A Problem with Illegitimacy

I have a problem with illegitimacy.  More to the point, I have a problem when the tag or label of illegitimate is applied to children born out of wedlock.  I ask, "What is illegitimate about these babies, children, teens, and young adults?"  The marital circumstance of their parents perhaps was not ideal, and may have been nightmarish for the Mother, but please let us not impose a label on the child!

As so often I do, I ask you to join me in the Bible for a closer look at how illegitimate the word illegitimate is when describing children conceived and/or born to a couple not married at the time, or ever for that matter.

Let's begin with Psalm 127 . . .
"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." (v.3)

Psalm 139 . . .
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (vv.13-14)

Jeremiah 1 . . .
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (vv.4-5)

Matthew 19 . . .
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (vv.13-14)

__________

Well, this is fairly easy to follow isn't it?  Children are a gift from God. The Psalmist says a heritage, and the fruit of the womb (babies) is a reward.  We learn that God knew us before we were born from just a plain reading in Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 1.  And the value of children in the ministry of Jesus is evident in the verses from Matthew 19.

How can a child be considered illegitimate if God knows they're going to be born?  Maybe the circumstances of their conception fall under the heading of sin (sex outside of marriage / fornication). Okay that's scriptural, but it is not an indictment of the baby!  Perhaps the parents are not married when the child comes into this world; it happens.

The Bible tells us that, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...." Unfortunately it is used to bludgeon the spirits of little children by labeling them bastards and worse.  They are caused sometimes irreparable harm by the thoughtless comments, accusations, and harsh words directed at them, and in their presence, by adults.

Additionally they suffer verbal blows from other children who parrot their parents' own ignorant rants.  The worst of it may occur from the non-verbal daggers thrown their way as they are shunned, ignored, or minimized for no other reason than the facts surrounding their birth. This is sinful behavior directed at the defenseless, and the practitioners of it should be ashamed.

Please be careful, ladies and gentlemen.  Be careful of the little children, the tweens, the teens, and young adults whose parents were not married when they were born, and/or who were born into a single parent house.  Be careful in how you speak of them and to them, and to whom you speak regarding them.  These little ones are gifts from God, deemed worthy of this life by God's matchless love, grace, and eternal plan.

Scripture tells us they are fearfully and wonderfully made. It tells us they are God's workmanship and are wonderful, and according to Jesus, the kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

Fearlessly,
JD

Jesus Was Not Forsaken

Years ago I sat in a church service listening to a sermon on the crucifixion of Jesus. When the preacher got to Jesus crying out, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me,” he said God the Father had, in fact, turned His back on Jesus because God’s eyes are too pure to look upon sin.  He was quoting from Habakkuk in the Old Testament, and from the New Testament we learn, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us….” (2 Corinthians 5:21)  So God, unable or unwilling to look upon sin turned away prompting Jesus to ask the heartbreaking question.  That's the explanation I heard from the pulpit that morning.

At that point, having never heard this preached, I thought what a deep message that is!  The exact 'body language' of God at the moment Jesus cried out His question isn’t even in the Bible, but it seemed to explain the concept of Jesus feeling forsaken; an infinitely holy God would not or could not look upon the amalgamation of all of the sin of the world, past present and future, as embodied at that moment in His Son, Jesus. Wow . . . .

The next time I heard the crucifixion preached, and the minister included the reference to God turning his back thus causing Jesus to cry, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me," I was less moved, frankly.  The time after that, even less moved, and something new was birthing in my spirit and it began to grow every time I heard the explanation for the forsakenness Jesus seemed to feel so deeply.  What was growing, and bubbling up in my spirit and soul was complete disagreement with what I heard coming from the pulpit both in God turning His back, and in Jesus actually have been forsaken by His Father, our God in Heaven.

We grow up believing that everything we hear from a preacher's mouth is the truth; I certainly had.  Because of the esteem in which we normally hold a Preacher, and the fact that their job is to disseminate the Word of God, we do typically take at face value what we hear preached.

