Today's POMP is tomorrow's CIRCUMSTANCE..

Alright – let’s face it – Contact the authorities, I’m about to pull off a theft! It seems like each year I write the Wednesday Word in the first week of June. In the past couple of years, I’ve pondered notable birthdays and landmark anniversaries. This time around, the focus seems to fall on the class of 2009 since we are graduating our first born in 10 days. Trying to find the right thing to say, I came across this from author/blogger Dave Burchett …I couldn’t have said it better:

The bad news, high school graduates, is that you can't have it all. You aren't as free as you think you are. Sorry, but no matter what optimistic flapdoodle your commencement speaker tells you, that's the truth. {Rod Dreher, Dallas Morning News}

Dreher is right. You really can’t be anything you want. Shaquille O’Neal can’t be a jockey in the Kentucky Derby no matter how much he dreams or hopes. All the horses certainly hope that is true. I realize that there are things I simply cannot do. I will never be a rocket scientist unless they eliminate that pesky math requirement. Back to Mr.Dreher’s column.

What's more, unless you're an incurable romantic or an American politician, you eventually will learn that life is more tragic than you were led to believe. You will discover your own limits. You will fail at something, even if you succeed by the standards of the world. That failure may save you; success may destroy you.

Nobody really wants to hear that on graduation day but everyone needs to hear those truths at some point and hopefully early in the journey. If I were asked to speak to young grads (not likely) I would tell them some things I wish I had known at their age. I would talk about my faith so that would rule me out of most venues. And even if I got to speak I suspect there would be a lot of texting going on from a restless audience. But maybe a couple of them would hear some things that they will have to figure out eventually.

1. I wish I had known that my high school years did not define me at all My teen years were a mixed bag of memorable highs and incredible lows. Now I realize that what I once considered some of the worst moments of my life I am grateful for experiencing. In many of those spiritual valleys you could not have begun to convince me that God was molding me or that those experiences could ever be of value. I knew the scripture just as you likely do…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. I now realize that mere knowledge of that promise is not enough. It comes down to our foundational belief of who God is. Do we believe His Word? I mean really believe His Word? That He will actually cause even the worst event to somehow work for ours or someone else's good? That requires faith in a God that is trustworthy.

I have developed a heart of compassion for those who are wounded. Why? God gave me the privilege of being wounded early in my life. That sounds crazy as I read back over that last sentence. It is not a sentence that I would have written twenty or perhaps even ten years ago. But I can see that my struggles as an overweight, geeky and generally outcast adolescent molded my heart to empathize with those who are hurt and ostracized by their peers. Had I been the coolest guy or the best athlete or the most handsome I most likely would not have developed a sensitive spirit to others. So God gave me the opportunity on all of those fronts to develop sensitivity. I did not enjoy that period of my life. I would have given anything at that time to be one of the really popular kids. I would have told you that I would gladly trade nearly anything on the spot to be the starting quarterback or the big man on campus. I was desperate to be part of the cool group. With the benefit of hindsight I can promise you that I am grateful for every refining difficulty and problem. Such a dramatic change in attitude is a matter of time, growth in my relationship with Jesus and my trust in the truth of His promises. As G.K.Chesterton wryly noted, "Do not free a camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel." Had I been freed the burden of my "hump" (that tough teenage passage), I would not be who I am today.

2. I wish I had known that I needed to decide in advance what I would do in tough situations
Most of my mistakes as a teen were made in moments of peer pressure that I was not prepared to address. Joni and I tried to teach our sons that you decide in advance what your response will be to temptation. Decide in advance that you will call for a ride when asked to get in the car with a drinking driver. Decide in advance to not get yourself into a situation where sexual temptation will be an issue. Decide in advance that you will be kind to the less popular no matter how the "cool" kids view that action. Decide in advance to trust God as you make decisions that you fear might lessen your popularity or status. In the moment you tend to make wrong decisions so make them in advance and then stand firm.

3. I wish I had known that every person is created in God's image…and He loves them just as much as He loves me
Sparky Anderson, a former Cincinnati Reds manager, once said that "you can never go wrong being classy." And you can never go wrong being kind to everyone. Sometimes you will be tempted to ridicule or tease those who are less attractive, intelligent, gifted or cool. Don't do it. If you can accept the advice of a guy who has been to a 25th High School reunion I can tell you this. Some of those "losers" are the "winners" now. They have wonderful families and lives. Some of the kids I was desperate to be like are still living off of moldy high school memories. High school is the start of a very long journey. Some people seem to be leading the life race coming out of high school but they often falter by the first turn. The real winners know that life is a marathon and that God has a plan for that long race. Be kind to everyone. Jesus loves them. And so should you.

4. I wish I had known that nothing outside of who I am in Christ can make me cool There is nothing wrong with desiring to wear clothes and shoes that are fashionable. There is nothing wrong with being in activities that are popular. But it is wrong to think that those clothes or shoes or activities make you better than others. I really wish I had known that going along with the group and doing wrong things did not make me cool. I wish I had realized in high school that people look at those things but God looks on the heart. It is your heart that makes you who you are, not your outfit or activities or “rebellious” moments.

