Rotten

 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. (Matt. 23:27 NIV)

Deb and I were out working in the yard last Friday. Ninety degrees. Potential heat stroke. I was hand sawing tree limbs and doing an overall lifting up of a neglected forest canopy. I mentioned to Deb that this should keep the trees healthy and around, Lord willing, until our repose or the Rapture. (Perhaps today, Lord! Perhaps today!) 

As soon as I said this, I heard a crack and then a cracking, and then that horrible noise of something falling followed by a thud. For a moment I thought my words were prophetic and to be immediately fulfilled, but the sound was not above or near. It was the second section of my neighbor's tree. The first section had fallen over the winter. The other half left to wonder when it too would succumb to gravity and the illness undiagnosed. 

Weird. Weird because if you looked at that tree you would have never known that something was wrong with it. Leaves of green. Beautiful shape. Not crowded out by anything next to it. No child or pet abuse. Alone. Strong. Deceptive. It was dying and no one knew it. It reminds me of the person who goes to the doctor just not feeling well and leaves being told they have stage four inoperable cancer. How does that happen? 

Jesus alluded to this in the spirit world. People. Religious people. Those with the education, the flowing robes, the community praise and adoration. White-washed tombs that look clean and shining on the outside but are full of dead men's bones on the inside. Self-deceived. Undiagnosed. A spiritual stage 4. 

But I think Jesus' words are given not for "them" but for us, for me. Self-examination. Self-deception. I might look good on the outside but is there some rot at the center. Is there still something that I am excusing, something not addressed, something neglected that makes everything else that is good -weak? 

I have been studying for my devotions, "The Departure of the Soul According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church." It is a massive two-inch exhaustive work on what happens when you die. I would argue against its biblical veracity and assign it to church tradition and saint testimony. However, it has provoked me to more consistent confession of sins and repentance - a good thing. 

Their belief is that when you die and your soul separates from your body, the soul must go through at least twenty "toll-houses" where at each stop the demons accuse you of things done and things not done in order to take your soul to hell. Your Guardian Angel accompanies you and gives testimony of your contrition, your repentance, and your good deeds, much like a spiritual shield until you are finally escorted into the presence of Jesus himself - the ultimate Judge. 

Theirs is a works/faith salvation so I disagree with their understanding of judgment. I trust in nothing but the blood of Jesus who has cleansed me from all my sin - past, present, and future. 

However, it has made more aware of the rot that still tries to work its way into my life. It reminds me to keep short accounts with a Savior who died for me and covers me with his sacrificial blood. For such exhortations, I am truly thankful. 

If a tree is going to fall...let it be in my neighbor's yard and not mine. If you know what I mean....

Sabina

 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col. 3:13 NIV)

It's getting to that point in the year when all the shows you love to watch are ending or being cancelled. So, it was a surprise when Deb and I were finishing a particular show, beginning to scroll, but stopped as a new movie was about to start. "Sabina - Tortured for Christ: the Nazi years." [You can find it on-line for free]. 

This was the story of Sabina Wurmbrand. Her husband, Richard, was a former Jewish atheist turned Lutheran follower/pastor of Christ during the Nazi invasion of Romania and then under the communist dictatorship of Ceausescu. They both established what is now known as The Voice of the Martyrs. Richard would spend over seventeen years in prison, being tortured, being humiliated, for one reason: being a follower of Jesus. But Sabina would have her own story. 

Maybe it's the human spirit to survive. Maybe it's the constant amazement of man's inhumanity toward man. Maybe it's the wonder of how some people turn toward God in terrible times while others cast him aside. Whatever it is, I am drawn to such stories. 

The subtitle of the movie is "The Heart of the Gospel is Forgiveness." I won't go into all the details in case you would like to watch it on your own, but it provoked me to think about my own willingness to forgive. 

It's a normal response for me. One:  Oh God, please don't let that happen to me. Two: Oh God, if it does, please let me respond in such a Christ-like way. 

At the conclusion of the movie Deb said to me, "Do you think you could do that?" My response was, "I hope that I would." 

When I think about Sabina's ordeal, although slightly different, I am reminded of Daniel in the Bible. He was captured and taken into exile, brought into the elite group to learn the language, the culture, the plan. But he never lost who he was even through persecution. 

