What motivates you? When despair and dismay threaten to overcome you where do you turn?
Sometimes we are motivated to change by a fear of failure. Sometimes we are motivated to achieve something new by the satisfaction we hope comes with success.
We've all listened to motivational speakers that either frighten us or encourage us. They challenge us to see new ways of looking at our circumstances. They inspire us to change our lives or habits, but so often our good intentions to follow their advice falls short.
Motivation is a complicated thing and different for each of us. I shouldn't assume that what motivates me will motivate you. How many times has someone tried to give you a needed kick in the pants but they said exactly the wrong thing?!? With the best of intentions there will always be people who try to motivate us in ways that just don't work. Sometimes the opposite is true. How many times has someone's attempt to discourage you given you the motivation you needed to prove them wrong?
Being a preacher, I think a lot about what will inspire folks to believe in God as revealed in Jesus Christ. For some, it is a fear of hell and death. Others are encouraged by the promise of heaven. For even others, they come to believe because of the peace in knowing God loves them and is with them. Jesus talked about all three.
Each of us knows what motivates us. Given what challenges are facing you right now, what will drive you to act?
Will the joy of a potential reward motivate you? Praise, money, power, sex, food - all powerful incentives. Perhaps focusing on the promised joy of heaven will make all the difference.
Will the satisfaction of of achieving a positive goal do the trick? Like wanting to be able to wear those favorite jeans again. Perhaps what motivates you is doing the right thing.
Or, are you motivated by the fear of a negative outcome? For example, did you study hard in school simply to avoid bad grades rather than trying to learn something? Perhaps what motivates you is the fear of doing or saying the wrong thing and feeling the guilt that comes along with that.
Or, is the best motivation for your current situation fear of potential punishment? In your past, did you behave so your parents wouldn't spank you or (later) take away your car keys? As adults we often change our behavior to avoid losing a job or going to jail. Perhaps the motivation you need today is fear of hell.
All of these motivations, both positive and negative, have their place and can be effective in helping achieve our goals. Sometimes that initial spark of motivation comes from hearing someone say the words we need to hear. We all need to surround ourselves with people who speak to our deepest needs, who spur us on in the ways that encourage us. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, trying to find the right words to motivate my sister-in-law Kate to work extra hard in therapy. While I am praying for the right words to say, I have also realized that the ultimate responsibility lies with Kate. Please keep praying for us all!
At the end of the day, the words that will actually motivate each of us comes from within. The voice that has the most power to challenge us or encourage us is the voice inside our own heads.
My favorite scene from The Sound of Music is when Maria sings "I Have Confidence" on her way to the von Trapp family home. Her Mother Superior planted seeds of encouragement, but the rest is up to Maria. She knows God is with her and she trusts Him with all her heart. This has been my "theme song" whenever I started a new job or faced a new challenge.
I have confidence in sunshine,
I have confidence in rain.
I have confidence that spring will come again!
Besides what you see I have confidence in me.
Strength doesn't lie in numbers.
Strength doesn't lie in wealth,
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers,
When you wake up, wake up!
It's healthy!
All I trust I leave my heart to,
All I trust becomes my own!
I have confidence in confidence alone.
I have confidence in confidence alone!
Besides, which you see, I have confidence in me!
What motivatesyou when despair and dismay threaten? Listen to those around you, but most of all follow your heart. You, and you alone, can make the difference.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Making America Good Again: Stop Borrowing Trouble
Are you feeling overwhelmed these days? I am, and it's causing me to waste a lot of time "borrowing trouble."
Borrowing trouble happens when we think about all of the awful things that might happen. Today, I find myself worrying about American culture and politics, the church, my family, the weather, and what's in the refrigerator. It doesn't matter if it's big or small issue, I can lose sleep over it. What if? What if? What if?
I fight this all too human urge to "borrow trouble" because it is a colossal waste of time. Jesus said:
"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:31-34)
This isn't a call to ignore real problems but to put things in perspective. When Jesus tells us not to worry about eating, he isn't telling us to just sit back and wait for someone else to feed us. He is telling us to put God first and do our part as well. Jesus said:
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:28-33)
What are you worrying about today? What can you do about it? In my days as a nursing home administrator, I would try to anticipate problems so that I didn't have to run around putting out "fires." Crises will happen anyway, so I worked hard to avoid the ones I could.
