Iron Men

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

I once heard Lou Holtz say at a leadership conference, "You are the product of the people you meet and the books you read." I believe Solomon would have agreed with Coach Holtz. God has certainly used "iron men" to hone the edge of my life and ministry. Here are a few words spoken to me or written by them that have impacted my life along the way.
 

My father, Don Miller, is the greatest man of prayer I have ever known. He defines prayer as two way communication, and reminds me often to give God time to speak to me in prayer.

• "Prayer is the intimate communication between the Heavenly Father and His child."

Ron Dunn, pastor/preacher/ Bible Conference leader and author, went to heaven in July 2001.

• "Good and evil travel down parallel tracks and arrive at the same time."

Dr. W. Fred Swank, long time pastor of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas. These words were spoken to me on the occasion of my wedding, and in response to my complaint that I was ready for this thing to be over. I had been so caught up on the wedding, I had forgotten about the marriage. Bro. Fred was never one to suffer a fool gladly.
 

• "Boy, let me remind you that you are going home with that girl after this wedding is over."

Manley Beasley, one of the greatest teachers on faith, remains one of the brightest lights God has ever allowed to shine on my life.

• "God can take a 'nothing' and so fill him with His glory that he will be equal to any task God calls him to."

Vance Havner, prolific author, pastor-evangelist, and revivalist of the 20th century. I was privileged to hear him speak at chapel in seminary before he died. His blasts from the past still warm my heart and light my way.
"Christianity is not a matter of how high you jump in the pew, but how straight you walk in the world."
Bill "Wild Bill" Stafford currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His no nonsense preaching still puts God's truth on a shelf where I can get it.

"The purpose of God is to knock you out of you."
Arville Senter, field evangelism missionary to East Africa, was my Advisor and mentor while I served two years as a Journeyman in Tanzania.

"These people will not remember what you said here, but they will remember that you were here."
Dr. Freddie Gage, evangelist, and champion of the underdog taught me to care about pastors who have been wounded in ministry.

"Never leave a wounded pastor behind enemy lines."
Samuel Chadwick, English evangelist, pastor and Bible teacher known as "The Wesley of the 20th Century." He was a mentor of Leonard Ravenhill:

"It is amazing what God can do with a broken heart, if you will give him all the pieces."
Dr. John Bisagno, author, evangelist, and long time pastor Houston's First Baptist Church, taught me to think outside of the box. He is still preaching, and writing. I am proud to call him friend.

"There has never been anything of any merit accomplished in this world without the element of risk. Take the word risk and replace it with faith, and remind yourself that without faith it is impossible to please God."
Jerry Waggoner, layman and deacon at First Baptist Church, Borger who stood by me in a hospice room when we were in a vigil for his father's home-going. This was his response to my admission that I knew enough to pray, but not enough to know how to pray for him and his dad. Bro. Jerry's words have helped me minister to people more effectively for the past 20 years.

"I have learned that the best thing to do is to ask God for mercy in situations like this."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, preacher, pastor and author known as "The Prince of Preachers" in 19th Century England.

"I would rather teach one man to pray than 100 men to preach."
Oswald Chambers, professor and chaplain with the British Expeditonary Force in Egypt when he died in 1917.

"Discernment is given for intercession never for fault-finding."
Lloyd John Ogilvie, Presbyterian pastor and United States Senate Chaplain,

"Knowing God's will in specifics comes out of a consistent companionship with God."
Andrew Murray, missionary, pastor, and conference speaker from South Africa in the 19th Century.

His little book, "Waiting on God" was my first introduction to this amazing man of prayer.

"Has the life of God's people reached the utmost limit of what God is willing to do for them? Surely not. We want to wait for Him; to put away our experiences, and give God time and place to show us what He could do, what He will do."

George Whitefield died in New England in 1770 after making 13 crossings of the Atlantic, and traveling throughout the American colonies as an evangelist during the First Great Awakening.

"God is thus at work. Let the devil roar; we will go on in the name of the Lord."

Note: There are times God will bring an "iron man" into your life. It may be a work spoken or a book read, but they will have an impact on you. Don't be surprised if there is a jolt to your ego, and sparks fly between you. It means God is preparing you for a battle that can be won, but you need to have the rust knocked off your blade before you can cut the enemy down to size.

Just Kidding

"Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death, so is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, 'Was I not joking?'" Proverbs 26: 18-19

The definition of neighbor may have changed a bit over the years, but it never strays far away from the meaning of someone close to you. It is someone close enough to be impacted by your behavior. Whether it means a fellow-citizen or a near one, Proverbs warns against taking shots at people close to us.

Jesus perfected the art of answering a question with a question. One day He was tested by a lawyer who was trying to trip Him up with a theological quandary, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus literally asked him, "Do you read?" It was a way of saying, "What do you think?" He meant it as an invitation for the legal beagle to bay at the moon, and strut his stuff. Jesus knew a thing or two about setting a trap. The lawyer answered his own question by quoting, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Jesus told him his answer was correct, and then commissioned him, "DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."

