PastorTim

CONFESSIONS OF AN ARTFUL DODGER

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines a procrastinate as, blameworthy delay, especially through laziness or apathy. Dawdling, loitering, dallying…  The list goes on and on, but they all mean the same thing. They describe someone who delays finishing a task, putting it off until later. One memorable act of dodging from my past revolves around a new cordless drill that I dropped while doing some home remodeling. A little bump and a concrete floor equaled a sickening crack. Right there before my eyes lay my new drill in two pieces. Normally when the battery pack was taken off it did resemble two pieces, but now the separation point was in a new place!

I was disappointed to be sure, but I wasn’t finished for the day. I simply turned to one of man’s best friends, and I’m not talking about a dog. I’m talking about DUCT TAPE! A few minutes later, I was back in business. In short order however, I found myself unprepared for the next job as the repair didn’t hold and I had to lose time and money on a last minute trip to Lowes. When it comes to issues of the soul however the Bible says a thing or two about the art of dodging.

Jesus talks about a man who hears His words and does not act on what he hears. Jesus even goes as far as to call this man foolish. Listen to the Lord’s words, “And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Does that happen today? Well, I’m led to believe it does. People hear the word of God yet decide to put off acting on what they know to do.

Jesus, in telling the story of a wedding talks about how we can put off getting ready for His return but warns everyone not to put off preparing. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

There is one other scripture that I want to share on this subject, and it is found in the Old Testament book of First Kings when the prophet Elijah called the nation of Israel together to prove to them who their God truly was,  “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

It was sad that he had to ask the question in the first place, but even sadder that they had no response. What would your response be? Or would you simply put off making up your mind? Putting off fixing a cordless drill is one thing that duct tape can fix, but putting off a decision that could have eternal consequences is quite another. The art of dodging the issue of eternal things could prove deadly.

In Saint Louis, in 1984, an unemployed cleaning woman noticed a few bees buzzing around the attic of her home. Since there were only a few, she made no effort to deal with them. Over the summer, the bees continued to fly in and out the attic vent while the woman remained unconcerned, unaware of the growing city of bees. The whole attic became a hive, and the ceiling of the second-floor bedroom finally caved in under the weight of hundreds of pounds of honey and thousands of angry bees. While the woman escaped serious injury, she was unable to repair the damage of her accumulated neglect. Please, don’t put off another day a decision that can affect where you will spend eternity. Trust me, you won’t dodge that!

 

 

A LEAP OF FAITH

I must confess that at one time I openly made fun of grandparents! I’d say things like, “why I’d never drive 2 hours to watch a soccer game” or “you’ll not catch me down on the floor playing with stuffed animals and drinking imaginary tea from a plastic teacup!” Well, 12 years later I have driven longer than 2 hours just to plant a kiss on a cheek and receive a hug from a sweet grandchild and I have sipped my fair share of imaginary tea from plastic teacups of various sizes and colors! 

My mind this week was drawn to a season of my darling granddaughter Kairi’s early childhood that I will refer to as her “Princess Mode.” It was all about the glass slipper if you get my drift. There are beautiful little gowns and tiara’s as far as the eye could see. One noteworthy episode occurred when Terri and I had stopped by the little princess’ house, err.. uh… castle, for a quick meal before some business in Columbus. We were there just a short time when I spotted Kairi laying on the living room floor in full princess regalia with her arms strategically crossed over her chest, legs straight and her little right eye peeking our way waiting for us to notice her.

I said to Terri, “I think she’s waiting for someone to kiss her”; well, me being the imaginary charming prince that I am, rose to my feet and then off to her side planting a kiss on her cheek and voila! Up she pops with a cheery princess grin and a hug. Oh, it’s good to be a grandpa! Mere minutes later I heard an impassioned cry from the top of the stairs call out “Papaw, help me. Papaw help me!” Well in no time I jumped onto my imaginary white horse and rode to the top of the stairs to rescue yon princess from the clutches of the evil witch or dragon or some other such thing! When I neared the top of the stairs to my surprise she literally leapt into my arms! (a little daring if I do say so myself!)

