James Duggan 2/24/36 – 4/30/09

I've had a challenging week. Spiritually and emotionally that is. Thursday (the 24^th) would have been my dad's 75^th birthday and I have been in reminisce mode all week. I am a lot like my dad – in some good ways and I guess in some bad ways too.

We shared a love of sports, especially baseball. Not many sons have a good experience being coached by their dads, but I recall mine being good. Later I had the privilege to coach with him. In fact, I believe the last time I played golf was when we played together. Every time we were together the conversation always migrated to whatever sport was in season, and, of course, how we would be a better coach, manager, or executive than those employed by our favorite teams.

My dad was a strong man, in body and will. He was a steady provider. Like every father – son tandem we butted heads often as I grew up, but the older I got the wiser he got. In the end, we enjoyed what I believe to be a great relationship. I love my dad and even though almost 2 years have separated us from his passing, I still miss him very much.

As I thought about my dad this week, I thought about the things he taught me and the things (good and bad) I picked up from him. The most important and the one for which I am most thankful, however, is that my dad left me a spiritual heritage. A Bible always occupied the table by his chair and he made sure to read it most nights before he went to bed. My dad and mom took (not sent) us to church faithfully, and they ensured our family received a solid biblical training. They sacrificed greatly so I could go to a Christian school, receive a Baptist (at least nominally) college education, and graduate studies to prepare me for a lifetime of church ministry. On two separate occasions, my dad escorted me on the long drive to seminary only to return home alone. I still feel the emotion of both of those times.

My dad believed in Jesus through thick and thin. No pseudo-intellectual could shake his faith. No life experience could cause him to turn back. Others in his family waxed and waned in their belief, but he remained steadfast. He served faithfully in various positions of lay leadership until the nature of those positions drifted so far from spiritual significance that they became a waste of spiritual attention. That was his character. If it wasn't authentic and genuine, he would just as soon not be involved. I gladly follow in his footsteps. I will NOT turn back.

My reflections this week have led me to thanksgiving to my heavenly Father for giving me my earthly father. I hope I made him proud and I hope I leave for Bekah the legacy of spiritual strength he left for me. May all who come behind me find me faithful.

Psalm 78:1-7

¹ Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
² I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
³things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
⁴We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

⁵He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
⁶that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
⁷so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments.

Obliviots

I love neologisms. A neologism is a newly coined term, word, or phrase slowly making its way into mainstream language. My favorite neologism of late is obliviot, someone who is oblivious to his surroundings and makes an idiot of himself. Unfortunately, if I am not careful, I become a spiritual obliviot and miss God when He comes to me in the almost unnoticeable details of life.

Consider Moses as he was going about the daily routine of herding his father-in-law's sheep just as he had done for 40 years. Not much changed in the daily scenery or schedule for a 15^th Century BC sheepherder. Then, suddenly, one day, something peculiar caught his eye. He almost missed it, but he didn't.

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."
– Exodus 3:1-3

What if Moses had not noticed this phenomenon? What if his profit margin had been foremost in his heart? What if, in boredom or frustration, he had been daydreaming of a better job? What if Moses had missed God?

Of course, contrary to what Open Theists tell us, God knew what Moses would do. God created Moses for this important task and he was part of God's certain plan to redeem His people. What of us, however? How many times do we miss God each day because we are not looking for Him? What if that schedule "interruption" is actually divine initiative as God positions us so He can use us in someone's life? What if we slowed down to notice the grandeur of God's creation all around us and recognized Him in our day? What if God is trying to come to us in a gentle breeze, a child's laughter, or a "chance" encounter (if there were such a thing)?

Let me encourage you to look around you today and look for God to show up. We understand from His Word that His presence is inescapable (Psalm 139:7-12), but today, tune into that presence and look for God to reveal Himself to you in some ways. There is an old saying, "The devil is in the details." Although I loathe bogging down in details, I do not believe that saying is true. On the other hand, often God is in the details of our lives, lurking quietly hoping someone will notice Him and enjoy the blessings of His revelation for that day and time. Open your eyes; you don't want to miss anything.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. – Ephesians 5:15-16

Who Cares?

I have tried to write this blog for about two weeks and can never manage to organize my thoughts just right. I think maybe I am over thinking it. Now, the burden is just too heavy and I need to get it out. For this reason, I am just going to ramble a bit and hope you will follow.