The lawyer was caught by his desire to look right in the eyes of the crowd that had gathered around their discussion. He asked his next question, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus launched into one of the most memorable of His parables, "The Good Samaritan." This has become the world standard for showing mercy. This was how Jesus defined neighbor; someone in need of mercy becomes your neighbor regardless of their address. They may be beaten and abandoned on the road, or mowing their grass next door. The one who shows mercy is a neighbor to a person in need of it. This makes a Christ follower a mobile movement of mercy to anyone who crosses their path.

One of the most destructive patterns of behavior in the world can be summed up by the phrase, "Just kidding." This is usually said after a particularly poisonous message has been delivered to friend, work associate, fellow church member, spouse, parent, child or anyone else who needs to be put in their place by a flame of sarcasm. It has become the secular substitute for "Bless your heart." Apparently, it is supposed to have the power to douse the flames that have erupted after a "firebrand" has landed in the lap of the one who needed a public burn.

My wife and I serve on a volunteer fire department of a small city. Due to the dry Texas weather and the high winds that blow across our county, it is not unusual for our department to impose a burn ban on our city. There is always someone who thinks it doesn't apply to them. They want to get rid of their trash so bad, that they are willing to risk burning the city down to "Git 'er done." One spark can do a great deal of damage. We have rushed to fires sweeping through homes, condos, and fields that all began with a tiny spark. The devastation of a runaway fire is a brutal reminder of the need to watch what we let fly into the air.

"Firebrands, arrows and death" have no word association with, "Just kidding." There is a reason for that lack of connection. They are dangerous and deadly. Firebrands thrown into a dry field will create havoc for cattlemen and city dwellers alike. Arrows shot into a crowd will hurt people at the very least, and kill them if they hit them in the heart. Words spoken with the intent to deceive a person, into believing you have their best interest at heart by publicly humiliating them, will bring about death every time they hit.

Proverbs warns the wise to remember their deceptive words are not wiped out of the memory banks of a person who has been wounded by them with the phrase, "Just kidding." This a coward's way of communicating. A cheap shot will never add more value to a relationship. This word of caution is usually stiff armed by stiff necked people who refuse to admit their real intent is to stab their victim in the back rather than "have their back." Spouses who wait for a public arena to expose a weakness in their mate that they don't have the courage to point out in private are sowing death into their marriage. Associates who have to "burn" someone in effigy in order for them to see the light are playing with fire that will scorch the life and suck the air out of the work place. BFF who make their friends a target of their pent up resentment, and embarrass them in public will find themselves hosting their next reunion in a phone booth. The wise will take these words to heart, before they let something fly out of their mouth that is going to give a neighbor heartburn.

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Matt. 5:34

"Do not devise harm against you neighbor." Proverbs 3:29

"Better is a neighbor who is near, than a brother who is far away." Proverbs 27:10

Fire up the mercy mobile today and deliver two words to a neighbor that will make their day. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Toothaches and Trouble

"Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is a confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." Proverbs 25:19

In 1983, Dana and I called a sitter, and went on a date night to see a "real" movie for the first time in a long time. I was almost in a sugar sweet coma from all the "My Little Pony," "Care Bear," and "Miss Strawberry Shortcake" movies we had been attending. The theme song of "Ghostbusters" can still bring a smile to my face, "Who ya gonna call? 'GHOSTBUSTERS!'"

Challenges to our faith do not come from ghosts who are not real, but from people who are. For almost four years, I attended a monthly meeting with a group of men who were unapologetically intent on knocking my feet out from under me. I often referred to them as "FAITHBUSTERS." They were good at it and proud of it. There were times, I would leave those meetings, and my teeth would hurt. Sounds like Solomon had some experience with this. Who knew?

I tried the Matthew 18 thing with the ring leader of this group, and went to his house to try and discover what made these guys so difficult to trust. His words were, "You just have to understand. We are all engineers." That was his answer. It was perfectly clear to him that he was not doing his job if he didn't find the flaw in every design, or the cloud behind every silver lining. He went on to describe four different times in the life of the church where they had missed God. Each story began with a pastor bringing a plan. They would tear it apart, and berate the pastor until he had no following. The pastor would leave, and they would start over. Note: This church moved 16 pastors in and out in less than 30 years. They had "U-Haul" on speed dial. One of the pastorates lasted two weeks. I was beginning to think he was the smart one.

As I approach 60 years of age, I can honestly say, I have spent almost six decades around "people of faith." There is probably no greater oxymoron to describe the Christian community. "People of faith" too often is associated with a snoozing assembly of people snuggled in a safe harbor. It should be a word picture of an army with fearless trust in God, overcoming obstacles, and conquering new territory in spite of the trouble ahead.

Over the past 60 years, I have seen trouble come, and I have seen it go. One of my favorite lines that only experience can teach you is, "This too will pass." The one denominator, all too common in the face of trouble, has been "the people of faith" have often lost their confidence in the face of unexpected circumstances.

Faith is a risky business. Faithless people have terminal "risk aversion." This causes them to get very creative when trying to make up excuses for not following through on what God has planned for their lives. If economic times are tough and money is tight, they will say, " We need to wait until times get better." If there is an economic boom going on, then their response to a "divine appointment" is, "Well, it won't last. We need to save for a rainy day." Faith is rarely improved through exhaustive examination. This is called the "paralysis of analysis." It is not a matter of dissection but it is a sense of direction.