5. I wish I had known in high school that I needed to take responsibility for my own actions
Learn now to say these three sentences.
I was wrong. I am sorry. Forgive me.

And keep your "but" out of those statements. Don't say "I was wrong 'but' I didn't think it would hurt you" or "I am sorry 'but' I was having a bad day." Those are not real apologies. Take responsibility. Live with integrity. That will make you unique in this culture of it is never my fault.

6. I wish I had known in high school that the 2nd most important decision I would make is who my friends were.
Your friends have an influence on who you are and who you become. Pick them carefully. Young Christians often think they can influence their friends for Christ if they keep hanging out with them. Be careful that you don't lose the balance of the fellowship and encouragement of Christian friends. Prayerfully seek a balance between the two. But understand that friends are a critical factor in your life and they will influence who you are…good or bad.

7. The most important decision I will ever make is who or what I serve
Everyone one worships something or someone. It can be money or power or fame or popularity. I believe we are created to worship God. We have a yearning from our birth to find our purpose and significance. But if you don't find that relationship in Christ you will tend to fill it with wrong things. Often those things are not inherently bad. But they can become bad things when they become the focus instead of Jesus. We used to sing a camp song with these lyrics..
Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you

There is nothing wrong with these "things" when you seek the kingdom of God first. One of my favorite passages is in the book of Colossians. Paul outlines what it looks like to be a real Christian. Living these five little verses will change your life.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12–17, NLT)

You don't fully control your fate, but you do control the formation of your character. That matters in ways we cannot foresee and can only appreciate once we lose the illusion that we are self-created. George Eliot ended her novel Middlemarch with a line about the effect, over time, of ordinary goodness lived out by ordinary people like us: "The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs. {Rod Dreher}

Good stuff. I may not be famous but I can be faithful. Our culture is built on people like that. Ordinary and good people doing the right and kind thing every day without fanfare. There is great value in living a life with those ideals. Go for your dreams but remember your significance as a unique creation and your responsibility to one another. I promise you that is not balderdash.

{The unedited version is available in its' full original context at: http://daveburchett.com/archive/2009/05/26.aspx }

Is it “Looking back to Lesotho”…OR…“Anticipating what’s ahead for Africa” ???

We sit here on the opening day of Sharathon and I’m given the chance to reflect on last month’s trip to distribute radios in the remote villages of Lesotho. I became very aware that every radio that I was fortunate enough to put into the hands of an impoverished grandmother or a weathered farmer signified so much. Not only did it represent God’s love and the opportunity to hear the Gospel, but also your faithful prayer and financial support of WBFJ. Your gift to keep Christian radio strong in the Triad was multiplied, packaged and sent halfway around the world to people who may never know your name and have likely already forgotten my face. The experience remains humbling even 8 weeks later – having the privilege to represent you in God’s ministry…but then again, I guess that’s what happens every day. WOW – that’s even more humbling!

As exciting as it was to share those radios with hundreds of villagers who cherished their arrival and will hopefully find God’s grace as result, I am just as thrilled at the hundreds more who are anxiously waiting today. And today…we can make a difference for them too. We know of 400 more village residents currently praying for the Lord’s provision. We hope God uses the WBFJ family to answer those petitions.

As was customary for our distributions, I will clap twice and bow my head with open palms anxiously awaiting God’s gift. And then I will slowly raise my head and with a glance of gratitude look into the eyes of the Giver of all good things. He is the provider of every breath we take, every dollar given to this ministry and every life that is touched.

Washing Africa Off My Shoes

As I am cleaning out my suitcase from the recent trip to Lesotho, I was met with a deep stench rising from the Ziploc bags of dirty clothes. A quick search revealed the perpetrator of the problem: my tennis shoes. They bore the dust of the dirty streets of Maseru as well as that of the surrounding hillsides. The heat of the African days had left the residue of sweaty feet inside. I guess if you think about it – there is a Biblical perspective in the feet of those who bring good news…

Was the trip life-changing? Not for me. But it was for somebody, in fact many somebody’s…Am I glad I went? You bet! Would I go again? Sure!

A week gives only the slightest glimpse into the heart and soul of a culture. One that took thousands of years to develop cannot be accurately dissected within days. For me, this journey provided renewed assurance that God can/is working in all parts of the world no matter if it fits into our pattern of ministry or not. It also gives me confidence of the calling that God has placed in the hearts of man to serve Him in every culture, community or country.

No project was completed, there were no children that I wanted to bring home and I really didn’t struggle with a strong desire to remain in Maseru. The time has been good, the trip worthwhile and the money well spent. God’s servants from both sides of the ocean have been encouraged and His people have found their strength renewed. His light still shines in every corner of the world.

I have always wanted to go on a trip and distribute shoeboxes with Operation Christmas Child…I think I just did. The children were much older and their boxes contained nothing but radios. But the gift of love remains just that and the joy in which it is received is unparalleled in human emotion. The intent was to bring to Africa something they could use for God’s glory. Instead, we take back a greater perspective of the same. America has a lot to offer the world. God has more. The world doesn’t necessarily need America…it does need God!

