The Stoning of Sarah

Last Saturday night White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was a guest at the White House Correspondents Dinner. As Sanders sat on the dais she was bashed and verbally assaulted by the so-called comedian hired for the event. I will note that least one reporter had the courage to get up and leave the room.  However, those who remained seated throughout the monologue diatribe share the shame, and the blame, for allowing their guest to be abused. I’m reminded of Saul who watched and approved of the stoning of Stephen. The mob began stoning Stephen, “Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death” (Acts 7:58b-8:1a NIV). Those who sat idly by were giving their approval to the verbal stoning of Sanders.

By Your Words

More than any time in history a person’s words can come back to bite them. Whether one’s words are on video, audio, a newspaper reporter’s notes, or spoken in a coffee klatch…comments can be captured and regurgitated at a later date. Jesus said, “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:37 NIV).

United We Stand

My local elected officials, community board members and church leadership continue to vote unanimously on every issue. It’s as though they feel they will not be held accountable as individuals when their vote is unanimous. From my perspective there is a lack of integrity when a person fails to vote their conscious, but rather goes along with the flow. People of faith within these groups seem to forget that they will stand alone before God’s judgment. Paul said, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Ro 14:12 NIV).

Fishermen

I was carrying on a telephone conversation with a friend when all the sudden he yelled at his grandson, “Don’t do that, you’re going to spill dirt in the refrigerator!” After apologizing for the interruption my friend said, “He’s checking on the worms. He dug some up and he’s keeping them in the refrigerator until we can go fishing.” As a mother I cringed, but from a spiritual perspective there is no doubt that God sometimes lets his children keep worms in the refrigerator. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19 NIV).

The Way

I recently learned of an 80-year-old woman who had been driving her whole life without a driver’s license. One day she was stopped by a patrolman and when asked for her license she said she didn’t have one. The officer assumed she had forgotten her license, or didn’t have it on her person; however, she admitted that she had never had a license to drive, “I’ve never needed one until now.” After getting caught the woman never drove again. So often people use the same thought process as it relates to the Lord. They don’t see the need for a Savior until they get caught without one. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).

The Feet of the Enemy

It was just before the Passover Feast, the evening meal was being served and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Jesus took this occasion to wash the disciple’s feet…even the feet of Judas. It’s one thing to forgive your enemy after the fact, but I’m trying to imagine washing the feet of my enemy when I know he is about to betray me, stab me in the back and cut my throat. Jesus said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14-15 NIV).

Returning Spirit(s)

Stephen spoke to the Sanhedrin, “When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” The mob then attacked Stephen, “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:54-55, 59-60a NIV). It occurs to me that at the moment of a believer’s death it is not only his spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit living within him, that returns to the Lord Jesus.”

Face to Face

There are numerous videos on social media showing dogs being reunited with their masters. Some of the dogs have been separated from their owners for months and years and they are beside themselves with joy as they try to wrap themselves around their rightful owner. They lick, bark, jump and run around in circles with a seemingly insatiable need to give and receive affection. We all have our own idea of what it will be like when we first see Jesus face to face, but there is no doubt in my mind that some of us will act in a similar way when we are reunited with the Master. Paul said, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Cor 13:12 NIV).

After the Fact

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) thought Hilary Clinton would become President and now they are trying to justify their lack of action in the investigation of Clinton. Those in leadership positions are pointing a finger at one another and a TV commentator said, “It’s always difficult when you find courage after the fact.” Believers are not immune from such situations. As evidenced by Peter when he disowned Jesus three times, “Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Matt 26:74-75 NIV).

Sounds in Heaven

For about six weeks my 94-year-old mother-in-law, who has lived with us for eight months, started to go downhill physically. Ruth, who was totally deaf without her hearing aids, became bedridden and asked that we remove her hearing aids because they screeched in her ears every time she moved her head on the pillow. Our limited communication was then done by mouthing words she could lipread, hand gestures and patting her hands and face. On Friday Ruth passed away peacefully, but for more than eight days she was in total deafness with her thoughts. I can only imagine her ears being opened to the singing of the angels of heaven.  John wrote, “And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders” (Rev 14:2-3a NIV).

Caregiver

Generally speaking I don’t think of myself as a caregiver, but I’ve found myself thrown into the role because of the end-of-life needs of various family members. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m weary of the physical and mental strain, coupled with tidying up their affairs once loved ones have passed. The Sadducees came to Jesus with a hypothetical question, “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh” (Matt 22:24-26 NIV). I realize their question was prompted by the issue of marriage at the resurrection and Jesus responded there was no marriage in heaven. However, trying to hypothetically wrap my head around being the caregiver and tidying up the end-of-life needs for seven husbands is overwhelming. Thank goodness there is no marriage in heaven. 

