Category: Uncategorized

 

For the past few weeks I have been writing about Joni’s cancer and our journey through that trial. I had almost forgotten how much fun it is to write your thoughts on something and have your salvation questioned for your trouble. My wonderful high school basketball coach used to teach us that you “catch more flies with honey than vinegar”. I am sure that my cyber critics will tell you that only truth matters and to sugarcoat it is not necessary.

Here are the basics. I wrote a blog about the distribution of the million dollar bills by the Great News Network. The Secret Service said they were too close to real bills and they seized them from the ministry. I wrote a piece that challenged how GNN responded to the situation. I never questioned their ministry intent. I never doubted their heart to communicate the gospel. My article was based on this one issue. And I made it clear that if the government tried to stop their right to communicate that message I would be an enthusiastic soldier for them. I have received a number of responses. And it struck me how ineffectively many of us communicate when we are angry.

Here is a great clinic on how to communicate effectively if you disagree with a writer.

1)  Don’t question someone’s salvation just because you disagree.

Here is the opening salvo from one response…

I can’t believe that someone who professes to be a Christian, and an American statement critical of another Christian who is just upholding the rights granted to him and every other American in our constitution.

I think he or she was so mad at me that they left out some words. Are there any less productive ways to start an argument than “I can’t believe someone who professes to be a Christian would” do whatever. You can disagree with my logic. You can point out the flaws of my position. But you lose me with the insinuation that if I was “really a Christian“ I wouldn’t have written this piece. God is in the business of judging hearts. It is not your job. It will never be your job. Go ahead and resign from that position.

2)  Have the courage to use your name

I put my name and email address with my thoughts. The point of blogs like mine is to challenge thoughts on current issues. I respect the feedback of those who have the courage to use their names. If you don’t want to leave your name on the public forum then email me and I will respond. When it is signed the “Unknown Christian” I just picture someone with a paper bag over their head writing to me. I’m sorry. I can’t help it. I still remember the Unknown Comic from the Gong Show. 

The Unknown Comic aka Murray Langston

3) Don’t rush to judgment over one column.

I would encourage you to look at several articles or posts to gauge the overall heart and spirit of the writer.

4) Try to be reasonable in your persuasion.

Here is the opening line of another response.

Your article regarding The Great News Network is shameful and divisive. Your suggestion that Mr. Rundus violated the law the way a speeder violates the speed limit is unbelievable.

Wow. Does this mean I am off the Christmas card list? Why would I want to read any further? I am shameful and divisive?  I am surprised that my dog still likes me. I guess you didn’t notice the title of the website.

5) Try to be gracious in the realization that reasonable people can disagree on issues.

Disagreeing does not make me a bad person nor does it make you a bad person. At the risk of sounding like a bad pop song, it’s only you and me and we just disagree.

Now let me tell you about a couple of responses that got my attention. One came from an employee of GNN. I will not use his name (but he did use his name in the email). He was gracious. He made his points and we are corresponding.

Another response came from the man himself. Darel Rundus sent me a very gracious email. He pointed out that he loved the discussion and that he encouraged opposing positions. He left his contact information and offered further discussion. We are planning on getting together to discuss. If I am persuaded that some (or all) of my comments were off base I will write that. I have no problem with confessing my mistakes and fallibility. Again…check the website title.

But if that happens it will be because of a gracious response from a man who thinks I might still be a Christian. Mr.Rundus was able to understand that my questions were concerning this issue and not his ministry and not him personally. That is how you communicate when you disagree. Mr.Rundus and I may ultimately choose to disagree on this whole debate but I am pretty sure we will part as brothers in Christ who appreciate each other’s efforts to follow Jesus.

When responding to those you disagree with please run it through the spell check and then through the grace check. It will improve your results.

 

Today’s post will probably be most interesting to one of my most faithful visitors.

Me.

As I pass blog mileage markers I am fascinated by what articles resonated with readers and which did not. Last week I posted blog number 150 in the seven month life of this venture. So I decided to go back and see which posts were most read and offer a couple of personal favorites that did not make the cut. Because I am trying honesty as an experiment at this site I will tell you that I eliminated the actual number one post in the rankings. That article involved an airplane and famous pastor’s wife. I am tired of the story and the sad level of discourse about it. So, in the immortal paraphrased words of Lesley Gore and sung to the tune of “It’s My Party” please sing along…

 “It’s my blog and I can delete if I want to, delete if I want to, delete if I want to…you’d de-lete too if these ‘saints’ emailed you.“

So with that little disclaimer here is number 10 on the Bad Christian Countdown. Feel free to click on any that interest you.

