Something to Think About,

STTA for 12/16/08

Charles Ponzi died about 60 years ago, but his name lives on, as in "Ponzi Scheme." Apparently, the greatest Ponzi scheme in history has just been discovered. I kid you not, the perpetrator is Bernard Madoff--as in "he made-off with our money."
A Ponzi scheme always has the characteristic of promising something that isn't there, and delivering, at least for a time, by taking money from new suckers and passing it on to older victims, making them think that the scheme is working.
I'll let law-enforcement and financial gurus deal with Bernie, but I'm concerned about spiritual Ponzi schemes that proliferate. Some religious leaders--so called ministers of Christ--promise what nether Jesus nor the Bible guarantees. They make their system work by constantly enlisting new devotees--those who haven't discovered the bancruptcy of the claims yet. If you look on the backside, however, you can find a trail of disappointment and devastation.
The financial experts always tell us to read the prospectus. I say read the Bible. Make sure that the promises that are being offered are really underwritten by the only One Who has the power to deliver.
It's STTA.


STTA for 10/14/08

In Ephesians 5:4 one of the kinds of speech that the Bible says has no place in our lives is "coarse jesting." The term comes from a Greek word that literally means well-turned. Within the context of Paul's teaching it refers to the double-entendre, the skillful twisting of something that is good or benign to that which is somewhat dirty, though entertaining. The judgment call on when something is over the edge can be tough. Appropriate in one context is out of line in another. Does the old adage of "ladies and children being present," still mean anything?
More of us need to run what passes for entertainment through the grid found in Philippians 4:
Is this something that is,
Good,
Honorable,
Right,
Pure,
Lovely,
Of good repute,
Excellent,
And worthy of praise?

When you think about it, sometimes the things that make us laugh aren't really funny.
It's STTA.


STTA, September 18:

Clearly the United States has a problem with immigration. We dare not forget, however, that the "problem" consists of men, women, and children--many of whom only want what we have. I have been privileged to visit some other nations of the world, and I can tell you that for many a job in the US and the level of prosperity it brings is a dream they long for. Some desire it so much that they are prepared to break the law, and risk their lives to bring it to reality.Politicians jockey for position to appear as the candidate who will solve the problem. Unfortunately, it seems that many pols are more interested in voter-approval ratings than in actual solutions.At a recent raid at a plant in Mississippi 600 illegal immigrant employees were arrested. As they were being led away, dozens of other workers lined up to clap and cheer. Having grown up in the home of a blue-collar worker I understand the sentiment, and I also feel a need to rebuke it. To want the law to be enforced is one thing, to rejoice at the calamity of others who are trying to achieve the dream that many of us take for granted is another.Justice? Yes, but tempered with compassion.It's STTA

September 9, 2008

To be called "Mayor" is quite an honor. A couple of friends of mine have carried the title and born it well. The title, however, has lost its shine for Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit. Recent news-stories often call him "disgraced Mayor Kilpatrick."The details aren't important for our thought today. It is sufficient to say that he lied in ways that were not only wrong, but illegal.Kilpatrick was reputed to have a promising career. Now he will trade his well-cut suits for a prison jump-suit."I would do anything," Mr. Kilpatrick said, "to turn back the hands of time." He is not alone in that desire. God forgives. He often graciously gives us the opportunity to start again, but in this world of time, what is done, is done and the effects of what is done continue on.It's something to think about, not just as you listen to or read this, but before you do something that may come back to haunt you.It's STTA.

September 8, 2008

We don't like "two-facedness."
One of the complaints that I have heard over the years related to someone being one way in one context, and appearing to be a different person in another setting. In the days before 24/7, wall-to-wall media coverage it was a "skill" that many politicians constantly used--some still try. Tell this to that group, and say something entirely different to another crowd. When a candidate gets caught speaking with a forked-tongue, his or her numbers are likely to plummet.
A compliment to be treasured has had to do with the observation that a person is the same wherever you see them. In my realm it usually is put this way, "If I see them on Thursday, they are the same as they were on Sunday morning."
One of the virtues that the Lord puts into His people has to do with consistency. When the Lord does a work in a person's heart it is not just a Sunday morning work. In fact how a person lives at work or school is a much better indicator of a person's heart condition, than the way they act on Sunday morning.
I encourage you to join us at the CBC this Sunday, not so you can act right for an hour, but so you can learn how you should act the rest of the week, and be empowered to do so.
It's STTA

