The Silent Killer

Have you heard about the silent killer? It is killing the American dream. Actually, it is so insidious that it invades every culture. It is silent because it is subtle. A silent killer gives us no warning. It is the equivalent of some diseases that give no warning signs until it is too late. It is like the avid runner who drops over dead from a heart attack in the middle of his morning run. Something crept into his body while he wasn’t looking – a silent killer.

I believe what makes this killer so effective is two flaws in human reasoning: our ability to rationalize just about anything and our propensity to compare ourselves to others. First, our capacity to rationalize feeds our insatiable desire to be right or at least if we can’t be right we can be “less” wrong than others. This feeds our whole view of relativism: the idea that being correct is a matter of degrees rather than a matter of absolutes. It is better to be right in my own eyes than wrong. That way I can sleep at night and I can look at myself in the mirror without judgment. This then spills over into the way we feed our relativism. We compare ourselves to the people around us. This works out well for us at times and not so well other times.

Comparing ourselves to others can feed the idea of self-righteousness. We don’t do the bad things other people do. It is always easy to find someone who does things that make us look good. It is just the way we measure degrees of goodness or badness. We can feel good about ourselves when we think we are in the “right”. At least that is how we see it in comparison to those around me. This thinking, or better yet lack of thinking, feeds the silent killer.

What is this silent killer? Greed! The insatiable idol of greed! I know, you are already thinking – what?!? I read this far and you drop something on me that is not my problem. Don’t stop reading now.
If you think you don’t have a greed problem, then greed has you right where he wants you. He has crept in while you were out on a run. The very reason that greed is the silent killer is that we often live in denial of its influence on our lives. You see, greed sells us on wants – by making them into needs. Oh, they are couched in the best of terms: I need a 42 inch flat screen TV – my neighbor just got a 50 inch – I didn’t spend as much as him. The words ‘I need’ replace the words ‘I want’ in our thinking. We are rationalizing and comparing our lives to the people around us. If we are around people who have an abundance of material wealth we compare ourselves to them.

Watch out! Greed is crafty. We live in a culture that defines us by our success. Of course, that is all relative if you know what I mean.

Idols buy from the bargain rack

If you consider that life is about value then we can ask, “How much is a life worth?” We actually put a value on everyone’s life whether we realize it or not. There are people that are worth our time and there are people that are not. Time is only one way of determining value. There are other ways of determining value. We categorize people by prejudices: religious people, political people, sports people, elite people, homeless people, dead beats, lazy, aggressive, smart, not so smart, sick, skin color, voice accent, skills, sexual orientation, beauty…. Whether we do it consciously or subconsciously we assign value based upon any number of these prejudices we may have. Value is obviously in the mind and heart of the beholder. We determine value based on our life history and through the eyes of our God or god.

You see if our god is external beauty – then we will set people’s value based on our standard of what is beautiful. Our prejudice will come into play and people will rise and fall in their values based on our view of beauty. If our god is success – then people’s value will rise and fall on how they are able to help us succeed. If they are not a threat to our success their value increases. Value then is measured by usefulness.
If our god is health – then the value of a person could be determined by whether they are sick or not or whether they “take care” of themselves or not, or whether they are a health care professional or a professional trainer. If our god is convenience – then people are valued by how they make our lives easier or more complicated. This is a cultural problem for us Americans. If you’re not going to make my life easier, then why should I bother with you? (This list is very, very long.)

You see, our gods determine so much in our lives. The thing about making gods of such small things like success, convenience, or beauty is that they destroy the value of a human being. Small idols buy and sell people off the bargain racks of life. People get discounted to such a cheap price that you begin to wonder if they are worth the space they are taking up. Are they worth the resources they are consuming? Are they worth my time or even my attention? Can I just give them 5 bucks and have them go away? Better yet, can I text them 10 bucks and not worry about them anymore?

The real questions are: how much does the real God value a person, how much is God willing to spend for souls? God buys from the luxury rack. God spent an extravagant amount for the souls of men. An idol looks for bargains because that is all they can afford. God buys based on true value from a storehouse of unending resources to purchase His most valued possessions: people who have been bought with the blood of Jesus!

Heart Stealers

Idols are funny things. They are insidious, sneaky and insatiable. They are all about getting your attention, your time, your affection and your money. If we believed idols were dangerous we would set up warnings, wave red flags, build walls, invisible fences, sound alarms, loud alarms, but the problem might be we don’t really believe that idols are a problem. How could we have idol problems? We live in the post modern era. We don’t worship man made things, right? If you believe idols are not a problem then I would venture to guess an idol may have you right where it wants you.

