DateLine (11/30/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)
A train streaked across the dark English countryside carrying a priceless antiquity. At the main station in London the cargo was put into a taxi for the trip to the final destination where a large crowd had gathered hoping to snatch a glimpse of the treasure. The museum had paid the handsome sum of more than $500,000 for the privilege of housing this significant historical object. More than half of the procurement funds had been donated by the general public, no doubt some contributors were present as the taxi screeched to a halt. The door swung open, and the couriers exited with the prize. As the package passed by all of the men present took off their hats out of respect. A scene right out of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade? No way! These were actual events that occurred in December 27, 1933. The object was not a golden chalice – the Holy Grail, but it was a manuscript of the Holy Bible.
Of what must have originally comprised about 730 leaves, 393 remain, 245 of the Old Testament and 148 of the New. The leaves are of very fine vellum, measuring approximately fifteen inches square. The style of its script, along with other factors, make it quite certain that it was copied about the middle of the fourth century. The Sinaitic Manuscript is the oldest complete manuscript of the New Testament that exists today.
Can you imagine the scene described above which occurred in London England in 1933 occurring today in our nation’s capital or for that matter any other major city in the world. Our contemporary society is busy purging any vestige of the Christian faith from public view or recitation. Respect for the Bible has waned at an alarming pace. Even in the Christian church the reading of the Holy Scripture has sometimes been replaced by entertaining self-help speeches and encouragements to embrace positive thinking.
The Bible is the foundation of our Christian faith. It is the primary method that God has chosen to reveal Himself to His people! It has encouraged every generation of Christian to stay the course! It has built up the faith of the weak! It has disclosed the will of God to the wavering! It has convicted the sinful of their error! But there is no doubt that we are tempted today to take it for granted. How many times have you observed a Bible carelessly tossed into the corner only to collect dust?
Here’s the challenge! The Bile is the source of the Christmas story that we honor during this holiday season. Would you consider assembling a display of the Bible in a prominent place during this Christmas season in your home? Why don’t you leave it open to the page that says, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for Him in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) And every time you pass by your display think about the men on that sidewalk 72 years ago in London who removed their hats in respect.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Black Friday
DateLine (11/23/05 – Green Pond, SC)
Black Friday, also known as the Day After Thanksgiving, is generally acknowledged as the heaviest shopping day of the year, the start of the Christmas shopping season. The name is an homage to some retailers who toll all year in the red only to have this one day push them into the black for the first time. Stores prepare for the crush of shoppers by adding extra staff and even encourage the onslaught of bargain crazed people by opening as early 4-5 AM and offering such inducements as free breakfast or special discounts.
Shoppers can tap special websites (bf2005.com, blackfriday.gottadeal.com, etc.) that assist them in developing a strategy for exploiting special offerings by the retailers. Motivated shoppers scan the newspapers and store flyers for the slightest hint by anxious retailers who reveal their discounts and special offerings before the appointed day. Flyers are quickly scanned and posted to the websites.
All of this adds up to an orgy of consumerism. And to “soften” the shopper, soundtracks of seasonal music blare throughout the stores. How can the poor shopper resist? And this is how our contemporary Christmas season begins. Frankly it makes me want to barf. Ok, I’m am a male and there is something in our genes that causes physical illness at the thought of such events.
This is the season that Southern Baptist collect the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. In a way this is Black Friday for our missions effort. All collected funds go directly to the mission field for special projects and needs.. The 2005 offering goal is $150 million. This year the promotional focus is South Asia. More than 1400 people groups live in the seven countries of this region, including the giant countries of China and India.
Years ago I had a pastor who challenged us to make our Christmas gift to Jesus at least as valuable as the largest gift given to anyone else. To be honest my initial response was to blow him off. After all, we had small children at the time and our meager Christmas budget was dominated by our desire to make Christmas special for them. Years later I recalled that challenge from the pastor and Harriett and I decided to take it for our own. We chose to make the Lottie Moon Christmas offering our gift to Jesus. I cannot explain to you the added dimension that this has given to our Christmas season. Would you consider making Lottie Moon your Christmas gift to Jesus?
Black Friday, also known as the Day After Thanksgiving, is generally acknowledged as the heaviest shopping day of the year, the start of the Christmas shopping season. The name is an homage to some retailers who toll all year in the red only to have this one day push them into the black for the first time. Stores prepare for the crush of shoppers by adding extra staff and even encourage the onslaught of bargain crazed people by opening as early 4-5 AM and offering such inducements as free breakfast or special discounts.
