Joy to the World

"Now at this time Mary arose and went with haste to the hill country, to the city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth. And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out loud with a loud voice, 'Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.' And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy, and blessed is she who believed that there would be of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.' " Luke 1:39-45

During both of her pregnancies, Dana read the Bible and sang songs of praise to our two daughters for the entire nine months that she carried them. She was convinced that they could hear more than we could possibly know, and she wanted them to be prepared for a life of The Word and worship. Elizabeth would have agreed with her 100%. For people who are convinced a child does not have a life before it leaves the womb, the words of Elizabeth are sobering indeed. She was convinced that the child within her was not just kicking as a result of being startled. She believed her child, John the Baptist, was leaping for joy at the sound of Mary's greeting. When God is up to something great, He loves to start with a child.

Mary and Elizabeth were two very remarkable women. Neither one was highly educated, or gifted with worldly wealth. The world in which they lived did not think very highly of them or their gender. A righteous Jewish man would thank God every day that he was born a Jew, not a Gentile, and born a man, not a woman. What made these women so different from all the rest? The clue is found in the statement, "Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit was not a new comer to the dynamics of Scripture revelation. The Spirit of God revealed Himself throughout the Old Testament record. However, the pre-Pentecost work of the Spirit was exhibited by falling upon or filling a specific person, for a specific task, for a specific period of time. The Holy Spirit was not going to dwell forever in the heart of a believer until after His manifestation on the Day of Pentecost. The words of Jesus tell us as much.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." John 14:16

When Elizabeth speaks with authority, 'Blessed among women are you, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!', she was overflowing with an insight and wisdom that was directly from the Spirit's Presence in her life. Again the words of Jesus provide a mission statement for the Spirit's work.

"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you...But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak and He will disclose to you what is to come. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you." John 16:7-15

Where did Elizabeth gain the knowledge of what God was up to? She got it from God's Helper, The Holy Spirit. She apparently had not been in personal contact with Mary, and had no way of knowing what was going on in her life without a word from God on the matter. When she exclaimed the following words, she was experiencing the shock and awe of a movement of God in her life, as well of a leap of joy from the child in her womb.

"And how has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?...And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." Luke 1:42-45

What can we learn from the child? A leap for joy should be a spontaneous and childlike response to the word of faith being spoken into our lives. Joy has been described as an overwhelming confidence in the One we know in spite of being faced much we do not know. It is received by maintaining a proper priority in vital relationships: Jesus Others You.

When Mary arrived at the home of Elizabeth, the sound of her voice carried a note of joy and the air of expectancy. She was not coming to Elizabeth to cry on her shoulder and play the victim. She was coming into her home with a message of hope. God was at work in her life in a remarkable way, and she couldn't wait to share the good news. Mary was betting the farm that she was going to be a part of a great harvest. I want to be like her when I grow up.

For three years, I was privileged to serve on staff of Dr. John Bisagno. He pastored Houston's First Baptist Church for thirty years. He has been an example of faith and spontaneous joy to me for as long as I have known him. He accepted the call to the downtown First Baptist Church after the previous pastor had held a press conference announcing the death of the church. It had been on a decline for decades, but God used Bro. John to rally God's people and do a remarkable work in that city. One day I was able to ask him, when did he sense the turnaround of the church was on track and that it was going to gain momentum. He shared with me that for a period of time the work was up and down, and resistant to many of the efforts and strategies that he had implemented. He reflected that one Sunday morning God moved in a special way. There was an anointing of the Spirit on every aspect of the service. People lingered and did not want to go home. When he returned for the evening worship hour, he said he walked into the old auditorium and he sensed it. I asked him what he meant by "it." He responded, "Expectancy." He explained that the people had become convinced that God was moving in their midst and they were excited to be a part of it. In his words, "The room was electric." There was a joyous expectation of what God was going to do next. I believe this is what Mary brought with her to the home of Elizabeth. She sensed in her heart that God was moving beyond the borders of her life, and she wanted the joy in her heart to hit the beach of someone she loved. The two women came together with the Holy Spirit in a synergistic expression of joy, and the child with Elizabeth was impacted by their response to God's work in their lives.

