The Puzzle, March 1, 2010
The Key to Stupidity
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
Proverbs 12:1-3
You know, it’s probably not a good thing when even God is calling you stupid. That’s the gist of this passage, though: He who hates reproof is stupid (and will stay stupid). As usual, it comes down to choices. We can ignore correction, despise discipline and march down the road toward stupidity with the crowd, or we can practice lonely discipline, humble ourselves to receive reproof and learn from it, and wind up on the winner’s podium under the blessing of God.
The key to knowledge is discipline and humility. The willingness to accept correction matters. Disciplined study gains more knowledge than undisciplined whining. Laziness leads to stupidity, while the disciplined never stop learning.
Yet it seems we take pride in our lack of discipline! Our pride is a source of national pride. Self-esteem is taught to young and old, apart from character. We are raising proud, arrogant, undisciplined people with no concept of self-control.
A showcase for misplaced pride is American Idol’s tryout sessions, where numerous singers have lots of self-esteem, but zero talent or humility. They defy the world to contradict their self-assessed grandeur. Everyone else is wrong; they are right. Contrast that with disciplined young people who have spent thousands of lonely hours practicing figure skating or whatever, who perform brilliantly and with great grace, yet exhibit such humility when recognized for their achievements.
We love the results of discipline, but as a whole, we don’t love discipline in America, these days. That needs to change. If we began to discipline ourselves more in all areas of life (but particularly spiritually), we would experience a revolution of knowledge, and much, much more. It could be incredible. Or we could continue to blame the ref, whine about the unfairness of the competition, trust in political leaders to rescue us from our own sloth while maintaining our national pride, and keep bouncing downhill toward national stupidity (and bankruptcy).
How does it get turned around? When we choose to love discipline. When we choose to learn from correction. When we take God’s way, with no shortcuts.
We could be filled with knowledge from God. Or, there’s always the stupid route.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 2, 2010
Trophy Wife
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
Proverbs 12:4
Today I’d like to pay tribute to my trophy wife. Twenty-five years ago, this spring, we fell in love. We still are. The day she became my bride I count as the happiest day of my life, among some pretty stiff competition.
I had always wanted a true partner for life, but had begun to wonder if my standards weren’t set too high to ever become reality. I was looking for a woman of character who loved God with all her heart. I wanted a friend with whom I could share life. I needed someone who would love me, whom I could trust and love with my whole heart. I found her.
Actually, I didn’t really find her; God sent her to me in answer to about a million prayers, and used a prank phone call from a teen camp in Nebraska to get the ball rolling! It was a wonderful and bizarre courtship, engagement and first-time meeting, in that order, but when our eyes met for the first time at the Anchorage International Airport, I was meeting someone I already loved and knew as if I had always known her. She is my special gift from God. She is the crown of her husband. I love her. I’ll never stop loving her.
Yes, I know. Very, very few people are that fortunate in love. I wish there were a lot more “happily ever after” stories out there. Two things, if you are married to someone who has brought more pain to your life than comfort: (1) Some of the greatest men in history have succeeded despite a lack of support from their wives. (2) Things might get better if you treated her like a queen. Give her tenderness and honor, regardless of her response. It couldn’t hurt, could it?
There are exceptions, but generally speaking, the wife can make or break the man. It’s the power of the position. Most of the time, the man with an excellent wife will go much further in life than he otherwise would have, and a man whose wife is not supportive of him or who brings him shame in some way will have many, many more struggles in life. If you have been blessed with an excellent wife, don’t forget to thank God for her every single day. Treat her with the tenderness and gratitude she well deserves. She is a gift to you from God.
If you’re not yet married, hold out for one you know will still stand with you on the worst days of your life and hers. How deep is her character? Does she bring out the best in you? An excellent wife in a God-blessed relationship is like a crown to your whole life. Don’t settle for anything less. I’m glad I didn’t!
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 3, 2010
20/20 Blindness
“Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains. John 9:32-41
I love this story! I never get through it without laughing. Our amazing Lord shows mercy to a man born blind. He heals him by spitting on the ground, making mud and placing it on the man’s eyes, then sending him to wash at a nearby pool. The healing attracts the attention of the Pharisees, who grill the guy on who did this and how, once they’ve checked his I.D. They liked him better blind. John chapter nine is an entertaining exchange between a great witness and the irritable religious leaders whose main concern was that Jesus broke the Sabbath according to them. How? by “working”—making tiny mudballs of spit and dirt, then using them to heal a man born blind!
We need to quit trying to make God fit our rules! Consider it: The Pharisees were criticizing the Son of God for doing a wonderful miracle of healing, telling Him He couldn’t be from God, because He spit on the ground and made a little ball of mud on the Sabbath! Man, it bugs me when we make up rules about God that He is supposed to follow; when we try to command Him to do things; when we think we have Him all figured out and can predict what He will do in some situation. It also bugs me that just because we saw Him spit on the ground and make mud in order to heal a blind man, we assume that the next blind man will likewise get the mud treatment, too. We American Christians spend way too much time making up rules, assigning blame, charting trends and trying to box up God, and not nearly enough time just working in the harvest field! God, help us!
