In God We Trust

It appears on our money in the United States. It is our official national motto, “In God We Trust.” See article here But is it true?

In recent years, many people and groups have tried to challenge this simple four-word phrase. Some claim that it violates the “separation of church and state”. However, the phrase is not specific to any one religion– most of the major world religions (and most of those practiced in America) agree that there is (at least) one God, who can and should be trusted.

I actually worry a little less about those who are challenging the phrase than about those who simply ignore it or give it lip service. And I pray that I don’t fall into the latter group, but in certain moments, I can’t honestly say that I am trusting fully in God. Instead, I tend to trust in various “God-like” things:

I trust my own intuition or my own reason
I trust “experts”
I trust “the science”
I trust “the numbers”
I trust in the money that bears the motto
I trust in my own strengths and abilities
I trust in my husband
I trust my church
I trust my family
I trust what I read on Wikipedia or what I look up on Google
I trust what my friends send me on Facebook or Twitter
I trust what “they” say on TV
I trust what I read on a cereal box or food label
I trust headlines
I trust photos and videos I see on the news
I trust what I hear on the radio
I trust celebrity endorsements
I trust public opinion
I trust my feelings…

beautiful beauty close up face — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Of course, some of the things listed above are obviously suspect; others seem reliable and true. It’s hard to argue against some of the things on the list– it’s hard to doubt what I see, what can be measured, or what has proved true in the past. And yet, I have been hurt and betrayed by many of these things– my feelings are unreliable; my friends or family give me advice with good intentions, but bad results; images and even eyewitness accounts don’t always tell the whole story, and, increasingly, honesty and integrity are being crushed out by compromise and expediency. “If it bleeds, it leads…” “The truth is evolving..” “We all have our own ‘truth’..”

apps blur button close up — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

God’s truths are eternal and righteous; that doesn’t make them easy or comfortable. Sometimes it seems as though God takes a stand on both sides of an important issue– or that He takes no side at all– leaving us confused and wanting quick and well-defined answers. I have friends who agonize about being on the “wrong side of history” with many current issues. Let’s face it– no one wants to be on the “wrong side” of anything. We draw lines and pick sides– both sides can’t be “right”, can they? So how can we know if we’re trusting God if God is silent or ambiguous?

In the end, there are a few guidelines that have helped me be more confident and have acted as anchors for my faith:

Reading the Bible: not a verse here, or a chapter there to support a particular action or position–consistent reading THROUGH the Bible– from beginning to end, or at least through an entire book at a time.
Asking tough questions: I would love to assume that I already know the answers or have the “right” opinions, but if I can’t handle being challenged; if I never have any questions or can’t ask the ones I keep pushing down, that should be a sign. Sometimes the more questions I ask, the more I have! But, as uncomfortable as it is in the beginning, it is better to ask, and chase after an uncomfortable answer than to ignore the question or pretend to have all the answers.
LISTENING— really listening, whether to friends who seem to know all the answers (see above) , or those with really good questions. It also means listening to those with whom I am tempted to disagree, and to those with whom I passionately disagree. Listening is not the same as accepting or agreeing, but it is important for at least two reasons:
- Every person is made in the image of God– how I treat them is a reflection of my love for God. I will fall short; I will still hurt people’s feelings, whether or not that is my intention, but if I’m doing it through pride, hatred, or disdain, I am dishonoring God.
- Second, I cannot say I understand a person if I’m cutting them off, talking over them, and finishing their sentences for them. Often, while we may disagree on semantics or details, it turns out we agree on more than we assume we know about “the other side.”
Praying for wisdom and discernment. It sounds odd to those who trust in their own understanding, but God WILL open your eyes, ears, and mind to truth, even if it’s being twisted, covered up, hidden, or falsified. God promises, again and again, to give wisdom freely to those who ask. He doesn’t want us to be confused and frustrated– but He does want us to seek out His truth instead of wallowing in the bog of “little white lies” and obfuscation around us.
Waiting and listening for the Holy Spirit to prompt my conscience. This is much like asking for wisdom, but more subtle, and in some ways more dramatic. The Holy Spirit is our guide and counselor (think Jiminy Cricket, but much more spiritual and always right). Even if I’m not aware enough to know what to ask or what to question, the Holy Spirit will often prompt me. Have you ever been reading along, or listening to someone’s story, and suddenly you just get the sense that something is “wrong”– you’re not getting the whole truth; or there is a detail that stands out and doesn’t make sense, and it keeps niggling at your conscience? Yeah– that. Pay attention to that– even amidst the graphic images and angry voices surrounding you.
Keeping track of God’s faithfulness– I don’t maintain this blog because I “wish” that God was faithful, or because someone managed to convince me that this is what I “should” believe. God has proven faithful through all my questions. I know I can trust Him because I have trusted Him through good times and difficult times; times when it didn’t make sense, when it wasn’t popular, and when circumstances pointed in other directions. I have seen God’s hand at work in history and prophecy and personal testimony in ways that defy expectation and explanation.

