The Last Thing He Said Was...

"Go make disciples of all nations" - Matthew 28:19

The last words Jesus uttered before he ascended into heaven focused his disciple's attention on their calling to be ministers of reconciliation between God and man.

Priests.  Light on a hill.  Salt of the earth.  Ambassadors for Christ.  The aroma of Christ.

The New Testament is littered with metaphors that remind us that we have tasted of the kindness of the Lord  so that we can proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:3-10).

But, "going" gets crowded out by a lot of other things - good things - that displace going to the margins of church life.  We talk about it.  We strategize for it.  But, church is largely about...us.  "Going" is more of an assumed experience.  It's more idea than practice.

Can you identify with that?

Someone recently sent a video to me that encapsulates a truth that we need to hear.  It's short and to the point.

May it bless you in days to come as we think about and, more importantly, engage God's calling of us to be a "going" people.

http://vimeo.com/m/6407480

Randy Daughery - Stephenville, Texas

Apart from Me You Can Do Nothing

I recently ran across a very stimulating article by Dr. Keith Albow.

Before you read the comments from Dr. Albow, consider these words from the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul.

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

 – John 15:5-6

“Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  - Ephesians 5:15-17

 

Article:  We are Raising a Generation of Narcissists

A new analysis of the American Freshman Survey, which has accumulated data for the past 47 years from 9 million young adults, reveals that college students are more likely than ever to call themselves gifted and driven to succeed, even though their test scores and time spent studying are decreasing.

Psychologist Jean Twenge, the lead author of the analysis, is also the author of a study showing that the tendency toward narcissism in students is up 30 percent in the last thirty-odd years.

This data is not unexpected.  I have been writing a great deal over the past few years about the toxic psychological impact of media and technology on children, adolescents and young adults, particularly as it regards turning them into faux celebrities—the equivalent of lead actors in their own fictionalized life stories.

On Facebook, young people can fool themselves into thinking they have hundreds or thousands of “friends.” They can delete unflattering comments. They can block anyone who disagrees with them or pokes holes in their inflated self-esteem. They can choose to show the world only flattering, sexy or funny photographs of themselves (dozens of albums full, by the way), “speak” in pithy short posts and publicly connect to movie stars and professional athletes and musicians they “like.”

Using Twitter, young people can pretend they are worth “following,” as though they have real-life fans, when all that is really happening is the mutual fanning of false love and false fame.

Using computer games, our sons and daughters can pretend they are Olympians, Formula 1 drivers, rock stars or sharpshooters.  And while they can turn off their Wii and Xbox machines and remember they are really in dens and playrooms on side streets and in triple deckers around America, that is after their hearts have raced and heads have swelled with false pride for “being” something they are not.

On MTV and other networks, young people can see lives just like theirs portrayed on reality TV shows fueled by such incredible self-involvement and self-love that any of the “real-life” characters should really be in psychotherapy to have any chance at anything like a normal life.

These are the psychological drugs of the 21st Century and they are getting our sons and daughters very sick, indeed.

As if to keep up with the unreality of media and technology, in a dizzying paroxysm of self-aggrandizing hype, town sports leagues across the country hand out ribbons and trophies to losing teams, schools inflate grades, energy drinks in giant, colorful cans take over the soft drink market, and psychiatrists hand out Adderall like candy.  

All the while, these adolescents, teens and young adults are watching a Congress that can’t control its manic, euphoric, narcissistic spending, a president that can’t see his way through to applauding genuine and extraordinary achievements in business, a society that blames mass killings on guns, not the psychotic people who wield them, and—here no surprise—a stock market that keeps rising and falling like a roller coaster as bubbles inflate and then, inevitably, burst.

That’s really the unavoidable end, by the way. False pride can never be sustained. The bubble of narcissism is always at risk of bursting.  That’s why young people are higher on drugs than ever, drunker than ever, smoking more, tattooed more, pierced more and having more and more and more sex, earlier and earlier and earlier, raising babies before they can do it well, because it makes them feel special, for a while.  They’re doing anything to distract themselves from the fact that they feel empty inside and unworthy.

Distractions, however, are temporary, and the truth is eternal. Watch for an epidemic of depression and suicidality, not to mention homicidality, as the real self-loathing and hatred of others that lies beneath all this narcissism rises to the surface.  I see it happening and, no doubt, many of you do, too.   

We had better get a plan together to combat this greatest epidemic as it takes shape.  Because it will dwarf the toll of any epidemic we have ever known. And it will be the hardest to defeat. Because, by the time we see the scope and destructiveness of this enemy clearly, we will also realize, as the saying goes, that it is us.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/01/08/are-raising-generation-deluded-narcissists/?cmpid=cmty_other_We_are_raising_a_generation_of_deluded_narcissists

O Father,  awaken us to our utter bankruptcy apart from you.  We are surrounded by messages and influences that lie to us about who we are and what we need.  May your Spirit continue to convict people as your Son promised He would so that we can see that the Son is the only one who can truly satisfy us now and forever.  

