Grace to Finish the Race
I was reading from Hebrews 12, "let us run with patience the race that is set before us". It made me reflect for a moment upon the bumps or crises we encounter in the race of life.
He was a pastor from Virginia, and I was visiting with him. "Everyone I know who has become a Christian has done so in a time of crisis," he said. I began to think about it. The more I ponder it, the more it seems true.
A crisis brings a person to God. It is when a child is suddenly stricken with illness that the parent prays. It is when a business faces bankruptcy that the owner turns to God for help. It is when the weather becomes so severe that people can not manage that it is called "an act of God." Curious, isn't it?
I read recently about Saul of Tarsus, from the Biblical book of Acts, Chapter 9. We know him today as "the Apostle Paul." Something happened to change him from Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul - and that something was a crisis. He was smitten with temporary blindness as he traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus. During this time of crisis, he turned to God. In turning to faith, he learned two valuable lessons that crises will teach.
First, he learned the importance of depending on the Lord. When our strength is consumed, God's resources are available. Paul was extremely well educated, came from a good family and was apparently in robust health. He had power and possessions - and the pride that accompany them. But when the crisis hit in his life, he realized that what he needed most was the Lord. He needed to no longer serve self, but serve God.
Secondly, he learned to trust God. Are you able to trust God in the perplexing crises of life? I believe the answer to be "yes." One of the familiar greetings in the New Testament is "Grace and peace to you" (Philippians 1:2, among others). "Grace" is "the unmerited favor of God." It is God's favor and, quite often, God intervening in our lives to assist us in time of crisis. When writing 2 Corinthians (12:7), Paul discusses a "thorn in the flesh". This is a deliberately vague reference to a physical ailment. By keeping this ailment unidentified, the scripture makes it applicable to us all, in any type of ailment. The answer Paul received to his prayer is not, "I will heal you" but "My grace is sufficient for you." It is God's grace that keeps us from despair. How does God show His grace? Occasionally through direct action, usually through His body, the church. That is, through Christian friends who pray for you and come alongside to help, as best they can.
Are you going through a crisis? If so, turn to the One who can help you most- the living God. If you are not presently in a crisis, be assured that one will come into your life eventually. Be prepared for it by turning now to the living God. Learn to trust Him fully and depend upon His grace to see you through.
We need His grace to finish the race!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Virtual World
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded recently to – drum roll, please – President Barack Obama.
Congratulations, President Obama, upon receiving this award. Certainly you must have accomplished some laudable achievement to have been so honored.
Wait a minute. No achievement comes to mind. Nor have any of the President’s public relations personnel presented a peace accomplishment.
What gives?
Welcome to the frightening world of virtual reality – where what a person says and how he looks is more meaningful than what he does. You may thank screen actors and entertainers for this new world, although they are not entirely to blame. None of these people have accomplished anything lasting, but portray on the screen those who have. How many surgeries have been performed by Leonardo DiCaprio? What startup business has Madonna been supervising recently? Yet these people make huge amounts of money. You may also thank the creators of computer games, who have led many into this intriguing and deceptive world. Virtual reality is, of course, unreality. But who cares? Certainly not the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
Virtual reality has influenced the world more than you may realize. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama demonstrates that words and image now trump action and achievement. To speak words of hope is more important than to perform hope-giving deeds.
The culture of words has trumped the culture of deeds in our time. These cultures define “success” in different ways. The culture of deeds considers people successful who are laborers, entrepreneurs, soldiers, schoolteachers, charitable workers, accountants, police and fire fighters, etc – people who actually do something and accomplish a mission. The culture of words, the virtual culture, considers people successful who talk – especially on TV– and are looked upon with approbation by peers or media. These are people who are clever, articulate and look good in front of a camera.
In the culture of deeds, personal responsibility for one’s behavior is important. Bad ideas are repudiated. Poor decisions result in bankruptcy, divorce or some other failure. Good ideas and decisions result in prosperity and stability. The person makes decisions, acts on it and experiences the consequences.
