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
February 29, 2012
Unfamiliar Territory
I’m just not getting along with the traffic enforcement in the Denver
metro area. My last trip I was in an unfamiliar area of town which was under
road construction. I made an improper lane change…which wouldn’t have been a
problem if it wouldn’t have been for the police car behind me. Thankfully I was
given only a warning ticket along with a smile and a courtesy compliment, “You look like a nice lady.” When I
reflect on my early years as a believer I can see some similarities where I
found myself in unfamiliar Scriptural territory and jumping lanes of Biblical
thought. Thank goodness for all those warnings I received from the Sunday
School and Bible Study Police.
February 28, 2012
The Right Answer
I’m trying to wrap my head around being a fulltime online student. Right
now my focus is on trying to get the right answer from the textbook, rather
than taking in the big picture. It’s as though I really can’t enjoy personal
ah-ha’s, because I know those things are not going to be on the final exam. I
think something similar can happen in our Christian walk. We are so concerned
with having the right answers for the final exam that we often miss the
exciting things that the Spirit wants to show us in the Word.
February 27, 2012
Times of Distress
My mother is in a nursing home and one of the fellow clients is a
cantankerous elderly gent who appears to have some dementia. The resident bully
has gotten physical with some of the patients so I purchased a sports whistle
for mom to wear around her neck. I decided a shrill whistle would either bring
help quickly, or at the very least it might scare the beggar away. I’m now
thinking about my own spiritual whistle of choice and what I use in times of
distress. I know many of us follow in Peter’s sinking footsteps and cry out, “Lord, save me!” (Matt 14:30 NIV)
However, I’m wondering if we might be better served by remembering how Jesus
responded in times of distress and being bullied, “It is written…”
February 24, 2012
Anemic
Once when Bill went shopping for grape juice for Communion he compared
labels and price and purchased the generic brand. There was a significant
savings and he was quite proud of his bargain shopping skills. That Sunday when
the Communion tray was passed the juice looked rather anemic. It tasted overly
sweet, but yet watered down. We later inspected the juice label and read that
it contained mostly apple juice, with a little grape juice added to the mix.
Webster’s defines anemic as, ‘Lacking
force, vitality, or spirit; lacking interest or savor’. I couldn’t help but
wonder if sometimes when we partake of the emblems, we too may be guilty of
watering down the blood of Christ. “Therefore, whoever eats the
bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of
sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to
examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Cor
11:27-28 NIV)
February 23, 2012
Lesser of Two Evils
Many of us bemoan that with the slate of candidates running for office
we really don’t like either, or in some cases, any of the candidates. More and
more we hear voters saying, ‘It’s going
to boil down to the lesser of two evils’. As I look at this from God’s
perspective, He disagrees. The person elected will be God’s candidate of choice
and His decision won’t be based on degrees of evil. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted
among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who
are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do
right.” (1 Peter 2:13-14NIV)
February 22, 2012
How Does It Feel
Where I sit during worship service is one of the first places to get
served communion. Because serving the congregation takes a little bit of time,
I’m normally finished with my self-examination and prayers before everyone else
has even been served. Usually I just sit quietly until the next segment of the
worship service begins. However this last Sunday I really wanted to whisper in
my neighbor’s ear…and my topic had nothing to do with worship. I can stop
myself from doing something because I know it’s not the time or the place, but
at this moment it came to me, ‘Just
exactly how do you think you are going to feel after you whisper to you
neighbor?’ Not that this situation was a sin, but it did cause me to pause.
