I remember listening to another teacher speak of a meeting with a student, completely disruptive to the learning process and officially labeled "emotionally disturbed." Mom and Dad had lawyered up (mom would later work for me when I was a principal), so the meeting was full of lawyers for the district and the student, and included administrators of special education, the campus administrators, parents, the student, and teachers. During the three hours of deliberation, the student looked at the assistant principal and called her by her first name. The school's attorney stopped the meeting and looked directly at the student and stated, "We will go no further until you refer to her as Mrs. _____." The student and his father objected, but the lawyer had drawn the line. The student's attorney said, "Please John (student), let's call her by her proper name." The student reluctantly agreed.
As you read that, you probably had two thoughts. First, do schools have those kinds of things going on all the time? My answer to that would be that was the 1980s, so given the distance in time, our litigious society has made some things very difficult. Secondly, your other thought was, "The nerve of that kid." Sorry, we had paddling back then and kids like that still existed.
John (the student) had no respect for school personnel (and probably little respect for mom, dad, or anyone else), and he certainly feared nothing. I note that today even more so. There is little fear with regard to adults in the education process, and consequently, it translates to respect.
Yet we witness it in church as well. We've been told that the word "sin" makes some uncomfortable, too legalistic, and in our own congregation, we've heard the confession of sin at the start of each service seems so "yesterday." Some have even gone to find other churches because of that. I'm reminded of Joseph Heller's book, "Catch 22," in which one segment has atheists talking about not believing in God, but they go on to debate that if they did believe in a God, here is the kind of God we'd believe in (the book is about bomber pilots in WWII, so the discussion is a comedic side bar by Heller).
Let's negotiate the kind of God we believe in and let's set the parameters about God and how we perceive him. Yet God's Word speaks clearly about God. Proverbs speaks clearly that the cornerstone of wisdom starts with the fear of God (Proverbs 1). Christ himself speaks uncompromisingly about unrepentance. "I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you (the unrepentant of Chorazin and Bethsaida and assuredly the unrepentant among us)." (Matthew 11)
"If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." We confess our sins before God and seek his forgiveness out of fear, awe, respect and reverence for our God and the love He gave us by pouring out his Son's blood for our redemption.
Hope Men's Ministry
Monday, November 30, 2015
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Devotion 11.30.15
In week 12 of college football, Ohio State, a ranking team and perennial powerhouse, lost to Michigan State by a field goal. What followed was a rant by Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott openly questioning Urban Meyer's game plan. My thought as I read about this was, "Gone are the days of Vince Lombardi, Darrell Royal, Tom Landry, and other coaches who coached without compromise." As one story goes about legendary coach John Wooden of UCLA basketball fame, Bill Walton once questioned the team's shaving policy. Wooden said (paraphrased), "You obviously are mature and have brought the question to me. That's to be commended, so I will be glad to provide a great reference to you as you seek a new team."
The modern day athlete is his or her own organization and can Tweet their thoughts as part of (Athlete's Name) Inc. Within seconds it can be on the 24/7 sport's news/websites/blogs. I know your thoughts, because I have heard them from most men, and they are the same as mine. "These young punks just don't know respect. They should be told to hit the road." But, as Jim Walsh, school lawyer and presenter likes to say in his presentations on school law, "Got a call one day from a superintendent. He said he had a head coach hit the principal. I asked, 'What's his record?'"
It's not just in athletics. It is in life. The president used to be respected because he was the president. There are pictures of a war-time FDR at the desk with the press surrounding it. They wouldn't take pictures of him in his wheel chair and they would hold stories if he asked. There was a film clip I saw of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley interviewing JFK, and in the raw footage, they asked if he would like to change anything he said before they put it on the news.
We've done the same with God. We really no longer fear our Lord. We've minimized him, compartmentalized him, and in effect, look to anything other than Him for solutions. We pick and choose the meaning of his Word and how it applies to our lives. We ask if God is such a loving God, would these kinds of things happen, so we shape him in our image to make him more loving, open to our interpretation of what He says and means. Sometimes I think we believe we have grown so impressed with our own thinking that we seem to view God as someone who has been given a term limit with the date open to when we need Him. "Sorry God, you're not God today, I am." And as John notes in 1 John, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us," so no one escapes limiting God in his own mind.