Shoppers can tap special websites (bf2005.com, blackfriday.gottadeal.com, etc.) that assist them in developing a strategy for exploiting special offerings by the retailers. Motivated shoppers scan the newspapers and store flyers for the slightest hint by anxious retailers who reveal their discounts and special offerings before the appointed day. Flyers are quickly scanned and posted to the websites.
All of this adds up to an orgy of consumerism. And to “soften” the shopper, soundtracks of seasonal music blare throughout the stores. How can the poor shopper resist? And this is how our contemporary Christmas season begins. Frankly it makes me want to barf. Ok, I’m am a male and there is something in our genes that causes physical illness at the thought of such events.
This is the season that Southern Baptist collect the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the sole purpose of supporting international missions. In a way this is Black Friday for our missions effort. All collected funds go directly to the mission field for special projects and needs.. The 2005 offering goal is $150 million. This year the promotional focus is South Asia. More than 1400 people groups live in the seven countries of this region, including the giant countries of China and India.
Years ago I had a pastor who challenged us to make our Christmas gift to Jesus at least as valuable as the largest gift given to anyone else. To be honest my initial response was to blow him off. After all, we had small children at the time and our meager Christmas budget was dominated by our desire to make Christmas special for them. Years later I recalled that challenge from the pastor and Harriett and I decided to take it for our own. We chose to make the Lottie Moon Christmas offering our gift to Jesus. I cannot explain to you the added dimension that this has given to our Christmas season. Would you consider making Lottie Moon your Christmas gift to Jesus?
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
De-upsize
De-upsize - v. - To refuse to ratchet up one’s lifestyle so as to result in financial freedom.
DateLine (11/16/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)
Ok the definition which appears above for de-upsize is a total fabrication. There is no such word in the dictionary, but there should be. I propose that this word be added to the vocabulary of every believer of Jesus Christ. If you’re young this concept should be burned into your psyche, an inviolate maxim for modern living. If you’re old statistics demonstrate that it’s probably too late to reach you with this truth.
An article posted on the MSN Money website demonstrates the magnitude of the problem that this concept is intended to address; “Yes, consumer debt -- encompassing credit cards, mortgages, student loans and more -- is growing like a well-fed St. Bernard puppy. No, there's no sign that the growth will slow. Yes, some economists worry about the ill effects, but no, not many of them are sounding urgent alarms. It's hard not to be worried when confronted with numbers such as these:
Families all over America are under tremendous pressure attempting to deal with the aftermath of an orgy of overindulgence; financial bondage. An “army” pre-occupied with their personal financial crises is not focused on the battle. It is no accident that God has raised up a herd of modern day prophets to address this issue; Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, Dave Ramsey, Austin Pryor, and others. It is no accident that many Christian media outlets feature some of the finest Christian teachers sounding the alarm on this subject. Satan has pre-emptied the American Dream. The original American Dream was to worship God with freedom. The contemporary American Dream is a 4000 sq. ft. lakeside house in a gated community attached to a four car garage filled with his, hers, and theirs financed by a six figure salary.
So it’s to this cacophony of voices sounding the warning that I add my concept; de-upsizing. What does it mean? Don’t ever upsize to begin with!!! Don’t let yourself get caught in the consumer trap, just a “hamster” on the treadmill of life.
DateLine (11/16/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)
Ok the definition which appears above for de-upsize is a total fabrication. There is no such word in the dictionary, but there should be. I propose that this word be added to the vocabulary of every believer of Jesus Christ. If you’re young this concept should be burned into your psyche, an inviolate maxim for modern living. If you’re old statistics demonstrate that it’s probably too late to reach you with this truth.
An article posted on the MSN Money website demonstrates the magnitude of the problem that this concept is intended to address; “Yes, consumer debt -- encompassing credit cards, mortgages, student loans and more -- is growing like a well-fed St. Bernard puppy. No, there's no sign that the growth will slow. Yes, some economists worry about the ill effects, but no, not many of them are sounding urgent alarms. It's hard not to be worried when confronted with numbers such as these:
- About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year.
- Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt.
- Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade.
American consumers owed a grand total of $1.9773 trillion in October 2003, according to the latest statistics on consumer credit from the Federal Reserve. That’s about $18,654 per household, a figure that doesn’t include mortgage debt. The number is up more than 41% from the $1.3999 trillion consumers owed in 1998.”