Here's another example. I live in Florida. Hurricanes are a part of life. I could get all worked up and watch the Weather Channel 24/7 every time a storm approaches, or I could stock up on food, water and supplies, have a plan to evacuate, and check on the status of the storm every few hours. Then, when a storm comes my way, I'm as prepared as I can be.
But what happens when one of life's storms comes unexpectedly? I'm thinking here of my sister-in-law Kate's accident. Again, thanks for your prayers. Do those who love her worry about what her future holds? Absolutely. And our concern doesn't have us cowering in a corner but is motivating us to help. We are doing what we can by praying for her, encouraging her and doing the things she can't. Kate is focusing on what she can do by working hard in therapy. Somedays I have to remind myself that this struggle is like eating an elephant....we can only do it one bite at a time. But do it we will!
What are you worrying about today? Do you worry about retirement? Start saving. Do you worry about your health? Go for a walk. Do you worry about what Congress is up to? Call your Senator or Representative. Do what is in your control to do.
No matter what situation you find yourself in, don't allow worry to consume you. Look to God for guidance and then do what you can. And if you are worrying about something over which you can have absolutely no control or influence - let it go and trust God. I may sometimes "borrow trouble" but I never despair because God is always with me. Hope is always in my heart. And then when crises hit, and they will come, I can face them with strength and calm.
My advice: stop worrying about things you have no control over and concentrate on the things you can do something about. Focusing on what you can control, rather than what you can't, will help you turn despair into hope and anxiety into peace.
Andy Stanley offered a great prayer that goes something like this: "Heavenly Father, help me see trouble coming long before it gets here. Then give me courage and wisdom to handle it. Amen."
Borrowing trouble happens when we think about all of the awful things that might happen. Today, I find myself worrying about American culture and politics, the church, my family, the weather, and what's in the refrigerator. It doesn't matter if it's big or small issue, I can lose sleep over it. What if? What if? What if?
I fight this all too human urge to "borrow trouble" because it is a colossal waste of time. Jesus said:
"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:31-34)
This isn't a call to ignore real problems but to put things in perspective. When Jesus tells us not to worry about eating, he isn't telling us to just sit back and wait for someone else to feed us. He is telling us to put God first and do our part as well. Jesus said:
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:28-33)
What are you worrying about today? What can you do about it? In my days as a nursing home administrator, I would try to anticipate problems so that I didn't have to run around putting out "fires." Crises will happen anyway, so I worked hard to avoid the ones I could.
Here's another example. I live in Florida. Hurricanes are a part of life. I could get all worked up and watch the Weather Channel 24/7 every time a storm approaches, or I could stock up on food, water and supplies, have a plan to evacuate, and check on the status of the storm every few hours. Then, when a storm comes my way, I'm as prepared as I can be.
But what happens when one of life's storms comes unexpectedly? I'm thinking here of my sister-in-law Kate's accident. Again, thanks for your prayers. Do those who love her worry about what her future holds? Absolutely. And our concern doesn't have us cowering in a corner but is motivating us to help. We are doing what we can by praying for her, encouraging her and doing the things she can't. Kate is focusing on what she can do by working hard in therapy. Somedays I have to remind myself that this struggle is like eating an elephant....we can only do it one bite at a time. But do it we will!
What are you worrying about today? Do you worry about retirement? Start saving. Do you worry about your health? Go for a walk. Do you worry about what Congress is up to? Call your Senator or Representative. Do what is in your control to do.
No matter what situation you find yourself in, don't allow worry to consume you. Look to God for guidance and then do what you can. And if you are worrying about something over which you can have absolutely no control or influence - let it go and trust God. I may sometimes "borrow trouble" but I never despair because God is always with me. Hope is always in my heart. And then when crises hit, and they will come, I can face them with strength and calm.
My advice: stop worrying about things you have no control over and concentrate on the things you can do something about. Focusing on what you can control, rather than what you can't, will help you turn despair into hope and anxiety into peace.
Andy Stanley offered a great prayer that goes something like this: "Heavenly Father, help me see trouble coming long before it gets here. Then give me courage and wisdom to handle it. Amen."