And whether of not it’s printed on my money; whether or not it’s popular or “patriotic” or punishable by law, I will continue to trust in God. He is trustworthy and true; faithful in mercy and love; sovereign and altogether righteous. In God I have trusted; In God I trust; and In God I will continue to trust.

June 21, 2018 0

Seeing God in the Fire

Yesterday, I expressed a goal of looking around to Thank God for his amazing creation and looking for God throughout the day. I saw mist rising from fields–fields that are lush and growing, and others that are soggy or just beginning to show tiny shoots; I saw red sorrel, and bright green leaves, beautiful flowers of many colors, a majestic sand hill crane, a bunny, plenty of birds, and dozens of excited kids!

carefree child childhood countryside — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I also saw a dead deer, a wrecked car, flood damage from a couple months ago, angry people rushing around, and lots of potholes!

Today at VBS, we were studying how God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and it got me thinking about a couple of things:

abstract blur bright bushes — Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com

First, I thought of the bush– it burned but was not consumed. What does this tell me about God?
- God often catches our attention with displays of His power– God has the power to consume us. He is even described as a consuming fire. Yet God is not out to “burn” us– he often uses fire or struggles to refine us, to “burn off” the briers in which we have become entangled or to rid us of impurities. But, as with the bush, he longs to work through us as a refining fire, without destroying us. God’s fire within us draws attention– it startles, even frightens some–but it is a controlled fire with a Holy and life-giving purpose.
- It reminds me that God is not to be taken lightly. We don’t play with the kind of fire that engulfs a large bush; neither should we “play” with God’s warnings, his promises, or his truth. Just because God uses fire, doesn’t mean that it is harmless for us to use on our own.
- It also reminds me that God is present IN the fire of our trials–if we are feeling the heat, God is there with us. Just as he was found in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; just as he was found by Moses in the fire, so we can often find him with us or speaking to us in times of crisis.

man reading a book — Photo by Tri Fatono on Pexels.com

Second, I thought about God telling Moses to take off his shoes, because the ground he was on was Holy ground. Three thoughts:
- Holy Ground is sacred– God doesn’t want us tracking in sin and filth on our shoes. Once I get home, the shoes come OFF. I don’t want to track mud and goo and who knows what all over my floors. God will not tolerate sin seeping in or sticking to our soles to enter His presence, which bring me to…
- Moses was in the very presence of God. God’s voice was in the bush, but his presence was all around– even in the very ground. God wants to be so close to us that NOTHING separates us. Later in life, Moses and God were so close, that Moses glowed from having spent time with his Heavenly Father face to face. Moses had to wear a veil to cover his face when he was in the presence of people– he lifted the veil to talk to God!

man person street shoes — Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com

The last thought blows my mind…God told Moses to take off his shoes because he didn’t need them. Shoes provide protection from all kinds of things– hot sand in the desert, scorpions, shards of glass, thistles and thorns, sharp rocks…When we are in the presence of God we don’t need protection from anything! He is our safety, our fortress, our shelter. We don’t need shoes, or safety belts, or helmets, or sunscreen to protect us from His presence! (Unless, of course, we are stumbling over His cornerstone! Kicking against the Solid Rock–even with steel-toed shoes–is not a safe prospect.)

