The Creator made this earth in such a wonderful way. During those days of creation, he saw the need for seasonal changes: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years….” (Genesis 1:14, ESV). As we look upon the wonders of creation and appreciate nature’s beauty, we can thank God for good things. In addition, the continued renewal of the seasons reminds us that God is alive and well (Psalm 90:2).
As you look over the list below, you may think of other things that you appreciate about fall. Think on those and give thanks to God for your ability to see, hear, touch, smell and taste. “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:26, ESV).
It’s harvest time.
There are crisp mornings and cool nights.
Hayrides!
The leaves change colors.
Football weather!
The days are shorter.
Thanksgiving Day!
Grass does not have to be mowed.
The kids are in back in school!
It is a forewarning of winter.
We get a break from summer’s heat.
You can smell the smoke from neighbors’ chimneys.
The soil is allowed to “rest” for the next growing season.
Apple Cider!
Fallen leaves nourish the soil.
Pumpkin pie!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
The Power of an R.A.K.
No, an R.A.K. is not a rifle. In fact, it is not a even a weapon—not a physical weapon, anyway. I experienced the power of an R.A.K. this past week during a routine part of my day. I believe the combination of many of them would have an awesome impact on our world.
Let me show you what I mean . . . .
I was driving to my office on a Monday morning and just happened to have my radio tuned to a station in Clarksville, TN. It is normal for the hosts to run a trivia contest at about that time of morning. On that particular morning, the contest was between a man and a woman. I cannot remember the man’s name, but I will call him “Roger.” The woman’s name was Melissa. Melissa just happened to mention during the segment that she had a two-week-old baby.
The contest began with, of all things, a question about the average weight of a newborn baby. Of course, Melissa answered that question well and received several points because of it. Roger laughingly commented on how that question “just happened to come up.” The next question was given and it was about the average cost of a fast food meal. Roger was more attuned to this type of question and quickly suggested “$5.00.” That was the number one answer and pushed Roger well ahead of Melissa.
Then Roger did a completely unexpected thing. He passed and told the hosts that he was going to do something probably no one else had ever done: He was going to forfeit the game to Melissa because he thought she, as a new mother, could use the prize (a free massage from a local spa). The hosts (a man and a woman), were stunned. They went on and on about how nice Roger was and about how his kind act was such a good thing. They decided, on the spur of the moment, to give “Roger” a gift certificate to a local restaurant. A positive atmosphere prevailed on the set following the contest. That act of kindness stayed with me all day—and I was seventy miles away.
You have probably guessed the meaning of R.A.K. by now: a “random act of kindness.” You probably also heard that terminology a few years ago when people were trying to counter the random acts of violence (road rage, for example) in our world. I think, however, it is time to begin weaving “R.A.K.’s” into the fabric of our lives. Those acts will enrich our lives as well as the lives of others around us. “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21, ESV).
Let me show you what I mean . . . .
I was driving to my office on a Monday morning and just happened to have my radio tuned to a station in Clarksville, TN. It is normal for the hosts to run a trivia contest at about that time of morning. On that particular morning, the contest was between a man and a woman. I cannot remember the man’s name, but I will call him “Roger.” The woman’s name was Melissa. Melissa just happened to mention during the segment that she had a two-week-old baby.
The contest began with, of all things, a question about the average weight of a newborn baby. Of course, Melissa answered that question well and received several points because of it. Roger laughingly commented on how that question “just happened to come up.” The next question was given and it was about the average cost of a fast food meal. Roger was more attuned to this type of question and quickly suggested “$5.00.” That was the number one answer and pushed Roger well ahead of Melissa.
Then Roger did a completely unexpected thing. He passed and told the hosts that he was going to do something probably no one else had ever done: He was going to forfeit the game to Melissa because he thought she, as a new mother, could use the prize (a free massage from a local spa). The hosts (a man and a woman), were stunned. They went on and on about how nice Roger was and about how his kind act was such a good thing. They decided, on the spur of the moment, to give “Roger” a gift certificate to a local restaurant. A positive atmosphere prevailed on the set following the contest. That act of kindness stayed with me all day—and I was seventy miles away.
You have probably guessed the meaning of R.A.K. by now: a “random act of kindness.” You probably also heard that terminology a few years ago when people were trying to counter the random acts of violence (road rage, for example) in our world. I think, however, it is time to begin weaving “R.A.K.’s” into the fabric of our lives. Those acts will enrich our lives as well as the lives of others around us. “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor” (Proverbs 21:21, ESV).
Is It Possible to Live Consistently?
