The phrase, "Stay Tuned...." usually means that there is more to come. Sometimes that's a good thing-- and sometimes not.
If we're watching an intriguing television program and just before the commercial break, we are told to "Stay Tuned," we will gladly do so because we want more of what we've already seen.
Unfortunately, when it comes to doomsday forecasters like Harold Camping, reality is not enough of a check to stop their pompous, pointless and perilous prognosticating. May 21, 2011 has come and gone, but folks, he's at it again. And so, sadly, we must "Stay Tuned" for more madness.
Yes, the signs of the times clearly indicate that we are approaching the end times. The very fact that there are those who would dare exalt themselves to a place where they can essentially claim to be like God and know the exact day and hour of the end of time is also an indication that we are drawing closer to that great day.
It is critically important that during this tumultous season in history we keep our spiritual ears tuned to God's word. We can not afford to think that it's enough to allow God's word to be no more than a faint cry amidst the static of life. We have to fine tune our hearing so that God's word comes through loud, crisp and clear. Otherwise, even though we may be clear enough to tune out the Campings of the world, we just might fall for someone else who is able to more cleverly sandwich their lies between God's truth.
We also need to be careful about placing blind, unbridled allegiance to any political party. Our full allegiance should never go to anyone but God, because there are elements in all political platforms that sound good, but are inevitably and unavoidably mixed in with other agendas--for "there is none righteous, no not one."
With regard to the "end times," God makes it clear and says more than 12 times throughout scripture that "no man knows the day nor the hour...." The Greek word used in the majority of those passages is "eido" which by definition means we will not even be able to "perceive, discern, discover, look at, experience in any state or condition, get knowledge of, pay attention to...."
Any voice that doesn't line up with the word of God is a voice that we must tune out--and that includes our own voice. All throughout the 10th chapter of the book of John, we are told that God's sheep know His voice:
The watchman opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. (3)
When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. (4)
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." (5)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. (27)
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. (28)
Please pray for those persons who seem to have forgotten that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT seen," and are vulnerable to leaders who promise to provide tangible evidence in places where God has instructed us to place faith.
In the meantime, instead of obsessing over the end of the world, let's get busy living the lives we've been blessed with and focus on being a blessing to others. We haven't heard the last of Campings or others like him, but, we don't have to worry about any of that static. If we diligently read, study and pray God's word, we will be like fine-tuned instruments in the hands of a master musician, fully relying on the Master to help us "Stay Tuned...."
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
A weekly posting of encouraging and challenging thoughts about life from Rev. Karen W. Curry, a pastor's wife and mother of two who is also --in her "spare time"-- a dynamic preacher, teacher, motivational speaker, facilitator, writer, reviewer, poet, MC, liturgical dance/drama consultant and storyteller. Contact Rev. Karen at BNcouraged247@msn.com to speak at your next service or retreat.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
People...PLEASE!
Have you ever been in a situation where people were relentlessly pressuring you? Perhaps others boldly added their priorities to your ever-growing list of priorities, demanding that you re-prioritize your priorites and recognize their priority as THE priority.
Sometimes, when the pressure from other people gets to be too much, we simply want to say, "People...PLEASE!" Please give me space. Please be patient. Please respect others' needs. Please step up and handle your own responsibilities....
But, too often, instead of saying any of those things, we simply cave in and people-please. That is, we become people pleasers and completely give in to the immediate demands of others, sometimes not even recognizing the long-term damage that may result.
Children can sniff out a people pleaser a mile away. When they know that we can't say "no" it's open season! When children have their way with people pleasers, not only will they demand to be allowed to run wild in a candy shop, they will have the "people pleaser" donning an apron and a paper hat, taking orders and making the candy by hand on demand!
Yes, Christians are called to love and serve others--sometimes sacrificially. However, that service should not come from a place of fear or from conflict avoidance. Indeed, perfect (or mature) love casts out all fear.
