CRBC Reference Point

Remembering the Needy

2006-12-20T15:39:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/20/06 – Green Pond, SC)

Christmas is a time to remember the needy. From bell ringers outside Wal-Mart to increased editorial coverage in the news, we’re reminded of the plight of the disadvantaged. To the credit of our country, the US responds and sets the standard for charitable contributions. According to the archives of the Washington Post, Americans gave ~$248.5 billion in 2004. Churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious entities received the largest share -- more than $88 billion.

For Southern Baptists, the Christmas season has been connected with missions as long as I can remember. For several generations an annual appeal has been made to the benefit of our International Missions work. In September of 1887 a woman with a funny sounding name, Lottie Moon, wrote a letter from her mission post in China suggesting a need for improvement in how Southern Baptist was funding missionaries. In December of that same year, the letter was printed in the Foreign Mission Journal. That single letter is credited with providing the impetus for the creation of a Southern Baptist offering to support international missions, which later became the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® for International Missions.

Unfortunately the Lottie Moon Christmas offering is becoming a generational thing. Many younger persons in the church are not as familiar with the offering or in fact Lottie Moon herself because we have been remiss in recent times of emphasizing this great cause. In the words of Lottie herself from the “letter that started it all,” “we shall continue to go on in our present ‘hand to mouth; system. We shall continue to see mission stations so poorly manned that missionaries break down from overwork, loneliness, and isolation; we shall continue to see promising mission fields unentered and old stations languishing; and we shall continue to see other denominations no richer and no better educated than ours, outstripping us in the race. I wonder how many of us really believe that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’?

Need it be said, why the week before Christmas is chosen? Is not the festive season when families and friends exchange gifts in memory of The Gift laid on the altar of the world for the redemption of the human race, the most appropriate time to consecrate a portion from abounding riches and scant poverty to send forth the good tidings of great joy into all the earth?”

In 2005 we collected almost $140 millions dollars. Our collective goal for 2006 is $150 million. 100 percent of the offering is used in the overseas budget to support missionaries and their ministries. The offering is spent in support of over 5000 missionaries and special projects designed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. I had a pastor years ago who challenged me to spend more on my gift to Jesus at Christmas than any other single gift to others. I can think of no better way to make that gift than to direct it toward the annual Christmas offering which bears the name of Lottie Moon. The greatest need is the need for Jesus.

For more information see http://www.Imb.org/lottiemoon.

The Angels Rejoiced

2006-12-13T21:35:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/13/06 – Nanuet, NY)

Ah, the Christmas season; countless cantatas, nativity scenes, carols, dramas; which thrust the essential elements of the first Christmas into the consciousness of harried patrons. The Virgin Mary, Joseph, the Christ child, shepherds, the manger, and Wise Men; the icons of the season. Why has this story persisted at the forefront of our culture for a couple thousand years? The inevitable conclusion is that this was a significant event in world history. God, who always had been involved in the events of mankind, inserted himself physically into the human experience via a tiny baby in a way unlike any other. History was altered. Nothing reflects this more than the fact that our present day calendar is hinged around the birth of Jesus (i.e. BC vs. AD). Regardless of one’s religious persuasion the Christmas story is a fascinating historical event. Even now, 2006, a first-run movie is in the headlines; yet another recounting of the story (i.e. The Nativity).

As I contemplated the first Christmas something struck me that I had never before considered. As a matter of fact, I’ve never heard it mentioned although as I now reflect upon it, it may be the most consequential aspects of the Christmas story. I’m not referring to the fact that the birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy. I ‘m not discounting that the birth of Christ was the formal beginning of a solution for the sin problem of mankind.

The fact is God had voluntarily reduced Himself to one of the most dependent and vulnerable states known to humanity; that of a newborn baby. God, who embodies the very creative and sustaining force of the universe, packaged Himself in such a way that He was physically dependent upon an uninitiated teenage mother. While this is an absolutely remarkable event; even this is not what energized my reflections. Think about this; at one time in history, man enjoyed a special relationship with God. In the beginning, God and man had a special relationship. The Bible says that God walked in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day (Gen. 3). That all changed when man disobeyed God.

The aspect of the Christmas story that caused the Angels to Rejoice, the shepherds to race to the manger, and the Wise men to travel from afar was the “touch of a mother.” You see, for the first time in thousands of years, mankind (i.e. Mary) physically embraced God. Mary held God in her hands. Intimacy was restored between man and his Creator. The purity of the moment, the innocence of the moment, and the significance of the moment is symbolized by a newborn being gently caressed by a new mother. Not long afterwards He was gone as abruptly as He entered; crucified on the cross.

This is not the end of the story. While we do enjoy the indwelling Helper (i.e. the Holy Spirit) to sustain the intimacy of the Christ child within us, we have the promise that one day He will return for us. There is no doubt in my mind that each of us will enjoy the same dynamic played out in touch between Mary and the baby Jesus; we will have the awesome privilege to physically embrace God.

Think about it . . . . then raise your hands toward heaven!

Never Give Up

2006-12-07T05:45:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/06/06 – Nanuet, NY)

When I began my college experience at a small liberal arts school there were two classes of Freshman General Chemistry. As I remember it about half of those students were declared Chemistry Majors (~ 20 students). Four years later only four of us walked across the stage at commencement as degreed Chemists. Over 30% of college students leave after the first year and almost 50% never graduate, according to the Department of Education as documented on http://www.youngmoney.com/. This statistic is consistent with my observation. Most of my peers did not flunk out, they dropped out or quit.

Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States once said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Most long term human endeavors suffer from lack of persistence. Persistence is one of the most undervalued character traits. God saw fit to challenge us via the book of Hebrews to exhibit persistence in 12:1; “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 run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” It’s clear that a part of the human challenge is to press on even when we’d rather just drop by the wayside.

As a parent one of the some of the most important traits that I can model is persistence. My cue to model these traits is the Father. We don’t think of the Christmas story of one of persistence but it is. From the beginning, God planned a rescue of creation. Through thousands of years He stuck to the plan. About two thousand years ago the pace of the plan quickened; God became a man. The plan is still on track today. Christmas is a reminder of the persistence of God. There are no carols that echo the words; doggedness, perseverance, persistency, tenacity, tenaciousness, and pertinacity but there should be.

This Christmas as you see the lights, hear the carols, and prepare for family gatherings let it remind you of the persistence of the Father.

Ready For Worship

2006-11-29T20:56:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/29/06 – Nanuet, NY)

It was the Saturday night ritual; pull out the shoe shine box, shine the shoes; find the Sunday School quarterly, read the Sunday School lesson, and lay out the Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, offering and Bible ready for the next day. I suppose It was born out of necessity given that their were three children in the family; an attempt to diffuse the chaos that surrounds a normal Sunday morning by virtue of night before preparations. The practice too was formed by the era; a time when one was expected to wear “Sunday best” to church and to do your part so that your Sunday School class grade would be high. 100% didn’t just mean that you showed up; it meant that you were in Sunday School, intended to stay for preaching, brought your Bible, contributed an offering and made an outreach contact sometime during the week. When they said Sunday “School” they meant you got a grade. You did not want to be the one who prevented your class from being 100%. To this day I tend to check my shoes on Saturday night to see what kind of shape they’re in for Sunday. So the ritual consisted of one part appearance, one part spiritual, and one part practical.

What’s to be learned from the old fashioned way of Sunday School preparation? There is merit to the concept of preparing for church services prior to the event; especially worship. I can tell you from experience that when I reverently review the providential care afforded to me by the Father during the week just ending and I think ahead in anticipation of a day of worship on Sunday, the quality of my Sunday experience is enhanced. It is inevitable that reflecting on God’s reach to and provision for us reminds us of the sin that lurks within. When our personal evil is exposed, the only response is to bow our spirits in confession. When we confess we move close to God. When we are close to God our understanding of God’s revelation is magnified and gratefulness oozes from us. There is no doubt in my mind that our time together on Sunday morning is dulled because many of us are in recovery from the night before.

It is not my primary interest to simply encourage you to make better preparations for your Sunday worship. There is a greater need during the Holiday season that is before us. God began to prepare for Christmas from the beginning of time. Prophecy foretold of the Christ child to be Savior. Centuries of anticipation made ripe the reception of the Incarnate for those whose who were watching. The journey of the Wise Men was months in the making; gifts were procured in advance; culminating in worship of the new “King.” Even the humble parents; Mary and Joseph; anticipated the birth of Jesus for months. For me it is very easy to rush, heads down, right to the day of Christmas; pre-occupied with the routines of life. By experience I have found that this sacred season commemorating the birth of the Savior of mankind can be overshadowed by ritual, imposed expectations, commercialism, and my own lack of preparation.

What did my childhood Saturday night ritual teach me that can be applied during the Christmas season; prepare, anticipate, and participate. Time spent with family, exchange of gifts with the familiar and the needy, reflection leading to thankfulness and a recognition of blessedness; these are all preparations for the season of Christmas.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6.

Don’t let the self-absorption of “Saturday night” overshadow the celebration of “Christmas morning.”

Asleep Sitting Up

2006-11-22T21:42:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/22/06 – Green Pond, SC)

The Thanksgiving Holiday news is filled with the travails of travelers. Seems as if almost 30 million persons in the US are expected to travel at least 50 miles or greater to visit family this holiday season. Almost 3 million are expected to travel by airplane. This fact alone is the primary reason why I am not traveling this week. This is the week of the “infrequent” traveler.

One of the requirements of traveling as I do is the need to catch a few winks whenever the situation presents. 6:00 AM flights become an opportunity to make up sleep lost during the short night. Delayed, missed or canceled late night flights force one to create “beds” in busy public airports. It’s a survival skill for the road warrior although travel sleep is never as good as sleeping in your bed. As a matter of fact, it’s hardly ever horizontal. I am here to declare that I have perfected the art of sleeping sitting up. I’m not sure if it’s an acquired skill or a result of chronic sleep fatigue; I simply drop my head and in an instant I’m counting sheep. I have slept in many an airplane seat. I have slept during morning flights, mid-day flights, and evening flights. I have spent the night in airport waiting areas with strangers. I can tell you from first-hand experience that spending the night in the Philadelphia airport is a scary event.

Church statisticians tell us that almost 70% of churches in the US are plateaued or declining; this at a time when the enemy is aggressively pursuing his agenda in the culture. Near the end of Jesus’ life, as His humanity was struggling with the prospects of His impending death and alienation from the Father, He invited His two closest friends to hang by His side in the Garden of Gethsemane. At His greatest point of need, the persons that He had personally chosen to spend His most intimate time with on earth wilted; they fell asleep.

The parallels between the scene from Gethsemane and the condition of the contemporary church are striking. Jesus had a simple request for the disciples; pray with me. Likewise the request for today’s church is simple; tell others about me. In a time that requires vigilance from the church; “she” snoozes away much like the disciples during Jesus’ last hours. Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:40.

Sleep is necessary and no one or institution is to be begrudged their rest. No doubt the church is as busy as it ever has been. With so many churches in decline the facts would seem to indicate that we have lost our effectiveness. When it comes to the work of the church we should all make sure that we’re not “asleep sitting up!"

Traditions

2006-11-15T21:46:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/15/06 – Nanuet, NY)

The Thanksgiving season will be received with mixed emotions in the Neal household this year; a tradition will die. For as many years as Harriett and I have had children and then grandchildren, the day after Thanksgiving was a given. To an outsider it may seem trivial. In fact, in the overall scheme of things, it is trivial. But to us it was a cherished tradition. The tradition has nothing to do with Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year; it has nothing to do with eating leftover turkey from the previous day’s Thanksgiving celebration.

The day after Thanksgiving for us was a trip to the Spartanburg Christmas parade and a trip to the Beacon drive-in. For almost 30 years, we parked in the same place, stood in the same place, bought the same “pop balls” to throw on the pavement at the feet of anyone who came near, and enjoyed a cherished tradition. We did not set out to establish a tradition years ago when we first decided to take our young children to one of the first regional celebrations of the Christmas season; it just happened. It wasn’t just the parade. For the first 20 years or so it was the chance to rub elbows and shake the hand of a living legend, Strom Thurmond. Every parade day, he and his entourage would make their way to the Beacon for lunch and he’d work the bulging lines with the zest of a rookie politician even as he slipped into his 90s.

Traditions are comfortable. They usually remind us of good times. They are predictable. They are safe. To break a tradition, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, reminds us of the uncertainty of life. The parade organizers in Spartanburg, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to move the day of the parade to a weeknight closer to Christmas. For us it will not be the same. So this season, our family has a dilemma. Our choices are to spend the day in mourning over a lost tradition, ignore the passing altogether, or seize the opportunity to start a new tradition. It is not yet clear to us what it will be; hence the mixed emotion of the season.

Christians have traditions as well; so do churches. There is nothing wrong with traditions per se, but there is a certainty. At some point the tradition will be no longer. For some we will tire of it. For others it will be wrestled from them as it was for us due to actions and decisions of others. For some we shared the tradition with others who no longer wishes to be a part or perhaps has passed on to eternal life. On occasion we will decide that the tradition is no longer desirable, relevant or healthy.

Jesus spent a lot of time during His earthly ministry combating religious tradition; the tradition of the Pharisees and Sadducees. We should take a clue from Him and have a healthy distrust of religious traditions. The problem with religious traditions is that they tend to become our “servants” instead of God’s “vehicles.” We should do everything humanly possible to insure that traditions do not become impediments to the advancement of God’s kingdom. We should be prepared on occasion to sacrifice traditions that are comfortable to us for the overall benefit of the body of Christ and all of humanity. The warning is sounded from the very mouth of Jesus when he stated, “Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." Mark 7:13

A tradition lost for whatever reason is an opportunity to begin anew.

Cleaning Out

2006-11-08T20:24:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/8/06 – Simpsonville, SC)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point (Libby Janik)

This week, I began the ever so fun task of CLEANING OUT---closets, kitchen drawers, the pantry, under the bed (eeek!). My entire house had been overtaken by the "junk" and clutter that had accumulated in the two years since I moved in. So I decided to take action. My bedroom closet was unspeakable--- I couldn't even close the door due to the piles of clothes, linens, towels, and lots of other things that covered the floor. I began by following the tradition of those AWESOME clean-up shows on HGTV. I made three piles: things to throw away, things to donate, and things to keep. Two hours later I had thrown away old ratty shoes, torn and tattered jeans, and lots of trash; I had 4 bags of clothes and shoes in good condition to donate; and I had organized the "keepers" into a neat closet where I can actually find what I'm looking for and (wow) even close the door! I even found clothes I had forgotten about.

All this cleaning out really made me think: doesn't my heart sometimes become a cluttered mess? Don't I hold onto so much trash that it's hard for me to keep the door closed? (and by "door" I mean "mouth") Consider as I did that every now and again, or as often as it takes, maybe we need to look at our hearts with an objective eye and begin to clean out and start over.
What should we donate, or give away, to others? Hebrews 13:16 says, "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." How often do we run across hurting people and keep our encouragement to ourselves when we should be giving it away to others? I know my schedule is sometimes packed (whose isn't?) and giving of my time is certainly something I need to work on. What do you need to donate from your heart? Money, encouragement, time, a hug, a phone call?

What do we need to trash? How many times do we enter God's presence, at church, in our prayers, during communion, with unconfessed sin in our lives? How often do we hold onto bitter words someone said or mean things people did in our past? What are we allowing to enter our hearts via television, radio, gossip, bad language that has embedded itself into our souls? We as Christians are called to be holy as Jesus is holy (1 Peter 1:15). Maybe it's time we threw away our bitterness, our envy, our anger. Maybe it's time we threw away our unconfessed sin, or our ongoing sin, by confessing to God and turning things in a new direction with His help.

And then that leaves us with the things in our hearts we should keep. Maybe (like I did in my closet) we'll find things we didn't even remember we had. Remember those Bible verses we learned in Vacation Bible School so long ago? Now that the trash is gone, we can find those again. What about the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control---all keepers! What else can we keep at the forefronts of our souls, minds, and hearts when all the clutter is in its place? The Holy Spirit wants to speak to us, and it's a lot easier for us to hear His voice with our hearts if our hearts are free of "clutter".

I know that life is hard, and that life "gets in the way". Satan and his armies are very real and very scary. This world is evil. Let's do our part to combat Satan and be devoted to God by doing a "clean out" of our hearts, our homes, our relationships, and our church. And while you're at it, you might even find time for your closet!

Facing “Goliath” With Confidence

2006-11-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/1/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

Consider three situations. Imagine a shepherd boy entrusted with a portion of the family fortune; a herd of sheep. A lonely profession; hours of solitude watching the sheep lazily graze away. The calm occasionally punctured by the predatory lion or bear making its way toward a straying sheep. Either learn to deal with the challenge or succumb to the loss.

The next situation. A seemingly undefeatable challenger stands for forty straight days delivering demeaning taunts to the opposing army. A courageous young lad steps up when even the hardened veteran is not willing to face the foe. The pride and survival of a nation rides on the shoulders of the least likely citizen; who had not even received training as a soldier.

Now finally consider the obstacles that you and I face every day. I don’t know about you but each day I’m presented with something that I feel as if I’m not qualified to do; a public presentation, a stretch for a goal if not met will lay your “soul” bare for examination, you substitute your challenge here.

Now’s let’s tie all three situations together. You may have already considered that the shepherd is David of Bible fame. This same shepherd lad is the improbable hero against the giant Philistine, Goliath. We all know the outcome of that story in 1 Samuel 17. What does that have to do with you and me? We all face our “Goliaths.” Not only is this story ripped from the pages of Jewish history its rich allegory inspires us all to persevere against the obstacles that stands in our way. But I want to focus on a little detail of the story that is almost never emphasized; at least as it should be in my opinion.

The uncommon courage of David is unquestionable. That David’s courage was fueled by prior deliveries from harm’s way during his time as a shepherd is demonstrated by his own words; “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." 1 Sam. 17:37. Summoning the strength to move forward against obstacles requires a supernatural boost.

Here’s where I would like to emphasize an oft ignored part of the story. As David moved toward what many viewed as an insurmountable challenge, what many viewed as a guaranteed defeat, he stooped at the brook that separated himself from his obstacle. As he dipped his arm in the cool refreshing water of the gently flowing brook to retrieve five stones he immediately found comfort. You see, for a brief moment, right in the midst of the struggle I can imagine that he was transported in mind to the cool refreshing stream in the valley where God had delivered him from the lion and the bear which sought to steal his sheep. If God could deliver David from the unmatched battle between man and beast surely God is faithful to deliver him from the hands of his immediate enemy, Goliath.

Here’s something for us all to remember. David did not defeat his Goliath based on learned skills of soldiering. He could not even hold-up the armor and traditional weapons of soldiering. David gained the “skills” required to defeat Goliath in the solitude of fellowship with God during the many hours of shepherding.

The same young man, who defeated the undefeatable, was the same man who later wrote of his relationship with God by taking us back to the shepherd’s “pasture”.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23.

When you look up to find the “unscalable mountain” before you follow David’s example; stop, dip your hand into the cool stream of God’s fellowship, and pick up the “weapons” that you need to defeat your “foe.”

It Ain't Natural

2006-10-27T02:03:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-18T20:37:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-11T20:56:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-05T20:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Imitators?

2006-09-27T16:22:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/27/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

Do you ever think back across the expanse of your life to consider the many influences that have inspired you to be who you are? A significant amount of who we are is learned from those that we observe. Early on in my life my role models were carpenters, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, and the like. Simple honest hard-working folks, who I might add were quite handy when the routine troubles of life came your way.

Each time I crossed paths with someone and as I had the opportunity to observe them at their craft I was motivated to give it a shot myself. As I watched the carpenter, I’d go home and build a clubhouse from scrap lumber or a downhill racer from 2 X 4’s and old Radio-Flyer wagon wheels. When I watched a mechanic, I’d find an abandoned lawn mower and tear a part the engine. When I’d observe an electrician I’d go home and . . . well let’s don’t go there.

The point is, watching a craftsman de-mystifies the craft. It gives encouragement to the observer to imitate the craftsman. The same held true later in life when I started my first job. I had the opportunity to observe a computer programmer. It didn’t look so hard I thought; why not give it a try? As I remember back, many life skills that I’ve accumulated have come from watching people as they demonstrated the skills that they possessed. I guess when it comes down to it I’ve been an imitator all my life.

For me as I tried the role of homebuilder, electrician, plumber, gardener, computer programmer, church vocalist, even husband, parent and Sunday School teacher; all are imitations. At one point the thought of being a mere imitator may have depressed me. Such is the case for most of us. Then I realized that there is something worse; an impersonator. There’s a big difference between imitator and impersonator. An imitator does acquire something of value from those they observe. An imitator borrows from the “original” and hones the craft or gift as their own. The impersonator allows others to believe in the illusion of their capabilities.

At one point along the way something radical happened. I met an original; the one and only. You see, when I met Jesus I did not imitate, I worshipped. It was only later as I matured in Christ that I learned that although in the purest sense God is above imitation, He does encourage us to attempt. “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

God does not expect us to be God, that is impossible. God does expect us to give it our best imitation. God does not want impersonators, where there is no substance, only illusion. So how do we measure up as imitators of God? There is only one way. The unique thing about this Original – imitator relationship is that God is ever present. A “little-bit” of God indwells each of us. With constant help from the Original we can become “imitators of God.” We may fall short but it’s fun trying - beats taking apart lawn mower engines.

Living Like There’s No Tomorrow

2006-09-20T21:14:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/20/06 – Nanuet, NY)

“You only go around once in life, so reach for the gusto.” “It doesn’t get any better than this.” “You deserve a break today.” Madison Avenue and their sponsors routinely build the case for living in the present. Last weekend I attended a festival of present day living; a college football game in Tallahassee, Florida, pitting the Florida State Seminoles against the Clemson Tigers. Over 83,000 fans gathered to cheer on their team, the majority of them aligned with the Seminoles. I’m sure that on Sunday morning a throbbing headache reminded a significant number of them that they had not only reached for the “gusto,” but had consumed it. Unfortunately many Americans are caught in a lifestyle of living like there’s no tomorrow.

