Self Improvement – Page 5 – Muscular Christianity

School: Don’t Just Get Through It! Get To It!

So, here’s the dilemma:

I’m teaching a 6th grade boys Sunday School class. We do “High-Low” every week where each kid says what the high point of his week was along with the low point. In many instances, the low points is “school.”

Let’s talk about “school” for a minute.

You’re Working…

After you graduate, the vast majority of your life will be spent in the workplace. That’s not a bad thing. Great things are done in the context of “working.” That’s where you’re making a difference and not just a wage.

Consider this:

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. . . . Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it (Gen 2:7-9; 15).

The word “cultivate” is the Hebrew for “work” or “service.” Mind you this is before the Fall of Man. So the template for mankind, right from the start, was to work.

Do Something You Enjoy

Thing is, you want to work at something that’s consistent with the passion and the skillset that God has embedded into you.

Look at Bezalel (BEHZ-ah-lehl) and Oholiab (oh-HOHL-lih-ab):

³⁰Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³¹and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— ³²to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. ³⁴And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers. (Ex 35:30-35)

They weren’t just “fortunate,” in terms of what their artistic abilities, nor or were they just “gifted” teachers. They were given these skills by their Creator and in a similar fashion, you too have been given specific skills which are often manifested in the context of things that you’re naturally drawn to (Jas 1:17).

Work at It! Be Smart and be Wise!

But however you might find certain activities appealing, the only way you’re going to hone your craft and sharpen your skillset, the only way you’re going to get to a place where you’re being tapped for the kind of job(s) you really want to do – is through training and a good education (2 Chron 2:3-13; Prov 22:29; 2 Tim 1:6).

Take a look at these verses in Proverbs:

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Prov 18:15)

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers. (Prov 19:8)

The bottom line is: Wisdom. It says in Proverbs 9:10:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Prov 9:10)

That’s your top button. Everything lines up just the way that it needs to when you’ve got your eyes focused on the One Who knows your future, Who has the Plan that was designed exclusively for you, according to the way you’re wired. Seeking Him out for the direction you need in order to stay on track is just common sense.

From there, however, you’re looking at the kind of education you have available to you through the public school system:

History: Understanding and appreciating the noble milestones in human history and also learning from the mistakes that were made in the past (2 Kings 22:11-13)
Science and Mathematics: Getting to a place where you can do simple to intermediate calculations and better appreciate the elegant enormity of the cosmos along with the exquisite intricacy of the atomic world (Rom 1:20)
Social Studies: Learning about different cultures and even the more subtle characteristics of your own country (1 Chron 12: 32)

Broaden Your Base

From now until the time you graduate High School, your only real responsibility right now is to simply improve yourself. For the most part, you’re not having to concern yourself with paying the electric bill for your home or making enough money to purchase groceries for this week. All you’re really being tasked with is broadening your base and increasing your capacity for more responsibility and with that, more opportunity.

Whatever it is about school that resonates as a chore reverberates that way simply because you’re not stepping back and appreciating the big picture. It’s not just “facts” that you’re memorizing, it’s the stretching of your mind – it’s the enrichment of your soul – which ultimately translates to a life that is truly lived as opposed to an existence that is merely endured.

Don’t Get “Through It!” Get “To It!”

Furthermore, you want to bear in mind that you have access to a pool of Resources that enable you to be just as diligent and as disciplined that you need to in order to excel. “Self Control” is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Use it! Honor the command that’s in Ecclesiastes 9:10 as far as doing it “with all your might” and you’ll find that as you invest your time and effort, you begin to take pride in what you’re doing and what was laborious a moment ago, now registers as genuinely fulfilling and even enjoyable.

Don’t be satisfied with just “getting through it!” “Get to it!” Enjoy all the benefits that go along with being diligent and disciplined and not just with your studies, but also in the context of your spiritual disciplines (2 Tim 2:15). Your relationship with Christ is meant to be “lived out” (Phil 2:12-13). Recognize the way in which your education is part of the way God is preparing you for the “good works” you’ve been designed to accomplish (Eph 2:10) and don’t be satisfied with anything less than your best (Col 3:17).

Go get ’em!

Two Kinds of Popularity

There are two ways to become popular:

1) Impress People

2) Serve People

By being “impressive,” you’re admired for your talent, your confidence and the way you carry yourself. They value your skillset and if they’re not inspired by your example, at the very least they’re impressed by the substance of your abilities and the way they perceive your personality based on the quality of what you’re able to do.

By “serving people,” you’re appreciated because of the way you make people feel about themselves. When they’re around you, they feel affirmed and if they’re needing any kind of assistance – you’re there to offer a helping hand. Your confidence is based on the substance of who you are and not just the way you’re able to present yourself on stage – that “stage” being the workplace, school or wherever it is that your strengths are most vividly displayed.

While there’s nothing wrong in being “impressive,” if it becomes the foundation upon which you base the manner in which you interact with others, it can be socially lethal. Reason being is because, without frequent and profound reality checks, you inevitably become the center of your own universe. The only relationships you value are those that deliver the kind of applause that merits your appreciation. They must admire you – that much is a given. But because of the depth of the prideful hole you now live in, you’ve become more particular as far as the kind of people you even bother to pay attention to. If the person who is approaching you does not constitute something that substantially adds to your social standing, they’re dismissed as one of several faceless “fans.” You run with a higher caliber crowd now and the people that don’t register as such are regarded as underlings that barely rate a cordial “Hello.”

What makes the “impressive” approach potentially fatal from a social standpoint is that the people you are now associating with are perceiving you according to the same criteria that you use to evaluate them. You’ve built a community of “friends” that remain committed to you provided your trophy case continues to increase in volume and substance. Should your performance falter to the point where you’re no longer worthy of a headline or a cover article, the number of your “friends” begins to dwindle. Truth is, they weren’t friends to begin with as much as they were agreements. You remain friendly to them provided their celebrity status remains intact and vice versa. As long as your mystique endures, your entourage remains in place. Should your aura begin to lose its luster, so do the number of phone calls that are actually returned.

