From Here To Ferguson & Back:

Something To Think About, Living Together in Peace:

From where I sit on my comfortable couch, to the very uncomfortable streets of Ferguson, Missouri is just over 650 miles.  As far as my understanding of what is going on there, I'm sure it is much farther. I represent a demographic that is often seen as a big part of the problem.  I am an old, middle-class, white guy from the South.  But I am an old, middle-class, white guy from the South, who is not interested in just leaving things the way they have been and are.  I would like to see things become better.  So, I ask, "What can I learn from what is going on a day's drive to the west?"   As much as I might want to, I can't just declare that all relevant history began when I was born.  I have prayed with, preached to, and been the guest of a lady whose father fought in the Civil War.  It wasn't really that long ago.  I know the racism that both justified and flows from slavery is not dead--not completely.  Last night after watching the news I readDaniel 9.  It just "happens" to be where I am in my reading.  Daniel 9 contains an eloquent prayer, much of which is a confession of the sins of Israel and Judah.  Though Daniel was not involved in those sins, as a member of the nation of Israel he acknowledged their impact on the current situation.  I can't just dismiss the past. Much that is going on--or, more to the point, much that is being said about what is going on--pushes buttons that produce anger.  I can't surrender to that.  James says I need to be more eager to hear than to spout off and be angry.  I need to listen!  I need to resist the urge to lash out. There seems to be a circuit wired into our psyche that says something like, "This injustice over here, justifies this wrong-doing over there.  Some people in Ferguson reason that since they and/or their family and neighbors have been treated unjustly, that that somehow justifies looting a merchant's store or destroying a police-car.  Meanwhile 650 miles away old, middle-class, white guys, are tempted to conclude that because some people are behaving in a lawless manner that that justifies treating another human with less kindness than she/he deserves. Sin does not correct sin.  Doing righteousness demands a price.  It is a price that is worth paying. The problems in our world are problems of the heart. In our fallen world we need law-enforcement, but better law enforcement is not the answer. People should have opportunity to live at peace and to have the opportunity to support their families and watch their children flourish.  Better education, and social-work, as important as they are, are not the answer. Only the Gospel of Christ has the power to change hearts.  Let's pray and share the good news where we can.   It's Something To Think About.

Something To Think About, Being Thankful:

Being thankful implies someone to whom one gives thanks.  If I find a twenty-dollar bill on the street, I have a sense of good fortune--what we often call "lucky," but to whom on earth do I say "Thank You"?  If I knew, I would return the money to its owner and would have no $20 for which to give thanks.  That vague, unspecified feeling of gratitude is coming to pervade our celebration of Thanksgiving.  We have no one to whom to give thanks, and often we fail to really identify reasons for thanksgiving, so we try to muster up warm feelings by looking at pictures of turkeys and Pilgrims. How different is the Thanksgiving we find in Scripture. Psalm 136 is an example of this robust Thanksgiving.  “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who made the heavens with skill . . . To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn . . . divided the Red Sea asunder . . .  And made Israel pass through the midst of it. . . For His lovingkindness is everlasting, And has rescued us from our adversaries. . . Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 136, NASB95)  Click here for an unedited copy of Psalm 136. Let's let this Psalm be a guide for our gratitude.   The recurring line about God's everlasting lovingkindness reminds us that the basis of our gratitude is not chance, but the very character of God.  The Psalmist leads the people of Israel through the history of God's  acts of  power and goodness to the people of Israel.  Each of us could make our own list of God's acts on our behalf. Two questions to ask about thanksgiving, as we prepare for Thanksgiving: To whom am I thankful? For what am I thankful? Write your own Psalm of Thanksgiving.   It's Something To Think About.

Two Fellows In The Same Ship:

Something To Think About, The Fellowship:

Last Sunday at CBC we celebrated Communion and explored the communion or fellowship that Christians share in Christ.    “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:16–17, NASB95)   In the passage above the word "sharing" is a word that is often translated "fellowship."  In fact some churches and ministries have simply transliterated the Greek word and used it as a title.  Do a websearch for koininia and you'll find numerous examples.  Like most brief and cute definitions, this definition of fellowship (koinonia) is inadequate, but "Two fellows in the same ship," does move us in the right direction.  Everyone who is in Christ is not only in a relationship with the Lord, but is linked with everyone else who is in the Lord.  If you read 1 Corinthians 10, you'll notice that the Apostle Paul points out that there are some kinds of behavior that just don't match up with our involvement in this fellowship.  If two fellows in the same ship are going to get along, each of them needs to agree to not do certain things, like knocking holes in the bottom of the boat, or setting the thing on fire.  What I do affects you, and what you do affects me. So, who gets to call the shots.  We have had 2,000 years of inner-fellowship squabbling that sounds a lot like, "I'll do what I jolly-well please."  and, "You're not the boss of me!"  No, I'm not your boss, and you aren't mine, but we both claim allegiance to the same Lord, and part of our responsibility is to help each other honor Him.  Not in the least discounting the profound differences that exist within this fellowship, can we agree to work to not needlessly make one another look bad?    "Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven . . .  “Father . . . glorify Your Son . . . I come to You. Holy Father, keep [those you have given me from this world] in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are." (John 17)   It's Something To Think About.