Randy Daugherty

Stephenville, Texas

God Reveals His Name

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  I AM has sent me to you.”  Exodus 3:14

When I counseled juveniles at the detention center I liked to tell them what their names meant and how the meaning sounds in real life.  For example, “Poetic One, it’s time for supper!” or, “Be home by curfew, God’s Gracious Gift.”  “Call me when you get there, Merry One,” or “You did a great job with your chores, Helper of Man.”

Names meant everything in ancient times.   When God told Moses to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites from slavery, Moses didn’t want to.  He argued with God about it like God’s people have done since time began.  “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’  Then what shall I tell them?”

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  I AM has sent me to you…the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 3:13-15).

I read Daniel’s prayer in Chapter 9 of Daniel and jotted in the margin some descriptions of how I AM relates to His wicked, rebellious children.  He is described as great and awesome; faithful to keep His promises; righteous in everything, merciful, forgiving, and omnipotent.  He disciplines lovingly, but that doesn’t mean we’ll necessarily enjoy His discipline at the time.  He puts us where He wants us to be for our good and for His ultimate glory.  God made a name for himself by freeing his people from captivity which means He also has the power to free us from our self-inflicted bondage.

“Lord, we don’t make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  O Lord, listen.  O Lord, forgive!  O Lord, hear and act!  For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”  (Daniel 9:18b & 19). 

Sandra Milholland

Abilene, Texas

Stinking Thinking

There is a lot of bad stuff going on now in the world. The economy is crashing; violence is everywhere; bad news at every turn. Then I read Paul’s instructions to the Philippians. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Phil. 4:8

Controlling my thoughts! Can it be? I have been afflicted with “stinking thinking” for so long! To make a list of bad stuff and say I’m not going to think about this doesn’t work. That would be like saying I’m not going to think about pink elephants. So I put a thought that looks like a pink elephant in my mind.

So, how do I do it? Paul says ‘deliberately think about things that are true; things that are honorable; things that are just; things that are pure; things that are lovely. You fill your mind on purpose with beautiful, lovely truths and you crowd out the trash.

Isn’t this an exciting idea? To be in control of our mind? Eventually, when ‘stinking thinking’ comes to see you, your mind has a NO VACANCY sign out.   

Dear Heavenly Father, You know everything. You know more about me than I know. You know every thought I have. I know many are a disappointment to you. You see the mean thoughts, the selfish thoughts, the nasty thoughts and the fearful thoughts. I am ashamed they are there and more ashamed I welcomed them and made them at home. “Create in me a clean heart, O God”. And help me as I replace them with lovely truths. Help me find honorable things to think about. Forgive me for harboring evil and fill me with your truth. I want to be clean. I am so weary of being afraid. Help me.

In the name of Your Son, I pray.

Paul Shero

San Angelo, Texas

What a Dream

Though I have been out of school for over 30 years there is a dream that periodically shows up in my subconscious.  The exact story that plays out is different each time yet the theme is the same.

A new school session has begun, but I have already missed classes.  I can’t find my class schedule and don’t know what time or where my classes meet.  Homework has been assigned in the classes I have already missed and I haven’t completed any of it.  I am un-prepared.  I will look bad, be in trouble, and receive a failing grade when I do show up.  When I wake up enough to recognize it is a dream I am greatly relieved.  Perhaps this dream is a deep revelation of great insecurity, of not measuring up, of being exposed as a sham, or not passing the test in other walks of my life.  I don’t know.  As I reflect on this “silly dream” and listen I am led to some amazing statements.  

4 When people work, their pay is not given as a gift, but as something earned. 5 But people cannot do any work that will make them right with God. So they must trust in him, who makes even evil people right in his sight. Then God accepts their faith, and that makes them right with him. 6 David said the same thing. He said that people are truly blessed when God, without paying attention to their deeds, makes people right with himself.

7 “Blessed are they
    whose sins are forgiven,
    whose wrongs are pardoned.
8 Blessed is the person
    whom the Lord does not consider guilty.”
Romans 4:4-8

Two statements are very revealing.  

“who makes even evil people right in His sight”

and

“without paying attention to their deeds”

Read and understood in their context the message is clear our Sovereign God forgives, pardons, and saves us when we trust Him, period!  It has nothing to do with what we do, how good, or how bad we are.  In fact, God’s salvation is given when we are evil and ungodly.  Further, even our good deeds have no bearing on the gift.  It isn’t that He doesn’t care and isn’t pleased by our acts, but that there is no question our salvation is from Him and Him alone.  Our goodness and deeds don’t help and aren’t necessary.  His love and grace take care of everything.

That is hard for me to accept.  My human will is constantly at work driving me to meet the standards set by the world, yet I will never be able to achieve those standards.  God has given me a way out of this angst and all I have to do is wake up and accept it.  What a relief.  

Lord I submit my will to your salvation and accept the free gift you give through Christ Jesus.  Thank you for a love I cannot fathom and for rescuing me when I don’t deserve it.

Scotty Elston
Shallowater, Texas

God Reveals His Name

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  I AM has sent me to you.”  Exodus 3:14

When I counseled juveniles at the detention center I liked to tell them what their names meant and how the meaning sounds in real life.  For example, “Poetic One, it’s time for supper!” or, “Be home by curfew, God’s Gracious Gift.”  “Call me when you get there, Merry One,” or “You did a great job with your chores, Helper of Man.”