What struck me at that moment and what has lingered on my heart since then is this. That little girl’s faith said without hesitation three very important things. First, it said I believe that if I call out to papaw for help, Papaw will come. Secondly, it said that it doesn’t matter where I am when I cry out, he will do whatever it takes to reach me if I truly need Him. Thirdly, it says loudly and clearly, if I reach out with all my effort, he will catch me!

I still to this day can’t get that image out of my mind! Especially as I consider the faith that each of us can have in a God that is a million times stronger, a million times bigger and not to mention a million times more able than the greatest papaw that ever lived! 

First the scriptures remind me that if I, or you, or anyone for that matter sincerely calls out to God for help, he will respond! The psalmist said it this way, “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me” and again, “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Not only that, but the scriptures remind us that no matter where we are, God can reach us if we will but call on his name. Isaiah tells us, “Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” Lastly, I am blessed to be reminded that if we reach out by faith we will find Him! “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Someone once said, “Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” Do you need God to bring a little heaven to your soul today?

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." If you or I are in trouble, that really is all that matters!

There truly is a God that knows, cares and is able to help us if we will only call on Him. Life, unlike fairytales, is not always punctuated with the phrase, “they all lived happily ever after.” But one thing is for sure, for the life that trusts completely in God, there is an eternity that awaits even better than Walt Disney himself could have imagined!

 

 

 

Taking a chance

Mark Twain once observed, “There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can.” While the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it does mention events of “luck” or “chance.” As an example, casting lots is used in Leviticus to choose between the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat. Joshua cast lots to determine the allotment of land to the various tribes. Nehemiah cast lots to determine who would live inside the walls of Jerusalem. However, casting lots or gambling for personal gain is another thing altogether. It affects people, families, and society as a whole.  

But how does the gambling industry affect society? First, gambling leads to an increased crime rate. Studies have shown that while casinos initially bring short-term economic benefits, property crimes take a sharp rise by the fourth year. Second, gambling leads to addiction. A survey done by two Duke University professors found that 10% of those who buy lottery tickets are compulsive gamblers who account for a whopping 50% of all money bet on lotteries. It’s also been proven that people are twice as likely to become problem gamblers if a casino is located within fifty miles of their home. Third, gambling leads to what we might call “a culture of destruction.” One survey of compulsive gamblers found that 22% had divorced because of gambling, 49% had stolen from an employer to pay gambling debts, and 79% said they wanted to die.

Ben Johnson, senior reporter and editor at The Washington Stand observed this week, “A record-breaking 115 million people watched the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers in last night’s Super Bowl, the largest number in the 58-year history of the game. Last night’s NFL showdown also set another record: Experts estimate an historic 67.8 million people gambled $23.1 billion on the game’s outcome — 44% higher than the previous record of $16 billion placed by 50.4 million people, set just last year, according to a survey from the American Gaming Association. More than one out of every four Americans (26%) wagered money on the Super Bowl, a 35% increase in the number of U.S. gamblers, the survey stated…”

He continues, “An increasing number of children raised receiving quick hits of dopamine from video games have been getting caught in the web of online gambling. A whopping 60% to 80% of high school students say they have gambled for money in the last year, according to the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors.”

I remember hearing Chuck Swindoll say, “When testing comes, we get purified, but when prosperity comes, we get vulnerable.” It was on Christmas morning in 2002, Jack Whittaker of Mt Hope West Virginia woke up to perhaps the biggest gift imaginable. Whittaker had won the Powerball lottery jackpot, a whopping $315 million. It was a made-for-TV Christmas story, and Whittaker's hardworking family became celebrities overnight. Whittaker, his wife, Jewel, and granddaughter Brandi Bragg would become TV personalities. But as Whittaker celebrated, he had no way of knowing the coming tragedy and the loss of everything he held dear.