So, as the sand and dirt of Lesotho has escaped into the drains of Davidson County, I pray that the experience will always have an impact, the names will never be forgotten and the faces continually etched in my memory. Yeah, my shoes look brand new again…maybe it’s a reflection of the hearts reached on this journey.

Whose Barn Is It Anyway!

So…as I sit watching the President outline his plans to rebuild our economy thru a series of stimulus...it caused me to think – that can be dangerous!

Regardless of where your perspective falls in all of this or which side of the aisle demands your allegiance, the underlying factors affect us all and in some way result from decades of poor planning and stewardship.

It was like there another State Of The Union being given to our entire country from the Highest Authority:

"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Republican or Democrat, White Collar or Blue, Christian or Agnostic – we are all guilty of the mismanagement of God’s resources…

No matter where we go from here, it kinda makes you wonder if we didn’t miss something along the way…if we get another chance, let’s not blow it!

NOT A MEN'S ROOM IN SIGHT...

I always wondered what it would be like to be a woman at a Promise Keepers event. Well, I got a glimpse recently while attending a Women Of Faith Revolve Tour weekend for teen girls.

We neared the coliseum, passing dozens of church vans filled with adolescent young ladies anticipating the experience of a lifetime. Myself, like many of them had no idea what to expect. The next 22 hours proved to be quite an array of energy, music and Biblical instruction for life.

So what’s a guy like me doing in a place like this? Good question. That’s what I was wondering. It was in the words of one of the speakers of the evening that I found the wisdom to take from the weekend. For her, the investment of her time and talents into the lives of young people finds its’ base in the instruction of Paul from I Timothy 4:12: Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Do we look at the lives at the teens we know as examples of faith, love and purity? Why not? What impact do the lives of these young people have in our society?

As one of a handful of men in the midst of 7,000 screaming girls, I realized that from this group would come a number of missionaries, teachers, nurses and many others that God would use to change the world one life at a time. The hands that waived 6,900 cell phones in syncopated rhythm would be used by God to touch lives for His glory. The feet that jumped to the beat of the band would lead a generation to follow. These voices will indeed: “…sing of His love forever.”

Teenage girls that change the world? The girls in our churches? Our schools? Our homes? It’s believable! And highly likely seeing that this is a season where we celebrate a teenage girl who changed the world forever – not with her ability, but with her availability.

Thanks Mary…oh, and Merry Christmas!

"Excuse Me and Thank You for the Meal..."

A Thanksgiving Blog? That’s kinda campy, corny or uninspiring – certainly there can be a more original display of divine gratitude…

Again this year there is so much to be thankful for: provision of the basic needs of life, health, friends and family. Victories, successes, sunsets and plans that worked provide the sustenance of what we count as our blessings. But what about the failures, sickness, storms and the plans that never got off the ground? Thanks in ALL things?

If there is one thing that I have learned this year is that each of those things I cannot accomplish myself – God can…and He can thru me. It’s not that “I” can do all things thru Christ who gives me strength, BUT it’s CHRIST in me who brings strength enabling me to do all things. I guess that would include giving thanks even in the toughest of circumstances. Now, that’s not where I find myself today. But I have friends who are there. I have to be thankful that the same Christ who gives support to my weakness will be allowed the chance to do the same for them.

I have seen this year more than ever that God’s ways are far beyond my understanding. My gratitude is given in full trust that He extends His grace to all and is benevolent enough to allow each of us a place in His great plan.

So thanks Lord for allowing me the opportunity to live the life You have called me to – I should want nothing else…oh yeah, and thanks too for that mess of leaves in the yard that needs to be moved this weekend.

FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY

Several weeks ago, I was reading an article regarding the role of evangelicals in our recent election. A statement in the article jumped off the page and hit me square in the face: “In this election, the economy has become a moral issue for evangelicals.”

My initial reaction was one of shock, denial and disbelief. There is no way that one’s finances equate with their moral character or ethical decisions. Only a world operating apart from absolutes would yield such a selfish perspective.

However, after some prayer, deep thought and Scriptural searching, I have begun to see how this might actually bear some truth. There are elements to our economic situation that DO hold moral value:

- The poverty-stricken who are struggling due to the loss of a job or a health issue. The Bible addresses helping the poor far more often than many of the moral standards we establish.
- How about the greed and avarice that lie behind a corrupt financial system built on false pretences and encouraging people to make bad decisions. Proverbs anyone?
- Speaking of which – how many of us are in direct conflict with Scripture simply by being in debt? (See, my hand is raised too)

Each of these is a moral issue operating as a direct result of our ‘amoral economy’. So do we as Evangelicals, as Christians face the economy as a moral issue?

From Habakkuk 3:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Picture the background of this verse: an agricultural based economy that has fallen on hard times…In agri-business, the recovery will take longer than tomorrow, next week or even next month…YET…I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

So even if the morals of money pollute our horizon, we find refuge in a God who cares about sparrows and hairs on our head, not to mention the dollar in our pocket.