We Must . . . Peg the True Brokenness

    As I traipse through the course of any day around people, I overhear so many listing the pains that they are experiencing. Sometimes, those pains are nearly crippling, and sometimes, beyond a doubt, they come from people who merely need attention—any kind of attention. Much confusion surrounds the cause-and-effect: A blonde, who had just recently dyed her hair brown, went to the hospital because her whole body hurt. She told the doctor that wherever she touched herself it hurt. The doctor told her to demonstrate. She touched her nose and it hurt. She touched her stomach and it hurt. She touched her back and it hurt.The doctor studied for a while, grabbed her hand, then asked her if she was a blonde, and she confessed, yes. "Look here, Lady, your finger is broken!"  . . . 
       I apologize for the “blonde” nonsense, but we humans often just don't quite “get it.” Pain---real pain---is never humorous, but “imagined” or “self-enhanced” pain actually is comical. Certainly this “manufactured” pain is sadly demoralizing and frustrating to those who have to listen while others discuss and describe it over and over again.

       Yep, I too am guilty of moaning and groaning about my aches and pains. But, much true pain does abound all around us. One website (not sure how valid) suggests that one person commits suicide every 14 minutes in the U.S. each day. If true, think of the brokenness in that! Forlorn—lonely—brokenness. Gut-churning emptiness! Brokenness compared to my moaning---makes me feel ashamed in some deep-down-inside way. Some hard facts:  suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24; more teenagers die from suicide than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and lung disease---combined.  Combined!
       So . . . I don't know . . . at least, quit moaning and groaning about your aches and pains (quit sharing them with the whole world) and start listening for and seeing  the real brokenness around you.  Start looking "outward" and quit focusing on yourself so much.  I know: Speak to yourself, clown!  (Hey, I'm willing to claim my guilt.)
       It is so important to be aware of what's going on around us. Yet, much of our activity---from television to cell phones---tends to focus us inward onto them.  I'm not going to decry the faults of these devices; I truly enjoy them.  But, somehow, we simply must force ourselves always to be aware of the people around us and discern their circumstances and needs. We must wade our way through the typical complaining and peg the true brokenness . . . and reach out to help.
       We must.

Monstrous Vehicles Out to Get You

       I apologize in advance that  this starts a little ugly---but life is, at times, a little ugly.  Jan and I were driving down the highway the other day with a car a bit of a distance in front of us.  The view, though, was clear on either side of the road; so, we were driving fairly fast. Suddenly, a large dog (perhaps, a boxer) came zooming headlong from the right-hand side of the road, looking straight ahead. He darted in front of the car before us and was hit by their front left bumper.  All we could see after that was the dog spinning in circles round and round all four feet pointed toward heaven on his back across the road and off the other side. It all happened very quickly. It had a bit of warped whimsy to it; it seemed almost unreal.

         I couldn't help but think of all those times I've had squirrels dart out in front of my vehicle, swirling back and forth indecisively. Not all the time, but many times that is the end of the squirrel's life. What's with those nutty critters? One has no way to help them at all when they do this.

        It's a bit of a stretch to liken these events to human activity, but not too much.  The boxer's fate was determined in big part by his timing. (Time and again, he could have flashed safely across that roadway.) How often does the timing of human activities have ultimate results! The squirrel's indecisiveness, partially, caused his untimely death. (He could easily have chosen a course of action that would have led to safety or chosen not to cross the road in the first place.) How often, again, does human indecisiveness cause ultimate and unalterable effects?!
       I'm not at all sure where I thought this post was going to go or, actually, where it went.  But, look back on your life, I suggest, and consider how often timing and decisiveness were important elements of your history---sometimes, without your even recognizing it.
       Have a great day and beware monstrous vehicles out to get you!
          

A Convertible and Two Platinum-Haired Ladies

     People are so odd. (Hold it! I'm a people). Well, anyway, our idiosyncrasies distinguish us one from another, so perhaps they're necessary. We need something to make us feel special. The ones I worry about are those who create their own quirkiness (e.g., our Dept. of Energy secretary's hairstyle), then live as though those abnormalities are ultimately important and categorically distinguish them from other humans.