So what’s wrong with living in the present? Doesn’t the bible tell us to “take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matt. 6:34. Let’s take one story out of the Old Testament to demonstrate the problem with living in the present. Beginning in Genesis 37 a story unfolds that leads to the placement of Joseph, son of Jacob, forefather of Jesus, sold into slavery by His brothers at the right hand of the Pharaoh of Egypt, one of the most powerful men on the face of the earth. God had placed Joseph in the position because God needed a person of faith to lead the Egyptians to store provisions for the future to overcome an impending famine. The stored provisions feed the fledging Israelites in a time of want and preserved the seed of Jesus. Joseph was a type of “savior” not only to the children of Israel but ultimately to ourselves, who claim the name of Christ today.

Now Joseph was living in the present. He heard God in the present and he obeyed God in the present. But Joseph was not living like there was no tomorrow. Some Biblical scholars would say that Joseph’s entire life was committed to the task of the future salvation of his family; even though for most of the time he had no sense of the purpose of his predicament and his ascension to power.

God does expect us to live in the present, take one day at a time, and follow His purpose for our life. Only He knows if this is all we have. The neat thing is that God has future foresight; i.e. omniscience, and if we submit to His purpose for our life, while we’re living in the present, we’re preparing for the future.

There was another Madison Avenue ad campaign a few years back that promised to “Double your Pleasure.” I’ll tell you there is no gum that can “Double Your Pleasure” like the joy of “Living Today Because There is a Tomorrow.”

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. James 4: 13-17.

Sunshine

2006-09-13T22:47:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/13/06 – King of Prussia, PA)

A few weeks ago I sat glued to the weather reports for a few days as Hurricane Ernesto come ashore in Florida and worked its way up the East Coast. It threatened ominous weather for the entire eastern part of the country for the next few days. I happened to be working in New York that week and was scheduled to fly home on Friday. According to the forecast the storm would not quite be at my departure point by Friday noon but would already be past home by the time I arrived. Timing seemed to be right for me to take off before it impacted the Newark, NJ airport and hopefully things would be clear for an uneventful landing in Charlotte. While the timing looked encouraging the thoughts of having to fly over or around the storm did not excite me.

The plan worked with only a minor hitch, my departing flight from NJ was only about 1.5 hours late. I felt fortunate that it was not worse. The climb out of Newark was bumpy but once we cleared 20,000 feet the most beautiful sunshine that you could imagine streamed through the aircraft windows. The storm clouds below were a fluffy white when viewed from above. If I had not known what lay below the clouds I would have thought that it was a gorgeous sunny summer day.

Many times we are preoccupied with the storms of life. The possibilities or the probabilities of future misfortune and calamity dictate our present actions. Expert opinion and past history conspire to convince us that trouble is eminent. We’re ineffective in the present as we’re preoccupied with the future. The truth is we will experience storms. All we can do is make every attempt to prepare for the inevitable to improve our odds for minimal impact. It was not the inevitability of troubles that that impressed me with my Ernesto experience; it was the provision of God.

As I basked in the high altitude sunshine I realized that God has the capability and the desire to take us above the storm. While the storm below was a stark reminder of the fingerprints of sin in the fallen world, the clear skies above was a both a clear picture of the providential care of God and a predictor of the salvation that He has made available for mankind. At some point I knew that I would descend through the clouds to possible trouble still lurking below but that brief respite from the storm somehow made it easier to bear. There will be a time for the Christian that God will reach down and lift us above the storm for all of eternity, but until that fateful time it does our souls well to remember that the sun is always shining somewhere.

“ . . . but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31.

The brief respite from troubles below as we soar with God above provides rest for the present and preparation for the future.

Straight Walk - Clean Talk

2006-09-07T22:41:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/6/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I use to work for an engineering company whose marketing tagline was “We Do What We Say.” It’s important in the Consulting Engineering business to present yourself as an honest and dependable service provider. We used to joke internally that the slogan was the reason that we didn’t say very much. The point being if you don’t say much you don’t have to do much. The truth is that the secular business world places a high value on being a person of your word.

Though normally not formally codified, there is a certain way of speaking that is understood to be a part of the Christian life. There is no “list” of words that are forbidden to be uttered by Christians but the expectation is that Christians do talk different. I heard a preacher onetime make the statement that Christians should “walk right, talk right, look right, and spit white.” The “spit white” part was an admonition to refrain from the use of chewing tobacco.

Jesus himself taught us the value of “straight-talk” in the Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 5, “. . .let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” The implication is that it should not be necessary for the Christian to add force to our verbal commitments or statement s by the addition of expletives or vulgarities. Our history with people should be that when we say something it can be in a manner that is straight forward and simple because our reputation is the force behind the statement.

In a similar way the Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of the Christian walk, "you [should] walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10. It is relatively easy to clean up the “exterior” of our lives and for all appearances to those that we come in contact with things appear to be in order. Jesus warns the Pharisees in Matt. 23:27 about cleanup of the exteriors with no corresponding cleanup of the interior, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.” It is a powerful dynamic when a “straight walk” converges with “clean talk.”

Remember, you are what you say, you say what you are.

Counter-Intuitive Solutions

2006-08-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/30/06 – Nanuet, New York)

This past weekend someone in the family discovered that a hummingbird had entered our garage through an open door and obviously could not figure out how to escape. We ignored the bird for a short while hoping that eventually it would discover the big open door and extract itself, a seemingly simple exercise. Much to our disappointment, this beautiful little bird could not on its own discover the solution to its dilemma. It was not for lack of effort; with energy characteristic of the species the hummingbird sought escape.

After assessing the situation I determined that we would have to intervene and assist the bird. As I observed the bird I noticed that it never got below about 6” from the ceiling. It obviously was driven by a deep rooted instinct that it needed to go up (to the sky) to escape. It could not observe the door which was literally big enough to drive a car through which was only about 2 foot below where it was frantically searching for an escape upward. From my vantage point the solution was easy; the bird could not “see” it. I grabbed a broom from the closet to see if I could gently coax the bird toward the open door.

Soon Kyle joined the effort with a butterfly net. The frantic darting about of the bird was not conducive to the use of the net. All that we accomplished was to further stress the bird. Soon something occurred that I had never before witnessed; the hummingbird lit on top of the garage door. I had never observed a hummingbird with their wings totally stilled. It was obvious that the bird was in a struggle for its very existence. After a short rest the bird resumed its efforts to escape.

During the episode it had begun to get dark in the garage so I had secured a very bright work light to help us keep track of the bird. Soon we observed that the bird appeared to be attracted to the light and in fact I could guide the bird across the ceiling by slowly moving the light in front of the bird in the direction I wished for it to travel. Once we learned this trick, I maneuvered the bird in Kyle’s direction and in a short time he was able to net the bird and release it to the outside. Mission accomplished.

Now what’s the point? Every instinct in the bird told it to escape by traveling skyward. The bird found itself in a position where instinct was flat wrong. In spite of the fact that it was working feverishly it was doomed by its own actions. As a matter of fact its instinctive driven actions were escalating the danger. An external influence had to guide it to a solution. I’m convinced that had we not intervened we would have found a dead bird in the garage the next morning.

What can we learn from this experience? Many times in the human experience we find ourselves facing intractable situations which are in fact are a reflection of the fallen state of mankind. Left to our own intellect and resources we fail to find solutions to our predicament. Often the solution runs counter to our instincts. From God’s perspective the solution is obvious and simple. God guides us to the counter-intuitive solution. We must trust the guidance of God to lead us to solutions. God’s work in our lives is a living testimony to His grace and mercy.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him”, II Corinthians 2:14

The easiest route to escape the human predicament is to follow the light of God’s revelation.

Sugar Babe

2006-08-23T22:51:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/23/06 – San Juan, Puerto Rico)

When I was a kid there was a program on TV called The Real McCoys. The program ran in prime time from 1957 to 1963 and in reruns forever. Even though the program is old as dirt you might find it today in reruns on TV Land or the Nashville Network. The premise of the program was a family that picks up stakes from West Virginia and seeks their fortune in the rich farming country of California. Google “The Real McCoys” for additional trivia if you’re interested.

The storylines revolved around the patriarch of the family, Grandpa Amos and his son Luke, Luke’s wife Kate, their two children Hassie and Little Luke, and their hired hand Pepino. It was classic late 50’s early 60’s television comedy; good clean family oriented entertainment. One of the aspects of the show that still sticks in my mind was the term of affection that Luke had for his wife Kate; Sugar Babe. This show emanated from a time in history when monogamous marriage was still celebrated in the culture, and the pet name Sugar Babe captured the essence of this fact. The manner in which the nick name rolled off of Luke’s lips and the twinkle in his eye left no doubt that Kate was the love of his life.

There is a real (as compared to television) affectionate community that I’ve been exposed to from an early age; the Church. The church is encouraged to greet each other with a holy kiss, refer to each other as brothers and sisters, refer to God as our Father and Jesus as our brother. There was and is this strange phenomenon in the church such that some people who claim an intimate relationship with God do not give evidence of such a relationship in their manner of speaking. I have heard God referred to as “the Man upstairs”, “the Good Lord, “the Man in charge,” and many more. I have witnessed people who claim a personal relationship with God who struggle just to mention His name; appearing to scramble to know how to refer to God, and the chosen name haltingly slipping from their lips as they make reference to their Savior.

Now let’s compare the two situations. The fictional Luke in The Real McCoys” convincingly and effortlessly uses the term of endearment for his wife. He revels in the moment to express his inward feelings for his mate and the moment reeks of genuiness. On the other hand my observation of some Christians who do not seem practiced in making reference to the Lord of the Universe leaves one unconvinced that they know God or have an intimate relationship with Him. Now my intent here is not to imply that we should use disrespectful terms for God, after all He is God. But I am insinuating that people should get a sense from our speech that we know Him personally and that God is approachable. Intimacy with God is a powerful dynamic in our life and one of the most effective means for us to introduce others to Him. I’m convinced that our manner of speaking to and about Him is a reflection of the quality of the relationship.

There’s no doubt in my mind that that “world” will look to us to have the question answered that was posed to Moses by the Children of Israel in Exodus 3:13, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”

His name is Yahweh, but you can call Him Daddy.

Making Tracks

2006-08-16T18:43:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/16/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

A few weeks back I decided that it was time for Kyle to learn how to operate the lawnmower. After all, he’s 14 years old, soon to be 15. Now you may be thinking that at his age it was past time for him to be supporting the family in this fashion, but it’s not your “normal” lawnmower. You see it’s a 54” 23 HP zero-turn commercial mower. There is no steering wheel; one “drives” the mower via two levers. With both levers pressed forward one glides across the lawn at a clip that will bounce you from the seat if the terrain is bumpy. With the levers in full opposing direction the mower will literally turn in its tracks, spinning like a dog chasing its tail. But it was time.

I went over the fundamentals of operation and turned it over to him. The first few trips across the lawn were not a pretty site. Whereas I pride myself in the ability to mow a perfectly straight line, Kyle’s lines looked like crooked cow paths as he learned to maneuver the temperamental machine. I waved him down and pointed out that he should be focusing on the leftover tracks leftover from the previous mowing a week earlier. After a few more trips he became more comfortable with the machine and matured in his ability to follow in the old tracks. There was promise.

As I reflected upon the series of events I realized that whether we realize it or not we are all making tracks. My grass cutting adventures serves to illustrate an important life principal. When I was mowing the lawn the week before I did not imagine that I was investing in the future. I had not considered that my present actions would have value to someone who would follow behind me. I was not conscious of the impact of my routine task in someone’s future. My son would be using my tracks to guide his actions the following week. My tracks would be a guidepost to the future.

Not only are we working out our own salvation in this life we are also leaving tracks for those who follow. Perhaps one of our greatest contributions in life is the example that we set for others; a gift with eternal consequence. We can relieve the load of the next generation by our legacy; we can advance the kingdom by encouraging others. The generations that follow will start their journey with confidence when they contemplate the history of faith laid down in the lives of acquaintances. My prayer is that others will deem my tracks valuable as a trail to the Father. I pray for the confidence to say with Paul, “brothers,. . live according to the pattern we gave you.” Phil 3:17.

The Power

2006-08-09T22:40:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/9/06 – Ponce, PR)

A few months ago Harriett and I were in WalMart for our weekly compulsory visits. I love to hate WalMart, but that’s another topic. I had worn out my “traveling” toothbrush that I carry with me on business trips and needed a replacement. I commenced to examine the myriad of options presented on the “tooth care” aisle. I was immediately struck with the number of toothbrush choices. I had to look at each model, make note of the features and do a mental comparison analysis with every other toothbrush that I had examined on the aisle.

During this exercise I ran across a fascinating model that on first glance was a little larger in the handle and had several different types of bristles. This was it, the large handle would make it easy to manipulate at 6 o’clock in the morning when necessity is in front of dexterity and the bristle design had to be more efficient than the old toothbrushes that the dentist used to give you if you survived your checkup. One final feature sealed the deal, it was an electric toothbrush. Embedded in the sculpted handle were two buttons; one off and one on. Upon closer examination the larger handle served to conceal a battery. There, it’s done, analysis complete, put it in the buggy,

Fast forward a few hours to the arrival home. I was unpacking my new gem of a brush when something caught my eye. The new brush was similar to the brush I keep in the bathroom cabinet for home use; no it was the exact same model. Now here’s the kicker. I had been using exactly the same style brush at home for months and had never even noticed that it was an electric toothbrush. I had faithfully used it every day with good old fashioned elbow grease. Wait a minute – get the irony of this. Here is a person who prides himself on technical competence – I’m a technology consultant for crying out loud – and I had just proven that I could not conquer toothbrush technology. I had totally overlooked one of the essential benefits of owning the toothbrush

Many people treat their relationship with God like I did my toothbrush. There is a radical power that indwells every Christian, the very presence of God. This presence can be ignored or we can tap into it for life transforming power. Some of us have never spent the time examining our relationship with God to realize that we have it. That must have been my problem with the toothbrush; a casual inspection then a quick toss into the cabinet.

I’m very sad to say based on my observation over the years that many people who taste of God via salvation never really mature into a power-packed servant of God. They never punch the “on” button. They languish underutilized on God’s shelf for years as immature Christians. You know something else that happened with my toothbrush. As soon as I “discovered” that it had additional capabilities I started to use the power. To my dismay after just a few weeks, the power had left – the battery had lost its power over time even though I never received the benefit.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John 1:12.

With all that is within me, to you the child of God, discover the power within.

Mountaintop Reflections

2006-08-02T22:02:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/2/06 – Ponce, PR)

The steep rocky trail narrowed as we approached the summit. The cool dry air delighted the lungs as we anticipated what lay around the next bend. As we crested the last knoll the basin below unfurled like an artist canvas. The Grand Tetons to our back, Jenny Lake below us, and the valley that is Jackson’s Hole stretched out as far as the eye could see. For a brief moment Inspiration Point had vanquished the burdens of life. Two weeks ago Harriett, Kyle and I experienced the “mountain top” on our vacation in Wyoming.

The mountaintop inspires and transforms. Some of the most significant events recorded in the bible, occurred on the mountaintop; the receiving of the Ten Commandments, the Transfiguration, the Sermon on the Mount, John’s vision of the New Jerusalem. The gaze from the top can be intoxicating. While contemplating our own vacation experience the reality became apparent.

It’s cold on top. There are no provisions for the sustenance of life up there; we have to carry it with us. The top is small by definition essentially rendering the experience a personal experience or at best only to be experienced by a small group. The air is thin at the top to the degree that supplemental oxygen is required for the extreme altitudes. The mountaintop by definition is a short term experience. Consider the contrast. Life is sustained by the produce of the valley. Water reserves are stored in the valley. The valley is designed for life; that is where people live.

The intoxicating effect of the mountaintop high has the power to create an unhealthy lifelong obsession with returning to or camping out at the top. If we’re not careful we can find ourselves so fixated on securing the proverbial “mountaintop experience” that we render ourselves of no consequence in the valley. Our purpose is fulfilled in the valley where people live. There’s nothing wrong with the occasional trek to “inspiration point,” God does not begrudge us the refreshment. He created the mountains and the reflection of His majesty in the creation is the dynamic that we instinctively are drawn to.

Our life’s work is in the valley. The hearts of those who toil in the valley long for the mountaintop. The purpose of the mountaintop is to refresh us for the work of the valley.

Let the people of [the valley] sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Isa. 42:11

Linger, pray, shout, absorb; and then to the work.

Labels

2006-07-27T20:23:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/27/06 – Pearl River, NY)

I attended a high school football factory in a sports crazed small town. From the 1950s through the 1990s there were very few high schools in the entire country that could match the winning record of Woodruff High School. As successful as the present day Byrnes High School Rebels are they have only equaled the four consecutive state high school championships that Woodruff earned in the late 1970s. The coach, “Willie” Varner, was a legend locally, regionally, and nationally. He is known for setting high expectations and motivating student athletics to over achieve. There’s where I pick up the story.

I was not athletically inclined when I entered high school in 1969, hence I was not involved in one of the favorite pastimes of the city. But I was subjected to the high standards and motivational tactics of Coach Varner. This was back in the day when Physical Education was a required component of the school curriculum. I was surprised to find during the first day of PE that we would not immediately purchase the mandatory PE uniform, which was a common practice at most “normal” school.

We would first complete a series of personal assessment events, based on the President’s Physical Fitness Standard, and be given a grade level score based on our performance. Some would receive A’s, some B’s, some C’s, some D’s, some E’s and some F’s. Now here’s the Woodruff twist. At the conclusion of this evaluation we would procure a PE uniform which prominently displayed our letter grade on the shorts. And oh by the way, each letter grade had a uniquely colored pair of shorts.

Let me cut to the chase. The best that my late blooming physique could earn for me was a D on my evaluation. I was “privileged” to be able to purchase a brand new PE uniform with gorgeous muddy brown shorts with a huge letter D emblazoned on the leg. Can you imagine my joy? Not only was I an athletic underachiever in a land of over achievers I had the joy of being publicly labeled as such. Unfortunately I “lost” my cherished brown shorts after just a few weeks and happened to “find” a more acceptable pair of maroon C shorts. That wasn’t so bad, there were lots of C shorts; average you know.

What does this have to do with Christianity? Labels are hard to shake, crippling caricatures, often reinforcing negative stereotypes. Labels can be undeserved or over used, and often reflect narrow characterizations of people, who are complex creations and reflections of God’s glory. God has only two labels; P for potential child and C for child. We are not assessed before acquiring our label, it is our choice. Our label is not dependent upon our performance but His performance and it is already complete; He passed with flying colors. He could have applied S for sinner, or L for lost, but He didn’t. In God’s economy we don’t get what we deserved we get what he earned.

I never had the privilege of celebrating a state championship on the revered football field at Woodruff, but I have experienced the joy of being welcomed into the family of God. And one day I will enter the gates of the biggest, loudest, arena of champions that has ever been prepared. I will run through the glorious gates and I won’t be wearing no muddy brown shorts. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1. Now that’s a label I won’t mind wearing.

Love

2006-07-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/19/06 – Greenville, SC)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point – Libby Darnell

Love grows out of a sincere and fervent devotion to God. Without it, the rest of the glorious fruit of the Spirit is nothing, and of no meaning to us. It is the charitable heart, not the eloquent tongue that is acceptable to God. It’s not great knowledge that God sets value on, but true devotion and love.

The most wonder-working faith, to which nothing is impossible, is nothing without love. Even if we sacrifice our lives for the faith of the gospel, and be burnt in the preservation of its truth, it is all to no avail unless we have love in our heart. Vindicating religion at the cost of our life profits nothing.

Love, is the first fruit of the Spirit. Chapter 12 of I Corinthians lists the gifts of the Spirit. When we get to heaven all these gifts will no longer be necessary or required. Prophecy must fail and will be useless in heaven. Tongues will be unnecessary as there will be one language. No confusion, perfect peace and tranquility will prevail. In other words, the supernatural gifts will be of no use in heaven.

Love is long suffering and can endure evil, injury, provocation without resentment or revenge. It will put up with slights and neglects from those we love and admire. Love is kind and courteous. It has a large, giving heart and is ready to do good to everyone, and wants to be useful. It searches for opportunities to serve.

Love does not envy and is not jealous of the good of others. If we love our neighbors, we will not envy or be displeased with their possessions or welfare. Their happiness and success will add to ours. Envy is the effect of ill-will. The prosperity of those we wish well can never grieve us. The mind that is purposed to do good to all, can never wish ill to any.

Love subdues pride and vainglory. It is not concerned with self, and does not gloat when recognized. It is not arrogant or insolent. It does not despise others or trample on them or treat them with contempt. Genuine love esteems others over themselves. Love is not forward or stubborn, cross or contradictory. Some misinterpret a person with a loving spirit as flattery. Love hates falsehood, gossip, and flattery.

Love is careful not to pass the bounds of decency. It does nothing out of character and behaves with respect toward everyone. Love does not break ranks, but acts decently, minding its own business.

Love is the enemy of selfishness and doesn't seek its own praise, honor, profit or pleasure. There’s a reasonable love of self, as Jesus said, "We are to love our neighbor as our self." But charity never seeks its own way to the hurt and pain of others. Love tempers and restrains passions. It corrects a sharp tongue. Anger cannot dwell in the heart where love reigns. It is hard to stay angry with someone we love.

Love thinks no evil and does not seek retribution. It does not suspect evil of others. Love will hide faults and will never indulge suspicion or keep score. Love takes no pleasure in doing hurt to anyone and doesn't wish evil, harm or mischief. It does not rejoice at the faults or failings of others, but grieves at sin and doesn't judge anyone.