So, I think, "I hope that I would" reflects and inner desire to be prepared, to do the hard work now of being like Jesus, of responding in tumultuous times like he responded. 

I think, "I hope that I would" realizes that true Christ-like character does not show up on a written quiz. It's not a school exam, pass or fail. In fact, you may never know if you've understood what it means to follow Jesus until you have to put it into practice. 

A dear friend of mine, teaching on faith, said, "Dan, faith is just a noun, a word, until it is tested; then it becomes a verb. 

You'll never know if you are a true follower of Jesus until you are severely tested. Until then, we prepare and when asked if we could forgive our enemy, our torturers, we respond, "I hope that I would." 

"Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing?"

Praying. 

Pretty Woman

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
(Prov. 31:30-31 NIV)

Post-Mother's Day. I've had a smile on my face for a number of Sundays. A little girl has been coming to church...maybe 9 or 10...not sure...but going on 20. She's been coming in her mother's high heels and in fancy dresses with bright lipstick. Her little brother is dressed to the hilt as well. She has this big smile when she comes in. I wave. She beams shyly and finds her pew. They're usually late, so it's a grand entrance and exit as they leave to go downstairs for Jr. Church.

I'm sure some think it's cute while others think maybe a bit of parenting should be involved. I mean if your kid wants to eat ice cream for breakfast, would you let him? I'm not sure how its much different than sugar coated cereal or Pop-Tarts but that's for another blog. I eat broccoli with my oatmeal. Don't ask. But my cholesterol levels are wonderful.

I don't care that she dresses that way, and I'll tell you why. That little girl is why her whole family is coming to church. She wants to be here. And as a family in a bit of chaos, I say, "Thank you, Lord, for pretty little women who have that much influence in their home for good." "Thank you, Lord, that in a culture of ripped jeans and sweatshirts, that someone wants to put her best on for the Lord." 

So, bring on the high heels, the princess dresses, and the bright red lipstick. She's already a beautiful little girl in her spirit. Oh, that we would all be so fortunate. 

 

Seasons

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (1 Pet. 3:3-4 NIV)

Abraham Lincoln once quipped, "The Lord must love common-looking people because he made so many of them." 

A cosmetic salesperson was demonstrating how a certain makeup would change the appearance of a woman's face. A middle-aged woman who was very plain came up to her and asked, "Do you think that it would make me radiant?" She replied, "The only way that a woman is truly radiant is if it comes from within, but I'd be glad to sell you whatever you want as a backup." 

I was talking with my bride this week about how beautiful our yard was at this time of year. We have several Eastern Redbud trees - dark purple, light purple, pinkish red. We have a few Magnolias, a Flowering Dogwood, some Red River Birch, and a Blooming Pear (which she hates because it stinks). My comment was, "It's such a shame that their beauty fades so quickly." What starts out with such brilliant color quickly turns to green leaves. 

But upon further thought, if those flowers did not turn, then where would the needed summer shade be? It turns out that beauty comes in different forms and in different seasons. Just as I know in about five months another type of beauty will unfold with orange, and reds, and browns, and burnt yellows. My favorite time of the year. 

As I reflect on Mother's Day this weekend, I am reminded of the many seasons that I have observed in my mother's life. When I was little, I used to love to go into my mother's room as she was preparing to go out for the night with my dad. Putting on her earrings and necklace - a little perfume. I used to love to look at her in the mirror and look down at her senior picture that she kept on her dresser drawer. I can remember saying, "You were pretty when you were young." A compliment...I thought. She knew what I meant. Seasons. 

Now she is in her twilight years but still going strong. Kids all grown. Grandkids and great grandkids getting there as well. Memories of Fourth of July's, Grandma's porch, listening to the organ and piano, playing cards, working in the garden, mowing the yard with that unique orange John Deere riding mower, hanging up laundry outside, roast on the stove, caregiver, newlywed, bowling, Bachi ball player...

My mother was beautiful when she was young. She still is. It's just Fall ~ that's all. My favorite time of the year. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies in my life! May the Lord grant you beautiful seasons.