Finding What Is Real

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My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours. I John 5:13-15 (the Message)

This week, I came across a profound question in my reading: “Have you ever wondered why oranges are often sold in those strange red net bags?” Well maybe a bit less than profound, and if you are like me, really hadn’t given any thought to it. According to the writer the reason why “it’s a sneaky trick used by food producers and supermarkets to fool your senses and (Hopefully) make you buy more fruit.”

The red mesh creates an illusion that the oranges are more colorful and thus tastier than they will be at home. The colorful net downplays the unripeness of the fruit. The same principle applies to lemons which are put in yellow bags to enhance their natural color. “The principle is based on the confetti illusion, a visual phenomenon where the perception of colors is strongly influenced by its surrounding context.”  (Tom Hale)

Hale further quoted Psychologist Karl R. Gegenfurtner who released a study in i-Perception, “We conclude that color assimilation alone provides a strong effect on color appearance, turning the greenish looking orange into a beautifully orange one…Looking around in typical supermarkets, it is easy to see that fruits and vegetables are typically packaged in nets that are of the color of perfect exemplars…The paper explains that the confetti illusion is based on the principle that our brains are programmed to process peripheral vision and color perception.”

I have always been fascinated by illusionist’s or magicians’ shows, watching closely to see if I could figure out how they did what they did. The acts of David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, or Siegfried and Roy can’t help but leave you mesmerized. The greats, such as Harry Houdini and Howard Thurston, changed the entertainment scene with their shows. Illusionists are masters of diverting your attention from reality, thinking what is, isn’t really. Smoke-and-mirrors tricks, sleight-of-hand card tricks, flashing lights, and bursts of fire all draw your attention away from what is real.

Unfortunately, the illusionists of life are not always limited to a 30-minute routine on stage. We are exposed to master illusionists in life similar to the red nets that oranges are bagged in to create a false reality.  The same things happen daily in our world.

I watched bits of both political conventions over this last month and occasionally I felt both parties had illusionists on the stage. You realize what you see is not always reality, but a perception of reality. Often it comes down to what we want to see.

“Illusions are false perceptions, and delusions are when we believe those perceptions. A delusion is when we are under the spell of an illusion, under the spell of a lie that is perceived as truth.” (Joe & Erin Pinto)

Politicians can be master illusionists, telling us what we want to hear or what we think we want to hear. Advertisers have been masters illusionists for years telling us if we do this exercise or routine, we can have an amazing body; if we eat this food, we can get rid of unwanted fat or improve this health problem; or if we…. you name it. The illusion of beauty, success, or power fills our social media accounts daily.

So, what is real? What is only an illusion? Satan uses the same set of tricks that a great illusionist would use, to divert our attention from what is real, what is truth, and what is God-centered. We read in Matthew 4 of his attempts to divert Jesus with his sleight of hand, creating an illusion that would lead to death. The same tactics that Satan tried to use against Jesus, he uses today against us, tempting us in the areas of physical needs, spiritual shortcuts, and success or power.  The great thing though is that Jesus opened Satan’s playbook and showed us how to understand the deception and what to do.  Verse after verse in Matthew says, “The Scriptures say, For the Scriptures say, The Scriptures also say, For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him’”.

“Sometimes, things in this life aren’t what they look like. For us to see past the illusion, we have to get our eyes on Jesus and off the false evidence. The enemy wants to get us to focus on the problems, the current circumstances—on the giant, on the waves, on the army.” (Will Cooper, COO of Samaritan Ministries)

When David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, or Harry Houdini finished their shows, they put away their props and went about living real life. The illusions they created were put into a crate or folded up for the next show. As we face troubles, anxiousness, or doubts, we can let them become overwhelming in our lives or follow Paul’s advice about the temporary illusion we are facing. Scripture says, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

When the final curtain is drawn and we no longer watch the fleeting illusion of life, only then will we get to experience and see the real story! “Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” Psalm 119:37 NRSV

God is great!

