TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

There was a time in life when I considered the opinions and assessments of others to be intrinsically important to personal value and identity.  Such thinking is a potential portal to superficiality and hypocrisy.  Because whenever we perceive and process the views of others as central to our own status in life, we are prone to embracing decisions and choices that are self-serving and opportunistic.

Over the years, I have radically altered my perspective.  Admittedly, it is quite pleasant to be positively thought of by others, but the acceptance of others is not mission critical to substantive success.

What is most important in life is HEAVEN’S EVALUATION of our conduct and character.

REPUTATION is who PEOPLE ‘think’ you are.  CHARACTER is who GOD ‘knows’ you are.

Reuben Gonzales was a leading racquetball player.  In his first professional tournament, Gonzales reached the finals.  He held match point in the fifth and final game when he made a terrific ‘kill shot’ into the corner to win the tournament.  When the ball was pronounced “good” by the officials, his family and friends got ready to congratulate their new champion.  However, Gonzales turned around and declared that his shot had hit the floor just before it reached the wall.

This admission caused him to lose his serve, and his opponent went on to win both the match and tournament.

The next issue of “National Racquetball Magazine” featured Gonzales on its cover.  Everyone wanted to know why Gonzales had done it.  Why would a professional sportsman disqualify himself after being declared the winner of the match?

Gonzales’ reply was simple: “It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity.”

INTEGRITY is tantamount to WHOLENESS.  In other words, integrity is who we are in the dark.  It’s the decisions we make, the convictions we carry, the activities we engage when we are out of the spotlight and away from the sight of others.

These days, my primary goal is loving, learning and living from God’s point of view.  As such, I simply want to make God smile.  And He delights in simple submission to the terms of our covenant relationship.  Integrity.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

OUR LOVE MANDATE

OUR LOVE MANDATE

As a lifelong learner and teacher of history, I love to come across inspirational non-fiction stories that represent the best qualities of humanity.  Here is a tale of consummate conviction and courage:

Telemachus displayed extreme bravery in the face of evil.  As a Christian monk, he went on a pilgrimage to Rome in 391 A.D.

[Editor’s Note: The Christian term, A.D., Anno Domini or ‘in the year of our Lord,’ has now been replaced in academic/secular circles with C.E., or Common Era].  

In Rome, Telemachus observed huge crowds flocking to the Colosseum to witness gladiators engaged in mortal combat.  It was an experience that was totally repugnant to his Christian faith.

Emperor Honorius celebrated his triumph over the Goths by compelling gladiators to reenact the battle. Afterwards this gory spectacle, dead bodies were dragged from the arena and its bloodied surface covered with fresh layers of sand.

A new group of gladiators arrived on the scene.  Some were armed with swords and spears, others with nets. The crowd watched with excitement as they sought to destroy one another.  Whenever a gladiator was wounded, his opponent would loom over him, waiting for the crowd’s opinion and the emperor’s verdict to either slay or spare him.  So great was the bloodlust that wealthier spectators would occasionally climb down to get a better view of the executions.

Telemachus watched with horror as so many men died – as the battles raged and the crowds cheered. Prompted into action, this bald-headed man of God found his way onto the arena floor.  He ran toward two gladiators locked in battle, grabbing one of them and pulling him away.  He exhorted the gladiators to abandon their murderous sport.  Then he appealed to the crowd to honor God’s commandment against murder.

The response was anything but favorable.  Angry voices drowned out Telemachus and demanded that the blood-sport continue.  But as the gladiators prepared to resume their battle, Telemachus stood between them, holding them apart and urging them to reconsider.  Driven by the crowd’s angry rage at Telemachus’ interference, several gladiators cut Telemachus to the ground as the crowd threw their garbage missiles.  Telemachus was brutally killed.

However, his death was not in vain.  In 405 A.D., Emperor Honorius issued a declaration to end all gladiatorial battles in the Colosseum.  The loving and courageous protest of Telemachus partially inspired him to do so.

My friend, how is your love life?  Is it simply secular or sacred?  And did you know that true love is mandated by heavenly decree?  In the words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34)  And what is the ultimate evidence?  “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WE REALLY DO NEED THE CHURCH!

WE REALLY DO NEED THE CHURCH!

For some reason, a member of a certain church, who had previously attended services regularly, stopped going.  After a few weeks, the pastor decided to drop by for a visit.  It was quite a chilly evening, and the pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him in, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and patiently waited for his counsel.  The pastor made himself comfortable but said absolutely nothing.  Sometimes silence really is golden.  They sat together as friends, simply enjoying each other’s company while contemplating the play of the flames around the burning logs.

After some minutes, the pastor took the fireplace tongs and carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, placing it to one side of the hearth – all alone.  Then he sat back in his chair and observed silently.  His host watched all of this in quiet fascination.

As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.  Soon it was completely cold, apparently as dead as a doornail.

Not a word had been spoken since their initial greetings.

