I'm not Apathetic...I just don't care!

Not often will I put something someone else said on my blog but today I was extremely convicted of my apathy toward a lost world who needs Jesus. Perhaps this writing was just for me...but you might be in need of some reality, as well. Have a blessed day in the LORD friends.
cyndi




What Will You Do?

I love history, especially the tales of small groups of resistance fighters facing great odds or serious obstacles. As a child I grew up with many memories and impressions of World War II. My father served in the Royal Air Force and my mother told me stories of the bombing of the shipyards in Clydebank (Glasgow). I can well remember the strange emotions that arose from imagining "enemy" planes above seeking to bomb us (nice, innocent, sweet Scots) out of house and home. It instilled a sense of awe, but also raised the question: What kind of a world is this where we do such things to one another?

As an adult, I have since travelled to many sites of historical import and have spoken with many old soldiers and service personnel who lived through it all. Perhaps no tale grabs a British heart as much as that of the "Battle of Britain." In the summer of 1940, France and Belgium had been overrun; the British Expeditionary Force was evacuated from Dunkirk, leaving behind all the weapons and heavy equipment. All that stood between invasion and the Nazi onslaught was the English Channel and the pilots and fighter planes of the Royal Air Force.

Alex Kershaw, an American writer, has documented how several young Americans were willing to lose their citizenship and risk their lives to volunteer as pilots. In his book, The Few, Kershaw adds to the rich literature of this dark yet heroic time, giving lots of wonderful insight and detail on these young Americans who were almost all killed in the fierce battles that raged over Southern England and the cold, unwelcoming waters of the channel.

I am deeply grateful to those who gave their lives for our freedom. I am also deeply inspired by the sense of vision, courage, and commitment that called so many into action. To me, this offers parallels for the life of faith.

When surveying the challenges that face the gospel and the church in our time, we might ask: How are Christians doing in answering the call Christ outlined?(1) The sheer complexity of culture with all its diversity, its issues, and its needs demands a fresh sense of urgency, passion, skill, and vision. Globally, we see the rise of an increasingly mobile professional population, many of whom are open to spiritual reflection and the deeper things of life. How will they be reached? Who will go? What kind of preparation, cost, and skill will it take?

In 1 Corinthians 9:22, the apostle Paul testifies to just how willing he was to bear the price, what he was willing to do to adapt, and how serious the whole experience was to him. From the stunning confrontation on the road to Damascus to his subsequent boldness in mission, something happened. The apostle was not merely persuaded of the truth of one position over another, though that indeed happened. He was not simply overwhelmed by the good examples of the Christians and their persuasive morality, though this too may have played some part. Rather, he was "gripped" by an encounter with a Person that reframed reality, unsettled his existing world, and called him to a life of service, focus, and action.

I know it's easy to romanticize such people or such events. However, in this case, I believe there is adequate historical testimony to compel us to reflect personally on the nature and demands of the gospel, the centrality of Christ, and the call to mission. For Paul's life was turned around simply because he encountered the truth as a person, as Christ. Having said this, taking up this truth takes courage, demands a response, and is intensely personal.

Shortly after what turned out to be one of the greatest days of aerial combat during the Battle of Britain, Winston Churchill was on his way home, feeling stunned by the efforts of the young pilots and overwhelmed by their commitment. In his own inimitable way he said, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few." Churchill's moving words are a rich tribute to those who gave their all that others might live.

The Scriptures remind us of a time when all will face the Lord who has given even more, and all we have done with our lives will stand with us before him. Might we all hear those wonderful words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Stuart McAllister is vice president of training and special projects at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Cover of Darkness

I grew up in the Air Force. We actually lived on a SAC base where there were often practice “alerts” and drills to prepare for a possible attack from whatever enemy might be lurking about. During these drills, the one thing I remember having to do was to lower the blinds and turn out all the lights until the room was a dark as it could be. We had to sit in this darkness until the drill was over and while we were not in any real danger, to a small child it felt real. The only thing that made me feel safe was my daddy who constantly told me this would not last for long…it was just for a time. Through this I learned, however, that darkness was not always a bad thing…darkness could be protection from whatever might be out to hurt me.