In Georgia, one of the political "hot buttons" this year is the legalization of Sunday alcohol sales. Many have spoken and written from both sides of the issue. While I agree that the Bible does not categorically state that is wrong to drink an alcoholic beverage, I do believe firmly that the Bible presents a very strong case for abstinence on several ground. That is another blog for another day, however. I also am concerned that the arguments in favor of Sunday alcohol sales, by the religious as well as the secular, rely solely on the perceived pragmatics of the issue. That, too, is another blog for another day…probably the next blog.

A larger issue than just alcohol and its Sunday sales burdens me. I am concerned with the overall attitude of my Christian brothers and sisters that whatever does not affect ME doesn't matter. This attitude is on display not just over the alcohol issue ("I'm not going to buy it any day of the week, so why should I care when it is sold,"), but also over our seeming lack of concern for the spiritually lost, economically poor, and otherwise disadvantaged. This attitude is wrong on several counts.

First of all, as we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we become more like Him. Jesus certainly cared for the plight of those around Him who were hurting. How many times do we read in the New Testament that Jesus sacrificed His personal time, energy, and resources to meet the needs of others, even when He was humanly exhausted? Shouldn't we follow the example of our Master and concern ourselves with what affects those around us?

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." – Matthew 9:35-38

Second, Jesus clearly told us we ARE the salt of the earth. While we use salt primarily as a seasoning, in Jesus' day salt was the primary form of preservation for meats and other goods. People used salt to prevent spoilage. Note that Jesus did not say we should BE the salt of the earth, but that we ARE the salt of the earth. He clearly assigns to us the role of doing all we can to prevent the moral and social decay of our day. We have a mandate from Him to stand FOR what is right and AGAINST what is wrong, even if it doesn't directly affect us.

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. – Matthew 5:13

Finally, the belief that what does not directly affect me does not matter is fallacious. Our lives are uniquely and intricately interconnected. What is bad for society as a whole is bad for me and what is good for society as a whole is bad for me. We do not live in a vacuum. No matter how hard we might try to isolate or separate ourselves from our surroundings, we still live in a cultural context and deal with that cultural context on a daily basis. The better the world in which we live, the more pleasant our life becomes.

O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. – Psalm 97:10

So, Christians, I am calling us all to be more concerned with what goes on around us. Let's do all we can to challenge our culture toward excellence, including and especially moral excellence.

Crud Season

'Tis the season. Bekah has suffered from an ear infection that has produced a nasty cough for about the last two or three weeks. Andrea has what may turn out to be the flu. While we are at it, I am not feeling so well myself. I am all stuffed up and have a scratchy throat. Yes, "Crud Season" is in. "The Crud" as it is called is highly contagious. So also is a bitter spirit. Consider a warning from the Bible:

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;– Hebrews 12:14-15

A negative and bitter spirit is highly contagious and spiritually detrimental. Hebrews refers to it as a root springing up out of the ground. Bitterness starts beneath the surface where no one can see it, but it doesn't stay hidden for long. You can just look at a bitter person and see it written all over their face, and eventually their words and actions will spew the mucus of bitterness everywhere they go. This particular weed of discontent not only causes trouble for the carrier but it also "defiles many." If we are not careful, we can allow people around us who are negative to infect us and turn our otherwise healthy spirit into a congested, negative mess.

The advice experts give us to lessen our odds of catching "The Crud" can also give us some help to avoid catching the "Bitterness Crud" from others. The best line of defense against germs is to avoid infected people. I think that is sound spiritual advice as well. When others come to you to complain about their church, their pastor, their Sunday school, or whatever, just stop them. Tell them you don't want to hear it. There is a difference in compassionately listening to someone's troubles verses giving them an outlet to pass on their poison and gain momentum for their "cause."

The experts also encourage us to wash our hands often to keep germs away from us. Again, this is great advice. Think about it. Doctors and nurses touch sick people all the time yet seldom succumb to the same bugs they treat. How can they work in the middle of microbe hell and never be singed by its fire? They wash their hands all the time. They treat the sick without becoming one of them. We are called to be compassionate toward those who are hurting and to do all we can to help them, but we must be careful never to take ownership of their offense. When others come to us with their negativity, we help them heal not by encouraging their negativity but by helping them find positive ways to cope and deal with their hurt.