Love will cover a multitude of sins. It will not publish the faults of a brother until duty demands it. It puts up with personal injuries without indulging in anger or revenge. Love endures curses, slanders, prison, exile, torments and even death for the sake of others, without striking back.

Love is full of openness, honesty and truthfulness, quick to make the best of everything. And when love cannot believe well of others, it will hope well. Love never fails. It is permanent and perpetual grace lasting throughout eternity.

Love keeps no record or wrongs. It always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres; and will never fail. Prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, knowledge will pass away, but love will abide forever…… for God is Love.

How does God know that we love Him…. we keep His commandments! Now abides faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

"Wondering" in the Wilderness

2006-07-12T21:32:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/12/06 – Ponce, PR)

One night earlier this week my mind woke up before my body, it was 3:30 AM. I don’t know about you but I don’t like it when that happens. Try as hard as I may, my body can never convince my mind to go back to sleep. So there I lay a fully conscious mind captive to a comatose body. I’ve been told that this condition is a precursor to old age, it must be true because it’s starting to happen to me with more frequency. The only thing that you can do is lay there and think. Come to think of it some of my more lucid and creative thoughts come to me while lying in the dark. I guess all that energy that is being conserved by the body is being funneled to the brain. So keep a pad and pencil on the nightstand just in case my mind can convince my hand to reach over and chronicle the thoughts.

While in this state the irony of this past weeks’ Sunday School experience hit me like brick. We’re in the process of taking a virtual tour of the “Land of the Bible” via an internet site call BiblePlaces.com. Our area of focus this past week was the Negev and the wilderness area of southern Israel. This area is famous for being the majority of the space where the Hebrew “wilderness wanderings” occurred. The Hebrews were led from bondage to the Egyptians only to be thrust into one of the most barren and odd landscapes in all of the world.

Much of this area sees less than 6” annual rain. Raleigh, NC saw 6” of rain in one afternoon recently when a tropical storm came over. Imagine the difficulty of feeding and hydrating what has been estimated to be close to 3 million Hebrews as they wandered for 40 years. No wonder Moses struck the rock to produce water. No wonder God had to make extraordinary provision for His people (fire by night, cloud by day, manna, etc.) No wonder that the Hebrews began to grumble that it all may have been a mistake. Itinerants; totally dependent on God for their sustenance, without the prospects for short term relief. Enslavement behind them; motivated forward by God’s promise of a new life; discouraged by the military might of those who occupied their dream.

I know that this will sound over-dramatic but hang with me, here’s where the irony comes in. Some of us wandered down the hall last week toward a new home (i.e. Sunday School classroom). We were uncomfortable for a few moments as we were wrenched from our normal Sunday routines. We had to find a new place to sit because the room configuration was different. We had some technical snafus as we tried to make our “teaching technology” work. All for the promise of a bigger more effective Sunday School class. Nothing on the scale of what the Hebrews experienced mind you but it does drive home a point. We’re all dependent on God. He gives provisions for the journey. He’s promised a better place; our final destination. We must trust His leadership even if it appears to go in circles sometimes. We operate on His timetable. We will occupy the promise, eventually.

What’s God got in store for our new Sunday School venture? I can’t say with certainty, but I do know that just as Joshua and the Hebrew faithful discovered several thousand years ago, the land will flow with milk and honey. And I do know that “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them,” Matt. 18:20. If God is in our midst what more could we possibly need, even in a wilderness?

Predictable Success

2006-07-05T21:00:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/5/06 – Green Pond, SC)
A call to heaven from Green Pond is a local call, anywhere else it’s long distance.

July 4th is a week when we honor the birth of our country and our forefathers who in their wisdom laid the political and moral foundations that have served us so well for 230 years. Wow, seems like yesterday that we had our bicentennial celebration. This is the season when we need to be reminded that the outcome that we enjoy was not a foregone conclusion for the brave men and women who carved this country from the wilderness and wrenched it from the arms of tyranny. We’re also rightly reminded of the brave contemporaries who are sacrificing time, relationships, and perhaps lives to maintain our hard fought freedoms. Nothing in life is cheap. Everything has a price tag.

When I contemplate our past my hope for the future is invigorated. The reason is simple: I have a historical example. I’ve related the story before that when I was “playing” carpenter during the construction of our home, it was a long difficult struggle. Most every task brought a challenge because I had never done it before. I tell people that I learned to lay brick in my great room; literally on the hearth where the wood stove now sits. I was grateful for the experience that my Dad and Harriett’s Dad brought to the task; the “been there and done that” perspective.

Some persons reject the wisdom of prior generations, thinking that if it’s not new and original thought then it’s somehow adulterated. From my view the shortest route to success and progress is not having to personally sort through all the failures of previous generations but innovating off of the platform of the successes. I’m often emboldened to try my hand when I have the ability to observe someone else doing something that I aspire to or knowing through history that it is doable. It gives me confidence in the possibilities.

One of the strengths of the Christian church as an institution is that by design it is multi-generational. Young and old, experienced and novices, strong and weak, all thrown together in common pursuit of God’s will. Paul acknowledged that the church in Thessalonica had become imitators of himself, the church fathers in Judea, and of God (see Eph. 5, I Thess. 1 & 2.) and they were the better for it. Your testimony (i.e. matter of living) is just as important inside the church as it is outside of the church; maybe for different reasons.

As we wind down from July 4, 2006 let us never forget nor allow our respect to wane for the foundation that has been laid by our political forefathers. Let us also never forget the foundations of the Christian church. Our country and the freedoms it affords are important. Our church and its contributions are eternal.

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” I Cor 3:10-15

Quality materials, time tested techniques, and a solid foundation; now’s that predictable success.

Leave It Better Than You Found It

2006-06-28T21:42:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/28/06 – Ponce, PR)

I grew up on a farm. Farmers are known for their interdependence, often borrowing and loaning items of necessity to aide the neighbors in getting by. Accommodation and neighborliness are hallmarks of rural living. Out of my own necessity I’ve continued this practice, borrowing items from friends and family. There is an inviolate rule to this practice as far as I’m concerned; leave it better than you found it. I consider it the “code of the borrowing”, not absolutely required but a matter of gratitude and respect for others’ property.

I’ve not always lived up to this charitable code, but it is a goal for every material loan; sharpen the blade before you return it, grease the implement, replace the light bulb, buff the sheet metal, blow off accumulated dirt with the blower – you see what I mean. Stay in the good graces of the loaner, develop a good reputation for taking care of others’ property, and you’ll never be short of neighbors and friends willing to help you out. Be slow to take it home, refuse to replace broken parts; don’t compensate for wear and tear and you might find it hard to get your neighbor to the door the next time you knock.

Now the “code” that I’ve described is not overtly Christian. I’ve known many a good neighbor who was not church going folk who would give you the shirt off their back. But the nobility of taking care of other people’s possession is not what I want to focus on. It should be expected that we at least match good behaviors in the culture. The horizons for a Christian are much broader. It is our privilege to “leave it better than you found it” with purpose. In 25-30 years nobody will ever remember that sharp, greased, clean borrowed item that you returned to the loaner. It was important at the time but the importance faded with time. As a Christian we have the privilege of having an eternal significance.

Your church is an opportunity, your job is an opportunity, your family is an opportunity, your relationships are opportunities, and your chance encounters are opportunities. You will be remembered for the quality of what you do in a few things rather than the mediocrity of lots of things. Every place that we go, every person that we meet, every thing that we do, every organization that we join, every job that we do; “Leave it better than you found it,” now that’s “salt and light.”

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:13-16

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I Cor. 10:31

Welcome Home

2006-06-21T21:42:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/21/06 – Ponce, PR)

One consequence of hanging out in the airport is the opportunity to witness a lot of homecomings. Almost every return flight that I’m on these days has a serviceman coming home. Since my flights into Greenville-Spartanburg are typically only 20-30 minutes flights from either Atlanta or Charlotte, these travel weary soldiers are often flushed with renewed energy as the anticipate the short remaining wait for their homecoming. I’ve overheard many an anxious soldier during the flight recount a grueling ordeal; 16, 18, 24, 32 hours of extended travel on the trip home from Afghanistan or Iraq. The travel weariness dissipates as the reality of what awaits draws near. This is the first clue; talkative anxious solders.

The next clue is the peering faces in the terminal as they strain to catch that first glimpse of their loved one. First the kids, then the spouse, followed by parents, brothers, sisters, and I suspect aunts and uncles and family friends. In the old days family reunions use to occur right at the exit of the Jetway in the concourse, now that is not permitted by the TSA. I witnessed an exception to this rule a few weeks ago when the entire family was waiting right at the Jetway exit, just like in the old days. Obviously some local TSA agent fell victim to sympathy with the family and granted permission for their presence past the security station.

The first sighting produces a shriek of joy; as all of the fears and emotions of the separation are released in the first look, the first touch, the first hug. I have witnessed luggage and bags dropped to the floor, the race to embrace just like the movies, and prolonged affection in the middle of a public place as if no one else existed. I have not witnessed one yet without a huge lump appearing in my throat.

As wonderful as these military homecomings are they are a mere shadow of a homecoming that every Christian will experience. One of the most eagerly anticipated benefits of Christianity is the day we will be reunited with loved ones in our permanent home. The longer we live on this earth the more we will long for that day of homecoming. I can imagine that the first to greet us will be our Brother; Jesus. The next face that we’ll see is our Father, Yahweh. There is no doubt in my mind that peering over their shoulders will be that wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, grandparent that has gone on before us. As we acclimate to the intimacy of our new found relationship with God there will be no sadness as we realize that the nature of the relationships that we had on earth have been transformed (see Matt 22:23-33.)

As blessed as my life has been here on this earth, I long for the day when I hear the heavenly greeting; Welcome Home! Never to be separated again.

The Three-Legged Race

2006-06-14T20:26:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/14/06 – Nanuet, NY)

What a spectacle, people sprawled on the ground struggling to regain their upright posture, people stopped in their tracks arguing about how to proceed, persons giving up after taking only a few strides, and mismatched persons struggling against each other only to fall further behind. What am I talking about? A competition that used to be a staple of church picnics, July 4th celebrations or Sadie Hawkins day; the three-legged race. For the uninitiated the three-legged race consisted of two people who would voluntarily lash their adjacent legs together and attempt to race to the finish line as one contestant (i.e. participant 1’s right leg lashed to participant 2’s left leg.) The winner of the race was often quite surprising. Now let’s look at a some scenarios.

Take the church that is totally ineffective because members spend more time quarreling than ministering. How about the church that is consumed by politics as members vie for positions of authority and influence as compared to positions of humility and service? Consider the church that is so preoccupied with the methods of management that they cannot get past bylaws, procedures, and committees. Don’t forget the church that is so bound by tradition that many with a vision for the future are so constrained that they give up in despair. Or finally observe the church that stopped in its tracks trying to develop the ultimate strategy, all the while, the world literally goes “to hell in a hand basket” as they plan.

How about a marriage where there is a constant struggle for control? Have you witnessed marriages that no longer work because one of the partners gave up, in effect rendering the union dysfunctional? How about the marriage that is stuck in a rut because there is no communication. Consider the out-of-balance marriage where one partner is “paddling” as fast as possible while the other partner “lags behind;” effectively undermining the accomplishments of the marriage.

I’m proposing that we resurrect the three-legged race as a staple of church functions. In fact I’m proposing that this event should be included as a part of pre-marriage counseling. Yes you heard me right, pre-marriage counseling. The value of this event is to teach the principles of teamwork; communication, cooperation, coordination, consistency, and commitment. Whether we’re talking church membership or marriage we voluntarily lash ourselves together for the purpose of achieving an objective, to win the race or at least to do our best to finish the race. We must apply all the elements of teamwork to have a chance for success. It typically never was not the most athletic couple but the more cooperative couple that won the three-legged race.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Cor. 9:24

The “three legged race;” a great laboratory for teaching teamwork. Without teamwork we will not finish the race. We voluntarily lash ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ and our marriage partners. Never give up, don’t race ahead, keep on talking, keep on listening, stay in sync, respect your partners. Run the race to win.

Eating Vomit

2006-06-07T21:43:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/7/06 – King of Prussia, PA)

How repulsive! How utterly repulsive - but I witnessed it and maybe you have too. A few weeks ago I was working in my yard when I almost stepped into something. After “careful” examination I realized that our family dog had thrown up her last meal. I found out that Harriett had thrown some dated food into the woods behind our house and the dog had helped herself. A few minutes later I observed the dog eating the food for the second time (you know what I mean.) I couldn’t believe that she actually ate every bit of it again. Well it wasn’t long until I discovered that she had lost it again. And then a little later I observed that she was eating the food for the third time. For the life of me I couldn’t understand why the dog could not make the connection between eating that food and the regurgitation. Obviously she was “enjoying” the food again and again and again even though there was no way that food was going to be beneficial to her because she couldn’t keep it down.

After witnessing the disgusting events of the afternoon it dawned on me that I have observed equally revolting events being acted out in the human species. No I have never witnessed a human eating vomit, but I have observed persons who seemed to be caught in self-destructive cycles of behavior. Persons who have yielded to base temptations, reaped the self-destructive benefit, only to yield to the same temptation again; once, twice, three times, many times, sometimes a lifetime - victims of inextricable bondage.

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Proverbs 26:11.

So back to the dog. As I contemplated the behavior in the dog I realized that this is to be expected. It is in the dog’s nature to do such things. Perhaps I could train it out of the dog, but given the right set of circumstances I suspect that the dog would quickly revert back to its nature. The only way to prevent the dog from such a disgusting practice is to transform its nature.

The Bible tells us that the nature of man is bankrupt, burdened down by sin. It is no wonder that some people are not able to resist temptation even when they fully realize the harm to self. As soon as they recover they stumble toward the very behavior that knocked them down, seemingly unable to break the cycle; helpless, suffering, yes, sometimes repulsive behavior. People are no different than the dog, in need of a spiritual transformation. A transformed nature is exactly what God offers through salvation. Want to break out to a new life?

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2.

Time For The Master

2006-05-31T21:16:00.000-04:00

DateLine (5/31/06 – Five Forks, SC)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point – Vickie Maxwell – The Songbird

On Wednesday night last week I stopped by my sister’s house for a moment while she was watching the final moments of season five of American Idol. I heard the overwhelming tally of votes taken for the finale – some sixty-four million voters from devoted listeners for this season’s finale, “….more voters than had ever voted for a President of the United States in an election,” one reporter stated.

I reflected immediately on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How He would love to have sixty-four million devoted, don’t-miss-a-week fans! To not want to miss one single session with Him, and to spend a dedicated hour at that! I was very humbled by the thought and sorry for my sometimes lack of attention to time with Him. You know, maybe it’s not American Idol for me (or you), but possibly there are other “idols” with which I have replaced Jesus with. In Exodus the Lord relayed the message to Moses for the people of Israel: “Thou shall have no other gods before me.” Oh goodness, and I wonder sometimes why my days and life seem so out of order. Could it be that the order of my priorities have gone awry? Have I reconciled myself to some self-serving, preconceived idea of what “no other gods” means? It couldn’t possibly refer to anything that I may have replaced God with in my schedule of activities, right?

Let’s think about our daily schedules. Have we made allowance for that so-important time for Him? God forgive us! Do you know what always amazes me about God? That even when I’m having difficulty managing my life so that I can diligently seek His face – that disciplined effort that is so difficult – He is willing to help me with that as well. Isn’t He great? Are we having difficulty in that area of our lives? Let’s ask Him for help.

I read an anecdote recently from an email that referred to a conversation that God was having with a young woman who could not understand why her prayers were not being answered. The ending of their discussion came with the voice from God saying “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was you; I didn’t recognize your voice.” John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” Does He know mine?

The High Cost of Friendship

2006-05-24T22:00:00.000-04:00

DateLine (5/24/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I don’t have a lot of major regrets as I survey the landscape of my life, but one thing I do regret is that some friendships have slipped into the cold distance of time. Friends are hard to come by, and their loss is not to be celebrated. I’m had countless friends in the past that were closer than brothers at the time, but if I were to encounter them today they would be virtual strangers. So what happened?

Friendships are formed around shared experiences, communication, kindred spirits and proximity. Distance, lost communication and time apart can dull even the closest friendships. It’s a sad day when the realization dawns that a friendship is ebbing away. To be honest when that it occurs, one can adjust to rescue the relationship - but there is a cost; a relationship requires maintenance. We can choose to make the time, create the experiences, or pick up the phone. Unfortunately sometimes I’ve considered the facts, counted the cost, and decided that the cost was too high. The truth is we are faced with the reality of changing priorities, compressed schedules, insurmountable separations and evolving interests. Often it’s not a conscious decision at all; it’s simply neglect. Other times, it’s not our choice, the friend walked away.

I met him when I was very young, as a matter of fact I don’t ever remember a time when he wasn’t there. My parents introduced us. He lived in our home. Honestly, there was a time when I resented his presence; he crimped my style when I was attempting to find my place. On the way back from a summer camp as a teenager some mutual friends helped me to realize how special he was. He became my best friend when I was 16 years old. Of course I’m talking about Jesus.

Jesus acknowledges our friendship; it doesn’t detract from his divinity. Jesus said, “I have called you friends.” When you talk about the friendship of Jesus, the normal rules don’t apply. He’s the most unique friend that I’ve ever had. There is maintenance involved in the relationship but it’s interesting when I reengage it’s as it he never left. As a matter of fact, he promised that he would never leave. I’ve never gotten the impression he’s not listening, he doesn’t say much sometimes, but he always listens. Sometimes he’s blunt, but that’s OK because he’s always right and never ill intended and I’ve learned to trust his judgment. He’s been by my side during some of my most memorable moments, as a matter of fact, he’s been by my side during some of my darkest times.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from my friend Jesus, it’s the true value of friendship. The high cost of a friendship is the cross, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. Lord teach me to be a friend like you.

Rag Basket

2006-05-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

DateLine (5/18/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

We have a place in our home where worn out dish rags, underwear, towels, and washcloths retire to. It’s not a pretty sight. We hide it in the laundry room. We’d never show it off to a guest, it stays hidden. It’s not even well organized, just a jumble of rags all stuffed in a basket. Most of them have holes or frayed edges or thin spots. They normally just sit there occupying space until. We call it the rag basket.

Fast forward to the kitchen – jar fell and it’s content splattered all over the floor. Job too big for paper towels. Quick grab me a couple of rags. Nasty job out in the garage – gotta grease up the lawn mower. How ‘bout a couple of rags? Pet’s sick – get me a box and a handful of rags to make a cozy “gurney” for the ride to the vet’s office. For these jobs we would only consider a “worthless” rag. We would never use something of value, it would be ruined. As soon as they serve their purpose, I toss them, without even a second thought. That’s what they are, rags.

The scripture records the thoughts of a person who understands how we rightfully appear to God in Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Are we all tossed into God’s rag basket? Do we just sit and wait for God to have a need for a disposable worthless piece of fabric to be used as tossed as soon as we have served His purpose? Is He ashamed of us and keeps us hidden in a dark closet so nobody will ever know that we belong to Him?

The reality is that is exactly what we deserve. We are worthy of God’s rag basket no matter how hard we may try or wish otherwise. God has every right to use us for the dirty jobs and then toss us in the garbage. As unbelievable as it may seem, He actually gives us a choice. We can live with Him as His children, knowing that we are valuable members of His family. And when He’s done with us here He ushers us into His presence in a specially prepared place in His house for eternity. Or we can choose to reject His purpose for our life, defaulting into the arms of His enemy, only to be tossed into the “rag basket” of Hell separated from Him forever.

Tossed into the rag basket, or ushered into His presence? I don’t know about you, but that’s a “no brainer.”

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Seeker Friendly

2006-05-10T20:12:00.000-04:00

DateLine (5/11/06 – Crescent, South Carolina)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point – Michael Sheehan

Greetings Readers! No this is not the usual super talented and gifted writer and editor in chief! Do not adjust the picture or change the settings! I read Reference Point and I am always amazed at its depth of content and timeliness. Rodney, thank you for sharing God's talents in your life with us at CRBC. And thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with our reader friends!

Did you know that the infinite, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent creator of the universe (and anything else there might be), is “seeker friendly”? Sorry Rick Warren, I do believe you have truly helped today's church take a good look at her from the eyes of those who are beyond our comfortable interiors. You have challenged the “let's do church the way we always have done it” and continue to expect people to come inside with us!! But “seeker friendly” has been in God's word and in God's way from the very beginning with Him! God is very “seeker friendly”. He coined the phrase.

Did you know that Google, the very famous search engine, services over 70,000,000 searches a day? How do you know this oh pastor you may ask? I asked Google, Duh! I simply did a Google Search on how many Google Searches were done per day. Bam! There was my answer! This information started me to thinking. I wondered what people all over the world are searching for? Cars, boats, pets, crafts, books, people and on and on it goes. The search is “on” for something more or something else!! The Search Engine has tapped into a very basic need of all people: the need to seek!!! Wow, what a market.

Did you know that God created in you the need to seek and discover? God created in you the need to know Him and yes to seek Him! The sad truth is many people search through the “stuff” of this world attempting to find what they need and come up empty. God wants you to seek, discover and find Him.
God is revealing himself not hiding himself! There is no Secret Code or incantation or hidden knowledge. He turns on the light every day so that you can see. He gives instruction so that you can understand. He speaks and brings counsel if we will but listen.

God's word encourages us and urges us: "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." (Deuteronomy 4:29) Jesus put it this way: “...seek and you shall find knock and the door shall be open unto you.” ( Matthew 7:7)

You see, God made it easy for us to find Him. He found you first! You would never find God unless He wanted you to find Him, unless He found you!! Why not do a little more God Searching in your life? Find out more about what He is like, what He wants for you to do. I can promise you this: if you will seek God's face you will never exhaust your search and you will never tire of the discovery!! Sunday School, Bible studies, worship services, personal talks with the Lord are all proven sites. Log on and log in! Let's seek the Lord together! God is seeker friendly.

