The Guardian

Imagine you are a car thief in Washington D.C. You have targeted a particular car to steal. It’s parked in a dark place on the street. You have checked all around to make sure there is no one around to witness your crime. You have cased the area and know the owner will not be back for the car for a long while.

You break into the car, and are about to go to work on the ignition to hotwire it. However, you notice something move out of the corner of your eye. You stand up to investigate. You are now sense that something is wrong.

DCs Guardian

Suddenly, a figure begins coming into sight. You’re not sure exactly what it is, but it is not a common pedestrian. The figure is coming right at you! Only then, do you begin to see the details of a man, but it is no ordinary man.

This man is dressed in blue pants, with bright red boots. He is wearing a red leather jacket that has a blue front emblazoned with white stars. Red gloves cover his hands, and a blue mask with darkened eyes covers his face. He is also wearing some kind of utility belt, with who knows what, in it. You choose to not stick around to find out more about this crazy man in a superhero outfit. You decide the car isn’t worth the trouble and run!

Is this a page from a comic book or superhero movie? No. This is real life. The mysterious man is known in the Washington D.C. area as the DC Guardian. Underneath the jacket he wears a bullet-proof vest, and he “patrols” the streets of DC at night to ward off crime.

In a recent interview with National Public Radio, The DC Guardian said that most of the time, he never has to fight. He remarked that most criminals simply sun when they see him. He also stated that he wears the costume, which he calls a uniform, to call attention to what he is doing. Not for notoriety, but to call attention to the criminals.

He told of one incident where he saw a drug deal happening in broad daylight. He said there were lots of people around, but they were ignoring it. However, when he began to approach the men who had the drugs, the people on the street began to stare to see what he was doing. Then the people became aware of the drug deal, and the dealers ran. To quote the DC Guardian, “Evil doesn’t like light.”

Phoenix Jones

He is not the only one. There are a number of communities who have their own real-life superheroes. Another example is a man who wears a rubber suit and mask in Seattle. He is known as Phoenix Jones. All of these people keep their true identities a secret, but you can be sure the criminals know who they are and stay away.

We have such a “superhero” in God. He has delivered us from the ultimate enemy. He has defeated sin, death, hell, and Satan. He is our rescuer. David wrote many Psalms in praise of that fact, but Psalm 18 is one of the best.

This week I encourage you to think about all of the things that seem to close in on you. Maybe you are unsure of your job, or are unemployed. It could be that your marriage is failing. Perhaps you or family members or friends are gravely ill. Maybe your children are living a rebellious life. Whatever the issues are in your life, God is there. He may not make it all go away, like the DC Guardian or Phoenix Jones, but unlike them, He is always there. You can trust Him with your problems, frustrations, celebrations, joys, and your whole life. He is your true guardian and He loves you very much.

As you think about those things that plague you, commit to reading Psalm 18 this week. Pray before reading it that God will open your eyes, heart and spirit to hear His words and help you to apply it to your life. Read it each day, and know that if David, who saw much adversity in his life, can say these words, they can be real for you also.

The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name. (Psalm 18:46-49)

The Truth

Most of you know that before I was a pastor, I was a banker. However, you may not know that before I was a banker, I was a buyer and sales manager for a store in Greenville, SC that sold high-end furniture, home accessories, handmade rugs, and other types of floor coverings. In addition to the products, we also offered interior design services.

Because of the design service we offered, we did a large number of special orders. The delivery time on most wood furniture pieces was 4-6 weeks and 6-8 weeks on upholstered pieces. However, sometimes there was a glitch somewhere along the way, and it could take longer.

Such was the case with one client. One of the designers came into my office with an upset client. She was angry because a set of dining chairs that she had ordered were taking a very long time. It had been almost nine weeks since the chairs were ordered. The client was very upset and was blaming the designer for being slow in ordering the chairs or not placing the order at all. I assured her that I would find out where the chairs were and call her back.

The sales representative from that company was a friend, so I called him. He was astonished that we had not received the chairs and told me he would call me back with some information before the day was over. He kept his word, but I was not prepared for his answer.

He told me that the chairs were imported. They were made of mahogany and hand carved in the Philippines. He affirmed that our designer had placed the order correctly, and that the order was in their system. So, with a little indignation in my voice, I asked, “So, where are my chairs?”

He replied, “Stacy, you’re never going to believe me. The chairs are at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean somewhere between the Philippines and the U.S. The cargo ship that was carrying them sank. We placed a new order for the chairs about three weeks ago, so you should have your chairs in a week or two.”

If he had not been such a good man and a friend, I would not have believed him. Now my problem was having to tell my client, and expecting her to believe me. As it turned out, she did, and everything was fine.

