Be Honest

" A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight"    Proverbs 11:1

     When I was a young child a friend of mine taught me how to steal.  Neither of us ever had pocket change to spend as we wished, so he taught me how to sneak candy when the cashier wasn't looking.  It felt really scary, but he kept telling me it wasn't a big deal.  It became pretty routine to meet up with my friends and go get candy.  Pretty routine, until my mother found out.
     When you're a kid you really don't think about the second and third order of effect.  You pretty much live stimulus to response.  Take candy, eat candy, life is good.  Come to fine out, my mother understood this stimulus response process really well.  She introduced two new things into my life that I would forever associate with stealing.  The first was accountability.  She marched me into the convenient store and made me confess.  In front of everyone I had to say "I stole candy from you."  It was a second order of effect that I hated.  I felt so ashamed saying those words and so humiliated for what I had done. The truth of being caught and having to be held accountable would forever be associated with the thought of being dishonest.  The second event that mom administered was an ancient practice called "paddling."  It is a process where a parent would take a thin board and begin to stimulate the gluteus maximus in sufficient manner as to produce a different response from the child.  It worked, thank you Mom.
     Why is honesty so important to God?  It has everything to do with our faith in God as our provider.  Life is like a child with no candy watching all the other kids enjoying themselves.  You begin to reason your way into sin: "the store has plenty of money, they won't miss it, they charge too much for other items, they don't treat their employees right, I'm a good kid and I deserve candy like everyone else. I'll never get caught, I'll only take a little..."  So rather than trusting in God to be your provider you decide to be dishonest and cheat...just a little...on your taxes.  "It's no big deal, everyone else does it."  Then you begin to extend it to taking things from your office..."they do not pay me enough."  Then it is when a cashier hands you too much change, a product does not scan with a grocer, you wrongfully return an item to a merchant...and the list goes on.  Unfortunately, dishonesty has a way of slowly taking you down a path you can not backtrack.  A path of accountability and repercussions.
     When we live stimulus to response, we nurse our cravings and sear our conscience.  If we will add the second order of effect, getting caught and having to be known as being dishonest, it may keep us from the third order of effect of punitive action.  Ultimately it will keep us from having to confess to God that we did not trust Him as our provider, we took a short cut and became dishonest.
     Being honest has it's own rewards.  "The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them. (Proverbs 11:3)"  It is the wisdom of purposely putting your life on a path that can not crumble underneath your feet.  The peace of mind you live with knowing all is well, regardless of any inquiry.  Do we really need a reward from God for being honest?  No.  The return of honesty in your life is its own reward.

Father, help us remember "when the wrong oft seems so strong, you are the ruler yet."  Your ways are beautiful and your paths bring safety.  In Jesus Name, A-Men.     
         
     

Choice Words of Restoration

      

"The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver..." Proverbs 10:20

     In this section of Proverbs the teacher is contrasting the blessings of the righteous to the fruit of the wicked.  In this instance we see how the words of the righteous are rewarding and satisfying.  There are so many ways we can explore how this saying is true, but let us look at how Jesus confronted Peter after the resurrection.

     In John 21:15-17 Jesus confronts Peter's denial and uses choice words to bring restoration.

(Actual text)

Jesus: "Do you love (agape) me?"
Peter: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love (philia) you.”
Jesus" "Tend my lambs."

Jesus: “Do you love (agape) me?”
Peter: “Yes, Lord, you know that I love (philia) you.”
Jesus: "Shepherd my sheep."

Jesus: “Do you love (philia) me?”
Peter: “You know that I love (philia) you.”

Jesus: "Tend my sheep."

     In most confrontations we see the anger of being betrayed, an admission of guilt, a request for forgiveness and then the granting of forgiveness.  I could have expected the conversation to go like this:

(hypothetically)

Jesus: "Peter! You betrayed me!"

Peter: "I know, but I was really pressured and didn't know what to do..."

Jesus: "Peter!  You left me all alone!"

Peter: "There wasn't enough of us, we couldn't overcome them."

Jesus: "Peter, I thought I could count on you"

Peter: "I know, I'm sorry"

Jesus: "OK, I understand...I forgive you."

     Jesus could have unloaded on Peter but instead he chose his words carefully to help bring restoration.  Could you imagine being Peter on the beach that day when he realized he was talking with the resurrected Christ?  After running away scared, abandoning Jesus and then denying him three times Peter demonstrated nothing short of cowardice and betrayal.  In response to Peter's actions Jesus simply asked him one question.

