Can I Really Make a Difference?

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:3-4

It’s just me, can I really make a difference? Have you ever asked yourself that question? If you listen to news talk shows, celebrity hosts, and social media influencers, the simple answer would be no unless you have a last name like Musk, Zuckerberg, Trump, Harris, or any other name that appears regularly on Fox, CNN, MSNBC, or The View.  It all depends upon your definition of difference. For these interviewers, it is all about wealth, fame, or some notable action. However, these folks are not the ones who truly determine if you are making a difference.

“Some kind of procession was approaching us, and the light came from the persons who composed it…Then, on the left and right, at each side of the forest avenue, came youthful shapes, boys upon one hand, and girls upon the other…Between them went musicians: and after these a lady in whose honour all this was being done….” Is it?…Is it?” I whispered to my guide. “Not at all,” said he. “It’s someone ye’ll never have heard of…” She seems to be…well, a person of particular importance?…”Aye. She is one of the great ones. Ye have heard that fame in this country and fame on Earth are two quite different things.”

Master storyteller C. S. Lewis in his great fantasy, The Great Divorce, describes a scene in Heaven of the celebration of one that wouldn’t have made the nightly news. Lewis describes the heavenly parade where she was honored for her eternal impact. What did she do to garner such heavenly praise? Nothing according to the world’s definition of success and influence.  “Every beast and bird that came near her had its place in her love. In her they became themselves. And now the abundance of life she has in Christ from the Father flows over into them.”

The wealthy and famous do have great influence in this world but so do the poor and unknown when placed in God’s hand and under His control. Poor or rich have the same standard, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others (Phil 2:3-4).

The narrator goes on to say in the story, “It is like when you throw a stone into a pool, and the concentric waves spread out further and further. Who knows where it will end? Redeemed humanity is still young, it has hardly come to its full strength. But already there is joy enough in the little finger of a great saint such as yonder lady to waken all the dead things of the universe into life.” (C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce)

How would you answer the question, “Can I really make a difference?” David confronted that question while facing Goliath. Moses confronted that question while facing a burning bush. Jesus confronted that question while facing the cross. Throughout history, others have struggled to answer that question.

Remember what God thinks of you. “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground (Gen 1:26). God thinks you can make a difference since He made you. “God never called you to be anyone other than you. But he does call on you to be the best you you can be. The big question is, at your best, who are you?” (Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life)

Remember what others need from you. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (I Thess 5:11). I don’t have to remind you of the anxiety, fear, and hopelessness that seems to be epidemic in our culture today. A simple word of encouragement could make a big difference in someone’s life today.

Remember what Jesus said to do. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12 Jesus made a difference through His extravagant love, literally laying down his life for us. Though we may not face death in our love for others, imagine the difference it will have in our world. “The greatest theologians, preachers, pastors, or Christians among us are those that love greatly, because we are never more in love with God than when we are loving the people He created.” (Kevin “KB” Burgess)

Remember why you want to make a difference. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven– Matt 5:16. You should never underestimate the impact you have on others simply by living an honest and faithful life before God. “If you wish to be a man or woman of God who desires to live a godly life that will leave its mark upon this world, you must stand in the shadow of your Savior.” (Charles Swindoll)

Can you make a difference? British evangelist Gipsy Smith who preached in Great Britain and the United States for over 70 years once said, “There are five Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christians—but most people never read the first four!”

The world needs eternal difference-makers. Together we become those difference makers simply with that one word of encouragement, that one act of kindness, that one expression of love, and our unshakable trust in God.

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… Be merciful, just as y our Father is merciful. Luke 6:27-28,36

God is great!

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Our Story

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Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” Matthew 13: 34-35 NIV

Once upon a time! Four simple words have captured every child’s imagination at some point and time in life. Upon hearing these simple words, a child sits back and prepares to enter an adventure of untold excitement. The words begin to come to life as the child witnesses the story unfolding with the prince saving the princess, defeating the dragon, destroying the evil witch, and knowing that it will end with good triumphing over evil.

