Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Building a Better Protest

Courtesy personal.kent.edu/~bsmith30/TheSixties/
Want your protest to turn into a movement that truly changes the world?  Start by looking at one that accomplished such a feat.

Many public protests have come and gone.  Some have had a temporary change on society while others have simply faded into obscurity.  Then there are those that have made such a widespread impact that we cannot picture a world in which they did not occur.  It is one such protest/movement that we will look at in this post, and we will also glean some tips on how to increase the impact of whatever one you decide to join or start. The movement I have in mind is none other than the Protestant Reformation, and here's how it made such a difference.


Empowered the Powerless

Back in the day, for much of the Christianized world, the Roman Catholic Church was the only show in town.  It had a religious monopoly that was established at the expense of the common person.  No doubt many people felt the weight of this oppression, but felt powerless to do anything about it.  The Reformation built on this frustration and gave those feeling powerless a voice. A frustration that had been in existence for some time before Martin Luther came on the scene.

Didn't Reinvent the Wheel

Many people most likely believe that the Protestant Reformation originated with Luther and the 95 Theses (which he posted 494 years and two days ago).  While events definitely progressed more rapidly as a result of Luther's words and actions, his objections to the Roman Catholic Church's abuse of power echoed those of  John Huss, who echoed John Wycliffe's views.  Both of whom lived almost 200 years before the German monk.  Luther's original course of action differed from many modern movements in that he didn't intend to discuss his views with the general public.

Started at the Top

Although Luther posted his famous theses in a public place, he wrote them in Latin, a language not widely spoken or understood outside of educational and religious institutions.  He wanted to debate with those in power, those who could facilitate lasting change, not with his fellow Germans, who could do relatively little.  When I state "fellow Germans" I mean that loosely because Luther was in actuality part of the system that he deemed to be corrupt.

Worked from the Inside Out

Luther understood, either cognitively or intuitively, that reforms are often best facilitated by those inside of the institution.  His radical views eventually led to his departure, but that shouldn't negate the fact that he originally intended to reform the system as an insider.  He saw himself as someone who could rebuild from the inside rather than demolish from the outside.  The promulgation of these suggested reforms was greatly enhanced by a new technology at the time; the printing press.

Used Technology to His Advantage


The advent of the printing press made it much easier to disperse Luther's and his allies' views.  The 95 Theses, being translated into German a few months after their posting, made their way into the hands and minds of the common people.  Their once unspoken concerns became spoken, and many were emboldened by the fact that someone was actually standing up to such a powerful organization.

Dynamic Leadership

The Reformation would have never gained any ground if Luther had caved under the immense pressure from the religious hierarchy.  The people needed a dynamic spokesperson, and they got one in Martin Luther.

A Perfect Storm

Centuries of frustration coupled with a dynamic leader and new technology changed an entire religion for the better.  Therefore if you want a better future for the world, or at least your part of it, take some tips from the past.  You'll never know what can be accomplished unless you try.

Monday, October 31, 2011

[Video] Should Christians participate in Halloween?

I found this video a couple of days ago and thought I'd share it with you.  Whether you fully agree with the conclusion or not, I hope that it gets you thinking.

Friday, October 21, 2011

[Featured Post] Brazilian Girl Sees New Face for the First Time

This featured post comes from the blog BlogPost which is part of the Washington Post.  It's not difficult to see why I posted it; we need to see more news about people helping other people.

After cleft lip surgery, Brazilian girl sees new face for the first time (video)


A friend she used to hide behind. (Image via YouTube.com)
Twenty-four hours after surgery to fix her cleft lip, a little Brazilian girl’s face is still swollen and painful.

But the look in her eyes when she sees her new face in the mirror for the first time is hard to mistake.

One volunteer caught the moment on camera:


(Via the Daily What.)

Friday, September 30, 2011

Stealth Christianity

Courtesy en.wikipedia.org
To some the very thought of an unseen Christian would cause extreme negative emotions.  If you feel that way, calm down, and read the benefits of such a believer.

Interest Leads to Questions

I have been fascinated with flight since I was young.  My second-grade science project was on how the design of airplanes' wings (called "airfoil") caused them to fly.  Naturally, such an interest only intensified at the thought of jet aircraft, especially those of the military variety.

Due to this interest, I recently watched part of a video touting the prowess of the F-22 Raptor (pictured above).  One of the main advantages of this aircraft comes from its stealth capabilities.  In short, stealth technology enables the pilot to detect the enemy's aircraft without the enemy detecting theirs.  After watching the video, a thought started rolling around in my head, "Is the thought of a 'stealth Christian' an oxymoron?"

An Incomplete Picture

As mentioned earlier, the very thought of a Christian who would purposely avoid detection would cause some people to get very upset.  They would probably quote Bible verses such as Matthew 5:14-15 about being a light and not hiding lamps under baskets, and Romans 1:16 about not being ashamed of the of the gospel.  However, such a view is incorrect because it is based off an incomplete picture of the purpose for being unseen.  Let me explain.

Unseen with a Purpose

People that hold the view that a stealth Christian avoids detection as a result of being afraid neglect Jesus' example.  Many times during His ministry Jesus told people to keep a secret.  One example can be found in Luke 5:13-14 where Jesus heals a man then instructs him not to tell anyone what had happened.  Jesus' reason for secrecy can be found in verse 15.  He didn't want people to crowd Him for physical healing, when they should be coming for spiritual healing as well, as found in the following account of Jesus and the paralyzed man.  Then the question remains how can we use this principle?

The Use of Stealth

The F-22 uses its stealth capabilities to take lives.  They're meant to get past the enemies defenses and killing them.  Stealth Christianity involves getting past a person's defenses and saving them through God's grace.  Stealth Christianity isn't about going around proclaiming your identity, it's about showing it through your life.  By living it people will often come to you.  However, it's not the only approach we can use.

Balanced Approach

Stealth Christianity involves getting entrance into people's lives, a "tip of the spear" to put one way.  Sometimes we need to be open about what we believe, and we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit telling us when those times arise.  It all comes down to balance, and that only comes from God.


Can you think of other benefits of stealth Christianity?  Let us know in the comments section.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

[Featured Post] I have an anger issue: I don’t get angry enough..

This featured post comes from Mark Brown's blog Journey Deeper Into God's Word.  Enjoy.

I have an anger issue: I don’t get angry enough..