August 21, 2008

One of the lines of questioning at the recent civil forum held at Saddleback Community Church, had to do with human life?
When does life begin?
There is abundant evidence that it begins at conception. In my opinion, the main reason for deciding otherwise has nothing to do with the science involved. It has to with the desired outcome. If we say--dare I say, "admit"--that life begins at conception, then that answer will prevent us from doing some things that we want to do.
Let's just suppose that we draw a DNA sample from an unborn child. We preserve it for 10 years, 20 years, 70 years. No matter how old the person is, that DNA--the stuff of life--will still match.
The social progress that our society has made in the past couple of hundred years has largely had to do with recognizing the value of classes of people who were formerly treated as less than human.
It's a goal we need to continue to pursue. Certainly not fo the other way.

It's STTA.


August 1, 2008


I just visited a friend's house who keeps marine aquariums. In order to keep his fish, coral, crabs and shrimp alive and happy he faithfully tests and changes the water. He knows what to feed each kind of fish and just how much. The lights are on timers, so the aquatic life gets the right amount of light.In short, my friend goes to an incredible amount of trouble to reproduce a miniature version of the ocean surrounding a living reef--an ecosystem that many scientists claim happened purely by accident.As we have seen in recent decades, it only takes a relatively small amount of a foreign substance or a minor change in the environment to radically change--or even destroy--a living community. Not only must each organism be healthy, but each all of them must relate to one another in a healthy way.Sitting here thinking about it I'm amazed at the blind-faith evolutionists have. In spite of constant evidence that random forces produce destruction, they believe that such a beautiful, complex system just happened.Not at my friend's house, nor, I am convinced, in my Father's world.It's STTA.



June 9, 2008
It was raining.I was doing an outside job that I really didn't want to do. I knew that I had other jobs standing in line behind that one. The hopeless, "I'll never get done." feeling was creeping in.Some friends drove by. They said I looked like a man in distress and stopped to see if I needed anything, but most importantly, just to say hi.Proverbs talks about good news from a far country being like a cool drink (25:25). These folk weren't from far away, and they had no big-time news to share, but I found their visit brought a cheerful heart and Proverbs 17:22 says that is a good medicine. It sure perked me up.We have the power at our disposal to help and encourage, and it is virtually free.Lord help us to be Doctors of cheer.It's STTA.

It is our hope that STTA, serve as a cyber-means-of-cheer. We welcome your communication. Write to us at covbc@ntelos.net.



May 13, 2008
Just out of curiosity I typed heaven into mapquest, an online service that tells you how to get to places. Ten options came up--from West Coast to East, bookstore, to pizza, to carpet-cleaning. It wasn't what I had in mind.
Recently, a gentleman asked me how to get to a place, here in our little city.
"Do you know where anything is?"
"Yes." He replied and named a restaurant.
"Okay," I said. "Go there and keep on going."
It is clear in the Bible that those who go to heaven when they die aren't going to be shocked to be there. They are people who already have a relationship with God. In a sense, the directions to heaven are meet God, and keep on going.
I know that's not enough, but if you'll get in touch, I'll give you some more. Maybe we'll have some heavenly coffee--It's STTA.

May 12, 2008

The pictures of devastation that come from Myanmar are heart breaking. People without homes, food or clothing can be seen sleeping on any elevated piece of ground or structure to avoid the threat of further flooding. Thousands have died. Yet it would appear that the ruling generals of the country are far more concerned with their image than with helping their people. While pictures of the rulers passing out token aid are all over the news, plane-loads of real aid and battalions of trained workers are kept out by the inflexible bureaucracy.
It is nothing short of tragic, and horribly wrong.
It is a syndrome that repeats itself many times and in many places—where and when ever we allow personal interest to blind us to the needs of others.
Lord, help me to actually do good, not just pose for the camera.
It’s Something to Think About.

April 29, 2008

I'm not here today to either condemn or defend Jeremiah Wright, but to use the wall-to-wall press coverage about him as an opportunity to think about something we all need to remember.
Solomon wisely observed, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise." (Pr 10:19, NASB95) That has to be balanced with the many statements in scripture that command God's people, and, especially, those of us who lead the church, to speak--to share the Good News, to defend those who need to be defended. To be salt and light.
The other night at CBC we looked at Isaiah 42. In the beautiful picture-language for which the prophet is known, Isaiah predicts the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is a ministry of self-effacement, meekness, and kindness.
Before we speak with boldness we need to be sure that we are bold for the Lord, and we need to remember, that, though Jesus was aggressively forceful at times, the overriding characteristic of His ministry was gentleness.
It's STTA from the CBC.

