Chasing Peace
Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
(Psalms 34:11-16 NKJV, emphasis mine, JB)
Note the reference to chasing (pursuing) peace in line eight. I have indicated it with bold type. A large part of this passage is quoted in the New Testament:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed.… (1 Peter 3:8-14 NKJV, emphasis mine, JB)
Verse 13-14, beginning “and who is he…,” is of particular interest. It seems that Peter is saying, “If always seeking peace causes you to suffer, what can another human really do to you? They cannot cause you ultimate harm. Therefore, you don’t have to worry. You can pursue peace, and leave the consequences to God.” Now, it takes faith to take Peter at his word. We are reminded of Jesus’ statement:
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 NKJV)
Which reminds us of the apostles’ statement:
And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5 NKJV)
Yes Lord, we need more faith to accept Your word. We look at those about us, and let them form our attitudes, instead of looking only to You. Forgive us, and please mercifully help us.
In this context of pursuing peace, likely the passage that comes the most readily to mind is the seventh Beatitude:
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. (Matthew 5:9 NKJV)
I understand that “sons of God” can not only mean “children of God,” but can also mean “like God.” Thus, we are like God when we are peacemakers. Surely, we all desire to be like God. So, while we are constantly at war with the devil, we should just as constantly pursue/make peace with God and with one another.
I can think of at least three areas in which the position of “peacemaker” is open and begging to be filled.
Peace with God. The Peacemaker par excellence is Jesus. He bought peace, not with the blood of others, but with His own blood.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, … so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, (Ephesians 2:13-15 NKJV, emphasis mine, JB)
I wish we could learn from Jesus to produce peace by giving instead of attempting to produce peace by fighting. Give yourself to God and to your neighbor. It is the only way you will ever have peace. It is not the way of man, but it is the way of God. It takes a strong person with a healthy self-image to seek peace in this manner. Are you up to it?
Personal Peace with Others. Peacemaking involves friendmaking. How do you make a friend? Usually, by meeting some need they have. You meet their need to be taken seriously, to have a trusted someone they can talk to, to have a physical need provided, or something else that is important to them. In a word – you serve them.
… through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:13-14 NKJV)
If you are trying to help someone, you may be less aware of any perceived hurt they have directed toward you. If you are helping someone, it should be obvious that they would be less likely to try and hurt you. Of course there will be exceptions, but surely that is generally true. The more you are looking outward the less you are looking inward. The less you are looking inward, the less likely you are to be offended/hurt. The less you feel hurt, the more likely you are to look outward – and serve. So, the cycle is complete, and it spins around giving/serving – like, guess who, Jesus.
Collective Peace with Others. This section involves the Christian and civil government. Most Christians vote and most Christians pray for the civil government. Some Christians even serve in the civil government. I have two sons who do so. We are not isolated from the civil government.
I feel it would be absurd to argue that the scriptures I have cited and the points that I have made above would apply only to individuals and not to the civil government. If a Christian is to pursue peace by being a peacemaker, should not the civil government do the same? I would certainly think so.
I am a strong supporter of our military. I believe, along with our brothers the British, that we have the best military in the world – and I am glad that we do. However, we must keep in mind that our military does not make foreign policy, they enforce it (when ordered to do so by their civilian political handlers, that is, the civil government). Thus, one may be an opponent of a foreign war, while at the same time continuing strong support for our military forces.
If you will look back through history and examine human warfare, I believe you will find few wars that can be Biblically justified. I think there may be some justifiable, but that they would be in the minority. As you know the Bible gives the reason for war:
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4:1-3 NKJV)
Most wars are caused by two things: greed and arrogance. I am a lay student of the American Civil War. I have an ancestor who fought in it (43rd Mississippi Infantry CSA). It was caused by greed and arrogance on both sides. Are we Christians or not? Let us not encourage greed and arrogance.
Let us “seek peace and pursue it” thus becoming blessed peacemakers. The weak cannot do this. They will Zombie-like bow down at the altar of the opinions of others. You must be an independent thinker, by letting Christ control your thoughts. Your decisions must not be driven by the thoughts and actions of others.