In 1999, I briefly met Dr. Myles Munroe at a meeting of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce, and had an opportunity to hear him speak.  The point of a message he delivered one evening during the course of the conference was a warning to adhere to Scripture, and to be wary of teachings which, A) Use Scripture out of context; B) Ignore Scripture; C) State as fact that which cannot be found in Scripture, or D) State as fact that which cannot be supported by Scripture.

His message spoke to me that night and gave me a passion for knowing what the Bible says - what it really says, or can be taught with confidence. So let's circle back to the body language of our Father in Heaven at Calvary, and examine what the Bible does, or does not, actually say . . .

1. Although Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John do not mention our Father God being present, we learn from our study of Scripture that He is omnipresent, and aware of all happenings and events on this earth (ref. Psalm 139).   Furthermore, Jesus states factually that He and the Father are one, notably in His prayer as recorded in the 17th chapter of the Gospel According to John, and from this we understand Jesus and God the Father are one in spirit, responsibility, intent, love, and concern; two-thirds of the triune Godhead.

2. There is another place in Scripture where the question, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me," is asked and that is in the 22d Psalm.  It is the cry of David.  History tells us that David was on the run for his life and hiding from King Saul.  The deep anguish he must have felt during this very trying time can certainly be heard in his question to God.  But his question begs two others, and they are, "Had God forsaken David?" and "Has God forsaken anyone?"

3. Following up on the 2d note, I wondered about the whole topic of forsakenness.  After all, we hear in our mind the words of God when He is quoted throughout Scripture, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Yet we learn, when searching Scripture, that God has indeed forsaken, and we learn what the amazing circumstances must have been.

Please read the following passages:
Deuteronomy 31:17
II Chronicles 12:5
II Chronicles 15:2
II Chronicles 24:2

We find in each of the instances recorded in Scripture that God has forsaken a person or group of people only after He Himself has been forsaken by the person or group of people.  This is the testimony of Scripture.  The translation I have used to compile this list is the New American Standard Bible.  It is widely accepted as the most accurate of the 'formal correspondence' (or word-for-word) translations, and so as authoritative as I have in my possession.

4. Now we can answer the questions asked in Note 2.  David had not forsaken God and yes, God did forsake certain people and/or groups.  As to the most important question, and that is regarding David; he was on the run for his life from Saul yet never lifted a hand to kill his pursuer, but instead protected Saul whenever possible. Truly he was demonstrating love and respect for his enemy echoing words which would come from the lips of Jesus centuries later, "Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)."

Scripture does not teach that God forsakes those who follow His will, and so we can say confidently that David was not forsaken of God.  Buy why the indictment of God from David's own lips (Why hast Thou forsaken me?)?  As we read the 22d Psalm we see clearly that David felt God was not near and seemed absent. In his distress he felt alone and overwhelmed by his circumstances.  It was as if he had been abandoned (forsaken) by God, and he recorded his deeply felt hurt and disappointment.

5. There are two things worth noting in the two instances where the Bible records, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"  First we need to understand the identity of the man asking the question.  First was David, who was just a man, but a man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and Jesus, our Messiah, born in the flesh as a man, yet clearly accepting His deity and the knowledge that He is God (John 8:58, et al.).

6. In personal conversation, David does not refer to God as Father, and in personal conversation Jesus does not refer to His Father (our God and Father in Heaven) as God.

7. God does not sleep (Psalm 121:1-4), yet Scripture records that the incarnate Christ grew weary and rested (Mark 4:38).

8. God is Spirit (John 4:24), and would not hunger yet our Lord, Jesus certainly broke bread with any number of men and women during His human existence (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15-16; Luke 22:10-15).