A man known for his conservative stance is seen to be guilty of the very acts which he has publicly condemned. It has happened at least three times in the last few months (a preacher and two congressmen) and I am not so naïve as to think it won’t happen again. What’s more is that the instances were not one-time lapses of judgment, but cases of men who had patterns of behavior that were direct contradictions of the men’s public professions.
Unfortunately, it appears that the American public is about to become extremely cynical (actually, they already are) and assume that most conservative thinkers and religious people are hypocrites. While you may rightly say such an assumption is unfair, do not be surprised to see this trend continue. Some praise those who blatantly live in sin for not being hypocritical. While we may “appreciate” the consistency of someone who does not pretend to be something they are not, we should never admire a sinner for sinning.
There is another problem as well. You and I see ourselves and know that there are areas in our lives in which we struggle. We may thus feel reluctant to speak out about sin, fearful that someone might bring our shortcomings to light—even if those shortcomings are not patterns of willful behavior. We ask ourselves, “How can I live in such a way as to be consistent with my profession of faith in God?” Here are some answers:
1. Humble yourself before God and pray that you will be kept from a spirit of pride (James 4:10). Remember that pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
2. Beware of saying things like “I would never…” or “No one in my family would ever…” Peter told Jesus that he would never deny him (Matthew 26:35), yet just a few hours later, he did. None of us know what we might do in a moment of weakness. We would like to think we would not give in to temptation, but we cannot say for sure that we would not. Our best course of action would be to avoid situations that we know would exploit our weaknesses and to get out of them as quickly as possible if we inadvertently stumble into them.
3. If you correct someone, do so in a spirit of humility (Galatians 6:1,2) letting them know that you are not “above” them, but one who is trying to help them. In condemnation of behavior, let the Bible speak and let your behavior reflect the Bible (2 Peter 3:11, 12). “Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
4. Remember that consistent living is not perfection, but a pattern of godliness. We can live faithfully (Revelation 2:10) before God.
Unfortunately, it appears that the American public is about to become extremely cynical (actually, they already are) and assume that most conservative thinkers and religious people are hypocrites. While you may rightly say such an assumption is unfair, do not be surprised to see this trend continue. Some praise those who blatantly live in sin for not being hypocritical. While we may “appreciate” the consistency of someone who does not pretend to be something they are not, we should never admire a sinner for sinning.
There is another problem as well. You and I see ourselves and know that there are areas in our lives in which we struggle. We may thus feel reluctant to speak out about sin, fearful that someone might bring our shortcomings to light—even if those shortcomings are not patterns of willful behavior. We ask ourselves, “How can I live in such a way as to be consistent with my profession of faith in God?” Here are some answers:
1. Humble yourself before God and pray that you will be kept from a spirit of pride (James 4:10). Remember that pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
2. Beware of saying things like “I would never…” or “No one in my family would ever…” Peter told Jesus that he would never deny him (Matthew 26:35), yet just a few hours later, he did. None of us know what we might do in a moment of weakness. We would like to think we would not give in to temptation, but we cannot say for sure that we would not. Our best course of action would be to avoid situations that we know would exploit our weaknesses and to get out of them as quickly as possible if we inadvertently stumble into them.
3. If you correct someone, do so in a spirit of humility (Galatians 6:1,2) letting them know that you are not “above” them, but one who is trying to help them. In condemnation of behavior, let the Bible speak and let your behavior reflect the Bible (2 Peter 3:11, 12). “Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
4. Remember that consistent living is not perfection, but a pattern of godliness. We can live faithfully (Revelation 2:10) before God.
Trying Again
I am sorry that I have not kept up with my blog-posts. I let my fall schedule get me away from it. So, I am going to try and make up some ground in the next couple of days. I will be adding bulletin articles and a couple of person posts, hopefully.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Is the Golden Rule Your Chosen Rule?
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you . . .” (Matthew 7:12, NASBU).
All of us have a philosophy by which we live. We may not even be aware of it. However, if we analyze our behavior, we will soon see a way of thinking inherent in our treatment of others.
There are three general rules by which people live. I am not the first to relate them. In fact, they have been delineated by others—and those others have probably done a better job. As we compare them, realize that the names of the philosophies are manmade (yes, even the “Golden Rule), but this in no way takes away from the fact that they are biblical portrayals of human attitudes and behavior.
The “Golden Rule” — “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Jesus, of course, uttered these words and lived them. This rule, if followed, would rid the world of much anguish and strife. Wars, divorces, etc., would decrease proportionately as people put this rule into practice. It is the best rule by which to live, but the one most difficult to follow. Each of us must make a conscious choice to make this our guiding principle in interpersonal relations. The benefits in peace of mind alone are worth the effort.
