For What Reason?

A couple of weeks ago, while in Cambodia, I met a man named Tom.  For nearly two decades, Tom has served the people of Cambodia through practicing medicine as a physician and through sharing the love and gospel of Jesus as a Christian.  For various reasons, people leave home to live in another - a heart for people and a willingness to serve as God leads provide Tom with his reasons. 

Reasons lead to choices.  They motivate us to act, to respond, to change.  Reasons vary . . .
- Due to the reason of love, one chooses to protect another.
- Due to the reason of fear, one chooses to hide.
- Due to the reason of gratitude, one says "thank you."
- Due to the reason of anger, one holds a grudge.

Checking one's reasons proves to be an important part of living one's everyday, ordinary life for Christ.  Sure, assessing actions is beneficial; yet, focusing on actions alone fails to complete the task.  
- We need not only to love; we need to know why we love.  
- We need to hold our tongues.  We do even better by discovering why the words willing their way toward our lips are forming - for what reasons are we angry?

Ponder, won't you, the reasons you love your spouse. 
Now tell him / her.

Consider, won't you, the reasons you lack patience or compassion. 
It's time to confess them.

Let's live intentionally.  Get to know your reasons.

#ordinarylives

Meet Moses

On May 1, 1884, Moses Walker stepped up to the plate for the Toledo Blue Stockings - making him the first African-American baseball player to play professional baseball.  Sixty-three years later, Jackie Robinson swung the bat for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Jackie, rather than Moses, is most-often credited with the distinction of the first African-American man to play professional baseball. 

Wishing no ill toward Robinson's well-deserved fame, I nevertheless wonder why no one, save baseball aficionados, has ever heard the name Moses Walker.  Most likely, it's because the Stockings were a minor league team while the Dodgers were a major league team.

Accounts of history often suffer from limited recaps - limited by their lack of focus on the less-than-sensational personalities and events.  For the sake of holding attention and committing to tell the "whole" story by telling part of it, historians must summarize. 

Even the Bible skips some details (obviously, unneeded ones - I won't argue with the Author).  However, there are exceptions.  For example, the Book of Judges covers some obscure events.  In the chapter of Hebrews, often deemed the "Faith Chapter," the writer hits the highlights - Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses' parents, etc.  He also, however, gives a shout-out to lesser known people of faith - unnamed, yes; but mentioned at least.

35 . . . There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
Hebrews 11:35b-38 (NIV)

Who were these women and men?  What were their names?  I will never know the answers to those questions.  I will, however, remember that they, like the "famous" faithful ones, take their rightful place in the great cloud of witnesses.  (See Hebrews 12:1.) 

In eternity, if I am able to meet those unnamed ones, I will thank the flogged ones for their examples of bravery, the sawed-in-two ones for their incredible faith, the destitute ones for their willingness to suffer for Christ, and the other witnesses for their obedience.  Yet - why wait until eternity?  Call them what you will -

- Unsung heroes
- Silent saints
- Behind-the-scenes servants

just call them.  Or maybe you prefer email, text, or face-to-face.  Join me in saying "thank you" to those who serve, love, care, and well-represent the cloud of witnesses - even with no promise that history will include mention of their names.

#ordinarylives

The Non

The non in nonfiction informs us that what we are about to read is true – at least from the book author’s perspective.  The lack of non however does not necessarily tell the reader the whole story. There is much truth in fiction.  Think of the truths that you learned from nursery rhymes (no, not the one about cradles falling safely from a tree!). Recall the moral truths that Frog taught Toad.  I’m still not sure why Jack and Jill tumbled down and I’m sure that jumping over a candlestick is not the wisest course of action; nevertheless, I am prepared, if I ever see a grandmother with big ears, eyes, and teeth, to run for the hills. 

Jesus understood the power of fiction.  He made up stories to teach life (and after-life) lessons.  I learn from them.

• I learn that if I were cast as a character in the Prodigal story, the director might suggest the role of the older brother (I’m more likely to take gifts for granted than wallow with pigs.)
• I learn that God loves sheep – the two-legged human kind.  Even those who keep getting lost.
• I learn that using God’s gifts wisely comes with the Father’s blessing (enjoying His happiness), while burying them leads to the Father’s rebuke.
• I learn that those who chose Christ while young and those who finally surrender when gray receive the same “pay.”  Grace!

Jesus also used fictional images (metaphors and simile) to describe Himself.

• He is the Light.
• He is the Door.
• He is the Lamb.
• He is the Vine.
• He is the Water.
• He is like a longing hen.

Do you hear the non in that fiction?  He speaks truth with such intriguing and beautiful images.

In chapter twelve of Augustine’s Confessions, the author grants his readers a peak into his personal story.  During a deeply personal time of contemplation, prayer, and tears, Augustine heard God saying (through the voice of a child next door) “Take up and read; Take up and read.”  Augustine heeded the words and opened the Bible and read. 

I am not God nor a child, but allow me to say to you “Take up and read.” Turn to one of the four Gospels and read the parables of Jesus.  Enjoy the fiction.  You’ll be amazed at the non you find there.  

#ordinarylives