 

The World Needs a Few Peculiar People

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But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I Peter 2:9 KJV

Cat lovers rejoice – Dolce & Gabbana to your rescue. You no longer have to smell your friend’s dog anymore. Luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana has introduced a perfume for dogs, which “blends fresh and delicate notes of Ylang Ylang, Musk, and Sandalwood,” in an “alcohol-free scented mist.”  Dog owners or cat lovers can order “Fefe’” fragrance for 99 euros or $108.13 plus shipping. The company says, “It’s a tender and embracing fragrance crafted for a playful beauty routine. This fragrance is housed in a sleek green lacquered glass bottle, adorned with a vibrant red metal cap and a precious 24-carat gold-plated paw.” (Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today) I will put this information into my quirky file though I do like dogs.

A few miles up the road from where we live is the little town of Turin, Georgia. You will not find a large, bustling city but you will find a little, quirky beach called, “Barbie Beach.” It has an international following on Facebook and people stop from all over to visit and take pictures. Created by Steve and Linda Quick in 2006 in celebration of the Olympics that year in Turin, Italy, the mostly naked Barbie and Ken dolls have been lounging around in a six-by-four-foot stretch of sand since then. Over the years the display has changed to reflect whatever current event caught the attention of the Quicks, such as The Final Four playoffs, the royal wedding, or national football championships. It is a must-see if you are in this area. Weird, quirky or whimsical, you decide.

The longer I live the world seems to be getting a little quirkier, or maybe I’m just seeing things a little quirkier. The King James Bible translators used the word, peculiar to describe the people of God in I Peter. Granted, the word has morphed a bit in meaning since the KJV translation in the 1600s. Nowadays if you describe someone as peculiar you normally think they are strange, unusual, odd, weird, or maybe bizarre. However, the King James translators were using the word within the context of their day, meaning unique, a people for possession, that God’s people are meant to belong to him uniquely.

I rather like the word peculiar. Using the modern definition, it might actually be a good word to describe Christians today. I am sure you can probably identify a few quirky Christians in the modern sense of the word. However, the word can speak volumes when you consider the impact that a bunch of peculiar Christians focused only on Jesus could have in our current divided and godless society.

It will take peculiar people to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” –Matt 5:44

It will take peculiar people who can “Whenever you stand praying, forgive” –Mark 11:25

It will take peculiar people that will “Love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return” –Luke 6:35

It will take peculiar people who are willing to die for others. Last week marked the death of Maximilian Kolbe on August 14, 1941. 1939 saw the start of World War II with Poland quickly falling and Warsaw being captured by the Nazis. Kolbe could have been spared because of his German father if he had signed a register that would have given him rights and protection, but he refused. “Instead, he and the few friars who had not fled provided shelter for Polish refugees and hid around 2000 Jews. The Nazis eventually closed the monastery down and arrested the friars in February 1941, and Maximilian was sent to Auschwitz.” (Carla Harding, Lectio 24-7 Podcast)

It was at Auschwitz that ten men were chosen to be starved to death as an example but when the priest heard one of the men cry out in fear of losing his family, he volunteered to take the man’s place. Kolbe ministered to the other nine even as he faced starvation and died in the starvation bunker with a smile on his lips.

“Through obedience we transcend our own limitations and align ourselves with God’s will, which, with infinite wisdom and prudence, guides us to do what is best. Moreover, as we become filled with the divine will, which no created thing can resist, so we become stronger than all others.” (Letter written by Maximilian Kolbe)

It will take peculiar people who share the Gospel even in the most unorthodox ways. During a press conference after winning the gold medal in Paris, German shot-putter Yemisi Ogunleye responded to the interviewer’s question about how she approached that decisive final throw. Ogunleye said, “Before the last attempt, I didn’t think about anything but just lifted my hands and prayed. And that might seem weird to some people, but that is really the source of my peace and joy…After seeing where the shot landed, when I knew it was hopefully going to be enough for the gold medal, I just went on my knees and said, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’” She then responded during the interview with an impromptu rendition of  the song, “God Kept Me” by Harvey Watkins Jr.  yemisi ogunleye interview – YouTube

It will take peculiar people who can see a broken world but can tell others of the one who can restore brokenness. One such peculiar person was missionary E. Stanley Jones who went as a missionary to India in 1907. His ministry touched both the upper and lower classes of society, a confidant of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt, and friend of Mahatma Gandhi. He gained influence “as he stressed that the reconciliation brought through Jesus Christ was intended for the whole world.” (Asbury University bio of Jones)

Jones would write, “The early Christians succeeded because they did not lower their heads in despair and say, “Look what the world has come to.” Instead, they lifted their eyes in delight and said, “Look Who has come to the world.”

