Posted by David on March 30, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
As I write, I wonder, “Has it only been five days?” For months, constant information bombarded us. It focused on the enormous debate about the justification and essentiality of a war. The debate continued so long it made many insensitive to the arguments. It assumed the atmosphere of an “academic” discussion, not a “reality” consideration.
Then war actually began. Information bombardment from an academic discussion was replaced with military images of a virtually unopposed border crossing. Accidents, not skirmishes, were the danger. The process and progress amazed us.
Then the images changed. Casualties and POWs became reality. The cost was no longer dollars, but lives. The changed images escalated. Many different viewpoints interpreted those images as the entire world watched and commented.
Many American people and many in the church have lived in isolation for a long, long time. Neither as a people nor in the church do we naturally think of ourselves as a part of a world community. We are bewildered when large numbers of people (at times including nations) distrust and dislike us. We are the good guys who believe everyone should be free and prosperous. We are the compassionate ones who are the first to respond to humanitarian needs. Why would anyone not like us?
Both as a nation and as a church, we have enjoyed almost six decades of the luxury of living in isolation. We have nourished ourselves with our isolation. No longer is that an option. No longer can we pretend “that is the way it is.” The world is much too small, and we are only a part of it. We are just one part of a world community.
What does that mean for Christians? A lot! First, it means we must earnestly ask what life is really about. Does God the Creator really exist? Is He really the most important reality in our lives? Must He really determine how we live and what we are about? Is the primary concern of life really what happens after death? Is the resurrection really real? Is accountability really real? Is the judgment really real? Spiritual realities must move from the hypothetical to the real.
Second, we must realize life’s fundamental concern must return to a common truth: death is real. It does not occur on our terms at the time of our choosing. Life is not about lifestyles, entertainments, pleasures, homes, furnishings, cars, careers, or economic security. All of those can be dramatically altered instantly. It is about preparation for death. It is about God’s forgiveness. It is about meeting God after the physical ends.
To waste life is the ultimate folly. To base life on the temporary embraces that folly. It is essential to focus our thoughts on matters we too rarely consider from reality’s view.
Posted by David on March 23, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
It has been decades since so many uncertainties existed in America. Today there are adults who have not experienced uncertainty. The depression was experienced by their great-grandparents. World War II was experienced by their grandparents. The Viet Nam conflict was experienced by their parents. However, their world has been a time of prosperity, of education, of planning for the future, of tomorrows that were improved versions of today, and of living “the American dream.”
Yet, the past few months produced times of increasing uncertainty: shrinking job markets, economic down turns, questionable futures, educational preparations that are slow to produce opportunity, $1.50+ gasoline, the activity of terrorists in America, and forced family separations without predictable reunions.
Pessimism is not my aim. Hope is my aim. Yet, if hope is to be real, it must be based on certainty. It is too human to invest hope in present desires rather than enduring intangibles. Christians urgently need to focus clearly on God’s enduring intangibles.
Constantly I am reminded that anything physical has a short lifespan. Each morning my body gives me that reminder. Trials and struggles reinforce that reminder. When joyful promises of radiant tomorrows turn into bitter disappointments, these reminders become reality. Sickness and death declare anything physical is weak and uncertain.
Then, where is the hope? Depressions cannot eliminate God’s mercy. Wars cannot destroy Jesus’ death. Bad economic realities cannot neutralize God’s forgiveness. Trials and struggles cannot cancel redemption. Death cannot prevent resurrection.
If our hope is produced by leaning on the physical, it will break and pierce us. If our hope is produced by leaning on God’s love reflected in Jesus Christ and His Spirit, it will be our reality in eternity. Christians are not made for the world of wickedness. We are made for the world of the righteous. Remember 2 Peter 3:13?
“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Whatever happens, Jesus still died for us. That eternally declares God’s love and mercy. Those intangibles are God’s changeless certainties. May they be the foundation of our changeless certainties.
Posted by David on March 9, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Have you noticed this about struggles? Others’ problems are “easy” to remedy, but my problems are complex and complicated. Typically, we evaluate others’ obvious, serious struggles. First, we are amazed “that person” has struggles. Second, we are amazed the struggle exists. Third, we are so certain the solution is “simple” that we are amazed he (or she) has not realized this “simple solution.”