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Making America Good Again: Perseverance
Perseverance is much on my mind these days. Thank you to all who are praying for my sister-in-law Kate as she perseveres in her goal to walk again after a spinal cord injury and for her family as they seek to find and provide the best care for her.
I read through the Bible every year or so and each time a different theme seems to grab my attention. This year that theme is "perseverance." I could give you lots of examples: Moses, Job, Jeremiah and, now that I'm in the New Testament, Paul.
Watch this video for some more contemporary examples: "Famous people and the perseverance: 2.59 mins will change your life forever." All of these people overcame great difficulties, their own failures, and the opposition of others to achieve their goals.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BF04JExesYw
How did they do it? What is the "magic" formula? It's not magic at all. There are two ingredients: accountability and a goal. As a Preacher Girl, let me put this into terms of faith, but I think all of you will recognize what I mean.
I know I am accountable to God who has a plan for my life. That means I must do my best to not listen to the negative voices and circumstances that distract me from my goal of being who I believe God created me to be. Deep inside, you know who you are and what you are supposed to be doing with your life. Call it your conscience if you don't want to call that voice God, but listen to what you know is good and true.
Magic Johnson knew he was an athlete; Oprah Winfrey knew she was a communicator; Thomas Edison knew he was an inventor; Abraham Lincoln knew he was a leader of men. They persevered because they knew who they were and didn't listen to the naysayers; they didn't give up when obstacles blocked their path; they didn't surrender when their own failures got in the way of progress. They persevered.
I'm sure you can think of other examples from history and from people you have known. Perseverance is one of the traits that describes much of the American spirit, from explorers, to settlers, to inventors, artists and entrepreneurs. It is a key to their success and the success of America.
So what about you? Are you ready to be among those who will keep on keeping on, stand your ground, leave no stone unturned, stay the course, plug away and stick to your guns?
As Marie Curie said: "Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."
To Make America Good Again, we must persevere as individuals, families and a nation.
I read through the Bible every year or so and each time a different theme seems to grab my attention. This year that theme is "perseverance." I could give you lots of examples: Moses, Job, Jeremiah and, now that I'm in the New Testament, Paul.
Watch this video for some more contemporary examples: "Famous people and the perseverance: 2.59 mins will change your life forever." All of these people overcame great difficulties, their own failures, and the opposition of others to achieve their goals.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BF04JExesYw
How did they do it? What is the "magic" formula? It's not magic at all. There are two ingredients: accountability and a goal. As a Preacher Girl, let me put this into terms of faith, but I think all of you will recognize what I mean.
I know I am accountable to God who has a plan for my life. That means I must do my best to not listen to the negative voices and circumstances that distract me from my goal of being who I believe God created me to be. Deep inside, you know who you are and what you are supposed to be doing with your life. Call it your conscience if you don't want to call that voice God, but listen to what you know is good and true.
Magic Johnson knew he was an athlete; Oprah Winfrey knew she was a communicator; Thomas Edison knew he was an inventor; Abraham Lincoln knew he was a leader of men. They persevered because they knew who they were and didn't listen to the naysayers; they didn't give up when obstacles blocked their path; they didn't surrender when their own failures got in the way of progress. They persevered.
I'm sure you can think of other examples from history and from people you have known. Perseverance is one of the traits that describes much of the American spirit, from explorers, to settlers, to inventors, artists and entrepreneurs. It is a key to their success and the success of America.
So what about you? Are you ready to be among those who will keep on keeping on, stand your ground, leave no stone unturned, stay the course, plug away and stick to your guns?
As Marie Curie said: "Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."
To Make America Good Again, we must persevere as individuals, families and a nation.
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Making America Good Again: Independence Day
What are YOU celebrating today? The founding of America? Freedom? The brave men and women who have kept us free for over 200 years? A day off from work?
These are all good reasons to celebrate, but let's also celebrate the Declaration of Independence itself. Take some time today to read it. You can do it while you are heating up the grill! It will take you less than ten minutes. Here is its most famous paragraph:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -"
The entire Declaration can be found here: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.
Sadly, one of the great divides in America is how relevant the Declaration of Independence is to us today.
Are you among those believe that America has progressed beyond the Declaration's claim of self-evident truth that our freedom and rights come from God? As CNN's Chris Cuomo said in an interview with Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore a couple of years ago: "Our rights do not come from God. That's your faith. That's my faith. But that's not our country. Our laws come from collective agreement and compromise."
