Identity
Friday, May 18 2012
Thursday evening my wife was standing in a line of faculty waiting to enter an auditorium for a summer graduation, when the lady behind her said with an air of superiority, “I got my doctorate at U.C. Berkeley. Where did you get yours?” “U.C. Berkeley,” said my wife. You could almost hear the hiss as the air went out of the woman’s balloon. So much for being special. You just have to love people.
Last week while at my infusion clinic I stopped to give a word of encouragement to a newly diagnosed leukemia patient. As I told her I had been diagnosed 5 years ago and she could look forward to many more years of life, she had to tell me she was a doctor, academic not medical. I merely smiled. Was that really important for her to share? I guess so or she wouldn’t have done so. How about I’m a mother or a grandmother? Those are so much more important. But maybe that was all she had. If so I am very sorry because we are a dime a dozen. All it really means is we have spent more time and more money in school than others. It doesn’t make us smarter, just more focused on one thing.
Since I have never met a prince I wonder if they have to make sure we know? Since I am prince of the King of the Universe, maybe I ought to begin making sure people know that when I’m introduced. But that is so “In your face.” Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” If I have to tell you I’m a Christian I must not be much of a Christian.
Last week while at my infusion clinic I stopped to give a word of encouragement to a newly diagnosed leukemia patient. As I told her I had been diagnosed 5 years ago and she could look forward to many more years of life, she had to tell me she was a doctor, academic not medical. I merely smiled. Was that really important for her to share? I guess so or she wouldn’t have done so. How about I’m a mother or a grandmother? Those are so much more important. But maybe that was all she had. If so I am very sorry because we are a dime a dozen. All it really means is we have spent more time and more money in school than others. It doesn’t make us smarter, just more focused on one thing.
Since I have never met a prince I wonder if they have to make sure we know? Since I am prince of the King of the Universe, maybe I ought to begin making sure people know that when I’m introduced. But that is so “In your face.” Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” If I have to tell you I’m a Christian I must not be much of a Christian.
Of Awards and Crowns
Thursday, May 17 2012
On May 16, 2012 Leslie H. Sabo Jr. was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery and courage in action in Cambodia in 1970. The passage of time never diminishes gallantry and honor. Receiving an award and recognition is a heady experience. Watch the expressions on the faces of Oscar winners. How much more so it must be to be honored for bravery in the face of extreme danger.
Paul looked forward to receiving his reward. He wrote to Timothy, “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” One thing Paul knew for sure was his crown was a gift. In Romans he clearly speaks of his continual struggle with sin. His crown, our crown, is not something he or we have earned.
Have you ever received an award that you knew you did not deserve? In 1963 in college I won an oratorical contest. I was delighted because I very much needed the one hundred dollar prize. However, it was tainted. Another contestant was better than I was. I knew it and he knew it. This brings me to the crown of which Paul speaks. We don’t deserve it. Yet, it will not be tainted because we all know the worthy One wants us to have it. We all know that Jesus is the one worthy. We are the recipients of His love. When a gift comes from and with love it is forever special. His gracious gift to us does not take from Him but only adds to the illustriousness of His person.
Paul looked forward to receiving his reward. He wrote to Timothy, “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” One thing Paul knew for sure was his crown was a gift. In Romans he clearly speaks of his continual struggle with sin. His crown, our crown, is not something he or we have earned.
Have you ever received an award that you knew you did not deserve? In 1963 in college I won an oratorical contest. I was delighted because I very much needed the one hundred dollar prize. However, it was tainted. Another contestant was better than I was. I knew it and he knew it. This brings me to the crown of which Paul speaks. We don’t deserve it. Yet, it will not be tainted because we all know the worthy One wants us to have it. We all know that Jesus is the one worthy. We are the recipients of His love. When a gift comes from and with love it is forever special. His gracious gift to us does not take from Him but only adds to the illustriousness of His person.
Stereotypes and PC
Wednesday, May 16 2012
We live in the age of being politically correct - PC for short. One of the understood rules of being PC is not to stereotype people. Each person is an individual with a unique character. The worn out axiom “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a good rule to guide our social behavior. However, there is another side to the issue. Stereotypes develop because the people in certain groups do copy each other. We learn our speech patterns, manners and behaviors from the people around us. Native Bostonians have a particular sound as do Mainers, Canadians, and people from the Great Lakes Region.
Marketers are successful if they pay attention to demographics. If you watch the 6:30 evening news on any one of the major networks, you have to notice that most of the commercials are aimed at older people. One medicine after another is hawked for its potency. These ads are mixed with a few spots by investment companies telling us how to prepare for retirement. I doubt if these are the ads that run on the Disney Channel.
It’s true that each of us comes with cultural luggage and we should celebrate it. It is important to belong and not be alone. We live in a land that celebrates individuality. That’s great. However, no one exists in a vacuum. We can only be successful if we acknowledge that we build on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. There is no such thing as a self-made person. That is a myth that plays to our pride. Now that I have said this I have to admit that I grew up singing the song Dare to Be a Daniel. Some of the words of which are “Dare to stand alone.”
