In Peter Jackson's 2001 cinematic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship of the Ring", a gold ring resurfaces that had long ago been worn and used by the Lord of Darkness to enslave, control, and dominate the entire free world. Now it threatens to subdue & shackle all creatures once more. So it is brought before a council to determine it's fate and the fate of all men.
Watch this clip. Stick with it. For what is revealed effects our fate, as well.
The first time in the Bible where God speaks of something not being good is in regard to man's alone-ness (Gen. 2:18). Of course, in that instance God is referring to Adam's need for a mate and the result is Eve. For this, all of us men are grateful. However, in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, God succinctly communicates a reality we men often wish to ignore and avoid:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"
Men, as we follow Jesus, we need each other.
I'm not talking about some wierd, touchy-feely, "new-age, sensitive guy" type of thing. We need brothers. We need comrades - other men to go to war with. For we are on a great quest. It is a quest with many challenges and battles. Battles for our marriages, our sons, our daughters. Battles for our homes, our communities, our nation. Battles for our very souls.
We cannot do it alone. There is only one choice. We must enter battle together. Brothers. To the end.
It's a Challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Bacon Observations
Jim Gaffigan is a self-proclaimed lazy, pasty-skinned, comedian who hails from northern Indiana, about half-way between Gary and South Bend – home of the Catholic Notre Dame University. He is – by his own admission – a less-than-devoted Catholic. He jokes about how his mind wanders during mass and many of those disclosed wanderings seem to border on blasphemy. I’ve never seen an entire Gaffigan routine, so I don’t necessarily recommend his comedy. However, there is one thing he & I agree on and it’s the topic of this Gaffigan video:
Jesus & his disciples have their own encounter with bacon that stood out so much that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all included it in their gospel accounts. Mark records it in Chapter 5, verses 1 -20. In this account, I think we can observe four truths that are applicable in our lives today.
After a terrifying trip across about 13 miles of the turbulent Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the twelve come ashore on the souteastern coast in the region known as the Gadarenes. Here, Jesus is confronted by a man possessed by a demon that has driven him mad and away from family & friends to live in the tombs in the hillsides. Even there, the evil spirit still works to ruin the man. Though folks tried to restrain him from doing so, they were unable to keep him from roaming the hills at night, cutting himself with stones, and crying out in anguish. But look what happens when he sees Jesus:
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. (Mark 5:6-17)
Four Observations for Life:
1. Satan's Ultimate Purpose is Destruction & Death
We really do have an enemy. While the grace of God restrains Satan's efforts on men & women, his vile objective is vividly revealed when his evil spirit enters the pigs. Destruction & Death.
2. We are Mostly Pessimistic of God's Power
Instead of thrilling those who witnessed this miracle, "they were afraid." Why so? I think it's because we fear anything that is beyond our perceived control. God is definitely that. God is good. And God is Love. But you can't box God in - - and that scares us.
3. Our Focus is Often Faulty
The people who came from all around saw the man - finally, miraculously, healed & in his right mind - and they were told about the destruction of the pigs. And, apparently, they chose to focus on the pigs (since they ask Jesus to leave). How often we ignore the many blessings we are given in order to focus on a few problems. Too often we shut our eyes & hearts to people and spend our emotions & energies on things!
4. We Often Desire Distance from Jesus
When confronted with a Holy, Compassionate King, our sin & hatred are too apparent for us to tolerate. Our choices are two: Either be strong & honest with ourself & with God and repent -OR- Pull away and try to hide our destructive actions & attitudes from ourselves. These people begged Jesus to leave. To our detriment, our choice is often the same.
Bacon is good with pancakes, eggs, gravy, and biscuits. It's great in bed! But never is Bacon better than when it is used by God to reveal truth to us and draw us to Him.
It's a Challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
Jesus & his disciples have their own encounter with bacon that stood out so much that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all included it in their gospel accounts. Mark records it in Chapter 5, verses 1 -20. In this account, I think we can observe four truths that are applicable in our lives today.
After a terrifying trip across about 13 miles of the turbulent Sea of Galilee, Jesus and the twelve come ashore on the souteastern coast in the region known as the Gadarenes. Here, Jesus is confronted by a man possessed by a demon that has driven him mad and away from family & friends to live in the tombs in the hillsides. Even there, the evil spirit still works to ruin the man. Though folks tried to restrain him from doing so, they were unable to keep him from roaming the hills at night, cutting himself with stones, and crying out in anguish. But look what happens when he sees Jesus:
When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. (Mark 5:6-17)
Four Observations for Life:
1. Satan's Ultimate Purpose is Destruction & Death
We really do have an enemy. While the grace of God restrains Satan's efforts on men & women, his vile objective is vividly revealed when his evil spirit enters the pigs. Destruction & Death.
2. We are Mostly Pessimistic of God's Power
Instead of thrilling those who witnessed this miracle, "they were afraid." Why so? I think it's because we fear anything that is beyond our perceived control. God is definitely that. God is good. And God is Love. But you can't box God in - - and that scares us.
3. Our Focus is Often Faulty
The people who came from all around saw the man - finally, miraculously, healed & in his right mind - and they were told about the destruction of the pigs. And, apparently, they chose to focus on the pigs (since they ask Jesus to leave). How often we ignore the many blessings we are given in order to focus on a few problems. Too often we shut our eyes & hearts to people and spend our emotions & energies on things!
4. We Often Desire Distance from Jesus
When confronted with a Holy, Compassionate King, our sin & hatred are too apparent for us to tolerate. Our choices are two: Either be strong & honest with ourself & with God and repent -OR- Pull away and try to hide our destructive actions & attitudes from ourselves. These people begged Jesus to leave. To our detriment, our choice is often the same.
Bacon is good with pancakes, eggs, gravy, and biscuits. It's great in bed! But never is Bacon better than when it is used by God to reveal truth to us and draw us to Him.
It's a Challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
"Not Dead. Not Now"
“In times of tyranny & injustice, when law oppresses people, the outlaw takes his place in history. England, at the turn of the 12th Century was such a time.”
So begins Ridley Scott’s 2010 theatrical epic “Robin Hood”. In it, Russell Crowe plays a yeoman archer, Robin Longstride, in King Richard’s army who, as he flees a failed battlefield, happens upon a dying knight, who exacts a vow from Longstride to return his sword to his aging father.
As Robin and his companions journey to Nottingham to fulfill that vow, Robin discovers an inscription on the sword’s hilt that rings vaguely familiar – though he knows not why. Unknown, is his own past, recalling only the devastating desertion of his father. But the aging Sir Walter Loxley recognizes & remembers the Longstride name and, after testing Robin’s character & finding it true, the old man decides the time is right to return a noble heritage to this drifting warrior.
Too often forgotten is the noble heritage has been granted to all who believe in the risen Lord Jesus. But we are again reminded of this heritage in three key phrases contained in this clip from Scott's mythical tale. Let's briefly focus our sights on these three phrases and the three realities we have been given by the resurrected Christ.
Phrase #1 - "Rise and Rise, Again."
In reference to Christ's conquest of death & the grave, Romans 8:1 begins, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation..."
Reality #1 - WE HAVE VICTORY
This reality is the most commonly recognized inheritance granted by Jesus' resurrection: That anyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ will "rise again" to life and not be subject to condemnation to hell for their sins. But this is only partially true. Because Jesus died & rose again to give us more - - So much more!!
Phrase #2 - "Until Lambs Become Lions"
Romans 8:2-3a says, "...Through Christ Jesus the low of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin & death. For what the law was powerless to do...God did..."
Reality #2 - WE HAVE VIGOR
Vigor is strength. Vigor is power. While lambs are known for their gentleness, lions are renowned for their power. Jesus was both lamb & lion, depending on what the situation called for. However, we often do a great disservice to our Lord and our God by over-emphasizing the gentleness & meekness of Christ (His lamb-ness) - - to the neglect &, seemingly, the denial of Jesus' courage & strength (His lion-ness). In doing so, we discount & deny the power & courage that God desires in us & for us. Take a look at Chapters 2 - 4 of Luke's gospel - just a small sampling. Jesus was a man of Courage & Power, hence, by definition, He was a man of Vigor. His resurrection not only proves His power, but it both delivers & demands this same Vigor from those who would follow Him.
And finally,...
Phrase #3 - "Not Dead. Not Now."
Romans 8:13 says, ..."If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live..." Jesus expands upon this idea of living with His own description of His purpose in John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full."
Reality #3 - WE HAVE VITALITY
We who trust Jesus can expect life to be full & adventurous. For an adventure is, by definition, "hazardous action of uncertain outcome." If this is not part of our lives, I've found that it is usually because we are unwilling to embark on any path, if we do not know exactly what the outcome will be. Living in such a way, we become overly cautious & we miss the adventures that God has for us. But for those whowill be led by God's Spirit there will be hazard. There will be uncertainty. There will be adventure! There will be Vitality!
You see, being a follower of Jesus isn't just a list of do's & don'ts to be kept in order to avoid hell. Jesus Christ died to give you life beyond the curtain of physical death - to be sure! But eternal life starts now. And the life God has for you is to be characterized not only by Victory Over Death, but by a Vigorous Strength & Courage, and a Vitality - a Vibrancy - of an Adventurous Life. That's why Jesus died & rose again. That's the life He lived & still lives today. And He is inviting you to join Him!
That's the Challenge!
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Take Me!
In Michael Mann's 1992 movie adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans", Daniel Day-Lewis gives a memorable portrayal of Hawkeye, a white man taken and raised by Mohican Indians, who now finds himself irretreivably in love with the eldest daughter of British Colonel Edmund Munro. The film chronicles the events as a twisted Huron, named Magua, seeks to exact revenge on the colonel and his two daughters.
Magua does, indeed, kill Colonel Munro and ultimately captures both of his daughters - - Cora (played by Madeleine Stowe) and Alice. Along with the two young women, the warrior has also brought Major Duncan Heyward, whose love was spurned by Cora and whose charge it is to protect the colonel's offspring. As Magua presents his captives to the Huron chief, or sachem, he pleads to be rewarded with both women so that he might torture and kill them. Hawkeye, having been in pursuit of Magua's party for days, arrives at the Huron village only to find that he is, seemingly, too late. So, out of his love for Cora, Hawkeye drops his weapons and marches directly into the encampment and into the face of the wrath of the Huron people.
Magua presents his case to the sachem and then awaits the chief's judgment. What happens next is awesome! Watch & listen to this scene. Don't miss the subtitles!
In the same way, Jesus, even though we spurned his love, gave himself as a sacrifice in our place. Roman's 5:8 says just that: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
It is this sacrificial love that we remember, once again, this Friday - - Good Friday. And we remember the One who loved us so much that, even though it would cost him his life, he shouted above the roar of the evil hoard, "Take me!"
It is inferred in the movie, that Cora and Hawkeye not only realize what Major Heyward does but they appreciate and take advantage of it.
Jesus died in your place. He took on himself the guilt of your sin and carried it to His grave. Do you appreciate that? Will you take advantage of this opportunity He has given you?
That's the challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Magua does, indeed, kill Colonel Munro and ultimately captures both of his daughters - - Cora (played by Madeleine Stowe) and Alice. Along with the two young women, the warrior has also brought Major Duncan Heyward, whose love was spurned by Cora and whose charge it is to protect the colonel's offspring. As Magua presents his captives to the Huron chief, or sachem, he pleads to be rewarded with both women so that he might torture and kill them. Hawkeye, having been in pursuit of Magua's party for days, arrives at the Huron village only to find that he is, seemingly, too late. So, out of his love for Cora, Hawkeye drops his weapons and marches directly into the encampment and into the face of the wrath of the Huron people.
Magua presents his case to the sachem and then awaits the chief's judgment. What happens next is awesome! Watch & listen to this scene. Don't miss the subtitles!
In the same way, Jesus, even though we spurned his love, gave himself as a sacrifice in our place. Roman's 5:8 says just that: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
It is this sacrificial love that we remember, once again, this Friday - - Good Friday. And we remember the One who loved us so much that, even though it would cost him his life, he shouted above the roar of the evil hoard, "Take me!"
It is inferred in the movie, that Cora and Hawkeye not only realize what Major Heyward does but they appreciate and take advantage of it.
Jesus died in your place. He took on himself the guilt of your sin and carried it to His grave. Do you appreciate that? Will you take advantage of this opportunity He has given you?
That's the challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Thursday, April 7, 2011
"God Wants You on the Floor"
"Hoosiers", released in 1986 starring Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale, is a story of forgiveness. It is a tale second chances. It's a reminder to us all not to fall prey to the fallacy that the haves will always get more and the have-nots will perish without. But it's also a reminder of another vital characteristic of Christian faith.