Does that ring true for you? Do you believe that the Declaration is a beautifully written document of historical significance, but one with little relevance to us today.? Perhaps you embrace its principles of freedom and equality but believe that these are enlightened ideas society has developed and that God has nothing to do with it.
Or are you among those, like me, who believe the self-evident truth of the Declaration is true today and will be true tomorrow. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and those rights further outlined in the U.S. Constitution come to us from God and it is the government's responsibility to protect them.
In America, you are free to believe what you want about God. You are free to not believe in God at all. But America, and its laws, are based upon the premise that God as revealed to us in the Bible and in Nature: God is our Creator; the giver of moral and natural law; the Supreme Judge to whom we are all accountable; and the One on whose Divine Providence we can rely. These are the four references to God in the Declaration. There is no mention of Yahweh, Jesus or Allah. How we worship God, how we understand God is left to each of us. But that God IS, is a fundamental principle of our government.
Which side are you on? Is the Declaration relevant today? Do our rights come from God or government? Is the Declaration, and the principles it upholds, the law of the land or is the Declaration a quaint historical document America has outgrown?
All of the division we are experiencing, the vitriol and violence we see daily, has at its root this question: what is the source of our freedom and our principles - God or man? Our nation is as divided over this question today as it was over slavery. We are in the midst of a civil war of words and protests. I pray that America, the America of the Declaration of Independence, will survive.
Those who seek to separate the Declaration from the Constitution and assign it to "quaint historical document" status are wrong. Dead wrong. The truth is that removing the Declaration from our government's guiding principles is like trying to remove the spirit from a person while leaving the body intact. The result would be a dead body. The American Experiment will end if this trend of removing God from our life together continues.
The Declaration of Independence - all of it - is the law of the land. It is as much the law as the Constitution is and all other law must flow from it. The freedom we celebrate today is given to us by the hand of God, not the whims of government. And we the people must do all that we can to see that it stays that way.
This Independence Day take a minute and think about the Declaration of Independence. As you drink beer, eat hot dogs, wave flags and watch fireworks, know that it is time to choose. Are you celebrating the creation of a document that is dead - or are you willing to fight for one that is very much alive?
And please continue to pray for my sister-in-law Kate. She is making progress but has a long way to go. Thank you!
These are all good reasons to celebrate, but let's also celebrate the Declaration of Independence itself. Take some time today to read it. You can do it while you are heating up the grill! It will take you less than ten minutes. Here is its most famous paragraph:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -"
The entire Declaration can be found here: http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.
Sadly, one of the great divides in America is how relevant the Declaration of Independence is to us today.
Are you among those believe that America has progressed beyond the Declaration's claim of self-evident truth that our freedom and rights come from God? As CNN's Chris Cuomo said in an interview with Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore a couple of years ago: "Our rights do not come from God. That's your faith. That's my faith. But that's not our country. Our laws come from collective agreement and compromise."
Does that ring true for you? Do you believe that the Declaration is a beautifully written document of historical significance, but one with little relevance to us today.? Perhaps you embrace its principles of freedom and equality but believe that these are enlightened ideas society has developed and that God has nothing to do with it.
Or are you among those, like me, who believe the self-evident truth of the Declaration is true today and will be true tomorrow. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and those rights further outlined in the U.S. Constitution come to us from God and it is the government's responsibility to protect them.
In America, you are free to believe what you want about God. You are free to not believe in God at all. But America, and its laws, are based upon the premise that God as revealed to us in the Bible and in Nature: God is our Creator; the giver of moral and natural law; the Supreme Judge to whom we are all accountable; and the One on whose Divine Providence we can rely. These are the four references to God in the Declaration. There is no mention of Yahweh, Jesus or Allah. How we worship God, how we understand God is left to each of us. But that God IS, is a fundamental principle of our government.
Which side are you on? Is the Declaration relevant today? Do our rights come from God or government? Is the Declaration, and the principles it upholds, the law of the land or is the Declaration a quaint historical document America has outgrown?
All of the division we are experiencing, the vitriol and violence we see daily, has at its root this question: what is the source of our freedom and our principles - God or man? Our nation is as divided over this question today as it was over slavery. We are in the midst of a civil war of words and protests. I pray that America, the America of the Declaration of Independence, will survive.
