It Ain't Natural

DateLine (10/26/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

Back when Lou Holtz was still Football Coach at Carolina it became known that he had a list of 100 things that he wanted to do before he died. He had maintained the list over a period of time and at every opportunity was clicking them off. I wonder how many he has left? I have never formalized a list but I do have some things that I’d like to do before I die. As a matter of fact this week I did one and am still doing it. I’m back in Ireland on business this week. Heretofore I have taken advantage of a car service to cart me back and forth. I’ve never driven in Ireland; that is until this trip. Expecting this to be my last trip to Ireland, I decided to rent a car. The reason this merits clicking off a life goal is they drive on the wrong side of the road. Yes in Ireland you steer from the right hand side of the car and you drive on the left hand side of the road; “It ain’t natural.”

I can tell you that it’s been almost forty years since I have had to concentrate so much on my driving. Every driving instinct has to become a conscious thought. I didn’t realize how much my driving had become instinctual until this week. Some people might comment in my case driving is a case of bad instincts but that’s another story. To begin with you find yourself constantly approaching the car from the passenger side (left hand side.) The seat belt is not over your left shoulder it’s over your right shoulder. The rearview mirror is not to your right; it’s to your left. Cars pass you from your right, not your left. The manual shift is on the left, not your right. And just to throw a little curve at you, the accelerator is on the right and the turn signal is on the left like it is in a “normal” left hand driven car.

When you approach an intersection to turn, the cars don’t come from the direction your instinct tells you they should be. If I don’t keep my hand on the shift knob, I forget where to find the shifter. Yes that means I’ve typically driving with only one hand. I constantly have to look for the road markings and signs. And to make matters worse, those markings are not like US markings. One more twist; the country is full of roundabouts (i.e. traffic circles). You guessed it; traffic flows counterclockwise in a roundabout. OK, it’s not as bad as perhaps I’ve made it sound, but “it ain’t natural.” Don’t worry, I’m surviving. It’s actually kind of fun.

The Christian life is a lot like driving on the wrong side of the road. Our every instinct tells us to cross that center line. That’s because our instincts are born of the natural mind. Our intellect has to constantly remind us to stay left. Our knowledge of the rules of “driving” keeps us safe. We must know the rules and consciously follow them. Any lapse into instinct has the potential to cause us great harm. God directs our way through “roadside markings” and marks the hazards, sometimes going so far as to send a flagman to wave us off from danger. It takes our commitment, our concentration, and our discipline. To add an extra dimension of both danger and isolation, in the Christian life, a lot of people really are driving on the wrong side of the road; not the side that we drive on. It’s chaos.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:12-16

Moral of this story: Trust God, it ain’t natural, but it will save your life.

Frustrated Fan

DateLine (10/18/06 – Nanuet, NY)

I’m a frustrated football fan. There is not a single sport that I’ve dedicated more time to watching than football. As I’ve shared before I grew in a football town. On Friday night they rolled up the sidewalks downtown and the majority of the populace was at the stadium supporting the team. I’ve seen my share of college games in Death Valley, dating back to the time when there were no upper decks. I’ve spent many a Sunday afternoon lounging on the couch watching the pro game; equally frustrated. By the way, lounging on the couch is my favorite football watching posture. The only thing missing right now is that big plasma screen with ESPN 360 in HDTV.

A few weeks back, Kyle and I attended the Tiger massacre foisted on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Sitting next to us was a middle-aged couple. The gentlemen I suspect was a High School football coach. I couldn’t help but overhear his running commentary on the game with his wife. It was amazing. As soon as the defense would show their formation, he’d call out how the Tigers would most likely respond by a check-off at the line. 90% of the time he was correct. As soon as the play was over, he’d call the next play. It’s as if he was listening in on the conversation between Tiger Offensive coordinator Rob Spence and the Tiger sideline. An uncanny percentage of the time he would call the next Tiger play before the Tigers broke huddle. Whereas the “coach” sitting next to me was always one or two steps ahead of what was happening on the field, I’m normally one or two steps behind what was happening. I’m straining to watch the “jumbotron” to see the replay or to hear the referee or PA announcer describe to me what just occurred whereas he was describing to his wife in real-time what was happening even before the play was complete. He was seeing things unfold on the field that I just don’t see; not without someone pointing them out to me.

What’s the point? My frustration emanates from the fact that I do not have an insider view of the game. The last time that I participated in a football game as a player, I was in the 3rd grade. I can’t “see” the action on the field today as a fan because I don’t have the nuanced feel for the game that only comes from having been a player or a coach; a first hand participant. I’ve never “played” the game.

Unfortunately there are folks in the church who can’t “see” what’s going on. They always seem to be a step or two behind. Sometimes they “delay the game" because they constantly require someone to announce on the “PA” what just occurred or they’re spending their time straining to see the “replay” on the “jumbotron.” They’re so pre-occupied looking backwards they can’t move forward.

This is where the football fan analogy breaks down. There really is no such thing as a spectator in the Christian “arena.” God expects each of us to be a “player.” The only time it’s OK for us to be out of the game is if we are on injured reserve. And if you’ve checked out His track record in the Bible, it’s very difficult for one of His “players” to stay on injured reserve for long. If you don’t believe me, ask the “lame” man. God’s “players” have a sixth sense for the game which only comes from playing the game and having been coached by the best staff (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) that has ever been assembled.