Marketers are successful if they pay attention to demographics. If you watch the 6:30 evening news on any one of the major networks, you have to notice that most of the commercials are aimed at older people. One medicine after another is hawked for its potency. These ads are mixed with a few spots by investment companies telling us how to prepare for retirement. I doubt if these are the ads that run on the Disney Channel.
It’s true that each of us comes with cultural luggage and we should celebrate it. It is important to belong and not be alone. We live in a land that celebrates individuality. That’s great. However, no one exists in a vacuum. We can only be successful if we acknowledge that we build on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. There is no such thing as a self-made person. That is a myth that plays to our pride. Now that I have said this I have to admit that I grew up singing the song Dare to Be a Daniel. Some of the words of which are “Dare to stand alone.”
Stale Bread
Wednesday, May 16 2012
When we go grocery shopping my wife and I always buy a loaf of bread. I am not sure when we got a loaf ahead. But the new loaf cannot be used until the old loaf is gone. That means this week we will eat last week’s bread while this week’s bread will wait until next week to be consumed. The end result is we are always eating semi-stale bread, while the fresh bread ages in the cupboard. Couldn’t we, instead of eating the semi-stale bread, put it out for the birds? We must have inherited this compulsion to be frugal from our parents who lived through the Great Depression.
One of the many remarkable things about Scripture is there is never a need to read stale stuff. Because God’s Word is imbued with His Spirit, who knows us better than we know ourselves, God is able to continually feed us fresh ideas. One could spend their entire life just feeding off the Gospels and still be overwhelmed by the story of God’s love for us. However, in addition to that we have the wonders of the Psalms and the wisdom and humor of the Proverbs. Romans, Galatians, Colossians and Ephesus can challenge the greatest of scholars no matter how many doctorates they have accumulated. It is like a spring of fresh water, each time you come there is new water.
What would grow stale is rereading these devotionals. I am delighted to know that people read them once. My point is not to denigrate myself but to point out if all we do is listen to another person’s sermons or read their books we are reading second hand material. The really fresh bread is in Scripture.
One of the many remarkable things about Scripture is there is never a need to read stale stuff. Because God’s Word is imbued with His Spirit, who knows us better than we know ourselves, God is able to continually feed us fresh ideas. One could spend their entire life just feeding off the Gospels and still be overwhelmed by the story of God’s love for us. However, in addition to that we have the wonders of the Psalms and the wisdom and humor of the Proverbs. Romans, Galatians, Colossians and Ephesus can challenge the greatest of scholars no matter how many doctorates they have accumulated. It is like a spring of fresh water, each time you come there is new water.
What would grow stale is rereading these devotionals. I am delighted to know that people read them once. My point is not to denigrate myself but to point out if all we do is listen to another person’s sermons or read their books we are reading second hand material. The really fresh bread is in Scripture.
Gracious Words
Tuesday, May 15 2012
Luke 4:22 reads regarding Jesus, “(They) were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.” The Jews were so sure they were the chosen people there was no room for others in God’s Kingdom. It was often said the gentiles were born to be fuel for the fires of hell. It was Sabbath and Jesus was in the synagogue in his hometown. The gracious words Jesus spoke were words of grace for the surrounding nations. He spoke of Elijah with the widow in Sidon and Elisha healing Nathan, a Syrian. It was a radical idea that God’s grace might be extended beyond their closed world. It was so foreign they became so angry they tried to hurl Him off a cliff. How could God love anyone but them?
Paul became the apostle to the gentiles. In order for that to happen not only did God have to knock him off his horse but also had to reeducate him at the expense of three years of study in Arabia. It is most difficult to unlearn the myths of our childhood.
It seems that for us to be like Jesus we also need to amaze people with our gracious words. It is easy to be gracious when others around us are also being nice. The challenge is to be gracious when we are not being treated so kindly. To be gracious when others are taking advantage of us is beyond a challenge. At least it is for me. But when we are gracious it is amazing, both to others and probably to us. When Herod was mocking Jesus, dressing Him in an old royal robe and crowning Him with thorns, Jesus never said a word. Amazing.
Paul became the apostle to the gentiles. In order for that to happen not only did God have to knock him off his horse but also had to reeducate him at the expense of three years of study in Arabia. It is most difficult to unlearn the myths of our childhood.
It seems that for us to be like Jesus we also need to amaze people with our gracious words. It is easy to be gracious when others around us are also being nice. The challenge is to be gracious when we are not being treated so kindly. To be gracious when others are taking advantage of us is beyond a challenge. At least it is for me. But when we are gracious it is amazing, both to others and probably to us. When Herod was mocking Jesus, dressing Him in an old royal robe and crowning Him with thorns, Jesus never said a word. Amazing.