9. Jesus clearly understood the call upon His life (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45), and that was to die that we might live.  Yet the humanity of our Savior could not be overlooked even in the Garden of Gethsemane when He said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39

What I have come to realize or suspect is that many otherwise devout and well-meaning men and women of God have defaulted to a convenient line ("God turned His back on Jesus") because of one passage in the Old Testament taken out of context and then turned into doctrine.  Let’s take a look at the one and only passage which is quoted to explain preaching to a congregation that God turned His back on Jesus while He agonized as the sacrificial Lamb of God.

The Prophet Habakkuk states near the beginning of the book named for him, "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor."  The implication in the sermons stating as fact that God turned His back on Jesus while He was dying on the cross and became sin (II Corinthians 5:21) is that this verse from Habakkuk applies to God and therefore to Jesus on the cross.  It does not.

Habakkuk was writing at the time the Babylonians were becoming the dominant power in the region, and Israel, in her rebellion and wickedness, is about to be conquered and chastened by a people desperately more wicked than they, and a people absolutely without the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Habakkuk's observation, "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor," is one of incredulity!  He is in utter disbelief that God would use the pagan Babylonians (Chaldeans) to course-correct the chosen people Israel. Interestingly, context is ignored when this verse is taught from the pulpit as the cause and fact behind the anguished cry of our Lord on the cross.

The entire 13th verse gives context, "Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously?  Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?"

In an examination of the plain text where does one find our Lord Jesus?  Is He evil?  Did He deal treacherously?  Did Jesus swallow up those more righteous than He?

Let's look at another passage to demonstrate the practicality and importance of context in Scripture.  We all have heard, "You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free (John 8:32)."  But upon closer examination how many people do we all know who share our head knowledge about the truth of who Jesus is?  How many people do we know who profess to believe in God?  And how many of these people are anything but free?  Context, as in Habakkuk, tells us to look at the complete thought and not just a sound bite.

The entire thought John was conveying is quoted, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:31-36)

The truth we come to know when we study the Word of God will make us free.  It is abiding in Jesus which will set us free, not just a knowledge of what the truth is. His audience knew of the truth of the law (Abraham’s descendants), but not the truth which could only come from abiding in the words of Jesus. Context is hugely important!

Finally let's look at a passage of Scripture which gets little to no airplay because it seems to be a blatant contradiction of Jesus' own words, and the clear dictate of Scripture.  It is Jesus speaking, as recorded in the 14th chapter of Luke, "Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:25-26)  Yikes!

What could Jesus possibly have been saying?  Is this gospel?  Are we to begin hating folks so we can be His disciples?  Absolutely not!  A comparison is being drawn (as was the case in Habakkuk).  Looking at intent and context we realize Jesus is using His words to define the depth of our devotion to Him.  We are to draw closer to Him than even to those we hold most dear on this earth, because He is our Lord and Savior.  There should be no comparison as He is worthy of our greatest love; that which is given with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Luke 10:27).

An understanding of context tells us now that the fragment of Habakkuk 1:13 is not authoritative in understanding why Jesus felt forsaken.  It certainly does nothing to lend credence to any statement which claims God turned His back on Jesus!

The King James Version translates that first thought in Habakkuk 1:13 as 'look upon evil' rather than 'approve of evil'.  The question then is, "Can or cannot God look upon evil?"  We know in His holiness that He most certainly would never approve of evil and we have already asked ourselves to consider whether or not Jesus was evil (likened to the Babylonians).  Was the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), evil?  Were the lambs sacrificed in the Old Testament evil or were they substitutionary, taking on the sins of the children of Israel?  Obviously, neither the Lamb of God, nor the spotless lambs in Old Testament times were evil.

So looking upon evil is the last domino to fall in the reliance upon the first line of Habakkuk 1:13 as proof that God turned His back on Jesus.  Did God look upon evil in Job 1:6-12?  Consider the narrative . . .

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing?  Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:6-12)

Ten times in the New Testament, Satan is described as the 'evil one' for surely he is.  Four of the mentions are direct quotes from Jesus.  Are we to assume the dialog in Job between God and Satan occurred with God unable to look squarely into the face of His former archangel (the evil one), a being He had created?  If so, there is no mention of it.  And the consideration of such an event borders on the ludicrous!