     More than these are the ones who have lost all sense of morality (e.g., our philanthropic abortionists)---who, if presented with a choice, cannot determine right from wrong or make no effort to fix upon a right or wrong. I don't demand that everyone chooses my views, but I want you to operate by some code of proper behavior. Then, I can locate you.  Then, I can determine where we are juxta-positioned on the morality map. Then, I can have at least some sense of who you are.

      An opened-to-the-air convertible with two platinum-haired ladies came up behind me the other day as I was driving into our town and, then, turning into the local bank. Their horn blasted and arms were raised and wildly waving with middle fingers shining as they sped away to their super-cool horizon; I was moving too slowly to suit their hyper-lifestyle, I suppose.  I wonder where those two are located on the morality map (somewhere near the edge, I'll bet)? They seemed to feel pretty highly of themselves.  I can't (fairly) evaluate them (but I will) with so little interaction, but they didn't seem to care much about what I thought or felt. I wonder what the news media would say about the incident if they had shot and killed me as they sped away into happyland? Would they cover the story?  Would they get it right?  Would the incident have any meaning to anyone other than our immediate friends and acquaintances? Not sure we can count on our news media for anything and guess we never could.

     Their behavior was inappropriate and immoral---unacceptable. It was not civil. It lacked moral truth and authenticity. Your behavior is either right or wrong. Do you believe that?  Right or wrong.  Can't you judge yourself, rather than excuse yourself! Why do you believe that others should excuse and approve of your stupid behaviors? What makes you special? Oh, that's where I started this rant.

       I can tell you what makes you special. What serves as the base of your standing here on earth.  You were created in the image of God. Beyond that, you have NO "self"-esteem. Oh-oh, platinum-haired ladies, we're actually talking God here. Oh to find the words simple enough for simpletons like you. Pray for a merciful God. And I pray His mercy upon you. And I ask for your anonymous forgiveness.

Bathing in Its Illusory Beauty

     We have missed a couple of Sundays lately---camping trip at Sam A. Baker, Jan's family's annual reunion, and our own family's getaway to the Smokies---and it was very special to be back in our church today.  Cole gets baptized [in the creek] this coming Sunday. Our pastor is a very fine speaker who seems dedicated to expounding the Word.  I found being in the worship service especially touching today.

     The serenity and inspiration in all of God's vistas awaken in me a recognition of my emptiness without Him in my life and my dependence on Him if I'm to be any kind of a decent human being at all.  The awesome quality of His universe is indeed thrilling! Awareness of that fearsome power and intent humbles me, yet assures me of my God's glory, goodness, justness, and power.

     Faith is truly childlike, yet also remarkably supernatural.  It is a "leap" in a sense, but can also be a "simple baby's step."  In and of itself, it is not intellectual or emotional---it is a willed motion, deed, activity. Modern culture has little or no room for or acceptance of faith as a motivation or causation, and so I believe God will soon intervene in some dramatic fashion---to reassert to mankind that He is the legitimate Creator.  I don't know this; I have no prophetic knowledge.  But, we seem to have embraced sin completely, bathing in its illusory beauty. 

     Oh, well.  I don't know much of anything for sure even after years of trying to understand . . . and I now traipse about inconsequentially.  So, in the spirit of "silence is golden," I will stop.

Our Sated Egos

     What a wonderful six days of vacation:  the Smokies---Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, waterfalls, Clingman's Dome, hikes, a round of golf that was better than expected, Cade's Cove! And a five-bedroom, three-story cabin with a breathtaking view from the very top of a mountain with every member of our family there; I say: God has blessed me and blessed us!       
     Now, I'm thinking about the less fortunate.  I don't feel guilty about this; I just don't quite understand the mystery behind the blessings of God. Some people [like me] seem so blessed while others suffer amid continual turmoil and trouble.  I try to live a Christ-centered life, but inevitably, some days I'm more successful than others.  I do try to bless other people, but too often I don't recognize ways or opportunities to do so. Helping can be very difficult.

      Why does God bless some more than others? Because He chooses to and simply said the choice is His.  Not because we are somehow worthy of His gifts.  The serenity of the panoramas from the balcony of that vacation cabin were special gifts from God that I recognized as such.

