Losing is the pits. Experience has revealed to me that I do not like it. There are lots of platitudes about losing. “Losing is for losers.” “Losing teaches important lessons.” “Losing builds character.” “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” I’m not buying it.

One doesn’t have to learn how to lose. There are lots of ways…failure to prepare…lack of practice…over-confidence…bad breaks…choking…just plain lack of ability. You may need to learn how to act when/if you lose, but the actual accomplishment of the experience of losing is easy.

There are different attitudes about losing. For some, if you didn’t win, you lost. It’s like, “Nobody remembers who came in second.” (That’s my category. I’ve been second or above average a lot, but who cares?) Then there are those who are satisfied to just compete, just participate. And God bless those who don’t see everything as a contest. I envy those kinds of people. They are a lot better adjusted and less frustrated than some of the rest of us. (My dear wife says that I’m a lot happier person when I don’t play golf.)

I’ve noticed that most competitive individuals not only have competed in something on a personal participation level, but also are fans of particular sports teams and identify with those teams as if they were actually competing along side of their favorite team. They glory when the team wins and grieve when it loses. One only has to listen to the sports talk shows and the conversations after games to realize how big a deal all this is to the fans. (I haven’t actually made a study, but the common analysis is that if the local team loses, church attendance will be down on Sunday, as well as the offering).   

Well, I’m one of those who get so caught up in the games, that since my teams aren’t doing so well lately, I’ve developed a new tact to try and avoid the misery of watching them lose. Thanks to technology, I record the game instead of watching it live. Then, if they lose, I’m spared the angst of watching them fall. If they win, I can relax and watch the game. No sweat. I know the outcome no matter what happens along the way.

Maybe life itself isn’t a contest, but there are sure lots of struggles along the way. Sometimes it seems like the world is in such a mess that it’s all bad, and good is losing. Actually, we are told by the Word of God that in a sense there is a battle going on.

Eph 6:12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

The neat thing is that, just as if it were already recorded, we can know the final outcome of the battle.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

(Rev 19:11-16)

 

 

 

Driving the Dragon - I can't say we weren't warned. The sign is very clear...something like, "Dangerous Curves the next 11 miles".  318 of them to be exact. No. I didn't count them, but that's what all the information says. I believe it. It's a stretch of road through the mountains of Tennessee that probably has great scenery, if you had the opportunity to look at it. But...driving takes all your attention...it better. 

It's a challenge for motorcyclists and sports car owners...one that has resulted in far too many deaths over the years. I suppose the thrill is to see how fast you can complete the 11 miles, which implies how fast you can take the curves, because there are no straightaways. We didn't take the challenge. We did make the drive, but paid careful attention to the well placed signs indicating the direction of the constant sharp curves and "almost" never veered out of our lane. You have to drive it to understand. 

While driving the Dragon it occurred to me that there is a parallel to the experience. LIFE. Life is full of curves and dangers which take their toll on unsuspecting travelers. One might say that the difference is that on the road Dragon there are warnings and directions, while in the life Dragon you just cruise along and suddenly there's a curve. Well, of course we don't know what all life will bring, but we are warned about dangers that lurk along the way. 

Jesus said very plainly, "In the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33) He wasn't specific, like "There are 318 curves in life," but the warning is clear. "Don't think this is going to be easy." The Bible has several warnings and, in fact, instructions about living. Like, "Flee from sexual immorality." (1 Corinthians 6:18) "Flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:14) "...the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils..." (1 Timothy 6:10)

Jesus told his disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16) Did you get that? Be wise. Be innocent. (Aren't those mutually exclusive? Not at all.) One might also say, "Be prepared. Don't be shocked when the world isn't like you want it to be, thought it would be, like it should be."  That doesn't mean we have to be depressed and have a defeatist attitude because of the state of the world or because we have to go through hard times...either personally or as a people. 

Life happens. Illness, financial setbacks, disappointments, bad government. Where does that leave us? It leaves us to live. Don't panic. Christianity not only survived the first three centuries after the resurrection of the Christ, but prospered during a time of oppression and pagan government. Individuals suffered the same difficulties we see today...many times multiplied...and yet remained strong and faithful. 