On the other hand, if part of what draws people to you is the way you’re willing to invest your time and energy into their lives, your status is built upon a foundation that is far more noble and thus far more stable.

Bear in mind, I’m not talking about the way people may use you or take advantage of you. Those personalities exist, but they’re not the kind that you use to define society as a whole. Rather, we’re talking about the way most human beings determine the kind of person that merits their trust and esteem. They’re looking for something real, something selfless. In other words, a person who’s genuinely thinks of others before they think of themselves. That kind of person is wired to be affirming and optimistic and they treat others the way they would like to be treated. They’re generous and giving and are quick to step aside so that others around them might shine a little brighter.

In short, they resemble Christ – the Ultimate Model of Selflessness, Service and Humility (Mk 10:45; Phil 2:6-11).

Jesus died a martyr’s death and the mental picture we have of Him is often a soft spoken, doe-eyed, frail individual whose followers perceived His Message of Grace as a cue for radical pacifism, submission and isolation. Jesus was soft spoken when the situation called for it, but was downright forceful when He confronted the Pharisees. The frailty depicted in so many of the artistic interpretations of Christ ignores the first three decades of His life spent doing hard, physical labor as a carpenter. Those Who insist that pacifism is the only correct approach to an altercation, regardless if the bully is a thug in the classroom or an entire nation of terrorists determined to conquer the world, disregard the sanctified violence depicted throughout the Old Testament and the admonishment Christ gives His disciples to procure a weapon in the book of Luke (Luke 22:36-37).

Adopting the posture of a servant is not a compromise of one’s strength and confidence, it’s an expression of it. Christianity is not a call to be quiet to the point of being irrelevant nor is it a mandate to be gentle to the point of being a nonexistent defense against evil. Meekness is strength under control. Holiness is the state of being complete that results from giving God’s Spirit free reign over every aspect of your existence. If the truth be told, whatever it is that I “give up” in the context of being obedient to God’s Direction, is ultimately revealed as an existence that I’m tasked with having to endure as opposed to the life I’m enabled to enjoy.

Fact is, a commitment to Christ equates to the wisest and most practical approach to life in general – even when it comes to one’s desire to be popular. Establishing a philosophical starting point characterized by an authentic desire to serve rather than a determination to shine is not only an effective way to win friends and influence people, it’s also an act of obedience (Phil 2:3-4) which is key to being successful in the most comprehensive sense of the word.

Ernest Hemmingway once said,

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.“¹

And the only way you’re going to prove to a better version of who you were a moment ago is to give the Spirit of Christ greater reign over every aspect of who you are. Bottom line: It’s not so much “Let me tell you about myself,” as much as it’s “What can I do for you?”That’s the surest way to become popular, that’s obedience to the commands found in Scripture and that’s being consistent with the example of Christ.

1. Goodreads, Ernest Hemmingway, http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/76281-there-is-nothing-noble-in-being-superior-to-your-fellow, accessed January 13, 2016

Hardcharger

In the USMC, “hardcharger” was a term you used to describe someone who was motivated. They were constantly striving for excellence and all the while being the kind of person you wanted to either work with or work for.

They had an energy about them that got you fired up. You enjoyed just being in the same room with them because of the way they effected the disposition of those within the sphere of their influence.

I came across several “hardchargers” during my nine years in the Corps. Master Sergeant “Top” Harris was a Vietnam vet with two purple hearts. Catalog Marine. When he gave the command, you snapped to attention and there was a part of you that took pride in working for an individual that had earned the right to light you up based on his combat record as well as his personal example.

Sergeant Major McGuirk was another Vietnam war vet. Personal decorations that extended to his collar bone. What made him so memorable was his perpetually cheerful demeanor. I remember standing outside as he came by and said, “Morning, Marines! Hope you’re doing good. Terrible day to be pissed off…!”

Then there was Sergeant Major Kellogg. He had earned the Medal of Honor as a Sergeant by using his body to shield his squad from the blast of a grenade. Although he was enlisted, you still saluted him as is the case with all Medal of Honor winners. What made his situation especially inspiring is that he was the only Sergeant Major in USMC history beside Dan Daly that had won our nation’s highest honor. I still get chills as I recall “sticking” my salute as his car drove by.

And there were others. Top Mike, Petty Office Dunaway, Major Croswell, Gunnery Sergeant Burd. And it’s not limited to the military. “Hardchargers” are everywhere, but while they’re not exclusive to any one walk of life, they’re not especially common.

You have to wired in a special way. It’s not something that can be quantified entirely, but the one characteristic that is consistently present is passion. It has to be complimented with a sense of humility and integrity. There also has to be an authentic commitment to the welfare of others, but “passion” is the underlying quality that gets your attention and makes you want to listen. The other virtues will “keep” your attention, but what initially gets you in a place where you’re positioned to be influenced and enriched is the sense of excitement these people bring to the table.

Pause of a minute.

In the early 1900’s, the percentage of boys aged 12-18 who chose to dismiss church as an unnecessary and irrelevant practice was 60-80 percent. ¹ It seems that contemporary Christianity has always been challenged when it comes to presenting a relationship with Christ as being practical and not just profound. As a result, Christianity becomes regulated to something either academic or mystical – either way it’s processed as a three hour chore to be performed every Sunday as opposed to an every day paradigm that translates to an ever increasing collection of advantages over those things that would otherwise have you existing rather than truly living.