When we give or serve out of fear of rejection we are not serving out of love. When we give or serve out of a need for acceptance, we are not serving out of love. When we give or serve for any reason other than in response to the leading of God's Holy Spirit--who leads us and guides us into all truth--we are not serving out of love, we are slaves to the approval and whims of someone other than the Lord.
In Galatians 1:10, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (English Standard Version)
The New Living Translation makes the point even more plain, "Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."
Clearly, this people-pleasing issue is not new. But, as servants of Jesus Christ, we must always remember that our aim is to please God, not man. In fact, sometimes pleasing God will require that we greatly displease man.
Peter was not happy at all about Jesus' appointment on the cross. He spoke against it and even cut off the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus, in an attempt to "save" Him, not understanding that Jesus' entire purpose for coming was to save us. Had Jesus chosen to please Peter, and all those who loved Him by sparing them the agony of losing Him, we would all be lost.
People-pleasing often results in crippling, co-dependent relationships that stifle the growth and joy of everyone involved. As a recovering people pleaser, I can attest to how deceptively innocent, and immensely dangerous it is to live as a people pleaser. I thoroughly enjoy helping and serving others, but I have had to "trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding" to help me learn to serve in the right way and from the right place.
If you are struggling with a need to please people, think on these things: When the pain of constantly cleaning up others' mistakes, bearing their ever-growing burdens, and rescuing them time and time (and time!) again becomes too much, perhaps you can then finally find the strength to exercise tough love. When the pain of realizing that you have inadvertently taught someone to look to you instead of the Lord as their source of strength, you can finally get out of the way and allow your loved one to go ahead and fall--right into the arms of Jesus.
When you finally realize, as I did, that it takes just as much--if not more--energy to avoid conflict as it does to resolve it, you may finally be ready to take a stand, put up a hand, and say, "People....PLEASE!"
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Sometimes, when the pressure from other people gets to be too much, we simply want to say, "People...PLEASE!" Please give me space. Please be patient. Please respect others' needs. Please step up and handle your own responsibilities....
But, too often, instead of saying any of those things, we simply cave in and people-please. That is, we become people pleasers and completely give in to the immediate demands of others, sometimes not even recognizing the long-term damage that may result.
Children can sniff out a people pleaser a mile away. When they know that we can't say "no" it's open season! When children have their way with people pleasers, not only will they demand to be allowed to run wild in a candy shop, they will have the "people pleaser" donning an apron and a paper hat, taking orders and making the candy by hand on demand!
Yes, Christians are called to love and serve others--sometimes sacrificially. However, that service should not come from a place of fear or from conflict avoidance. Indeed, perfect (or mature) love casts out all fear.
When we give or serve out of fear of rejection we are not serving out of love. When we give or serve out of a need for acceptance, we are not serving out of love. When we give or serve for any reason other than in response to the leading of God's Holy Spirit--who leads us and guides us into all truth--we are not serving out of love, we are slaves to the approval and whims of someone other than the Lord.
In Galatians 1:10, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (English Standard Version)
The New Living Translation makes the point even more plain, "Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant."
Clearly, this people-pleasing issue is not new. But, as servants of Jesus Christ, we must always remember that our aim is to please God, not man. In fact, sometimes pleasing God will require that we greatly displease man.
Peter was not happy at all about Jesus' appointment on the cross. He spoke against it and even cut off the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus, in an attempt to "save" Him, not understanding that Jesus' entire purpose for coming was to save us. Had Jesus chosen to please Peter, and all those who loved Him by sparing them the agony of losing Him, we would all be lost.
People-pleasing often results in crippling, co-dependent relationships that stifle the growth and joy of everyone involved. As a recovering people pleaser, I can attest to how deceptively innocent, and immensely dangerous it is to live as a people pleaser. I thoroughly enjoy helping and serving others, but I have had to "trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding" to help me learn to serve in the right way and from the right place.
