Lying by exaggeration

This morning the stories about Osama’s end are being revised. The “million dollar mansion” he was reportedly living in was not luxurious at all. The ‘prolonged firefight’ did not happen, with only one person firing at the Seals who did the raid. Osama did not use his wife as a human shield. It’s easy to get the story wrong in the excitement of the moment, but I think other things were a factor, including making this villain even more villainous to enhanced the story of his capture. My experience with the news makes me discount much of what I read and hear, thinking - "So, what really happened? What is the kernel of fact under the layers of padding?"

Hyperbole is not the problem. When a person says, "I've told you a thousand times!" we know what they mean, that their words are not to be taken literally. The problem is word inflation, which is just plain old dishonesty. It is everywhere around us.

• Candidates for political office say things that are designed to impress. "It's so good to be here in NJ, the best state in the US. I always look forward to visiting beautiful downtown Newark." The audience politely applauds while thinking, "How many times have you said that this week?"

• Job titles are handed out that mean little in reality but that give the appearance of importance. Have you ever noticed how many assistant vice presidents there are in banks?

• Advertisers routinely mislead consumers, though carefully within guidelines that avoid legal repercussion.

• A couple of years ago my grandson and I visited McD's where he got a Happy Meal, which included a little toy. After a moment, he threw the toy down on the table in disgust. "What's the matter?" I asked. "It doesn't work like on TV!" he replied. Hey, little boy, welcome to the deceptive world.

Even though ‘everybody does it’ we who follow Christ must not go along with the trend of dishonesty. We must not fall into the trap of padding our stories. It is sin. Jesus tells us "Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong." (Matthew 5:37, The Message) He made this statement while talking about vows and promises. Our word should be so filled with integrity that we feel no need to buttress our truthfulness by saying things like, "I swear to God!" Those who follow Him should be so transparent that no one even thinks to wonder if there is any need to search for hidden messages. James, likewise, directs us to plain speech. "Since you know that God cares, let your language show it. Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you." (James 5:12, The Message)

Disciple, have developed a habit of inflation, even in the little stuff? Do you exaggerate the tone of another's words? When you speak of yourself do your words make no more, no less of the situation than is real? Do you use language in a way that always shines the favorable light on yourself?

Aim for honesty. I am not suggesting that in the name of being real that we have to say hurtful, mean, or ugly things! There's a time for discretion which is expressed best by silence. Sometimes the best words are no words. Honor the Lord by refusing all forms of puffery, dishonesty, and fluff! Refuse to cultivate an image. Be the person God, in His grace, has called you to be, nothing more, nothing less.

Here’s the word from the Word. "We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2, NIV)

Stress Relief

A woman I know complained of burning neck pain last week. It was so intense, she felt as though she could not keep up with her daily responsibilities. The doctor’s discovery was that she was experiencing physical symptoms resulting from high levels of stress! Her body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, which leads to elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and tense muscles, was creating pain. Stress comes in a couple of varieties: distress, which is bad; and eustress, which is good. Distress results from problems that turn into threats. When we begin to feel overwhelmed, distress develops accompanied by loss of appetite, aching bodies, and sometimes depression. Eustress gets us out of bed in the morning. The challenges of life give us meaning, keep us engaged and alert, and help us to grow spiritually and emotionally.

Are you asking God to take away all the challenges of life? Are you praying for life to be easier?

Consider that you might well be praying against your best interests! Paul traveled thousands of miles carrying the Good News of Jesus. He faced daunting trials. He was often the object of ridicule and was arrested by authorities for disturbing the peace. He endured disasters during his travels, was rejected by the very people he had brought to Christ, and frustrated by lack of response to his preaching. Did he pray for these trials to be taken away? Yes! Did God do it? No! And, with maturity, here's what the apostle came to know about the value of those difficult situations: ". . . we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 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 4:16-18, NLT)
That’s not to say that distress is a good thing. It’s not! The woman of whom I wrote a moment ago can tell you that. However, the answer is not always to seek a life that is free of difficulties. People who refuse to engage in struggle, accomplish little or nothing, wasting their gifts and talents. Here’s what I know. Faith can transform distress into eustress. When we present our troubles to the Lord, He can turn them into challenges that we rise to meet. Sometimes we see a miraculous deliverance from our trials, which causes us to praise Him. Sometimes we are led through the darkness and emerge into a whole ‘new normal’ where we praise Him for what He’s done in us or through us.

Is each day a struggle, with troubles cropping up everywhere you turn?

Before you conclude that God has forgotten you, that you need a 'new life,' or that you should just give up, pray for guts! Ask God to strengthen you, to keep you on your feet, to keep you facing into the battle unafraid and unbowed. He's promised - "I will not leave you as a orphan!... I will never forsake you!"

In this word from the Word, you find God’s prescription for stress relief. May He transform your distress to eustress!
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
_______________________

“This train never stops”

In a news story about the work of governing, White House spokesman, Jay Carney, spoke of the victory gained by the death of Osama bin Laden and the resulting bump in the President’s poll numbers. Time to celebrate is limited. He pointed out that issues remain that occupy the President’s attention. Unemployment figures are still sky high, the economy is stalled, and government spending remains a huge challenge. “This train never stops,” he said.

So true! We all deal with life as it keeps rolling. We think that life might become less complicated next month or next year, but it never does. Each season brings new challenges. The demand for growth is ongoing. Let’s be honest, it can get exhausting. There are people who are overwhelmed by the race; who drop out, hide out, or wipe out! Some just lay down and go with the current, swept away to irrelevance. Others bury themselves in meaningless diversions like watching TV endlessly or hanging out at the bar. Still others make terribly self-destructive sinful choices.