When you take a look at Christ as He truly was and is, you have the Ultimate Hardcharger. Don’t hear that as a segue into something “theological.” I have no trouble processing my Savior as as Personality worthy of my respect and admiration as well as my reverence. Go with me…

I aspire to individuals who carry themselves well. Theirs is a physical bearing that communicates an appreciation for discipline and a familiarity with hard work. In the Marines we were taught to speak with a command tone to your voice when tasked with directing others and you were to always lead by example. “JJ DID TIE BUCKLE.” Leadership Traits: Justice, Judgement, Decisiveness, Integrity, Dependability, Tact, Initiative, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, Endurance. Jesus had all of that.

And while the common “picture” of Christ is a frail, blue-eyed whisper of a man, it’s laughable when you try to reconcile that image with 30 years of hard, physical labor as a carpenter and the capacity to endure six hours on the cross before passing away – and that after being beaten and flogged. I’m not trying to suggest that Jesus was an action hero or a fitness model. What I am trying to do is strip away the tradition that insists on a Christ figure with perfect skin, a delicate bone structure and a voice perpetually accompanied with soft singing and a professional string ensemble.

Is the physical appearance of Jesus an issue? No. It’s His Identity and His Message that needs to be the focus (Is 53:2-3). But while there was nothing majestic about His look to the point where people were inclined to conclude He was Divine, that’s not our cue to assume a lack of discipline (gluttony [Dt 21:20; Prov 23:21]) or a pasty physique (sluggard [Prov 21:25; 24:30-34]). Look at Christ as He’s playing with the kids (Lk 18:16) but don’t try to “edit” Him when He’s driving out the money changers in the Temple (Jn 2:12-25). Hear the approachable nature in His Voice as He’s delivering the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:1-10), but hear His Authority when He refers to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers (Matt 12:34).

Bottom line: Recognize that every admirable trait you could possibly appreciate in someone you look up to was authored by God. And when we’re commanded to imitate God (Eph 5:1), we’re being admonished to be “hardchargers.” Think about it! The Fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), the attributes of godly wisdom (Jas 3:17) – those are the foundational attributes that qualify an action as truly heroic. Those are the characteristics that certify one’s actions as virtuous and not just commendable. The Leadership Traits encouraged by the Marines? When the wisdom you’re deploying has as it’s philosophical starting point a fear of God (Prov 9:10), everyone of those traits is manifested in its purest and most effective form.

The term “Christian Solider” is often used to describe someone who is putting points on the board more so in terms of theological values than practical gains. And that’s part of why society sometimes has a quizzical look on their face when confronted with someone who excels in the marketplace and is also born again. But that shouldn’t be the case. God never restricted His Resources for tragedies and crisis situations only, nor was His Lordship designed to be one file folder among many. Rather, He’s the Filing Cabinet and the whole of life is to processed from a position of Divine strength and a sanctified sense of Purpose (Is 41:10; Phil 2:13).

That’s the quintessential hardcharger, right there!

Bring it!

1. Clifford Putney, Muscular Christianity, First Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2003), Kindle edition.

James Harrison Ain’t Sorry

I like it when I see guys pushing back against what’s either politically correct or just plain wrong, even when it’s easier and more appropriate from a cultural standpoint to simply go with the flow.

I don’t know that much about James Harrison, other than the fact that he was recently called out of retirement to help out with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. He’s been getting some press recently because of his having returned his two sons’ participation trophies, insisting that a trophy should be awarded for something noteworthy and not for simply participating in an activity.

Here’s what he put on Instagram:

I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best…cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better…not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy.

I don’t know where James is coming from spiritually, but what he’s saying “preaches.” It’s one thing to encourage someone, it’s another to honor them for something that’s not especially noteworthy.

When King David resolved to worship God in a way that was befitting the One he sought to honor, he was given the option of offering to God something he had been given free of charge. David refused saying, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” (1 Chron 21:24). In other words, I’m going to do more than just show up. I’m going to present something that represents a legitimate effort and resonates as “excellent.” I will not expect my King to be satisfied with a token presence and a nominal sacrifice.

What I hear James Harrison saying is the same thing I hear King David saying: There is no substitute for quality. Sacrifice and discipline are the bedrocks upon which noteworthy accomplishments are built and you can’t substitute either one of those with either an expedited process or …

… a trophy.

Doing your best and falling short hurts. But a lot of times, it’s that pain that inspires you to train harder, to study more and to go farther than you would otherwise. Anyone can attend, many people “give,” but it’s those who sacrifice and work beyond their best effort that truly succeed, both in the eyes of man and in the eyes of God (Prov 22:29; Col 3:23).

That’s the kind of thing that’s worthy of a trophy. I’m glad James Harrison ain’t sorry! A person shouldn’t be sorry for reserving awards for those who are truly deserving.

My Bride

When I’m in my car, I like listening to either music or comedy. On occasion, I’ll listen to a podcast of some sort, but generally speaking, I usually want to either groove or laugh.

A lot of the comedians I listen to will poke fun at domesticity – specifically the dynamic that often exists between a man and his wife. For the most part, it’s hysterical. But every now and then, I’ll get a little uncomfortable at the way marriage is portrayed as an institution that robs a man of his masculinity.

The schtick usually revolves around the way a man is prohibited from doing what he wants to do. It may be something trivial or it may be something significant, but in either case the wife is portrayed as an obstacle to her husband’s preferences in terms of how he wants to spend his time and even the way he thinks.

It’s funny because there isn’t a married man who can’t identify with the task of having to occasionally alter his perspective on himself and the world around him in order to preserve the harmony that exists between himself and his bride. But does that qualify as a surrender of one’s hold on what it means to be a “man?”

I don’t think so.

When I took my vows, I promised to honor Michelle. To honor her, I’ve got to be both willing and able to make her perspective a priority. That’s not difficult for a man who’s secure in himself, but it’s a potential dealbreaker to the male who’s determined to remain fundamentally prideful and self absorbed.