Here are a few thoughts on protecting your heart from idols. First, don’t fool yourself; anyone is susceptible to the allure of an idol. Don’t take that statement personally. You were made to worship and you will worship something. So, admit you are vulnerable and protect yourself. Set up some trip wires around your heart, put in an alarm, hire a security guard. Your heart is worth it. Second, identify the potential culprits. This list is unique to you. What in your life captures your heart: career, success, family, toys, entertainment, retirement, sports, food, health, religion, good deeds, power, yard work, home, cars, etc…? Those are the usual culprits, but how about the unusual: teaching, sleeping, privacy, self reliance, self fulfillment, happiness etc…?

The problem with being human is that we can turn anything into an idol. We usually turn good things into objects of worship. The things I listed above are not in themselves evil or bad or even wrong. Actually, some of the things listed above are good, needed and important. So, when do they start to evolve into something we worship? That is the question we all must answer.

Trip wires for the heart are something to help you set off flares that will let you know something may be creeping into the heart. All idols begin in the dreaming stage. In First Timothy Paul warns us, “Those who want to get rich fall into many temptations”. The warning is in the desire of the heart. So the first trip wire is: what do I dream about, what do I long for or hope for, what have I set my heart on? How can I tell? When given free time or even on work time – do I dream about vacation on a beach? Do I dream about a new car, a house, a spouse, a job? Does that turn into exploring these things on the internet? What I dream about is not necessarily an idol – but it should set off a trip wire if it is where your mind drifts to when you are not otherwise engaged.

We must pay attention to what our hearts are chasing. Once our dreams are set in motion they become powerful motivators and they become “Heart Stealers”. Idols start as dreams. Be careful and guard your heart. Be alert! Be aware! Don’t give away your heart to anything less than God Himself.

The Idol Factory

I watched some of the premier of American Idol 2010 on Tuesday night. That is some painful stuff! People who can’t sing or who think they can sing, trying to impress a panel of apparently random people who think they can decide who can or can’t sing. This is how we pick our idols? We get a couple people from England to come here and tell us who we (Americans) should be considered to be the next American Idol. Don’t you find that a bit odd? I find the whole show an excellent study of the human condition. What will people do to fulfill a dream or an obsession? What will they do for fame? Degrade themselves? Risk embarrassment? Be criticized on TV in front of millions of people?

When do you suppose the “idol factory” franchise (American Idol) will stop spitting out idols? When people stop watching? When the ‘judges’ lose interest? When people wake up and realize that being used by the entertainment industry to be an “idol” leaves you a little empty? When the contestants realize that fame and fortune really are not all that great? The problem with an “idol factory” is that it feeds the human soul what it desires, and because we human beings lack general discernment as a principle, we seem to be easily swayed by the desires of our hearts.

How else does one explain the idol contestant who obviously cannot sing and does not have the right dress or right look about them showing up and auditioning for the show? They have watched the show and when they see the winners they reason in their heads – I could do that, I could win that contest. That, my friends, is the problem with the human heart; right there – the unrealistic view of one’s self and the lack of anyone around you who will tell you the truth. So, the allure of being famous and an idol to people everywhere outweighs reason. The heart is captured by the possibility of being the idol and in reality the desire has become the idol.

It really doesn’t matter if there is a reality TV show feeding the hearts of Americans. The illusion of fame and fortune, the “idol factory”, will continue because the idol factory really is the human heart. We can make an idol of anything: people, children, family, work, money, and yes, fame and fortune! We were designed to worship something. Our Creator made us that way. So if we don’t worship the true and living God we will find something else to worship.

If you are wondering if you have any idols ask yourself a couple questions:
-What do I fear the most?
-What do I love the most?
-What or who do I serve? (We always serve our gods!)

Answer those questions and you may catch a glimpse of an idol or you may catch a glimpse of God!

Old and New

I am staring out the window of my office. My office is in an old house probably somewhere around 70 to 80 years old. I am watching a construction crew diligently working on a new building. I am wondering what this old house (my office building) was like when it was new. Did a large family live here? Was the house filled with love, laughter, fond memories, cool hiding places, warm fires in the fireplace? How would they feel if they knew their old house was turned into an office building? Would it matter? Or was it just a house; just a place to keep the elements out? The new building down the street is going to be a bank. It is made of steel and I am sure barring some kind of fire or tragic accident that the bank will be standing long after this office building/house is a pile of rubble.