Just before the pastor departed, he picked up the cold, dead ember and returned it to the middle of the fire.  Almost immediately, it began to glow again with the light and warmth of the burning coals surrounding it.

As the pastor reached the doorway, his host said, “Thanks so much for your visit, and especially for the fiery sermon.  I shall be back in church next Sunday.”

Lesson learned.

Every committed believer understands the fundamental fact that weekly worship and Word gatherings are not optional.  In fact, they are clearly mandated by our Lord: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

So let’s make it our business to gather together (this week) with all the people of God to hear from Heaven and to collectively celebrate the King of Kings.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHAT IF GOD WAS ONE OF US?

WHAT IF GOD WAS ONE OF US?

All too often, we complain without justification.  In our attempt to come to grips with our situations-in-life, there is a human tendency to project blame onto The Divine.  Theologians call it THE PROBLEM OF THEODICY.  That is, how could a good, just, loving and all-powerful God allow evil to exist and prevail in the lives of so many?

I read an intriguing story that addresses this issue so well.  Although it’s not scripturally accurate, its application is substantially sound.  It goes something like this…

At the end of time, billions of people are scattered on a vast plain before the throne of God.

Most shrink back from the brilliant light before them.  But some of the groups were talking rather heatedly among themselves.  They were not cringing with shame, but bristling with belligerence.

“How could God judge us?  What does he know about suffering?” snapped a young Albanian.  He removed his shirt to reveal a bullet-scarred back.  “In Kosovo, we had to endure sheer terror, shootings, unspeakable torture!”

In another group, an aged aboriginal woman pulled a crumpled, tear-stained photograph from her pocket.  “What about this?” she demanded.  “This is my precious child.  I have not seen her since the day she was stolen away from us, for no crime, other than being black!”

In yet another crowd, a pregnant schoolgirl stood with sad and sullen eyes.  “Why should I suffer,” she cried out, “It wasn’t my fault.”

Across the terrestrial plain, there were hundreds of such groups.  Each held a complaint against God for the evil and suffering He permitted in their world.  “How fortunate God is,” they collectively complained, “to live in a Heaven where all is sweetness and light, where there is no weeping or fear, no hunger or hatred.  What does God know about the horrible things we are forced to endure in this world?  God leads a totally sheltered life!”

So each of these dissenting groups sent forth a leader, chosen because he or she had suffered the most.  A Holocaust survivor was chosen, along with a scarred survivor of Hiroshima, a terribly deformed arthritic, a thalidomide child, a victim of terrible racism, a man whose wife had been murdered by a drug addict, etc.  In the center of the plain, they consulted with each other.  Now they were ready to present their case before The Throne.  It all seemed so logical and completely clever.

They rendered their collective verdict and presented it to God.  “Before you can be qualified to be our judge, you must endure what we have endured.  You will be sentenced to live on earth – as a man!

You must be born into a hated race.  The legitimacy of your birth must be doubted.  You must be given a task so difficult that even your family will think you are out of your mind when you try to do it.  You must be abandoned and betrayed by your closest friends.  You must face bigotry and false charges, then you must be tried by a prejudiced jury and convicted by a cowardly judge.

After all that, you must be tortured.  You must experience what it means to be terribly alone.  Then you must die, knowing full well that you are innocent, but appearing to be guilty to all those around you.

As God’s sentence was angrily announced, loud murmurs of approval went up from the assembled throng.

But suddenly there was total and complete silence.  No one dared utter another word.  No one moved.  Suddenly, all were aware in their heart-of-hearts that God had already served His sentence.

You see, Christ is our credible High Priest, i.e. the One who is touched by the “feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrew 4:15)  “Emmanuel, God with us,” has already come to us “in the likeness of sinful flesh.”  He was already “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him…and with his stripes we are healed.” (Romans 8:3 – Matthew 1:23 – Isaiah 53:5)  And now we are sons and daughters of the King of Kings!

Small wonder that Governor Pilate was moved to declare, “I find no fault in him.” (John 19:4)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHAT IF THEY DON'T BELIEVE?

WHAT IF THEY DON’T BELIEVE?

One of the most challenging things in life is to convince an unbeliever of the reality of the true and living God.  That’s why spiritual regeneration is a task solely reserved to the incalculable power of the Holy Spirit.  Our job is to sow seeds.  His job is to bring on the harvest.

This reminds me of a popular comic strip entitled “Hagar the Horrible.”  In one memorable comic moment, we find Hagar kneeling down in prayer.  And here’s what Hagar had to say to the Lord:

“GOD, it’s not easy to believe in you.  We never see you.  How come you never show yourself?  How do we know you even exist?”

In the next instant, we observe a flower springing into life beside Hagar, a volcano erupting in the distance, an eclipse of the sun filling the sky with darkness, a shooting star penetrating the atmosphere, a tidal wave rushing across the sea and lightning flashing brilliantly through the evening sky – all followed by a bush beginning to burn without being consumed and a stone rolling away from the entrance of a garden tomb.