If you are struggling with a need to please people, think on these things: When the pain of constantly cleaning up others' mistakes, bearing their ever-growing burdens, and rescuing them time and time (and time!) again becomes too much, perhaps you can then finally find the strength to exercise tough love. When the pain of realizing that you have inadvertently taught someone to look to you instead of the Lord as their source of strength, you can finally get out of the way and allow your loved one to go ahead and fall--right into the arms of Jesus.
When you finally realize, as I did, that it takes just as much--if not more--energy to avoid conflict as it does to resolve it, you may finally be ready to take a stand, put up a hand, and say, "People....PLEASE!"
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
PARENTAL ADVISORY
Material that is inappropriate for children often bears a PARENTAL ADVISORY warning label. The label is intended to help parents steer their children away from profane words, images, messages or activity.
Sadly, instead of steering their children away from profane words, images or messages, there are some parents who actually steer their children full speed ahead toward the danger zone. With that in mind, today's message is truly a parental advisory--it is an advisory for parents regarding our own behavior and whether our content is appropriate for children.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Some of us seem to forget that children are just that--children, not "mini-me" miniaturized versions of adults. We rob children of their childhood when we expose them prematurely to profane words and images that their young brains and emotions are not designed to handle.
Children's brains are not as fully developed (or in some cases, as warped) as adults', and regardless of how precocious or talented a child is, there is a tremendous difference between their physical, emotional, social and spiritual growth and that of an adult. They deserve a chance to develop free of the baggage that may have saddled us down.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--How can we get upset at our children for receiving disciplinary notices at school for using profanity or other inappropriate behavior if we use the same language in front of or actually directed toward them? When we tell our children to respect themselves and others, and then we proceed to disrespect them and others with our language or behavior, we appear hypocritical at best, and at worst we send a dangerously mixed message.
We are truly misguided if we think the old "do as I say, not as I do" command is going to miraculously cause our children to not absorb the profane words or behavior in their environment or to absorb them but somehow not release them. Our early childhood environments deposit things that can shape our entire future as adults. What goes in must-- and will-- come out, sometimes with embarrassing or costly consequences. Prisons are full of people who simply could not overcome their environments or joyfully embraced them.
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" (James 3:9-11)
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Parents, we can't have it both ways. The scripture is filled with references to God telling us to distinguish between the holy and the profane. There are no package deals and no layaway plans offered. We are not allowed to put off profane language and behavior until we are "grown." Our age or stage in life are irrelevant with regard to that which is profane. There is no expiration date given -- what is profane will always be profane, no matter how old we become.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
If we teach our children that it is ok for adults to curse someone out, fight, lie, cheat or steal because it is somehow justified we "call evil good." If we encourage our children to run toward a street or schoolyard fight but run away when authorities arrive to break it up, we "put darkness for light." The advice we give our children should be miles apart from what they would hear from one of their immature buddies.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Producing or birthing a child does not make anyone a parent. We must first be born-again in Jesus Christ before we are healthy enough to "train up a child in the way he should go...." Without the fruit of the Spirit operating in our lives, how could any of us ever hope to have the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control required to raise children?
We've heard the warning, "kids, don't try this at home" whenever an extraordinary and potentially dangerous stunt is performed. Well, "parents, don't try this at home" when it comes to raising children without the daily guidance of the Lord or outside of a supportive community of faith. The African proverb is right--it takes a village to raise a child. And, the best way to make sure we don't raise a village idiot is to saturate our lives and our children's lives with the presence, power and wisdom of God.
Parents, let's keep the PARENTAL ADVISORY warning labels on the covers of CDs and movies. Let's not be the ones who need to wear the labels ourselves because we are the ones displaying content that is not suitable for children.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Sadly, instead of steering their children away from profane words, images or messages, there are some parents who actually steer their children full speed ahead toward the danger zone. With that in mind, today's message is truly a parental advisory--it is an advisory for parents regarding our own behavior and whether our content is appropriate for children.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Some of us seem to forget that children are just that--children, not "mini-me" miniaturized versions of adults. We rob children of their childhood when we expose them prematurely to profane words and images that their young brains and emotions are not designed to handle.