Jesus also told his listeners, "But take heart. I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Thankfully, the joy, peace, and hope for a follower of the Christ isn't in who is president and no matter how many  letters are added to a sexual acronym, the truth doesn't change. 

That's good because with all the twists and turns of the life Dragon, it would be easy to get confused and get on the wrong path. So here's a good "road" sign. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5-8)

 After the election: 

As I sit here this morning…Saturday, after election day last Tuesday, still not having a final result of the election, my thoughts are not primarily on who will win. That seems to be, if not a done deal, trending toward a Democratic victory. I hate to lose. But that is not what is stirring my emotions today.

            I’m not going to try to take the “stiff upper lip” approach. This is not a time to just “grin and bear it.” I’m not going to bemoan the fact that not enough people voted “right” (pun intended). Nor am I going to wring my hands in fear for the future of America. The path chosen, if not diverted, is certainly headed toward a suicidal cliff. As I heard just today in a sermon preached before the election, “We are staring into an abyss.”

            A discussion of the cause of this chosen path would reveal many different opinions. There may not be one clear and precise answer. There was not one solitary decision that changed the course of a nation. There is a plethora of causes. It has been a process, and there is plenty of blame to go around.

            At times some have said we, as Christians, just need to get back to the “New Testament” church. Well, we are just about there. When you read the New Testament, you discover that the church of that day lived as minorities. They faced discrimination, ridicule, persecution, and often death. And in the face of it all, they prayed for what?...safety, protection, freedom…NO. They prayed for boldness…boldness to be faithful, boldness to witness to their faith, boldness to BE what they proclaimed to be.

            We are in a time when there are plenty of excuses. We’re living through a pandemic, a demise of morality, and a left rushing government. Some have surmised that all this is the judgment of God. I don’t know if it is or not. The pandemic, who knows? The matters of morality and leftist leanings are very possibly the result of the inconsistency of our profession of faith compared to our actual living of our faith.

            “In God We Trust” is on our money, (even our license plates here in Tennessee). As a nation, that is decidedly untrue. America does not trust in God. America is not a Christian nation. The sad truth is that many proclaiming Christians have let that be the essence of our faith…a slogan…a claim. For a long time in this country it was possible to be a “cultural” Christian. That’s not possible today. We do not live in a Christian culture. The predominant culture is secular. Sadly, many professing Christians are in actuality “Secular Christians.” That may not even be a legitimate term. It seems like an oxymoron to me, but what it indicates is a person who calls himself a Christian but lives by secular standards.

There is a phrase, “a line in the sand.” (I’m from Texas, and I think it may have originated at the Alamo when Colonel Travis drew a line in the sand and asked everyone who would stand and fight to cross the line. But you know how Texans are…) Anyway, the line has been drawn. This is a time to decide. Joshua told the Israelites, “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

            What all does that mean? I don’t know. I don’t know how far this country is going. I do know that it’s not going in the direction of following the God of the universe. What I do know is that it means it’s time to stop just claiming Christianity. It’s time to start being Christian…openly, overtly, unashamedly…dare I say “boldly”, which could become dangerously Christian. There is the danger of being thought of as weird, odd, naïve, or, of all things, “religious.” There is the danger of being excluded from the “in” crowd…certainly not being “cool.” For now, at least, it’s not illegal to openly proclaim a faith in the Christ, but down the road, who knows?

             It is time to stand up. The old hymn urges, “Rise up, O men of God.” It sounds like a battle cry. It is. But the battle is not going to be won in the congress or the courts. It not going to be won at the ballot box. It may not even show up there. Our battle is in life…everyday, as we go, living…our relationships, our ethics, our morals, not only in our professions, but in our demonstrations. It’s a “take up your cross daily” kind of battle cry.