That’s not to say my wife is always right, but I will say that I have benefited from my bride’s viewpoint on multiple occasions. I may not have been open to it initially, but because I had been taught that true strength is expressed in the context of humility and a willingness to listen, my situation as well as our collective dynamic, was dramatically improved (Phil 2:3-4).

Much of the literature that’s out there that pertains to leadership emphasizes the importance of character and leading by example. Nowhere is that more important than in the way a man leads his family, which starts with the relationship he has with his wife. There’s no other person on the planet who possesses a more comprehensive view on my strengths as well as those areas where there’s room for improvement than Michelle. In the same way, there’s no other human being that can breathe life into me as profoundly as she can. The reason she has such complete access to me is because I love her and the reason I listen to her, even when I may be inclined to dismiss what she has to say, is because I choose to honor her above myself.

That’s not a compromise of my masculinity, that’s an expression of it.

Staying Motivated – The Miracle Drumkit

Sometimes, it’s hard to stay motivated. You wake up in the morning and it feels like everything within your field of vision needs to be fixed or replaced. Of course, that’s not going to happen. Every payday begins with a slight feeling of euphoria as your checking account is momentarily bloated, but then, after paying bills and forecasting the obligations that will manifest themselves in the next few weeks, that dollar amount appears pathetically wanting.

You bring your requests before your King and you catch yourself sounding as though you’re whining. You’ve got enough of the Truth to know that it’s good to ask (Matt 7:7; Lk 11:1-12) and you need to keep at it. But, sometimes it’s difficult to not feel as though you’re in a hole and there’s not much hope of being able to pull yourself out and feel the sun on your face.

This morning as I was sitting down with my Heavenly Father, going down my list of concerns and requests, I mentioned to Him this feeling of frustration – knowing that it was a pointless, waste of energy. He responded by bringing to mind an experience I had several years ago. There have been several such scenarios since then, but He used this one to remind me that there’s always a good reason to be motivated and to be optimistic about the road ahead.

I had my gear loaded in my Dodge Omni. It was stuffed to the gills with my drums and my sound system. My parents were staying with me that week in my one room studio apartment. The plan was for me to ride with them to Illinois where I would watch my brother in law receive his Master’s degree and then I would fly back, jump in my car and head to Florida where I was going to work for a week as a Youth Group’s Worship Leader.

Just so you can catch a clear vision of where I’m at, let me paint you the picture. I had recently concluded nine years of military service. I had opted to get out, rather than continue my enlistment because I wanted to move to Nashville and make my living as a musician. Despite a very visible and rewarding first gig, where I travelled around the country as part of a touring act that was playing before packed arenas every weekend, I was now answering phones at a local publishing company making minimum wage. Although that job was anything but lucrative, it was a welcome change in that before that I had worked for a buddy at the Chick Fil A restaurant he owned which had me smelling like a chicken nugget every night as I returned home to an apartment that can only be described as “humble.”

In my fridge was a gallon of milk. My cupboard had a box of Raisin Bran. I existed on leftover Chick Fil A food and an occasional bowl of cereal. My rent was a little over $200.00 a month and that included utilities. I was usually able to keep that wolf at bay with my CFA money, combined with any extra funds I was able to earn as a drummer. I was currently rehearsing with a group of exceptional musicians. We had formed a band and we would rehearse a couple of times a week, sometimes to the early hours of the morning, hoping for an opportunity to one day showcase our wares before some decision makers that could put the wheels of a Country Music recording contract into motion.

I had earned a degree in Business Administration while still enlisted, but I was intentional in choosing a line of work that could better accommodate my schedule as a working drummer. It wasn’t always practical to define myself as a “working” drummer, but I encouraged myself with the idea that one day, that goal would be realized and all of these inconveniences would be validated as trivial sacrifices made for the sake of a prize that was well worth the effort.

The morning I woke up to depart with my parents, I went out my front door and cast a quick glance over to my phone that was yet another reminder of my tight, financial situation. It had been turned off because of my inability to pay the bill. I brushed that thought aside as I made my way to my car. From a distance, I could tell something was different. Rather than the silhouette of my drums, guitar and sound system filling out the profile of my automobile, instead it looked strangely empty. Sure enough, upon getting closer I could tell that I had been robbed. Everything was gone.

I didn’t have health insurance, I certainly didn’t have anything that covered my gear. Every hope, every aspiration had been pinned on the equipment that was now gone. I should mention that there was also a multitrack recording device that had all of my tracks on it. So what was a “one man band” resource, was now simply “one man.”

Of course, you call the police when something like this happens. Alas, I had no phone service so I had to walk with my father up to the corner convenience store and report what happened from a pay phone. Later my Dad confided in me that in that moment, he was wondering if I wouldn’t be better off moving back home to upstate New York. After all, for all intents and purposes, there wasn’t anything for me here anymore. My whole livelihood and future had been seemingly wiped out.

Over the next couple of days, thanks to some friends, I was able to reproduce the musical background tracks I needed to do my gig. My folks headed up to Illinois to attend their son in law’s ceremony while I labored to get back on my feet. A friend let me borrow his drum set and I was able to honor my commitment in Florida. As I drove back to Nashville, I was doing all I could to figure out how I was going to come up with the cash needed to replace a collection of resources that easily topped several thousand dollars.

There was no way.

I was active at my local church. Word about my situation got around and a collection was taken up. A little over $1,000.00 was collected by the class that I taught and the church orchestra I played in, and while it was very much appreciated, I knew it wouldn’t be enough to purchase the professional level set of drums I needed.

I noticed an ad in the paper for a used kit. It was an older Pearl set, which is a great brand. I went out to look at it and it was wonderful, but when I told the seller what I had to offer, he graciously refused. I don’t even remember giving him my phone number – it was that conclusive. What I was offering wasn’t an option and giving him a way to get a hold of me wasn’t perceived by him as necessary.

