Losing All That Others Might Have

On December 4, 2006, Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis was manning the 50 caliber machine gun on the Humvee he and four buddies were traveling in. Looking up, McGinnis saw an Iraqi toss a grenade off the roof of one of the buildings they were passing. He had ample time to jump from the Humvee and save his life. But as the grenade bounced onto the vehicle and down inside, Ross McGinnis yelled, “Grenade!” into the microphone and dropped down the hole and placed his back against the grenade. The blast killed him instantly, but it saved the lives of the four others. At 19, Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis drew his last breath and gave himself that others might have. Where does that mindset come from?
In looking at war and all of its atrocities one wonders why men are so wicked as to wage it to begin with, but when we stop to give it real thought we understand that it’s not the ones who fight that wage the war, it’s the leaders. Most of us would just as soon live in peace. Most are satisfied with a family, home, food to eat, clothes to wear and an education for our children. But there are some who demand more and will sacrifice others to gain it. So our young men go to war. Day after day they sacrifice their lives that others might have, but why? What do they get out of it? I think of the Minutemen who stood face to face with the British and took bullets for freedom. Yet when they died they left all that freedom behind. They took nothing with them. It was all for others.
Long ago Moses faced God’s anger and spoke to persuade God not to exterminate the Israelites. The golden calf and the people’s reveling were not pleasing to the Lord, but He listened to Moses and relented. Moses went down to rebuke the people and then back to seek God’s mercies. When he stood before the Lord he said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." Look at the feelings expressed by Moses. He’s not just facing some enemy with a weapon; he’s standing before the God of the universe, the creator of all things. As he stands he pours out a depth of feeling that is remarkable, especially in light of the way the people have treated Moses. What he is telling God is that he loved Israel and would die for those people.
I honestly believe that we have these depths in us because God put them there. We love, because He first loved us. We would not know love without the God of creation placing within us the capacity. And that capacity goes beyond life. It is willing to, how did the Man of LaMancha say it, “willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause”? We see this type of thing all around us and read of it regularly. A man runs in front of a fast moving truck to push a child out of its path. The child is saved, but the man meets an untimely death; a mother who runs back into a violently burning house to save her child. Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis pressing his back on a live grenade sacrificing himself so his buddies might live. Jesus the Christ willingly leaving heaven to come to a world filled with despair and anger. And here He offers Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for a people who were willingly killing Him.
I want that spirit in me. I want to be able to give myself so that others might have. I don’t mind losing it all if somewhere in my losing blessings might fall on someone who desperately needs it.

Language

So many of us think we know only one language, but we, in fact, know several. We understand and speak body language. We have numerous facial expressions. Even our breath speaks volumes. A gasp says something; a sigh; a hiss. Remember the way your mom used to suck in her breath when she was disgusted with you? And then she would slowly let her breath out again. The sound of that breath told you how much trouble you were in.
Have you seen the commercial about the rollover minutes? The family is riding in their car. The boy in the back seat asks his mom for some minutes for his phone. She replies, “I just gave you some at the restaurant.” He tells her he has thrown them away because they were old. She begins a speech about the minutes and he finishes her sentence. Her eyes grow large, almost bloodshot with anger. He realizes he’s said too much and looks at his mom for a moment, then over to his brother to break the tension. The language of those looks is priceless. I laugh each time I see it because it’s so real!
Of course we know English too and it's a wonderful language. Often it’s the simpler words that can cause the most reactions. How many times I have been arguing with my wife and she will say something and my only response is a sarcastic “Ah.” Of course I know what buttons to push, so I say the “ah” in order to allow myself to stand innocent. “Whadaya mean I’m a jerk? All I said was. ‘ah.’ What was wrong with that?” I smile when I hear the word jerk because that’s exactly what I was, but that’s part of the fun of language. Don’t you think so?
I recall a quote from Paul Tillich about different words we use to speak of the condition of being alone – “Our language has wisely sensed the two sides of being alone. It has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone.” – Ah. Don’t you love language?

Gone For Awhile

I was gone for awhile but I'm back. I'm going to try to write something at least once each week. I hope something I say might bless someone.

