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Most of us have heard the motivational quote “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” That looks really good on a poster underneath a cool picture. But there is always the cynical presence of Murphy’s Law and its many variations. For example, there is Lynch’s Law to counter that popular saying. Lynch must have had some friends like Job because he postulated the following.

Lynch’s law: When the going gets tough, everyone leaves.

There are many people who are reading this post and have read my books that can relate to Lynch’s Law. All too often that seems to happen in the body of Christ. We know that cannot be the heart of Jesus for His followers. We are to seek and restore, not leave and condemn. So what in the wide, wide, world of sports is a goin’ on? I still believe in the church despite my recognition of the inherent flaws of an organization that openly (for the most part) recruits sinners. I still believe that Christians make a difference all over the world through selfless and loving service to others. But the other hard truth is that the body of Christ (the church) needs to get healthy in this country to have real influence. And it needs to happen soon. I can’t seem to go too many posts without quoting lyrics from Casting Crowns. The message of this song summarizes my frustration as a Christian. If we are the body of Christ, how are so many people getting wounded and falling away?

But if we are the Body
Why aren’t His arms reaching
Why aren’t His hands healing
Why aren’t His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren’t His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come.

As we head into the Easter season we might find a clue in those final two lines. It is too often about us. It is too often about me. Jesus paid much too high a price for me (or you) to pick and choose who should come. That just doesn’t dominate our thinking enough, does it? If His arms aren’t reaching out to others the problem is me…and you. If the world hasn’t seen love that shows a way the problem is me…and you. In the words of the cartoon character Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and it is us.”

At this point I run the risk of having Green’s law of debate thrown at me: Anything is possible if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

I have seen all sides of this topic. We have been touched and humbled by the response of so many Christians to Joni’s cancer. But often the response of those in the church can be disappointing and even devastating. But the one thing I have learned is to hold fast to Jesus no matter what the response of other church goers might be. It is so easy to get self-absorbed and self-righteous when all is going well. When a crisis comes along you have to make a choice. And it is a choice. You can choose to run away. However, if you run away you will surely have to deal with Lovka’s Dilemma: You never get away, you only get someplace else.

Or you can decide to quit if you believe another one of Murphy’s Laws: If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

But when it comes to my walk with Jesus and my commitment to the body of Christ and the church, I am fine with being a darn fool about it. (Note to those bloggers who like to quote Christians out of context to make them look like idiots…that last one was a good one to lift). Paul wrote about how the church at Galatia had lost sight of the meaning of Christ’s death, the Good News, and the message. The Apostle didn’t mince words.

Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has cast an evil spell on you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death as clearly as though I had shown you a signboard with a picture of Christ dying on the cross. Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. Gal 3 NLT

I would guess a message like that proclaimed in most churches today would cause half of the congregation to stomp out. But maybe we need a little more hard truth and a little less coddling. It is easy to quit. It is such a temptation to quit at times. I happened to catch a very funny scene while traveling  recently. It comes from the movie Dodgeball (that just improved my standing with the legalists). The character played by Vince Vaughn has led a improbable group of misfits to the championship game of the world dodgeball tournament but some setbacks had caused him to throw in the towel. Lance Armstrong appears as himself and offers this commentary.

Lance Armstrong: Hey, aren’t you Peter La Fleur?
Peter La Fleur: Lance Armstrong!
Lance Armstrong: Yeah, that’s me. But I’m a big fan of yours.
Peter La Fleur: Really?
Lance Armstrong: Yeah, I’ve been watching the dodgeball tournament on the Ocho. ESPN 8. I just can’t get enough of it. Good luck in the tournament. I’m really pulling for you against those jerks from Globo Gym. I think you better hurry up or you’re gonna be late.
Peter La Fleur: Uh, actually I decided to quit… Lance.
Lance Armstrong: Quit? You know, once I was thinking of quitting when I was diagnosed with brain, lung and testicular cancer all at the same time. But with the love and support of my friends and family, I got back on the bike and won the Tour de France five times in a row. But I’m sure you have a good reason to quit. So what are you dying of that’s keeping you from the finals?
Peter La Fleur: Right now it feels a little bit like… shame.
Lance Armstrong: Well, I guess if a person never quit when the going got tough, they wouldn’t have anything to regret for the rest of their life. Well good luck to you Peter. I’m sure this decision won’t haunt you forever.