1.  "Do you (more than anyone else) love me?"  This question says it all.  The face to face question confronts the betrayal, confronts the abandonment and goes straight to the heart of the matter.  After all is said..."do you love me?"  What if this was a moment when a child confronted a parent who had been abandoned?  Choice words can help remove the shame of the sin and get straight to the heart of the matter..."do you want me?"

2.  "Do you (without waver) love me?"  What if this was a moment when a spouse was confronted about dependability?  The choice of words address the question of guilt and devotion.  Without unloading on someone and trying to shame them, you get straight to the matter..."do you  want to restore this relationship?"  

3.  "Do you (as close as a brother) love me?"  Too often when we have an altercation with a brother/sister in Christ, rather than working toward reconciliation we harbor bitterness.  The choice words of the righteous should always be precious.  At this point I imagine Peter had been nursing his shame with tremendous guilt.  With anxiety building within Peter throughout breakfast, the moment of reckoning had finally come.  Jesus simply ask..."do you love me?"  With Peter's third admission of love for Christ the heaviness was broken and Jesus reaffirms a third time Peter's role, "Be a good shepherd to my sheep."  Confrontation can be merciful.  

      The words we use, our tone and body gesture all portray our heart.  I pray that we guard our heart, distribute mercy generously and use choice words that relieve the anxiety of stressed relationships.

     

We need #Reconciliation

Be Patient

 "Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction and Faithful in Prayer" 

Romans 12:2

Joyful in Hope

                I’ll be the first to admit I look for “Murphy” to show up at every turn.  It has been said that the more responsibility you have the more contingency plans you have to make.  If you are not careful your expectations of life can become more about the negative hurdles than the journey toward success.  Being “Joyful in Hope” speaks to the mental and emotional state of being during trials.  If God is a part of our life, and He is, then God is a part of our trial and delivery.  So while life experiences may condition us to watch for the next hurdle, our expectation of God’s presence in our life should motivate us to maintain our pace toward the finish line. 

Patient in Affliction

                Patience is powerful.  Being “Patient in Affliction” does not mean to sit idle and do nothing.  Patience is meant to give you time to gained enough understanding to use wisdom in your next step.  Rather than being emotionally reactive with no time to develop a rational analysis or gain spiritual insight, use the delayed time period of affliction to empower yourself.  Too many people make rash decisions to get out of their trial as soon as possible.  In any situation you can advantage yourself with time.  Time to calm down, time to re-think, time to get your facts straight, time to seek spiritual insight, time to gain wisdom from others, time for the situation to possibly change, time to contemplate a better solution, time to decide if doing nothing could benefit you more than responding at all.  If you do not absolutely have to make an immediate decision, patience will empower you.     

Faithful in Prayer

It’s comforting when we have secure and meaningful relationships with the people who are important in our lives.  It’s the same way with God.  In uncertain times, it’s comforting to connect with God and know our relationship is secure.  When the disciples were battling the storm at sea, Jesus was asleep below.  When the disciples awakened Christ and sought His help, He simply stepped forward on the boat and spoke “peace, be still”.  Stop fighting your battles alone.  Don’t hesitate to pray to God in trials.  Seek Him out and bring Him to the forefront of your situation. 

“Father; help us to maintain our excitement about our Spiritual Journey, to wait strategically for your intervention, and to be able to recognize the hand of God on our lives." 

Be an Encourager

Proverbs 11:25 "The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered"

