Matt Emmons had already won one Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. One final shot remained for him winning another Gold Medal victory when he made the oddest and most costly of mistakes.
One of the surest shots in Olympic rifle history, Matt held a commanding lead going into the final round. All he had to do was hit the target. Somewhere. Anywhere. Just hit the target. He took his usual deep breath as he viewed the target through the sight on his rifle. Slowly, he pulled the trigger and fired a bullseye on the target in Lane 3. The problem? Lane 2 was his target. He fired a great shot, but at the wrong target.
Taking Aim
Unfortunately, I have made the same mistake in regular life, and I know many others have as well. We celebrate our victories in battles that were either unnecessary or unimportant. We can easily fool ourselves into think we are doing great when we look at these victories. However, these hollow temporal victories keep us from the more important eternal battles.
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Most people hesitate to ask a question for fear their question is stupid. MOST of the time, nothing is further from the truth. I love answering questions and helping people understand. Every now and then, however, someone usually comes up with a doozy.
Usually someone who didn’t listen or pay attention that question. Consequently, they ask a question already answered.
Jesus’ “Stupid” Question
It seemed as though Jesus had asked a very stupid question. Let me set the stage for you.
The alt-right movement represents the worse in the heart of sinful mankind. They spew hatred and spawn violence, many under the guise of what they call christian.
I’ve been a Christian since I was 8 years old. I have studied the Bible for years and think I have a grasp of what Jesus expects from His followers. None of His expectations include hate, disdain, division, violence, or racism.
As an anglo-American Christian, I have a responsibility to speak out against those who may look like me but represent something else entirely. My African-American brothers and sisters need to know where I stand. I will not risk misunderstanding by remaining silent.
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I do not stand with those hate groups who hold to white-supremacy. Count me with my brothers and sisters who name the name of Christ regardless of their color, economics, politics, or language. The Bible recognizes only TWO RACES – the race of the first Adam and the race of the second Adam, Christ. Sin, not skin is the determining factor.
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Our country’s problems are not racial, economic, political, or educational. The primary problem is a SIN problem, and we have the answer – the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Four Vital Truths that Give Us Hope
I want to share four universal truths to which you and I need to awaken so that God can use us to bring healing to this land. Each of these truths comes with accompanying Scripture for you read and consider. I ask you to affirm these 4 truths with me.
My first Internet service provider was AOL. Dial Up. Slow. Unreliable.
I can still remember the sound of the screeching modem and the voice that said, “Welcome.” I remember the anticipation of waiting for the announcement, “You’ve got mail!”
I also remember surfing with the anticipation that I would suddenly lose my connection and be “booted” offline. As long as I was connected to the service I was “online.” However, after choosing to log off or being booted off, I was no longer connected to the service.
[Tweet “I am afraid that many of us treat prayer more like dialup internet than DSL connection.”]
Internet Service Providers eventually introduced DSL and other high-speed connectivity options. These services not only promised high-speed internet surfing, but also an “always on” connection. Users no longer needed to log on to get service. The service was automatically available as long as the computer remained on and connected to the modem.
I want to share one last post reflecting on the recent passing of my mother.
Monday, I had the blessing of preaching at her funeral service. I shared with those gathered from John 14, some of Jesus’ last words to His disciples. He began the discourse by saying, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” Jesus wanted them to know some truths that would set their hearts at ease.
I will miss my mother greatly, but only temporarily since I know I will see her again n heaven. She and my dad provided a Christian home for our family where I learned the precious promises of God’s Word.
Truth for the Troubled Heart
Because of four things found in John 14 that my mother taught me, I have a sad but not troubled heart. I have posted the video excerpt of my sermon below in hopes that it will encourage you as well. The four truths my momma taught me are true for you as well. If you believe them and live them, they will bring encouragement to your troubled heart.
As a kid, I believed in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. When I grew older, I learned the startling discovery that none of them are for real.
As adults, we lean more often on our faith to help us cope with many challenges life brings. Is this faith we claim for real or is it just feel-good talk to keep us from facing harsh realities? What is real faith? In whom or what does real faith rest?
Today, we celebrate the life of my mom, Ann Duggan, who passed into the presence of the Lord Thursday evening. I want to share just a few lessons learned from the response of friends over the last four days.
The Power of Presence
Never underestimate the effect of your presence. So many times, we feel like we don’t know what to say in a given moment. But often, the words we say fade into the background of the fact that we are simply there. One of the most helpful tools to process grief is the opportunity to talk through how we feel. When it comes to helping people grieve, our greatest asset is not our mouth but our ears.