Those who seek to separate the Declaration from the Constitution and assign it to "quaint historical document" status are wrong. Dead wrong. The truth is that removing the Declaration from our government's guiding principles is like trying to remove the spirit from a person while leaving the body intact. The result would be a dead body. The American Experiment will end if this trend of removing God from our life together continues.
The Declaration of Independence - all of it - is the law of the land. It is as much the law as the Constitution is and all other law must flow from it. The freedom we celebrate today is given to us by the hand of God, not the whims of government. And we the people must do all that we can to see that it stays that way.
This Independence Day take a minute and think about the Declaration of Independence. As you drink beer, eat hot dogs, wave flags and watch fireworks, know that it is time to choose. Are you celebrating the creation of a document that is dead - or are you willing to fight for one that is very much alive?
And please continue to pray for my sister-in-law Kate. She is making progress but has a long way to go. Thank you!
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Making America Good Again: Hope and Healing
Thank you to all who checked this blog and FB page to see if I'd posted something new. We've been traveling and then our world was shaken.
While we were away, my sister-in-law injured her spinal cord in a fall and was paralyzed from the neck down. She has since regained some feeling and has significant arm movement, but she has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of her. She is an inspiration to her family and friends with her optimistic outlook, sense of humor and sheer determination. How would you respond if you woke up one morning and your life was so dramatically changed? I hope I would respond like Kate.
Her accident immediately drove my husband and me to pray for her complete healing. Jesus encourages us to pray with persistence (Luke 18) and with "shameless audacity" (Luke 11). I just read last night how Peter and John healed a lame man: "Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And the man went with them, walking and jumping and praising God. (Acts 3) I can just see Kate doing that now, especially the jumping and praising part! "Kate, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth walk!" My husband and I, along with many others, continue pray to God for Kate throughout the day with persistence and shameless audacity.
Our prayers are accompanied by helping Kate and her family in the ways that we can. We've also taken a deep breath and recommitted ourselves to what is important.
Love life. It is short and precious. Treat it as the valuable gift from God that it is. Don't waste your days on things that aren't important.
Be grateful. Thank God each day for what you do have and what you can do. Our natural inclination is to ask "why" this happened and perhaps seek to place blame, but that is counterproductive. Don't wallow in negativity. Instead, embrace the positive wherever you can find it. God is there with us, if we will only seek Him out.
Have faith. Look for good to come out of this. My husband's family has faced many tragedies but something good has always come out of them. Often they didn't know what that was until long after the time of sadness. Since I met them, I have been amazed at how strong, steady and optimistic they are when bad things happen. They are living proof of Paul's statement: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). We have faith that the same thing will happen.
Hold on to hope. Hope is the most powerful of healers and the greatest of motivators. Our hope is anchored in the love of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and the love we have for each other. It is not a wishful optimism but a firm reliance on the Creator and Savior of the Universe.
Please pray for my sister-in-law Kate and for yourself. Take a deep breath and recommit yourself to what is important: faith, hope and love.
While we were away, my sister-in-law injured her spinal cord in a fall and was paralyzed from the neck down. She has since regained some feeling and has significant arm movement, but she has a long road of rehabilitation ahead of her. She is an inspiration to her family and friends with her optimistic outlook, sense of humor and sheer determination. How would you respond if you woke up one morning and your life was so dramatically changed? I hope I would respond like Kate.
Her accident immediately drove my husband and me to pray for her complete healing. Jesus encourages us to pray with persistence (Luke 18) and with "shameless audacity" (Luke 11). I just read last night how Peter and John healed a lame man: "Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And the man went with them, walking and jumping and praising God. (Acts 3) I can just see Kate doing that now, especially the jumping and praising part! "Kate, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth walk!" My husband and I, along with many others, continue pray to God for Kate throughout the day with persistence and shameless audacity.
Our prayers are accompanied by helping Kate and her family in the ways that we can. We've also taken a deep breath and recommitted ourselves to what is important.
Love life. It is short and precious. Treat it as the valuable gift from God that it is. Don't waste your days on things that aren't important.
Be grateful. Thank God each day for what you do have and what you can do. Our natural inclination is to ask "why" this happened and perhaps seek to place blame, but that is counterproductive. Don't wallow in negativity. Instead, embrace the positive wherever you can find it. God is there with us, if we will only seek Him out.