If we want revival, our best bet is a blind man who can now see because of Jesus, not a Pharisee whose only interests are self-righteousness and power. There’s no one more blind than a Pharisee with 20/20 vision who refuses to see.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 4, 2010
Back to the Beginning
Some of us have longed for a lifetime to see revival in America. We have endured many prophecies and fads. We’ve held onto hope through recessions, wars, political and church scandals, etc., etc., etc. We have “claimed” verses which someone said would do the trick, then been left to turn out the lights. The pursuit of true revival (and not just an emotional sideshow) has been too much like snipe hunting. So, do we just forget the whole thing, shrug our shoulders and throw ourselves into something where our batting average isn’t so dismal?
How about if we start at the beginning?
What, and go all the way back there? No, I think our problem is that we haven’t ever spent a lot of time “there” in the first place. Our sights have usually been a lot further down the revival road. We’ve wanted to start at the end instead of the beginning.
What do I mean? Take a look at this hypothetical progression and see what you think.
It starts with prayer—prayers of repentance, which leads to a renewed love for Jesus, which leads to more prayer, which leads to holiness, which leads to the fruits of the Spirit, which leads to transformation, which leads to compassion, which leads to intercession, which leads to kindness, which leads to more repentance, which leads to new Christians, which leads to the need for nurseries, which leads to disciples organizing into teams, which leads to missionaries, which leads to more conversions, which leads to societal transformation, which leads to political victories (which can easily lead to corruption and abuses).
Way too much of the time, we’ve focused on the very last thing on the list, and put that first! No wonder we’re still back at square one. We need to start at the beginning, in terms of revival, instead of wishing for the top and never getting to it.
What is it at the beginning, again? Prayer, starting with prayers of repentance. It’s a lonely, inglorious spot, kind of like army boot camp. Who wants to start there?! We want victories! We want big change! But if we don’t start with prayer and build with prayer, even the political and societal victories we do see turn out to be hollow and fleeting. History doesn’t paint a pretty picture of what happens when political power is handed to the church prior to a heart-changing spiritual revival.
Should we pay attention to politics? You bet! Let’s steer society in godly directions at every opportunity, but always with a Christ-like spirit. We want revival. But the end result will be better for all if we start at the beginning.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 8, 2010
Fools’ Rights
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
Proverbs 12:15-16
Fools have a lot in common. Maybe they should start their own union and negotiate for fools’ rights. Maybe they already have. They do seem to be out in force, these days.
It’s easy to pick out card-carrying fools: They are always right. Not “most of the time;” absolutely always. Even the past is revised to reflect their “rightness.” Someone is always at fault, but it never happens to be them.
Wise men listen when people offer advice, but fools don’t have time for such nonsense. Talking to a fool is like talking to a Pop Tart, except less satisfying. The Pop Tart may not acknowledge your wisdom, but neither will it interrupt you or cuss you out. It leaves a much better taste in your mouth, too.
Meanwhile, a wise man will listen to and even seek advice, something fools rarely trouble themselves to do, since then they might be expected to heed it. Why ask someone when you already know your way is right?
Besides always being right and not listening to advice, another characteristic of fools is the ease at which they are provoked. It doesn’t take much. Sometimes just occupying the space in front of them is sufficient to irritate them into unkind behavior. A fool will always let you know you have upset them. Neglecting to cater to their demands may mean encountering their attorney.
The uniform of a fool sports a chip on each shoulder. The rapid response, should a fool feel offended, ranges from hand gestures to lawsuits, sometimes including more violent retribution when convenient. Like I said, we never have to wonder if we’ve upset a fool.
Here’s the contrast: A wise man listens to advice; a fool only listens to himself. A fool ignores advice; the prudent ignores an insult.
God’s will is that we would not be foolish. That means we’ll be ignoring some insults, rather than stupidly defending the honor of our every opinion, in the assumption that because we think it, it must be correct. That means admitting when we are wrong, rather than reassigning blame to everyone else. It means operating with grace and humility, overlooking things unworthy of a fight. That attitude might get us kicked out of the fools’ union. That would be a good thing.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 9, 2010
The Tongue of the Wise
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 12:18,22,25
Ever been laid open by a razor tongue? Rash words are like sword thrusts. What an appropriate comparison! Who hasn’t been pierced to the soul by words spoken without aforethought? Lies are an abomination to God, but also to the one deceived. Anxiety is an unwelcome visitor we can’t get to leave. Here are three things which make life harder than it already is. Would there be a remedy?
God’s prescription for someone wounded by words is “the tongue of the wise.” The tongue of the wise brings healing. How does that happen? It just does. The wise person knows what to say (or not say). In complete contrast to rash words delivered without thinking, the words coming from the wise are formed by prayer and delivered tenderly. Wise people speak to others with the caution exercised by medical personnel in a hospital burn unit. They bring healing. Thank God for “the tongue of the wise”!
Proverbs 12:22 is a not-so-subtle reminder that “lying lips” make God’s “abominable” list, the same as things we might considerable more abominable, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:25 reminds us of the weight of anxiety, and what helps: “A good word.” A good word? Think “encouraging.” Uplifting. Positive truth, cutting through the lies, complaints and assorted anxiety-inducing verbiage. There’s nothing like “a good word,” delivered by an honest, faithful, wise person.