While we as Christians are to live in the Light, that doesn’t mean that there will not be times of darkness in our lives. We live in a fallen world and to think that we alone will escape is to not live in reality. Jesus Himself said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33…at least that is the part we usually quote…let’s look at the whole verse: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus had just told his disciples about some of the terrible things they would be experiencing after he left but He left them with hope. His disciples all suffered greatly…As the church was established many suffered. The thought that we should be immune from trouble is not to be found in the word of God. Darkness will come.

I was reading Job the other day and found myself glibly reacting to all Job was going through. It bothered me until I realized that I could read this matter-of-factly because I had read the ending…it ended better than it started. But Job didn’t know the ending…he lived through death, financial disaster, illness and loss of friendship not understanding why. Although, he questioned God, he never turned from God. His statement was, “I know my Redeemer lives!!!” (Job 19:25) His faith unwavering even though he didn’t know.

During the drills when I was a child, I didn’t really know what was going on, but I felt safe for I was with one who did…He knew when it was going to end and that I would be okay. That in itself was comfort.

Many of my friend’s lives are in great darkness right now…. some have been laid off from jobs they have had for years...others are facing diseases and they are not sure of what tomorrow will bring. Perhaps that describes you, as well. May I just tell you that in your darkest times you might just be in the clef of a rock with God’s hand placed over you in protection. He knows how it all ends! May I encourage you to sit closely to Him in this darkness and listen to His still small voice saying, “My child, this is not going to last long. It is just for a time and it will be ok. Trust me!” This life is just a drill; our real home is where darkness does not dwell for Christ is the light. Until then, place your eyes on the Prince of Peace.

Lessons from Sunscreen!

I have just returned from a week on the coast and came home without sunburn, which is monumental. As a teen, we lived walking distance from the beach so nearly every summer day would include a trip to the white sands upon which I would plaster myself with baby oil laced with iodine so I would appear tanner. The fact is, what I called “laying out” was really basting my body in the oven of the sun. True, I was tanned to perfection, but now that I am “slightly” older, I wonder about the sanity of those days.

Ah, youth! This observation goes well beyond tanning. The things we do in life all have consequences. Being tanned as a youth increases wrinkles (at the least) or skin cancer (at the worse.) My mother, who never went into the sun and at age 68 didn’t have a wrinkle on her face, would tell me to use sunscreen!!! I didn’t listen!

I got to thinking about this sitting under my umbrella on Ship Island, which is a good place to ponder life! I thought about how as children we were warned by our elders about all kind of things we should avoid because of the life-long consequences. Most of us didn’t listen because we knew more than they did…hey, we knew more than anyone! We were the enlightened ones…that is until the consequences fell down all around us. We cried, “Why didn’t someone warn us??” Fact is, they did, we just didn’t listen.

This is not new…it started in the Garden of Eden when Eve had her encounter with the “snake!” God had set up very specific guidelines but neither Adam nor Eve listened and there were life-ending consequences. In the book of John, Jesus often repeats two phrases: “I tell you the truth”; and “He who has ears let him hear.” God is for us not just wanting to ruin our good time! He has rules for our good but only if we listen and obey! The Word is God is full of instructions that the world calls a list of “cannots.” I have lived long enough to know, however, it is spiritual sunscreen from a loving Father who doesn’t want His children to get burned in life.

King David knew this first hand… only after breaking some commandments did he realized God’s ways were for his good. Psalm 25:10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. God wants us to live a thriving life and sets forth boundaries but when those boundaries are breached there will be consequences. For David, his sin of adultery and murder resulted in the death of his child but even more in his loss of fellowship with the God of his youth. He was a wreck. Read about the guilt and pain of sin in Psalm 32.