Posted on 28 September 2011 by admin

Click the play button below to check out my latest time in the Word. I explore anger, what does it mean to be angry?  If you can’t see the video on email click here:  VIDEO



God bless,
Mark Brown


What kind of things get you angry?  Tell us your story in the comments section.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Taking the Hard Road

Courtesy jerichoschools.org
Many times we equate difficulty with value.  The more effort we put into accomplishing a task, the more value we give to it.  However, that value system doesn't always apply to our spiritual life.

I recently have been experimenting with a different version of the Bible.  I decided to try a more easy-reading version than the one I have currently been using.  As I read the newer version, I found myself thinking that something must be wrong because of how easy it was to read it.  That got me thinking.  Can believing that harder is better take us down the wrong path regarding our spirituality?

Struggle a Part of Life

The Bible often speaks about struggles.  When Adam and Eve made their dreadful choice to eat the forbidden fruit, God said that their (and therefore our) lives were going to be filled with pain and struggles.  Later in history, God commended the patriarch Jacob for struggling with Him, and finally the writer of the book of Hebrews scolded the believers for not struggling enough.  It appears that struggle is simply a part of life, but what happens when we misapply this call to struggle?

Sisyphean Spirituality

Sisyphus, a character found in Greek and Roman mythology, committed a crime.  His punishment  was to roll a large boulder up a hill, watch it roll back down the hill, then roll it back up again, for eternity.  A "sisyphean" task therefore is one that goes on and on and accomplishes nothing.  Many believers throughout history have been practicing a sisyphean spirituality.  They try and try to be a better person, yet they don't get anywhere.  What is the solution to such a fruitless endeavor?

The Grace Solution

The words of a song sung by Larnelle Harris entitled "Were It Not for Grace" puts it well.
Were it not for grace
I can tell you where I'd be
Wandering down some pointless road to nowhere
With my salvation up to me
I know how that would go
The battles I would face
Forever running but losing this race
Were it not for grace
So if you find yourself "forever running but losing the race", take the time to learn more about God's grace.  More importantly, take the time to experience it for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

What has experiencing grace done for you?  Share your story in the comment section.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

[Book Review] Watching the War

Sometimes the importance of a situation prevents us from taking a big picture look at it.  In his book Watching the War, David B. Smith takes a big picture look the most important situation in the universe.

David B. Smith follows in the footsteps of  C.S. Lewis in this unorthodox view of what many call "the great controversy" or "the story of redemption", which begins with the origin of sin, and ends with its ultimate destruction.  Watching the War portrays this saga primarily from the perspective of Malachon and Pershia, rulers of the fictional planet Senteria.  Aside from giving the author a base from which to tell a story, what purpose does this change in view serve?

Perspective Increases Awareness

While Smith reveals that his personal intention for this perspective is an attempt to get answers for his many questions, another benefit comes as the result of this change; awareness.  Changing our perspective often makes us aware of aspects that we had previously overlooked.  An example from the book comes from the story the fall of Adam and Eve.  In this book Malachon and Pershia travel with God to talk with Adam and Eve, and Pershia gives an impassioned plea that whatever they do, they should not eat the fruit.

More Than Simply a Story

In addition to creative storytelling, Smith takes frequent breaks from the narrative to further unpack some of the concepts that occur in the story.  He draws from a variety of sources (including C.S. Lewis)  to help the reader understand these complex concepts, but he readily admits that he doesn't have all the answers.  At one point, in an attempt to explain how one Man's death on a cross can save an entire planet, Smith states that one doesn't have to know how it works, one simply has to know that it does work.

Conclusion

Many Christians may not learn anything new from this book, but you will be reminded of many important concepts including the most important concept of all, that God loves you.  This book can be purchased for a very reasonable price, and along with the limited amounts of paper copies available (see link above), you can also purchase a Kindle edition.  So what are you waiting for?  Pick your copy today.

What to do you think about this approach to explaining complex subjects?  Tell us your view in the comment section.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Losing Your Balance

Photo credit:  Melinda Sue Gordon/Sony Pictures
An interview with actor Brad Pitt highlighted an ongoing problem in Christianity.

Recently as I drove to meet my wife for lunch, I heard a familiar voice on the radio.  After listening for a few minutes I remembered that the voice belonged to the American actor Brad Pitt.

In the interview, being conducted by NPR's Terry Gross, Mr. Pitt recalled how Christianity made an impact on his early life, but also how he ultimately went away from it.  He said that there were "many other reasons" for his departure, but one of them that he chose to highlight caught my attention because it resonated with some of my experience with Christianity, and maybe it will resonate with you as well.  The reason can be explained in one word, exclusiveness.

The Balancing Act

Many balancing acts exist in Christianity, a key one being the balance between exclusiveness (being separate) and inclusiveness (being inviting).  The Bible speaks many times of the need for a distinction between believers and nonbelievers.  We read in the Old Testament section of the Bible where God and His prophets repeatedly tell the nation of Israel how and why it needs to be separate from the surrounding nations and their false systems of worship.

We also see the separation in the New Testament in many of the teachings of Jesus especially in the parables recorded in Matthew 25 (foolish vs. wise virgins, resourceful vs. lazy servants, sheep vs. goats). The apostle Paul spoke of separating from those who did not believe the truth; especially from those who had a superficial theology (as we will look at later in this post).  So the Bible states that a time and place exists for exclusivity, but what happens when this exclusiveness becomes unbalanced?

Why Don't They Get To Go To Heaven Then?

You have people asking questions like that one.  This question came from a young Brad Pitt as he struggled with Christianity.  The full quotation goes as follows.
"I was very curious about the world even at a young age, and I don't know at what point I became aware that other cultures believed in different religions, and my question was, 'Well, why don't they get to go to heaven then?' And the answer was always, 'Well, everyone gets a chance — meaning at the word of God as it was described to me then. And that didn't sit well with me then."
Many people have asked that question or at least have had a sense of uneasiness about the subject.  That group included me, at least until I discovered this passage in the book of Romans.
"For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life."  Romans 2-13-16 (NLT)
In this passage, the apostle Paul highlighted this concept as a way of contrasting the behavior of apparent outsiders (the Gentiles) with the proclaimed insiders (the Jews).  Key thoughts being that the Gentiles did not have to hear the law to fulfill its requirements, and that God will judge people by how they live, not by what they have heard.  So if such relatively plain texts exist then why do we still have the exclusive/inclusive argument, are we neglecting the root of the problem?