When the unbelieving world listens to us, what do they hear? Does it sound like “Good news”? Or does it feel like a sword thrust to people already hurting and anxious? Rash words only increase defiance. The tongue of the wise brings healing. That could be us. We could choose words which honor God and lift up people. The Good News is too often hidden in harsh language, delivered in a way that makes hurting sinners feel humiliated, rather than relieved. It ought to sound and feel like good news. Our words should bring healing, and delight God.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 10, 2010
Safe to Trust
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:14-16
There’s nothing like having someone we can totally trust. I’m not talking about the wonderful level of trust we can have in a faithful spouse or a solid mom or dad, as good and comforting as that may be; I’m talking total, absolute trust. I’m talking God. There’s no comfort quite like having a God you can totally trust.
It couldn’t have been easy for folks victimized by hypocritical, harsh leaders to put their trust in one claiming to be the Son of God, but many did. They found rest for their souls. It still is not easy for people who have been burned by life’s disappointments to trust in Christ, yet His offer remains open. We are the “other sheep” of whom He was speaking. How do we get into the flock? Listen to His voice.
The voice of Jesus is like no other. No one can understand us like He can. No one on earth can exhibit such pure love. No one is as smart as He is. No one could be as interested in us as He is. No one likes us more than He does. When we begin to hear His voice, we are listening to wisdom, love and grace beyond our imagination. When we listen to Him and really hear Him, we can’t help but want to follow. When we choose to put our trust in Him, we’re never sorry.
In John 10, the contrasts are clear between the voice of the Good Shepherd and all others. The “hireling” only hangs around until things get dicey, then he’s gone. The “thief” (Satan) makes all kinds of promises, but only to gain access to our lives so he can steal, kill and destroy. If we trust Satan, we’ll regret it for eternity. If we put too much trust in hirelings, we’ll have the scars to prove it. The Good News is we can absolutely, totally trust Jesus Christ. The sooner we do it, the sooner we will experience the peace which comes from having Someone totally trustworthy, who refuses to stop loving us, ever.
In the Good Shepherd, we have One before whom we can be totally honest and still be accepted. In Jesus, God’s Son, we have a Savior who isn’t just willing to lay down His life for us, but who already did it, so we could be saved for eternity. We have One who gives us comfort, protection and forgiveness. He is the best Shepherd imaginable. He is completely, absolutely trustworthy. To hear His voice and respond to His call is the beginning of life eternal. To follow Jesus is to come home, to be safe, to never have to leave His sheltering love. Welcome home.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 11, 2010 (Original written June, 2004)
Friend or Friendly?
What’s missing in the fellowship of American Christians? We try to be committed to Christ. That’s good. But when it comes to the church, is our commitment to one another or to an organization?
What does the church expect of us? Attendance, financial support, assent to basic doctrines and maybe a few special rules. In return, we expect to be accepted into the fellowship and invited to the events, have programs available to meet the kind of needs which can be met by programs, and have some kind of access to professional spiritual care through pastors, to name a few of the benefits. But are we really joining a family, or are we joining an organization?
Going to church is like going to Shari’s. We expect to be greeted by a smiling hostess whose job it is to seat us and make us feel “welcome” (like church greeters). We will be waited on and served by a person who expects to be paid for her services, too. When we leave, the process is repeated. We received food and service, but if we were looking for a deep relationship, we were probably disappointed. There’s a world of difference between “friendly” and “friend.”
What do we do with newcomers to the church? They get a bulletin, a smile, a handshake, songs we hope they like, a clean nursery, a biblical message. And friendly. If they’re looking for “friendly,” we probably did O.K. If they’re looking for a friend, they might strike out even if they came back a dozen times.
What I’m saying is that though churches of today provide “services,” we don’t often do well at providing “family.” We can’t, unless the commitment is mutual. It’s like someone hanging around Shari’s after closing, expecting to be invited home with the friendly greeter! They were just doing their job; they weren’t looking to add to their family! In the church, a lot of what we’re doing is “doing our job;” we’re not really interested in adding to our family. But what so many desperately need is “family”—a friend. They can get “friendly” at Shari’s.
Of course, some aren’t looking for family—too much responsibility and accountability. They prefer a spiritual show from which they can easily walk away.
What I’m getting to is that in most American churches, there is some commitment to God and to the church, but often very little commitment to each other. They’re not in this together; they’re in this until a better preacher comes along, a nicer nursery, a newer building. They know we’ll preach about love; they also know they’re on their own. They aren’t responsible for anyone else, nor is anyone else responsible for them. Some like it that way, but it’s not biblical.
For the Church to be more effective in America, we not only need a deeper commitment to Christ; we also need a deeper commitment to one another.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 12, 2010 (Originally written June 14, 2004)
Missing Connections
We’re not connecting with our culture. We don’t know them; they don’t know us. We don’t understand them; they don’t even want to understand us. We don’t love them! (They certainly don’t love us, either). Not only do we have a hard time loving the unbelievers around us; we have quite a hard time even loving each other. That fact alone makes our witness quite ineffective, because if we’re just a well-run corporation, and the draw we have is made up of programs, professional staff, good public speaking and fine buildings, where’s the part when people are transformed into something they’ve never been, before?