In the movie, Coach Dale takes the helm of a high school team in little Hickory, Indiana. Dale, formerly a college coach in New York, had been suspended by that state for striking one of his own players. After Dale spends ten years in the Navy, an old friend offers him a fresh start in coaching.
The season for the small-town Hickory Huskers is very loosely based on the true account of the 1954 Milan Indians. In the movie, Coach Dale takes over the team amidst a hail of criticism from the townsfolk. His military-like discipline wins him no friends and it appears his stay in Hickory may be short - and turbulent.
As the team prepares for their first game, we get a look in the Huskers locker room. Coach Dale concludes his pre-game reminders, then the town preacher prays. The team bolts to their feet and heads for the court. That is, except for one. Strap - the preacher's kid. And while most of the team is out the door, Strap still kneels, head bowed, praying. Coach Dale hollers, "Hold it up. Hold on. Strap?" No response. Then, looking at one of Strap's teammates Dale asks, "How long's he gonna go on like this?" "I dunno. He'll come when he's ready - not before." So, with Strap still on his knees, teammate and coach head for the door with Coach Dale mumbling, "I hope that'll be sometime before tip-off."
The season rolls on. As it does, tiny Hickory, though not without their stumbles, gets into a winning rhythm. Tournament time comes and the winning beat goes on for the Huskers. Game after game, Strap seems to do most of his work from the bench. Then, in the District Final, one of his teammates is injured. Coach Dale's competitive fire burns to win and keep the bleeding youngster in the game. But things have changed. Watch this:
God wants you on the floor, too. Following Jesus Christ takes action. It's more, so much more, than hymns, prayer, and sitting through a sermon. Yet, that is what we errantly call a "Church Service". God forbid that we come to accept such a reduced caricature of a Christian's life!
Church is not a meeting. It's people. People who realize they need encouragement and help from others on their common journey following Jesus. And church is not an organization. Oh, hopefully there is some organization to it. But the church is an organism. A living, breathing, active entity. And that brings us back to Coach Dale's piercing exhortation to Strap, and to us all: God wants you on the floor.
God isn't calling you to a boring life on the sidelines. He wants you in the midst of the game. Where you can feel His strength. Where He charges you to participate and contribute to what He is doing in this world. This isn't a calling for cowards. It's for those who would answer Jesus' call to follow. And that answer cannot be sluggishly mouthed with mere words. It must be eloquently and energetically pronounced in sentences and chapters of active involvement.
God wants you in the game!
There's the challenge. This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
In the movie, Coach Dale takes the helm of a high school team in little Hickory, Indiana. Dale, formerly a college coach in New York, had been suspended by that state for striking one of his own players. After Dale spends ten years in the Navy, an old friend offers him a fresh start in coaching.
The season for the small-town Hickory Huskers is very loosely based on the true account of the 1954 Milan Indians. In the movie, Coach Dale takes over the team amidst a hail of criticism from the townsfolk. His military-like discipline wins him no friends and it appears his stay in Hickory may be short - and turbulent.
As the team prepares for their first game, we get a look in the Huskers locker room. Coach Dale concludes his pre-game reminders, then the town preacher prays. The team bolts to their feet and heads for the court. That is, except for one. Strap - the preacher's kid. And while most of the team is out the door, Strap still kneels, head bowed, praying. Coach Dale hollers, "Hold it up. Hold on. Strap?" No response. Then, looking at one of Strap's teammates Dale asks, "How long's he gonna go on like this?" "I dunno. He'll come when he's ready - not before." So, with Strap still on his knees, teammate and coach head for the door with Coach Dale mumbling, "I hope that'll be sometime before tip-off."
The season rolls on. As it does, tiny Hickory, though not without their stumbles, gets into a winning rhythm. Tournament time comes and the winning beat goes on for the Huskers. Game after game, Strap seems to do most of his work from the bench. Then, in the District Final, one of his teammates is injured. Coach Dale's competitive fire burns to win and keep the bleeding youngster in the game. But things have changed. Watch this:
God wants you on the floor, too. Following Jesus Christ takes action. It's more, so much more, than hymns, prayer, and sitting through a sermon. Yet, that is what we errantly call a "Church Service". God forbid that we come to accept such a reduced caricature of a Christian's life!
Church is not a meeting. It's people. People who realize they need encouragement and help from others on their common journey following Jesus. And church is not an organization. Oh, hopefully there is some organization to it. But the church is an organism. A living, breathing, active entity. And that brings us back to Coach Dale's piercing exhortation to Strap, and to us all: God wants you on the floor.
God isn't calling you to a boring life on the sidelines. He wants you in the midst of the game. Where you can feel His strength. Where He charges you to participate and contribute to what He is doing in this world. This isn't a calling for cowards. It's for those who would answer Jesus' call to follow. And that answer cannot be sluggishly mouthed with mere words. It must be eloquently and energetically pronounced in sentences and chapters of active involvement.
God wants you in the game!
There's the challenge. This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Thursday, March 31, 2011
"Clueless"
In 1996, Brian Henson directed the plush-figured creature version of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel and titled it "Muppet Treasure Island". It's a great kid's movie. My boys nearly wore out our VHS version when they were small.
While watching it, I was surprised to find that Henson had borrowed so generously from my life when modeling one particular member of the crew. Watch this short video. You may find a crewman that you identify with, too. Mine is right after Dead Tom:
Clueless Shope - - That's me! It would be embarrassing - - if I didn't find myself in such good company.
Hebrews 11 reminds us that Abraham up and moved himself, his wife, his nephew, and all his belongings "even though he did not know where he was going." (verse 8). Try that sometime. That'll earn you some stares.
Then there's Paul. This persecutor-of-the-church-turned-apostle who had spent so much of his life and energy traveling the Middle East & Asia Minor spreading the good news and starting churches, stands in front of a group of church leaders on the southwestern shore of what is modern-day Turkey and confesses: “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." (Acts 20:22). Verse one of the next chapter tells us that they didn't want him to go. So much so that he and his party had to "tear" themselves away from them.
And Jeremiah. God's prophet. Our introduction to him in the first chapter of his self-titled prophecy sets the tone for his life:
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Four Quick Observations:
1. God knows you better than you know yourself - - and He values you highly. (Verses 4-5)
2. You don't need all the answers to take significant, obedient action. (Verses 6-7)
3. God is always with you when you obey Him. (Verse 8)
4. Obedience often will be scary & perilous. (Verse 8)
As a man (or woman) follows God, there will be times when we must act without knowing what the outcome will be. Abraham didn't know where the journey would take him and his family. Paul didn't know how it would turn out in Jerusalem. (By the way, it turned out to be prison, trials, and execution. Just thought you should know.) Jeremiah didn't know what to say, yet he spoke.
I'm no Abraham. Or Paul. Or, for that fact, a Jeremiah. And I don't know how it will turn out. Really. I'm clueless. But I fully intend to follow Christ no matter the outcome. If you aren't already a follower, I invite you to join me on this adventure.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
While watching it, I was surprised to find that Henson had borrowed so generously from my life when modeling one particular member of the crew. Watch this short video. You may find a crewman that you identify with, too. Mine is right after Dead Tom:
Clueless Shope - - That's me! It would be embarrassing - - if I didn't find myself in such good company.
Hebrews 11 reminds us that Abraham up and moved himself, his wife, his nephew, and all his belongings "even though he did not know where he was going." (verse 8). Try that sometime. That'll earn you some stares.
Then there's Paul. This persecutor-of-the-church-turned-apostle who had spent so much of his life and energy traveling the Middle East & Asia Minor spreading the good news and starting churches, stands in front of a group of church leaders on the southwestern shore of what is modern-day Turkey and confesses: “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there." (Acts 20:22). Verse one of the next chapter tells us that they didn't want him to go. So much so that he and his party had to "tear" themselves away from them.
And Jeremiah. God's prophet. Our introduction to him in the first chapter of his self-titled prophecy sets the tone for his life:
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
6 “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.
Four Quick Observations:
1. God knows you better than you know yourself - - and He values you highly. (Verses 4-5)
2. You don't need all the answers to take significant, obedient action. (Verses 6-7)
3. God is always with you when you obey Him. (Verse 8)
4. Obedience often will be scary & perilous. (Verse 8)
As a man (or woman) follows God, there will be times when we must act without knowing what the outcome will be. Abraham didn't know where the journey would take him and his family. Paul didn't know how it would turn out in Jerusalem. (By the way, it turned out to be prison, trials, and execution. Just thought you should know.) Jeremiah didn't know what to say, yet he spoke.
I'm no Abraham. Or Paul. Or, for that fact, a Jeremiah. And I don't know how it will turn out. Really. I'm clueless. But I fully intend to follow Christ no matter the outcome. If you aren't already a follower, I invite you to join me on this adventure.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
Sunday, March 13, 2011
"Born That Way"
I wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure that Clay & Addie Nicholson knew right away that their little boy was different. Ernie was born with, what in contemporary medical terminology is, a severe case of Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is not something we can "cure". As I understand it, it is the result of a chromosomal anomaly.
Ernie Nicholson was my uncle. My mom's little brother. Early in his life, his family was told that he probably wouldn't survive beyond his early twenties. Yet, he was nearer 30 years old in my earliest memories. And Ernie was definitely memorable.
Did you ever wonder what a Southern Baptish Church Service would sound like if it were crossed with an Elvis Presley Las Vegas stage show? Not me. Didn't have to. I've been there and I've heard it with my own ears. In that little frame house in Cave City, Arkansas, Ernie's voice would boom from his bedroom as he seamlessly transitioned from preacher to singer and from gospel hymns to "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog".
I remember my Uncle Wesley (Ernie's younger brother) lovingly teasing Uncle Ernie by trying to get him to properly pronounce one of Ernie's all-time favorite TV shows, FBI. It would go something like this:
Wes: "Ernie, do you like to watch FBI?"
Ernie: "Yeah. Ah (Ernie's long "i" sounds always came out sounding like a kid saying "Ah" as the doctor positioned a tongue-depressor to check his throat.) lah-lah-lah-lahk it."
Wes: "You like what?"
Ernie: "Ah lah-lah-lahk Bee Ah."
Wes: "Ernie, it's not BI. It's FBI."
Ernie: "Yeah. Yeah. Bee Ah."
Wes: "No. Listen, Ernie. F-B-I. Say it with me. It's F."
Ernie: "Yeah. Got, got, got a eff."
Wes: "B"
Ernie: "Yeah. Got a Bee"
Wes: "I"
Ernie: "Yeah. Golly!! Got a eye"
Wes: "Put all together: FBI"
To which Ernie would, then, triumphantly echo: "Bee Ah!!"
I don't recall anyone ever getting Ernie to call that show anything but, "Bee Ah". He brought a whole different spin to today's completely-too-common slang of "getting the F outta there."
Ernie was different, very different, from almost everyone else that I knew. The world in which he lived was different. Physically, it was small - - not much beyond the inside of my grandma's house, spiced up with a daily trek down their short driveway to pick up their copy of the Arkansas Democrat or to carefully and deliberately retrieve letters from the mailbox by the road.
Imaginatively, though, Ernie's world was wide open.
One of my warmest memories of our annual summer vacations to Arkansas was when I could sit with Ernie, there on the side of his feather mattress bed, and he'd pull out his leather "purse" and "wallet" - - each one crammed full of pictures. Pictures painstakingly collected and almost reverently stored, extracted, and then re-placed in their proper spots within the stretched & straining confines of those hand-worn, cowhide treasuries. Every single picture - - some actual snapshots, but most clipped from the newpaper - - was accompanied by it's own story.
Stories of his six brothers and two sisters. Stories of his mom & dad. Stories of family friends, old neighbors, childhood acquaintances, and local business owners. Stories of his nephew, my cousin, Dale. Fond comments about his oldest brothers' wives - - Dixie and Loretta (it always came out as "Loletta", though). Commentaries, filled with pride, of my uncles James, Presley, and Wilbur. Reflections of my other cousins, aunts, and uncles. Of my dad, Wilbur (always "Bill" to Ernie, so as not to be confused with his brother), my mom ("Mattie Lou"), my sisters, Carol ("Carr-Lynn") and Terri (he always managed to get her name right), and me - - "Duckie" (he wasn't intending to associate me with the web-footed, wide-billed fowl, that's just how "Dougie" came out).
Sometimes when Ernie told me about me, he actually displayed a picture of me. Most of the time, however, his gentle, pale-white hand grasped a newsprint, gray-scale, boyhood image of some celebrity. Sometimes it was a young John Wayne. Other times maybe Mickey Rooney or someone lesser known. I couldn't tell and it didn't matter.