STTA, 4/10/08
In this day in which almost everything that anyone of importance says is recorded, and with the ease with which one can find statements on virtually any subject from just-about any speaker or writer, a political candidate's record has never been more important. Whatever the office-seeker says today will be rigorously compared to past positions and statements.In a sense that is good. It makes people accountable. But the way this wealth of information is often handled is unfortunate.I believe in change. I preach about it all the time. In my 35 years of ministry I have seen people who were wrong become right. I have also seen people pretend to change for their own advantage.Is a person saying the right thing?How long have they said it?If it represents a change is there evidence that the change took place for good and sincere reasons?Perhaps more important than all other questions: Is there a record of right actions that reinforce what the candidate says he/she has always believed or is there sufficient evidence to indicate that the switch to the "right" position is sincere?The game of political "Gotcha!" probably isn't very profitable. The practice of honestly examining what people said, are saying and what they do, certainly is.
As Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them."
It's STTA.

Something to Think About,
April 8, 2008

So much for symbolism: The Tibetan protests have interrupted the procession of the Olympian torch on its way to China for the 2008 Games.
Supposedly the torch is lighted at Mt. Olympus in Greece and then that flame, transferred from torch to torch and runner to runner, lights the great caldron at the opening ceremony. Great care is taken to preserve continuity from Olympus to the site of the current Games.
Those plans were thwarted by protesters in Paris. The flame had to be extinguished so that the torch could be placed on a bus. To say the least that wasn't according to plan.
Along with hundreds of millions of others, I carry a torch that was ignited just outside Jerusalem two millennia ago. It is much more than symbolic.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, died as our substitute, and arose from the grave.
He sent his followers out with the light of the Good News. Some of you are fellow runners in the relay. It is essential that the light of the Good News about Jesus Christ not be extinguished.
If you are a by-stander, we encourage you to join us.
It’s STTA.



Something to Think About, March 14, 2008

The news reports on a recent statement that came from the Vatican, weren’t exactly right. At least the headlines made it sound like Monsignor Girotti had invented new sins, adding them to the list of that which is forbidden. In reality it appears that what the Roman Catholic Church is doing is what all Christians need to be doing.
In 2 Timothy 3:17 Paul makes known that the Bible has what we need to equip us for every good work. [On the complete sufficiency of the Bible, the RC church & I do not see eye-to-eye.]


One can’t find computers, automobiles, or ballistic missiles in the Bible, yet scripture tells us how to properly deal with these modern marvels in a godly way.
God’s word contains specific “Thou shalt nots . . .” but more it is filled with principles that guide us into making right decisions on matters that hadn’t even been thought of by the Bible’s human authors. While Moses, Peter, or John had no idea about the world in which you and I live, the Holy Spirit, Who directed their writing, knew, and knows, exactly what I face today. He saw to it that what I need to live the way I should is there for my guidance.
Get in the book!
It’s STTA.



Something to Think About,
February 27, 2008

A Refreshing Response:
I watched a few snatches of the recent congressional inquiry into Major League Baseball and steroid use. It was a bothersome spectacle for a number of reasons. One thing is clear: Somebody's lying!
In contrast how encouraging it is to read about Daniel Naulty. Though not one of the big names who made the news, Naulty is in the Mitchell report as an athlete who used banned substances. Notice I put that in the past tense. Years before congress hauled high-profile players before the committee and the news cameras, this former closer for the Twins and World Champion Yankees saw the wrong of what he had been doing. It wasn't a congressman or an earthly judge who confronted Naulty. His team had just won the world series, when he asked, "Is this all there is to life?" Like David, 3000 years ago, Naulty came to see that his sin had not only hurt him, and many others as well, but chiefly--to use the Psalm-writers words--the modern athlete realized that it was "against [God] and [God] alone that he had sinned." (Psalm 51)
Wisely, David's son Solomon later said. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." (Pr 28:13, NIV)

Just ask Daniel Naulty. (Click here to read more of his story.)