The Root of the Problem

Behind an imbalanced view of the exclusive/inclusive concept, a much deeper one exists; an incomplete picture of God.  Why do people have an incomplete picture?  They get it from His professed followers.  Followers of an inviting God often use religion as a barrier between God and those who want to come to Him.  They like things the way they are, and don't want any "sinners" to interfere with life as usual.  The very same problem that the Roman believers had centuries ago continues today with similar results, people hungering for something more are left feeling empty and isolated.  So how do we solve such a problem?

Solving the Problem

To paraphrase a popular saying, we need to be the change that we want to see in the world.  If we want a more balanced Christianity, we must ourselves be more balanced.  If we want Christianity to be more inviting, we need to be more inviting.  If we want people to have a complete picture of God, then we need to have one ourselves.  All this only comes from having a deeper relationship with God.

What incomplete picture of God did you once have or continue to have?  Share in the comments section.

Friday, September 23, 2011

[Featured Post] Worship As It Sometimes Is

This featured post comes from Michael Hyatt's Intentional Leadership blog.  It is funny yet sad at the same time.



Do you ever find yourself worshiping God and not really meaning it? This very funny video is a good reminder that we need to align our hearts with our words.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

[Book Review] Last Day Events

Courtesy lmn.org
Ever since Jesus left this earth thousands of years ago believers have been watching for Him to come back.  The long delay has caused many to lose sight of this vision.  The purpose of the book Last Day Events is to help people get that vision back.

 As the title of the book implies, Last Day Events covers what will happen prior, during, and after the second coming of Jesus Christ.  By no means does this book attempt to be an exhaustive source on the subject, and coming in at slightly over 300 pages roughly the size of my hand (other printings may vary in size), it simply cannot be one.  The main purpose of this book is to raise awareness, and it does that quite well. 

Comprised of paragraphs from many sources (which it gives at the end of every quotation) and categorized by general then specific topic, this volume can be read as a typical book or used as a quick reference guide.  (For example, you could look in the chapter entitled "Signs of Christ's Soon Return" and then find the subheading "Earthquakes and Floods").  I chose to read this book as a daily devotional, reading two or three subheadings (most are only a few paragraphs long) a day, but you can read it in whatever way works best for you.

However you chose to read this book, you should read this book.  It will inspire you and help you become more aware of what is soon to come upon us all.


Have you read this book already?  Tell us what you thought of it.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Going Nowhere Fast

Image: siraphat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 A lesson I have learned about time from using a GPS unit has spiritual as well as practical applications.

Someone once said that speed is the only truly modern sensation, and you don't have to look far to verify that statement.  The more modern a civilization, the faster we want to get places.  That's why we have made speed boats, high-speed trains, and supersonic jetliners.  Then, of course, let's not forget the automobile.

The first true automobile (a vehicle that could travel with passengers using its own power) was a steam-powered tricycle that traveled 2.25 miles (3.6 km) per hour.  Now we have modern production cars such as the Bugatti Veyron SS with a top speed of  267 mph (430 km/h).  Even the more recent emphasis on fuel economy has not deterred automakers from building electric race cars and hybrid supercars.  Even though we may not own such a speedy means of transportation, we often drive as though we do.  However, what do we actually accomplish when we go fast?  According to my experience with a GPS device, not much

The Illusion of Speed

For those of you unfamiliar with GPS (or Global Positioning System), GPS units receive signals from multiple satellites circling the planet then use some fancy math to determine the location and speed of the receiver.  A key element in automotive GPS units is the Arrival Time feature.  This feature uses information on the speed limits of the roads that you will travel to get from Point A to Point B, and gives a time when you will arrive at your final destination.  This time can be earlier or later depending on how fast or how slow you travel.  I discovered that in the only reliable way to make the arrival time earlier is to leave earlier, going faster makes little or no positive difference

Sure by going 10 or even 20 mph(km/h) faster you may gain a couple of minutes on your arrival time, but that gain quickly evaporates at the first red light, fuel stop, or encounter with law enforcement.  Aside from the potential criminal penalties, going faster burns more fuel and therefore increases the amount of money that literally goes up in flames (and you don't avoid that if you drive an all-electric car given this nation's penchant for using coal-burning power plants).  So by driving fast you feel as though you are accomplishing something, but that accomplishment is an illusion.  This principle translates well into the area of spirituality, but then the losses are much more serious.

Spiritual Speedsters

People, especially devout Christians, can be fooled into thinking that they need to make rapid spiritual progress in order to be a successful believer, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  The Bible often speaks about endurance and patience being positive traits.  The apostle John in the book of Revelation goes so far as to combine the two traits into the term "patient endurance"  In Jesus' parable of the sower, the seed that sprouted up quickly ends up dying off quickly representing believers who cannot endure persecution.


Rapid spiritual growth feels good.  We feel as though we are getting somewhere, that we are not being left behind.  However, like speeding in a car, it's an illusion.  This growth comes at a price.  We become unable to deal with unexpected troubles, and probably even more dangerous, we take the risk of becoming spiritually proud.  We tend to look down upon those who have not been growing so quickly, and we add condemnation to our superficial spirituality.  Our lives can quickly spiral out of control and if we come to our senses, it is only because we have hit rock bottom.

So do us all a favor and slow down.  Trust me, you will be glad that you did.


Have you had times that you paid the price for going too fast?  Tell us your story.

Friday, September 9, 2011

[Featured Post] Remembering September 11, 2001

This featured post comes from Ted N.C. Wilson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church  as posted on his new blog Presidential Perspectives.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

[Movie Review] Soul Surfer

Photo courtesy movieposter.com
Every once in a while I discover a movie that is worth my time and money.  Soul Surfer is one of those movies.

To state the obvious, I have decided to add movie reviews to this blog.  I will not have very many of them because I don't watch a lot of movies (anymore), and even fewer of them interest me enough to write about them afterwards.  Therefore, you will find no rating system of any kind (no stars, thumbs, or tomatoes).  I figure why promote bad movies when the good ones often don't get the attention they deserve, but enough of that, on to the review.

I have lived in southern California for a couple of years, and even more recently have moved to within a relatively short distance of the Pacific.  I have become acquainted with a number of people who have surfed at least once, some who surf occasionally, and a couple who surf a lot (they met while surfing, and were married on the beach).  With all this in mind, when I saw Soul Surfer advertised in a catalog and in movie vending machines (I missed it when it came out in theaters) it caught my attention.  Well that, and the fact that the movie involves someone who survived a shark attack.

The movie retells the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a rising amateur surfer who had her left arm radically amputated by a shark while surfing off the coast of Hawaii.  I vaguely remember hearing about Bethany (or at least seeing her picture) in the past but never read her story or her book.  This lack of knowledge may have helped me enjoy the movie more because then everything was fresh (well almost everything).