If someone reading this is also going through the fire today, I pray that we can see God’s presence or hear His voice in the midst of it, and kick off our shoes, knowing that God’s presence makes even the desert sand or the fiery furnace Holy Ground.

blur chucks close up converse — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

June 20, 2018 0

My Daddy Made It!

Our church is having Vacation Bible School this week. VBS is one of my favorite childhood memories, so I’m excited to be going back as a volunteer. I’m working with toddlers this week–children of other volunteers, who are too young for the “full” VBS experience.

photo of toddler wearing jacket — Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

I was surprised and encouraged, though, to see that there IS a curriculum for this age group. Yesterday, we talked about God’s wonderful creation. We sang songs, played, ate snacks, and listened to stories. One of our activities was to talk about some of the specific things that God created (plants, animals, the sun, etc..) When I asked the group, “Who created everything?”, one little guy popped right up and with all the confidence of a three-year-old, proclaimed, “My Daddy made it!” This was not really a wrong answer– His Heavenly Father did make everything, to which another young fellow added, “Yeah, God made tractors, too!”

Toddlers may not have the “approved” or “acceptable” answers to big theological questions, but their hearts instinctively know that good things come from our good Father. The whole group was ready to shout out about plants– grapes, tomatoes, pickles, and blueberries were all mentioned, along with carrots and corn. Lions, elephants, and puppies. And, of course, tractors.

child girl grass innocence — Photo by Jessica Lewis on Pexels.com

Sometimes, it’s easy for adults to get distracted by the things WE have made–plans, careers, decisions, mistakes, partnerships, habits–that we lose sight of the wonderful things God has given us.

green leafed tree beside body of water — Photo by Flickr on Pexels.com

I want to take some time today (before and after working at VBS) to pause and say, “Thank You” to my father for clouds and trees, for carrots and blueberries, for hope and joy, and for puppies and elephants, too. But I also want to pause and soak in the amazing thought that “My Daddy made it”– for my good, for his pleasure; to be enjoyed and protected, used and shared.

selective focus photography of girl holding pink flower — Photo by Sarah Jane on Pexels.com

And I will look for tractors along the way, too!

June 19, 2018 0

M.I.A.

Yesterday was Father’s Day. Father’s Day can be very difficult for many people– in my case, it can be a reminder of how much I miss my Dad, who passed away 20 years ago. Some of my friends have had recent experience in losing a beloved father. For some, the hurt is still there after 50 years, or 70.

For others, it is a difficult day, not because they grieve the loss of a father to death, but because they grieve the absence of a loving father– an absentee father, an unknown father, an abusive father, or a distant, cold, or critical father.

man wearing black zip up hooded jacket standing — Photo by Tamar Willoughby on Pexels.com

At this point, I generally point to the Father who is eternally loving and faithful– Our Heavenly Father is God of the fatherless and the orphan, the God of restoration and reconciliation. No matter where our earthly fathers are or have been, God is always right by our side.

All that is true, but I want to share something that’s been bothering me. I scrolled down my FB feed, and listened in at church, and talked to a restaurant owner, and looked at the card section at the store. And there’s something missing. It’s not that we don’t honor fathers. I saw a lot of wonderful tributes to dads, husbands, brothers, and sons. I saw sons sitting with their recently widowed father at church; a son honoring his father by taking him out to eat; fathers and sons wearing awesome matching shirts with fun messages, and lots of old photos of dads with their families in years past, as well as newer pictures of dads with goofy toddlers, and pretty girls in prom dresses, and holding newborns.

selective focus and color photography of man looking at her girl sitting on garden swing white holding bouquet of flower in brown wicker basket — Photo by Kha Ruxury on Pexels.com

We honor fathers, but we do not honor Fatherhood. We seem awkwardly proud and surprised when fathers actually show up and do their job. We make it seem easy, even brainless, in comparison to the work of a mother. In fact, there are those who argue that Fatherhood is not necessary for family life. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is POSSIBLE to rear children in a single-parent household (male or female). It is possible to raise strong and healthy children without the presence of a father (or mother). But that doesn’t make it desirable or advantageous for a child, or for society.

affection beach care caucasian — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

What are we losing as a society when we engage in (or stay on the sidelines for) a war on Fatherhood? When we make excuses for bad fathers or mothers who choose to denigrate the men who gave life to their children? What happens when “dad” becomes, not the name of a single influential person in your life, but the name of whichever man is currently living with mom, AND also the man who sees you every other weekend? What happens when the media consistently portray moms as hardworking and wise, and dads are the comic relief?