The Appointment

2006-05-04T21:25:00.000-04:00

DateLine (5/4/06 – San Juan, Puerto Rico)

We all have one. Many of us dread the day. Some of us get advance notice, others only a split second. We spend our whole life preparing for it, in fact our life may be an audition for it. It is unavoidable, but we really don’t like to discuss it. The old joke goes there are only two things that are unavoidable; death and taxes. I’m not sure the joke hits the mark, the only sure thing is that we all have an appointment with death.

A few weeks ago I had a routine test performed that had been ordered as a follow-on to my annual physical. I was shocked a few days later when my doctor personally called to discuss the results. It’s never good when the doctor calls. There was something unusual looking that had been spotted on my liver. He didn’t “think” it was serious but a CAT scan was ordered to get a better look. Only thing is it was a couple of weeks before I could make arrangements to get in for the CAT scan and then another weekend before the results was known. I can tell you that during this time I had to consider that my “appointment” was closer than I would like to think.

While I’ll admit that I’m ready to go, I didn’t necessarily want to get on the next bus. As much as I like technology and have benefited from it including my livelihood, I did not have much confidence that technology had a sure fire solution up it’s sleeve. As a matter of fact I learned quickly that when faced with this type of situation we develop a razor focus on those things that we really deem trustworthy. As I spoke with God about my future three things loomed on the horizon; hope, trust, and purpose. I have hope for the future through God; if not in this life then in heaven. I have trust in the providential care of the Father, He’s demonstrated in the past He will give me what I need when I need it. God created me with a purpose in mind; when I have fulfilled that purpose He’ll take me home; not a minute sooner.

The most important question that any of us face is what will become of us after the appointment. It trumps marriage partner, career, relocation, friends, investments, or any other important life decision. Citizens of modern society behave as if we have been granted an exception to the appointment. It is not true, do not be deceived. Ancient man could not escape it’s inevitability, neither will moderns. As it turned out, what the doctors spotted was a relatively common benign congenital defect; good news.

It was a slightly stressful time, but in reality it was a gift from God. Ever so often God punches through the buzz around us and speaks truth. When God speaks, it’s like the fog lifts for a few minutes. With the fog gone we can see our life as it really is. When this happens the realty that we do have the choice to mess it up is unavoidable. God, I ain’t much but whatever it is that you will, have your way.

“ . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

Expectations

2006-04-26T23:08:00.000-04:00

DateLine (4/26/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A little while ago I heard about a study that was conducted in an educational setting. Two classes of elementary students were assembled. Class 1 was stacked with overachievers while class 2 was stacked with underachievers. Here’s the interesting part, the teacher for the overachievers was told that she had underachievers and vice versa. Both teachers labored for the school year under the intentional misinformation. What do you think happened?

The students in both classes met the expectations set by the teachers. In both classes the student’s performance for the year was exactly opposite of their previously demonstrated capability. The teachers had been deceived into setting the wrong expectations for both classes and the students performed as they were “expected” to perform by their teacher.

Where are we going with this? Modernists push relativism which mocks moral absolutes. Evidence mounts that society is unraveling around the ages. Everything is open to question. All rules are open to interpretation. Unfortunately we find ourselves as participants in a social experiment. People seem to be confused about expectations.

The Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus which have been gold standards for Western societal structures for centuries? God has set the standard – we know what’s expected. The difference between us and the school kids is God (i.e. the Teacher) knows our true potential and He’s set the appropriate standard. He’s even sent a tutor (i.e. Holy Spirit) to work with us every day to insure that we keep up. Don’t let the modernists soil your relationship with the Creator – God does not introduce confusion, it’s all about expectations.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 199:11.

Who Was Jesus

2006-04-19T21:09:00.000-04:00

DateLine (4/19/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Passion of the Christ, The Chronicles of Narnia, and soon The Da Vinci Code. The word is out; Mel Gibson proved beyond the shadow of a doubt; Jesus is a winner at the box office. It doesn’t matter if it’s head on a la Passion or allegorical a la Rings and Narnia or religious action thriller ala Da Vinci. There is an endless stream of “business people” trying to capitalize on the new found popularity of Jesus. No doubt that National Geographic was profit motivated by the “timing” of the media blitz regarding the “Gospel” of Judas, right in the middle of the Easter season. Jesus is hot!

“Opie” (Ron Howard, the director of the Da Vinci Code) and Forest Gump (Tom Hanks) are now trying to reproduce the box office results of Mel Gibson’s blockbuster with their movie. Only problem with this new found “religion” by Hollywood is that Jesus is only viewed as another casting move – it’s obvious that they really don’t get it. How can anyone believe that the heretical fiction of the Da Vinci Code could be marketed to the church and expect that it will be received the same way the Passion was.

There is an “opportunity” here but it will not yield millions for movie moguls it will yield lost sheep for the King. The Jesus appeal is misinterpreted by the profiteers. The thirst for anything Jesus is born of an innate desire to know eternal purpose and hope for the future. This media phenomenon is setting the table for Christians to answer the most profound question that has ever been posed; who was Jesus? Now to be sure it appears that Satan is setting the table. But here’s the truth, it doesn’t matter who sets the table, the only thing that matters is who serves the meal. That’s where you and I come in.

Regardless of how it may appear this attempt to exploit God for profit is serving up a great opportunity for us to tell the real story, the Good News. To be honest we are going to have to be careful. This is a complex scheme that the Enemy has hatched; strong possibility is that it’s a trap. If Satan can spread half-truth or untruth while simultaneously provoking the saints into a direct frontal assault; picketing movie theaters, condemning authors, burning books, etc. it’s a win-win for him; polluting the Gospel while portraying saints as extreme fundamentalists.

I want to suggest another strategy. 1) Take a look at what is being offered up from a critical point of view, 2) Develop a Christian apology (that’s intellectual speak for a defense) to counter the heresy, 3) Contemplate your own experience with God to make it fresh in your mind, and finally 4) Keep your radar up for the inevitable opportunity to “serve the meal.” With this much buzz about Jesus, you will have the chance to answer the question; who was Jesus.

The Greatest Victory

2006-04-12T22:04:00.000-04:00

DateLine (4/12/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

On November 9, 1989 one of the greatest world powers of the 20th century was defeated. Not a single shot was fired. Thousands of East Berliners pressed the border crossing at Bornholmer Strasse at 10.30 pm and demanded that the border be opened; and it was. Of course this was just the visible culmination of a series of events in 1989 that is recognized as a great military victory. Funny thing is no actual battles were ever fought, but the threat of war dominated world politics and the security of an entire generation.

As a child I played in fallout shelters that had been built in back yards to enable their owners to survive the expected nuclear fallout from the war. Civil Defense authorities stockpiled supplies in the basement of our church. Of course this was not a conventional war; it was the “Cold War.” The Cold War led to one of the largest buildups of unutilized war machines that had ever occurred and led to the development of unimaginable weapons of mass destruction. Ronald Reagan is normally given credit for the victory. Reagan’s ultimate weapon was not a nuclear bomb but a dollar. He bullied the Russians into a war of spending. The Russians became so focused on matching the “West” in the buildup that it ignored everyday needs of its people and communism imploded.

Sunday we celebrate the death burial and resurrection of the incarnate Christ. It was not a military victory; it was bigger. It was not the threat of war, it was real. No weapons of mass destruction were utilized; the greatest weapon was the Word. The foot soldiers in the battle were ordinary people with no specialized training. The war had raged for centuries and ravaged untold millions. The enemy had lured many to his side. Lives had been ruined, families destroyed. A Paradise had been wrecked. As it turned out a trap had been set. As the enemy lounged, the Supreme Commander sent his son to rally the cause. At the exact moment of victory, the earth trembled, rocks broke apart, graves opened up and fallen soldiers broke free from the sleep of death and presented themselves to the survivors. Once again there was evidence of hope. The first Easter was a great victory, but we’ve yet to see the Greatest Victory. We do know what it will be like.

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him; and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. . . And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth . . . And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come: who shall be able to stand? (Rev. 6)

Ordinary Transformation

2006-04-05T22:08:00.000-04:00

DateLine (4/5/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I like a true story. While concocted stories can be entertaining, they are mere memorials to the imagination of their creators. Now true stories have the potential to inspire.

They were an unlikely bunch, diverse as all of mankind. Phil normally set the culinary agenda for the group. To the casual acquaintance Tom seemed a little slow, but his friends knew him as the analytic one who always pressed for evidence. Matt had been committed to career, often struggling with prevailing business ethics, which in times past had been leveraged to provide him a very comfortable position. Pete was rugged and impulsive, but loyal to a fault – had rather be fishing than not. John was intimate in a masculine way, a true friend. None of them were particularly well educated, no reason to believe that they were intellectual giants. None came from a life of privilege. No one could have imagined! From this unlikely bunch came the makings of a movement that would sweep the world.

By now you may realize that I’m describing Phillip, Thomas, Matthew, and Peter, disciples of Jesus the Christ. This is where the true story bit comes in. Even critics of Christianity must admit that the transformation of the lives of the disciples of Jesus is very compelling evidence that the events that we celebrate at Easter is a true story.

From www.souldevice.org comes this statement; “Critics admit that the disciples at least thought they saw the risen Jesus - but what if they made it up? Neither lies nor hallucinations can transform people the way the resurrection did. First, what would they have had to gain? Christianity wasn't exactly popular and it certainly did not make them any money! Second, liars do not make good martyrs. There is no better explanation than the resurrection for the disciple’s willingness to die horrible deaths for their faith. Yes, lots of people die for lies that they think are true, but no one dies for what they know is untrue.”

The post-resurrection disciples had been transformed into unparalleled teachers, orators, and religious apologists, and yes martyrs. Thousands responded to their appeal to follow Jesus, millions through the ages. Perhaps no other twelve men in the history of mankind have had such impact. As we get ready to celebrate Easter, let the season remind you of the power that has potential to transform your own life. Now that will be no ordinary transformation.

Love Unleashed

2006-03-29T21:09:00.000-05:00

DateLine (3/29/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

From the web site exploratorium.com comes the following statement: “The Big Bang was like no explosion you might witness on earth today. For instance, a hydrogen bomb explosion, whose center registers approximately 100 million degrees Celsius, moves through the air at about 300 meters per second. In contrast, cosmologists believe the Big Bang flung energy in all directions at the speed of light (300,000,000 meters per second, a hundred thousand times faster than the H-bomb) and estimate that the temperature of the entire universe was 1000 trillion degrees Celsius at just a tiny fraction of a second after the explosion.” Now I’m not here to promote the Big Bang theory as God’s mechanism for creating the universe but I am drawn to the recognition by scientists that tremendous energy was present at the beginning – hundreds of thousands more intense than the detonation of a hydrogen bomb.

Now follow me because I want to build a case for a radical Easter thought. The Genesis 1 account tells us that God “spoke” the universe that we know into creation. John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” This same, “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” (John 1:14) as the incarnate Christ. Therefore the creative power of the universe was embodied in Jesus Christ while He walked upon the earth.

Fast forward to the final week of Jesus’ life. He was betrayed by a friend. He was accused of crimes not supported by evidence. He suffered the indignity of being stripped naked, beaten, mocked, spit upon and paraded before the public. He suffered one of the most extreme forms of execution that a depraved human mind has ever devised. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (John 3:16). The acts leading up to the first Easter demonstrate the very nature of God.

Now consider an alternative scenario (not biblical - but a dramatic concoction to make a point.) The first solder to pick up a “cat of nine tails” reaches far behind his back to generate maximum velocity as he swings forward with all his might toward the exposed back of Jesus. As the grisly instrument digs into the flesh of the Christ, the force of 100,000 atomic bombs vaporizes all of creation. In this scenario the creation provokes the creator into a vengeful rage. What kept God from revenging the abuse and torture of His only Son? His nature!

The abusive soldiers were not striking pent up rage, they were striking pent up love. If they had any idea that they were striking God’s very son they would have died on the spot from fear. They didn’t realize it then and we have trouble fathoming it now. It’s no wonder that Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (John 19:11).

The only thing that was unleashed during the crucifixion was love; a love that continues to explode through the corridors of time enveloping all who stumble toward its white hot core.

The Fear of Easter

2006-03-22T21:39:00.000-05:00

The Fear of Easter

DateLine (3/22/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

What really terrifies you? A few weeks ago I saw one of those “CSI” programs on TV where one of the main characters was kidnapped and buried alive in a box, while his investigator buddies were left to decipher clues to his location left by the abductor who had committed suicide immediately after burying their friend. Such a scenario is the stuff that my worst nightmares are made up. Yelp, I’m claustrophobic. I haven’t always been. As a child I can remember crawling deep into culverts under roadways without giving it a second thought. Immediately after my college graduation I took a temporary job in home construction which required that I work under houses in the Charleston area. I routinely went into crawl spaces on my back dragging my tools and material as I went because when I got where I was going there wasn’t enough space to turn over. Somewhere along the course of my life, this phobia developed.

During our vacation last summer I made up my mind that I would face this fear of claustrophobia. The main square (or piazza) of every major city that we visited in our trip to Northern Italy had a city hall or majestic cathedral with a soaring bell tower. It was obvious that the best view of the gorgeous surrounding Italian countryside and the city would be from the observation post at the top of these towers. Most are open to the public for a small entrance fee.

My first challenge, the Campanile di San Marco, or Belltower of St. Mark's cathedral in Venice had an elevator. Home free I thought until Harriett, Kyle and I were pressed into a 4’ x 4’ elevator with about 15 other people; imagine a sardine can. I survived and the view was worth the 30 seconds that I was holding my breath on the way up and the way down.

The second opportunity to face my fear was the The Torre del Mangia, (the bell tower of Il Campo) in Siena Italy. We got in line and began inching toward the entrance. I soon noticed the warning signs; caution “300 steps to the top”, “not for the faint of heart”, “confining spaces”, blah, blah, blah. As we approached the entrance I turned to Harriett and muttered something about view probably wouldn’t be that great, not enough time – you get the picture. Fear won.

My final opportunity to overcome the irrational was Giotto's Belltower of the Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. I was determined that I would not succumb. We found the entrance, paid the fee, and entered the staircase. Long story short, it was bad. Imagine a steep winding staircase of stone maybe 3’ wide lined with a constant stream of people – some going up and some going down at the same time. The journey was taxing, the view was worth it.

While it’s a controversial thought, all evidence suggests that Jesus felt fear as His human journey neared an end. The prayer in the garden the night before His arrest and the cry on the cross as His life ebbed away suggest a unique God man struggling with the same range of human emotion and challenge that we struggle with. The amazing thing recorded in the biblical record is a Christ who unswervingly marched toward the fear.

I love Easter. It is my favorite holiday of the year because it is the most unadulterated Christian centric holiday (notwithstanding the Easter bunny.) I love the Easter cantatas with the majestic celebrations of the resurrection. Let us never ever forget the love that propelled the Christ down the narrow road of fear leading to that resurrection.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Phil. 2:5-8.

Refreshing Water

2006-03-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

When I was about 9 years old our family moved from the big city of Woodruff to the Green Pond countryside. As children we lived outdoors as long as the weather permitted and the sun was up. As I grew older childhood games morphed into farm and yard work which during the Southern summers had a way of producing bone tired thirst and weariness, not to mention skin caked with sweat and dirt.

On the property where we moved was a hand dug rock-lined well which according to hearsay had been in use for many years. There is no doubt that initially a hand-cranked windlass served to hoist the cool water to the surface but by the time we made it our home, the well had been covered by a pump-house and an electric pump brought running water to the house. A spigot was placed on the outside of the pump-house, a nail was sunk into the wood gable above the spigot and a metal dipper was hung on the nail.

It did not take long to discover that a stop at the pump-house spigot served as a first pass clean-up; at least sufficient to allow one to be admitted into the house for a more thorough clean-up which was a prerequisite for supper. The pump-house stopover also served another purpose. After the water had been allowed to run for a minute or two, it turned noticeably cooler. The routine then consisted of filling the metal dipper with cool water, swishing it around a couple of times before discarding the first filling (this is called dipper sanitation), refilling the dipper with more water and then taking a big long drink of the most refreshing drink of well water imaginable.

Now you just couldn’t stop with one drink. It normally took a belly full before the routine was complete. When finished you wiped your hands on your pants and headed to the house. Oh and normally you let the water run just a little longer to fill the pet water dish directly below the spigot so the pets could benefit from the same refreshment. At one point during a drought in the 80s the old rock lined well went partially dry. My dad had to have someone come out and bore a new well about 40’ down the hill. The old well was abandoned but the original pump house is intact and the spigot still provides welcome relief. To this day, some 40 years later, if I am at my parent’s house I can’t pass by the pump-house spigot without taking a drink, even in the winter time.

Do you ever become tired and weary in your efforts in the Christian lifestyle? Do you sometimes feel the heat of ridicule or mockery because of your faith in God? Do you feel the grime of sin cover your body and you just can’t shake off the filth. Good news – God has a “pump house” which gushes cool, cleansing, thirst quenching, and soul refreshing water. Now to be honest, while we’re still living here on earth we need to get under God’s stream of water often. One of the best “spigots” that I know is the local church. Don’t forget to stop by to clean up and take a drink and get cleaned up for “supper.”

“…they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.” Rev. 7:15-17.

Glen of Cross Roads

2006-03-08T17:34:00.000-05:00

DateLine (3/08/06 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

I’ve discovered that Irish television has the equivalent of the History Channel. Actually it’s BBC, British TV, where I happened to catch a segment on Irish glens; specifically the Glens of Antrim (see www.antrimhistory.net). Seems as if glen comes from the old Irish word connotating a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains) and the TV special was giving visibility to a lost way of life that at one time was quite common in the Irish countryside.

People were bound together from necessity because of the hardships of a pre-modern lifestyle. By pre-modern I mean no electricity, no running water, and no grocery stores. These were small self-sufficient communities who found it easier to work together for survival. If one family fell on hard times the other families would share from their overflow until the family got back on its feet. Although it was not explicitly stated in the documentary I imagine that the interconnection was as much social as it was physical.

The TV special communicated a slight sadness over these lost communities, many of the homes having lapsed into decay and their memory’s maintained by fading oral tradition and a few yellow photographs. What once were vibrant idyllic gatherings of mankind are now historical relics. As I contemplated the past and present status of the glens my thoughts turned to similarities between them and churches.

The church is a community bound together by the common bond of faith in Christ. Church members are compelled to shoulder each other’s burdens, many times acting as a physical, spiritual or emotional safety net for each other. The environment outside of the church can be quiet hostile; members must exert effort to survive. A healthy church is an island of heavenly bliss in the midst of the hostility.

I’m sure that an inhabitant of an Irish glen of 150 years ago could never imagine the utter disappearance of their communities and lifestyles just as we could never imagine the demise of our church. No doubt over time the lure of an easier life in the modern cities took their toll on these communities. I can’t imagine that anyone consciously decided to end the glen lifestyle; it just faded away.

Where’s the challenge for us? Abandonment of the faith for the “easy” life has the potential of impacting more than the single individual. The fabric of community consists of interwoven threads. The character of the fabric is enhanced by the collective contributions of each thread. One loose filament starts the unraveling of the whole. Unimaginable as it might seem to us, a church can become a historic relic. May historians never have the opportunity to explore the artifacts of the “Glen of Cross Roads.”

Investment for Life

2006-03-01T21:54:00.000-05:00

DateLine (3/01/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I get a lot of my news from the internet these days. Being on the road a lot I’m not able to read the local newspapers so I resort to the internet. WYFF.com and WSPA.com both have good web sites that allow me stay in touch from 1000s of miles away and CNN.com and foxnews.com allow me to keep in touch at the national level. As I surfed past CNN.com one of the headlines from the business section caught my attention: “Are you ready to retire? Most aren’t.” Now I’m not old enough to retire but I am old enough to understand that I should be well into the execution of my retirement strategy, so I bit and clicked.

The crux of the article was summarized in one paragraph: “According to research from Fidelity Investments, Baby Boomers only have enough in savings and other income sources to replace 59 percent of their pre-retirement income. Of those with 401(k) accounts, the average account balance is just $80,000, and many typically save just $2,750 a year toward retirement.”

Conventional retirement investment wisdom suggests that one should start early, have a sound strategy, exercise patience and let your money work for you. If the article was on the money (pun intended) then Baby Boomers have not heeded conventional wisdom. A lot of people are headed toward an unhappy sunset. Baby Boomers have been identified as the wealthiest generation of Americans ever. If it’s not in the bank safety tucked away to cushion the blow of age and loss of salary then where is it? One can only deduce that it’s been squandered in “living for the moment.” According to the commercial “You only go around once, so grab for all the gusto you can get.” Somebody has been grabbing a lot of “gusto;” soon we’ll be hearing a collective “uh oh.”

God has an investment strategy. As I lingered on the words that I had just read it dawned on me that it share’s similarities to retirement planning. God’s strategy is start early, invest sacrificially, be patient, and let the Holy Spirit work for you. The currency is different, the stakes are higher, and the returns are better. God’s currency is your life, misstep and you lose it, persevere and your investment will pay dividends forever. In our area He has several local branch offices, they’re called churches. Deposits are welcome anytime, preferably in increments of time. If you don’t have the time – send money.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

Providence

2006-02-22T21:37:00.000-05:00

DateLine (2/22/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Harriett and I were married while we were in college. We both worked the summer of our wedding (1975) and salted away the handsome some of $1000 between the two us. That was our total budget for the first 9 months of marriage for clothes, groceries, household sundries and entertainment while we completed our education. We didn’t starve. We were down to our last $50 at the end of 9 months and a man called to offer a job in the construction industry. I was the only guy I knew that had a BS in Chemistry that was installing prefab chimneys and fireplaces.