During the time when Satan personally tempted our Lord Jesus are we likewise to assume that Jesus was unable to look right into the face of His tempter when he said, "Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”  Jesus is God, ladies and gentlemen. Scripture gives us no indication that Jesus, in any way, shrank from His dominance over sin and the evil one by having to turn His back. The prophetic word in Genesis regarding the descendant (seed) of Eve was that the head of the serpent (Satan) would be bruised by the heal of the seed (Jesus). Genesis 3:15.

So what is the conclusion of the matter?

I have no doubt Jesus deeply, sincerely, and painfully felt forsaken and abandoned at the moment He took on the sin of the world in our place.  He was our substitute and sacrifice for sin.  This is the clear, unambiguous testimony of Scripture.  The word excruciating which describes the unimaginable pain Jesus endured on the cross comes from the same root as crucifixion - the method of our Lord's death.

His humanity, which prompted the sorrow and tears He shared with Mary and Martha for Lazarus, was overwhelmed at the moment his body of flesh was weighted down with what lay before Him.  We see it when He asked of His Father to let the cup of suffering pass from Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.  So it is not the anguished cry of our Savior which I question.  Not at all!  He said it, and I believe the humanity in Him which required rest and food felt the full brunt of the unimaginable physical, emotional, and spiritual agony when He took on the sin of the world at Calvary.

My belief, which I hold to be bolstered by a proper and thorough study of Scripture, is that the humanity of Jesus caused His anguished cry.  I do not discount the possibility that He uttered the cry in fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalm 22.  But, as with David a thousand years before, God had not forsaken Him.  There is absolutely no support in Scripture for any belief that God turned His back on Jesus, or even that God had forsaken Him.  Scripture teaches us that it is obedience which is better than sacrifice (I Samuel 15:22), and Jesus was obedient unto death (Philippians 2:8). He was within the perfect will of God, and therefore could not have been and was not forsaken by God.

Our Savior is worthy of all of our praise, all of our honor, and all of our obedience.  Our Father in Heaven is faithful and will never leave us nor forsake us.  He sees our sin, ladies and gentlemen, and when we are His we can rest assured that although we are blind to His presence He has not left us, and He has not forsaken us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39

Fearlessly,
JD   

A New Direction

A new direction for my JDtheSpeaker blog debuts today!

Previously, I have written about the craft and art of public speaking in this space.  The new direction of this blog will now expand to include my Speaker's 'voice' on the issues of the day, and world events. As a Christian who views the world through the lens of my faith, it is important to me to #LiveLifeFearlessly, and that means to write about it as well as to physically speak about it.

To enter into this new direction I must veer away from my prior silence on the so-called issues of the day and world events.  My silence has been due mostly to an effort on my part to not mix my faith with the marketing of my talents as a writer and professional speaker.   It has become quite clear to me that although the two may remain separate, an outlet for my faith-voice must be established, and this space is most convenient for that purpose.

I am keenly aware that the Christian viewpoint has been marginalized to such an extent that even the physical public square no longer welcomes opinions at odds with what passes for morality in the world today. Therefore, I get that one cannot espouse a Christian worldview as a blogger in this post-modern era without an understanding that one day the thought police will show up to enforce a silence of their own.  Voices can be silenced, it is true.  However truth cannot.

Abortion on demand, for example, has resulted in the deaths of more than 50 million unborn children. This is true.  And the truth which cannot be silenced is how utterly wrong it is to take the life of an unborn child.  The 40+ years since Roe have not silenced the voice of truth, and will never do so.

So the truths I wish to convey may not hold water for some, and in fact may agitate others.  I will do my best to honor the sanctity of God's Word (the Holy Bible) in all of my writings, and in the consideration of topics dealt with.  So those who simply disagree, or worse, will have a mediator in the form of the Bible itself.  They and I can take a look at Scripture and determine quite readily if I have strayed from its truth.

