We had a guest musical group in our church. My music minister and I were greeting them as they were arriving in the sanctuary early before the service. I said “Hi, I’m Bill, we are glad you are here.” After a few moments of chatting the leader of the group asked, “Are you the Sound man?” I guess he expected the Senior Pastor to be more formal, taller, more handsome, who knows? I had fun telling the congregation how perceptive he was, most people wait until after hearing me preach to think I should be doing something else.
On a previous occasion a former Deacon who was a member of the state legislature invited me and another church member to a political event with a wide range of people from many social sections of the community. As we mingled a man walked in the room and my fellow church member said, “Now he looks like a preacher!” To which I replied, “And I guess that means I look like chopped liver?” Now that meant I had to conduct a scientific experiment to discern who was the real deal in this situation. I carefully worked my way across the crowded room until I met the well dressed man with carefully combed hair. I introduced myself and made small talk and eased the conversation to, “So what do you do for a living?” He smiled and replied, “I am an undertaker.” I went back to my church member and said, “You are right he does look like a preacher!”
When people actually find out that I do make my living as a preacher they then mistake me for a very religious person. Although I am in church enough to have a steeple growing out of my bald spot I may not be as religious in the way people expect. I am also OK with that. Jesus was not as religious in the way people expected. In fact it was the most religious sect in society that had the most trouble with him and finally arranged for his death. Religious intolerance is not new. Religion can be a practice of following certain traditions, rules and rituals that men have devised, modified and amended over the years. Some of these traditions can be very helpful. Some are simply meaningless habits others can be harmful. Problems arise when one has to follow such traditions, rules, rituals, etc. to be accepted or acceptable. Religion can then become exclusive and even dangerous.
I like following and preaching Jesus rather than religion, politics or opinion. He seeks to draw all to him and his tradition, rules and habits are grounded in love for Him and fellowman. In thirty years of being a preacher I have had several occasions of hearing, “You don’t look/act like a preacher” but I have never had anyone say you don’t look or act like Jesus. If I am not aligned with the image of the everyday preacher that is OK, I would rather be aligned with Jesus. No matter your vocation you can act like Him and let others see him in you. Many will not go to church, in fact most don’t. Many have a wrong idea about church or church members but they will watch you. What do people see when they watch you? I leave you with a favorite poem.
‘The Gospel According to Me’
Lord help me remember,
When others I see,
That they are reading the Gospel,
According to me.
Matthew, Barnabus,
Peter and Paul,
The world looks upon them as names,
That’s all.
For verses of scripture,
Men merely grope,
But my life goes under the microscope.
So make me a text Lord,
Easy to see,
When men read the Gospel,
According to me!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A Mule Can't Kick When It Is Plowing...
I grew up in a small town in Mississippi. My grandfather had a farm in Alabama. I remember the joy of going to visit and ‘help’ plow with mules. Mules are bred as a work animal. When in the harness pulling a plow they were invaluable. When in the pen they could get fussy and kick(childhood memories resurfacing). The point of this article, and title, is found in the proper service of talents to avoid conflict and maximize potential or as we used to say, “A mule can’t kick when it is plowing and it can’t plow when it is kicking.”
We elect people to serve us in government and they often lose sight of uniting with other political servants to ‘plow’ together and wind up ‘kicking’ against one another serving no one well in the long run. Church members also get distracted on their purpose doing greater harm as their disservice has eternal consequences. People are often turned away from Spiritual truth and church in large numbers due to fighting and ‘kicking’ that goes on far too often when people who claim to be brothers and sisters should be ‘plowing’ together.
What causes the ‘kicking’? James 4: 1 asks the question “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” He then answers in verse 2 saying, “You want something but don't get it.” It is pretty simple. We want things our way and have our own ego to serve. We do not GO to church to have things our way. We ARE the church as we go the way of the Father uniting to follow him as he sends us. Let’s go back to the country. My grandfather had a team of mules (two). They worked best when they were matched and were placed in the harness to work together. One worked best on the right and the other on the left. Rather than letting differences cause conflict their differences made them stronger as they pulled together.
I have noticed that those who make the most conflict in churches and communities are often the ones who are doing the least to pull together, and are not doing their share of the work. Remember one can’t kick and plow at the same time. God has blessed me to take mission teams around the world assisting third world countries and victims of disaster. One gains new perspective when one gets out of their own comfort zone to assist others. It is hard to argue or think about selfish ideas when you are in a genocide museum, killing field, sitting in a mud hut sharing a meal or helping people restore a home destroyed by a hurricane.
D.T. Niles described what we do as “One beggar showing another beggar where he found bread.” Those who go across the street or across the ocean to share bread with a fellow beggar are too busy plowing and scattering seed to kick. Try to match up with fellow brothers and sisters as Ephesians 4 urges and enjoy plowing together. It is what we are really made to do.
We elect people to serve us in government and they often lose sight of uniting with other political servants to ‘plow’ together and wind up ‘kicking’ against one another serving no one well in the long run. Church members also get distracted on their purpose doing greater harm as their disservice has eternal consequences. People are often turned away from Spiritual truth and church in large numbers due to fighting and ‘kicking’ that goes on far too often when people who claim to be brothers and sisters should be ‘plowing’ together.
What causes the ‘kicking’? James 4: 1 asks the question “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” He then answers in verse 2 saying, “You want something but don't get it.” It is pretty simple. We want things our way and have our own ego to serve. We do not GO to church to have things our way. We ARE the church as we go the way of the Father uniting to follow him as he sends us. Let’s go back to the country. My grandfather had a team of mules (two). They worked best when they were matched and were placed in the harness to work together. One worked best on the right and the other on the left. Rather than letting differences cause conflict their differences made them stronger as they pulled together.
