproducts of the birth of a child.<br />
<br />
When did the birth of Christ become a Sunday School lesson and not the reality of Emmanuel, God with us?<br />
<br />
The truth is that the birth of Jesus was witnessed by shepherds who were considered to be second-class citizens. Those second-class citizens were the first bearers of that good news. Yet today it seems that the second class among us are the very ones who are passed over in the telling of the good news.<br />
<br />
I want those of you who might read this, those who are struggling with a hard life filled with poor choices and disadvantages that the good news is for you too. You see, it was only after I discovered the good news; that Jesus Christ loved me and died for me that I was able to find the ability to overcome those messages that were planted so deeply in my psyche.<br />
<br />
I want you to know that you're not ugly.....God sees you as His beautiful child.<br />
<br />
You are not unloved...God loves you enough that He sent His Son to restore you.<br />
<br />
You are not unwanted....God has prepared a place for all His children.<br />
<br />
If God could love me....then I know He loves you.<br />
<br />
Christmas is the ultimate expression of that love. I hope that someone will share that love with you this season.<br />
<br />
Merry ChristmasAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-70132888359990988322015-08-12T12:09:00.002-05:002015-08-12T12:09:42.508-05:00Life and Death in August of 1987August 12, 1987 - Wadley Hospital, Texarkana.<br />
<br />
Sometime during the day....<br />
<br />
The nurse threw a set of scrubs at me and told me to put them on "quickly" and pointed me to a restroom just to my right. I remember juggling the scrubs as I moved into the room as quickly as I could. A weird mixture of fright, excitement, uncertainty and wonder filled my soul as I changed my clothes. The shoe covers were the last things that I put on and they kept catching on the bottom of my shoes. I hopped on one leg into the delivery room while struggling to put on the last cover.<br />
<br />
An overwhelming silence stopped me in my tracks.<br />
<br />
I had helped to deliver a baby in a bathroom of a McDonald's as a senior in college and remember that scene as loud and chaotic, complete with someone calling for "hot water" and "towels, we need towels!"<br />
<br />
The scene before me was nothing like that. The room was bright and cold. Why is it that hospitals are always cold? The mood was somber and heavy, as if a gigantic weight was pressing down on all of us. In the space of a heartbeat, or maybe less, my eyes fell upon the reason for the mood.<br />
<br />
Laying on a delivery bed was my wife. My wife has always been stronger than she realizes, but at that moment she looked broken and empty and deeply wounded.<br />
<br />
Just across the room from her, on a warming table, layour baby. Johnathan Michael was born at 23 weeks....too soon for a realistic chance at life 27 years ago. Even then, if we had been a hospital better equipped for such a premature infant...but there was no time. There was no time.<br />
<br />
I remember my wife reaching out to me, calling me. My eyes and my heart were fixed on the tiny little form on that warming table. As I watched I saw his little body spasm and then become still. The nurses would later tell me that what I saw was just a natural part of the death process. I am convinced that I saw my son die.<br />
<br />
Later that day a very wise, compassionate nurse brought Johnathan to us. She had cleaned him and wrapped him in a little blue blanket and put a little blue cap on his head. She brought us an unofficial certificate of birth, the kind you keep in a scrapbook and a camera. She urged us to spend time with him and take pictures of him.<br />
<br />
Those few minutes are some of the most precious moments in my life. We counted fingers and toes, caressed his hair and wept and prayed. The nurses made sure that no one disturbed us in that quiet time. Like the rest of the event of that day, time stood still.<br />
<br />
Johnathan would be 28 years old today. God has blessed us with other children and 19 month later Johnathan was gifted with a brother in heaven who we named Timothy. I can only imagine what our homecoming in heaven will be like one day. But for now I have 6 other children to love and cherish and guide/shepherd through life.<br />
<br />
I have not watched the Planned Parenthood videos. I don't need to watch them to know that abortion is a sickening act that has no redeeming value. I know and have known many women who have had abortions, some of them more than one, and none of them see it now as a good thing. Compounding the issue is the profit motive. It is not enough that America has the blood of over 50 million innocent lives to account for....we now have compounded the issue with blood money. We have taken the lives of the innocent to improve our bottom line.<br />
<br />
Don't give me any of the standard "it helps medical research" reasoning. The truth is that fetal experimentation had never given us any real advances that could not be achieved in other, less barbaric ways. I have a bad heart and diabetes, I know that my own health can be directly affected by medical research, but the buying and selling of fetal body parts is far beyond the line I would draw and far below the worth and value of all human life.<br />
<br />
It is only a short step from disposing of inconvenient children to the disposing of the inconvenient elderly and those who bring no "contribution" to society because of mental or physical incapacity. Our collective memory has forgotten the atrocities of the Nazis against the Jews and the experimentation of the Japanese on prisoners of war.<br />
<br />
In our selfish quest for a "better" life and for "profit" we have become as barbaric as any great villain or fictional monster from the past. God forgive us.<br />
<br />
God save us.<br />
<br />
God save the children.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-35691999821111904192015-06-25T23:23:00.000-05:002015-06-25T23:23:38.450-05:00The Cry of a Broken Heart<b>If you're one of the two regular readers of this blog then you know that I've been away for several months (I believe my last post was written on March 18). When I last posted I had shared with you that our family was working through a crisis that was almost more than we could bear. It seems that we may be finally seeing the end of that long and winding road...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>But that particular road merged into a super highway of more trouble. I will do my best to summarize without any particular comment.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>In March I became aware of additional issues at our church and began the process of ferreting out the truth. Difficult, unpopular decisions were made and there was a massive backlash. It became obvious to me that my position was in jeopardy.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>In April I had a heart attack, my third since 2010. I spent 6 days in the hospital and had another stint placed in a small artery. I returned home on a Thursday. The situation at our church continued to deteriorate and the stress began to grow more and more severe. After being home four days I was taken back to the hospital by ambulance with an apparent heart attack. After another five days spent in two hospitals it was determined that I had not had another heart attack but had experienced what is called an arterial spasm. Additional information about the condition of my heart was uncovered during the myriad of tests and such. I came home on a Friday with instructions to rest through the weekend.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The next Sunday I was informed that my continued performance of my duties was unnecessary. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I had been home two days. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I know that many of you who will read this will not approve of my sharing this information, you will feel that I am damaging the church, my reputation, and the cause of Christ. I want to tell you something; my honesty about my situation will do more to advance the cause of Christ than all the posturing that we do to appear "Christian." The world doesn't need a sanitized version of Jesus, of the faith. The prosperity gospel and the watered down thing that passes for faith today are actually driving people away from Jesus. The world needs to see a Jesus who wept, grew weary, and who gave his life for broken, wounded people like me and every other lost person in the world.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Am I angry? At times, yes. Am I worried? I struggle not to be, and lose that struggle more than I win. Do I wish ill upon those who hurt me and my family? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Honestly: No.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>I have placed my trust in God and believe that somehow He will work all this out in a way that brings Him glory and restores my soul. These past few months have been so very hard, but I know that at sometime, if not in the here and now then in eternity, God will bring justice. My responsibility is to follow Him as faithfully as I can and submit myself to His will daily.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Does this make me a hero? No. It makes me a fellow struggler...It makes me human. A human who needs a love that heals, a love that restores, a love that overcomes. I am a person who needs Jesus.</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-61966185416845965302015-03-18T16:22:00.003-05:002015-03-18T16:22:52.979-05:00Finding a Way Through Pain and FatigueI have struggled with this week's blog. I have started over at least five times and even now can't seem to get my head and my heart to align on a single train of thought. I wish I could say that this is an isolated, one of a kind thing, but anyone who read last week's blog knows that life for me these days is less than picture perfect (as if it ever was). And so I just keep plugging on.<br />
<br />