Let us pray privately and publically for our men and women in the armed forces. We have two relatives of members where I preach who are currently serving overseas. Let us continue to pray fervently for them. May we pray for their physical safety, for their emotional health, and that they may soon be able to return to their families. May I suggest that using phrases like “fighting for our freedom” in our public prayers could be taken as an endorsement of the political decision to wage a particular war. I suggest that we keep politics out of the church by praying for peace and the safety of our soldiers, and leave it at that. Let us not endorse every action of the civil government, with phrases we use in holy worship, simply because they are the civil government. If I were writing this about abortion or homosexuality, I would probably get numerous “amen’s” here. I hope our feelings are as strong about the seventh Beatitude as they are about those two issues. Prayfully consider your feelings, as I shall mine. May God bless the U.S.A. May we all believe and obey all the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ.
My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace.
I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war.
(Psalms 120:6-7 NKJV)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Catharsis
Psalms 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song In a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!
6 If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth-If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. (NKJV)
Here in the land of plenty, we wept when we remembered our Christ.
Our four-wheel drive pickups sit in our three car garages beside our wife's Mercedes.
Our son quarterbacks the football team, our daughter is the head cheerleader.
The longings of our hearts have been met and exceeded.
We have willingly sold ourselves as captives to the opinions of others.
They have plundered our dignity and raped our innocence.
We remained enslaved to their expectations which we have adopted as our own.
If I forget you, O Yahweh,
If I do not cleave to you, my Messiah,
May you remind me of Your steadfast lovingkindness with the firmness of Your hand.
May my eyes behold what endures, and ignore what does not.
May purifying coals of fire be heaped upon my head, if I do not exalt You, my Lord and my Savior, as King of my life.
Psalms 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song In a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill!
6 If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth-If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy. (NKJV)
Here in the land of plenty, we wept when we remembered our Christ.
Our four-wheel drive pickups sit in our three car garages beside our wife's Mercedes.
Our son quarterbacks the football team, our daughter is the head cheerleader.
The longings of our hearts have been met and exceeded.
We have willingly sold ourselves as captives to the opinions of others.
They have plundered our dignity and raped our innocence.
We remained enslaved to their expectations which we have adopted as our own.
If I forget you, O Yahweh,
If I do not cleave to you, my Messiah,
May you remind me of Your steadfast lovingkindness with the firmness of Your hand.
May my eyes behold what endures, and ignore what does not.
May purifying coals of fire be heaped upon my head, if I do not exalt You, my Lord and my Savior, as King of my life.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Twenty and Counting...
If anyone needs a 20 point sermon, see below. I actually only had 10 Sunday. I saw 10 more this morning. They are scattered among the 20.
I began with some background on stewardship, which is the main theme of the parable. I used 1 Peter 4.10-11. Then I read and discussed the parable itself. I concluded with the 10 points in almost staccato fashion. Perhaps I should have reconfigured and spent more time on the ten points. Your game plan may vary.
Parable of Talents
Matthew 25.14-30
1. All received a gift
2. All had ability
3. All had differing abilities
4. All were free, none were micro-managed
5. All had equal responsibility
6. Some were diligent, some were slothful
7. Some produced, some didn’t
8. The two-talent wasn’t jealous of the five-talent
9. The five-talent didn’t think he didn’t have to try
10. It was a long time till accounting day, time=opportunity
11. The one-talent was fearful, wicked, and lazy
12. The one-talent tried to blame someone else, ‘I knew you to be’
13. The one-talent tried to justify failure
14. The Master would have accepted less than the roaring success of the five and two – do something
15. I would say the five and two got more than they deserved
16. I would say the one got what was coming to him – wage vs gift (Romans 6)
17. The failed went to hell
18. The successful went to heaven
19. Choices have consequences
20. The Master’s decision was final
If anyone needs a 20 point sermon, see below. I actually only had 10 Sunday. I saw 10 more this morning. They are scattered among the 20.
I began with some background on stewardship, which is the main theme of the parable. I used 1 Peter 4.10-11. Then I read and discussed the parable itself. I concluded with the 10 points in almost staccato fashion. Perhaps I should have reconfigured and spent more time on the ten points. Your game plan may vary.
