Posts in Category: down to earth believer
“Trust and Obey—or Rust and Decay”
I like a lot of the new Christian music. However, I also cherish some of the old hymns that I grew up with. I am trying to relearn some of the lyrics to these old hymns, and I am singing them to God during my devotional time in the morning—or any time, for that matter. Here are the lyrics of “Trust and Obey”:
- When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.- Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
- Refrain:
- Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. - Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. - But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. - Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.”
The hymn began with a comment made by someone at a series of meetings led by the famous nineteenth-century evangelist, D. L. Moody. A young man stood up in a testimony meeting and said, “I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.” Later on, a composer named Sammis would expand this thought into one of the most popular hymns of the twentieth century.
The fourth stanza of the hymn is the one that draws me up short. It is also a stanza that often is omitted when a worship leader decides to shorten an old hymn. The specific words that haunt me are about laying everything on the altar.
Trust and obey are put together in this hymn. They should be put together in our lives as well. And yet, I sometimes feel as if there are two different types of churches: those that emphasize faith/trust to the exclusion of obedience, and those that elevate obedience and ignore faith/trust.
Why do we do that, I wonder? I don’t know, but let me suggest why I myself sometimes do that. It is really quite simple: I find both trust and obedience to be exceedingly difficult. If I can spend a lot of time debating which is most important, then maybe I can avoid doing either of them. Sorry to be so frank, but there it is!
Part of my “all” that I need to lay on the altar is my tendency to argue (and blog) about faith and obedience. Instead, I need to trust and obey. My twelve-step sponsor often replies to my daily report to him with the letters JKDTNRT: Just keep doing the next right thing. I would add the word “and”, along with the letters JKTG: Just keep trusting God.
During the American Revolutionary War, our first naval hero, John Paul Jones, was doing battle with a British ship. Jones’ ship was badly damaged, and the British ship invited Jones to surrender. Jones was was reported to have said, “Surrender?! I have not yet begun to fight!”
But my problem is that I am dealing, not with an external enemy, but with my mutinous mind. So, I would suggest a better confession: “I have not yet begun to surrender!” I need to keep surrendering my lackluster trust and my lack of obedience to God if I want to win this battle.
The bottom line is something my favorite professor, Victor P. Hamilton, said during a sermon: “It is either trust and obey, or it is rust and decay.”
Indeed!
“Of Bodily Functions and the Lust to Edit”
Our little dog has her own ideas about the timing for her bodily functions. This morning when I took her out, she did one of them. I brought her back in and took her leash off. Before I could even begin pealing my banana, she was at the kitchen door, letting me know that she wanted to go back out again. Sometimes, she wants to go outside and do her business, and sometimes, she just wants to go outside. I was a little irritated. After all, I needed to write a blog post, study Spanish and head out to softball practice—important stuff! Why couldn’t she get her act together and be more efficient?!
Sometimes, a small crack in the wall lets you know that you have a serious problem with your foundation. God brought to my mind the fact that I spend a lot more time trying to edit reality than I spend living in reality. The truth is, I am a wannabe editor of everything and everyone.
Ouch! Like many of my insights, this one was unwelcome.
What would happen if I were to resign my volunteer position as editor of the universe?
Well, for one thing, I think I would be happier. The job doesn’t pay well, and it costs a lot. Besides, do you have any idea how stressful this volunteer position is? For some reason, reality is a very stubborn thing. It resists my editing continually. I get tired of being an editor. My wife would be happier, too, I think.
And also, my little dog would be a lot happier. Maybe I would be too.
“How to Handle a Disappointment”
I just found out that I am not going to be presenting a paper at a scholarly conference I am attending virtually. I don’t know exactly what went wrong, but it appears as if something did. The study group of which I was part isn’t even on the program.
Hurt? Yes. Angry? Yes, that too. However, I am proud of the way I’m handling this—at least, so far.
First, I am trying to find out where things went wrong. I am sending some frank (but carefully worded) emails.
Second, I am acknowledging my hurt and angry feelings. Nothing good ever comes from denying what I am feeling. Nothing! I’ve tried it a lot of times, and it never works out well.