Have faith. Look for good to come out of this. My husband's family has faced many tragedies but something good has always come out of them. Often they didn't know what that was until long after the time of sadness. Since I met them, I have been amazed at how strong, steady and optimistic they are when bad things happen. They are living proof of Paul's statement: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28). We have faith that the same thing will happen.
Hold on to hope. Hope is the most powerful of healers and the greatest of motivators. Our hope is anchored in the love of God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and the love we have for each other. It is not a wishful optimism but a firm reliance on the Creator and Savior of the Universe.
Please pray for my sister-in-law Kate and for yourself. Take a deep breath and recommit yourself to what is important: faith, hope and love.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Making America Good Again: Cherry Picking Christians
On the front page of my local Sunday paper, a courageous woman working to revitalize her neighborhood asks: "How do you say you love the Lord and don't love His people?" I agree with May Lizzie Jennings wholeheartedly. However, it is also time to ask the question in reverse: "How can we say we love His people and not love the Lord?"
Loving each other is an extremely important Biblical principle but not the only one. Right before Jesus told us to love our neighbor, He told us love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Further, He linked loving God to obedience: "Love one another, as I have loved you." And "If you love me you'll keep my commandments." Love like Jesus. Keep all his commandments, not just some of them. We don't get to choose which, we need to love God AND people. 'Both/and' not 'either/or.'
Sadly, it seems to be part of our human nature to want to listen to things we agree with and tune out those things that we don't. For some reason I don't completely understand, some of us lean toward "conservatism" and some to "progressivism." Whichever way we lean is the lens that determines how we view the world, what things we choose to believe, and ultimately how we respond to its problems. Each of us "cherry-picks," if you will, the things that confirm our biases and ignores the things that don't.
We all need to take a step back and look at how we can best love God AND all of His creation, including people. God tells us how through Scripture, the universe around us, and the lessons we learn from history. The Declaration of Independence refers to this, "the laws of Nature and Nature's God." Admittedly, there are times that it seems Scripture contradicts itself. Then we are faced with the greater challenge of working together to see what God intends, focusing on both/and and not either/or. Often we will find there is a new way open to us if we only do the hard work to find it.
I am growing increasingly frustrated with Christians and non-Christians alike who "cherry-pick" Biblical principles to support various and sundry political points without struggling with the WHOLE of God's revelation.
What put me over the top this week was all Scripture floating around over Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Many who supported the agreement pointed to God's delegating responsibility for the planet to humanity and our obligation to be good stewards. Others, focused on how the agreement hurts the people on the planet, pointing to the agreement's restrictions on ability of many to provide for their families in exchange for little climate improvement. There is also another opinion out there that says we don't need to worry about climate change because God is in charge and won't let us destroy the planet. All of these views contain part of the truth, but not all of it. Our discussion should be about how we can be good stewards to the earth AND use the earth's bounty for the benefit of all, recognizing all the while God's sovereignty. Emphasizing one principle over the other is a false choice but, alas, easier than doing the hard work of uniting these principles to find a path forward.
We could have the same discussion in many areas of our life together: do we help the poor by supporting them in their poverty or helping them out of it? Do we welcome everyone who comes to America or insist that they be here legally? Do we love and care for women, or their unborn children? Do we love people whatever their gender and sexual inclinations, or acknowledge that God created male and female to enjoy the blessings of marriage? And as the news of another terrorist attack comes out of London, do we love our enemy or protect the innocent? The hard answer is both/and.
Let's stop cherry-picking Scripture to make our political points and do a better job of loving God and each other by looking to the whole testimony of God, in the natural world, in Scripture, in history and in our hearts. As much as I love God, I confess that I am guilty of cherry-picking as well, so don't call me a hypocrite but help me do what is right. We all, including me, need to intentionally open our eyes and ears and listen to God - and each other. We won't always get it right, but we will do a much better job of dealing with the mess our world is in if we at least try to follow the Creator's plan. God created us, and loves of us, and yes, our Heavenly Father knows best.
So stop with the cherry-picking, or at least recognize that you are doing it. Let's all work a little harder at getting the logs out of our own eyes (like Jesus told us to), and start looking at all that God wants for us - not just the parts that we like.