10)    It’s not easy being green and Evangelical – A surprise top ten finisher. The topic of stewardship of our planet is a fascinating one and this was my take on the debate. This blog also featured one of the worst puns of my writing career. I am not proud of that…it is just a fact.

9)     You have been warned! – This was the story of the “controversy” surrounding singer Chris Rice and his song Cartoons. My frustration with humorless religious folk prompted me to post a warning label on this one.

Warning: The following post may contain humor. This blog was produced in a program where irony and satire are processed. May contain sarcasm fragments.

8)     Forgive – I don’t wanna! – This one generated a lot of response. Our biblical responsibility to forgive is not an easy concept for most of us. But I have not found a loophole in our salvation contract.

7)     How to be a Good Cancer Buddy – The first article in the top ten that relates to our shared journey with Joni’s breast cancer diagnosis. Some times we just don’t know how to relate to friends and family when they are going through a trial. This post offers some insights that Joni and I learned.

6)     Is Manliness Endangered? –  The title is self-explanatory.

5)     Enroll Now in the Canine School of Evangelism – I have to admit that I love this one making the cut. This is my fanciful look at what we could learn about evangelism from our furry friends.

4)     Sentences that change your life – Our lives can change in a heartbeat. This was written right after Joni called me with the diagnosis of her cancer.

3)     Time to post and run – I wrote this article about personal responsibility and victimhood with fear and trembling. That is why I hit the post and publish icon and then went into hiding.

2)     Won the battle…losing the war? – This article dealt with the effects of the backlash against the actor chosen to play the lead role in the movie End of the Spear. If we could love and disciple as well as we can argue and boycott this world would be in revival.

1)    A Gentle Proposal to deal with Chad Allen, End of the Spear, Every Tribe Entertainment and One Another – The number one post (other than my disqualified contender) was my thoughts on how to deal with the controversy surrounding the movie End of the Spear.

There you have it. The top 10 by your cyber votes. I am suggesting three personal favorites that did not make this list.

Bald and Beautiful – Part 1 – My thoughts on my bride losing her hair to chemotherapy.
My Nominations for Persons of the Year – Two amazing families that demonstrate amazing grace and strength in times of trial. They became my examples for our trial that was just weeks away.
What Would Jesus Say? – What God is teaching me about my responsibility as a follower of Christ.

Thanks to those of you who regularly suffer through these ramblings. I am blessed by your comments and encouragement.

 

 

Okay…I know this is a little sad. But the reality is that so far in the grandchild derby the two married sons (out of three) have yet to spawn. Unmarried Brett has been ruled ineligible to compete in this event. Joni and I have been content (for the time being) to enjoy our grand dogs and await the first grandchild with diminishing patience.

Middle son Scott was the first to present us with a grand dog. This is Sadie smiling sweetly for the camera.

Regular readers of this blog know that ineligible grandchild contributor Brett was second to add a grand dog to the family with the addition of Trigger. He is pictured here with our own disinterested dog Hannah.

Trigger’s improbable story was told in a post entitled They Call it Puppy Love. 

This week we are proud to announce the newest grand dog to the family. Eldest son Matt and bride Holly announced the arrival of Bailey, a five month old Golden Retriever.

Our future family reunions could look like the scene from A Christmas Story when the Bumpus hounds race through the old man’s house. Hopefully there will be less colorful language from this old man if that does happen. In a classic line from that movie narrator Jean Shepherd noted that, “In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.” As far as I know no such tapestry is hanging over Lake Ray Hubbard near our home.

We are unabashed dog lovers in the Burchett family – at least in the Texas/Tennessee divisions.

I was reminded of how much we can learn from our canine companions once again while Joni was undergoing round 3 of chemotherapy this week. I came across a list of “Things you can learn from a dog” in an article and some of them are really applicable to our season of life.

• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
  
• When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
  
• Take naps and always stretch before rising.
  
• Run, romp, and play daily.
  
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
  
• Be loyal.
  
• Never pretend to be something you’re not.
  
