Month: August 2007

Next week we restart the iPod Devotional Series. To give you a hint of things to come here is a sampler from the last round.

Today’s edition of “As the iPod Turns” lands us on a song by Percy Sledge. I loved Motown music as a teen and I still do. My secret desire was to perform as the bass singer with the Temptations. Remember the song “Papa was a Rolling Stone”?  I wanted to be the guy that said “and that ain’t right” in that deep, deep bass voice. But my lack of talent, dancing ability, and the general composition of the group precluded that dream from becoming reality.

The tune that came up today is a classic. “When a Man Loves a Woman” reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts in 1966.

The song was number 54 in the 500 best songs of all time in a poll by Rolling Stone Magazine. Anyone who has ever been in love can feel these lyrics deep in your soul. I remember when I fell in love with the stunning Mrs.Burchett. I could have written these lyrics in those halcyon days of young love.

When a man loves a woman
Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else
He’d trade the world
For a good thing he’s found
If she is bad, he can’t see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend If he puts her down

When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He’d give up all his comforts
And sleep out in the rain
If she said that’s the way
It ought to be

I give you everything I’ve got (yeah)
Trying to hold on
To your precious love

Could there be a more powerful description of how it feels to be giddy in love? You really can’t think of anything else but your new love. I couldn’t help but reflect about this song in the context of my relationship with God. When I first became a Christian I was so happy, so relieved, and so grateful for forgiveness. I really couldn’t keep my mind on nothin’ else except this new relationship with Jesus. I was so sold out to my relationship with God that I believe I would have traded the whole world for the good thing I’d found. But, much like romantic love, things change over time if you are not aware.

It happened, sadly, with my romantic love. I am not proud to admit that I forgot for a few years how much this man loved his wife. The pursuit of career and status changed how I approached my marriage and it was a rocky time. Fortunately I realized what God had given me and I changed my ways. Thank God we hung tough and I love Joni more today than I did over thirty years ago.

The same thing happens at times with my relationship with God. I say I love Jesus but there are days that I can hardly force myself to think of spiritual things. There are times when talking to God and praying is a burden. And I wonder if I would trade the world now for the good thing I’ve found in Jesus? My pew-litically correct answer is of course I would. Then why can it be so difficult to sacrifice even a little bit of my comfort for others? If I am truly willing to trade the whole world maybe I should have a few less possessions and and a lot more giving. Wouldn’t that be a true indicator of my love for God? Would I give my last dime for Jesus? Or would I be like the rich young man of the Bible and turn away sadly at the cost He demands? Would I give up all my comforts if God called me to do that? Or would I rationalize that I can “do more” where I am? Do I give Him everything I’ve got?

But here is where this love relationship with Jesus is so different from the romantic love that Percy Sledge describes. I don’t have to do those things and give everything I’ve got to try and hold on to His precious love. That is already done.  God’s love is always there. It was signed, sealed, and delivered at Calvary. When I accepted that gift of mercy I no longer had to try to hold on or earn that love. When a man loves God he does so out of gratitude. Because God extended grace to a person who did not deserve it. When a man (or woman) loves God there is nothing you can do to earn that love. But there is much that you can do to show it. “You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” That was the insightful quote from Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India. That is true when a man loves a woman. And also when a man loves God.

 

One of the more popular series in the storied history of “Bad Christians” was the iPod Devotional Series. The idea was to take my iPod device, hit the shuffle feature and then write about whatever song popped up. It was a fun and well received series but then I got distracted by a shiny object and it faded away. So I am pleased to announce that the iPod Devotional Series will return in September. Here is a sample of one the devotionals from last year to (hopefully) whet your appetite.

Today’s song that the iPod shufled to is Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts.   Earlier I wrote a very personal blog earlier featuring another song by Rascal Flatts called Skin. The song dealt with a young girl’s cancer, losing her hair, and going to the prom. It brought out the tissue inventory because Joni and I had to address that issue (not going to the prom…losing her hair) during her breast cancer journey.

Today’s song, Bless the Broken Road, has also become a hit for the group Selah. Here are some of the lyrics.