Third, I am refusing to medicate my hurt with actions or thoughts that would numb them. Unfortunately, with us addicts, that is always a possibility. I’ve already called my sponsor and a couple of twelve-step friends to acknowledge the pain and the temptation to justify unjustifiable approaches to this pain.
Fourth, I am trying hard not to be nasty. One of my favorite mantras these days is “Don’t be a jerk!” I’ve invested more than enough time and energy in being a jerk over the years.
Fifth, I am remembering what I heard from the Apostle Peter and from the Apostle Andy Stanley (independently, I would add!) just this morning. Humility under God and with people is the key to all happy relationships. Peter says that we are to clothe ourselves with humility. Andy says that we should frequently ask the question, “What would a humble person do in this situation?” Then, we are to do it.
Sixth, I am remembering why I do scholarship in the first place. There are actually several reasons.
- I do scholarship to glorify God.
- I do scholarship because it helps me.
- I do scholarship for the benefit of others.
This paper dealt with a particularly violent event—or series of events—in the Old Testament: the coup of Jehu as recorded in 2 Kings 9-10, which is referenced in a few other places. The violence in the Old Testament is something that keeps some people from even reading the Bible, much less believing in it or in God. Even believers are troubled by it. At least, we should be. I certainly am troubled by this violence.
My paper may not ever be presented, but the study and discipline that went into it were not wasted. My study has helped me to come somewhat to terms with the violence in the Bible. More importantly, it has helped me to come to terms with the violence in me.
“Little Secrets?”
I begin with a riddle: What is the difference between a lie and a secret? The answer comes at the end of this post.
A twelve-step friend and I text our reports to one another almost every day. He emphasizes not having any secrets. So, our reports often go something like this: “No violations and no secrets.”
However, the voice-to-text function on my phone is . . . well . . . , I am trying to think of a kind way to say this. It is quirky. For example, today, I dictated, “No violations. No secrets.” However, it translated what I said as “No violations. Little secrets.” I don’t think that I said that, but who knows? Perhaps it was a Freudian slip. Or, perhaps, my second cup of coffee had not yet kicked in.
In any case, this translational problem set me wondering about little secrets. Is there really any such thing as a little secret? And, of course, the little tykes grow up so fast, don’t they?
We say in twelve-step meetings, “You’re only as sick as your secrets.” We say it because it is true. We say it to remind ourselves not to have secrets. Or do our secrets have us?
An allied saying is “The first lie we tell is to ourselves.” Perhaps we also keep secrets—at least little ones—from ourselves. Maybe there isn’t a lot of difference between secrets and lies?
Now, not all little secrets are bad or dangerous. Sometimes, we all need to keep secrets in order to surprise someone. And many secrets do not need to be shared with the world. That is especially important to remember in this day, when we can text our friends a picture of us fixing a peanut and butter sandwich while we’re making the sandwich.
However, little secrets (as already noted) grow up fast. And they invite of their cronies into our minds and hearts as well. And no matter how “innocent” our secrets are, their companions often are a pretty unsavory gang.
So, to answer the riddle, here goes:
Q: What is the difference between a lie and a secret?
A: Spelling.
“Who’s on your Kill List?”
Let me begin by setting your mind at ease. No, I am not taking up running a contract killer service in my retirement.
During an accountability check-in this morning, we were talking about how to become better men. One of the guys is highly athletic and very insightful. He said that, no matter what sport he is participating in, he has a kill list—a list of people who are slightly better at some aspect of the sport than he is trying to master. He tries to learn from them and then work harder than they do. Eventually, he becomes better at that aspect of the game than they are. Then he checks them off his kill list.
One of the other guys in the group thought that this approach was a bit too competitive. After all, building character means cooperating with others too. This friend made a good point: Why not ask what is on your kill list, rather than who?
Actually, I think that both of my friends are right. Perhaps the expression “kill list” is a little over-the-top, but then that is my friend’s style. If he weren’t over-the-top, he wouldn’t be J.
The Bible speaks of emulating those who live well. These are by no means the only two passages that speak in this way, but let them help you draw up your own kill list.