The real "people of faith" will always be tested by toothaches and challenged by troubling times. Faithful people refuse to be intimidated by immediate circumstances. They resist the urge to doubt in the dark what they knew to be true in the light. Rather than turn up the heat of anxiety, they turn on the light of God's Word.

"Take no thought for tomorrow." Matthew 7: 34

"Nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37

"Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." I Peter. 5:7

"My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory." Philippians 4: 19

"Without faith it is impossible to please God."Hebrews 11:6

"I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Faith is not a weapon to point at God in order to coerce Him to do our will. Faith is the risk we take every time we trust and obey God's Word for His will in our lives. "People of faith" should not be a laughable, contradictory oxymoron. It should be the description of people who are childlike in their trust in God. Children run up to the sign next to an adventurous ride, and stretch as tall as they can. They pop their vertebrae and eagerly search the face of a parent for the nod of permission to get on board. If they are refused access to the adventure, all hell breaks loose. In too many faith communities all hell breaks out when permission is given for the adventurous ride, not when it is refused. I think the doors of every church ought to have a sign out front, "YOU HAVE TO BE THIS TALL TO RIDE THIS RIDE!" It might save the Body of Christ a toothache.

Take the High Road

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles: lest the Lord see it and be displeased. And then He turn away His anger from him." Proverbs 24:17

Manuel Noriega. No one epitomized the banana republic cliche better than the little general. He was the dictator of Panama, a corrupt, ruthless drug dealer and to top it off, he had a face that could stop a clock. During the presidency of George Bush the elder, a concerted effort was made to expose his corruption. For months, the media whipped the American people into a frenzy of outrage over the criminal activities of Noriega and his henchmen. They did a great job painting him as the personification of evil. Polls indicated the people of the USA were ready to see him go. An invasion was ordered to protect the interests of the United States in the Canal Zone. When the U.S. military landed it swiftly defeated the outmatched forces of Panama. Instead of admitting defeat, Noriega fled to the compound of a representative of the Vatican. What a weasel. Negotiations for his transfer to American authorities went on and on. Eventually he was turned over and removed from Panama to a prison in Miami. I was thrilled. I really enjoyed seeing the downfall of this guy who thought he was above the law. My itch for justice had been scratched and I was feeling pretty good about the whole outcome.

Then it happened. Two mentors and friends of mine, evangelists Cliff Brannon and Rudy Hernandez went to see Manuel Noriega in prison. They had the audacity to trust God to change the man. I saw their trip as an act of futility. Bless their hearts! Note: Didn't mean it, just said it.
Long story short, they led Noriega to a life-changing encounter with Christ. He got saved. He was no longer the enemy, but was transformed into a brother in Christ. Wait a minute! What was I supposed to do with all this moral outrage that I had worked up. I was really conflicted about the whole deal. When he got what was coming to him, I felt awfully good about his downfall. Since his incarceration, I had been enjoying a prolonged sense of well-being at his expense. It did not sit well with me that he had been brought into the family. Any other elder brothers out there?

I had gotten hold of the wisdom of Solomon, but it had not gotten hold of me. "Do not say, 'Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.' " Proverbs 24:29

OK, I know the Bible says, "For God so loved the world, and gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16). But for crying out loud, NORIEGA! Doesn't God have any standards? It embarrasses me to admit how long this conflict raged inside of me. When you are a pastor of a church you are supposed to know better. After processing this violation of my personal prejudices and preferences, I slowly and begrudgingly came to have a change of heart. It was as if I heard a voice say to me, "Get over it!" I have never heard God speak audibly to me, but it didn't sound like something Satan would say. I began to think, if I didn't deal with this here on earth, I may have to room with this guy in heaven. Never underestimate the lengths God will go to make sure you learn a lesson. I didn't want to have to stay after school here or say for eternity, "Mi casa es su casa." I admit my standards were low, but I did at least have them. God meets you right where you are, but loves you too much to leave you the way he found you. Over two decades later, I am so glad Brannon and Hernandez took the trip. Bless their hearts! Note: I really mean it this time.

Our culture has lost their handle on "The Golden Rule": Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It has been replaced by tarnished substitutes,

• "He who has the gold, rules."
• "Get all you can. Can all you get. Poison the rest."
• "Stick it to them before they stick it to you.
• "Watch out for number one!"

This isn't new. Jesus established His kingdom in the wake of one of the most ruthless regimes the world had ever seen. Whether it was Roman aggression or Jewish corruption, Jesus challenged the conventional wisdom of the day. Throughout his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeats over and over, "You have heard it said,...But I say to you." "You have heard it said...But I say to you...turn the other cheek."Matthew 5:39

In other words, He knew people may like the way they felt about their enemies, but He was going to change their hearts and that was going to change the way they lived. God uses changed people to bring about the kind of change that makes a difference for eternity...not just for the next election.

