Complete Failure

Complete Failure

The headline of the newspaper read, “Complete Failure.”  They reported on the investigation into the Sandusky child abuse issues at Penn State and the complicity of several influential leaders at the university in a plan to protect the offender and the school with a cover-up. It’s a tragic story with no real winners. The boys, now young men, who were victims of Sandusky’s sins still carry the emotional scars. A legendary coach, now dead, will have years of service footnoted with this scandal.

Integrity got lost to expedience! The leaders made their choices based on what seemed best for the few at the moment rather than on the principles of what is right. Now, before we get too self-righteous, let’s remember that we’re all tempted to walk this path. We can get very worked up over another’s sins while at the same moment excusing our own as ‘common human failure.’  A divorced single mother told me about hearing her former husband, who had been an invisible, absent father, going on at length about how the men’s ministry he led at his church was ‘really focused on encouraging men in their roles as Dad.’  Sam was oblivious to the irony! His actions are, sadly, more the rule than the exception.

Jesus told a story about this that I believe He meant to be humorous. "Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (Luke 6:41-42, NLT) Jesus was not excusing us from dealing with our sins. Some reach this mistaken conclusion from his remarks – “Don’t worry, we’re all sinners.”  That’s not the point. “Deal with your own sin first!” is what He’s saying.

A person that is principled and committed to integrity is not always beloved. Some will call him ‘rigid.’ Others will avoid him, feeling the sting of conscience just because of his powerful example. “Let your light shine,” Jesus said, “and other will praise your Father in Heaven.” (Matt. 5:15)  When we are loving and approach others with compassion, holiness is beautiful. If we are judgmental, critical of those who fail, we become religious irritants; like the Pharisees who earned such scorn even from the Lord.

May our prayer be, ‘Change my heart, O God. Let me walk with you ready to quickly respond to Your Spirit, ready to deal my own sins first, so that my life gives light to those who still walk in the dark. Lord, guide me to walk in integrity, not guided by mere convenience, but committed to the principles of the Word.’

Here’s a word from the Word.
"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." (Psalm 96:8-13, NIV)

Adrift on a sea of chance?

"NY Med" is a new summer program that features cutting edge medical procedures interwoven with personal stories of the patients. It's not actors playing surgeons; it is real doctors dealing with real people. (ABC, 10 pm, Monday) While watching it, the tenuous hold we have on this thing called, 'life,' was refreshed in my mind. A person does not have to be living recklessly to have a serious illness creep up.  Suddenly, we find that we are fighting for survival.
Cancer shows up during a 'routine' exam.
Terrible infection takes hold.
A baby is born with some part undeveloped.
Alzheimer's begins to steal memory.
This knowledge could fill us with fear and/or despair.

Then, we read the 'God-story' and the rest of the picture emerges. From our side of time it appears that we are adrift on a sea of chance, lucky if we dodge the bullet for another day. From God's side, our lives are a purposeful journey with an assurance of His hand to guide us until we are finally home. There is peace found in the promise of the Scripture that says "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:14-17, NIV)

Though I live secure in His will, I am not a fatalist. God's rule and the our gift of freedom are declared in the Word. They seem to be mutually exclusive, at first glance. The Bible teaches me that my Father's will is always accomplished even as it makes plain that He gives me the freedom to choose to accept or reject His purpose. Dr. Richard Dobbins writes that "God's will is like a stream. You can step in and out of a stream.   Many people see God's will like a road that comes to a fork. If you take the wrong path at the fork, you can't go back into the will of God. If you see God's will as a stream, at times you will step into it and sometimes you will step out of it. When you step out, you will miss the refreshing that comes from it. That fact that you're out, does not mean you cannot get back into it."    (http://www.drdobbins.com/guidelines-for-great-living/articles/how-to-find-gods-will-for-your-life/)

If you focus only on your own resources, desires, and plans you will eventually come to the point of despair that shapes the book of Ecclesiastes. There 'the Preacher' (Solomon in old age) bemoans the emptiness of his life, the apparent meaninglessness of all his endeavors. His existentialism - his efforts to discover a life with meaning in pleasure, accomplishment, and study - was not enough to let him come to old age with hope. A bitter cynic, he says " So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:17, NIV) What a contrast is found in the words Paul writes from a dungeon at the end of his life.  He faithfully looked to live in the center of God's will. Despite many disappointments and not a few days of sorrow, his reflection is full of anticipation and hope! "I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NIV) He had no regrets! Even though some did not consider him a success because he had found neither wealth nor acclaim, he states that he has nothing to hide or for which he felt any need to apologize. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV)

Secure yourself in the love of your Heavenly Father. When the feelings of fear come, when circumstances enter your life that you cannot explain, for which you can discern no purpose, choose trust. Here's a word from the Word. Read it, believe it, own it! "Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. ...I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. ... Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me." (Psalm 40:4-5, 8, 11-13, NIV)

