The Christian Ear is a forum for discussing and listening to the voice of today's church. The Lord spoke to churches,“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev 2&3
August 31, 2011
Tangled
In the Disney
animated movie Tangled, Rapunzel was held captive for 18 years. It
wasn’t until she escaped the tower that she learned her real parents were the
king and queen. I think we’ve all had those times in our life when we didn’t
like our parents and wished for the fairytale experience of getting a new mom
and dad. Jesus puts a lot of emphasis on God being our Father, but I wonder if
we sometimes fail to grasp our role as a child of the King.
August 30, 2011
Changing Their Tune
Recently, while traveling to Australia, a country western
singer/songwriter had a bad experience with an airline. Not only was he
overcharged on his luggage containing his CD inventory, but the luggage was
then lost. His efforts for reimbursement fell on deaf ears until he wrote a
song about the experience. When the song became public, the airlines immediately made
a reimbursement of $2,500. It’s amazing how quickly we change our tune when we
are faced with exposure. “There is nothing concealed
that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (Luke
12:2 NIV)
August 29, 2011
Love Your Government
We’ve heard many elected officials give evacuation plans for hurricane
Irene. However I think New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took the emergency
preparedness playbook plans one step further and overlaid it with Biblical principles,
“First go to your family and your friends
and save the shelters for those who have no other place to go. Don’t make a
shelter your first resort, but make it your last resort.” No doubt many of
us fail to practice ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ because we’ve abdicated
our responsibility to the government.
August 26, 2011
Sinker
There are times when I seem to be having one tumultuous situation after
another and I find myself asking, ‘What
next?’ and then telling the Lord it would be nice to have a one day reprieve
where I weren’t bombarding Him with prayer needs. The reality is that it’s
during those stressful situations that I depend more fully on the Lord, rather
than depending on my own abilities. I think many of us are a lot like Peter
walking on the water…we have to be sinking before we cry out, “Lord save me!” (Matt 14:30b NIV)
August 25, 2011
Backpack Ceremony
With the new school year upon us some pastors in a neighboring
community are sending kids back to school by having a ceremony and blessing
their backpacks. One Reverend is quoted as saying that the items a student
carries every day are, “items that are
symbolic of whatever is going on inside of us. They are important.” I find
this whole situation odd. Although I’m sure that the ceremony is well
intentioned, blessing inanimate objects just doesn’t connect for me. But aside
from that, I really have to wonder if the Spirit isn’t just cringing at the thought
that the tools we use are somehow symbolic of whatever is going on inside of
us.
August 24, 2011
Ripe
This year we planted a few different varieties of small round and pear
shaped tomatoes. Now I know a ripe red tomato when I see one, but I’m still
trying to figure out these little yellow-orange fruit guys. Every couple of
days we’re picking and eating a small handful of fruit, but we continue
discussing what constitutes ‘ripe’. Should I pick the fruit when it’s yellow or
when it’s golden? After I’ve eaten it I wonder if it would have tasted better
had I waited another day or so. I think we sometimes have a similar problem in
the church. Figuratively speaking, a believer will sometimes be picked for a
ministry before he’s spiritually mature. If he’s too green we can no doubt let
him ripen on the window sill, but you have to wonder how much better he would
have been if we had left him to ripen on the vine.
August 23, 2011
WWJD
When my kids were young and would get into a spat I’d ask, “What are you arguing about?” I could
get an earful from each side as they defended themselves, their actions and
lobbied for my support. As we get older we continue to have disagreements, but
seldom do we hear anyone ask the question, ‘What are you arguing about?’ I
suppose we hold back because we think it’s not our business to get involved or
mediate division between adults. On the way to Capernaum the disciples were
arguing about who was the greatest. Interestingly Jesus had no qualm about
asking, “What were
you arguing about on the road?” (Mark
9:33 NIV) The disciples didn’t respond, but kept quiet. It’s intriguing to
think that if we were to use Jesus’ tactic, we too might be able to squelch a
few of today’s arguing factions.