As Easter approaches and I think about the price that Jesus paid my occasional thoughts of quitting should cause me to die of shame. So when the going gets tough I have no intention of quitting. Let’s go back to the church at Galatia as Paul writes…

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.  I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ’s hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience?

‘Cause when the going gets tough, the tough keep believing. And maybe even start praying and loving.

 

Long suffering “Bad Christian” reader Cheryl was disappointed she missed the latest opportunity to “Ask a Bad Christian”. She did not know the feature was imminent (that is forgivable…neither did I).  The question she had wanted to ask was, “How is Trigger doing?” People my age immediately think of movie and television cowboy star Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger. That Trigger is currently stuffed and on display at the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Missouri.

      Roy Rogers, Trigger, Dale Evans
      (Courtesy of Roy Rogers Museum)

A little background is in order for those who are not regular readers of these humble ramblings. I had written a couple of blogs about dogs. Allow me to pick up from an earlier post written on Friday, February 24th. I realized the amazing connections we have with our canine partners after a tongue in cheek piece about the Canine School of Evangelism became the third most read rambling in the brief history of this blog. A follow up dog story about the Touch of the Master was also well received by readers. It reaffirmed what I have been saying for years. I need to combine my dog stories with other Christian best sellers in order to get enough book sales to retire. So I have begun work today on “The Power of Praying for Purpose Driven Dogs who are Left Behind.” Finally I will get some shelf space at the local Christian chain store! (Note to spiritual hall monitors: I am joking. I don’t write Christian books to generate income to retire. However, I wouldn’t mind getting enough to pay Baylor University tuition)

I had decided to take a break from the dog days of winter but a recent development from scenic Waco, Texas changed my mind. It started innocently enough with a phone call from youngest son, Baylor student, and dog lover Brett. He had spotted three abandoned puppies along the side of the road and he stopped to try and help them. Two ran off but he managed to round up one of them. Brett called to let me know that he intended to bathe, feed, care for the dog, and then take him to the Humane Society on Monday for adoption. I knew I was in trouble when Brett decided to let me know what his rescued puppy looked like. This arrived via cell phone messaging.

                                                                                                                                   

I called the lovely Mrs.Burchett. “He is working me,” I told her. “He is falling in love with this dog.” On Sunday I was driving through Waco and I stopped to see Brett and his alleged short term friend. The way this puppy followed Brett around and looked at him was astounding. He appeared to sense that Brett was, for him, the canine version of Amazing Grace. That dog seemed to understand that he once was lost, and now was found. Maybe if we remembered our dramatic rescue along the side of the road to destruction we might gaze at our Rescuer more consistently with such a look of adoration.

But now we had a bigger problem. I started falling in love with this improbable mutt. I laughed with her and we realized that our family dog population had just increased. Brett was scheduled to take “Trigger” to the vet for shots and a checkup on Monday since the Humane Society was no longer on the radar. On Monday another phone call came. Trigger had become violently ill overnight. The scourge of all abandoned puppies seemed to have attacked this sweet little ragamuffin mutt. Trigger had  probably contracted the parvovirus. Brett’s words were heartbreaking in their honesty and love.

“Dad, I don’t think he is going to make it. But at least he knew he was loved for a few days.”

Okay. I cried at Old Yeller. I am a soft touch. But that remark from my youngest touched my heart and made me think that this is a microcosm of ministry. Sometimes it is heartbreaking. The results don’t always match our desires. But if we can love the down and out like Jesus at least they know they have been loved and they will know the source of that love.

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 
“Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Matt 25 – NLT

The results are not guaranteed when you minister to the least of these. But when we do minister to the least of these we show them the very face of Jesus.

