We Act Heroic

Have you ever watched the Nightly News or Video Report praising the heroics of one of our fellow human beings? They may have ran into a burning building to rescue someone. Perhaps, they helped unbuckle and remove a person that was in a wrecked car, while the car is slowly engulfed in flames. —- The one that gets me is these people that jump into the ocean to rescue someone that has been attacked by a shark and there is blood all around them. —- When interviewed, the heroes almost always have the same response. While still in shock, they humbly say that they did what anyone else would have done. They just happened to be there. What do these people or these situations have in common, besides being in the “right” place at the “right” time? They say they were doing what was natural. For those of us listening to the story, we would probably disagree. For it is not natural to run into a burning building or jump into bloody-shark-infested water! Yet, their answer, while ever-so humble, is most likely the truth. You see, we act heroic because we know the deadly consequences. These instantaneous, traumatic events catch us off-guard, and we act natural when we see danger. We respond appropriately when we see the consequences of truth in our face. We do the right thing. We run into the building when we hear the cry for help. We look around at the flame-engulfed car and see no one else around but us to help. We hear the cry for help in the water, and we dismiss the coloring of the water. We are naturally heroic when we accept that what before us is a do-something or die situation. —- As followers of Jesus, we need to reacquaint ourselves with the wrath of God, the whole truth of the Gospel, lest we become un-heroic. We are condemned unless we are born-again. That is what Jesus said! That is some serious bad news involving eternal consequences. Our “jumping into the water” is merely sharing the Good News of God’s grace with others. However, many of us have lost our passion for what Jesus is passionate about. It was serious enough that He went to the cross. He is the Epic Hero. We must not be so distracted in these last days that we do not think it is important to save lives. Go and tell the Good News to your friends and neighbors. No, they all won’t listen, but some will. Do whatever it takes! Do the right thing. Be the hero.

To The Street Preacheer

Although all “street preachers” aren’t the same in their particular methodology. We know “who” typically comes to mind when we use the phrase “street preacher.” To the “street preacher”: thank you, for scaring the hell out of people. Sure, most of us that share the same passion for the Gospel disagree with your method. Yet, we all realize that it is largely the stubbornness of man that keeps men from confessing their sin, repenting and faithfully submitting to Christ as Lord and Savior. Thus, some men will not hear the Gospel lest it comes from a bull-horn hitting them like a ton of bricks. You are out there on the point. You don’t care what anyone thinks of you. You are not concerned about hurting anyone’s feelings now, because you would rather see the ones that mock you in heaven later. Amos, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were street preachers. So, you are in good company. —- This is a salute to those who in the love of Christ share the Word of Truth. We may not seem like partners in the Gospel, but we are. As Paul writes, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”—1 Cor.3:6-11. For all those who have placed their faith in Christ, I must ask: how are you currently sharing your faith? People do not get saved by osmosis. It is by preaching the Word. Let me encourage you to simply share Christ with others in the way He has built you. If that is sharing one person at a time at the coffee shop, then do it. If it is writing Gospel letters to friends and family far away by sharing the truth in love , then do that. My friend, do any of your friends or acquaintances need to hear the Gospel? Paul’s heart desire was for his people to be saved. He started with prayer, but he didn’t stop there. Go and be a testimony for Jesus. Tell the world why Christ had to die, and what that has to do with us. Help the world understand why the resurrection of Jesus was Good News. Explain why Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born-again.—- If you do not, then who will?—- Finally, it takes all of us to reach the one for Jesus. The street preacher may wake some up with the shot-gun blast of the Gospel. A timely message on television may keep the fire burning. A good-deed by christians in the community can swing the favor of God’s people. A friend that cares enough to share Jesus by the poolside or lunchtime might be the closer. No matter, when we are building on Jesus Christ as the foundation the building will stand. Quit worrying about the “how” and just do something!

Conspiracy Theories

To all my friends out there that believe in some kind of conspiracy theory, “They are out to get us.” The “they” varies. Yes! Yes! Yes! They are out to get us. —- Years ago I had a guy that said he had a gun approach me after my school bus dropped me off blocks from my house. I was twelve or thirteen. He was out to get me. I walked with him a little ways hoping someone would come out of their house and I could yell and run. But noooo. It may have well been a ghost town. I decided I wasn’t going to be on the nightly news, and bolted! I ran for it. I did the whole serpentine thing, and turned around to see that he didn’t chase or shoot at me. On another occasion a person left a message on the church phone that threatened my life. I knew the person was not all that stable, but nevertheless, he was allegedly out to get me. I’m still here. And then there was the person that lied about me to some agency (I have no idea why this person hated me.), and to some of my neighbors. They were out to get me. Fortunately, my neighbors knew me well enough.—- Yes, people, governments, etc. are out to get us. —- But those are not even close to being the greatest conspiracy of all. You see, I came into this world condemned. If I were to get what I have earned or deserve it would be the death penalty. However, my troubles and my earnings have been overcome by a conspiracy of grace. Grace is when you get what you do not deserve. Two thousand years ago, the epic hero came from heaven to earth and died for my sorry self. My hero did not get what he deserved. He traded in his righteousness for my sin and this was all done unawares to me. It was conspired by God long ago. It is a conspiracy of grace, and Jesus is my hero. —- So please, keep your Youtube videos and whatnot of other conspiracies, because those can’t get to me, I’ve already been had! —- Much love and peace to you.

