Saints in a Secular World

How Is Your Vision?
Posted by Michael on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 6:38am
Proper perspective of life is an essential element of Christian living in this life. Jesus calls for us to be in the world – but not of it. While this is quite an easy statement to make, the practice of it is much more challenging. My recent readings in Ecclesiastes are reawakening me to this reality. Like so many others, the recent lottery jackpot buzz had me daydreaming of the things I’d do with that money. New cars, early retirement, world trips, and zero debt would be a tremendous experience…but Solomon says, “All that glitters isn’t gold!” Fame, fortune, and the admiring envy of others would be ego-massaging…but Solomon says, “It’s not what it’s cracked up to be!” Of course, there is the amassing of academic degrees and the prestige that this brings. Once again, Solomon warns that this is nothing more than chasing after the wind. He tells us from experience that there is no earthbound pursuit that has lasting meaning. What clarity we gain on New Covenant living from an Old Covenant character! I think we do well to hear Solomon afresh on a regular basis. There’s nothing in this life that has meaning without being driven from the perspective of our next life. Eternity does impinge on time – counseling us to enjoy this life with a life-to-come perception. Solomon has me keeping my eternity-prescription glasses with me at all times. It’s the only way for me to see and enjoy life in a truly meaningful way. By the way…how’s your vision these days? Stay Faithful! Doc B. Christian Living
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Visit Your Caverns
Posted by Michael on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 8:41am
None of us can pass through this life without the experience of grieving. Whether we are grieved for or grieving for, this experience leaves an indelible mark on many lives. There are really no words that can prepare us for these times, and even past walks through these valleys cannot fully ready us for future visits. Like many of you, I have had occasions to make this painful trip. I lost my father in 1999, and I lost my wife in 2009. Words cannot adequately describe the pain of those days. Such losses leave caverns in life that can never be filled – but nor should they be. These remain as beautiful monuments to the marvelous ways in which God has blessed our lives. Visiting the cavern left by my father, I see amazing and loving experiences that evoke lasting internal and external smiles. Visiting the cavern left by my wife, I am constantly warmed by the memories of the woman who made my life complete and who made me want to be a better man. We have often heard the saying, “Earth’s loss is heaven’s gain.” However, there is something more for us to consider. While the loss of a loved one is indeed earth’s loss, it can also be earth’s gain. Our loved ones have made invaluable deposits in our lives that continue to enrich us. The sparkling gems in the caverns of loss crystalize in moments of clarity for the ones left behind. We allow the tears to flow. We cherish the memories. We warm ourselves reflecting on the good times. We experience the Lord slowly moving us on in life. We rest in the hope of the joyous, eternal reunion. So, as you face the loss of your loved ones, keep visiting your caverns…and keep living! Doc B. Relationships
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Timelessly Connected
Posted by Michael on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 6:48am
It’s often easy to read New Testament texts without regard to the time of the writings. Despite scholarly debates exists over the dating of these materials, we know that that are centuries old. This brings to mind several things, but one of these is the struggle early Christians had maintaining a faithful walk with the Lord. This is particularly seen in writings to second generation Christians. Second generation Christians are those that had no first-hand, experiential knowledge of the Christ. Their faith was based upon the testimony of those who came to faith shortly after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. The Gospel of John, the Letters of John, and the Revelation each have a largely second generation audience as the original recipients. Each of these texts attempts to sure the faith of Christians. This fact has major implications for contemporary Christians. If Christians living approximately 60 years after the time of Jesus struggled to maintain faith, then faith struggles for Christians living 2000 years later should be of little surprise. Second generation Christians faced challenges to the faith that their predecessors didn’t. Satan hammered away at them – seeking to create doubt concerning the person and power of Jesus. “Why do you believe fairy tales about a crucified man being raised from the dead?” “Why are you denying yourself earthly pleasure in hope of a mythical afterlife?” “If this God of yours is real and powerful, then why are you suffering persecution?” Today, we are hearing related satanic questions…but with the added sting of our contemporary issues. The passing of time and the changes in the world are a given. Satan continues to devise ways to destroy our faith. A reflection on the changes in societal mores over a 10-year span is enough to reveal satanic activity. As the saying goes, “The devil is busy!” Thankfully, we are never left alone. God has provided the written word, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to equip us for battle – no matter what age, era, or time- distance since the Christ came into the world to save us. Therefore, as we cling to faith in the person of the nearly 2000 year old story…the ancient but modern gospel of Christ, let’s never lose our divine connection. We are loved by and serve a God who is beyond time. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Therefore, let’s not allow the time-distance between 33 AD and 2012 AD dull our connection with the risen Lord. He is as much of a very present help in the time of need in 2012 AD as He was in 33 AD. Stay Faithful! Doc B. Christian Living