If I am out of line with Scripture, then that will be easily discerned and brought to my attention for correction.  If Scripture itself is out of line with a given reader's beliefs then perhaps we can find common ground elsewhere on other issues, or simply agree to disagree.  This is fair, and we grow by retaining the civility which enables debate.  Each side deserves at least to be heard.

I will review comments, and print all those which are suitable for public consumption.  You may agree with me yet how you state your agreement may not get your comment published.  Alternatively, you may disagree and find I am quick to provide the space for your concerns to be noted.  One thing to note, language unsuitable in your Mother's presence will be unsuitable in the comments section. Just saying....

Your comments are welcome.  May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be or become your strength, provider, and Lord.

Fearlessly,
JD

Assumptions Without Foundations

Assuming can work in our favor.  When I assume a Cigar Bar will be a good experience based upon the testimonials of trusted friends, and the Manager of a favorite Cigar Store, I will very likely be making a correct assumption.  The same applies to a restaurant, a specialty store, a vacation destination, a line of shoes, and the list goes on and on.  When we base an assumption on collected information and the testimonies of those who have ‘been there before’ we are rarely disappointed.

But assuming something to be so when we have no corroborating testimonials and no personal experience can lead to incorrect assumptions, and a disappointing result.  Case in point:  I presented a program recently which required the use of PowerPoint.  I developed the presentation in my office on my desktop computer. I based upon the presentation on a PowerPoint strategy I have used successfully many times in years past.

With a black background in the slides, white text, and special words highlighted in red, the message, coupled with slow transitions, fading in and out from black, are impactful.  I knew the presentation cold so looking at the slides was unnecessary, and this adds to the impact. But when at the venue, what if when the lights are brought low, there remains indirect light from two sources which cannot be turned off, and the ambient glare from the sunlight filtered through the blinds further brightens a ‘dimmed’ room?

I’ll tell you ‘what if’ . . .

The black background appears a bit washed out and the white text is readable, but not with impactful clarity.  Further, the red, highlighted text is legible, but barely readable.  This means that even though I knew the presentation cold, the impact of the slides had been all but eliminated.  The red, highlighted text which held special meaning appeared to be dim holes in the white text, and I was forced to read many of the slides which should have been a powerful backdrop to my remarks.

In short, my presentation changed from well-rehearsed, seamless, and impactful to ‘rehearsed improv’, hardly seamless, and lacking impact.  Although the presentation was very well received overall, and should be considered a success, one comment was, “I don’t like it when presenters read slides to me.”  Yikes!  Lesson learned . . . again.

When presenting new material, presenting in a new space, presenting in a familiar space but at a different time of day, presenting with new technology, someone else’s equipment, etc., do a dress rehearsal in advance if possible.  Do not assume the perfection you crafted in your office will follow through to the venue.  When you do, you build an assumption without a foundation.

Fearlessly,

JD

Shared Experience

Recently, I received a landmark in my career as an author when the local chapter of a national book club named my latest book (Be Known for Your D.E.E.D.S.) as their selection of the month!  A HUGE honor!  To make the honor even more impactful I was invited to speak at their next meeting.  The great feeling just kept getting better!

Upon arriving at the venue (a restaurant) it rapidly became apparent the ambient noise level was going to be very high outside the reserved private room, and presenting a 30-minute program would be quite a challenge.  At this point in the story it would be easy to go on about the noise and the resulting difficulties, but let's change lanes and look at this from the perspective of the audience.

Too often, we, as speakers, tell of the drama we encounter when a venue, the material, or the audience are not set up perfectly for our style or message.  And those tales can be instructive, but rarely do we read (or hear) about the equally difficult challenge faced by the audience.  In this case, they were welcoming a speaker into a noisy space which necessitated they adjust their own ease and comfort to get the most out of the program.