Parable of Talents
Matthew 25.14-30
1. All received a gift
2. All had ability
3. All had differing abilities
4. All were free, none were micro-managed
5. All had equal responsibility
6. Some were diligent, some were slothful
7. Some produced, some didn’t
8. The two-talent wasn’t jealous of the five-talent
9. The five-talent didn’t think he didn’t have to try
10. It was a long time till accounting day, time=opportunity
11. The one-talent was fearful, wicked, and lazy
12. The one-talent tried to blame someone else, ‘I knew you to be’
13. The one-talent tried to justify failure
14. The Master would have accepted less than the roaring success of the five and two – do something
15. I would say the five and two got more than they deserved
16. I would say the one got what was coming to him – wage vs gift (Romans 6)
17. The failed went to hell
18. The successful went to heaven
19. Choices have consequences
20. The Master’s decision was final
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Teeth of the Ungodly
Psalm 3
1 (A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.) LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah
David felt that those who were against him, and, by extension, against what was right, were many. Do you ever think that everyone is against you, that no one cares, that the whole world is lost? I am reminded of Elijah: So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." (1 Kings 19:10 NKJV) Yet, Elijah was not alone. God told him that there were seven thousand others. We are not alone today. We are surrounded by the same cloud of witnesses as the recipients of the Hebrew letter. Those ancient heroes of faith are doing the same for us as the original readers of Hebrews 11-12. We are also surrounded by a neo crowd at church. Encouragement from like-minded Christians is one reason congregational life (worship, service, and fellowship) is so vital.
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
This is a prime example of how David was a man after God’s heart. He trusted completely in God no matter what his environment was saying to him. Whatever the opposition, whatever the challenge – he kept faith in his God. In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalms 56:11 NKJV – quoted in Hebrews 13.6). I have thought lately that to see how David’s heart was like God’s heart, one needed to especially read David’s psalms in addition to the account of his life in Samuel and Kings. The poetry of his psalms is a window straight into his heart.
7 Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah (NKJV)
Yeah…there’s a blow to the head. Note the last line in verse seven. Yahweh is Conqueror. We mess with Him (His word) at our peril. If that bully Satan messes with us, guess who’s got our back. We just need to place ourselves under God’s control with our faith…like David.
Psalm 3
1 (A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.) LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah
David felt that those who were against him, and, by extension, against what was right, were many. Do you ever think that everyone is against you, that no one cares, that the whole world is lost? I am reminded of Elijah: So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." (1 Kings 19:10 NKJV) Yet, Elijah was not alone. God told him that there were seven thousand others. We are not alone today. We are surrounded by the same cloud of witnesses as the recipients of the Hebrew letter. Those ancient heroes of faith are doing the same for us as the original readers of Hebrews 11-12. We are also surrounded by a neo crowd at church. Encouragement from like-minded Christians is one reason congregational life (worship, service, and fellowship) is so vital.
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
This is a prime example of how David was a man after God’s heart. He trusted completely in God no matter what his environment was saying to him. Whatever the opposition, whatever the challenge – he kept faith in his God. In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalms 56:11 NKJV – quoted in Hebrews 13.6). I have thought lately that to see how David’s heart was like God’s heart, one needed to especially read David’s psalms in addition to the account of his life in Samuel and Kings. The poetry of his psalms is a window straight into his heart.
7 Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah (NKJV)
Yeah…there’s a blow to the head. Note the last line in verse seven. Yahweh is Conqueror. We mess with Him (His word) at our peril. If that bully Satan messes with us, guess who’s got our back. We just need to place ourselves under God’s control with our faith…like David.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Taking It Seriously
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
(1 Peter 4:7-8 NKJV)
Serious and morbid are not the same thing. Serious is not going around in gothic black all the time or failing to possess the ability to share in wholesome humor. However, when you examine closely the life of Christ – and the entire Bible focuses on Christ, the Old Testament looking forward, the epistles looking back – you fail to discover much, if any, humor. Some try to find a little humor in the mote and beam passage, or the swallow a camel one, or perhaps the camel and needle’s eye. But I think they’re straining. Perhaps the Greek scholars among us can tease something out of the original, but I don’t see it. I see them as simple and vivid hyperbole. Jesus would often exaggerate the literal to make a point. His hyperbole reminds me of His seemingly paradoxical statements, cut off your arm, pluck out your eye - being serious and not a jokester. I suggest we all attempt to be like Him.
Here are some suggestions to help us “Take it seriously.”
Act your age. In our Facebook culture, cool is often equated with funny. Now there’s nothing wrong with Facebook per se. I know a lot of preachers who are on it. I am myself. I’m even on Twitter, though no one ever cares if I post or not. Our friends at church may like us more if we’re funny, but is that really what they need – is our ministry about their needs, or our own? Jesus’ ministry was about the needs of others, not His own. At the very least, those we are attempting to serve and lead – be we preachers, parents, elders, Bible class teachers, or whatever – need to see a serious side in us, they need to see some maturity. As I study the life of Christ, that’s all I ever see in Jesus.