Dynamic Worship

I read the article by Jonathan Perz (see below) and felt the need to say something. While much of what was said was true, one thing we need to remember is that we are not “First Century” Christians; we are twenty-first century Christians. Much of what we do from day to day is dramatically different than what was done 2,000 years ago. Our collective worship, though involving all the elements God has prescribed, is very different than what our first century brothers did. We sing very few chants today, yet much of their singing was in this form. Our four part harmony would be quite foreign to them. Does this make it wrong? Consider communion, did they have little plastic cups carried about in shiny metal trays? Most likely no. A good part of their Bible lesson/sermon was a simple reading of the various letters sent by the apostles. Though there is nothing wrong with the way we do our preaching, we are adding thoughts and opinions that are not found in the words of the apostles. We have padded pews, speakers and microphones, along with powerpoint and projectors. What would those first century folks think of us?

Frankly, I want dynamic worship. While it’s not about me, it comes from me, from my heart and yours. Part of our worship to Him is also for us. Remember, “Speak to one anotherto the Lord.” with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart (Ephesians 5:19) Note the underlined portions. We are singing praises to the Lord, but we are also singing to each other. Worship is to God, but it is also for our edification and strengthening. We can make it dull and lifeless or we can make it dynamic. If we make the story of Jesus the (forgive me for this) “Old Old Story,” people are going to look at it that way. I want the story of Jesus and my worship to Him to be new and fresh and suitable for the people I live among. I want to be able to reach people who live in the twenty-first century. In order to do this I have to speak the language of the twenty-first century. Jesus should not grow old to us, but should always be dynamic. He is always up to date and we should treat Him and the gospel like that.

Following is the article mentioned above

A sign advertising a local church’s worship service read “Two DYNAMIC Worship Services.” While it is not uncommon nowadays tosee such words used to describe a worship service, should such even be a consideration for our worship to God?Does God want “dynamic worship” or does He seek spiritual and true worship? The Lord directly answers this question when He says,“But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

“Dynamic worship” is obviously being advertised in contrast or comparison to some other kind of worship. Typically, those who desire “dynamic worship” are tired of what they consider boring, dull or “old fashioned” worship. They want energetic, contemporary worship that they can relate to. They want exhilarating worship that is in keeping with the times. They want emotion filled worship that appeals to them. They want uplifting worship that makes them feel good. So, local churches are making changes to provide such worship for their worshipers. The problem with this is two-fold.

First, such worship is worshiper-oriented, not God-oriented. Is not our worship for God and to God? Why then are we innovating our worship to God to meet the desires of the worshiper? Should not the worshiper’s concern be for the desires of God (cf. 1 Thess. 4:1)? Are not God’s ways of worship satisfying enough for us? Are not the approved methods of worship demonstrated by the first century Christians good enough for us? Are we not to imitate them (cf. 1 Cor. 11:1)?

Second, such worship might engage a man’s spirit, but it fails in regard to truth. Is not God’s word truth (John 17:17)? Should not God’s word be our authority in all spiritual matters, to include worship (cf. Col. 3:16-17)? Should not our worship then resemble and conform to first century worship? It can be confirmed that apostolic worship was approved worship, spiritual worship and truthful worship (cf. Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 1:21; 11:23-27; 16:1-2; Eph. 5:19). Can we prove that “dynamic” worship rises to that mark established by the Lord (1 Thess. 5:21)?

You see, we can have spiritual and truthful worship that is “dynamic.” However, not all “dynamic worship” is in spirit and truth (cf. Rom. 8:8). The dynamics of worship are not based on externals that appeal to the flesh. The dynamics of worship are based on internals that appeal to the spirit and truth. Thus, when worshipers emphasize spirit and truth in their hearts, the dynamics will be where God expects them to be. Most who desire “dynamic worship” would argue that their worship

is in spirit and in truth. If such is true, then why not simply advertise your worship as such? Can there be any higher type of worship than true worship?

By: Jonathan Perz, Church of Christ, Moody, Alabama

Four Things

Here's a passage:

18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

I see four things here that I am supposed to do:

1. Go
2. Make
3. Baptize
4. Teach

Here are some comments about these four things:

1. We have it backwards. We think if we build it they will come. Jesus tells us to go and get them.
2. People are not naturally God's disciples - they have to be made into disciples. We have the ingredients and they are the things of first importance. Paul states them in 1 Corinthians 15.
   