Then also consider the benefit of keeping your immune system at peak performance levels. Essential vitamins and herbs are beneficial in strengthening our body's self-defense against germs. So also, we need to nurture our souls with some vital spirit strengthening resources -infusing our minds with God's Word, fortifying our spirits with regular meaningful prayer, and cleansing our hearts with honest confession of sin. The best treatment for the "Negativity Crud" is prevention. When all is well with our soul, the Bitterness Bug will not survive and thrive.

It's cold and flu season right now, but we are susceptible to bitterness and negativity at anytime. Protect yourself, it's germy out there.

Does Your Life Stink?

I once heard of a prank perpetuated by some kids on their grandfather. He took daily naps on the sofa, naps that were so deep nothing would awaken him. During one nap they smeared some Limburger cheese on his mustache and waited for him to awaken. Soon he did, with a sniff, and declared, "This sofa stinks!" He then moved to the LazyBoy where again he declared, "This chair stinks!" He tried every room in the house only to find that they, too, stunk. Finally, he went outside to get some fresh air, and when he took a deep breath, he declared, "The whole world stinks!"

Unfortunately, that story repeats daily in the lives of some people, only figuratively. With bad attitudes, they declare that everything in the world stinks – their job, their circumstances, their church, their pastor. They look at a situation or a person and view it as bad, yet almost everyone else sees it differently. All the while, the stink was actually right under their nose, following them everywhere they go. They ARE the stink.

Our attitudes determine how we view the world around us, and the good news is we control our attitude – it is a choice. Proverbs 23:7 tells us as a man "thinks within himself, so he is." Our attitude actually BECOMES our reality. So, how can we change our attitude and thereby change our reality?

First, we need to change the contents of our thoughts. If somehow Limburger cheese is under our nose, we need to wash our face. Philippians 4:8 is a good guideline for the kinds of thoughts that will help us maintain a good positive attitude: thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. When we fill our mind with the right kinds of thoughts, it leaves no room for the negative thoughts. We can change the way we view our reality by changing WHAT we think.

Additionally, we need to change our influencers. The people around us either lift us up or bring us down – and the direction we are going is often deceiving. Sometimes we think people are making us feel better by commiserating with us, but in the end, they are only helping us dig deeper into the pit of negativity. 1 Corinthians 15:33 teaches us that "bad company corrupts good character." Rather than lifting others, too many times we allow them to drag us down. If your friends are negative, chances are you will be too. If your friends are positive, they will lift your spirit and help you attitude.

If we change what we think, and change who influences our thoughts, chances are we will begin to see our reality in a fresh new light. Things are not as bad as we think they are, nor nearly as bad as others try to tell us they are. So, wipe the stinky cheese off your face and face the world with a new attitude.

A Not So Stupid Question After All

What is the stupidest question you have ever heard? Are you the one who asked it? I am afraid I have offered my share of idiotic interrogatives. Every one of us probably has a story of how we were totally oblivious to the obvious and asked a clueless question. But what about Jesus? Could it be possible that He could offer a seemingly off-base question? Obviously, the answer is a resounding NO, but there was this one time He did ask what seemed an overly obvious question to a man in dire need.

You can read the entire story in John 5:1-9, but I will summarize for you. While in Jerusalem on the Sabbath of a Feast Day, Jesus passed by a place called Bethesda (click on picture for article) where those who were physically infirmed gathered around a pool hoping to be healed. The superstitious tradition of the day was that an angel from heaven would descend at a certain time and stir the water. The first person into the pool after the water was "touched by an angel" received full healing. Imagine a scene with hundreds of handicapped men and women congregating every day, hoping to be the one fortunate enough to be the first one in the water. I imagine that anticipation had given way to desperation as most of those gathered had given up hope of ever making it to the water.

Jesus encountered a man who had lived 38 years with a debilitating infirmary and asked a question that was either insensitive or highly intuitive: "Do you want to be healed?" Most of us would expect an answer something like, "Well, duh! Why do you think I am here?" The man's answer, however, appears even more incongruous that the question – in fact, he never really answered Jesus' question. The man responded, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Rather than responding in faith to the prospect of hope inherent in Jesus' question, the man chooses to make excuses and assign blame to others. To the man, his lack of healing was no fault of his own, he was merely a victim of circumstances and the thoughtlessness of others.

Let's bring Jesus' question to your life. What if Jesus asked you today

Do you want your marriage strengthened?

Do you want your finances organized?

Do you want your broken relationship restored?

Do you want victory over a besetting sin or addictive habit?