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
  
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
  
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
  
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
  
• When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
  
• No matter how often you are criticized, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

I saved four of my favorites for last.

• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.

If I had it all to do over I would work less and go for more joy rides with my sons and bride. The anchors on ESPN’s SportsCenter often joke that “an injured athlete is day to day, but then again, aren’t we all?” The reality is we are all day to day. Even moment to moment. Life can change in a heartbeat. When the opportunity for a joy ride comes along make it a habit to jump on board.

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

One thing I can count on when I come in the door is that Hannah will be there vibrating with excitement. Wouldn’t it be nice to greet your loved one with that enthusiasm? Be sure to bring smelling salts the first time.

• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

I love this one. People often don’t know how to react to friends going through a trial like Joni. I wrote an earlier post about being a good cancer buddy that is being published in Crosswalk.com: The Magazine this month. We have found that the mere caring presence of friends has been healing. We don’t need answers. We really don’t need handy Bible verses. We just need a little emotional nuzzling.

• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

This really resonates with where I am right now. I want to be a authentic follower of Jesus. And at times the way to do that seems buried in a sea of bad experiences, bad decisions, and bad Christians. But I intend to keep digging. I want to dig into His Word more completely and into fellowship with God more authentically. I want to dig into my shortcomings more honestly and allow the Spirit of God to reveal and repair those more completely. I am believing in the promise of James 1:5.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  NIV

I definitely qualify for His generous distribution. Watch this space for future results.

 

This is also posted today at Joni’s site called Sharing the Journey.

Joni and I met with the Oncologist yesterday to discuss our strategy for today and the weeks ahead. Our doctor decided to dial back the strength of the chemotherapy a bit to help prevent the kind of blood count problem we encountered last time. After today we have only one more encounter with the chemo drug the nurses call the “red devil”. I have met a new friend through this trial who is also sharing the cancer journey with his wife. His name is Rick Green. Rick is a pastor in Oregon and happens to be a talented artist. He did some sketches to help him deal with the emotional roller coaster of cancer. Here is his take on the “red devil” drug.

I had written a post called “Poison for Healing” after the first round of chemo. I am going to repost that for those who are new arrivers to this site. Thanks for your prayers today and during the weekend.

Poison For Healing?

Therapy has always been a word that generates a good response. Massage therapy and aromatherapy have a nice, relaxing connotation. But I am retiring therapy from my lexicon of positive words after experiencing a round of chemotherapy this past weekend with my wife. Joni and I embarked on the first mile of our marathon stagger to survival. It is hardly a race.

Cancer, we are learning,  is a lot of hanging around hospitals, doctors, and nurses. The old cliche of “hurry up and wait” is the motto for anyone going through the monotony of long term treatment. When Joni was diagnosed with breast cancer in March the reality of that ugly word hit hard. But the reality of the reality settled over us Friday as I watched toxic chemicals drip, drip, drip into my beloved’s bloodstream. An Oklahoma newspaper recently ran a story on the weird logic of using poison for good.

“You’re putting poison into the system to kill those bad cells,” said Andrea Mosteller, a registered nurse who works in the Muskogee Regional Cancer Center. “It takes something that strong to do it.” Chemotherapy, Dr. Ravikumar Vasireddy explains, is a chemical that kills “fast-growing things,” terming it “cytotoxic,” or poisonous to cells. Cancer cells grow rapidly, making chemotherapy an ideal treatment for some types of cancer.

Some people claim to have no faith but you have to have a lot of faith in your doctors to allow them to hook up chemicals that are intended to kill cells, and those drugs can’t discriminate between good and bad cells. If the cell is fast growing it is their mission to hunt down and kill it. So the cells of the hair follicles are casualties alongside, prayerfully, the cancer cells. One of the first chemotherapy drugs was actually a derivative of the fearsome mustard gas used during World War I. Another drug Joni is taking is also used in rat poison. The drug is a both a rodenticide and a medical treatment. Not exactly a Certs commercial…”its a breath mint and a candy mint.” 

I sat at the side of my bride of almost thirty years and watched toxins drip into her bloodstream. These drugs can kill you or cure you. Joni would likely tell you after round one that the cure feels like it is killing you at times. I watched the drip of these toxins that we have chosen to allow with the belief that they will kill any dangerous, fast growing cancer cells before they can wreak havoc elsewhere in her body.