Have you ever thought or said this? “He (or she) should not have that difficultly! It is so unnecessary! The solution is obvious! If he (or she) simply had done …, this never would have happened. Even now, if he (or she) would simply do …, the situation would be resolved. I don’t know why he (or she) can’t see that!”
Much of my life is spent (a) encouraging individuals who endure struggles or (b) trying to help individuals increase perspectives as they seek to overcome struggles. I learned several enormous lessons that I frequently must “relearn.”
(1) Every situation has more than “one side.” Two or more people can look at the same situation, be honest with the facts and the circumstances, and come to totally different conclusions. ALWAYS more than the “facts” are evolved. Each person’s perception of those facts is powerful and essential. When a person thinks it, he (or she) believes it. If he (or she) believes it, to him (or her) it is true.
(2) Pain is pain. No matter how distorted perceptions may be, if he (or she) hurts, the pain is real. Because the pain is real, the solution never is found in one of these declarations: “Just get over it and grow up!” “Stop feeling sorry for yourself!” “You made your bed; lie in it!” “It is not that big a deal!” “Save self-pity for real problems!” Minimizing suffering never produces solution.
(3) If you want to encourage or help, do not give advice. Listen. Help a person see “the unnoticed.” Guide him (or her) to increased awareness. Share, if you are willing to identify with the person’s traumatic experience, he (or she) has reason to bond with you. Yet, NEVER FORGET, it is his (or her) choice, not yours. Do not make choices for him or her.
(4) Refuse to play the blame game. Refuse to assign blame. Knowing “whose fault” it is or “what percent of the fault lies where” solves nothing. People seriously interested in resolving crisis lose interest in blame. Blame commonly seeks self-justification. Solutions are concerned about recovery.
(5) In any real, continuing solution, the greatest single factor is the God factor.
Ephesians 3:20,21 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Be part of the solution. Care, but do not gossip. Never be a “know it all.” We don’t.
Posted by David on March 2, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Few weeks pass in my life that I do not grieve because of my struggles, struggles in my extended family, and struggles in God’s family. I do not know anyone who has no personal struggles. So many tragedies! So much hurt! So much evil! He or she who dares follow Jesus is deceived if he or she is confident that is the way to escape struggles!
Evil is as real a force in this life as is godliness. In this world, the clash between the forces controlled by evil and the forces controlled by God is quite real. You and I are the battleground. When Paul stressed to the Christians at Ephesus the importance of being prepared for this clash, he reminded them in Ephesians 6:12:
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
American Christians find it extremely difficult to realize that physical existence is not about experiencing an earthly “good life.” We question why our dedication to an earthly “good life” has undesirable effects on our children. We wonder why faith in God is not a guaranteed route to an earthly “good life.” Then when evil happenings distress our lives, we really are confused. “Isn’t that impossible? Doesn’t faith in God prevent that?”
James urged Christians not to blame God for evil happenings. Not even the temptation to do evil comes from God. Our struggle with evil originates in us, not in God.
James 1:12-16, Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
John reminded Christians in 1 John 4:4:
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (Thanks for the reminder, John!)
Each of us may be part of the battleground, but each of us decides who wins the battle on our piece of the battleground! When trials come, persevere! On your piece of the battleground, allow God to reign! In your life, allow God to be a bigger influence than evil!
Posted by David on February 23, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Are the moments ever uncertain! An orange alert indicates a terrorist attack is a serious possibility [maybe]. Economic struggles suggest some businesses will not survive [perhaps]. The deployment of men and women place lives and families at serious risk [sometimes]. Add to those question marks the loss of jobs, rising family crises, mounting loads of indebtedness, and a myriad of moral struggles, and uncertainty definitely seems to characterize the emotional climate of right now.
If terrorists attack, can Christians suffer and be killed? Yes. If businesses fail, can that include some Christians’ businesses? Yes. Can deployments include Christians? Yes. Can a Christian lose his or her job? Yes. Can Christians experience family crises? Yes. Can Christians burden themselves with debt? Yes. Can temptations lead Christians into moral crises? Yes.