We are losing the next generation of fathers; the next generation of men with drive and passion to work for something beyond their own whims and wants. We are losing the next generation of women, too– as they struggle to be both mothers and fathers, or choose to be neither because it’s too much trouble to do it alone. We are losing a sense of what it means to be a Father– the honor, the responsibility, the joy and pride, the reward. Worst of all, we are losing the examples of fathers who through their words and actions, are pointing others to our Heavenly Father. God is not a baby-daddy; He is not an absentee father or an every-other-weekend Father. He is not a faceless provider of money for new clothes and college textbooks. He is not a goofy guy who tells bad jokes and pats you on the head once in a while. He is not the one who never shows up for your game or your dance recital because he’s too busy playing golf with the guys.

man putting his shoulder around boy while his other hand is inside his pocket — Photo by Kaysha on Pexels.com

This isn’t universally true– and I’m so grateful for the men, young and old, who are staying the course, setting the examples, and standing out like beacons of light. And I don’t wish to belittle the women who have had to be both mother and father due to death or other circumstances beyond their control. But we desperately need good fathers. We need fathers who will fight the good fight; not fathers who are Missing In Action. We need active, responsible, faithful Dads. But we need to pray for them. We need to honor them. We need to encourage and support them. More than just one day a year….

June 18, 2018 0

The Legacy of a Praying Father

My father was a quiet man. He loved music, and jokes, and animals, and peaceful summer nights listening to crickets and sipping tea on the front porch. My father was not a man of lengthy, eloquent prayers. His prayers were often short, and sometimes punctuated with emotional tears. But my father prayed. He led our family in prayer and devotions; he prayed in church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. He spent much time, head bowed, talking silently with his Savior.

belief bible book business — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I spoke of a mother’s prayers last month, and they are important. But fathers play a different role. My mother’s prayers always seemed to wrap me in a cozy blanket of affection and hope. My father prayers were more like an umbrella– spreading out over our family to seek God’s protection and grace. Even if Dad’s voice wavered in prayer, his vocabulary was bold, filled with a rock-solid faith, and a deep sense of God’s power and wisdom ready to be poured out on our family.

But the most lasting impression I have of my father’s prayers is that of Dad’s reverence for God. I never, EVER, heard my father take the Lord’s name in vain. (Not even when his favorite baseball team was losing– again!) I never heard him express doubt of God’s care, His provision, or His wisdom. He approached the throne of grace with awe and deep gratitude. He never lost his sense of wonder at God’s creation, or his sense of awareness of and need for God’s mercy.

green grass field during sunset — Photo by David Jakab on Pexels.com

We need men of prayer. I am so grateful for a husband who prays– regularly, fervently, compassionately, and boldly. What would happen in our world if more men prayed daily in the quiet of their homes or places of work? Our society makes fun of men who pray on public platforms, praising themselves as much or more than they praise God. It denigrates prayer as weakness and hypocrisy, but what if more men of faith led their families in daily prayer? What if, with trembling voices, more men sought out wisdom and strength to meet the challenges they face, instead of putting on a brave but false face of independence and self-sufficiency? What if, instead of excusing vulgarity and cursing, more men took the challenge to clean up their language and set better examples.

If you know men of faith– take some time this weekend to let them know how much their good example means. Encourage them to finish the race, to keep going, and to leave the kind of legacy that matters most. And don’t forget to lift them up in prayer!