Whittaker gave away at least $50 million worth of houses, cars, and cash. Suddenly, the man who won a fortune at Christmas had become everybody's Santa Claus. Whittaker’s construction company he started had been doing $16-17 million in building, but less than a year after winning the lottery, the company’s success eroded under $3 million dollars in legal fees fending off over 400 lawsuits, because "everybody wants something for nothing." Whittaker began drinking heavily at the local bars to console himself and getting in fights over money. The luckiest man in West Virginia was friendless and lonely. It seemed as if everyone wanted a piece of his winnings except the one person Whittaker wanted to give it to – his granddaughter Brandi.

In time, Brandi started to use illegal drugs. Whittaker repeatedly tried to get her help and sent her to several treatment programs, but she couldn't stay clean. "She doesn't want to inherit the money; she just looks for her next drugs," Whittaker said. "She said, 'Pawpaw, all I care about is drugs.' It broke my heart." Almost two years after Whittaker hit the jackpot, Brandi disappeared. After a frantic two-week search, on Dec. 20, 2004, she was found dead, wrapped in a plastic sheet, dumped behind a junked van. The cause of death was listed as unknown. Whittaker believes that the Powerball win had become a curse upon his family. "My granddaughter is dead because of the money," he said.

In 2009, Brandi’s mother Ginger was found dead, too, in Daniels West Virginia, and added to these loses, Whittaker is being sued by Caesar’s Atlantic City casino for bouncing $1.5 million worth of checks to cover gambling losses. But you know,” said the West Virginia Powerball winner, I just don't like Jack Whittaker. I don't like the hard heart I've got. I don't like what I've become." Paul’s words to Timothy ring true for us today! “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” It’s just not worth taking a chance! 

 

 

 

Knowing what’s best!

Two taxidermists stopped before a window in which an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could be improved. When they had finished with their criticism, the old owl turned his head...and winked at them. It could just be that even the experts from time to time are wrong!

The world is filled with experts on just about any subject to which you would think to inquire today. Why, you only have to look to your smart phone to find more information in seconds than a half day trip to the public library 50 years ago! Leon Ho, Founder & CEO of Lifehack writes, “In this digital age, we’ve hit the jackpot with technology. We’re living in a time when information isn’t just available; it’s cascading around us, rapid and relentless. It’s the 21st century, and the knowledge of the world is literally at our fingertips. This explosion of information is a marvel, a testament to human curiosity and our unquenchable thirst for progress…

It’s like drinking from a fire hose — overwhelming and messy.” With all the experts and all the information available, we must be careful not to overlook the dangerous cultural landscape we have before us here in the good old USA! Washington Times columnist Robert Knight observed, “Marx’s Communist Manifesto co-author Friedrich Engels knew what he was doing when he called for abolishing families more than 150 years ago. Mom-and-dad, married families had to be eliminated so that mega-states could rise without hindrance from a strong, independent citizenry. Marx’s vision of totalitarian socialism came to awful fruition first in Russia’s Bolshevik revolution of 1917, which birthed the communist Soviet Union.”

Knight continues, “Then it blossomed in Hitler’s National Socialist Workers Party takeover of Germany in 1933, eight years after he published “Mein Kampf.” It conquered China in 1949. Americans once instinctively understood the threat posed by socialism… It took a lot to wear down America to get where we are: two world wars, a sexual revolution, disastrous wars in Asia, a swollen government and a corrupted mass media and educational establishment. The latter two combined to germinate the monster of “wokeness” that will destroy our children’s future if we let it.” We must not let it!

Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to his father in1738, “The scriptures assure me that at the last day we shall not be examined on what we thought but what we did." Remember, the Lord has entrusted to you and me with the stewardship of this very moment in history and there are millions yet unborn who are counting on us to do the right thing! The first and most important thing we can and must do is to pray!