So who cares? Let me paint a picture. Ok I’m going to use my imagination again, but I don’t think I’m too far off. Imagine yourself for a moment in the strategy room in hell. Satan and his economic council is gathered around discussing a hot topic; financial bondage (get it – hot topic.) He speaks, “We’re looking for new strategies to destroy individuals and bring families to their knees. What can you bean counters offer me?” One particularly devilish imp in the corner immediately offered, “How about cheap easy credit?” “Perfect,” replied Satan, “How soon can we implement it?” “Well I know this director at First National Bank, we hang out at the same strip club. I believe that I can convince him to get the ball rolling and once First National offers it, all of their competitors will have to follow suit.” “Great,” Satan said, “My hunch is you should suggest he start with cheap home mortgages. People will use the excuse for low interest home loans to overindulge on the dream home. Once they realize what they’ve done, it’ll take years for them to recover.” And on and on the sinister session went.
Families all over America are under tremendous pressure attempting to deal with the aftermath of an orgy of overindulgence; financial bondage. An “army” pre-occupied with their personal financial crises is not focused on the battle. It is no accident that God has raised up a herd of modern day prophets to address this issue; Larry Burkett, Ron Blue, Dave Ramsey, Austin Pryor, and others. It is no accident that many Christian media outlets feature some of the finest Christian teachers sounding the alarm on this subject. Satan has pre-emptied the American Dream. The original American Dream was to worship God with freedom. The contemporary American Dream is a 4000 sq. ft. lakeside house in a gated community attached to a four car garage filled with his, hers, and theirs financed by a six figure salary.
So it’s to this cacophony of voices sounding the warning that I add my concept; de-upsizing. What does it mean? Don’t ever upsize to begin with!!! Don’t let yourself get caught in the consumer trap, just a “hamster” on the treadmill of life.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Scars
Scar - (skär) - n. - A lingering sign of damage or injury, either mental or physical: nightmares, anxiety, and other enduring scars of wartime experiences.
DateLine (11/9/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)
At the age of 24 I decided that I posessed all the skills necessary to build a house. The very thought of that now sends shudders through my body. The facts at the time were, Harriett and I needed a home, I had more time than I had money, I had just spent about 6 months working in the industry in the Charlestion area, and I didn’t posess enough intelligence to conclude that I couldn’t do it. Ok, it was not as far fetched as it may appear. Afterall, I grew up around the industry while my dad managed a lumber yard in Woodruff.
Harriett and I sketched out the “house of our dreams” and had a local draftsman convert the rough sketches to house plans. I identified a mortgage company that I thought would work with me as a do-it-yourselfer and scheduled an appointment. I walked into that appointment that day with a set of houseplans under my arm and the swagger of a seasoned politician.
As I think back to that day from history’s perspective I don’t know how the loan officer kept from snickering. The officer asked a few questions that I understand now was contrived to determine if I had any idea what I was about to undertake. Evidently I gave sufficient answers because much to my astonishment I walked away from that appointment with a verbal agreement to finance my endeavor. It was late winter at the time and as soon as it started warming up we were off and running. The following May, about 15 months later, we moved into our new home, which except for a few odds and ends and a little wallpaper was complete.
In that 15 month period I lost about 10-15 pounds which made me look like a walking skeleton and spent every waking hour except when I was working my day job on that house; weekends, holidays, and vacation. Along the way I picked up more than one scar from battles with the tools of the trade. On one particular occasion I was using a table saw and got the wood that I was cutting caught in a bind between the blade and the fence. The piece of wood shot back at me as though it had been fired from a canon striking me in the throat. The wound was superficial but left scarring that several years later caused people to wonder if I had gone through the experience of a tracheotomy.
I was dedicated 100% to the task of building that house. Once I started there was no turning back. There were periods of time when I would have thousands of dollars of credit at several building supply stores and could not pay them off until I had completed enough work to make a “draw” from my mortage company. I could not stop or turn back, I was committed. It turned out to be a family project. Between my dad and brother and Harriett’s dad and brothers I had more than enough help to get the job done. It was not easy. The sense of accomplishment at the end of the project was immensely satisfying. When I finished I had the marks on my body that bore witness to the grueling process.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:17, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” What’s the connection? The Christian life is much like the project I undertook years ago. We must wholely commit ourselves to Him. There is no turning back. It is difficult work. We should expect to experience trials that will leave scars; perhaps some physical, perhaps some pyschological. We are not alone, we will have help. In the end the scars will be a beautiful testimony of our devotion to Christ and His ultimate safekeeping. We may be battered and bruised but He will not allow our demise until it is time. And just like in my story, when the job is done, we move into a new home. Don’t let the fear of temporal struggles deprive you of the deep joy of knowing our Lord by virtue of total commitment. Go ahead, jump in.
