Train Up A Child

Help me understand something. The old cliche states, "the height of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," right? Well, I watched a news brief this morning that left me just shaking my head once again at the parents of today. They so many don't seem to get this concept.

The news feature reported of a ten year old girl that aspires going on "American Idol" when she gets older. Her parents are helping her pursue this dream by posting her singing online using Youtube and blogs. In recent years there seems to be an increase in the number of young performers coming into the lime light as they clamour for fame and fortune. Popular shows like "American Idol" and "America's Got Talent" (et al) have helped to fuel this.

But it doesn't seem to mean anything that the vast majority of kids that reach stardom end up in rehab. Poster children for this would include Brittany Spears, Michael Jackson, Mary Kate & Ashley. I guess there is a level of parental denial that takes place here.

My own girls, I believe, are artistic, little performers, and I hope to encourage their using whatever giftings they have to honor the Lord. But as a parent, my main goal is for them to not have fame, but character. Not fortune, but personal responsibility. Not talent, but integrity. Not to be happy, but to be holy. However in typical fashion, the world has put the cart before the horse.

We recently had an opportunity to get our oldest involved in a program called Upwards Basketball. This program's primary goal is to encourage character on and off the field. I shared that we had placed Melody in this program, with a group of guys, and one of the guys very quickly declared, that she would learn very little about how to play basketball. Which, if that is true, I am totally okay with. I am far more concerned with her being able to begin seeing what it is like to work as a team, endure suffering and defeat, and begin to experience hard work and personal responsibility.

Parents, lets take back the reigns from the the world telling our kids that they must be rich and famous in order to have worth. Let's encourage our kids to dream and strive for excellence, but to keep in perspective that which will truly last forever, not this stuff that moth and rust will destroy.

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it."

-- Proverbs 22:6

Peeking into the Windows of the Soul - pt. 2

Shortly, before noon on Wednesday, I got the news. One of our church members had stopped by the office asking, "Did they call you yet?" I inquired of who, and then he told me. The brother of a very well known Christian author and pastor lived in our little town, and he had died suddenly. He then said that "he" would mostly likely be doing the service and they were asking about doing the service at our church. I had read a number of "his" books. As a matter of fact, I first really heard about the Grace of God from "his" books. I owe a debt of gratitude to this man, as he had played a key role in my early spiritual growth.

Now I have met and been around a number of "famous" ministers, so this was not that different. The main exception was that I would be ministering to he and his family which I consider an honor. I didn't get on the phone an call all my friends, a few happen to call yesterday and asked what I was up to and I told them. Notoriety has not often meant much to me, especially those in the ministry. The widow called me later that afternoon and set up an appointment to come see me about arranging to use our church, and if I could help provide music.

When we met on Thursday, her eyes were still red from having been weeping off and on that morning. We walked through some of the details, and I spent the bulk of the afternoon beginning preparations for the service. I had other preparation that I needed to take care for Sunday and studying for bible studies I was teaching next week, but I put all that on hold to minister to this family.

As the day grew closer, this service, like many I have done in the past, consumed much of my time as I made myself available to this family. Serving a family during a time of crisis comes very easy for for me having experienced loss of loved ones several times myself. So, even though this man was not a member of our church, and even though this man was related to someone famous, I counted it a privilege to love on his family. These are the rare opportunities that we get to minister to folks we don't know, so putting my normal schedule on hold and laying aside my personal agenda really wasn't that hard. Both "he" and this family were gracious and appreciated our hospitality.

Friday morning before the funeral, as I have been reading a couple articles in Leadership Journal, it occurred to me that the Lord had a very important lesson for me to learn. He called to my memory the recent visit by the weary traveler, and how overly concerned I was with making my meeting that I didn't take much time to get to know and minister to this special visitor. I couldn't tell you where he was from or to where he was headed. It will be a long time before I forget look in his eyes.

It shamed me, and I began to weep as I realized that I was guilty of the sin of showing kind of preference spoken of in James 2:1-7. Do I feel that I was wrong in ministering to the grieving family, absolutely not. But I was not willing to even put my meeting on hold to minister to this visitor. This visitor, is one of those that Christ refers to as "the least of these." Too often we place a high value on those that are "normal" people or "famous" people at the cost of the least of these.