June 16, 2018 0

“This Should Not Be…”

James 3:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

I was caught off guard last night, when an acquaintance of ours stopped my husband and me to warn us about one of our new neighbors. “You know (person x) has been to jail twice for (X crime).” Our acquaintance then spewed out hateful curses and fears about all the evil that might/could happen now that this new person has come to the neighborhood, and how they don’t “deserve” to live here. I hope the fears and curses are unfounded or exaggerated. I didn’t know how to respond–the anger and fear were palpable, and even understandable. No one wants to live in an area noted for crime. But…

What caught me off guard about the encounter was not the possibility that we have a neighbor with a criminal history, or that uncovering a person’s criminal past would make someone fearful or angry. What got to me was the level of spite and viciousness, and the expectation that our reaction would be immediate and profound.

What got to me even more was my actual reaction. It wasn’t anger at the new neighbor, but suspicion toward my acquaintance. Why the urgency in spreading this “news”– why the visceral hatred? (The crime in question wasn’t murder, and no details of the crime were related.) Following close on the heels of this was the thought that this was very much like some of the posts I see on social media or in my e-mail–sensational reports of crimes, and Hate Speech, and scandals–vicious stories, often exaggerated or even untrue, about everyone from people I know or used to know from my hometown, all the way up to heads of state and “respected” celebrities falling from grace.

And how do I react to those pieces of cyber gossip and internet sensations, and “fake” news reports? Do I eagerly spread the word, sparing little thought of the worthiness of the information or the consequences to both the guilty and innocent people involved? Do I ever wonder what would happen if I were the subject of such wildfire rumors or smear campaigns?

Romans 3:13-18 (NIV)

13 Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.
The poison of vipers is on their lips.
¹⁴    Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
¹⁵Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶    ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷and the way of peace they do not know.
¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes

Is that me? Do I, with the same mouth that praises and prays to God, curse and spread poison about people made in His image? People I don’t even know or never have met? Do I delight in pointing out the worst in others? Do I rush to shed blood (figuratively) and destroy the lives of other people from the safety and anonymity of my computer or phone? Do I play judge, jury, and executioner because it makes me feel clever or self-righteous?

dry animal gift dangerous — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

This should not be.

Lord, search me and know my thoughts and words. Give me the strength to tame my tongue and the fingers that itch to “share” poison and lies and misery. Help me to know the way of peace, and to speak truth about your grace and your holiness, not what I imagine my own to be.

June 15, 2018 0

GO!

Mark 16:15 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

The Great Commission (above and also in Matthew 28:18-20) is not a suggestion. It is a command. In the nearly two millenia since Jesus gave this command, the world has grown smaller in many ways– it no longer takes months to sail across oceans or travel over hazardous mountain passes; it no longer takes weeks for letters to arrive. The Bible has been translated into hundreds of languages, and can be downloaded onto phones and other hand-held devices. We don’t even have to physically travel somewhere in order to talk “face-to-face”– we can Skype!

forced perspective photography of cars running on road below smartphone — Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com

We live in a global society that was unthinkable even one hundred years ago– but there is no less urgency about the Great Commission. God is still sending people out of their comfort zones, away from home and family, to spread His word, to awaken revival, and to bring news of peace and salvation. Not everyone is called to travel, but all are called to go–how can that be?

Prayer is, of course, one element– we can pray for nations, people groups, mission organizations, and individuals around the world. We can also give– money, time, materials–we can commit to being partners and team members “on the home front” or volunteer to visit or do short-term mission work.

I highly recommend both– but I want to issue a challenge to a greater involvement.

woman wearing grey long sleeved top photography — Photo by Artem Bali on Pexels.com

Several years ago, I stumbled across a used book (it was already out-of-date when I found it) called Operation World: a day-to-day guide to praying for the world, by Patrick Johnstone. For each day of the year, there was a specific part of the world/people group/nation to pray for, with maps, statistics, the names of national leaders, information or estimates about literacy rates and religious affiliation. Later, I found a yearly calendar/prayer diary that did much the same thing– I assume it is no longer being published as I haven’t been able to find one for many years, and it was a great loss.

In the years since, I have tried to use almanacs, online sources (including the CIA Factbook), “Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It…” Proactive Prayer Points and lists in my prayer journal to broaden my outlook. Even more than that, I have found it useful to “GO” to other countries by bringing them into our home– international cookbooks, maps, newsletters from missionaries and mission groups, music, photos, foreign language Bibles or testaments, “adopting” a child through Kids Alive (https://www.kidsalive.org/) or World Vision ( https://www.worldvision.org/)or Compassion International ( https://www.compassion.com/)(either through financial support or prayer support or both).