I quit that job after 5 months to move back to Woodruff because we thought the job prospects would be better in the Upstate. After a few weeks I landed a new position as a chemical operator / technician in a small chemical plant. Five weeks later I was unceremoniously fired from that “position.” We never missed a meal - the power was never turned off. Within two months I landed a new position with Celanese Chemical in Greer as a Chemical Lab Technician, a position that I was technically over-qualified far and meant that I would be working rotating shifts. I was so glad to get the job I didn’t even realize how much I’d be paid until I got my first check.

Within a few months of landing my new “position” we were surprised to discover that Harriett was pregnant with what would be our first child. My new job afforded a very nice maternity benefit. The shifts lasted for 2 and ½ years. In the meantime we were able to build a house on some land that my Mom and Dad made available to us. We still live in that house today. I was offered a day shift job but it meant that I’d have to take a substantial pay cut but would get to assume a normal schedule. I took the cut. The day shift job allowed me to get involved with some cutting edge computer technology that was being applied to manufacturing and raise my participation level in my home church as Harriett and I took on the co-positions of youth director. Within two years I was promoted to my first “professional” position as computer programmer; with a raise.

Fast forward ten years. Solid experience on the leading edge of application of computerization and manufacturing automation opened the door for me to join one of Greenville’s consulting engineering firms; bigger horizons - better opportunities. In 2002 I felt God’s prompting to start a consulting business; big potential – big risk. I formed the company over the Christmas holidays in 2002. I was attempting to attend to all the preliminary organizational details in early 2003 when the company that I was working for asked me attend some training. This forced my hand and I concluded that I had to resign before I had planned – I could not in good conscience allow them to invest more in me when I intended to resign soon. I went in on a Monday morning and was prepared to resign my position and walk away from a steady income. I did resign but I walked away with an invitation to continue working on a contractual basis for a few months; much needed part time work. We never had to skip a meal and the power was never turned off.

Within the first few months of my self-employment Harriett found out that she needed surgery. We had medical insurance through her job but it would leave us with a substantial bill after the insurance did its part. We decided that the surgery could not wait so it was scheduled. The surgery was performed. Within an hour of her returning to her room to begin post-operative recovery, my cell phone rang; a client was calling with an offer to get involved with a project. That was June of 2003. I have been continuously working projects since.

Now those that really know me know that I’m one of the least ambitious people that was ever created. I have been perfectly content living in Green Pond South Carolina enjoying my time with my family, piddling in my yard and garden, and supporting my church family through active involvement. The things that I’ve shared did not happen to me because of a carefully crafted strategy executed with singular focus.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34

My life is a testimony to the providence of God. Praises to Jehovah God!!

The Information Age

2006-02-15T22:45:00.000-05:00

DateLine (2/15/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

There’s a new site on the web that will tell you what your house is worth. It’ll also tell your neighbor what your house is worth. It’ll tell you what your neighbor’s house is worth and every other house on your street or any other address in the US. All you have to do is type your address into zillow.com. In just a few seconds you’ll see a satellite image of your house with the book value derived from any one of many public tax and real estate records. In another few seconds the value of every home around yours will populate the map. Doesn’t matter if you like it or not, this information is pubic record and the internet is being leveraged to make it available at the click of a mouse.

Criminal records, accident records, traffic violations, motor vehicle registrations, corporate affiliations, bankruptcy records, national phone directories, sexual predator databases, average income and census profiles for addresses, hunting / fishing permits, FAA licenses, concealed weapons permits, professional licenses, names of relatives, associates, & neighbors for friends and enemies are all ripe targets for robotic searches solicited and delivered via the internet. If you are tempted to be worried about personally sensitive information that is easily accessible to friend and foe, don’t be - it’s too late. Don’t believe me? Bring up google.com and type in “background check.” What used to take weeks and the services of a hired private investigator can now be accomplished from home in hours.

One of the by-products of the “information age” in which we live is the relatively easy access to information that most of us would feel much more comfortable knowing that it was securely stored under “lock and key.” On another plane our personal and private thoughts are closely guarded by our own desire to protect our reputations and polished veneers. The truth for all of us is that all of this information and more will eventually be made public. The Bible says in Luke 8:17, “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”

The sin within us is ugly. Our energy should not be directed toward a cover-up but a cleanup. The only effective approach to cleanup is to “fess up”; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Unfortunately the cleanup does not purge the databases that contain all the personal information alluded to above – that legacy will remain. So then should we cower paralyzed in the corner fearing the day our deepest darkest secrets are revealed to the masses? Absolutely not! At the end of our life God will do one final background check which will search the heavenly citizenship database. Nothing else will matters; not now, not then. We’re either in it or not.

“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 run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2.

A Valentine in the Solitude

2006-02-08T23:22:00.000-05:00

DateLine (2/8/06 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

The spring semester of my second year of college was coming to an end. I had just withdrew from Organic which was required for my Chemistry major. It was beginning to sink in that I might fall short of my vocational objective based on academic track record. I enrolled in summer school to retake Organic. The strategy was to reduce my load down to one course at a time to focus; an attempt to get back on track academically. Four hours of lecture in the morning, four hours of lab in the afternoon; Monday through Friday. A test every Monday morning. Six weeks of Organic 201 then six weeks of Organic 202.

There was an unintentional side effect of the strategy; solitude. I was the only occupant on my floor of the dormitory for the summer. Other than class time and meal time I had no scheduled interaction with other students. There was the occasional impulsive trek to Bacon’s Bridge on the Ashley River in Summerville to do a little river swimming with some of the other summer students, a welcome communal activity. My summer job working in the registrar’s office also provided needed interaction with people. Several registration sessions were scheduled during the summer for transfers and matriculating freshmen to come on campus, register for courses, and make final arrangements for the coming fall semester. My job was to receive that little stack of computer cards that the registrants had collected as they had visited tables representing the various departments. I would do a cursory inspection and file them away so that they could be translated into a final class schedule at a later date.

The remainder of my time that summer was sitting in my yellow chair which had been rescued from the garbage heap, tossed there by some student who had fled the dormitory at the conclusion of the previous spring semester. The chair had long lost its two back legs which meant that it was in a permanent reclining position; a perfect posture as far as I was concerned. I pushed the chair over next to the single window in the dorm and enjoyed many an hour soaking up the low country sunshine and moonlight; sometimes conscious and many times not. Many of the times in the chair started with a serious dialog with God which covered the range of topics that were forefront on my mind; school work, my future which seemed to be slipping away, the money that I didn’t have, the girlfriend that I didn’t have, and many other similar life or death issues.

During one of those registration sessions not one but two young ladies who were traveling together lined up at my station to present their card decks. The first young lady never met a stranger, conversed effortlessly and talked a mile a minute. The second young lady was partially hidden behind the first, did not say more than a handful of words, smiled a lot and had blonde hair down to her waist.

Where’s this going? That summer I was at a crossroads; spiritually, academically, and psychologically. I was loosing my way; I was reaching out to God. As the summer wore on it because very obvious to me that God was hanging out with me as I lounged in the yellow chair. Now I fully understand that this is not a conventional posture for prayer. But I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God knew my heart, He knew my respect for Him, He knew my need and He heard my pleas. That summer of personal solitude was a pivotal period of my life. My relationship with God reached solid footings. Here’s the neat part. Right in the middle of this spiritual breakthrough God sent me a Valentine, and it wasn’t even February. That shy young lady that I mentioned earlier; a little over one year later we were married. 31 years, 3 children and 2 grandchildren later I can honestly say that God sends the most awesome Valentines.

By the way, I aced both Organic classes and Harriett and I occasionally get phone calls from her ex college roommate who talks a mile a minute for an hour at a time.

Perspective

2006-02-01T22:31:00.000-05:00

per·spec·tive - (p r-sp k t v) n. – 1) A mental view or outlook, 2) An awareness of a range of time, events, or subjects; a broad mental view, 3) The ability to perceive things in their actual interrelations or comparative importance.

DateLine (2/1/06 – Malvern, PA)

Perspective. Young people pray for it. It is the gift of longevity. Old people fear losing it. The demented have lost it. It is a principal component of wisdom and judgment. It is a prerequisite for leadership. It infuses calm into unsettling circumstances. It is the opposite of self-delusion.

Perspective is what Rudyard Kipling had in mind when the penned the words:

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you . . .

I’ve confessed before that I enjoy watching American Idol on television. I’m convinced after the first few shows of this new season that the average auditioner for American Idol is totally depraved of perspective. How could some of those entrants conclude that they have talent?

Jesus is encouraging us to have a healthy perspective when he spoke the words:

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. (Matthew 6:27-29 NIV)

Have I convinced you that perspective is a valuable personal virtue; even a spiritual virtue? Can it be cultivated? Can it be possessed by the young? Let me suggest a personal experiment. Then you decide for yourself.

Carve some extra time out of your schedule to sit quietly before the Lord and listen to Him speak.
Commit yourself to mining the riches of God’s Word; the Bible.
Spend some time with a Godly grandparent or senior and absorb their life experience.

It’s all a matter of perspective!

Hostile Witness

2006-01-25T19:44:00.000-05:00

DateLine (1/25/06 – Buies Creek, North Carolina)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point - Tripp Atkins

I like to tell my friends how hard law school is, so I am a little ashamed of what we did in class last week. We watched a movie! And not one of those boring movies like we have watched before showing us the proper technique for introducing some evidence into a trial but a “real” Hollywood movie. We watched the 1992 classic “My Cousin Vinny”.

Now, just in case you aren’t familiar with the movie, it stars Joe Pesci as an attorney and Ralph Macchio (that’s right, the Karate Kid) as a college student from New York City wrongly accused of murder in a small town in Alabama. Joe’s character has been out of law school for six years but hasn’t tried a case yet. He lead’s Ralph to believe that it’s because he is a personal injury attorney and has been able to settle his cases. Turns out that it took him six tries to pass the bar exam. Joe doesn’t know anything about trying a case, criminal procedure, trial advocacy, or discovery rights – much less about how to win a murder trial that would most definitely end in the death penalty in that small Alabama town.

During the trial, the key witness called by the defense was going to rebut the testimony of one of the prosecution’s witnesses. This witness just happened to be Joe Pesci’s fiancée and the couple had just been in a huge fight about when they were getting married. Joe had told her they would get married as soon as he won his first case. I think Joe was a little afraid of commitment and knew that it was more probable than not he wouldn’t win a case (in law school we call that the “preponderance of the evidence” standard). Since the fiancée was a little mad at Joe, she refused to answer any question that Joe asked. She was belligerent and rude. In legal terminology a witness that is called to testify on behalf of a party but becomes openly antagonistic is called a “hostile witness.” Once a judge declares a witness to be hostile it allows the attorney to take more control in the questioning of the witness.

Are you a hostile witness? God calls us to be His “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8). Sometimes in our daily lives it gets hard to be the perfect witness. Someone cuts you off in traffic. You don’t get the right change when you pay for dinner. When things get tough it seems like the devil is just asking the wrong questions causing us to go down the wrong roads, say things we don’t mean, and do things we shouldn’t. When times get like this, The Supreme Judge might have to declare us “hostile” so our public defender, Jesus Christ, can take measures into His own hands. Thank God!

NSA: National Security Agency ?

2006-01-18T19:25:00.000-05:00

DateLine (1/18/06 – Buies Creek, North Carolina)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point - Tripp Atkins (Yes Tripp is writing this column)

On the December 18, 2005 edition of “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert, there was a discussion with U.S. Secretary of State, Condi Rice. I can call her Condi because, believe me, we’re close. Any way the discussion was about the NSA “spying” on Americans within the U.S. President Bush described a scene where Americans have been communicating with known al-Qaeda groups abroad planning attacks and other treacherous actions.

There are a number of legal and constitutional arguments on each side of this issue, and a number of reasons to continue or discontinue the practice. The main reason cited by Secretary Rice (and probably a good reason at that) to continue the spying was that before 911 there was a “seam” in the intelligence community. The local and state officials had their eyes focused inward (toward the USA) while some federal agencies were focused outward, all the while none of these agencies shared any information. Thus creating a seam that could be exploited by terrorists, a seam between two worlds. The NSA’s action by “spying” on possible American terrorists was to focus some of the federal agency’s attention inwardly and eliminate the seam.

God placed his people in a world much like that described by Secretary Rice. There is a seam in the world for Christians: the spiritual world and the natural world described in John 17: 13. The natural world offers power, money, and more – but the natural world corrupts. Knowing all of this, God chose to leave His son and His people in the world.

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth; Your world is truth.
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (John 17: 13-18)

During these times, and especially since 9/11/2001, people need to feel secure. And the government is trying to provide that security. I’m glad that as a Christian, we do not have to rely on men to protect us, but we are protected far beyond what the government could do. The Christian’s security comes from God and knowing that Jesus prayed that God would protect His people from evil while they worked in the natural world.

The Miracle That Never Happened

2006-01-11T19:57:00.000-05:00

DateLine (1/11/06 – Buies Creek, North Carolina)
Guest Contributor for Reference Point - Tripp Atkins

Last week, in Sago, West Virginia, the worst mining accident in 20 years occurred. Thirteen miners were caught in an underground explosion 11,000 feet down the shaft into the coal mine and about 300 feet below the surface.

In the aftermath of the explosion, a rescue effort was put into place to save the thirteen miners trapped inside. Deep holes had to be drilled to release the toxic gases in order to help the trapped miners and protect the rescuers descending the shafts. High-tech sound equipment was used to listen for any signs of life, while others rushed to clear the shaft so they could get to the trapped men. All the while, the governor of West Virginia proclaimed that he “believed in miracles.”

Days into the rescue operation, a report was broadcast, “12 Alive! 12 Alive!” And the bells of Sago Baptist Church rang out. This sent the families of the trapped miners who were praying at the church into a three-hour, joyous frenzy, praising God, singing hymns, and hugging one another. They had received a miracle.

Twelve of the miners lost their lives. The sole survivor is unconscious and the extent of his injuries are currently unknown. The family members were left in a state of shock, sadness and despair. And the more time that passed after the truth was made known feelings of anger and rage emerged. Anger toward International Coal Group, owners of the mine, Ben Hatfield, the CEO of the mine, and towards God for taking their loved ones and miracle away.

While watching the news I heard one of the lost miner’s family members say, “their miracle had been taken away” from them.

We all deal with loss in our lives. Some even more tragic than the Sago mine disaster. During these times we should turn to God, rather than away from God. God wants us to bring our problems and feelings to Him. What we have to do is outlined in scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3: 5). In tough times, humans are filled with all kinds of emotions like the miner’s families. We get mad at people and mad at God.

While we don’t always know what, why or when – God does, and we can take comfort in God’s word, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When we feel like we have lost everything – God remains – and I cannot think of a better foundation to build on. I don’t think the miracle never happened. Another team of miners coming down the shaft behind those trapped were able to escape, and one of the thirteen trapped miners made it out alive. Only God knows what he has in store for those saved.

National Champtions

2006-01-04T20:02:00.000-05:00

DateLine (1/04/06 – Buies Creek, North Carolina)
Guest Writer for Reference Point this week - Tripp Atkins

Ahhh, college football. College football is a full time/year round job for some fans. The year starts out with following recruiting and determining which of the most talented high school seniors signing with their colleges of choice during the first week of February are coming to your favorite team. Then the college fan turns their focus to spring practice where the initial starters are selected for the fall squad – all of these practices culminating in the annual spring game. There is a little lull during the summer, but come the first week of August, the hype returns for the first weeks of practice before the regular season. September through November is a grind full of highs and lows, ups and downs, and thrill and agony.

The whole season is built to win at least six games and launch the football team into the best post-season bowl game possible – generally decided by the bowl payout to the school as well as the date of the bowl game. The lower tier bowl games occurring before Christmas while the better bowl games happen around New Years and later. All of the off-season work in the weight room, sweat, tears, and blood are fuel to take the teams through the regular season and into bowl season.

Tonight is the Rose Bowl game selected as this years BCS national championship game pitting the University of Southern California versus the University of Texas.

Christian life is somewhat like college football. It is definitely not easy, there are peaks and valleys, high hopes some days, and deep depression others. It takes hard work. Some times the most preparation and diligent work doesn’t lead us to victory, but when God is on our sideline victory is definite. In Luke when the apostles had been fishing all night and not caught anything, Jesus told them to pull the boats out into deeper waters and drop the nets. Even though they had been doing that all night with no luck, they persevered and did as Jesus directed, and they began to catch so many fish that they had to call other boats to help them bring it all in.

It has taken a lot of hard work for these two teams to make it to the national championship game tonight. Texas had to fight hard to pull out their victory over Texas A&M, and USC had a few scares during the season. Each team has had to overcome injury and other distractions to find their victories.

The devil distracts us, but we will overcome when we are backed up by God and His word. Psalm 60: 12 tells us that “With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.”

New Year's Resolution?

2005-12-28T23:06:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/28/05 – Green Pond, South Carolina)

Christmas is past, people are busy putting away the ornaments and decorations, the candy dish is still full despite a steady sampling, every evening is another college bowl game; it must be time for a New Year’s resolution. The newspaper and TV news will soon be filled with stories of resolutions made to lose weight, quit smoking, become physically fit and other worthwhile endeavors. To be honest New Year’s resolutions have never had much appeal to me. I understand the desire, maybe need, to annually take stock of one’s life for the purpose of identifying what’s going well and areas where personal improvements are in order.

It’s the resolution thing that I struggle with. I suspect that my willingness to join in the spirit of the New Year’s resolution has fell victim to my less than stellar track record of keeping promises made to self. I’ll admit to having purchased a “Y” membership in January, boy was it crowded. I’ll bet the regulars couldn’t wait until the first of February when the “resolvers” started dropping like flies so the crowds would thin out to a reasonable level. I don’t think that my experience is much different than the majority of others; resolutions made and resolutions broken. It just seems to turn into an annual exercise in demonstrating my inability to live up to my own expectations. So why bother?

The concept of a New Year’s Resolution is spot on. I’m going to suggest that the reason so few of us are able to achieve our objective falls at the feet of what the Bible calls sin. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:18 “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” There is nothing wrong with wanting to see change in your life. The problem with the typical New Year’s Resolution is that it is powered by our own determination. Totally inadequate! Paul later cried out to the Lord in v24, “Who will rescue me . . .? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

So how do we tap into this rescuing power that prompted Paul to give thanks to God and bring new meaning to the old practice of resolution making? How can we escape the ineptitude of our own pitiful efforts to self-correct? I’m going to suggest a new approach. Let’s take the best intent of the New Year’s Resolution and combine it with the power to overcome our own sinfulness. You see those things that need correction in our life are a result of sin. God promised in 1 John 1:9 that “If we confess our sins, he . . . will forgive our sins.” He even goes on to say in James 5:16 that there is value in publicly confessing; “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. . . The prayer of a righteous man is powerful.”

So here’s the concept. Instead of trying to work up enough determination to overcome personal issues or challenges, simply confess it to God in prayer. There may even be value in sharing your prayer with a friend for encouragement and support. This is where we trust God for the power to change. Not determination, not will power, but God power. Now to be honest it is not automatic. God sometimes answers our prayers in unusual ways. But we’ll trust that He has our best interest in mind no matter what. That’s it. Let’s call it our New Year’s Confession.

Now for my New Year’s Confession; it’s phone rage. You know, going off on the customer service rep on the other end of a telephone because their company, product, or service has not met my expectation. “Who will rescue me” from this action that is damaging my Christian testimony? “Thanks be to God.”

The Lost Message of Christmas

2005-12-21T18:18:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/21/05 – Green Pond, South Carolina)

Christmas is the mega blockbuster of holidays in our contemporary culture. All of the holiday’s icons are etched into our memory; presents under the Christmas trees, Nativity Scenes, homes adorned with Christmas lights, and a red-suited oversized elf with a white beard riding in an airborne sleigh pulled by flying reindeers. This is the season when wide-eyed children move trancelike through shopping malls having been encouraged to unleash their imaginations while compiling Christmas “wish-lists.” The deeper spiritual and charitable themes that under gird the Christmas season are well known and understood by a majority of Americans; the birth of the savior, symbolic exchange of gifts commemorating the gifts of the magi, and collections for the needy. But it’s not to these high profile elements of the season that I direct my comments but to the “Lost Message of Christmas; Servitude.”

A Jewish rabbi was busy about the routine of his duties in the house of worship. Jehovah God found favor in the sacrificial life of him and his wife Elizabeth and blessed them with a son who would lead the way for the Jewish savior. Zechariah had chosen servitude. “Zechariah, your prayer has been answered.” Luke 1:13

A teenage Israeli girl was caught in a conflict not of her making. Her Superior had asked of her a favor which was a tremendous honor that would end up benefiting untold millions but would be misconceived as a serious moral lapse on her part. Mary chose servitude. Mary said “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1:38.

Joseph had just found out that his fiancée was pregnant and he knew that the baby was not his. Society at the time suggested that Joseph terminate the engagement and turn his future bride over to scorn, ridicule, and possibly death by vigilantes. Joseph chose servitude. “Joseph . . did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” Matt. 1:24

Three famous academics temporarily gave up the comfortable confines of their privileged life when their God simultaneously compelled them to take an uncharted religious pilgrimage. They were guided by a strange star which appeared in the eastern sky with only the promise that something important lay at the end of their journey. Wise Men chose servitude. The Magi “saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Matt. 2:2

Lucifer was once a mighty angel of Jehovah God. He chose to compete against God to attempt to gain equality. Angels played a role in the first Christmas. Lucifer demonstrates that angels do have choices. The Christmas Angels chose servitude. “The Angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10

A group of Israeli shepherds sacrificed time with family to spend the night in the cool fields surround Bethlehem making sure that nothing happened to the village sheep. It’s quite ironic that the Christmas Angel was directed to announce the arrival of a King, at the pinnacle of society, to shepherds, who existed as the dregs of society. God entrusted the lower cast to announce salvation to the world. Shepherds chose servitude. “They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:8

God the Son who was a full participant in the creation of everything that we know on earth submitted himself to self-imposed constraints of humanness. The co-creator of the universe would be dependent on an uninitiated Israeli mother to attend to His bodily functions. He would not be able to speak for months until his physical development allowed. The Savior chose servitude. “The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14.

