Walking The Beat

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHERYL

God is an awesome and gracious God. Saturday, Nov. 14, Cheryl and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.

To call God "awesome" is almost trite in today's overused language. But it is true. Only God could do what has been done in our lives and I am and certainly have been the beneficiary of His goodness and mercy. I am a recipient of what the Psalmist meant when he said, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."

Consider the words of the writer of Proverbs.

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband," - 12:4

"A prudent wife is from the Lord" - 19:14

"An excellent wife who can fine? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life." - 31;10-12.... and,

"rejoice in the wife of your youth" - 5:18.

There's some more in the context of that verse that ain't so bad, either! When I met Cheryl I was at my lowest. As I look back, I am surprised she ever agreed to go out with me. I was young, stupid, living for myself alone, and had no idea how to respect a lady. I am deeply ashamed of my behavior in those days. I was the warning, not the example. It took a month of begging to get her to go out with me.

I wasn't looking for a wife. I was trying to grow up, not sure how, and making wrong choices. But I saw something in her that attracted me. I discovered a woman of character, dignity, a greater commitment to practicing her church's instructions than I had known for years, and an uncompromising purity. Over the months I fell in love.

Both of us were "church members", but neither of us really knew Jesus. Me a Baptist and she a Catholic. Both lost in spirit and myself lost in several other ways as well. But my parents had instilled in me the truth of Jesus and demonstrated what a home was like when mom and dad loved each other. My sins were not their fault; they were mine, mine alone.

After our marriage we knew we needed some attachment to a faith community. So, I began attending one of the great Baptist churches in the area and she her life-long Catholic church. This, too, was in the Providence of God. This Baptist church had a very strong newly married Sunday School department. We met friends. Our teachers, Gerald and Mary Degler, loved each of us unconditionally. The Deglers were not the coolest people in town. I don't say that to put them down. They are still very active in ministry. But they knew they were not "cool" and they were very comfortable in their own skin and just loved us and taught us truth from God's Word. You see, you can serve another generation even when you are not like them. The Deglers were authentic, and we all knew it.

It wasn't long before everything began to connect and all I knew, all I felt, and all I wanted to be connected in a life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ. A few months later, in one of those old revival meetings, Cheryl gave her heart to Christ. It was the beginning of a new journey.

As we celebrate together the goodness of God to us, we are thankful for four wonderful grown children. Three are married and they chose well. They are making their own family and we have five grandchildren. Each is different and each is special.

Years ago she left a promising career with H.U.D. because she believed God wanted her to be a stay-at-home mom. A one income family meant some things would not happen for us. However, our children are the richer because they had Mom at home and they had consistency in community in both school and church. That beats "stuff"!

We have suffered for some commitments we have made. A few years ago I was one of many caught in the struggle of a religious organization. It was very costly in terms of dignity stolen and we had to dip into our retirement in order to survive. It was as if I had died or had the plague. We deeply felt the loneliness and estrangement not for months, but for a few years. Often that kind of pressure becomes a catalyst to dissolve a marriage. Not ours.

Through those trials we have become stronger and our commitment is greater to each other today than ever before. I thank God for Cheryl, and since I have a blog and she does not, I am sort of taking unfair advantage.

But I want to honor her. She is deserving. And I want to thank God for her. For the rest of the days God gives us, which we believe and pray will be many (we are NOT at a point of quitting or slowing down), I will walk with Jesus and Cheryl, and I believe she will walk with Jesus and me until Jesus calls either one or both home.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, CHERYL! I LOVE YOU!

INTRODUCING ANOTHER BLOG

I would like to give a "shout-out" to another blog. You can read it here http://sbtcpastors.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/prayer-fasting-and-spiritual-warfare/.

It is a blog designed for pastors by our friends at the SBTC.

Human Trafficking

This past weekend I was with some friends from one of the newly affiliated congregations with the SBTC. One of the men at the table is in law enforcement and works in the area of human trafficking.

Even though I have served as a police officer and am somewhat familiar with the subject, I was appalled to hear what really goes on. Let me hasten to add that his comments were very brief and in response to my direct questions. This man certainly was not the center of attention nor were his answers much more than generalities. But even that was appalling.

So what can the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ do? What should we do?

We must be informed. Local law enforcement agencies can assist with education in this area.

We must be a welcoming, loving, and inviting people. People do not join "churches". They join people. The Church is the Body of Christ and each of us are members in particular. This is one reason I continue to emphasize the need for true Community. For victims of these crimes, their relatives and friends who live in fear of those who do traffic in the human person, and others, we are to in the words of Jude, "save..by snatching them from the fire;" (Jude 23, HCSB). It is biblical truth that outsiders will see our unity in Christ and realize that God loves them (John 17:23). This is Community in its fullest expression...Loving God, Loving People, Living in harmony with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We must be a people of prayer. As we begin this new school year, are you praying for the teachers, children, and workers in the school system? Drive around the property. Ask God to build a spiritual hedge of protection for the children. Pray that God will expose any inside the system who would sexually abuse our children and ask that God would separate anything Satan would desire and reconcile all that takes place to His own person and will.