The “Silver Rule” — “Do not unto others that which you do not want done to you.” While this philosophy is good to a certain point, it is more of a passive quality of personality than the first. It also carries the idea of doing good to those who have done good to you first. Jesus pointed out that this was already being practiced by the religious people of the day (Matthew 5:46). Christian behavior is grounded in unconditional love—love that acts in spite of the recipient’s attitude rather than as a result of it (Romans 13:8).
The “Iron Rule” — “Do unto others before they do unto you.” This has also been paraphrased as “might makes right.” This philosophy is, in essence, the worldly spirit of power and aggression. It will take the practitioner to the depths of degradation of himself and others. Good will NOT come forth from it. Just as the practice of the “Golden Rule” would result in a decrease of wars and divorces, etc., this rule is the cause of these things. Pain and heartache will always be its fruit, but people continue to follow it.
A better world begins with me—and a better me begins with a conscious choice to practice the “Golden Rule” in all my relationships.
All of us have a philosophy by which we live. We may not even be aware of it. However, if we analyze our behavior, we will soon see a way of thinking inherent in our treatment of others.
There are three general rules by which people live. I am not the first to relate them. In fact, they have been delineated by others—and those others have probably done a better job. As we compare them, realize that the names of the philosophies are manmade (yes, even the “Golden Rule), but this in no way takes away from the fact that they are biblical portrayals of human attitudes and behavior.
The “Golden Rule” — “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Jesus, of course, uttered these words and lived them. This rule, if followed, would rid the world of much anguish and strife. Wars, divorces, etc., would decrease proportionately as people put this rule into practice. It is the best rule by which to live, but the one most difficult to follow. Each of us must make a conscious choice to make this our guiding principle in interpersonal relations. The benefits in peace of mind alone are worth the effort.
The “Silver Rule” — “Do not unto others that which you do not want done to you.” While this philosophy is good to a certain point, it is more of a passive quality of personality than the first. It also carries the idea of doing good to those who have done good to you first. Jesus pointed out that this was already being practiced by the religious people of the day (Matthew 5:46). Christian behavior is grounded in unconditional love—love that acts in spite of the recipient’s attitude rather than as a result of it (Romans 13:8).
The “Iron Rule” — “Do unto others before they do unto you.” This has also been paraphrased as “might makes right.” This philosophy is, in essence, the worldly spirit of power and aggression. It will take the practitioner to the depths of degradation of himself and others. Good will NOT come forth from it. Just as the practice of the “Golden Rule” would result in a decrease of wars and divorces, etc., this rule is the cause of these things. Pain and heartache will always be its fruit, but people continue to follow it.
A better world begins with me—and a better me begins with a conscious choice to practice the “Golden Rule” in all my relationships.
Passion
Jim Cramer is the host of CNBC’s “Mad Money.” By just seeing the name of the program and watching a show or two, you will get the idea that he is “a little over the top.” In other words, he says what he thinks and is passionate about it. Well, a couple of weeks ago, Jim Cramer went a little too far, even for him. On a Friday, when the stock market was plunging, he called for a cut in the interest rates by the Federal Reserve. During his plea for a cut, he had what most news services described as a “meltdown”—He yelled, screamed, ranted and raved about why the chairman of the Reserve should cut the rate. It was, even for those who had seen Cramer before, bizarre. Later, he was giving interviews and trying to explain himself because some people thought he had lost his mind. In his explanations, he said that his outrageous rant was one born of passion and concern for the millions of people who would lose their homes because of the market troubles.
Now, I am not going to defend Jim Cramer’s outburst. For one thing, it may have even been staged (after all, he is a TV host). For another, he really did, in my opinion, go too far. However, I will comment on his confessed concern for people who were going to suffer foreclosure after taking risky loans—I hope that people who trade in stock care about the “little people” they affect with their decisions. Furthermore, I think the world would be a better place if everyone would be more thoughtful about people than about money or things.
A similar incident occurred in the life of Paul: “And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (Acts 26:24). I have no way of knowing to what extent Paul expressed his zeal in that situation, except for the words of Festus. But, in some way, he apparently became very passionate in order to persuade his listeners. In that same sermon, Paul appealed to Agrippa II that he (Agrippa) might “become such as I am—except for these chains.”