It's STTA



One of the features of modern life is the inter-relatedness of people all around the globe. As Thomas Friedman says, The World is Flat. We travel to the store in an automobile made of parts from around the world, powered by gas that likely came from the Middle-East, and purchase products from Asia, produce from South America, and who knows what and where else. For those of us who are active in the church it is nothing new. Two-thousand years ago the followers of Christ were sent into the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Many of us grew up singing about "all the people of the world," and how Jesus loves them.Some mistakenly think that Christianity is a Western, White religion. No, not only is the world flat, but everywhere in the world there is the need to erect not Golden Arches, but the cross of Christ.It's STTA.


Listening to political speeches, I often think that one should be careful to not promise what he, or she, cannot deliver. Perhaps a more relevant reminder is I need to be committed to not believe promises that the politician can't keep. I haven't heard it yet, but any day now I expect to hear a candidate promise to bring us better weather, if elected. The word "politics" come from the word for people. Politics involves giving the people what they want or what they think they want, or even making them think that they are going to get what they think they want. What is discouraging is that this works so often. Political promises have a very short shelf-life, but that is OK. They only need to last until the election.Having said that I don't want you to get the idea that what candidates say is unimportant. Since we are choosing future leaders all we can go on is present promises, sometimes combined with past performance. When politicians promise things that are not within their power to deliver we need to call them on that. If I know that a guy only has fifty cents and he promises me five dollars, don't I have some responsibility to ask where the $4.50 is coming from?I'm Howard Merrell.
I promise it won't rain tomorrow.

It's STTA.



Beyond the Superbowl or Super-Tuesday:
After the Superbowl there is Super-Tuesday--today. If you're like me it seems pretty ordinary. In case you have been taking a Rip-van-Winkle-type nap, let me remind you that nearly half the states in the U. S. will hold primaries or caucuses today to make their choice for the Democratic and Republican nominees for President. Some people who follow such things think that the question on one side or the other might actually be settled today. Some folk hope so--it might bring a reprieve from the political ads.
Those of us who trust the supreme ruler, the God of the universe, need to maintain a balance.
Earthly leaders are important. History is in many ways a record of the good they have done and damage they have inflicted. But, we dare not make the mistake of thinking that they are the ultimate solution. The golden-age of universal blessing will not be ushered in as the result of an election, but by the return of the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
We have a responsibility to vote and exercise our political rights properly, but far beyond that we have the privilege of praying and living out a transformed life, before a watching world.
So what is that? Super-duper, and it's not just on Tuesday.
It's STTA.

I have never tried to literally get ducks in a row, but I figure, unless you're a momma duck, it must be hard. I know that lining up proverbial ducks is nigh to impossible, yet life demands that we constantly try. One problem that we have with quacker regimentation is deciding where to start. We need to make sure that we line up the most important ducks first. The Bible gives an orientation as to what is most important and what can go by the wayside. Too many of us have well lubricated fishing reels, nicely polished golf-clubs, or well-tuned bicycles, yet our private lives, and families are in disarray. The Bible gives guidance as to priorities. It helps us know where to start getting our ducks in a row.


A while back I received an email ad. Like you, I get about a million a day, but this one caught my eye. "Give your opinion on gay-marriage and closeout on digital cameras." it said. Obviously, the piece had some grammatical problems. I don't think the ad-writer intended to link those two the way she/he did. I'm totally in favor of closeouts on digital cameras; if the sale is good enough, I might register my approval by a purchase. "Gay marriage" on the other hand is an oxymoron on the same level as "hot cool things," or "dry water."
Beyond the lack of skills on the part of the ad writer, though, I was struck with how that which was, until quite recently, unthinkable has become so common, so completely everyday. (The same can be said about various heterosexual aberrations as well.) Our society is such that communications about issues that affect not only life, but our entire culture, are placed on the same level as those of merchants hawking their wares.
There is something out of whack here.
It's STTA.

Years ago I visited in an absolutely lovely home, built by a fairly well-to-do and very industrious and clever gentleman. The house was situated so that you could look out large windows and see a lovely mountain stream flowing near the house. My friend had actually considered constructing the house so that the brook would go through the building. It would have been absolutely gorgeous almost all the time. Every once in a while it would have been devastating. He was wise enough to not defy nature.
In looking at the pictures of New Orleans, I noticed that the French Quarter, one of the city’s oldest sections, stayed mostly dry. Hundreds of years ago folk had the same respect for nature as my friend. Near a river, you build on higher ground. As in the Lord Jesus’ parable about the two houses, where one chooses to build can have very long-term consequences.
The Lord’s story was about lives, not houses.
It’s STTA.