Being A Follower

I hear it all of the time from the pulpit, on Christian radio, from friends and from others – being Christian equates to be a follower of Jesus. Honestly, I do not think that in this society and culture knowledge of what it means to be a follower actually is understood.

Thinking on this subject in light of John 15:15 and Matthew 16:21-28 with other verses as well…...

If you want to be a follower, you would need to be willing to go where Jesus goes and how He goes there. Matthew 9:9

We are to follow Jesus. We are to be where He is. John 12:26

In our culture we do not really understand the concept of Slave, Bond Servant, Servant or Follower. This is easily shown through the various English translations which seem to interchange these words – which of course gives an entirely different meaning to what we are called to be.

A Slave is someone whom is owned and must do as they are told or the wrath of the owner falls upon the slave.

A Bond Servant is someone whom, for a price, goes to work for the master. When the agreed to amount has been repaid, the bond servant is free to go. If the bond servant gets uppity, well there is always the prison they can rot in until the amount is paid.

A Servant is an employee. It gets difficult here because a servant can also be a slave whom draws a salary and may even have slaves of their own! But, from the master’s viewpoint, a servant does what the master tells them to.

A Follower, in the simplest view, does what the master does.

We are called to be both servants as well as followers. Not separate classes but you are to be a servant that is also a follower! That would mean you not only do what you are instructed to do but also do as you have seen Jesus do.

Some good friends of mine told me that since Jesus does not talk to them then they do not know what they are to do. Yeah, they are not real big on Bible reading.

Jesus has not only told us what to do through a rather large book, called the Bible, but he has also shown us exactly how we are to follow as well by his example in the same book. Not the answer most anyone wants to hear. After all, “graphic novels” are such compelling reading. Sigh…..

So, I read what I am to be doing through STUDY of my Bible. I can read about the example Jesus gave for us to follow through the documentation of His life. The important issue however, is that Jesus does the leading and I do the following.

If you think of Paul wanting to go Thessalonica, but being “hindered”, can see how our being stopped from doing what we want to do - can be a part of being lead by Jesus puzzle. However, Paul was given dreams of Macedonia, which he correctly interpreted as being lead to go there. Jesus first, then us…..

It is important though through our studies of Scripture and applying what we learn that we do not redefine whom the master is. A troubling thought as this is what has happened within the modern church across the past fifty years. Jesus, as some whom like to teach us, is not the same Jesus whom was understood in prior centuries. Jesus has been redefined into the image of what our culture demands – a milk toast/fuzzy teddy bear kind of guy. Not the MASTER whom would lead a missionary to his death, knowing that because of that death whole tribes would be reached by the next missionary. The MASTER whom frustrates some from their desire of service, allowing others to accomplish the same purpose and never knowing why.

Sorry, Jesus is not the master whom would want you to have a nice large house, a nice car or nice friends. His ways are so much beyond our understanding. But, His ways are always in support of a single concept – reaching a lost world for Himself. Where do you fall in supporting that single concept? And what is your percentage of commitment to that single concept?

If you are working towards that single goal – you are a SERVANT.
If you have put the rewards of this world behind you and are stumbling in the field of man towards this same goal – you are a FOLLOWER.

Remember Jesus wants us to be servants and followers.

I pray you join the small family of believers trying to do just that…..

Lunchtime

I was at a meeting this week on how to approach reaching local high school aged youth, with several others with an alike bent.  At my table was one of the ladies whom is living in one of my upstair's bedrooms at home and a very Swedish therapy consultant.

"Kris, how do you manage?"

"Huh?"

"Your face, it tells me you are in great pain and I know if you are in that much pain, it takes all of your mental facilities to just hold yourself together.  How do you manage to even be here, much less work with youth?"  Her face was etched with concern, as was that of the housemate.

I sighed, "Must be the product of the superior German mind."

This was greeted with peals of laughter from the both of them.  Yeah, in Swed-land, there are no Germans.

But, this did make me wonder.

I guess I just never thought about it.  If you have an assignment or a goal, you do whatever it takes to make that goal.  You might have to work weird hours, take naps, learn to work longer hours to compensate for having to use pain killers, whatever.  But, you do it.

Never considered this to be anything other than being a good employee, keeping my promises, and/or doing what is needed.

Certainly, the current generation does not seem suffer from this syndrome.  I really am concerned for the survivability of a culture where the next ones up are not interested in anything other than playing their internet games and/or networking with friends.....

Bone Density

Given I had broken so many bones in 2009 and my new doctor's suspicion that this maybe a side effect from the meds I was on in 2008 - trying to save my ability to breathe, I went in for a bone density test.

At one point in time I was 6'4.5", following an auto accident I dropped to 6'3.5" and following spinal surgery a few years back - 6'3".  So not a whole lot of change in height, but I went along with the doctor's idea, just in case I was losing bone density.

It was a fairly pain free process.  Lay on a table while a scanner arm passes over you.  Took about 20 minutes.  So cool.

The machine makes a pass over me.  "So, how much American Indian are you?"