But Hagar’s next words are so typical of persons who are devoid of faith:

“OK, OK,” he roared, “I give up!  Every time I bring up this subject, all I get is interruptions!”

You see, if someone stubbornly refuses to lend a hearing ear to Heaven’s constant communiques, there is absolutely nothing you and I can do about it.  We’ll just keep on praying.  Keep on trusting.  And keep on sowing good seed.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

STAY IN YOUR LANE

STAY IN YOUR LANE

Successfully stretching toward personal potential is a direct function of how well you manage to stay in your God-given lane.  This is no easy task since a large cadre of influential voices – family, friends and foes – will continually urge us to embrace decisions, positions, tasks, or goals that may not be central to the primary reason we have been placed on this earth.  Because of these powerful voices, the decision to do things GOD’S WAY, which simply means living from God’s point of view, might expose us to criticism, ridicule, or rejection.

HOWEVER, IF YOU STAY IN YOUR LANE, YOU WILL SURELY WIN.

Consider the story behind the Eiffel Tower, one of the most recognizable landmarks on the planet.  Built as the grand entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, this favorite spot for international tourism receives countless thousands of visitors every year.

However, despite its present-day level of success, ferocious opposition boiled up during its construction.  A group of prestigious French artists and writers, including Alexandre Dumas, author of “The Three Musketeers,” filed the following petition:

“We, the writers, painters, sculptors, architects and lovers of the beauty of Paris, do protest with all our vigor and indignation, in the name of French taste and endangered French art and history, against the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower.”

Nevertheless, history ultimately vindicated Alexandre Gustav Eiffel.  Although in 1889 he was roundly condemned, today he is highly praised and celebrated for his grand architectural achievement.  His story shows that the opinions others may have of us or the things we achieve are not what really matters.  Their perspectives will change – according to what becomes culturally fashionable or contemporaneously vogue. 

What differentiates and distinguishes you from the pack is your ability to hold on to your BIRTHRIGHT, i.e. the gifts, creativity, values and wisdom originally imparted by your Creator.  So instead of cloning the methods and achievements of others, ask God to help you to see clearly enough to identify those traits and talents that are uniquely you. They are the real reason why you were positioned in this place!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

THEY'LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE

The world will never be converted by superficial spiritual-hype.  It is THE LIVING WORD that penetrates the soul and transforms the spirit.  This Word is the living and loving embodiment of grace, mercy and truth.  And in the final analysis, it is how all of us have miraculously arrived at the foot of the cross of Calvary.

The world will never be drawn (authentically) to the faith because of our accumulated possessions or clever promotions.  The monetary value of the houses we own, or the vehicles we drive, or the investments we accrue will never be the deciding factor in the mission of bringing the lost to Christ.  There is only one indispensable component of evangelism; it is THE GOSPEL OF LOVE.  A true and heart-touching story illustrates this point. 

It was one of the most extraordinary birthday parties ever held.  No, it did not take place in a plush ballroom or grand hotel.  No, there weren’t any famous celebrities present.  The rich and powerful did not attend.  In fact, it was held at 3:30 a.m. in a small seedy cafe in Honolulu.  The guest of honor was a prostitute.  The party guests were prostitutes.  And the man who threw the party was a Christian minister.

The idea came to Pastor Tony Campolo early one morning as he sat in the café.  He was drinking coffee at the counter, when a group of prostitutes walked in and sat at nearby stools.  One of the girls named Agnes lamented the fact that tomorrow would be her birthday, but she never had a birthday party.

So Tony thought it would be a great idea to surprise Agnes with a birthday party.  Learning from the cafe owner that the girls came in every morning around 3:30 a.m., Tony planned with him to set up the café for a party.  Somehow, word of this got out on the streets, so by 3:15 the next morning the place was packed with prostitutes, along with the cafe owner, his wife and Pastor Tony.

Agnes walked in and saw the streamers, balloons and birthday cake, as everyone screamed out “Happy Birthday!”  Agnes was totally overwhelmed.  Tears poured down her face as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday to You.”  When Agnes was called on to cut the cake, she paused.  She had never had a birthday cake and asked if she could take it home to show her mother.  After Agnes left there was a reverential silence as Tony led the café owner, his wife and a roomful of prostitutes in prayer, both for Agnes and for themselves.

It was truly a magnificent birthday party – one rarely seen – thrown by a Christian minister for a 39-year-old prostitute who never experienced anyone going out of their way to do something so special, while expecting absolutely nothing in return.  Indeed, so surprising was this turn of events that the café owner found it hard to believe that there were churches that would actually do this sort of thing.  “But if there are,” he remarked, “then that is the sort of church I would be ready to join.”

There is no life-giving efficacy in our religious pomp and pageantry.  What the world needs now and always is LOVE.  Neither our church edifices, nor our religious rites, nor our ecclesiastical robes and rings will draw men, women and children to the cross of Calvary.  There is one simple ingredient in evangelical success; it is the ‘secret recipe’ of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have LOVE to one another.” (John 13:35)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!