Fishers of Phishers?

Today I received yet another in a long string of calls from a random New York phone number purporting to offer me some unsolicited help with my computer. I have generally responded to such scam calls with irritation, but I have decided to adopt a new strategy. I’m still working out the details of how I want to do this, but here is the gist of today’s call:

"Hello?"

A Chinese-accented voice replied that the call was about my computer

As cheerfully as I have ever said anything in my life, I said, "I am so glad you called! I have a question for you!"

Puzzled, he asked what my question was. I said, "If something unexpected were to happen to you, and you were to die tonight and stand before God, and He were to ask you, 'Why should I let you into My heaven?' what would you say?"

After a brief pause, he said, "I don't know."

I asked, "Well don't you think that's a pretty important question to answer?"

He said, "Ask me again what is your question."
I repeated it.

With animation and a hint of distress in his voice, he asked, "Why are you asking me this question about dying tonight?"

I pointed out the vital importance of considering his spiritual condition and the state of his soul, and he said, "I do not think this is a good question to ask any person.".

I told him that I thought it was an important question for everyone to consider and said that since he was contacting me, it seemed like a perfect time to ask him about the condition of his soul.

After a few more exchanges, he hung up. According to my phone timer, our conversation lasted 2 minutes and 42 seconds.

I'm praying that my unnamed conversation partner will be troubled enough by my question that he'll go looking for the answer. Since anyone making scam calls probably needs Jesus, ask yourself whether the next phishing call you get might be an opportunity for you to go fishing for men.

The Rule of Law versus Might Makes Right

Police officers should not be above the law. Politicians should not be above the law. Businessmen should not be above the law. Mobs should not be above the law. Athletes should not be above the law. Musicians should not be above the law. Actors and actresses should not be above the law. Clergy should not be above the law. Ethnic groups should not be above the law. Educators should not be above the law. Lawyers should not be above the law. Court justices should not be above the law. Clearly, however, they often are.

That is why the rule of law matters. Dusty old documents, with all their imperfections and lack of foresight, have neither enemies to attack nor friends or family or patrons to favor. Better by far to follow them, amending their flaws as we go, than moved by passions and fickle winds to twist their meaning beyond what their words could ever convey.

Yes, carefully and courageously amend them as needed! But let them guard and guide us in the process. The alternative is a society completely at the mercy of the powerful. We ain't seen nothin' yet.

"I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because twelve men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for forty years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled twelve of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me twelve apostles could keep a lie for forty years? Absolutely impossible." -Charles Colson

Colson drives home the point of Paul's gospel summary in 1 Corinthians 15:1-20 (NIV):

"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. 

But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Be considerate. (Read the Old Testament lately?)

"If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse."
-Proverbs 27:14

Love. (Read the Old Testament lately?)

"If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it."
-Exodus 23:4-5

“My son Steve came into my office one day. Usually, when I am in the office with the door closed, it means that others are to remain outside the door. This time Steve just barged in. He sat down quietly, and I asked him what he wanted.

He told me that he did not want anything. He said, ‘I just want to be with you.’

‘You just want to be with me!’ I said. ‘You don’t want five dollars?’

‘No.’

‘You don’t want to see if you can go out tonight?’

‘No.’

‘You don’t want help with your homework?’

‘No, I just came to be with you.’

How often do we do that with God? So many of us barge into His presence and share with Him our shopping list of prayer requests and then get up and leave. We fail to sit and just enjoy Him.”

-Dan DeHaan, The God You Can Know

Who's the Liar?

"You're a liar" has taken on a dizzying number of definitions lately, including but not limited to:

 •  I have a different opinion.
 •  I have a different interpretation of the facts.
 • I have my doubts about your source of information.
 • I don't like what you're saying.
 • I don't like you.
 • I can't refute your point.
 • You irritate me.
 • I don't understand you.
 • I hate you.
 • I disagree with you.
 • You’re scaring me.
 • I desperately hope you’re wrong.
 • I don’t want anyone else to listen to you.
 • You appear to have changed your mind.
 • You seem to be contradicting yourself.
 • You're mistaken.
 • You made a slip of the tongue.
 • That's not what I heard.
 • Somebody else says you're a liar.