Visit the Garden. In Gethsemane, even though Jesus was hurting emotionally, he demonstrated commitment to His mission and concern for those He was leading. He prayed that the Father’s will be done rather than His emotional needs be assuaged. He repeatedly encouraged His disciples to watch and pray in order to triumph over temptation. We are reminded of Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 9.27 that he disciplined his body. Only the serious can successfully practice discipline.
Focus on the Cross. Note our Lord’s seven statements from the cross. In them He continues to show His concern for the needs of others. He acknowledges His own personal suffering. And then the two triumphal exclamations at the end: “It is finished” (John 19.30), and “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23.46). If we would mediate on these words, surely it would cause us to take our Christian life to new depths of seriousness.
Bang your Head. Prostate yourself before God in prayer. You may wish to assume the position we see from the Middle East, on your knees, with your head bowed to the floor in front of you. Or, perhaps not, but have the frame of mind that you are on your face in reverence and humility before your Maker. Search out the depth of your soul and position yourself there. Then begin with confession. Tell God how depraved you are. Tell Him how you yearn to do better. Ask for His forgiveness and His help – He’ll hear you – if you humble yourself. Then praise Him and thank Him. A good knowledge of the book of Psalms will help you here. List the ways God has been good to you, “name them one by one.” If you want assurance that God cares for you, just start trying to thank Him for all His blessings by name. When you complete your prayer, see if you are physically tired (a good sign) and if you have a greater appreciation of your life’s purpose, that it is serious business. I think you will, if you have the courage to be humble before God.
The list is longer, but these four things help me. They should help anyone.
Christianity is a matter of life and death.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 NKJV)
…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV)
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (Romans 6:8 NKJV)
Death is serious. How serious are you?
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
(1 Peter 4:7-8 NKJV)
Serious and morbid are not the same thing. Serious is not going around in gothic black all the time or failing to possess the ability to share in wholesome humor. However, when you examine closely the life of Christ – and the entire Bible focuses on Christ, the Old Testament looking forward, the epistles looking back – you fail to discover much, if any, humor. Some try to find a little humor in the mote and beam passage, or the swallow a camel one, or perhaps the camel and needle’s eye. But I think they’re straining. Perhaps the Greek scholars among us can tease something out of the original, but I don’t see it. I see them as simple and vivid hyperbole. Jesus would often exaggerate the literal to make a point. His hyperbole reminds me of His seemingly paradoxical statements, cut off your arm, pluck out your eye - being serious and not a jokester. I suggest we all attempt to be like Him.
Here are some suggestions to help us “Take it seriously.”
Act your age. In our Facebook culture, cool is often equated with funny. Now there’s nothing wrong with Facebook per se. I know a lot of preachers who are on it. I am myself. I’m even on Twitter, though no one ever cares if I post or not. Our friends at church may like us more if we’re funny, but is that really what they need – is our ministry about their needs, or our own? Jesus’ ministry was about the needs of others, not His own. At the very least, those we are attempting to serve and lead – be we preachers, parents, elders, Bible class teachers, or whatever – need to see a serious side in us, they need to see some maturity. As I study the life of Christ, that’s all I ever see in Jesus.
Visit the Garden. In Gethsemane, even though Jesus was hurting emotionally, he demonstrated commitment to His mission and concern for those He was leading. He prayed that the Father’s will be done rather than His emotional needs be assuaged. He repeatedly encouraged His disciples to watch and pray in order to triumph over temptation. We are reminded of Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 9.27 that he disciplined his body. Only the serious can successfully practice discipline.
Focus on the Cross. Note our Lord’s seven statements from the cross. In them He continues to show His concern for the needs of others. He acknowledges His own personal suffering. And then the two triumphal exclamations at the end: “It is finished” (John 19.30), and “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23.46). If we would mediate on these words, surely it would cause us to take our Christian life to new depths of seriousness.
Bang your Head. Prostate yourself before God in prayer. You may wish to assume the position we see from the Middle East, on your knees, with your head bowed to the floor in front of you. Or, perhaps not, but have the frame of mind that you are on your face in reverence and humility before your Maker. Search out the depth of your soul and position yourself there. Then begin with confession. Tell God how depraved you are. Tell Him how you yearn to do better. Ask for His forgiveness and His help – He’ll hear you – if you humble yourself. Then praise Him and thank Him. A good knowledge of the book of Psalms will help you here. List the ways God has been good to you, “name them one by one.” If you want assurance that God cares for you, just start trying to thank Him for all His blessings by name. When you complete your prayer, see if you are physically tired (a good sign) and if you have a greater appreciation of your life’s purpose, that it is serious business. I think you will, if you have the courage to be humble before God.