Let's Make America Good Again.
Loving each other is an extremely important Biblical principle but not the only one. Right before Jesus told us to love our neighbor, He told us love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Further, He linked loving God to obedience: "Love one another, as I have loved you." And "If you love me you'll keep my commandments." Love like Jesus. Keep all his commandments, not just some of them. We don't get to choose which, we need to love God AND people. 'Both/and' not 'either/or.'
Sadly, it seems to be part of our human nature to want to listen to things we agree with and tune out those things that we don't. For some reason I don't completely understand, some of us lean toward "conservatism" and some to "progressivism." Whichever way we lean is the lens that determines how we view the world, what things we choose to believe, and ultimately how we respond to its problems. Each of us "cherry-picks," if you will, the things that confirm our biases and ignores the things that don't.
We all need to take a step back and look at how we can best love God AND all of His creation, including people. God tells us how through Scripture, the universe around us, and the lessons we learn from history. The Declaration of Independence refers to this, "the laws of Nature and Nature's God." Admittedly, there are times that it seems Scripture contradicts itself. Then we are faced with the greater challenge of working together to see what God intends, focusing on both/and and not either/or. Often we will find there is a new way open to us if we only do the hard work to find it.
I am growing increasingly frustrated with Christians and non-Christians alike who "cherry-pick" Biblical principles to support various and sundry political points without struggling with the WHOLE of God's revelation.
What put me over the top this week was all Scripture floating around over Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Many who supported the agreement pointed to God's delegating responsibility for the planet to humanity and our obligation to be good stewards. Others, focused on how the agreement hurts the people on the planet, pointing to the agreement's restrictions on ability of many to provide for their families in exchange for little climate improvement. There is also another opinion out there that says we don't need to worry about climate change because God is in charge and won't let us destroy the planet. All of these views contain part of the truth, but not all of it. Our discussion should be about how we can be good stewards to the earth AND use the earth's bounty for the benefit of all, recognizing all the while God's sovereignty. Emphasizing one principle over the other is a false choice but, alas, easier than doing the hard work of uniting these principles to find a path forward.
We could have the same discussion in many areas of our life together: do we help the poor by supporting them in their poverty or helping them out of it? Do we welcome everyone who comes to America or insist that they be here legally? Do we love and care for women, or their unborn children? Do we love people whatever their gender and sexual inclinations, or acknowledge that God created male and female to enjoy the blessings of marriage? And as the news of another terrorist attack comes out of London, do we love our enemy or protect the innocent? The hard answer is both/and.
Let's stop cherry-picking Scripture to make our political points and do a better job of loving God and each other by looking to the whole testimony of God, in the natural world, in Scripture, in history and in our hearts. As much as I love God, I confess that I am guilty of cherry-picking as well, so don't call me a hypocrite but help me do what is right. We all, including me, need to intentionally open our eyes and ears and listen to God - and each other. We won't always get it right, but we will do a much better job of dealing with the mess our world is in if we at least try to follow the Creator's plan. God created us, and loves of us, and yes, our Heavenly Father knows best.
So stop with the cherry-picking, or at least recognize that you are doing it. Let's all work a little harder at getting the logs out of our own eyes (like Jesus told us to), and start looking at all that God wants for us - not just the parts that we like.
Let's Make America Good Again.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Making America Good Again: Never Forget
Monday is Memorial Day. It is a day for Americans to remember all of the heroes who gave their lives in the service of our country. It was around the time of the Civil War that people on both sides of that awful conflict, mostly women, made a special effort to decorate the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers, even if they were the enemy. That is why this national holiday was originally called Decoration Day.
There is something about placing flowers on a grave that spurs our memories. My husband and I regularly visit the places where family members are buried and remember them. The ritual is important to us. We all want to be be remembered and remembering is part of the responsibility of the living.
God gave us the gift of memory. God told Moses to remember His commandments and teach them to the children. God also made a special point of having the nation of Israel remember important parts of their history, like when they escaped from slavery in Egypt. In keeping with this Passover tradition, Jesus told his followers to remember His last meal with them. In more recent times, the phrase "Never Forget" is used to remind us of the horrors of the Holocaust and to not allow them to be repeated. Remembering our history, even when we didn't know the people involved, is important.