What else do we learn from the mothers? Elizabeth said of Mary,

"Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." Luke 1:45

These two ladies were women of faith. Mary was not a passive participant in this movement of God. She enthusiastically put her trust in what God's messenger had told her, and she was convinced that she would see the promises fulfilled in her life. Believe is a word of action, not just an intellectual exercise. Elizabeth honored her faith and exhorted and encouraged the faith Mary was placing in the Word of God. That attribute makes her a model worthy of emulating.

Most Christians are able to rise to the occasion when calamity strikes a friend or acquaintance. The visits to the hospital are made. The prayers are lifted up. The casserole dish is delivered to the home. The cards are sent. The checks are written to offer assistance through the crisis. All these things are good, but they fall short of the response Elizabeth made to the good news she received from Mary. The real sign of maturity in a Christ follower is the ability to rejoice with another person. When the blessing of God seems to falling in greater measure on someone else, it is sometimes difficult to be filled with joy for them. The seed of envy always yields bitter fruit, and sour grapes produces a juice that can set a person's teeth on edge. God wants His children to have sweet communion around the Lord's Supper table, even when it appears He is blessing one more than the other. Elizabeth found it in her heart to rejoice at the blessings that were being poured out on someone else.

As you approach this Christmas season, make sure that the Spirit within you is allowed to jump for joy at what God is doing in the life of someone else. If Jesus is the reason for the season, then it means His birthday is not all about you and yours. It is all about Him and His. After all, Jesus never told us to celebrate His birthday, but His death, burial and resurrection. Now that is worth lifting a glass, and toasting, "Joy to the World!" Now, where did I put that Welch's Grape Juice?

What were you thinking?

The Magnificent

"My soul exalts the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for He has had regard for the humble state of His bond slave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARDS THOSE WHO FEAR HIM." Luke 1:46-50

Name droppers are a personal pet peeve of mine. If you don't believe me you can ask my good friend, Arnold Palmer. Any duffers out there jealous? Yeah, well keep telling yourself that. Whatever helps you sleep at night. No really, I have an autographed copy of Mr. Palmer's biography, and he included a personal note. One of my prized possessions is a print of him crossing the bridge at St. Andrews, for the last time, with a personal tribute inscribed to me. I have Arnold Palmer clothes, and clubs with his Bay Hill umbrella logo on them. I have a score card signed by the legend himself. Not close enough for you? Let me remind you that I have known him for years. We met for the first time in 1996. He was on the putting green at Bay Hill, and I walked right up to him and introduced myself. My voice was a little tight with tension, but I squeaked out an "Alvin the Chipmunk" greeting and asked him for an autograph. He was very gracious to ask where I was from, and welcomed me to Bay Hill. I still get a little hyperventilated even typing about this major event in my life. We haven't talked in a few years, but I know it meant just as much to him as it did to me. Good times. Good times.

This is all a little sad isn't it? Every bit of what I have told you is true, with one exception. I remember meeting him, but I am pretty sure he doesn't remember meeting me. I have had a celebrity encounter with Mr. Palmer, but I do not have a relationship with him. He is probably not looking around the dining room of Bay Hill in December and asking, "Where's Gary Miller? I really miss him." Recalling a meeting, and wearing his logo does not constitute a real bond between us. What was a big deal to me, was just another day at the office for him.

Mary had an encounter with the angelic messenger of God, and her response tells us a great deal about the content of her character. What would be a person's response today, if they could claim to have had that kind of visitation. The most dangerous place in the world would be between them and a microphone or a TV camera. My comment is based on having witnessed the behavior of people over the past 50 years, who have claimed they heard from God. One built a medical school, and couldn't fill it. One built a campus and is raising weeds in it. Both put their names on their creation. They got a word from God, but they wanted people to write the checks out to them. That should have been a flashing warning light signallng a train wreck was on its way. You never want to be standing on the tracks between unbridled pride and a reality check. I could list more, but I sense you get the point. Mary heard from God and didn't try to drop His name to land a book deal or hold a press conference. She did not drop God's name to make a name for herself. She lifted up the name of God because of the difference He had made in her life.