Then what is the use of being a Christian? If we regard Christianity to be a form of a spiritual insurance policy, there is no reason to be a Christian. If the primary reason for our being Christian is a desire to purchase a spiritual insurance policy to protect us from “bad physical things” occurring in our lives, we have no godly reason for being Christian. Following Jesus Christ does not prevent struggles. Jesus never promised that protection.
People must become Christians because they believe in Jesus Christ’s resurrection. They must become Christians because they believe their resurrection will inaugurate a new existence in a righteous world free from struggle. They trust God’s promise of strength as they struggle in this world until they are a part of His world. They should not and must not become Christians because they consider it a form of “physical struggle prevention” in this existence.
Paul encouraged struggling Christians in Rome with this statement in Romans 8:18:
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
A few sentences later, Paul made this statement to those same struggling Christians (Romans 8:23):
“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”
We, as Christians, reflect God as we endure physical struggle because we wish to live with God where there is no struggle. With God’s strength and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we shall!
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Posted by David on February 16, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
These are the “times of insignificance.” “What are ‘the times of insignificance’?” In my life time there was the feeling that “one person made a difference.” Remember this statement: “for the lack of a nail, a war was lost”? A nail was lost from a horse’s shoe. The horse lost the shoe and became lame. It was a chain reaction: a lost nail, a lost horseshoe, a lame horse, an essential message not delivered, a battle lost, the war shifts, and eventually the war is lost. The message: “An insignificant person is important!”
This sense of “personal importance” has seriously eroded. Horseshoes, horses, hand delivered messages, etc., belong to past, personal eras. The “now” era is impersonal. Too often commitment to employees is replaced by profits. Too often personal loyalty to a company is replaced by dollar signs and benefits. Too often “until death parts us” is replaced with “until life bores me.” Too often friendship is temporary and “me centered.” Too often guarantees are momentary understandings intended for now.
We are overwhelmed by a sense of personal insignificance. Often a person feels like an impersonal number in a lengthy list of impersonal numbers. Often a person feels like an expendable commodity. Often a person feels used, violated, or taken for granted. Often a person feels like a small voice in a noisy room. Thus each easily can feel a sense of utter futility because “I am just one–and what can just one do?”
God built the nation of Israel starting with just one [Abraham]. In transitioning a large family into a people, God used just one [Joseph]. When God gave this people a law, He used just one [Moses]. When God gave this people a land, He used just one [Joshua]. When God revived this nation, He used just one [David]. When God warned this nation of the consequences of their choices, He often used just one [the prophets]. When God gave the world a Savior, He used just one [Jesus]. When God informed non-Jewish people of that Savior, He sent them just one apostle [Paul]. What a collection of “just one’s”! A nomad! A prisoner! A traitor! A former slave! An outcast! The unpopular! The rejected! The murderer! Who could use that bunch to change the world? God did!
Jesus described the beginning of God’s kingdom as a mustard seed, a small amount of yeast, a hidden treasure, etc. God functions by using the small in unexpected ways! What God can do with just one when that one has God’s values, lives by God’s morality, and is dedicated to God’s love, compassion, and forgiveness is incredible.
God did not say, “Change society.” That is His business. God says, “Have enough faith to be My ‘just one.'” Do you have the faith to be God’s moral person living by God’s values as God teaches you how to love, be compassionate, and forgive? Do not worry about changing society. Trust God to do that. Merely be what He desires–be a person of faith in Jesus who is God’s “Just One.” It is a matter of faith, not a matter of significance.
Posted by David on February 9, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
The past several weeks I find this thought to be common as my week begins. “I wonder what totally unexpected happening will become a part of this week’s awareness?” Every week it seems jobs are lost. Every week we hear of someone we knew who died unexpectedly. Every week we hear of someone strong in faith experiencing personal struggles. Every week we learn of a family in crisis. Every week the news from North Korea is increasingly serious. Every week we are reminded the Afghanistan war is real. Every week indicators suggest we move closer to war with Iraq. Then something occurs like the Colombia space shuttle exploding in its attempt to return to earth.