In the virtual culture of words and image, there are no negative consequences. Presidents can talk about what they are going to do and be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Professors who have no experience running a business and who never served in the armed forces spend their time denouncing American industry and the military without fear of censure - their statements are quoted on TV and occasionally in the daily paper; former members of Congress who receive guaranteed generous pensions speak lunacies about global warming (the planet has been cooling for the past several consecutive years according to the British Broadcasting System) or some other intellectually fashionable fad, demanding societal changes that any rational person knows would destroy the economy and cause untold misery for millions of people. Nothing done by the virtual reality culture results in producing jobs, increasing wealth, or improving the life of the average American citizen. There are no negative consequences, as long as the person looks good and is articulate. If a person speaks words of hope and as long as he or she looks good doing it, nothing else matters. Deeds no longer count.
President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the basis of his words and image, not on the basis of his deeds. In the new world of the “virtual”, what more can we expect? This is the unreal world of “hope so” and make believe. Obama looks good and talks well, so we will make believe that he has brought peace to some part of the world, even though he has really, non-virtually, not done so.
Welcome to the virtual world.
The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded recently to – drum roll, please – President Barack Obama.
Congratulations, President Obama, upon receiving this award. Certainly you must have accomplished some laudable achievement to have been so honored.
Wait a minute. No achievement comes to mind. Nor have any of the President’s public relations personnel presented a peace accomplishment.
What gives?
Welcome to the frightening world of virtual reality – where what a person says and how he looks is more meaningful than what he does. You may thank screen actors and entertainers for this new world, although they are not entirely to blame. None of these people have accomplished anything lasting, but portray on the screen those who have. How many surgeries have been performed by Leonardo DiCaprio? What startup business has Madonna been supervising recently? Yet these people make huge amounts of money. You may also thank the creators of computer games, who have led many into this intriguing and deceptive world. Virtual reality is, of course, unreality. But who cares? Certainly not the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
Virtual reality has influenced the world more than you may realize. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama demonstrates that words and image now trump action and achievement. To speak words of hope is more important than to perform hope-giving deeds.
The culture of words has trumped the culture of deeds in our time. These cultures define “success” in different ways. The culture of deeds considers people successful who are laborers, entrepreneurs, soldiers, schoolteachers, charitable workers, accountants, police and fire fighters, etc – people who actually do something and accomplish a mission. The culture of words, the virtual culture, considers people successful who talk – especially on TV– and are looked upon with approbation by peers or media. These are people who are clever, articulate and look good in front of a camera.
In the culture of deeds, personal responsibility for one’s behavior is important. Bad ideas are repudiated. Poor decisions result in bankruptcy, divorce or some other failure. Good ideas and decisions result in prosperity and stability. The person makes decisions, acts on it and experiences the consequences.
In the virtual culture of words and image, there are no negative consequences. Presidents can talk about what they are going to do and be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Professors who have no experience running a business and who never served in the armed forces spend their time denouncing American industry and the military without fear of censure - their statements are quoted on TV and occasionally in the daily paper; former members of Congress who receive guaranteed generous pensions speak lunacies about global warming (the planet has been cooling for the past several consecutive years according to the British Broadcasting System) or some other intellectually fashionable fad, demanding societal changes that any rational person knows would destroy the economy and cause untold misery for millions of people. Nothing done by the virtual reality culture results in producing jobs, increasing wealth, or improving the life of the average American citizen. There are no negative consequences, as long as the person looks good and is articulate. If a person speaks words of hope and as long as he or she looks good doing it, nothing else matters. Deeds no longer count.
President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on the basis of his words and image, not on the basis of his deeds. In the new world of the “virtual”, what more can we expect? This is the unreal world of “hope so” and make believe. Obama looks good and talks well, so we will make believe that he has brought peace to some part of the world, even though he has really, non-virtually, not done so.
Welcome to the virtual world.
Friday, November 6, 2009
I Am Praying for Her
“I don’t like her.”
It could just as easily been written, “I don’t like him.” Either way, it is something to consider.