Abraham Lincoln described resisting the urge to rejoice over our enemies or to exact our revenge from them as, "listening to the better angels of our nature." Thanks Abe, I needed that. What Lincoln suggested, Paul declared was a moral imperative of the Christ follower. "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:17-21)

The Noriegas of this world come and go with great rapidity. Life becomes a lot like an endless game of "Whack a Mole." If you have to get even with every petty dictator that crosses your path you are going to have great muscle tone in your arms, but a heaviness in your heart. The game is stacked against you worse than the odds at Vegas. So many moles, so little time. The house wins.

Nothing has really changed from the time Jesus first spoke to his early disciples. They too had been influenced and saturated with revenge by the culture in which they lived. Conventional wisdom today lies to us when it says, "Revenge is sweet." In place of, "Get 'er Done!", God's wisdom says, "Let it Go!" The next time you are tempted to cheer over the downfall of an enemy, ask God if He wants you to let go of your joy over their collapse. He may want you to pick them up, and help them on down the road. This means taking the high road, when the world world screams for you to take the Low Road Exit and leave your enemy in the dust. You may be surprised at what you hear God say. I know I was. Vaya Con Dios!

On the Rock or On the Rocks

"Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always." Proverbs 23:17

A contemporary view of envy may be: wishing I could trade places with someone else who seems to have a better life than the one God gave me. The same word for envy is sometimes translated in Proverbs for the word "reverence." This could be a warning to step away from the altar of celebrity worship. The tendency to want what others have is not new to the human condition. Words like envy, jealousy and covet fill the Word of God like flashing lights on a dashboard. When they start blinking in our lives, it is time to pull over and let God check under our hood.

As a Texan growing up on Long Island, New York, I fell in love with the New York Yankees. I still remember my first professional baseball game at the old Yankee Stadium, "The house that Ruth built." Nestled in Yonkers, like the proverbial gardenia in a garbage can , it was a magical place. When I emerged from the dark passage ways of the ball park on the evening of May 12, 1961, I got my first glimpse of the immaculate playing field. I was mesmerized. The bright lights magnified the red clay, the manicured green grass, and the perfect white stripes separating the stands from the field of play. It was a sight to behold. Then the pin-striped, "Bronx Bombers" walked from the dugout with the swagger of champions. At first, "Moose" Skowron, at second, Bobby Richardson, short-stop, Tony Kubek, third base, Clete Boyer, behind the plate, Yogi Berra, and on the mound, left-hander, "Whitey" Ford, in the outfield, Maris, Mantle, and Pepitone. Later in the evening, Pepitone would go to first base, and Elston Howard would take over in left. It was Yogi's birthday and he hit a home run. The Yanks beat the LA Angels. I was only 11 years old, but already a serious fan. I put the fan in fanatic. Being able to recite the starting lineup of this team impressed a friend of mine a few years ago, and he rewarded me with a gift of a "Whitey Ford" autograph baseball. My youngest daughter Allyson has put her claim on it when I die. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I put this in the category of harmless hero worship. As I grew older, I learned the difference between the content of a player's character and his conduct on the field. For instance, Bobby Richardson has grown in my estimation, and Mickey Mantle has fallen a notch or two. Mickey will always have my heart, but I couldn't help his liver. Sad story. Nuff said.

Magazines like "People" and "Instyle" regale us with what the celebrities are doing, and what they are wearing. Television is overloaded with shows that stalk every move a celebrity makes and record every word they say. They seem intent on exposing the flaws of the newest flavor of the month and bumping them off the pedestal to make room for another victim of new found fame. The cult of celebrity is alive and well, and it craves more and more of what it does not have. Envious people love to hate people who have what they really want.

Envy reveals a hole in the heart, that only God can fill. Trying to satisfy hunger and thirst with anything that is man-made only leads to a more ravenous appetite. God's meal plan for our lives begins with living water and the bread of life, Jesus. Spending time with Him, and listening to what He says for us to do will give us a full and meaningful life, in spite of what contemporary culture may try to lead us to believe. The ash heap of history is littered with more examples than I can list of people who were stars, and then they fell from the sky. Charting one's ship by a course based on what the stars have to say usually ends up on the rocks.

David, the father of Solomon, must have been a hero to his son. What Solomon shares in Proverbs, his father sang about in Psalms.

"Fret not yourself because of evil doers, be not envious toward wrong-doers. For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him, and He will do it." Psalms 37:1-5

Like any son, he probably wanted to be like dad when he grew up. That is not envy, but a legacy. Jesus is the Rock. A life built on the Rock will not end up on the rocks.

Thanks

"So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you." Proverbs 22:19

"Talking is not teaching and listening is not learning." I am crediting Alvin Reid with this quote. It is one of those personalized proverbial statements that has a great root system in the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 22: 19 challenges us to learn that life is all about trusting in the Lord. Putting our confidence, and faith in God is the beginning of wisdom. This reverence, deference and respect we give to His plan for our life is the key to our eternal salvation, and results in a life filled with meaning and purpose.

How do we learn to trust in the Lord? When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God. When we come to the end of our rope, we need to stop making rope. When we lose confidence in our own ability, we are more likely to make ourselves available to Him. This is important to learn. God is more interested in our AVAILABILITY than our ABILITY.

