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I suppose the reader’s bar is set pretty low when you visit a site entitled “Confessions of a Bad Christian”. So I don’t imagine you will be at all surprised to learn that I love the comic strip Pearls Before Swine. And that my favorite character is a mean, cynical, self-centered rodent named Rat. I love Rat because he exposes the dark side that the rest of us try to whitewash and hide. Today’s strip was classic.

Rat is talking to his porcine pal named, surprisingly, Pig. Creator/Strip Writer Stephen Pastis didn’t agonize over character names.

The cynical Rat has decided to make two lists and everyone in the world will be slotted onto one list or the other.

List number one is called “People I don’t like” and the other list is “People I can’t stand”. The sensitive and caring Pig immediately sees the hopelessness and cynicism in such categorizations. “Oh, That’s very cynical Rat…you need to make a third list of people you like and give it a nice little title.” Rat grows thoughtful and proclaims that Pig is right. He draws up the third list and titles it…

Future Disappointments

There are days that I relate a little too closely to Rat’s worldview. (There is a sentence I never imagined I would write) It is so easy to grow frustrated, cynical, and even bitter toward people and especially other Christians. It is easy. It can even be fun. But there is another three letter word that can describe that approach to others in the body of Christ.

Sin.

And it is nothing new. Paul addressed a little “situation” in the church at Philippi. This is a church that Paul loved. A church that he called his partner and that had a special place in his heart. Sounds like all systems were go, right? Not exactly. Paul addresses a church rift between two Godly women in his letter to the Philippians.

Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.   NLT

Paul does not indicate any false teaching or any moral shortcomings with these two leaders in the church. Yet this was a big enough issue for news to reach Paul as he was being held prisoner in Rome. And Paul raises a great point for us to remember. He reminds everyone that these two women were co-laborers who had contended at the very side of the Apostle for the Gospel. They are both Christians whose names were in the book of life. Yet they had a disagreement serious enough for Paul to weigh in from Rome. He decides to be Switzerland by remaining neutral in the dispute. He simply pointed out the focal point of unity…the Lord Jesus.

God has been teaching me that it is far more important to Him for me to be righteous than to be right. I am prone to reverse His preferred order. I find it fascinating that this plea to resolve a church dispute is the beginning context for some of the most quoted verses in the Bible. Resolve your differences, he advises, by concentrating on this…

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

That incredible passage comes out of the context of conflict. Wow.

Abraham Lincoln once made this powerful observation about our nature…If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.

And if we have a hard time finding it you can count on Satan lending a helping hand. When I reflect on the comic strip character Rat’s list from above I realize one undeniable fact. If you are around me long enough I am a “Future Disappointment” waiting to happen. The only question is when. And you will make my list too. At that point we would be wise to remember more advice from Paul…this time to the Galatians.

If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.  The Message
 

Our lives changed forever on D-Day of 2006. Diagnosis day was March 20th of this year and that day seems like it was years ago. It is hard to fathom that in real time it has not quite been nine months since we found out about Joni’s breast cancer. My wife’s recent post made me realize how much our perspective has changed in those nine months. Joni was sharing one of the most exciting developments in her cancer journey. The headline was typically Joni…to the point.

I have eyebrows!!!

Chemotherapy patients know the trauma of losing your hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Joni’s words reminded me how much we daily take for granted.

It amazes me how a simple thing like eyebrows can be so  exciting.  My eyebrows are coming back along with eyelashes and about a half inch of hair on my head.  But it is the eyebrows that excite me the most. 

Cancer changes your priorities a bit, doesn’t it? Last year at this time we had no idea what 2006 would hold. But thanks to the prayers, love, and encouragement of the body of Christ and the comfort and strengthening of the Holy Spirit we have made it this far. Joni continued her thoughts.

It has been a long and difficult journey but God has so richly blessed me and provided for all of my needs and then some.   My energy is beginning to return and it feels so good not to be tired all of the time. 

I love this time of year and I am thankful I can help with the decorating and festivities that go along with the season even though it is toned down from past Christmases.  I am studying Romans in my Bible study.  In Romans 5:3-5 there is a progression from tribulation to perseverance to proven character to hope.  I know I have  experienced tribulation and perseverance through the operations and grueling treatments.  My prayer is that all of this  has also produced proven character for the Lord and I know He has given me hope.  There is joy in tribulation in that it proves that God is faithful and He will never leave me.

All of these qualities and eyebrows too? How blessed am I? This is going to be a great Christmas. Tribulation and perseverance has brought us even closer together. Our Christmas prayer is the hope of many more Holidays together. God is faithful and He has not left us…not for an instant.

Last night the lovely Mrs.Burchett and I enjoyed a wonderful night of music with Michael W.Smith, the Dallas Symphony, and hundreds of our closest friends. Michael’s Christmas Time Tour 2006 is fun, inspiring, touching, and glorifying to God. See it if you have a chance.