August 22, 2011
Recycling
To illustrate repentance for eight year-old David, his dad took a piece
of paper that he said represented sin, wadded it up and let it fall to the floor.
Walking away he explained that when our sins are forgiven they are nothing more
than a piece of discarded trash. Later that evening while getting ready for bed
David picked up the wad of paper and asked, “Daddy,
do you want me to recycle your sin?”
August 19, 2011
Bird’s Eye View
There was a recent news report about a wealthy Arab man who owns a
private island. Mr. Hamad memorialized himself by designing a two mile long
waterway that spelled out his name in capital letters. The name HAMAD is in
such large print that it can clearly be seen from space. Someone needs to tell
Mr. Hamad that shouting at God won’t get him noticed.
August 18, 2011
Changing the Formula
I recently heard a presentation where an organization that is dependent
on government funding justified their fee increase by changing their formula
for assessing dues. Then I read where
the State implemented a new formula for calculating ACT scores and now records
are being set for the highest scores Colorado has seen in 10 years. Sadly we in
the religious arena are no different. Rather than being obedient to God’s Word,
individuals and denominations offer up changes in formula to one another so
that we are socially acceptable and can continue in our sin.
August 17, 2011
Inside Voice
I have a teacher friend who reminds her students coming in from recess
of the need to tone down their volume and use their inside voice. Now I know as
mature adults we can’t (or won’t) use that tactic on one another, but I think
the idea has merit. All too often what is in our heads comes right out our
mouth. Because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, imagine how much
better off we would be if we were reminded to use our Inside Voice.
August 16, 2011
Remedies
One of our political activists is such a bully that my wishful thinking
leads to thoughts of ways to marginalize his attacks. I’m not thinking anything
too serious, but laryngitis, job transfer or a doctor imposed quarantine might
all offer a reprieve. Lately this particular activist has uncharacteristically
missed some local meetings, so a few of us were asking one another, “So where’s Waldo?” Would you believe it…God,
with His sense of humor, sent him on a three week vacation.
August 15, 2011
Mission Accomplished
A service man returning from Afghanistan told the media that that their
unit’s mission was accomplished. Forming a leading question one reporter then
asked the soldier about the men who were lost on the mission and would not be
returning. The soldier confidently responded, “Their mission was accomplished.” In the church we often grieve over
what seems to be the untimely loss when a faithful servant dies. Maybe our
faith would be better served if we too looked at a fellow believer’s passing as
being a mission accomplished.
August 12, 2011
Continued…
Six year-old Lydia was only moderately impressed with her craft project
of six paintable refrigerator magnates. Trying to generate some enthusiasm I
showed her the prince, princess and the enchanted castle. In a sing-song voice
she said, “They’re OK…I’m just not a very
good painter. I can’t stay in the lines all the time.” I finally eased her worries
by showing her the lopsided ceramic bear (or dog…depending on your imagination)
with one short leg that her daddy made when he was a child. Once her spirit of
perfectionism was neutralized, she had a great time being creative. I can’t fault
Lydia’s initial reaction. Even as an adult, God will sometimes give me an
opportunity and I can hear myself unenthusiastically saying, ‘I’m just not very good, I can’t stay in the
lines…’
August 11, 2011
Home Run
My grandkids were having a sleepover so I picked up a couple of craft
projects to help keep them entertained. Eight year-old David was beyond
ecstatic with putting together three pre-cut wooden race cars. Following the
instructions he and his granddad glued, sanded, painted and applied stencils. I
knew I’d hit it out of the park with the craft selection when David continued
to be excited and even started imagining himself being skilled enough to now
start building furniture. Jesus said, “If
you…know how to give good gifts to you children, how much more will your Father
in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt 7:11 NIV) I can only
imagine the pleasure God gets watching us get excited over the gifts He gives
us.