God is still God. Solomon saw his father, and himself, deny God and take on their own wisdom rather than God's. So, in the introduction of Proverbs, the stated purpose is, "To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight." (1:2) He then states directly, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction." To fear God is to put him in the realm worthy of worship and honor. The note in the study bible says, "He desires His people to regard him in awe, respect and love."
Yes, I can respect God, but I have a fear of him and his greatness that puts that respect in a proper perspective. Pray that we seek to understand the fear of God as God desires from us and that we seek to respect the relationship of God and creation. We also thank God for his forgiveness, as again we turn to 1 John and read, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Hope Men's Ministry
The modern day athlete is his or her own organization and can Tweet their thoughts as part of (Athlete's Name) Inc. Within seconds it can be on the 24/7 sport's news/websites/blogs. I know your thoughts, because I have heard them from most men, and they are the same as mine. "These young punks just don't know respect. They should be told to hit the road." But, as Jim Walsh, school lawyer and presenter likes to say in his presentations on school law, "Got a call one day from a superintendent. He said he had a head coach hit the principal. I asked, 'What's his record?'"
It's not just in athletics. It is in life. The president used to be respected because he was the president. There are pictures of a war-time FDR at the desk with the press surrounding it. They wouldn't take pictures of him in his wheel chair and they would hold stories if he asked. There was a film clip I saw of Chet Huntley and David Brinkley interviewing JFK, and in the raw footage, they asked if he would like to change anything he said before they put it on the news.
We've done the same with God. We really no longer fear our Lord. We've minimized him, compartmentalized him, and in effect, look to anything other than Him for solutions. We pick and choose the meaning of his Word and how it applies to our lives. We ask if God is such a loving God, would these kinds of things happen, so we shape him in our image to make him more loving, open to our interpretation of what He says and means. Sometimes I think we believe we have grown so impressed with our own thinking that we seem to view God as someone who has been given a term limit with the date open to when we need Him. "Sorry God, you're not God today, I am." And as John notes in 1 John, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us," so no one escapes limiting God in his own mind.
God is still God. Solomon saw his father, and himself, deny God and take on their own wisdom rather than God's. So, in the introduction of Proverbs, the stated purpose is, "To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight." (1:2) He then states directly, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction." To fear God is to put him in the realm worthy of worship and honor. The note in the study bible says, "He desires His people to regard him in awe, respect and love."
Yes, I can respect God, but I have a fear of him and his greatness that puts that respect in a proper perspective. Pray that we seek to understand the fear of God as God desires from us and that we seek to respect the relationship of God and creation. We also thank God for his forgiveness, as again we turn to 1 John and read, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Hope Men's Ministry
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Thanksgiving Prayer 11.26.15
Pray a prayer of thanksgiving today for:
God, the Father - the creator of life, who breathed life into man and all living things
God, the Son - who gave his life and rose so that we may have eternal life
God, the Spirit - who gives us our faith in Christ
We thank God for life, mercy, grace and faith.
We thank God for our life and the gifts of this life. We thank God for our loved ones, our wives who are a part of us and are with us through good and bad. Our children and the privilege of being fathers, teaching faith and aspects of life to our children such as discipline, right and wrong, good and bad. Our parents who gave us all they had and all we needed, perhaps more. Our extended families, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins - all of whom play a role in creating who we are here on earth. Our friends who shape us and support us.
We thank God for our families and friends.
We thank God for the church where we go to worship God and strengthen and renew our faith. We thank God for his Word, given to learn and to teach and to take to heart and use daily. We thank God for our servants who give of themselves in a call from God to bring us God's Word, mercy, grace and forgiveness and who deliver the sacraments to us to receive and strengthen our faith. We thank God for the opportunity to use his church to take his Word to those who do not know his Word and to serve those in our community. We thank God for the fellowship given with our fellow disciples.
We thank Christ for creating the church and giving us our mission and purpose.
We thank God for our skills which help us fill our needs. We thank God for giving us our vocations in life to provide for our families and fill their needs as well. We also thank God for living in abundance in order to have the ability to share generously to others who may be in need.
We thank God for all we have which came from him.
We ask that God be with us and continue to watch over us, and we are thankful for his love, mercy, grace, and the gift of life and eternal life.
Hope Men's Ministry
God, the Father - the creator of life, who breathed life into man and all living things
God, the Son - who gave his life and rose so that we may have eternal life
God, the Spirit - who gives us our faith in Christ
We thank God for life, mercy, grace and faith.