I learned a lot about perseverance in 1975....yes, that 1975. I had decided to participate in a bike-a-thon to help raise money for the American Heart Association. I badgered all my friend's parents to pledge an amount of money per mile that I rode. Whenever anyone asked me how far I planned to ride I told them that I was going to ride 100 miles. Most folks would look at me as if I was crazy (I was) and say something like "right..." I certainly inspired confidence.<br />
<br />
So the day of the bike-a-thon came and I was there at the starting line at the starting time. The weather was nice and there were a lot of kids riding that day.There were lots of people to ride with ad to talk to. We started the bike-a-thon with a lot of excitement. It was fun.<br />
<br />
For a while.<br />
<br />
The crowds began to thin out about three hours into the ride. As the day went on it became harder and harder to find people to ride with. I was committed to making my 100 mile goal and had even gone so far as to calculate how quickly I needed to make my way around the 10 mile course in order to make my goal in the time allowed. With people to ride with I had no problem keeping up with my time goals. But as the number of riders dwindled it became harder and harder.<br />
<br />
So I changed my strategy. Instead of riding with someone all the time I decided to "hunt" other riders. I would spot another rider well ahead of me on the course and would push myself to catch them within a certain distance or time. But it worked. I pedaled and pedaled and pedaled until I would catch someone or I would set myself a time limit to ride from one checkpoint to another. In short, I just kept pedaling, plugging along, committed to achieving my goal<br />
<br />
And I'm proud to say that I did. In fact, I finished my 100 miles with more than an hour to go in the bike-a-thon. I could have ridden more, but my rear end was really sore and so I went home. As I remember, I was the only person in our local race (and maybe in the whole state of Arkansas) who rode 100 miles that day. And all because I just kept pedaling.<br />
<br />
Perhaps that's one of the most important lessons for me in the midst of all the turmoil of late. I need to keep plugging. Somehow Christians have come to believe that life should be a wide, easy path lined with shade trees and flowers. But that's a lie and couldn't be farther from the truth. Life in this fallen world is hard enough, and when you factor in the opposition that we as believers face from a world that doesn't love us it gets even harder. But ease is not and has never been a mark of blessing or favor. Jesus said that we should expect difficulty. Paul said that he struggled with himself to be faithful. John was exiled as an old man because of his faith. So why do I think I should get a pass?<br />
<br />
If you would allow me to be so bold...we shouldn't desire ease and comfort. They don't make us fit for anything. The writer of Hebrews likened our faith lives to a race, calling on us to strip off the things that would slow us down with following Jesus. Faith is a marathon, not a sprint, and there are few rest stops along the way. The path is narrow, steep, and difficult, but the lessons it imparts are more valuable than any treasure.<br />
<br />
So don't get discouraged, don't grow weary, and most of all don't give up. Brace yourself for the struggle. Look to Jesus and find your rest and hope in him.<br />
<br />
If I can do it, you can too.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-51259692784034217442015-03-10T10:04:00.000-05:002015-03-10T10:19:39.235-05:00I Will Praise You in This StormFebruary started off on a great foot. Late last year I bought a car that was busy growing grass when I found it. We (my son, a good friend, and myself) spent the next three months fixing those things that kept the car from running properly and I was able to start using the car regularly the first of February. I have always wanted one of this particular brand of car, and the day I licensed the car I opened the sunroof and had a "thank you Jesus" party as I drove up and down the road.<br />
<br />
Life was good.<br />
<br />
Then Monday came, literally.<br />
<br />
Our family was plunged into a deep, dark abyss. Many of you know that my wife and I lost our first two children. I do not hesitate to tell you that this crisis rivals those great losses, The rest of February was lost in a deep struggle that was all at once physical, emotional, and spiritual. All of our lives have been affected profoundly by this experience. Each of us has carried an enormous load that at times grew heavier but has not yet grown lighter. And while we are beginning the see the light at the end of that tunnel (we hope), the journey to the final resolution is going to be a long and difficult one.<br />
<br />
Added to the personal struggles have been some professional issues as well. I have heard the work of a pastor described as being something akin to "herding cats" or "pushing cooked spaghetti." Those amusing anecdotes carry a great deal of truth as they describe some of the unique challenges of being a pastor. Please understand, our church has been very gracious and generous towards my family during this time of crisis. But people are people and life continues for all of us, and that means that there were still misunderstandings and conflicts and decisions to be made. Like any family, the church is a work in progress, filled with differing opinions and desires and agendas. As a pastor, I'm trying to herd these cats in a unified direction while I deal with my own personal and family struggles.<br />
<br />
Leading a church is a demanding thing, and I was not up to the task for most of the last six weeks.<br />
<br />
All of this has left me weak and vulnerable and Satan has done his best in these past weeks to discourage me, to steal my joy. I wish I could tell you that I have weathered these storms with flying colors, that I never lost my joy or my confidence or had my faith tested...but that isn't true. There have been times in the last six weeks that I simply lost it. I have had my share of struggles and have voiced my frustrations with God more than once.<br />
<br />
I'm not writing this from the position of someone who has emerged on the other side, but as someone who continues to struggle as we all do. Would you allow me share with you some of the things I am learning/relearning in all this?<br />
<br />
<b>1. God knows where I am.</b> There have been times in the last few weeks that it seemed as if I was all alone. We made the decision not to make the public the nature of our family crisis. We told only a few trusted prayer partners and some church leaders. But for the most part no one knew/knows what was happening within our family. It was hard in those early days to not answer the texts and phone call and other questions that came. Sometimes we must walk a lonely path in human terms. But human loneliness is not spiritual aloneness. God was and is always with us. When I remember this I am better able to deal with the struggles because I know that I am not alone and that I am not the only one who has struggled.<br />
<br />
<b>2. God never sleeps. </b> I have never slept much...but during that last few weeks I have slept even less. Some of my most intimate moments with God have come in the deepest hours of the night. I have poured out my heart to God at 2:30am and found that he was there. When I couldn't share my heart with anyone else, when there was no one there, God was. In what little, fitful sleep that I've had He has watched over me. He has been there.<br />
<br />
<b>3. God cares. </b>One of Satan's biggest lies is that God doesn't care about us. Another is that God is too busy to bother with us. If we believe either of those we will certainly succumb to despair. The truth is that God does care for each of his children. In the midst of our struggles God has proven again and again in a number of different ways throughout all of this that He cares.<br />
<br />
<b>4. God fights for His children. </b>It's easy to lose sight of God in the midst of all the things that happen around us. There are some folks who think that God sits in heaven and doesn't bother himself with us. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I have a word for those who seek to advance their personal agendas at the expense of others...The Lord will fight for those who are his and you will not prevail.<br />
<br />
<b>5. God loves me. </b>Some of you know of my childhood. The hardest struggle of my life has been accepting the fact that God loves me. The past few weeks have resurrected that old struggle. Satan has used these many struggles to whisper that God must not love me because if He did I wouldn't have such issues. That's a lie. The love of God doesn't mean that there won't be struggles, in fact the exact opposite, because God loves us we can expect Satan to do his best to cause us to struggle and doubt. As long as we live in this fallen world we can expect struggle. The presence of struggle is not evidence of the lack of God's love, but His work of deliverance is the greatest proof of his love for us.<br />
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There are so many other lessons that I am learning, but I think that this is enough for now. I ask that you continue to pray for my family and our church. May God be glorified in both.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-84091119934623547622015-02-03T09:10:00.001-06:002015-02-03T09:11:23.738-06:00Forget Sticks and Stones...Names DO Hurt.He looked down his nose at me and with a voice dripping with disdain said "I guess we know who the LIBERAL is in this room."<br />
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That was my freshman year in college. At the time there was probably no greater assault you could make on someone's character, at least at the Baptist college I attended, than to be called a liberal. The truly sad part in all this is that there were students who separated themselves from me over the accusation. The net result of that student's words were a freshman year that was miserable.<br />