I couldn’t help but think how we Christians too often allow the toxins of sin to drip into our spirit and poison our joy, our relationships, and our influence for the Lord. The late author Lewis Smedes wrote powerfully about forgiveness. He often spoke of how only forgiveness can “release us from the grip of our history.” We cannot change an abusive upbringing. We cannot alter dysfunctional theological training that denied grace. We cannot simply deny the hurts that have been visited upon us and be spiritually free. Only forgiveness can release us from the grip of these real and historical events.”

So everytime you choose not to forgive just picture that drip, drip, drip of spiritual poison coarsing through your spiritual veins. Everytime you choose bitterness over joy listen for the quiet drip, drip, drip of toxicity racing to your heart.

We did not choose cancer. But we have chosen to accept that God is in control and He will somehow use our journey through this valley for His glory. We have chosen to trust the doctors who drip toxins into the body of my wife. I hope that you will not choose to let the toxins of bitterness, lack of forgiveness, pride, jealousy, and lust drip into your soul. Paul recognized the effect that these toxins have on our walk with Jesus.

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he is the one who has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.  Eph 4  NLT

 The poison of  bitterness, rage, harsh words, and slander target the growing cells of the fruit of the Spirit. You can choose to cut off those toxins before they do their ugly work. And I pray that you will.

 

 

One of my favorite quotes is from humorist/writer PJ O’Rourke who noted this sad truth.

“Making fun of born-again Christians is like hunting dairy cows with a high powered rifle and scope.”

It really can be that easy. Before I proceed I must issue a disclaimer. I am a born-again Christian. So it is with considerable interest and predictable angst that I note daily how Christians are portrayed in the news. Second disclaimer. I realize that media coverage of evangelical Christians is not always on a level playing field. It is quite okay to criticize Christians while tip-toeing around other faiths. But having disclaimed all of that I still get frustrated when we (Christians) shoot ourselves in the foot and blame the gun.

A recent story from my adopted home state is a good example. A ministry in Denton has been distributing million-dollar bills with a gospel message printed on the back. Recently the Feds decided to “raid“ the headquarters to seize the cache of million-dollar tracts. According to the U.S.Secret Service the bills too closely resemble real money.

This is from the story reported by Donna Fielder of the Dallas Morning News. My comments are italicized.

Three agents visited The Great News Network Friday and seized 83 100-count packets of what appear to be $1 million bills totaling $8.3 billion. There is no real $1 million bill, and Great News Net­work founder Darrel Rundus said he doesn’t understand how he could be accused of counterfeiting something that doesn’t exist.

“We’re a group that equips Christians with materials on how to share their faith,” Rundus said Monday from his Great News Network’s world headquarters in Denton. “One way we do it is gospel tracts. That’s what these are — gospel tracts. You’d think the Secret Service would have more to do than raid a Christian ministry.”

I must confess that I have issues with how Mr. Rundus responded to this situation. I am sure he was frustrated. Perhaps the Secret Service overreacted in this case. But his response does not demonstrate a biblical respect for authority. Scripture makes it pretty clear that we are to honor and respect governmental authority . It is not his place to question or mock the priorities of the Secret Service publicly. That comment would be better made privately and to the proper authorities. Paul wrote about the authority that God granted to government in Romans.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.  Romans 13  NIV

In a written “official statement,” Mr. Run­dus said the Secret Service was overzealous.

“They violated our constitutional rights by depriving us of property without due process. Without a court order, warrant or any legal precedent, they barged into our office, disrupted our daily activities and illegally seized our property. Is it possible that there is more to this than meets the eye? Is it possible that GNN has been targeted by them and are the object of their harassment not because the bills look real but in fact because of the gospel message on the back?”

Is it also possible that GNN was “targeted“ because these guys were just trying to do their job? To publicly question the motives of civil servants is unfair. We make a big deal about not judging others within our faith. Can we not extend the same grace to these men until the facts are known? How does this insinuation make these agents who are merely following orders feel about the church, and by extension, about Jesus?

The statement solicits prayers and funds from the public to help fight a legal battle over the bills.

The statement is complete with bank card logo icons to click on to donate for the cause.

The fake bills are the same size as U.S. currency. They have the distinctive peach and green coloring of new $20 bills and appear to carry both the Department of Treasury and U.S. Federal Reserve seals. A close look at the Treasury seal, however, reveals the words “Thou shalt not steal.” The back of the bill is similarly authentic. But around the edges of the bill are written admonitions against looking at a woman with lust and other sins and urging repentance.