Children's brains are not as fully developed (or in some cases, as warped) as adults', and regardless of how precocious or talented a child is, there is a tremendous difference between their physical, emotional, social and spiritual growth and that of an adult. They deserve a chance to develop free of the baggage that may have saddled us down.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--How can we get upset at our children for receiving disciplinary notices at school for using profanity or other inappropriate behavior if we use the same language in front of or actually directed toward them? When we tell our children to respect themselves and others, and then we proceed to disrespect them and others with our language or behavior, we appear hypocritical at best, and at worst we send a dangerously mixed message.
We are truly misguided if we think the old "do as I say, not as I do" command is going to miraculously cause our children to not absorb the profane words or behavior in their environment or to absorb them but somehow not release them. Our early childhood environments deposit things that can shape our entire future as adults. What goes in must-- and will-- come out, sometimes with embarrassing or costly consequences. Prisons are full of people who simply could not overcome their environments or joyfully embraced them.
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" (James 3:9-11)
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Parents, we can't have it both ways. The scripture is filled with references to God telling us to distinguish between the holy and the profane. There are no package deals and no layaway plans offered. We are not allowed to put off profane language and behavior until we are "grown." Our age or stage in life are irrelevant with regard to that which is profane. There is no expiration date given -- what is profane will always be profane, no matter how old we become.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)
If we teach our children that it is ok for adults to curse someone out, fight, lie, cheat or steal because it is somehow justified we "call evil good." If we encourage our children to run toward a street or schoolyard fight but run away when authorities arrive to break it up, we "put darkness for light." The advice we give our children should be miles apart from what they would hear from one of their immature buddies.
PARENTAL ADVISORY--Producing or birthing a child does not make anyone a parent. We must first be born-again in Jesus Christ before we are healthy enough to "train up a child in the way he should go...." Without the fruit of the Spirit operating in our lives, how could any of us ever hope to have the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control required to raise children?
We've heard the warning, "kids, don't try this at home" whenever an extraordinary and potentially dangerous stunt is performed. Well, "parents, don't try this at home" when it comes to raising children without the daily guidance of the Lord or outside of a supportive community of faith. The African proverb is right--it takes a village to raise a child. And, the best way to make sure we don't raise a village idiot is to saturate our lives and our children's lives with the presence, power and wisdom of God.
Parents, let's keep the PARENTAL ADVISORY warning labels on the covers of CDs and movies. Let's not be the ones who need to wear the labels ourselves because we are the ones displaying content that is not suitable for children.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Distinguishing a 911 call from 411
Sometimes it seems as if the fast pace of today's society has transformed us into overstimulated, undernourished, sleep-deprived, impatient, impolite, self-absorbed alarmists who think nothing of making hasty, unfounded, provocative statements in order to further our own short-sighted agendas.
At any given moment in time there are controversies and dramas swirling all around us, beckoning us to either fan the flames, put on our Superman capes to run to the rescue, pull up a chair and enjoy the show, or set our face toward the Lord for guidance and direction.
When it comes to tempestuous situations, didn't we learn anything from Peter's example? When the Lord calls us to step out into the deep waters of faith, we are not to turn our attention to the winds and waves roaring around us. Yet, we so easily (perhaps even eagerly) take our eyes off Jesus because we reason that the raging waters have created an emergency situation which absolutely must be addressed immediately.
No matter what is going on in the world around us, whenever we take our focus off of the Lord and focus instead on our circumstances, we begin to sink. Jesus was fully aware that the waters were rough when he called Peter to step out into them. Their condition was mere background information, for they had no direct impact on Peter's ability to get to Jesus. Yet Peter's fearful response to them moved them from a 411 point of information status to a 911 emergency call.
We saw the same thing when the disciples were on a boat with Jesus and a storm began to rage. The disciples placed a 911 call to Jesus who was sleeping in the bottom of the boat. The status of the storm was not the least bit alarming to Jesus. He already had the 411 regarding the weather report, which is why He simply responded by saying, "Peace be still," a command as applicable to the disciples as it was to the sea.