   Is our goal in life personal gain and happiness? Is our purpose and truth equivalent to our sated egos? Or is our life here about conforming to the image of Christ Jesus---impossible, but our goal all the same? Are material and physical benefits the real and only indications of God's goodness? Consider the setbacks, failures, illnesses, and disappointments of Christ's followers down through the centuries. God truly is always good---despite whether we as individuals are happy or not with our lot.
       Man!  Was that one super vacation! Despite spending too much time in the car driving, I'm so thankful for this time away with my family. Thank you, God, for this blessing. Hopefully, we can do it again before too long.

All This Nonsense

     I have a friend who recently retired and now is suddenly plagued with rheumatoid arthritis. We all recognize that life holds its unexpected [actually not-so-unexpected] surprises.  In the proverbial blink of an eye, one's whole life can be upset. Such agitation can challenge our faith.
       I'm almost 70 now.  I've seen a lot of things in my life.  I've seen many attitude changes in my culture.  I cannot understand how or why the people of this country have so passively accepted some of the warped developments of late!  My God cannot be happy with us right now. Squishing Christianity into some super-tolerating, sweet-Jesus, all-is-love, accept-anything-and-everything bottle completely ignores the Just God (and much of Scriptures). Sure, we are to love---but, a just God must execute justice, by definition.  While at the same time, He loves each of us and sinners as well. He is the active agent. I really don't understand this, but I do fear many are going to regret in good time many of their current activities.
       However, God will do what God will do . . . and it is most certainly not ultimately my concern. Thank goodness!  But, my faith is not going to be challenged by all this nonsense (nor am I going to continue to live under great stress); I'm going to strive to serve my God as best I can, and others are going to have to face their own ramifications for not doing so.  I do want my friend's rheumatoid arthritis to be lessened. I do want lawlessness to be reined in. I do want my loved ones to live in a safer world.  
       So, my weapon of choice henceforth will be prayer---accelerated, intense prayer. Paul contended that without faith we could not please God (Hebrews 11) and with faith we have bold and confident access to Him (Ephesians 3).  James proclaimed that the prayers of a righteous person can accomplish much (James 5). Jesus Himself marveled at our unbelief (Mark 6).  Beyond all of these ideas, Jesus asserted that if we did not doubt in our hearts, anything could be granted us (Mark 11). This is not to suggest a rags-to-riches application for prayer, but a much more intimate relationship with God through the intercession of Jesus Christ.  Perhaps, God has stopped listening (Psalms 66, Jeremiah 14, Lamentations 3, Micah 3).  I pray not. Perhaps, He doesn't like our motives (James 4). Pray first for Jesus' mediation.
       So, keep the faith, baby!
       

. . . just ain't gonna happen

     We've been very busy with our mundane, but grand activities:  working at rental house, camping, maintaining the swimming pool, yard work, and watching grandkids.  Yes, grandkids---and they inspire this post.  I look at them in worry and wonder, just what awaits them in life?  While we were away camping (and not paying attention to national affairs), the Supreme Court authorized same-sex marriage in all 50 states and further supported Obama(mis)care. Lately, there's the greater acceptance of the warped activities of trans-genders which could directly affect their daily lives.  So, the progressives and activists celebrate these changes as victories, while I see them as a slipping-away of my life-values (biases they would say) and as degradation and threats to the well-being of my grandkids' futures.

     Don't picture me as some mean-spirited, ugly, hate-spewing monster, friends.  I'm far from that I hope---perhaps, a bit weak in your concept of tolerance and in great need, no doubt, of God's help in the area of compassion and mercy.  However, your need for my approval of your sins  just ain't gonna happen. Your emotional and intellectual arguments, your tendency to bully me over to your view, will always play second-fiddle to God's orchestra, only to be heard in His Word, the Bible.  (Wow, this loony-tune even referred to that outdated bible!)  I only mentioned a few of man's sins and weaknesses earlier.  There's an entire host of them. I know, for I'm guilty of my fair share of them.

     But, please don't be a total hypocrite!  Just because you have no moral compass except your own ego, don't presume that I shouldn't choose some other ethical guide than yours. Give me my elbow room, too.  Legal isn't necessarily Moral.  And, please, question for yourself whether you now have the right to stomp all over me and mine. Yep, I worry about the futures of my grandkids.  God forgive us all.