Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Peter's Witness, I and II Peter (TEN YEARS!)

First published December 22, 2009


The Apostle Peter gave us a great gift, that touches us on this Christmas day.

He was a first-hand witness to one of history's most profound events. We know about the birth of Jesus, born to a young woman, who had conceived while she was yet unmarried. (The original word translated "virgin" in modern texts, describing Mary, most accurately meant "a young maiden", or someone that was not married. But to the Hebrew mind, a young maiden was assumed to mean that the woman had not had sexual relations. Thus is the true meaning made even more profound to our modern understanding of "maidenhood" and "virginity.")

True though the Gospels are, about the circumstances and history surrounding Jesus' birth, yet we are left with second-hand accounts only.

But here, in Peter, the facts about the birth, and genealogy, and divine origins of Jesus, are reinforced with resounding and gentle force:

"My son, My beloved son, this is the one with whom I am delighted." And we heard that voice borne from the sky as we were with him on the holy mountain.

Peter, you see, was there. The man witnessed the transfiguration of Christ, and heard the voice of God declaring the man Jesus to be His son. God Himself gave witness that Jesus is His son, and Peter was there to see it.

It isn't so much that Peter witnessed it, and reported it years later, in this letter. The account is substantiated by other eye-witnesses to the events of Jesus' life.

But let's go back to the main point. At Christmastime, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This birth is significant for a number of reasons. We can dissect the word of God, harmonize it, integrate it, collaborate it - and take an entire year doing so.

But let the simple message of today's reading be this. Jesus' birth was nothing less than the birth of God's son, here on earth. It signified the coming of the Son of God. The Second Adam was here. The Redeemer of humanity. The Lion of Judah. The Son of David and heir to his throne.

God Himself said of Jesus: "This is my son."

Amen.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Not Right

Their spirit is not right in them . . . 

 - From Habakkuk 2

This sounds very harsh. "Not right." How would you like someone to come along and say "You're not right"?

How about - "You don't look right."

You don't talk right.

You don't act right.

Right is the opposite of wrong. And I don't care who you are . . . nobody wants to be wrong. Everything we do, everything we say, is all because we believe we are right. Not - I hope I'm right. But rather, I know I'm right

There's a wonderful TED Talk by Kathryn Schulz, entitled On Being Wrong, and I highly recommend it.  She says "You do feel like something when you're being wrong. You feel like you're being right." Violent, inner city gangs, and organizations like ISIS, believe they are Right. They are driven  by a sense of mission, that the violence they do is towards some favorable outcome - - - an outcome that will mean success, plenty, and safety for themselves and the people they care about. They don't worry about injustice, or harm towards others, because in their minds, they're convinced that they're right.

Hitler was convinced that he was right. 

We can't just toss out platitudes about mental health, and getting help for others (throwing money at the problem). Evil itself believes it's right. In fact, Evil believes it's Good. When Cain took a rock and beat the life out of his brother Abel, he was propelled forward by his perception that social justice was lacking, and things needed to be righted.

I've heard the saying "You can't fix stupid." It's even harder, to fix someone that believes he's right. 

And there's no emotion more insidious, in convincing us we're right, than anger fed by moral indignation. The pathologically angry or violent person starts out under a delusion of being right. We all are deluded in our belief that we are so right. We're not. The person that disagrees with you is a gift. She is a gift that rounds out the jagged edges of your understanding. Her perspective complements yours. The answer is in the center of all of us. 

I love the music of Depeche Mode, the pioneering German pop-rock group that brought Electronica more into the mainstream. They have an ongoing theme of practical spirituality. They are on the right track in so many things. But they dismiss, knee-jerk, many prominent themes of Christianity that they do not understand. Their faith is progressive and refreshing, but only to a point. Their philosophy is held together by a flimsy thread that declines to listen, once the Christian message becomes uncomfortable. Without discomfort, there's no growth. And our progress toward ultimate Truth must be centered on an awareness that we are not right, not as much as we think. We must become better listeners, and affirmers of all others. 

If you were perfect, your understanding of everything would also be error-free, and I'd be a fool not to trust, and follow, your every word. But nobody's perfect. Our way out of our mess is a most treacherous path: we're going to have to listen to each other.

Because - ain't none of us right. Not one. Not a single one.

In the old family Bible owned by my Great-Grandmother, Rachel Winter Martin, is a list of her children and their birth details. She had nine that lived to adulthood, and four that, according to family lore, were stillborn. But in her Bible, she summarizes her children as follows "Nine children. Four not right."

These words may be chilling, if we ponder too closely. "Not right" means, "something was wrong." 

Habakkuk says that evil people are "not right." There's something wrong. 

We want to be right. Let's begin by admitting this: we're not. 

Monday, December 16, 2019

Told Thomas

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”

 - From John 20

One of my early career projects was to support a young professional in music, whose mission was to launch a local community choir.

She first recruited one of her colleagues, to co-direct the project with her. He accepted eagerly, and the program could count on the commitment of its first two, most important recruits 

Being the first year, only about fifteen people signed up for the choir. But that's okay. It was understood that the results in the first year would be humble. 

By and by, four people quit. It was too hard. They didn't like the song selection. Things kept "coming up." This placed great pressure on the morale of the embryonic group and its leaders. But no worries . . . four others were recruited, at mid-season, to fill the gap. 

Along the say, the second director had a few conflicts. These could not be avoided and were known in advance. Nevertheless, there is always a risk to the well-being of a team whose number is small, any time a leader is absent (let alone one of the other members). But still, no problem. The team managed. A core of highly committed members, about a half dozen, had emerged during the season, to be rock-hard reliable. 

