On the High Horse

Every time I get ready to shut down my Facebook account, something good gets posted.  I have one friend who posts a morning prayer.  I have another friend who posts a blurb about his morning coffee and Bible reading.  I have friends who post pictures of children, trips, grandbabies - all good stuff.

I have friends who make me want to push the mythical “dislike” button.  Friends who are self-professed Christians (I use that term in that they identify as Christians, I am not making judgments about them) who have plenty to say on both sides of issues like Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, the recent Texas abortion legislative efforts, President Obama and Paula Deen.  Some of these good people see racism in every ruling.  Others see acceptable actions and words being used.  Some see choice as a good thing, others do not.  I can’t repeat what some say about the President and poor Paula is vilified or exalted.  She has got to be tired from that rollercoaster.  Yes, there are plenty of opinions on Facebook and Twitter and other sites.  A few of them are thought-provoking.  Most come across as self-aggrandized and/or self-righteous.  Either way, I wonder how God feels about much of what is said.

Oh, don’t get me wrong.  I am certainly not perfect.  While I haven’t walked in George Zimmerman’s shoes and killed someone physically, I certainly worry about what I may have done to some people spiritually.  Either through words or actions, I fear I have driven some further away from Jesus, not closer to Him.  What happens when Christ-followers quit playing the race card and quit advocating for self-defense and pray that God heals people in ways our justice system cannot come close to?  What happens when Christ-followers pray in the spirit of forgiveness and compassion instead of calling out the evils we see through our own experience?

Last week, Wendy Davis became a hero to abortion advocates and the enemy of conservatives and many people professing to follow Christ.  For the record, I believe abortion kills an unborn child.  It is plain and simple to me.  I find it ironic that people who advocate so hard for gun control or often the same people advocating so hard for the “choice” to take a life for convenience.  What would happen if Christ-followers came together to pray for the hearts of the women who choose abortion and the medical people who provide them?  What would happen if folks shut their mouths, quit typing and just prayed for God to perform what seems like a miracle?

Barack Obama and Paula Deen are easy targets for the media.  Their lives are on a stage and there are lots of people who disagree with things they have said, sometimes said years ago.  Wow, if some of you knew all the things I have said you might quit reading this post.  How I wish I could reel so many words spoken in anger and spoken in ignorance back into my mouth never to be heard or, at least, completely forgotten.  What if Christ-followers came together to pray for healing, to pray for a fresh start, to pray for compassion and acceptance?

There is an old phrase that should pop up every time someone opens their mouth, or Facebook.  

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Father, give us a desire to be peacemakers.  Fill us with strength and courage to shut our mouths and open our hearts.  Give us the ability to see all your children the way you see them, to love all your children the way you love them, to be merciful and graceful to all your children the way you are to me.  Cover us in healing love.

Grace and peace.

Jeff Jones

Decatur, Texas

What Makes Me Different From Dakota?

Dakota was a yellow Lab.  When our family moved to Abilene in 2001, we had a black Lab named Barkley.  Sadly, Barkley was hit by a car and killed.  Early in 2001, I preached in a Gospel Meeting in Friona, Texas and found Dakota who was a puppy.  Dakota loved life.  He loved running beside Lytle Lake and sniffing and retrieving rocks from the lake.  Sadly, Dakota lost sight in both of his eyes and his body deteriorated.  Just a couple of weeks ago, our vet assisted in his death.

This past Sunday, I taught our Middle School kids at Hillcrest and the title of my lesson was ‘What Makes Me Different From Dakota’?  The subject was not really Dakota.  The subject was the nature of humanity. 

When we as believers reflect upon God’s creation, we are like the Psalmist in Psalm 8.  Verses 3-4 say, ‘When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?’  There are absolutely amazing things God created in this universe and its vastness blows our minds.  But the most amazing piece of God’s creation is humanity.

God created inanimate and animate things, but humanity is the most amazing of God’s work.  The Psalmist goes on to say in Psalm 8, ‘You  crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.’     

The animal world is amazing.  Their intricate body makeup is as complicated as the makeup of the human body.  But what makes humanity so special and unique is defined by words in Scripture like ‘soul’, ‘spirit’, ‘conscience’, ‘heart’, ‘mind’, and ‘will’.  As humans, we decide.  We choose.  We have a conscience that is pricked when we do evil.  As amazing as a pet can be—learning to do tricks and responding to our commands—no pet has the mind of man.

Today, as you look at your wife and your children and your loved ones, thank God for creating us ‘in His image’.  He created us ‘to last for eternity’.  He created us so that we will go on enjoying ‘relationships’ forever.  NOW THAT IS AMAZING!!!

Prayer:  God, we marvel at Your creation.  But, we marvel most of all at the way You created us.  Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. 

Terry Brown

Abilene, Texas

Obey!

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. John 14:23

There is something about the word "obey" that we don't like.   Often it is used from a position of power imposing someone else's will on us.   And that just doesn't set well.  My human will pushes back when I am told to obey, and “You're not the boss of me" rushes to be spoken.  As we hear the command to obey from Jesus it is very easy to attach baggage that He never intended.  While Jesus was here on earth the scribes and Pharisees created a system of obedience that shackled followers and was impossible to keep.  As Christians we have made similar mistakes imposing an obedience of duty, tradition, or fear.  This kind of obedience bankrupts our spirits, robs us of joy, and leaves us disenfranchised with our faith.   Jesus' call is radically different and what He asks and why He asks us to obey is not what most of think.   Straight from His mouth:

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  John 15:7-12

Why should we obey?  Jesus shares two amazing truths.  First, our obedience keeps us in God’s love and brings glory to Him.  Loving others as Christ loved us displays the message of the cross to a world that is skeptical and cynical.  This allows God’s love to be seen, it draws people to Him, and He is glorified.  To grow in our faith to the point that our greatest joy is staying with our Father bringing Him glory is a faith cornerstone.  Second, Jesus’ incredible promise that our obedience to His commands brings His joy into us. Obedience anchored in our belief and trust in Him yields an extravagant gift difficult to comprehend; the joy of Christ just as He experienced it from God Himself, placed within us.  He describes it as a joy that is complete.  No words can explain this.

The commands of Christ are much simpler than we think obeyed by remaining in Him and loving each other as He loved you and me.  In our daily walk God is ready to deliver on His promises if we trust enough to obey.  

Lord Your promises are so vast and deep.  Help us to see them with faith to accept, courage to act, and persistence to never give up.   In Jesus name we pray.

Scotty Elston

Shallowater, Texas