And knowing the kind of effort and funding that’s required to maintain all this, when do we get to the world?! The answer seems to be, “We don’t.” But we’re ready for them to come to us, any time—so long as they’re willing to adapt to our ways.
You know what? It’s not happening. Yes, we have mega-churches sprouting all over the place, and a few of them even seem to be reaching unchurched people, but we’re falling behind rapidly, in terms of the population, and the people we’re warehousing every Sunday sometimes don’t even believe the Bible, much less try to live by it!
So, connecting with the culture is a task the American Church had better get going on, soon! If it’s done right, a little effort can go an incredibly long ways, but it seems that feeding the established church is taking up the lion’s share of all our time and energy and money. Who’s going to connect with the world? “Pastors, in their spare time”? I don’t think so! The lay people, released to do ministry? Yes, for some—but how released can they be, when most churches struggle even to staff a volunteer nursery or children’s department, much less do any kind of outreach outside their building?
Isn’t our problem, all along the way, going to be that we can’t do both, simultaneously? We can’t connect in a missional way with our community, with the same people and at the same time that we maintain the enterprise we call church. Something has to give. Almost always, it’s the outsiders who get bumped off the priority list. Either that, or it goes the other way, with the focus all on reaching non-believers, to the absolute frustration of the church folks, who feel neglected and abused.
To reach the culture in America, we need people who are committed to reaching non-believers, who are not at the same time trying to maintain a high-maintenance, traditional church. In order to truly connect, they may need more than a longer leash. They may need no leash at all.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 15, 2010
Advice from God
A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:1,10,13-15,18,20
These seven verses from Proverbs 13 bear a single theme: Listen! Listen to advice, instruction, counsel, especially if it’s coming from God, whether directly through His word or indirectly through a father or another wise person. In typical Proverbs fashion, the alternative path and consequences are also laid out: If you want poverty and disgrace, don’t listen to instruction; hang around with fools; turn your nose up at the Bible.
On the other hand, if you want more for your life, good advice comes from all directions. All we need to do is listen. If it’s true wisdom, it came from God.
Once again is a little litmus test for fools: If you’re looking at an insolent scoffer who has no use for scripture, parental guidance or other forms of wisdom, you’re looking at a fool. If you see a companion of fools, you’re looking at a fool in training, soon to be rewarded with some kind of harm or disgrace.
God’s wonderful wisdom is available to us in many forms. All we need to do is listen, and act accordingly. It’s what separates the fools from the wise. Wise people listen to advice they know came from God. Fools have better things to do with their time. Instruction or destruction? It’s our choice.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 16, 2010
The Soul of the Sluggard
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:4,11
We’re becoming “Sluggard America.” An increasing number of Americans see everything as an entitlement, work as an evil option. The Protestant Work Ethic is not dead, but it’s dinged up.
Many have fallen into the habit of craving, but not working. It doesn’t help when sloth is rewarded by the government, due to our system’s inability to distinguish between the truly helpless and the truly lazy. We should care for the helpless; the rub comes when people expend more energy trying to be “helpless” than they do trying to work. Meanwhile, the diligent can expect to be penalized for their trouble by those whose main concern is equity, regardless of effort. Sigh.
But wait! The Bible is talking about not the government grants denied to the saver who needs a boost and doled out to the profligate, but the soul. The sluggard may get financial aid for being “needy,” but self-respect doesn’t come with those monthly checks. The pride of a job well done, of financial independence—those things are missing in the life of a sluggard. There is a hole in the soul which can’t be backfilled by self-esteem teaching or welfare. The person with the satisfied soul is the one who has learned to work. Of course, this is a separate issue from the free gift of salvation, but God made the soul with a need for purposeful labor. It’s not just a financial issue, but a spiritual one, too.
Another place we’re hurting as a nation is in the craving for “rapid wealth.” What’s one of the worst things which could happen to someone? They could win the lottery. Check the stats. People inept at handling money (or relationships) prior to their winning ticket aren’t suddenly awarded financial wisdom, too.
How should we grow wealth? Little by little. “But that’s so boring!” Not once we discover the satisfaction of saving and self-restraint.
Don’t be a sluggard. It’s O.K. to want stuff, but if we’re not willing to work for it, that’s not O.K. Be diligent. Keep at it. Don’t be silly and keep focusing on “get-rich-quick” schemes. Work hard and save little by little. It’s not only a good way—it seems to be God’s way.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 17, 2010
When God Shows Up Late
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. John 11:17
To get the power of this chapter, one should read the whole thing. The synopsis is that someone very close to Jesus had taken ill, and the sisters, Mary and Martha, frantically get word to Jesus. What a good time to know the Son of God on a personal basis! They waited for Him to come rushing in to save His beloved friend. They’d seen His stuff before—they knew that whatever ailed their brother could be taken care of by just a word or a touch from Jesus.
Nothing.
Lazarus up and died, and Jesus didn’t so much as head their way. The baffled disciples with Jesus couldn’t figure out His response, either. He stayed put for two whole days, then announced they were returning to Judea, in order to wake up Lazarus, whom He assured them was dead.