We thank God for our life and the gifts of this life. We thank God for our loved ones, our wives who are a part of us and are with us through good and bad. Our children and the privilege of being fathers, teaching faith and aspects of life to our children such as discipline, right and wrong, good and bad. Our parents who gave us all they had and all we needed, perhaps more. Our extended families, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins - all of whom play a role in creating who we are here on earth. Our friends who shape us and support us.
We thank God for our families and friends.
We thank God for the church where we go to worship God and strengthen and renew our faith. We thank God for his Word, given to learn and to teach and to take to heart and use daily. We thank God for our servants who give of themselves in a call from God to bring us God's Word, mercy, grace and forgiveness and who deliver the sacraments to us to receive and strengthen our faith. We thank God for the opportunity to use his church to take his Word to those who do not know his Word and to serve those in our community. We thank God for the fellowship given with our fellow disciples.
We thank Christ for creating the church and giving us our mission and purpose.
We thank God for our skills which help us fill our needs. We thank God for giving us our vocations in life to provide for our families and fill their needs as well. We also thank God for living in abundance in order to have the ability to share generously to others who may be in need.
We thank God for all we have which came from him.
We ask that God be with us and continue to watch over us, and we are thankful for his love, mercy, grace, and the gift of life and eternal life.
Hope Men's Ministry
Monday, November 23, 2015
Devotion 11.24.15
A Thanksgiving Devotion
I was fortunate enough to have been the child of a World War II veteran, and I was fortunate enough to have family that served in Europe and the Pacific as part of their World War II service. The war re-shaped our world and realigned countries. The men and women who were part of that generation knew what it meant to come together, united with one voice, and accomplish something great. They went on after that conquering space, disease, attempting to fight hunger and poverty, and eventually ending the communist threat in the Cold War. In short, they made the US a great nation including devotion and faith to God as part of that greatness among their generation.
My experiences with my own father and others is that it was rarely talked about. When we went to Minnesota, my uncles and dad talked about life as it was at that moment and didn't reminisce about the war. Their behavior is what said that they literally fought for what they believed. At the big parade in Austin, Minnesota on the 4th of July, we stood every time a flag came by. We went to the Vet's club, as they called it (Veteran's of Foreign Wars), and they all greeted each other and enjoyed one another's company. Big band music filled the air as did laughter, cigarette smoke, and such. No talk of politics or the state of the world.
So, I have begun reading George Bush's biography and believe I now understand why that generation was the way they were. His comments, taken down and used by Jon Meachum (who has written about Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson), note the notion of service to country and duty that shaped that generation. From Bush's diary, notes after losing to Clinton reveal that inner-dialog that probably occupied those men's minds. Sad about losing, especially to Bill Clinton, Bush reflects: "I still feel that there is a disconnect....honor, duty, and country...it's just passe' (to Clinton's and the newer generation). The values are different now, the lifestyles, the accepted vulgarity, the manners, the view of what's patriotic and what's not, the concept of service. All these are in the hands of a new generation now, and I feel I have the comfort of knowing that I have upheld these values and I live and stand by them. I have the discomfort of knowing that they might be a little out of date."
So, Bush's inner-thoughts played out after a loss state the thoughts of a generation that saw life changing on them in 1992. 32 years before that, Bush's generation talked of the "torch passing" to a new generation (JFK's inaugural address). The institutions that had incubated those ideals in the 20th century had changed in those 30 years, including the church.
What ideals do we want for our own children and the next generation? How do we intentionally teach them? How do we live them? Paul writes, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:32 - 33) How are such concepts taught and lived?
I give thanks that I witnessed a generation that knew how to stand united to accomplish great things. I give thanks that I witnessed their service after the sacrifices they made in life and time. I am thankful that we, as Christian men, seek ideals to teach the next generation and hopefully reach beyond our own lifetime to other generations. At Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for, including our trials as believers. We give thanks to God that he has given us the abundance that we have and has met our needs in many ways. We pray we are content with what we have, and we pray that the foremost give we give thanks for is the gift of grace and love from Christ.
Hope Men's Ministry
I was fortunate enough to have been the child of a World War II veteran, and I was fortunate enough to have family that served in Europe and the Pacific as part of their World War II service. The war re-shaped our world and realigned countries. The men and women who were part of that generation knew what it meant to come together, united with one voice, and accomplish something great. They went on after that conquering space, disease, attempting to fight hunger and poverty, and eventually ending the communist threat in the Cold War. In short, they made the US a great nation including devotion and faith to God as part of that greatness among their generation.
