Too Cool Not To Share

Wilmore, Kentucky = The Mayberry of Nerds

How will you use your tongue?

John Wesley is quoted as having said, "My talent is to speak my mind. God won't object if you bury that talent." I can think of many occasions when these words make a lot of sense. Abraham Lincoln had a similar thought, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."  These quotes stand out to me because I am a seminary student and it seems everyone has an opinion they are dieing to share with everyone who will listen and occasionally even those who won't. Too many seminary students, and I confess I have been guilty of this as well, think speaking their mind is what pastors are supposed to do. I am not so sure.
This morning I am reading Psalm 39. David explains he has tried to guard what he says to keep himself from sinning. Specifically, David keeps silent around people who are sinning. However, then the text says there was a burning within David to speak. The psalm does not tell us what David felt compelled to say, or whom he felt compelled to correct. This psalm is about something else. In verses seven and eight David says, "O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool." Now we have a new problem. Too many Christians are afraid to share what they know about God because they are afraid they do not know enough when people begin to ask questions. These Christians do not want to look like a fool, and really; who does - but here's the catch. I am not a great spots caster, but if I see the University of Alabama walk all over Auburn you can bet I'm going to tell everyone I meet. I am not an esteemed movie critic, but if I see a movie I like I am going to share it with people. Why is it not the same for the love of God. Christians do not have to be great theologians to share the love of Christ with a neighbor, a coworker or a stranger. While some will question and want deeper answers it is okay to say, "I don't know," but do not let yourselves be troubled any more than you would about telling someone about the person who helped you with a flat tire on the side of the road. Sincerely sharing what God has done in our lives with others is at the heart of the Great Commission. Just honestly share what you know, and let your hope be in God that He will take care of the rest.

God's Faithfulness Reaches to the Sky

Psalm 36 begins with the words, "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart," and in my ESV Bible there is a footnote which says in some translations verse one reads, "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in my heart." King David is often referred to as a man after God's own heart. The reason is David loved God and wanted to see God's face all the time. However, even King David felt "transgression," or sin creeping into his heart and mind. There are some Christians who feel like they've made it and will never sin again. There are still more who do not think they've made it, but act as though they have the right to push around everyone else like the blind leading the blind. When I read these verses from Psalm 36 it reminds me that all have fallen short before the glory of God, and that includes me. These verses hold me in check because if King David felt the tug of transgression on his own heart the tug of transgression is certainly in mine as well. David fights against the transgression pulling at his heart by singing out about the glory of the Lord. I really like the way Third Day puts David's words to music and reminds me God's love, and faithfulness is just as real, just as honest, and just as powerful as today as the day David wrote the words of Psalm 36. I try to think about these words when I am in a situation to correct others. I try to remember it is God who changes lives and not me. All I can do is show people the door and live a life as close to Christ as I can. God loves all of us, and so should I; so it is with love I will try to help others learn from my own mistakes.

Learning in our Prosperity

I'm Trading My Sorrows
In the New Testament letter written by the apostle James we are told to,

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."    (James 2:2-4 ESV)

I confess I find it hard to see various trials as opportunities to be steadfast in the Lord. During good times it is hard to think about, and when I face those trials... well... it seems impossible. Fortunately, the Biblical writers spared no ink when it came to dealing with mourning, sorrow, and how we should face various trials. Psalm 30 is titled "Joy Comes in the Morning." Verses four and five are the hook for "I'm Trading My Sorrows."

 ⁴Sing praises to the LORD, O you^(H) his saints,
   and^(I) give thanks to his holy name.^[b]
5(J) For his anger is but for a moment,
   and^(K) his favor is for a lifetime.^[c]
(L) Weeping may tarry for the night,
   but^(M) joy comes with the morning.

I love those verses, but the harder lesson comes with verses six and seven. David admits that during a time of prosperity when he claimed, "I shall never be moved." We don't know what he claimed to never be moved from, but we do know God hid Himself from David, and David was dismayed. Most of us in America have a roof over our heads, a job, and the ability to put food on our table. It is entirely too easy to forget from whence our prosperity comes, and why it has been given. We take it for granted, and when our prosperity is gone we are at a loss. The lesson of Psalm 30 is to be mindful of our relationship with the Giver of all good things in the good times so when the bad times come we are better able to put our trust in the Lord - for the Lord can turn our mourning into dancing.