When last we left Trigger he had just been released from the hospital after 12 days of intravenous feeding and medication. I had earned hundreds of miles on my credit card thanks to Trigger.

And now we are up to speed for the update. Trigger has doubled in weight since he left the hospital. This is a picture of Trigger looking with adoration at his rescuer Brett.

      

And here is Brett with his puppy.  

Geezers like me recall a song called Puppy Love.

And they called it puppy love
Oh I guess they’ll never know
How a young heart really feels
And why I love him so.

How can you not love a puppy like Trigger? And how can you not love the heart of the young man who took the chance to save him? Thanks for asking, Cheryl. Trigger is doing great. And he still knows that he is loved.

 

 

 

It is with fear and trembling that I venture to comment about faith and science. I recently wrote about how I disagreed with the concept of scientifically trying to prove the effects of prayer. The article was based on my experience with people praying for my wife’s breast cancer surgery. I was a bit surprised to see a couple of sites mocking what they perceived to be my flawed logic.  I am learning that the blogosphere is best described by the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield who often said, “I’m telllin’ ya’, this is a tough room!”

So I would imagine the following article could draw the ire of the praya-haters. The story by Robert Roy Britt appeared on the LiveScience website.

So There are many things you can do to increase your life expectancy: exercise, eat well, take your medication and … go to church. A new study finds people who attend religious services weekly live longer. Specifically, the research looked at how many years are added to life expectancy based on:

Regular physical exercise: 3.0-to-5.1 years
Proven therapeutic regimens: 2.1-to-3.7 years
Regular religious attendance: 1.8-to-3.1 years

Bad Christian Comment: I have to admit that in some of the churches I have experienced I might not live longer but it will certainly feel that way. The article continues…

“Religious attendance is not a mode of medical therapy,” said study leader Daniel Hall, a resident in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “While this study was not intended for use in clinical decision making, these findings tell us that there is something to examine further.”

Hall is also an Episcopal priest.

“The significance of this finding may prove to be controversial,” he said. “But at the very least, it shows that further research into the associations between religion and health might have implications for medical practice.”

In a telephone interview, Hall speculated that the social aspect of religion could play a role in the results: “There is something about being knit into the type of community that religious communities embody that has a way of mediating a positive health effect,” he told LiveScience. Perhaps, he said, being involved in a religion “can then decrease your level of stress in life or increase your ability to cope with stress.”

Another possibility: “Being in a religious community helps you make meaning out of your life,” Hall suggested. The findings are detailed in the March-April issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

So what do I make of this study? Not much, to be honest. I have found the value of community in church. And my faith has, without question, given meaning to my life. But I am totally disinterested in the idea of increased longevity as a benefit of church. I am far more interested in the quality of my time on earth than the length of time. Joni’s cancer again punctuated how precious every day is and should continue to be for us. Her prognosis is excellent and we are confident. But why don’t we apply the reality of our mortality to the way we live daily? Why do we get so upset over such insignificant and trivial nonsense? If I knew I had just a few months to live how would that impact my life?

Would I care if someone cut me off in traffic?
Would it matter if I got that important position or a title?
Would that new car or new house look so important?

And what would my relationships look like?

Who would I make sure to tell that I love them?
What relationships would I try to repair?
What messages would I impart to family and loved ones?

And perhaps the biggest question of all.

Why aren’t I living like that now?

I wrote about what matters a couple of days after a dear friend died earlier this year. The article was called “The Good Stuff” and I closed out that post with the following words.

I am getting better at discerning and treasuring the good stuff. I am getting slightly better at not allowing the irritants of life to rob me of the good stuff. Every day is a treasure. Every day that you can look into the eyes of those you love is a gift. Jesus knew what the good stuff was all about. He wasn’t a cosmic killjoy trying to keep us from pleasure. Jesus taught us what mattered.

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?   Luke 9  NIV

Loving your family. Having friends who will be there when things are rough. Knowing that you and those you love have a relationship with the living God. That’s the good stuff. Don’t let the world tell you otherwise.