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I learned a life-lesson in what it means to walk by faith.
A couple of years ago, I had to make a very difficult decision. The decision would not only impact my family and me, but also lots of other people. My initial reaction lead me to believe it would not work, it was not feasible.
I didn’t know how it would work out. The path would lead me down a road obscured by the fog of uncertainty. However, after prayer, I sensed God saying go forward and He would make it work. I am glad I trust Him. My decision blessed my family and me and I hope the other people impacted by it.
What IS Faith?
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“That’s just the way I am. I can’t help it. I can’t change.”
Ever heard those words? Have you said them? Do you feel that way?
Probably not you, but some people use those words to justify unacceptable behavior. They realize their behavior is inappropriate, but try to absolve themselves of any responsibility for it.
The problem is that attitude is not Biblical…at least not for the believer. One of the most obvious indications of a relationship with Jesus is a changed life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 teaches that we are made new in Christ. Old things begin to fade away and new things begin to emerge.
[Tweet “One of the most obvious indications of a relationship with Jesus is a changed life.”]
A flag is great thing to have and to display. But what is the point, really, if we never notice it? A flag is a symbol, and a symbol only has meaning when we reflect on it and consider its meanings.
Most of us are aware that Betsy Ross sewed our first flag in May of 1776. But why the particular design and why the particular colors? Were these the only materials she had available to her? Were they just her favorite colors? The colors bear significance, and we do well to remember the significance every time we see a U.S. flag.
Red
First, red reminds us of a price. Red is the color of blood and the red stripes remind us of the many men and women who have shed their blood to win, maintain, and spread this blessing that we call freedom. The price paid was expensive – no value can be assigned to a human life; and the worth of something is measured by the price paid on its behalf. So we remember that freedom – liberty – is of inestimable worth, because thousands of men and women have paid for it by their own lives. We must never take our freedoms for granted. In addition, having tasted that freedom for ourselves we must not rest until people everywhere have the same opportunity to enjoy freedom’s benefits.
White
The white on our flag reminds us of principles. Regardless of what those who attempt to rewrite history may say, the Founders established our country on God’s moral principles. God blesses us when we walk in His path. We enjoy today the benefits of a society firmly rooted and grounded in God’s principles of right, wrong, justice, and mercy. God said in Deuteronomy 30:19-20:
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! Choose to love the Lord your God, and to obey Him and to commit yourself to Him for He is your life.
As long as we uphold and live by God’s standards, His blessing will be upon us. Should we continue to choose to walk another path, live according to our own desires and understandings, the windows of heaven can and will close.
Blue
Finally, the blue on the flag reminds us of the product of the paid price and the principles on which we have stood. The product is our affluence. God has indeed blessed this country unlike any other on the face of this earth. I think it is safe to say that even the poorest among us have a better life than many who live on the earth today. Many who fall beneath the poverty line in our country would be worse of to trade places with most people in third world countries.
Our affluence carries with it two awesome responsibilities. First is the responsibility to be thankful – to recognize that God the source of all that we have. Unfortunately, our affluence often turns our attention to ourselves. We seek to gain more or at least protect what we have. We get a silly notion that our hard work, ingenuity, skills, or even just plain “luck” have provided for us. Nothing could be further from the truth. “The earth is the Lord’s and all the fullness in it,” the psalmist tells us. We would do well to remember that and to be thankful.
Our affluence also carries the responsibility of sharing our blessings with others. God made Abraham three promises: He would bless him, He would make him a blessing to others, and He would bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who didn’t. I think that promise comes from the central nature and character of God. He also has blessed us so that He can make us a blessing. He has invested in us so that we can be His tool to bless others. Moreover, I have noticed that God has a way of protecting His investment.
We as individuals as well as collectively as a nation have the responsibility to use our affluence to reach down and lift those less fortunate. We lift them so that we can walk side by side shoulder to shoulder through this life. God has blessed us, we are thankful, and we should be proactively generous as well.
A Challenge
I challenge you, when you see the U.S. flag, remember the price paid for our freedom, recommit to the principles God has established for our good, and recognize our responsibility to share in the product of God’s blessing on our country.
May God continue to bless America so that we can be a blessing to Him and for Him.
Matt Emmons had already won one Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. One final shot remained for him winning another Gold Medal victory when he made the oddest and most costly of mistakes.
A flag is great thing to have and to display. But what is the point, really, if we never notice it? A flag is a symbol, and a symbol only has meaning when we reflect on it and consider its meanings.