It will take peculiar people to be part of the radical transformation from darkness to light. We may get called weird, quirky, and strange but peculiar people can and do make a difference. Let’s be the light for our part of the world today.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:2

God is great!

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Being a Change-Maker

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Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. Phil 3:20-4:1 CSB

Paris 2024 Olympics has ended and the record books have closed.  The record books will show events, winners, losers, and times that future Olympians will try to break these records. However, the official records fail to capture the behind-the-scenes events that tell the real stories.

You will not find Esther Kim’s name in the Olympic taekwondo record books but she exemplifies a greater feat; humility. When faced with the opportunity to easily beat her best friend and advance to the Sydney Olympics, she forfeited the match. Why? Kay Poe, her best friend and training partner, found themselves in the same match but Kay had injured her knee in the previous match and could barely stand. Esther could have justified the win: she had trained hard, wanted to go to the Olympics, and now had the opportunity to win but she chose to honor her friend first. Esther said, “I was in a very unfair situation. How can you go out there and fight someone who can’t even stand up? There was only one choice to be made, and that was just to forfeit and bow out.”

Max Lucado writes, “True humility is not thinking lowly of yourself but thinking accurately of yourself. The humble heart does not say, “I can’t do anything.” But rather it says, “I can’t do everything. I know my part and am happy to do it.” The humble heart honors others.”

Powerhouse swimmer Adam Peaty came within two-hundredths of a second breaking Michael Phelps’ record of 3 successive golds in the men’s 100m breaststroke. He will probably swim again for gold but the real story is a simple cross tattooed on his sternum with the words, ‘Into the Light’ right below the cross. Since coming to faith last year, he has been very open about what Jesus has meant to his life. In a recent interview with BBC Sports, he said, “I’m not crying because I came second…These are happy tears,” he explained, smiling through reddened eyes. “I’m not going to define my whole career by a medal…I asked God to show my heart, and this is my heart. I couldn’t have done more.”

It was unreal watching Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone run and win the 400-meter hurdles. She was amazing, a picture of excellence and beauty in motion. It is even more gripping to hear her motivation behind the winning.  “What an honor, a blessing, and a privilege. I never want to take these moments for granted. In a week where my faith was tried, my peace wavered, and the weight of the world began to descend, God was beyond gracious. It’s always hard preparing for one moment you may or may not get back. In my mind what kept repeating were the words “Trust in Jesus”. I didn’t know what the outcome would be, but I did know He was who I wanted to lead me through the journey. What an amazing journey it was!” …His word is sufficient, his promises hold true, and all the glory belongs to Him. At the end of the day it is FAR beyond gold.” (from her Instagram post, 8/9/2024)

These Olympians realized they had a platform to share a greater message than just a moment of personal glory. A platform that allowed them to point others to a message of hope and salvation. Their journeys were long and hard, spending hours and hours in the water, on the field, or in the gym preparing for these few seconds of instant fame but in the end, each will tell a greater story.

We can all agree we live in a broken world that needs a savior and we applaud those with such dynamic platforms but how do we fit into the picture of helping to mend a broken world? Unfortunately, the solution can sometimes be a savior that fits our stereotype of one. Yet the world will only be changed when those who are called Christians really begin to follow and live like Jesus. Living like Jesus is really the only answer to Quaker writer Douglas Steere’s question: “How does a person become increasingly Christian when he or she already is one?”

Pastor James Emery White writes, “Yet there are few spiritual athletes. We are weak, flabby, and out of shape. Our lives have become earthly in orientation and fleshly in operation. We conform to the patterns of the world, when we could be morphed into the very image of Christ (see Romans 12:1-2). We focus on religion instead of relationship and practice instead of passion. Such a life – not rooted in an authentic relationship with God, full of rhetoric and posturing, form and mannerism – is all but empty. We become people possessed with knowledge “about” as opposed to an acquaintance “with.” But only an intimate relationship with the living God is true spirituality. And only true spirituality can impact the world.”

It can be overwhelming to look at world events yet we want to be change makers. In that desire, the best place to start will always be in prayer. I hope this prayer by Jill Weber, who is with the 24-7 Prayer organization, can give words to your desire to be a change-maker in our broken world.