My wife, Denise, had traveled with me and she commiserated with the club's members.  In so doing, she became a bridge to their view, and helped me to have a more balanced takeaway of what had just transpired.  Having this knowledge has me re-thinking experiential encounters.  Too often we only consider one perspective...our own.  Far fewer times do we even acknowledge that a speaking engagement, a graduation ceremony, a school play, a book signing, or other analogous gatherings have two sets of participants; those on stage and those in the audience.

In a very real sense both are dealing with the same experience.  For my moment in the sun as an author relishing the moment of recognition it was a noisy venue with wait-staff interruptions.  For the local members of the book club, guess what?  It was a noisy venue with wait-staff interruptions!  We both were immersed in an environment not in the least conducive to the planned program.

How often is it the case with so much else in life? The atmosphere of the restaurant is all wrong, there's no shade at the tennis match, the flight was delayed for mechanical reasons, etc.  We must try to get outside our own selves and attempt the viewpoint of others.  When we do we will draw closer to that place of understanding; that place of walking in the shoes of our brother or sister.  What could have been a disaster became a common bonding experience because each party realized we were united in the experience.  As a result, it was an unqualified success and both parties gained a fresh perspective about each other, and on the shared experience.

Fearlessly,
JD

Back In The Saddle

Last blog - May 2013.  Wow, what a long time in between meaningful correspondence!  It's good to be back in the saddle.

Life is surely made up of surprises, and in the life of someone with a passion for speaking there is always, ALWAYS, new material.  Take my life in between the last blog and this one, for example.  When last I penned this blog I was fresh from an amazing trip to Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, separated from my second wife, working very long hours in an inside sales job, speaking infrequently at best, and my second book was just a few months old.

Today,  I am preparing for a return trip to Rodney Bay, St. Lucia this coming May, am remarried, and loving life with the very special lady with whom I hope to spend the rest of my life!  I am no longer with the company for which I worked the inside sales job, having only recently left to concentrate on writing and speaking (Hallelujah!).  Prior to my resignation, I had become a trusted voice for the company and hardly went a week without being in front of an audience (need another Hallelujah! on that...) which broadened my audience as well as potential employers of my talent.

My second book, 'Be Known For Your D.E.E.D.S.', has been picked up by The Literary Club as the May Selection for their Atlanta Chapter, and I will be speaking at their National Conference in August!  Feel free to sprinkle in the Hallelujahs as you read :)  Yes, much has changed!  Finally, I am still working through my first novel, Jonny Pleasant. 'Jonny' has been with me since 1992. He came to light as a short story 20+ years ago, and has been growing and developing since.

A lot happens in the in-between!  It's like the heartfelt story we have heard about 'the dash'.  Most often the dash is told during someone's memorial service.  The dash on a grave marker separates the date of birth and the date of the person's death.  As told, the dash is representative of the life lived by the deceased, and the relevance to the congregation is expressed as a challenge to make 'the dash' (life yet to be lived) count for something.

In between May of 2013 and today (April 2d, 2014), I have experienced the great highs of preaching in St. Lucia and getting married.  I have also lived through the great lows of seemingly endless 80-hour work weeks and divorce.  All around me have been friends, relatives, co-workers, acquaintances, and strangers living out their own in-between moments, and all of us are either in the saddle or looking forward to the day when we ride yet again!

Being in the saddle is that period of our lives when it all seems to have come together.  That period may be brief, and it may endure for many years.  All we can do is ride, make the best decisions we can given the information at the time, and hope to stay on the horse!  If by some chance we find ourselves walking instead of riding, then let us not despair of the journey on foot.  It is a different perspective to be sure, but one with lessons from which we can learn if we pay attention, and then mount up to ride again.

I leave you today with this blessing:  "May your time in the saddle point to the sunset knowing your in-between was fruitful and the dash was better than you planned."

