My Words, Too.... Lord?

A few days ago, while waiting for traffic to clear out after a “fender-binder”, I had the opportunity to watch a fellow operate a back hoe in a road construction area. It is amazing how precise they can be with such a large piece of machinery. Abrupt movements of a few levers allowed him to dig in just the right places and remove both small and large amounts of soil and rock.

One of the most incredible gifts we have is the gift of speech. I’m constantly amazed at the impact a few syllables can have once they are turned loose in human discourse. Words have power. James said that a long time ago (Cf. James 3:1-12)

The Book of Proverbs contrasts wisdom and folly. They represent much more than mystical ideas. They are practical matters that begin in our hearts and empty into concrete actions. The way we use words says something about our character. Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

I still remember a man telling me about six months after obeying the gospel about how the gospel was training his mouth to work differently. He said, “I’m learning how to stop certain words before they jump off my tongue. And, I’m learning how to say words I never knew how to say.” Then he said, “I wrestle with giving God my bad words and taking the ones He wants me to have.” Wow!

Jesus said, “The mouth speaks out of what fills the heart.” Paul adds, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those who hear.” He continues this thought in the next verse: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit by which you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Sobering words to say the least. Good medicine indeed!

I like these thoughts from an anonymous writer:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

O Lord, the words of your servant David are our words too. Who can discern his errors? Forgive our hidden faults. Keep us from willful sins; may they not rule over us. And, may we be blameless and innocent of great transgression. We acknowledge that you created speech to be used in grace and wisdom. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. Amen.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

The Spirit Moves in the Theater?

You walk in the back doors quietly–they’ve already begun. Your eyes scan the dimly lit room for an open row or cluster of seats. You move swiftly up an aisle and slide into a seat that is much too close to the front for comfort. You glance at the people sitting a couple seats down, smile awkwardly, then turn your attention to the front of the large, high-ceilinged room.

Have you ever noticed the similarities between a church’s auditorium or sanctuary and a movie theater? Reread the description above. It could easily describe either setting. The experiences we can have in both a movie theater and an auditorium are as much alike as the aesthetics of each space.

Think about why you go to see a film. There is a difference between watching a rental in your home and going to the theater, buying a ticket, smelling the popcorn, and feeling the ground tremble with the movie’s explosions and music and screams and laughter. For me, the best part of the theater experience is connecting with a piece of art alongside people who I do not know and will probably never see again.

Now, think about why you go to church (and there can be many reasons). Some people go to be entertained, some to “punch their card,” and some to fully connect with God as they let the Spirit move in their hearts while gathered with fellow believers in a sacred space.

I believe that movies are art. Through the years, Christians have taken various approaches to viewing film. Earlier methods involved avoidance and caution and later ones called for dialogue, appropriation, and allowing ourselves to experience divine encounter through the art of film. However, for the final option to occur within our hearts, we have to engage. We can’t simply sit back, turn off our ability to think critically, and expect revelation. It’s like church–if you come expecting the preacher and the Holy Spirit to do all the work, you will likely end up disappointed and dissatisfied. Worship is a two-way street. Can film be classified as worship?

What if you came to the movie theater AND the auditorium ready and willing to engage and think every time? Things would be so different! Remember the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in the gospel of John. He gives her living water. The last thing he tells her, before revealing himself as the Messiah: “But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).

Saying that movies are purely entertainment discredits the work of the artist, and, more importantly, discredits God’s ability to speak through a huge component of popular culture. It is true that there are some films that are simply corrupt and provide no truth or help us to live more righteously (movies like Step Brothers, American Pie II: Beta House, or any and all porno flicks). However, there are some films that we write off immediately because of the rating or perhaps one scene that does not line up with that which is considered noble and honorable. Watching a movie and writing it off as shallow and only meant for “entertainment” is just as wasteful.