The following days were somewhat challenging, given the the fact that what I would normally default to in order to stay motivated, was now a huge question mark. The Country band that I was rehearsing with was still practicing. My friend had loaned me his kit for an indefinite amount of time, so I was “stable” from that standpoint. But my whole paradigm had been stripped to a shell of its former self. Not just my equipment, but years worth of programming and producing were gone and with it my ability to supplement my meager income as well as a realistic basis for an optimistic perspective on the future. Though I never seriously considered moving back to New York, everything that was potentially defeating about the way I existed and “got by” was now amplified. My dirty, little apartment. My lack of a good paying job. My hopes that the band I was rehearsing with might one day get a record deal – everything looked like an unreasonable long shot and a cloud of heaviness hovered over the horizon every morning as I got ready to start the day.

One afternoon, I’m answering phones and the gentleman on the other end asks me if I’m still interested in his kit. He explained that I was the only one who had responded to his offer and he was leaving town the following day. I said “Sure!”

While I had been temped to spend the money that had been taken up to help buy another set of drums, I had received some Providentially timed counsel to hang on to that money, even though everything “practical” within me said that I should be using that cash for other things. I took that cash over to the gentleman’s apartment along with a friend of mine who came with me to help transport everything back to my place.

I needed help because for the money that I gave this gentleman, this is what I got:

bass drum
four snare drums
eight tom toms
a practice drum set
a cymbal bag
cases for all the drums
two hi hat stands and more drum hardware than I had ever owned in my life
a large assortment of sticks and random pieces of gear

In short, it was a huge step forward in terms of the drum set resources I now had. When you consider the dollar amount that I gave this guy, it’s amazing. What’s even more amazing is I don’t remember giving this guy my phone number, let alone my work number. Still, he called me to let me know that the drums were mine if I still wanted them.

That kit would be used to, not only help supplement the income I was making at the time, it would also go on the road with me as I traveled all over the country as part of a band called “Western Flyer.” WF would get a record deal and be featured on the top forty Country Radio charts. Every picture that was ever taken, every video that we ever made shows me sitting behind the set of drums that miraculously replaced not only the resources I had lost, but provided a lesson as far as the way God can pick you up and move you forward when you can’t even sit upright.

Today that kit is owned by the church I currently serve at. I see it every morning on the platform. I’ve never lost my awareness of what that set represents, but I don’t always return to that experience when I’m faced with a similar situation, as far as a seemingly insurmountable obstacle standing between me and something I’m hoping for. But this morning, as I was conversing with my King, He brought that adventure to mind and it resonated in me almost as strongly the night I was going up and down the stairs with my buddy, bringing in to my apartment my new arsenal of percussive wares.

It’s not always easy to stay motivated. But then again, it’s not difficult at all when you let God pull back the curtain on those past triumphs He orchestrated in your life that moved your forward in a way that can only be described as miraculous. And there ain’t nothing like the “miraculous” to put a smile on your face and a determination in your gut to keep moving forward and to keep dreaming.

You smell that? That’s the aroma of a great day! Bring it!

The Next Time You Feel Like You’re Having a Bad Day…

Prior to the movie, “Unbroken” coming out, I had stumbled on the account of Louie Zamperini and was completely mesmerized by his story – his experience as an Olympic runner, his 46 days adrift in the Pacific ocean after his plane crashed into the ocean and his two years spent as a Japanese POW.

This man shook hands with Adolph Hitler! In many ways, his story reads like a real life Forest Gump.

After his release and a hero’s welcome, Louie dealt with the demons that remained from his time in captivity by drinking. His descent into alcoholism drained him of his finances, his dignity and it almost cost him his marriage. It was a Billy Graham Crusade that he reluctantly attended in order to appease his bride that rerouted his life in a dramatic way. After that, his nightmares ceased and an inexplicable willingness to forgive his former captives set him on a new course that allowed him to make an impact with an even larger audience due to, not only his experiences, but his new found faith and the obvious difference it had made in his life.

The movie, directed by Angelina Jolie, is very well done, but it’s one account in the book that caught my attention in the way it gives you a sense of perspective when you’re feeling like your day is especially challenging.

Louie and the other two survivors from the plane crash are floating in the Pacific. It’s been weeks since they’ve had a meal and the effects of malnutrition and exposure have already taken a toll. It’s late one night and..

Louie woke up to a tremendous crash, stinging pain, and the sensation of weightlessness. His eyes snapped open and he realized the he, Mac and Phil were airborne. They flopped down together onto the raft and twisted about in confusion. Something had struck the bottom of the raft with awesome power. The garden-variety sharks that made up their entourage weren’t large enough to hit them with such force, and had never behaved in this way.

Looking over the side of the raft, they saw it. Swelling up from under the water came a leviathan: a vast white mouth, a broad back parting the surface, and a long dorsal fin, ghostly in the moonlight. The animal was some twenty feet long, more than three times the length of the raft. Louie recognized its features from his survival school training. It was a great white shark.

As the castaways watched in terrified silence, the shark swam the length of one side of the raft, then bent around to the other side, exploring it. Pausing on the surface, it swished its tail away then slapped it into the raft, sending the raft skidding sideways and splashing a wave of water into the men. Louie, Mac, and Phil came up on their knees in the center of the raft and clung to one another. The shark began to swim around to the other side. Louie whispered, “Don’t make a noise!” Again the mighty swing, the shower of water, the jolt through the raft and the men.

Around and around the shark went, drenching the raft with each pass. It seemed to be playing with the raft. With every pass, the men cringed and waited to be capsized. Finally, the great back slid under, and the sea smoothed behind it. It did not surface again.

