The Good News Reconciles

The Good News of Jesus Brings Folk Together.

There are some things that once they are said, are hard to get over. In my role as pastor, I've been to court rooms on several occasions. I've often been to jail. I'm always struck with the power and finality of words given from the "bench." When the judge says, "I sentence you . . ." she/he speaks as the representative of civilization. "You have done something that we cannot allow in our community. I'm doing what I'm doing because your actions have harmed others. We cannot allow such things to go on without consequences--severe consequences." Usually, unless there is a need for some other hearing, the judge and the person sentenced never meet again. In fact, we provide judges with protection because we know that if the two do meet it could be ugly.  Let me ask you, "Does this picture look ugly?" Wallace, a retired US military technician, is an incredibly kind man who is a member of the same small-group as Kathy and me. The group is a ministry of our church and meets at the home of some friends. Susan is another member of the small-group. She is a judge. Wallace taught the lesson in our last two small group meetings. We are going throughBecoming a Contagious Christian, and Wallace took two weeks to teach the lesson on "telling my story." As part of the presentation, he told his story. You wouldn't believe how often people who know Wallace say, "He must have the gift of helps." He constantly goes out of his way to reach out to others with acts of kindness. He regularly brings ice cream treats to our meetings. He says it's because he can get a good deal on them at the military commissary, but we all know that's not the only reason. One would never know, by seeing Wallace today, that his past includes time in jail. As he told his story the other night, he told us a bit about that part of his life. Then, looking at Susan, he said you were the judge who sentenced me to that time in jail. His statement was without the least hint of bitterness or anger. Rather, he went on to speak of how during that time in jail he met others who discipled him and helped him to move forward in his walk with the Lord. Susan replied, "When I first met you at church I thought I remembered your name." Until that moment in small-group, though, she had never put it all together. So here was a man sentenced to serve time for a crime of which he had been convicted, teaching a lesson about the Good News that changes people's hearts and lives, and he was teaching it to the judge who had sentenced him to spend time in jail. What an illustration of the power of the Good News of salvation in Christ. It not only enables us to be right with God--"The wages (consequences) of sin is death (separation from God), but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23)--but beyond that, this same Good News brings people together. Even people who would otherwise be enemies become brothers and sisters in Christ. We live in a world that is divided by nationality, politics, class, skin color, race, and more. God's plan is not only to save us as atomized individuals, but in the person of "Christ Jesus . . . to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Titus2:13–14, emphasis added).  Not many people--former prisoners, judges, black, white, brown, rich, poor, etc. but one people united under the flag of the new life we have in Christ and marching forth to do good deeds in His name. The ice cream at small-group was good, but hearing the story about Susan and Wallace was worth well more than the price of admission. It's STTA (Something To Think About).  Here is a brief video that presents this life-changing message that brought Susan and Wallace into God's Family.

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.

Taking Care of What is Mine, Whatever it Costs:

Something To Think About Lawsuits:

I get a variety of newsletters via email.  One I opened this morning featured two well-known names in Evangelicalism and the lawsuits, that currently have their names on them.  One way or another both of them are disputes over the control of intellectual property.  Having spent my life in ministry, I have sympathy for pastors and others who preach and write.  None of us wants to see our stuff used in ways of which we do not approve, and certainly we do not want our  work taken from us. Yet, if a church or other ministry pays my salary, buys me a computer, provides me an office in which to work and in other ways makes it possible for me to write and preach, can I really say that what I produce in those situations is "mine"? It is a complicated concept, but my intention is not to sort it out. I see an element here of that which Paul spoke of to the Corinthians, "I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?"  (1 Co 6:4–7) The Apostle makes clear that there are bigger concerns, than can be sorted out in a court of law, at stake: The welfare of the church--The Body of Christ--and   The impact our actions will have on a watching world that needs Jesus Christ. When Christians, especially Christians in leadership, sort out their differences in the public domain, the church is weakened and the watching world makes fun of us, rather than listening to us.    I pray that these individuals and churches get their stuff sorted out.   I am more concerned, however, that all of us learn to put the personal behind that which matters far more. When protecting my interest is greater than my interest in the advance of the Gospel, when my concern for my rights is greater than my desire to elevate a sister or brother in the body, when my fight to win so that I can keep what is mine, interferes with the great battle begun by my Lord Who willingly gave all to secure that war, when any of these are true then I am on the wrong side. That applies to those of us who minister in small places as well as it does to those serve in mega-places.  Let's get it together friends. It's Something to Think About.

It is good to see my friends getting along.