Many people spend as much time (or more!) watching movies as they do praying, serving, or reading the Word. Robert K. Johnston says in his book Reel Spirituality, “Movies are perhaps singular in their ability to reveal American culture, whether for good or for ill.” If this is true, and we really spend such a ridiculous amount of time watching movies, why shouldn’t we let them do that of which Johnston says they are capable?

We want to be true worshipers. If there is a place where truth exists and we choose to ignore it, maybe we aren’t worshiping the way that we should. Actively allowing “entertainment” to educate, transform, and reveal truth about culture and humanity will help us to make a habit of searching for truth not only in film, but in books, television, on the web, in music, nature, and in every part of culture that we choose to holistically engage. Hopefully, it will help us form better habits in the auditorium, too!

God of truth,
Thank You for speaking to us through the world. Let our ears hear Your voice. Give us eyes to see truth and goodness everywhere we look–even places that we might not expect to find it. Teach us to bring open hearts to every worship opportunity–whether in the auditorium, at home, at work, or even in the movie theater. We love You and we thank You for the surprising and astounding ways that You reveal parts of Yourself to us everyday.
Through Jesus,
Amen.

To learn more about theology and film in dialogue, read Robert K. Johnston’s Reel Spirituality or search for film reviews at www.imdb.com or www.christianitytoday.com.

Erin Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

It's All We're Promised

Former First Lady Barbara Bush gave a commencement speech at Wellesley College in 1990. Her speech is regarded as one of the top 100 speeches of the 20th century. The graduating class was expecting her to celebrate their achievements and stoke their ambition for future business successes. Toward the end of the speech the First Lady called their attention to a bedrock truth about life. She said:

“At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend or a parent.”

Her words are right on! Scripture underscores the importance of doing our best to nurture healthy families. Ephesians 6:4 says that children should be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. A lot of living is packed into that verse! Quality and consistent human interaction is at least assumed in Paul’s words. “Bringing up” just can’t be done any other way. And yet, our culture makes it difficult to maintain the disciplines that produce strong family connections. Jammed schedules. Unending tasks. Exhaustion. Information saturation. Infatuation with cyberspace and television. Endless text messaging. Stressors. Eating on the fly. Makes you tired just thinking about it. Given the break-neck pace at which our culture moves it is no wonder that we find ourselves sharing the same house but fighting to have quality interaction that allows us to nurture and strengthen one another.

A mother and wife recently said, “I feel like we are strangers with the same last name! We’ve gotten to the point that we speak in soundbytes on the fly!” Perhaps you can identify with her. Lots of people can.

Our culture will not suggest that we slow down. Staying connected in our families will depend on our ability to remain aware of our primary needs as individuals and as believers. Carving out time to focus on each other and check each other’s “pulse” is more difficult than it sounds. I’ve heard countless adults say, “We finally reached the point that we had to call time-out. Life was living us instead of us living it! We had to take charge of our pacing and attend to the needs that we knew were staring us in the face every week.” Truer words haven’t been spoken.

It begins with awareness of where we are as a family. How are we doing? What do we need right now? What interactive habits do we need to put in place for our well being?

The world rushes on but we don’t have to rush with it. We can find time to love, care for, pray with, listen to and encourage one another. And, there is no time like the present. It’s all we’re promised.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

The Heart of the Matter

Got your new year’s resolution(s) wrestled into place?

How’s this for a resolution: Taking inventory of our heart?

Sounds scary doesn’t it. Truth be known we are more comfortable talking about things we can do better, should do, should stop doing, etceteras. Actions and behavior are at the periphery of our lives. But, conversations about our heart? Hmmm. That takes us to the nerve center of our lives. Looking into our hearts is the “heart of the matter.”

Remember these verses?

Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

Jeremiah offers these sobering words, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Jesus gave this assessment of human frailty and evil: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”

With a new year before us – and however much of it God’s sovereignty allows us to have – what better resolution could we have than choosing to live everyday cognizant of our spiritual heart’s health?