About sons who call their dads:

Something To Think About, A Primary Male Relationship:

I watched the first part of the documentary about Robert O'Neill, "The Man Who Killed Usama bin Laden."  The  story is a good piece of work.  I connected with it at several levels.  I'm hoping to watch part 2. As O'Neill and his teammates progressed in their preparation for the mission, a point came when they concluded that probably, at least for those who would be in bin Laden's house during the raid, that this was a one way mission.  They didn't expect to come back.  O'Neill was already dressed in his gear, ready to board the plane, when he called his dad.  It was the last phone-call he made before the mission began.  Likely, it was the last call he ever expected to make. We can argue whether that last call should have gone to his wife.  I think at that point what took place in that conversation was so much a man-thing that it had to take place with another man.  I was impressed that it was his dad on the other end.  I am the father of two adult sons.  My dad has been gone for a long time.  From the pit of my stomach I feel a cry that says, "Guys, we need that kind of manly love."  I'm not talking about the cheap, plastic, packaged, and seminarized phony substitutes that our society sells.  I'm talking about the kind of bond that is so tight that when a man is going off to die for a cause that he deems eminently worthy, that he would want to hear his dad's voice.  I'm talking about a love that says, "Son, I don't know what you are doing, and I know I can't know, but I love you, and proud of you.  And one of the greatest privileges in my life is being your dad. As far as I know, I'm not going off to die tonight, thought the appointment is obviously drawing closer.  I do want to say to my son's.  I love you guys.  I'm very proud to be your dad.  I appreciate the fact that both of you are investing your lives here on earth to make a difference in eternity. Guys, let's live and love for Jesus!   It's Something To Think About.

Dedication:

Something To Think About, Dedication:

I know a guy who literally wore the paint off of his car by polishing it on a weekly basis.  A lady I knew thought she was having a heart attack.  She immediately flew into cleaning her house so that if she died--a good probability--those who came to her home to visit wouldn't think she was a bad housekeeper. DEDICATION! Here is a question that only seems random:  We know what ambivalence is.  Maybe you don't care.  If someone is very ambivalent does that really mean they are less ambivalent?   I'll let you sort that out.  It is clear that it is possible to be dedicated to almost anything, even nothing. Something will fill your life. The Apostle Paul asked with incredulity,   “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Romans 6:16, NASB95) If I say, "I can't get out of bed?"  What is my master. When I claim an inability to stop (you fill in the blank), am I not saying that that particular habit is my master? Most folk are dedicated to something.  For far too many that to which they are dedicated is essentially nothing.  It seems, though, that what their "master" lacks in substance, they make up for with fervor of devotion. OK, make a jump with me.  This is Veteran's Day.  From Valley Forge to Afghanistan it would be hard to find a group that is a better example of dedication to something worthy of one's allegiance than those who have served their nation--often in harms way.  As you go about your business today you'll see American flags on display.  When you see one, give thanks for those whose dedication to a worthy cause gave us the freedom we enjoy.  If you see a serviceman/woman, thank them.  But then go on and ask yourself, "To what am I dedicated?" It's Something To Think About.

Pain--Body & Relationships:

Something To Think About, Problems:

An old navy saying goes something like, If you aren't leaving a wake behind you then you aren't underway.  A while back I preached a couple of messages on a controversial matter.  At the end of my presentations I observed that some folk, from both the right and the left, were upset.  A friend wisely observed, "You probably got it about right."  I sure hope so. Many of us have an automatic response that kicks in any time trouble, or relationship problems are on the horizon--avoid it, makeit go away, get rid of it as soon as possible. Trouble in relationships, misunderstandings, etc. though, can be like pain in our body.  Have you noticed that frequently when you have an injury the people who first see you don't give you anything to kill the pain?  I'm sure there are a number of reasons for that--reasons that I, not being a medical professional, don't understand--but I have heard one reason is the pain is an essential indicator of the problem.  When the examining physician shows up he/she will ask, "Where does it hurt?" Sometimes the physician will even probe with her/his hands and ask, "Does this hurt?"  They will ply the suffering patients like, "On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate this pain.?"  "Is it a sharp pain, a burning pain, or an ache?"  I have vivid memories of one such exam though it was decades ago.  I still remember my gasping, wincing reply, "YES!"  in response to the Dr. pressing a place on my shoulder and asking, "Does it hurt here?" In both physical maladies and relational issues before one just makes the pain go away, he should ascertain what its cause is.  Broken bones and relationships hurt.  They should hurt.  Asking and answering the "Why?" question can add to the pain, at least for a time, but it can be a necessary part of the diagnostic process.  Just walking away from a painful relationship may prevent one from an opportunity to learn, grow, and come out on the other side a better person. It's Something To Think About.