I had no idea how soon I would get to apply that in a very personal way.

 

 

 

I am reprising the “Ask a Bad Christian” feature after a deluge of emails asking for it. Okay, when you decide to write your own blog and pay for a server you too can call five emails a deluge. But I digress. Welcome to Round 2 of “Ask a Bad Christian”. The first question comes from the article Bad Christian disputes scientific study.

Dear Bad Christian,

When scientific research supports a religious belief, we preachers rejoice and quickly use it in our next sermon to say, “See, I told you so!” When science disproves (or at least does not support) a religious belief, we console ourselves with, “Well, beliefs can’t be quantified, but we know it’s true and that’s all that really matters.” Can we have it both ways?   Sincerely, RevWLJ

Dear RevWLJ,

No.

Sincerely,

Bad Christian

P.S. to RevWLJ…I believe that I tried to make the point that we cannot quantify spiritual things scientifically so I am on the side of not using “selective” studies that support my beliefs. The studies are interesting and make for good discussion but they are not an apologetic for either position.

Another question on the same article comes from Maddox mixed in with a dash of personal agenda.

Dear Bad Christian,

I’m not surprised by this rationalization. Of course you have to protect your beliefs if some evidence flies in the face of them; it’s human nature. But doesn’t saying that God is above this study make him a bit “irrelevant?” Maybe the quality of care that a patient receives is what actually makes the difference between survival and death, nothing more, nothing less. But no, we’d rather cling to our superstitions. So I respectfully disagree with you. The more logical answer would be that God cannot be quantified and does not like to be tested; therefore he abstained from intervening in this little study (this was the explanation I expected). The bottom line is that if believing something strongly enough makes it true, then anything can be absolutely true. Any challenge to it can be explained away by another belief. Obviously this doesn’t always work in the real world, but it doesn’t hurt to believe that good and bad things happen for a reason.   Maddox

Dear Maddox,

There is no answer that I can give that will satisfy you intellectually. My view is that saying God is above this study does not make Him “irrelevant”. That makes Him God. And that is why we will likely not agree on this topic. I believe there is a God and that His mind and His ways are beyond my comprehension. To you that probably makes me Winnie the Pooh….a bear of very little brain. My point was that science can not measure the results of faith. Period. What is rationalization to you is a personal experience to me. I do not believe that I am protecting my beliefs. I am simply believing them. If I am right they don’t need “protecting”. The idea that I need to protect God and my beliefs would truly make Him “irrelevant”.

Regards,

Bad Christian

Dear Bad Christian,

Can we please stop allowing posts about the Victoria Osteen incident? And would you please not link the article so people will stop responding?

Dave Burchett

Dear Dave,

Where have we met? That name sounds so familiar. At any rate, I would love to move past the Victoria Osteen incident. These are my final words on this issue. I believe that the very fact that we are still debating this more than three months later proves my point. If she had simply taken public ownership of her part in the fracas it would have faded away in December. And yes I know (thanks to all of you that have helped me with this) that I have a telephone pole in my own eye. Anyone who claims the name of Christ is accountable for their actions and  I continue to believe that an apology would not have been too much to ask. Thanks Dave for the question. I hope to hear from you again.

Your friend and admirer,

Bad Christian

Dear Bad Christian,

Dave, you have the best books ever! I don’ t understand…why wouldn’t people want to read them?

Patricia

Dearest Wise and Insightful Patricia,

What a great question! Why wouldn’t they? But I would never use this forum for shameless promotion of my BOOKS. Thank you for the outstanding critique and question.

Bad Christian

Dear Bad Christian,

Why the title “Bad Christian”?

Regards,

Just Curious

Dear Just Curious,

See my answer to Patricia. Need I say more?

Blessings.

Bad Christian

That concludes this edition of “Ask a Bad Christian”. If you have a question be sure to email them to “Ask a Bad Christian“ and you might be selected! Until next time remember that my ministry is to make other Christians feel superior. Smile and enjoy the journey. It’s okay to do that.