DateLine (11/9/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)
At the age of 24 I decided that I posessed all the skills necessary to build a house. The very thought of that now sends shudders through my body. The facts at the time were, Harriett and I needed a home, I had more time than I had money, I had just spent about 6 months working in the industry in the Charlestion area, and I didn’t posess enough intelligence to conclude that I couldn’t do it. Ok, it was not as far fetched as it may appear. Afterall, I grew up around the industry while my dad managed a lumber yard in Woodruff.
Harriett and I sketched out the “house of our dreams” and had a local draftsman convert the rough sketches to house plans. I identified a mortgage company that I thought would work with me as a do-it-yourselfer and scheduled an appointment. I walked into that appointment that day with a set of houseplans under my arm and the swagger of a seasoned politician.
As I think back to that day from history’s perspective I don’t know how the loan officer kept from snickering. The officer asked a few questions that I understand now was contrived to determine if I had any idea what I was about to undertake. Evidently I gave sufficient answers because much to my astonishment I walked away from that appointment with a verbal agreement to finance my endeavor. It was late winter at the time and as soon as it started warming up we were off and running. The following May, about 15 months later, we moved into our new home, which except for a few odds and ends and a little wallpaper was complete.
In that 15 month period I lost about 10-15 pounds which made me look like a walking skeleton and spent every waking hour except when I was working my day job on that house; weekends, holidays, and vacation. Along the way I picked up more than one scar from battles with the tools of the trade. On one particular occasion I was using a table saw and got the wood that I was cutting caught in a bind between the blade and the fence. The piece of wood shot back at me as though it had been fired from a canon striking me in the throat. The wound was superficial but left scarring that several years later caused people to wonder if I had gone through the experience of a tracheotomy.
I was dedicated 100% to the task of building that house. Once I started there was no turning back. There were periods of time when I would have thousands of dollars of credit at several building supply stores and could not pay them off until I had completed enough work to make a “draw” from my mortage company. I could not stop or turn back, I was committed. It turned out to be a family project. Between my dad and brother and Harriett’s dad and brothers I had more than enough help to get the job done. It was not easy. The sense of accomplishment at the end of the project was immensely satisfying. When I finished I had the marks on my body that bore witness to the grueling process.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:17, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” What’s the connection? The Christian life is much like the project I undertook years ago. We must wholely commit ourselves to Him. There is no turning back. It is difficult work. We should expect to experience trials that will leave scars; perhaps some physical, perhaps some pyschological. We are not alone, we will have help. In the end the scars will be a beautiful testimony of our devotion to Christ and His ultimate safekeeping. We may be battered and bruised but He will not allow our demise until it is time. And just like in my story, when the job is done, we move into a new home. Don’t let the fear of temporal struggles deprive you of the deep joy of knowing our Lord by virtue of total commitment. Go ahead, jump in.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
The Manger in the Mall
DateLine (11/2/05 – Ponce, Puerto Rico)
It must have been Christmas 1993. Harriett and I were attending the country church where I grew up and she was the Minister of Music leading our small but courageous choir. I’m going to give Harriett the credit for initiating the events described below as she responded to the prompting of the Lord. She boldly made a call to the Westgate Mall in Spartanburg to ask permission to present our Christmas musical inside the mall during the busy Christmas shopping period. Can you imagine the surprise when the response to the request was an enthusiastic yes? We were thrilled to have the privilege of sharing our Christmas gift to the masses.
By the time the date arrived we had assembled costumes for the entire choir and added a few ragtag drama characters to provide visual reinforcement for the message of the music. You can imagine our excitement as we transported a makeshift sound system, electronic keyboard, tape player, and ourselves to the packed mall on the busy weeknight. Our group was so short of professional equipment that the keyboard stand was an ironing board covered by a bed spread. Easily a third of the entire congregation of the church was involved.