     Early one spring a friend and I hiked Look Out Mountain in Chattanooga Tennessee.  It was an aggressive two hour climb to a cafe at Sunset Rock that offered a view of seven different States.  Unfortunately on this day the cafe was closed and it had been uncharacteristically hot for that time of the year.  Not bringing water on a four hour hike was a gamble we should not have taken.  So we began walking through the neighborhood hoping to find a convenient store.  It must have really been hot because every garden hose looked inviting.  Just as we were laughing about the idea of getting  caught drinking from the side of a strangers house we heard a voice behind us that made us jump, "you boys don't have to drink from the hose."  We whipped around and there was a kind older lady standing ten feet away in the yard behind us.  She got a great laugh by startling us and offered us a glass of water.  As awkward as it was, we gratefully accepted her hospitality.  After a short exchange of congenial conversation and several glasses of water, we left completely refreshed.
     I often think of her generosity when I read Proverbs 11:25 "...he who waters will himself be watered."  A simple effort of encouragement goes a long way toward a weary soul.  In a world that at times can be too critical and self-centered, how refreshing is it for someone to give an uplifting word.  Difficulties in life have a way of keeping us from seeing the good around us.  We tend to give to much weight to our current stress and dismiss the good.  Simple acknowledgments help shift the scales from discouragement to encouragement. 
     An experienced christian understands the importance of encouraging people in their faith.  When someone's fear outweighs their faith, encouragement can correct the scales.  Sometimes we need to help someone see past their struggle and see the presence of God.  Don't dismiss or belittle their problem, acknowledge the weight of what God is doing.  When we are an encourager, we refresh the world around us.  We bring faith into uncertainty, hope into despair and love into doubt.  Be an encourager, refresh others in your world daily!

We need #Reconciliation

   

Preaching...Center Stage Show

"...preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void" 1 Corinthians 1:17 

I love a good sermon.  If I am going to give up my Sunday (I am actually dedicated to the sabbath, but you get the idea) and not go fishing, traveling or visiting friends....don't waste my time.  I couldn't agree more, sorta.

While I do love a good sermon, does it need to be a song and dance to capture my attention and win my favor?  No.  A good sermon needs to challenge me.  I want to hear a message that is relevant to my life today.  I have real struggles, I deal with difficult people daily and sometimes looking for a little peace takes more effort than it should.  I want encouragement.

I have a good life, a good Family and a good job but that doesn't mean that I do not have problems that never seem to get fixed.  Today fixing your problems isn't popular, it's how you feel about not being able to fix your problems.  Well, I'm tired of having the same problems.  Frankly, I'd like to have a new set of problems all together.  So yes, I am looking for answers.

I have had enough with debates, political rants and religious fights.  When I go to worship I do not want another episode of CCN or FOX news.  The world is not coming to an end (we'll it is, but in a good way...for some).  Why does every message have the same political-religious slant.  It's like you've gone to a shrimp restaurant and can choose from gumbo shrimp, popcorn shrimp, sauteed shrimp, shrimp scampi...I guess we're getting shrimp....again!  I want to be stimulated theologically. 

I love people.  I love a lot of people.  O.k., I love some people.  Actually, some people are hard to love.  To be honest, I like to get away from people.  I have to de-stress from the pressures of life at then end of every workday. I need to find something positive in a world that can only see the negative.  So when I take my precious Family to worship, I want to be surrounded by Positive Faith Based People.

I have my favorite superheros, my favorite actors, my favorite books and my favorite bands. When I want to drift away and be distracted by my favorite entertainer, I'll grab Hemingway and go fishing with Santiago.  I am not looking for an image-driven performer in the pulpit. I want a mature anointed minister who has spent time with God on my behalf.  I want to hear the message delivered like it was my last crumb of bread and I want to feel the love of Christ hold me securely.  I want to connect with the Eternal Word of God.

So, do you have to put on a dog and pony show to entertain me and keep me satisfied?  No.  If you can get out of the way so I can get the Word that should do just fine.  Thank you.

  

Winning with Wisdom

"Your father's teachings....are a graceful wreath to your head..."  Proverbs 1:9

     Studying the details of scriptures can help broaden the diameter of the light that shines on our path.  As I walk through our bivouac at night my small red-lens-light guides my path.  I make certain the focus is sharp and I hold it a little higher so my beam will broaden at my feet.  In the same way, I think it is important to be careful not to dull down our expressions of faith, as if everything being taught is synonymous and all of God's teachings can be simplified into a slogan.  I also believe in receiving spiritual insight from above so I reach toward my Lord and humbly ask him to reveal his treasured secrets that make my steps sure.

     Proverbs is a series of lessons designed to perfect your walk with God.  In chapter one the author introduces eleven key words plus multiple teachings of morality, ethics and simple decision making processes.  He specifically calls these teachings "a graceful wreath to your head", which is a symbol of someone who has won their race. The first of these key words that Solomon begins to teach his child is Wisdom, Instruction and Discernment.