Imagine what would have happened if the “sinking ship” story had not been true. What if I suspected that the company was lying to me? What if I threatened to pull all of our business with the company? Do you suppose they would continue to lie? What if I walked into the office of the company’s CEO, put a gun to his head and threatened to kill him if I didn’t get the truth? Would he continue to lie? Probably not.

Jesus told his disciples and a number of others that he was going to suffer and die, but that He would be raised on the third day. However, many of them didn’t want to accept that it could happen or didn’t believe Him. Everything happened, though, just as He said.

He was executed and buried, but then rose on the third day. After His resurrection, He spent 40 days with His friends. He touched them and ate, walked and talked with them. They knew that this was no ghost. He was alive!!

From the best evidence we have, we know that all of the twelve disciples, except for John, died violent deaths. Some were tortured, but all faced death. All they had to do was renounce their “story” about Jesus’ resurrection. They refused. Not one of them reversed their position. They were willing to die because they knew Jesus had risen, and they would not have done so if the resurrection was a made up story.

Is the resurrection true in your life or is it simply a story you like to believe? Have you faced the cross and accepted the reality that the blood shed there was for you, or have you written it off as folklore? Does the empty tomb prove victory for you or does it point to an ancient conspiracy?

The account of the death and resurrection of Jesus is very real. He is alive and by His resurrection, we have eternal life as well. Whether or not we choose to ignore or disbelieve the truth, does not affect the truth. I could have chosen to not believe that a ship sank, but it would not have changed the fact that twelve dining chairs are still at the bottom of the ocean. Accept the Truth of Jesus Christ and live a blessed life on this earth, and an eternal one in Heaven!

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah. (Acts 2:32 & 36 NIV. From Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost)

Who's Driving?

Some of you may have read the poem that begins, “A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million. It depends on whose hands it's in.” The rest of the poem goes on to talk about other sports stars who add value to ordinary things because they know how to use them. The poem then turns to a more serious subject. The last few lines read, “Nails in my hands might produce a bird house. Nails in Christ Jesus' hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends on whose hands they're in.”

Many people pride themselves on how “in control” they are of their lives. They brag about their accomplishments, who they know, how much money they make, and how well their children turned out. Some of them even call themselves, “self-made.”

However, Christians are called to do the exact opposite of this. We are called to turn our entire lives over to Christ. We are to empty ourselves of our own desires, wants, and needs, and completely trust God with everything we have. After all, He created us, and knows far better than we, how our lives should be lived and what we are capable of in His kingdom.

I’m reminded of a news story from several years ago, in Germany. Tuncer Yilmaz was a cab driver in Berlin. One day, Yilmaz picked up a fare who was in a huge hurry. He had just flown in from Switzerland and was on a tight schedule to meet a dog breeder in the town of Gesuelz. He was going there to buy a puppy from the breeder and needed to get back home quickly.

The passenger decided that Yilmaz was not driving fast enough on the way back to the airport and asked if he could drive. The cabbie allowed him to, because he had recognized the young man. The fare he had picked up was Michael Schumacher, who is arguably the F1 series winningest race car driver.

When Schumacher took the wheel of the cab, the ride was a completely different experience. Yilmaz was quoted as saying, "It was sheer lunacy. He took the curves with full speed, but you couldn't even notice it. He just knows how to do it." He also said that he would never forget the ride.

Michael Schumacher knew how to handle the car. He made a living driving and pushed the car to its limits. He made the cab do things that Yilmaz never dreamed it would do. It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Physicians tell us that we only use from .01% to 10% of our brain. However, if we placed it in God’s hands, what could the one who created it do with it? We have no idea what we are capable of, and how effective we can be for God’s work on earth, until we give Him all that we have.

If we will give Him our life, our marriage, our job, our children, our will, our future and our past, He will take it and make it into more than we have ever dreamed we could do or be. Our lives, in our hands, is simply a mess. In God’s hands, it is a powerful tool for Him. Give Him your all today. You will never forget the ride!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV)

Buckaroo!

My family loves to play games. When we’re outside, one of my kid’s favorite things to do is set up an obstacle course. They love to set it up, and then time each one of us to see who can finish the quickest.

We also enjoy indoor games. Some of these are traditional board games, but some are very creative. For Christmas, we got a game called Creationary. This is a Lego game where you have to build what is shown on the card, and the other players have to guess what it is. Trust me, it is not as easy as it sounds!

We have one game that we have played for years. My kids don’t seem to outgrow it. It’s called Buckaroo! (The exclamation point is part of the game title.) The front of the box reads, “The saddle stacking game with a moody mule!”