Louie, Phil, and Mac lay down again. The water around them was now cold, and none of them could sleep.

When I first read that, I put the book down and decided that my day, however frustrating it had appeared up that moment, was actually a pretty good day in comparison. I decided that the next time I let the events of the day chafe at my disposition to the point where I’m starting to feel a little exasperated, I’m going to visualize the mouth of a great white shark slowly approaching my raft from a dark and sinister depth…and remember that things really aren’t that bad after all!

So, the next time you’re feeling like you’re having a bad day, turn to page 170 of the book “Unbroken” and be encouraged!

Have a great day!

Marley’s Ghost

Intro: Remember Jacob Marley?

He was Scrooge’s partner in “A Christmas Carol.” He comes back to haunt Scrooge at the beginning of the movie to alert him to the fact that he will be haunted by three spirits, all of whom will show him a perspective of his life that will ultimately inspire Scrooge to become a completely different man before the end of the story.

The theme of Christmas is promoted throughout the movie as being a special time. There’s one statement made by Scrooge’s nephew towards the start of the story where he’s been challenged to elaborate on why Christmas represents such a pleasant time of the year. This challenge, made by Scrooge, comes from a heart that weighs everything in terms of gain – much like the stereotypes that are often charged with commercializing Christmas. His nephew responds by saying:

“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,’ returned the nephew. ‘Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”¹

I’ve recently encountered some individuals that literally sneer at the notion of Christmas. They lace their criticisms with profanity as though by cussing the strength of their perspective resonates with an even stronger and more compelling tone. In some ways, they remind me of Dickens’ Marley. Weighed down by the burden of their own perspective, theirs is a life of crass cynicism and an obligatory preoccupation with self resulting in a hollow existence and an even emptier eternity.

I hear their rhetoric and I’m immediately challenged to try and respond with something profound. I say “challenged” for two reasons: First off, I’m convinced that there’s a significant chunk of meaning that is absent from their approach to life. A “chunk” that isn’t recovered by anything other than revisiting the spiritual Reality of God and I want to say something that points them in the right direction. Secondly, I’m challenged because the more aggressive side of me gets irritated me that “tolerance” seems to apply to any and everything save a reverent mention of God’s Name. While I want to be an agent of positive change, there’s another part of me that wants to deliver a stinging rebuke that leaves my foul counterpart dazed from the overwhelming effect of my logic.

I’m not sure if I’m capable of either, but I do feel obligated to highlight some things that critics often think or articulate that are simply wrong. There’s more to the Holiday Season than animated specials and traditional melodies. It’s a commemoration of the single most unique birth in the history of humankind. And with that birth came a Remedy and an Answer to a quandary that every human being has. To understand it is life, to miss it is more than tragic. Those are the stakes.

My first thought is – Courtesy:

You may not subscribe to the idea of a Savior being born a baby and Him growing up to redeem all of mankind. But in the minds and in the hearts of many, He is is both Savior and King. He’s not a catch phrase, He’s not a mere tradition – He defines all that is good and worthwhile in a person’s life. So from that standpoint, while you obviously don’t agree, if you have any point to make at all, your best bet is to approach the subject with some kind of respect and polite-ness. The fact that you don’t reveals you as being less than credible and your entire platform is dismissed as a collection of bitterness and frustration and your problem is far deeper than the presence of a mere Nativity scene.

My second reaction is – Common Sense:

Anytime you intentionally include any aspect of the Gospel, you’re inspiring people to be more giving and more pleasant. From a purely historical standpoint, Christ is a model of virtue and selflessness. However you choose to acknowledge Him, be it a purely academic nod of the head to a heartfelt prayer, by doing so you assert something noble into the equation that often inspires the best in people.

Some are quick to point to the way in which the “church” has been the source of suffering and violence throughout history. Two things need to be kept in mind when evaluating the history of the “church…”

You don’t evaluate a system according to the way it’s abused. Unless a particular action or decision of the “church” can be reinforced biblically, it’s not the “church” that you’re looking at, let alone Christ. Rather, you’re looking at the kind of individuals that are referenced in 2 Corinthians 2:17:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (2 Cor 2:17)

To continue with our “Christmas Carol” illustration, the Ghost of Christmas Present responds to some of Scrooge’s sarcasm that contains some of the same kind of venom, as far as “Christianity” being an all too common label worn by people revealed to be more concerned with profit than they are Christlike-ness. Take a look:

There are some upon this earth of yours,’ returned the Spirit, ‘who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name; who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.²

In other words, don’t make the mistake of confusing Christ with those who proclaim to know Him, yet exhibit nothing in the way of actions or motives that could be perceived as consistent with His Character let alone His commands.

Secondly, apart from specific personalities, the “church” in general is often charged with things like the Crusades, as though these wars were sanctioned by Scripture.

While the Bible doesn’t shy away from the use of military force, bear in mind that the Muslims took over Jerusalem in 638 A.D. It wouldn’t be until 1096 that the Pope would call for the knights of England to liberate the Holy Land. That’s 458 years that the Muslims occupied Jerusalem and no one said anything on the level of a Holy War. Why the sudden change of heart? Was it a revival? Did some clergyman suddenly light up the streets in Constantinople and inspire Alexis the II to make his appeal to Rome? No. The catalyst came in the form of a new presence in Jerusalem, namely the Seljuk Turks. Not satisfied with the conquest of the Holy Land, theirs was an agenda that included the neighboring territories including the Byzantine Empire.³

As a response to the aggressive threat now posed by the Turks, Alexis II reached out to Pope Urban II and it was fear for his own skin that drove Alexis to seek out assistance from the Pope, more so than a desire to reclaim access to the Holy Land. That was a convenient selling point more so than it was the primary motivation.⁴

In short, the Crusades had nothing to do with the spreading of the Gospel as much as it had to do with the protection of political territory. Money and Power was at the root of the Crusades, not Forgiveness and Grace.

