Ordinary Heroes of the Faith - Pt 1

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13 ESV). This is a wonderful verse for us to begin looking at some of the “ordinary” men and women of the faith over the next few days. First, there is a little word study necessary. The word translated “common” in our reading is “idiots.” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says the word represents “a private person as opposed to a magistrate, ruler, king a common soldier, as opposed to a military officer a writer of prose as opposed to a poet; and, in the New Testament is should be seen as an unlearned, illiterate, man as opposed to the learned and educated: one who is unskilled in any art.” The emphasis in this context is that the people were listening to men speak whom they knew to be very “ordinary” men. They were not the educated, privileged, or elite of society. They were common fishermen. Yet, when they heard them speak, they were astonished. They were recognized as having been with Jesus. I suppose it would be easy to say that education is a hindrance to the work of the Holy Spirit. Or, as others, we might come to the conclusion that serious study is unnecessary. Neither would be correct. The Scripture is clear that we are to be well trained, “workmen worthy of their hire” (cf. 1 Timothy 5:18). However, it is a very important indicator that it is not our effort at being extraordinary that God uses; it is our ordinary, common means that are fused with the extraordinary means of the Holy Spirit that makes every work astonishing. I find it altogether disappointing that the modern emphasis in the evangelical church is toward some special work or ministry done by the laity that validates the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. Unless the lame walk or the blind see, then the common belief is God was not present! How tragic. The truth remains that only God is the focus of our lives. Additionally, when we fall into the error of emphasizing the spectacular, we deny the truth of the workings of the body of Christ and the purposeful gifting within it. Some years ago I worked in the flooring department of Home Depot. I had no management or supervisory capacity. I was an ordinary employee of the store. However, my gifts went with me. There were opportunities each day to reflect the character and person of Christ. This was not necessarily done through any overt action on my part. Sometimes it was merely doing my job to the best of my ability; to quietly and orderly submit to the authority God had put me under. I can assure you, it was often not amazing or spectacular; however, it was always an honor to Christ. In the next few days I want to spotlight some of these “ordinary heroes of the faith” by sharing their stories. Perhaps it will inspire and encourage you in your walk.

Stampede!