 

The game comes with a plastic mule named “Roo” which attaches to a flat base. A plastic “blanket” is placed on his back, and then a saddle. The saddle has places on both sides to hang items for Roo to carry. However, if too much is added, or if you are not gentle enough placing the item, Roo will buck due to a tension spring in his backside. When he bucks, all of the pieces fly off and the one who triggered the spring is out of the game. Play resumes until the last one makes Roo buck.

We all love playing this game. You never know what will set Roo off. Sometimes, we can place all of the pieces on him and he still doesn’t buck. If that happens, we start over. Other times, only one item hung on the saddle will cause him to kick. You simply never know when it will happen, which is the fun of the game.

In many ways, I believe we are like Roo. We go through our normal day, doing the normal things we have to do. If that was all, then we would probably be fine. However, life comes along and adds things to our load.

The car won’t start when we head out in the morning. Add one piece to the saddle. The boss tells you that layoffs are coming. Add another piece. You find out your child has detention. Add another piece. Bill collectors call during supper. Add another piece. Once again, you open the door to a house where no one lives but you. Add yet, another piece.

All of these pieces add up. The things that burden you may be a lot different than any I described, but they are there and are very real, nonetheless. The problem is that we were never made to carry around the weight of those burdens. When we try to carry them around, we will eventually either buck and kick like Roo or simply collapse. Neither is healthy for us or helpful to the work of Christ’s Kingdom.

Should we care and be concerned about daily life? Sure, but not to the point of being crippled by it. Jesus tells us very specifically to not worry about the things we cannot control. He says that He would supply our needs.

Too many times, we have cares, worries, and burdens that we keep inside. We should, however, seek God through His word, and give Him our burdens through prayer. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus intends to carry us through any problems or concerns in our lives. Don’t buck, kick or collapse. Ask Jesus to help you, and He will be faithful to ease your load.

Then Jesus said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:22-26 NIV)

Temporary Home

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause; there's the respect that makes calamity of so long life”

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. William Shakespeare

I can’t remember what year it was, but back in the late 80’s or early 90’s, Clemson University’s entertainment for their homecoming was George Burns. Burns was a great comedian who charmed audiences for over 90 years. He began working full time in show business when he quit school in the fourth grade. His career survived vaudeville, radio, television, movies and stand-up comedy tours.

That homecoming, George Burns had been on the football field at halftime, and did a short routine. He was going to be appearing later that night at Littlejohn Coliseum. After halftime, As I was leaving the game, I stepped out onto the street and was almost hit by a golf cart. As I yelled at the driver, I saw George Burns on the passenger side laughing at me. He raised his cigar as if to say, “Sorry!”

George Burns died in 1996 at 100 years old. He once said about living a long life, “If you ask what the single most important key to longevity is, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.” That’s a great philosophy, and indeed he did live a long life, but even George Burns eventually died.

I read that Jack Lalanne died this past Sunday at 96. Lalanne was a man who, unlike George Burns, embodied fitness. In fact, his agent said that right up until his death, he was exercising. Not only did he believe in a longer, healthier life through exercising, but he also encouraged and inspired many others to do the same.

Why am I telling you about these two men? Because they are very different, yet share two major things in common. How were they different? George Burns drank scotch and puffed cigars, while Jack Lalanne ate healthily and exercised daily. However, what they shared in common is what I want to point out.

The first thing to notice is that both of these men lived past the age of 95. One of them ascribes that feat to a healthy lifestyle, and the other to simply avoiding stress, tension and worry. The second thing they have in common is that they are both dead. It seems that a healthy lifestyle and avoiding worry and stress may help you live longer, but not forever. Death eventually comes to all of us, no matter who we are or what we try to do to avoid it.

The great Roman historian and biographer, Plutarch, wrote of Alexander the Great, in his work entitled Parallel Lives. He recounted a story of Alexander the Great, noticing the Greek philosopher, Diogenes, looking attentively at a parcel of human bones. Alexander asked the philosopher what he was looking for. Diogenes' replied, “That which I cannot find…the difference between your father's bones and those of his slaves." Death is the great equalizer.

The bodies that we have on this Earth were not created to last forever. Our soul does live forever, but there is nothing we can do to cheat the demise of our physical body in this world. Because of sin, death will come to all of us, no matter who we are. The thing we must remember is to give our life to Christ. If we are redeemed by His blood, then when we die, we will be given new bodies that will never perish.

The good news is that we have hope of life eternal with Christ Jesus in Heaven. For the believer, the issue is not how long we live on this earth, but where we will spend eternity after we, as Shakespeare put it, “have shuffled off this mortal coil.” If you have never experienced the love of Jesus Christ and the assurance of life eternal, please ask a Christian friend, family member or minister to share with you, how you can know and accept Jesus into your life. 

Our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:53-57 NLT)

I Always Feel Like, Somebodys Watching Me!