A liar is a person who tells lies, untrue statements made with intent to deceive. No one who does not demonstrably fit that description should be called a liar, and wisdom demands that we call no one a liar on the basis of hearsay. Otherwise we risk becoming not only liars but also gossips and slanderers.

We can do better.

Some Thoughts on Profanity

Most Christians are very familiar with Matthew 22:36-40, where Jesus answers a question by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:10:

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"

And He said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

From a Biblical perspective, the most important thing a follower of Jesus is supposed to do is love God and love people. Anyone who does that will think, talk, and act in ways that demonstrate that love.

As Jesus said in Matthew 12:34-37:

"For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."

What we say is symptomatic of the state of our hearts. Someone who unthinkingly shouts "Jesus Christ" when he hits his finger with a hammer is demonstrating something about his view of and respect for Jesus. If I constantly said "Lily" the way many people say "God," I'd quickly find myself with some marital tension!

The Bible also talks about "mockers" or "scoffers," people who try to make a joke of God and of the existence of right and wrong. The Bible doesn't tell us to avoid very many kinds of people, but mockers or scoffers are folks we're encouraged to steer clear of, in places like Psalm 1:1 and Proverbs 22:10 (to give just a couple of examples). Note that these aren't just folks who enjoy joking around, but people whose speech and attitudes don't demonstrate respect for God and His Word.

The Proverbs talk a lot about different kinds of speech, both wise and foolish, good and bad. So does the New Testament. A big part of the emphasis is on things that are hurtful or dishonest like lying, slander, gossip, flattery, manipulation, insults, and just plain meanness. Leviticus 19:14 is a fascinating but little-known example of the latter: "You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the LORD." That's the kind of thing Colossians 3:8 is talking about: "But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth."

Jesus also makes it clear that our attitude toward one another is a major issue that shows up in our speech. In Matthew 5:21-24 He says,

"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."

"Raca” meant "empty head," or in today's language something like "idiot" or "moron." So it's like He's saying, "Don't be too proud of yourselves just because you have never killed anyone. If you get angry and start calling somebody names, your heart is no more full of love than a murderer's. Don't think you're on good terms with God if you refuse to try to patch up your relationships with other people." James 3:8-12 addresses the same thing with a series of illustrations.

But what about what we would call profanity? Here are some passages worth considering:

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:29-32)

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:6)

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. (Titus 2:6-8)

What we call profanity is a subtle issue. It's an indicator of what's in our hearts, and it communicates something to those around us.

Once after we had spent most of the day fishing with the husband of a distant relative, he asked Lily, “You’re Cuban, right? I mean, I know you were born here, but you were raised in a Cuban home, right? So how come you don’t cuss?”

He recognized that she didn’t talk the way many people of his acquaintance did. That opened the door for a great conversation about spiritual things!

The issue of profanity has less to do with avoiding particular words than it is about doing what Paul discusses in Galatians 5: walking by, being guided by, and yielding the fruit of, the Holy Spirit. When God changes our hearts through faith, and as we invite Him to continue changing us, our behavior and speech naturally change. We become more sensitive to both God and others.

As Paul points out to Titus, the goal is that our speech would be sound and irreproachable. It would take some serious mental gymnastics to argue that profanity fits that description.

Hurricane Preparedness

"Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices."
Proverbs 1:24-31 (NASB)

Hurricane season will begin in a few short months here in Florida. Ads for hurricane shutters will start popping up everywhere as stores set up displays for generators and other storm gear of all kinds. But don’t expect crowds of shoppers to run out immediately to buy up all those goods!

No, the rush will begin the day a major storm starts heading our way. Then worried shoppers will descend on the stores, stripping storm gear from the shelves like a plague of locusts. The day the storm hits, many will still be vainly searching for last-minute supplies.