If you are a regular reader of STTA you have noticed that reconciliation has been a frequent theme.  The Psalmist says it is good and pleasant when brothers dwell together in unity.  Over the past year or so, a major prayer request on my list--I've shared it with some of you--had to do with some people I know, some of whom are good friends, who had not been getting along.
If you gave me a roster of the people involved, I suppose I could go through the list and check off some who were at fault, and others who were largely innocent.  Since I can't see other's hearts and don't know all that is to be known, I'm sure I'd be wrong on some evaluations.  As one of my friends--a guy I'd put on the good-guy list--said, though, "One can always look back and see things that he did that were wrong, that he could have done better."  It will come as no surprise to learn that this man is a big part of the reason that peace is being made.  He approached his formerly estranged brethren with grace and humility.  In this case his approach was well received.
A couple of other friends of mine were involved after the fact.  I'll call them "True Yokefellow" One and

Two.  Lovingly, and firmly they approached key people from both sides.  Where they could they explained the situation bringing greater understanding.  More often they urged both sides to consider that unity is a virtue highly esteemed by our Lord.  He is a peacemaker.  We show our resemblance to our Father when we make peace.  They risked making others angry in order to encourage peace.
There were some, maybe everyone who moved toward peace, who came to the place where they were willing to say, "I was wrong.  Please forgive me."  Some acknowledged that they were the cause of the problem, others admitted that along the line they had reacted badly.  At some point--I'm surmising here, because I've seen it many times before--the need for confession of wrong ceased.  Let's face it, if finding or maintaining peace requires the constant listing, confession, and forgiveness of every wrong ever done, then life will shut down for any other business.  Ephesians 4 begins with tolerance, and ends with forgiveness.  We are imperfect people, living in an imperfect world.  If we are going to get along we need to cut one another some slack.  A point needs to come in reconciliation in which we say, "I see your heart.  I am willing to reach out to you, and relate to you, in that brand of love that covers a multitude of sin."  If we try to start here, jumping over the confession, forgiveness steps, we won't get to this point, but if we insist on dealing with every fault as if it were the problem, we'll just spin our wheels.
I haven't seen any oil dripping off of my friend's beard, but I do acknowledge that it is good to see God's people in unity.
Let's help increase this tribe.

It's STTA.

The Blessing of Having It Settled:

A ministry colleague of mine was badly and cruelly hurt some years ago.  Recently the tables were turned, so to speak, and circumstances very similar to those that had brought such pain to my friend came to bear in the lives of some who caused my colleague pain.

In a conversation I pointed out my admiration for the lack of any revenge, or "get even" mentality.

The response was marvelously challenging and encouraging.

"We dealt with that a number of years ago . . ."

And because of that not only did my friend find great joy, but, vicariously, so did I.

It's STTA

Forgiveness, it patches the holes in the fabric of life:

Kathy and I are on our way to a wonderful family occasion.  Our oldest grandchild is graduating from high school.  His is a story that merits it's own, much longer, article, but suffice to say it is a story filled with grace.  For my wife and me, his graduation is not only significant because of the recognition of accomplishment, but because it is one more indication of God's continued goodness in our lives.  We are very thankful.
On the way to the airport we listened to a Focus on the Family program about divorce.  I was struck with the irony.  We were going to celebrate family, and along the way listening to information about the dissolution of family.  Bible scholar, John MacArthur, spoke about God's teaching on the subject.  Prominent in the Bible's word on divorce is, "Don't!"  And high on the list of how to stay together rather than break apart, is to forgive.
I have forgotten most of them, but the opportunity to gather around one of our's and celebrate his accomplishment, the well-wishes of extended family that I carry with me from others who can't make the trip, are in many ways a result of many instances of pardon granted.  Had there not been forgiveness, and its blessed companion forbearance (see Ephesians 4:2&32),  I would have been abandoned--if not killed--by my wife years ago, my sons would have written me off as a crusty, old buzzard, and my grand-kids would have found me hopelessly out of touch.  In short the rich network of relationships that make this celebration possible would have been torn to shreds years ago, in fact some of the people involved wouldn't even exist, had it not been for people I love being willing to do the hard work of forgiving, so love could continue.

Forgiveness, you can't build relationships without it.

Saying, "I choose to not make this offense the basis of my relationship--or lack thereof." goes beyond the family.  Unfortunately in our world where most things are disposable and consumable we too easily discard relationships.  I have been discarded.  It's not because I don't deserve to be.  The fact is I don't merit love, kindness, or the benefit of fellowship.  Every time I have been dumped I deserved it.  If relationships, however are only to be maintained with the constantly deserving, they will be few--perhaps nonexistent.  As I look at the rich fabric of friends and family that I enjoy, I don't see a single thread that is not colored with the beautiful dye of forgiveness.  Those who refuse to forgive will find the holes in their fabric will let this world's cold wind chill their bones.

 It's STTA