“Lord, when I look at the newsfeed and see the devastation in the world, I often see my own reflection, my own sin as well. I’ve been greedy, I’ve carried anger in my heart, I’ve vied for power and prestige, I’ve judged others, I’ve been unjust and unloving. And so Lord, I identify with the sin and the brokenness of the world. Forgive us. Heal our hearts and our land.”

God is great!

 

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Running a Lasting Race

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Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. I Corinthians 9:24-27 CSB

Stephen Nedoroscik had one job to do in this year’s Olympics and he nailed it. The bespectacled engineer who can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under ten seconds (that is amazing to me) mounted the pommel horse and delivered a near-flawless routine, giving the USA men’s team its first medal in 16 years. Though he found only one gymnastics event that he could master, he did it!

Throughout the day, Nedoroscik spent time encouraging and bringing water to his teammates and cheering on every performance; finally, it was his turn. “Nedoroscik was the last athlete to compete on the team’s last rotation. He needed to hit his routine for the Americans to end a 16-year medal drought…And then, like Clark Kent turning into Superman, he took off his jacket, removed his glasses, and puffed out his chest—and He killed it!” (Whitney Fleming)

The Paris Olympics showcases the wins and the losses, the best of individuals, and the controversies. Simone Biles will leave the Olympics as the most decorated American gymnast ever, Katie Ledecky’s gold medal in her impressive win in the 1,500-meter freestyle tied the record for most medals for an American woman in swimming, and yet Caeleb Dressel failed to qualify in the same event where he won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

The Olympics brings together thousands of young athletes representing scores of nations. National pride is intertwined with sportsmanship and common purpose. Paul Emory Putz writes, “Sports matter to us in large part because of the cultural narratives that give them significance. It’s not just that athletes run, jump, reach, and throw with remarkable skill. It’s that those bodily movements are fashioned and framed into broader webs of meaning that help us make sense of the world around us—both what is and what ought to be.”

Over the coming week, there will be more victories, more defeats, and lots of upsets. Some of the Olympians will leave with a medal but the vast majority will leave with only memories. Sports history will record the names and times of event participants yet life will record those who took their perishable crown and turned it into something imperishable.

Paris 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Eric Liddell running in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Liddell was one of those who took his perishable medal and turned it into something far greater. You may remember him from the movie, Chariots of Fire and his determined stance to not run his race on the Sabbath even as he faced pressure from the British Olympic committee, and fellow athletes and was ridiculed by the press for his refusal. Though he didn’t get to run in his preferred 100 meters event, he was able to run in the much longer 400 meters. 47.6 seconds later, Liddell set a new world record and earned a gold medal.

The movie ended with only a postscript of what would become his truly defining moment. He gave up possible future medals and athletic achievements to board a ship with his young family to follow God’s call to serve in China. It would be there that he would serve others to the very end of his life, dying in a war camp at 43. Duncan Hamilton in his biography of Liddell wrote, “Liddell ran—and lived—for the glory of God…Once imprisoned, Liddell did what he was born to do: practice his faith and his sport. He became the moral center of an unbearable world, counseling many of the other prisoners, giving up his own meager portion of meals for many days, and organizing games for the children there.”

When Liddell was asked, what is the point of continuing to pray—for food, for comfort, for rescue—when those prayers aren’t being answered? Joe Cotterill, his close friend said, “Liddell’s own belief never wavered but also how he reassured those who had doubts. His faith grew stronger than ever in such troubled times. He didn’t blame God for the situation we were all in. he believed God was in that situation with us. That was his message and he never stopped preaching it. He’d say to us all ‘Have Faith.’” (Duncan Hamilton, For the Glory)

Though most of us may never stand on the Olympic podium to receive a medal, each of us has been given defining moments that will be our platforms to make a difference. Our defining moments may come in an encouraging whisper to a friend, a midnight call to reassure someone, or a lonely stance for what we believe.  Whatever you do, let it be to God’s glory.

“David Ireland, diagnosed with a crippling neurological disease that would eventually take his life, was frequently asked, “Do you believe God will heal you?” He would respond with a question of his own: “Do I really need to be healed?” Ireland explained his thinking:

I’m firmly convinced that God is extremely good and that He does love and understand all the world and all the people in it. Does He want to heal me? I can’t even answer that. My faith is in the genuineness of God, not in whether He will do this or that to demonstrate His goodness…That’s not the nature of my relationship to God.” (James Emery White, Church and Culture)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

God is great!