What mattered was that I always knew that I mattered to Ernie. Not because of my pictures. Heck, most of my pictures weren't even of me. (I wasn't alone - - unless Clark Gable, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Judy Garland really do look EXACTLY like everyone in our family). What mattered was: I had a story. And my story had a place in Ernie's stories. In Ernie's heart. And Ernie took the time with me to share those stories.
Ernie was different. He could seemingly completely unhinge his bottom jaw in such a manner as to enable himself to cover the entire tip of his nose with his bottom lip. It is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I still almost laugh out loud when I think of it.
Did you know that in the U.K., by using prenatal testing, 92% of children with Down Syndrome are killed while still in their mothers' wombs? Our country's statistics are probably not greatly different. May God have mercy on us.
Ernie was definitely different. Some would say that he was somehow less. They'd be wrong! Ernie was everything God intended him to be. He sure taught me a lot. He educated me about properly valuing others. He schooled me on loving people who are very different. He taught me about compassion.
Ernie stepped out of his physical and mental limitations some years ago at the age of 58. He is now with his heavenly Father and I'm guessing he can clearly say "FBI" - - if he ever wants to.
In Ephesians 4:32, God says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another...". In ways I may never fully grasp, Ernie taught me to be compassionate - - something it takes most of us years, decades, or even a lifetime to begin to get a handle on. Not so with Ernie. He was born that way. And I thank God for him.
Life is, as it should be, a challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Duckie
Ernie Nicholson was my uncle. My mom's little brother. Early in his life, his family was told that he probably wouldn't survive beyond his early twenties. Yet, he was nearer 30 years old in my earliest memories. And Ernie was definitely memorable.
Did you ever wonder what a Southern Baptish Church Service would sound like if it were crossed with an Elvis Presley Las Vegas stage show? Not me. Didn't have to. I've been there and I've heard it with my own ears. In that little frame house in Cave City, Arkansas, Ernie's voice would boom from his bedroom as he seamlessly transitioned from preacher to singer and from gospel hymns to "You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog".
I remember my Uncle Wesley (Ernie's younger brother) lovingly teasing Uncle Ernie by trying to get him to properly pronounce one of Ernie's all-time favorite TV shows, FBI. It would go something like this:
Wes: "Ernie, do you like to watch FBI?"
Ernie: "Yeah. Ah (Ernie's long "i" sounds always came out sounding like a kid saying "Ah" as the doctor positioned a tongue-depressor to check his throat.) lah-lah-lah-lahk it."
Wes: "You like what?"
Ernie: "Ah lah-lah-lahk Bee Ah."
Wes: "Ernie, it's not BI. It's FBI."
Ernie: "Yeah. Yeah. Bee Ah."
Wes: "No. Listen, Ernie. F-B-I. Say it with me. It's F."
Ernie: "Yeah. Got, got, got a eff."
Wes: "B"
Ernie: "Yeah. Got a Bee"
Wes: "I"
Ernie: "Yeah. Golly!! Got a eye"
Wes: "Put all together: FBI"
To which Ernie would, then, triumphantly echo: "Bee Ah!!"
I don't recall anyone ever getting Ernie to call that show anything but, "Bee Ah". He brought a whole different spin to today's completely-too-common slang of "getting the F outta there."
Ernie was different, very different, from almost everyone else that I knew. The world in which he lived was different. Physically, it was small - - not much beyond the inside of my grandma's house, spiced up with a daily trek down their short driveway to pick up their copy of the Arkansas Democrat or to carefully and deliberately retrieve letters from the mailbox by the road.
Imaginatively, though, Ernie's world was wide open.
One of my warmest memories of our annual summer vacations to Arkansas was when I could sit with Ernie, there on the side of his feather mattress bed, and he'd pull out his leather "purse" and "wallet" - - each one crammed full of pictures. Pictures painstakingly collected and almost reverently stored, extracted, and then re-placed in their proper spots within the stretched & straining confines of those hand-worn, cowhide treasuries. Every single picture - - some actual snapshots, but most clipped from the newpaper - - was accompanied by it's own story.
Stories of his six brothers and two sisters. Stories of his mom & dad. Stories of family friends, old neighbors, childhood acquaintances, and local business owners. Stories of his nephew, my cousin, Dale. Fond comments about his oldest brothers' wives - - Dixie and Loretta (it always came out as "Loletta", though). Commentaries, filled with pride, of my uncles James, Presley, and Wilbur. Reflections of my other cousins, aunts, and uncles. Of my dad, Wilbur (always "Bill" to Ernie, so as not to be confused with his brother), my mom ("Mattie Lou"), my sisters, Carol ("Carr-Lynn") and Terri (he always managed to get her name right), and me - - "Duckie" (he wasn't intending to associate me with the web-footed, wide-billed fowl, that's just how "Dougie" came out).
Sometimes when Ernie told me about me, he actually displayed a picture of me. Most of the time, however, his gentle, pale-white hand grasped a newsprint, gray-scale, boyhood image of some celebrity. Sometimes it was a young John Wayne. Other times maybe Mickey Rooney or someone lesser known. I couldn't tell and it didn't matter.
What mattered was that I always knew that I mattered to Ernie. Not because of my pictures. Heck, most of my pictures weren't even of me. (I wasn't alone - - unless Clark Gable, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Judy Garland really do look EXACTLY like everyone in our family). What mattered was: I had a story. And my story had a place in Ernie's stories. In Ernie's heart. And Ernie took the time with me to share those stories.
Ernie was different. He could seemingly completely unhinge his bottom jaw in such a manner as to enable himself to cover the entire tip of his nose with his bottom lip. It is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I still almost laugh out loud when I think of it.
Did you know that in the U.K., by using prenatal testing, 92% of children with Down Syndrome are killed while still in their mothers' wombs? Our country's statistics are probably not greatly different. May God have mercy on us.
Ernie was definitely different. Some would say that he was somehow less. They'd be wrong! Ernie was everything God intended him to be. He sure taught me a lot. He educated me about properly valuing others. He schooled me on loving people who are very different. He taught me about compassion.
Ernie stepped out of his physical and mental limitations some years ago at the age of 58. He is now with his heavenly Father and I'm guessing he can clearly say "FBI" - - if he ever wants to.
In Ephesians 4:32, God says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another...". In ways I may never fully grasp, Ernie taught me to be compassionate - - something it takes most of us years, decades, or even a lifetime to begin to get a handle on. Not so with Ernie. He was born that way. And I thank God for him.
Life is, as it should be, a challenge.
Ernie & Doug (circa. 1972)
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Duckie
Thursday, March 10, 2011
"Not Enough Rocks"
Winston Groom's 1986 novel, Forrest Gump, made it to the big screen under the direction of Robert Zemeckis in 1994. In the movie, Forrest, a slow-witted, yet innocent southerner played by Tom Hanks, finds himself in countless pivotal moments of contemporary American culture.
As a boy in a chance meeting, Forrest's leg braces inspire Elvis' famous hip-gyrations. As a collegian, Forrest becomes an All-American playing football for the Crimson Tide's Paul "Bear" Bryant, and gets to meet the President of the United States to whom he confesses, "I have to pee" after indulging in too many free Dr. Peppers.
Gump, then, heads off to Vietnam where he saves many of his friends and wins the Medal of Honor. Upon his return home, he founds a successful shrimp fishing fleet in honor of his fallen buddy (Bubba), plays ping-pong for peace versus Red China, and single-handedly starts the running craze while simultaneously and mistakenly creating the smiley face t-shirt and an infamous bumper sticker slogan.
It seems as if whatever Forrest touches just works out for him - - except for Jenny, his very best friend - - his only friend.
Having met on the bus on his first day of school, Forrest and Jenny become "like peas and carrots", always together. Jenny listens to Forrest and Forrest listens to Jenny. And while Forrest lives an innocent early life, Jenny has her innocence stolen by her own father.
In a telling scene, Forrest rushes up the dirt drive to Jenny's paint-thin shack of a house to see why she missed school. He finds her out back and when he begins talking, Jenny shushes him, admonishing, "Daddy's sleeping." But Daddy has awakened and comes screaming out the back door as Jenny and Forrest sprint into a cornfield to hide. "Pray with me, Forrest, pray" Jenny begs. And, kneeling between the stalks, we hear the pleadings of a precious child saying, "Dear God, make me a bird. So I can fly far. Far, far away from here."
Jenny doesn't become a bird, but the police do take her from her widowed father and she goes to live with her grandma right down the road from Forrest. However, it is obvious that great damage has been done upon Forrest's Jenny (now played by Robin Wright) as her life becomes marked by shallow & short-lived relationships, abusive men, drugs, and elusive longings.
That evil which was, through no fault of hers, forced upon her, takes root in her in the form of a silent and self-destructive fury of bitterness and hatred. Hatred for the man who did this to her. Hatred of herself, for who knows why. So she runs. Throughout the film, Jenny runs from place to place, from one man to another, and from discontent to despair. Always returning to her simple friend, Forrest, who loves her without condition. And, still, the words uttered most frequently in the story are his words, these words, as he narrates their relationship, "And then ... she was gone."
Life goes on for Forrest, as he continues to find himself in the iconic events of our nation. But his heart is only for his mama and Jenny. Then, Mama dies. And Forrest takes up a silent residence in his childhood home, taking care of life's mundane, yet necessary tasks. All the while, all alone. Then, in the midst of this subdued solitude -- well, just watch & listen:
Hanks, in the voice of Gump, pronounces a profound dictum on the effects of crimes and hurts, wounds and wrongs, losses and evils - - inside us. And, in doing so, he walks us to the Word of God where, in Hebrews 12:15, He says:
I can't say, for sure, why God linked these two concepts - - missing God's grace and bitterness taking root inside us - - but I think I've learned that when I embrace the unjust wounds inflicted on me from others, I'm unable to grasp the undeserved kindness (that's what grace is) from God. It's a challenge.
There are never enough rocks to batter down all our wounds, but we do have a God who wants to take them far, far away.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
As a boy in a chance meeting, Forrest's leg braces inspire Elvis' famous hip-gyrations. As a collegian, Forrest becomes an All-American playing football for the Crimson Tide's Paul "Bear" Bryant, and gets to meet the President of the United States to whom he confesses, "I have to pee" after indulging in too many free Dr. Peppers.
Gump, then, heads off to Vietnam where he saves many of his friends and wins the Medal of Honor. Upon his return home, he founds a successful shrimp fishing fleet in honor of his fallen buddy (Bubba), plays ping-pong for peace versus Red China, and single-handedly starts the running craze while simultaneously and mistakenly creating the smiley face t-shirt and an infamous bumper sticker slogan.
It seems as if whatever Forrest touches just works out for him - - except for Jenny, his very best friend - - his only friend.
Having met on the bus on his first day of school, Forrest and Jenny become "like peas and carrots", always together. Jenny listens to Forrest and Forrest listens to Jenny. And while Forrest lives an innocent early life, Jenny has her innocence stolen by her own father.
In a telling scene, Forrest rushes up the dirt drive to Jenny's paint-thin shack of a house to see why she missed school. He finds her out back and when he begins talking, Jenny shushes him, admonishing, "Daddy's sleeping." But Daddy has awakened and comes screaming out the back door as Jenny and Forrest sprint into a cornfield to hide. "Pray with me, Forrest, pray" Jenny begs. And, kneeling between the stalks, we hear the pleadings of a precious child saying, "Dear God, make me a bird. So I can fly far. Far, far away from here."
Jenny doesn't become a bird, but the police do take her from her widowed father and she goes to live with her grandma right down the road from Forrest. However, it is obvious that great damage has been done upon Forrest's Jenny (now played by Robin Wright) as her life becomes marked by shallow & short-lived relationships, abusive men, drugs, and elusive longings.
That evil which was, through no fault of hers, forced upon her, takes root in her in the form of a silent and self-destructive fury of bitterness and hatred. Hatred for the man who did this to her. Hatred of herself, for who knows why. So she runs. Throughout the film, Jenny runs from place to place, from one man to another, and from discontent to despair. Always returning to her simple friend, Forrest, who loves her without condition. And, still, the words uttered most frequently in the story are his words, these words, as he narrates their relationship, "And then ... she was gone."
Life goes on for Forrest, as he continues to find himself in the iconic events of our nation. But his heart is only for his mama and Jenny. Then, Mama dies. And Forrest takes up a silent residence in his childhood home, taking care of life's mundane, yet necessary tasks. All the while, all alone. Then, in the midst of this subdued solitude -- well, just watch & listen:
Hanks, in the voice of Gump, pronounces a profound dictum on the effects of crimes and hurts, wounds and wrongs, losses and evils - - inside us. And, in doing so, he walks us to the Word of God where, in Hebrews 12:15, He says:
"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
I can't say, for sure, why God linked these two concepts - - missing God's grace and bitterness taking root inside us - - but I think I've learned that when I embrace the unjust wounds inflicted on me from others, I'm unable to grasp the undeserved kindness (that's what grace is) from God. It's a challenge.