At What Point

I wonder at what point did Jesus, in his humanity, ever feel that what he was doing for us was a big waste of time? Yes, he was also obeying the Father by coming, living, and dying. To justify God as the One who justifies the unrighteous Jesus had to die. (A lot is happening on that cross theologically and judicially. Not my purpose here.) As Jesus sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, was the tempter trying to get him to second-guess himself? What went through his mind as his dedicated disciple Peter denied him three times in a short time span? As the hecklers, whom he died for, mocked him on the cross; what kept him up there? At what point was it enough? Fortunately, for us Jesus came for a purpose, and he was not deterred by our poor performance. He was not deterred by our lack of allegiance, lack of effort, lack of integrity, or anything else. —-At what point do we die to self and serve Christ just because we love him, and we are thankful for what he did for us? Does God ask too much of us who come to Him by faith? How are you serving the risen Savior today? Are you prone to excuses when it comes to giving back to the God who saved you? Your time, talent and money is all you have on this earth. They are limited resources. The temptation is to keep them for yourself. Christ left heaven, where all kinds of amazing creatures were just worshiping him, to come here to be, well… not so welcomed and worshiped. Put that in perspective as you adjust your time and giving of your God-given stuff.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams... He made me laugh. I didn’t know his personal struggles. I just witnessed like thousands that he was a talented actor. It was great to watch him go from a zany sit-com/comedian and make it as a legitimate actor. Now, I am sad to know he suffered mentally so, and died the way he did… seemingly alone, even when he had people. Hopefully, as human beings we will slow down and take note of our friends, and just be there for them. It is becoming more evident that we don’t have to be alone, to be alone. For God’s sake, don’t do life alone!

Just One Visit

Visiting a young man in the hospital that had been in accident gave me a micro-insight into a hurting society. In less than thirty minutes I met an estranged dad that visibly had anxieties, health issues or maybe even drug problems. Something just wasn’t right. I met a mom/grandmother who cared much, but was so churchy that it made me not want to go to church. Once the family left, I got to talk and listen to the young man and a couple of his young visitors. Quickly I found out that one of the teen girls had fairly recently had a baby. I could only imagine her current struggles. When I asked how I could pray for her, she mentioned her brother who was in a drug rehab place. Another girl there was hating life as her parents had recently moved their home before her senior year. She wasn’t happy. So, I asked the boy who had sustained several bodily injuries due to the accident how I could pray for him, instead he wanted prayer for his brother. He revealed that his brother had been suffering from severe depression, most likely stemming from their mother passing away just a couple of years ago. —- This all just in thirty minutes! —-What in the world are the people around you and I going through? Are we sensitive to the people limping along around us? Oh, they probably aren’t limping. They probably look fine. Take time to shut up and listen, and see what is going on around you. Let’s be there for people. —-And they do want prayer.

It's 11 o'clock

"It’s 11 o’clock. Do you know where your children are? " I remember hearing that on tv when I was a teenager. I didn’t think much about it then, but I have certainly related to it as a parent since then. I do have the opinion that not much good takes place after midnight. —- But that’s not what this is about. While it is a good idea to know where your kids are after 11pm and who they are with, that is not the biggest deal in the world. Hopefully, you raised your children to have good common sense and to be the one that influences their peers and not be the “influencee.” But there is something far greater than night time troubles to be concerned about. As a parent, particularly a Christian parent have you taught and more importantly modeled a Christ-like life before your children? You can teach all you want, but more is caught than taught. That is not just a cute little saying. Mom and Dad, is church an option in your house? Do you decide Sunday morning if you are going or not? Don’t blame your kids if they follow your foot-steps. You can influence them the right way now. Later, will be too late. Gone is the day of “do what I say, not as I do.” Don’t separate your family from the body of Christ. To be separated from the body (church) is to be separated from the head (Christ) as well. God’s plan for the church is unity. We are better together. The break-up of the family is one way that Satan puts a chink in the armor of the church. But the other is simply parents being uncommitted or lazy. The price is high and the final cost perhaps disastrous, when it comes to your child’s eternity. So, do you know where your child is… spiritually?