 

 

 

Today was opening day in major league baseball. I have been at my real job at Ameriquest Field in Arlington, Texas directing the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox television opener. And that will likely be my real job until you people start buying more books!

In my mind there is no more special day in sports than opening day in baseball. The smell of freshly cut emerald green grass delights the senses. The base lines are painstakingly and perfectly defined by a grounds crew that is committed to perfection on this day.  Red, white, and blue bunting give the ball park a festive world series look. The players today act like little boys. This is the one day that these privileged athletes seem to forget they are millionaires and actually appear grateful that they are paid to play a little boy’s and girl’s game. Kids skip school and parents do not care because memories are being made for both of them. The hot dogs taste like gourment food.  Tacky souvenirs are treasures to be kept. The atmosphere is magic. It is opening day and every team has hope. Each fan has dreams and they are hopefully or, perhaps hopelessly, optimistic. Last year’s disappointments are gone and the hope of a new season dawns for fifty thousand fans in the park and thousands more across the city. The mood is upbeat and the expectations high. This is a new day and a new season. Old mistakes are forgotten. Past errors no longer important. Today is the annual renewal of the incredible marathon that is big league baseball.

I longed for such a defining moment in my walk with Jesus. God’s Word tells us that every day can be like opening day (Dave’s paraphrase). There can be new hope. Yesterday’s sins can be forgotten if you accept the gift of Jesus on the cross. Every morning that I awake and see the magic of a new sunrise I have a new chance to be renewed and optimistic about tomorrow. I don’t have to wait a year to have a chance for renewal. Paul writes that every day has the potential for the spiritual magic of renewal and victory in Christ.

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

    As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

    God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

    Don’t just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.

    Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful. When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.

    If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

    Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.  Romans 12  NLT

    I am grateful that in my spiritual journey God that has given me a chance for “opening day” renewal every day. Recently my walk with Jesus has felt more like a team that is thirty games out in August. I have wondered if I can make it to the end of the season, pack my bags, and just go home. I haven’t really enjoyed my teammates. I wonder if I would be happier on another team.

    But today under picture perfect blue skies I realized that every day with Jesus can be like opening day. I can be transformed and new. There can be freshness in the journey and joy. I can realize that I am a child of God and be grateful that I can call Him Father. I can rejoice that old sins are forgotten. I can believe that hope for the future is real. I can understand that I must be a better teammate and not expect my team to be perfect. The magic of a fresh start happens once a year in baseball. It can happen every day for a follower of Jesus.

 

 

I am not a scientist. I don’t play one on TV. I didn’t even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. But I have to humbly disagree with a story that I found in the Dallas Morning News today. The headline reported that a “Study fails to show healing power of prayer.” I appreciate the efforts of the Templeton Foundation to quantify spiritual effect scientifically. I really do. Still,  I suspect that many or even most would be unmoved if the results showed a profound and positive effect for prayer. I recall that Pharaoh refused to believe in the God of Israel even as he stood derriere deep in frogs.

Let’s examine the findings in the story and discuss. My comments are italicized.

Does praying for a sick person’s recovery do any good? In the largest scientific test of its kind, heart surgery patients showed no benefit when strangers prayed for their recovery. And patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications. The researchers could only guess why. 

Maybe they had seen some of the Christian television shows.

They also said they didn’t know why patients who knew they were being prayed for had a higher rate of complications than patients who only knew that such prayers were a possibility. Maybe they became anxious by the knowledge that they’d been selected for prayers, Bethea said: “Did the patients think, ‘I am so sick that they had to call in the prayer team?’”

Could be. Maybe it was like the old Western movies when the undertaker would tape measure a gunfighter before the sundown showdown. Not a real swagger booster.

The researchers said family and friends shouldn’t be discouraged from telling a patient about their plans to pray for a good recovery.

Thank you. I appreciate the blessing (?) of the research community to pray.