The Scripture says that there is a way that leads to life. It’s called endurance! "Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:35-39, NLT)

How do we stay in the race, keep on meeting the challenges?

First, we choose faith, our hope set fully on Christ’s promises! The rewards in this world are not always attained. In Ecclesiastes we are told that "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor satisfaction to the wise, nor riches to the smart, nor grace to the learned." (Ecclesiastes 9:11, The Message) In short, life is not fair! We risk becoming disillusioned, even embittered, if we measure success by our wealth or status.

Second, we do God’s will, not ours! James’ realism is refreshing. "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, NIV) Are you listening for the direction of the Spirit as you meet today’s challenges and plan for tomorrow? Do His will today, and you can rest confident that He will lead you through the unknown that lies ahead.

Third, we know that there is an End, when the King returns! In that Glorious Day, He will set things right, bring justice (both a comforting and fearful thought), and finally bring us to our Home.

Yes, disciple, this train never stops this side of Heaven. So, weep, if you’re sad. Rejoice, when you win. Love always. And, remember, you need not walk alone.

Here’s a word from the Word. "For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind." (Isaiah 40:30-32, The Message)

Wait on Him and let the Spirit renew your strength for the race, then go get’em!

The most important choice you make

When I talk to teens about life, choices, and success I tell them that the one choice that brings the greatest consequence is who they choose to marry!

• A spouse can be ‘the wind beneath your wings’ or a millstone around your neck.
• An emotionally whole person with whom you can share life will double your joy.
• A person who is a parasite will dim the sunshine on the brightest of days.
• A spouse who joins you in loving and serving God allows an intimacy to grow that is increasingly rare in this world.

 At the royal wedding last week, the Right Rev. Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, offered this insight. “A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover this; the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed.”

For the last six Sunday evenings, it’s been my privilege to lead a workshop about marriage using amazingly good material from Family Life aptly called The Art of Marriage. Couples who were married one year and those married 40 years sat next to each other learning or renewing their understanding of God’s design for humanity’s completion. The release of emotions that accompanied the teaching was something to behold. We hunger for love, don’t we? Our crazy, mixed up culture offers us sex in place of intimacy, schemes for control in place of other-centered service, and urges us to use our relationships to build our self-esteem. Marriage, as God intends it, is rapidly disappearing; replaced by contractual obligations shaped around raising children and creating economic advantage. No wonder so many marriages are full of misery. True marriage can never exist when we refuse the wisdom of the One who made us male and female then called us to covenant relationship that makes us ‘one flesh.’ (Genesis 2:24)

The man I quoted a moment ago, went on in that homily to offer this profound thought: “As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, we need mutual forgiveness, to thrive.

As we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light. This leads to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can practise and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit, whose fruits are love and joy and peace.”

The Word commands us simply and clearly to "Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery." (Hebrews 13:4, NLT) Let’s do it for God’s sake.

First, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to be models of grace in our marriages, accepting one another, forgiving, and growing together in God’s purposes.

Second, let us reject the sinful ‘marriage’ ideas that are offered by pop culture, written up in Cosmopolitan, and offered by Oprah; accepting instead the counsel of the Lord.

Third, let us commit to preparing the next generation of Christians to be good husbands and wives by teaching them about this most important choice and by modeling godly marriage for them.

Here’s a word from the Word, a familiar passage about the kind of love that makes godly marriage possible. Remember such love comes from the One who is Love. We can only love like this as we accept His love for us. May you be loved today by our Divine Lover.

"Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit."

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8, The Message)

Amen

The Sword of Justice

Osama Dead! The headline was in the largest type I have ever seen on the front of our newspaper. The story fills the news this morning and will be buzz of every conversation today. A man who hated America so fanatically that he spent his fortune to destroy her finally was killed by an elite force of US military. Justice was 10 years coming. I cannot deny the real gladness that a person so bent on killing others in the name of his God no longer walks among us, but . . .

There is another kind of dread arising out of the truth I learn from the Scripture. The sword only sows blood and reaps a harvest of even more blood. Osama killed and he was killed. It is as Jesus said: “all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Justice demanded that we pursue him and bring him to death. I offer my appreciation to those who bravely pursued him through the mountains of Afghanistan and to those who finally found him in a house in a town in Pakistan. They carried the sword of justice. But those who think that this will finally bring peace are chasing a mirage. Among those who share Osama Bin Laden’s understanding of the world, hatred will be refreshed by his blood. His death for them is not justice but more injustice, that demands retribution be visited on the ‘Great Satan’ of the West. And so my joy at end of one man’s hateful existence is tempered by a sorrowful realization that more death will come.

Until the hearts and minds of men are changed by an encounter with the Lord of Love, there can be no peace. I pray today for the coming of the Prince of Peace. I am torn between two convictions that collide in my mind today. I am convinced that justice must be done to curb the expression of evil in our world. I am equally convinced that the road to security and peace does not lie through the building of ever greater machines of war. With the deepest of humility I kneel before the Father today to pray for those who lead our nation that they will be honorable and that they will seek the guidance of the Lord. And, I pray for myself.

“Father, by your Spirit, help me to follow the exhortation of Jesus in my personal relationships to ‘turn the other cheek’ to those who misuse or abuse me, so that I can become one who breaks the cycle of hatred that grips humanity. As I have been shown mercy, teach me to show mercy. As I am loved, so let me love.” Amen.
Here’s a word from the Word. May it challenge you this day. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14, NIV)