There are never enough rocks to batter down all our wounds, but we do have a God who wants to take them far, far away.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Monday, March 7, 2011
"That Most Difficult Task"
Paul Greengrass's 2007 screen adaptation of Robert Ludlum's "The Bourne Ultimatum" stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne - a former CIA agent who had been re-programmed as an agency "asset", or assassin, resulting in the loss of memory regarding his former identity. After a catastrophic mission failure, Bourne recovers some of his memory and realizes that his actions as an agent have often targeted U.S citizens whose transgressions were not deserving of death.
Having suffered severely at the hands of his former bosses, Jason embarks on a quest to uncover his true identity and bring these rogue agency officials to justice. However, in doing so, he has become a target himself.
Then, Simon Ross, a British journalist, begins an expose of this black ops program. Bourne reads his article and contacts the newswriter, knowing that Ross - by virtue of his threat to uncover the malefactors - - has centered himself, also, in the assassin's scope.
Fully aware that the agency has it's eyes on Ross, Jason arranges a meeting with the journalist. At busy Waterloo Terminal in London, Bourne slips Ross a new, pre-paid phone to avoid tracing, alerts him to the fact that they are being watched, that their lives are in imminent danger, and then warns the writer, "We've gotta move!"
Phone to his ear, Simon Ross traverses the pedestrian-packed terminal undiscovered, obediently following Bourne's constant & calm directives. Though progressing undetected, fear takes control of Simon's mind. A spray-bottle becomes a hit-man's weapon and panicking feet carry him back into the enemy's sights. Watch what happens next:
After so dutifully and successfully working his way through an obstacle course of movement and action, Simon Ross receives clear instruction to perform what is often that most difficult task for men: "Wait". But he can't. And so he utters, perhaps, the most common last words of men, "I think I can make it!", and he bursts through the door.
Two steps and it's over.
God has eyeballed this scene before. It was a man named Saul, the first king of Israel, in about 1050 B.C.. God, through his prophet Samuel, gives the new king a blow-by-blow account of what is going to transpire. Next, he is given what amounts to a blank check when the prophet tells him that he can then do whatever his hand finds to do because God is with him. Then, Samuel's final instructions to Saul are these words:
“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” (1 Samuel 10:8)
In fact, it all happens just as God said it would. Everything Samuel said was fulfilled. Every enemy Saul engaged was vanquished. You would think the level of trust would be sky-high. So, Saul goes to Gilgal and waits. For six days he waits. Then, the sun dawns on day seven and we read:
As a result, Saul's days as king are numbered and God seeks out a man "after his own heart" to lead his people.
Now comes the tough part. Because I have to tell you that I don't have all the answers when it comes to waiting and not waiting. But I will tell you five things I've learned:
1) Waiting is Hard - It's hard for everyone, but it seems to be especially hard for men. The encouragement is this: You are not alone!
2) If God's Word Speaks to Your Situation, Actively Obey - There is no reason that we should be waiting and praying about whether to pay our debts, pay our employees, love our wives, forgive our enemies, tell the truth, or help our neighbors. God's Word is clear: Do it!
3) If God Clearly Tells You to Wait, Wait - Sometimes God, through His Holy Spirit, will clearly tell his kids to wait. But remember this: Never will His Spirit give you instruction that contradicts His written Word.
4) While Waiting, Don't Go Comatose - Don't zone-out on God or those around you. I call it "Active Waiting". Continue to read His Word, Talk to Him, love your family - - do those things you know to do.
5) Rushing Ahead Without God Can Be Disastrous - Just like the journalist in the movie, or King Saul in God's Word: We won't last long on our own.
The king that took Saul's place - his name was David. And while David was by no means perfect, I think he may have learned something from Saul's error. His advice, recorded in the 37th Psalm, says this:
Hang in there. It will be a challenge, but God is strong.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis!
Doug
Having suffered severely at the hands of his former bosses, Jason embarks on a quest to uncover his true identity and bring these rogue agency officials to justice. However, in doing so, he has become a target himself.
Then, Simon Ross, a British journalist, begins an expose of this black ops program. Bourne reads his article and contacts the newswriter, knowing that Ross - by virtue of his threat to uncover the malefactors - - has centered himself, also, in the assassin's scope.
Fully aware that the agency has it's eyes on Ross, Jason arranges a meeting with the journalist. At busy Waterloo Terminal in London, Bourne slips Ross a new, pre-paid phone to avoid tracing, alerts him to the fact that they are being watched, that their lives are in imminent danger, and then warns the writer, "We've gotta move!"
Phone to his ear, Simon Ross traverses the pedestrian-packed terminal undiscovered, obediently following Bourne's constant & calm directives. Though progressing undetected, fear takes control of Simon's mind. A spray-bottle becomes a hit-man's weapon and panicking feet carry him back into the enemy's sights. Watch what happens next:
After so dutifully and successfully working his way through an obstacle course of movement and action, Simon Ross receives clear instruction to perform what is often that most difficult task for men: "Wait". But he can't. And so he utters, perhaps, the most common last words of men, "I think I can make it!", and he bursts through the door.
Two steps and it's over.
God has eyeballed this scene before. It was a man named Saul, the first king of Israel, in about 1050 B.C.. God, through his prophet Samuel, gives the new king a blow-by-blow account of what is going to transpire. Next, he is given what amounts to a blank check when the prophet tells him that he can then do whatever his hand finds to do because God is with him. Then, Samuel's final instructions to Saul are these words:
“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” (1 Samuel 10:8)
In fact, it all happens just as God said it would. Everything Samuel said was fulfilled. Every enemy Saul engaged was vanquished. You would think the level of trust would be sky-high. So, Saul goes to Gilgal and waits. For six days he waits. Then, the sun dawns on day seven and we read:
He (Saul) waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
“What have you done?” asked Samuel.
Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, ... I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.” (1 Samuel 13:8-12)
As a result, Saul's days as king are numbered and God seeks out a man "after his own heart" to lead his people.
Now comes the tough part. Because I have to tell you that I don't have all the answers when it comes to waiting and not waiting. But I will tell you five things I've learned:
1) Waiting is Hard - It's hard for everyone, but it seems to be especially hard for men. The encouragement is this: You are not alone!
2) If God's Word Speaks to Your Situation, Actively Obey - There is no reason that we should be waiting and praying about whether to pay our debts, pay our employees, love our wives, forgive our enemies, tell the truth, or help our neighbors. God's Word is clear: Do it!
3) If God Clearly Tells You to Wait, Wait - Sometimes God, through His Holy Spirit, will clearly tell his kids to wait. But remember this: Never will His Spirit give you instruction that contradicts His written Word.
4) While Waiting, Don't Go Comatose - Don't zone-out on God or those around you. I call it "Active Waiting". Continue to read His Word, Talk to Him, love your family - - do those things you know to do.
5) Rushing Ahead Without God Can Be Disastrous - Just like the journalist in the movie, or King Saul in God's Word: We won't last long on our own.
The king that took Saul's place - his name was David. And while David was by no means perfect, I think he may have learned something from Saul's error. His advice, recorded in the 37th Psalm, says this:
"Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it." (v.34)
Hang in there. It will be a challenge, but God is strong.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis!
Doug
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
"The Crucial Storm"
The darkness outside mirrored the darkness in the hearts of the 105 passengers & crew of Air France Flight 139 as they huddled under the heavy watch of seven armed members of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. For seven days now they had struggled to maintain hope as they comforted and encouraged one another. Sleep offered only a momentary respite from the tension which made minutes seem like hours, hours like days, and the days like weeks, months, or years.
In the gloom that followed sundown this day, the distant rolls of thunder accentuated the oppressive deadline that awaited on the morrow. The line had been drawn in the sand. If 53 known terrorists being held by Israel and several other countries were not released, these 105 souls would pay the price with their lives.
Fatigue and fear had performed psychological surgery on the captives, extracting any sense of optimism and implanting a dreamlike fatalism. The cloud of depression that enveloped their minds seemed to descend on the terminal in Entebbe, Uganda like a suffocating fog.
Physically, they were sprawled across the facility’s floor. Emotionally, they were much lower. None entertained the notion that their national leaders would ever yield to the PLO’s demands. By their assessments, surely they would spend the rest of their lives – however brief – in this place.
Approaching midnight, those still awake listened as the storm seemed to draw rapidly nearer. Then, in an instant, it seemed the thunder was pounding on the terminal door. The entryway crashed open and the storm was now upon them.
An abrupt flash!
A rapid staccato crash!
Eyes, blurred by exhaustion, stumbled to embrace the sight of commandos storming through their own airport Alcatraz. What was happening?! In the midst of it all, a lone voice bull-horned above the clash: “Stay down! Stay down! We are Israelis!”
Automatic weapons fire filled the air, spraying plaster and finding flesh. Within minutes - the first few minutes of July 4, 1976 - all seven of their captors were no more.
The Son of God storms into the midst of our gloom and, in Luke’s gospel, chapter four, verse 18, He grabs the bullhorn and proclaims,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Though the enemy has long held you in oppressive darkness, our Lord & Commander has come to set you free. Though your mind’s voice declares it impossible, it is not. Though, in times past, you have fought to liberate yourself - - only to be imprisoned again - - Jesus will not fail. His is a crucial storm for us all. The day of the Lord’s favor is now, if you will accept it.
It’s really very simple. Just pray a prayer like this one in faith:
“Lord Jesus, I confess my sin & failures to you and accept the forgiveness & freedom that only You can give. I will do my best to follow You, as You teach me to follow. I trust You and thank You. –Amen”
(If you prayed this prayer in faith, I would be honored if you would let me know. You can email me at challengepointe@aol.com.)
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
In the gloom that followed sundown this day, the distant rolls of thunder accentuated the oppressive deadline that awaited on the morrow. The line had been drawn in the sand. If 53 known terrorists being held by Israel and several other countries were not released, these 105 souls would pay the price with their lives.
Fatigue and fear had performed psychological surgery on the captives, extracting any sense of optimism and implanting a dreamlike fatalism. The cloud of depression that enveloped their minds seemed to descend on the terminal in Entebbe, Uganda like a suffocating fog.
Physically, they were sprawled across the facility’s floor. Emotionally, they were much lower. None entertained the notion that their national leaders would ever yield to the PLO’s demands. By their assessments, surely they would spend the rest of their lives – however brief – in this place.
Approaching midnight, those still awake listened as the storm seemed to draw rapidly nearer. Then, in an instant, it seemed the thunder was pounding on the terminal door. The entryway crashed open and the storm was now upon them.
An abrupt flash!
A rapid staccato crash!
Eyes, blurred by exhaustion, stumbled to embrace the sight of commandos storming through their own airport Alcatraz. What was happening?! In the midst of it all, a lone voice bull-horned above the clash: “Stay down! Stay down! We are Israelis!”
Automatic weapons fire filled the air, spraying plaster and finding flesh. Within minutes - the first few minutes of July 4, 1976 - all seven of their captors were no more.
The Son of God storms into the midst of our gloom and, in Luke’s gospel, chapter four, verse 18, He grabs the bullhorn and proclaims,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Though the enemy has long held you in oppressive darkness, our Lord & Commander has come to set you free. Though your mind’s voice declares it impossible, it is not. Though, in times past, you have fought to liberate yourself - - only to be imprisoned again - - Jesus will not fail. His is a crucial storm for us all. The day of the Lord’s favor is now, if you will accept it.
It’s really very simple. Just pray a prayer like this one in faith:
“Lord Jesus, I confess my sin & failures to you and accept the forgiveness & freedom that only You can give. I will do my best to follow You, as You teach me to follow. I trust You and thank You. –Amen”
(If you prayed this prayer in faith, I would be honored if you would let me know. You can email me at challengepointe@aol.com.)
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Sunday, February 27, 2011
"That Which You So Strongly Believe"
In the 2000 movie, "The Patriot", writer Robert Rodat has created an inspiring fictional drama based very loosely on the exploits of the Revolutionary War hero, Gen. Daniel Morgan. Rodat's character, named Benjamin Martin and played by Mel Gibson, raises and leads a company of Colonial militia to harass and frustrate the British, who are under the command of General Cornwallis.
While raising his militia, Martin sends his oldest son, Gabriel (played by a young Heath Ledger), to enlist more volunteers from a protestant church known to count many ardent proponents of freedom among it's members. Watch this:
The words of young Anne Howard echo those of the brother of our Lord recorded in the second chapter of the New Testament letter of James, verse 17, when he declares "faith, by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." I wonder if there could be a more defining portrait of true manhood than that brushed with the strokes of the words, "One who acts upon that which he so strongly believes."?