Countless stories have begun with these simple words throughout the centuries. According to Lorna Wallace, it isn’t a coincidence that stories begin this way and serve a useful purpose. “This far-flung setting and time period create a “distance and vagueness,” that provides “an invitation for fantasy and imagination to take the stuff of real life and do with it what they will—and perhaps, to translate the newfound truths back from story to actuality.” (Why So Many Stories Begin with Once Upon a Time, Lorna Wallace)

Children may love fairy tales, but I speculate most adults enjoy them just as much as the child. The formula sets our minds into a pattern knowing that the main characters will start well but then go through a rough patch of life and will ultimately end with the bookend formula, “they lived happily ever after.”

C. S. Lewis understood the value of “once upon a time” stories and that adults are never too old to read fairy tales, and in fact, probably they get more out of them at a more mature age. In his prologue of the Chronicles of Narnia, he wrote, “My dear Lucy, I wrote this story for you, but when I began it I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result, you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be –your affectionate Godfather, C. S. Lewis”

Somewhere along the way most of us quit reading fairy tales. We have seen too much of life and realize there may not be a happy ending after all. The greedy troll of “The Three Bill Goats Gruff” was a person we knew, we have seen too many “Cinderellas” being mistreated by adults, or being called “The Ugly Duckling” because of how we looked.

Adulting is not always easy. We face the everyday toils of being a responsible adult and somehow, we get lost in the demands of life. We forget to “whistle while we work,” and forget the very adventures that once captured our imaginations. Quoting Robin Sharma, “Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.”

Lewis captured the power of story to teach truth. Though the Narnia books are not systematic theology, Steven Gomez writes they are “a playground decorated with various colorful pieces of Christian (and pagan!) imagery…Lewis poured his love for Jesus into the character of Aslan, not simply what he knew theologically.

Fairy tales convey a nugget of truth, a bit of moral teaching that will help to live a better life within the “once upon a time” formula. However, as we quickly learn, life is not a formula to live nor does it always have a happy ending.

Jesus was a master storyteller, teaching eternal truth through stories that captured the essence of truth in ways his disciples (us) could learn and grow. “Jesus asked His listeners to understand an intangible reality they couldn’t see with their physical eyes—the kingdom of God. He knew they could only engage this reality with the eyes of their hearts, so he chose to use stories—what we commonly call parables—to illustrate His meaning.” (Christine Hoover)

Unlike the simple truth found in a fable, Jesus didn’t try to explain some truth in a colorful and “once upon a time” style but to hide spiritual truth from easy-believism.

Jesus was confronted by his own disciples at the complexity of his parables, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” Jesus could have told stories that would have appealed to the masses, but he didn’t. He gave stories that taught what a true disciple was, how to live a Kingdom-focused life, and what it would cost to be His follower. “This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see: though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” (Matt 13:13)

In our information-driven, fact-based world we often overlook the depth and inspiration within stories. Jesus awakened imaginations and emotions through the parables he told. We can see the seeds being thrown by the sower, some on hard ground, some among the weeds but a few on good soil. We can see the father running to his younger son who finally returns home.

LORD, help us to reimagine and retell our stories of how you transformed us and gave us a new life. We want others to hear of the hope we have in you, our faith that is secure and the joy we have for this day. We have a great story only because of what you have done in our lives.

You have a great story to tell, go tell it!

God is great!

Passing the Torch from One Generation to the Next

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His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. Luke 1:50

I am noticing a peculiar situation, lots of my friends seem to be getting old! I am finding it interesting that what I always thought was old, I now realize I am that person. I grew up when the saying, “Don’t trust anyone over 30” became a major buzzphrase. The phrase was coined by a then-youthful student organizer Jack Weinberg.

Weinberg who is now in his mid-eighties said of the quote, “I’ve done some things in my life I think are very important, and my one sentence in history turns out to be something I said off the top of my head which became completely distorted and misunderstood. But I’ve become more accepting of fate as I get older.”

