Building Up or Tearing Down

While driving the other day on the major highway that runs through town, I couldn’t help but to take exception to the changes in the business landscape over the past thirty plus years. Much of what used to be is gone and that which remains has either been surrounded into near obscurity or repurposed to serve a different aspect of everyday life. Very few places still hold true to there hometown roots serving the community as they did a generation ago. It’s amazing how long it takes for a new business building to be erected and opened to the public and yet it takes no time at all for the old to simply disappear. It seems with the snap of the fingers the local High School became a parking lot after it looked like it would take forever to build a replacement. A small tornado damaged a couple of favorite eateries, one an almost historic hamburger stand, and poof, one day they were gone. Spring and fall migrating birds are still coming through town, as they have for probably thousands of years, only to find less and less natural landscape to roast on, so cover the parking lots and power-lines after a lucky few find rest in the scarce amount of trees remaining; post-progress. I guess the old adage, “Out with the old; In with the new” will forever be, but I’ve seen some of the old is still better than the new.

[Ephesians 4: 29] Progress is the building up of what exists, not necessarily the show of total replacement with something new. It’s easy to demolish something. It doesn’t take much skill or wisdom to tear down. One doesn’t need to read a blueprint or give much attention to details. All it normally requires is brute force and power. When it comes to the matter of a Christian’s influence on others, the Bible is quite clear that we are not to be in the business of demolition, but edification; building up. “But,” one might argue, “Demolition is so easy.” And, it is! All it takes is a few power words like, “failure”, “hopeless”, “ugly”, “bad”, or “worthless”. There doesn’t have to be any affection or carefully measured words of encouragement. It takes only a few blows of the tongue, even in gossip, to become the sledgehammer blow that shatters a heart. Sometimes the Christian’s influence on others is most effective when one is silent; actions speaking louder than words. A big Marine sergeant was once asked the circumstances of his conversion to Christianity. He told of a private in his company who was frequently harassed by other soldiers for his religious faith. One night the private came into the barracks quit late. It was a very rainy night. Before getting into his bunk, he knelt, as was his custom, to pray. The sergeant said he picked up one of his own boots, heavy with wet mud, threw it across the room and hit the private in the side of the head. The private said nothing. He wiped the mud from his face and crawled into bed. The next morning, when the sergeant woke up, he found his boots clean and polished by his bedside. The sergeant said to the interviewer, “It broke my heart!” Turning the other cheek is not easy (Matthew 5: 38-42). The first inclination is to strike back, to get even, or to seek revenge. The route Jesus urges upon us is the behavior which is more likely to influence the other person for good. May we all give care to what we say and do! To tear down the spirit and worth of another takes no godliness at all. To batter down those already discouraged by troubles is about the easiest task one will ever find. On the other hand, to be a masterful builder of men, to inspire love and dedication to God in those we meet, is to be like Christ himself. Please pray for our country, our representatives, judicial and executive branches of government – and prepare to vote in November.

False Accusations

I am proud to be living in a land of God blessed privileged people under a Constitution inspired by God’s Word granting me life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But, of late I find myself ashamed of the actions being portrayed by the Keepers of the Constitution. A strict Interpreter of the Constitution has been presented to the Keepers of the Constitution who over the years have been dismantling it to suit their style of life. In subtle ways the liberal Keepers of the Constitution have been purposely misinterpreting the Constitution to manipulate and change the lifestyle of righteous God-fearing self-sufficient citizens into a communal anything goes society. What we are becoming is a lawless society that no longer honors the Constitution or God. Sad to say, the liberal Keepers of the Constitution cannot allow a conservative Interpreter of the Constitution to sit in judgment of their actions concerning the defamation of the Constitution. So, they distributed fake news about the Interpreter, hired agitators to confuse and discredit him before the people and even an accuser to destroy his righteous life. What next? Falsely execute him?