Michael W.Smith has more musical talent in one hair follicle than I have in my entire body. And I confess that I entertained a bit of envy in the early part of the concert. I always wanted to be a musician but I just didn’t want to commit to that whole practice and hard work thing. Right after I moved past my talent deficit envy I happened to notice, really notice, something that happens at every concert. At the end of a stirring song a stagehand quietly and efficiently moved onto the stage, set up two microphones, and left without fanfare.

And it occurred to me that his small role in this gigantic production was enormously important. The next event was Smith reading the Christmas account from Scripture as a musician accompanied his narration. Because of the unnoticed stagehand the transition was seamless and the effect was powerful. No one applauded the stagehand. He might have felt unappreciated. He might have envied the acclaim that Michael W.Smith receives. He might have noticed that the audience applauded the arrival of the first chair violinist and the conductor. He might have wished for the rousing applause reserved for the other vocalists and the instrumental soloists.

But I kept thinking about the stagehand who carefully set the mikes in exactly the right place. I thought about the dozens of unseen technicians that made a magical evening of music happen. Incredibly vital people who did their jobs without a single moment of public adoration. God always sees the stagehand that humbly does his part. God values the technician who makes the music happen without personal recognition. I believe that God would view that stagehand’s seemingly insignificant contribution as being just as important as the people in the spotlight when that small role is offered with worship.

Paul used the body as a metaphor for how every part of the body of Christ is vital and valuable. In his letter to the Corinthians the Apostle writes about the distribution of spiritual gifts.

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”  In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.

I realize that I am prone to say it is all about Him and then get upset if no one notices me. So who is it really all about? If my service is for Him I am confident that God takes note. Should it really matter if anyone else does? I am the first to confess that such notice is nice and appreciated. But should it really matter?

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

I am not always glad when another part of the body is honored. How quickly I forget the unmerited gift of grace. If we really comprehended what that meant would we ever question what is in it for me? As I meditate on that today I pray that I will choose to praise God and be content even if He asks me to be the anonymous stagehand that no one ever applauds.

Next week will be a fun week of reminiscing as the TV Land cable channel unveils their list of the 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catchphrases. It was nostalgic to review the list and remember my season of life when a particular quote or catchphrase was popular. I don’t have a strong recollection of Joseph Welch telling Senator Joseph McCarthy that “he had no sense of decency”. Perhaps that was of little interest to a fourteen month old baby. And not having a television in the family home might have been another factor. We didn’t join the TV revolution for a couple of years until we were sure it was going to “catch-on”.

But I can remember most of the others on this list. I am embarrassed to recall that I quoted many of these on a far too regular basis over the years. But I guess I was not alone.

“Danger, Will Robinson” (Robot, “Lost in Space”)
“De plane! De plane!” (Tattoo, “Fantasy Island”)
“Elizabeth, I’m coming home!” (Fred Sanford, “Sanford and Son”)
“Heh heh” (Beavis and Butt-head, “Beavis and Butthead”)
“How you doin’?” (Joey Tribbiani, “Friends”)
“I know nothing!” (Sgt. Schultz, “Hogan’s Heroes”)
“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV” (Vicks Formula 44 ad)
“Is that your final answer?” (Regis Philbin, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”)
“What you see is what you get!” (Geraldine, “The Flip Wilson Show”)
“Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” (Arnold Drummond, “Diff’rent Strokes”)
“Would you believe?” (Maxwell Smart, “Get Smart”)
“Yada, yada, yada” (“Seinfeld”)
“Yeah, that’s the ticket” (Jon Lovitz as the pathological liar, “Saturday Night Live”)
“You look mahvelous!” (Billy Crystal as Fernando, “Saturday Night Live”)
“You rang?” (Lurch, “The Addams Family”)
“Well, isn’t that special?” (Dana Carvey as the Church Lady, “Saturday Night Live”)

Nearly all of those catchphrases have lost their cultural relevance except as memories of TV seasons past. The definition of “catchphrase” at dictionary.com is “a phrase, as a slogan, that comes to be widely and repeatedly used, often with little of the original meaning remaining”. The first thing that popped into my brain was a catchphrase that Christians use every Christmas season.

Jesus is the reason for the season.

Has that become a catchphrase for followers of Jesus? Before you send the angry email let me disclaim that I completely agree with that statement. Without the miracle of Jesus coming to this planet this holiday is just another excuse to sell stuff. There is, to state the obvious, no Christmas Day without Christ.