The final appearance of the choir, in that first season, was a collaborative effort with the well-established community orchestra, which invited them to participate in a piece in their next concert, which had an optional choral part. This would be the big plug that could really launch the program. The available members for this opportunity was down to about ten. Numbers were essential and it was all hands on deck. 

But now . . . of all times . . . the second director called, at the last minute, with "something came up," and baled.  This could have derailed the group, except that the lead director was able to communicate it appropriately, and by now the other members were all-in, anyway. 

So now . . . the point. Let us speculate a little. 

When Thomas missed that early appearance of the Lord to all of the other Apostles, were the others resentful? Did they murmur among themselves? "This was the biggest moment ever, and Thomas missed it!"

Where was he, anyway? Was there a death in the family? (Irony intended). Did he have to attend his daughter's graduation? Did he have to make a delivery of fish? Was his father sick? Was he tired? Was he scared? Did he get tied up in traffic? Did he just not feel like it?

It's demoralizing when people don't show up. There were only eleven Apostles left, and they really needed to hang together. But Thomas missed it. 

We don't know what happened, or why. We don't know what the others thought about Thomas's absence. But what we do know, is that they went and told him what had happened. Their response to all of it, was such that Thomas was open to what they had to say. There was no resentment or spite, that might have pushed him away. 

They told Thomas. 

Go out and get the missing people. Go tell them. 

But at the same time . . . don't be a Thomas. Show up. 


Sunday, December 15, 2019

Grumble

 . . . do not grumble against one another . . . . 

 - From James 5

Advent is about waiting, and patience. Don't be so nervous! Don't worry so much! 

These emotions yield words and deeds that we will regret (or at least, let's hope we regret it - - - if we say harmful things to and about others, and don't care; then we have a whole set of other problems to address).

Worriers end up grumbling. James says not to grumble against one another. 

I've about had it with the feud between Christian Conservatives and Liberals, being played out, right in the open, on Social media. 

These people are more interested in currying favor from some secular group they consider "cool" than they are in building up the Body of Christ. If the Church could pull itself together, miracles would happen. 

But you have to listen to each other and actually consider the other person to be a human that has value. God loves us all equally.

God needs His Church to be One. Christ prayed for it, with tears. And I get ignored, or mocked, every time I bring it up on-line. 

The grumbling must stop. Remember these words from James: "Do not grumble against one another."

And then use these words, when necessary. Stop grumbling - - - you're ruining Christmas for everybody. 

Return

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing . . . 

 - From Isaiah 35

The Third Sunday of Advent. It is a time of waiting, of patience, reflection, peace. We should be enjoying the time. 

I think I write about this every year, and I write about it throughout the year. 

Frankly, I get tired of people, good people, every December, getting sucked into the rat race of Christmas. Advent is supposed to be a period of waiting. Of lighting candles. Of temperance. 

But they get into their rush to decorate their homes. A lot of people have their houses decorated for Christmas by Thanksgiving Day. They support radio stations that begin playing Christmas music on November 1st. And then, on the 26th, they tear it all down and brag about "I'm so over the Christmas season!" And yet Christmas has only begun, on the 25th.

I did a thing when my nieces were little kids, where they got a different present on each "day of Christmas", starting twelve days before the 25th. I didn't know what I was doing. The wisdom of the ages made Christmas a twelve-day season beginning on the 25th. 

No wonder people are "over Christmas." They stress themselves by engorging in it when they should be fasting. 

I feel like I may get cranky during my second decade of Reflectionary. I'm tired of pointing out spiritual truths that get ignored by people that know better. I'm tired of clergy . . . clergy . . . throwing fuel on political partisan flames in our country. I'm tired of the lack of humility. I'm sick and tired of people not even admitting that humility is a good thing, as if to do so would lose them some advantage in debate. 

But in today's reading - - - there's a return. We return to Zion, or Home

Home is that place we long for; the innocence and purity of youth; or of the youth that should have been. Even if we come from rough backgrounds of want, still we understand the concept of home, of the return to something that we know was better, because it was safer, more cheerful, warmer, more nurturing. 

We understand this, no matter what our background is. Even people that never had it, get it. It's what drives their anger and passion to fight "injustice."

"Return" is a very, very good word. Come back again. Get back to where you once belonged. 

We have our boundaries we love to push. We engage in a lifelong vain pursuit of some feeling or impulse that might make us happy. We look high and low for it. We chase fantasies. 

But in the end, we just want to go home. 


Friday, December 13, 2019

Listen, and Lose the But: II Peter 3-5. (TEN YEARS!)

First Published Tuesday, December 8, 2009


If people spoke less, there would be fewer troubles in the world.

We get into so much trouble, because of what we say. And it isn't so much that we say the wrong things, as it is that we are not interpreted accurately, by our hearers. We all listen through our own biased prisms. A single word may be completely innocent to one person, but hateful to another.

Consider the word "but". I have conditioned myself to cringe a little, when someone says but.

"Oh, those are some good ideas, but . . . "

But is usually followed by something negative, or disagreeable. I read about research that was done on the frequency of use of the word but. It showed that scholarly journals tend to use the word a lot, as do speeches by politicians, and legal arguments made by attorneys. These are professions, you see, that highly value argument. They are always out to win adherents to their own viewpoints. They have to take others down a few notches, therefore they employ the but, to great effect.

Now - an exception can be made when we consider places in which God says but.

"And you were once dead, . . . children born to God's wrath, . . . . But God, rich in mercy . . . " (Ephesians 2).

The word but is used to contradict what came before. We would do well to limit its use in our own conversation.