As a critic, your best Source is God Himself and not those who supposedly represent Him while simultaneously carrying out acts that are contrary to His commands. In the words of Christmas present, “charge their doings on themselves, not us.“

Final point: Comparison

In his book, “How Should We Then Live Live, ” Francis Schaeffer makes an excellent case for how “freedom without chaos” is best arrived at when man processes himself as subordinate to Divine elements. It’s when man makes himself God, and the arbitrator of what it is that constitutes moral absolutes, that tyranny and any one of a number of atrocities abound.⁵

If one were to proceed from that line of logic, the next question is “Which of my religious options constitutes the best one?” The answer to that question would be determined by which religious school of thought answers life’s most critical questions in the most comprehensive manner.

Christ stands apart from all other options in that while others claim to represent God, only Jesus claimed to be God Incarnate. He then went on to prove His claim to deity by dying and coming back to life (Matt 12:40; Lk 24:25-27). Not only did He validate His claims, but He also validated His Message of loving others as one loves himself and any one of a number of virtuous tenants that benefit society.

However you choose to process all of this spiritually is your choice, but from a purely empirical standpoint, you have an enormous amount of evidence to consider as far as that which substantiates the claim that the more like Christ a person strives to be, the more amicable, the more productive and the more beneficial to others that person becomes.

Again, there’s a huge difference between “religion” and true Christianity. You’re no more a Christian by walking into a church than you are a hamburger by walking into McDonalds. Jesus used the illustration of a fruit tree in that you could tell the kind of tree it was based on the fruit it yielded (Lk 6:43-45). And while your outward behavior is important, the Ultimate Litmus Test for your belonging to Christ is whether or not His Spirit lives in you (Rom 8:37). You can “pose” all day long, but what’s contributed more to the notion that “religion” is detrimental to society are the actions of those who’ve proclaimed Christ while simultaneously prosecuted an agenda that had absolutely nothing to do with the Gospel, let alone the Person of Jesus Christ.

Compare what’s out there, but when you compare ensure that you’re looking at Christ Himself and not those who claim to represent Him, yet champion nothing and no one other than themselves.

Conclusion

To maintain the idea that the whole of life can be explained and processed according to a purely humanistic point of view is to mandate the inclusion of imaginary numbers and theoretical values.⁶ In addition, you have to maintain an illogical tenacity when it comes to overlooking the state of man that is in place whenever God and the Absolutes He brings to the table is dismissed in favor of a humanistic worldview. At that point, justice and morality give way to whims, moods and trends. Without a transcendent Absolute, everything is relative, nothing has value and any defense of such an approach is easily dismantled by saying “That may work for you, but that’s not the way I see it.” Without a bottom line, every assessment is valid and nothing is neither right nor wrong.

“Christ’s Mass” – a church service set aside to commemorate the arrival of the Messiah. If something as pure and noble as the foundation upon which Christmas is built can somehow be twisted into a reason to be crass, you’ve got a substantial weight bearing down on you. In the words of Marley, it is a “ponderous chain.”⁷

The good news is that it’s a choice and like Scrooge chose to adopt a more spiritually mature perspective, you have the same option. Nobody just all of a sudden determines to loathe the cross. Somewhere, somehow you got damaged and your outlook now is tainted by a bad experience that has left a collection of profound scars. But there’s One Who has more scars than you and He’s earned the right to be heard over the din of those who’ve misrepresented Him.

Listen to Him and God bless us, everyone!

1. “Goodreads”, “Christmas Carol Quotes”, https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3097440-a-christmas-carol, accessed December 25, 2014

2. Ibid

3. “Wikipedia”, “Alexios I Kommenos”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexios_I_Komnenos, accessed December 26, 2014

4. “Essential Histories: The Crusades”, David Nicolle, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK 2001, p13

5. “Wikipedia”, “How Should We Then Live”, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Should_We_Then_Live%3F, accessed December 28, 2014

6. “The Case for a Creator”, Lee Strobel, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2004, p101

7. “You are fettered,” said Scrooge, trembling. “Tell me why?” “I wear the chain I forged in life,” replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?” Scrooge trembled more and more. “Or would you know,” pursued the Ghost, “the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain!” (“A Christmas Carol,” http://www.stormfax.com/1dickens.htm, accessed December 8, 2010)

August 26, 2014

I don’t know what it is about birthdays. When you’re a kid, it’s assumed that you regard that day with a special kind of appreciation, simply because that’s what kids do. The cake, the presents, the attention…You grow up looking forward to that “day” when you know that people who know and love you are going to go out of their way to make you feel special.

As you get older, the gifts cease to be as much of an issue, just because your “wish list” changes. And while you wake up with a bit of a smile on your face, you know that, apart from some landmark milestone, while there isn’t going to be a great deal of fanfare, today should be a good day. It’s as though the childhood dynamic has matured into a simple, expectation that today’s a day where you’re going to be given a break from the grind and odds are good that someone is going to do something nice for you in that it’s “your birthday.”

Perhaps that’s why August 26, 2014 was especially challenging. I wasn’t expecting any presents. We were broke and Michelle and I had already determined that there wasn’t going to be any gift giving simply because our sense of fiscal responsibility didn’t allow it. Facebook had several one liners in it, which was nice. But right now, it’s a little after 5:30 in the afternoon. I’m parked off in an obscure corner of the parking lot adjacent to my son’s flag football field where he’s practicing with his team.

I’ve chosen a discreet location so I can have a “moment.”

I’ve been unemployed for the better part of five months. While God’s been gracious and provided what we need to stay afloat, our financial situation is neither strong nor stable. The desire / need to provide that springs from a sense of duty and responsibility has been repeatedly rebuffed as interview after interview has failed to yield a job offer.