In 1787 as the Constitutional convention seemed to grind to a halt it was the wisdom of the afore mentioned Benjamin Franklin who stood and said, “We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, some we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances. In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. ”Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor… And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: … And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.” For us who know what’s best, we must avoid the overload of information as Franklin admonished and stand firmly on the same timeless principles of God’s word! 

 

Nothing more than feelings

I remember well, the year was 1996 and I was a young pastor of a Nazarene church in southern Ohio when I heard Josh McDowell mention he saw as a potential danger. He began to recognize what he described as cultural tolerance. It is the basic idea that each person’s dignity and self-worth actually depends on everyone else endorsing their personal “truth,” that each person has the right to a moral code so subjective that no one else can judge it, regardless of its effect on themselves or society, and that those who “judge” it, must be shouted down and silenced.

Traditionally, tolerance values, respects, and accepts the views of others without necessarily approving of or participating in their beliefs or behaviors. It differentiates between what a person thinks or does and the person himself. This view of tolerance, however, is no longer the popular view. Instead, today's tolerance advocates that all truth claims are equally valid. Words like "diversity" and "multiculturalism" are often used interchangeably with the word "tolerance" in advocating this perspective.

C.S. Lewis wrote a great short book called The Abolition of Man that describes the destructive character of the new philosophic idea I have described. The book begins by criticizing an English schoolbook written for young children. The schoolbook recounts a well-known story about the poet Samuel Coleridge at a waterfall. Coleridge heard one tourist call the waterfall “pretty” and another call it “sublime,” and he sided with the second tourist—the view of the waterfall was sublime, he said, meaning majestic and of great spiritual worth. According to the author of the schoolbook, however, Coleridge’s judgment simply reflected his “feelings” about the waterfall, because truth is subjective. Taking this story as his starting point, Lewis goes on to show that if the idea that there is no objective truth becomes dominant, it will lead to an abolition of man. Because how is man different from the beasts if he lacks the divine spark—the ability of reason to make judgments about what is beautiful and what is not and about what is right and what is wrong?

Speaking of Josh McDowell, He writes, “cultural tolerance wants us to operate from our emotions and experiences, not God’s universal truth. The fallout of living according to how we feel? We become a society populated by self-obsessed people. One of the expressions I hate most: “What’s in it for me?”

Referring again to Josh McDowell, “I don’t know about you, but I want to live in a society that places a premium on mutual respect and care — simply because we’re all God’s children. We’ve learned that cultural tolerance professes to truly embrace tolerance and diversity but does not. If our society were really interested in everyone being “who they are,” cultural tolerance would respectfully honor Christianity as a lifestyle option. But as cultural tolerance is only interested in its viewpoint, it clearly displays its own intolerance.”

May we be reminded that Truth has always mattered to God. One of my favorite writers Oz Guinness states in his book A Time for Truth, “all truth is God’s truth and it’s true everywhere for everyone even if no one believes it!” So, speaking in an election year, truth is not subject to your vote or your opinion!

Once, when a stubborn disputer seemed unconvinced, Abraham Lincoln said, "Well, let's see how many legs has a cow?" "Four, of course," came the reply disgustedly. "That's right," agreed Lincoln. "Now suppose you call the cow's tail a leg; how many legs would the cow have?" "Why, five, of course," was the confident reply. "Now, that's where you're wrong," said Lincoln. "Calling a cow's tail a leg doesn't make it a leg!" 

Truth embraced and believed is one thing for it can change a life setting the one embracing truth free from the bondage of the past to enjoy all the blessings the creator has planned for them. However, truth acknowledged and ignored is another scenario altogether causing one to miss the greatest joy in this life and in the life to come. Truth is still truth whether inconvenient or not.

Jesus, facing the imminent death of the cross surrounded by his dear friends, wanted to give them something to remember as they faced the uncertainties of the days that lie ahead for them said in John 14, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This is not about feelings; this is about truth!