A different decision by any of the participants from the first Christmas would have made our Christmas radically different. Wrong decisions by you and me have the same potential to radically affect our future. Will you chose servitude?

Extreme Makeover: Soul Edition

2005-12-14T21:20:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/14/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A few years ago I happened to tune into a TV program entitled Extreme Makeover. I’ll admit a curiosity with the basic storyline of providing radical cosmetic surgeries to correct physical weaknesses that have contributed to low self images and unmet expectations from life. While I’m sympathetic to the plight of the participants the show seemed pre-occupied with the superficial as the primary focus dealt with surface issues. An “Extreme Team” of surgeons, dentists, hairdressers, personal trainers, and make-up artists were assembled to demonstrate their skills foisted upon the target.

Over it’s history the show seems to be getting more extreme; transitioning from it’s charter to grant relief to the afflicted to providing entertainment that appeals to the twisted interests of the audience. The following scenarios are being recruited for future shows on their web site:

1. An engaged couple who will be married on the show after a double makeover
2. My Fair Lady, where a small town girl will undergo an Audrey Hepburn transformation
3. A dedicated weight loss candidate willing to work off 50 lbs before their makeover
4. Veterans/Firefighters/Police/EMS, etc. who may have been injured in the line of duty

Now contrast the description just given to a spin-off program entitled Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The purpose of this program is to select a nominated family that demonstrates great need to receive a dream house which is constructed in the window of one week while the family vacations away from the area. I’ll admit that this program gives me a warm and fuzzy. I’m drawn to the construction details and it’s quite a blast to see the recipient family react as they take a tour of their dream home for the first time. Often times some corporate sponsor will relieve the family of any obligation for the mortgage, so they move in as owners free and clear.

Extreme change is the common theme to both of the TV shows. Consider for a few minutes about another Extreme Makeover. Mankind has a spiritual deficiency. It’s called sin. It’s genetic. We inherited it from our ancestors. We’re not a lost cause. There is a one who is taking applications for us to receive a correction to the problem. The interesting thing is that everyone who applies will be accepted. The change is so great that the one who performs the makeover will not even remember what we looked like before.

The makeover was planned before we were even born. A team of Three is assembled at all times in order to do the makeovers. The makeover team is very intimate with all aspects of our being. If performed our physical, mental, and spiritual beings will be affected and we’ll receive a satisfaction guaranteed. There is no recovery period, the results are immediate. As recipients our primary obligations are to show our respect for the “Extreme Team” and to guide other people through the application process. I like to call this Extreme Makeover: Soul Edition.

Here’s your invitation to apply. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) If you’ve already received your makeover pass it on to someone else.

It's a Small World

2005-12-07T21:51:00.000-05:00

DateLine (12/07/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

It was a hot summer day in Florida during the 1980s and Harriett and I were at the Magic Kingdom® Park, Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida with our two girls. We had already spent enough time at the park on this hot day that we desperately needed a respite from the heat. We stepped into the queue at the closest attraction that presented cool blowing air. That’s when I heard the music.

It's a world of laughter, a world of tears,
It's a world of hopes and a world of fears,
There's so much that we share,
It is time we're aware.
It's a small small world.

It's a small world after all,
It's a small world after all,
There's so much that we share,
It is time we're aware.
It's a small small world

Now normally Disney is known for fast moving queues or at least providing enough entertaining or intriguing distractions so that you don’t notice that you’re idling time away in a park where you’ve spent 100s of dollars to gain admission just to stand in line. I guess it was about the 10th time of hearing the theme song to “It’s a Small World” that I realized that somehow this song had irritated my last nerve. To add insult to injury I soon found that once we had worked our way into the attraction we would board a boat that would cruise us past nearly 300 *Audio- Animatronic(tm)* children from more than 100 different nations singing, dancing, and entertaining us to this same “happy” tune. Now normally I’m not one to be easily agitated but this pushed me past my point of tolerance (OK truth is I can fall victim to agitation given a certain level of stress.)

Ok so what does this have to do with us during this holiday season? A few weeks ago something triggered in my mind the memory of the occasion that I’ve just described on our vacation. I’m sure that Disney was simply trying to remind us through a child’s attraction that we are in fact members of a global family with more in common than not. In fact there is deep political, spiritual, and commercial innuendo in this seemingly “light” message. Indeed to the Christian we have a responsibility to the entire world community, it is called evangelism.

But it’s not to this concept of the global community that I’d like to focus our attention. Some of my special memories of Christmas come from time spent with the small world right around me; family, friends, and church, and it’s my opinion that God is ok with that. For a brief time of the year the pace wanes, the gaiety waxes, and the spirit is renewed.

Almost 2000 years ago a small baby entered into the small world by way of a manger in the small Hebrew village of Bethlehem. A small group of curious bystanders were drawn to His side. During this Christmas season we act out the celebration of this small family with our family. A small event that reverberates down the corridors of time.

And remember:

There's so much that we share,
It is time we're aware.
It's a small small world.

Priceless Treasures

2005-11-30T20:17:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/30/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A train streaked across the dark English countryside carrying a priceless antiquity. At the main station in London the cargo was put into a taxi for the trip to the final destination where a large crowd had gathered hoping to snatch a glimpse of the treasure. The museum had paid the handsome sum of more than $500,000 for the privilege of housing this significant historical object. More than half of the procurement funds had been donated by the general public, no doubt some contributors were present as the taxi screeched to a halt. The door swung open, and the couriers exited with the prize. As the package passed by all of the men present took off their hats out of respect. A scene right out of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? No way! These were actual events that occurred in December 27, 1933. The object was not a golden chalice – the Holy Grail, but it was a manuscript of the Holy Bible.

Of what must have originally comprised about 730 leaves, 393 remain, 245 of the Old Testament and 148 of the New. The leaves are of very fine vellum, measuring approximately fifteen inches square. The style of its script, along with other factors, make it quite certain that it was copied about the middle of the fourth century. The Sinaitic Manuscript is the oldest complete manuscript of the New Testament that exists today.

Can you imagine the scene described above which occurred in London England in 1933 occurring today in our nation’s capital or for that matter any other major city in the world. Our contemporary society is busy purging any vestige of the Christian faith from public view or recitation. Respect for the Bible has waned at an alarming pace. Even in the Christian church the reading of the Holy Scripture has sometimes been replaced by entertaining self-help speeches and encouragements to embrace positive thinking.

The Bible is the foundation of our Christian faith. It is the primary method that God has chosen to reveal Himself to His people! It has encouraged every generation of Christian to stay the course! It has built up the faith of the weak! It has disclosed the will of God to the wavering! It has convicted the sinful of their error! But there is no doubt that we are tempted today to take it for granted. How many times have you observed a Bible carelessly tossed into the corner only to collect dust?

Here’s the challenge! The Bile is the source of the Christmas story that we honor during this holiday season. Would you consider assembling a display of the Bible in a prominent place during this Christmas season in your home? Why don’t you leave it open to the page that says, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) And every time you pass by your display think about the men on that sidewalk 72 years ago in London who removed their hats in respect.

Black Friday

2005-11-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/23/05 – Green Pond, SC)

Black Friday, also known as the Day After Thanksgiving, is generally acknowledged as the heaviest shopping day of the year, the start of the Christmas shopping season. The name is an homage to some retailers who toll all year in the red only to have this one day push them into the black for the first time. Stores prepare for the crush of shoppers by adding extra staff and even encourage the onslaught of bargain crazed people by opening as early 4-5 AM and offering such inducements as free breakfast or special discounts.

Shoppers can tap special websites (bf2005.com, blackfriday.gottadeal.com, etc.) that assist them in developing a strategy for exploiting special offerings by the retailers. Motivated shoppers scan the newspapers and store flyers for the slightest hint by anxious retailers who reveal their discounts and special offerings before the appointed day. Flyers are quickly scanned and posted to the websites.

All of this adds up to an orgy of consumerism. And to “soften” the shopper, soundtracks of seasonal music blare throughout the stores. How can the poor shopper resist? And this is how our contemporary Christmas season begins. Frankly it makes me want to barf. Ok, I’m am a male and there is something in our genes that causes physical illness at the thought of such events.

This is the season that Southern Baptist collect the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. In a way this is Black Friday for our missions effort. All collected funds go directly to the mission field for special projects and needs.. The 2005 offering goal is $150 million. This year the promotional focus is South Asia. More than 1400 people groups live in the seven countries of this region, including the giant countries of China and India.

Years ago I had a pastor who challenged us to make our Christmas gift to Jesus at least as valuable as the largest gift given to anyone else. To be honest my initial response was to blow him off. After all, we had small children at the time and our meager Christmas budget was dominated by our desire to make Christmas special for them. Years later I recalled that challenge from the pastor and Harriett and I decided to take it for our own. We chose to make the Lottie Moon Christmas offering our gift to Jesus. I cannot explain to you the added dimension that this has given to our Christmas season. Would you consider making Lottie Moon your Christmas gift to Jesus?

De-upsize

2005-11-16T20:11:00.000-05:00

De-upsize - v. - To refuse to ratchet up one’s lifestyle so as to result in financial freedom.

DateLine (11/16/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Ok the definition which appears above for de-upsize is a total fabrication. There is no such word in the dictionary, but there should be. I propose that this word be added to the vocabulary of every believer of Jesus Christ. If you’re young this concept should be burned into your psyche, an inviolate maxim for modern living. If you’re old statistics demonstrate that it’s probably too late to reach you with this truth.

An article posted on the MSN Money website demonstrates the magnitude of the problem that this concept is intended to address; “Yes, consumer debt -- encompassing credit cards, mortgages, student loans and more -- is growing like a well-fed St. Bernard puppy. No, there's no sign that the growth will slow. Yes, some economists worry about the ill effects, but no, not many of them are sounding urgent alarms. It's hard not to be worried when confronted with numbers such as these:

About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year.
Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt.
Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade.

American consumers owed a grand total of $1.9773 trillion in October 2003, according to the latest statistics on consumer credit from the Federal Reserve. That’s about $18,654 per household, a figure that doesn’t include mortgage debt. The number is up more than 41% from the $1.3999 trillion consumers owed in 1998.”

So who cares? Let me paint a picture. Ok I’m going to use my imagination again, but I don’t think I’m too far off. Imagine yourself for a moment in the strategy room in hell. Satan and his economic council is gathered around discussing a hot topic; financial bondage (get it – hot topic.) He speaks, “We’re looking for new strategies to destroy individuals and bring families to their knees. What can you bean counters offer me?” One particularly devilish imp in the corner immediately offered, “How about cheap easy credit?” “Perfect,” replied Satan, “How soon can we implement it?” “Well I know this director at First National Bank, we hang out at the same strip club. I believe that I can convince him to get the ball rolling and once First National offers it, all of their competitors will have to follow suit.” “Great,” Satan said, “My hunch is you should suggest he start with cheap home mortgages. People will use the excuse for low interest home loans to overindulge on the dream home. Once they realize what they’ve done, it’ll take years for them to recover.” And on and on the sinister session went.

Families all over America are under tremendous pressure attempting to deal with the aftermath of an orgy of overindulgence; financial bondage. An “army” pre-occupied with their personal financial crises is not focused on the battle. It is no accident that God has raised up a herd of modern day prophets to address this issue; Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, Dave Ramsey, Austin Pryor, and others. It is no accident that many Christian media outlets feature some of the finest Christian teachers sounding the alarm on this subject. Satan has pre-emptied the American Dream. The original American Dream was to worship God with freedom. The contemporary American Dream is a 4000 sq. ft. lakeside house in a gated community attached to a four car garage filled with his, hers, and theirs financed by a six figure salary.

So it’s to this cacophony of voices sounding the warning that I add my concept; de-upsizing. What does it mean? Don’t ever upsize to begin with!!! Don’t let yourself get caught in the consumer trap, just a “hamster” on the treadmill of life.

Scars

2005-11-09T20:55:00.000-05:00

Scar - (skär) - n. - A lingering sign of damage or injury, either mental or physical: nightmares, anxiety, and other enduring scars of wartime experiences.

DateLine (11/9/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

At the age of 24 I decided that I posessed all the skills necessary to build a house. The very thought of that now sends shudders through my body. The facts at the time were, Harriett and I needed a home, I had more time than I had money, I had just spent about 6 months working in the industry in the Charlestion area, and I didn’t posess enough intelligence to conclude that I couldn’t do it. Ok, it was not as far fetched as it may appear. Afterall, I grew up around the industry while my dad managed a lumber yard in Woodruff.

Harriett and I sketched out the “house of our dreams” and had a local draftsman convert the rough sketches to house plans. I identified a mortgage company that I thought would work with me as a do-it-yourselfer and scheduled an appointment. I walked into that appointment that day with a set of houseplans under my arm and the swagger of a seasoned politician.

As I think back to that day from history’s perspective I don’t know how the loan officer kept from snickering. The officer asked a few questions that I understand now was contrived to determine if I had any idea what I was about to undertake. Evidently I gave sufficient answers because much to my astonishment I walked away from that appointment with a verbal agreement to finance my endeavor. It was late winter at the time and as soon as it started warming up we were off and running. The following May, about 15 months later, we moved into our new home, which except for a few odds and ends and a little wallpaper was complete.

In that 15 month period I lost about 10-15 pounds which made me look like a walking skeleton and spent every waking hour except when I was working my day job on that house; weekends, holidays, and vacation. Along the way I picked up more than one scar from battles with the tools of the trade. On one particular occasion I was using a table saw and got the wood that I was cutting caught in a bind between the blade and the fence. The piece of wood shot back at me as though it had been fired from a canon striking me in the throat. The wound was superficial but left scarring that several years later caused people to wonder if I had gone through the experience of a tracheotomy.

I was dedicated 100% to the task of building that house. Once I started there was no turning back. There were periods of time when I would have thousands of dollars of credit at several building supply stores and could not pay them off until I had completed enough work to make a “draw” from my mortage company. I could not stop or turn back, I was committed. It turned out to be a family project. Between my dad and brother and Harriett’s dad and brothers I had more than enough help to get the job done. It was not easy. The sense of accomplishment at the end of the project was immensely satisfying. When I finished I had the marks on my body that bore witness to the grueling process.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:17, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” What’s the connection? The Christian life is much like the project I undertook years ago. We must wholely commit ourselves to Him. There is no turning back. It is difficult work. We should expect to experience trials that will leave scars; perhaps some physical, perhaps some pyschological. We are not alone, we will have help. In the end the scars will be a beautiful testimony of our devotion to Christ and His ultimate safekeeping. We may be battered and bruised but He will not allow our demise until it is time. And just like in my story, when the job is done, we move into a new home. Don’t let the fear of temporal struggles deprive you of the deep joy of knowing our Lord by virtue of total commitment. Go ahead, jump in.

The Manger in the Mall

2005-11-02T21:59:00.000-05:00

DateLine (11/2/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

It must have been Christmas 1993. Harriett and I were attending the country church where I grew up and she was the Minister of Music leading our small but courageous choir. I’m going to give Harriett the credit for initiating the events described below as she responded to the prompting of the Lord. She boldly made a call to the Westgate Mall in Spartanburg to ask permission to present our Christmas musical inside the mall during the busy Christmas shopping period. Can you imagine the surprise when the response to the request was an enthusiastic yes? We were thrilled to have the privilege of sharing our Christmas gift to the masses.

By the time the date arrived we had assembled costumes for the entire choir and added a few ragtag drama characters to provide visual reinforcement for the message of the music. You can imagine our excitement as we transported a makeshift sound system, electronic keyboard, tape player, and ourselves to the packed mall on the busy weeknight. Our group was so short of professional equipment that the keyboard stand was an ironing board covered by a bed spread. Easily a third of the entire congregation of the church was involved.

We were given a prime spot on one end of the mall at the entrance to one of the anchor tenants; Belks. As we scurried about to complete our setup and preparations it was as if we did not exist to the busy patrons filing by in a constant stream. An assembly of shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph and yes, a live infant just a few months old playing the role of the baby Jesus was positioned in front of the choir. Filled with apprehension, not knowing how we would be received, fully aware of the limits of our skills, we enthusiastically launched into our musical, which as I remember was a collection of classic carols and contemporary Christmas music; all carefully chosen to remind the holiday shoppers of the “reason for the season.”

I wish that I could tell you that the heavy shopper traffic ground to a halt as our voices filled the shopping mall, drawn to our music and the message. There was as I remember no such massive response. There was a more subtle but yet extremely profound response. As the shoppers would pass there would be a brief pause, sometimes lasting for a portion of a song, sometime several songs. Mothers and children, fathers and children, husbands and wives, old and young they came. And for a brief moment, the shopping list, the hectic schedule, the late hour did not matter. It was obvious that the Gospel was physically and audibly intruding into the marketplace of consumerism, but for brief moments for some listeners it seemed a welcome intrusion. The traditions that threatened to impede the arrival of the Babe were held at bay if for a moment.

The sight that is burned into the visual center of my brain is the children who would gleefully approach the living baby in the manager, parents in tow. Even while we were concentrating on our presentation we could almost read the lips of the parents as the visual presentation prodded them to tell the Christmas story to their children while kneeling by the manger’s side, in the same posture assumed by the worshippers 2000 years ago. There is no doubt in my mind that people’s lives were impacted by our presence in the mall that night. Here we are about 7 weeks from Christmas. I would encourage you to be open to God’s promptings to be His ambassador where ever that may lead, especially during this Christmas season.

The Gospel According to the Culture

2005-10-27T21:51:00.000-04:00

DateLine (10/27/05 – Philadelphia, PA)

The number one definition of “gospel” as provided by dictionary.com is “The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.” Our fast paced society has grown addicted to the sound byte, “cliff notes”, and three paragraph summaries. It is no wonder that many times our notion of the central themes of the gospel are formed from short blasts delivered by a variety of contemporary outlets; TV, newspaper, movies, and radio (i.e. cultural media.)

The gospel is as likely to be delivered by a non-believer as a believer. Just because one does not accept the message it does not mean that they are not willing to offer up an opinion. We don’t have to look far to discover the gospel being exploited for commercial gain, subtlety compromised, ridiculed, grossly distorted, or used to justify contradictory action.

Faithful saints are occasionally led astray because of the constant humdrum delivered by the pervasive trumpets of the culture. Distortions are often wrapped around nuggets of truth. How can Christians filter the noise of the culture? II Timothy 2:15 exhorts the Christian to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The official source for the gospel is the revealed words of our Lord, recorded in the Bible. Our Christian apprenticeship requires us to study it as a student. There are no short cuts. A true learning experience goes beyond reading and incorporates critical analysis and practical application.

The history of the Bible is an amazing story of God’s delivery and inspired human custodians as it has been faithfully preserved and passed down through the generations. We are the contemporary stewards of the gospel. Don’t let the culture drown you out.

Church Work

2005-10-18T19:22:00.000-04:00

DateLine (10/19/05 – Naas, County Kildare, Ireland)

I was reading a copy of Fortune magazine recently and happened upon an article entitled “The25 people we envy most.” I fully expected to find the likes of Bill Gates, the two co-founders of Google, Tiger Woods, J. K. Rowling of Harry Potty fame, and even Chris Rock the comedian. These are all people who have measured up in terms of how society defines success; fame and fortune and at an early age mind you for some of those profiled.

Quite to my surprise I find included in the list, Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Community Church and wildly successful author of “The Purpose Driven Life.” The article labeled him as the most influential evangelical since Billy Graham and ends the piece with the statement, “and he’ll never wake up wondering if his job has meaning.” Why is this man so admired?
A recent article in our own Baptist Courier weekly tabloid quotes from Reggie McNeal, the director of leadership development, who led a group to analyze our effectiveness in accomplishing some goals that we had set for ourselves in the year 2000. In response to a question which asked about some goals where we had achieved disappointing results he states, “my own opinion is that we are too busy doing church to “be” church.

In my opinion the appearance of Rick Warren in Fortune’s list of most envied people and the disappointment verbalized by Reggie McNeal are connected. If there is one thing that Rick Warren did in the book referenced above it was to drive home the point that everything that we do in the church should be purpose driven. He laid out a challenge to evaluate our programs and efforts to insure that they are aligned with the heartbeat of God. He helped formulate the metrics to determine “on purpose” living by sifting out the five primary purposes of our existence; worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and personal need focused ministry.

A well balanced person and a well-balanced church have equal emphasis on all five. If our fellowship drowns out our evangelism or our worship leaves no time for discipleship or our evangelism ignores the physical needs of those we reach out to, then we are out of balance and not meeting our personal potential, our church’s potential, or God’s objectives. If church activities that cannot be tied back to any of the five basic purposes then the energy to perpetuate the program is leached from the programs that are purposeful. Rick Warren could be acknowledged as the person most responsible for liberating a generation from the drudgery of religion therefore earning him the admiration of his listeners.

Our church participation should not be driven by guilt or obligation. Understanding God’s will for us and the tools that he has equipped our person with should lead to a sense of freedom and empowerment. What I hear in Rick Warren’s teaching and Reggie McNeal’s analysis is a need to release people from church “obligations” in order for them to have the time and energy to “be” the church. I once heard a pastor say, there is a big difference between church work and the work of the church. Don’t ever feel like you have to apologize when approached to do church work if you’re confident that your life is invested in the work of the church.

Teamwork

2005-10-12T21:38:00.000-04:00

DateLine (10/12/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A few days ago I had the opportunity to meet one of the legends of professional golf, Chi Chi Rodriguez. Just so happens that one of the members of my project team is staying in a condo at his golf course in Guayama, Puerto Rico and took us over at lunch to meet this unique individual. Now well past his prime, he was one of the most unique characters to have played the game.