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV). A good friend of mine, Glynn Beaty, shared the following story recently. There is a ranch where a very distinctive herd of cattle are kept. He wrote: They stand out in the pasture, maybe 100 head or more, nonchalantly chewing on cud as cattle are wont to do. There’s nothing spectacular about the place—normal weather, typical ranch setting—just a pastoral setting of no real consequence. Then the bell rings. Suddenly, an idle herd of cattle is now a crazed mob of massive animals sprinting through the fields as if their very lives depended on it. The sound of the thundering hooves is deafening as a large cloud of dust begins to rise into the once pristine sky. On they rush, unstoppable and unwilling to stop, ignoring the few obstacles in their way, running over anything that stands before them. A horn blasts a mighty, long note. The stampede stops, and the once crazed cows are once again docile. Within minutes, the once serene setting is restored, save only for the cloud of dust that still hangs air, slowly dispersed by the gentle breeze. The cattle, though slightly winded, are at peace, content to bide their time and enjoy the grass at their hooves. JT Oberdorf looks at me, bemused. “You’ve got that look, you know.” “What look is that?” I ask. “The same look everyone gets the first time they see the stampede.” JT is a rancher, with over 30 years of experience. His weathered features, lanky build, rugged hands fit the stereotype of a cowboy out of a Western novel. He’s worked the ranch for as long as he can remember, following in his father’s and grandfather’s steps. He knows every inch of his ranch, the lay of the land, every post, every building, every animal. But JT is more than a rancher. JT Oberdorf is a trainer of thoroughbred cattle. Thoroughbred cattle are a cross between longhorns and other beef cattle. Unlike most beef cattle, the quality of the meat is secondary to the ability and desire to run, as well as the lean, somewhat battered look of the cattle that have been on long drives from Texas to Kansas. The training regimen consists of daily workouts of regular stampedes. How they look and how they run is important, because there is a very small and very unique market for thoroughbred cattle - Hollywood. Thoroughbreds are must-haves if a film needs a stampede. “If there’s been a stampede on film, it’s a good bet the hooves were ours,” JT boasts, “From the first to the most recent, almost always our herd.” If a western is being produced, the producer contacts JT, and the negotiations take place. Once an agreement is reached, the cattle are loaded into specially designed cattle cars and sent by rail to the designated film shoot site. (Usually, the train is followed by trucks, since most sites are not on rail lines, but there is a special rail section to the ranch.) While on the set, the cattle are pampered like most other movie stars—their own specially constructed barns, climate controlled, with massages and other amenities available as needed. The cattle are gathered for their shot, placed on their “mark,” where they wait for the bell to ring, signaling the start of a stampede. They run until the horn sounds, just as they’ve been trained to do at the ranch. Generally, it takes one, maybe two takes before the stampede is filmed to the satisfaction of the director. Once their stampede is completed, the cattle remain to “play the part” of the herd being driven or for atmosphere. I asked JT if times were getting harder since westerns weren’t in such demand anymore. He begrudgingly admitted that times had been better, but that there was always a need for the cattle. He wasn’t willing to give up the trade, believing that it only takes one good western to turn things around. He’s convinced that next great western is just around the bend. As with any agribusiness man, JT Oberdorf was dependent on forces out of his control but not willing to surrender to the voices that called for the end of thoroughbred cattling. “One day soon, there will be a call for a cattle stampede, and when it happens, they’ll need a well-trained herd of thoroughbred cattle. They’ll need Oberdorf’s, and we’ll be ready.” Sometimes I wonder if most of what we call “church” is nothing more than training for a fake stampede that is unlikely to come. Jesus’ directive to us is to make disciples “as we are going” our way in the world. We would do well to remember we are not called to be actors on the stage of life; but, to live our lives in the world so that others can see the reflection of Christ in us. A lot of the excitement we conjure up in church looks like the ringing of a bell and sounding of the horn for the start and finish of stampede practice. Let’s get real!

His Higher Ways

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9 ESV). I read a true story from the stories of the tragedy of the Titanic. The Clark family hailed from Scotland, but they had a dream of immigrating to America. To that end, they scrimped, struggled and saved until, finally, the family was able to purchase tickets aboard a ship that would take them to a new life in a new land. Then, as often happens to our well thought-out plans, seven days before they were to leave, the family's youngest son was bitten by a dog. It wasn't a bad bite, but it was enough for the local doctor to hang a "Quarantine" sign on the family's door. You see, there was a chance, a small chance, he had contracted rabies. The ship was to sail in one week, while the boy was shut away for two. The cold, hard fact was this: they were staying behind when the ship sailed. Mr. Clark did not do well with the bad news. He was frustrated with his innocent son and he was furious with God. His dark mood grew darker on the day the ship left harbor and it stayed that way until April 15th. April 15th was the day they found out the ship upon which they had booked passage, the Titanic, had gone down, and taken with her the lives of more than 1,500 passengers. Instantly, Mr. Clark's attitude changed. The Titanic's news had him hugging his son and thanking his Lord. They had been saved and tragedy was transformed to triumph. Haven’t you found this story to be repeated in your life or someone you’ve known? It has in mine. No, most of us haven't booked passage on the Titanic, but we do make our plans and when those plans have to be disappointingly cancelled, we can get upset, sometimes lashing out at others and the Lord. Now if that story is your story, then I would encourage you to think upon this: the Lord, whose ways and thoughts are far above ours, is always going to do the right thing for us. He who sent His Son into the world to be offered as our ransom is not about to do anything but good in our lives. Even those things that make no sense; those things that seem to have no good end are the things that God use to bring great blessing into our lives. Often it takes a while to see it; but, His love and grace are limitless and He can be trusted. He can be always be trusted to do the right thing, the best thing, the Godly thing. And we will eventually see that, if we look at things through His eyes. Give it a try!