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I have another friend from my college days who is about as far removed from me politically, religiously, doctrinally as one could be. His Facebook page is filled with articles and links that spell out his positions on every subject imaginable. He regularly posts articles that are critical of fundamentalists, or "fundies" as he and many of his friends label those on the other end of the spectrum. The problem is, I'm what he would call a "fundie." I believe in historic, orthodox Christianity, the inerrancy of the Bible, and both the sanctity of life and the traditional view of marriage. In short, according to him and many of his other friends, I am the cause of all that is wrong in the world.<br />
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Labels. We decry them at all times but seem ok with slapping them on those with whom we disagree. Liberal, fundamentalist, neo-con, progressive...they are all labels, and they are convenient ways to characterize, categorize and marginalize those who we use them against. Yes, I used the word against, and I meant my usage of it. We use labels as weapons. That's what the first man I mentioned in today's blog meant. And it was effective.<br />
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A label means that I don't have to get to know you or give any real thought to your opinions or positions. I can lump you with all the others with whom I might have a disagreement with. The religious leaders of Jesus' day had a broad label for anyone who was a Jew but not one of them: "sinners." That one label identified everyone who wasn't a part of their particular group. The "sinners" were the great unwashed, the unworthy, the less than blessed.<br />
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I guess, depending on your particular point of view you'd have to include liberals and fundies in this group. Sigh...I just can't win.<br />
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But there is one label that I proudly wear:<br />
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CHRISTIAN.<br />
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The term means "little Christ" and was originally used as a derogatory term against those first followers of Jesus in Antioch (see Acts 11:26). Throughout the years it has become a label, as if there was something inherently evil about being a follower of Jesus. I will admit that much of the bad reputation that Christians has been earned, but even the criticism points us to a greater understanding of the term. If the word had no inherent power to it then our critics would have no reason to slander us so with it. But our critics are correct, we seldom live up to the title.<br />
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Perhaps the greatest compliment that any of us could receive is mirrored in the words of a New Yorker to a member of a mission team I was a part of a few years ago; "You're not like the other Christians I know. You seem like a real Christian." I hope that my life would genuinely reflect Jesus. That's one of the reasons that I'm here on the planet (see Matt. 5:16).<br />
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Let me close this with a challenge to all of us. Ditch the labels. It's hard to understand someone else when you can't get past how someone else has defined them. Let's start listening and discussing our differences with each other. Perhaps we'll discover that "those guys" aren't so bad after all.<br />
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And while we're abandoning the destructive labels that we throw around so easily let's start asking God to give us the strength to live up to the one label that really does count: Christian.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-87225921440666812892015-01-27T10:52:00.001-06:002015-01-27T10:52:38.357-06:00The Bitterest PillDisappointment. We are all far more familiar with it than we'd like to be and very few of us would ever argue that good has come to us from our disappointments. We have allowed ourselves to believe that our lives and the worlds we live in should be places of never ending bliss, free from disappointment or discomfort.<br />
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Baloney...that way of thinking is nothing but baloney.<br />
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The truth is that disappointment is a part of everyday of our lives. None of us is immune from it and the sooner we face that truth and learn how to profit from our disappointments the better. Life is full of pain and all of us experience loss more than we know victory. May I suggest that there is far more benefit from failure, loss, and disappointment than in victory, ease, and comfort.<br />
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In my life I have experienced a great deal of success in a number of areas. I have known what it was to win overwhelmingly as well as scratching out a win at the last minute. I celebrate my victories and remember them accordingly. Yet none of my victories gave me the knowledge or the understanding to become better equipped at handling life. Winning is a temporary high that does little to mold us in the way of genuine success. I have often told my kids in their lives that they will be remembered more for their reaction to disappointment than for their success. I believe that we have overvalued winning. Success is more dependent on character and discipline than on winning.<br />
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So how do we handle disappointment? I cannot speak with great authority because I still struggle with it myself. I want to win every time I step on the playing field or power up the video game with my kids. I still get upset when the backgammon app on my phone beats me at a game, much less a match. That is perhaps the first step, realizing that dealing with disappointment is a process, and it's a step that must be repeated over and over again. What I mean by that is that we come to see our disappointments in the overall arc of our lives. We tend to live in the moment and fail to see that life is not individual experiences but the sum total of all that we are and experience. Life itself is a process, a progression that will not be completed in this lifetime. As Christians we need to understand that we are being made into the image of Christ and that process takes time. In fact, it takes a lifetime.<br />
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Secondly, we need to get over ourselves. Most of us have a grossly overrated opinion of ourselves. We believe that God cannot get along without us, that the world hinges on our very presence. Hubris (pride) is a powerful motivator and an equally powerful force that directs our reactions to situations. I don't mean to burst your bubble, but God can and will do just fine without you (and me). God blesses us by allowing us to be a part of His work. He doesn't need us, regardless of what we think. Pride is a dangerous attitude when it comes to dealing with others and handling our disappointments.<br />
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Thirdly, and certainly not less importantly, we need to examine our motives. I have a habit of keeping cartoons that I find to be funny or thought-provoking, and in a file in my desk I have a cartoon of a man about to sing in church. The caption is the man saying "I don't really care for the words of this song, but I really sound good singing it." Obviously his motives should be questioned. Disappointment often springs from misguided motives. "Why am I doing what I'm doing? is a question that we all ask frequently. When our motive is to advance our image or to influence others to our way of thinking we open ourselves to disappointment. The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians that everything we do should be done as if it were for the Lord (Col. 3:23). Please note that I am not saying that we should not be trying to convince others of the truth or of our strong convictions. The question is why we are doing a particular thing. Are we simply trying to draw attention, approval, or applause to ourselves? Often times prideful, "all about me" people will cloak themselves in "good" motives while trying to obscure their real motives. Such attempts always lead to disappointment.<br />
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Perhaps we would all be better served by remembering that God is in control of all things and that they will unfold in the manner that he has ordained. We are blessed to partner with Him, but we are not essential or indispensable to His work. I believe that when we submit ourselves to His authority and commit ourselves to His glory we'll learn that there is no such thing as disappointment. His ways are beyond ours, and the sooner we realize and submit ourselves to that way of thinking the better and easier we will understand and respond to disappointment.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-34877956016652015642015-01-20T14:50:00.000-06:002015-01-20T14:50:09.768-06:00Settling for Poor SubstitutesLast week it was revealed that the 2010 book "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven" was a work of fiction. The young man whose "story" the book purports to tell made a public announcement that the book was a work of fiction. What should have been a minor story with a short shelf life has become a story with "legs" (a longer shelf life than expected) and with a reach that may include LifeWay, the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing operation.<br />
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It seems that both the publisher of the book (Tyndale House) and LifeWay were made aware of the controversial nature of the story itself some time ago (in the case of Tyndale, a couple of years) and yet chose to do nothing. As with stories of this nature, the truth is sadly hard to discover and we may never really know who knew what about this story. It is a sad thing that Christian men and Christian companies appear to be evading honest disclosure about this matter. (Here's a link to the story: http://www.christianpost.com/news/boy-who-came-back-from-heaven-publisher-retailer-warned-story-was-a-lie-continued-to-sell-despite-concerns-from-mother-christian-leaders-132775/)<br />