Born into humble surroundings in Puerto Rico, he taught himself how to play golf with clubs fashioned from guava tree limbs and tin cans hammered into balls. Now in addition to piddling around his golf course complex where I met him, this 70 can be found working to create opportunities for the youth of his beloved Puerto Rico or offering up tidbits of homespun wisdom on the inspirational speaking circuit.

During the brief time that I spent with him, he volunteered several folksy spiels. In one story He confessed that he was fascinated by the ants. On an occasion he happened upon an ant that was struggling to drag a dead bat back to the ant hill to provide food for his “army” of friends. Try as he would, the ant could not overcome the size differential between himself and his prize even though ants are notorious for their strength. About that time several more ants arrived, and then several more. Eventually enough ants surrounded the bat carcass that they were able to drag it away; a powerful testimony to the power of teamwork.

Jesus talked about teamwork in Romans Chapter 12. “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” God uses the ants to challenge us.

As individual church members we are nothing more than dysfunctional underachievers. A church full of individuals doing their own thing is like the lone ant struggling to get the job done. In God’s view of teamwork presented in Romans 12 one cannot imagine the individual parts separate from the whole, yet each part retains a clear identity. The almost unbelievable story told by my “friend” Chi Chi about the Herculean feat of the ant “team” is a fascinating glimpse into the potential of our team; the church. We each have a unique contribution to the team; when we’re missing the body is handicapped. God said in John 14:12, "I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father”. How can we understand what God means? The ants will tell us!

Reproducible

2005-10-07T16:02:00.000-04:00

DateLine (10/5/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had been reading a book about the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 – 1919. It’s interesting that the airwaves are full of the news of an avian flu (H5N1) right now which some are comparing to what happened in the early part of the last century. But that’s really not what I wanted to talk about.

While the Spanish Flu pillaged our country and even the world, medical researchers were locked into a deadly race to identify the source and manufacture a cure. Years of research was being compressed into months. Necessity dictated the dishonoring of normal research protocols. Rivalries between researchers who competed for grants and recognition morphed into cooperation. These were disparate times.

While medical research had limited success in 1918, the success that it did have is attributable to a single natural attribute. Quoting from the book, “One key to science is that work be reproducible. Someone in another laboratory doing the same experiment will get the same result. The result then is reliable enough that someone else can build upon it. The most damning condemnation is to dismiss a finding as ‘not reproducible.’”

God has created a tremendous natural order here on earth even in the form that we know it which is stained by sin. It is a reflection of His very nature. Jesus is the same “yesterday, today, and forever;” rock solid dependability; reproducible dependability. Just like those medical heroes from almost 100 years ago, we take it for granted and exploit it everyday to our advantage.

What’s the lesson for us here? God promised that if we renounce our sins and confess Him as Lord He opens the doors of heaven for us to spend eternity with Him. Someone shared the good news with someone who accepted the eternal truth for their own. They shared the good news with someone who accepted the eternal truth for their own. They shared the good new with us and we accepted the eternal truth for our own; reproducible results. God designed it. God built it. God’s saving it. Don’t you want to be a part of God’s natural order? Share the good news today.

Rockin the House

2005-09-28T21:28:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/28/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

The date was September 17 of this year. The location was one of the most exciting sports venues in the country, Death Valley in Clemson, South Carolina. About 80000 people had gathered to watch two nationally ranked teams, the visiting #13 Miami Hurricanes and the #20 Clemson Tigers, square off in an Atlantic Coast Conference football game. Miami had dropped their season opener in a close game with their in-state rival, Florida State, coming into this game at 0-1. Clemson had won two come-from-behind cliff hangers prior to this game making them 2-0 with a chance to go 3-0 for the first time in about 5 years.

The Tigers had begun the afternoon with what one nationally known sportscaster has called the most exciting 25 seconds in college football; the run down “the hill.” Various sports publications have ranked Clemson’s Death Valley as one of the top 10 stadiums in the country to experience college football. The Hurricanes were not intimidated as they rolled into town with their own invincible personas bolstered by 5 national championships since 1983.

Clemson led 10-6 at the half. Miami reeled off 14 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter. The home crowd roared their approval as the momentum tipped back toward the Tigers in the 4th quarter. Down 10 at the beginning of the quarter, a quick touchdown fueled the hopes of the Tiger faithful. Down 3 with about three minutes to go, Clemson executes a crucial drive that culminates with a tying field goal. The tension builds. A dropped ball in the end zone with less than one minute left is a missed opportunity for the Tigers to win outright in regulation but sends the crowd into a frenzy at the prospect of overtime. The home crowd explodes with energy as Clemson enters overtime for the 6th time in its history; sporting a 5-0 record on previous occasions, having never lost an overtime game. Every soul was on their feet with the vast majority screaming at a fever pitch in anticipation of a positive outcome.

This was absolutely the most electric moment in sports that I have personally experienced. Now here’s the fun part. With a voice that was heard with crystal clarity over the thundering crowd right at the zenith of the excitement, God spoke to me and said; “If you think this is something, just wait until you get to my place.” God cracked the door open briefly and gave me a miniscule glimpse what it will be like to hang out with Him.

Revelation 5 gives us a glimpse of another great gathering which I can only imagine is typical of what we will experience in eternity with our Lord.

11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" 14The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

I had fun at the football game. Unfortunately here on earth such events are fleeting. The Tigers ended up falling in triple overtime by a score of 36-30. Oh but I can’t wait to shout at the top of my voice, “Worthy is the Lamb” with the heavenly crowd! You think the house was rocking on September 17? You haven’t seen anything yet. Don’t you dare miss it!

Salt and Light

2005-09-21T20:53:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/21/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

The “Convention Center” and the “Superdome;” both conjure up visions of a total meltdown of society. The city of New Orleans had just been hit by what some have termed one of the greatest natural disasters to ever strike the United States. Many unfortunate and unlucky found themselves trapped in a city with no essential services; no electricity, no water, no sewage, no police. Desperate people caught in a dangerous situation. The very sanctuaries that were devised for their salvation became tombs of civility.

Women drug screaming into dark corners to be taken advantage of while bystanders looked on without offering assistance because they were afraid, mutilated corpses lay exposed to the stares of innocent children, sporadic gunfire that kept the outnumbered law enforcers sequestered in their own safe havens. This was no Hollywood invention, this happened in our country just weeks ago. How could this be?

People are routinely challenged by natural disasters. As unsettling and uprooting as they are it infrequently leads to the abandonment of the constraints of an orderly civilization. What happened in New Orleans?

The Bible says in Matthew chapter 5, 13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Ever wondered what society would look like without Godly influence. Ever wondered what hell will be like. Rerun your TiVo of CNN coverage in the aftermath of Katrina. Sometimes the way to determine the impact of something is to remove its influence. Un-Godly people acting in an un-Godly manner; the fabric of society unraveling around the edges. You are salt and light. Our very manner of life depends on you. You are the seasoning of society. Unfortunately we now have some vivid pictures of what our own country would be like if God’s influence were instantly removed. Go forth and be “salty.”

Famous Last Words

2005-09-14T22:21:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/14/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Consider the following last words of some well know persons.

How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?~~ P. T. Barnum, entrepreneur, d. 1891

Oh, I am not going to die, am I? He will not separate us, we have been so happy.Spoken to her husband of 9 months, Rev. Arthur Nicholls.~~ Charlotte Bronte, writer, d. March 31, 1855

Don't let poor Nelly (his mistress, Nell Gwynne) starve.~~ Charles II, King of England and Scotland, d. 1685

Ay Jesus.~~ Charles V, King of France, d. 1380

The earth is suffocating . . . Swear to make them cut me open, so that I won't be buried alive.Dying of tuberculosis.~~ Frederic Chopin, composer, d. October 16, 1849

Damn it . . . Don't you dare ask God to help me.To her housekeeper, who had begun to pray aloud.~~ Joan Crawford, actress, d. May 10, 1977

I am not the least afraid to die.~~ Charles Darwin, d. April 19, 1882

It is very beautiful over there.~~ Thomas Alva Edison, inventor, d. October 18, 1931

All my possessions for a moment of time.~~ Elizabeth I, Queen of England, d. 1603

God will pardon me, that's his line of work.~~ Heinrich Heine, poet, d. February 15, 1856

Go on, get out - last words are for fools who haven't said enough.To his housekeeper, who urged him to tell her his last words so she could write them down for posterity.~~ Karl Marx, revolutionary, d. 1883

Get my swan costume ready.~~ Anna Pavlova, ballerina, d. 1931

Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something.~~ Pancho Villa, Mexican revolutionary, d. 1923

Revealing, macabre, bizarre, rebellious, inspiring, misinformed, trivial, and naive; all words that can be used to describe the last words quoted above. Whether delivered from crystal clear minds or from the delirium of the final throes of a ravaging disease, final words often yield a poignant glimpse into the priorities of people.

One source identified the phrase, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” as the last words of Jesus. Actually this is not true. The last words of Jesus were, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8).

The last words of Jesus were not delivered from the precipice of death; he had already defeated that foe. His words were exacting, forceful, and matter of fact. The Holy Spirit will come. You will be my witnesses. The entire world will feel the impact of your teaming with Me. Jesus revealed His priorities with His last words on earth. His people line up with His priorities. The wonderful truth is that when we line up with God’s priorities in this life, it will allow us to pass to the next life in infinite peace.

The Most Important Task

2005-09-07T21:40:00.000-04:00

DateLine (9/7/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I’ve just finished reading a book entitled “The Great Influenza, The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History.” It’s a complete history of the deadly Spanish flu pandemic that struck the earth in the late 1900s. I know, this does not speak well of my choice of entertainment. You already knew I was a little weird, now it’s certifiable. In addition to an account of the flu pandemic the book gives a fascinating view of the medical developments of the late 1800s and early 1900s, a period that some consider to be the golden age of medicine because the field was developing at such a rapid pace.

Modern medicine was rapidly evolving based on the research being done on a surprising small number of US college campuses by a group of relatively unknown researchers. One of the great researchers was observed washing glassware while his technician was close by performing an important experiment. When questioned about this obvious contradiction his response was, “I always perform the most important task, and for this experiment the most important task is to clean the glassware.”

In Christian life, to the untrained eye, it’s not always apparent what the most important task is. Jesus said, “The first will be last and the last first (Matt. 19 & 20.)” Every task in the church is important. Every one who contributes to the church’s mission is valuable. There is no such thing as big jobs and little jobs. What we might actually deem as an inconsequential task is actually the equivalent of “washing the glassware.” All God asks of us is to find out from Him what He wants us to do and then to commit ourselves to getting it done. Our Lord Jesus demonstrated His willingness to do the lowly tasks when He lowered Himself to the level of a mere servant and washed the stinking dirty feet of His disciples in a striking example of humility. Are you willing to “wash the glassware?” It might be the most important task that God has for you.

Katrina's Aftermath

2005-08-31T21:17:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/30/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I know that you’ve probably seen the coverage of the devastating storm Katrina that hit the Gulf coast states of Mississippi, New Orleans, and Alabama. My heart goes out to the many people who have been affected by this storm. The level of destruction is unimaginable. To complicate matters the city of New Orleans appears to have slid into a state of lawlessness as looters help themselves to abandoned stores having lost all respect for the law and are using the excuse for the primal requirements for food and water as a reason for stealing clothes, appliances, and guns. Law enforcement personnel have had to abandon search and rescue missions in order to re-establish law and order

I’ve watched story after story on the TV of victims who survived the storm and either witnessed their loved ones perish or simply have no idea where they are. Here we are three days after the storm and authorities have yet to get their arms around realistic casualty rates, aid in the form of food, water, and medicine have not yet arrived, and any sense of normalcy is spoken of in terms of months. Some officials are not being overly dramatic and they are beginning to characterize this event as the greatest natural disaster to ever hit the United States.

How should a Christian respond? Where do we start? I happened to Google the following words “Southern Baptist disaster relief” and I was so pleased to find that Southern Baptist are already in high gear in relief work for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

In the process I learned that Southern Baptists are the nation’s third largest relief agency. Response to Hurricane Katrina will be the largest ever for Southern Baptists with more than 1,000 volunteers and 100 mobile Disaster Relief units activated to hurricane and tornado ravaged regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. For additional information about what’s being done and details about how you can contribute, please go to www.namb.net/dr. I know that you’ll be moved to join with fellow Southern Baptists as we are motivated by the love of Jesus Christ to meet the critical needs of Katrina’s victims.

Qualifcations

2005-08-24T22:21:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/24/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A few weeks ago while preparing for a Lead Like Jesus Sunday School study I ran across one of the most propound questions that I have ever encountered regarding the Christian Life; name one person that Jesus called who was qualified. As soon as I read the statement the answer hit me as if I had been struck by a Mack truck; no one. This statement was not intended to discourage or dissuade anyone from throwing themselves headlong into Christian service; it was a mere statement of fact. There is not a single ability or accomplishment that makes a person suitable for a particular position or task in God’s kingdom.

Some men in a state of ignorance have argued that they merit a position of prominence in God’s Kingdom. Several of Jesus’ own disciples were guilty of this. God’s nature and the nature of His business are such that there is not a miniscule portion of our miserable wretched lives that is of use to Him, unless God Himself takes us into His custody. Some men when faced with the appeal of God to do His work have immediately felt totally and utterly inadequate for the task; Moses fit this category. In fact neither response is justified.

The human soul yearns for significance. As one grows older this thirst becomes more pronounced. The fear of inability weighs on the mind. God expects all of us to find a place of contribution. So wherein lays the solution to this riddle?

Here’s the good news, the material went on to make the statement that, “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” The truth is that we are an integral part of God’s business. We’re fully entrusted to accomplish significant things on His behalf. Our qualification is inherited from Him when we enter into His family. God couples this inheritance with gifts of ability to equip us for conduct of His business. Our proper response is to be thankful for the privilege and submissive to the request.

The deep seated joy that flows from the knowledge of a life well invested is unspeakable. I can think of no greater privilege than to realize in my advancing years that every ounce of my youthful energy had been sacrificed on the altar of Christian service. What has God entrusted you to do today? You are not worthy, but you are qualified!

The Greatest Resource

2005-08-18T05:58:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/17/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Historians tell us that the North American continent that greeted the European explorers in the 15th century was rich with unimaginable natural resources. The early settlers exploited these resources to build the United States and Canada into the strong and prosperous nations that we know today.

Even in today’s world prosperity is often measured by the availability of natural resources and sometimes world conflict is sparked by struggle over the control of the much desired commodities. Cases in point are the vast oil reserves in the Middle East which has produced enormous wealth and tensions for the oil producing countries of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and the numerous other oil rich states of the region.

Demographers tell us that it is not the depletion of natural resources that are beginning to spell the doom of several great regions of the world but the decline of perhaps the greatest resource; people. The populations of Europe and Russia are trending toward a zero population growth or actually shrinking in the near future. Unfolding before our very eyes is the loss of power and world influence because of declining birth rates and populations. Low birth rates have been attributed to modern contraceptives and increasing abortion rates. In the case of Russia, human maladies such as alcoholism and the HIV virus are decimating the adult population.

We are not exempt in the United States from these trends. Experts tell us that if it were not for our openness to immigrants we would be experiencing some of the same trends. Our own future may be more influenced by immigrant populations than native born Americans.

What’s the lesson for us? Humans are God’s crowning creation. Greatness of a nation is defined by the abundance and diversities of its peoples. Influence on the world stage is more attributable to the contributions of people than the latent value of mere woodlands and ores and oils. God created man in His own image. God was greatly disappointed in choices made by the first man and woman and He continues to be disappointed in the choices made by contemporary man, but God did not give up on us and He has made a provision for us to be reconciled to Him. God’s great love for us is one of the reasons that He is deserving of our worship. We were made to worship God and we find our greatest fulfillment in life worshipping Him. Our job is to tell this good news to as many of our neighbors as we possibly can. God has entrusted this great task to His “greatest resource;” that’s you and me.

A Virtuous Woman

2005-08-10T22:06:00.000-04:00

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Rodney Neal & Harriett Baker – August 16, 1975 – 30 years.

Taken from Proverbs 31:10-31. Sorry guys for making it personal this week but after 30 years with me Harriett deserves a tribute.

Techno Babble

2005-08-03T22:37:00.000-04:00

DateLine (8/3/05 – San Juan, Puerto Rico)

I have been immersed in the technical world of computers just about my entire professional career; going on 28 years now. While it has been interesting being in on the early days of the development and application of computers in manufacturing I’ll have to admit that often I’m exasperated by the lapse of my peers into their own efficient speaking patterns built around three letter acronyms and techno babble.

Most other professions have their own version of techno babble. Doctors, lawyers, accountants, pharmacists, theologians, and carpenters all have this highly specialized shorthand language that is used when conversing with their peers that immediately identifies them as members of the “fraternity,” is highly efficient if you know the dialect, and tends to prevent the uninitiated from intruding into their vocational culture.

I am afraid that Christians are no different. Over the centuries we have insulated ourselves from the unbeliever by Christian speak; terms that we throw around when engaging each other in speech. A lot of our language has become so second nature to us we probably do not even realize that it sounds much like my characterization of techno babble that I referenced earlier.

The last few years the Lord has opened some doors to me that have sensitized me to both vocational and religious techno babble. I have had the opportunity to travel and work in several cultures much different than my own comfortable surroundings in Green Pond, South Carolina.
When communicating in these different culture settings I have found that I have to make my language very simple. I have been amazed at how many idioms and phrases that I use routinely in South Carolina that produces blank stares in New England, San Francisco, or Puerto Rico.

God has used these experiences to drive the point home to me that in order to engage the culture in the places where our work and leisure takes us we must simplify and personalize. We must drop some of our “comfortable” language that we use on Sunday morning and talk about our personal relationship with God in straightforward language; culturally sensitive language without doctrinal compromise. Nothing is more powerful than the plain spoken story of a vibrant relationship with God. Try cleaning up your language in the marketplace where you live.

Ounce of Prevention

2005-07-27T22:32:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/27/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)

When Harriett and I were newlyweds we lived in the Charleston, SC area because we were college students at Charleston Southern University. During this time we were introduced to a new pest, fire ants, which at the time had not made its way to the upstate. After several encounters Harriett became aware that she was developing an allergy to these aggressive little creatures.

Over the years after we moved back to the Woodruff area she had several more encounters with stinging insects, one which was a severe medical emergency brought on due to multiple yellow jacket stings. After that incident our doctor issued to her an epipen which she now has with her at all times and is prepared to self-administer to ward off anaphylactic shock if necessary. Each exposure to one of these pesky critters seemed to invoke a more severe reaction. Each time God looked over her and she received quick and effective medical treatment. I’d be the first to admit a fear of some future incident. Something happened a few weeks ago to slightly alleviate those fears just a little and give me some insight into how God works.

We decided this year to have a small vegetable garden. Harriett has carried much of the load of working in the garden since my travel schedule has me away a lot of time during the week. During one such visit to the garden she happened to encounter a group of our friends the fire ants which you know by now have found their way into the upstate of SC. She received multiple stings. The initial concern based on the previous history soon began to ease when she realized that she was not responding quite as severe as she had in the past. What was different? Maybe the preventative dose of antihistamine she was taking for hay fever had acted to reduce her reaction to insect stings.

What does this have to do with God? The antihistamine that “vaccinated” Harriett against anaphylaxis is a lot like the indwelling Holy Spirit. As we go about our daily business in this lost and fallen world we are strong against the poisons that are directed our way. Our culture is not able to compromise our spiritual health and put us into an emergency. We can have complete confidence in God’s ability to protect us. We do not have to live in constant fear of some future event which might endanger us. Our job is to make sure that we maintain a high level of internalized Holy Spirit. How do we do that? Ingestion of God’s word best accomplished during a daily quiet time. How’s that for an ounce of prevention. The alternative is to respond to the emergency after it occurs. Some make it and some don’t.

Banking 101

2005-07-21T22:24:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/21/05 – Green Pond, SC)

Whenever our family has encountered a crisis I’ve noticed an unusual dynamic at work. Just when we think it can’t get any worst or we’re right at the breaking point a message of encouragement seems to come right out of the blue. It’s always just what we need to hear right when we need to hear it. It’s delivered in the most unusual ways, more often than not from the lips or the pen of another sibling in Christ; a personal touch. During one of these times a few years back it seemed as if the messengers that delivered the most encouraging words were people that Harriett and I had had the opportunity to mentor in the Lord when they were in our Youth Group at Green Pond. It was during this time that I began to realize that God was in the banking business.

Over the years Harriett and I had made deposits from our accounts in the lives of many young people in that small church setting. Never could we have gone to a heavenly ATM and determined what our balance was or the value of the transactions. We always seemed to have enough left in our account to continue making the deposits even if occasionally we felt like we were running a little low.

We never received a statement, really didn’t think about it too much, but instinctively knew that out “bank” was looking after our interests and the interest of the individuals where we were making the deposits. At the same time we were withdrawing funds from our account to deposit in others, it seemed as if others were depositing in our interest bearing account. It was better than a retirement account because one doesn’t have to worry about the value being eroded by inflation and with God as our “fund manager” it’s definitely low risk with maximum earnings potential. The account is not federally guaranteed, its heavenly guaranteed, with unimaginable riches offered as collateral.

Now here’s the good part - You’ll never find a bank on this earth that will do this. God knows when we are nearing those breaking points, times like those that I referenced above. Just when that “bill” arrives at the “house” and we think it’s going to push us into emotional and physical bankruptcy, our “banker” makes a withdrawal from our account and puts it into our pocketbook. Just the right amount just when we need it. The fun part is the unpredictable methods and persons that he uses as the “courier.” Now that’s customer service. Banking 101 (i.e. God’s way) only has two requirements: 1) we must make deposits in the lives of others and 2) we must trust God that He’ll insure that our own account will never run dry. I strongly encourage you to start making your regular deposits now.