God is calling you, men, to be leaders in your family, leaders in your workplace, & leaders in your community, by acting upon that which you believe. The days of passivity are no more. The time for action is upon us. That which is right, you know. That which is just, you affirm. That which is true, you believe.
James, in the first chapter and the 22nd verse, says "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
The time for action has come. If you are not involved with your church, the time for involvement is now. Get involved. If you do not have a church to become involved in, I offer you a new opportunity. A new church being started for men and their families. A church with the intent of being shorter on words and longer on actions. A church that proclaims the truth of the Gospel of Jesus in it's simplicity. A church that celebrates the freedom for which Christ set us free.
Our current intent is for Challenge Pointe Church to begin meeting on Easter Sunday, April 24, at the Barn of "Keepin' It Country Farm" located at 5511 Township Line Road, in the Lebanon-Springboro-Waynesville triangle. If you are interested, please contact me via email at challengepointe@aol.com.
The Challenge is out there. Who is with us?
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
While raising his militia, Martin sends his oldest son, Gabriel (played by a young Heath Ledger), to enlist more volunteers from a protestant church known to count many ardent proponents of freedom among it's members. Watch this:
The words of young Anne Howard echo those of the brother of our Lord recorded in the second chapter of the New Testament letter of James, verse 17, when he declares "faith, by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." I wonder if there could be a more defining portrait of true manhood than that brushed with the strokes of the words, "One who acts upon that which he so strongly believes."?
God is calling you, men, to be leaders in your family, leaders in your workplace, & leaders in your community, by acting upon that which you believe. The days of passivity are no more. The time for action is upon us. That which is right, you know. That which is just, you affirm. That which is true, you believe.
James, in the first chapter and the 22nd verse, says "Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
The time for action has come. If you are not involved with your church, the time for involvement is now. Get involved. If you do not have a church to become involved in, I offer you a new opportunity. A new church being started for men and their families. A church with the intent of being shorter on words and longer on actions. A church that proclaims the truth of the Gospel of Jesus in it's simplicity. A church that celebrates the freedom for which Christ set us free.
Our current intent is for Challenge Pointe Church to begin meeting on Easter Sunday, April 24, at the Barn of "Keepin' It Country Farm" located at 5511 Township Line Road, in the Lebanon-Springboro-Waynesville triangle. If you are interested, please contact me via email at challengepointe@aol.com.
The Challenge is out there. Who is with us?
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Thursday, February 24, 2011
"Little Knowing"
At 33,000 inhabitants, Andersonville stood as the 5th largest southern city during the civil war. The only problem was that it wasn’t a city at all. It was a Confederate prison camp, created to hold a maximum of 10,000 union captives.
The crowding, combined with an inhumane warden, turned those 26 acres into one of the greatest killing grounds of that war. They were not given shelter from the elements, nor were they allowed to build their own. Most lived in shallow holes scratched into the hard, Georgian ground, with nothing more than a thin blanket as a covering.
Daily rations consisted of a teaspoon of salt, 3 tablespoons of beans, and a half-pint of unsifted cornmeal. Their only source of drinking water served also as their sewer system. Thousands died of disease in such horrific conditions. Thousands more died of malnutrition. In all, more than 13,000 men perished in Andersonville during the less than 15 months it was open.
Photographs of those that did survive until the end of the war show mere skeletons of men. And so it was with eager anticipation that hundreds of these now-freed prisoners hobbled or were carried onto a great riverboat, named the Sultana, a couple weeks after the Confederate surrender.
So great was the desire to get home again, that more than 2,300 Union soldiers crammed the decks of that vessel - - even shoe-horning themselves into the pilot house - - destined for stops in Illinois, Louisville, and Cincinnati, little knowing that, only days before, the great sidewheeler had experienced dangerous leaks in her boilers that had been very hastily repaired by the ship’s engineers.
So, the over-laden craft pulled out and churned the dark water of the swollen Mississippi. Though it was slow moving upstream against the springtime currents, the mood of the men must’ve brightened with each mile.
Then, about 10 miles north of Memphis, in the black of the morning hours of April 27, 1865, a great fireball awakened the countryside for miles around. The Sultana’s boilers burst in a cataclysmic explosion, spewing hot coals & red-hot metals, and sending the ship’s tall stacks crashing onto the crowded decks.
The paddle-wheeler became a drifting inferno until it finally struck a submerged island and sunk. In all, 1700 of the men perished that morning. They had stepped on board in great anticipation that this vessel promised fulfillment of their most-desired dreams. But they did so, little knowing the fate that awaited them.
My question is this: How many of those men would’ve made a different choice if they’d known the condition of those boilers? If they’d been aware of the instability of the Sultana? If they’d been warned of the perils that threatened any who would board? Though such information was vital, it was undeclared.
Guys, here’s the deal: Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition came out last week and most men would say, “What’s the harm?” But today, God has some vital instruction to declare that could save your life. This instruction comes from the wisest of men, Solomon, in the form of a vivid word picture brushed on the canvas of Proverbs 7:6-23. Here’s the abridged account:
I looked out through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who lacked judgment.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
15 …I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
…little knowing it will cost him his life.
Solomon paints a portrait of a young man and a temptress. We are the young man, perhaps not so young. And though, perhaps, wise in the ways of our world - - we are so often naïve to the tactics of the Enemy.
The temptress is clothed in varied fabrics. This week the seductress may be the Swimsuit Edition. However, there are harlots beckoning to us every day: riches, gambling, alcohol, drugs, marital infidelity, careers, as well as pornography. And, if we follow, their path will end in the loss of our families, our lives, even our souls.
God is for us and He wants the best for you and me. So He had Solomon identify for us three weaknesses in the metal of the lives of all men. They are:
1. The Weakness of Proximity – Verse 8 tells us the man was “going down the street near her corner.” The wise & faithful man keeps distance from temptation. It’s impossible to avoid it completely. But be vigilant. Be aware. And keep your distance to protect yourself and your family.
2. The Weakness of Path – Verse 8 goes on to say that “He was walking in the direction of her house.” These are images, thoughts, and desires that we allow into our minds. When we consider them, ever so slightly, we are walking in that direction - on that path. SI’s annual temptation probably falls into this category.
3. The Weakness of Privacy – Verse 9 informs us that it was “at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.” His reasoning was “no one will see, no one will know”. Temptation is stronger when we think no one will find out. The truth is: What you do in private does matter.
Verse 22 tells us (facetiously) that “all at once he followed her”. But Solomon, and we all, saw it coming. It didn’t really happen all at once. It occurred incrementally. A step or two at a time. And thus it occurs in our lives.
It’s a challenge in our world. But God is Always Faithful. He has given you His Word on it.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis!
Doug
Saturday, February 19, 2011
"Being Elijah"
I was Elijah today.
It was a welcome opportunity to get back out on the trails in the middle of February in southwestern Ohio. Snow had blanketed the ground for most of the last two months and the miles churned out on the treadmill had been dreaded and monotonous.
The warm weather of the last few days had pulled back the white blanket from even those areas most protected from the sun. However, in the place of the slick white stuff, I now was confronted with sucking, deep, dark, brown mud. Resisting the urge to curse the mud, I (rather uncharacteristically) thanked God for the warmth of the winter sun that had made it possible and had softened the hard-frozen path that meandered in a 3.1-mile loop of a favorite park.
As I picked my steps along the familiar trail on what was to be a 9.3-mile run, the sunlight spackled my way thru oaks, maples, locusts, and birches beaten bare by the snow, ice, and wind of the season. Hard edges and abrupt angles comprised their limbs that in a few weeks will be softened by the emergence of promising buds.
The path undulated, giving my imagination the impression of running the back of the Loch Ness Monster gliding along the surface of that great Scottish basin. Rather than an impediment, these gentle rises and falls seem an invigoration to my strides. That is not the case, however, with The Three.
The Three is a name I have given to the three largest uphill climbs in the loop. The first is a relatively small steep section immediately followed by a rather long and gradual climb that ends about halfway around the loop. The second is the most dreaded and is much the reverse of the first: a gentle rise that switchbacks a couple times into a long, precipitous ascent. The final of The Three is, perhaps, the shortest and tallest - - consisting mostly of step-like rocks protruding from the hillside.
I was Elijah today.
Three 3.1-mile loops whose turf belongs to The Three. Nine hilly challenges for my legs and lungs this warm, winter day. Each member of The Three thrice threatened to thwart me. Desiring to subdue my stubborn strides (emphasis on stubborn) into a vanquished walk. Not today.
Nine times, though, I found myself wondering if I could, indeed, complete my run. Each of these times was a direct result of one of the hilly members of The Three. None of these doubts occurred in the midst of the climb, though. It was, rather, upon successful completion of the tests that my resolve wavered.
I was Elijah today.
In Second Kings, chapter 18, God’s man, Elijah, confronts the steep task of facing down Israel’s narcissistic King Ahab. Ahab has turned the hearts of God’s people to the false god Baal and now Elijah challenges the king and all 450 of Baal’s prophets to a showdown on Mt. Carmel.
The test is simple in design: Each camp is to prepare a bull for sacrifice to the one they worship - - the 450 for Baal and Elijah for The LORD. Their task is to prepare and pray. The deity who sends down fire to consume his respective bull will prove that he, indeed, is The God.
From morning ‘til evening, Baal’s henchmen beg, plead, implore, and petition their god. Nothing. In moments that border on arrogance, Elijah taunts them, wondering if Baal might be sleeping, or on a trip, or, perhaps even, “dropping the kids off at the pool” (if ya know what I mean). Still they persist in their sincere supplications. And then it happens. Nothing!
Elijah turns his attention to the second bull - - the one picked by Baal’s prophets to be offered to The LORD. He pulls 12 stones together to form an altar and digs a trench around it big enough to hold 3.5 gallons of water. He arranges the woodon the stones. Prepares the bull on top of the wood. And then proceeds to have the bull soaked with 12 jars of water that saturate the bull, the wood, and roll off until water fills the trench.
A two-sentence prayer.
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” And a chant arose from all the people: “The LORD – He is God! The LORD – He is God!”
Then, to put him over the top, Elijah warns Ahab to hurry home because, even though it had hardly rained in three years, a downpour was on its way. And so it was.
But while it was still raining, Ahab’s queen threatens Elijah’s life and sends him running. Running for about 73 miles - - several days - - until he finally collapses in the shade of a small juniper. There - - having completed the climb, conquered the enemies of God, and turned the hearts of God’s people - - there Elijah prays for God to end his life.
But God sends an angel with food and drink for Elijah. Then, after having allowed the man of God a time of rest, the angel returns with more nourishment & encouragement and he sends Elijah on his way.
I was Elijah today.
Whenever I crest the peak of one of The Three, having met the challenge it laid before me. Whenever, I find myself again on the flatland that, in my mind, should mean relief to weary muscles and heaving lungs. Whenever I’m in the clear, yet still exhausted & discouraged, I remember Elijah and I continue on the path - - knowing that my muscles will recover, my breathing will normalize, and now is not the time to make a major decision - like quitting the course before me.
Life is full of challenges.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Sunday, February 13, 2011
"You Never Know ..."
Jimmy knew no other home but Cleveland. That was until he was 12, and his daddy was killed in a car accident. The United States had not yet swung into full production for the fight against the Nazis and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was still more than a year in the future. In need of a way to sustain her family, Jimmy's mom moved them to Milwaukee, where everyone did whatever they could to help out.
With no money for college, James applied to the Naval Academy - - only to be denied admission. However, he was told of a program where the military would pay for him to get a two-year engineering degree in exchange for a hitch in the Navy. After studying at the University of Wisconsin, James applied again to the Academy and was accepted. After the Academy, he began his military career as a navy test pilot.
During one of his test bombing runs, while stationed near China, Jim was developing flight techniques to be used for dropping nuclear bombs. Thick clouds rolled in and the mission was aborted. Unable to see, he was totally dependent upon his instruments.
In his words, Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in Ron Howard's 1995 Movie "Apollo 13") described that experience in a televised interview. Take a look:
Jesus happens upon another man, like Lovell, in need of direction. The 9th chapter of John's Gospel starts like this: "As he (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Teacher, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" I'll save our Lord's response for later.
Like Jim Lovell, this man is in a bad situation, and, also like Lovell, it seems to get worse. Jesus spits in the mud, puts it on the man's eyes and sends him to wash it off. Obediently, the man does so and when he did, he was no longer blind.
Well, you say, that just sounds like bad situation to good situation. And you would be right, if we just existed as physical beings. But, you and I are more than that. Much more. And so was this man. Jesus' purpose was to get to the heart of the man. And, in this respect, it got worse - - much like Lovell's lights & instruments failing just when he needed them.