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Stories such as this were once the nearly exclusive domain of small publishing houses and those who could afford to self-publish. But Christian media of all kinds has become BIG business. The movie version of the book "Heaven is for Real" made almost $92 MILLION DOLLARS (source; IMDB) and Rick Warren's "The Purpose Driven Life" sold over 30 MILLION COPIES (source: The Christian Post). Yes, Christian media has become big business, but that's not necessarily good news.<br />
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Please note that I have never read "The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven." and will not. What concerns me is the rapidity with which the Christian community in North America is abandoning the Bible and orthodoxy for those things that appeal to a fanciful interpretation of what the Christian faith is all about. I have been a Christian since 1971 and have seen (sadly) a re imagining of Christianity over the last 40 plus years. I remember when guitars and lifted hands were looked on with suspicion. We sang that new song "Pass It On" around campfires as a youth group and listened to music groups that actually used drums in their music! (Scandalous, I know) But through all that we were taught that the Bible was the standard for belief and behavior. We did not worship the Bible, but we reverenced it as the word of God and any time that our opinions collided with the Bible it was the Bible that won the day.<br />
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I don't make any apologies for my stand on the centrality of the Bible for the Christian's life and faith. In fact, I blame the church for much of what the faith has become. When the church became more concerned with flashy services, big crowds and competing with the culture as opposed to countering it we slowly but surely began to drift from our moorings. Please understand that I am not condemning large ministries or new things or modern technology in themselves. I believe that we should use all the tools at our disposal to share the Gospel with those around us. The problem comes when the tools become more important than our message. The Bible was and is and always will be the Word of God and the standard for belief and behavior. We don't have to like it....that's just the way God made it, and everything we do, every tool we use should be held up next to the Bible to ensure that we are in line with its message.<br />
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Closely aligned with the over emphasis on tools is our desire to make the gospel "easier." In our desire to when folks for Christ we have created a gospel that lacks a clear call to sacrifice and commitment. Jesus said that we must be willing to deny ourselves and carry a cross (Luke 9:23). That's not easy and it's not popular in a culture that values individual freedom and comfort as much as ours does. There are those who have watered down that dynamic call to a matter of simple mental assent, an easy believing that really makes no demands on us at all. Those will be the people who stand before the Lord and wonder why God doesn't know them (Matt. 7).<br />
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It seems to me that in the midst of all the Christian books and cd's, movies, clothing and everything else that we have lost the centrality of the hard things that Jesus calls us to do. Being born again is hard and it requires hard things of all who would follow Jesus. Is it possible that in our rush to be bigger and more successful and relevant that we have substituted genuine wisdom for a poor substitute that only serves to tantalize our imaginations and not point us to a true faith in the one and only living God?<br />
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I fear for a church in which popular, relevant, and trendy are more sought after than truth, justice and love for one another and for God. God desires our reverential awe (the Bible calls that fear) and transformed lives. I don't think that he's that interested in unbiblical tales of trips to heaven, no matter how many copies they sell.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-561777581198446912015-01-12T09:50:00.000-06:002015-01-12T09:56:29.854-06:00Celebrating Love<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4640007019043px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>"But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4640007019043px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="color: #363030; font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4640007019043px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." </i>Ruth 1:16-17</span></span><br />
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Thirty years ago today I stood at the front of the First Baptist Church of Fouke, AR and watched in wonder as my soon-to-be wife walked down the aisle. It was and remains the most breathtaking sight I have ever seen. That day culminated an almost four year courtship that, as I discovered, surprised almost none of our friends.<br />
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The years in between have been filled with struggle, tears, laughter, silliness and all the other emotions and experiences that make life what it is. We have walked through life and death together and I can honestly say that there is no one I would rather walk the paths of life with. My love for Lyndra is exceeded only by my love for Jesus.<br />
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The scripture that I have posted at the beginning of this blog is from the book of Ruth. They are the words of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi. Life had been harsh to Naomi and her daughters in law and Naomi decided to journey to her homeland for the rest of her days. Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to go to their homes because there was no hope for them with her. One of them left, but Ruth stayed and her words of love and commitment to Naomi have lived through time as an example of what true love is about.<br />
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My wife has lived these words. The past thirty years have tested us and tried us, but God has sustained us and grown our love for each other in ways neither of us could have ever imagined. I am truly blessed to have Lyndra by my side.<br />
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But the words of Ruth are more than the words of one friend to another, they are a reflection of the love of God for us. God has committed himself to us in the same way. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us...He has adopted us as His children...and He will not permit death to separate us from him. Paul wrote to the Romans these powerful words: "Nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:39).<br />
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There is much, much more that I could write on this subject, but it's my anniversary and I'm going to go and celebrate with my wife.<br />
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Have a blessed day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-84670822377586913852015-01-05T10:01:00.001-06:002015-01-05T10:01:10.876-06:00Starting OverI was an excellent student in grade school...my only poor subject was handwriting, which anyone who ever receives a hand-written note from me will certainly understand. I regularly made straight "A's" and loved school. That excellence continued in junior high, in spite of home struggles.<br />
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High school was another story. To say that I got off to a rocky start would be an understatement. In fact, I barely passed two subjects during my sophomore year. I could probably blame a couple of mismatched teachers or even more honestly a terrible home situation, but the truth is that I am the only one to blame for the difficulty that I had in that first year in high school. But I was able to recover and actually graduated with honors as well as being in the top ten percent of my class and selected as one of the outstanding seniors of my class. <br />
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And then came college.<br />
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The best way that I can describe my college experience is to say that I didn't let college interfere with my education. I applied myself to those subjects that I was interested in and generally blew off those subjects and professors that I didn't care for. As with my first year of high school I could cast blame on others, but the truth is that my poor academic performance is no ones fault but my own. In fact, as I approached graduation (yes, they actually let me graduate) I made the decision not to attend graduate school because I knew that I was not ready for that experience on any level.<br />
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In fact, it took me sixteen years to finally begin graduate school. So much changed in me over that period of time. I married and my wife and I had six children. We were pregnant with children number seven the day we moved onto campus, and child number eight came along during the midway point of our time in graduate school. I worked three jobs to provide for my family during those years. If you would allow me to be proud for a moment. I graduated with the highest grade point of my entire academic career, with only a handful of grades that were less than an "A."<br />
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And I can take virtually none of the credit for it.<br />
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You may be wondering why I am bothering to bore you with this information....What does this have to do with you or the price of tea in China?<br />
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Very simply, this: While my academic career was built upon foundations laid from grade school on, the success or failure of those endeavors had a limited impact on my success or failure at the next level. You would not have guessed during my sophomore year in high school that I would have gone on to college, much less graduate school. And you certainly would never have guessed during my college years that I would ever even attempt to go to graduate school, much less be successful. My academic past was not truly indicative of my academic future. A fact for which I am extremely grateful.<br />