I hate it when you try to make a comment based on Scripture, and the other person gets mad (because it does not fit their beliefs). How ridiculous! How can we ever learn, or grow, without a willingness to hear some new angle, or insight, from someone else? Can it be that God has placed other people in our lives, to show us these new things? If a person is discussing Scripture, appealing to it as God's inspired word, and they have something to share with you, then listen! Get the word out together, and learn together!

When someone speaks, let it be like God's conversations.

What does Peter mean? What if, in conversation, we treated the other person as though we were speaking to God? What if there are sharp disagreements? Can this be done?

Well, it's going to have to be done!

Peter says we should listen to others, as though it were God Himself speaking. "As you have done it to the least of these . . . "

What wonderful new insights are there for the taking, if we would but listen!!

A Little Checklist for Your Church: II Peter 3 (Ten Years!)

First Published Saturday, November 28, 2009


United in Purpose
What is your church's purpose? Could you even answer this question? And would your answer be the same as anyone else from your congregation? Now let me add another layer: Do all of the churches in your community have the same purpose? They should! And would all the respective members respond the same?

We're all messed up. We can't even describe the purpose of our church, and the definitions vary to a disturbing degree. We must have a purpose! And it must be agreed to by all!

Joined in Feeling
Do the same emotions run through your church body? Are we all happy together? Sad together? Do we have little twinges of delight at the news that some couple has filed for divorce?

Rudy Giuliani has a chapter in his book Leadership, called "Weddings Optional, Funerals Mandatory." Think about this. Is this the way your church operates? (And if this whole idea makes you a little angry, then you have proven that you and I, at least, are not joined in feeling!)

Full of Brotherly Love
Do you rejoice to see one another? Do you yearn to help others? Or are you too bothered with how much work you have to do, without any help, to germinate godly love towards the others in your church? If anger, tears, and even yelling, are common in your business meetings; if you have little splinter groups that get together to complain about the pastor or some other person in the church, then you are definitely lacking in brotherly love. Fix it!

Rich in Compassion
Does your church ache for the needy right down the street, or does "missions" to you mean passing a plate and sending a couple hundred dollars to Southeast Asia? But I believe Peter means for this to make us all a little uncomfortable. I think he goes beyond that, and wants us to be rich in compassion for each other! Yes, you may disagree with some choices that another person has made. But do you feel compassion for him, or her?

When you get in a situation that normally makes your blood boil, try compassion instead. Rather than be filled up with anger toward that other person, be like Christ. Realize that the other person is human like you are; fallible, not perfect. He or she would not deliberately do something to hurt you, insult you, or ignore you.

Replace your anger with compassion. We have enough anger and "toughness." Too many of you get your feelings hurt too easily. Compassion. Get some.

Humble of Spirit
Diogenes, the man who traveled the world over, in search of one honest man, could have been just as frustrated if he walked today, seeking a humble person.

What does it mean to be "humble"? You know the definition. It runs through your mind every time there is a sermon, or discussion, about humility. And you always see someone else in your mind when considering the need for us to become more humble.

But you need to look in the mirror. Are you humble? Do others think you're humble? If they could provide feedback to you, anonymously, with no fear of you getting your feelings hurt, what would they say?

You're not humble, but you need to be. It is a critical element in building God's Kingdom!

Not Paying Evil for Evil, or Slander for Slander
Someone is going to do, or say, the wrong thing, eventually, in your church. Count on it! But can you just let it go? Or will you run off as soon as you can, to spread the story to as many people as you can, about how so-and-so said or did this and that?

Every time someone hurts your feelings, or makes you mad, it's a test . . . a test you must pass! You don't feel like you're doing anything wrong! But everybody around you thinks you overreacted! Do you care what others think?

How is your walk with Christ? Is your church, or small group, growing? Can it be that you have stalled because you have corrupted the Gospel into something that you believe gives you the right to gossip?

For years, decades maybe, you have always worked on getting back to people that have inadvertently hurt you. Drop it! Be pleasant, be kind!

Giving Blessings
Make others happy. Make their lives easier. Show appreciation to them. But do this to, and for, all of them! Build your church up! Build up other believers! And start with those you find difficult to befriend! Bless others! Spread happiness!

People in the world today need help, lots of it. They are afraid to ask. There is always a catch. But they need help nevertheless. The help may be as simple as showing some real attention to others. Act like they matter.

They need to be able to come to the Church, without fear or dread. They should see a community of believers that behaves as Peter begged us to behave.

So, in the end let's have everyone united in purpose, joined in feeling, full of brotherly love, rich in compassion, humble of spirit, with no one repaying evil with evil or slander for slander, but giving blessings since you were called so that you could inherit a blessing.

But First: II Peter 3 (TEN YEARS!)

First published Friday, November 27, 2009


Peter wrote his two letters, as reminders to the Church. He urged us not to be distracted. And distractions are many, especially today, in the age of ADD (that's another topic - but my belief is that ADD is more a function of our culture, than it is an individual problem.)
A hundred years ago, most communities had two modes of entertainment: the saloon, and the church. You could focus your weekends on one or the other. And the two stood in stark opposition to each other.
At home, before there was TV and air conditioning, families would while away the evening hours on the porch, telling stories, passing along their faith and legacy from one generation to the next.
There wasn't a lot to do. But what people did do, was of enormous value.
First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday.
So it is in these times. With so many distractions, change happening at such a rapid rate, the 24-7 news cycle, is it any wonder we find it hard to focus?
God knew it would get this way . . . He made us! Peter received a Word of inspiration from God, and communicated it to us in the form of this prophecy!
When I first studied this verse of Scripture, as an adult, it seemed like such a remote prospect: people openly mocking God and His Word! But it is true today. People mock Him not so much in their words, but in their deeds, as well. There is an open defiance of what is good, true, and right. In the West, the Church is in decline. The alternatives appear so much more fun!
So - be not discouraged when you see the world in decay, be it global warming, urban troubles, partisan hate . . . all of these matters need the Master's touch, and they require our patient attention. We need not accept the world as it is. But we can be encouraged that God said hard times would come . . . His Eternal Kingdom follows. Keep watching this space . . .