_________________

My Life Is In Your Hands

You don't have to worry

And don't you be afraid

Joy comes in the morning

Troubles they don't last always

For there's a friend named Jesus

Who will wipe your tears away

And if your heart is broken

Just lift your hands and say

(Oh) I know that I can make it

I know that I can stand

No matter what may come my way

My life is in Your hands

With Jesus I can take it

With Him I know I can stand

No matter what may come my way

My life is in Your hands

So when your tests and trials

They seem to get you down

And all your friends and loved ones

Are nowhere to be found

Remember there's a friend named Jesus

Who will wipe your tears away

And if your heart is broken

Just lift your hands and say

Oh I know that I can make it

I know that I can stand

No matter what may come my way

My life is in Your hands

Kirk Franklin

© 1996 Lilly Mack Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

War At Home

War At Home

-          Guest author - Sean A. Scott

We're in the midst of a war . . . not over there but right here, on this soil, in your home or neighborhood. We're surrounded- there are double agents and traps set everywhere. Whether you're seeing it or not is one thing but it's real!! And I'm angry. This isn't some conspiracy theory rant or scare tactic. I'm not some unstable fringe type whose spreading nonsense. I am a dad and husband in a world that doesn't respect either title and the gravity of the position. "Oh, yes they do!" you say!  Really?

Just this past week I've heard directly about numerous marriages that are on the brink- one or both parties, ready to call it quits. But they're not alone, there are millions going through the same thing right now and the MAJORITY will throw in the towel. Not because they have to but because they want to; it's just easier. Forget easy!

"They know not what they do." They're seeing three feet in front of them not a mile down the road. Each time a covenant is broken our culture becomes a little weaker. Now that's an over exaggeration you say! Is it though? Whole, solid families are the foundation of any society. This isn't an American ideal I speak of; this is a human race ideal. Name one society that can rise on the backs of broken homes? Name one!

But why am I so angry, you ask? Because we've trampled the covenant of marriage! We've tossed it aside because the Housewives of NY, LA and wherever say it's fine through their swollen, injected lips. If I hear " . . . just do what makes you happy", one more time! We've taken away any sense of shame or failure to divorce. We're so obsessed with self that the rest of those in your life that you committed to get to pay, no matter the cost! That's why I'm angry!

I knowingly entered into a covenant relationship when I married Natalie. You know what 'covenant' means?  It means we enter into a sacred vow that we both promise to honor before God. This isn't a contract like a lease agreement or bank loan. This is entering into an agreement that transcends earthly commitments. In essence we're saying, "God I promise you this!" Again, that's big!  

Promising your creator that you will love, take care of and honor your wife for the rest of your days . . . THE REST of your days.  

Not until you're unhappy or frustrated with her.
Not when the money runs out.
Not when she gets boring or grumpy.  

Not when she gets sick.  

This covenant says, no matter the circumstance (besides infidelity) you will stand by her side. You will love her more than yourself.  Did you read that? LOVE THEM ABOVE SELF!

Selfishness is a child's game. Once we come of age, our decisions should largely be about others; building the foundation for those that come after us. When you marry, this is especially true! At the moment of the exchanging of vows you are stating that your life is no longer your own, that you are living to serve and love them. And that gets even more amplified when children come along. The marriage covenant now includes the lives of your offspring. As you have committed to your wife, you now owe your life to your children. It's not about you anymore!

And that's why I'm angry because we're continuing to act like it is and should be about us but we still dabble in "being married." The result is bad- look around! We are raising the first generation of children that will know more broken homes than whole ones. What is that going to look like for them? Will they even know the meaning of commitment, integrity, perseverance, etc.? Will they? Because actions speak WAY louder than words and we're trashing the covenant of marriage right now. It's a joke! So forget about our economic and physical battles that are going on and fight the battle at home!
Fight for your spouse!
Fight for your children!
Pursue each other.
Taste the bitter pill of sacrifice but reap the rewards that follow.  

Stop blaming! Start learning to love when it's the last thing you want to do. Look into your children's eyes and see the impact you have on their future.

For the sake of all that is good and right, believe and invest into your marriage!

__________

The word from the Word for us today calls us to know love that we might live in love. "This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves." (1 John 3:16, The Message) " My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love." (1 John 3:18, The Message) "As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us." (1 John 3:24, The Message)

Sean A. Scott lives with his wife, Natalie, and daughter, Selah, in West Palm Beach, FL where he is proprietor of Habatat Coffee Company)

The Keys to the Treasury

Dozens of people with various needs come through my life each week. Yesterday it was a woman who needed $301 to keep from being evicted. Last week it was a man whose heart was shattered by his son’s untimely death. I want to help! Sometimes I slip into a daydream about having so much money I could just write a check to help out. I am rich! A story in the book of Acts reminds me that my resources are not just measured with a bank account balance.