The book of Luke records one of the most comprehensive pictures of the prayer life of Jesus. He made Himself available to God. When He showed up to pray, God showed up in His prayer life. The early disciples came to Jesus and said, "Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1) They had never heard anyone pray like Jesus. More importantly, they had never seen anyone get answers to their prayers like Jesus. He was always praying for the impossible. They wanted to know His secret of turning the IMPOSSIBLE into the HIMPOSSIBLE. This ought to be filed under the warning: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR. Everyone knows we pray our best when things are at their worst. If we never had a crisis, we would probably relegate prayer to a level of irrelevance. It would be placed on the shelf with other non-essential devotional disciplines like fasting, and giving.

David came to the end of himself as recorded in Psalm 23 when a "shadow of death" passed over him. The most remarkable thing happened. He stopped talking about God, and started talking to God. He moved God out of the third person singular and started talking to Him one on one, face to face.

Paul came to the end of himself more than once. He had a "shadow of death" experience on one of his journeys, and said that he even despaired for his life. "Indeed we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises from the dead...He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us." (II Cor. 1:9-10)

Are you seeing a pattern here? Listening is not learning. You don't audit class in The School of Prayer. Once when Professor William Barclay was asked to comment on one his students, he said, "He is not one of my students. He just attends my classes." Well put. Showing up for class is not enough. Applying what you hear is where the real rubber meets the proverbial road.

Putting our trust in the Lord begins with an attitude of gratitude for what He has already done for us. In those early days of fatherhood, I felt pretty useless. As long as our baby daughters had no use for me, they didn't really warm up to me. The relationship was all about Dana. She had what they wanted, when they wanted it. How selfish! The good news is that their childish behavior did not last. Today I have a relationship with my daughters that has matured and brings great joy to me. They come to me for what they need, a personal relationship with their Dad. They trust that I will be there for them in the present, because I have been there for them in the past.

During this season of THANKS, I would like to suggest that trusting in the Lord could move from a proverb read to a principle applied. Trust is developed when we give THANKS to Him every day. This is how we begin to learn the meaning of , "I have taught you today, even you."

• Thanking: "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing."
• Him: "In everything give thanks,"
• Always: "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18
• Nearing: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8
• Knocking: "Knock and it shall be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
• Seeking: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33

The season of THANKS is is a great time to renew our "trust in the Lord."

Victory

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord." Proverbs 21:31

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was a clash between the Norman invaders of William the Conqueror and the Anglo Saxons led by King Harold. In 1077 the Bayeaux tapestry was unveiled to commemorate the Norman victory. It is a 230 foot long, and 20 inch high narrative depicting the battle with a Latin inscription for every scene. It is one of the earliest examples of "spin" control.

Both armies made use of horses, but each had a different strategy. King Harold's Anglo Saxons used their horses as a means of transportation to arrive at the site of the battle. They took a defensive posture behind a wall of huge shields, and dared the Normans to take the hill. The Normans used a cavalry of mounted lancers as an aggressive attack weapon. History reveals the wisdom of the latter over the former. It was a particularly gory kind of warfare, and at times even the bravest warrior was tempted to flee the field. One of my favorite sections of the tapestry depicts Odo, half brother of William, and a bishop of the church encouraging the French warriors while waving his club or shepherd's staff in the air. He was forbidden by church law to carry an instrument of war that could shed the blood of the sheep, but he was free to club them over their helmeted heads or whack them on their backs to turn them around and face the enemy. In Latin the statement next to the picture is, "Odo... confortats." Translated, he comforts or encourages the men. One of the next scenes depicts the death of King Harold, and the Anglo Saxons fleeing the battle. The Battle of Hastings was over and the invasion of England successful. This was no small accomplishment considering, Napoleon and Hitler were never able to pull it off.

Obviously, the word "comfort" has lost something in translation down through the years. Today it used to describe a gentle touch, a soft word spoken or a blanket that is to be left untouched. The word once meant an infusion of courage. Break it down and you can see it in the word, en-courage-ment. Back in the day, comfort could be a knock on the head, or a whack on the back of a discouraged warrior to turn him around to face the enemy. There is no substitute for victory, but it will never be won by victims. Victors are just victims who have fired back at the enemy. When Jesus depicted the posture of the forces of evil, He revealed them to be on the defensive, and His church would be attacking the gates they were hiding behind. "I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Matthew 16:18

During my first year in seminary, I was introduced to a book, "Success Motivation and the Scriptures." It was written by William H. Cook and published by Broadman Press in 1974. The gist of it: Be filled with the Holy Spirit to become the person God intended for you to be, and leave the results up to God. It was a breath of fresh air. It is always a bad exchange to substitute personal ideas of success for God's concept of victory.

Ancient proverbs are as fresh as the latest newsprint, or the most recent Twitter of the day. They have influence far beyond the day in which they were first spoken. Their longevity is proof positive of their reliability. Keep passing on and practicing good advice found in Proverbs. Eventually it will have a positive influence. Even Wood Allen knows, "Ninety percent of success in life is found in just showing up." Scripture reminds us that victory is ours if we will get behind a movement of God, and give Him the elbow room to do what only He can do in this world through our lives.

"Some boast in chariots, and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God." Psalms 20:7 (David's prayer for victory over his enemies, must have been known by Solomon.)