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love, along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two, wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn’t see how every sign, pointed straight to you

It is so interesting to look back over the landscape of three decades of this journey with Jesus. I can see God’s hand in so many events and I especially see His hand redeeming the heartbreaks in my life. My early church experience was a broken road of legalistic and judgmental Christians who crushed the spirit of a young and fumbling Christian. That experience became the basis of my books. I have found many friends who have shared my journey. C.S. Lewis once said that “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, “What! You too? I thought I was the only one!” Sadly, many of us bear the wounds of dealing with imperfect people in the dysfunctional little gathering we call church. Still, God has blessed that broken road.

The broken road for me included the devastating death of a beloved nephew thirty-two years ago. At that point I was a crossroads in my faith. Turn my back on God or get serious in my pursuit of Him. Along the broken road God brought a man named Wendel Deyo into my life (Wendel now heads up a retreat center in Southern Ohio) . His life challenged me and he helped me get back on the narrow way. That relationship led to my association with Athletes in Action. And while on staff with AIA I met the lovely future Mrs.Burchett. And again, God blessed the broken road.

Every long lost dream, led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
Yes He did

It is hard to imagine life without Joni. Her cancer forced me to realize the possibility of that. I am grateful that her current scans are clear and her prognosis is good. I pray I will never again take her for granted.

I think about the years I spent, just passin’ through
I’d like to have the time I lost, and give it back to you

I remember with great sadness the years I spent working too much, taking my bride for granted, telling her that the schedule would soon “ease up”. But it rarely did. I really wish I had that time back. I would give it to her in a heartbeat. If I could say one thing to young couples and parents it would be to make time for your mate and your children. It took me too long to realize the truth that my schedule reflected my priorities. But somehow Joni hung with me. She has traveled her own broken road.

But you just smile and take my hand, you’ve been there you understand
It’s all part of a grander plan, that is comin’ true

Every long lost dream, led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

The journey is not easy. Never will be. One of the big mistakes we make in sharing our faith is making it seem like all troubles are over when you embrace Christianity. That was never in the brochure. Scripture clearly states that we will still have problems and heartaches and even tragedies. But God will bless the broken road. King David wrote these words while escaping down a broken road…

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
       he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18

C.S. Lewis also said that no one ever told him that grief felt so much like fear. Don’t be afraid to continue down the broken road. God will meet you there. I know that is true.

(WARNING TO THE HUMOR IMPAIRED – The following post may offend some. If you are easily irritated or have a tendency to email nasty comments to blog writers please do not continue. Thank you).

Recently God has been sending me a consistent message. Get out of your comfort bunker. Give up control and trust Me. I happened to stumble onto a parody of a beloved poem called “Footprints in the Sand”. The original poem was written in 1936 by Mary Stevenson. It told a beautiful story of how God carries you through the hard times. If you somehow missed the original version you can click here to read it (be warned that there are annoying surf sound effects at the site).

But a guy named Sam Glen apparently was getting the same voicemails from God that I have been receiving. Glen did a little rewrite of the beloved poem reminding all of us that just leaving a “mark” is not good enough.

One night I had a wondrous dream.
One set of footprints there was seen,
the footprints of my precious Lord,
but mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared
and I asked the Lord, “What have we here?
Those prints are large and round and neat,
but, Lord, they are too large for feet.”

“My child,” he said in sober tones,
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
but you refused and made me wait.”

“You disobeyed, you would not grow.
The walk of faith you would not know.
So I got tired, I got fed up,
and there I dropped you on your butt.”

“Because in life there comes a time
when one must fight and one must climb,
when one must rise and take a stand
or leave their butt prints in the sand.”

That is a real kick in the old sand imprinter. God has called me to action. Jesus said these words to me and every follower that claims His name.

“Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28 – NLT)

It is hard to follow that commandment to go  and still leave a butt print in the sand. So it is time to rise, rake over my imprint in the sand trap of fear and doubt, and go. I want to leave a mark for Jesus. But I want that mark to be the right type of mark that comes from reporting for duty every day and trusting Him for the results.

Michael Vick was somber as he asked forgiveness and admitted his mistakes. His comments were brief.