After receiving God's message from Gabriel, Mary made her way from Nazareth to the city of Judah. There she found a kindred spirit in her cousin Elizabeth. After a joy filled reception from her and her child, Mary lifted up a powerful message of praise to God. Her words, "The Magnificat", are recorded in Luke 1:46-58. This is an amazing expression of heartfelt humility of a woman honored to be holding the hope of the world.

"My soul exalts the Lord." She "makes great" the Lord, and tells us "my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." She praises God for His blessing on her life. She is overwhelmed at the legacy He has allowed her to leave behind so multiple generations may find their way to God. She doesn't get the big head, but shrink wraps her ego in gratitude. "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name." (v. 49)

Mary clears away any foggy misconception that she was taking on airs because of her new found fame. She knew exactly what she brought to the table. She understood instinctively that what had happened to her was not because of who she was, but because of who He is. Her words reveal a reservoir of praise that had built up in her life over the years of being in God's waiting room. Privately and personally she had been preparing her heart for a life of service to her God.

God will often develop a person's character in the dark, and then allow the light of His opportunity to reveal His work in their lives. Mary's preparation is a pattern God loves to use. Crisis reveals character. It does not develop it. God changes the course of history through people who will let Him do a work in their lives, while no one is looking. People set free from personal pride can be trusted with the power to set others free too. "The Great Emancipator" knew this to be true. Abraham Lincoln was intimately familiar with the personal pain brought on by political defeat and devastating disappointment. In spite of the dark clouds of depression that often surrounded him, he lit a candle and wrote, "I will prepare myself, and my time will come."

Twice in Luke's account, Mary refers to herself as a bond slave of the Lord. This was an immediate analysis, but not an instantaneous development. Her response reflected a lifetime of placing herself under the authority of God. When God searched for a madonna, He didn't select a primadonna. Mary's life focused on praising God before He chose her. After her elevation, as the mother of Jesus, she pointed the spotlight away from herself towards God even more. God elevated Mary, and Mary exalted God. When He lifted her up, she didn't drop His name, she lifted it up.

The Christmas season can be a blur of church activity and family traditions. It is easy to lose focus on Jesus, even when we are convinced He is the reason for the season. Fox News reported on Dec. 3, 2009 that a recent survey indicated 93% of Americans support Christmas as a celebration of Christ's birth. The cult of political correctness is strong, but it does not have as much influence as the angst-filled, atheistic ACLU would have us believe. Americans may not have the whole message of Christmas completely right, but they are smart enough to know that God sent out the birthday invitations to His Son's party.

The sights, sounds and scents of Christmas are in the air. Let's follow Mary's lead. It is not enough for Christ followers to throw out a few greetings of "Merry Christmas" just to annoy the secularists. That kind of name-dropping doesn't pass the smell test. This Christmas lift up the name of God for sending Jesus, The Perfect Gift. Just make sure your spotlight is on Jesus, and people know how they can receive Him as their gift too. Be prepared for a divine appointment with someone today. The light God has given you, He wants you to share with someone else. When we drop God's name, we let Him down. When we tell people about Jesus, we lift Him up.

BTW: Isn't it just like God, to send us just what we need before we even ask?

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Hail Mary

" 'And behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His Father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.' And Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' " And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.' " Luke 1:31-35

I played my high school football in New York, and went up against several powerful parochial school teams. I remember St. Anthony's, St. John's and my personal favorite Mercy High. They never took any mercy on us. Before the game, they would take a knee and pray 'Hail Mary!' as a final warm up before they took the field. Competing against them was like being hit by a hail storm in an open field. Nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. Their game plan of placing "Hail Mary!" at the beginning of the game proved very effective. Our strategy on the other hand was to play the entire game and save our "Hail Mary!" for the end. Why? Because football with its time honored tradition has christened this prayer to Mary, and attached it to a play designed as a last second fling of the ball, high into the air as a desperate gamble to pull out a win at the end of a game with a long pass into the end zone.