How did we get 911 and 411 so mixed up? When did the lines become so blurry that we have people dialing 911 because of an "emergency" situation involving their order at a fast-food restaurant?
People are hungry, hurting and dying all over, and we are either too engrossed in our own agendas and pity parties, or we are totally immersed in the reality TV show that sometimes masquerades as American politics to properly respond. There is nothing happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or at our own address that prevents us from ministering at a homeless shelter, helping someone find a job, counseling an at-risk teen, or carrying out any of the tasks God has called and equipped us to do.
It's also important that we learn the difference between what is an emergency, urgent, or important with regard to what God calls us to do. Too often we zealously run off to do what God has called us to do even if God has only told us the "what" regarding our assignment and has not yet revealed the "when" or even the "how."
We cannot make the necessary distinctions regarding the timing and details of our assignments if we simply lean on our own understanding once we hear an initial word from God. There is always time to pray and seek God's guidance, even if all we have time to say is, "Lord help!"
When we ask God to help us understand our circumstances and assignments, we might find that what constitutes an emergency in our eyes is a mere point of information to God. Keeping God at the forefront of our decisions and reactions also gives us the supernatural courage and power required to carry out the more difficult assignments, which are accomplished "not by power nor by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."
Fear not. God is still on the throne and is fully capable of carrying out His kingdom agenda with us or in spite of us!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
At any given moment in time there are controversies and dramas swirling all around us, beckoning us to either fan the flames, put on our Superman capes to run to the rescue, pull up a chair and enjoy the show, or set our face toward the Lord for guidance and direction.
When it comes to tempestuous situations, didn't we learn anything from Peter's example? When the Lord calls us to step out into the deep waters of faith, we are not to turn our attention to the winds and waves roaring around us. Yet, we so easily (perhaps even eagerly) take our eyes off Jesus because we reason that the raging waters have created an emergency situation which absolutely must be addressed immediately.
No matter what is going on in the world around us, whenever we take our focus off of the Lord and focus instead on our circumstances, we begin to sink. Jesus was fully aware that the waters were rough when he called Peter to step out into them. Their condition was mere background information, for they had no direct impact on Peter's ability to get to Jesus. Yet Peter's fearful response to them moved them from a 411 point of information status to a 911 emergency call.
We saw the same thing when the disciples were on a boat with Jesus and a storm began to rage. The disciples placed a 911 call to Jesus who was sleeping in the bottom of the boat. The status of the storm was not the least bit alarming to Jesus. He already had the 411 regarding the weather report, which is why He simply responded by saying, "Peace be still," a command as applicable to the disciples as it was to the sea.
How did we get 911 and 411 so mixed up? When did the lines become so blurry that we have people dialing 911 because of an "emergency" situation involving their order at a fast-food restaurant?
People are hungry, hurting and dying all over, and we are either too engrossed in our own agendas and pity parties, or we are totally immersed in the reality TV show that sometimes masquerades as American politics to properly respond. There is nothing happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or at our own address that prevents us from ministering at a homeless shelter, helping someone find a job, counseling an at-risk teen, or carrying out any of the tasks God has called and equipped us to do.
It's also important that we learn the difference between what is an emergency, urgent, or important with regard to what God calls us to do. Too often we zealously run off to do what God has called us to do even if God has only told us the "what" regarding our assignment and has not yet revealed the "when" or even the "how."
We cannot make the necessary distinctions regarding the timing and details of our assignments if we simply lean on our own understanding once we hear an initial word from God. There is always time to pray and seek God's guidance, even if all we have time to say is, "Lord help!"
When we ask God to help us understand our circumstances and assignments, we might find that what constitutes an emergency in our eyes is a mere point of information to God. Keeping God at the forefront of our decisions and reactions also gives us the supernatural courage and power required to carry out the more difficult assignments, which are accomplished "not by power nor by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."
Fear not. God is still on the throne and is fully capable of carrying out His kingdom agenda with us or in spite of us!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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