There’s something about having to look in the eyes of your bride and say “I’m sorry,” and apologizing for the insufficient income you’re bringing to the table. Yes, you’re a team. Yes, she’s among your biggest fans. But women are wired for security. I remember hearing that during our “pre-marital” counseling. And don’t forget your in-laws. While they’re supportive, they carry around a bit of a burden as they’re compelled to watch their daughter shoulder a level of anxiety that is justified. After all, there are mouths to feed and bills to pay. That’s a standard part of life, and you’re the “man.” Get it done.

Right?

Every morning you stare at the reflection in the mirror. You’re optimistic, but you’re tired. It takes energy to maintain a positive disposition, especially in the face of one defeat after another. It’s not difficult to start slipping a little bit. You put on your best “hire me” face when you interview, but there’s a subtle desperation that you try to mask with good sounding replies and enthusiastic responses.

And now, it’s your birthday.

Perhaps it’s because of the aforementioned expectation that accompanies the anniversary of your birth that things that would normally be processed and appropriately “handled” are amplified and you find yourself having to fight back feelings of despair and not just disappointment.

That’s me in that van over there in the corner. And if you’re looking from the back, you might catch a glimpse my shoulders moving up and down as I’m sobbing.

My confidence is hanging by a thread. My emotions are dominating my disposition as well as my attitude towards the future. I’m feeling like a complete waste of resources, a total loser and a man with a non-existent foundation for a cheerful outlook.

Prayer?

O, I’m praying. But it’s not sort of conversation you would describe as “noble.” It’s hard to be worshipful when you look at your basic needs / wants and feel as though your hand gets repeatedly slapped by the One Who fashioned the universe. “Surely, You can spare a crumb of encouragement,” you yell. “It says in Scripture that You own the cattle on a thousand hills, well, how about throwing a steer in this direction?”

At one point during my rant, a thought occurred to me. A well known celebrity had recently taken their own life. From a distance, you wonder how could a person be so despairing that hanging themselves appears as a plausible response to their scenario?

It was then that I determined that the only way in which a person can lose all hope is by elevating their assessment of their situation above the Perspective and the Nature of God.

I wasn’t on the ledge at that point, but I was figuratively on the street looking up at the place from which a suicide victim decides to jump and hearing myself in my mind saying, “I get it.”

So, what makes the difference in that moment? What prevents you (me) from allowing all of the bulbs on that psychological string of Christmas lights to go out as opposed to limiting your perspective to that which you can know and trust, regardless of how circumstances draw you into a boiling cauldron of dark thoughts that plunge you into ever increasing shades of hopelessness? What keeps that emotional string lit with the exception of one bulb as opposed to all of them being out?

Truth.

However isolated I may feel, I’m not alone (Matt 28:19-20)
However discarded I may feel, I have value (1 Jn 3:1)
However aimless I feel, I’ve got direction (Ps 139:16; Jer 29:11)
And here’s the crown jewel for those who are “done…”

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom 5:1-5)

Hope. And also a “reason” for the garbage that we’re having to contend with: Perseverance and Character. You don’t get there without having to sweat and cry. It’s during those times when everything is falling apart that you’re more inclined to revisit the One Who holds everything together to begin with.

Carter’s practice is over and I’m “OK.” I’ve vented and I’ve been reminded of Whose I am and I’m ready for whatever’s next. No, not because I’m all cheerful and giddy and I just know everything’s going to be ducky. I’m ready because I’ve chosen to fix my gaze on the One Who my circumstances have to answer to.

That’s not a “better mood.” That’s not “positive thinking.” That’s “profound thinking” and mixing it with a healthy dash of “practical.” I’m taking a deep breath and I’m going to go home and fill out some more job applications.

Fast forward to today. I’ve been gainfully employed for the last couple of months. I’m bringing home more than enough money to keep the lights on and, honestly, there are times as I’m headed into work, that I get a little emotional thanking my King for my job. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that He allowed me to go through that season – to get to a place where when I thank Him for my food, I’m not just regurgitating some mindless little childhood catechism. I thank Him for taking care of me, for providing for me and blessing me and being the same good God both in times of abundance as well as in times of, well…

The kind of times I was dealing with on August 26, 2014.

The Good Works of Tim Tebow

Can someone who’s not saved be “nice?” Can they do things that could be categorized as “good works?”

Sure. At least from a human standpoint. But there’s more to a good work than the action itself. Take a look:

Isaiah 64:6 says:

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. (Is 64:6)

Human beings evaluate actions as they resonate according to our limited powers of perception. God, however, sees the heart. An unregenerate heart cannot produce anything that is processed as “holy” or “good” by God. We are spiritual corpses and even on our very best day, we are light years removed from what is acceptable to a Perfect and Holy King.

But as born again believers, our identity is defined according to the Perfection He awards us and now our “actions” are welcomed as “works.”

Here’s where it gets good…

Tim Tebow scores a touchdown. When he does that, is it nothing more than an addition to the scoreboard, or is it more than that?

John 15:16 says:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (Jn 15:16)

Because Tim makes a point of referencing his Heavenly Father as the Source of his talent and success, those touchdowns endure beyond the context of the game. Reason being is that the focus of those who are taking the time to notice Tim is now on his God and not just his throwing arm.

That’s the difference between an “action” and a “good work.” The “action” is simply the output of a human resource that is, by default, limited and flawed. The “work” may be the same kind of action from a human standpoint, but because it’s done with eye towards glorifying one’s Heavenly Father and is empowered by the Strength coming from God, it now resonates through all eternity as a good work and as fruit that will last!

Approach your day from a perspective that intentionally perceives the Divine elements that transform your actions into “works” and let that shape your outlook. It’s a different kind of day when you’re aware of your activity as being more meaningful than simply getting something done.

Go get ’em!