Odd question.  Now the US Government says that not only was I born an East German citizen but that I am also 1/4 Umatilla Indian.  Don't ask me.  I have never been to East Germany, when it existed, ever.  And as far as we know, my father walked through what was to become East Germany before the war was over.  Go figure.  By the same token, my mothers' father was born on the Umatilla Reservation in eastern Oregon, hence he was Indian.  Never mind that his family was from Manchester, England.  The government always knows best I am told.

"Interesting......"  The operator replied thoughtfully.  I wondered what the heck could go wrong next in my life.  What was that machine saying about me?

Well, paranoia aside, I have wonderful bones.  My bones are so perfect that the machine's number range had to be adjusted.  Apparently, white middle age men do not have numbers as high as I produced.  In fact, neither do children.  I set a record, I guess.

"Well, given these kinds of readings, you have no bone problems what so ever!  The only explaination must be you truly are the King of Klutz....."  She bowed deeply, "Your Highness".

I had to laugh, no one had called me that since my investiture three decades ago.  Of course, that a $5.00 bill will get me a coffee at Starbucks, if I went to town.....

Clueless Protestants

One of my “girls” from years past got married.  I was a bit surprised to find the wedding was in a Catholic Church, more so that it was being done as part of a mass.  One of the most interesting parts of the Roman mass, given during the wedding, was how clueless the Protestants found themselves.

The church was fairly evenly divided: half of the church was filled with the groom’s family and friends – all Roman Catholic and half the bride’s – all Protestant.  So, half the church had no clue what was going on at all times.

During moments of liturgy, the Catholic side knew just the right words to say – our side, clueless.  With the candle lighting, admittedly even some of the Catholics were confused as to which ones were to be lit when, in remembrance of dead family members.  About half way through there was a communion and the entire Protestant side remained seated!  I was sitting thinking okay, now how do I politely react in this situation?  But, it did not matter as I was boxed in anyways.

But, the worse was when on some unknown signal the entire Catholic side rose.  There was no indication anyone should have and yet they did.  Why?  I have no clue.  A prayer was eventually said.  One of “my boys” was mouthing the words, “What do I do?”  So, at a break in presentation, we both stood up in unison and were joined by the rest of the Protestants.  It was SO uncomfortable being SO clueless!

I really liked how the priest prayed for a blessing upon the Pope, the bishops, cardinals, etc in his hierarchy.  When was the last time your pastor took the time to pray openly for your denomination’s hierarchy?

I got to thinking about our directive to pray for our leadership, both in the Church sense and national sense.  And I actually took the time to pray for my countries’ leadership for the first time in a very long time…

I encourage you to lift up a whole lot of prayer for your church and country, whatever they are.  Not for your will or even man’s, for that would be vanity, but for God’s best in our pulpits and every political office of your nation.

When Is A Song Christian?

When the group, DC Talk does, ‘Jesus Is Just Alright’, is it a Christian song?

Was it a Christian song when the Doobie Brothers recorded it over 30 years ago?

Was it a Christian song when the Byrds recorded it a year earlier?

Of course, DC Talk reworked the original text some and the Byrds can be thanked for the arrangement which put the Doobie Brothers on the music map.

Is a Christian song one which carries a Christian message? Is done by a Christian Artist? Or, does it have to be written by a Christian?

What does make a song, a ‘Christian’ song, Christian? (For this discussion, just consider ‘Jesus Is Just Alright’! We can do more examples later…..)

The basic words of ‘Jesus Is Just Alright’ are at best innocuous, at the worse a meaningless repetition. I will get into words and their meanings another time. For this discussion we can say they are not anti-Christian.

If someone tried to convince me the Doobie Brothers held to a Christian ideal, I guess I would have to wonder what planet they came from. Any group wishing to name themselves after a ‘joint’ probably has more than just a few issues to deal with in life.

From exposure to the Byrd’s, before success found them, I would group them with the Doobie’s in the non-Christian camp at the time they did the song.

Does it matter neither group had a clue as to whom Jesus is? Is the song bad because they are? I am still trying to envision the Hell’s Angels sitting around guzzling beer to this song! Or maybe the Doobie’s held off on the song out of respect for their audience? Nah, probably out of fear.

Of course, Ann Reid Reynolds, the writer of the song, appears to have done quite a few other songs, such as, ‘5 O’clock World’. Not knowing her, I would toss her in the Christian camp for lack of negative press and her gospel songs she is known for.

Ok, decision time!

1. Is ‘Jesus Is Just Alright’, a Christian song because it was written by a Christian or because the words convey some understanding of Jesus - no matter whom records it?

2. Is the song only Christian because it was written by a Christian and DC Talk did a rendition of it?

3. If you believe Mark 9:38-41 has some relevance here, does it change your opinion?


Inquiring minds want you to comment!

China

Do you remember when Mulan came out?  I took my kids to see this movie and it confused them greatly.  They did not understand what a Tartar was, nor why Tartar’s wanted to kill Chinese.  So, I explained that the term Tartar, they know as “Cossack”.  Two of my daughters are Cossack and they were outraged to learn what the history was behind this movie.  They ransacked my house throwing everything away which was made in China, or if they liked the item – scratching off the Made in China label!