Doom and gloom? No. Sobering? Yes. For years we were so comfortable in our lives, so comfortable in our faith, so comfortable in our plans, even so comfortable in our anticipated futures that we tended to be blind to reality. We defined security in terms of possessions and lifestyles. We defined God’s promises and blessings in terms of our material desires. We defined relationship with God in terms of affirming the correct practices as we followed the correct system.
Disappearing jobs, disappearing lives, disappearing strengths, disappearing relationships, disappearing peace, and the unexpected confront past tendencies. If we are not careful, when such confrontations assault our past tendencies they also assault our faith. If we are not careful, such assaults on our faith quickly become assaults on our relationship with God.
Consider these reminders repeatedly stressed throughout the Bible.
1. God is the only certain reality. Nations rise and fall. Cultures rise and fall. Societies rise and fall. Leaders rise and fall. The strong rise and fall. The wealthy rise and fall. Those who live for pleasure rise and fall. The God Who created endures. He was before this world began. He will remain when this world ends. Wise is the man or woman who is in relationship with God.
2. Relationship with God promises the strength to endure struggles, not freedom from struggles. Abraham lived in dangerous situations. David fled to the wilderness. Jesus was a target. Paul faced unimaginable hardships. Yet, each found the strength to endure from a relationship with God.
3. The greater our dependence on God, the greater is our strength from God. Paul thought his effectiveness in his God-given mission significantly would improve if opposition ended. If God removed his opposition, he could get so much more done for Christ! The Lord’s response: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Lord’s way of looking at Paul’s situation totally changed the way Paul saw his situation. “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (above verse).
4. Never forget the goal is to follow Christ as you place life in God. Never forget that you are in this world, but not of this world.
Posted by David on February 2, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
A common challenge faces each of us as individual Christians and all of us collectively as a congregation of Christians. This challenge causes each of us to struggle as a person in Christ and as a part of a congregation dedicated to Christ. What challenge? It is understanding that the questions of “who we are” and “what we are” are different questions. To treat the “who” and the “what” questions as if they are identical questions is to invite painful crises into our spiritual objectives.
Look at the “who” question from the all too common view of “who” we say we are. The problem is created when our dedication to “who we say we are” differs from our dedication to God’s objectives in His people. If we are not quite careful, human determinations of “faithfulness” may be based on our concerns instead of God’s concerns. Giving “approval” may be more concerned about our standards than God’s standards. It may have more focused on “our” criteria than God’s forgiveness and mercy.
An example? Sometimes we can be more concerned about being “Church of Christ” than we are concerned about being Christian. Question: “Speaking religiously, who are you?” Answer: “I am Church of Christ.”
It is impossible to imagine Peter, Paul, Silas, Timothy, Titus, Lydia, Philip’s daughters, Phoebe, Dorcas, or Aquila and Priscilla spiritual identifying themselves as “Church of Christ” to those inquiring about their spiritual identity. It is biblical to imagine each of them referring to themselves as Jesus Christ’s disciples, saints, those redeemed by Jesus Christ, those “called out” by God through Jesus Christ, or Christians.
Today those who are dedicated to being “Church of Christ” frequently identify themselves by referring to “Church of Christ” things and ways. Those things and ways may or may not be God’s things and ways.
We have a rich, wonderful spiritual heritage. That heritage is based on seeking to be God’s people and seeking salvation in Jesus Christ’s atonement. It is a heritage that has been unafraid to understand the Bible. It is a heritage that began as the commitment to be “Christians only.” It is a heritage that not only was willing to examine God’s full teachings, but a heritage that was willing to make spiritual corrections when God’s objectives were better understood. It is a heritage that always placed ultimate and final leadership in God’s hands as He directed us through Jesus Christ.
To understand what we are, a person must know who God is, who Jesus Christ is, who the Spirit is, and the message of the Bible. Never be content to be “Church of Christ.” May your life’s objective in all its aspects be this: “I am a Christian. That is all I want to be. I want God through Jesus Christ, His Spirit, and His word to control my life.”