What would be your answer? Too many of us would say, "Well, yes, of course I do, but it will never happen. I've done all I can do, but it takes two to tango." Or maybe, "Sure I would love to, but it's not going to happen. It's beyond my control."

Jesus told the man to get up, roll up his bed, and set about his way ... walking … on foot … healed. No angel, no pool, no one to help him into the water. Trust in the healing power of Jesus and obey Him.

So when will we stop making excuses? When will we stop blaming others? When will we dive into God's Word, seeking His instructions and accept our personal responsibility to act. When will we stop waiting for others to come to our rescue and begin obeying the One who has provided our escape? When will we reach down with our own hands, take up our own bed, and walk away in faith and obedience from whatever "infirmity" has us bound?

I Need to Shrink

In the 1989 Disney movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Rick Moranis plays Wayne Szalinski, a nutty professor type who is working on a secret invention – a shrinking machine. The machine is a little overly powerful and rather than shrinking things, it actually causes them to explode. That is, until the neighbor's baseball flies through the window and into the path of the shrinking machine.

Szalinski forgets to tell his kids about the invention and then one day, they and some friends sneak into his lab and inadvertently shrink each other. Not seeing them, Szlainski sweeps them out with the trash and they are left to fend for themselves in their own backyard – now a gigantic jungle to them. Finally he discovers what has happened and gets things put back to normal setting up a series of sequels.

I came across an old favorite Bible verse that reminded me of that movie, and of my need to stand in front of the shrinking machine. The context of the verse finds John the Baptist teaching on a hillside one day about the coming of Jesus – the One who sandals he was not worthy to unstrap. In John 3:30, he makes this statement about Jesus: "He must increase, I must decrease." What powerful words!

Have you ever noticed how self-focused most of us are? We feel as though we are entitled to make sure our opinion gets heard, our needs get met. We go to great lengths to make sure we get vindicated and that we get things off our chest. We insist on our way, and our view of reality is the only acceptable one. We have managed to make sure that we are looking out for Numero Uno!

The trouble with that is that we are not supposed to be number one . . . Jesus is – that is if He is our Lord. John was on to something. It mattered not how he was treated, only that the message of Jesus went out. Paul stated it this way:

"I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." – Galatians 2:20

Then again:

But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
- Galatians 6:14

If we are Christians, we have been crucified with Christ. HE lives through us, not us living through Him. We exist to serve Him in this world. Neither Christ nor this world exists to serve us and provide us a platform to promote our own interests and ourselves. Let's put all of our "stuff" in the background of life and bring His agenda to the foreground.

Where Do You Brush Your Teeth?

How many things do we do for no other reason than we have always done them? One day, while brushing my teeth, I walked out of the bathroom to the bedroom where my daughter was sitting on my bed watching TV. "Daddy, you can't brush your teeth out here," she said. When I asked why not, she replied, "Because you have to do it in the bathroom." When I asked why only in the bathroom, she said, "Because you can't do it out here."

In our lives, so much of what we do is so mundane and repetitive that we lose sight of the reason we do it. In fact, it seems we do them because if we don't do them, they will not be done anymore.

An old story made its way around the email circuit awhile back claiming that U.S. Railroad tracks were the width they were because of English locomotive makers, who based their standard on old tram rails, who based their standards on mule and cart paths who based their standard on ruts in the old Roman empirical roads. While the story is based mostly on fictional premises, a sliver of truth still shines through: we are creatures of habit. Stated again, we do things because if we don't do them, they will not be done anymore.

Contrast that sentiment to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 9:17:

"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved."

For some reason we long for God to do a fresh work in our lives, yet we give God nothing new into which He can pour new blessings. We pray the same prayers from memory, we sing the same songs giving little thought to the meaning of what we are singing, we perform the same religious rituals without considering their meaning - we do things because if we don't do them, they will not be done anymore.

If God is to pour out His Spirit and power in our lives in fresh ways, then we need to provide Him some new wineskins into which he can pour. If we are to experience this fresh touch from God it will be poured into hearts that are willing to serve in new ways, see through different eyes, and stretch to new heights. Our lives will become new wineskins when we are willing to move out of our comfort zones and stretch our faith with new challenges.

I have to ask myself the question, "what new wineskins am I ready to make available to God?" I have grown weary of going through meaningless motions and doing things because if I don't do them, they will not be done anymore. I am ready for new challenges, new experiences – I am ready to sing to Him a new song. I want to brush my teeth somewhere besides the bathroom.