Predator and Prey

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 ESV). Just the other day as I was coming home on some of the rural roads from the church to my home, I noticed a Red-tailed Hawk sitting on the side of the road. I slowed to see if something was wrong. It is not unusual to see them in this part of the country; but, it is unusual to see them on the ground. I had hoped nothing was wrong. My fears were quickly dispelled as I got closer and the hawk took flight with a small rabbit in its talons. Although the two were nearly equal in size, they were clearly no equal match. The hawk, true to its nature, had attacked and killed the rabbit. Breakfast was soon to be served! That's nature — a constant battle between predators and prey. Sadly, this same pattern has characterized much of human history. We experience it ourselves. Predator-like people are everywhere. At some point, we may find ourselves victimized or targeted by one, perhaps without realizing it at first. Jesus warned us about people who "come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves" (cf. Matthew 7:15). We’ve all been in those situations before, when we feel like the prey. During those experiences I remind myself of the many examples from the lives of the characters in the Bible like the psalmists and the apostles, who experienced the grip of predators without possessing any means, apart from God, of rising above their circumstance. Even if they could have found a way to attack and overpower their "enemy" they did not do so. Why didn’t they? I believe it is because they recognized their identity through their union with Christ. They could not be something they were not. They could not become a hawk. So it is for you and me. If we are truly in Christ, any hawk-like behavior is outside of our nature. Remember, our old ways of self-interest and self-management were put to death with Christ. Now, God is our defense and protector. We trust Him to empower us to live courageously with the shrewdness of a snake and the innocence of a dove among people who perpetually strive against each other. I know this balance takes wisdom. And, I would never advise to continue in an abusive situation; however, those times when people take advantage of us and perhaps hurt us in some way can often be a time of great influence depending on our response. Our first reaction in every situation ought to be one of peace and reconciliation. Our competitive nature often gets in the way of that attitude. Relationships are not competitive events to be won at all costs. Wisdom and innocence are the two characteristics to develop.

A Choice

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:1-3 ESV). Many things about your life are not yours to choose. You didn't choose to be born to that mother and father. Matter of fact, you didn't choose to be born at all! You didn't choose a body build, a nose, or ears. And you can't rework the things that have happened to you since being born; where you grew up, your educational opportunities, your career choices, or your relationships are all unchangeable. What you can choose is the attitude you will take toward all those things. An excellent example of the difference one's attitude makes is the late Beverly Sills. If you know the name Beverly Sills, it is probably as a famous opera singer. When she died of inoperable lung cancer this month at age 78, she left an impressive list of achievements as a performer, celebrity, and advocate for the fine arts. As a New York Times writer put it, she "demystified opera" for many Americans. Contrary to the stereotype of elitists in the fine arts, she was a good-humored artist who was willing to appear with both Johnny Carson and The Muppets to prove, in her words, opera isn't just "fat ladies with horned helmets." What you may not know about Ms. Sills is how hard she had to work to get a break in opera and how many personal tragedies dogged her adult life. Beverly Sills was born in Brooklyn to emigrant parents. Her Russian-born mother had dreams that her talented daughter would become a Jewish Shirley Temple and pushed her into singing and tap-dancing for radio shows. Her Romanian-born father put a stop to all that in favor of formal voice training and school. At 16, she began ten years of touring with opera companies. Only in 1955, after eight failed auditions over a three-year period, was she accepted into the New York City Opera. Her professional breakthrough came in 1966, and she became one of the best-known, most distinctive, and widely hailed artists of the twentieth century. Happily ever after? Charmed existence? Hardly! Ms. Sills and her journalist husband, Peter Greenough, had a daughter who was born deaf. Two years later, just as the parents were learning to cope with their daughter's deafness, they had a son who was mentally handicapped. "[Doctors] knew nothing about autism then," Sills later wrote. Perhaps it was adversity that kept Ms. Sills from taking stardom too seriously. She seemed to enjoy comedic roles even after her much-heralded success in high-brow operatic roles. She reflected on her triumphs and tragedies in an interview given in 2005. "Man plans and God laughs," she said. "I have often said I've never considered myself a happy woman. How could I, with all that’s happened to me? But I'm a cheerful woman. Work kept me going." Every life is a mixture of blessing and blight, achievement and heartache. We don't choose the state of affairs but we do choose a state of mind. What’s your choice going to be?