Everybody knows that the best time to prepare is before the storms come. That’s even truer of wisdom, because hardships, temptations and difficult decisions generally come upon us unannounced. It takes a heart attuned to God’s ways and His wisdom to respond with grace and confidence.

In this passage, wisdom personified gives us a solemn warning: The storms of life can arrive at any time. The time to stock up on wisdom is now!

Free for the Taking!

Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
"How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
"Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Proverbs 1:20-23 (NASB)

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse!” That has been a key principle of law since the days of Ancient Rome. Otherwise, it would be all too easy to commit an offence and then say, “I didn’t realize that was against the law!”

Our legal system assumes that citizens know the basic requirements of the law and that those involved in specialized activities like driving a car will get to know the rules that apply to those activities. The same is true of God’s wisdom.

God makes His wisdom freely available in His Word and even in the wonders of His creation. It’s up to us, however, to take it in.

Who wouldn’t want His wisdom? All too many people, it seems. There are those who are satisfied with being gullible, and who wear their naiveté like a badge. Others won’t accept anything that might challenge their cynical, wisecracking approach to life. Others simply hate to admit that anyone has anything to teach them.

How about us? The terms of the contract are so very simple. Are we ready to admit that we don’t know it all, and accept what God has to teach us? If so, He offers us access to His coffers to take all the wisdom we want!

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
Proverbs 1:10 (NASB)

As summer began, I went shopping for a canopy that we could set up in the back yard for a bit of extra shade. One ad referred to a canopy that “sets up in minutes.” In storm-prone South Florida, that sounded like a good thing! I was thinking five or ten minutes, though, and it actually took 20 to set up. Back it went to the store.

The second was smaller, but it really was made to be set up and taken down quickly. When I opened the box, though, I saw that it was poorly designed, poorly made, and missing some important pieces. Back it went to the store, too. I’m still looking for a canopy for the back yard, but now I know that a getting something that will last will cost a bit more than I originally thought.

The world around us constantly offers us seeming bargains of all kinds: Get rich quick at others’ expense through lawsuits and lotteries! Save money through “creative” tax returns! Get instant gratification through pornography, immoral relationships and all-you-can-eat restaurants! Buy now and pay later with a credit card…or better yet, declare bankruptcy and don’t pay at all!

Yet that kind of lifestyle brings unpleasant consequences. Selfish living results in broken relationships and broken reputations, lives full of bitterness and distrust. Those who hope to get ahead dishonestly ultimately pay a terrible price.

God’s way may not seem all that attractive at times, since the path of godly wisdom requires patience, discipline and self-sacrifice. But following His ways is the only path toward rewards that last.

No Prescription Necessary

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
To discern the sayings of understanding,
To receive instruction in wise behavior,
Righteousness, justice and equity;
To give prudence to the naive,
To the youth knowledge and discretion,
A wise man will hear and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
To understand a proverb and a figure,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:1-7 (NASB)

A visit to the doctor’s office would hardly be complete without a reminder of the importance of proper diet and regular exercise. That’s advice that holds true as long as we draw breath! From infancy through advancing years, our physical health reflects our day-to-day practice in those areas of our lifestyle.

The first several verses of the book or Proverbs describe both the people and the purposes the book was written for. It’s meant to make us wiser and more discerning and to teach us to understand and follow wise advice. It’s meant to help us understand and benefit from proverbs, puzzles, and pithy sayings. It’s meant to help us behave wisely and fairly and well.

The Proverbs were written for wise people and simple minded folks, youngsters and old-timers. But there’s a condition attached: we must respect and honor God enough to accept the advice He has to offer us through His word and His people.

If we’re not too proud to listen and learn, the Proverbs offer healthy food for thought and a wisdom workout that will help us keep our hearts and minds healthy as long as we live.

Justice and Mercy

Last year I attended a conference focused on community development. The theme of the conference was “Shalom,” but I suspect the word "justice" was used at least twice as often that weekend as the word “Shalom.”

One of the worship songs featured in the conference was taken from Micah 6:8. The chorus repeatedly urged us to "love justice and show mercy." That sounds great, doesn't it? But there's a problem.