We were given a prime spot on one end of the mall at the entrance to one of the anchor tenants; Belks. As we scurried about to complete our setup and preparations it was as if we did not exist to the busy patrons filing by in a constant stream. An assembly of shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph and yes, a live infant just a few months old playing the role of the baby Jesus was positioned in front of the choir. Filled with apprehension, not knowing how we would be received, fully aware of the limits of our skills, we enthusiastically launched into our musical, which as I remember was a collection of classic carols and contemporary Christmas music; all carefully chosen to remind the holiday shoppers of the “reason for the season.”
I wish that I could tell you that the heavy shopper traffic ground to a halt as our voices filled the shopping mall, drawn to our music and the message. There was as I remember no such massive response. There was a more subtle but yet extremely profound response. As the shoppers would pass there would be a brief pause, sometimes lasting for a portion of a song, sometime several songs. Mothers and children, fathers and children, husbands and wives, old and young they came. And for a brief moment, the shopping list, the hectic schedule, the late hour did not matter. It was obvious that the Gospel was physically and audibly intruding into the marketplace of consumerism, but for brief moments for some listeners it seemed a welcome intrusion. The traditions that threatened to impede the arrival of the Babe were held at bay if for a moment.
The sight that is burned into the visual center of my brain is the children who would gleefully approach the living baby in the manager, parents in tow. Even while we were concentrating on our presentation we could almost read the lips of the parents as the visual presentation prodded them to tell the Christmas story to their children while kneeling by the manger’s side, in the same posture assumed by the worshippers 2000 years ago. There is no doubt in my mind that people’s lives were impacted by our presence in the mall that night. Here we are about 7 weeks from Christmas. I would encourage you to be open to God’s promptings to be His ambassador where ever that may lead, especially during this Christmas season.
It must have been Christmas 1993. Harriett and I were attending the country church where I grew up and she was the Minister of Music leading our small but courageous choir. I’m going to give Harriett the credit for initiating the events described below as she responded to the prompting of the Lord. She boldly made a call to the Westgate Mall in Spartanburg to ask permission to present our Christmas musical inside the mall during the busy Christmas shopping period. Can you imagine the surprise when the response to the request was an enthusiastic yes? We were thrilled to have the privilege of sharing our Christmas gift to the masses.
By the time the date arrived we had assembled costumes for the entire choir and added a few ragtag drama characters to provide visual reinforcement for the message of the music. You can imagine our excitement as we transported a makeshift sound system, electronic keyboard, tape player, and ourselves to the packed mall on the busy weeknight. Our group was so short of professional equipment that the keyboard stand was an ironing board covered by a bed spread. Easily a third of the entire congregation of the church was involved.
We were given a prime spot on one end of the mall at the entrance to one of the anchor tenants; Belks. As we scurried about to complete our setup and preparations it was as if we did not exist to the busy patrons filing by in a constant stream. An assembly of shepherds, wise men, Mary and Joseph and yes, a live infant just a few months old playing the role of the baby Jesus was positioned in front of the choir. Filled with apprehension, not knowing how we would be received, fully aware of the limits of our skills, we enthusiastically launched into our musical, which as I remember was a collection of classic carols and contemporary Christmas music; all carefully chosen to remind the holiday shoppers of the “reason for the season.”
I wish that I could tell you that the heavy shopper traffic ground to a halt as our voices filled the shopping mall, drawn to our music and the message. There was as I remember no such massive response. There was a more subtle but yet extremely profound response. As the shoppers would pass there would be a brief pause, sometimes lasting for a portion of a song, sometime several songs. Mothers and children, fathers and children, husbands and wives, old and young they came. And for a brief moment, the shopping list, the hectic schedule, the late hour did not matter. It was obvious that the Gospel was physically and audibly intruding into the marketplace of consumerism, but for brief moments for some listeners it seemed a welcome intrusion. The traditions that threatened to impede the arrival of the Babe were held at bay if for a moment.
The sight that is burned into the visual center of my brain is the children who would gleefully approach the living baby in the manager, parents in tow. Even while we were concentrating on our presentation we could almost read the lips of the parents as the visual presentation prodded them to tell the Christmas story to their children while kneeling by the manger’s side, in the same posture assumed by the worshippers 2000 years ago. There is no doubt in my mind that people’s lives were impacted by our presence in the mall that night. Here we are about 7 weeks from Christmas. I would encourage you to be open to God’s promptings to be His ambassador where ever that may lead, especially during this Christmas season.
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