Let's Just Let The Word Speak For Itself: I Peter 2 (10 Years!)

First published Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 25, 2009


Christ suffered too, on your behalf
and left a tracing behind for you
so that you could follow his footsteps,
he who never did wrong,
nor did any deceit come out of his mouth,
who, when abuse was hurled, didn't hurl it back,
didn't answer suffering with threats,
but commended himself to the One who judges justly.

Thanks be to God for His wonderful gift.

Thank God for all of you, my friends.

Happy Thanksgiving.

The Role of Venting: I Peter 2 (10 Years!)

First published Tuesday, November 24, 2009


In today's news, there is a report about the need for people to vent, at the workplace, if they feel they are being mistreated. A decade-long study followed several thousand men around, and determined that those who bottle up their feelings have an increased risk of heart disease.

In the study, the outcome of bottled up anger includes bringing the frustrations home, and blowing up at family members, which isn't good, either!

What do we do then, about the admonition from Scripture, that we take what we are dished, with a positive attitude?

Domestics are to mind their masters with all due respect, and not just if they're kindly and fair but even if they're less than upright.

Well, I think there is the potential to confuse what it means to respect someone. How should we respect our boss, when he or she is not being fair to us? How can we do this?

Well, the fact is, that you are going to vent. We need to vent, and other parts of Scripture bear this out! And as referenced above, the venting must not be done to family! But in turn, we must not vent at people that have nothing to do with our workplace!

No, since we must vent, then the only fair thing to do is to vent at the source of the frustration: we must vent at the boss, but find a way to do it that shows respect!

Gossiping and complaining about the boss to others, is not showing respect to the boss. The only way to respect any person with whom we have issues, is to take it up to that person directly. This is true respect. But here again, Scripture supports this view. God wants us resolving our differences with others! If we backbite and gossip, we resolve nothing, and make the problem worse, by bringing others into it! Yet as humans, we resort to this approach over and over again.

There is only one way to resolve issues, with anybody, but especially with your boss. You have to talk to him or her directly. Any other way does not show grace, and fails to build God's Kingdom.

Some Balance in a Partisan Era: I Peter (TEN Years!)

First posted Monday, November 23, 2009


It's hard to believe the degree to which partisans of opposing sides hate one another.

Let's do a little exercise. Take a moment right now, to pray. Really, do it. If only for a few seconds. Ask God to grant you the grace and wisdom to view others as Christ does. Ask for God to place His love directly in your heart at this moment. If you can look out a window at people passing by, then do so, and imagine the warmth that fills God's heart when He notices the same people.

Is there someone you are angry at? Pray that God removes your anger and permits you to forgive that person. You have to do this for the exercise to work!

Now imagine what Jesus must think when he looks at his flock. Whether someone is in prison, or unemployed, or sick, or divorced, or orphaned . . . whatever the case. Think about the compassion he feels for all of us and try to get the same into your heart, just now.

Ready?

Now say the following out loud:

"I can't stand . . . " And finish the sentence with the name of a person.

Imagine you're a Democrat. Say "I can't stand Sarah Palin." If you're a Republican, say out loud "I can't stand Nancy Pelosi."

If you are truly seeing these two people, humans just like the rest of us, as God does, then you cannot possibly say that you "can't stand" them. "Can't standing" is the same as hating. And God has called us not to hate, but rather to love, others.

If you're like me, and you have prayed and checked your own human emotions, the phrase "I can't stand" might feel like a swear word to you. It has an ugly sound, and does not roll easily off the tongue. I feel I should speak it quietly, lest God Himself hear me say it! Perhaps I'll clear my throat after saying it. Maybe I'll apologize to those around me, for letting slip such a terrible string of words, in public! Best yet, maybe they'll take it as a joke, and laugh! Or perhaps they'll "know what I mean!"

Nancy Pelosi and Sarah Palin are people just like you and me. And they happen to have been placed in positions of authority . . . by Who? Yes, by God Himself.

Give honor to all: love brotherhood, fear God, respect the king.

You can hate the laws Nancy Pelosi passes. You can hate Sarah Palin's views. Chances are you will find something about me, or your best friend, or your spouse, or your children, that you hate.

But you must not hate the person!

Learn how to "stand" others. God requires it.

Dealing with "Others": I Peter 2 (10 Years!)

Originally published on Sunday, November 22, 2009


In one breath, Peter speaks about taming our passions, and acting nice toward others.

This is it. When we behave monogamously, are virgins until marriage, practice heterosexuality, refrain from gambling, avoid drunkenness, use clean language only, act with highest ethics in the workplace, act friendly to the unpopular, attend church regularly, read our Bibles and pray, stay in good physical condition, and generally stay away from any cultural influence that may distract us from the Risen Christ - people will hate us.

Their hate for us will soon turn into defining us as evil, ("Hate is not a family value," anyone?). Nobody wants to be thought of as "bad" or "evil." Even Hitler thought he was "good." But since we are holding up a standard that does not seem fun, or like "really living" to them, they must make it so that they are the "good" ones. If they can only make us out as the evil ones, then all they have to do is get further and further from Christ, to become the good ones in the equation. And all that takes is being natural. If it feels good, do it. Easy.