The movie does a good job of portraying the Christian aspects of the story, not going too far in either direction.  I've seen too many Christian-themed movies where the religious aspect seems tacked on or the Christian characters seem, well, non-human.  Soul Surfer portrays the Hamilton family and those connected with them as real people, not as plastic saints or bumbling buffoons.  They get angry, frustrated, sad, and don't have all the answers, but they move forward in faith knowing that something good can come out of something terrible.  Best of all, this movie does not exist to sell merchandise.  (A couple Christian movies come to mind that fit that category.  More about that in the future.)

The movie does fall into one trap, howbeit a small one.  The people who made the movie apparently go out of their way to contrast Bethany's main surfing rival to Bethany and her friend, Alana.  Bethany and Alana have long blonde hair and cheerfully walk around in bright colors while her rival has short dark hair, wears black, and only smiles for the cameras.  This could have been done differently, but didn't detract from the main theme of the movie.

Overall, this movie has something that could appeal to anyone, especially those who have dealt, or currently deal with, some sort of disability.  This movie may not sweep you off your feet, but after you watch it, you'll most likely will look at your own difficulties in a different light.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

The Secret Weapon

One can find many life lessons in the natural world.  A video I recently watched highlights one of these lessons.

I recently subscribed to the DiveFilm HD video podcast which has a collection of short ocean-related videos.  While all the ones I have seen so far have been good, "The Secret Weapon" video definitely falls into the category of educational litter.  See for yourself.  (If you want the HD version, go here.)



How can we use the lesson taught in this video?

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Who Cares?

Image: kairsjoy/photobucket
Few people will ever care as much about our projects as we do, but that's a good thing.

One important fact remains regarding whatever activities we do, whatever projects we work on, whatever dreams we have.  Few people will be as excited, as involved, as we are.  Why should they?  They did not come up with the idea, they didn't make the plans, they didn't put the blood, sweat, and tears into it like we did.  However, that should not discourage us from striving toward our goals. 

In fact, that should make us want to push even more. The lack of caring most likely means that we are on to something. That lack of caring may be God's way of telling us what direction we should go.  Our product, service, or work of art could fill a need and/or inspire people in ways that haven't been done before.

Don't let the masses tell you what you should or should not do.  Go forward into uncharted territory, into the great unknown.  As the words to a song go,
To hear with my heart,
To see with my soul,
To be guided by a hand I cannot hold,
To trust in a way that I cannot see,
That's what faith must be.

Have you ever stepped out in faith and been greatly rewarded?  Tell us your story.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Featured Post: What I Learned About Leadership from a Fight with My WIfe

This featured post comes from Intentional Leadership, a blog written by Michael Hyatt, Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers.  His goal is to "help people live and lead on purpose".


What I Learned About Leadership from a Fight with My Wife


Gail and I have been married for thirty-three years. She is my lover, my best friend, and my coach. But a few days ago we had a fight. It was a doozy.

A Husband and Wife Reconciling After a Fight - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/mediaphotos, Image #11553872
It’s not important what it was about. It was one of those issues we have stumbled over previously. But I will admit that it was my fault. I ambushed her and let it escalate beyond what the circumstances warranted.

Thankfully, it ended well. Primarily, because Gail was patient, refusing to react to my rant. This was enough to end what Emerson Eggerichs calls, “the crazy cycle.” (If you haven’t read his book, Love and Respect, you must do so. It’s the most practical book on marriage I’ve read.)

Weary—and feeling a little foolish—we asked one another’s forgiveness and restored the relationship.

As I was reflecting on that experience today, I thought to myself, How can we avoid slipping into this same conflict in the future. I wrote down five lessons I want to remember for the future.
  1. Clarify our expectations up front. Most conflicts are born out of a misalignment of expectations. In this particular argument, I had a set of unexpressed expectations that Gail failed to meet. If we had discussed them before the day began, we would have likely avoided the problem altogether. But, she didn’t know, because I hadn’t bothered to articulate them.
  2. Assume the best about each other. This is especially difficult in the heat of the moment. It is easy to impute motives. But, realistically, your spouse does not get up in the morning intending to make your life miserable. You have to give your spouse the benefit of the doubt, and assume that he or she is well-intentioned.
  3. Affirm the priority of the relationship. The most important asset you have as a couple is the health of your relationship. You don’t want to win the battle but lose the war. Near the end of our argument, I finally came to my senses. I said, “Honestly, I don’t know who is right or who is wrong. What I know for sure is that I love you and that trumps everything.” She quickly agreed.
  4. De-personalize the problem. When you square off against one another and make it personal, it gets ugly. If you are not careful, you end up cornering your spouse and leaving them no other option than to react or retaliate. Instead, you have to move to their side of the table, and work on the problem together.
  5. Listen more than you talk. When you get angry, it is easy to rant—to give expression to your emotion. This is almost never a good idea. Instead, if you want to be understood, you must seek to understand. (Thank you, Dr. Covey.) This means trying to see the other person’s point-of-view. Ask a question, and then ask a follow-up question.
What does this have to do with leadership? Everything. If you can’t lead yourself, you can’t lead others. And if you can’t learn to manage conflict with those closest to you, how can you manage it with those who have less of a stake in the outcome?

Question: What have you learned from conflict in your own marriage? You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Anatomy of Intensity

Mother Lioness via newtechtips.org
Feeling run down?  Does life seem to pass you by?  Maybe you need to be more INTENSE!  Today we'll look at the subject of intensity.  Can we generate it by force of will, or learn it in a classroom?  What does the word even mean?  This post looks at these questions and more as we dissect this often misunderstood concept.

Being from another part of the country than where I currently reside, I occasionally check the news from my home state.  Recently, I came across a video regarding a local football team.  In the video, two reporters commented on various players.  At one point they stated that player x should be more like player y, meaning one lacked the intensity of the other.  They then hoped that y could "pass along" his intensity to x.  This sparked a thought within me.  Can intensity be learned or must one simply be born with it?  This question got me started on a deeper look into this subject.

First we must ask the question "What does the word intensity mean?"

Dictionary Definitions

The Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary (a resource for those learning English) gives the following definition for the word intensity
1 [noncount] : the quality or state of being intense : extreme strength or force
the intensity of the sun's rays the intensity of the argument
2 : the degree or amount of strength or force that something has [count]
hurricanes of different intensities [noncount] The noise grew in intensity. [=the noise became louder] The sun shone with great intensity.
 I chose the Learner's Dictionary definition because of its simplified language as well as its illustrations.  What about other illustrations from nature?