     Wisdom:  The understanding of Wisdom is the total accumulation of all things taught.  It is not the depth of one subject, but rather how all subject matter interacts, connects, and affects the second, third and fourth order of effect.  It is more than the accumulating of information, it is in how to apply knowledge and experience.  Wisdom is like moving from being a checkers player to being a chess player.  After years of studying moves, techniques and strategies you become a formidable master competitor.  Then your eyes open and you fully see that you are only on level one.  What you thought was a finish line is only the beginning and you become hungry for more knowledge and all its applications.   

     Instruction:  After four years of a bachelors degree, three years of a master's degree and five years of a doctorate one thinks they have wisdom.  No, they have a deep understanding of one field.  They have instruction.  Instruction is what you gain when you begin a new job and after years of "on the job training" you master your skill and become one of the most wanted craftsmen.  You have instruction.  You know how to perform your task with excellence, professionalism and are the model of success.  When a crisis arises the best of the best are called to remedy the problem.  On the battlefield there will be experts in artillery, airborne strikes, special forces, engineers, surgeons, support squads and the list is exhaustive.  All of these are elite professionals in their field.  They are models of instruction.  The military strategist who moves all pieces on the battlefield in synchronization with all other military elements uses wisdom.  Then still, that person only uses wisdom in one field during one occasion.  That person merely scratches the surface of wisdom.

     Discernment:  Discernment is the ability to judge well.  It encompasses the concept of being able to detect with precision, correctly differentiate, assimilate, compare and contrast.  It includes the emotional intelligence spectrum of sensing the moment, speaking to be understood and using the power of silence.  It is never void of deep contemplation while drawing on instruction and experience.  Spiritual discernment is a blessed revelation from God.  To be in the moment of ministry and to be gently guided by God is an honor.  Once as a young boy I was challenged by my friends to examine an old abandoned house on our block.  It was a beautiful structure but the fact that it had not been lived in created a mysterious presence.  I took a blade from my father's razor, ran to the front porch to scratch off the film of a window and peered into its secrets. After what seemed an eternity in the grasp of the unknown, I ran back to report the all my findings.  Today, Christians barely peek into the depths of the truth of God.  They trade instructions for superficial simplifications and swap wisdom for whimsical quotes.  To discern the elements, you need to know the elements.  You have to go into the depths of what you do not know and learn through experience.

     The riddles of Proverbs lay out principles of living the will of God.  I encourage you to clearly differentiate every term added to the lesson.  Examine by every means possible how to apply the simple anecdotal parables.  As you master each concept, begin to grow in wisdom as to how each element builds christian character.  Lastly, lean heavily on spiritual discernment, but do not separate your lessons from the best intellectual research and reasoning you can muster.

Army Revival

When I graduation from Seminary, I never dreamed I would be in the Army seeing over 10,000 Soldiers give their lives to Jesus Christ.  On any given Sunday our worship begins and the presence of God fills the sanctuary.  The same obstacle pounding Soldiers who tackle their day at 0500 are the same Soldiers who sing out with passion and raise their hands in worship.  It is common to see hundreds of Soldiers come to the altar and seek out the favor of

God.  As we close the sermon we always give an invitation.  We have had as many as 350 Soldiers, from all three services, give their lives to Christ.  One particular morning as I gave an invitation, the hands raised for prayer were too many to count.    

As I reflect on this movement, there are a few noteworthy observations.  First, it is a move of God.  One Sunday when we were taking in the atmosphere of the worship, I leaned over to CH Rondon and said, "You know God is changing the Army."  His reply showed his vision and purpose "In this Chapel service is the future Command Sergeant Major, and today he is on fire for Christ!"  As those words took life in the room, we paused to imagine what God was doing.  

         The second observation is how we continually refined our approach.  It became obvious that the more we presented the text in its purity, the simpler the message was to receive.  Also, the more deliberate we were in presenting Jesus as the only way, the only truth and the only life the more passionate Soldiers became about worship.  No one wants a washed down presentation. They want a real God and a real experience.  

The last observation is the power of momentum.  We only have trainees for 18 weeks.  However; by the time one class is preparing for graduation, two other classes have begun and joined the Chapel.  Soldiers who have just arrived enter Chapel with two groups ahead of them who are excited about Jesus.  The movement is self-feeding.  When Soldiers are excited about going to Chapel, new Soldiers come to find out why.

Every ministry position in my life continually molds me into the Chaplain God wants me to be, and being the Chaplain my Soldiers need me to be.  I pray that God continues to give me favor with my commanders, favor with my fellow Chaplains and favor with my Soldiers.