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Too many of us are bound by the past. We can give you an up to the minute rundown of every mistake we've ever made, every failure, every person we've ever offended or let down. We don't believe that we deserve anything good that might come our way.<br />
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But that's not true.<br />
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God loves us with an all consuming, never ending, passionate love that desires to pour out every blessing on us that He can. Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that He makes His mercies new everyday. You see, God blesses us not because we deserve it, but because He wants to.<br />
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Think on that for a minute....God wants to bless you.<br />
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Every day God gives to us new mercies, not recycled, not slightly used, not lovingly worn mercies. He makes His mercies brand new! When He gives them to us they are brand new...never used...never before seen. They are the newest, freshest expressions of His love for us. My worth is not found in my academic success but in the value that God gives to me. He values me enough that He sent His Son to die for me and to give me a brand new set of mercies every day.<br />
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High School was a new start for me, so was college...and to be honest, I didn't do as well as I could have. It wasn't until graduate school that I began to grow into the man that I am still becoming. I am grateful for those new starts and what they taught me along the way.<br />
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God gives us a new start through His Son and then gives us new mercies every day. Not because we've earned them or deserve them, but because of who He is.<br />
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I hope that you'll remember that frequently during 2015.<br />
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God bless you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-16338147215929188362014-12-22T15:43:00.002-06:002014-12-22T15:43:52.777-06:00A Christmas StoryWith Christmas just a couple of days away I want to tell you what Christmas means to me.<br />
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I was 16, in fact it was only a few days after my birthday. My father gave me independence as a birthday present, telling me that he wanted nothing more to do with me. So I did what any normal kid would do...I went to my mom. The problem is: my mom didn't want me either. In fact my mother informed me not two weeks after I moved in with her that she was leaving the state and that I wasn't welcome to come with her.<br />
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Happy Birthday.<br />
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To make a long story short: a family that I had known from church took me in. This family had known me for 6 or 7 years by this time and took the chance that I wasn't some homicidal maniac or Norman Bates in training. The lady who took me in recently told me the story of how tragic I looked as she pulled into my mother's driveway and found me sitting on the steps waiting to be picked up, all my possessions in a paper bag. There was no one there to say goodbye, no one to offer words of comfort, no one even to mark the death of my family. I remember very plainly feeling that I was worthless trash; unwanted by anyone and not worth anything.<br />
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Those first few days and weeks with my new family were filled with uncertainty. I was sure that I would soon wear out my welcome and find myself again on my own. I knew that it would all end soon and I lived daily with the certainty that this family would come to their senses and throw me away as well.<br />
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But the days came and went and I was still there. And along the way something wonderful began to happen. My "dad" (the one who took me in) and I began to spend time together. He and I would stay up late talking. We mostly talked about Arkansas Razorback football and basketball, but we talked. He never yelled at me or raised his hand at me, he just talked. It's funny, but I cannot remember any serious talks or deep conversations, but I remember those talks with such passion that just writing about them brings tears to my eyes as I write this.<br />
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There have been only two times before the birth of my kids that I have cried. The environment that I spent the first 16 years of my life in was not conducive to crying...it got you hit some more. But the day that my adoptive dad told me he loved me (I was a high school senior) I went to the bathroom and cried for at least 20 minutes. The second time was in the car as my dad and I were driving to the store. I hadn't been married very long and we had bought a house. My parents had come to look at it and he went with me to the grocery store. During that ride he told me that he was proud of me.<br />
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No one had ever said that to me before.<br />
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My biological dad died a long time ago. My dad is still alive. I had the chance to spend a couple of days with my parents around Thanksgiving. My dad and I stayed up late one night and talked; just like we used to. His last words to me that morning were "I miss staying up late talking with you."<br />
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I cried myself to sleep that night.<br />
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You may be asking by now what this has to do with Christmas. Christmas is about God loving us. We have and can do nothing to warrant His love, but He chooses to love us anyway. His love is without qualification, without requirement. God gives His love freely and extravagantly. His gift of Jesus is the perfect example of that extravagant love.<br />
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My dad taught me about that extravagant love in those simple late night talks and in the birthday cakes and the Christmas stockings. He lived it out in the meal blessings and the Bible study and his faithful service to his church. But mostly he showed me that great love in the gentle moments and the laughter we shared during those difficult uncertain early days of our time together.<br />
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If Christmas is about giving...then A.J. gave me the second greatest love I've ever known. His love was a powerful picture of the love that God demonstrated at Christmas.<br />
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May you know that love on Christmas day...and every day.<br />
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Merry Christmas.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-71570231305735284742014-12-09T08:56:00.002-06:002014-12-09T08:56:44.414-06:00Counting Down the DaysWaiting.<br />
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We hate it.</div>
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How many of us walk back and forth at the checkout lanes at Wal-Mart hoping to find a line that is both short and quick. Who of us hasn't looked judgmentally at someone in the 20 items or less line who seems to have more than 20 items. Yes, we are not good at waiting, patience, long-suffering or anything else you might call it. </div>
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We want it NOW, if not sooner.</div>
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The sad fact is that impatience is a universal human trait. We all share this impatience and we all display it from our earliest days. The best of us are unable to completely control our impatience and struggle to keep it under control on a daily basis. </div>
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Think with me for a moment of two about impatience...well, actually, let's think about God's complete and perfect patience.</div>
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In Eden Adam and Eve were impatient to know things they were not ready to know. Their impatience led them to disobey God and thrust them into judgment. But God practiced patience when He didn't immediately destroy Adam and Eve at the moment of their sin but instead lovingly and patiently provided for their care and their future (Genesis 3). </div>
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Joseph had dreams that were great and grandiose. His impatience to tell everybody about his dreams led to family strife that ultimately got Joseph sold into slavery and separated him from his family for many long years. But God used those years to mold Joseph from young dreamer to a mature man who was able to understand the purpose of his struggles was the ultimate salvation of his own people (Genesis 38-50).</div>
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Joseph was a good man who faced a hard decision. His fiancee was found to be pregnant, and Joseph was not the father. He was within his rights to break off the engagement and to have nothing to do with Mary ever again. But God sent an angel to instruct Joseph in the wisdom of allowing God's plan to go forth and the Son of God was born (Matthew 1).</div>
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Jesus was facing the longest night of his, or anyones, life. His closest friends and followers had fallen to fatigue, leaving Jesus to struggle with the weight of the burden that he was about to bear. Yet in that dark night Jesus was given the strength to say "not My will, but Yours" and our salvation was secured (Mark 14).</div>