[John 18:1-19:16] Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a land far, far away, there came a man to a God blessed privileged people as a strict Interpreter of the Law of God. The present Keepers of the Law opposed his “interfering” with their twisted interpretations and adjustments that they were making to the Law to suit their style of life. Over the years they had added to and taken away from the Law in small, subtle ways, as to make the people think it was all for the greater good. Meanwhile they gained power over the people to a point where the people no longer honored the Law and were afraid to confront the Law Keepers for fear of retribution. The people found favor in the interpretation and teaching of the Law from the One who was not of the Law Keepers. The Keepers of the Law felt they were losing control of the people they had governed for so long, for in their attempt to discredit the new Interpreter of the Law, they found themselves embarrassed by the perfect thoughts and examples He used to bring the Law of God into the light of true life. The Keepers of the Law hated the strict conservative Interpreter and plotted to kill Him. They accused Him of blasphemy because he said he was the Promised One of God written about in the Scriptures. The Keepers of the Law hired an accuser for thirty pieces of silver to take them to arrest the Interpreter. They themselves couldn’t rid the Interpreter of their discomfort, so handed Him over to the Ruler of the land for his judgment. The Ruler examined the Interpreter but could find no basis for the charges that had been brought against Him by the liberal Keepers of the Law. To satisfy the Keepers of the Law the Ruler turned the Interpreter over to some ruthless, godless, vigilantly soldiers who for hours abused and beat Him within an inch of His life. They did not kill Him so the Keepers of the Law insisted that He must die for calling Himself the Son of God. A plan was devised to let the people decide the fate of the Interpreter. Fake news about the Interpreter was distributed and crowd agitators were planted to contort the decision of a prisoner exchange – an accused murderer for an innocent righteous Man of God. The paid accuser had no idea how he was being used until death overshadowed his greed. In his remorseful state he rejected the blood-money and committed suicide (Matthew 27:1-5). Is history repeating itself? The righteous are about to be persecuted for not being liberal enough to add to and take away from God’s Law and live for self only.

Words Can't Hide It

I heard it said the other day that we, the citizens of these United States, have found ourselves in a state of “Constitutional Crisis” and if we don’t do something about it very soon 250 years of freedom fighting will be for naught. In the midst of the underhanded, deceitful, vengeful, deplorable, inexcusable actions being displayed by the “leaders” of this nation over the past week, my heart was so hurt I about broke down and cried to think these same “leaders” are plotting to overthrow the government and nobody is doing a thing about it! Just about the time I thought this sandbox war couldn’t get any worse, somebody went over in the corner and dug up some more cat poop to throw. I’ve been searching for a proper word to describe what I’ve been witnessing over the past ten years and it has to be, “chicanery.” According to Webster, chicanery is underhanded dealing, trickery; verbal subterfuge. “Subterfuge” is a trick employed to conceal something. So, every time they open their mouth to divert your attention away from the truth of what’s trying to be accomplished to protect the Constitution of the United States, they’re sending up a smoke-screen to cover up their real agenda, which is to destroy righteous living.

[Proverbs 12] I’m afraid that unwittingly, we have been a party to lessening the impact of sin in the lives of other people. How so? Through the use of euphemisms. Our society seems to want to dress up nearly every undesirable concept with “soft” and “friendly” words. For instance, getting fired from your present employment is called a “career change opportunity.” Students no longer fail courses in school – they “achieve a deficiency” (it almost sounds like something to be proud of). Everyone has been promoted to the highest standard possible. Underappreciated trash collectors are now referred to as “Sanitation Engineers” and who can stand the deplorable assignment in life known as a “housewife” when one can hold the status of “Domestic Goddess.” Actually I don’t mind the use of euphemisms being used in certain contexts, but I do mind it when we use them in reference to sin. When we lessen the impact of one’s sinful choice by referring to it euphemistically, we are contributing to the sinners escape from the reality of their sin. When we employ words that carry less guilt, we aid people in their attempt to escape facing what they don’t want to face, or that of which they are ashamed. Are we not guilty of doing that? Really? Well, let’s see how you fair with the following: When referring to sin, do you say... * “fib”; “stretching the truth”; “white lie”; or do you call it what it is – a lie? * “affair”; “fling”; or do you call it what it is – adultery? * “living together”; “in a relationship”; or do you call it what it is – fornication? * “gay”; or do you call it what it is – homosexuality? * “news”; or do you call it what it is – gossip? * “risqué”; or do you call it what it is – immodest? * “colorful language”; or do you call it what it is – cursing? * “a little too much”; or do you call it what it is – drunkenness? This is just a sampling of how we lessen the force of sin through the use of euphemisms. You can probably think of many more. I’m simply suggesting that we shouldn’t be a party to removing the guilt a sinner should feel for his sinful actions. We can still speak the truth in love without removing the guilt or shame a person should naturally feel. It’s the guilt and shame that aides one in repenting of their sin. Let’s do our best not to clutter up our nomenclature with post-consumer secondary materials... uh, I’m sorry! What I meant to say is, let’s do our best not to clutter up our language with garbage. Pray, and vote!

What Time Is It, Really?

Political apprehension is building once again as we approach “mid-term” elections this November. I pray you are taking the time to investigate and weigh all the candidates up for election in your community, state and nationally. Maybe this would be a good time to adapt a “Twelve Step” principle that goes like this: “There are two days of the week about which we should never worry or fear. One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and faults and its aches and pains. Yesterday has past, forever beyond our control. We cannot bring it back. The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its burdens and disappointments. This leaves only one day – today. Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It’s not the problems of just one day that push us over the edge. It’s when we add to today’s problems all the remorse of the past and all the dread of what tomorrow may bring that we become overwhelmed. Live one day at a time.”