But there is an inherent danger in this season. It is easy to get caught up in the battle for Christmas and forget that the best defense of Christmas is to represent Christ. The power of Christmas Day is when His followers unite to be the very hands and feet of Jesus. To give and love and comfort those who need it. That is when people see that Jesus is the reason for the season. It is important to stand up for cultural rights. But the birth in Bethlehem that changed history was not about winning court battles. It was about changing hearts. I still love the King James language that describes the birth of Jesus.

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matt 1:23 KJV

May God be with us. And may we really demonstrate with our love, grace, and deeds why Jesus is the reason for the season.

Truth can be so annoying. If annoying truth was a Jeopardy category it might look like this…

“I’ll take Annoying Truths for $100, Alex.”
This famous preacher said,  “Give me five minutes with a person’s checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.”
“Who is Billy Graham? I’ll take Annoying Truths for $200, Alex.”
This missionary to India said, “You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.”
“Who was Amy Carmichael, Alex. I am getting very uncomfortable with this topic so let’s take “Sins that make you worse than me for $100.”

Money is an uncomfortable topic for followers of Jesus. One anonymous writer noted that a lot of people are willing to give God the credit, but not too many are willing to give Him the cash.

Twenty-six years ago a man in Kansas City made a choice to give away the cash. It was a choice that changed his life and the lives of thousands more. The Associated Press reported that for the next 26 years, a man known only as Secret Santa roamed the streets every December quietly giving people money. He started with $5 and $10 bills. As his fortune grew, so did the gifts. In recent years, Secret Santa has been handing out $100 bills, sometimes two or three at a time, to people in thrift stores, diners and parking lots. So far, he’s anonymously given out about $1.3 million. It’s been a long-held holiday mystery: Who is Secret Santa? But now, weak from chemotherapy and armed with a desire to pass on his belief in random kindness, Secret Santa has decided it’s time to reveal his identity.

He is Larry Stewart, a 58-year-old businessman from the Kansas City suburb of Lee’s Summit, Mo., who made his millions in cable television and long-distance telephone service. While Stewart has also given money to other community causes in Kansas City and his hometown of Bruce, Miss., he offers the simple gifts of cash because it’s something people don’t have to “beg for, get in line for, or apply for.”

His epiphany happened just before Christmas in 1979. His circumstances were dire. For the second year in a row he had been fired just days before Christmas. He admits that he was wallowing in self-pity when he learned that giving returned an inexplicable joy. That simple discovery changed him, the entire city of Kansas City, and beyond. Let’s pick up the story as Stewart was nursing his wounds at a drive-in restaurant after getting fired once again. He describes that December day in his own words.

“It was cold and this car hop didn’t have on a very big jacket, and I thought to myself, `I think I got it bad. She’s out there in this cold making nickels and dimes,”‘ he said. He gave her $20 and told her to keep the change. “And suddenly I saw her lips begin to tremble and tears begin to flow down her cheeks. She said, `Sir, you have no idea what this means to me.”‘

Larry Stewart was deeply touched. He decided to go to the bank that day and took out $200, then drove around looking for people who could use a lift. That was his “Christmas present to himself.”  He’s hit the streets each December since. Now, his mission is bigger than handing out $100 bills. Stewart wants to speak to community groups about his devotion to kindness and to inspire others to donate their time and money. “That’s what we’re here for,” Stewart says, “to help other people out.”

Larry Stewart has learned the reality of money and possessions that was eloquently expressed by author Thomas Fuller. “Riches enlarge rather than satisfy appetites.” 

As a follower of Christ I think Stewart has it half right when he notes that we are here to help other people out. The religious scholars asked Jesus what a purpose driven life should look like.

“Teacher, which command in God’s Law is the most important?” 
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”   Matthew 22 The Message

During this Christmas season I am challenging you to join me in trying Larry Stewart’s experiment. Go buy yourself a gadget or outfit or bauble. Note the reading on the joy meter. Then go give money to a desperate Mom trying to make ends meet. Or give some cash to an elderly couple who can’t pay the heating bill. Deliver a Christmas gift to children who would not receive gifts any other way. Then see which action has given you real joy. Was it acquiring more stuff or meeting real needs in the lives of others? Larry Stewart has learned that lesson. And the world is a better place because of the revelation he experienced on a cold December day twenty-six years ago.

Pray about what you can give this Christmas. Remember that Larry Stewart started small. I pray that you will receive the kind of joy that has driven the Kansas City “Secret Santa” for twenty-six years. The chance to witness the surprised joy of a person receiving an unexpected and much needed gift. Kind of like salvation, isn’t it? That is the gift that Jesus brought to Bethlehem two millenia ago. And that is another gift we should be eager to share this season.