Natural Intensity

An example of natural intensity from my own experience comes to mind.  Some years ago I visited a zoo which had a lioness with young cubs.  Part of the enclosure had transparent walls, and zoo employees had to put additional barriers on the people side because anyone coming too close to the wall would provoke an attack.  I stood well away from the enclosure, but when the lioness' eyes met mine I received the message loud and clear.  If there were no wall between us, my name would no longer be Brent Buttler, my name would be Dead Meat.  The intensity of her look foretold of the violent effort that she would put forth to defend her offspring, but can intensity be displayed in a nonviolent way?

Yes it can.

Nonviolent Intensity

Violent intensity comes to mind first because, let's face it, we live in a violent world, and many examples of violence exist.  However, when we look at the definition of intensity we see that it has to do with the strength of an object or activity rather than its violence.  This strength can also be applied to nonviolent actions and emotions.  An example of nonviolent intensity for me comes from a scene in the film Matthew from The Visual Bible series.  In this scene (starting at 1:38 in the video) Bruce Marchiano, portraying Jesus, looked at Matthew with such intensity that when He told him to "Follow Me" Matthew did so without hesitation.  Now one can argue that Jesus didn't have to learn to be intense, but what about the rest of us?  Can those who exhibit passivity become intense?

Yes,  but not in the way you may think.

Learning Intensity

From my observation and experience I have found that you cannot learn intensity in a classroom or from a book.  You can learn how an intense person acts, but true intensity has to be more than simply going through the motions.  A passive person becomes intense only through a relationship with an intense person.  So if you find yourself feeling run down and you see life passing you by, take the time to develop a relationship with the most intense Person you will ever know, Jesus Christ.

Think I'm on the right track, or do you think I'm way off the mark?  Let me know.  I look forward to your input in this matter.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Book Review: Faith That Works

Wanna make it into heaven, but don't know how to get there?  Morris Venden's book Faith That Works will tell you how, but don't simply take my word for it, read it for yourself.

According to an old saying one cannot judge the contents of a book by its cover.  While that may be true in many cases, by looking at the cover you can still get a good idea about what's inside.  When you read the back cover of this book, you will discover its theme.  Righteousness is not something you can achieve on your own.  It can only be achieved through Jesus.

When you look inside the book you will find that theme throughout.  This daily reader (one page for each day of the year) begins with pertinent title "What God is Like" and leads you on a journey into a deeper understanding of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Christian life until you arrive at the last title "Jesus, Your Best Friend".   My wife and I started reading this book most of the way through the year last year, but the effect remained the same.  Despite our growing up in Christian environments, we found ourselves being challenged and encouraged to take a deeper look at our views on a variety of subjects.

For example, one does not overcome temptation with clenched fists and gritted teeth, you simply get to the point where temptation has no power over you at all (you can find a more detailed explanation here).

Whether you're a lifelong Christian, or you aren't even sure what Christianity is all about, you will benefit from reading this book.  Can one find similar thoughts in other books?  Absolutely, but Venden's style of writing makes complicated topics easy to understand.  Many times while reading this book I found myself thinking, "Hmm, I never thought about it that way before."  Venden's passion for the subject matter practically oozes from the pages, and will draw you into wanting to know more about this being called God, and this man named Jesus.

Being over ten years old, this book should be easy to get for relatively little money (I got mine for free, not sure why the previous owner gave it up).  So, what are you waiting for?  Get yours today.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Book Review: The Jesus I Never Knew

Photo courtesy goodreads.com
Phillip Yancey challenges the reader to take a second, third, and fourth look at Christianity's most talked about, yet most frequently misunderstood, subjects; the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Yancey starts off this book with his first encounter with the concept of Jesus.  A scene not too unfamiliar to those who grew up in a Christian environment.  Since I fall into that category, I can identify with it as well.  I used the word "fall" almost unconsciously, but it fits so well.  As children, we don't have much control over where we go, what we do, or what type of home we grow up in.  With our undeveloped skepticism, we believe whatever comes from the mouths of those in authority regardless of its truthfulness.  Sadly, as we grow older, we discover that those in authority have not been completely honest with us.  This was the case with Philip Yancey.

Yancey grew up believing Jesus to be one who had "no sharp edges at all--a Mister Rogers before the age of children's television."  Those of you who did not grow up in the United States, or simply did not watch "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" most likely will not be able to fully grasp the power of that illustration.  As one who watched the program extensively growing up, I know exactly what picture Yancey tried to portray.  Mister Rogers was the ultimate nice guy, and his show followed his personality.  In researching for this post I came across the program's opening theme, something I hadn't seen for a very long time, and I couldn't help but feel a warm sense of peace as I watched it.  Young Philip felt that same peace thinking about Jesus, the problem being that was where his concept of Jesus ended.  As Yancey grew up his concept broadened, sometimes exponentially, and this book details what he discovered about this Man Who was God.  What did Yancey discover?

Yancey found out that Jesus is more than we think He is, and when you think you have Him figured out, something else comes along that completely contradicts what you first thought.  Jesus lived a life of apparent contradictions: the Sinless One Who was a Friend of Sinners, powerful men and evil angels would cower in His presence or simply run away, yet little children and outcast women were drawn to Him, and never wanted to leave His side.  A friend of mine described Jesus as a "human magnet", a fitting description indeed for those were seemingly His opposite were drawn to Him, yet those who were seemingly His equal were repulsed.

While other books exist about Jesus' life that I would place in higher esteem (namely one in particular), The Jesus I Never Knew helped to remind me that simply because we have learned something as a child doesn't necessarily make it true, and that we should keep our minds and hearts open to God's leading.  For although we most likely will have to give up long cherished ideas, the new ones that we accept will be much, much better.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Featured Post: Corporate Identity and God's Blessing

This featured post comes from Ted N. C. Wilson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church via the Adventist News Network.

Commentary: Corporate identity and God's blessing

Church membership and leadership must unite to receive latter rain
Luke tells us twice that the disciples were of one accord as they prepared for the outpouring of the early rain (Acts 1:14; 2:1). The fact that he would mention it twice suggests that unity within the church is a very important step in preparation for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. There is an aspect to unity presented throughout Scripture that is seldom recognized or addressed in our church -- the role of corporate identity.