Everybody was confused: The disciples, Mary and Martha, everybody but Jesus. Like usual, He knew exactly what He was doing. Outside the village, He was met by a disappointed Martha, then Mary, both saying the painfully obvious thing: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” The message behind their words was clear: God, you’re late. You didn’t even try to make it in time. How could you wait two more days after you heard?! Don’t you even care about us? We thought you loved us. If you had only been here, or at least come in time, none of this would have happened. You’re late, Lord.
Too late for the healing. Right on time for the resurrection. Read the account in John 11 of the Son of God standing before the tomb of a loved one already decaying, shouting his name, Lazarus emerging alive. It was quite a show. They’d seen healing’s, but never this. The sisters had sent a desperate plea to Jesus, asking for a healing. Instead, they got a resurrection.
A lot of us will go through that same pattern. We’ll plead with God to come through with yet another of His great healing miracles, then sit in disappointment when He doesn’t show up in time, this time. Because this one isn’t a healing, it’s a resurrection. Just as the Lord called Lazarus from the dead by name, so He will do with each one who belongs to Him. Except this resurrection is forever.
In those times when it seems that God shows up late, or not at all, we can be sure it’s not because He stopped caring or has forgotten about us. Just before they took away the stone, Jesus said it: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (Jn 11:40) Believers can’t miss it.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 18, 2010 (Originally written 8-06-04)
Things Which Hold Us Back
What’s holding us back from spiritual growth, these days?
First of all, busyness. People think of their spiritual needs much like they think of their waist-lines. “Yeah, I should really be doing something about this, but who has time to exercise? And it’s not easy.”
If it’s not a priority, not much happens. That’s true of all areas of life.
And what happens to those who make spiritual life a priority? Too often, they end up chained to a merry-go-round of church obligations and activities which seem to have extracted most of the joy from their lives! They’re tired, they’re burned out, they’re frustrated, and the idea of serving Jesus being joyful has been gone for a long time! Oooh! That hurts, but I think it’s true for way too many!
When church activity crowds out relationship with God, it’s a very unsatisfying replacement! The work of ministry needs to be carried out, but if it’s not based on an underlying love relationship with Christ, it can become nothing more than an obligation. The love relationship takes time; all love relationships do. Are we offering the Lord time? Or are we merely offering Him activity?
There is a current trend away from church attendance, even among those attempting to follow Jesus. I can appreciate the longing for freedom from the expectations and obligations of association with the organized church, in order to get beyond activity and feel closer to God. From what I’ve observed, though, that’s not usually the end result when people bolt from the fellowship of other believers in a church, in order to further their spiritual growth. They often shrivel, instead. Alone.
It’s like that exercise thing. We do better in discipline when we join with others pursuing the same goal. Who has more likelihood of jogging on a regular basis, the solo resolver or the person who has promised to meet with a friend at a specific place and time to do it together? And if you’re really serious about getting in shape, sign up for the military. You supply the signature; they’ll supply the discipline.
Spiritual disciplines are like that, too. Without commitment to others heading the same direction, without consistent fellowship with other believers, most spiritual disciplines never get beyond wishful thinking. Prayer, Bible study, worship, ministry.... all of these things and more should be part of our walk with God. We ought not to let busyness bump our relationship with Jesus down the priority list, even “church” busyness. Neither should we forego the fellowship of other believers just because it can be a hassle. Hang in there. Grow together.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 19, 2010
When God Calls an Audible
I’m no football player, nor ever have been, but I’m familiar enough with the game to know what an “audible” is. It’s when the quarterback calls a play from the line of scrimmage. Only seconds ago, in the huddle, the players were informed of the play they were about to run. Everyone knows their assignment. There is a clear plan. But something happens when the quarterback steps up to the line and surveys the situation. There is something about the way the defense has lined up that indicates the play given in the huddle is not the best play, now. Things have changed, in a matter of seconds. A new play is needed. So, he just calls out a new play from the line. It’s in some sort of code, of course, hopefully meaningless to the opposition, who now have no time to adjust before the ball is snapped. That’s the beauty of the “audible”—it gives the opponent no time to adjust.
The key is in the willingness and the ability of the quarterback’s team to adjust. Suppose a few players grump, “I’m going with the play he just gave us back in the huddle! He said that’s what we were supposed to do, and that’s what I’m doing!” The result would be a disaster, if half the team ran the old play and the other half ran the audible. The success of the audible is based on the team’s readiness to immediately adjust to a new plan.
You probably already know where I’m going with this. Some of us spend a lot of time seeking the will of God. We pray and sometimes fast, trying to be open to God’s plan. It happens! We hear from God! Somehow, some way, He communicates to us the plan. We’re all excited to have received the “vision” from God. We might print up brochures on the grand vision, as we venture forward together on God’s team. It was a huddle to remember!
Then it happens. Somebody gets an audible from God. It seems He is completely ignoring what He previously made clear was His will, and now He is telling us (or someone) that we are going in a new direction. Wait a second! Shouldn’t we go with what we clearly knew to be His will for us a short while ago? What’s the deal, here? Why the new plan? And which one is right?
What’s going on is that God is calling an audible. We’re not the only ones who heard the plan in the huddle. The opposition picked up on it, too—and adjusted. We did hear from God back then, but He’s changing the plan, now, for our good. If we are willing to adjust, we’re the kind of people who are willing to go with it when God calls an audible.