The research team tested the effect of having three Christian groups pray for particular patients, starting the night before surgery and continuing for two weeks. The volunteers prayed for “a successful surgery with a quick, healthy recovery and no complications” for specific patients – their identities known only by first name and first initial of the last name. The patients, meanwhile, were split into three groups of about 600 apiece: those who knew they were being prayed for, those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possibility, and those who weren’t prayed for but were told it was a possibility. The researchers didn’t ask patients or their families and friends to alter any plans they had for prayer, saying such a step would have been unethical and impractical.

The study looked for any complications within 30 days of the surgery. Results showed no effect of prayer on complication-free recovery. But among patients who did receive prayers, 59 percent of the patients who knew they were being prayed for developed a complication, versus 52 percent of those who were told it was just a possibility.

Paul Kurtz, professor emeritus of philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo, and chairman of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, had a blunt response when asked why he thought the study found no effect of prayer.

“Because there is none,” he said. “That would be one answer.”

He added that while he tries to keep an open mind, he’s seen no good evidence for such an effect in past studies.

I would have to agree with the good professor that there will probably be no good scientific evidence for such an effect. I believe there will never be a “scientific” substantiation of the power of prayer to heal. That is because the reason for prayer is not telling God what to do and sitting back to wait for Him to jump through celestial hoops.  I would, however, like to suggest that there is powerful anecdotal and experiential evidence of the power of prayer in our lives. Yesterday we received the news of Joni’s pathology reports concerning her breast cancer. Hearing the sentence “you have won the lottery” would not have compared to what we heard. “The margin around the tumor is clear and the lymph nodes are clean.” We still face chemotherapy and radiation but this was the best report we could have received. Was Joni’s good report a result of the power of prayer? I don’t know. Here is what I do know. When Joni was in surgery on Monday we knew that hundreds of people were praying for her. Some of you who read this blog were praying for a woman you don’t even know. We both felt the presence, peace, and comfort of God. We could feel the prayers of the body of Christ.

Throughout this trial of breast cancer we had experienced a deep confidence and peace that was not explainable. We were not in denial. We have seen all too well the effects of cancer recently in our circle. But we were at peace. I think we felt that peace because we prayed and really believed the following.

God is in control. He has a plan. We don’t know what that plan is. But whatever it is we believed that He will give us strength and grace for the journey ahead.

Then we told God our desires.

We desired that Joni would be completely healed. We desired that God would use our journey to help others. We desired that we not “Waste our Cancer” but that He would be glorified through us in the process.

And then we accepted our bottom line.

We are not in control. We have confidence in the One who is. And we prayed like Jesus did in the garden. Okay…it was a loose imitation but we prayed the same kind of prayer. We wish this cup could be removed but not our will but Yours God be done.

So here is my conclusion. You can not quantify such a complicated theological and spiritual process. If I tell some scientists that I felt the prayers of Christians they would think I was loony tunes. If I tell a researcher that I am praying not just for healing but for God’s will that doesn’t fit into a neat little study category. How can a scientific study divvy up people into groups? We don’t know the mind of God and His plan for any of the people in the study. It was a lovely idea but I don’t need a bunch of labcoats to verify what I felt on Monday. Sorry. Maybe I am loony tunes. But I have something that you can’t measure, dissect, or research.

The peace that passes all understanding.

God is good. And not just when He responds the way I desire. God is good…all the time.

 

If you missed yesterday’s edition of the humble ramblings allow me to bring you up to date. We invited Job’s buddies in to give us a seminar on how not to treat a friend going through a difficult season. Today the first guest is Zophar from Naamath. And, waiting backstage to confront his friends is the star of the book, Job himself. Another lesson in friendship coming up next on Good Morning, Uz.

Let’s welcome Zophar from Naamath to our discussion:

Job, do you think you can carry on like this and we’ll say nothing?

(Pretty sure Job was thinking that ain’t likely to happen). 