The truth is, the entire Bible speaks VERY clearly that one test of the authenticity of our faith shows it self in how we treat those who are true widows, orphans, the poor, those in prison. In one article I read, Brad Jersak makes an interesting statement, "I'd suggest that those we often regard as insignificant are not to be regarded as mere target groups of Christian charity, but rather, our mentors in the kingdom. They are guides to understanding God." I am not suggesting that we should open our homes and let anyone sleep there, nor would I say we should enable those who will not work by supporting their chemical addition. I am saying that we should seriously consider what our attitude is toward the least of these. I know I oftentimes lump them together, and thereby neglect an act of service that demonstrates how real my faith is. It is easy to judge people from afar, and throw money at the problem. It is another to get to know some of these and find out why they are where they are.

My challenge to you is simple. When God gives you opportunity, take time to peer into the windows of some one's soul. You never know, you could be entertaining an angel or you could get a glimpse in the kingdom of God.

Peeking into the Windows of the Soul - pt. 1

Being on church staff, it is not uncommon to have people stop by the office looking for money handouts. We have a procedure. We direct them to a local multi-faith agency that keeps our benevolence centralized and helps screen out abusers. This week, I had a different experience with one of these folks.

On Tuesday, I had a meeting scheduled first thing in the morning with a couple of other ministers from the area. A transient man stopped by the office right as the two ministers arrived. He had a need. It was very cold outside, and he was headed west into the wind. He said he was a missionary and asked if we could give him some hot water for the instant coffee he had with him. I invited him into the office kitchen area where we were each getting coffee for ourselves. It was obvious there was no need for him to make his own coffee since we had some perked and hot and ready to drink. He dug his travel mug out of his large duffel bag. I took the cup which smelled of instant soup. I washed it out as I considered the man's appearance and more importantly his eyes. He was a large man wearing dirty clothes and had a weathered face. But his eyes. It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul. The eyes that twinkled behind his cracked glasses were kind.

I filled His mug with fresh coffee, and he asked if there were some place where he could sit down out of the wind. We were headed into our meeting, so I directed him to a place in our church foyer where there were soft chairs to sit on and within ear shot of where we were having our meeting. A few minutes later, he poked his head around the corner and asked if we had any extra gospel tracts he could have. I went to our supply cabinet grabbed a few packets and handed them to him. He was gracious, thanked me, and sat down again. He finished his coffee, and slipped out the front door back on his journey west.

I sat preoccupied with the man's eyes all throughout the meeting. While he was there, I kept an ear open since our secretary was alone in the other room. Yet, I really didn't fear this man. After he left, my thoughts sojourned west with him. Earlier, he had asked if there were a cafe or restaurant in the direction he was headed. Our church building is three miles west of town and there was nothing between us and the next town 10 miles away. I thought of him knowing it was hours before he would reach the next town and a meal. I know that had we kept food at the church office I would have offered him what we had, but there wasn't anything. Perhaps there was some leftovers from our previous Wednesday night meal, but I wasn't thinking of that, I was thinking about my meeting. After all, we had important things to discuss.

This traveler has been gone for days from our church, and yet he has lingered in my mind. I still remember his eyes. There was another visitor the Lord would bring across my path later this week. And with him, would come a stinging rebuke. I will finish this story tomorrow. There still much to be said. Although you did not see him, peer with me into this man's eyes and consider what the Lord will say to you.

Chasing the Grail...

"You must choose. . ." These are the words of the aged knight of valor spoken to treasure-seeker Indian Jones in the final installment of the the chronicles of the same. Jones, on yet another quest for "fortune and glory," is chasing the mother lode of all legendary artifacts, the Holy Grail. Indiana Jones' character is the pinnacle of what most men and boys long to be, an adventurer, explorer, fighter, lover and got rich doing it all. However, in "The Last Crusade," Jones learned the lesson that all would do well to learn, that "fortune and glory" is not where it is at.

I just began a new John Ortberg book, When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, and as usual, God's timing is perfect. I have given the topic of good vs. better and better vs. best. a lot of thought recently. In his first chapter, he writes of learning the lesson from his Monopoly-czar grandmother, that regardless of how you play the game of life, the pieces ALWAYS go back into the box. The wisest human once wrote, "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher,"Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NASB) I really think Petersen nails the same passage with his explanation in the Message, "Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That's what the Quester says.] There's nothing to anything—it's all smoke. What's there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it's business as usual for old planet earth."