When you pass by what my father would call a "dive", pray for the waitresses inside. Many illegals are brought here with the promise of work only to find it is slavery to the sensual appetites of evil people. Pray God will give them an escape, protect them, and bring them to Jesus.

We must also equip many of our people in Biblical Counseling. Not everyone needs a therapist. Think of it as discipleship if you will. God's Word is sufficient and superior. Only God has the answer for a broken life. Many can be used of God to help others if only they are equipped. If you do not know where to begin, contact the Pastoral Ministry office at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They can help.

I am certainly no authority in this area. However, I do believe there is a vast number of families affected by human trafficking, and the people of God have a ministry opportunity. Let's not default to a program centered, building centered "fuzzy" that is comfortable. Let's read the Gospels, see how Jesus ministered and to whom, and go and do likewise...in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A PATH TO SPIRITUAL VITALITY

I believe in and practice evangelism, missions, and seek to be a missional Christian. I support a Great Commission Resurgence in my denomination and pray for the task force.

I once thought that just winning souls solved everything. Or, if we have "revival" then surely it will just solve everything. Not so.

I began to read the Gospels and Acts over and over and over. I saw the value of Community expressed through small group in the ministry of Jesus. I first saw it in Scripture, then looked for models who were doing it well.

Community became a word that for me breathes relationship. A friend of mine defines Community (Acts 2:42) as: "Christian Community is the body of Christ expressing the life and message of Christ to build up one another and redeem the world for God's glory." Community is what we Baptists have typically called "Fellowship". Scriptures such as Gen. 1:24-2:35; Psalm 133; Eccles 4:9-10; Mark 3:14; John 17; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37; Romans 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 2, 4; and 1 Peter 5:1-4 are ample to suggest that among the people of God Community is a significant part of their essence in both OT and NT.

In the Bible, the work of God moved along lines of relationship. W. Oscar Thompson, beloved Professor of Evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, taught us many years ago that in the NT the gospel moved on lines of relationship. C. J. Murphy has said, "No one has ever been won to Jesus by someone they did not like."

As an itinerant preacher, a consultant, a coach (whatever one would want to call it), denominational worker and interim pastor, I observed one constant that could be woven throughout dysfunctional churches: Broken and fragmented relationships. Conflict destroys biblical community. Control agendas destroy biblical community. These destroy the ability to celebrate community.

When Baptists begin to do something, we typically try to sell vision. But in reality we should take a cue from Nehemiah and sell the problem. This helps keep the sense of need high. And it begins with unity among leadership - all of the leadership. In other words, there must be such a focus on aligning the ministry to the model (vertically - common goal; horizontally - cooperation to the extent the silos are brought down). It is the setting aside of "my" for the sake of "our".

My influence is very small if at all. But I pray you will hear and I plead with congregations, denominations, and even to our SBC Great Commission Resurgence Task Force: Focus on Biblical Community as reflected in the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40).

Why? Jesus lamented over Jerusalem … "How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing" (Matthew 23:37).

It is this same yearning that draws us to Himself and to one another in Biblical Community.  Community, or the lack thereof, defines who we are in our hearts as the people of God. Doctrine is absolutely important. Without the authority of Scripture, we would have no way of knowing the parameters God has set. But one can be right and still be wrong-headed. Even the demons believe there is one God…and they tremble (James 2:19). This passage is set contextually in a chapter where the author is warning against partiality and a dead faith! It is set in a chapter advocating authentic Biblical Community!

Community is essential to fulfilling the Great Commission. Why? People invite their friends to life.

As we do seek to be about the Father's business of the Great Commission mandate, let us do so by also returning with a contrite heart to God and the practice of the Great Commandment. May "loving God and loving people" be more than a vision. May it become reality in our lives and our churches.

PALS

He was the Greek. Fun, funny, and fun-loving and one to not take everything so serious. Yet he could be serious. We rode together from time to time and had been in the academy together. We would have taken bullets for each other.

I later left to finish college and attend seminary. I believed then and I believe now that was God's call upon my life. But the Greek had another journey. He would stay and retire in 1999. Active in his Greek Orthodox Parish, his community, and one who loved his family and his Toni, this man had many, many friends.

There is something about friends from a police department. Many of them stay friends through the years. I left in 1972 and for the past few years from time to time I get a call from these guys. One of the more expressive of them always asks, "Are you still preachin'?" And when I say yes, his answer is still the same, "Well I'll be damned." Of course, I am praying he won't be. That is why I'm still 'preachin'!