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Between the last words of the Old Testament and the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist (Mark 1) there are roughly 400 years in which God was quiet. Scholars call this the intertestamental period. Others call this the 400 years of silence. </div>
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But silence does not mean inactivity. </div>
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During this period of history God was busy. Busy protecting his people, busy preparing the world for the coming of His Son. By the time of Jesus' birth there was a common language and an empire-wide system of roads that would make possible the rapid spread of the gospel. Everything that was necessary for the proclamation of the gospel was in place when Jesus was born and it was the work of God that made it so.</div>
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You might not like waiting, but God is using that time to prepare you and those who you will come into contact with. He is placing everything for its maximum effectiveness, including you. In your waiting God is busy. When the time is right He will unleash you on a world made ready to receive His message and His messenger. </div>
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Don't see it as waiting....see it as a countdown.</div>
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Are you ready?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-11363746508204148322014-12-02T08:52:00.000-06:002014-12-02T08:52:07.745-06:00One Small ChildChristmas is big. Big decorations, big menus, big trees, big sales, big spending, <div>
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Christmas is BIG!</div>
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Americans like big. We have made a lifestyle of "over." Overspending, overeating, over exaggeration. The "American Dream" has become something more than freedom and liberty, it has become all about acquisition, having more than we need. We super size, king size, and over size everything from cars to houses to food portions to our clothing. And we pay over sized prices for everything. And Christmas has not escaped this uniquely American treatment. </div>
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We want bigger trees, more lights, and larger yard decorations. I simply want to ask if anyone really needs an 8ft. tall inflatable snow globe in their front yard or lighted moving reindeer and sleighs.</div>
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Is it possible that in the midst of all this big have we lost the real meaning of Christmas?</div>
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Mary and Joseph weren't big, important people. Bethlehem wasn't a big town. Shepherds weren't at the top of anyone's invitation list. God didn't announce the birth of Christ on over sized TV screens or on Fox News. If you slow down long enough to read the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke you'll discover that the birth of Christ was a small, intimate affair. </div>
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God deals with us individually. He wants to be in relationship with us. Each one of us is important to him on our own. Our value to God is not based on family lineage or fame and fortune but on the fact that He created us and values us above all things. You are important to God because of who you are, the creation of His hands, and not because of what value you might think you have or whether or not you can be an asset to His plan. </div>
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God loves each of us individually...and that love was so great that God sent His Son to die for us, not in groups, but for each of us individually. That's love. That's Christmas...the gift of God for each of us. None too unworthy, none too insignificant. </div>
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This year I challenge you to personalize Christmas. Spend some time with the Savior. The quiet moments will allow you to see Him, know Him, and experience His glory in a far more intimate and meaningful way than any 8ft snowman ever would. </div>
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Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-9929914054786902702014-11-18T09:40:00.002-06:002014-11-18T09:40:22.772-06:00What Do You Believe In?Abraham kept believing even as the childless years passed. Joseph never lost faith when slavery led to prison. Moses kept walking through a wilderness that was not of his own choosing. David sang even when being chased by a king intent on killing him. Jeremiah kept on preaching in spite of the fact that no one seemed to be listening. Mary and Joseph never stopped believing, regardless of what the town gossips might have said. Jesus set his face to Jerusalem even knowing that a cross awaited him there.<br />
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Each one of those people faced down greater obstacles than most of us. They endured longer than most of us could imagine. How did they do it? Perhaps more importantly: why did they never give up? The answer is one and the same; they believed that God had something better in store for them. Their lives weren't perfect, with the one most notable exception, but they knew in their hearts that God was the true source of their hope. They believed with more than their heads and saw with more than their eyes. When tough times came their faith carried them through. Their faith impacted their heart, and that kind of faith overcomes circumstances.<br />
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If I might be so bold, I believe that most of us, in fact, all of us, play games with God. We are all for faith when faith is about material blessings or bigger ministries or attention and adulation. But biblical faith is not built on or about those things. Faith is about God, period. Faith has its foundation in His character. Salvation is built upon His love and grace. There is no part of faith that exists apart from God. That knowledge should cause us to reevaluate everything about what we call faith in our day and age. The comfort and ease of being a Christian in North America in 2014 has led us not to a deeper more vibrant faith. Faith in our time has become a means to an end for many in our churches.<br />
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But faith is not some magic potion, some panacea that clouds our vision and better judgment. To be blunt, faith is hard work. Our natural inclination is to solve our own problems, to "fix" whatever is broken. Faith goes against that way of thinking. Faith requires that we look beyond ourselves in the realization that we are not the be all and end all. We are challenged to acknowledge that God is greater than we are, and we don't like that. Trusting God is an easy thing to talk about but a very different thing to practice.<br />
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Faith is the confidence that God will keep His word, regardless of circumstances, regardless of feelings, regardless of what anyone else might say. This confidence is not without struggle, but it does have history on its side. Those who possess this kind of faith have earned it. They remember how God has kept his word, they have seen God move in their lives and in the lives of others.<br />
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What they have seen in others has created in them a desire to have that same kind of relationship. They have made a relationship with God a priority in their lives and build everything upon that relationship. These people have never given up on God and have been careful to give the credit to whom the credit is due. They have taken to heart the truth that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2); that He will never abandon us (Heb. 13:5); and that He will complete His work in us (Php. 1:6). These promises have kept them walking, singing and following whether thy understand the circumstances or not. That kind of faith is rare in this world.<br />
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What is faith to you? If your faith holds no influence over your thoughts and actions then chances are you don't have faith in anything to begin with.<br />
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Just something to think about.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-25506152833014832432014-11-11T09:15:00.000-06:002014-11-11T09:15:38.962-06:00When Did Evil Become Stronger Than Us?I have long enjoyed the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. I first read the Lord of the Rings trilogy when I was twelve and soon after discovered his other works. They have kept me entertained many times throughout the years. You will understand my mixture of excitement and apprehension when I learned that the Rings trilogy would be made into full-length feature movies. On the whole I felt that Peter Jackson did a great job adapting the story to film. I own all of the Rings movies and enjoy watching them when I have the time.<div>
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I recently purchased the second Hobbit movie; "The Desolation of Smaug." While watching it again I was struck a line of dialogue that occurs between Legolas and Tauriel; two elves who are pursuing the orcs that are hunting down a company of dwarves. Tauriel asks Legolas: "When did we allow evil to become stronger than us?" The first time I heard that line I was struck by how telling it was for our time.</div>
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It has become accepted practice in the church to ask how our culture has become what it is, and many in the church have begun to ask how it is that the church has come to be in the shape that it is in. We seem surprised that our churches are seemingly powerless in the face of our culture's slide into wickedness, but anything more than a cursory glance at the condition of our churches will provide the answer to our cultural decline. The cultural decline in America is tied directly to the health of our churches. A sick and dying church leads to a sick and dying culture.</div>