 

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!

What Does Freedom Look Like

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You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13 NIV

What does freedom look like? How would you define freedom? If I asked a dozen people, most likely I would get a dozen different answers but chances are the word free would be nestled in the answer. The dictionary answer for free is “At liberty; not bound or constrained. Discharged from arrest or detention. Not under obligation or necessity. Governed by consent and possessing civil liberties: a free society.” (American Heritage Dictionary)

Rajaa’s story of freedom was as a refugee fleeing Syria. Her story of freedom would tell how terrorists captured and tortured her husband Fouad for being a Christian. Rajaa’s story would include fleeing her homeland with her baby, her sister Samia, and their parents to a neighboring country. Her story would include being forced into a refugee camp living in a tent, rejected by the community because of their faith, and her father dying of a stroke. Yet in her story you find freedom but only as you hear it through her freedom that she found in faith. “Despite, and partly as a result of, their deep suffering and personal loss, the sisters long to share the hope of Christ with their countrymen who are in desperate need of reconciliation with one another and the God who loves them.”(from a Voice of the Martyrs article)

The free in freedom is seldom free. It takes years to gain freedom from paying off a car, house, or student loan. The free trial subscription to the network service is never free if you forget to cancel during the grace period. The person who is free from prison is only free if he follows the conditions of release. The problem with freedom it takes a lot of work to get and keep. “May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” –Peter Marshall

Thursday marks the 248th American Independence Day and will be celebrated with fireworks, parades, speeches, and cookouts. However, if you could go back in time to 1776, you would find freedom was just a dream. It would be years and the cost of lives, finances, and fighting before freedom would be a reality. Then it would be years later before Thomas Jefferson’s words, “All men are created equal” would become a reality for other Americans.

Freedom looks like sacrifice. As you fast forward through 248 years since 1776 you realize the free part of freedom continues to be a costly endeavor. The free part of freedom has been paid for through the thousands and thousands of men and women who have fought on battlefields, the staggering financial resources spent, and the ultimate sacrifice of those killed fighting for freedom. “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.” –Nelson Mandela

Freedom looks like commitment. It is always easier not to do something but the result of doing nothing leads to hopelessness and disaster. The old exercise proverb, “no pain, no gain” applies equally well in defining how freedom looks. Christians who take responsibility for a nation’s freedom can make a major impact. Dallas Willard wrote, “The world can no longer be left to mere diplomats, politicians, and business leaders. They have done the best they could, no doubt. But this is an age for spiritual heroes—a time for men and women to be heroic in faith and in spiritual character and power.”

Freedom looks like courage. Christopher Goffos writes, “A man can’t exhibit courageousness without performing some action to which courage can be attached.” Freedom is celebrated because of courageous men and women. Independence Day allows us to reflect and celebrate the courageous actions of those men and women who were determined to lead the nation to freedom.  Patriot Nathan Hale, facing imminent death, was able to utter the words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

The same courage that laid the foundation of freedom that will be celebrated on July 4th has been the benchmark of change that continues to undergird what freedom looks like. In 1960, little 6-year-old Ruby Bridges faced an angry mob to become the first black student at the William Frantz School. She entered school each day escorted by federal marshals for her safety. Child psychologist Robert Cole shared the story of one of the teachers at school. “I was standing in the classroom, looking out the window, and I saw Ruby coming down the street, with the federal marshals on both sides of her. The crowd was there, shouting, as usual. A woman spat at Ruby but missed, Ruby smiled at her. A man shook his fist at her, Ruby smiled at him. Then she walked up the stairs, and she stopped and turned around and smiled one more time! You know what she told one of the marshals? She told him she prays for those people, the ones in that mob, every night before she goes to sleep!” (Michael Wear, The Spirit of Our Politics)

July 4th reminds us that for 248 years nothing important has changed when it comes to defining freedom. It comes only with sacrifice, commitment, and courage. Freedom requires us to be an engaged citizenry, especially people of faith. Focus on the facts, not opinions. Read and listen deeply and widely. Pray intentionally and most importantly, trust God unwaveringly as God is sovereign.

President Ronald Reagan’s words serve as a fitting reminder. “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

God is great!