August 10, 2011
What a Waste
A letter writer to Dear Abby said, “I
don’t want to waste my life watching her [mother] waste hers.” I think many of us who have friends and loved ones
captive to addictions can relate to the writer. I’ve certainly experienced
times when it seemed like another person’s addiction was draining the life out
of me. Carrying that thought into the spiritual realm, I’m now wondering if we
don’t have the same sort of feelings when it comes to non-believing loved ones.
Are there times when we are so desperate for others to come to the Lord that
our life gets consumed by their failure to accept Jesus Christ? It seems
possible that some of us might be wasting our life by watching a non-believer
waste his life.
August 09, 2011
Careful What You Ask For
In the next 60 days petitions will begin circulating to recall our
three County Commissioners. I find the more pressing issue of a recall is the
proposed candidate replacements. Without candidate competition and a campaign
the voter doesn’t have time to fully vet the proposed replacements. So my
question would be, could we be worse off with replacements? Reasoning that they
wanted to be like other nations, the Israelites asked for a king to rule over
them rather than the Prophets. God let them have their kings – the good, bad
and the ugly.
August 08, 2011
Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy for a US citizen is 78 years-old and I
think many of us live with that measure in mind. When I heard of a Birthday
celebration for Mary Phelps who just turned 111 years-old, I couldn’t help but
wonder if she had ever prepared herself to live 33 years beyond her average. In
the generations from Adam to Noah the men lived anywhere from 700 to 900 years
old. As a general rule people procrastinate, can you imagine how long people
might put off accepting Christ if they lived to be 700 years old?
August 05, 2011
Minority Report
Some of those in Congress were elected because of their campaign
promises to their Tea Party constituents. I listened to reporter and talk show
host Geraldo Rivera bemoaning the fact that he is losing money on his
retirement funds and insisting that it’s time for these newly elected officials
to forget about those constituents back home and to do what is best for the
nation. In the church we too are sometimes encouraged and pressured to do what
seems best for the majority. However, I think it’s good to remind ourselves
that it’s actually the minority who gains eternal life. “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only
a few find it” (Matt 7:14 NIV)
August 04, 2011
Referee
When my children were young they would occasionally try to boss each
other around and I would have to step in and remind them of their position…that
neither of them were the parent, nor the adult. I now find myself in an
interesting position where a colleague wants to boss me around, which then
triggers the childhood reaction that says, ‘You’re
not my boss and you can’t tell me what to do’. In time we may get our
differences worked out, but I can’t help but secretly wish that God would step in
and remind both of us of our positions.
August 03, 2011
Closet Tither
Learning to pry my fingers off of my tithe was a defining moment in my
Christian maturity. As believers we can help each other turn the other cheek,
doing unto others and praying, but when it comes to giving tithes and offerings
we don’t ask for help. We hold our pocket book close to our chest, not wanting
anyone – friends, family or foe – to know our tithing habits. Jesus cautioned
us not to be boastful when giving to the needy, but I have to chuckle when I
think of modern day titiers…most of us have little to boast about.
August 02, 2011
High Road
A letter writer to Dear Abby was divorcing her husband of 10 years for
infidelity. The writer wanted advice on letting other people know the reason
for the divorce and that she was not responsible. Abby’s advice was to consider
the feelings of the children and take the more dignified high road by saying
that it was a mutual decision. I am so glad Abby wasn’t handing out advice to
those who wrote the Bible. Somehow I can’t imagine Paul looking the other way
in regard to sin in order to take the high road.
August 01, 2011
Drop-Ins
My local Toastmasters’ Club dissolved because we don’t have enough
committed people attending to take leadership positions. Over the last few
years the standard justification has been, “My
schedule is so busy that I can’t commit to regular attendance, but I’ll come
when I can.” There is sometimes a similar attitude in the church. Not only
is it used as an excuse, but surprisingly we accept it as a perfectly
reasonable explanation. Really, can you see any of us getting away with telling
the Lord that were pretty busy, but we’ll drop in when we can?
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