Here's why: His friends and family, who should've been tickled pink, doubted he was who he said he was. His response: It's me. Then, just when he thought he needed them, they interrogate him, as if he's done something wrong. His reply is to recite the facts: The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to the pool of Siloam and wash. So, I went and washed, and then I could see."
But they didn't stop there. They ratted him out to the religious police -- who grilled him. His answer to them: He re-states the facts and when asked for his evaluation of Jesus he says, "He's a prophet."
Not satisfied, the Pharisees bring in his parents who promptly toss their son to the wolves with: "We don't know. He's a grown man. Ask him."
Now, questioned again, insulted, belittled, and threatened, they demand that he renounce Jesus as a sinner. Being a man, he stood his ground and re-told the truth. As for renouncing his healer, he said, "He is a godly man." And they threw him out and he was looked upon as dirt by his own people.
Friends - deserted! Neighbors - gone! Parents - nowhere to be found!
But Jesus heard about it. And verse 35 says, "...and when He found him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man (another way of saying "Savior")?"
"Who is He, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in Him."
"You have seen Him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you."
Then, the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped Him.
Just when the man thought life was turning around, with the receiving of sight, the world dealt a severe blow. Everyone he had relied on, and had thought he needed, had bailed. Yet, through all this - - and because of all this - - we can see his journey from unbelief to belief in his responses about Jesus:
First, it was just the facts.
Then, "He's a prophet."
Next, "He's a Man from God."
And finally, to Jesus: "Lord, I believe."
Oh, yeah. Jesus' reply to his disciples' questions about who to blame for the man's blindness: No one. This happened so that God could display his work in his life. (John 9:3)
God is at work in your life. You never know what's around the next turn. But, no matter what it is, God is Semper Fidelis - - Always Faithful. Don't miss the green carpet God has laid out in front of you.
"You never know what events are going to transpire to get you home."
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
With no money for college, James applied to the Naval Academy - - only to be denied admission. However, he was told of a program where the military would pay for him to get a two-year engineering degree in exchange for a hitch in the Navy. After studying at the University of Wisconsin, James applied again to the Academy and was accepted. After the Academy, he began his military career as a navy test pilot.
During one of his test bombing runs, while stationed near China, Jim was developing flight techniques to be used for dropping nuclear bombs. Thick clouds rolled in and the mission was aborted. Unable to see, he was totally dependent upon his instruments.
In his words, Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in Ron Howard's 1995 Movie "Apollo 13") described that experience in a televised interview. Take a look:
Jesus happens upon another man, like Lovell, in need of direction. The 9th chapter of John's Gospel starts like this: "As he (Jesus) went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Teacher, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" I'll save our Lord's response for later.
Like Jim Lovell, this man is in a bad situation, and, also like Lovell, it seems to get worse. Jesus spits in the mud, puts it on the man's eyes and sends him to wash it off. Obediently, the man does so and when he did, he was no longer blind.
Well, you say, that just sounds like bad situation to good situation. And you would be right, if we just existed as physical beings. But, you and I are more than that. Much more. And so was this man. Jesus' purpose was to get to the heart of the man. And, in this respect, it got worse - - much like Lovell's lights & instruments failing just when he needed them.
Here's why: His friends and family, who should've been tickled pink, doubted he was who he said he was. His response: It's me. Then, just when he thought he needed them, they interrogate him, as if he's done something wrong. His reply is to recite the facts: The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to the pool of Siloam and wash. So, I went and washed, and then I could see."
But they didn't stop there. They ratted him out to the religious police -- who grilled him. His answer to them: He re-states the facts and when asked for his evaluation of Jesus he says, "He's a prophet."
Not satisfied, the Pharisees bring in his parents who promptly toss their son to the wolves with: "We don't know. He's a grown man. Ask him."
Now, questioned again, insulted, belittled, and threatened, they demand that he renounce Jesus as a sinner. Being a man, he stood his ground and re-told the truth. As for renouncing his healer, he said, "He is a godly man." And they threw him out and he was looked upon as dirt by his own people.
Friends - deserted! Neighbors - gone! Parents - nowhere to be found!
But Jesus heard about it. And verse 35 says, "...and when He found him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man (another way of saying "Savior")?"
"Who is He, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in Him."
"You have seen Him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you."
Then, the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped Him.
Just when the man thought life was turning around, with the receiving of sight, the world dealt a severe blow. Everyone he had relied on, and had thought he needed, had bailed. Yet, through all this - - and because of all this - - we can see his journey from unbelief to belief in his responses about Jesus:
First, it was just the facts.
Then, "He's a prophet."
Next, "He's a Man from God."
And finally, to Jesus: "Lord, I believe."
Oh, yeah. Jesus' reply to his disciples' questions about who to blame for the man's blindness: No one. This happened so that God could display his work in his life. (John 9:3)
God is at work in your life. You never know what's around the next turn. But, no matter what it is, God is Semper Fidelis - - Always Faithful. Don't miss the green carpet God has laid out in front of you.
"You never know what events are going to transpire to get you home."
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis,
Doug
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
"He Shouted All the More"
In the 1993 Movie "Rudy", directed by David Anspaugh, Sean Astin plays Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, an undersized high school football player with dreams of one day taking the field for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. There's just one problem. And that one problem is that there are lots of problems!
First, even though he played the line in high school, Rudy is way too small for college. Plus, he doesn't have the grades to even get admitted by Notre Dame's high standards. Plus, his dad wants him to get his head out of the clouds and take his place in life - - as a steel mill laborer (And he tells him so, regularly). Plus, his teachers don't think he's college material - - anywhere. Plus, - - well, you get the picture.
As shown in the movie, Rudy boards a bus and gets himself (physically) to South Bend. Once there, he meets with the priest and pours out his heart: "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to go to school here. And ever since I was a kid, everyone said it couldn't be done. My whole life, people have been tellin' me what I could do and what I couldn't do. And I've always listened to them. I don't wanna do that anymore."
In a rare moment, the priest offers him the slimmest of hopes: "OK, Mr. Rudy. Here's the deal: Holy Cross Junior College is nearby and I can get you one semester there. You make grades, you get another semester. Then, maybe, with a high enough GPA, you might have a chance of getting into Notre Dame.
For the next two years, Rudy works at Holy Cross, getting the grades and applying - - only to be denied time and again. But then it happens. A letter from Notre Dame, informing him he was accepted for admission.
After all that time - - all the studying, all the classes, all the rejection, and all the work to get here - - Rudy was ready to get to work on fulfilling his dreams of playing football at the school of the Golden Dome. The first day of tryouts as a walk-on should've been a time of great exhilaration, but football coaches have a way of stifling that all by themselves. Watch & listen:
(If you put your cursor over the blue box, an x will appear at the top right of the blue box. Click it to remove the blue box.)
Here's the point: Everyone is going to tell you that you can't do it and they'll probably give you a long list of reasons why. Some of them do it because, well, by keeping you down, they have more company. Some of them do it because, if you reach your dreams, they'll feel guilty about not having achieved theirs. Some of them will do it simply because they have been programmed to be that way by everyone they know.
Now, I'm not selling the philosophy that says that all we need is good self-esteem. That lie is suffocating our families and killing our country. (Did you know that a recent study showed that while U.S. students ranked last among participating nations in math and science, our students felt better about their math and science skills than any other country.)
What I am talking about is a belief that leads to action. A conviction that you were created for more than what has been. More than what is.
I'm reminded of Timaeus' son, whose story is told in the 10th chapter of Mark's gospel. He couldn't see. Never could. Darkness was all he had ever known. Blackness was all he saw. Begging was his lot in life and "he'd better damned well get used to it".
Then, he heard a ruckus. Sounded like a crowd. Not marching, but sort of swirling like a cyclone in his direction. "What's going on?" he must've shouted. A voice off to his right replied, "It's Jesus - - and a bunch of other folks." Well, the other folks were all well and good, but the one that Bartimaeus (which means, "son of Timaeus") was aiming for was Jesus: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Then, just as it had been all his life, it threatened to become, again.
"Be quiet, Bart."
"Mind your place, Bart."
"He's got important things to do, Bart."
Then, we read in verse 48 these words of hope, "But he shouted all the more."
And Jesus heard him. And Jesus called him. And Jesus healed him. And He delivered him from the darkness that, most assuredly, always had been. But by the gracious plan of God, was no more!
Hear me, my friend: God has more for you than the darkness you've known. Even more than you may be able to imagine. Do you believe it? Do you believe it with a belief that results in action? That changes what you do? If so - - keep it up! Don't quit!! Don't miss God's adventure that He has planned for your life.
That's a big Challenge.
And this is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis!
Doug
First, even though he played the line in high school, Rudy is way too small for college. Plus, he doesn't have the grades to even get admitted by Notre Dame's high standards. Plus, his dad wants him to get his head out of the clouds and take his place in life - - as a steel mill laborer (And he tells him so, regularly). Plus, his teachers don't think he's college material - - anywhere. Plus, - - well, you get the picture.
As shown in the movie, Rudy boards a bus and gets himself (physically) to South Bend. Once there, he meets with the priest and pours out his heart: "Ever since I was a kid I wanted to go to school here. And ever since I was a kid, everyone said it couldn't be done. My whole life, people have been tellin' me what I could do and what I couldn't do. And I've always listened to them. I don't wanna do that anymore."
In a rare moment, the priest offers him the slimmest of hopes: "OK, Mr. Rudy. Here's the deal: Holy Cross Junior College is nearby and I can get you one semester there. You make grades, you get another semester. Then, maybe, with a high enough GPA, you might have a chance of getting into Notre Dame.
For the next two years, Rudy works at Holy Cross, getting the grades and applying - - only to be denied time and again. But then it happens. A letter from Notre Dame, informing him he was accepted for admission.
After all that time - - all the studying, all the classes, all the rejection, and all the work to get here - - Rudy was ready to get to work on fulfilling his dreams of playing football at the school of the Golden Dome. The first day of tryouts as a walk-on should've been a time of great exhilaration, but football coaches have a way of stifling that all by themselves. Watch & listen:
(If you put your cursor over the blue box, an x will appear at the top right of the blue box. Click it to remove the blue box.)
Here's the point: Everyone is going to tell you that you can't do it and they'll probably give you a long list of reasons why. Some of them do it because, well, by keeping you down, they have more company. Some of them do it because, if you reach your dreams, they'll feel guilty about not having achieved theirs. Some of them will do it simply because they have been programmed to be that way by everyone they know.
Now, I'm not selling the philosophy that says that all we need is good self-esteem. That lie is suffocating our families and killing our country. (Did you know that a recent study showed that while U.S. students ranked last among participating nations in math and science, our students felt better about their math and science skills than any other country.)
What I am talking about is a belief that leads to action. A conviction that you were created for more than what has been. More than what is.
I'm reminded of Timaeus' son, whose story is told in the 10th chapter of Mark's gospel. He couldn't see. Never could. Darkness was all he had ever known. Blackness was all he saw. Begging was his lot in life and "he'd better damned well get used to it".
Then, he heard a ruckus. Sounded like a crowd. Not marching, but sort of swirling like a cyclone in his direction. "What's going on?" he must've shouted. A voice off to his right replied, "It's Jesus - - and a bunch of other folks." Well, the other folks were all well and good, but the one that Bartimaeus (which means, "son of Timaeus") was aiming for was Jesus: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Then, just as it had been all his life, it threatened to become, again.
"Be quiet, Bart."
"Mind your place, Bart."
"He's got important things to do, Bart."
Then, we read in verse 48 these words of hope, "But he shouted all the more."
And Jesus heard him. And Jesus called him. And Jesus healed him. And He delivered him from the darkness that, most assuredly, always had been. But by the gracious plan of God, was no more!
Hear me, my friend: God has more for you than the darkness you've known. Even more than you may be able to imagine. Do you believe it? Do you believe it with a belief that results in action? That changes what you do? If so - - keep it up! Don't quit!! Don't miss God's adventure that He has planned for your life.
That's a big Challenge.
And this is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis!
Doug
Thursday, February 3, 2011
"Slaying Giants"
In the 1987 comedic movie, "The Princess Bride", written by William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner, a one-time stable boy, Westley, returns after being missing and presumed dead for years. Upon his return, he sets out to be reunited with his true love, Buttercup (yep, that's her name).
What he finds, instead, is that she is promised to another - - a deceitful & self-centered prince - - who has hired a Sicilian self-proclaimed genius, a sword-playing Spaniard, and a Giant of epic strength, to kidnap her in order to start a profitable war. Discovering her predicament, the stable boy-turned-pirate sets out in pursuit.
As Westley closes in on Buttercup and her captors, the Spaniard stays behind to dispose of their pursuer while the genius and the giant drag the girl onward. However, Westley wins the fencing duel and, when the genius realizes that the Spaniard has failed, he sets the giant in ambush against Buttercup's true love.