My experiences with my own father and others is that it was rarely talked about. When we went to Minnesota, my uncles and dad talked about life as it was at that moment and didn't reminisce about the war. Their behavior is what said that they literally fought for what they believed. At the big parade in Austin, Minnesota on the 4th of July, we stood every time a flag came by. We went to the Vet's club, as they called it (Veteran's of Foreign Wars), and they all greeted each other and enjoyed one another's company. Big band music filled the air as did laughter, cigarette smoke, and such. No talk of politics or the state of the world.
So, I have begun reading George Bush's biography and believe I now understand why that generation was the way they were. His comments, taken down and used by Jon Meachum (who has written about Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson), note the notion of service to country and duty that shaped that generation. From Bush's diary, notes after losing to Clinton reveal that inner-dialog that probably occupied those men's minds. Sad about losing, especially to Bill Clinton, Bush reflects: "I still feel that there is a disconnect....honor, duty, and country...it's just passe' (to Clinton's and the newer generation). The values are different now, the lifestyles, the accepted vulgarity, the manners, the view of what's patriotic and what's not, the concept of service. All these are in the hands of a new generation now, and I feel I have the comfort of knowing that I have upheld these values and I live and stand by them. I have the discomfort of knowing that they might be a little out of date."
So, Bush's inner-thoughts played out after a loss state the thoughts of a generation that saw life changing on them in 1992. 32 years before that, Bush's generation talked of the "torch passing" to a new generation (JFK's inaugural address). The institutions that had incubated those ideals in the 20th century had changed in those 30 years, including the church.
What ideals do we want for our own children and the next generation? How do we intentionally teach them? How do we live them? Paul writes, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:32 - 33) How are such concepts taught and lived?
I give thanks that I witnessed a generation that knew how to stand united to accomplish great things. I give thanks that I witnessed their service after the sacrifices they made in life and time. I am thankful that we, as Christian men, seek ideals to teach the next generation and hopefully reach beyond our own lifetime to other generations. At Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for, including our trials as believers. We give thanks to God that he has given us the abundance that we have and has met our needs in many ways. We pray we are content with what we have, and we pray that the foremost give we give thanks for is the gift of grace and love from Christ.
Hope Men's Ministry
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Devotion 11.18.15
Today we focus on the simple truth of Christ as our source of strength.
While the world may burden us and make us feel low, Christ is our strength. While the news of the day may distract us and create worry, Christ is our strength. While our own business with work, family, issues and problems, and other items that occupy our minds consume us, Christ is our strength.
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippian 4:13
Hope Men's Ministry
While the world may burden us and make us feel low, Christ is our strength. While the news of the day may distract us and create worry, Christ is our strength. While our own business with work, family, issues and problems, and other items that occupy our minds consume us, Christ is our strength.
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippian 4:13
Hope Men's Ministry
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Devotion 11.18.15
Where do you go for answers? In the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," the young George Bailey is confronted with a situation. He realizes the pharmacist, Mr. Gower, has accidently put cyanide into the pills. When trying to ask Mr. Gower, he slurs his words, telling the boy to go away and make the delivery. He sees the telegram with the sad news of the death of his son at war, and Mr. Gower, dealing with the grief, has turned to the bottle. George's mind is clearly thinking, "What to do?" and when he sees an sign ad in the malt shop, it says, "Ask Dad..." He now knows what he must do, ask Dad.
Where do you go for answers? We are confronted with situations daily. Rick Warren notes in "The Invisible War" that some are trials or tests allowed by God or created by God to strengthen us. At other times they could be temptation, from within, this world, or by Satan himself (Genesis 3 or Matthew 4). In either situation, where do you go for answers?
In John 7:68, Peter confesses, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." God's truth, the answer to the test or the trial, is right there. As Mark 13:31 notes, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Earthly ways always promise an answer, but Gods' Word is permanent, a place to go. Deception is part of our temptation too. A promise to an easier route, separate from the truth as Warren states. In Numbers 32, God warns of falling for such deception by saying, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out." (23) God gives us his truth in his Word and we should know that truth. So, when tested or tempted, also know that what we do cannot just impact ourselves. Proverbs 14:13 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
So, when trials and temptations are in front of us, know we can turn to God's truth, his Word, and ask that he give us the strength to choose His way in our lives, not ours (or the world's).