Peter and John were going into the Temple to pray at 3 in the afternoon when a beggar called out to them for money. The man had been in that spot near the gate for years, crippled and dependent on the kindness of those who passed by. "Help me, show some kindness!" he yelled, holding out his hand pathetically. Peter stopped; looked right at him and said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6, KJV) The crippled man "stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (Acts 3:8, KJV)

Spirit-filled Christians are given amazing grace, infinite love, abundant mercy, astonishing kindness... need I go on? People need to be gifted with those things, more than money! Do you have a generous spirit? Giving is not a first impulse for most people. Naturally we tend to think about caring for ourselves; making certain that we have secured our place, our future, provision for our perceived needs. But, where the Spirit is in charge, He secures us and teaches us to give ourselves away; just like Jesus did.

How generous are you? 

• When you tip a server, do you carefully calculate 15% or throw in an extra couple of dollars?
• When you tithe (10% for God's work) do you divide it down to the penny, or do you round it up with joy?
• When you're in line do you carefully guard your position or let the guy with a couple of items cut in front of you? Are you impatient with drivers who go too slowly in your lane, or cheerfully share the road?

When we possess the riches of God, not just in word but in our hearts, we are freed from the need to grasp tightly what we perceive belongs to us. We will gain a liberal heart, a generous spirit that overflows. We will take notice of the hurts, the sorrows, the pain of those around us and give them from the store of love that we have received from the Lord. We will readily absorb the insensitivities and insecurities that cause others to slight us without the least care because we are so rich in the Father's love!

The Word observes the principle of reciprocity -

"It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:24-25, NLT) Jesus states it simply - "Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”" (Luke 6:38, The Message)

Before you rush on to take on life, take a few moments to thank God for the riches you have been given in Christ Jesus. Meditate on this statement: "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV)  Yes, we are rich in Him.  So, let’s and give it away! Let’s have find joy today by blessing people with love, kindness, mercy, goodness - from the rich storehouse to which God has given us the key!

__________________

Who Am I

When I think of how He came

So far from glory,

Came and dwelt among the lowly

Such as I,

To suffer shame and such disgrace,

On Mount Calv'ry take my place.

Then I ask myself a question,

Who am I?

Who am I that a King,

Would bleed and die for?

Who am I that He would pray,

“Not my will Thine” for?

The answer I may never know,

Why He ever loved me so,

That to an old rugged cross He'd go,

For who am I?

Rusty Goodman

© 1965 Playin' TAG Music. Renewed 1993. (Admin. by Integrated Copyright Group, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

The Resurrection Scheme of Things

Bedtime stories for our children generally end like this; “and so they lived happily ever after”  and for good reason.  Who wants to send a child off to sleep in despair?  When you watch a movie, do you, like me, want the plot to resolve with the triumph of good over evil, with the two who are in love finding each other again?  I pull for the good guys to win. I eagerly wait for the villains to get what they have coming to them.  But, is life like that?

In the moment, we don’t always find ourselves with a joyful outcome, do we? I find myself praying this Psalm. "My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love." (Psalm 6:3-4, NIV)  Moses spoke of the "heaven that is over thy head shall be brass." (Deuteronomy 28:23, KJV) which was a way of saying that prayers seemed to go nowhere, that they were unheard, unanswered.  Every Christian will go through seasons of life when sorrows out number joys, when disappointments tumble one upon another. Adding to the pain, there will be those well-meaning, but ill-informed friends who are Job’s comforters. They will suggest that the suffering saint has not prayed well enough or that his sins have shut off the blessings of his God.

While it could be true that we find ourselves in the mire because we walk far from the paths the Lord calls us to or because we do not listen for His voice, there is ample evidence in the Scripture that saints suffer within the permitted will of the Lord, too.  Like it or not, God allows all of us to experience trials. In them, He refines our character,  strips away superficiality, and draws us to a singular love.  But, we must remember  His promise that He will triumph!  The resolution of all things may not come on Friday or at the end of the month! 

After preaching terrible judgment, Amos hears this from the Lord:  “In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the LORD, who will do these things. “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills." (Amos 9:11-13, NIV)  The kingdom line restored, the destroyed cities rebuilt, famines replaced with abundant harvests!  God says, “and they will live happily ever after!”

The New Testament focuses one a event as proof positive of the ultimate triumph of good – the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I you are struggling with suffering, if you feel that your faith is slipping away, spend time in the 15^th chapter of 1 Corinthians.  There we find the plot line resolving.  The wrong will be made right, the evil will be judged, the good and godly find their reward. Death will be swallowed up with eternal life.  It is a grand chapter that helps us to make sense of this present world.  It is no fairy tale. The chapter opens with a defense of the historicity of Christ’s triumph return from the grave.  Then, we read "On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power.

But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:52-58, The Message)

It is not a fairy tale. It is not wishful thinking. It is the decree of the Almighty God - "He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20, NIV)