Rundus said he will continue getting supplies of the tract from Living Waters and keep distributing them.

Why is a representative of the gospel so combative in this situation? Evangelicals are always trumpeting that we must be a nation of laws. Rundel’s organization may well be inadvertently violating federal statutes. A little research found this statement of policy from the Treasury Department.

The Department will henceforth permit the use of photographic or other likenesses of United States and foreign currencies for any purposes, provided the items are reproduced in black and white and are less than three-quarters or greater than one-and-one-half times the size, in linear dimension, of each part of the original item. Furthermore, negatives and plates used in making the likenesses must be destroyed after their use.

The ministry argues that since the million-dollar bill does not exist they are not in violation. But there are enough similarities to real currency for these bills to be in potential violation. Were these bills intended to fool people into thinking it was real money? Of course not. Common sense indicates that no one would try to cash a million-dollar bill. But the rules are clear. You must make the bills look different from real currency either by size or colorization.

To use another line of reasoning. I happen to think that the 30 mile per hour speed limit on an open road near my house is ridiculous. But that is the law. I can choose to go 50 miles per hour as often as I want but I will be ticketed every time a police man spots me. Would that be harassment if I had a fish sticker on the bumper? Nope. That would just be getting caught for breaking the law and a DWS (driving while stupid). No matter how much I believe the limit should be higher I will still be guilty.

At the Good News Network Website Mr.Rundel gave this defense.

Since there is no such thing as a Million Dollar bill in circulation, it is obviously not illegal to create, print and or distribute one. In other words, how do you counterfeit something that doesn’t exist? In fact, you can purchase all the million dollar bills you want from various novelty retailers throughout the US and most of them look far more authentic than the ones, the USSS seized from our Christian ministry. In fact, if you Google the term, “Million Dollar Bill” you we get over 43-million results!

Defending a wrong action because others are doing it more “wrong“ is an embarrassing argument for an organization that is trying to do a good work. I have no doubt that this group is sincere in trying to communicate the gospel message. Back to the speed limit example, if 5,000 people a day speed and don’t get caught on that road it doesn’t make me any less culpable for speeding. The law is clear.

Mark Lowery, special agent in charge of the Dallas district of the U.S. Secret Service, said the Secret Service doesn’t want the public to think that it harasses anyone unnecessarily. “We didn’t seek out this case; it came to us,” Lowery said. “We can’t determine which laws we enforce and which ones we don’t enforce. We’re a very busy agency with a lot of responsibility, and we take what we do very seriously.”

I would like to ask Mr. Lowery’s  and the other agent’s forgiveness for getting thrown under the bus of questionable righteous indignation. I believe you were doing your job. I am sure you don’t like every rule and regulation that you have to enforce but you have no choice but to be obedient. As Christians we have to be obedient as well. And I would suggest this is a clear case of honoring authority and demonstrating the grace and gentleness of our Saviour. If the government says you can’t proclaim the gospel I will join you in the fight. If the government says to just make the tract a little bigger or smaller then you are on your own. That is not persecution. That is merely enforcement of a law that may or may not make much sense. But it is still the law.

Peter reinforced the need for Christians to be respectful of all authority.

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. I Peter 2 NIV

May I humbly submit to my brothers and sisters at the Good News Network that this is not a chance to glorify God through a victory in court. This is a chance to glorify God by demonstrating His grace and love.

 

 

I am going to post updates about Joni here for awhile as well as at her site. Here is the latest post from Sharing the Journey.

Chemotherapy reminds me of the original Rocky movie. You take a beating, get back up, take a beating, get back up. Rocky had one goal in mind and that was to go the distance. As you got caught up in the drama you wondered how he could keep getting back on his feet and continuing. For Rocky there was no choice.

Adrian: Why do you wanna fight?
Rocky: Because I can’t sing or dance.

As Rocky surmised, sometimes you don’t have many good options. In that movie Rocky fought the invincible Apollo Creed. No fighter had ever gone the distance against him.

Joni is fighting a foe that is also intimidating but not invincible. Many of her sisters have fought and vanquished this foe. It is hard for me to watch her get back up and head to the next round. But we know that each round brings us closer to the finish.