Fearlessly,
JD

Where Fearless Is The Norm

I have had many unique speaking opportunities in my life.  There was the time I was thrust in front of the camera with no warning, script, or time for rehearsal to do a commercial spot.  On another occasion, and with plenty of rehearsal, I led a Fearless Speaker Clinic for children ages 5 to 16 for 2 hours, and losing the audience’s attention was not an option!

But I have to say the most unique opportunities have come because of my life as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 2002 I became a card-carrying licensed Minister under the apostolic covering of Foundations International Ministries (FIM) thanks in no small part to an initial referral from my brother in Christ, Steve Brown.  Just 18 months later I was part of FIM’s delegation to the All Nations Conference of Ministers in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Founders of FIM, Rob and Melinda Brondell, are an amazing couple who had apparently ‘preached’ me up to the South African Host Committee.  Two days before leaving a call from Rob let me know that after landing I would have time to shower before preaching that night.  Except that I had not so much as led a Bible Study in more than 25 years I was ready… not!  Turns out I was not only preaching, but closing a revival.  A revival.  In Africa. No pressure!

Fast forward 10 years.  In February of this year I got a call to deliver a word – except this time the call came through Sisters in Harmony, founded by Edmund Herman.  The call was not to preach but to participate in an Author’s Workshop and Roundtable with my second book, Be Known for Your D.E.E.D.S., one of the featured texts.  The location for the workshop and roundtable?  Rodney Bay in St. Lucia, West Indies!  Can I have an amen on that?!

It was just a few weeks later on 6 March that Ed asked if I would be willing to preach on a Sunday during our stay on the island.  My thought?  Are you kidding me? Absolutely, I want to preach in St. Lucia!

Talk about unique opportunities?  Instead let’s talk about unique funds.  I didn’t have the money to go!  All available cash was already committed to bills, a few repairs to my classic ’95 Bronco, and being smart about saving and spending.  So ‘want to go’ was very much tempered by ‘money to go’ and ‘money’ was winning, so to speak.

My prayers about the opportunity became reason sessions as I reasoned through whether or not this was in fact a call of God to preach in St. Lucia, or just an invite from well-intentioned peers. Then I went to my friend Steve Brown’s house for coffee.  Yep, the same Steve Brown who referred me to Rob and Melinda Brondell in 2002.

I could only cover my face as tears streamed down my face when Steve handed me a check for an amount that caused me to no longer question Who was inviting me, or why I was to go.  When you see the love of God manifest so clearly, emotions will get the better of you! I was being called to St. Lucia and without doubt it was God doing the calling.  Not unlike Cape Town in 2003, I would stand in front of a congregation with whom I had no prior connection.  The Pastor, whom I had never met before, gave me the mic to speak a word of great encouragement to his congregation.

Two days later I would preach to another congregation, and in between I would be invited to attend a Prayer Meeting, and once there – without advance notice – be asked to lead the meeting.  Three unique speaking opportunities all to audiences I did not know before stepping in front of them.  All ordained by God to speak His Word to those He loves so very, very much.

When blessed to represent the Christian faith, in the pulpit, at a prayer meeting, in a Bible study or some other venue, the responsibility to disseminate the truth of Scripture is not to be taken lightly or ill-advisedly.  And concerns about adequate time to prepare can be filed away!  I had started developing a lengthy discourse on paper which would have become the foundation for a few sermons – until the Lord had me abandon the project, and leave the work behind.

When the Lord calls you go where you are led to go, stay where you are led to stay, speak where you are led to speak, and say what you are given to say.  And for my brothers and sisters in Christ you’ll get a kick out of the following:

The airfare to St. Lucia was not booked in March, well in advance of the 8 May departure.  No, airfare was booked on 7 May, hardly in advance of the 8 May departure.  Knowing Who was calling had me prepared to go to the airport without a ticket because I knew God had it under control, and, after all ... I was headed to St. Lucia.  Crazy?  Not really.  Just unafraid to be a Disciple.

 

You see, in this realm of being a mouthpiece for the one, true Living God - fearless is the norm.

Fearlessly,

JD