"Hail Mary!" usually triggers my memory cells to recall Clint Longley, "The Mad Bomber" from Abilene Christian. Longely was a Dallas Cowboy quarterback for a day. He replaced an injured Roger Staubach in a memorable game in 1974. He is remembered for pulling out a last second 24-23 win against the Washington Red Skins on Thanksgiving Day with a 50 yard pass to Drew Pearson. Ten years later, Doug Flutie, the small man's hero and quarterback for Boston College, threw a 48 yard pass into the end zone to pull out a last second win against Miami on November 23, 1984. This is the kind of 'Hail Mary!" even a Southern Baptist boy can pray. I admit I have always had an uneasy relationship with the concept of praying to Mary, but I get serious about a "Hail Mary!" when Baylor is behind in a football game. My religious convictions can't be bought, but they can be rented when an all or nothing pass into the end zone is needed to salvage a win. Over the years, I have prayed for this play a lot, but without the happy endings. Still, "I Believe!" Wait 'til next year. Sic 'Em Bears!

During the Christmas season, I always advocate saying and repeating "Merry Christmas" as a way of honoring Christ on His birthday. However, I do not think it is poor protocol to suggest we avoid the dual danger of making too much or saying too little about Mary. The Word of God provides some amazing descriptions of this young lady who was chosen out of all the women of the world to be the earthly mother of Jesus. There is nothing wrong with honoring the character and the conduct of this unique individual. Throwing her under the Bible bus may reflect more on our personal prejudices than it does on our personal devotion to private prayer. God is probably not pleased with any depreciation of the lady He chose to carry, and cradle His Son.

"Gabriel was sent from God." (Luke 1:26) He was assigned an awesome mission to an unlikely destination. The proverbial burn of that day was, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" The question was rhetorical, but the answer was categorical. NO! Regional rivalries were not invented by Texas and Oklahoma. (Hook 'Em Horns!) Gabriel was sent by God on a "divine appointment" to interrupt the plans of Mary and Joseph. They were engaged to be married. One of the reasons for a betrothal was the year long waiting period. Between the announcement of the marriage to the day of the wedding, both families wanted to be assured of the bride's clear reputation for purity. If she became pregnant before the wedding day, she would be in violation of the betrothal agreement, and the marriage contract would be voided. Mary knew this very well. Shame was a powerful weapon against infidelity and immorality in those days. The Bible refers to her as a virgin, meaning she had never had sexual relations with her soul-mate or any other man outside of marriage. Her reputation was beyond reproach.

The first words from Gabriel's lips to Mary's ears were, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28) Literally, he was stating her position before God as a "woman richly blessed." Her first reaction to this startling salutation was natural. She was greatly troubled or in fear (v. 29-30), but the angel assured her that she had found favor with God. She had not been trying to gain favor from God, but God was looking for a way to pour His favor out on her. She lived in a way that caught God's attention. What a great way to live!

When she was told that she would bear a son, her response was understandable consternation. She defended her character with a clear statement that she had never known a man in a way that would enable her to have a child. The angel's response to Mary should be a lesson to us all. God looks for availability, not ability. The birth of Jesus was not going to be about Mary's love for a man. It was going to be about God's love for man. Mary and Joseph had made a plan for their lives. They were in love with one another, but God was about to expand their plans in order to share His love with the whole world. The lesson deepens with the understanding that God's best for our lives will often bring a disruption of our agenda in order for us to get in on His.

God is not interested in what is good for us. He is interested in what is best for us. The remarkable transition from a good idea to God's idea would take place in Mary's life when the Holy Spirit came upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowed her. This is the difference between man made plans and those with God's hand prints all over them. The 'holy offspring" God was going to birth through Mary was going to reveal a love so great that it would cause her love for Joseph to pale in comparison. His name was going to be called Jesus. (v. 35)

Anticipating the loneliness that would come to her as a result of her public rejection, God commissioned Gabriel to let Mary in on another secret. Her close relative, Elizabeth was with child from her union with her husband, Zacharias. The obstacles of her advanced age and subsequent barrenness had been overcome by God. In this context, Mary was given a shoulder to lean on, and one of the greatest prayer promises of all, "For nothing will be impossible with God." (v. 37) Mary was joining a long list of people who have discovered throughout the centuries that God wants them to give the "impossible" to Him. In His capable hands, the "impossible" is transformed into the "HIMPOSSIBLE." Still does. Still will. Nuff said.
 