Alaska's Liquid Sunshine

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14-15 ESV). A few years ago I was part of a group of men that went on mission to Alaska. We were part of a larger effort to build a church and parsonage in Kipnuk. This small town is located on the western coast of Alaska, where the terrain is tundra. The only way to get there was by small plane or boat. We flew into Anchorage and then traveled by van to Soldotna where we boarded the bush-plane for the final leg of our journey. The trip through the Kenai Peninsula was as spectacular as any of the pictures you have seen of the area. However, when we flew over the mountains into Kipnuk, the scenery was quite different! The grandiose scenery filled with sunshine gave way to the flat expanse of tundra and a drizzly, cold sky. There was a reason why we were told to come with rain gear and muck boots. It was raining, pouring or drizzling the entire time we were there. Where were the sun-filled, picture-perfect panoramic views I anticipated? One of the guides back in Soldotna laughed when he heard my experience. He said that the most sunshine he had ever seen in his entire life in Alaska lasted about a week. "Didn't you know that we're famous for our 'liquid sunshine'?" he asked, rather matter-of-factly. Another person told me that he loved rainy weather and was shocked when I mentioned that where I came from most of the weather was sunny and warm. I have also been told that many of Alaska's people are either "liquid" - "Get out of my way" kind of people, or "sunshine" -"Can I be of any help", genuine, back-breaking well-wishers. Most of the folks we worked with were the “sunshine” Alaskans, though I did run into some who were not when we went shopping a time or two for extra groceries. But, then I realized that its really no difference anywhere. No wonder the Apostle Paul encourages us to “shine” in this crooked world. The Bible encourages us to set aside our ice-cold "liquid" attitude and to always be "sunshine". Advertisements can be deceiving, but our attitude should always be right. We should always reflect the One we are following! By the way, despite the constant rain, I loved every minute of our time in Alaska. This state, with its wildernesses, rainforests and glaciers, is really out of this world. I hope to go back and work there again soon. Although I must confess there are some of the native foods I won’t be trying the next time around. Salmon berries and whale blubber is not my idea of dessert! Determine to be a “sunshine” person in your walk through your world, regardless of the weather!

The Carnelian Throne

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. (Revelation 4:1-3 ESV). D. L. Moody tells a wonderful story of a poor old widow, living in the Scottish Highlands: “She was called upon one day by a gentleman who had heard that she was in need. The old lady complained of her condition, and remarked that her son was in Australia and doing well. “But does he do nothing to help you?” inquired the visitor. “No, nothing,” was the reply. “He writes me regularly once a month, but only sends me a little picture with his letter.” The gentleman asked to see one of the pictures that she had received, and found each one of them to be a draft for ten pounds. This is the condition of many of God’s children. He has given us many “exceeding great and precious promises,” which we either are ignorant of or fail to appropriate. Many of them seem to be pretty pictures of an ideal peace and rest, but are not appropriated as practical helps in daily life. And not one of these promises is more neglected that the assurance of salvation. An open Bible places them within reach of all, and we may appropriate the blessing which such a knowledge brings.” When I read that story I was drawn to the text of our reading today. John has been drawn to the threshold of heaven and looks over into the vastness of eternity and sees the throne of God. He doesn’t really have words to describe the incredible sight, so he uses the imagery of his experience. He sees a throne that is like one built from “jasper and carnelian.” Jasper was one of the hardest of materials in his day. He sees the throne as incorruptible, hard in its nature. It is not something that is going to need any maintenance. It is sustained by the eternal nature of the God who sits upon it. But then he uses carnelian. This gem is also known as “sardius.” It is a deep fiery red gemstone. It represents great value. It’s strange to me how often we forget the vastness of God’s resources. As deep as we may reach we will never find the bottom of his resource. I wonder how often we have assumed that God either could not, or would not help us in our need because we had gone too far; our problems were too great. Please be encouraged. God is already sending you regular provisions. Your cry is not unheard by your heavenly Father. He hears and responds with only your best in mind. Trust in Him each day!