Friday, September 25, 2009

Make the Way Smoother

Once upon a time, long ago a king had a highway built for his subjects. After it was completed, but the day before it was opened to the public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many as desired to participate. Their challenge was to see who could travel the highway best on the day before its official opening.

On the announced day, several people showed up. Some were in chariots, harnessed to great horses; others were on horseback. Some came in light clothing, prepared to run. Others had on thick sandals, planning to walk the new highway. People traveled the highway all day.

During the day, the king had positioned himself at the end of the section of road used for the contest. Each subject remarked to the king what a superb highway it was and how much the people in the kingdom would use it. However, they all had one and the same complaint: there was a large pile of debris and rocks left in the middle of the highway at one spot. This was an obstacle that caused them to leave the highway for a short distance and hindered their travel.

At the end of the day an older man – the last contestant – approached the king. He looked weary and explained to the king, “I stopped along the way to clear a pile of debris and rocks off the new highway. I knew this would make travel easier for the public tomorrow. That is why I am last to finish the contest. But while clearing the debris I found a bag of gold. The bag of gold was under all the debris. Please return it to the rightful owner.” The King became excited and declared, “You are now the rightful owner of the gold. You have earned it – for the one who makes the highway smoother for those who follow is the one who travels the highway best.”

Galatians 6:7 states, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Making the road smoother for those who follow is one of the great purposes of life. When we help others, God is pleased. When we bless others, it displays a selfless, Christlike attitude. This attitude is what we are told to cultivate: “Let this mind (attitude) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:5).

As you travel the highway of life, make sure you make the way smoother for those who follow.

Friday, September 18, 2009

It Is Later Than You Think

“It is later than you think” reads an inscription on a sundial.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may have discovered just how true that saying is at its recent convention. While debating whether practicing homosexuals could be ordained (the convention voted they could, the Bible teaches they should not), a tornado hit and damaged the center where the convocation was being held.

What was particularly odd about the occurrence is its rarity. No tornado had been experienced in Minneapolis, the site of the convention, for ninety years. No severe weather warnings had been announced. Just “ka-boom!”, a tornado out of the blue.

Or was it really out of the blue? Jesus warned against seeing what we call “disasters” as tokens of God’s judgment (Luke 13:4-5). Even acknowledging the words of Jesus, it still seems more than coincidence to me: a rare tornado appearing at this specific time and place and while this particular issue was under discussion. Can it be that God is beginning to close this age of grace and return to a more stern control of mankind?

Maybe the guy holding the placard in the cartoon is right – “Repent now, because it is later than you think.”

I found the news report interesting that while the tornado appeared in Minneapolis and was striking the convention center, Lutheran Bishop Mark Hanson was reading Psalm 121 to the “nervous assembly”. I would think “frightened assembly” might be a tad more accurate. It is ironic that this Psalm, speaking of God’s power and concern for His child, would be regarded in the crisis of the tornado, and other scripture that address appropriate lifestyle and moral choices would be later flagrantly ignored in a vote – after the tornado had passed. But then, isn’t that really the spirit of our time? Make the Bible and morals a cafeteria: pick what you want and leave what you don’t want.

God can use nature to bring people to repentance. He used a thunderstorm and a lightning strike to convict Martin Luther (for whom the Lutheran Church is named) of sin. The Minneapolis tornado provided a thought-provoking point: the winds and the seas are at God’s beck and call and they can be used to call people back to Himself. If we really believe that God is all He claims to be, then we would conclude that this tornado was no coincidence. It was what Bible students called “providence.” God let it happen, willed it if you please, for a reason.

One conclusion is that this tornado was a divine warning that we repent from personal sin and that our churches quit condoning destructive behaviors.

God wills certain providences in our lives also. These providences are not always as dramatic as a tornado. Nevertheless, they are all intended to remind us of our dependency upon God, our mortality and our need to repent from personal sin and destructive behaviors.

This time as I write it, I may be closer to the truth than anyone thinks, or even than the sundial or guy holding the placard would have us believe. Repent now, because …

It is later than you think.