Out of this world coaches, unbeatable game-plan, fantastic team! Spectator Christian? Get in the game.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us [play] with perseverance the [game] marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

The Power of Innocence

DateLine (10/12/06 – Nanuet, NY)

I’m sure many of you as I did followed the turn of events that took place in American schools over the past few weeks. For a brief moment last week our own community (i.e. Mauldin High and surrounding schools) joined the national story of violence in schools. While it is tragic anytime some deranged gunmen shatters the innocence of one of our schools, the events that played out in the Amish country of Pennsylvania were especially disturbing. Whether we agree with their lifestyle or their theology, the Amish are respected as a hard working, committed, well-intended, and peaceful community. One lone gunman took advantage of their simplicity to storm a one room schoolhouse and foist unimaginable atrocities on the lives of 10 young girls. The story is told that the oldest Amish girl volunteered to be shot first; perhaps motivated to buy time for some of the younger girls. All 10 girls were shot, 5 dead, one not expected to live, and the other four attempting to recover physically but facing a much longer psychological healing. For some reason the images of the solemn processionals of horse and buggies remind Americans of a time in our history not long ago when we all were cocooned in innocence.

If there is a silver lining surrounding the incident, it’s the response of the Amish community to the man who committed the crimes and to his family. One news account struck me as especially poignant. Seems as if a friend and neighbor of the Amish was visiting in the home of one of the families who had been touched by death. The Amish custom is to prepare their love ones in the home for the funeral which is also held in the home. The friend shared that as the mother of the victim was preparing her daughter’s body for burial, “the grandfather was tutoring the young boys, he was making a point, just saying to the family, 'We must not think evil of this man,' " the Rev. Robert Schenck told CNN. "It was one of the most touching things I have seen in 25 years of Christian ministry."

To be honest I cannot imagine being in the place of that family, that grandfather. I will admit that my faith in God and His influence in my life may not be to the level of the grandfather; it should be; I pray that it will be. The elements of this story are incredibly moving. Violence and innocence juxtaposed; delivering maximum impact; all the more significant because this is real people reacting to real evil; not some Hollywood fabrication. If the perpetrator had not taken his own life, I believe that a large majority of Americans would gladly turn their back while the grieving families exacted a measure of revenge; that is the natural reaction.

There is another story told of a similar incident years ago. A corrupt government, egged on by an inflamed crowd, brought an innocent man into a public arena and accused Him falsely, humiliated Him, tortured Him, and finally killed Him in one of the cruelest forms of execution that has ever been devised in a depraved mind. One aspect of this story that makes it even more tragic than the Amish schoolhouse is that His Father had to watch. As life ebbed from His body, the words that revealed the attitude of this Victim was, “Father forgive them.” The forgiveness of the grandfather in the Amish story is powerful, but the young girls were victims of random violence. In the other story, the Victim was a volunteer; He voluntarily took the place of the real culprits.

10 innocent schools girls slaughtered. The innocent Lamb of God slaughtered. Many persons equate innocence with weakness. A gripping aspect of both stories is the power welded by the testimony of the participants.

Pray for the “power of innocence” to indwell your life.

Workers, Critics, Visionaries, and Leaders

DateLine (10/5/06 – Nanuet, NY)

Have you heard the one about the Worker, the Critic, The Visionary, and the Leader? Wait a minute; this is a serious blog, what’s with the joke. OK, let’s get back on track here. An unavoidable fact is that the Church of Jesus Christ is comprised of fallible human beings. For some reason unknown to me, God has tapped humans for the most important job in the Kingdom, that of sharing the Good News of the Gospel, the message of salvation to an entire planet in need. It literally is a life or death responsibility. Let’s focus for just a few minutes on four generalized fallible “persons” normally found in the typical church body. These are not specific people but roles that people sometimes slip into in the church.

The first role is Worker. The church could not survive without the legions of members who selflessly devote themselves to the hard work of helping, sharing, singing, teaching, cleaning, cooking, and many more mundane tasks. The worker is the backbone of the congregation. The local work would grind to a halt should all workers lay off for a week. Matt. 9:37, “. . . he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.’”

The next role is Critic. Unfortunately the unbridled critic is a drag on the church. Fortunately they’re normally in the minority but the decibel level of their pronouncements would leave the casual listener to believe that they speak on behalf of the majority. Nothing is more disruptive in the church than the insensitive Critic. While on occasion the Critic is a valuable asset to the church, the wisdom to know how and when to “share” their criticism is illusive. The Apostle Paul speaks of criticism as a positive motivator when he states in II Corinthians 8:20, “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer.”

The third role is Visionary. The ability to look past the reality of the present to see the possibility of the future is a valuable capability. My suspicion is that there are more visionaries than we realize. People may not have the courage to share future visions for various reasons. The church is a dynamic growing organism; change is inevitable. A clear vision is the path to the future; an embracing of change. God given discernment is required to interpret visions. A vision is a glimpse of the omniscient heart of God and is a powerful force drawing people to God. Visions are how God coaxes the faithful to keep moving forward. “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions”, Joel 2:38.

The final role is the Leader. The Church often suffers for lack of leadership. Leaders are a rare breed. As I contemplate characteristics of leadership I realize that an effective leader is an amalgam of worker, critic, and visionary; that’s right all three. A leader sets the example of work. A leader inspires others to follow by demonstrating commitment and first hand knowledge of the work at hand. A Leader earns the right to criticize but delivers the criticism in a constructive and sensitive fashion. A leader must be a visionary; one cannot lead without having a vision of the end state of the journey. In God’s kingdom leaders sometimes are not immediately recognized, because God has an “upside-down” economy. “[Jesus] sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all”, Mark 9:35.

Shoot high, go for last.