“I made a mistake of using bad judgment and making bad decisions. Those things just can’t happen. Dogfighting is a terrible thing, and I do reject it.”  He singled out NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Blank, coach Bobby Petrino and his teammates for personal apologies, saying “I was not honest and forthright in our discussions.”

He also apologized to “all the young kids out there for my immature acts and what I did — and what I did was very immature. So that means I need to grow up.”

Most of the media reports dropped the following comments from their summaries of the statement.

“I’m upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God. “

The blogosphere is filled with comments that Vick is merely trying to save his backside and that he is anything but contrite. The critics may be right. But they may also be wrong. Sometimes when a man or woman hits bottom they are finally in the right position to look up. Unfortunately I am old enough to remember a much reviled politician who claimed to be sorry for his role as a political “hatchetman” in Richard Nixon’s White House. People mocked Chuck Colson suddenly finding Jesus and called it a “jailhouse conversion.” This story from Colson powerfully relates to Michael Vick.

One pastor stood up at the Founder’s Dinner and recalled the time shortly after Colson’s conversion when he challenged him: “Colson, I believe in Jesus Christ and I want to know how we can know if you’re serious.” Colson paused and answered, “I guess the best way to tell you whether I’m serious or not is for you see what I’m doing ten years from now.”

It has now been thirty years and Chuck Colson has had an incredible ministry through Prison Fellowship. Time has proved that he was serious about following Jesus. Time will also tell whether Michael Vick is sincere. You don’t know. I don’t know. Only God can look into the heart of Michael Vick and know if his words are real. I really hate what Michael Vick did. I don’t hate him. A song by Andrew Peterson reminded me how I must separate sin and sinner. Peterson beautifully illustrates that I am a sinner saved by His amazing grace and that I am like every other sinner who ever lived or will live. Peterson’s lyrics hit home.

I am the woman at the well, I am the harlot
I am the scattered seed that fell along the path
I am the son who ran away
I am the bitter son who stayed

I am the angry men who came to stone the lover
I am the woman there ashamed before the crowd
I am the leper who gave thanks
I am the nine who never came

Having less repulsive sins on my resume than Michael Vick only matters to me. Paul tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Andrew Peterson sums up the really incredible good news in this song which is aptly titled, The Mystery of Mercy. We are so quick to ask God why He has forsaken us when things go wrong. But maybe the better question is asked by Peterson.

My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me?

Why indeed? I pray that Michael Vick has found the mystery of mercy. Andrew Peterson says it well.

You took my sin and wrapped me in
Your robe and your ring
My God, my God
Why hast thou accepted me?
It’s a mystery of mercy
And the song I sing.

Vick took some very good steps today with his comments.

“I totally ask for forgiveness and understanding as I move forward to bettering Michael Vick the person, not the football player,” he said. He concluded by saying, “I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to.”

I suppose there is little or no chance that Michael Vick will read these ramblings. If he did I would tell him that he can repair his reputation with the help of wise counsel. But redemption requires the power of God. Vick says he has made that commitment. Mercy may not come from the public but mercy comes running when you call the name of Jesus. I pray that he is being real. Time will tell.

When news of Chuck Colson’s conversion to Christianity leaked to the press in 1973, The Boston Globe reported, “If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everybody.”

There is hope for everybody. Paul wrote these words in a letter to his spiritual son Titus.

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,  he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. (Titus 3 – NLT)

There is hope for Michael Vick. For me. And for you.

One of the most predictable events of being a Christian in Texas happens every summer when we hit a sweltering heat wave. The temperature climbed above one-hundred degrees last week and, sure enough, there it was. A local church had put this cheery message on the sign out front.

 
(Note: Not the real sign. This was re-created at www.churchsigngenerator.com. You can have some fun at that site.)

Apparently God got out of the book business and moved into signboards.

I am sure that at least a few readers of these humble ramblings remember a song by Five Man Electrical Band. The song was called “Signs” and it told about some warnings that dared to tell us what to do.

Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign

I remember the opening part of the song quite well.

And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do
So I took off my hat I said imagine that, huh, me working for you

woah!