What Micah 6:8 actually says is, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"

Justice means many things: right conduct, honest dealing, fairness to all, concern for rules and laws, appropriate consequences for wrongs, and appropriate reward for goodness. Micah tells us that God wants us to act justly.

In fact, we know that God Himself loves justice. Psalm 33:5 and Psalm 37:28 say so in the same breath that they speak of God’s enduring faithfulness. Isaiah 61:8 says, "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And will make with them an everlasting covenant.” God loves us when we are right and honest in our behavior.

But Micah makes a profound point. While God wants justice to characterize our actions, it is mercy that He wants us to cherish. Justice is concerned with right and wrong. It is vitally important, but it is also impersonal. God wants our hearts to yearn for something beyond fair rules and fair living. Mercy goes beyond justice. It offers more than what is deserved. Mercy means looking past wrongs suffered. It means opening one's hands, hearts and wallets to those in need.

I’m deeply grateful for God’s justice. Where would I be if my Creator were capricious or unpredictable? But were it not for God’s mercy, His justice would mean our destruction. Thankfully, though, He is merciful, loving the unlovely and unworthy.

I want to be right in my dealings with others. I want to be a man of integrity. But I want so much more! I long to give as God gives, forgive as He forgives, love as He loves.

Whoever wrote the chorus got things turned around. And whoever attended the conference ended up with a twisted version of the verse running through their minds.

Does it really matter? I think so. First, it matters because the song obscures the profound lesson of Micah 6:8. That’s reason enough in and of itself. In addition, however, it also seems to be indicative of a blurred distinction between justice and mercy.

In Back to Virtue, Peter Kreeft says (p. 113):

Mercy is a great mystery. The familiarity of the word blinds us to this fact. Mercy goes beyond reason (how could a computer understand it?), beyond justice, beyond right, beyond law. Where justice says “punish”, mercy says “forgive”. Where justice says “this is a debt”, mercy says not that there is no debt but to dismiss the debt. To say there is no debt would be a lie since justice speaks the truth, and even mercy cannot contradict the truth, but mercy can say, “Dismiss the debt.” Dimittee nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris (“Dismiss to us our debts just as we dismiss those of our debtors”).

Throughout the conference, things that are at root merciful acts were portrayed as simple justice. Confusing justice and mercy all too easily eliminates both gratitude and neighborly love from the equation.

One who comes to view charity as his due does not have the same sense of gratitude and (dare I say it?) indebtedness as one who understands that someone else has personally taken steps to show mercy by helping him. Habitat for Humanity is one of the rare programs to make it clear that the help people receive carries with it a very real obligation to help others in the same way.

How far we have come from the day when people were embarrassed to use food stamps because it meant they were getting a handout! Today we are told that there should be no stigma, no embarrassment. Classic movies are the only place one would ever hear notions like “not being beholden” and “not taking charity.” Anonymity and entitlement make it easy to line up to sign up for more benefits, generation after generation.

I know someone who, though a person of modest means, refuses to apply for certain kinds of government help, preferring instead to seek out extra work to care for the needs of the family. These days, that kind of work ethic and sense of responsibility is becoming all too rare. As it happens, that selfsame person personally helps the household of an even more financially pinched friend make ends meet month after month. That’s probably even rarer.

Justice is a mighty fine thing, but mercy? You gotta love it.

Starting the Day with a Smile

Walking home after my morning run, I picked up plastic bottles and other garbage until I had both hands full. I stopped a park employee and asked if I could throw my findings in the back of his pickup. He said, "This is not a garbage truck." I smiled and said, "I'm not a garbage man!" He shot me a little grin. "I hear you," he said, and with a tilt of his head gestured for me to empty my garbage into his truck.

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man

These days the web is crawling with people who have an ax to grind against Christianity. It's even trendy for people who call themselves Christians to bash Christianity!

One common assertion is that Jesus never claimed divinity for Himself. Skeptics and scoffers of all stripes with no real knowledge of the Bible make much of the fact that Jesus is more often called the "Son of Man" than the "Son of God." Don't be intimidated. Don't be argumentative either, but be aware that the facts are on your side.

