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Out-Rage-Us: Purveyors of Religious Intolerance

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When some people see it, thy see more than one—they see two.  What do you see when you see the word “outrage?”  Do you see “out” and “rage?”

Some people try to understand the etymology of outrage by defining it in the context of “out” and “rage.”  To do so is to misunderstand the origins of the word.  Early usage of the word is traced from the Middle English sense of a “lack of moderation” back to its Latin roots of “ultra” or “beyond,” and it has little to do with “out” and “rage.”

Even though I understand the meaning and the roots of outrage, to simply say that the religiously intolerant exhibit a “lack of moderation” seems grossly inadequate.  It seems there is a radical element that has little more than an elementary understanding of their religion.  To espouse the idea of peace and love and then kill in the name of religion is outrageous.

Two recent incidents serve as an example:

  • The terrorist activity in France and the cold-blooded attack on Charlie Hebdo and the team of cartoonists who focused on satire.
  • The massacre of innocents by Boko Haram which, according to Amnesty International, has resulted in the death of some 2,000 people in Nigeria.

As I said late last week:

It seems unreasonable that someone can be offended by cartoons, but at the same time promote rape, beheadings, hostage taking, forced marriages, genital mutilation, and suicide bombings

What happened to a simple life based on the Golden Rule? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The Abu Dawud offers the Golden rule in these words:  “Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you; and reject for others what you would reject for yourselves.”

The world will be a better place when we stop out-raging people and begin out-loving them.

Pray For The French

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Je soutiens le français et je prie pour vous.  I’ll say it again in English:  I support the French and I pray for you.

I have posted links to three articles that I have read this morning, and I wanted to make them available to you.  If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you may already have these links.// 0){} }window.NeoGV=window.NeoGV||{};NeoGV.startTime=(new Date()).getTime();
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What’s Following You?

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On Tuesday of this week, I walked the hallway of three different hospitals. My first stop took me to the room of a man who is ravaged by cancer.  I saluted him earlier this year when he was the Parade Marshall of the Celebration of Freedom Parade.  Will’s heroic deeds during World War II helped to pay for the freedoms I enjoy today.

My second stop took me to the room of a man I’ve know all of my life. I’ll always be grateful for his friendship and his help.  Johnny was one of the first people to come to my house when I was a 12 year old boy and my dad had just been killed in an oil field accident.

My third stop was the most difficult because it took me to the room of a blonde-haired and blue-eyed little girl.  At the age of 2 1/2 years she is fighting an inoperable case of cancer, a neuroblastoma.

Yesterday, I conducted the funeral of a man, I worked with my last two summers of high school.  Ralph’s face was usually marked with an ear to ear grin, and I will remember the mischievous sparkle that colored his eyes.

The sadness that has filled the lives of each of these people and their families can only be tempered by the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.  A foreshadow of that hope is see in the verses of Psalm 23.

If you feel like you are living under a cloud of despair, and walking a path full of worries and problems, you might find some comfort in the words of this Psalm and the declaration of David: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (23:6).

I think it is important to note that David did not say that every waking moment of your life will be filled with good times and happy days.  He did say the goodness of God and His mercy are resources that are available when needed.

Unless you have given some consideration to the meaning of mercy and its close cousin, grace (goodness), you may think they are synonymous.  To help you distinguish one from the other, let me define them:

  • Grace is when God gives you something you do not deserve.  Salvation is a good example of this.  I do not know of anyone who really deserves it.
  • Mercy is when God does not give a you what you deserve.  When a righteous God judges sinful man, He can either punish him or extend His goodness and mercy.

I’ve heard people say:  I just want what I deserve and what I have coming to me.  Not me, I want the mercy of God.

David said the mercy of God is a given, and we see this in the word surely.  It isn’t a hope so or maybe so proposition: It’s a guarantee from God.  In the Lamentations of Jeremiah, the prophet said:  It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed; they are new every morning.  Great is His faithfulness!

In the shepherd/sheep analogy of Psalm 23, we have the Good Shepherd who leads us, and guarding the back of the flock are His two sheep dogs.   One is named Goodness and the other is called Mercy.

Remember the promise of this Psalm:  Surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.  Think of Goodness and Mercy as your lap-dogs who are just a whistle away.

