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