"A horse is a false hope for victory; nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength." Psalms 33:17 (Solomon collected horses, but David had known victory and defeat.)

"Salvation belongs to the Lord; Thy blessings upon Thy people!" Psalms 3:8 (David knew that God was in control even when family turned against him.)

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." I Corinthians 15:57-58

The key to victory is not found in how fast we get to the battle, but in how long we are willing to stay and fight the enemy. War can be terrifying at times. Christ followers need shepherds who will encourage them to return to the battle, and stay on the offensive. God's people strike fear in the heart of the enemy when they mobilize as prayer warriors against the gates of hell. Fire when ready! If you listen carefully, you can hear the enemy screaming, "INCOMING!"

"We must not be content to be cleansed, but filled with the Holy Spirit. The word Comforter as applied to the Holy Spirit needs to be translated by some vigorous term. Literally it means "with strength." Jesus promises his followers, "The Strengthener" would be with them. This is no lullaby for the faint-hearted. It is a blood transfusion for courageous living." E.P. Hovey

Flip the Coin

"The glory of young men is their strength, and the honor of old men is their gray hair." Proverbs 20:29

We live in a culture that places great value on youth, and strength. Proverbs encourages us to receive the whole coin, flip it and focus on the other side. The flip side of a strong body is a strong finish. The honor of a young man has always been his physique at the start of the rae. The splendor of an older man is his perseverance to the finish line.

Every year I live, I grow in my appreciation for the men who have run the race long and are finishing well. The roadside of life is littered with men who got off to a great start, but lost their way . I have had heroes of mine falter, and fall, but there have been others who continue to lead me towards the finish line. Today it seems right to mention at least two of them that come to mind with Proverbs 20:29.

I heard Jimmy Draper preach for the first time in the fall of 1975. I was starting my second year of seminary and he was speaking in chapel. He challenged and commissioned us to continue in our calling regardless of the circumstances that we encounter. Knowing that he was in the middle of a personal crisis himself, and handling it with grace and dignity made his message even more powerful. Thirty-five years later he is often referred to as "Mr. Southern Baptist." A title he has earned for continuing to shed more light than heat on any crisis he is called upon to handle. I still refer to him as Bro. Jimmy. To me he is the poster boy for preacher boys.

I mean no disrespect meant to Chuck Swindoll who posed for a poster back in the nineties sitting on his Harley. He was dressed in black with a smile on his face, and the word, "SERMONATOR" emblazoned across the page. It was a great combination of chutzpa, humility and humor. I loved it. These two men have set the pace for preachers and pastors for close to 50 years. They continue to be faithful flames leading to the finish line.

One night, about ten years ago, my wife and I were visiting a little lady on her first night in a Fort Worth nursing home. Her daughter had called and let me know they were headed to Houston to close out her mother's estate, and asked me to check on her. She was afraid this was going to be a rough night for her mom. She was right. When Dana and I arrived at the door of her tiny room, I could see she was sitting in a chair with her head down. She was the picture of despondency and loneliness. We introduced ourselves, and tried our best to cheer her up. I hit on the idea to ask her to tell me about churches she had attended over the years, and what kind of ministry she had been involved in the most. She told me of a church in the ship channel area of Houston, and how she and her husband had worked with youth. I asked her if youth were any different then than they were today. She lit up and said, "Oh, no. We had some rounders in that group." She went on to talk about two of them in some detail. One was the pastor's kid, Jimmy, and the other was a piece of work called Chuckie. She went on and on, and then it dawned on me who she was talking about. I asked her if she was talking about Jimmy Draper and Chuck Swindoll. She said, "Why yes, do you know them." I admitted that I had heard of them and asked if she had heard from them recently. She laughed and said, "Oh, no I haven't heard from then in years." I asked her if she would like to get in touch with them again, and she was thrilled about the possibility. I told her that I was pretty sure she could count on it.

The next morning, I made two phone calls to the offices of Dr. James Draper, leader of Lifeway in Nashville, and Dr. Charles Swindoll, president of Dallas Theological Seminary. I didn't try to get in touch with them personally. I knew it wasn't necessary. I told my story to two wonderful ladies who were able gatekeepers of these men. I requested, if possible, a letter of appreciation be faxed to the nursing home. As if reading from a prepared script, each promised it would be done that day. When I said that it wasn't necessary to do so that day, they each emphatically stated it would be something they know would be done today. They knew who they were working for. These men of integrity each took time out of very busy schedules to sit down and compose a personal tribute. They both gave glowing, and warmhearted gratitude to a woman who had invested time in them when it didn't appear that there was going to be much interest made on her principal. I went back to the nursing home the next day, and I saw a transformed woman. She was walking from room to room reading her letters to residents and employees alike. She asked me to read them to her when we sat down in her room. I was impressed by their words, but more importantly by the hearts of these men who had not forgotten where they had come from.

When her daughter returned from Houston, she called and exclaimed, "What have you done to my mother? She is a new person." Once again, the life-changing power of encouragement had left its calling card. Both of these letters were read at her mother's funeral, and remain treasured family keepsakes.