A few months ago one who called and gave me Toni's number and sad news. Her beloved "Rock", as he was nicknamed, was losing his battle with a malignant tumor in the brain. Glioma, I think they called it. I called him. He laughed, asked if I remembered a couple stories - one that he tells on me - and we shared a moment of history as we moved away from the present. A few weeks ago some of them got together one last time. Toni had said, "We are going to par-tay and celebrate!" What a trouper she has been. I talked to all them by phone and could sense the "Rock" was weakening.

Sgt. T. S. "Rock" Moraites slipped into eternity last Saturday.

I am grateful to God for the privilege of knowing this man and these many "pals" who have stayed together from that particular recruit class. I suppose if one hasn't "been there" it is difficult to understand why one such as myself, so far removed, would be so touched by infrequent contacts from some of them.

Many of them will gather this Thursday to remember a life well lived and support a grieving family. I wish I could attend the funeral but I cannot. But I can pray for the family and I will.

I will remember a pal no longer here. And I will thank God for those remaining. Pals, as the movie character Billy the Kid says. But these pals, my pals, are on the right side of Law and Order. God bless them every one.

JOB'S FRIENDS, OUR FRIENDS, AND THE NEW COVENANT

I read and re-read Job. It is Old Testament poetry at its finest and as such finds its conclusion not in the story itself, but in the new covenant in the New Testament.

When one looks at the speeches of the friends, one can easily parallel them with some from our time. One can see a paradigm of existentialism, legalism, and spiritualism in them. I haven't really got Bildad nailed down yet, but the others do fit the three categories listed.

So what of Job? What of us? Into our lives often come people with existential, legalistic, and hyper-spiritual responses. Let's say something bad happens to you through no fault of your own.

Here comes the legalist (no, these are not in order of the characters - hey, you've got to be willing to do some digging on your own) who just knows you sinned. After all, nothing bad happens to people unless they have sinned. God would not do that or allow that to a "righteous" person.

Then there is the existentialist - always sharing from the base of his/her experience. I hear it in one who referenced a past position to almost every conversation. In fact, some of us used to put down minutes as to how far the conversation would proceed before we heard, "now when I was at....". Your current situation is always laid beside their experience. They live backward.

Last is the "Spiritualist" - "Brother, you just need to get right with God." No know-it-all like a spiritual one, is there?

Job is called upon by God to pray for these people. They were not really speaking for God. They were speaking for themselves and the worst deception of all had occurred: they thought they were speaking for God.

Human nature does not change. But at this point in the history of salvation, Christ and the New Covenant were yet to come. We live of the "after" side of the coming of Christ and the New Covenant.

So we learn in the NT that some do indeed suffer unjustly. Some suffer for Christ. Others "fill up what remains" in the suffering of Christ for the sake of the church. The references are many but the blog post is not a concordance. What shall we say?

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 1:3-11 and the following few chapters words of wisdom regarding suffering and reconciliation. These are for our instruction. The inspired writings of Job are an example to us (1 Cor. 10). But here (2 Cor. 1-5) is how we are to "do life".

God comforts us in our affliction. One of the reasons is that we may offer comfort to others who are afflicted. Encouragement is a huge ministry to the hurting, regardless of the reason for the hurt.

We are cautioned in 1 Cor. 4:5 to not judge anything prematurely. Leave it in the hands of God.

Although human nature has not changed, ours has. For each of us who have embraced Jesus and believe in sufficiency of Scripture, there is purpose in any suffering. The level of the injury may indeed determine the length of the trial, etc., but by the grace of God we are comforted, and in our comfort, may indeed comfort others.

An immediate application is ministers who have experienced forced termination. Are you "beyond it"? There is help. And when you heal, and your family heals (and you will if you so choose), then God will use you to mentor and minister to others. Some you will never know. Your mentoring may be preventative. Others you will walk through the same valley again, only this time you will be the human comforter.

Job's friends are still with us. But thank God we live on this side of the Cross!!

DO YOU HAVE A JOB 42 PRAYER LIST? I DO.

I like to read Scripture in context, which means reading books of the Bible as quickly as possible. Recently I read through the book of Job. Then I read through Job again. A number of years ago I was doing research for my pastor and outlined the book of Job for him. As George Strait sings about an old girlfriend, "I wish I had that one back."

At that time, I viewed the book of Job as a book of on the problem of the suffering of the innocent. And, in some ways, it is. But I think it more a volume on the character and wisdom of God rather than solely on the suffering of the innocent.

Job 42:7-8  "After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has. Now take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his [prayer] and not deal with you as your folly deserves. For you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has." (HCSB)

WHAT IS THAT??? Chapters 39-41 are what we would call an "interrogation" the likes of which are unparalleled in Scripture. God may be giving us a preview of the Judgment in his questioning of Job - and questions for which there are no answers. Job's reply and repentance in 42:1-6 are evidence that Job really had no clue as to the depth of the majesty of God.