The death of a vision initiates a powerful, internal struggle to let go of a personal preference to be freed up to take hold of a God-sized purpose. Anyone holding on with a white-knuckled, tight-fisted grip to a good idea will miss God's best every time. Mary responded to this most unusual interruption of her wedding plans with great grace and humility that is not known in a culture full of "Bridezillas."

"Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)

Mary was not focused on making a name for herself, even before she met Gabriel. When he left, her goal in life became lifting up the name of Jesus..."The Lord is salvation." Her name is sometimes translated in Hebrew, "bitter or disobedient." What a great paradox, that someone who carries a name like that could be used by God to show us how to be better rather than bitter. God often disrupts our plans with a "divine appointment" camouflaged as a disappointment. Mary was not in danger of having to stay after school to learn the lesson. She grasped what Gabriel's message meant. She yielded her good idea, attaching herself to God's Lordship as the only way to get in on what God was up to in her life. Rather than stiff arming God's new direction, she began preparing her arms to receive God's greatest gift of love, Jesus.

"And the angel of the Lord departed from her." (v. 38)

Mission accomplished! I am still tempted to flinch at someone who is driving down the religious road, crossing over the line, and heading towards me making more of Mary than God did. I try to make sure I don't over correct my steering and end up in a ditch on the other side of the road. OK. I get it. Mary is not a junior partner in the Trinity. I do not have to pray to her to get the ear of Jesus. She was faithful to deliver Jesus, and His name is sufficient to deliver me. Still, she was an amazing lady who caught God's attention with her character and conduct when no one else was watching. She responded with amazing grace to an even more amazing commission. In spite of the consequences she knew had to be coming her way, she made herself available to the Holy Spirit. She embraced the will of God, and the overshadowing of her plans. She became a part of something only God could do. By birthing through her body the life of a child, she made it possible for God to deliver the kind of life He had in mind for His children. I hope some of my more chauvinistic brothers don't choke on this, but God has a lot to teach us from the life of this woman. Hail Mary!

"Merry Christmas!"

"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, 'Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.' " Luke 1:26-32

The Christmas season is upon us. This has always been my favorite time of the year. Regardless of the commercialization and the secularization of the holiday, it still warms my heart to think of the birth of Jesus.

Don't get me wrong. I have some pet peeves with people trying to hijack "Merry Christmas" and replacing it with benign statements like "Happy Holidays!", or "Season's Greetings!" I have my guard up against any attempt to let this world-changing event slip into come Celtic Yuletide celebration or have its meaning gutted by those who want us to all be politically correct and religiously homogenized during this time of year.

The point of Christmas is Christ. Two syllables make up the word. The emphasis should be placed on the first syllable. This is not hard to say, but it seems to be very hard to repeat. Try it! You will see what I mean. Start saying "Merry Christmas!" I'm not advocating a boycott of those who don't. I am simply calling on Christ followers to say it, and repeat it to one another.

Too many Christ followers are U2 fans. I don't mean the band. I mean the abbreviated response to "Merry Christmas!" Someone will get up the courage to say it to a person who is apparently a follower of Christ, and like a robotic text message, the response they receive back is, "U2" or "You too!" Give me a cotton pickin' break. Is it too much to ask for Christians to say "Merry Christmas!" to one another, before they start boycotting, emailing and bashing the media for taking "Christ" out of Christmas.

For the next 25 days, I will be writing on the message of Christmas. If Jesus is the reason for the season, then the world should be able to see Him, and hear about Him more than any other time of the year. Before we poke out the eye of the blind man, let's tell him about the Person who can heal him. There is no time like the present to introduce Jesus to the people who are listening and longing for a way for this season to have more significance than a great deal on Black Friday.

Shout it out! All together now! "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Front Row Seats

"If you have been foolish in exalting yourself or you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth, for the churning of milk produces butter, and pressing the nose brings forth blood; so the churning of anger produces strife." Proverbs 30:33

Deja Vus. It is that strange sensation that hits us at times, and causes us to believe that somehow we have heard this all before. It is sometimes an eerie feeling that somehow I have lived this scene or passed this way on some previous occasion. For me it has accompanied the multiple brain concussions that I have had from football injuries and automobile accidents. Kinda creepy and yet the feeling is hard to shake. No need to rush to the ER this time. The truth is Proverbs often repeats a lesson that may have been missed if it is not given again and again. Check out these parallel passages.

"Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones." Proverbs 3:7-8

"Pride comes before destruction." Proverbs 16:18

If Proverbs gives the same lesson again it may be a sign that people over the ages have had a tendency to be slow learners. Dr. Baker, my church history professor in seminary, would often chastise "the boys on the back row." He was a no nonsense prof who had been through the FBI academy and didn't suffer any foolishness in class. He had been teaching seminary students for thirty years, and he knew that a scholar sitting on the front row was going to pay better attention than the guy who barely made it to his eight 0'clock class. It is hard to sleep in class when you are sitting in "The Splash Zone," the area most likely to get hit by spit. Good times.

The New Testament authors reveal a strong background in Proverbs. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit received by these men shows a consistency between the Old Testament and the New that should not be ignored.

"I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think." Romans 12:3

"Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation." Romans 12:16

"...the boastful pride of life is not from the Father..." I John 2:16

Proverbs warns against the foolishness of self-promoting pride. This is sometimes hard for people to grasp when they are so accustomed to seeing pride as an accepted form of reference for everything from marching bands to chicken. The pages of the thirty-one chapters of Proverbs are filled with caution signs that tell of the dangers of being full of oneself. Pride comes before a fall, but it is not because the barricades and flag men were not out on the road alerting people of the danger ahead.

What is wrong with a little healthy self esteem or an appreciation of ones alma mater? The answer is nothing. Proverbs is not minimizing the value of a well adjusted and balanced life. It shines the light on the all too common tendency of exalting oneself at the expense of another person's character. For some people to feel better about themselves they have to knock another person down. This scheming to bring about another person's downfall is hard to hide. It bubbles to the surface like a broken septic system or ruptured sewage line. What is considered over and over again within a person's heart comes out of their mouth. Capping the volcano is effective for a time, but eventually the molten magma of a churned up grievance flows out of the lips like lava. It destroys everything it touches. Once it cools down the damage has already been done to the surrounding landscape of personal relationships.

Being impressed with oneself rarely impresses other people. The reality is that people who cut others down for a living are rarely rewarded with statues and accolades. When was the last time a critic of the year award was given at the Academy Awards?

Covering one's mouth will cover a multitude of sins. Pressing or churning envy of another person's success or accomplishments is dangerous. It transforms a real or imagined slight into a great depression. People get depressed when they become consumed with putting other people in their place, and trying to climb on top of the lava rocks to be king of the hill. John Maxwell has stated that it takes more energy to hold a person down than to help a person up. I'll take his word for it rather than do my own field testing. Who has the energy to prove him wrong? After a life time of being knocked down, I can tell you what I prefer. I always think more highly of the person who helps me up than the person who knocks me down. Can I get a witness?

So, what is the point? Stop pressing some one's nose to get what you want. The only outcome will be a hurt hand and a bloody nose. Instead, start meeting the needs of others. It will not necessarily build your reputation, but it will build your character. It takes a life time to build the latter, and a moment to lose the former. Why do people still think so highly of Mother Teresa long after her death? Perhaps it was the way she saw herself. Her personal assessment changed the way she lived. She often referred to herself as just a pencil in the hand of God. Notice she didn't say Mont Blanc pen. The way we look at ourselves will give us a usefulness in the hand of God that will impact others.

"And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful." Titus 3: 14

Don't spend the rest of your life pressing noses looking for the fountain of significance. You will be disappointed in what comes out. Forget the resentments and the knock downs that have come your way.

"Forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

Sound familiar? Get rid of envy and resentment with the same urgency you would cough up a bone in your throat or shake out a rock in your shoe. It is always easier to be an angel when no one is ruffling your feathers, but life is full of people who are more prone to pluck us clean than to help us up. Be nice to people on your way up because you are going to meet them again on the way down. Spend the rest of your life helping people up, and you will not have to worry about what people think of you. Class is about to begin, and I'm saving a seat for you on the front row.