First of all, look at an example of corporate identification and then at two aspects of this phenomenon, which are crucial in the preparation for the latter rain:

First, the example: God made it absolutely clear that the Israelites were not to take any spoils for themselves in Jericho's fall and that the silver, gold, and the bronze and iron vessels were consecrated to the Lord (Joshua 6:18, 19). But Achan stole 200 shekels of silver, a wedge of gold and a Babylonian garment (Joshua 7:21). God's anger burned against Israel, and in the next military engagement, Israel lost 36 men and suffered a shameful defeat. When Joshua cried out, "Why, Lord?" the answer was short and to the point: "Israel has sinned" (Joshua 7:11). The whole nation suffered and men lost their lives because one Israelite disobeyed -- corporate identity.

Now, two illustrations that impact directly upon our plea for the latter rain:

First, when the 12 spies returned to give their report about the promised land, Caleb and Joshua were positive and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it" (Number 13:30). However, the 10 spies said they could not take the land because there were giants in it and they felt like grasshoppers. The nation believed the 10 and turned against their leaders who were positive that God would fulfill His promise and give the land to them. God's response? Back into the wilderness for 40 years. Moses, Aaron, Caleb, Joshua, and those who supported them had to return to the wilderness because of those who refused to believe God's Word -- corporate identity.

The second illustration takes us to the time of Jesus. Now the roles are reversed. The common people of Israel were flocking to see and hear Jesus. They were bringing their sick to be healed. There was a growing belief among them that Jesus was the promised Messiah but not so among the leaders. They were jealous of Him and plotted His death. During His trial, Pilate asked, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar" (John 19:15).

Concerning the priests' attitude, Ellen White says, "Thus by choosing a heathen ruler, the Jewish nation had withdrawn from the theocracy. They had rejected God as their king. Henceforth, they had no deliverer. They had no king but Caesar. To this the priests and teachers had led the people. For this, with the fearful results that followed, they were responsible. A nation's sin and a nation's ruin were due to the religious leaders" (DA, pp. 737-738) -- corporate identity.

In the first illustration the leaders suffered because of the rebellion of the people. In the second illustration the people suffered because of the rebellion of the leaders. God deals with us individually when it comes to our own salvation. But God deals with His people as a corporate group when it comes to carrying out His instructions for the advancement of His work.

What is the lesson to be learned?

God deals with His church today as a corporate body. If we are to receive the latter rain power of the Holy Spirit today, the body and the leadership must be on the same page. God has been ready for years to give His people the latter rain. He has been waiting for us to get ourselves together. If we would only press together in seeking the promised power, pray for each other and stand united, shoulder to shoulder, the power would be given, the work would be finished quickly and we would enter the kingdom soon. It will happen and the glory will be given to God alone.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Problem Solved

Image: nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Despite the enjoyment problem solving brings, we need to remember that we never solve problems completely on our own.

I recently solved a software-related problem with my laptop.  Naturally, I felt good about getting the problem out of the way, especially considering I put a decent amount of time and effort into finding and implementing a solution.  With this success came the temptation to think that I had solved the problem on my own without any outside assistance.

My line of thinking soon changed when I realized that although I did not actively ask for help, my solution came from knowledge I had received from someone else.  Someone who posted a solution on a website.  Someone who had more knowledge about the situation than I did.

Even if I had not consulted a source other than myself, Someone did help me solve that problem.  As it is written,
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:16-17
 So next time you're tempted to think too highly of yourself for solving a problem, remember that you didn't solve it on your own, Someone was there helping whether you realized it or not.

Lost in Our Own Home

"The Lost Drachma" by James Tissot
Courtesy Brooklyn Museum
When God looks for us sometimes He doesn't have to go very far to find us.

In my last post, I wrote about a story involving God looking for someone who has wandered far away.  Today's story involves a similar scenario, but with a twist.  The searcher doesn't have to go far to find that which was lost, but that doesn't make the search any easier.

This story involves a woman should have ten pieces of silver, but only has nine.  She knows that the silver pieces have never left the house, so the missing one must be around somewhere.  No doubt we can identify with her situation in one way or another.  At one point or another we have lost something in our own homes; something valuable, i. e. our keys.  We know that they are in our home somewhere because the car is here and we are inside, but for the life of us we cannot find them.  The situation often becomes more intense by the fact that we need to go to an appointment, work, or some other time-sensitive engagement.  We leave "no stone unturned" as the saying goes, in our search for our missing item.

In the story involving the woman she has no appointment to go to, but she still desperately needs to find that silver piece.  She lives in a time and place where women received a dowry, and she wishes to pass these silver pieces on to her daughter, all of them.  An incomplete set simply will not do.  The loss of even one of these pieces would be a serious problem.  The poverty in which she lives only serves to compound her anxiety.  So she cleans the entire house looking for this piece of silver, and great rejoicing comes as a result of her finally finding it.

One of the main differences that exist between this story and the one with the lost sheep is that the sheep knows it's in trouble.  It knows it has done/is doing things that aren't right.  It knows that it needs help; needs to be found.  On the other hand, people represented by the piece of silver think that they are doing alright.  They often profess to be believers in God, and may be quite active in their respective churches, communities, etc.  They may also be out there "in the world" and have become desensitized to their true need of God.  They think these ways while all the time living under the same roof as faithful believers.

People in this category often receive harsh treatment, the religious ones being called "hypocrites" and being used as an excuse by those in open rebellion as the reason they rebelled.  The non-religious ones often receive the label "lost cause" and people do not even try to reach out to them.  We need to be crystal clear that these people have as much value and need to be sought after as much, or even more than, those who have openly gone away from God.  One author put it this way.
"The coin, though lying among dust and rubbish, is a piece of silver still. Its owner seeks it because it is of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin, is in God's sight accounted precious. As the coin bears the image and superscription of the reigning power, so man at his creation bore the image and superscription of God; and though now marred and dim through the influence of sin, the traces of this inscription remain upon every soul. God desires to recover that soul and to retrace upon it His own image in righteousness and holiness"  Christ's Object Lessons pg. 194
This simple truth remains, God loves everyone, even those who have no feeling, no real sense, that they walk the wrong path, and in order for these "coins" to be found we need to have that same love for them in our hearts.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Looking for You

"Seeking the Lost Sheep in the Mountains"
courtesy La Vista Church of Christ
God is looking for you, even if we don't think we are worth the effort.

There is one fact that I want you to be perfectly clear about, and that is that God loves you.  We have heard people say a lot about God loving the world (if we hear even that much), and often lose sight of the fact that He loves us as  individuals.  It doesn't matter what we have done, or even what we are doing right now, He still loves us; loves me; loves you.