What would be different about our lives, relationships, and congregations if we could simply do a better job of getting our hearts to a place of strength and maturity? By the same token, in what ways will we continue to trudge through emotional, spiritual and relational congestion by leaving our hearts at the mercy of thoughts, habits and impulses that keep us stuck in a fleshly spirit? We know where these two roads lead….right?

What do we need to take out of our hearts? James says we should get rid of heart clutter (James 1:21). Another inspired writer urges us to “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily weighs us down” (Hebrews 12:1).

What about filling my heart? We can join Paul’s prayer and ask that God would “fill us with the knowledge of his will through spiritual wisdom and understanding….and that we might put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…and let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts” (Colossians 1:9, 3:12).

And, we can put in a good filtering system! Temptations will come. You can count on it. God provides a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13), but we have to have the wherewithal to look for it. David words should travel with us everyday in 2011: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

O Lord, we confess the truth of David’s words. We ask you to search our hearts and try our spirits. You know us through and through. Bless us with a renewed awareness of the state of our spiritual heart. Fill our hearts with everything good and season our hearts with grace as we meet the challenges of life. May our thoughts, actions and service come from hearts filled with gratitude and awe for your grace, mercy and holiness.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

It's My Life

A couple of weeks ago I saw a news story about an incident in a sandwich shop. Video tape showed a man attempting to help a woman who was being abused by another man. The assailant turned on the “Good Samaritan” and proceeded to beat him unconscious. Video tape showed five men waiting to be served and two people behind the counter looking on. No one made a move to help the man who was brutally beaten. No one raised a cell phone and called for help. They stood by and watched as the assailant grabbed the woman and left the shop.

The privatization of life has evolved into a new ethic of detachment from what is going on around us. “That’s your life and this is my life” has become the norm in the streets. We can scream at referees and at council meetings but everywhere else…silence. It is politically correct to “leave people alone” – to give them their space regardless of the circumstances or repercussions of their actions. Increasingly, in Christian circles, this same phenomenon has evolved into a consumerist perspective of faith that wants church and all it trimmings without the responsibility of community.

A cursory reading of the New Testament letters makes it clear that Paul and others speak to believers in the context of community. Believers, by virtue of their relationship with God are in relationship other believers. We are birthed into Christ and into community. Occasionally, our wellness is contingent on community doing what community is designed to do – help us.

Proverbs says, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

1 Thessalonians 5:14 says: “And we urge you brothers to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.”

Does somebody need you? Pray about it. Ask for wisdom and understanding. Consult the Word of God. And, remember that helping someone recalibrate their life in the Spirit is an act of love and discipleship. Lay your sandwich down and take a step.

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas

New Calendar

I bought a new calendar planner.  I like it.  Each week starts on a Sunday . . . as it should and does.  A lot of new planners start each week on Monday and then tack Sunday on as the last day of the weekend.  So, I am pleased with the proper order this calendar provides.

It is also clean.  No stains, no tears.  It cries out possibilities. As I transfer birthdays, however, I notice last year's calendar is a mess.  So stained . . . so full of markouts.  There were so many emergencies that changed everything. So many plans did not work out. The whole thing is embarrassing.  I made a little progress, but I see I'm basically the same old me.

And I need help.  Divine intervention.  I know what David meant when he said, "Create in me a clean heart..."  And I am glad the Lord said, "Behold, I make all things new."

So as I fill in this new calendar;  as I make solemn resolutions to do a lot better this year . . .
    I would really like to put first things first.
    I would really like to finish what I start.
    I really need that new heart God can make.

All my old calendars look the same.  Maybe this year; yes, maybe this year.  "Behold, I make all things new."

Dear God,
    You are exempt from time.  You have never made a mistake.  You are always holy.  I praise you. I also beg you to help me.  I am so sorry for the sins I have committed.  As I look forward to this new year, I want a new me to face it.  Please, create in me a new heart, oh my God.  Please give me the wisdom to make the right choices this year.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Paul Shero

San Angelo, Texas