What struck me most is that the official Five Man Electrical Band website actually has that last word spelled “woah”.  Hearing that song recently on an oldies station made me think about the mixed blessing of church signs. Some are clever and thought provoking. Most, sadly, are embarrassing or even harmful. I really dislike some of the signs that I have seen on display.

Will your eternal reservations be smoking or non-smoking?  Threats of damnation seem to be a church sign favorite like this cheery little thought…

Life is all fun and games until you die and go to hell!  Really makes you want to join that happy little group, doesn’t it?  All I can say is…woah!

The next sign is a good message for the faithful.

Tithe if you love Jesus! Anyone can honk.  

I have seen some signs that were a bit more graceful and thoughtful. I have to admit that I kind of liked these.

It you want the rainbow you’ve gotta put up with the rain. 

Opportunity knocks only once but temptation leans on the doorbell.

Children learn more from models than from critics. 

God so loved the world that He did not send a committee.

The final church sign might be a bit too obtuse for the casual passerby but it does contain the message of grace.

God grades on the Cross, not the curve.

Paul said it like this to the Ephesians. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,  that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Jesus was not talking about church signs when He said “you know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times”. The signs of the times indicate to me that I need to get serious about following Jesus and finishing strong. To paraphrase the sign above…

Live it if you love Jesus. Anyone can honk!

 

A preacher was walking down a dirt road one day and came upon a man with a mule pulling a wagon load of two-by-fours.  The mule had stopped and refused to move.  The man was yelling and pulling on the mules’ reigns trying to get him to move.  The man was angry and was using foul language.  The preacher came up to the man and said, “If you want one of God’s creatures to do what you want him to do, you must treat him with love and kindness”. 

The man then told the preacher, “If you can do any better, than you are welcome to try”.

With this the preacher went to the rear of the wagon, pulled off a two-by-four board and walked to the front of the mule and looked the mule in the eye. The preacher took a mighty swing with the two-by-four,  hitting the mule up the side of the head.

The man in shock said, “I thought you must treat him with love and kindness”?

The preacher then said, “You are.  But first you must get his attention”.

That is how I feel this week. God has stopped just short of a two-by-four to get my attention. Perhaps He has not ruled that out if I continue to refuse to move like the mule above.

One of the big advantages of journaling or blogging (a.k.a. “ego journaling”) is you can see how God is moving over a period of time in your life. What He is teaching you. Patterns of experiences or behaviors. I am picking up a disturbing trend in recent weeks. God appears to be challenging me to climb out of my comfort bunker.

Here is the recent string of posts that is showing some consistent messages.

Roller Coaster Faith Rocks! – An article about how the roller coaster is more fun because you give up control. Hmmmm.

Changing Patterns – How weather and spiritual patterns can both become stagnant.

Tripping Over Ministry – The inspirational story of a man who took a big chance for God and saw ministry all around him.

My Personal Reaction to Michael Vick – How God’s Word turned my disgust with Michael Vick around and revealed my own desperate need. I quoted a passage in that blog from 1 John 3 that was really convicting.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

That was disturbing enough. Then today I innocently reviewed a tune I had downloaded weeks ago. I have become an occasional fan of bluegrass music thanks to Alison Krause and Ricky Skaggs. Someone suggested that I might like Rhonda Vincent so I legally downloaded a few of her tunes. Here are the lyrics of one of the songs I finally got around to playing.

There are many people
who will say they’re Christians
and they live like Christians on the Sabbath day

But come Monday morning, til the coming Sunday
They will fight their neighbor all along the way

{chorus}
Oh you don’t love God, if you don’t love your neighbor
if you gossip about him, if you never have mercy
if he gets into trouble, and you don’t try to help him
then you don’t love your neighbor, and you don’t love God

Two-by-four warning!!! Incoming! I could not believe that a random bluegrass singer was pickin’ and singin’ the Biblical truth that I was wrestling with yesterday and today. A catchy beat did not lessen the impact of God’s truth.

If you say you love Him while you hate your neighbor
then you don’t have religion, you just told a lie

I am all about grace. But running parallel to the grace track is the accountability track. I don’t want others to view my walk as a lie. So I have decided to follow the example of recent blog subject Smoky John Gaines. 