Look today at situations you may have in front of you. Seek God's truth in those situations. Seek God's answers through prayer or Christian counsel. And, as Warren says classically, "Ask for God to give you the patience to wait in His waiting room, and not yours."
Hope Men's Ministry
The Invisible War. Rick Warren, 2014
Where do you go for answers? We are confronted with situations daily. Rick Warren notes in "The Invisible War" that some are trials or tests allowed by God or created by God to strengthen us. At other times they could be temptation, from within, this world, or by Satan himself (Genesis 3 or Matthew 4). In either situation, where do you go for answers?
In John 7:68, Peter confesses, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." God's truth, the answer to the test or the trial, is right there. As Mark 13:31 notes, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Earthly ways always promise an answer, but Gods' Word is permanent, a place to go. Deception is part of our temptation too. A promise to an easier route, separate from the truth as Warren states. In Numbers 32, God warns of falling for such deception by saying, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out." (23) God gives us his truth in his Word and we should know that truth. So, when tested or tempted, also know that what we do cannot just impact ourselves. Proverbs 14:13 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
So, when trials and temptations are in front of us, know we can turn to God's truth, his Word, and ask that he give us the strength to choose His way in our lives, not ours (or the world's).
Look today at situations you may have in front of you. Seek God's truth in those situations. Seek God's answers through prayer or Christian counsel. And, as Warren says classically, "Ask for God to give you the patience to wait in His waiting room, and not yours."
Hope Men's Ministry
The Invisible War. Rick Warren, 2014
Monday, November 16, 2015
Devotion 11.17.15
How big is a fine line? We hear that all the time, "There's a fine line between...." Sometimes, we hear it when we are talking about right and wrong. What color is that fine line? In sports, it is usually a line about three inches defining the boundary and it is white chalk (baseball and football) to let us know when the play is out of bounds. Keeping with that analogy though, I think the color is gray and that the line is about 30 feet wide. Listen to us, as fans, and the analysts on the coverage: doubt, challenge, and speak about the entire moral depravity of the call ("That call cost them the game!!"). I don't need to give you examples. You already know them.
What kind of lines do we have in life? Where is the boundary between right and wrong? God gave us clear lines, but as in sport, we treat them as negotiable. Look at Genesis 3 when Satan comes to the Garden, man and woman living in perfection, and introduces his speech with, "Did God really say?" (3:1) Even in perfection, we learn man was weak. "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and that you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (3:4 and 5) You know the rest of the story.
Suddenly there is gray. Gray, long and deep. Where did that clear line go?
It is my humble opinion as someone who has waded into too much gray that I've become drab as a category of race/ethnicity. White. African American, Hispanic Non-white? No, Gray. My sin-filled eyes see dilemma. God sees right and wrong. My sin-filled heart sees a decision. God sees his clear path as spelled out in his Word. My sin-filled mind justifies. God's Son is my only true justification.
At times like that, when I'm seeing gray, I know to turn to God's Word and to God in prayer to help me stay out of the swamp called Gray. It was available to Adam and Eve, and it is available to me. Satan holds no power over me. Christ gives us the power and the ability to turn Satan away.
We pray we stay out of the gray. We pray we turn to Christ in prayer and in his Word when the gray approaches.
Hope Men's Ministry
What kind of lines do we have in life? Where is the boundary between right and wrong? God gave us clear lines, but as in sport, we treat them as negotiable. Look at Genesis 3 when Satan comes to the Garden, man and woman living in perfection, and introduces his speech with, "Did God really say?" (3:1) Even in perfection, we learn man was weak. "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and that you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (3:4 and 5) You know the rest of the story.
Suddenly there is gray. Gray, long and deep. Where did that clear line go?
It is my humble opinion as someone who has waded into too much gray that I've become drab as a category of race/ethnicity. White. African American, Hispanic Non-white? No, Gray. My sin-filled eyes see dilemma. God sees right and wrong. My sin-filled heart sees a decision. God sees his clear path as spelled out in his Word. My sin-filled mind justifies. God's Son is my only true justification.
At times like that, when I'm seeing gray, I know to turn to God's Word and to God in prayer to help me stay out of the swamp called Gray. It was available to Adam and Eve, and it is available to me. Satan holds no power over me. Christ gives us the power and the ability to turn Satan away.
We pray we stay out of the gray. We pray we turn to Christ in prayer and in his Word when the gray approaches.
Hope Men's Ministry
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