I am intrigued that twice God tells these "friends" (we all have some of these) they had not spoken truth about Himself. He calls their diatribes 'folly' and calls them to repentance with an intercessor (Job). It is interesting that several times in the book Job laments there is no intercessor for him.

Let's see if I have that right. Job was indeed guilty, but not of sin nor bad theology. His was a faith issue. He questioned the wisdom of God. Have you been there? I have. I wish I could honestly tell you I haven't, but I have.

But Job's friends, who said his suffering was due to his unrepentant sin, had bad theology, and God nailed them for it calling it a lie!

No doubt we need good relationships and love is very important. But these relational friends were accused by God Himself of lying about Him. God's character is important and what you and I believe about God's character is crucial, even to our witness.

Faith is a personal struggle. God help us to come to the place where we can trust the wisdom of God in all of life's reverses. They do come, and that on a fairly regular basis.

Those had spoken ill of Job and had lied about God's character were required to come to the altar and offer a burnt offering. There Job would pray for them. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to bless those who despitefully use us and to pray for our enemies. We are to pray blessing, not imprecatory prayers.

Job's restoration was accomplished after he prayed for his friends (42:10). So again, do you have a Job 42 prayer list? I do. Some who read this may be on it. If so, from the depths of my heart, God bless you!

JOB

Studying Job - will have a series outlined soon. Awesome book. The context is suffering but the theme is the character and wisdom of God. More later.

DOES INCONVENIENCE REVEAL CHARACTER?

Oh, the best laid plans of mice and men... . I don't know about the mice, but this man has had his whole week's plan skewed by the storm last night in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Sigh...

My wife and I were with friends and colleague to make a visit to a local church. No one showed. We stood in the parking lot visiting and waiting. We saw the storm approaching. The sound of a mighty rushing wind was immediate and the results obvious: Instantly a wooden sign in the lot was picked up and hurled across the hood of a westbound driver in a small BMW. Barely missed the auto and I certain all the driver saw was a blip.

The storm was to the north (where we live). We stayed south, but we spoke with a neighbor. When we returned home, the electricity was out, a huge tree limb (no trees like this one in our neighborhood) was at our driveway. We were fortunate. No fences down nor shingles off the roof.

So this a.m. we again drove into Colleyville for breakfast. A lady (recognized as the wife of a local physician) was commenting to two girls of high school age: "We've been without electricity for 14 hours. This is ridiculous." My thought was, "Lady, why don't you go get a chain saw and help these guys clear the power lines of the downed trees and limbs?"

Another conversation was overheard at our favorite coffee shop. Not quite the same tone, but a lot of frustration expressed.

Now get the picture: Two teen-age girls with fashionable rubber boots, shorts, one a Paris Hilton hair style, etc., etc.  and a lady driving a high dollar vehicle, well dressed (casually), sitting in a restaurant along with my wife and myself, eating breakfast and complaining about no electricity.

All of us had a vehicle with gasoline. We could travel. All of us had the money to eat in a nice place. We were not hungry. All of us have optional places to go temporarily for air conditioning. We did not have to be uncomfortably hot. We have beds. Most of our homes did not experience great damage and if they did, we do have some insurance.

But in this world, local world in which we live, there are people without air conditioning. There are people who cannot go to a restaurant to eat. Some with housing insufficient to withstand storms lose their homes, clothing, etc.

My wife volunteered at our church's new ministry, 6stones. Many people in the Mid-cities area of DFW have physical need and many people are sensitive to those people and their needs.

But too many others reveal attitudes where"entitlement" and cool" seem to be prized above all else. If a small inconvenience of an electrical outage brings out this kind of attitude, then what happens if real tragedy strikes? And can we suffer in community as did our parents and grandparents during the Great Depression and WW2?

I have a friend who recently lost her 8 year old grandson to a brain tumor. I suspect they would gladly burn a lamp if they could exchange electricity for that child's life. Others have lost jobs, retirement benefits, etc., etc., etc.

Do we have the collective character to suffer together, if necessary? Or are we so fractured that many only look out for themselves?

As others have said, "I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, and I work for a non-profit." But here goes. The face of the globe is changing. The face of this nation is changing. I do believe we are in the end times. This does not require fear on the part of believers. Rather, it will call for every ounce of true Christian character we possess. It is time to seek the Lord and reflect His image in all we do and say.

YES - I am back to blogging! :)

OOPS!

My apologies to those of you who have commented recently. I only this day received notification of one comment. When I opened the comment file, there were five that had not been approved for publication.

I have checked my settings and should have received notification via email of all five, but did not. I have approved them, apologize to you for the delay and thank you for commenting.

I will re-think my previous post.

Again, thanks for reading and commenting.