I’ll Give You $15 for Your Benjamin

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usd-loi-d13dbI had to chuckle when I opened my email and read an offer for a free gift card.  That’s right, free.  When I spend $100, the merchant will give me a free gift card in the amount of $15.

I’d like to make the same offer to you:  For every $100 you place in my hand, I’ll give you $15 in return—no stipulation, no fine print, and no questions asked!  It’s free!

Evidently there is some disparity between that merchant’s idea of free and my understanding of the word.  One the many meanings of free is “no charge.”

This two word definition also sheds some light on the nature of salvation.  It is a “no charge” salvation because Jesus has paid the price of sin.  According to Scripture:

  • You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body (I Corinthians 6:20).
  • The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
  • God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the payment for our sins (I John 4:9-10).

The gift of salvation is exactly that—a free gift from God at the expense of Christ.

. . . by the way my free offer still stands:  $15 for every $100 you give me.

GPS: God’s Promises are Sure

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The end of 2014 was accompanied with the sad news of the crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 and the tragic loss of the 162 passengers on board.  Earlier in the year, Malaysia Airlines reported the disappearance of MH370 when it veered off course and vanished en route to Beijing.

Without any arm twisting, First Air, a Canadian airliner, has taken steps to calm the fears of their passengers.  Because the airline flies across some of the most barren and remote areas on the continent, First Air has beefed-up their technology.

Realizing their flight patterns often place their jets beyond the reach of conventional radar, they have added about 6 pounds to the weight of their aircraft.  This additional weight comes in the form of a tracking system about the size of a hotel safe that efficiently acquires the whereabouts of the plane in almost any situation.

This new technology lies dormant until activated by a sudden change from normal operating procedures.  The tracking system is activated if the flight encounters a sudden loss of altitude, an engine malfunction or if there is a dramatic change in the pitch of the place causing it to veer sharply off path.

When any of this occurs, the FLYHTStream™ system begins transmitting data to the ground, via satellite. Along with performance data, the system provides the information such as speed, altitude and coordinates that are used by search-and-rescue teams.

The tracking prowess of the FLYHTStream™ reminds me that we are never lost to our Sovereign God.  We may not always understand the mind of God, but we are never far from His thoughts.  Psalm 139 is proof of God’s providence and the  power of His promises:  “You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do (Ps.139:3).”

Even in times of uncertainty, God’s promises are sure.

Be Purposeful in Your Random Acts of Kindness

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The purpose of a newspaper headline is to capture your attention, so you will read the article.  The same is true with the bold heading on the pages of the internet.  They scream of a horrible crime, announce a recent tragedy, and some of them announce a random act of kindness.

I like random acts of kindness, and I’ve included a few that I found this morning:

  • A waitress at the Route 6 Café was stunned to find a diner had left a $1,000 tip for a $15.61 meal.
  • Whenever golfer Phil Mickelson sees kids selling lemonade stand, he buys a cup with a $100 bill and walks away.
  • Tamba Hali of the Kansas City Chiefs recently left a $1,000 tip at a steakhouse
  • After Bubba Watson won the Masters in April, he left a $148 tip at a Waffle House.

You might say, “Those are people who are wealthy and they can afford to do that.”  True, but they were not required to do it.

A few days prior to Christmas, I was given some money with the instructions:  “Use it however you can to help whoever needs it.”  I purchased 10 hams and several gifts cards and gave them in acts of random kindness to people I met.

To many of these people, the ham meant they would have a good meal for Christmas.  The gift cards, at least for a moment, removed the wrinkles that the framed the faces of people stressed by the worries of life.  Every one of the people who received the gift expressed their gratitude for this kind act made possible by the person who funded the effort.

One lady wrote a letter that said:  “I would like to think the man from your church who gave me and my children the gift card.  It was a wonderful act of kindness and great lesson for my children.”

When she was a child, Traci Bild and her brother scrounged up some spare change and decided to buy a Christmas Tree.  They showed the salesman their handful of change in their tiny palms, and he said:  “I think I have the perfect tree for you.” He walked away and came back with the largest tree on the lot.”