I have noticed that those who make the most conflict in churches and communities are often the ones who are doing the least to pull together, and are not doing their share of the work. Remember one can’t kick and plow at the same time. God has blessed me to take mission teams around the world assisting third world countries and victims of disaster. One gains new perspective when one gets out of their own comfort zone to assist others. It is hard to argue or think about selfish ideas when you are in a genocide museum, killing field, sitting in a mud hut sharing a meal or helping people restore a home destroyed by a hurricane.
D.T. Niles described what we do as “One beggar showing another beggar where he found bread.” Those who go across the street or across the ocean to share bread with a fellow beggar are too busy plowing and scattering seed to kick. Try to match up with fellow brothers and sisters as Ephesians 4 urges and enjoy plowing together. It is what we are really made to do.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Why Is This Happening To Me?
“If I have been created in the image of God why can’t I find my car keys?” It can be frustrating to be told by preachers that we (humans) are the crowning achievement of creation when we struggle along in this thing called life. By the time you get things figured out, you often forgot where you put them. There are times we seem to try as hard as we can to move three steps forward and see ourselves slip two backward. Quite often life just doesn’t seem fair. I was once told to look for ‘fair’ in the dictionary if I wanted to find it in this world. As long as we have been able to ask questions we have questioned the futility, fairness and purpose of things and life in this world. Some just give up thinking; “What the heck, it does not matter”, “Why bother” , or “What’s the use”?
Before you throw in the towel be remember that Jesus reminded us that it rains on the just and the unjust in Matthew 5:45. He is simply letting us know that there are going to be some things that come our way that we may not understand or think fair but that does not mean he does not exist, has forgotten us or that we are necessarily being punished unjustly. There are a few things to consider when struggling with questions and frustrations in this sin-scarred world. Romans 5:12 tells us that unfairness, tragedy, senseless acts, evil all entered this world through man’s disobedience. So, when we look to the heavens and cry, “Why is God doing this to me?” We are better served to look in the mirror. Mankind is the greater culprit. James 1:17 tells us every good and perfect gift comes from God. I Timothy 2:4 explains that it is God’s will that all are saved but we know that God has also allowed our own will to be part of the process (remember we are created in his image with an ability to determine an outcome for our lives) so there are things in our lives that may not go according to his will. However, it is his will for us to let him have control and turn it around.
So, next time you are struggling with the major questions about why there is injustice or perhaps wondering why someone created in God’s image still can’t find the car keys it may be helpful to consider the source of this struggle, question or dilemma. Often the answer can be found as a result of sin in the world. It may be due to man’s inhumanity to man, (think what we could do if money spent on crime and war were used for disease prevention, medicine and caring for those in poverty). It may be due to improper care and stewardship of self or God’s resources, senseless acts or accidents. Everything does not have a purpose in a sin-scarred world where evil exists but God can give purpose to everything if we turn it to him.
The key is how we respond. I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us it is God’s will to give thanks in all things. A thankful heart turns our thinking around. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Joseph’s life of being sold into slavery by his brothers was transformed into saving a nation from starvation. He later told his brothers, “What you meant for evil God intended for Good.” Paul tells us we will understand things with complete clarity in eternity. Our vision now is clouded as if looking through a dingy mirror. The secret is turning things around to see what God is leading through the current situation. If I can’t find my car keys, God may be leading me outside to a beautiful day for a walk. I think I will stop the frustrating search and just trust him and go on that walk with him; after all I have been created in his image. The more we walk together the better I seem to understand things anyway.
Before you throw in the towel be remember that Jesus reminded us that it rains on the just and the unjust in Matthew 5:45. He is simply letting us know that there are going to be some things that come our way that we may not understand or think fair but that does not mean he does not exist, has forgotten us or that we are necessarily being punished unjustly. There are a few things to consider when struggling with questions and frustrations in this sin-scarred world. Romans 5:12 tells us that unfairness, tragedy, senseless acts, evil all entered this world through man’s disobedience. So, when we look to the heavens and cry, “Why is God doing this to me?” We are better served to look in the mirror. Mankind is the greater culprit. James 1:17 tells us every good and perfect gift comes from God. I Timothy 2:4 explains that it is God’s will that all are saved but we know that God has also allowed our own will to be part of the process (remember we are created in his image with an ability to determine an outcome for our lives) so there are things in our lives that may not go according to his will. However, it is his will for us to let him have control and turn it around.
So, next time you are struggling with the major questions about why there is injustice or perhaps wondering why someone created in God’s image still can’t find the car keys it may be helpful to consider the source of this struggle, question or dilemma. Often the answer can be found as a result of sin in the world. It may be due to man’s inhumanity to man, (think what we could do if money spent on crime and war were used for disease prevention, medicine and caring for those in poverty). It may be due to improper care and stewardship of self or God’s resources, senseless acts or accidents. Everything does not have a purpose in a sin-scarred world where evil exists but God can give purpose to everything if we turn it to him.
The key is how we respond. I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us it is God’s will to give thanks in all things. A thankful heart turns our thinking around. When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. Joseph’s life of being sold into slavery by his brothers was transformed into saving a nation from starvation. He later told his brothers, “What you meant for evil God intended for Good.” Paul tells us we will understand things with complete clarity in eternity. Our vision now is clouded as if looking through a dingy mirror. The secret is turning things around to see what God is leading through the current situation. If I can’t find my car keys, God may be leading me outside to a beautiful day for a walk. I think I will stop the frustrating search and just trust him and go on that walk with him; after all I have been created in his image. The more we walk together the better I seem to understand things anyway.
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