Many stories exist that, in one way or another, try to illustrate that love.  The one I read most recently involves a man who owned some sheep, a hundred of them to be exact.  Now at the end of the day when he brought all the sheep in from grazing, it seems as though one was missing.  He counts again, and sure enough, only ninety-nine sheep.  He could have thought that it was too much trouble to go out into the darkness to find this one sheep.  He could have thought that the lost sheep will get what it deserves for wandering away.  He could have thought up so many excuses not to go out, but instead he chose to look for that one lost sheep.

A storm started to brew, but that did not deter him.  It only served to increase the earnestness of his search.  Despite the darkness of the night and the danger of the path, he searches until at long last he hears the faint sound of his lost sheep.  He can tell that if he doesn't get to it soon it will be too late, and with great joy he at last finds it.  He doesn't scold or punish the sheep, but rather takes it in his arms and brings it to the place of safety.  It didn't matter what the sheep had done, he was simply glad to bring it home.

One writer put it this way
"Desponding soul, take courage, even though you have done wickedly. Do not think that perhaps God will pardon your transgressions and permit you to come into His presence. God has made the first advance. While you were in rebellion against Him, He went forth to seek you. With the tender heart of the shepherd He left the ninety and nine and went out into the wilderness to find that which was lost."  Christ's Object Lessons pgs. 188-189
One of the greatest lies going around is the one that states that we have gone too far, committed too many sins to be loved by a holy God, but that could not be further from the truth.  However far we have gone, He will go even farther to bring us to Him.  Don't worry about trying to fix yourself ahead of time, simply allow yourself to be found, and He will find you because He is looking for you.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Spiritual Hotspotting

Can an innovative approach to dealing with people's physical health translate into the spiritual realm?

I recently watched a relatively short (13 min) video about a doctor named Jeffrey Brenner in New Jersey who has taken upon himself the task of dealing with the sickest people in his city of Camden.  He found these people through analyzing medical billing data and by doing so mapped out "hot spots" where people incurring the highest medical costs lived.  He developed the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers as a means of helping improve these people's lives.  While innovation is definitely needed in the healthcare system, should we implement such innovation in our dealings with people's spiritual lives?

First off, how would we determine people's level of spirituality?  Dr. Brenner found his high cost patients through analyzing medical billing records.  Similar records showing spirituality simply do not exist.  Sure, we could go such organizations such as The Association of Religion Data Archives and find all sorts of data on religious attendance and adherence, but as we probably all know, a high level of spiritual health and regular church attendance do not always go together.  We could go to the impoverished, high-crime areas in hope of finding those with the greatest spiritual need, but as I mentioned in a previous post, Jesus did not have many positives to say about the spiritual health of rich people.  Simply put, it is virtually impossible to get an accurate picture of someone's spiritual health by focusing on the externals.  Sure, a man who systematically abuses his wife is definitely not one who has a high level of spirituality, but Jesus made it quite clear in His famous Sermon on the Mount that it is what is on the inside that matters most to God.  So, since our lack of the ability to accurately determine spiritual health (even, oftentimes our own) prevents us from spiritual hotspotting, what about the One Who is able to accurately determine spiritual health, does He target only high-need individuals?

No, and Yes.  Jesus was the best representation of how God deals with people, and we read about Him dealing with everyone from the profligate Samaritan woman to the well-behaved Nicodemus.  God does not demonstrate a favoritism in regards to how He deals with people.  So, then where does the "Yes" come from?  The "Yes" comes from the fact that "all have sinned" and therefore all need to be saved.  "All" means "all", from the person who systematically commits open sins, to the person whose sinning resides only between their ears, nobody can save themselves, and therefore everybody need a Savior.

So if the temptation comes to deal with the spiritual needs of only a specific group, remember "hotspotting" may work for the physical life but does not work for the spiritual life.

Featured Post: Clutter and Newton’s First Law of Motion

This Featured Post comes from Erin Doland's blog Unclutterer, which "is the blog about getting and staying organized. A place for everything, and everything in its place is our gospel."

Clutter and Newton’s First Law of Motion

When uncluttering your home and office, chances are you’ll come across many objects you’ve thought about getting rid of dozens (maybe hundreds) of times, but never did.

For example, I’m allergic to Neosporin, yet I found six tubes of it when we were packing up for our move. I had regularly looked at those tubes in different parts of our house over the years — the medicine chest, the emergency kit in the kitchen, the medical kit in my gym bag — yet I didn’t get rid of them whenever I saw them and thought, “I should get rid of those.” I’m also not very sure how we came to own the ointment. My best guess is that my husband brought a couple into the house, maybe one or two came with a packaged medical kit, and one could have been left here by someone else.

In the case of the Neosporin, and all clutter, I believe Newton’s First Law of Motion can explain how it lingers for years in our spaces. An object (clutter) will stay at rest until a force (motivation) of equal or greater value acts upon it. The thought, “I should get rid of that,” is not a force of equal or greater value than the clutter. As unfortunate as it is, thoughts cannot move clutter. We can’t wish away our unwanted objects. We actually have to do something about them physically.

The other case of Newton’s First Law also applies here. An object (me) will continue in motion until a force (motivation) of equal or greater value acts upon it. Usually when I would see the Neosporin, it would be because someone or myself was injured. I was on a path to take care of the injury, not stop and deal with clutter. Then later, when maybe I thought about the Neosporin again, I could have been on a path to a meeting or to make dinner or to relax and watch a movie with my family. The motivation to clear the clutter wasn’t equal or greater than whatever else it was I wanted to be doing.

The only way to deal with the clutter in our lives is to break the patterns of inertia and muster up the motivation to do something about all the stuff we don’t want or need.

Surprisingly, the best way to create force (motivation) of equal or greater value to change the course of our clutter is to simply acknowledge that we have the power (velocity) to change the situation. After we think, “I should get rid of that,” the next thought should immediately be, “and to get rid of it I have to take action, now.” Then, take the action to get rid of the object. (Unless, of course, you’re dealing with an emergency. Deal with the emergency and then come back when you’re on a path to watch television or something equally benign.) Knowing that the object will not move itself and requires a force to act upon it can go a long way in helping you to clear the clutter you encounter regularly in your life.

It can be helpful to have five boxes in your laundry room or at the base of your closet when you’re just getting started on this process. Have one box for items to be returned to other people, a second box for items you wish to sell or Freecycle, the third box for charitable donations, the fourth should be a trash can, and the fifth box a recycling bin. When you come across a piece of clutter, pick it up and carry it to the closet. Decide which of the boxes is most appropriate for the piece of clutter, and then go back to whatever you were doing. When one of the boxes is full, deal with the items in all of the boxes. Take out the trash and recycling, drop off items to charity and to friends, and list the items you wish to sell or Freecycle.