God so loved the WORLD–He is a global God, who wants so very much for us to love one another, understand one another better, and learn from one another. But He also wants the world to love HIM– not a pantheistic, watered down, homogenized version of a god, but the God of Creation; the God of Salvation and Reconciliation; the Messiah; the Ruler of All.

This doesn’t mean ignoring people close to home– pray for your neighbors, your family and friends, your community, and home nation…but often, we get so involved in our own burdens, our own drama, and our own concerns, that we get cut off and isolated from other children of God– and those who are longing to hear some Good News.

alley architecture building city — Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Go–whether on a plane or on your knees; at your church or at your kitchen table– GO!

June 13, 2018 0

Prayers of the “Color-Blind” Christian

My father was color-blind. Everything in the world appeared to him in various shades of gray, except for one color. Red. His whole life was spent seeing the world like a weird noir comic strip or old black and white movie with splashes of red ink or red colorized film. He learned to adapt– to memorize color patterns for signs and traffic lights; to guess at colors based on past experience (roses that weren’t red or white were likely to be pink or yellow); to trick people into telling him the color of an object–but I always felt sad to know that he was missing out on so much beauty. He had a marvelous eye for patterns and probably could have been a great artist or art critic…if only.

grayscale photo of high rise buildings — Photo by Jamie McInall on Pexels.com

So it always bothers me when people use the term “color-blind” to refer to themselves in relation to bigotry, racism, and loving (or not loving) fellow human beings. Being “color-blind” is not a desirable thing; it is not a Godly thing. God created colors, and skin tones, and genetic codes that shape similarities and differences across the human race– the single and uniformly fallen and redeemed human race. He blessed the world with variety and beauty, and He gave us eyes to see it and appreciate it– to be color-blind is to miss out on that, and to belittle and disregard God’s gifts. There is no segregation in Heaven– no “white” God or “black” God or “red” or “yellow” God– no separation of people groups or subsets of nationalities, languages, denominations, or cultures. Everyone is precious and unique in God’s eyes– every one loved with an everlasting and boundless love. God doesn’t want a world of gray, two-dimensional, interchangeable followers. He wants a vibrant, dynamic, beautiful bride.

grayscale photo of hands — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

photo of four persons uniting hands — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

What we need are fewer Christians who claim (disingenuously) to be color-blind, and more color-rich Christians– Christ followers who encourage and appreciate one another, pushing each other to love and good works.

If we were all color-blind, there would be one stark image that would never leave our vision– each follower of Christ would stand out in sharp contrast with the rest of the gray world, as they would be washed by the very red blood of the Savior. All other pretensions of color and division would be lost.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me;
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see!

June 6, 2018 0

What’s Your Destination?

Recently, my husband and I took a weekend trip. We had a destination in mind, but had to decide on a route. Looking it up on the computer, we were given an estimated distance and travel time based on a programmed route that was found to be the “fastest.” However, this route was not necessarily the shortest, or the most scenic, or the safest. Knowing our destination, my husband was able to reconfigure the program to map out a route that fit our needs. It got us to the correct destination, and allowed us to travel safely, leisurely, and confidently.

After we reached our initial destination, we decided to take a side trip. Since we hadn’t counted on taking the side trip, we didn’t have a route. We relied on the same technology, but, not knowing our exact destination, we typed in a general location and followed the instructions we were given. We missed an important exit and had to reconfigure…we changed our plans and had to reconfigure…we misspelled the name of the new destination and were sent miles out of our way before we realized what had happened…we ran into an unexpected detour which sent us more miles out of our way.