“I just get up every morning and say, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do today? I’m reporting for duty.’ “

Deep breath. Okay. I am reluctantly reporting for duty and believing that God will equip me now that He has my attention.

No one is (or has been) better at avoiding onrushing tacklers than NFL quarterback Michael Vick. But he is now facing a foe that even the uber-gifted Vick can’t evade. Yesterday’s announcement that Vick will admit his full guilt in a plea bargain agreement was a sad day for those who idolized the mercurial athlete.

Former NFL great Deion Sanders is a brother in Christ. Sanders understands the curse of celebrity and how it can ruin your life for a season or forever. Deion was one of the few to defend Vick prior to the announcement. I have to respectfully disagree with Sander’s attempt to help us understand Vick’s mindset.

This is all the result of perspective. What a dog means to Vick might be a lot different than what he means to you or I. Hold on, don’t start shaking your head just yet. Listen to me. Some people kiss their dogs on the mouth. Some people let their dogs eat from their plate. Some people dress their dogs in suits more expensive than mine, if you can believe that.

And some people enjoy proving they have the biggest, toughest dog on the street. You’re probably not going to believe this, but I bet Vick loves the dogs that were the biggest and the baddest. Maybe, he identified with them in some way.

I understand that dog fighting has some cultural context. But the practice is simply wrong. Abuse of God’s creatures is sin. Period. I hope that Deion Sanders will use his influence to communicate that message to anyone who will listen.

Personally, I have alternated between repulsion and an odd sympathy for Michael Vick. I cannot imagine how a heart could become so hardened and so dark that inflicting pain and death on a helpless creature is acceptable. I pray that Vick will open his heart to the Lord and repent. His reputation will take years to rebuild. The amazing grace of redemption is that he could become a new man in Christ in a moment.

It was the repulsion and anger that I felt so easily that bothered me so much. Regular readers of the humble ramblings know how much I love dogs. I have written a number of blogs about man’s best friend. So it was somewhat predictable that I immediately flew into a rage toward Michael Vick and his cruel cronies when the details came out. But a long walk with Jesus (and my Labrador Hannah) caused some uncomfortable truths to rattle around in my mind.

My rage against the cruelty toward these helpless dogs was understandable. But where is my rage and passion for others who God describes as “the least of these?” Jesus describes how the righteous will be separated from the unrighteous on the day of judgment. The unrighteous were condemned not for a huge laundry list of sins that American Christians deem disgusting. They were condemned for not caring.

For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

I am quick to condemn Michael Vick and the culture that allows dogfighting. But where is my outrage for “the least of these?” Where is my caring heart?

When I walk by the homeless in major cities across America…do I care?
Where is my outrage for girls and boys trapped in sexual bondage and prostitution living here in my own city of Dallas, Texas? Do I care?
Where is my outrage that creatures more helpless than these dogs are torn apart in clinics with partial birth abortion?
Where is my outrage and caring heart for the victims of genocide in Darfur?
Why is my heart broken by dogs that are drowned and not broken by babies dying of Aids in Africa?

This was not a guilt trip that God’s Holy Spirit took me on as I walked this morning. It was simply revealing that my heart is far from pristine and I need to humble myself daily before the throne of grace. I am quick to rank Michael Vick’s sin as being far worse than mine. But to a Holy God all sin is the same. I needed a Redeemer. So does Michael Vick.

The resulting gratitude I feel for being redeemed should manifest itself in caring about the “least of these”. John kicked my butt this morning with these words written a couple of thousand years ago.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

And that is why so many people don’t do Bible study. It is hard to be self-righteous when you read passages like that. At least it is for me. God took my prideful feelings of superiority toward Michael Vick (I could NEVER do THAT!) and revealed my ongoing and desperate need for Him. I started the morning wanting to throw Vick and all associated with him under my judgment bus and then back up. I finished the day praying for Michael Vick and asking how Jesus can use me to minister to the hungry, to strangers, to the naked, the sick and those in prison. If I feel no compassion – how can God’s love be in me? That question will ruin a good walk.