Since we had been snowed in for almost a week, my family decided last Thursday night it was time to go out to eat in Augusta. I had been craving some good wings, so we decided to go to Wild Wings on Washington Rd. We went early, before the “bar crowd” got there.

My kids love the place. They enjoy the fact that they can watch all those TVs at one time. They also really like the food.

While we were eating, I noticed two people coming by our table with what looked to be a television camera. When they passed, I saw that it was from WJBF news. I wondered what in the world they were doing in Wild Wings.

I didn’t think much about it until Friday morning. I always check out the news on my computer every morning, and seeing WJBF as a bookmarked page reminded me of the camera I saw the night before. I clicked on the website, and looked for a story that might include something about eating wings. I saw a line that read, “Falcon’s Fever Rising in Augusta.” I thought it might be a story that would be covered in a place like Wild Wings. I was right.

With the online story, there was a video from Thursday night’s broadcast. I clicked on it to watch it. In the introduction to the story, the anchor talked about the bars in Augusta getting ready for the big game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Green Bay Packers. The next thing I see is a brief statement from the manager of Wild Wings and then a shot of me and my family at a table.

Now, I don’t go to bars, but I do love some good wings. However, the video seemed to put me in a “bar” that was getting ready for all the customers they will have for the Falcons game. I laughed out loud when I saw it.

I thought it was funny because I was there with my family, simply eating supper and I was doing nothing I wouldn’t want anyone to know about. But what if I had been? What if I had been sitting there with someone other than my wife? What if I had decided to sneak down to Augusta to drink adult beverages, thinking no one would know? I would still have been on television for everyone to see.

I had no idea the camera had even captured that moment. I was just being myself, with my family. I was not posing or posturing to make sure I put forth the proper persona. I was just relaxing and having supper.

Who are you when no one is looking? If a television camera followed you throughout a typical day, what would the world see? Would you want everyone to see your actions and hear your words?

It has been said that character is who you are when there’s no one around. As believers in Christ, we must realize that there is always someone who is around. Christ never leaves us. He knows our every word, action, motivation, and thought. Pretty scary huh? Not really. You see, He loves us. He wants us to do the right things, but still loves us just as much when we fail. Have you failed today? There is good news. God loves you and forgives you.

So, the next time you think no one is watching, remember that God is always there, and there also just might also be a news crew lurking around the corner!!

(BTW...Hello to my friends at WJBF. I sent an email about what happened to them. The whole newsroom got a pretty good laugh at my expense. Thank you for all you do guys!)

O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether…Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! (Psalm 139:1-4, 7-8 ESV)

Pandora Bible

Last year, I was at a conference in Columbia, where I sat beside a pastor from Mauldin, SC. He had his laptop computer opened and it was paying music. I was enjoying listening to the songs with him before the session started, because I recognized some that I had not heard in years. I asked him if he was playing a CD, and he told me he was listening to Pandora internet radio.

I had no idea what Pandora was at the time, so I asked. He told me that it only plays the songs you like. Of course, I couldn’t wait to get home to try it out. I was not disappointed. 

For those of you who are familiar with it, you already know how wonderful it is. However, I want to tell you a bit about what Pandora does. Their website describes it this way. “A new kind of radio, where the stations only play music you like. Just tell us one of your favorite songs or artists and we’ll create a station that explores just that part of the music universe.” When they say that, they mean it.

When you create your free account, you are asked to type in an artist or song you would like to hear. Pandora will play the song and you see a small “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” icon next to the player. If you click on the “thumbs up” Pandora will line up songs that are similar to the one playing. If you click the “thumbs down” Pandora remembers the song and never plays it again.

I have often wished I had the power to make a certain song never be played again. Now I do. I thoroughly enjoy Pandora because it only plays what I like. It’s a great feeling to know that I am in control and that I get to pick what I hear.

Many people try to treat the Bible that way. We love reading and hearing verses like John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. We are comforted by the words of Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. We are excited by the statement of Jesus in John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

However, when it comes to certain passages in the Bible, we want to give it a “thumbs down,” and never hear it again. For example, we bristle at the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. This is actually at the end of the Lord’s Prayer, but we seldom read this part. Why? Because it makes us uncomfortable.

There are many other passages in scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, that we would rather discard. We cannot simply pick and choose what we will adhere to and obey, although many try. In fact, when Thomas Jefferson wrote his version of the Gospels, he removed all of the miracles of Christ and anything that could be construed as supernatural, because he believed they had been added by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Bible is ours as a whole. God intends for us to use it to hear His voice through His inspired Word, as a guide for righteous living, and a comfort in times of need. There is no Pandora radio version of the Bible. We either accept it as God’s Word, or we do not. Read it as a whole, and I’m sure you will find it to be all God intended for it to be in your life.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)