For me, I have always held that any country which uses Christians as slaves will not be a primary source for any item in my home.  Sorry China, I will not support the enslavement of my brothers and sisters!

So we watched the movie, Forbidden Kingdom.  I realize that this movie has been out for quite a while but I just had no money to see it.  However, that changed and we were able to see yet another Jackie Chan movie.  The kids love Jackie Chan.

It is your typical Kung Fu fantasy, which always cracks me up.  And unlike most such movies, I would actually recommend this one!  As long as you understand that movies and fantasy are not reality.  If you have a problem there, you probably should not be watching films or TV!

What I found most interesting is I found on the internet that one of the female main characters is a Christian!  Yeah, a Chinese Christian!  And actively supporting evangelism to one of the Chinese ethnic groups!

If this is true, I am amazed as this would be a difficult position for any Chinese in the public’s eye.  Their life must be very stressful when dealing with the government.  Or is Jackie Chan using the foreign film market to protect her?  Hmmmmm….

So, my heart felt congratulations to her and her stand.  My prayers for her safety and protection.  As you should as well!

China really has a horrible record on religious tolerance.

One of Those Days

It is one of those days.  Yes, attack of the world’s greatest klutz.  Again.

Granddaughter was really in a mood last night.  And, in her obit of random buzzing about, she nailed me right on the age old incision in my spine.

The king of klutz still reigns.  Sigh.

In 1997, I had surgery for spinal cancer, which left me with no bones over the lumbar region of the spinal cord.  Yup, right at two year old level.  So, no problem for her to nail grandpa at all.

Unfortunately, when pressure is applied to this area, all nerve impulses stop to all body parts south of the pressure point.  The pain is unbelievable.  Until the swelling goes down – thank heavens for painkillers!

So, I am again reminded of the surgeon’s skill and God’s miracle I can walk or stand at all after that surgery.  I am guessing I will be back in my back brace when grandchildren are now around.  Although I may only get nailed once a year, and go down for a few days, wearing my brace is far preferable to the alternative I am suffering now!

I really hate wearing that turtle shell though…..

Just Keep Going

I was reflecting on 2009 last night.  Many of my close friends and family have had some real struggles.  Unemployment, homelessness and outright poverty, not being uncommon.  Sure statistically the economy is turning around but that is of little help to someone whom has reached the last of their resources.

And I thought about the current generation of kids whom have not known struggle or survival.  I cannot even imagine them being able to face hardship and keep going.

Keep going requires a certain mindset that this next generation does not seem to have.  When faced with adversity – they pout or sit there and wait for something to happen.  There is no response of “pulling themselves up by their suspenders”, as my great-uncle used to say.

These young people I remember well from when there was a five day power outage a few years ago – no cell phones, no computer games, no batteries to replace their dying hand help games, no MySpace.  It was heaven to me, but I heard all about their devastation from my kids and the church youth parents!  By day five my kids had rediscovered books and were starting to read something of worth.  Then the power came back on – darn it!

So, can I see this generation of young people having the chutzpa to handle real adversity?  Not really.  A real disaster which does cripple the infrastructure, would in turn stop them cold.  It is not a matter of age as I know many in my own age group I hold no hope for their being able to respond to disaster.  Nor is it matter of learning; these kids just do not seem to possess the internal whatever to go and do.  Lord help them, when they really need it!

So, back to reflecting on 2009.  I guess when one is going through hell in their life – you just have to have the strength to keep on going…..

2009 People to Find, Status

This is my list from 2009 showing that I actually did find some old friends!

So maybe you looked your name up and voila!, you find you are listed here. If so, drop me an email, I would love to hear from you and catch up:

Mary Albertson – FOUND
Nicky Bowen – FOUND
Karen Carroll – last seen 1974 in Aurora
Kim Carroll – last seen 1974 in Aurora
Diane Cash – last seen 1965 in Portland
Ruth Cleek – last seen 1970 at Hillcrest
Daniel/Danny /Dan Ersig – last seen 1965 in Portland
Dennis/Denny Ersig – FOUND
Pamela/Pam Derrick – FOUND
Debbie Feather – last seen 1974 in Aurora
Donna Feather – last seen 1974 in Aurora
Connie Gates – last seen 1970 at Hillcrest
Clarence Gunn – last seen 1970 in South Carolina
Diane Pender – last seen 1965 in Madras
Tom Pender – last seen 1965 in Madras
Carolyne/Carolyn/Carol Plummer – last seen 1967 in Landstuhl
Ruth Rouse – FOUND
Randy Ruark – FOUND
Dean Spencer – last seen 1963 in Portland
Thomas/Tom/Tommy Warren – last seen 1965 in Portland
Robert Warmath – FOUND
Stan Zeidell – last seen 1967 at Ramstein AFB

Of course some I never knew their last name or perhaps how to spell it!

Cathy/Kathy W ? – last seen 1973 in Aurora (went to Utah?)
Dodi Gibson/Gipson – last seen 1972 Aurora
Laura from Hillcrest High moved to North Carolina 1970