Such is the nature of this world. The new and old are intermingled together. We see this across the spectrum. We see it in our neighborhoods and our cities. We see it with cars – some old ones around (antiques), some new, some not so old but not so new. We see it in technology; we see smart phones taking the place of pay phones, regular home phones, and even standard cell phones. The old is gone; the new has come. Such is the constant change of life.

The funny thing about this world is that the new inevitably becomes the old. That new building down the street will eventually become old. There will be a new building that will come along that will make that building look dated. True of cars, true of technology, true of us. Yep! True of us. New people are born every minute of every day, and every one of them reminds me of the fact that I am dated.

Oh, you know all the cliché’s: you’re only as old as you feel; age is only in your head; 50 is the new 40; come on, getting old is so 1980’s. I don’t know, but it seems to me every time I look a little closer at my face – it looks older. When I count up the days from when I was born it seems to me that I am getting older. But…

In the second letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul gives us perspective: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Though physically we are growing old, in our souls we are renewed day by day by the work of God. Our physical age is out of our control – but our inward countenance is a work of God being renewed day in and day out. Paul continues in chapter 5: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God”.

This old body is going to some day be replaced by a new one that will never grow old. Sweeeeet!

2010

What are you going to remember about 2009? Some good things? Some not so good things? Will you remember all the worry about the economy? Will you remember the new president? Will you remember how your sports teams did? Will you remember some milestones you reached? An anniversary? A special birthday? Did you take a special vacation?

Why am I asking? Because what often seems so important in the heat of the moment is often forgotten with the passage of time. Think about what you remember from 2 years ago; 5 years ago; 10 – 20 etc…
What you remember is what is important to you. Our memories are not linked to politics or the economy; they are linked to family and friends, our most important relationships.
When we reminisce we think of special moments with loved ones.

So – 2010
It would seem to me that we should resolve ourselves to making some memories with our loved ones that make 2010 memorable. I would like to suggest a few things:
Create a new habit with your spouse: Breakfast out once a week or a date every two weeks.
Do something with your spouse you normally do alone: cook, clean, wash the car, your hobby.
Do something with your children/grandchildren that would make them feel special: a game of Candy Land, a movie with popcorn, a bike ride at their pace.

Open new lines of communication – listen more and talk less.
Open old lines of communication – write someone a letter in long hand and put in the mail (requires a stamp).
Make a point of sharing the positive things about your day, not just the complaints.

If you ask me what I am going to remember about 2009 – it is watching some field hockey games, riding motorcycle with my best friend, listening to the sound of an electric guitar. I am going to remember new friendships and some lost friendships. I am going to remember new lives and some lives that departed.

In 2010 I am going to make a point of loving people and loving the moments God gives me with them.

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Let 2010 be about loving people.

Was it everything you hoped for?

Christmas hype begins long before we don our Halloween costumes and hit the road for a little trick or treat fun. The anticipation of getting what we want for Christmas is colorfully packaged and pushed by every retail outlet within 200 miles of our home. From cars to socks – the ads seem to be endless. They promote things we didn’t even know existed let alone the idea that we NEEDED them. How can we get by without a singing bass hanging on our wall or a Chia pet? Life is full of unnecessary needs. But, it is those very needs that build expectations and those expectations build hope and hope feeds our anticipation and the anticipation sets us up for a let down. We gather around the tree with family and friends and open our gifts. Even though we may get everything we wanted, the aftermath never quite measures up to the build up.

But, I still love Christmas. I love the season. I love what Christmas is really all about. I love the tree and I love the gift giving. But, mostly I love why we celebrate. The mystery for me is why it never gets old to me. I really do find the season to be heart warming and filled with joy. I love getting together with family and friends and celebrating. I love the time off my wife and children get from school. Just spending time with them is worth any minor annoyances that come with the busyness and the commercial secularization of the holiday.

So, in the aftermath of your traditions take a few minutes and celebrate Jesus. Take a few minutes and celebrate your family and friends. Sing a Christmas carol and smile. Sing a praise song and worship.

There is no need for a let down on Christmas. The real reason for Christmas transcends all our expectations and all our hopes: Jesus – Immanuel – He is impossible to over hype.