The list is longer, but these four things help me. They should help anyone.
Christianity is a matter of life and death.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 NKJV)
…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV)
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (Romans 6:8 NKJV)
Death is serious. How serious are you?
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Webster Carl Brown
August 29, 1909 – April 5, 1999
Carl Brown is my dad. The ‘Webster’ is from Daniel Webster. I don’t know where the ‘Carl’ came from, but that is the name he went by. He and my mother adopted me when they were in their early forties and I was nine months old. They raised me as an only child.
Only children can be a) intelligent (because they get all the attention), and b) spoiled (see reason for ‘a’). Scratch the first. Consider the second. Growing up spoiled can have one of two effects. It can make you a) selfish, arrogant, and never happy unless you always get your way, or, b) generous, humble, and easy to get along with because you want to treat other people the way you were treated. Whether you are selfish, etc. or generous, etc. is determined by the kind of heart you have. The kind of heart you have is determined by your exposure to the Bible. Success as a parent and success in life is thus inextricably linked to the Bible. I hope that doesn’t surprise anyone.
Back to my dad. If he were reading this, he might say I was rambling. He used to tell me I mumbled, “You’re mumbling, son.” I’ve told my friends where I preach about this (more than once) and they usually say “amen.” Dad had a dry sense of humor. I hope you’re seeing a shadow of that now.
By my clock, as I write this right now, Dad passed from this life exactly 10 years, 2 hours, and 15 minutes ago. This is the tenth anniversary of his death and I thought writing this would help me – and maybe you too.
Dad was an elder in the church, a Bible class teacher, and a very successful businessman. He dreamed of being a farmer. He found a farm when he was in his thirties (I’m not positive about the age) and went to the bank to get the money (which he would have been able to get). Literally, while he was gone to the bank, someone else with money in hand showed up and bought the farm “out from under him.” His life, and my life, would have been drastically and forever changed had he bought that farm. I’m glad he didn’t. I’m not sure I would have met my wife if he had.
Dad’s main traits were his honesty and his humility (which made him really easy to get along with – if you couldn’t get along with Dad, you had some serious issues, and if you were still that way today I doubt your FB friend list would tally very high).
In middle age, Dad had a good friend who was of a very wealthy family. They owned a bank, vast acreages of land, a stash of cash, as one would say, they were “well off.” When the family patriarch passed away, his son came and told Dad that his Daddy had told him that there were three people that he could loan money to without security. Dad had made the list of three. That always meant a lot to me. It was a testimony to Dad’s trustworthiness and it made me want to be like him. People bought insurance from Dad’s agency because they knew they could trust him.
Dad always tried to accommodate people. He would help some of his trucker clients fill out their fuel tax forms because they asked him to. It had nothing to do with their insurance. I still don’t understand why all of my brethren can’t be accommodating and easy to get along with like my dad. Where I’m preaching now, they are that way. But they’re not over our entire brotherhood. Why not?
I miss you every day, Dad. Some nights I dream about you. I’ll see you soon.
John
August 29, 1909 – April 5, 1999
Carl Brown is my dad. The ‘Webster’ is from Daniel Webster. I don’t know where the ‘Carl’ came from, but that is the name he went by. He and my mother adopted me when they were in their early forties and I was nine months old. They raised me as an only child.
Only children can be a) intelligent (because they get all the attention), and b) spoiled (see reason for ‘a’). Scratch the first. Consider the second. Growing up spoiled can have one of two effects. It can make you a) selfish, arrogant, and never happy unless you always get your way, or, b) generous, humble, and easy to get along with because you want to treat other people the way you were treated. Whether you are selfish, etc. or generous, etc. is determined by the kind of heart you have. The kind of heart you have is determined by your exposure to the Bible. Success as a parent and success in life is thus inextricably linked to the Bible. I hope that doesn’t surprise anyone.
Back to my dad. If he were reading this, he might say I was rambling. He used to tell me I mumbled, “You’re mumbling, son.” I’ve told my friends where I preach about this (more than once) and they usually say “amen.” Dad had a dry sense of humor. I hope you’re seeing a shadow of that now.
By my clock, as I write this right now, Dad passed from this life exactly 10 years, 2 hours, and 15 minutes ago. This is the tenth anniversary of his death and I thought writing this would help me – and maybe you too.