Do you know what the Lord is saying to me, these days? He wants me to be ready to go with an audible. That means paying attention. That means being willing to forego earlier plans, in order to immediately obey when God calls out a new one.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 22, 2010
Rods, Early or Late
Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Proverbs 13:24, 14:3
It seems we are destined for the “rod” of discipline, either early or late, especially if we’re male. The alternate translation of verse 24 is, Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him early. We’re not talking babies here, but children old enough to learn right from wrong. It’s important that they be guided toward right, with just enough discipline to help them get there. It’s important that the love being shown is love for the son, not the rod! Brutality
masquerading as discipline helps no one. There is a line between discipline and child abuse. One is motivated by love for the child, the other by frustration. True discipline often doesn’t even require physical force, but merely diligence in following through on promised actions. The end result of loving discipline is a child who learns self-control. Child abuse, however, crosses the lines of good sense, comes out of frustration or anger and results in resentment, not self-control.
If we really love our children, why would we ever dare resort to physical discipline in order to alter their behavior? How could “love” and “spanking” go together? I’ve never met a kid yet (including me) who was “pro-spanking.” If children universally don’t like this, why would anyone do it to a child they loved?
Because of what happens if we don’t. Sure, some kids are naturally compliant; all it takes is a stern look to steer them wherever you want them to go.
But for most, a kid who has not faced much in terms of parental correction is a kid you don’t want to face! Unrestrained, out-of-control children with zero self-control are the sort who drive teachers to early retirement. If they are unfortunate enough to go through their growing-up years without encountering the discipline necessary to learn self-control, they must then learn it in adulthood, a far more painful process. The rods get bigger as we go along, and are wielded by folks with no love for us at all.
Here are our choices: We can apply the “rod” of discipline with love, and shape self-disciplined lives who will never again need the “rod.” Or we can ignore discipline, allow children to grow to adulthood without self-control, and watch as they encounter the “rod” for the rest of their days. Which choice is more loving?
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 23, 2010
Thinking—and the Alternative
The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Proverbs 14:15-18
Thinking things through is not bad! In fact, those who choose to be reckless, those who choose to believe everything, and those who act rashly because of a quick temper are all folks destined for “folly.” Meanwhile, the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil. This would be in contrast to the fool who leaps into every temptation strewn in his path, and believes each lie Satan trots in front of him.
In the Information Age, we all have to continually dog paddle just to keep from drowning in information. Not very much of it can be taken at face value as truth. Most days I receive one or two plaintive appeals from Africa to hold someone’s inheritance for them, since they know I can be trusted. Delete. Delete.
Anyone who believes everything they get in an unsolicited email or see on the internet is simple, indeed! We all have a constant need to discern.
Don’t believe everything you hear or read, especially if it’s what you wanted to hear, anyway. Not every email forwarded to you is God’s truth. In fact, few are! Not every conspiracy theory you hear is valid. (Nor are all of them invalid)! Only the simple believe everything. They pay for it, dearly. We need to think! (And pray). Think things through. If we do it prayerfully, God will help us get to the right answer.
We could be people of discernment, if we did the work. Some folks don’t like to think, so they let others do their thinking for them. Not a good plan! Look at the end results for those who have chosen to believe whatever they wanted to believe, without exercising any discernment. P.T. Barnum, the original circus man, used to say, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” That might be true, but we don’t have to stay that way. Think! Pray! Those two things are an unbeatable combination.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 24, 2010
Servant Leadership Illustrated
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:12-15,34-35
When you think of Christians in America, what comes to mind? I’m guessing it may not have been “servant leadership.” If we insiders don’t automatically associate the Church with love for one another and humble service to all, is it any wonder outsiders would not often label the Church as loving or compassionate?
Jesus illustrated servant leadership in the most uncomfortable way possible, just before He was betrayed. He washed the feet of His disciples. The footwasher was the one at the bottom of the simple hierarchy of slaves. It was the least desirable of jobs. Jesus took it upon Himself, willingly and on purpose, then instructed His followers to do likewise for one another. Point? If we choose not to serve one another, we’re being disobedient to Christ.
The Church in America needs to begin to practice service toward one another and toward the rest of the world in ways we have not even attempted, before. For many of our churches and denominations, the only thing the world knows of us is what we are against.
Do we want to know how to influence the world, so they believe? It’s not even just a matter of loving the world; it’s loving one another that really convinces them we belong to Jesus. This may be our greatest evangelistic tool! And show me a church reaching their community where there isn’t love for one another.
Wouldn’t you love to see the churches in America honoring one another, instead of rudely competing with one another? Within the Church, wouldn’t you love to see Christians serving each other, instead of condemning each other? So would our Lord!
What do we do? We follow the example of our Teacher and Lord, and we wash feet—we do the things no one else wants to do, which need to be done. We serve one another in the name of Jesus. We follow the Master in service.