Your behavior towards other peoples should be good, so that just as they're denouncing you as evildoers they may take a look at what good you do and end up praising God on the judgment day.

Please do not be judgmental. When you do, you're messing things up! That person whose dress code you do not like, the young man with pierced ears and tattoos, the girls dressed in goth, whatever a person's particular brand of defiance or style; when you offend them, you drive them away from the Church, you deflect them from Christ.

You do not have to do those things. But you also do not have to look down on those that do.

The world is going to extremes these days, to get us all worked up. They love when we judge them. It only proves their point, that we are not as nice as we claim to be. But we have to put up with all their excesses, let it not derail us! We must prove that, however far over the edge they go, God's love can still go further.

And like it or not - we are the instruments that demonstrate God's love to them.

Let Me Say That Again - I Peter (TEN YEARS)

Originally posted Saturday, November 21, 2009


I feel like, in these blogs (my two decades of reading through the Bible), that I have over-emphasized the topic of controlling our tongues. But if the Apostles wrote about it so much in the Epistles, shouldn't we keep reminding ourselves of it?

When formulating some words in your mouth, either to say to someone, or in response to them, do you ever consider whether or not it is a good thing to say? Will it make the other person uncomfortable? Is it some teasing remark that the other is not in the mood to hear right now? Do you harbor some ill intent in your tone? Is there any jealousy at all, in your motives? Are you about to come across as judgmental?

Will the other person be happy, in just a few moments, that he or she happened to cross paths with you?

If you cannot answer these questions in a positive sense, one that would elevate God in the situation, one that will build people up and send them off in a better mood, then perhaps you should just keep your mouth shut.

I believe I may have come up with the quote: "Better to say nothing with a frown, than the wrong thing with a smile."

The more I think about it, the more I don't get the practice of teasing.

"If I didn't love you, I wouldn't give you a hard time." Oh really? Then why do others avoid you? Why do they forbear speaking to you? We disguise our insecurities and malice in something that Sinclair Lewis called "rude politeness," a behavior found mostly in the American Midwest.

The problem is, that most of the people I have come across, that do a lot of teasing (also known as "smart remarks," "wisecracks," etc.), do not like to be teased themselves.

You tease people inappropriately, and do not even know it. You're so used to it, you think it is normal.

Ask yourself this: was there anybody this morning, that when you saw them the first time, you did not say, "Good morning," with a smile? If not, then chances are you missed an opportunity to make another person feel good about the day. It's even worse if that person tried to say something nice to you, and you still smarted off at them.

If it makes you uncomfortable, or embarrassed, or if you are just protecting yourself from teasing that might come in your direction, I'm sorry. You still made the other person feel bad. You still failed.

Then put away all evil and trickery and pretense and envy and speaking evil, and be like newborn babes longing for genuine, undoctored milk that will make you grow toward salvation, "if you have tasted how good the Lord is."

Put away all of it. All of it. ALL. Put away even the part that you think is normal. Did Christ tease others, or was he careful about building them up? Was he good at understanding how others would respond to his remarks? Don't we feel better when we have encountered the Lord? Isn't it nice to know someone that will not say "Well, what are you doing over here in my church? Hahaha!"

I have known only two people that are true masters in the art of playful teasing. There does not seem to be any malice, and in a roundabout way they are actually saying something good about you:

My Uncle Arnold Darr. His teasing may come across as rather harsh and biting. But listen. First, he is uniquely funny. Most of you try to tease, but you're not funny so it doesn't work. And Uncle Arnie manages to make the teasing about some good quality. He actually is pointing this out.

The other is my brother-in-law Don Heller. He specializes in teasing children. But he always has a smile. His tone is gentle. And he does not tease them personally. He teases the situation, makes light of it. They know that he is kidding, and they are glad he has noticed them.

Both of them are genuine. They are being themselves. It comes easy to them.

Others attempt to tease as Arnie and Donnie do. But they are not being themselves. They are imitators, and it does not come across as natural. It doesn't work.

The rest of us need to specialize in gentle, positive, warm comments to one another. Talk to each other as Christ would.

The world is desperately short of that kind of talk.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Control Yourself: I Peter (TEN YEARS!)

Originally Posted on Thursday, November 19, 2009


I marvel that the modern Church, and the world in general, has failed to grasp the simplicity of self-control and personal mastery.

When you boil it all down, what God really wants from us, is to learn to control ourselves. I believe that humans would do anything, from the absurd to the horrible, if we could get away with it. Even atheists keep themselves in check, out of fear of the unknown. There isn't an atrocity any one of us wouldn't commit, if the conditions were right, and we could get away with it.

This is because God made us as children that must grow and mature. If we were good enough, righteous enough, and self-controlled enough, then immortality would be an easy gift for us. God desires for us to be good, and He wants us to live forever. But you cannot have everlasting evil. Yes, God is loving and this is why there is death.

Our animal desire to harm others is based on our inborn lack of self-control, and our natural narcissistic tendencies. We have even created religions that sound inspired enough, but in their acceptance of terrorism and silly rituals are the antithesis of what God wants for us.

All these rules that God gave us, these commandments and "thou shalt nots" are a training regimen to teach us self-control. Let us not envy or steal - therefore control our hunger so that we are not tempted to do wrong. Let us not commit adultery, so that our children may grow up in homes that model fidelity and devotion. Let us not lie, so that others do not build up resentment against us.