Life is filled with episodes where misunderstanding occurs. Someone may disagree in an unpleasant manner. We enter into a business arrangement with another person and then that person violates his or her word. We may be the object of another person’s gossip, and genuinely find the situation puzzling – and maddening. Consequently, we conclude “I don’t like her.”
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Are there any practices we can incorporate to help us deal with a person we don’t like? Yes, there are a few.
It is important to understand one huge truth: you may not ever be able to change another person, but you can change yourself. Your attitude about a person you don’t like must change if you are to have peace of mind and maintain a sound relationship with God. Think about ways to change yourself, rather than ways to change the other person.
Seek contact. Remember that the other person is just that – a person. Most of us avoid a person we don’t like, and so that person becomes a monster in our minds. Don’t allow the person you don’t like to become a monster in your thinking. The more you are exposed to a person, the more you see the humanness of that person – warts and all.
Do something nice for the person. Is this difficult? Then send a card. Just purchase one with a prayerful message and sign your name. Nothing more. By doing good to another, the barrier of animosity starts breaking down. This is important for your own well being – you need to do this for yourself, if not for the other person.
Look for humor. Joke about whatever annoys you, and if you are able to poke fun at your own reaction, do it. Nothing neutralizes bad feelings like a good laugh. In many situations you have two choices: either to become angry or to laugh. Choose laughter.
Act friendly. We do not usually act the way we feel. We feel the way we act. Do good things and you feel good. Act the way you want to feel. Feelings always follow actions.
Resist criticism. Otherwise, the criticism will put you in a position from which it will be difficult to extricate yourself later. You probably do not know everything and later information could change your thinking about the person you don’t presently like.
Remember happy shared experiences. Recall the good times. Emphasize this in your thinking.
Cultivate a grateful heart. Remember all for which you should be grateful. Develop a thankful heart, and every time an annoying or maddening thought crosses your mind, erase it with a thought of gratitude.
To maintain your spiritual equilibrium, learn to change your thinking from “I don’t like her” to…
“I am praying for her.”
“I don’t like her.”
It could just as easily been written, “I don’t like him.” Either way, it is something to consider.
Life is filled with episodes where misunderstanding occurs. Someone may disagree in an unpleasant manner. We enter into a business arrangement with another person and then that person violates his or her word. We may be the object of another person’s gossip, and genuinely find the situation puzzling – and maddening. Consequently, we conclude “I don’t like her.”
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Are there any practices we can incorporate to help us deal with a person we don’t like? Yes, there are a few.
It is important to understand one huge truth: you may not ever be able to change another person, but you can change yourself. Your attitude about a person you don’t like must change if you are to have peace of mind and maintain a sound relationship with God. Think about ways to change yourself, rather than ways to change the other person.
Seek contact. Remember that the other person is just that – a person. Most of us avoid a person we don’t like, and so that person becomes a monster in our minds. Don’t allow the person you don’t like to become a monster in your thinking. The more you are exposed to a person, the more you see the humanness of that person – warts and all.
Do something nice for the person. Is this difficult? Then send a card. Just purchase one with a prayerful message and sign your name. Nothing more. By doing good to another, the barrier of animosity starts breaking down. This is important for your own well being – you need to do this for yourself, if not for the other person.
Look for humor. Joke about whatever annoys you, and if you are able to poke fun at your own reaction, do it. Nothing neutralizes bad feelings like a good laugh. In many situations you have two choices: either to become angry or to laugh. Choose laughter.
Act friendly. We do not usually act the way we feel. We feel the way we act. Do good things and you feel good. Act the way you want to feel. Feelings always follow actions.
Resist criticism. Otherwise, the criticism will put you in a position from which it will be difficult to extricate yourself later. You probably do not know everything and later information could change your thinking about the person you don’t presently like.
Remember happy shared experiences. Recall the good times. Emphasize this in your thinking.
Cultivate a grateful heart. Remember all for which you should be grateful. Develop a thankful heart, and every time an annoying or maddening thought crosses your mind, erase it with a thought of gratitude.
To maintain your spiritual equilibrium, learn to change your thinking from “I don’t like her” to…
“I am praying for her.”
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