Servant leaders. In the Church, that’s basically the only kind.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 25, 2010 (Originally written 9-19-07)
Church Rollovers
There’s nothing quite like getting that license. You are now officially a driver! Other folks would be smart to get out of your way, especially for the first few days. Months. Maybe years. There’s nothing like a Buick rising up to meet us or the sound of crumpling metal and glass to take the euphoria out of driving and settle us down into less spirited and enthusiastic driving habits. Would there be a reason insurance rates for young drivers are sky high, especially for boys? You bet. Reality just doesn’t seem that real, until we’ve been in a real accident. Quick reflexes aren’t always enough to compensate for lack of judgment or caution. The most enduring lessons in physics are often learned in terrifying split seconds. If they can be learned without tragedy, that’s a really good thing!
It isn’t just new driver’s licenses that can make folks go a little crazy. I’ve seen the same thing with preacher’s licenses. “Finally, a green light to go do something great for God! And these uneducated laymen have hired me to be their leader!” Armed with a shiny preacher’s license and a matching diploma, I can finally get this thing turned around, so it’s no longer an embarrassment to God. “First, we need to get the thing into the current century! It’s this way—follow me!”
“One question. Well, two. #1: What happened? #2: How come the gas pedal is on the ceiling?”
“Dispatch? Yeah. Another church rollover.”
“I’ll be right there.”
With a young pastor at the wheel, the impulse to make sudden, drastic changes too quickly often proves irresistible, and another church rollover occurs. It’s not just the young who are prone to aggressive church driving. Especially with a top-heavy church, laden with tradition and lots of aged experience, quick maneuvers usually wind up with people flying off everywhere and what’s left of the church in the ditch. There’s a reason why they no longer want to sell 15-passenger vans to churches. It doesn’t take much to flip one over. Fill it up with people, try to change directions drastically and suddenly, and it may well go over. Cautious drivers arrive a little later than erratic ones, but at least they arrive.
There’s a reason why alarms go off when a traditional congregation is interviewing a pastoral candidate under 40. “What’s this kid going to do to us? Did you hear about what happened over in _____, when they got a young guy? That used to be a good church. He just wrecked everything. It’s sad.” A friend of mine says making changes in his large church is like turning an oil tanker at sea.
Changes in direction are part of “driving,” be it church van or church board. Changes are necessary, rollovers not. No one has a steadier hand than God. Please?
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 26, 2010 (Originally written 8-26-07)
“Cutting Edge” or Just “Cutting”?
Pastors long to be on the “cutting edge” in ministry—vibrant, effective for Christ. There’s nothing at all wrong with wanting to be a pioneer, when it comes to reaching folks for Jesus! However, there’s a difference between being “cutting edge” and just being “cutting.” I’ve witnessed way too much of the latter, in recent years. Some have tortured their sheep pretty badly and called it “growth.”
What is needed is cutting edge love. A lot of what is promoted as “cutting edge” ministry comes across to lay people as only “cutting.” It assaults the senses, casts aside what little remaining dignity and self-worth they still possess as lay people trying to find their value in a whirlpool of change. I hear of pastors who blast lay people who have spent years as volunteers in ministries, only to discover they are now suddenly worthless and incompetent. People are supposed to somehow respond positively to that?!
All I can say is, if we start blasting God’s sheep just because we went to a conference or read a book, we shouldn’t be startled if they return fire. And we need not expect God to be on our side! Remember the little parable Jesus told about the millstone around the guy’s neck being a better deal than what happens to those who cause little ones to stumble? (Mt. 18:6) Let’s not ever forget: God likes these people! He loves them! If we spend as much energy in trying to love them as we might currently be expending in trying to change them, everyone in heaven and earth will like the results better. At least that’s a lesson I’ve been slowly learning: My first job is to love God; my second job is to love these people. By the time I get through those two, there usually isn’t much time, energy or motivation left for the other jobs, anyway.
I’m all for whatever ways help people to find Jesus as their Savior, be they traditional or innovative and new. “Cutting edge” doesn’t have to be “cutting,” though. Everyone deserves to be treated as a person of value. And love is never outdated. “Cutting edge love” is love which accepts people for where they are, whether it’s embarrassingly trendy or hopelessly traditional, while not discarding or compromising the Gospel, and not dishonoring Christ by cutting people down with our superior opinions or ideas. The funny thing is, in the end it leads to far greater changes than sheep-bashing ever will. Plus, “cutting-edge love” is also millstone free (which is a pretty big plus in my book)!
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 29, 2010
Poor Procrastinators
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23
Hmm. I’m not sure a world-class procrastinator like me is going to enjoy this one. I’m the kind of person who needs to make a list and figure out which of the many important things I need to do should be at the top of that list, then number the other items in order of importance. Meanwhile, my industrious wife didn’t even make a list but has already accomplished seven tasks without even figuring out which one was most important! I was at least two days into our marriage before I figured out I was never going to be able to keep up with her, when it came to work.
Talk vs. toil—that can be a hard one for some of us. If we don’t talk at all, our relationships suffer. If we don’t toil at all, relationships suffer even more! It doesn’t take long, working beside a lazy braggart, to wish for a new work partner, one who would toil more and talk less. It doesn’t matter what kind of work, either. Proverbs says that in all toil there is profit. People who work will get things done. People who only talk and never work, mostly just aggravate people, particularly their employer. Mere talk tends only to poverty. In our current system, labor unions provide some protection for those who seldom confuse employment with actually working, but outside of an artificial environment, being lazy is the quick way to being poor. Which is a good thing!