3. As we make disciples, part of the process is baptism. We are born again. We die to ourselves, we are buried in a watery grave and we are raised to walk in that new life. We are, in other words, born again.
4. Once we have made disciples there is still much teaching to do.
   

Sounds like an awesome responsibility. I better get at it before it's forever too late.

Josiah Tilton

A Split Second

The talking heads and late night MC's had a field day with Hillary's picture. Jokes of all kinds were made and laughs were had all around. Many people drew conclusions about what type of person Hillary was/is just from seeing this picture. I'm sure she lost votes as a result of this split second in time. What a shame - not about votes, but that we would judge someone by a single incident or a moment out of a lifetime.

I sin. I also teach Bible class on Sunday morning. Which one defines me? If the people who are in my Bible class saw me sin and that was all they remembered of me then they would have a very difficult time trying to hear anything I might say in class. They would limit me to my sin. The truth is, however, that I am more than my sin. I am more than a snapshot; more than a moment in time.

Fortunately, the Father of all has made it plain that He thinks more about us than our sin(s). He is like fathers everywhere. We know our children are not perfect, but we do not see them just as their imperfections, we see them in their totality. We see them on good days and bad. We know they are a combination of happy and sad, of good and bad, of righteous and unrighteous. We do not see them as fodder for humiliation and bad taste joking. We see them as someone worthy of our love and loved whether worthy or not. So it is with God. He sees us as His creation. He loves us because that is what He is. It is not what He does, but what He is - God is love. And love finds a way.

It is not that split second that tells honest people what we are it is a lifetime of living that says "this is me."

What is Truth

As Jesus stood before Pilate he was questioned about being the king of the Jews. There is an understanding in Pilate that Jesus is not just anyone, but is someone special. Unfortunately, Pilate was a weak man and would not stand up for the right. So when he asks, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus tells him that "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Pilate, in disgust - not with Jesus, but with those who brought Jesus to him, I think - snaps back, "What is truth?" And that's the question, isn't it?

What is truth? We hear people debating global warming and presenting good points on both sides of the issue. When they're finished we wonder - "What is truth?" In politics we hear that this is the worst economy in decades by the President's opponents and his own people say just the opposite. We are left with uncertainty as we try to decide - "What is truth?"

The same is true in religion. There are hundreds of creeds, sects, persuasions, religions, etc. and I wonder if it is possible that they are all correct. As I struggle to decide truth I look at the many "Christian" religions and see conflicting doctrines. Can all be right? Even in conflict? Even if what they teach might be antipodal to another's teaching?

I struggle with this. I wonder...Do you?

Twisted Politics

We live in a crazy political world, don't we? The other day Joe Biden was politically beaten because he used the word "clean" while describing Barack Obama. How foolish can we be? Biden, whom I do not support and would NEVER vote for, was trying his best NOT to say anything that could be misconstrued racially. He praised Obama and was trying to show how open minded he was. Ah, but we see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear. The political pundits had a heyday with Joe Biden as the butt of their drivel.

If you are a republican, were you happy about this? If you were a democrat, did you applaud the media's stupidity? What is wrong with us that we cannot see things for what they really are, but we see them with all the twists and turns that we can wrap into them and that way we always have someone out there to belittle and beat.

Shame on us.

Who Will Cry?

America and the world wept and then sacrificed when the tsunami killed 150,000 people in one day and we should have. Unfortunately, and I'm sure there are many reasons for our ignorance, 150,000 people, over half of them children, die every single month in sub-Saharan Africa. And most of the things they die from are totally preventable: Malaria, Malnutrition, Cholera, AIDS, War.

Where is the weeping?
Where is the sacrifice?
Who will cry for Africa?

What Do I Have?

“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
1 Corinthians. 4:7 (ESV)


This passage, and several similar, is troubling to me. Troubling in the sense that if I accept it as written then I am led to understand that whatever it is that I have has been given to me, and if this is so, why do I live and act differently than this? Why do I act as if I’ve earned this or that? If every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, if, as John the baptizer says, "a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven,” then why do I consider things I have as the things I have bought and paid for?