Jimmy Draper and Chuck Swindoll continue to raise the bar for ministers who do not just want to survive the ministry, but who desire to thrive in it. Some ministers are not content to retire and in some cases they just die standing up a long time before the retirement party. They would do well to take a look at men who know that one of the joys of growing older is becoming wiser. The glory of young men is their strength, but that is only one side of the coin. The flip side is where the wise man finds his greatest worth. The highest value is given to the rarest coin. Thank God for men who save their best for last, and remind us the best is yet to come.

Come and Rest

"The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil." Proverbs 19:23

My first pastorate was in the City of Tempe, Arizona. It was located in an area called The Valley of the Sun. My wife loved the weather there. I should have known better. It was not like living n a desert. It was a desert. We moved there in the summer of 1983 and left in the summer of 1987. I call it four years and five summers. Man it was hot. Johnny Carson took a shot at this area's weather one night on the old "Tonight" show. He said, "They call it a dry heat. But you know folks, there is no humidity in a nuclear meltdown either. It is still going to kill you."

My wife, Dana, real sun goddess, always had a great, golden tan. I, on the other hand, was an "Irish tanner." I would burn, peel, burn, peel, burn,peel and maintain a hint of pale pink throughout the year. I had three episodes with heat stroke because I did not take my wife's advice and carry a bottle of water and drink from it like a prospector's canteen throughout the day. She kept reminding me, "We live in the desert, and everything you see is a mirage. Without water being poured into the ground every green thing you see will die. We are evaporating as we speak so drink up or die." I eventually caught on, but not after collapsing in the shower three different times. Note: When you reach a certain point of evaporation, you will not be able to suck enough water, fast enough from the faucet to replace what you lost in a day. Third time's a charm. Class dismissed.

One particularly hot day in May, 120 degrees in the shade with no shade, I was sitting at a stop light in the city and noticed an unusual church sign posted in huge, permanent letters on the entrance of their worship center. The words were, "Come...and Rest." I pulled off the road and into their parking lot. I knew from their sign that it was an unusual church or it would have said something like...

• "Come...and Serve"
• "Come...and Give"
• "Come...and Grow"
• "Come...and Go"
• "The end of your search for a friendly church."
• "First This of That"

I parked my car right in front of the sign like a man who had just found an oasis in the desert. I knew the source of the statement had to be based on the call of Jesus to His disciples, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) The cynic in me thought, "How can you build a church on calling people to rest, when there is so much of the Lord's work to do?" I should probably admit to you that I had been doing a lot of work for the Lord, but not spending much time with the Lord of the work. Later that day, I did a little research and find out that this was the largest church in the area. Evidently, I wasn't the only lost miner that had been lured off the highway by a sign that offered the promise of relief. Jesus must have known what he was talking about after all. Go figure.

One of the most prolonged and perilous epidemics sweeping this nation is sleep deprivation. It has been blamed for a host of illnesses and the possible source of road rage. There are countless numbers of remedies that promise relief. They run the gamut from surgery to sleeping pills, and mattresses to mantras. This is an indication that no one is getting the rest they need. How can this be? In spite of the economic downturn of recent months, this is still the wealthiest nation in the world. Regardless of what some would have us believe, our health-care system is still the envy of the world. Social apologists would have us believe the world hates us, but our borders and beaches are overwhelmed daily by those seeking relief from regimes that offer no hope. Comedians are flooding the airways with a constant stream of humor to relieve our stress and help us prepare for a good night's sleep. Churches on every corner offering a wide variety of sacred solutions for sinners, seekers, and saints. Why are so many people still in need of rest?

"The fear of the Lord leads to life." Proverbs provides a road map to an oasis that offers rest in the middle of the desert. The walk towards the saving shade and life-giving water begins with reverence for God. This refers to a respect for God as the source of life. He has written the book on rest, so when in doubt read His directions. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) OK. I know we live in world that wants me to believe that there is no absolute truth, and my values should not be forced on them. So, let me put this "new" source of life to the Dr. Phil test, "How's that workin' for ya'?" Note: When people get tired enough, they will come to the end of themselves and the beginning of God. Til then, don't gouge out their eyes, just keep the light on for them. Christ followers sleep best with the light on anyway.

"So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil." "Restless heart" syndrome deprives more people of sleep than any "restless leg." The gnawing hunger of an empty heart is relentless. It will never be satisfied until it is filled with the food God has prepared for His children, Jesus. When He puts His children to sleep, he guards the door of their heart. No intrusion will ever come into the life of His child without passing through His heart first. If it comes to us through Him, it must be received for our help and not our hurt. The Psalmist comforts us with this reminder about God. "He gives to His beloved, even in his sleep." (Psalms 127:2) This may mean God gives sleep to His beloved, or God gives what His children need while they sleep. Either way, taking it to heart provides a calm in the heart of His children that cannot be disrupted by unwanted visitors or late night marketing calls. Lean on Jesus for The Rest of your life.