When I’m on the verge of sinning, maybe it should be crossing my mind how I
might feel if I were to go ahead and sin. “What
benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those
things result in death!” (Ro 6:21 NIV)
February 21, 2012
Thank You
Last Sunday in worship service one of the public prayers included, “Thank you God for the things we can’t give
ourselves – life, hope and peace.” Although we know that everything comes
from God, the non-believer would say that his job, his house and the food on
his table comes from his own initiative. As I think about my normal prayers, I
wonder if I put more emphasis on material things than I do on the things that
can come only from His hand. “To him who
is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious
presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our
Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before
all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 24-25 NIV)
February 20, 2012
Timing is Everything
Recently a fellow believer came to me asking for forgiveness for a
situation that happened more than a year ago. She confessed to not only
harboring resentment, but to also spreading malicious gossip and maligning my
reputation. I gave her my forgiveness, however she just wouldn’t let it go. She
continued to talk and rehashed the situation until the forgiveness was
overshadowed by justification for her actions. Although we parted company with
prayer, I couldn’t help but notice that the timing of her request coincided
with the current political landscape. Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave your
gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother;
then come and offer your gift.” (Matt 5:23-24 NIV) I think I’ve just
discovered another reason for us to reconcile with one another quickly…so that
there is never any question of motives.
February 17, 2012
Funerals
Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden and I have an image
of them hanging their heads, leaving the Garden and walking into the cruel
world. I don’t think I’ve fully considered this as being a funeral march of
sorts and God grieving over the spiritual death of His creation. While I know
that God rejoices with every soul that is saved, I had never contemplated the grief
He endures at every spiritual funeral that He must attend. “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only
a few find it.” (Matt 7:14 NIV)
February 16, 2012
You Are
It’s interesting that even in Scripture, unless you are a well known
figure, your job description is who you are – fisherman, tax collector, or priest.
Jesus asked his disciples who the Son of Man was and they replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say
Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” I’m wondering
if I do something similar when Jesus enters into my conversations with others. Descriptions
like Lord, Savior and Redeemer slide comfortably off my tongue, because that’s
who Jesus is to me. However in probing deeper Jesus asks us the same questions
He asked Peter, “But what about you? Who
do you say I am?” The correct answer may not always be resting on the tip
of my tongue. “You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God.” (Matt
16:13-16 NIV)
February 15, 2012
Registering
I’m a member of a class that asks participants to fill out an
evaluation form following each session. After one exceptional class I gave the
instructors and the material presented very high marks. However in the comment
section of, “What can we do better?”
I noted that the instructor used a couple of swear words during his
presentation, which were completely unnecessary. A couple weeks later I ran
into one of the class organizers, so ask if they received and read the
evaluations. Through our conversation and then a follow-up call I learned that
the evaluations are indeed read. However the facilitator’s critiquing eye was
focused on the good parts of the evaluation – the high marks and the positive
feedback. My comments about the swear words simply didn’t register and were
overlooked. Spiritually speaking I think many of us can relate. It’s easier to
read the good news in Scripture and overlook the parts of correction. After
all, if it registers with us we then have a responsibility to do something
about it.
February 14, 2012
The In-Basket
Recently a friend shared her frustration about not having a specific
prayer answered. Feeling both dejected and rejected, she questioned whether or
not God was even hearing her prayers. I couldn’t help but think of Zechariah
and Elizabeth who were well along in years and still childless. As a priest
Zechariah no doubt pounded the doors of heaven for years with his request to
have an heir. One day an angel appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.” (Luke
1:13 NIV) God’s timing is perfect and it gives me pause to think that my prayer
request may be sitting in God’s in-basket just waiting for the right time.
February 13, 2012
Invitation
Some of us think that the only thing we have to do to bring people to
the Lord is simply invite them to church. If we can just get them in the door,
then it’s up to the Spirit, the preacher and church fellowship to keep them
engaged. When Paul spoke to the Athenians, he didn’t wait for Silas, Timothy or
anyone else to make a case for Jesus. He was so acquainted with his subject and
his supportive argument that even though some in his audience sneered, others
said, “We want to hear you again on this
subject.” (Acts 17:32 NIV) As mature believers we are all equipped with the
Word of God, so we know our subject…and yet I wonder if any of us have been
invited back to speak again.