So, here’s to non-procrastinators, whose idea of a bad day is one in which they didn’t accomplish anything. Here’s to non-list makers, who work circles around the rest of us and do what needs to be done, without much analysis. My hat’s off to those, especially in my family, who could be rationed to 100 words a day and have rollover words left most of the time, but who have seldom, if ever, been outworked by anyone within twenty years of their age.
It’s spring break, and I’m sorting through what I need to do this week. But there’s already a cloud of dust in our house. It represents what my wife has already accomplished while I’m working on getting my list straightened out. Mere talk (or mere writing) tends only to poverty. Ain’t it the truth! There are lots of things I need to do, some of them important, some, not so much. But I could probably start practically anywhere and have something to show for my effort. Or, I could blow half the week making plans and wrestling priorities. “Toil” sounds like the more profitable way to go! “Talk” is fun, but poverty isn’t, particularly. And procrastination is not next to godliness, but uncomfortably close to poverty.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 30, 2010
Slow Fuses and Long Relationships
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot.
Proverbs 14:29-30
Slow fuses lead to long relationships. Tranquil hearts beat longer. I don’t know if either statement is backed by human research, but I believe them both.
The person who tries to understand before giving vent to frustration will almost never say or do things in anger which they regret. Understanding kicks in and saves everyone another mess. It makes for long-lasting relationships when we
listen first, get angry later, or not at all. Great understanding is a great result.
But instead of condemning quick tempers, we have moved, in America, toward enshrining them. Picture chair-throwing coaches on the sidelines who are revered for their anger, as long as it produces wins. Think of guitar-smashing rock stars. Rambo. The Incredible Hulk. Riots disguised as “protests.” Folly exalted.
Don’t be part of exalting folly. Uncontrolled anger is not very admirable. We should quit admiring it, or allowing ourselves to be impressed.
We should pay attention to not only our outward response to frustration, but our inward one. While it’s good to quit popping off in public, it need not stop there. If we don’t allow ourselves to be envious, even our body will be better off. We’ll deal with much less anger. Bitterness won’t get a foothold. We’ll live longer!
We need to be careful of being manipulated by society, too. Class warfare is being stirred up, these days. Envy has become a national pastime. As we teeter toward a socialist mindset, anyone with something we want becomes a target of envy. “We should have what they have! If we need to take it away from them and force them to ‘share,’ so be it!” The sad thing is, even if the jealous don’t get what they desire, they get the ill effects of lusting after what doesn’t belong to them. Envy rots the bones. It rots democracy, too. It can take out an entire society.
Those preoccupied with the possessions and power of others are setting themselves up for a lot of misery. Envy makes the bones rot. That doesn’t sound like a good thing. A hasty temper exalts folly. That’s not good, either! The people of understanding are those who have chosen to try to understand, rather than get even. The person who has better health, as a whole, and the person with the long-lasting relationships and the enduring admiration is the one slow to anger, the one with the healing heart. That’s the person I want to be.
Dave Ness
The Puzzle, March 31, 2010
Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
Let not your hearts be troubled.
John 14:1
This is only the first sentence. John’s gospel goes on for four chapters with Jesus’ promises and comfort to His disciples on that night, culminating in His prayer for them. But the first sentence is a beauty. The strong implication is that we have at least a degree of control over our own worry.
Some of us were born fretting over pretty much everything. Had we been able to speak as infants, we would have expressed our concern that we weren’t sure there would be enough food. A few seem to have had the worry gene removed somewhere along the line, which has meant a more joyous life for them and has meant parents, spouses and others have gotten to “worry for two.” They didn’t actually have to, but for those of us with the worry gene in place, people who don’t worry worry us, so we feel the need to do it for them as a way of showing we care. If you didn’t understand that last line, be thankful.
It’s not as if the disciples were enjoying a carefree evening, either! This was not a tropical vacation, enjoying a meal with the Son of God, far away from rabid Pharisees. This was within a few hours of His betrayal, crucifixion and death. I know the effect of the word “cancer” on my spirit; I can’t imagine what “crucifixion” must have done to theirs. And they’re supposed to be calm?!
At least they remembered what He had said, and wrote it down, years after the horrible and wonderful events of His passion, resurrection and ascension. I’m glad they did, because I need what He said: Let not your hearts be troubled. Rather than just commanding us to stifle our worries, He offers a wonderful replacement for them: Believe in God; believe also in me.
These days, there’s plenty of worry-worthy material available to each one of us. If we run out at home, the plight of our extended family and friends will quickly fill in any gaps. We haven’t even gotten to the festering local, national and international situations stealing what’s left of our inner peace. Who can get through life with an untroubled heart?! Believe in God; believe also in me.
Let not your hearts be troubled. That’s one tall order! That’s one beautiful option. To let go of our need to worry and fret over our own problems, plus those we’ve borrowed from the neighbors, to actually live in peace in the most troubling of situations? That’s possible? It’s not just possible. It’s a command. How do we pull it off? Let go of worry (and the responsibility of needing to worry to show you care). Grab hold of God. When we let go of worry, we can see the promises.
Dave Ness
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