Surely this frail, former stable hand is no match for such an enormous opponent. Certainly, this will be his demise. Click the arrow to watch it unfold:
It's your typical David vs. Goliath scene, but fought with a sense of civility and humor, and concluded with respect and appreciation. Cordial & polite. Nobody really gets hurt. It would be nice if that was how all of life's battles were fought. It would also be naive and, ultimately, disastrous to rely on that. Our enemy is real and he never fights fair.
God's Word gives us the true picture of how life really works in the original David vs. Goliath account, recorded in 1 Samuel, chapter 17. It was a time of war for God's people, the Israelites. Their army was camped on one hill and just across the valley was the army of the Philistines. Every morning & evening, for 40 days, a giant of a man named Goliath ambled forward. Over nine feet tall, wearing armor that weighed more than 125 pounds, carrying a spear with a 15-pound spearhead, and accompanied by his own personal shield-bearer, Goliath shouted his defiance & disdain toward God's people.
On day 41, a young shepherd shows up with supplies for his three brothers in the army. He witnesses the super-sized challenge of the enemy -- and it really lights his fuse. "Who is this guy who would defy the armies of the living God?", he asks. And, after a weak explanation from even weaker men, David approaches King Saul, recites a brief oral resume, and says, "Don't lose heart on account of this guy. Your servant will go and fight."
Saul finally consents and insists that David should wear the king's armor. But it's too big and too awkward. So it is, that David approaches the giant with the weapons of a shepherd - - a sling and five rocks. Goliath is insulted. "Am I a dog that you come after me with sticks?" But David's response reveals his wisdom, "You come at me with sword, and spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty,...whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me."
And David ran at Goliath while loading a stone into his sling. And still on the move, with sling whirling above his head, he unleashes a shot that catches the enemy warrior square in the forehead. Goliath falls. No dreams of large women. No dreams at all.
We all face our own giants. Problems that threaten to rob us of our courage to fight. Enemies. Enemies of all that God desires to accomplish in us, through us, and for us. There are, however, some qualities that we can cultivate in our lives that will help when we come up against these giants. David displayed seven of these qualities:
1. He was Committed - Verse 20 says he "left the flock". Commitment to one requires severing ties with others. If you are going to win the battles against the enemy of your soul, there are some things you are going to have to leave behind. You probably already know what they are for you.
2. He was Excited - Verse 22 tells us that upon arriving at the scene, David "ran to the battle lines". When's the last time you allowed yourself to dance in some youthful exuberance? God doesn't like you all sour & scrunch-faced. Loosen up. Laugh. Embrace some excitement.
3. He was Available - In the 32nd verse, David tells King Saul that "your servant will go", meaning he (David) would go. You see, David saw himself as a servant. And a true servant is always available.
4. He was Humble - "The LORD... will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." assures David in verse 37. He knew it wasn't by his own power that he would win. Nor did he seek the spotlight. That belongs to God.
5. He was Genuine - David was comfortable with who he was. He didn't need to look the part of a "Mighty Warrior". So he turned down Saul's armor. And you know what? That armor probably would've gotten him killed. The battlefields of life are littered with the shattered remains of posers.
6. He was Unashamed - In verse 45, David boldly asserts, "I come in the name of the LORD." Jesus says, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, I will be ashamed of him." (Luke 9:26)
7. He was Enterprising - Webster says a man who is "enterprising" is "marked by an energetic spirit". David didn't take the accepted approach to battle. He didn't worry about defending himself. He took the fight to Goliath (17:48-49).
If we possess these 7 qualities, our chances in the small struggles - - and in the behemoth battles - - increase dramatically. God is seeking men & women who will allow Him to mold them in these ways. But in the end, we must know that no amount of self-improvement will ever be enough.
Only the Power of God gives victory.
David said it: "The battle is the LORD's".
These are, indeed, challenging times.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
What he finds, instead, is that she is promised to another - - a deceitful & self-centered prince - - who has hired a Sicilian self-proclaimed genius, a sword-playing Spaniard, and a Giant of epic strength, to kidnap her in order to start a profitable war. Discovering her predicament, the stable boy-turned-pirate sets out in pursuit.
As Westley closes in on Buttercup and her captors, the Spaniard stays behind to dispose of their pursuer while the genius and the giant drag the girl onward. However, Westley wins the fencing duel and, when the genius realizes that the Spaniard has failed, he sets the giant in ambush against Buttercup's true love.
Surely this frail, former stable hand is no match for such an enormous opponent. Certainly, this will be his demise. Click the arrow to watch it unfold:
It's your typical David vs. Goliath scene, but fought with a sense of civility and humor, and concluded with respect and appreciation. Cordial & polite. Nobody really gets hurt. It would be nice if that was how all of life's battles were fought. It would also be naive and, ultimately, disastrous to rely on that. Our enemy is real and he never fights fair.
God's Word gives us the true picture of how life really works in the original David vs. Goliath account, recorded in 1 Samuel, chapter 17. It was a time of war for God's people, the Israelites. Their army was camped on one hill and just across the valley was the army of the Philistines. Every morning & evening, for 40 days, a giant of a man named Goliath ambled forward. Over nine feet tall, wearing armor that weighed more than 125 pounds, carrying a spear with a 15-pound spearhead, and accompanied by his own personal shield-bearer, Goliath shouted his defiance & disdain toward God's people.
On day 41, a young shepherd shows up with supplies for his three brothers in the army. He witnesses the super-sized challenge of the enemy -- and it really lights his fuse. "Who is this guy who would defy the armies of the living God?", he asks. And, after a weak explanation from even weaker men, David approaches King Saul, recites a brief oral resume, and says, "Don't lose heart on account of this guy. Your servant will go and fight."
Saul finally consents and insists that David should wear the king's armor. But it's too big and too awkward. So it is, that David approaches the giant with the weapons of a shepherd - - a sling and five rocks. Goliath is insulted. "Am I a dog that you come after me with sticks?" But David's response reveals his wisdom, "You come at me with sword, and spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty,...whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me."
And David ran at Goliath while loading a stone into his sling. And still on the move, with sling whirling above his head, he unleashes a shot that catches the enemy warrior square in the forehead. Goliath falls. No dreams of large women. No dreams at all.
We all face our own giants. Problems that threaten to rob us of our courage to fight. Enemies. Enemies of all that God desires to accomplish in us, through us, and for us. There are, however, some qualities that we can cultivate in our lives that will help when we come up against these giants. David displayed seven of these qualities:
1. He was Committed - Verse 20 says he "left the flock". Commitment to one requires severing ties with others. If you are going to win the battles against the enemy of your soul, there are some things you are going to have to leave behind. You probably already know what they are for you.
2. He was Excited - Verse 22 tells us that upon arriving at the scene, David "ran to the battle lines". When's the last time you allowed yourself to dance in some youthful exuberance? God doesn't like you all sour & scrunch-faced. Loosen up. Laugh. Embrace some excitement.
3. He was Available - In the 32nd verse, David tells King Saul that "your servant will go", meaning he (David) would go. You see, David saw himself as a servant. And a true servant is always available.
4. He was Humble - "The LORD... will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." assures David in verse 37. He knew it wasn't by his own power that he would win. Nor did he seek the spotlight. That belongs to God.
5. He was Genuine - David was comfortable with who he was. He didn't need to look the part of a "Mighty Warrior". So he turned down Saul's armor. And you know what? That armor probably would've gotten him killed. The battlefields of life are littered with the shattered remains of posers.
6. He was Unashamed - In verse 45, David boldly asserts, "I come in the name of the LORD." Jesus says, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, I will be ashamed of him." (Luke 9:26)
7. He was Enterprising - Webster says a man who is "enterprising" is "marked by an energetic spirit". David didn't take the accepted approach to battle. He didn't worry about defending himself. He took the fight to Goliath (17:48-49).
If we possess these 7 qualities, our chances in the small struggles - - and in the behemoth battles - - increase dramatically. God is seeking men & women who will allow Him to mold them in these ways. But in the end, we must know that no amount of self-improvement will ever be enough.
Only the Power of God gives victory.
David said it: "The battle is the LORD's".
These are, indeed, challenging times.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Saturday, January 29, 2011
"The Seventh Warrior"
Held by but a handful of pioneers, Fort Beeler - - just a few miles from the Ohio River - - found itself under a furious Indian attack. Two of their chiefs had approached on horseback for what in today’s corporate jargon would be euphemistically referred to as “leveraged negotiations”. But, before their moccasins hit the ground, a solitary shot rang out from the rifle of Lewis Wetzel. That shot separated one of the chiefs from the land of the living.
Negotiations closed. The attack was on. The Shawnee braves quickly reverted to the strategy of digging under the fort's walls. However, Lewis & his brother Martin happened to see the dirt moving and – standing with their own tomahawks poised above the spot – they waited and watched.
Suddenly, a plumed head appeared & the owner tried to squeeze through. Immediately, Wetzel’s weapon swung down, & making good it’s mark, the brothers pulled the lifeless body on through. Now, a second brave – thinking his comrade to be safely inside – stuck his head through the hole and met the same fate.
So, it continued in that manner: 3,4,5, then 6 Indians met their maker in succession. Finally, the 7th Warrior – realizing that (tho’ the others were inside) no headway seemed to be made – cautiously peeped in before trying to crawl thru. What he saw was the business end of Lewis Wetzel’s tomahawk swinging downward.
Dodging the blow – that 7th Shawnee warrior made his escape and lived to fight another day.
Too often, God’s church is like those first 6 Warriors. We dig a hole of good intentions – founded on strategies that – in times past – have proved productive in winning ground from the enemy of our souls. Then, we watch as men are dragged thru it and we wait to do the same – without ever stopping to wonder why we are making no headway in our present struggle. If we are to be wise stewards of the life, minds, & energy our King has granted us – to fight & win the battles for the very spirits of men & women in our community – we must adapt & adopt new & productive tactics to fit our present times & struggles.
Jesus spoke about this (tho’ we often miss the significance of his teaching) in a familiar story that he told to his followers in the first century and is needed as much or more by his followers in this 21st century. And it’s recorded for us by Luke in what is the 15th chapter. Jesus said:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (15:4-7)
What We Learn from Jesus:
1. Strike Out From the Comfortable - (v.4a) - It seems like so much of the time you can either be comfortable or adventurous. Jesus calls us out of our comfortable zone to a life of adventure.
2. Search for the Effective - (v.4b) - The shepherd searched until he found this sheep. He didn't just strike out in one familiar direction and keep going. We need to find what is effective and go there.
3. Save the Lost Ones - (v.5) - He did find it. And He brought it home. This isn't about going through the motions, it's about saving the sheep.
Here's the Plan: To start a church, a group of believers, that is effective in reaching MEN and their families. I do not mean a ministry just for men, but rather a church that is intentionally & purposefully designed to reach the least represented segment of our population in U.S. churches today: MEN.
I do not know exactly how this will pan out or what it will look like. But I do know that if I go out to hunt deer, I don't go out with #12 shot in the gun.
Some of my current thoughts are:
1. Messages will be intentionally short (15-20 minutes), moving, and to the point.
2. Teaching will be biblical, not shying from the tough issues. Questions will be welcomed.
3. Our setting will lean toward the rustic, rather than the posh.
4. Our ministry will be highly-participatory and active.
5. Gatherings may be on Sunday evenings most of the time, to allow men & their families a chance to get away together on a weekend, without having to miss the gathering.
6. The church will be called Challenge Pointe Church.
7. Challenge Pointe Church will meet somewhere within the triangle formed by Lebanon, Springboro, and Waynesville, Ohio.
I think if we reach the men, we reach their families.
If you have something you would like to say on this matter, I welcome your comments. Please email me at: challengepointe@aol.com.
This is a Challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Negotiations closed. The attack was on. The Shawnee braves quickly reverted to the strategy of digging under the fort's walls. However, Lewis & his brother Martin happened to see the dirt moving and – standing with their own tomahawks poised above the spot – they waited and watched.
Suddenly, a plumed head appeared & the owner tried to squeeze through. Immediately, Wetzel’s weapon swung down, & making good it’s mark, the brothers pulled the lifeless body on through. Now, a second brave – thinking his comrade to be safely inside – stuck his head through the hole and met the same fate.
So, it continued in that manner: 3,4,5, then 6 Indians met their maker in succession. Finally, the 7th Warrior – realizing that (tho’ the others were inside) no headway seemed to be made – cautiously peeped in before trying to crawl thru. What he saw was the business end of Lewis Wetzel’s tomahawk swinging downward.
Dodging the blow – that 7th Shawnee warrior made his escape and lived to fight another day.