            Finally, this kind of battle is not easily fought alone. We need each other. The pandemic has caused many churches to close for a while. Many have now opened back up, but sadly many former church-goers have found it more convenient to just stay home. But there’s more than just a “rule” about going to church at stake. There is a great benefit to communing together, praying together, worshipping together. As the writer of Hebrews admonished, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:24-25)

            Only God knows when that “day” will be. But in the meantime, let us, “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  (Ephesians 6:13)

 

Bojangle’s isn’t my favorite fast-food chicken restaurant. It’s not bad at all but hasn’t been my “go to” place. I don’t know if it is owned by Christians, but while eating there today, I noticed the music (at least the song that was playing) had a Christian theme. I was blessed by that…both the fact that they would play Christian music, and by the song itself. It brought a tear to my heart. 

 We live in a crazy time, and I was a little down by all the turmoil and uncertainty…today especially with the election so up in the air. But when I heard the song, I was reminded of the love, steadfastness, and eternal person of our Lord. Whoever wins the election, God has already settled his relationship with those who follow the Christ. The only vote needed was cast in our favor, not because of who we are, but because of who He is. He is sovereign Lord whoever is president of the United States. 

 Here’s the song. 

 Who am I, that the lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are 

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still you hear me when I'm calling
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling
And you've told me who I am
I am yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am
But because of what you've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who you are

COVID 19 Testing – We were 6 hours from home, 10 minutes from the church where our recently departed friend’s funeral was to be held, when our phone rang. The call was to inform us that on Sunday, three days previous, we had been exposed to the COVID 19 virus. A gentleman who sat right behind us, and with whom we had visited for several minutes after the church service, had been diagnosed as having the virus. This presented a dilemma, especially since I was to say a few words and read some scripture at the funeral. What to do? Go on and not say anything. Hardly. We felt it necessary to notify the family of the deceased lady of the situation. Parking in the lot of the church we called the daughter and informed her of the just learned situation. We all agreed the thing to do was to not come to the funeral, so we left and made the 6 hour drive back home. Ok, so now we’re home and know we’ve been closely exposed. With several events on the calendar in the next few days, what do we do now? Do we have the virus? Should we be tested? Quarantine ourselves? How long do we wait to find out? After several days of quarantine with no symptoms, Mitzi woke up with a terrible headache which lasted about 18 hours…one of the possible signs of infection. Now it’s time to get tested. So we find the nearest clinic and go. “Sorry, we can’t do it today. Out of time slots. Come back tomorrow.” Checked the other clinics online…same story, no appointments available. So now, do we have the virus or not? What do we do? Get tested? Wait and see if we have anymore symptoms? Just hope and pray for the best? It occurs to me that many people live their lives that way when it comes to a saving relationship with God. Do I have it or not? How can I know? Is there a test that will tell me? What are the signs? Sadly, many people have the belief that one really can’t know at all until after death. A standard answer in Latin America when we asked people about their standing with God was, “You can’t know for sure.” We may get a test for COVID, or, we may just wait and see. However, there can be an assurance of the relationship with God. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1Jn 5:10-13) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

"This blog may contain sensitive content. In general, Google does not review nor do we endorse the content of this or any blog. For more information about our content policies, please visit the Blogger Community Guildelines." So reads the warning preceeding the opening of this blog. One has to click that he/she wants to continue to open the blog. I'm not sure how the assesment that it may contain "sensitive content" was made. I doubt that the blog police actually reads every blog. If "Google does not review" the content of blogs, how do they know it might contain what they call sensitive content? More likely there are certain words that raise an alarm and key the warning. First, I hope the blog does indeed contain "sensitive content". My purpose without doubt is to appeal to the reader's senses. To cause thought and examination of the content is at the heart of my posts. My hope is that a reader will contemplate and consider the ideas and thoughts offered. Secondly, no post I present will ever contain foul or obscene language. I would like to say that it will never contain "hate" language, but the truth is that in the culture of today, the line of hate language is ever-changing. One never knows what someone will consider hate language. Unfortunately, for some, if you disagree with them on a "sensitive" issue and state it openly, you have entered into the forbidden realm of "hate language." However, while I may disagree with some views on issues, I will purposely attempt to not be "hateful" or mean spirited in my remarks. I cannot control how anyone reacts to a dessenting view, but as a follower of Christ, I hope they will never feel rejected or "hated" as a person because of my disagreement. Thirdly, my purpose is to be informative, inspirational, encouraging, and/or thought-provoking. I could hope all those would be achieved, but that's expecting a lot. Through the means of Biblical scripture with proper application I hope to direct thoughts to living life in the world we have and perhaps changing our little part of the world through example and application of Biblical truth. Finally, avoiding "sensitive content" is to ignore the issues of life and truth.

