Call To Action (Part I)

One of the hot button topics in our nation today is education, and rightfully so. If we do not educate our children, we can no longer grow as a people. We can no longer innovate or discover. We would be destined to relive the dark ages. I realize that is a bit extreme, but you get my point. In Washington State, my chosen home, education is a constitutional mandate. There has been talk about tying student achievement to teacher performance evaluations, compensation, and tenure. That is an interesting thought process that I believe needs much discussion. Don’t worry; I’m not publishing a politically charged one sided argument for or against education or the politicos on either side of that debate. What I am doing is pondering, "What if we applied the same discussion to the church?"

Take Up Your Cross

I remember the day well. I was so excited. I had longed for this day for many years. God’s plan for my life was unfolding before me and a huge door that had been held shut for more than a decade had finally opened wide. This was the day I would walk across a stage and receive a charge. I would receive the blessing and commission to carry out the mission that had been laid before me. This was the day that I would be ordained. My life’s call to full time vocational ministry was being launched. Everything this world had to offer was fleeting behind me. Yet, I had no idea what the Lord had in store for me and my family. The only thing I knew for sure was God had called me and my family for service, and we were responding whole-heartedly, regardless of the cost.

Unforgiveness is Deadly

Alexander Pope, a 17th/18th century poet penned the words, "To err is human, to forgive divine" in his work An Essay on Criticism, published May 15, 1711. Pope was a satirist and critic, among other things. One of his sins against humanity and the crown, at the time, was being Catholic. It was interesting to read about 17th century Britain and their laws concerning this. Catholics were not allowed to teach, attend school. vote, or hold public office under penalty of imprisonment. On top of this he had many physical maladies that caused him to hunchbacked, have respiratory problems, and stunted growth.

I don't know what Mr. Pope's relationship with the Lord was like, but in worldly standards, he had every right to be upset and bitter. He would have many people today understanding if he was unwilling to forgive those who persecuted him because of his personal beliefs and practices, and not conforming to theirs. Yet, he penned the words, "To err is human, to forgive divine". I truly hope he believed that and wasn't just saying it. Jesus addresses this many times.

Western Glasses

Being a child and teenager of the 1970s and early 1980s, I learned how to view the world through a certain lens, let’s call it “western glasses”. From that world view I formed opinions and theories. In my own mind, these opinions and theories were consistent with how I viewed things through my “western glasses” and I labeled them as true and correct. I was able to conjure up justifications for feelings that I had for entire people groups and actions I took all based on my own view and my own ideology that had been learned by viewing the world through my “western glasses”. Time has proven that the learned view, the supposed ideas and truths that were manifested in my mind and opinion based on my viewpoint were a bit off. Sometimes more off than others, but nonetheless, off.