More Christmas Thoughts

Don’t miss Christmas in the hustle and bustle – when Christmas reaches a frenzied chaos and you feel like everything is going to steal your joy, when you feel the cultural Christmas is going to bury the real Christmas, when you want to stop and get off the Christmas roller coaster, when you start wishing it was just done. Here’s a reminder for you and me, here is what matters:
John 1:14 -
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

God stepped into humanity. He took on flesh and he dwelt with us. He is the one and only Son of God.
God lived among us. Immanuel – the child in the manger is God.

When Jesus came he gave us a glimpse of God’s glory:
Hebrews 1:1-3 -
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Christmas gives us a sneak preview of heaven. The one born of a virgin 2000+ years ago is now seated at the right hand of the Father. He has paid the price for our sins. He accomplished what only God could do for mankind – the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 2 is always good for a smile:
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

The Shepherds and the Angels:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Ahhh…. Now that’s Christmas!

Christmas Thoughts

Christmas is my favorite time of year. It holds such rich memories for me. I find myself reminiscing about my childhood and the traditions of my family growing up. Every year we had a tree that was too big for our stand. Every year we were blessed with abundance. We always had my grandma and my aunt over on Christmas Eve. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve and we slept in on Christmas Day.
Christmas holds the same warm feeling with my own family. I love watching them open gifts and enjoy the anticipation of Christmas. We don’t put any presents under our tree until the kids have gone to bed on Christmas Eve and they wake up to all the gifts. Even as teenagers they have enjoyed this tradition.
But, hands down our family’s favorite Christmas tradition is going and cutting down a Christmas tree. We have a lively discussion as we choose. It is a sweet time. I love it.

Christmas also holds such deep meaning to my faith. Celebrating Christmas every year reminds me that God kept His promise to us. He promised a Messiah, a coming Redeemer and on Christmas day He delivered on that promise. The Savior of mankind came into the world to save us. On a more personal note, He came to save me. It is an amazing story of God’s love on display in a manger.

I think of Christmas as the turning point in the drama of human history. We mark our time by what came before Christ and what comes after Him. God stepped into time and time was changed. I celebrate Christmas because my Savior came to earth and He changed the human condition. Actually, He changed my condition. Life has meaning and death holds no power over me. Hope is my persistent friend.

When you celebrate Christmas this year adore the Savior, sing His praises, renew your hope, give gifts, put up your decorations, light a candle, go to church.
Then start a new tradition, something that reminds you that Christmas is more about God than it is about you.

May your heart be filled with the joy of the Savior who came to seek and save the lost.

Gift giving

Giving gifts is one of many ways to express love to people in our lives. This is an honored tradition among all cultures. We give gifts to show respect. We give gifts to show love. We give gifts for the fun of it. We give gifts to help others. We give gifts to make ourselves feel better. We give gifts because it gives us power over someone else. We give gifts because we are obligated. We give gifts because it helps us get ahead in our jobs. We give gifts because we get a write off on our taxes. We give gifts because…..

When we accept a gift from someone we can have a feeling of being in their debt. We can feel like we need to respond in kind. There can be a sense of someone having power over us when they give us a gift. How we respond to gift giving is reflected in the kind of relationship we have with the person who gave us something. If it is a love relationship, there are no strings attached to the gift. If it is a different kind of relationship (work, neighbor, family) then there are often strings attached.

Now, what kind of relationship does God have with us? God loves us and He gives us incredible gifts. The question becomes does God give gifts with strings attached? Does God expect repayment for His gift? Several verses in the Bible speak to this and as the Christmas season approaches it is a wonderful reminder of the love of God.

John 3:16 gives us a glimpse into our relationship with God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave Jesus because He loved the world; a gift the world can never repay; a gift you and I can never repay.

Titus 3:4, 5 gives us a fuller picture, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” God gave because of His love and mercy. God is a gift giver. He gives us so much.

God gave Jesus. God gives eternal life. God gives forgiveness of sins. God gives us purpose in this life. God gives hope. God gives faith. God gives us what we need. God gives us what we could never attain ourselves.

As you celebrate Christmas be reminded of the gift that gives us eternal life; a gift with no strings attached. Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Enjoy Christmas, enjoy giving gifts but remember this, when you give, give freely; when you receive be thankful because gift giving originated in the heart of God. His greatest gift is His only begotten son: Jesus.