F.E.A.R.

"The fear of man brings a snare, but He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted." Proverbs 29:25

Solomon was a son of the palace. He was one of many offspring that his father, David, had sired from several wives and concubines. He was well aware of the power plays that surrounded the throne, and he knew that his place on it was only as secure as his trust in God. He had seen first hand what people could do. His own powerful father had been challenged for the throne by his son Absalom. David was victorious in the civil war, but his grip on his throne was weakened. There were those who skulked about the halls of power that did not believe Solomon was up for the task that faced him. Compared to the rugged upbringing that David experienced as a shepherd boy fighting against the lion, and the bear, Solomon was a mamma's boy who had yet to prove himself. He was familiar with fear and knew that his only hope was to trust in God for protection and direction.

"Fear of man brings a snare" when other people or conventional wisdom is allowed to trap Christ followers in prison walls that overshadow the Presence of God in their lives. Proverbs gives ample warning, in its thirty-one chapters, about the need to fear God. This is a reverence, awe and respect for His Presence. It is exhibited by a willingness to obey His Word for the correction and direction needed in life.

Jesus stated the issue that was at stake when he introduced the Constitution of the Kingdom in Matthew 5,6, and 7. These three chapters contain the repeated phrases: "You have heard it said...But I say to you!" The citizens of the kingdom Jesus was sent to establish would not take their marching orders from people who had lost their sense of direction. They would hear and obey what God told them to do, and point a lost generation toward His home. Nothing has really changed in the last 2000 years. Christianity is still just one generation away from extinction. Each generation faces the challenge of yielding to the wisdom of men or following the wisdom of God.

F.E.A.R. can be described as False Expectations Appearing Real. Even the smallest person is able to cast a giant shadow. When standing next to a campfire in the woods, even a munchkin can throws a monstrous shape in the dark of night. All it takes is a little light and alot of darkness. When people begin to have more influence than God does, Proverbs warns us to back away from the snare before it springs shut. Fearful thoughts are a signal that God's influence is being diluted. The more commons ones are: "What will they say?" What will they think? What will they do to me?" "Everyone is against me." People who have a fear of man get most of their exercise jumping to conclusions. They are poor mathematicians. They can add up 1 + 1 and get 3. Fear always makes the crowd of opposition seem larger than it really is. The dark always has that kind of influence.

Every child knows that things that go bump in the night can trigger an active imagination and send a bullet of fear right to their heart. Nightlights are a parents best friend, but there is no substitute for daylight. More light...less fear. When fear comes it will not bring the dawn of comfort, but the dark night of the soul. The Christ follower would do well to remember what Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World." (John 8:12)

Solomon passes on wise counsel to those who would like to be set free from fear of man. This freedom is found in The Light. Jesus offered His life on the cross to build a bridge between those who feared for their lives, and a life-giving God. Fear of man shrinks in the Presence of God. Access to His Presence has been provided by the blood of Jesus. When we pray to God we are invited to come into His Presence in the name of Jesus. Prayer is the way a believer enters into the Presence of God, and it is the way an awareness of His Presence is maintained.

Jesus said, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may with you forever, that is the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14: 16-18

Fear is a weapon of the enemy that is deflected by truth. Truth is found in The Light not in the dark. When the words of the world strike fear in your heart, turn on the light of God's word, and renew the sense of direction Jesus gave to us to find our way home to God. Fear of man will keep your head down, and cause you to miss the sign God has had out for you. It says, "Welcome Home!"

True Value

"He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion." Proverbs 28:13

"Allyson go put that yardstick away!" She was not quite three and we lived in a 1,200 sq. foot patio home. In this tightly packed space there was no margin for error. Our youngest had proved over and over again that she did not need an extension to her sphere of influence. She was a one tot wrecking crew and she could break an anvil. When I saw her walking and waving it through the air as she moved through the maze of lamps, vases, and ceramics, I knew she needed to be stopped. Her new toy was a three foot long wooden yardstick. Dana kept it in her sewing closet. I knew from experience that this new combination of a short kid and a long stick was going to be trouble. I decided to nip it in the bud before it brought forth bitter fruit. Sorry for the prose. Been reading Proverbs...alot! She obeyed my wise counsel, by turning sadly, and dragging it behind her, and trudging back to her mom's sewing closet. Her head was bowed, and her shoulders slumped. She had just lost her new best friend. I felt bad, but I knew it was for her own good.