Regular readers of these ramblings know that my bride is in the midst of a battle with breast cancer. For the last eight months that unwanted and unexpected foe has rearranged our lives around doctors, hospitals, chemo days, and radiation days. Joni’s prognosis is good. The love and outpouring of prayers and well wishes from many of you has been amazing and uplifting. More than you will ever know. Joni has just over a week of radiation left and then several months of a targeted chemotherapy drug. That will be administered every three weeks so at least our schedule has a chance to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Yesterday was another day at the chemotherapy infusion room that Joni and I call the Slow Drip Spa. It is a place that has administered “treatments” to me as I watch Joni receive her infusions. I get regular infusions of perspective into my self-centered veins and heart. I watch people display courage and grace in the midst of a terrible trial. Yesterday I watched the initial greetings of every person that came in for treatment. The staff would always smile and ask the patient how they were doing. Yesterday the small sample of patients I witnessed had a consistent response. They would smile and report they were doing well.

I reflected on the irony of that exchange. I know from personal experience that the journey is long, tough, and you get discouraged. But the patients that come into the “spa” are consistently upbeat and determined. The regulars of the “spa” humble me. My infusion of perspective came at a good time yesterday. How easy it is to turn your focus from God and serving others to self absorption. As I absorbed my perspective infusion yesterday I remembered a long lost hymn from a legalistic church far, far away. The truth of this old hymn might have been lost on most of the congregants at that assembly but it is still truth.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

I am anxious for Joni’s treatments to be finished. But I pray that I don’t forget what I have learned at her side. Perhaps I (and maybe all of us) should schedule a monthly “perspective” date. It is not about us. I am not happy when I make it about me. Reflect on the creative translation of a very familiar verse from Matthew.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matt 11:28–30  The Message

I am tired. Joni and I are worn out. Frankly, I have been a little burned out on religion. Today I am going to carve out a some time to keep company with Jesus and seek how He displays the rhythms of grace.

I rarely give over my space to a writer that does not have the last name Burchett. But faithful and long-suffering reader Steve sent me a link to an article by Wheel of Fortune game show host Pat Sajak. Pat may need Vanna’s help to turn letters but he does a really nice job of arranging them into a thoughtful piece posted at his site.

There is much debate in the gay community on the subject of “outing”; that is, disclosing someone’s homosexuality without his consent. As with most debates, there are two extreme positions and a middle position. On one extreme are those who think anyone is fair game, and no one has any business keeping his true sexuality under wraps. The other extreme believes it’s a very personal matter, and “outing” is absolutely wrong. Besides which, many of these absolutists find the practice counter-productive in their quest for gay rights. There is, however, a growing in-between position which says “outing” is justified if the person being exposed is a hypocrite. For example, if a crusading moralist or an anti-gay marriage Congressman is leading a secret gay life, it’s okay to make that public.

I would be in favor of that middle position if we could apply it across the board. In other words, if we’re going to “out” hypocrites, let’s go all the way. If a Congressman opposes school choice for his poorer constituents while sending his own kids to private schools, let’s “out” him. If a politician or celebrity complains our taxes aren’t high enough while he hires the most aggressive accountants to minimize his own taxes, or takes questionable deductions to do the same, by all means, let’s “out” him. Minimum wage? Illegal immigration? Does their public stand match their private actions when it comes to their own domestic help? If not, “out” ‘em.

What about those who want to legislate diversity in our schools and clubs and organizations and work places? Great, but let’s check out their offices and club memberships and circles of acquaintance and make sure they don’t need to be “outed” as well. Let’s take a close look at our rich members of Congress (and there are a lot of them) who speak out about a middle class crisis, and let’s be sure they (and their family business entities) treat all their employees with the same generosity they would demand of others (salary, benefits, health care, etc.). Otherwise, “out” they go!

Let’s make sure Second Amendment opponents (or their bodyguards) don’t own guns. Let’s be certain those who complain about executives’ wages apply the same standards to themselves. Let’s change the rules to make every law Congress passes apply to its members as well. If not, “out”, “out”, “out”.

Let’s “out” the Hollywood star who lectures us on the environment while living in multiple homes, flying in private jets and riding around in limousines, or the athlete who rails against government neglect of the poor while lending his name to $100-plus basketball shoes marketed at that same audience.

Most people keep more than their sexuality in the closet. So, if we’re going to open that door to root out hypocrisy, let’s open them all.

Pat Sajak nicely summarizes our amazing ability to deceive ourselves. That is why Jesus was so harsh with the “religious” types of His day.

• “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons? You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.”  Matthew 23 The Message

I am still learning not to deceive myself. I am quite capable of shining the exterior while covering a maggoty interior. So I will out myself. I am a recovering hypocrite. I will never be fully healed. And that is awesome! Because if I could be healed I wouldn’t have to depend on my relationship with Jesus and the daily inspection of the Holy Spirit.

So, in honor of Pat Sajak, today’s puzzle is about deception. And the question is simple.

H Y P O C R  _  T E S

“Jesus, is there an “I” in there?”