The subject of age has been a major topic in the news and among political commentators over the last few weeks. In particular, there have been hours of discussion on whether a septuagenarian or an octogenarian is up to the task of being the president. The Founding Fathers gave a lot of thought to how young a president should be but not about how old. Georgia history professor Buckner Melton noted that “A minimum age limit was put into place because age was the best corollary they had for sound judgment, maturity and what we might refer to as wisdom.” (Natalie Escobar article in NPR)

Age limits weren’t considered necessary since very few people lived into their 60s in the 1700s. Most likely you have an opinion on whether age is a factor for the two major party candidates in the current United States election. However, I am more focused on the generational responsibility from one generation to the next.

Naming the generations is a fairly new, within the last 50 years or so, concept. Social historians, government agencies, and social media outlets have used the segmented population for their particular purposes. However, the biggest component of generational segmentation is in the advertising and marketing world. Demographic and consumer markets expert Peter Francese highlighted the fact that “The ad agencies have a mission and an imperative to bring to their clients news of what’s going on in the marketplace. And so, inevitably, they segment the American population into various groups. The necessity to do that means that they sit around and they come up with names.”

Generations are no longer defined just by your age alone but by your consumer value. Advertising that was once centered on Baby Boomers has moved to the millennials until Generation Z and Generation Alphas are of commercial value. The problem with segmenting people, you create stereotypes of what a category should do or be. Regardless of what category you find yourself in, you still have a responsibility for the generation that follows.

What does one generation owe the next?

Generations need to tell their stories. In a 1983 speech, retired Admiral Hyman G. Rickover said, “A cause of many of our mistakes and problems is ignorance—an overwhelming national ignorance of the facts about the rest of the world. It is necessary to learn from other’s mistakes, you will not live long enough to make them all yourself.” Scripture reminds us to record our stories for the next generation to learn and worship God. “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.” (Ps 102:18)

Generations need to pass on their faith. “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” Psalm 71:18 There is an abundance of research and articles on the rise of the Nones, those who have walked away from faith. The neglect of one generation to pass on their faith has generational significance. According to the Pew Research Center, “The growth in the number of religiously unaffiliated Americans—sometimes called the rise of the “nones”—is largely driven by generational replacement, the gradual supplanting of older generations by newer ones. “

Generations need to pass on a legacy of integrity and character. “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” (Ps 145:4) The last of one generation is fast coming to an end with less than 200,000 still living. Known as The Greatest Generation, they were born between 1901 and 1927. Integrity, hard work, and responsibility are just a few of the common identifiers. Tom Brokaw, in his New York Times bestseller called, The Greatest Generation, highlighted the courage and contribution of men and women who were forged in the depth of the Great Depression and the horrors of World War II. Brokaw writes in his book, “I began to reflect on the wonders of these ordinary people whose lives are laced with the markings of greatness. At every stage of their lives, they were part of historic challenges and achievements of a magnitude the world had never before witnessed.” A generation is usually identified as 20-30 years, making Warren Buffett’s warning very important. He writes “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”

Generations can change the narrative before passing it to the next generation. One generation fought wars to keep slavery from passing to the next generation. One generation fought legal battles to ensure the practice of segregation was ended. One generation fought against totalitarianism to enable the next generation to live in a free world. Each generation will have their evils to fight against but they can change the narrative for the next generation. We often overlook a beautiful part of the Second Commandment.  The sins of the parents are to the “third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Ex 20: 4b) Our generation can change the “sins” of their parents and not pass onto their children. A changed generation instead can pass on a life of hope, faith, and a new story.

What do we owe the next generation?

Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers. Proverbs 4:10-14

God is great!

What’s in a Name?