My mama told me, I told my daughter, and she has told her daughter how to avoid the pitfalls in life but I didn’t listen, nor did my daughter and I bet there will be some stretching of the envelope from my grand. I am listening now…perhaps you are too. So, do we just give up thinking it does no good to urge others to follow God’s law? No! Listen to the last words David spoke to his son, Solomon, “I am about to go the way of all the earth….So, be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and deep His decrees and commands , his laws, and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go. (I Kings 2: 2-3a) David had learned the hard way what rebellion can do. He wanted it to be easier for his son…we want it to be better for those we love so we continue to tell! It is not our responsibility to make them obey but it is our responsibility to tell them the truth of God…He who has ears, let him hear.

I am afflicted with brown spots and wrinkles because I didn’t listen back then so this past week when my granddaughter and I went to the very same beach I once basted upon, there was one big difference…SPF 50! I am not tanned but then neither am I burned. Maybe she will learn the sunscreen lesson maybe not… But the lesson of following God is much more important. Let it be my desire to teach her, to tell her the truth, and to pray for her to have ears to hear.

Roots

When you hear the word “roots” of what do you think? About every 6 weeks I think of something that needs to be taken care of (and quickly) before people figure out that I am actually older than 29!!! (denial is a good thing!) In the spring, when we lived in the country, roots were the things we had to cut through before we could plant our beautiful annuals. When I taught English, Roots, was the title of a novel that needed to be read for AR credit!! Today, I am contemplating other roots…those I cannot seem to cover, dig up or read about. These roots are deeply ingrained in me and as much as I would like to forget some of them, I can’t. You know what I am talking about!!! These roots are our growing up times…the people, the places, the sights and smells of our youth!

I did not have the privilege of growing up in one place, so my roots have traveled from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico. Having grown up as an Air Force brat, I learned early not to dig too deeply into a place for I would not be there long…that is until my daddy retired and we settled on the Mississippi Gulf Coast…more specifically, Long Beach. It was here I experienced my first encounter with roots! I was in Junior High and had moved in on people who had known each other since birth…plus I was from……(said in whispered tones) California!!! Parents were afraid to let their children hang with me because I was from……California. Roots are hard to establish when you are not a native plant…hard but not impossible.

I was determined to become rooted in this environment….I even tried to say, “ya’ll” like the rest of them, but they knew! This was hard ground but after a couple of months, parents relaxed and I began to be a part of this place but more than that, this place became a part of me!! I was active in the First Baptist Church of Long Beach and my spiritual roots grew for there were adults who invested time and energy into this tall gangly kid from…..California!! My friendship roots grew deep for these are friends I still have today! It was a place I began to call ‘Home” because it was where my parents were. Before I knew it, I had become a Mississippian and finally had earthly roots.

It is because of these roots that I became a little depressed after Katrina…devastation nearly washed away all the things I had grown accustom to seeing on this beach. I almost thought everything was gone, but that is the funny thing about “roots!” They run deep…below the devastation, below the storms. They are safe and secure and cannot be destroyed!

This next week, I will be going back to this place I have called home. I will take my granddaughter and we will walk in the sand. She will not remember what had been there…because she never saw it. She will enjoy what is built new and fresh since the devastation. We will eat in new restaurants and shop in new stores. There will be one thing that we will do, however, that I did with my mother and my daughter…we will go the Friendship Oak! We will walk under its massive branches and wonder in the fact that it has endured Camille, Katrina, and countless other storms since the 1400’s. Why? Because of its roots. They are deeply and firmly planted within the soil that will not move. I will look at this tree as a symbol of my life in Christ. He is my true and eternal home. As we become rooted in Him we will be able to withstand all that life throws at us. John 15:1-8. The promise is, “As long as we remain in Him…rooted and established.”

So, today, I am thinking about roots! I am rejoicing that next week I not only can share some earthly roots with my grand, but I will, while standing under that tree, be able to share some spiritual roots, too!

What do you think about when you hear the word, Roots? Please, share!