Posted by David on January 26, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
What New Testament people’s ability to trust God provide you strength? Do they include these people? Zacharius and Elizabeth, the elderly parents who gave life to John who baptized? Wonder if they were alive when their only son was executed? Mary, Jesus’ mother, who conceived him prior to marriage? Her husband, and the son she conceived, died before she did. John, the man Jesus said was the greatest person ever born (Matthew 11:11)? He was beheaded. Jesus, God’s son, the Messiah, the Christ? He was crucified. Peter, the apostles’ leader? He was crucified upside down. Paul, Christ’s apostle to non-Jewish people? He was beheaded.
Were Zacharius, Elizabeth, Mary, John, Jesus, Peter, Paul, or others like them weak people? No! They lived their lives in surrender to God’s will with confidence in God’s purposes. If those purposes included having a child when you were elderly, so be it. Elizabeth found it embarrassing, but so be it.
If God’s purposes included conceiving a child as a virgin (which few believed), so be it. Mary responded, “Behold, the female slave of the Lord …” (Luke 1:38).
If God’s purposes included his execution, so be it. John understood the risk he took before he declared the condemnation that eventually resulted in his execution.
If God’ purposes included crucifixion, so be it. It was not what Jesus wanted, but he still surrendered to “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:39).
If God’s purposes included death, so be it. Tradition says Peter requested an upside down crucifixion because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus did. Paul said, “I will continue to be poured out like God’s drink offering …” (2 Timothy 4:6).
Weak in faith? No, strong in faith! Define strength. They were strong enough to give children to God’s purpose, strong enough to die by execution. How did they measure faith’s strength? How did they measure God’s blessings? By homes, careers, jobs, prosperity, or the “good life” they lived? No. They measured God’s blessings by their usefulness to God’s purposes. The highest blessing God granted them in physical life was using them to accomplish His purposes.
Christian men or women who measure God’s blessings primarily by the material, primarily by the physical, primarily by living standards, primarily by health, primarily by what happens in the lives of loved ones lean on a sword with its point directed toward their heart. God’s priority blessings are not material or physical. Now God’s priority blessings are forgiveness, redemption, atonement, holiness, purity, and spiritual life. God’s priority blessing after physical existence is eternal existence with Him.
“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Posted by David on January 19, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Two people discussed a “normal” adult who is in the worst condition to be experienced. Can you resolve their dilemma? Which condition do you consider the worst?
First, they discussed the deplorable condition of the arrogant person. The arrogant are easily self-deceived. It is highly probable that the primary source for arrogance comes from specific self-deceptions. Arrogance commonly arises from two sources. Either the person is genuinely convinced he or she is superior to other people, or the person seeks to hide a sense of insecurity. Either he or she tolerates others because “my superior awareness knows and understands more than you do,” or he or she “must know and understand more than others” to evade a sense of insecurity. Arrogance is an awful master who does ugly things to its slaves!
Second, their discussion turned to the ignorant person. Ignorance does terrible things to differing types of people. Some are subjected to enormous suffering and pain in life simply because of ignorance. Others are confident their trustworthy awareness enlightens them, but their understanding is dim. Others, confident in their insights, challenge people to accept their perspectives while never realizing their unfounded assumptions. Ignorance convinces those blinded by darkness that they see. It cruelly betrays its slaves!
Third, their discussion turned to the self-centered person. A truly self-centered existence is the highest form of selfishness. The universe rotates around “me.” Relationships are about “me.” Involvements must please “me.” Commitments must be to “my” advantage. Everything must benefit “me” first and foremost. In each consideration of life, “I” must be first. If “I” do not enjoy it, if it is not fun for “me,” if it does not serve “my” purposes, count “me” out! A self-centered existence sees life through narrow, restricted glasses. If “I” am not prominent in any field of vision, something is fundamentally wrong with the view. Self-centeredness makes one a slave to poor sight!
Which is the worst state of existence: arrogance, ignorance, or self-centeredness?
May I suggest another consideration? Any condition preventing a person from depending on God is the worst state of existence. Likely all of us are afflicted with a degree of arrogance, a degree of ignorance, and a degree of self-centeredness.
God is the only One who can see us accurately for who and what we are and still love us. He accurately can see our arrogance, ignorance, and self-centeredness, and still love us enough to maintain a relationship. What disaster for anyone to separate self from the only One who can know us for who and what we are, and still love us!