Names meant everything in ancient times.   When God told Moses to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites from slavery, Moses didn’t want to.  He argued with God about it like God’s people have done since time began.  “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’  Then what shall I tell them?”

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites:  I AM has sent me to you…the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’” (Exodus 3:13-15).

I read Daniel’s prayer in Chapter 9 of Daniel and jotted in the margin some descriptions of how I AM relates to His wicked, rebellious children.  He is described as great and awesome; faithful to keep His promises; righteous in everything, merciful, forgiving, and omnipotent.  He disciplines lovingly, but that doesn’t mean we’ll necessarily enjoy His discipline at the time.  He puts us where He wants us to be for our good and for His ultimate glory.  God made a name for himself by freeing his people from captivity which means He also has the power to free us from our self-inflicted bondage.

“Lord, we don’t make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  O Lord, listen.  O Lord, forgive!  O Lord, hear and act!  For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”  (Daniel 9:18b & 19).

Sandra Milholland
Abilene, Texas

The Butterfly

My mother would pass out if she knew I was writing my Word for Today about her. I guess I’m just postponing the inevitable, since she’ll pass out when she finds it already posted online. Sorry, Mom. You’re worth writing about.

The day after Christmas always feels a bit bleak. It shouldn’t, because Jesus is here! I guess the incarnation tends to get packed up with all the ornaments, strings of lights, and stockings and left in the attic until we are obligated to pull it out and bask in its seasonal glow again next year. I fought against that bleak feeling the day after Christmas, with everyone else. Then my mom played the piano.

I was sitting on the floor, concentrating heavily on the decision between revising a paper for fun or watching yet another Hitchcock film, when I noticed a quiet rustling across the room at the piano. My mom was sneakily riffling through sheet music. I was confident she was hoping no one would notice, so I discarded my previous dilemma and settled back against the wall, eager for what came next.

I watched as she discovered the piece she’d been searching for, smiling fondly at the cover page. “The Butterfly,” it said. She sat down on the piano bench and began to play. I watched her fingers fly over the keys, positioning perfectly, traveling gracefully, producing tender melodies.

I can count on two hands the number of times I’ve heard my mother play the piano in my life. She took piano lessons for ten years. I was in awe watching her play, and not because she is the best piano player I’ve ever seen. I was in awe because my mom is a human being.

You may not realize this, but moms have talents and gifts. Moms do things for pleasure. Moms have feelings and get tired and need a break. Moms are “selves,” outside of being “moms.” Moms are, first and foremost, disciples of Jesus Christ. In watching my mom play the piano, I realized how often we dehumanize our parents. My mom and dad are worth more than giving up selfhood to be parents. The sacrifices that parents make in order to begood to their children are incredible. But I do not think that giving up Self is something that we should ask.  But who is “we?” “We” is society. “We” is our culture. And “we” is, most definitely, the church. The cult of family, the competitive nature of being a “good mom,” the need to be better than the next mom, to give your children everything they want has conditioned us to believe that once you have a child, all you are is a parent. That’s wrong, and it isn’t even what the Lord expects of us. 

We are called to be disciples! That includes loving the church, serving her, giving your time to her. The “I’m serving my church by raising my children well” cop out can’t cut it anymore. That isn’t healthy for children and it isn’t healthy for parents. If children become a parent’s entire world, then what happens if a parent “fails” at raising his or her children? Have they failed at life? I don’t think so.

Beyond this, children should celebrate their parents’ selfhood. They should see it. They should know it exists. My mom plays the piano! I celebrate her talent that does not play a direct role in the way that she parents me. I love her more and know her more because I know that she has that gift and that it brings her joy and life. So many parents don’t understand why they don’t have a lasting connection with their children. Well, how do you connect with someone who you don’t even perceive to be a human being? My parents are not deities. They are human. And they are good humans with beautiful flaws and exciting talents and intriguing opinions on life. It is easier for me to love them when I know and am reminded that they are real people. I bless them for the things that they have protected me from. And I bless them for the discernment that they’ve used in revealing to me who they are as Selves and disciples.

Parenthood and discipleship are not the same thing. I think that if you make the choice to become a parent, you should embed that parenthood into your discipleship.  Discipleship does not need parenthood to be, but if you’re going to be a parent, I think you must be prepared to daily devote that parenthood to the discipleship that you’ve already committed to.

My mom and The Butterfly reminded me that parents are humans . . . and that Jesus was human while divine. I see Jesus alive in my mom, in her humanness. The most important thing for us to do as children and parents is to look into the eyes of the other and search for the Jesus that we know is present there. It makes the incarnation more real and takes the edge off the bleakness, in any season.

Lord,

Teach us to search for your Son when we look into each other’s eyes. Soften our hearts, that we may love each other in our humanness. Thank you for Your Son, who showed us the most loving ways to be human beings.

In His name,

Amen.

Erin E. Daugherty, Abilene Christian University