To keep things simple, let's use the Gospel of Matthew as a starting point. When Jesus was interrogated by Caiaphas the high priest in Matthew 26:63-64, we read:

And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

There we see Jesus not only indicating that the title mentioned by the high priest (Son of God) was accurate, but also referring to Daniel 7:13-14, which says:

I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Note that by alluding to this verse when He called Himself the Son of Man, Jesus was claiming eternal dominion over all mankind. His use of the title Son of Man was not a denial of divinity, but rather a claim of ultimate authority.

Caiphas' response upon hearing this was to accuse Jesus of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65) because he understood that Jesus was in fact claiming to be the Son of God (Matthew 27:43). Caiphas didn't like what Jesus was saying. It appears that he also didn't believe it. But he understood it perfectly.

If the person you're talking with is a spiritual seeker rather than simply an argument-seeker, this just might give you a good starting point for conversation.

Marcion Was a Red-Letter Christian

I just ran across a great article entitled "Why I'm Not a Red Letter Christian."

For those unfamiliar with the term, the Christianity Today article entitled "When Red is Blue" may be helpful. It contains a letter by Stan Guthrie with a response by Tony Campolo. The letters are tremendously revealing, both in their content and in the apparently disingenuous nature of Campolo's response.

Just to be fair, here is Campolo's earlier article, "What's a 'Red-Letter Christian'?" The attendance list in the second paragraph will speak volumes to many alert readers.

gotquestions.org gave a helpful response entitled "What Are Red-Letter Christians?" They make the following observations:

All politics aside, there are some problems associated with the Red Letter Christian movement. The first concerns the group’s open theology. Bringing together various faith backgrounds is very tolerant and progressive, but theologically untenable. Founders of the movement include those who believe that we must earn our way to heaven and those who distrust the inspiration of the Word of God.

The second problem involves the group’s piecemeal approach to Scripture. To concentrate on certain parts of the Bible to the exclusion of others is unbalanced and dangerous. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Epistles, for example, were written to instruct us on the practical outworking of Jesus’ teaching and are just as inspired as Jesus’ own words. Paul’s words should not be considered inferior, as the term Red Letter Christians implies.

A third problem relates to their interpretation of Jesus’ words. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was not trying to write national government policy. He was presenting Himself as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law (Matthew 5:17) and the Savior from sin for all who would believe in Him. He clearly separated Himself from all political movements and paradigms when He said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

While it is true that Jesus was neither a Republican nor a Democrat, and we need public discussion on all moral values, not just abortion and homosexuality, we must handle God’s Word honestly and guard against those who undermine the sufficiency of Scripture and the sacrifice of Christ.

That sounds about right.

Scorpions in the Shower

Nestled in the breathtaking beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains is a wonderful Christian camp. It’s a place of simplicity, with well-maintained buildings and a friendly staff that somehow make the place feel like home from the moment you set foot there.

It’s also located in the middle of the range of the Plain Eastern Stripeless Scorpion. Like most scorpions, the Plain Eastern Stripeless is not aggressive and stings only when threatened. Even then, its venom is not much worse than a bee sting: oh-so-painful, but far from fatal to anyone not allergic to its toxins. Still, anyone in his right mind does everything possible to avoid being stung!

In the wild, the Plain Eastern Stripeless makes its home in leaf litter or under fallen trees. It loves cool, damp places. It also, however, has a Houdini-like ability of getting into seemingly inaccessible places in its search for prey and suitable shelter. Therein lies the problem.

At most camps, there’s nowhere that better fits the description of a “cool, damp place” than the showers. This mountain paradise is, alas, no exception. That wouldn’t be a problem, except that the showers are in the bunkhouses, so lights can’t be left on without keeping everyone awake all night. That means that first thing each day, camp counselors must make sure the bathroom is clear of scorpions before anyone takes a shower.

One morning I had to get up long before dawn to take a friend to the airport. I couldn’t turn on the lights without waking everyone else, so I put on my flip-flops, quietly gathered my things, and made my way to the bathroom. That’s when I discovered that the batteries in my flashlight were dead.