We live in a culture that says you should get all you can. If you are not getting sex in some form or another (any which way you can) then you are not "normal"; indeed, you are a freak if you are not getting some kind of sex. And we have made it so that any kind of sexual behavior is not only within the limits, but a good thing. 

But God says, "control yourself!"

It is a good thing to check our passions.

Be like obedient children, no longer shaped by the passions of your former ignorance.

We provide limits to our children, so that they can learn self-control.

But we remove limits on ourselves. In the end, we have made a culture where you are allowed to do anything you want, and the outcome is rage when you are denied. Rather than commending a young man for remaining a virgin until marriage, we mock him instead. Is it any wonder our young men go crazy, shooting up innocent bystanders?

We tell parents that they are owed a fun and wealthy life. They go for the money, through their careers; and for the fun, through divorce. Is it any wonder their children are angry?

Control yourself! Our appetites are many, and God made these rules so that we could practice mastery over ourselves.

The Long Wait: James and Peter (10 Years!)

Originally Posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009


How long has it been since the world began awaiting the return of Christ? Two thousand years?

If you were Enoch from the Book of Genesis - your wait is twice that, at least! Thousands, and thousands of years . . . this is how long we have waited.

Some lose hope. The wait is too long for them. They become dispirited, and many fall away.

One of my elders, a person that had been raised in the belief that Jesus was coming soon - even in her lifetime - once admitted to me that she no longer looked for the return of Christ. She did not believe it would happen in her lifetime. She said that, immediately following World War II, many people thought that would be the end, but it wasn't. When Israel became a nation, that would be it. The Cuban Missile Crisis was expected to be the harbinger of Christ's return, but it wasn't.

Vietnam, urban riots, Watergate, Iran Hostage Crisis, Gulf War I, Clinton's legacy of "suicides," Obama's divisive rhetoric, etc., etc. Despair gives way to hope. We get our hopes up, and they get disappointed, over, and over, and over, again.

"It has been so long, so very long," we think. And it gets easy to believe that Jesus will never come back. Maybe we have been mislead.

But how long has it been, really?

You never saw Jesus Christ, but you love him; and still without seeing him you believe in him and are delighted with an inexpressible and exalted joy to be garnering the salvation of your souls that is the object of your faith.

Peter did see Jesus Christ - he lived and ministered with him for three years. He got to know the Lord, as a personal friend, more intimately than any other human that ever lived. He encourages these early believers, that never did see, and never would see (in this life), our Lord.

These are people that never saw Jesus, but were personally acquainted with Simon Peter, who did. As Peter wrote and encouraged them, so he writes to us. He might as well have been writing to us. He was writing to us.

I am turning the corner to my sixtieth year. That is over half of a century. My life now covers one-fortieth of the time between Peter and today.

My grandmother died ten years ago, at the age of 96. Ninety-six years prior to her birth, James Madison was President. She could remember things that happened in the 1910s, a hundred years ago. Her life was one-twentieth of the time between Peter and today. In eternity, following Christ's return, we will be able to line up 20 people whose lives intersected, and that span the time of Peter until today. I can walk a quarter mile from my house and find 20 people to say "hello" to, and it wouldn't even take a half hour.

I have clear memories from 1962, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1984 . . . and they seem as if they only happened a year ago, or even yesterday.

How long, really, has the world waited?

We are just like the people Peter wrote to. From then until today, two thousand years of separation, is nothing. We are but a blip in the span of Eternity. And God has placed the sense in our memories, that time passes quickly, to instruct us that truly we are here only briefly.

We are to focus on today, on now, on this instant. And Eternity is really nothing more nor less, than never-ending now.

Peter was there. He did see, and touch, Christ. And he wrote a first-hand account to the Church. He wrote them to people he knew. The testimony was true and reliable. He wrote to them, and us, and it is just like we were there reading his letter at its first opening.

Answered Prayer? Just Admit It (TEN YEARS! James 5)

Originally Posted Saturday, November 14, 2009


A Christian will make a daily habit out of prayer. As we grow, we learn to pray frequently, and to pray in diverse ways.

We believe in answered prayer. I, and you, have experienced the miraculous. We have felt the joy of God saying "yes", and we know the discouragement of God saying "no."

If you are like me, you may even be acquainted with the pain of God granting you your request, when it is something you should never have desired. God is like any parent. He may relent at times, to teach you a lesson.

But James illustrates the power of prayer, by reviewing the story of Elijah. The prophet prayed for it not to rain, and it didn't, for three and a half years! Later, when Elijah prayed for rain, it came forth abundantly.

Why do we not have instances like that? Where are the modern manifestations of Red Sea-like miracles?

Well, it could be that we need to fast. Perhaps we are not living as holy and pure as we ought. Maybe we need to heal the divisions among us, so that we can pray in unity.

So admit to each other what you've done wrong, and pray for each other to be healed.

The best lessons from Scripture are the hardest ones. James basically advises us not to be phonies. This passage will come up in Bible studies, over and over again. But the part about admitting our wrongs to one another will get glossed over, or ignored completely, what, ninety-nine times out of a hundred?

Here is authenticity. Genuine faith attends the truly penitent. Take off your masks. Be open and true to one another. Be yourself. Admit what you have done wrong.

I was musing over this, and thought about some people with whom I have been estranged. I know myself better than anybody, and I know that the way for the estrangement to be removed, would be for that person simply to admit what he or she did to alienate me. I don't even think they need to apologize. Just say: "What I did was wrong." or "I know you do not approve of this, that, or the other, and I respect your feelings about it."