Knowing your destination, and having a good map or set of directions can make a huge difference. We still had an enjoyable trip, but we might have been able to do more if we had planned a little better–one of the places we decided to visit had just closed by the time our reconfigured driving directions got us there! And we might have been able to cut several miles off of the detour route if we knew the local roads better (it didn’t help that our map application wasn’t working at the critical moment, either!)

auto automobile automotive car — Photo by Mikes Photos on Pexels.com

In life, there are many “programs” that offer advice, direction, and focus to get us to a destination. There are weight-loss programs, “life coaches,” self-help books, universities, “mindfulness” seminars, even religions that promise to guide us along a particular path. But if we don’t have a clear destination in mind, we can end up wandering down a detour or even a dead end. What started out with such promise becomes a maze of questions, unmet expectations, and frustrating twists and turns.

So what is my destination in pursuing prayer? Where do I want to end up at day’s end? In a year? When I face the end of my life (if God chooses to let me see the end approaching)? I want to experience the kind of prayer life that honors God, deepens my relationship with Him, and has an impact. There are many “paths” of prayer– but they have different destinations. Meditation, recitation, fasting and praying, praying corporately or in isolation–I need to map out a course that will get me to the goal. And I need to rely on the guidance provided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and godly counselors and teachers.

June 4, 2018 0

Out of Focus

I try not to bring current events into my writings on prayer. That said, I feel compelled to discuss some recent events in light of a growing trend–instant and polarizing reactions to small events, petty arguments, and even non-events.

Recently, a celebrity–one whose entire career has been predicated on her whining, hateful, politically incorrect rhetoric–was fired and her TV show cancelled over a single “tweet” she sent making fun of a former White House employee. The TV show in question was a regurgitation of her popular sitcom from 30 years ago; a show that was controversial then because of its irreverence and foul language. The new show quickly invited controversy by seeming to support the current president– also known for making offensive and cringe-worthy tweets.

android app blog blogging — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There is more than enough finger-pointing, blame-sharing, and shaming in the wake of this incident–but there is even more hypocrisy. The people who are celebrating in the wake of this comedienne’s downfall are the very ones who were supporting her three decades ago– then she was “bold” and “brave” and “real.” These same people were likely watching the new version of the TV show just last week. Now she is “racist” and “abhorrent” (I guess the word “hateful” is suffering from overuse, and needs a stand-in– it was used in at least two of the tweets from her boss and colleagues) and “unacceptable”. The people who are defending her now were the ones calling for boycotts of her show in the late ’80s for its flippant tone and dysfunctional family morals. They are calling for more shows to be cancelled– shows they still watch; shows they discuss freely on social media; or maybe shows they don’t watch, because their friends tell them how they should react to what they’ve missed.

photo of a woman using her smartphone — Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

My point is that controversies and “outrages” like this are becoming more common, more polarizing, and more hypocritical every week. In the rush to judgment, we are losing our focus and missing the bigger picture. What this comedienne said was offensive– it was juvenile, personal, hurtful. It wasn’t funny, it wasn’t appropriate, and it wasn’t fair. But it also wasn’t shocking. The reprisal was swift and harsh, but that wasn’t really shocking, either, except in the context of the show’s success (it was the highest rated show of the season). In the days and weeks that follow, some will regret that this action left dozens of other actors and staff without jobs, and others will cry foul at those who continue to “get away” with bad behavior and hurtful language. But few of us will turn the spotlight on our own faults, our own use of social media or hateful language, or our own contributions to the cut-throat culture that surrounds us.

monochrome photography of a man looking in front of mirror — Photo by Min An on Pexels.com

Before I cheer or protest or react to this recent event, I want to ask forgiveness–for losing my focus. I invited that TV show into my living room, along with those characters and their skewed values. I watched video clips of interviews and failed attempts at the National Anthem and other scandals, and I chuckled. I clicked on the news stories about the sitcom “reboot”, and considered watching it because it would be controversial– something to talk about, yell about, or laugh at. And I clicked on the “news” of this comedienne’s downfall, consuming it like popcorn, and being entertained by the fallout.

Forgive me, Father, and restore my focus. Create a clean heart in me, and be my pure vision. Help me to stop pointing fingers at others and point others to you.

Hebrews 12:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

selective photo of teal cross decor — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

May 31, 2018 0

Category: Uncategorized

Seeing God in the Fire

My Daddy Made It!

The Legacy of a Praying Father

GO!

Mark 16:15 New International Version (NIV)

What’s Your Destination?

Recent Posts