Good Medicine

My friend Gary has had multiple health issues and he recently showed up wearing a huge plaster splint because he broke his hand and his elbow. When asked if there was anything that wasn’t broken his daughter quipped, “His spirit.” Proverbs says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22 NIV).

Not Your Own

After great resistance to accept the fact that her 94-year-old body was wearing out, Ruth reluctantly began using a cane, then a shower chair; followed by Depends, being bedridden and a bedside commode. In each instance she said, “I don’t need it now, but maybe later.” As an observer, I see God prying her fingers off of the notion that her body is her own and that she can control it by shear willpower. Although Paul’s point was that a believer’s body should not be used for sexual immorality, his words apply to anyone who thinks they own themselves. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor 6:19- 20 NIV).

Waging War

Recently some extended family members tried to take me to task when they disagreed with the decisions I’ve made. Mentally I armed myself with justification, documentation and retaliation and then the Apostle Paul spoke up, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10:3-5 NIV).

Seats of Honor

My local newspaper seems to have abandoned community news and opted for opinion, commentary and magazine-type content. There is a pattern of reporters interviewing their friends, co-workers and those they want to honor. At first blush it appears the journalists are looking for the easy story rather than searching out interviews with unknowns. However, it occurs to me that many of these writers are simply using their craft to elevate the neighborhood teachers of the law and Pharisees. Whether in the world, or in the church, man does like the prestige of being honored by men. Jesus said, “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi’” (Matt 23:5-7 NIV).

Out of Sight

Easter headlines in the Denver Post read: “Muslim Bosnians celebrate grand opening of Mosque,” “Mormons select Brazilian, Asian-American apostles,” “Spiritual leader starts 60th year in exile (Dalai Lama),” and “The great tragedy of churches gone condo [demolished to make room for condos].” I searched the entire newspaper, but on this holiest of Christian days, Jesus was nowhere to be seen. After the resurrection the Lord appeared to the disciples over a period of 40 days. On one occasion Jesus was eating with the apostles and then He was taken up before their eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. “They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11 NIV). I now have to laugh at the absurdity of my looking for Jesus in a newspaper.

Climate Change

The seven angels with the seven plagues and seven bowls of God’s wrath is recorded in Revelation 15-16. As the angels poured out the bowls the sea turned to blood and all sea life died; rivers and springs became blood; the beast’s kingdom was turned into darkness and the Euphrates dried up. “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him” (Rev 16:8-9 NIV). Wonder of wonders. People are finally going to admit that, rather than man-induced climate change, it really is God who is in control.

In Danger

President Trump has a lot of enemies who use fake news to undermine his presidency — politicians from both parties, the media and members of his administration. As people of faith we’d like to think such situations would never happen in the church because we all speak the truth in love. However, Paul’s discourse on what he has suffered for the cause of Christ is a reminder that whether we are on the mission field, or in the mainstream church, there are false brothers amongst us. Paul said, “I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers” (2 Cor 11:26 NIV).

What is that to you?

In her previous sitcom I barred Rosanne Barr from coming into my house. I have not watched her new sitcom but I’m baffled by the rave reviews coming from conservatives. I cannot wrap my head around any Hollywood actor/comedian presenting a conservative message on a sitcom television show. I’m reminded of the disciples who occasionally wanted to know how they measured up to the other disciples. Jesus told Peter about the kind of death by which he (Peter) would glorify God, but then Peter wanted to know about the death-plan for John. Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” (John 21:22-23 NIV). I can almost hear the Lord saying, “Gail, if I want to use Rosanne Barr to present a conservative message, what is that to you?”

Self-Serving

Elections are just around the corner for all levels of government. As a voter I’m discouraged by candidates whose agenda is more self-serving than it is constituent-serving. Seldom do I see a candidate whose motives for running have no strings attached. That being said, I really should not be surprised and just accept the fact that those offering political favors will always be with us. Over a two-year period, while Paul was under guard, he was afforded the opportunity to speak before Governor Felix. “As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self–control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him” (Acts 24:25-26 NIV).

Arousing God’s Anger

My mother-in-law, Ruth, who will soon to be 95 years-old, lives with us. After we put in her change of address she became inundated with bulk mail from charities, social cause organizations and health related businesses that say they will help her live long and prosper. Almost daily she says, “Where is all this stuff coming from? I didn’t order anything and I don’t know who this is.” I now have a better understanding of how easily it is for elderly people living alone to be taken advantage of and targeted. I’m beginning to view these organizations, not as someone with a good cause and doing a good work, but as scammers. God has special concern for those who need protection, “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless” (Ex 22:22-24 NIV).