That alone would remove all the hard feelings. Just admit that you know what you did, or are doing. Say it, that's all.

But the secret is, that I have to admit the same to the others.

"Admit". What a hard word!

And this is all God wants. Just admit it. Say it.

And then . . . then . . . perhaps the floodgates of Heaven would be opened, and God's grace flow as never before!

Gossip ad Nauseum - James 4 and 5 (TEN YEARS!)

Originally posted on Friday, November 13, 2009


I had an experience recently, that made me feel as though I was rotting from the inside. I've been working on checking my thoughts, and words, and reactions to others. I've prayed about this. I've attempted to be on my guard.

I learned a long time ago to recognize harmful behaviors on the part of other professing believers. It is always easier to see others' faults before our own. Perhaps that is good. It's how we learn to recognize gossip, bitterness, envy, strife.

But now that you can see it in others, the next step is to turn it back on yourself.

Back to my recent experience . . . I was with a group of other Christians, and in the course of the discussion someone shared some troubles that he had been going through. But in doing so, I found myself thinking that this person was making more out of it than was merited. Another comment was offered, where we learned that someone in our group was about to make a lot more money than I am, for the same type of work. I became angry, envious. I got quiet in this group of dear friends.

But I tried to notice what was going on in myself. And the more I thought about it, prayed inwardly about it, the more rotten I felt.

Out of such innocent beginnings, is laid the seeds of discord and division.

Come on, people! Aren't you tired of your envy, your hate, your gossip? Haven't you had it with conversations among "Christians," that are full of poison directed at others?

Can you go into a Christian setting, and last even a half hour, without hearing something hurtful said about, or to, another person?

Do you belong to a mostly Christian family, where conversation at family events always morphs into gripe sessions? Do you ever drop your defenses enough, for it to make you sick?

What does God think when He observes such behavior?

Don't gripe about each other, brothers and sisters, so you won't face judgement for it.

We have prayer campaigns. We fast. We give up things for Lent.

How about covenanting with one another, to stop our griping, our complaining, our gossiping, our backbiting, our envy and jealousy? Let's hold each other accountable. Can we go a day, or even an hour, without saying something negative about another?

And I am counting teasing little taunts (all in fun) as negative! How about warm, uplifting words that make others feel good?

Do it On an Angle: James 3 (TEN YEARS!)

Originally posted on Thursday, November 5, 2009


Okay, so I have been looking for an opportunity to blog this concept for years. Finally, in the Epistle of James, we get to talk squarely about our behavior.

Our behavior . . . that is, all of which can be boiled down to what comes out of our mouths. You can be full of good works, good ideas, even good results. But that all can be ruined by what you say. You can destroy years of preparation and effort by making one unwise remark to someone else. And retrieving an ill-advised remark, as someone once said, can be like casting to the wind, the contents of a feather pillow, and then trying to restore all of the feathers back to the pillow. It can't be done. Much damage comes from your mouth.

This morning, I was reminded of this in a 6th grade classroom. A teacher had a poster on the board, that said, "If you always tell the truth, you'll never have to remember what you said." I heard this first, years ago, when Jay Leno made the comment in regard to Hillary Clinton's comment that she could not recall what was said about the Whitewater scandal.

I would venture to say that, a great majority of what we say in the course of a day, should not be said. If you even stop yourself before talking, and think "Should I say this?" chances are you should not say it. And most of what we say is probably harmful - we are just so used to saying whatever we want, that we no longer think of it as harmful.

A good acquaintance of mine has to make some remark about almost everyone she sees, or whose name comes up in conversation. It will always be about how the person looks, or what the other person believes. Often, the tone is mocking. You plant an idea in someone else's mind about how someone else looks "funny," or "strange," or "old," or "awful," and you have planted a seed that will surely germinate. You have spread your demeaning attitude to someone else. Like a virus, it grows.

As a church music director, one that leads the congregation in praise and worship, I have to be careful what I say, or think. And I wish others would be careful about that as well. You should not plant gossipy, or harmful, or hateful thoughts into the minds of others, especially those that are charged with leading the flock.

Whereas wisdom from above is first of all decent; besides that, it's peace-loving, reasonable, willing to go along, full of compassion and good results, steady of purpose and sincere.

My Dad has a refrain, when it comes to handiwork around the house. The solution to every problem, be it installing some equipment, repairing a machine, fixing a leak, driving a nail or turning a screwdriver, is to "do it on an angle." You can even say to him "do it on an angle," and he'll treat you like you're a genius the rest of the day. He is talking about handling a tool so that you get maximum leverage.

Why don't we do our relationships "on an angle"? Using our mouth wisely, we can create better leverage over the well-being of others. We can make them feel better. We can encourage them. We can lead them closer to Christ. But the mouth, according to James, has great leverage. The tongue, though small, is the most influential organ in your entire body.

If those around us are happy; if Christ is primary in your home; if you are getting good results with your family and friends, then chances are you have tamed your tongue. You are leveraging the goodness of good and wise words. You are living your life "at an angle."

2019 Addendum - And now . . . you can post unwise words on the World Wide Web, where they become permanently accessible. Do you really want to write that? In five years, will you feel good when Facebook Memories on this Day reminds you of the temporary bad mood, to which you've just given an unending life?

Saturday, December 7, 2019

James Summarizes It All - (TEN YEARS - James 1)

Originally published Saturday, October 31, 2009


When you take a decade-long study of the Bible, as I have since the year 2000, (only now getting to James) certain themes loom very large indeed. Those that have been reading since the beginning, may remember how the theme of taking care of widows and orphans is huge throughout the Old Testament!