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I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. Rev 2:17b NIV

What’s in a name? You listen for a particular name so you can pick up your pizza at the counter. When they hear their first and middle names, mischievous little boys and girls know it will not be a good day. The final rounds of graduations have been completed and each person waited eagerly to hear their name being called out so they could receive their diploma. We all like to hear our names called out, whether at the pizza shop or an elegant ceremony.

Through the years, parents have spent countless hours trying to come up with the perfect name. The problem is, you can’t count on your chosen name being popular in a few years. My mother’s name was Mildred, a name that was in the top 10 for over two decades in the early 1900s, then it vanished from the lists. When’s the last time you heard of a little Mildred? However, there is hope for the Mildreds, Normans, Gladys, and Doris of the world according to name expert Sophie Kihm but it will take about 100 years. The seemingly “old-fashioned” sounding names will become trendy again, which means someday there will be an increase of Mildreds in kindergarten classes.

There are a few of us who will patiently sit through the scrolling list of names at the end of a movie, acknowledging the countless list of people involved in the movie production. They deserve a little acknowledgment! Scrolling through movie credits is a little like scrolling through the list of names in the book of First Chronicles. You encounter name after name but then all of a sudden you stumble over Jabez. Maybe not a name in the top 20 since few parents want to stick, “he makes sorrow,” on their baby. You wonder if every time little Jabez heard his name being called it reminded him of the pain that he had caused his mother at birth. Playing outside had to be a challenge hearing all the boys shouting, here comes “he makes sorrow.” (I Chron 4:9-10)

Jabez didn’t have a choice on what his mother named him. He may not have liked the name, but he did have a choice on what he would do with the name in life. Instead of making others sorrowful, he asked God to bless him and expand his influence. I like the NKJV translation, “that I may not cause pain, And God granted his request.” That is taking your name and giving it a new meaning for life!

Mildred was a name that identified my mother among her family, friends, and community. However, the real part of her identity came out of her values, character, personality, and faith. Our true identity is not the label we call a name but the deep values that we come to know.

The world knew in the 1970s that the name, Charles Colson, reflected a power-hungry, ruthless hatchet man for Pres. Richard Nixon, and would eventually be convicted of his crimes and sentenced to prison. The name, Colson was tarnished, reputation destroyed, and politically finished. The story could have ended there, and his name would have gone down in history as a disgraced and ruthless man. Yet his story wasn’t over because of God’s work of redemption in his life. He left prison in 1975 having served his sentence but more importantly, he walked out of prison with a redeemed name because of Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Aitken was a broken and disgraced former Member of Parliament in the UK. It was through Colson reaching out to him in friendship and support that changed Aitken’s life. In a letter to Aitken, Colson wrote, “Your greatest test will be right now, Jonathan. You can let circumstances shatter you as I saw you quoted in the press or you can decide that adversity will be your greatest blessing…As you know, I have looked back on Watergate and thank God for it. Through that crucible I came to know Christ personally and discovered that in the darkest moments of my life, He was working to produce what I would later see as the greatest blessings of my life.”

Aitken in his biography on Charles Colson wrote, “For Colson’s footprints on the sands of time go predictably deep in the spiritual fields where he has worked since his Christian conversion.” “Colson has lived to see his reputation transformed and his life redeemed. By any standard it is a remarkable turnaround, which his admirers say could have been accomplished only by the hand of God.” (Jonathan Aitken, Charles W. Colson, A Life Redeemed)

What’s in a name? Without a doubt, it is far more than a picture on your driver’s license or even the name on your regular paycheck. Author Ann Spangler writes, “It helps to realize that names in the ancient world in which the Bible was written often functioned differently than they do today. In addition to distinguishing one person from another and linking people to their family heritage, names were thought to reveal the essential nature and character of a person.”

What’s in a name? Paul knew something about tarnished names since people would hear his name and go into hiding out of fear of him. That was until God took him and he became a work of art, a new creation. Paul would later write, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17).

What’s in a name?

Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, O LORD God of hosts; do not let those who seek you be dishonored because of me.” Psalm 69:6

God is great!