Out With A Bang

2005-07-13T20:50:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/13/05 – Richmond, Virginia)

I recently had the opportunity to see the just released on DVD movie Ocean’s 12 on an airplane trip. One of the members of the “gang” of expert thieves was an older “numbers” man who shared with his partners his philosophy of life. He stated, “My goal is to insure that the last check I write, bounces.” This story is fiction.

A couple of weeks ago while preparing for a Sunday School lesson I ran across this story. “A young pastor friend named Dan shared that his father had been very ill and had recently died. Dan’s father had been a strong Christian who modeled a Jesus – like attitude and behaviors in all areas of his life. He shared the story that his father had contracted a fast – moving form of melanoma and was told that he only had about one month to live. Just a few days before his death, Dan’s father asked to see Bob, his best friend for over twenty-five years. Although Dan’s father had repeatedly shared Christ with his friend, Bob had never accepted Jesus as Savior. When Bob arrived at the hospital, Dan’s dad asked to speak with him alone. Dan’s father once again shared how much God loved him and how Jesus had died on the Cross for his sins. There in that hospital room, Bob bowed his head and asked Jesus to forgive him and take control of his life. The next day, Dan’s father passed away, but that is not the end of the story. Before he died, Dan’s father had made one last request. He wanted Bob to be baptized as a part of his funeral service. What a legacy! Even at his funeral, this wonderful Christian man demonstrated his faith and his desire to lead others to know Jesus. He didn’t care about the spotlight shining on his life or his accomplishments. He wanted everyone to see what God had done in Bob’s life!” This story is fact.

I can’t imagine leaving this earth knowing that my existence had no eternal significance. What kind of legacy will you leave? I’d love to be like Dan’s father and go out with a bang.

Give Your Best

2005-07-06T22:12:00.000-04:00

DateLine (7/6/05 - Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A pastor of a very large Baptist church in Houston Texas has a new book out entitled Your Best Life Now. Amazon.com has the following to say about the book; “Houston televangelist Joel Osteen is well qualified to write this book, having used the seven principles he shares to achieve his own "rags-to-riches" story. At the heart of Osteen’s message is that achieving a successful, prosperous life of fulfillment can only occur when we stop worrying.” Is this enticing statement a marketing ploy to get you to buy the book and thus adding another chapter to Joel Osteen’s own rag-to-riches story or is this a clever way to attract the naturally curious mind to read the book and receive an introduction to an awesome God. I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Let me share something about prosperous living from my own experience. This is the year when Harriett and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary. We have had an incredibly rich life and I’m convinced it’s because early on God opened doors for us to service in the church and we accepted. The dimensions of the richness are expressed as deep friendships, intensely fulfilling responsibilities, and eye-witnesses to the amazing grace and love of our Savior as He worked in our lives and in the lives of those around us. These mutual experiences have provided a solid foundation to our own marriage relationship.

The Bible says in Proverbs 3:9; “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” If I synthesize our experience down to the essentials here’s what I see. Wealth of all forms is from God. He trusts us with as much of that wealth as He sees fit and determines the level of trust by observing if we are willing to give Him back the best portion of the wealth. Our giving to him the best portion is a faith statement on our part that He will continue to give us as much as we need for the long haul. And so the cycle of life repeats and I’m convinced that in each cycle all the more rewarding.

It’s natural for us to want something form God. It’s supernatural for us to understand that in giving something to God we can expect so much more in return. I learned an old hymn when I was a child. It went like this, “Give of your best to the Master, give of the strength of your youth. Clad in salvation’s full armor, join in the battle for truth.” Your prosperous life is waiting for you – go for it!

Mylon the "Party Cat"

2005-06-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/29/05 - Ponce, Puerto Rico)

We have always had a lot of cats around our house. Harriett likes cats and as our two girls were growing up I guess it was a natural that we have cats as pets. One spring I remember counting almost 30 cats that called our yard home (note this was an anomaly when several of our “momma” cats had litters all at the same time.) We had to do some tall talking to find homes for the extras and get back down to the 6-7 that normally hung out around the house.

Mylon was one of the most beautiful cats that was ever born to our “herd.” We gave her that name because she had the most beautiful long flowing hair much like one of my favorite contemporary Christian artists of the time, Mylon Lefevre, who was known for his long hair. Mylon’s early life was like any of the rest of the cats that were raised in our yard. A worry free existing filled with abundant daily rations of food (i.e. store-bought food, none of that table scrap stuff.) It’s always bugged me to open the front door in the morning and to have to step over several lazy cats on my way to work. Cats at my house have absolutely no responsibility and no pressure. Occasionally I would notice that the cats would supplement their premium diet with a little added protein in the form of a mouse, bird, or ground squirrel. I’m convinced that these catches were not from necessity but simply a sporting proposition that appealed to their primal instincts; just for fun. Sounds like the life huh.

Evidently this existence was not enough for Mylon. I don’t know why but Mylon began to disappear occasionally. Sooner or later she’d return and hang out with the home crowd only to disappear again later. Over time the disappearances stretched into months and the returns seem to last only a few days. I don’t know what was attracting her to leave and I don’t really know what was attracting her to return. Eventually we all came to the conclusion that something had happened to her or she had decided that some other sunny yard and food dish was more appealing.

Not too long ago a scraggly cat showed up at our food dish. At first this seemed like an interloper just passing through because I know in cat world we have to be famous for being a soft touch. After closer examination we realized that Mylon had returned home after having been gone for months, maybe a year or more, a faint shadow of her former beauty. The other cats in the yard did not seem to remember her. In her younger years she had been a little distant and not too open to human touch but now she would approach you as if to beg for a sympathetic touch. A few days ago I buried Mylon. She was so old and weak and in such sad shape she lost in a race across the road in front of a car.

What’s the moral of this story? God has a wonderful plan for our life. He makes tremendous provision for us. He allows us to hang out with Him as the closest friend. Even though at times life is tough he has promised to never burden us with more than we can stand. Sounds like an ideal existence. Some have called it the “abundant life.” In spite of all this sometimes people choose to turn their back on God and stake out their own path; the party life. God has warned us that this approach to living leads to death and destruction.

Evolution

2005-06-22T22:27:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/23/05 - Ponce, Puerto Rico)

I believe in evolution. OK, before I totally get off on the wrong foot that last sentence was designed to be controversial and an attention grabber. Did it work? Now let me explain. You probably thought I was referring to biological (or organic) evolution which dictionary.com defines as “change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, and resulting in the development of new species.” The typical biological evolutionist believes that the change occurs randomly with no involvement by God. This is actually not the first definition of the word evolution. What I actually want to talk about is much better. The first definition of evolution in dictionary.com is “a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.” Now here’s something worth talking about.

Every experience whether good or bad is an opportunity for our faith to evolve or grow stronger. Recently our daughter had a mole removed at the doctor’s office and the initial word from the dermatologist was that things did not look good and the mole would be sent off for testing. It would be several agonizing days before the results would be available. These kinds of “tests” in life help one refocus and prioritize our life. One mentally begins to sort through what is important and what is not important. For a Christian a part of that refocusing is to earnestly seek God in solitude and prayer. Anytime that we spend “quality” time with God as we endure life’s curveballs or in everyday life it will evolve us. How utterly hopeless the plight of the evolutionist who dismisses God when one is being “tested.”

For me the first definition of evolution describes knowing God and having him work in our life every day as we walk with Him. God knows us because He designed us and created us. He gradually works to change us into a different and usually more complex or better form. We are becoming like Him. And one day we’ll be complete. The biological evolutionist has the “big bang” in the beginning. I’m looking for my “big bang” at the end when I finally go home to rest with my Lord. Christian hope is being all that God created you to be. Little by little we’re evolving into just that.

"Gypsy"

2005-06-15T21:54:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/15/05 - Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A couple of weeks ago when Harriett, Kyle and I were on vacation in Italy we had a GPS based navigation system in our rental car. I’m convinced that these devices are the best value for relieving the anxiety and stress of navigating in a strange environment. The little device mounted on the dash would give us a visual location on a map, or give a list of the next 6-8 turns, and even announce turns and twists in advance with a friendly sounding voice. I’m curious why the voices on these things always seem to be female voices. We even nicknamed our little friend “Gypsy” and she did a great job of getting us safely and quickly from location to location.

Gypsy had an interesting feature. If you programmed in a certain destination and asked it to calculate a route from your current location to the desired destination it would ask you if you wanted to simulate the trip. If your response was yes then it would proceed to go through all of the turns on the entire route in rapid fire succession. It was so comforting to know that she already had the entire trip mapped out, step by step.

Now wouldn’t it be nice if God would ask us if we would like to simulate the route from where we currently are in our life until the end of our life. Each step in advance before we’re faced with the reality. The thought of knowing what lies ahead 6 months from now, 1 year from now, 10 years from now, 50 years from now. That would give us such peace of mind and we would have plenty of time to get prepared for big future events. Or would it? No doubt in my mind that our omniscient heavenly Father could provide to us a detailed map of our future life. It’s also been my experience that God does not work this way. I don’t know why but I can imagine if we knew our complete future we might become so preoccupied with some future event(s) that we would be rendered ineffective for today.

My experience is more like the “real-time” mode of Gypsy. Giving us a few turns at a time, calling out when we’re approaching the next turn, warning us when the road forks and we need to get in one lane or the other. It’s our job to listen attentively as He patiently calls out instructions and to have enough faith in the instructions to follow them explicitly and trust God with the future. There was one more neat feature about Gypsy. When I got off course or missed a turn a little message would pop up that indicated that she was re-calculating the route to get me back on course. God is the same way with us. If we occasionally ignore His instructions, God recalculates our course and prepares instructions to get us back on course. The way that we retrieve those instructions is via a prayer of confession. Aren’t you glad that God is on the job as our Master navigator?

Making a Mark

2005-06-08T23:00:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/8/05 - Ponce, Puerto Rico)

A few weeks ago I called up Google’s website which displays a map of the area when given an address. I wanted to show some of the people I’m working with in Puerto Rico what it was like in the rural setting where I live. I typed in my home address and the first response was a street map with a link in the upper right hand portion of the web page which switches to an actual satellite photo. I clicked on satellite link and zoomed to the maximum resolution and got oriented to the view of my home and yard in the webpage. Something caught my eye in my yard to the northwest of my house. A circular pattern which looked like a place where a Martian spaceship had landed or one of those strange crop circle patterns that you can only get perspective on from an aerial view. What was this strange circle?

Then it dawns on me. At least 10 years ago while visiting my in-laws my father-in-law gave me a few sprigs of grass from a section of his lawn. I brought them home and placed them in a remote spot in my lawn and forgot about it. After a few years I begin to notice that the sprigs had not only taken root but were spreading. I was aware that the area was increasing in size but unless I pointed it out to you it is not something that would catch your eye and it certainly was not visible from the road that runs in front of my house. Then it hit me, a few sprigs of grass had grown into something that was visible from a satellite in space.

Now here’s where God comes in. By faith we pray for God to indwell us and use us to achieve His objectives here on earth. Sometimes we are tempted to become discouraged because we perceive from our vantage point that God has not answered our prayer and we’re not making a mark for Him or our impact is perceived to be so small as to be ineffective. Here’s the point that should encourage us. From ground level (i.e. our view) it may not be possible to observe the true impact that we are having for God. God looks down from the satellite view with perfect “big picture” perspective. By faith we have confidence that His view is all that matters. God will make a mark on His people and He will use His people to make His mark on this earth even if we’re blind to it. Our mark may only be revealed to us when we join Him at “home.” That’s when we’ll have satellite perspective.

Monuments

2005-06-02T02:14:00.000-04:00

DateLine (6/1/05- Tuscany, Italy)

700 years of majestic tradition. Places of worship built before our own country was even known to the Christian world. Cathedrals that consist of architectural wonders unimaginable unless viewed in the flesh. Unparalleled art admired and studied by the world - monuments to the Christian faith central to the culture of Renaissance Italy. Relics (so called) of the early fathers like leg bones, hands, teeth, housed in gold and silver containers in the vaults of the great cathedrals. One cathedral even boasting of having the arm (at least bone) of John the Baptist; the very arm that baptized Jesus. All things that I’ve personally experienced this week.

Some of our own Christian traditions can be traced back to the culture that produced these wonders. I’ll be the first to admit that there is something comforting and reassuring about religious tradition in a way like your favorite piece of clothing, TV program, or a familiar routine but I can’t help but feel that somewhere along the way God’s intent was corrupted. You know that we humans have a way of doing that.

Along the way of the week’s experience I found one of these great monuments that I can relate to. I’ve attempted a little construction work in my time, do-it-yourself projects, many times that don’t quite turn out like I would like. In a small Tuscan town called Pisa, a “little” bell tower project went awry. Somewhere along the way the builders realized that the foundation was not adequate to support its weight and the tower started to lean during construction. The builders attempted to correct the situation by putting a slight bend in the tower to straighten it up. The result was a beautiful tower with a pronounced lean and a bent at the top. The architect and builders must have felt very dissatisfied with their work.

What’s all this mean? If the foundation is not suitable then it doesn’t matter how great the effort. We can try all we want and we’ll never be able to adequately correct for a poor foundation. The Christian life is much like a “bell tower” project. Unless we build our life on a solid foundation of faith in Christ (i.e. an initial declaration of Christ as Lord, a daily calling out to God for forgiveness and direction) then our life will fall short of the Architect’s intent.

But you know God had the last laugh. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor. Pisa is out in the middle of nowhere but tourists from all over the world flock there to see the “leaning” bell tower. God can take an imperfect project (i.e. me) and make it a world famous tourist attraction. There’s hope for us all.

Dateline

2005-05-25T21:13:00.000-04:00

DateLine (5/25/05 - Ponce, Puerto Rico)

The Christian religion has been and always will be an extroverted force. God has created us to act out in front of others what is occurring in our relationship with Him. Moreover God’s tone indicates to us that His expectation is that we’ll have widespread influence, even global influence. Yes, CRBC has a global potential. God does this with confidence knowing that the outcome will be positive as others observe Him in us. Jesus said, "and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (New International Version.)

Not too long ago we conducted a Winter Prayer experiment based on the book, The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. I hope that you are still praying the prayer. One of the metrics that we determined during this experiment that could be used to indicate that God had heard and was answering this prayer is that the results would be so “big” that it could only be attributed to God. How does all of this relate to the phrase “dateline.”

Today’s Reference Point is dedicated to reminding us how far reaching the influence of CRBC and in particular Young Adults from South Carolina are. The “dateline” will become a regular feature of Reference Point. Every time you read Reference Point I want the dateline at the very beginning to be a reminder to you that God is alive and well and is glorying Himself through His people at CRBC. I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation of discovering where God will be using His people. Whether the dateline hails from Simpsonville, South Carolina or Ponce, Puerto Rico God will be at work in His people in a way unimaginable to the natural man. We will observe it, praise it, and be encouraged by it. It has always been my vision that there will be many contributing editors to Reference Point. I cannot what to hear what you have to say and from where it comes.

The Posse

2005-05-18T23:17:00.000-04:00

A ragtag posse of young men felt inexplicably drawn to a contemporary who had a uniquely strong sense of purpose. For three years they lived a nomadic existence which provided them an inside view of a charismatic leader who attracted a crowd everywhere he went. Their leader was simultaneously mysterious and familiar in a way normally reserved for family. His mission was both idealistic and practical. His style was philosophical while fulfilling the functional. His unorthodox oratory addressed life’s most complex questions with satisfying storytelling that oozed irrefutable logic. His routine and appearance conveyed commonality while His appeal rose to the level of nobility. Some might be of the opinion that His personal accomplishments fell short of His romantic rhetoric. His most significant accomplishment may be His legacy which was actually secured by His “posse”. Most reputable historians would allow that this group is the single biggest influencer of western civilization. The philosophical underpinnings of our most cherished institutions can be traced back to their leader.

The impact that the Disciples of Christ have had on this world is the single reason why the leadership style of Jesus is worthy of our study. I don’t know of another study topic that we have had since I have been involved in the Young Adult Ministry that has been more significant or has more potential for impacting all of our lives now and for the future than these past few weeks. Jesus is an excellent leadership example for us to emulate. The Christian church is always one generation away from extinction. Just as Jesus trusted the entire mission of the early church to His twelve disciples He has placed His trust in us to fulfill the mission of the church in the place where we live, sleep, work and play.

Financial Peace for the Next Generation

2005-05-11T23:20:00.000-04:00

Imagine your first adult act -- before you buy a house, get married or have kids -- is filing for bankruptcy protection. In 2001, that happened to more than 100,000 people under age 25, according to Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard law professor who conducts an annual study of bankruptcy filers. Born after 1978, generation y members in America are more than 57 million strong. The y generation is the largest consumer group in the history of the U.S. Other names for gen y include Echo Boomers and the Millennium Generation. Because gen y is piling up debt at a faster pace and an earlier age have left some to also add the name generation broke.

It is no accident nor to be unexpected that your generation is being targeted by anyone who can open a storefront or put up a website. They want your money. They’ll take your money even if you haven’t earned it yet (e.g. credit.) This is and will continue to be a critical issue that will require you to be disciplined and diligent from now until your life has ended. Financial mismanagement can lead to enormous personal stress, marital stress, and damaged reputations.

The Future Is Now

2005-05-04T23:35:00.000-04:00

I had the privilege a few weeks ago to share about my faith in Jesus to a man that I work with who is not a believer. In looking for a way to succinctly express the “appeal” of Christianity I stated that for me Christianity answers the big questions of life; where I came from, what is my purpose, and where am I going. I want to spend a few moments elaborating on the second question in a way that relates to you, that being the question of purpose. Not too long ago God prompted us to use the runaway best seller, The Purpose Driven Life, as the focus for our study time together in Sunday School. During the course of this study we learned through the author, Rick Warren, that God has uniquely created us with special endowed gifts and abilities for a specific purpose. About this same time God began to impress upon me to drive home this concept to you in a way that would challenge you. This is about the same time that I placed a poster on the wall of our Sunday School room that simply stated “The Future Is Now.” Let me tie all of this together.

For those of you who grew up in the church you probably heard many times that the children are the future of the church. Some of you may not have had the opportunity to grow up in a church family but now you find yourself a part of the church family and you’re looking for your place to fit in. I’ve got good news for both situations. The Future Is Now! God has entrusted the mission of the church to human beings. There is a place for each of us to contribute to accomplishing the mission of the church. And as young adults I can enthusiastically say to you that you are in a position right now to contribute of your energy and talent to the ministry of Cross Roads Baptist Church. You do not have to wait any longer. Your active participation is as valuable as the most seasoned veteran. As a matter of fact, your youthful energies are much needed. I am just naïve enough to believe that everyone wants to find their place and contribute. In fact God created you to find your purpose in life by contributing to the local church body that you are affiliated with in the fulfillment of its mission.

Here are my parting words for you. You’re a unique individual. God created you for a purpose. The church is a primary vehicle through which you can express your purpose. It may be up to you to take the first step toward finding your place. It is too important to you and the church for you to wait for someone to invite you to serve. That first step could be talking to a nominating committee member or a trusted church leader. I can’t wait to see you actively engaged in fulfilling your personal purpose as well as contributing to the success of CRBC.

What a trip. You may be frustrated right now in your work because you’re not given opportunity. The good news is that in the church your horizons are wide open. There is no shortage of places where you can find purpose and meaning. Just remember.

The Future is Now

American Idol

2005-04-27T21:41:00.000-04:00

I just turned off this weeks “results” show for American Idol a little disappointed in the results. OK so what am I doing watching American Idol, I’m probably not the demographic that the network programmers are after. You know I enjoy music and I’m fascinated by the dynamics of this talent show. Thousands were screened on a nation wide search. Some were invited to Hollywood to pursue their dream enticed by the lure of near instant stardom and a lucrative record contract. Now out of six remaining contestants five continue on to compete next week and one, Constantine, is forever labeled a loser. There can be only one winner in the American Idol format. I personally thought that there were a few others that deserved the fate first. One might observe that this show reflects reality; the way the world really is. Some have it and some don’t. Some are destined to be winners and some are destined to be losers. Disappointments come and you must deal with it.

This is the point where I am reminded that this is the way the world is because the world is not living up to the original design that Jehovah God intended. Each person is uniquely designed for a specific purpose. That purpose can only be accomplished when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ by acknowledging our shortcomings and asking God to forgive us for acting like losers. You see, God intends that we all be winners. On the American Idol television show one person survives to be crowned winner based on their performance. Every one else is a loser. Not that Clay Aiken is really suffering as a loser (i.e. 2nd place finisher a few years ago) but he is an anomaly. In God’s show we can all be winners because God’s son, Jesus Christ, performed in our place. God declares winners and losers based on the performance of Jesus – which was perfect. Not even Simon Cowell could dare find fault in Jesus’ performance. The starting place on our journey to stardom in God’s eyes is to accept the performance of Jesus as our own.

Once you have been declared a winner God launches you on a “world tour” and asks that you perform according to how He has designed you and to play venues that He has arranged. And you know what, for those times when we might begin to doubt that we have what it takes to continue all we have to do is to look back at the “band” and realize that He has sent the Holy Spirit on tour with us to give us excellent backup. Man, I’m so thankful that I belong to God. Hasn’t God devised a wonderful plan for us? Why would anyone want to turn this “deal” down? There is room in God’s show for multiple winners. The only way that we will be losers to God is to choose to be a looser.

Maybe you’re dealing with your own disappointments and fears in life. My message to you today is simple. If you’ve never trusted God with your future, He is waiting to declare you a winner. If you’re already on tour with God but are tempted occasionally to sit down, look back at the “band.” Boy are they kickin! Sing on – God loves the tune.

With God You’re Never a Loser

Reference Point

2005-04-20T21:29:00.000-04:00

This is the debut of a new weekly contact point for the Young Adult community at Cross Roads Baptist Church. Hopefully this will be a welcome reminder that there is a community of people at CRBC that wants to be an encouragement to your Christian faith in the middle of hectic and full lives. We’ll keep it short and to the point.