Friday, September 11, 2009

A Compliment Guy


“The Compliment Guys” is what they are called. It came from a story in American Profile magazine (www.americanprofile.com). The story concerns two young men who are students at Purdue University. They have begun taking Wednesday afternoons, positioning themselves at a conspicuous spot on campus, and passing out cheery compliments. “I just wanted to go out and do something nice for people,” explains Brett Westcott, who came up with the idea. He has been joined by Cameron Brown, who says, “I’d noticed a lot of people were down and sad around campus with the economy so down. A lot of my friends were graduating without jobs, so I wanted to go out there and give them something to smile about.”.

I genuinely commend these two and wish their tribe to increase.

Mark Twain said, “I can live on a good compliment for six months.”

About three years ago our Adults Pastor began a ministry called “Kindness Evangelism.” Part of the kindness was to share words of encouragement. That is the essence of a compliment: words of encouragement that refresh the spirit.

Did you know that you can become a compliment giver? Listen to these words from Cameron Brown, “Giving a compliment is pretty easy, really. We say things like, ‘Great coat. Cool headphones. I dig your goatee. Very nice bicycle.’ If someone is eating an apple, we’ll compliment them for having a nutritious snack. If they’re drinking from a water bottle, we give them a thumbs-up for staying hydrated. Everybody has something to compliment. Everybody has something good in them. It just takes a second to find it.”

Joseph was one of the two first missionaries sent out by the church. He is forever known as “son of encouragement” (or Barnabas, Acts 4:36). It was not an accident that the Holy Spirit instructed the church to set aside Barnabas and Saul to become the first missionaries (Acts 13:1-4). Saul, who would later become known as the apostle Paul, would become a writer of New Testament epistles and the object of hateful rejection. He would need lots of encouragement – compliments if you will, and Barnabas would be just the guy to supply it! Someone you know and love could use a compliment today. Go ahead and give it!

Did you ever pause to meditate on the teachings from James 3:9? In speaking of the use of our tongue, this epistle makes the point that we can use it to praise or curse. Wouldn’t you rather use your tongue to praise? Words of encouragement can breathe new life into a person, and words of criticism can deflate a person’s sense of well-being. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” states Proverbs 18:21. Compliments don’t cost you anything to give. But the rewards you receive are great. I suggest you make a practice of finding one good thing about everyone you meet today – and then tell them.

Now answer this question: would you rather be around a person who encourages or a person who criticizes? What makes you think anyone else is different? Be an encourager – pass out a compliment. You will discover that strangers will become friends and friends will be loyal.

Become a compliment guy!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Washington’s Prayer

I found it interesting to read in the paper that a group called “The Freedom from Religion Foundation” in Madison, Wisconsin took exception with a local school district’s core values. The district had a statement that included “belief in God” as a core value. The Freedom from Religion Foundation web site referred to this as “suspect wording” that is in violation of the First Amendment. An attorney by the name of Rebecca Kratz sent a protesting letter on behalf of the foundation.
The First Amendment to the Constitution, ratified by Congress on December 15, 1791 states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Of course, Congress had nothing to do with establishing the school’s core values, including “belief in God.” And since when does “belief in God” establish a religion? And if so, which religion does it establish?
This is just an egregious action by the Freedom from Religion Foundation to impose its (atheistic) belief system, which is a religion, on others through intimidation.
As the Revolutionary War drew to a close, George Washington wrote a letter to the thirteen governors of the states. Entitled “Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of all the States on the Disbanding of the Army”, Washington made a plea that the leaders of the newly born nation conduct themselves in a way that honored God. The letter states,
I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in His holy protection; that He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for brethren who have served in the field; and finally that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy nation.”
Washington’s advice was generally followed and a great nation was born. You will observe, I hope, that his vision for The United States was established upon the foundation of belief in God - “that God would have you, and the State over which you preside…”
We would do well to learn from George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and others who, in seeking wisdom and strength of character have chosen “belief in God” as one of their core values. You know, like the local school district has chosen to do.
Our country was established by people who had “belief in God”. If you ever question it, remember
Washington’s prayer.