Dad was an elder in the church, a Bible class teacher, and a very successful businessman. He dreamed of being a farmer. He found a farm when he was in his thirties (I’m not positive about the age) and went to the bank to get the money (which he would have been able to get). Literally, while he was gone to the bank, someone else with money in hand showed up and bought the farm “out from under him.” His life, and my life, would have been drastically and forever changed had he bought that farm. I’m glad he didn’t. I’m not sure I would have met my wife if he had.
Dad’s main traits were his honesty and his humility (which made him really easy to get along with – if you couldn’t get along with Dad, you had some serious issues, and if you were still that way today I doubt your FB friend list would tally very high).
In middle age, Dad had a good friend who was of a very wealthy family. They owned a bank, vast acreages of land, a stash of cash, as one would say, they were “well off.” When the family patriarch passed away, his son came and told Dad that his Daddy had told him that there were three people that he could loan money to without security. Dad had made the list of three. That always meant a lot to me. It was a testimony to Dad’s trustworthiness and it made me want to be like him. People bought insurance from Dad’s agency because they knew they could trust him.
Dad always tried to accommodate people. He would help some of his trucker clients fill out their fuel tax forms because they asked him to. It had nothing to do with their insurance. I still don’t understand why all of my brethren can’t be accommodating and easy to get along with like my dad. Where I’m preaching now, they are that way. But they’re not over our entire brotherhood. Why not?
I miss you every day, Dad. Some nights I dream about you. I’ll see you soon.
John
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Getting Along
… Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1 Thessalonians 5:13-14 NKJV)
This passage offers helpful insight on congregational harmony and reminds us of John 13.35 where Jesus taught that the world would see our love for each other and conclude that we were His disciples. The Thessalonians text does not contain the word “love,” but with other words describes some dimensions of love.
It is of interest that sandwiched around the three descriptors of love are the concepts of peace and patience. Love in full bloom creates a healthy measure of patience which is fertile soil for the culture of peace. When my younger son was going through the rather lengthy interview process that eventually resulted in his being hired as a police officer, one trait his future employer was attempting to discover in the applicants was the ability to show restraint. A strong person is not a loose cannon. The Bible associates strength with patience.
I understand that the word translated “warn” can carry with it the idea of gentle reproof. As we try to help someone who needs to do better, we must remember that we all need to do better. Galatians 6.1 calls this attitude “a spirit of gentleness.”
For “comfort the fainthearted” the NIV has “encourage the timid.” I can think of numerous occasions when I personally was hesitant about doing something that I needed to do, and God in His providence gave me a gentle nudge after which I acted. I think it was His providence, though one can never know for sure on a case by case basis. But, someone gave me a word of encouragement and the timidity went away. Who can you encourage? Who will you encourage?
To “uphold the weak” is to “help the week” as many other translations render it. There is no person breathing who does not need help. They may not all know it, they may not all even want it. But everyone needs help. Remember that Jesus said He came to be a helper: just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28 NKJV) Are you a helper? Whose life will you bless by helping?
… Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1 Thessalonians 5:13-14 NKJV)
This passage offers helpful insight on congregational harmony and reminds us of John 13.35 where Jesus taught that the world would see our love for each other and conclude that we were His disciples. The Thessalonians text does not contain the word “love,” but with other words describes some dimensions of love.
It is of interest that sandwiched around the three descriptors of love are the concepts of peace and patience. Love in full bloom creates a healthy measure of patience which is fertile soil for the culture of peace. When my younger son was going through the rather lengthy interview process that eventually resulted in his being hired as a police officer, one trait his future employer was attempting to discover in the applicants was the ability to show restraint. A strong person is not a loose cannon. The Bible associates strength with patience.
I understand that the word translated “warn” can carry with it the idea of gentle reproof. As we try to help someone who needs to do better, we must remember that we all need to do better. Galatians 6.1 calls this attitude “a spirit of gentleness.”
For “comfort the fainthearted” the NIV has “encourage the timid.” I can think of numerous occasions when I personally was hesitant about doing something that I needed to do, and God in His providence gave me a gentle nudge after which I acted. I think it was His providence, though one can never know for sure on a case by case basis. But, someone gave me a word of encouragement and the timidity went away. Who can you encourage? Who will you encourage?
To “uphold the weak” is to “help the week” as many other translations render it. There is no person breathing who does not need help. They may not all know it, they may not all even want it. But everyone needs help. Remember that Jesus said He came to be a helper: just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28 NKJV) Are you a helper? Whose life will you bless by helping?
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