In a few minutes, Allyson was back in my study. This was not hard to do. I had an open door policy with my girls, and I shared a study with Dana's sewing room. Did I tell you we were crowded? I will never forget the exchange that followed. Allyson was back with the yardstick. She had it hidden behind her buns, and holding it with both hands. I asked her if she had done what I told her to do. She said, "Yes!" I asked her again, "Did you put the yardstick away?" She nodded her head up and down with enthusiasm. I could see most of the yardstick. There was roughly 15 inches of yard sticking out on both sides of her seat. Here's the bottom line. I knew the answer to my questions before I asked them. I wasn't seeking for information. I was looking for a confession. In her childish zeal to obey, and still get her way, she had put it away in the closet, and then returned with it behind her back. She thought she could adjust my reasoning, if she stopped waving it around. For good measure, she hid it from my sight. After all, what I didn't know wouldn't get in the way of what she wanted to do. Raising children will give you a strong conviction about the reality of original sin.

"He who conceals his transgression will not prosper." Proverbs warns against concealing what we have done wrong. This kind of behavior results in costly consequences. On the other hand, God place a high value on confessing and forsaking behavior that crosses the line between right and wrong. Why does He want a confession when already has access to information? He obviously does not need to know what we have done. He even knows why we did it. The answer to the question must have to do with disciplining His children. They learn from admitting and rejecting errant behavior. Knowing the right thing to do, and doing the right thing are not the same thing. Wisdom is developed by learning to trust God to have His children's best interest at heart, even when it appears He may be a spoilsport.

Transgression is a fancy word for trespassing or coloring outside the lines. Crayons and coloring books have taught me a great deal about life. It didn't hurt that coloring was one of the things I loved to do most with our girls. I was taught how to color inside the lines and I passed my skill on to them. I showed them that if you take your crayola and heavily pressed it all around the outline of your picture before you started coloring, it would leave an impression on the paper and help you stay inside the lines. Anyone who has ever looked at a child's coloring book will have a clear picture of the human condition. We all have trouble staying inside the lines. We are prone to wander outside the lines, and invent our own picture of reality. By pressing the Word of God upon our minds and hearts, before we encounter the wandering way of the world, we get a better picture of God's best for us.

"Confessing and forsaking" are the heads and tails of the same coin. God values "confessing" because it calls on His children to admit to themselves what they have done wrong to Him, and to agree with God on the price He paid to forgive them for it.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

James, pastor the first church in Jerusalem, and brother of Jesus, lead his people to admit to each other when they had crossed the line. Keeping short accounts with God and with His children makes for a great family reunion.

"Confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16

The transgression was against and a reflection on Him. "Forsaking" takes into account the tendency of people to be sorry for getting caught. First sermon Jesus preached after His baptism was call for people to turn away from their wrong direction in life, and return to God for a renewed sense of direction.

"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17

Children learn very early to say, "I'm sorry!" This is called talking the talk. They have a longer learning curve when it comes to walking the walk. The key to a turn around is the lack of regret for what one is leaving behind. People have a tendency to talk about their past, as if they miss the good ol' days. If there are regrets about leaving something behind on the highway of life, it may still be packed away in the trunk of the heart. There may be a need to stop and remove that dead body before continuing the turn around journey.

"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Cor. 7:10

Wayward adults are children who have never learned to turn their lives around without carrying excess baggage from the past. To confess and remain unwilling to turn to God and away from the behavior that He condemns gains no value in God's kingdom. He mints His coins with "Confess" on one side, and "Forsake" on the other. He wants His children to prosper in the development of their character. A life that is spent without accepting His values will be lead to spiritual bankruptcy. His compassion is available, and freely given to those who are looking for mercy from Him. He will not turn a blind eye to a rebellious child. His love includes His discipline. Confessing and forsaking need to be more than change in our pockets. They must reflect a change in our hearts to know the true value of the full love of God.

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.