Too often, God’s church is like those first 6 Warriors. We dig a hole of good intentions – founded on strategies that – in times past – have proved productive in winning ground from the enemy of our souls. Then, we watch as men are dragged thru it and we wait to do the same – without ever stopping to wonder why we are making no headway in our present struggle. If we are to be wise stewards of the life, minds, & energy our King has granted us – to fight & win the battles for the very spirits of men & women in our community – we must adapt & adopt new & productive tactics to fit our present times & struggles.
Jesus spoke about this (tho’ we often miss the significance of his teaching) in a familiar story that he told to his followers in the first century and is needed as much or more by his followers in this 21st century. And it’s recorded for us by Luke in what is the 15th chapter. Jesus said:
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (15:4-7)
What We Learn from Jesus:
1. Strike Out From the Comfortable - (v.4a) - It seems like so much of the time you can either be comfortable or adventurous. Jesus calls us out of our comfortable zone to a life of adventure.
2. Search for the Effective - (v.4b) - The shepherd searched until he found this sheep. He didn't just strike out in one familiar direction and keep going. We need to find what is effective and go there.
3. Save the Lost Ones - (v.5) - He did find it. And He brought it home. This isn't about going through the motions, it's about saving the sheep.
Here's the Plan: To start a church, a group of believers, that is effective in reaching MEN and their families. I do not mean a ministry just for men, but rather a church that is intentionally & purposefully designed to reach the least represented segment of our population in U.S. churches today: MEN.
I do not know exactly how this will pan out or what it will look like. But I do know that if I go out to hunt deer, I don't go out with #12 shot in the gun.
Some of my current thoughts are:
1. Messages will be intentionally short (15-20 minutes), moving, and to the point.
2. Teaching will be biblical, not shying from the tough issues. Questions will be welcomed.
3. Our setting will lean toward the rustic, rather than the posh.
4. Our ministry will be highly-participatory and active.
5. Gatherings may be on Sunday evenings most of the time, to allow men & their families a chance to get away together on a weekend, without having to miss the gathering.
6. The church will be called Challenge Pointe Church.
7. Challenge Pointe Church will meet somewhere within the triangle formed by Lebanon, Springboro, and Waynesville, Ohio.
I think if we reach the men, we reach their families.
If you have something you would like to say on this matter, I welcome your comments. Please email me at: challengepointe@aol.com.
This is a Challenge.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
"The Funerals End Today"
Men, we are to blame. We have allowed the freedom that God created us for to be slowly whittled away until it is now but a faint, foggy, and fleeting image that resides only in those moments as sleep skips away and waking drags itself upon us. It is as if we have died - - yet, somehow, the days trudge on. We have become as dead men walking. And life, it seems, one long, slow funeral procession.
This should not be. This cannot be. This shall not be. By the grace of God, this shall not be!
Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."
The LORD God created you to be free. But we have come to accept, in our hearts, the bondage as it is. Dreams have been drowned. Hope has been smothered. A new day begins and we wonder why.
Hear me now: This is not about shirking responsibilities. This is about taking responsibility - - for our families, for our finances, for our futures. There is hope and that hope is found in Jesus Christ. Not just the hope of heaven instead of hell, but the hope of a life characterized by liberty and love - - here and now.
On November 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight #932 collided with a hill less than a mile from the end of the runway in Huntington, West Virgina. It was 7:35 on a Saturday evening. The chartered DC-9 was carrying 37 members of the Thundering Herd football team from Marshall University, 33 members of the coaching staff & boosters, and five Southern Airway employees.
Their team was gone. Their town was devastated. It seemed as if life, itself, had been snatched from that entire college community. Something had to change. And it did. The university applied for and received special permission to play freshmen for the 1971 season, and a new coach named Jack Lengyel took over.
As they prepared for their first game, Coach Lengyel took his team to a memorial for six of the deceased players. Matthew McConaughey portrays Coach Lengyel in the 2006 movie "We Are Marshall":
Dream, again.
Hope, again.
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (paraphrase of Prov. 23:7 KJV).
Do not give up.
Do not give in.
"The funerals end today!"
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
This should not be. This cannot be. This shall not be. By the grace of God, this shall not be!
Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."
The LORD God created you to be free. But we have come to accept, in our hearts, the bondage as it is. Dreams have been drowned. Hope has been smothered. A new day begins and we wonder why.
Hear me now: This is not about shirking responsibilities. This is about taking responsibility - - for our families, for our finances, for our futures. There is hope and that hope is found in Jesus Christ. Not just the hope of heaven instead of hell, but the hope of a life characterized by liberty and love - - here and now.
On November 14, 1970, Southern Airways Flight #932 collided with a hill less than a mile from the end of the runway in Huntington, West Virgina. It was 7:35 on a Saturday evening. The chartered DC-9 was carrying 37 members of the Thundering Herd football team from Marshall University, 33 members of the coaching staff & boosters, and five Southern Airway employees.
Their team was gone. Their town was devastated. It seemed as if life, itself, had been snatched from that entire college community. Something had to change. And it did. The university applied for and received special permission to play freshmen for the 1971 season, and a new coach named Jack Lengyel took over.
As they prepared for their first game, Coach Lengyel took his team to a memorial for six of the deceased players. Matthew McConaughey portrays Coach Lengyel in the 2006 movie "We Are Marshall":
Dream, again.
Hope, again.
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (paraphrase of Prov. 23:7 KJV).
Do not give up.
Do not give in.
"The funerals end today!"
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Friday, January 21, 2011
God's Spurs
In the 2010 adaptation of Charles Portis' novel "True Grit" which is set in the decade following our country's Civil War, 14 year-old Mattie Ross, from Yell County, Arkansas sets out to get justice done upon Tom Chaney - - the man who shot & killed her father. To do so, she seeks out a U.S. Marshall named Rooster Cogburn (played by Jeff Bridges) because she has heard that he has "grit" and would be the man who would, if any man could, see the job through.
Mattie confronts the marshall in the corridor of the courthouse in Fort Smith. Though she halts him in the hall and explains her purpose for seeking his assistance, Cogburn brushes her aside and strides away, leaving the girl standing.
I wondered today if, perhaps, God's people experienced similar disheartenment in the days & years leading up to their exodus from the land of Egypt. God had used Egypt as a sort of giant incubator to grow his people from a family of 70 to a nation of about 2.5 million in a little more than four centuries. But in the last years, fear directed a new Pharaoh's treatment of God's people and they were increasingly oppressed, hindered, and hand-cuffed. They confronted God in the hall of His justice and, it must have seemed, He brushed them aside and strode away.
But, as we learn in Exodus 3:7-10, that is not the case. God finds a fugitive named Moses on the other side of the desert and lays out His plan:
The truths found in this brief, yet powerful, assertion not only apply to those thwarted in Egypt more than two thousand years back, but are relevant to you and me on this day. Five of them:
1. God Sees - verse 7a - You may be going though some awful things. The Israelites were and it crushed their hearts. But remember, there is no place we can go, there is nothing that can be forced upon us, nor is there anything dark or devastating enough to be able to be hidden or to hide us from our Creator.
2. God Hears - verse 7b - Have you ever had a bad connection on your phone and, thinking the call may have dropped, you asked (perhaps repeatedly), "Are you there? Can you hear me, 'cause I can't hear you?" - - only later to find out that the person on the other end was able to hear your questions even though their responses were never audible to you? I know it seems like that with God a lot of times. I have said so publicly on numerous occasions. Doesn't matter. Keep talking to Him.
3. God Cares - verse 7c - "Concerned" sounds a little distant to me. But the Hebrew word that God spoke to Moses is a word that can carry a very high level of passion. You see, God hates it when we ourselves, or anyone else, shackles and enslaves you and me.
4. God Delivers - verse 8a - God's love for you goes beyond liberating you. He also wants to transport you to a place where you can really live.
5. God Blesses - verse 8b - The "milk and honey" imply a place where there is abundant water and rich, fertile soil that would produce the green pastures and sweet, aromatic flowers necessary for each item. God wants you there - - in that place - - where He will quench your thirst and make you productive and fulfilled.
Mattie Ross rides with Cogburn as they track Chaney. After much adventure, they stumble upon him and bring justice upon him. However, in doing so, Mattie is bitten by a poisonous snake and it appears all will end in tragedy. It is in this moment that the old "one-eyed fat man" of a marshall scoops the girl into his arms, mounts their only remaining horse (Blacky), puts the spurs to the animal, and rides.
They race through the morning. The lathered horse pushes on through afternoon and evening. Non-stop, both riders and steed are propelled through the dark, cold night until the cadence of Blacky's hooves slows, then falters - - then stops. In a distant, isolated, and barren meadow, horse and riders collapse to the ground. So it is.
But it is not.
The marshall lifts the child into his arms and, again, begins the race against time - - the race for Mattie's life. But now, rather than the clomping of horses hooves, it is the clinging of an old man's spurs that penetrates the darkness until the outpost is finally spotted and Mattie is saved - - by the very one she thought had ignored her and brushed her aside.
Haven't seen the movie? I'd recommend it. I don't think I've told you anything that would spoil it.
Haven't been delivered from that which threatens to suck the life out of you? Remember this: God sees right where you are and He hears you when you call out to Him. He cares - - very deeply - - about you. He wants to deliver you and bless you.
Listen! That's the sound of God's spurs.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
Mattie confronts the marshall in the corridor of the courthouse in Fort Smith. Though she halts him in the hall and explains her purpose for seeking his assistance, Cogburn brushes her aside and strides away, leaving the girl standing.
I wondered today if, perhaps, God's people experienced similar disheartenment in the days & years leading up to their exodus from the land of Egypt. God had used Egypt as a sort of giant incubator to grow his people from a family of 70 to a nation of about 2.5 million in a little more than four centuries. But in the last years, fear directed a new Pharaoh's treatment of God's people and they were increasingly oppressed, hindered, and hand-cuffed. They confronted God in the hall of His justice and, it must have seemed, He brushed them aside and strode away.
But, as we learn in Exodus 3:7-10, that is not the case. God finds a fugitive named Moses on the other side of the desert and lays out His plan:
The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey... And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
The truths found in this brief, yet powerful, assertion not only apply to those thwarted in Egypt more than two thousand years back, but are relevant to you and me on this day. Five of them:
1. God Sees - verse 7a - You may be going though some awful things. The Israelites were and it crushed their hearts. But remember, there is no place we can go, there is nothing that can be forced upon us, nor is there anything dark or devastating enough to be able to be hidden or to hide us from our Creator.
2. God Hears - verse 7b - Have you ever had a bad connection on your phone and, thinking the call may have dropped, you asked (perhaps repeatedly), "Are you there? Can you hear me, 'cause I can't hear you?" - - only later to find out that the person on the other end was able to hear your questions even though their responses were never audible to you? I know it seems like that with God a lot of times. I have said so publicly on numerous occasions. Doesn't matter. Keep talking to Him.
3. God Cares - verse 7c - "Concerned" sounds a little distant to me. But the Hebrew word that God spoke to Moses is a word that can carry a very high level of passion. You see, God hates it when we ourselves, or anyone else, shackles and enslaves you and me.
4. God Delivers - verse 8a - God's love for you goes beyond liberating you. He also wants to transport you to a place where you can really live.
5. God Blesses - verse 8b - The "milk and honey" imply a place where there is abundant water and rich, fertile soil that would produce the green pastures and sweet, aromatic flowers necessary for each item. God wants you there - - in that place - - where He will quench your thirst and make you productive and fulfilled.
Mattie Ross rides with Cogburn as they track Chaney. After much adventure, they stumble upon him and bring justice upon him. However, in doing so, Mattie is bitten by a poisonous snake and it appears all will end in tragedy. It is in this moment that the old "one-eyed fat man" of a marshall scoops the girl into his arms, mounts their only remaining horse (Blacky), puts the spurs to the animal, and rides.
They race through the morning. The lathered horse pushes on through afternoon and evening. Non-stop, both riders and steed are propelled through the dark, cold night until the cadence of Blacky's hooves slows, then falters - - then stops. In a distant, isolated, and barren meadow, horse and riders collapse to the ground. So it is.
But it is not.
The marshall lifts the child into his arms and, again, begins the race against time - - the race for Mattie's life. But now, rather than the clomping of horses hooves, it is the clinging of an old man's spurs that penetrates the darkness until the outpost is finally spotted and Mattie is saved - - by the very one she thought had ignored her and brushed her aside.
Haven't seen the movie? I'd recommend it. I don't think I've told you anything that would spoil it.
Haven't been delivered from that which threatens to suck the life out of you? Remember this: God sees right where you are and He hears you when you call out to Him. He cares - - very deeply - - about you. He wants to deliver you and bless you.
Listen! That's the sound of God's spurs.
This is Challenge Pointe.
Semper Fidelis.
Doug
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