February 10, 2012
Rhetoric
According to Webster’s one of the definitions for rhetoric is, “the study of writing or speaking as a means
of communication or persuasion.” On the political landscape there are plenty
of examples of rhetoric as candidates use their words to persuade voters. Preachers too are said to use rhetoric in their sermon as they present
the Sunday message. I find these modern day examples interesting and in stark
contrast to Paul’s manner of communication. “My
message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a
demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not
rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” (1 Cor 2:4-5 NIV)
February 09, 2012
Just a Suggestion
In one of my on-line classes the Professor gave an audio instruction
for her class. After one set of requirements I was put on notice when she said,
“This is not a suggestion.” Although
she spoke in a calm voice, her statement registered in Bold, CAPS and underlined. I’m wondering if many of us are
lackadaisical when reading the words of Jesus and we simply take them as a
suggestion. It’s entirely possible that those red-letter editions of the Bible
are trying to tell us that the words of Jesus are not just a suggestion.
February 08, 2012
WWJD
President Obama continues to want the wealthiest Americans to pay more in
taxes. In a recent speech he asked the nation to think about the less
fortunate, the middle class, and he brought Jesus into the issue saying, “What would Jesus do?” I had to laugh.
Jesus didn’t make a class distinction when he was asked about paying taxes. He
simply said, “…give to Caesar what is
Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:25b NIV)
February 07, 2012
Missing You
In order to re-run for the upcoming City Council election I had to get
25 signatures on my petition. Naturally I asked many fellow believers to sign because
they already know me personally. A friend of over 30 years half-jokingly said, “I don’t know if I want to sign your
petition or not. I think you’ll understand this…what I really want is to have
my friend back.” I do understand. Since getting into the political arena my
area of influence has drastically changed. I no longer teach classes, attend multiple
Bible studies or participate in women’s ministries and I do miss the former
closeness of friends. I’m now thinking about the family and friends of Jesus as
they watched Him leave his former life to begin His ministry. Even knowing
Jesus was doing the will of the Father didn’t stop them from thinking, ‘We just want our friend back.’
February 06, 2012
A Voice in the Wilderness
I have a friend who is in enrolled in a business class and one of the
requirements is learning to do a blog. “We're
[supposed] to narrow it down to a
directed group and have something that we are passionate about…I don't really consider
myself qualified to give advice…on any particular subject.” It’s
interesting that most of us feel unqualified and yet we have the Spirit of the
living God within us who gives us our credentials. John the Baptist was simply
a voice in the wilderness and yet he prepared the way and made straight paths
for the Lord.
February 03, 2012
Addressee
I hate it when I send out an email that, rather than going to the
intended recipient, goes to someone else.
Normally what I’ve written is not damaging, but once in awhile my
tongue-in-cheek comments can feel more like foot-in-mouth. When I pray I sometimes
wonder if I don’t inadvertently blind copy Satan. For instance if I tell the
Lord about my financial worries is Satan privy to the prayer and does he think,
‘Well OK now…if she’s worried about
finances let’s see what I can to help her add to those worries.’ Maybe I
need to start using the caveat, CONFIDENTIAL – For the Lord’s Ears Only.
February 02, 2012
Gratuity
When I was in the metro area I took a couple of family members to
dinner. Our waiter, who was of middle-eastern origin, wasn’t quite up to par as
waiters go and it crossed my mind that he might be fairly new to America. To
pay the bill I put cash in the card holder which was picked up by the waiter. However
my cousin insisted on leaving the tip, which he placed on the table. It wasn’t
long before the waiter returned and stiffly informed me that there was no tip
in the card holder. I was a little taken back and pointed to the tip on the
table, then picked it up and handed it to him. On the way out of the restaurant
we did speak to the manager about the unprofessionalism of the waiter and
hopefully the young man will be enlightened about the difference between wages
and gratuity. “…The worker deserves his
wages.” (1 Tim 5:18b NIV)
February 01, 2012
Elected
I will again be running for City Council in the April election.
Yesterday the newspaper called me for an interview and the reporter wanted to
know my thoughts on the current Council and how it has been observed that we
don’t always get along well with one another. My response was, “We’re not elected to get along, but rather
to set good policy and make good decisions.” Believers too are not immune
from feeling we must get along with others at all costs. Jesus makes it clear
where He stands, “Do not suppose that I
have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a
sword.” (Matt 10:34 NIV)
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