But that is not the only big theme. Morality (let's face it) is a critical desire of God. There are behaviors, and values, that must be present in the Church. We are the Body of Christ! And he was pure beyond what is humanly possible! He kept the flesh at bay, for his thirty-three some years!

Yes, it is humanly impossible for us - but possible for us, in Christ! And the sins of the flesh are many, and manifest - the entire Scriptural record is a great narrative of the things we do wrong, how serious God views our sins, why they lead to death, and how He has made it possible for us to rise above them and live forever!

It is all about self-control: Self-control, people! Control from lying, cheating, swearing, stealing, gossiping, busybodying, dividing, harming, defiling ourselves and others, giving in to passions (all of our natural appetites, from what we eat, to what we think, what we do, what we wear, what we do to the beautiful bodies God has given us, to how we express love, etc.) Self-control!! This is what it means when we talk about the sins of the flesh.

Either we are serious about controlling ourselves, or not. We either accept God's provision and plan for our lives, or not. We either go in faith, or try to force God's hand by making ourselves into our own image, instead of His.

It comes down to saying "no" so that we can learn how to say "yes." It's about aligning our steps with those of Christ, and not wavering based on what the world is telling us to do. It's patience, faith, trust, acceptance. It's pointing people towards Christ and not drawing attention to ourselves and our problems.

This is morality and purity. There is nothing wrong with it. Nothing to be ashamed of. And it is something we need to urge one another to do, and thus celebrate those times when we and others have overcome the world, through Christ.

Religion is something pure and unblemished before God the Father: looking after orphans and widows in their suffering and keeping yourself unspotted by the world.

Unspotted . . . yes, that's it. In our hearts, on our bodies, in our behavior, and in our treatment of others - let our goal be to become spotless. And let us, in our actions, make it so that others want to become spotless, too.

Note: This blog is made possible through a grant from Huron Valley Fellowship, and the kind gifts of our readers. If you would like to support The Word and the Real World, please send an email to: gordon.darr@gmail.com

TEN YEARS! "Improve Your Prospects" (James 1)

Originally published Sunday, October 25, 2009

 

The Unvarnished New Testament, translated by Andy Gaus, uses the word "lucky" in place of what normally would be "blessed." Many people look awry when you tell them this. "Luck" to them, has knee-jerk connotations of playing the odds, betting, gambling. How can we say that a person with blessings is just "lucky"?

Our westernized Christian biases get in the way of seeing what is really there. Apparently, the Hebrew mind of two thousand years ago equated "luck" with "good fortune," with "well-being."

How many of us, if we won the Super Lotto, would not thank God for blessing us?

So, it really does make some sense. I have heard successful people say, for many years now, that you make yourself luckier through hard work. Nature itself rewards hard work and diligence with success and material wealth. Why should not the Lord of of Nature Himself, the author of our destinies, be recognized too, as the Maker of our luck?

But the one who leans down to look at the perfect law of freedom and stays there, who is not a forgetful listener but an active doer, that person will have good luck in whatever he does.

Did you catch something that sounds like a promise there?

Right some wrong. Love some unloved person. Fill some need. Teach some truth. Heal some wound. Feed some hungry. Clothe some naked. Father some orphan. House some widow. Befriend some alien. Serve some lonely.

There is plenty to do out there; plenty of work for God's Kingdom. No matter where you are in life, no matter your economic condition, your health, your marital status - there is nothing getting in the way of you finding some opportunity to share Christ's love.

And God has promised success. No - He has promised luck; good fortune; well-being.

Other versions use the word "happy" instead of "luck," or "blessed." Do God's work, and you will be happy.

Be an active doer. There is something, or someone, right there, next to you, or in the room at this moment, that can use the Master's touch. Don't just sit there, do something!

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Hebrews and James - Praying for the "Right" Things (10 Years of Reflectionary)

First posted on Saturday, October 24, 2009


So often in prayer, we ask God for "easy things." First we pray for God's blessings and guidance. We pray for Him to put a wall around us to keep us from evil. And then comes the body of prayer - usually a list of medical needs, or sustenance for people going through some form of loss.


Blessings from God - that's easy. Who doesn't want to be blessed? And since we are people of faith, we are sure not to mind if we are not better off a week, month, or year from now.

Guidance? Well, yes, if it is generic guidance. We ask for the guidance, but that is where it ends. And if you are a believer in any kind of God, why wouldn't you want Him guiding you? It's like, well God, lead me but don't let me know about it.

Protection from evil. Definitely! Of course we do not want to face evil!

Medical needs of others, and prayers for those that are suffering. Yes, of course! Give me a long list of names of other people that are suffering, and I will do my duty and pray for them. It will all be in God's hands now. Either He heals them or He doesn't. But at least I have prayed!

So if any of you lack guidance, ask God, who gives to all freely without begrudging, and you shall receive it.

The the thing that God longs for us to ask for - is for Him to guide us!!

I would suggest that, if you are not in something that is clearly building God's kingdom, that you are not letting Him guide you. If it does not take you out of your comfort zone, then you have not come to understand what God wants for you. If you are just going through the motions, paying bills, going to work, doing the chores, without a thought crossing your mind that God may have intended your talents for something more, then chances are you have not asked God for guidance . . . really.

Go ahead - ask God to guide you. Tell Him you are ready for a change. Tell Him you want to build His kingdom in measurable, concrete, timely, and effective ways. Yes, tell Him this.

And then seek those around you that are doing God's will, or that want to do His will. Now encourage and pray for them. Make their path easier, not more burdensome.

Have this attitude, and see if God is not, truly, good on His promise to guide you.