The Huffington Post printed a recent article of Bild’s as she retells this story to her children:  “Not too long ago I took my kids to Urbana, where I grew up. Driving past the cemetery we decided to pull in. “I want to show you something,” I said. I pulled up to what is now Jugs gravesite and tears fell from my eyes as I saw his name inscribed in stone. I told my kids about his amazing generosity to me both when I was a child of seven in search of that tree and later again in life as a teen of 15 in search of a job (he hired me to work at the Dairy Queen). This man, no longer alive will forever be present in my heart- his single random act of kindness played out in my mind over a lifetime. He probably had no idea what kind of impact he made on my life and that is what makes this story so special. He gave from the kindness of his heart, when no one was looking, because he could. What about you — can you do something unexpected for someone today?”

The kind acts of Jugs were moments that helped to jog the mind of Traci Bild, and set her on the right path in life.  What kind deed will you do?

Paul never used the phrase, random act of kindness, but he encouraged you to behave in such a way:  “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality (Romans 12:10-13).”

B

2015: A New Year of Decision

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opportunity-knockingThe last chance to do something with the opportunities of 365 days of 2014 is gone, over, and lost.  The 8,760 hours have ticked-tocked themselves away, and they have joined Grandfather Time in the hallowed halls of history.

At the stroke of midnight, the future became present, and it gifted us with a new year full of fresh opportunities and precarious choices.   The challenge of 2015 is to recognize the divergent path that lies within each decision you will make.

This divergence is seen in the lucid language of David as he chronicles the lives of the blessed man and the ungodly.  Notice the distinctive contrasts between the two.  As you read this first Psalm on this first day of 2015, I hope it will inspire you to be discriminating in the decisions you make, and resolve to live the blessed life throughout this year.

Psalm One (Amplified Version) . . .

1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.

2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].

4 Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor [b]sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].

6 For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).

The Memory Book of Life

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If you use Facebook, you have probably seen the offer to tell your life story through photos you’ve posted during 2014.  The social media giant has bruised shins due to people kicking-back because the program has caused them to relive unwanted memories.

Facebook’s memory-making-methods pale in comparison to the life-in-review process that God has designed for each of us.  Let me shatter any feel-good, party-time thoughts with three words: the judgment seat.

The thoughts of the most stalwart among the faithful turn sober when they think of standing before the Righteous Judge, and He reviews each moment of our lives.  Think I’m kidding?  Here’s the proof:

  • Hebrews 9:27: It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:10: We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
  • Romans 14:10: We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

The good news is that God is not just a God of judgment, but He also a God of mercy and grace:  “. . .all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!

Since you know what the future holds, why not get a grip on the present.  Live 2015 with the resolve of the Apostle Paul:  “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.”

A Memo from “The Real Thing”

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According to a memo from Ed Steinike, Coke’s chief information officer, the company has decided to simplify the way we work and increase productivity.”  Coke proposes to do this by eliminating voice mail.  When this service is terminated, it is estimated that Coke will save about $100,000 a year.

Isn’t there something odd about this?  Isn’t it Coke that wanted folk to “sing in perfect harmony,” and now they won’t take a voice message?

If you want to contact an employee at Coke, I guess you will have to send a text message instead; and, I just can’t hear Solomon saying:   “A word fitly texted is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

What is the Cost of Satisfaction?

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images (2)A recent article by Bourree Lam was posted to the Atlantic Journal.  Lam’s article focused on the economics of buffets and asked the question:  “If it costs more, does it taste better?”

To find the answer to the question, three researchers studied 139 diners at an all you can eat (AYCE) buffet:

  • Location of the experiment: Italian AYCE buffet in New York
  • Time Period: Two weeks
  • Criteria: Some of the139 participants were given a flier for an $8 buffet or a $4 buffet with both buffets serving the same food.
  • Results: People who ate from the $8 buffet rated the pizza 11% tastier than those who ate from the $4 buffet.

One of the authors of the study, David Just, said:  “People set their expectation of taste partially based on the price—and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I didn’t pay much it can’t be that good. Moreover, each slice is worse than the last. People really ended up regretting choosing the buffet when it was cheap.”

After reading this article, I wondered about the value of “cheap” faith compared to costly faith:

  • Are Christians more satisfied, fulfilled, and happy, when their faith costs them something?
  • Is this one reason Solomon wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.”
  • Is this the secret to the saints of Hebrews 11 who lived vigorous faith-filled lives?

As you prepare to say good-bye to 2014, and enter 2015, let me suggest a New Year’s Resolution:  “I resolve to invest more in my life as a Christian, and I will do this by spending more time in prayer, reading my bible, and sharing my faith.”