That we’ll let you rail and mock and not step in? You claim, “My doctrine is sound and my conduct impeccable.’  How I wish God would give you a piece of his mind, tell you what’s what! I wish he’d show you how wisdom looks from the inside,  for true wisdom is mostly “inside.’  But you can be sure of this,  you haven’t gotten half of what you deserve. Job 11:3-6 (MsgB) 

Application: Can you imagine what Job must have thought with this line of thought? He had lost everything including his health. What more could possibly go wrong? Death, as Job repeatedly noted, would be blessed relief from his plight. Leave the judgment robes at home when you speak to those who are going through trials. What was Zophar thinking? The goal of the a good friend  is to engage, listen, comfort, and restore. It is worth noting that the first round of “help” from his friends generated this cynical response from Job.
 
“I’m sure you speak for all the experts, and when you die there’ll be no one left to tell us how to live. 

Haven’t you been there? Listening in disbelief and even anger to the person who has it all figured out. Observation from a Bad Christian: About 90 % of the time these armchair experts have not experienced anything resembling what you are going through. I must make a note to thank Job someday for preceding me in the ministry of sarcasm. But I digress. Back to his comments.

But don’t forget that I also have a brain-I don’t intend to play second fiddle to you. It doesn’t take an expert to know these things. “I’m ridiculed by my friends: ‘So that’s the man who had conversations with God!’  Ridiculed without mercy: ‘Look at the man who never did wrong!’  It’s easy for the well-to-do to point their fingers in blame,  for the well-fixed to pour scorn on the strugglers. Job 12:2-5 (MsgB) 

Application from Job. There is much to learn about approaching those who are hurting from the words of Job. His friend’s judgments and neatly wrapped solutions only added to his hurt. It is indeed easy to offer reasons when someone else is going through hurt and difficulties. I pray that we will show grace to the wounded. First, because they need it but more selfishly because we soon may need that very grace returned.

Live creatively, friends. 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. (Galations 6  MsgB)

 Job has more to offer about the ineffectiveness of his friends.

“I’ve had all I can take of your talk. What a bunch of miserable comforters! Job 16:2 (MsgB) 

Application: It would seem rather obvious that Job was looking for comfort and not theological insight and debate from his friends. He had already decided to hold steadfast  to God. He just needed his friends to be actual friends. It is an interesting twist because Scripture records that the original mission for his friends was to do exactly what Job needed from them.

When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.  Job 2 NIV

How could such a noble mission veer so far off target? The Church Lady would say, “Could it be?”  (echo) “Satan?” This is an important lesson for those of us who are hurt or offended by friends. Job’s friends sacrificially left their homes and traveled to be helpful and comforting. They just blew it. And sometimes you and I do as well.

In addition to the less than helpful input from his pals, Job had  a memorable and uncomfortable exchange with the lovely Mrs. Job.

His wife said, “Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!” He told her, “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God-why not also the bad days?” Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God. Job 2:9-10 (MsgB) 

I am pretty sure that I would have addressed Joni a bit differently. Uhhh…make that I am positive I would have addressed that differently.  Job’s insights to his wife are valuable. His technique of communication might have later led to counseling or an appearance on the Rabbi Phil Show. Nonetheless, through all of his trials he did not turn on God although (and this is important) he was extremely candid with God in his conversations. I think that we fear being honest with Him as if God doesn’t already know our feelings. Jesus Himself questioned what He was about to endure in His gut wrenching prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. But He finished by saying, “Not my will but yours be done.”
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Another role of a good friend is to encourage that honest, gut-level communication with God. That can be a key to beginning the healing process. One of the things that I have found out through my writing is how valuable it is to write and see your feelings and frustrations on paper. If you thought When Bad Christians Happen to Good People was a bit edgy you should have seen the first draft! Some of the feelings that poured out as I wrote were anything but edifying and exposed emotions and issues that I needed to address with God and not some innocent person accidentally buying my book. It was quite helpful (and a bit unsettling) to see those things on paper. It was instrumental in allowing me to deal with them.

Tomorrow on Good Morning, Uz  Job talks to God. And a little surprise is ahead for Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. God confronts them for being bad friends. Stay tuned.