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Minister Farrakhan Comes to Town
Posted by Michael on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 9:35am
I recently had the privilege of hearing Louis Farrakhan ‘s speech at Alabama A&M University. There was controversy surrounding his being invited by students to speak to the student body, but I’m grateful that the even took place as scheduled. I don’t agree with all that Minister Farrakhan espouses, but I do think he has a unique way of analyzing major issues of our time. Now in his late 70’s, I didn’t want to miss what was my first and possibly my last opportunity to hear him live. Much of the speech focused on the need to gain an education that can develop one to make a significant contribution to the welfare of others. Of particularly focus was the need for African Americans to positively contribute to our people’s present and future. Other things were powerfully mentioned in this vein, and Christian preachers were challenged to boldly and prophetically meet the needs of parishioners. It’s the challenge to Christianity that I found most interesting. Farrakhan offered challenges to African Americans that are not commonly presented from some Christian pulpits. Such things as God’s demands for sexual purity, sexual abstinence until God-ordained marriage, modest attire, and freedom from substance abuse were championed by the speaker. Of course, the opposites of such behaviors were presented as rooted in the injustices of America’s sordid racial history. There is not much room for disagreement with this assessment. While the controversies surrounding Minister Farrakhan will remain, the moral decay that he points to should never be ignored. We are in trouble in this country, and the rot of our collective behavior is surely a stench in the nostrils of God. However, I think that there’s an even greater message to be heard. It’s the message of God’s solution for our moral, ethical, and spiritual decay. Christian pulpits need reverberate with calls to moral living, ethical practices, and social justice. Our pulpits need to identify the root of such ills – the fallen nature of man. Most importantly, our pulpits need to ring out the message of the risen Christ whose sacrifice ushered in God’s power to transform persons of every race. There is no mere human effort that can lift us from the muck and mire of our fallen state. Black, yellow, red, white, and brown – we are all in need of that Divine, transcendent healing that allows us to live together as human family. The only other choice is to die together as fools! Miscellaneous
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Starting Off Right
Posted by Michael on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 8:00am
I think most Christians would agree that a daily reading of the Word is very helpful in our Christian walk. Just as important is a healthy prayer routine – though I hesitant to use the word “routine.” That word tends to give a connotation of meaningless ritual – which is not what I have in mind. There’s something about developing and maintaining a daily conversation with the Sovereign God that serves to keep us properly balanced and focused in life. This thought struck me anew in a recent reflection on portions of Psalms 5. The inspired writer expressed thoughts of speaking with God in the morning and waiting in anticipation for the Lord’s response. What a wise approach to every day of our lives! Mornings tend to be quite hectic for many of us. They are filled with concerns for covering all of our bases, trying to get where we have to go on time, and battling with thoughts of whether or how we could be doing better in life. There are the daily concerns for handling the mundane things of life. Some have the additional worries of caring for those dependent upon them for getting their day off to a proper start. No wonder we are a society seemingly hooked on coffee and 5-hour energy drinks! We need a better way to start. I think we’d do well to schedule in a daily conversation with God sometime before the wheels of the day begin to spin. Setting that alarm clock to allow for this time can work wonders. Such time with the Lord should include specifics about our “issues.” Are we battling with the stress of job expectations? Are we wrestling with relationship issues? Are we strapped with money and debt problems? Are we fighting with lust for persons or things? Is life seemingly overwhelming? Is there some troubling health issue? Are we simply lacking the “want to” to do what we ought to do? Whatever the case, we do well to frankly, openly, and honestly speak with God about it. It is in this time of thanking Him, petitioning Him, expressing our deepest concerns and fears to Him, and praising Him that we can have new perspective and encouraging expectation for the day ahead. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (NIV) Stay Faithful! Doc B. Christian Living
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