One memorable scene in Rocky occurs before the big fight. After all the fear and preparation were over Adrian and Rocky shared this moment.

Adrian: [just before the big fight] I’ll be here waiting for you.
Rocky: How ’bout I stay here and you fight?

Our roles are reversed. I have to wait and Joni has to fight. I wish we could switch. But for now my role is to be Joni’s corner man in this fight. Round 3 of chemotherapy is this Thursday.

Here are the prayer requests for this round.

• Pray that her blood counts will not drop to dangerous levels
  
• Pray that the side effects will be manageable
  
• Pray for Joni’s encouragement
  
• Pray that I will be a good “corner man“
  
• Pray that we will continue to put our trust in the Great Physician
  
• Pray that we will not “waste this cancer” and that God will be glorified through it

We know that we have a constant source of strength. Paul wrote to Timothy these words. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Joni is remarkable. She will get back up and re-enter the chemotherapy ring. This is scheduled to be an eight round chemo fight. We look forward to the day when Joni has defeated this fearsome foe. I also look forward to our version of the exchange between Rocky and Apollo Creed. As you recall, Rocky won the fight and inflicted some damage himself. A battered Creed and Rocky have this memorable exchange.

Apollo Creed: Ain’t gonna be no rematch.
Rocky: Don’t want one.

That is the reason for this chemo battle. We are praying that there “ain’t gonna be no rematch.“ Your prayers and love make a difference.  

 

Dictionary.com defines masquerade as one who goes about as if in disguise; to have or put on a deceptive appearance. It is funny that Joni and I never realized we were putting on a bit of a masquerade as we adjusted to her breast cancer. We had no idea that we were donning masks at times. We had no intention of being deceptive. But we have both come to realize that we were sometimes putting on masks as we addressed the trial ahead.

I was trying to be John Wayne and Joni was running around disquised as Wonder Woman. I dig John Wayne. But I am not John Wayne, Pilgrim. It is funny how you think that you have to always be strong and in control as a man. I first was “unmasked” by a friend at work.

“How are you doing?“, my friend Mike asked.
“Fine,“ I replied automatically. (Didn’t he know that John Wayne once said in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence that “Out here a man settles his own problems.” Partner, I don’t need your help!)
“And what is behind the mask?“, he inquired.
“Really, we are doing well,“ I protested. But his question haunted me and later I reflected on his question. Because I knew behind the mask I was not John Wayne. I was more like Don Knotts. Trembling while blustering that I was in control. Behind the mask I related to the lyrics of my oft quoted musical heroes Casting Crowns in their song Voice of Truth.

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I’m in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He’s holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I’ve tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. “Boy, you’ll never win!”
“You’ll never win!”

My trust in God never wavered but I was too stubborn to admit that I needed the encouragement of the body of Christ in this journey. I need the strength of my brothers and sisters in the faith. I was not and am not John Wayne. When I hid behind the mask I was doomed to bottom out for awhile. And I did.

My wife’s masquerade was different. Joni is much closer to Wonder Woman than I would ever be to John Wayne. But she is still not Wonder Woman. Joni had to remove the mask of independence and self-sufficiency. Joni is a giver and most givers have a hard time receiving. Her responses from behind the mask went something like this.

“What can I do for you, Joni.“
“Nothing. Just pray. We are fine.“
“Can I bring dinner?“
“No, we are fine.“
“Is there anything I can do?“
“Thanks. We are doing okay.“

But chemotherapy slows down even Wonder Woman and Joni has had to learn the lesson that givers sometimes have to receive in the body of Christ. We realized this weekend that we really are doing well as long as we simply play ourselves. God is moving in our lives, encouraging, loving, and teaching us in this valley. When we step out of our comfort zone we are learning to listen to His voice only. Here is the chorus to the song Voice of Truth.

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
The voice of truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.

And that is our strategy in a nutshell…unmasked. We have chosen to listen to the voice of truth. There is one John Wayne quote that really resonates with me. The Duke once observed that “Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.” Amen, John. That is true grit and true faith. King David understood the concept of being scared and saddling up anyway.

But when I am afraid,
       I put my trust in you.     
    O God, I praise your word.
       I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?  Psalm 56

Our trust in a God who is worthy gives us the courage to saddle up anyway. We have decided to put away the masks. And that feels really good. Give it a try sometime.