So this Memorial Day, I would like to encourage you to reclaim the tradition of Decoration Day. Find in your community or local cemetery a memorial to the men and women who lost their lives creating or preserving the liberty we hold so dear - and decorate it. Take a flag or a flower. Spend a moment thinking about their sacrifice and your benefit. Be grateful. Be humble.
I live in a town called Bradenton in Florida. Within walking distance of my home there is a memorial to the veterans of World War I at the city pier. The plaque reads: "Memorial Pier Dedicated to World War Veterans 1930." Please notice, they didn't expect World War II. There are memorials to all Veterans and the Confederacy at the County Courthouse. There are memorials for those lost their lives in all wars, including Vietnam, Korea and World War II at the Veterans Park near the hospital which itself was originally named the Manatee Veterans Memorial Hospital. The hospital was built in 1953 and on the back of a picture postcard of it, it says: "A Memorial to Manatee County Veterans of all Wars. Contributed by the public of Manatee County." There is nothing yet in our community for the fallen in the Gulf War or the ongoing wars on terrorism. Perhaps someday, but we should still never forget.
Since this part of Florida wasn't really settled until the mid-1800s, there aren't graves of those who died in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars or the Mexican American War but your community might have some. Think about all of the wars Americans have fought in since our founding. If you don't remember (or were never taught!) what they are, here is a list with the numbers of dead and wounded from the Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf
So this Memorial Day, spend some time remembering. Read through the list of America's Wars and rather than think not about the numbers, think about the soldiers themselves and what they went through. Think of them as citizens, like you, fighting for their country. Think of them as husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters who laid down their lives for a cause greater than themselves. Decorate the graves and memorials of those who have died to keep us free. Find some way this Memorial Day to remember, really remember, those men and women who died for you.
Let's Make America Good Again by not forgetting our past.
There is something about placing flowers on a grave that spurs our memories. My husband and I regularly visit the places where family members are buried and remember them. The ritual is important to us. We all want to be be remembered and remembering is part of the responsibility of the living.
God gave us the gift of memory. God told Moses to remember His commandments and teach them to the children. God also made a special point of having the nation of Israel remember important parts of their history, like when they escaped from slavery in Egypt. In keeping with this Passover tradition, Jesus told his followers to remember His last meal with them. In more recent times, the phrase "Never Forget" is used to remind us of the horrors of the Holocaust and to not allow them to be repeated. Remembering our history, even when we didn't know the people involved, is important.
So this Memorial Day, I would like to encourage you to reclaim the tradition of Decoration Day. Find in your community or local cemetery a memorial to the men and women who lost their lives creating or preserving the liberty we hold so dear - and decorate it. Take a flag or a flower. Spend a moment thinking about their sacrifice and your benefit. Be grateful. Be humble.
I live in a town called Bradenton in Florida. Within walking distance of my home there is a memorial to the veterans of World War I at the city pier. The plaque reads: "Memorial Pier Dedicated to World War Veterans 1930." Please notice, they didn't expect World War II. There are memorials to all Veterans and the Confederacy at the County Courthouse. There are memorials for those lost their lives in all wars, including Vietnam, Korea and World War II at the Veterans Park near the hospital which itself was originally named the Manatee Veterans Memorial Hospital. The hospital was built in 1953 and on the back of a picture postcard of it, it says: "A Memorial to Manatee County Veterans of all Wars. Contributed by the public of Manatee County." There is nothing yet in our community for the fallen in the Gulf War or the ongoing wars on terrorism. Perhaps someday, but we should still never forget.
Since this part of Florida wasn't really settled until the mid-1800s, there aren't graves of those who died in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars or the Mexican American War but your community might have some. Think about all of the wars Americans have fought in since our founding. If you don't remember (or were never taught!) what they are, here is a list with the numbers of dead and wounded from the Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_wars.pdf
So this Memorial Day, spend some time remembering. Read through the list of America's Wars and rather than think not about the numbers, think about the soldiers themselves and what they went through. Think of them as citizens, like you, fighting for their country. Think of them as husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters who laid down their lives for a cause greater than themselves. Decorate the graves and memorials of those who have died to keep us free. Find some way this Memorial Day to remember, really remember, those men and women who died for you.
Let's Make America Good Again by not forgetting our past.
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