There I was: sweaty and smelling none-too-nice after a hot Tennessee night, but with no way to know if scorpions might await me in the shower. In retrospect, I can’t believe I didn’t just turn on the lights even if it would have awakened everyone in the cabin! But what I did was advance slowly into the room, feeling my way to the shower and shuffling my feet as I went, in hopes that the sound and vibration would be enough to scare any nearby scorpions out of my path.

I didn’t want to encounter any creepy-crawlies that morning, but what I wanted didn’t matter. Either they were there, or they weren’t. My wishes and preferences counted for nothing. What mattered was reality.

The same is true of spiritual reality. It doesn’t really matter what we want to believe is true. What matters is what really is true. It’s perilous to advance into eternity on the strength of our hopes and preferences rather than trying to discover what really does lie behind the world we see around us.

The message of the Bible is that God has revealed Himself to us, both by giving us His Word and by sending us His Son. He has given us a message that centers on a moment in history and a man named Jesus who demonstrated His love for us through His life and teaching and through His suffering and death on a cross.

Soldiers well acquainted with death oversaw His execution and used a spear to make sure that He was well and truly dead. People who knew and loved Him gathered up His body and took it away for burial, knowing He was dead with the same certainty I knew my daughter was gone when I held her lifeless hand.

Three days later, some of those who loved Him rose before sunrise and headed through the darkness for the place where He had been buried. When they got there, they discovered that the tomb was open and empty, and a messenger from God told them that Jesus had risen. In the weeks that followed, Jesus appeared to many, sometimes one-on-one, sometimes in small groups, and at least once before a crowd of hundreds.

That experience marked the disciples like nothing before had ever done. Most of the twelve men Jesus had chosen were executed, still proclaiming with their dying breath that Jesus had both died and risen again. An unparalleled event at a single moment in history changed their lives forever, as countless lives have been changed since.

The truth mattered to them. Either Jesus had died and risen again, or He hadn’t. They staked their lives and all of eternity on the factuality of that event. The Apostle Paul later commented that if the resurrection never happened, the Apostles were more to be pitied than anyone in the world. What counted most was not the strength or sincerity of their hope or faith, but whether or not what they believed was true. As eyewitnesses, they knew it was.

What awaits us in eternity is a question infinitely more important than whether or not there are scorpions in the shower. Isn’t it worth taking the time to examine what really awaits us rather than advancing blindly in the hope that the way we have chosen is safe? If you haven’t already done so, I hope and pray you will.

The Mourning After (A Few Practical Suggestions)

Posted on Facebook Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 9:02am

I mourn for America today. Not for the first time, God has answered a people’s request for a king like the nations. Yet now, as then, He is sovereign.

Where do we go from here?

1. Let’s reject fear and anxiety. Our peace does not depend on our circumstances.

Philippians 4:6-9 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.

2. Let’s demonstrate grace to those around us. Some are mourning and need encouragement. Let’s accompany them in their distress. Others are exulting. Let’s not try to restrain them, but rather congratulate them, even if we do so with heavy hearts and lumps in our throats.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

3. Let’s remind ourselves of God’s sovereign plan for history.

Daniel 2:21-22 And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.

4. Let’s remember where our true citizenship is, and conduct ourselves accordingly.

Philippians 3:18-20 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Let’s keep swimming against the current by the grace of God and with the help of His Word.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

6. Let’s treat President-elect Obama with more respect than President Bush has been treated. Even many who name the name of Christ miss no opportunity to vilify our current President, blaming him for myriad woes, both real and imagined, and ascribing to him the worst possible motives. Let us demonstrate what it is to act like Christians in our respect for authority.

Romans 13:1-8 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God's command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. For government is God's servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God's servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God's public servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor. Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

7. Let’s pray for him faithfully. His decisions will affect the liberty of God’s people to speak and act unhindered for the sake of the Kingdom.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Foolish Vows

The recent efforts of Focus on the Family to get people to sign their "Values Voter Pledge" has me thinking about the question of foolish vows.