The easier your system to handle clutter, the less force (motivation) it takes to get the unwanted objects (clutter) out of your home.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Red Monkeys

As in many things in life, some keys to dealing with temptation are so obvious we tend to overlook them.

I have been reading through the book Faith that Works by Morris Venden (a full review will come sometime next month), and it has gotten me think about many topics.  Recently, the book has been talking about temptation, and it has reminded me of aspects related to temptation and sin that have been logged in my memory and were gathering dust on the shelves of my mind.

I remember back in high school, a teacher of mine was trying to convey to the class the perils of over-thinking about a task.  The teacher told the class a story about red monkeys, and said whatever we do, do not think about the red monkeys.  The concept was that the more you try and not think about something, the more you actually think about it.  I remember one of my classmates saying that she wouldn't think about the monkeys, and she didn't regardless of how many times they were mentioned throughout the class period.  Now what do red monkeys have to do with temptation?

Simple, she couldn't care less about the red monkeys.  They were of no interest to her, and hence she was not tempted to think about them.  Now if the teacher had told the class not to think about what we were going to have for lunch, and it was the last period before noon, then it might have had some effect especially if the aforementioned student had skipped breakfast. Temptation works in much the same way.

For example, I am not tempted to get involved in insider trading, especially the illegal variety (it wasn't until today that I realized that there was a legal way to do insider trading, shows how much I know on the subject) because I am not even close to being in a position to even consider it.  However, I may be tempted to eat that second piece of cake even though I could easily do without it.  The point being that the strength of a given temptation is directly related to our exposure to, and choices regarding, whatever object, action, or way of thinking is tempting us.  So then, how can we be free from the temptation, and, more importantly, the sin that can result?  The answer is quite simple, yet often difficult to implement.

We need to come to the point where we couldn't care less about whatever is tempting us.  How does that happen?  Do we simply grit our teeth and make the right moral choice when confronted by something tempting?  For many people that answer to that question would be a simple "Yes", but by doing so they would be walking into a very dangerous trap.  The trap of doing things with our own power.

Now if even Jesus, the Son of God, did not do things on His own, what hope do we have of succeeding on our own?  The only way to ward off temptation's power is to be so closely connected with God, so intensely focused on what He focuses on, that we couldn't care less about those temptations.  If we do that, we will even go beyond not caring and get to the point where those temptations are repulsive.  The words to an old hymn say it well.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
So when we find ourselves confronted by temptations, think more about Jesus, less about ourselves, and by all means, do not think about the red monkeys.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Featured Post: "Why wasn't I informed?"

This featured post comes from Seth Godin who is an accomplished writer, speaker, and entrepreneur (bio here).

"Why wasn't I informed?"

 

Information is tricky. Sometimes it's delivered to you. Often, you need to go find it.
There's no blame in not being aware of something you had no idea you ought to be looking for. If you've been using the same brand of aftershave for five years, you're forgiven for not Googling it regularly to find out if it contains a carcinogen. That's information we'd like to come find us, not something we need to be on the alert for.

On the other hand, I'm stunned when someone enters new territory without doing a modicum of research. Consider the yutz who goes on vacation to a foreign land, only to discover on arrival that they're in the middle of monsoon season (happens every year around this time!) or that there's a civil war going on.

Or perhaps the small businessperson who launches an expensive marketing campaign without investing a few hours in reading up on what works and what doesn't.
 
Or the email novice who forwards an incredible email to her entire address list without checking Snopes first.

The rules are now clear: no one is going to inform you, but it's easier than ever to inform yourself. Before you spend the money, the time or the attention of your friends, look it up.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Divine Hitman

The Death of Jezebel
Courtesy Orientalism in Art
Truth may not always be stranger than fiction, but it can be as dramatic.

The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’”
   “What do you have to do with peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.”
   The lookout reported, “The messenger has reached them, but he isn’t coming back.”  2 Kings 9:18

As I am reading through the Bible, I am constantly amazed at how many great stories exist in the Old Testament.  Those who neglect that portion of the Scriptures miss out on many stories involving colorful characters.  Jehu is one such character.  There are two Jehus in the Bible, the first one, Jehu son of Hanani, was a prophet, and while I'm sure that he had an interesting life, the one I'm talking about is Jehu the son of Nimshi, who was a military leader who became king of Israel.

Jehu son of Nimshi comes onto the scene during the time when Elijah was the main prophet in Israel.  Shortly after the Mount Carmel experience, God gives Elijah a "to do" list which involves anointing two kings and his prophetic successor.  Apparently, Elijah didn't complete the list before being taken to heaven, so we find Elisha being the one to set Jehu's reign in motion.

I'm not going to retell Jehu's entire story (which you can read in 2 Kings 9-10), but I will say that his story reads like some sort of action movie (hence the provocative title for this post).  After being anointed king by an anonymous young prophet described as a "maniac", Jehu, formerly a military commander, becomes the leader of what amounts to a death squad hunting down and eliminating all those connected with the now-deceased evil king Ahab and the worshipers of the false god Baal.

One of my favorite parts of this story shows that there was something special about Jehu (if I was making a movie, this clip would be in the trailer).  As he was approaching the hideout for number one on his hit list, Ahab's son Joram, Joram sends out a messenger to see if Jehu has come in peace, and as all good action-movie stars go, he has definitely not come in peace.  Jehu had such a way about him (I would compare him to Leonidas of Spartan fame), that with two short sentences (see text above), he convinces not one, but two of Joram's messengers to switch sides and fight against their former leader.

After eliminating Joram and Ahaziah, Jehu goes after the prophet-killer Jezebel, Ahab's widow.  What happens next says something about both Jehu and Jezebel.  When Jezebel heard that Jehu was on his way, she did her hair and put on makeup, and stood by a window waiting for him.  When he arrived she asked him if he came in peace (you know the answer to that question), and once again, with a few words, Jehu was able to convince some on the other side to do his bidding.

The remainder of the story involves more action as Jehu makes his way through his divine hit list (incidentally, nobody after this point asks if he came in peace), and God commends him of his services even though Jehu didn't get everything right.  While I am not advocating the glorification of bloodshed, I'm writing about Jehu's story for the purpose of getting people to pay more attention to the entire Bible.

So if you take the time and read some of the great stories of the Old Testament, you will find that the truth in the Bible can be as interesting as the fiction you'd find elsewhere.