 

 

Life in the Wilderness

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Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV

What do you do when you find yourself in a wilderness? Lesly, Soleiny, Tien, and Cristin literally found themselves in a jungle wilderness. Along with their mother, they had fled warring factions in Colombia’s rural area who were forcibly recruiting children by threatening violence.  The children, ages 13, 9, 5, and 1 survived a five-week ordeal in the Amazon jungle after being the sole survivors of an airplane crash. The plane crashed killed their mother and two other adults and began their journey of survival in the wilderness.

A united search team of Colombian army personnel and volunteers from several indigenous tribes combed the dense jungle in search of the children. “Brig. Gen. Pedro Sanchez, who led Operation Hope, said that in the jungle, trees can grow 100 feet or taller, blocking light and making it hard to see someone just a few meters away.” Lesly and her siblings were found in a small clearing after 40 days, surviving on cassava flour, seeds, and the rainforest’s fruit. They were hungry but alive.  (from an AP news article and Julie Turkewitz and Genevieve Glatsky)

“The desert is not remote in southern tropics,

The desert is not only around the corner,

The desert is squeezed in the tube-train next to you.

The desert is in the heart of your brother.” (T.S. Eliot, Choruses from the Rock)

Life in the wilderness can be a frightening and challenging place. You may find yourself there through an accident, from a poor decision, or no fault of your own. It doesn’t matter how you get to the wilderness, you have to find a way to survive until you can find your way home.

“When in the wilderness you are one blink of an eye from being fully awake.” I have no idea the context in which nature photographer Robbie George said this quote, but I believe there is a spiritual lesson in it. When you find yourself in the wilderness, remember it can be a place of growth, change, and reflection.

Life in the wilderness can be a place of preparation. Moses was a future leader. He had been miraculously rescued as a baby, brought up among the elite of society, provided the best education possible, and yet failed to meet God’s standard. Moses escaped to the wilderness and ended up tending sheep. Life in the wilderness prepared him for God’s assignment. “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. “(Ex 3:10) Finally he was ready for leadership.

Life in the wilderness can be a place of testing. I don’t know too many people who enjoy times of testing, yet it is in this season that you can grow stronger. Jesus experienced the wilderness of testing before beginning his ministry. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (tested) by the devil.” (Matt 4:1) “The devil tries to seduce him with instant power, authority, and wealth apart from the way of the cross…Jesus’s three temptations represent the three great potential vulnerabilities of those who would truly follow God: the need to be relevant; the need to be significant; the need to be powerful.” (Daniel McGregor) As we know, Jesus passed the wilderness test.

Life in the wilderness can be a holy place. The wilderness strips away all the comfort and ease of life, allowing you to see with clarity and understanding. It was in the wilderness that Abraham “called on the name of the LORD.” (Gen 13:4) It was in the wilderness that Moses was told, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Gen 3:5). It was out of the wilderness that John the Baptist appeared, “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4) God’s presence changed the wilderness to holy ground.

Life in the wilderness can be a place of prayer and intimacy. “The silence of tranquility can be found in the sanctuary of the wilderness.” (Robbie George) In the wilderness, Jesus would escape the noise and pressures of ministry to be with God. “Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.” (Luke 5:16) “In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)

In the early centuries of church history, groups of men and women left the cities to move into the wilderness, not to escape persecution but to avoid losing a deeper life with Jesus. When Roman Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, elevating it to a favored status, there was a major shift among Christians. Though it made Christianity acceptable, it also opened the door to nominalism, accommodation, and compromise. It would be in the wilderness that this group of men and women would go to pray, witness, and encourage the church to stay strong for God.

David was a man who spent a lot of time in the wilderness. You find him in the wilderness as a shepherd protecting his flock, running from a king who wanted him dead, and ultimately running from God because of his sinful actions. Yet it was in the wilderness that he found forgiveness, restoration, and renewal. Only someone who has been in the wilderness can write, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) Frederick Tiffany writes, “God provides a way through the desert. The chaos of the wilderness poses no real threat; neither does it need to be the occasion of struggle. The Lord is in control, and a people has been formed. With the defeat of chaos comes the creation of a new people.”

Your wilderness experience will look totally different from my wilderness. Yet it is in the wilderness that each of us can find God’s grace to keep going, His mercy to endure, and His love that holds us tight.

God is great!