Here is the pledge, as it is posted on their website, (as of the writing of this blog at http://www.focuspetitions.com/135/petition.asp?RID=13147382):

The Values Voter Pledge:

As a concerned citizen, I am signing this Values Voter Pledge for 2008 indicating my commitment to stand for the values of life, faith and family during this election year. I am pledging to support candidates who uphold these bedrock values of:
•Life -- I will only vote for candidates who have committed to
defend sanctity of life from conception to natural death.
•Family -- I will only vote for candidates who stand for one-man, one-woman
marriage and oppose efforts to undermine the
nuclear family.
•Faith -- I will only vote for candidates who support the public
acknowledgement of God and affirm the religious liberties of
all Americans.
I also oppose any and all efforts by the media, organizations or candidates to diminish the role that Values Voters are playing in this year’s election. I authorize Focus on the Family Action to represent my Values Voter Pledge before the media, political candidates or other suitable forums as a demonstration of the strength and seriousness of Values Voters in this election cycle.

We have a duty to protect the helpless and to oppose injustice in all its forms. Abortion is a deadly attack on the most helpless possible human victims. The attempt to redefine marriage is an indirect attack on children and on society itself. I oppose both, and I seek to support political candidates who stand boldly and effectively in defense of children of all ages and of the traditional family.

However, there are times when no such candidate is available. At such times, I may be compelled to distinguish between a candidate who is hostile to traditional values and one who is either passive or simply ineffective in his defense of them. At times, I may be compelled to vote, not for the lesser of two evils, but against the greater of two evils. That, too, is a way to resist injustice.

Focus on the Family's Values Voter Pledge, however, does not allow that option. Those who sign it bind themselves by an oath to do nothing even if faced with a choice between monstrous evil and moral ambiguity.

I cannot help thinking about King Saul's foolish oath in 1 Samuel 14. He had only one goal in mind and lost sight of all else. As a result, he bound not only himself, but also his whole nation, by a foolish oath not to eat until they had won a battle. Tunnel vision, even in the pursuit of a laudable goal, can lead to tremendous foolishness. I hope God's people are wise enough to heed the words of Ecclesiastes 5:2-5:

1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God;
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools,
for they do not know that they do evil.
2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes through much activity,
And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed—
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

Lord, protect us from foolish vows.

Miami is America, too

Miami is America. But it's not the America I grew up in.

Some weeks ago I was on a business trip, and I stopped at a Target store in Milwaukee. As I was getting out of my car, I saw a woman holding a baby and accompanied by a little girl two or three years of age. The woman was returning her shopping cart to the cart corral and having a hard time of it, since the carts already there weren't arranged properly. I hustled over to give her a hand then headed toward the store.

As I walked through the parking lot, I realized that I felt at home in a way that I never do in Miami. The America I grew up in is a place where people put their shopping carts away when they are done with them. Oh, there are exceptions, but by and large folks just wouldn't consider leaving their carts where someone else will have to go get them...or where they could roll away into someone else's car.

In Miami, it's different world. Perhaps it's city selfishness or hot-weather lethargy. Perhaps it is the Latin non-crisis mentality. Perhaps folks are just too busy. In any case, I doubt it's even a conscious decision. Just as the harried mom I saw with her two kids wouldn't even consider leaving a shopping cart in the middle of a parking lot, it never even crosses the minds of most folks in Miami that they could or should expend the extra energy to put their carts away to save someone else the effort...or to save someone else's car from damage. I suspect most people literally never even think about it.

Like the rest of this nation, though, Miami is both mosaic and melting pot. The other day, I saw an elderly woman go out of her way to put someone else's shopping cart away as she headed into a Wal-Mart here in Miami. Seeing that was as refreshing as a cool breeze with the scent of home.

Right now I see so much that seems so very strange and even wrong about Miami. But with the same affection and sincerity that I say "God bless America," I pray that one day I'll be able to say "God bless Miami." After all, even if Miami isn't the America I grew up in, it is still America.