Hope. Recently read a line that caught my attention. The character in the novel I’m reading said, “I was high on hope…” There was nothing spiritual nor religious about her feelings, but it did remind me that hope can be very potent in its effect. A dictionary definition of “hope” is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. I’m not one to quibble with the dictionary, but it seems to me that, while hope can include expectation and desire, it also may include a desire without expectation. For instance, I may desire to lose 20 pounds in the next 3 months, but I don’t really expect to achieve that. As of this writing, the Tennessee Vols will be playing Alabama this afternoon. I hope that the Vols win. But in reality, hope without expectation is mere wishful thinking. Hope can be motivating. On the other hand, loss of hope can be devastating. Loss of hope can lead to all kinds of acts of desperation…or a complete cessation of action…giving up. The line was, “…high on hope…” It implies a positive feeling to the point of being uplifted, encouraged, light-hearted, and at it’s extreme, even unrealistic. Being “high” on drugs is characterized by lack of reason or rationality…out of control of oneself. But let’s not go to the extreme. Generally, a sense of hope is a positive thing. “High on hope” can be a good thing if the hope is accompanied by reasonable expectation. So, being high on hope can be an exciting place to be. But just as hope can cause a “high”, it can also have a calming effect. We have somewhat of a paradox. Does it make sense that being highly hopeful, with expectation of fulfillment, can allay anxiety? I believe so. The Bible is full of hope…but not in a vacuum. The hope of the Bible is not just wishful thinking or an exercise in positive thinking. There is an object of that hope…a reason for the “highness” of hope. That reason is God. But not just in the fact that there is a God, rather in the knowledge that He is a God of action. There’s even more hope than the fact that God created. Not only is God sovereign, He is also loving. He has acted upon that love in the providing of a solution to our sin problem, our lostness, our separation from a personal relationship with our Creator, caused by our rebellion. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (5) who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1Peter 1:3-5) The words, “living hope” indicate that the hope we have is not a dead, lifeless, without grounds feeling. It’s a hope that we can expect to come to fulfillment. At once, that is both exciting and calming. In times like these, hope can be that which keeps us from despair.

Dark World / Bright light While much of the world adopts the label "progressive", and lauds the ever developing "freedoms" to live by whatever their desires dictate, the world grows darker by the day. I don't have to enumerate the various issues that invade our daily existence. You are very aware of them...which is the point of this short statement. While the darkness of the world should be of great concern to followers of the Christ, it should not be surprising. Man is fallen in nature. Without redemption, he will live in sin. The scriptures speak clearly of the debased mind which will rule absent the transformation which comes from a relationship with God through Christ. There are no new sins. They may be more exposed and take different forms, and even be openly celebrated now, even "legalized", but nothing new has been discovered. Interestingly, sadly, many of these issues are openly discussed, promoted by media and the so-called "arts", accepted and adopted by much of the public, and now have become huge political issues. With this exposure and open acceptance, the world becomes "darker." Bright Light - So what should the Christian reaction be? Dismay? Discouragement? Defeat? Hardly. It is sad, for sure, but we certainly shouldn't be shocked or surprised. In fact, it could be viewed as a great opportunity. It's in the darkest room that a light shines the brightest. The contrast between darkness and light is greatest when the light is brought into a dark place. The light of righteousness will be more noticeable when contrasted with the darkness of sinfulness. As believers, we should certainly not welcome the "progressiveness" (read, "degeneration"), but we should take advantage of it by making sure our "light" is visible to our "world". (Each of us has a "world" in which we exist.) “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Mat 5:14-16) How can the world know truth if they have no light? We allow our light to shine by not "placing it under a basket" and being open and clear about our loyalty to the teachings and principles of God. Our light shines most brightly when we not only declare our beliefs, but most importantly, live by them.