As we think about life and about the thinks we get upset about, maybe we ought to think a little more about zeal and passion for the really important things in life. What if we channeled that passion in constructive ways? We could put more effort and concern into our family relationships and friendships. And, we could certainly put more zeal in our efforts to reach the lost.
“I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words” (Acts 26:25).
Now, I am not going to defend Jim Cramer’s outburst. For one thing, it may have even been staged (after all, he is a TV host). For another, he really did, in my opinion, go too far. However, I will comment on his confessed concern for people who were going to suffer foreclosure after taking risky loans—I hope that people who trade in stock care about the “little people” they affect with their decisions. Furthermore, I think the world would be a better place if everyone would be more thoughtful about people than about money or things.
A similar incident occurred in the life of Paul: “And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (Acts 26:24). I have no way of knowing to what extent Paul expressed his zeal in that situation, except for the words of Festus. But, in some way, he apparently became very passionate in order to persuade his listeners. In that same sermon, Paul appealed to Agrippa II that he (Agrippa) might “become such as I am—except for these chains.”
As we think about life and about the thinks we get upset about, maybe we ought to think a little more about zeal and passion for the really important things in life. What if we channeled that passion in constructive ways? We could put more effort and concern into our family relationships and friendships. And, we could certainly put more zeal in our efforts to reach the lost.
“I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words” (Acts 26:25).
What Are You Reading?
It is interesting to walk in stores (and not just bookstores) and see displays for summer reading. People like to take a book to the beach or somewhere else while on vacation. The New York Times and other publications promote their “bestseller lists” and these also encourage reading. I believe a Christian can improve himself/herself by reading regularly. Though all one’s reading does not have to be religious material, the following religious items could be well-incorporated into one’s regular reading program.
The Bible—It is certainly a good thing to cultivate the habit of daily Bible reading and regular Bible Study. Find a trustworthy translation in a format that is conducive to your personality and habits. Then start reading and stay with it. You will reap many benefits.
Biographies—You might be surprised at the number of biographies that have been written about Christians. Though many of them are about preachers, there are numerous ones about “regular” people. I know of one company among our brethren that has produced many biographies and autobiographies of missionaries. These books can excite you with tales of real adventure and poignant stories of conversion.
Sermons—Many of us have admired at least one famous preacher in our lifetime (B.B. Baxter, Guy N. Woods, Hugo McCord, Wendell Winkler, to name a few). Maybe that man is dead now and we miss being influenced by his sermons. Thanks to sermon books, we can continue to drink from the wells of knowledge in the minds of godly men.
Doctrinal books—There are times when one needs to firmly grasp biblical teaching on a certain topic. Books written on the subject can go a long way in establishing your belief and practice. These should not be a substitute, however, for one’s own systematic study of the Bible.
Devotional books—Sometimes we want to read books that make us feel closer to God by imparting stories, poetry, etc. that connect with us emotionally. While I do not believe that this type of material should be our only reading source, I think it has a definite place in the life of a Christian. After all, God made room for such literature in the Bible itself: the book of Psalms. One word of caution: Be sure that you are firmly grounded in your faith and that the author is trustworthy. Many Christians have been led astray by the clever “heart-appeal” of false teachers.
The Bible—It is certainly a good thing to cultivate the habit of daily Bible reading and regular Bible Study. Find a trustworthy translation in a format that is conducive to your personality and habits. Then start reading and stay with it. You will reap many benefits.
Biographies—You might be surprised at the number of biographies that have been written about Christians. Though many of them are about preachers, there are numerous ones about “regular” people. I know of one company among our brethren that has produced many biographies and autobiographies of missionaries. These books can excite you with tales of real adventure and poignant stories of conversion.
Sermons—Many of us have admired at least one famous preacher in our lifetime (B.B. Baxter, Guy N. Woods, Hugo McCord, Wendell Winkler, to name a few). Maybe that man is dead now and we miss being influenced by his sermons. Thanks to sermon books, we can continue to drink from the wells of knowledge in the minds of godly men.
Doctrinal books—There are times when one needs to firmly grasp biblical teaching on a certain topic. Books written on the subject can go a long way in establishing your belief and practice. These should not be a substitute, however, for one’s own systematic study of the Bible.
Devotional books—Sometimes we want to read books that make us feel closer to God by imparting stories, poetry, etc. that connect with us emotionally. While I do not believe that this type of material should be our only reading source, I think it has a definite place in the life of a Christian. After all, God made room for such literature in the Bible itself: the book of Psalms. One word of caution: Be sure that you are firmly grounded in your faith and that the author is trustworthy. Many Christians have been led astray by the clever “heart-appeal” of false teachers.
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