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And the church is sick because the church has chosen accommodation and acceptance over devotion and dedication. Since 1960 we have seen the dishonoring of Sunday as a day of rest and worship, the wholesale acceptance of death on demand for those in the womb, the resignation to the idea that "everybody's doing it," and innumerable other social sins. And throughout all of this "progress" (how is it that those who promote sinful, ungodly behavior have been allowed to label such behaviors as "progressive?") the church has grown more and more mute and more and more irrelevant less and less influential. If I might be so bold, I believe that the church has become this way because the pulpits of our churches have lost the power of God. I don't want to disparage pastors, I am one myself, but our pulpits have lost the power of God. Most of the pastors I know are good men who love God, but they struggle with and increasingly indifferent local body that doesn't want to heart the truth as much as they want to have their ears tickled, to be told that they are "special" and that God is all about their happiness and giving them all that they wanted. Whatever happened to dying to self, taking up your cross and following Jesus?</div>
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In short, we don't need more Joel Osteen's or Joyce Meyers'...we need more W.A. Criswell's and John MacArthur's. The American church public may not want it, but they need it. The Word of God contains the only answer to what ails America. Another program, another emphasis, another building or catchphrase or best selling book won't fix the church or our nation. The answer to what we need is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:</div>
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<b><i>and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My
face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive
their sin and will heal their land.</i></b></div>
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We all need to forsake the self-centered, materialistic, comfortable religion of our day and embrace the cross of Christ. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-55859147562874261322014-11-04T07:47:00.001-06:002014-11-04T07:48:49.787-06:00Fiddling While Rome Burns?Today is election day. There is much at stake in today's choices, or at least it seems that way. The control of the Senate is very much on the table and a strengthening of the control of the House of Representatives as well. Lost in all of this, perhaps, is the very important role of the appointment of the judiciary. There is much at stake,<br />
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Yet I must confess a growing pessimism in regards to government. No representative democracy has survived as long as America has - and if the last fifty years are any indication - we may not last another fifty. The political process has been co-opted by those who seek one the advancement of personal agendas and self-aggrandizement. Neither political party has more than a marginal interest in the things of God. And even that interest is little more than a self-serving attempt to gain votes.<br />
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Sadly, the American Church and American Christianity have played a large role in the decline of our nation and culture. The church has grown silent in my lifetime. We seldom speak prophetically concerning the sin of our people or our culture. When we do speak it is with a voice that is so muted by our own worldiness and timidity that no one hears.<br />
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Could it be that the "American Experiment" is failing because the American Church has embraced the American Dream? Are we more concerned with large buildings, public acceptance and overflowing coffers than with faithfulness to the Gospel? Have American Christians become so indistinguishable from the world around us that we no longer exhibit the characteristics of salt and light that Jesus said should be the hallmark of our lives?<br />
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I place the blame for the state of our nation at the feet of the church. Like the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2) we have left our first love and like the church at Laodecia (Rev. 3) we have become lukewarm. We are seeing the events of Romans 1 being played out before our very eyes. Until we arise from our slumber and embrace the cross we will continue to oversee the death of our land.<br />
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Judgment is coming. What will we do?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-72361016482488881342014-10-21T09:40:00.004-05:002014-10-21T09:40:29.328-05:00Would you give me five minutes?I'm not sure what it was about the place that drew me to it time and time again. Perhaps it was the solitude of the place, or the sound of the rushing water, or maybe it was the fact that I was seldom interrupted while I was there. The place was a a refuge for me from a rapidly disintegrating life.<div>
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There have been few places like that in my life since then. </div>
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That place was a spot on a waterway called the Bayou Meto in my hometown. There were a number of us who found the place while on one of those adventures that 13 & 14 year old boys like to have. That great adventure brought us to a wide spot on that creek. There were a number of rocks at this particular spot, perhaps an old road bed that had long been abandoned. We set about moving the rocks in an attempt to create a crossing through the rapidly moving water. We visited there often during that summer, but the fall pushed it farther down the list of priorities and we eventually quit going to "the Rapids" as we called them. </div>
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Except that I didn't forget. I would visit there often in an attempt to get away from the mess that was my life. I would spend weekends there just so that I didn't have to face my reality. But life caught up with my escape and eventually I abandoned that place as well, leaving it to other young adventurer s.</div>
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But I sometimes find myself longing for a place like that again. </div>
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Psalm 46:10 reads "Cease striving and know that I am God" (NASB). Other translations translate the opening phrase as "Be still," but I believe the better translation is cease striving. There could be no better instruction for our busy, distracted, connected lives. As a 14 year old I cherished those moments when I could escape the constant warfare that was "home." As a 54 year old I have to admit that I grown weary of the constant conflict and heartache that fills our world. The only anchor that I have is found in my relationship with God, and that relationship too often gets pushed farther down the list than is healthy for me. </div>
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By nature I'm a fixer. Whether it's cars, small appliances, or spats between my kids, I've always tried to fix things. But the truth is that there are things we cannot fix. Not you, not me, not the. But we just keep on trying, growing more and more frustrated. The answer is to just let go.</div>
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There are things that happen in our lives that we cannot do anything about. Our response should be based on our relationship with God. Children of God do themselves and the Lord a great disservice when we keep wrestling with things that clearly are beyond our ability but are clearly His responsibility. The struggles that fill our lives are far more often beyond our control but within God's ability. </div>
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Beyond that is the issue of all the "conveniences" that are really nothing more than chains that keep us enslaved to a way of life that is destructive spiritually. We fill our lives with computers, cell phones, televisions, text messages, tweets, and a million other things that are of questionable value at best. The life that all of this connectedness gives us is filled with activity but completely devoid of meaning. What we need is to unplug, withdraw, and cease striving.</div>
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If Jesus would regularly withdraw for times of spiritual renewal and fellowship with the Heavenly Father why do we think that we can do without those same types of times? I'm more guilty of that than anyone I know. Will you find the time today to "be still"? </div>
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I'm about to put the phone on silence, turn off my computer, shut my door and spend some time in the presence of the Holy One who loves me. </div>
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I encourage you to join me. I don't think any of us will die from it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-58761888301466665022014-10-14T11:05:00.002-05:002014-10-14T11:05:40.934-05:00If You're Perfect Don't Bother Reading ThisI had just come back to church after my heart surgery in 2010 when I was asked this question:<div>
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"What sin did you commit that caused God to punish you like this?"</div>
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Now that may seem to be a completely inappropriate and unthinking question to ask a man who had only recently had bypass surgery, but it doesn't come close to the following question I was asked after the death of our second son:</div>
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"Why do you think God took your son?"</div>
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I must confess that I did not answer that second question very well...in fact, I unloaded on the person who asked me that question. I have asked the Lord to forgive me many times for my attitude toward the person who asked me that question. </div>
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Let me answer those two questions in the order I have listed them.</div>