[Ecclesiastes 3:1-17] What time is it? This question is readily answered by looking at your time-piece or a clock on the wall. You might reply, “It’s eight o’clock”. However, the question I ask here is, “What time is it, really?” In your life if you can imagine a lifetime represented by 24 hours, what time is it for you? Time for a newborn would be 12:01 a.m. At age ten, 3:00 a.m. At age twenty, it is 6:00 a.m. At age thirty, 9:00 a.m. At age forty, it is noon. At age fifty, it is 3:00 p.m. At age sixty, 6:00 p.m. At age seventy, 9:00 p.m. and beyond seventy, it is getting very late. What time is it for you? The Bible says that the days of our years are seventy or eighty years, if we have the strength, and that they quickly pass and we fly away (Psalm 90:10). In light of these facts, the Bible says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). We all should remember that life is fragile and brief (James 4:14). What time is it for our nation? This nation was founded 242 years ago and the founders planned for it to be a Christian nation. They spoke of God and the need for God’s help. They believed that, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34) and the nation is blessed whose God is Jehovah (Psalm 33:12). Our Constitution is expressed evidence of their faith and the presence of the belief in God’s sovereignty is seen all over our nation’s capital on public buildings and in the prayers offered at the opening of sessions of Congress and the Supreme Court. How far we have departed from the intentions of the founders! We have legalized the killing of unborn children; we have been toying with the God given definition of marriage; we are calling good evil and evil good. Time will only tell if there will be enough salt and light to preserve our way of life. What time is for the world? The world is approaching “the end” (2 Peter 3:3-13). The end will be ushered in by the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the destruction of the world, and judgment. Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36); “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42); “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44). So, what time is it? Good question! And here’s some good advice: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...” (Ecclesiastes 9:10); and “...making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). “...now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Following God's Game Plan

Well, it’s September and that spells Football. Personally, I’ve never really been a big fan of football and over the past several years even less so. My wife watches a lot of it on TV, college and professional. I have a whole grocery list of reasons for my distaste of, especially, professional sports. At the top of my list are the few full-of-themselves alpha meism worshippers, which seem to be in every sport, that just have a way of turning my attention elsewhere. Some professionals can’t conduct themselves in a greater manor than an eight-year-old while celebrating or protesting in or out of the playing arena. It’s a shame that with the stage they have to use, they could be using it to positively build up instead of selfishly tearing down. Also, money causes the rule books to keep getting thicker every year; it’s not a game anymore. One more thing: I have a problem with a multi-millionaire expressing to me how oppressed they are in this country. A man once reminded me, “You are who you are because that’s who you want to be.” The Americans I know are happy with who they are. Stop trying to make American’s socialized brats.

[Jeremiah 7:23] Football coaches routinely scout their opponents. The scouting report enables them to develop a game plan that will capitalize on the opponent’s weaknesses and disable or avoid their strengths. A pre-game talk designated to motivate the team is usually planned and delivered. You might say that God has given us a scouting report. He has made us aware of potential problems. He promises us victory. And He has the material for a tremendous pep talk. I can almost hear Him now. “Alright now, you Christians are going to have to be mentally alert and spiritually prepared. It is going to take teamwork to win. No one of you can win the victory by yourself. All of you working together cannot win. But when each of you does his part, I’ll add mine and the victory will be in your pocket. Now I want to warn you the opposing coach is unlike any other you will ever face. If he has not contacted you, he will. He will try to recruit you. He will promise you anything to get you to change teams. If that does not work, he will try to bribe you into throwing the game. Do not listen to any of his promises. He is an accomplished liar! (John 8:44). You are going to have to stick to the game plan that I have given you. Do not play their game. Play your own game (Romans 12:2). Let me assure you that this opponent is no pushover. Winning will be costly. You are well aware of some of our distinguished alumni. You know what it cost Moses to play on the winning side (Hebrew 11:24-28). And you are familiar with how Saul of Tarsus gave up everything for the cause of Christ (Philippians 3:7-10). They were great team players, tremendous leaders, but they were just like you. They put on their pants one leg at a time; just like you do. I am going to reveal the secret of their success. I am going to tell you how you can be what they were. It is so simple it is elusive. Paul revealed the secret to the entire Corinthian team, but not many of them capitalized on it. In fact, not many have capitalized on it since. But I want you to engrave this secret on your heart, on your soul, and on your mind. Here it is in Paul’s own words: ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Now listen to me! I knew Moses. I knew Paul. I coached them both. Neither of them were super-human. They were just like you, but I have to say this, they were better imitators than I expected them to be. All I ask of you is, go out there and be as much like Christ as you can be.” God’s Hall of Fame awaits you.