You know those can be tremendously scary and hope sucking words. . . at least for those that are chasing things that are worthless. Most folks want their life to count, and although everyone knows that each of our conditions is fatal, we still live like we will live forever. The Scripture gives much space to this topic, and I have learned that what the Word spends a lot of time on, so should we. Christ speaks directly to this issue in Matthew 6:19-34 and Luke 12:13-21, and Paul has good words to say in his discourse on planting and building in 1 Corinthians 3:8-15.

Chasing the Grail is a vain pursuit. For as long as they have walked the face of the planet, man has chased the Grail. The obvious ones are money, fame, power. But there are other subtle grails that we chase: perfection in- jobs, health, relationships, society, politics, ad naseum. In the end, it's all forgotten, burns up or blows away in the wind. Whatever grail you have chased in the past, it is not too late to change direction. Pursue that which truly lasts. As Christ said, "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." To finish the quote of the knight guarding the holy grail, "but choose wisely...

"The real danger of legalism is that it produces a sense of attainment that short-circuits our call to live the life of Yes through Christ. Self-achievement brings a false sense of assurance that somehow we can live a pure life in our own ability. This attitude ultimately leads us to cut ourselves off from the heart of God and, in turn, to deny our true identity in Christ. "

-- David Edwards

In Retrospect... the Future

Yesterday, as my family was on a short road trip, noticing the time, I turned on the radio to hear one of my favorite radio teachers, Dr. Charles "Chuck" Swindoll. One of the reasons I love listening to him is, aside from his finely-tuned gift for speaking and teaching God's word, he has a great sense of humor and is constantly telling of the hope and grace found in Christ. Seldom have I heard a broadcast that did not contain genuine laughter as he pokes fun at himself and life in general.

Yesterday, while in typical form, he shared something that provoked my thinking about where we are and from where we've come, and more importantly where we are heading. I respect Chuck's teaching because he is not a doom-and-gloom kind of person. I have had the pleasure of meeting him on several occasions and believe that he is real and tends to be a glass-is-half-full kind of person. So, when he shares things like this, I really take it to heart. I would encourage your listening to this particular broadcast to hear it in its entirety. His words were so sobering to me, I took the time to transcribe what he said. I believe they are his own orginal thoughts as he did not mention any other source beyond his own decades of wisdom. I think he is right on the money as he speaks as one who has walked intimately with the Lord Jesus for scores of years. I pray that his words will challenge your thinking as they did mine, and give you a moment of consideration as to how you might step into the new year. . .

"The Erosion: What Children Have Lost"

"In the 1950’s, the kids lost their innocence. They were liberated from their parents by well paying jobs cars and lyrics in music that gave rise to a new term “the generation gap.”

"In the 1960’s, kids lost their authority. It was the decade of protest church state and parents were all called into question and found wanting. Their authority was rejected yet nothing ever replaced it.

"In the 1970’s, kids lost their love. It was a decade of “me-ism” dominated by hyphenated words beginning with “self.” Self-image, self-esteem, self-assertion. It made for a lonely world. Kids learned everything there was to know about sex, and forgot everything there was to know about love. No one had the nerve to tell them there was a difference.

"In the 1980’s kids lost their hope. Stripped of innocence, authority and love and plagued by the horror of a nuclear nightmare large and growing numbers of this generation stopped believing in the future.

"In the 1990’s, kids lost their power to reason. Less and less were they taught the basics of language, truth and logic, and they grew with the irrationality of a post modern world.

"In the new millennium, kids woke up and found out that somewhere in midst of all this change, they had lost their imagination. Violence and perversion entertained them till none could talk of killing innocence since none was innocent anymore. The slide into despair began early… decades ago. The lack of innocence which is in reality the lack of wonder has a direct bearing on hopelessness and evil. The loss of wonder sets the stage for cynicism, doubt and unbelief."

He goes on to share that our only hope for the future is Jesus Christ. As I look at the prospects for politcal leadership in the upcoming election, I find this tremedously reassuring. Where is your hope?

My Wishes for a Happy New Year!