I know of an eldership who, when presented with a proposal from their mission’s committee about supporting some African preachers said no. Their reason for saying no is that “they don’t support nationals.” Their justification for that policy was/is because their support might put the nationals in a higher income bracket than their fellows around them, and that would cause jealousy. This sounds almost reasonable. If, however, the African preachers are children of God and the Elders are children of God, then all are brothers. What one has he has received from THEIR Father. Should the children not share what their Father has given them? And should they not especially share it with their own brothers?! Should they consider the things they have as things they have great power over because, after all, it was entrusted to them, not to their poor, poverty stricken brothers.

This is not an article meant to beat up on Elders. It is a questioning of our – especially Americans – idea that we have earned and therefore deserve anything. I breathe because God provides the oxygen. I’m an American because God caused me to be born here. I move my arms and legs because God has given me that ability. I see and speak because God has been generous to me. Look at this passage - Exodus 4:11 (ESV) “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?’” Is this true? Not is it true that God said this, but is what God said true? If, as God says He does, He makes someone mute, deaf, seeing or blind, then the fact that I can see is because God has given this gift to me. I could consider this a “general” gift that God gave in the creation, but that is not what the passage says. And if it were, would it not be reasonable to assume that everyone would receive this gift? Yet we know that there are many who are born blind, or deaf, or mute. Who made them so? The question I’m asking myself then is, what DO I have that I have not been given?

Finally, all that I have been given has been given so that I might have to give to others, (Ephesians 4:28; Luke 12:48b). Those who sold houses and possessions and gave them to the Apostles to distribute to others as there was need, did God take care of them when they were old and unable to work for their keep? Since they sold what they had and gave it away, were they acting wisely? Were they doing the best they could do to care for their own families? Were they not depending on God too much? Or were they demonstrating that what they had was not their own and they were giving away only those things which they could not keep anyway? Were they saying “I trust you Father?”

A young boy was watching as the riotous crowd dragged the old man toward the stake. He watched as they viciously grabbed his arms, pulling them behind his back and around the stake. Others quickly grabbed kindling and larger pieces of wood, stacking it all around the old man, who was now bound to a stake, prepared to die. His only crime was that he believed in Jesus Christ. A torch was brought and the wood was lit. Whatever agony the old man suffered he bore it quietly, his head bowed in prayer.

One of the rabble noticed the wide eyed boy watching this horrendous episode of deranged humanity. “What are you doin’ here boy? The man growled.

“I’m learning the way,” was the boy’s response.

As for me, I’ve never made a sacrifice. I wish I had the faith to.

Days and Even Weeks

I often watch such shows as Cold Case Files and The FBI Stories, not those popular ones on the big networks, but the accounts of real cases and real investigations on TLC, Discovery or A&E. It amazes me how terribly wicked man can be. There have been shows about serial killers, rapists, thrill murderers and the like, as well as more "civilized" crimes like embezzelment or kidnapping. I watched one about a man who would kidnap women, take them to his home, tie them up, beat, rape and eventually murder them. He did it to several until one finally escaped and he was caught. I would scream to myself... "How can people act like that?!" Later, I would look into the mirror and understand.

Yes, we would rather have someone lie to us than shoot us, but what does the lying say about our character. Do you lie? I know I do. And how do we act at home when we are all alone? Do we just sit an read the Bible or do we find ourselves watching shows with swearing, thefts and murders? Why do we watch such things? Why are we drawn to them? Do you think it's because it is our character, our nature to do such?

I sin and I often use the excuse that I can't help myself. Flimsy, but perhaps it is true none-the-less. I John 1:7-10 tells me that I am going to sin. Is this a license? I think not, but it does say something about me. It says something about my nature and character. I am a sinner. I hurt my wife, my sons, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, as well as my friends, even strangers. My faith often ebbs and flows as the tide. There are days, even weeks when I am strong and feel good about myself and my faith. There are days and even weeks when I wonder if I have any faith at all. When I should be strong I am weak and miserable. I have to cry out as Paul did, "Wretched man that I am, who shall save me from this body of death. Praise God! It's Christ Jesus."