A Matter of Life or Death

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Proverbs 18:21

Fred Swank, longtime pastor of Sagamore Hill Baptist Church of Fort Worth, was asked one day by a colleague, "Does your church speak in tongues?" I was standing next to him when he said brusquely, "My people aren't Spirit-filled enough." He dismissed the questioner with a stern look, turned his back and walked swiftly through the noisy, convention corridor to the exit. I was a first year seminary student, and newly hired by him to be his driver/youth director. His response intrigued me. I was trying to get the courage to ask him why he was so abrupt. I didn't have to ask. He launched into one of his many impromptu lessons of life that still serve me well. No direct quotes here, but the gist of his defense was this. He said there was a movement in Baptist churches at that time to try and solve all their problems with an experience that he called "tongues-talkin.'' He personally did not begrudge them the privilege. He was of the opinion, after 42 years of pastoring the same church, that local church was headquarters. He believed what the people of a local, autonomous congregation felt led of God to do they should be able to do. However, he was convinced that gossip was the real "tongues-talkin' " that caused most problems. He was convinced it was this kind of tongues that should be kicked out of the church. Bro. Fred's earthy wisdom rings true with Proverbs 18:21.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Two conversations come to mind. Both were with highly skilled, accomplished women I met while pastoring in the Panhandle of Texas. One was very faithful to attend church. I saw her Sunday after Sunday standing very uncomfortably during the praise portion of the worship service. She looked miserable. She had a frown on her face, her head down, and all of the peace of an animal with a paw caught in a trap. Whether it was oppression or conviction, I could not tell. It was painful to watch, and I just had to know. When I had a chance to meet with this lady, I discovered a great heart with a huge hole in it. She asked me if I had noticed she never sang in church. I admitted her reluctance to participate had hit my radar screen. She apologized and related her story. There is always a private story behind a public behavior. When she was a child, she had auditioned to sing in a choral group at her school. The director stopped her in the middle of her song, and shouted for the accompanist to stop playing. Loud enough for all the other children to hear she was rebuked this little girl for wasting their time. She was told, "You have a terrible voice. You should never try to sing." That verbal blast from the furnace of hell left a mark. Fifty years later I could see it. It was not a fresh wound, but a nagging scar on the soul of a grown woman. It was a privilege to walk this lady through God's plastic surgery to remove the damage done by a "tongues-talkin" terrorist. Week by week God restored her, as she focused on Him as the audience of one who loved to hear her praise Him. Never underestimate the power of the tongue to deal out death.

The other conversation took place while I was preparing for the funeral of a local doctor. We had become a personal friends. He had been an encouraged and blessed me with books from his library. His daughter came from Dallas to attend her father's funeral. She was a very successful business woman, and in her professional power suit she exuded the confidence of woman who had made something out of her life. I asked her to share any special memory she had of her father that might help me know him better. In an instant she was transformed from a woman in her late thirties to a six year old girl. She told me without hesitation, "My father loved to sing." I was not surprised by that. He was a member of the real church choir, the congregation. He would stand to my right a few rows back, and sing joyfully and heartily. He sang all the choruses or hymns that were offered up to God as worship in our church. It touched me to see a man of his advanced years and professional stature enter in with such enthusiasm and radiance on his face. She went on to say, "I remember standing next to Dad in church as a little girl. I always enjoyed hearing him sing. I couldn't read, but he would always hold the hymnal so I could see it. One day I was singing along with him, and he stopped, leaned down and whispered in my ear, 'You sing sooo pretty.' I was so touched by his encouragement that music has remained a major part of my life. Since that time, whenever I sing, I have always sensed Dad standing next to me." WOW. What a great way to describe why we need to praise God every day, not just on Sunday.

These two stories give us a picture of the death-dealing or life-giving power of the tongue. I do not know who came up with the insipid ditty, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." I am pretty sure they were from another planet. In the world where I live, I have seen murderous damage done by the tongue. James saw it in the early church and said,
"From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be this way." James 3:10

Notice, James is not talking about "cussin' " but cursing. There are people who would never say a vulgar, four letter curse word, but they are expert surgeons at cutting a person to pieces with their tongues. I have been blessed out by men on a construction site or at the close of a funeral service with the same phrase. "You did a helluva job." To the ears of the self-righteous, it may have sounded like cussin', but these were not curse words at all. They were giving me a blessin' not a cursing. I have had people avoid using the vocabulary words identified with cursing, and still find a way to speak a curse over me. You probably have too.

So what is the message for us in Proverbs 18:21? Use the breath in your lungs to build a person up rather than tear a person down. Putting a person in their place usually means you had to take the low road to get them there. Words leave a mark. They linger long after the initial sting or the pleasant touch. You might want to take a page from David's play book today. "I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue, I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle." Psalm 39:1

"And those who love it will eat its fruit." There is not a great market for rotten fruit.
People who will be taking the taste test of your fruit harvest can tell the difference between what is real, and what is fake, what is fresh and what is phony. There is not much nutrition in imitation fruit even for a starving man. Your tongue has the power to deliver life or death in the form of a verbal fruit basket to someone in need of encouragement today. How will you know who they are? Don't worry. They are everywhere, and everyone. Get with God before you pick up that rotten tomato and throw it at someone who has had their share of curses planted in their lives. Remember, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Trust me on this. They are going to love receiving this fruit basket almost as much as you are going to love giving it.