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First, it was not a "sin" that I committed that caused God to punish me with heart problems. My heart problems sprang from diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and genetics. My choices, and my choices alone are the causes of my heart problems. </div>
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My sons (our first and second) died from immaturity. That means that they were born too soon in the pregnancy to survive. They died because their lungs and hearts were not developed enough sustain their tiny bodies. It is bittersweet to me that if they had been born today that at least one of them would almost certainly have survived. </div>
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Those questions reveal what I call an Old Testament understanding of how God works. When reading the Old Testament it is easy to draw the conclusion that God zaps people immediately when they step out of line. That's a wrong conclusion, but easy to draw nonetheless. But the truth is something altogether different. </div>
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God is always gracious, seldom pouring out on us the justice that we deserve immediately. I remember a song from a number of years ago titled "God of the Second Chance." The truth is that our Heavenly Father is the God of another chance. I like to believe that as long as there is breath God gives another chance. </div>
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Be even more than an Old Testament understanding of how God works I think those questions reveal the innate ability man has for creating additions to the way God does things. The Pharisees were masters of that....adding to what God says is enough. The sad thing is that Pharisees are not the only ones who do such things. We are all guilty of this practice. </div>
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I was reading an article recently in which the pastor of a large church was talking about all the things that would disqualify someone from serving in his church. My first problem with the article was his constant reference to "his" church. Now I know that I'm majoring on a minor...but I've seen and been around enough pastors to know that some, if not many, have come to believe that they are the ones responsible for the church. The last I checked the church belonged to the Lord and I don't know a single pastor anywhere who gave his life for the church. I know I'm ranting, but I've got a feeling that this rant is probably more true than any of us realize. </div>
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The second problem I had was the apparent lack of grace involved. There are so many Christians who have forgotten where they have come from...that we are all sinners with no redeeming qualities of our own. I've worked in some churches that were like that; unforgiving of any mistake, unwilling to extend grace, legalistic while proclaiming that they are loving.</div>
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Please don't misunderstand me...I am not saying that there should be no disqualifiers when it comes to serving in ministry. The Bible is quite clear about the qualifications. But I am saying that we must be very careful not to take on a responsibility that is not ours. None of us, no one, is the Holy Spirit for another person. The truth is that we are all messed up and that we will be messed up all of our lives. It is only the grace of God that redeems us, not our goodness, real or perceived. </div>
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Questions like those at the beginning of this blog and articles like the one I read recently only serve to fuel the misconception that we have to have our acts together before God can love us or even do anything with us. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves us and has loved us long before we ever thought about our unworthiness. It seems that we've forgotten that fact. </div>
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Maybe it's time to remember.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-85436222608198447802014-10-07T17:13:00.000-05:002014-10-07T17:14:04.664-05:00Michael Phelps and Fallen People Like You and MeMichael Phelps has been in the news again. On September 30th Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence. This was not his first arrest for driving while impaired. Phelps' was suspended by USA Swimming for six months and will miss next year's World Championships. This is a black mark on Phelps' image and reputation that could potentially tarnish him for years.<br />
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In case you are unfamiliar; Phelps has won more Olympic medals (22) than anyone else in history. He has graced Wheaties boxes and made millions in endorsements. But there has been a dark side to Phelps' greatness. There have been rumors of PED use (never verified) and other arrests for DUI. It seems that Phelps' single minded determination doesn't extend to life outside the pool.<br />
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Tragically, Phelps is not the first and will certainly not be the last of our heroes to take a hard fall. There have been many who have followed the tragic arc that Phelps seems to be set upon. The recent spate of stories concerning domestic abuse and NFL players; performance enhancing drugs and baseball players leave us wondering with Simon and Garfunkel: "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?"<br />
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The truth is that Phelps and all our other fallen heroes are all human, just like you and me. None of us are able to overcome the allure of evil. There is none of us who are good. The Bible tells us that no one has ever been wholly good. People are fallen and need help. Yes, I'm going to say it: We've fallen and we can't get up (I'm sorry, I can't help it).<br />
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So before we rush out to condemn Michael Phelps or any other fallen hero lets remember that we are all capable of his transgression and so much more. Perhaps what Phelps and so many others need is not another dose of condemnation, but an understanding word and the gentle guiding hand of one who has walked the path before. Jesus instructed that "those without sin" should cast the first stone.<br />
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I wonder what we could be doing instead of ignoring Jesus' words. Perhaps our witness and our churches would be more effective if we started loving more and judging less. I'm not saying that we should turn a blind eye to Phelps' issues, or anyone else's for that matter. The church, and Christians in general, have become known more for what we're against than for our Savior. But perhaps we should learn to deal more redemptively than punitively.<br />
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At any rate, I will cheer now for Michael Phelps to get back on the right track...and not necessarily in the pool. Will you?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4679422394953293448.post-3541912264436916902014-09-29T12:17:00.002-05:002014-09-29T12:18:18.455-05:00The Meaning and Necessity of ScarsMy body is covered with scars. My first scar came when I was five years old and fell and split my head open. I have scars from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet. I counted my scars once (I know it's creepy) and have over 30 all across my body. I've been pretty hard on my body through the years.<br />
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I can tell you the stories behind almost all of the scars, or at least I how I came to get them. Some are accidents, some are the result of poor and reckless choices, but there is one that saved my life. Starting at the base of my neck and extending nine inches towards my navel is the scar from my heart surgery. That scar is a constant reminder of the fragile nature of life and the gift that God gave me when He guided the surgeon's hands.</div>
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But I'm not taking your time today to talk about my heart surgery...I want to talk with you about what scars mean. So many of us try to cover up our scars, to remove the memories that they carry with them. We all share an aversion to pain, it's written in our genes. But without this massive scar in the middle of my chest I in all likelihood would be here today. The scar in the middle of my chest is no longer a reminder of the pain that I endured but a symbol of the life that it gave to me. </div>
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One of the most difficult things I have ever done was make a trip to the hospital after the death of a church member just months after my heart surgery. He was younger than and I dropped dead going up the steps to his home one evening. I struggled to perform his funeral service and I struggled to understand the "why" of my survival and his won passing. My own scar seemed to constantly haunt me with the what might have been. My soul hurts for him and his family even today.</div>
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But scars carry different meanings, come from different origins. Jesus bears scars. The gospels record for us that Jesus' resurrected body bore those scars. They are a testimony of the power of God's love. That love which willingly gave His life for each of us. Jesus is not afraid of those scars, he embraces them willingly, gladly. He took them into himself so that we might be redeemed. You might say that Jesus' scars display the truthfulness of his claims about himself. Who else but the Savior of the world would willingly receive the scars that proclaim our redemption. </div>
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What story do your scars tell about you? Do they draw you into a life of appreciation and thankfulness for the scars that Jesus bears for you? I have come to be thankful for this one particular scar and am learning to be grateful for all the rest. May they all remind me of the love that truly saved my life.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18443554871779006754noreply@blogger.com0