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7, English Standard Version)
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20, English Standard Version)
Wisdom and faith: those two things seem like a good place to start with your kill list. Anytime you experience some good quality in another person, make it your goal to imitate that person and work even harder than they do.
I am not suggesting a holier-than-thou approach to life, nor was my friend. The truth is that such an approach is mentioned in the Bible, but it is condemned.
“. . . “Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all the day.” (Isaiah 65:5, English Standard Version)
In its context, this holier-than-thou attitude is definitely not holy at all. God, through the prophet Isaiah, condemns this way of thinking and speaking. There is a huge difference in imitating good character qualities and cheap imitations of those good character qualities.
So, what or who is on your kill list? And how (and how hard) are you working to become a person of character?
“Good Friday and Refraining from Criticism”
My wife pointed out something tremendously helpful about me the other day: I often criticize her driving. As a result, she doesn’t like to drive when I’m with her.
Ouch!
I didn’t think that I was that critical, but maybe I should just stop after the word “think”. I didn’t think . . . and that is why I was so critical. If I had thought, I would have refrained from criticism.
So, yesterday my 12-step affirmation was “Today by God’s grace, I am choosing to refrain from criticizing anyone, including myself.” You may find it hard to believe, but two wonderful things happened.
First, I actually lived out this affirmation. And that is both wonderful and unusual. My affirmations often tend to be more aspirational than actional. But I acted on this one. Of course, both you and I need to remember the by God’s grace part of the affirmation.
Second, the results were wonderful. I was more focused and happier than I could have ever imagined. I think I’ll refrain from criticizing again today!
One of the basic confessions/affirmations of those of us who aspire to be Christ-followers is this: Jesus died on the cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world. Sins were not merely criticized at the cross. They were decisively dealt with there. My sins, your sins, everybody’s sins.
This same Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of the world said, “Don’t judge lest you be judged.”
What right do I have to judge anyone, in light of the cross? The question answers itself.
Have a Good Friday, dear ones! No criticism today; just gratitude.
DTEB, “Humility: The Best Policy”
Little things often suggest bigger truths. For example, . . .
. . . I was doing my gratitude list and threw in a comma before the word “but”. My grammar checker flagged the comma. I was a blend of irritated and curious. What was wrong with putting a comma there? My grammar checker was wrong on this one!
Or so I thought.
I checked with Professor Google. Curiosity triumphed over my irritation. From my first hit, I learned that I should only put a comma before the word “but” when it joins two independent clauses.
Here was my original sentence, edited to preserve the privacy of the one for whom I was grateful”
“_________________ had a bad wreck, but is doing well now (or at least better).”
But then, I said to myself—still irritated and wanting to justify my grammatical self—that these two clauses were independent. In fact, now I was even more irritated.
And then it hit me: No, they were not two independent, stand-alone clauses. There is no subject in the second half of the sentence. Therefore, this clause is not independent. I threw in the little word “he” and my grammar checker’s two blue lines magically disappeared. Poof!
Things wax very ironic here. I am a teacher. I am not just interested in good content when I read my students’ papers. I correct my students’ grammar frequently. One of my major emphases is that every sentence needs to have a subject and a verb. I don’t like subjects that are merely “understood”, yet not expressed. It is too easy to misunderstand when something is (supposedly) understood. And here I was, doing the very thing that I correct in my students’ papers.
So, I not only learned something about grammar. I also learned something about me. I learned—again—that I get irritated (and irritation gets me) by what I think I know but don’t. And why is that? I lack one of the cardinal virtues: humility. And naturally, a lack of humility makes me irritated. It also makes me more judgmental of others. What I think I know but don’t may not be so bad in and of itself. In fact, it probably doesn’t amount to anything. However, it can lead to other bad things like pride, irritation, and judgmentalism. Or rather, what I don’t know but think I know can reveal the pride, irritation, and judgmentalism that are already there.
What a lot of unwelcome insight a little comma can generate!
“Fear as Love, Fear as Hate”
Fear can be part of love. Fear can also be a form of hate.
I am afraid to displease my wife. That is part of my love for her.
The Bible has a great deal to say about fearing God and respecting others. It also has a great deal to say about loving God and others. In both the Old and New Testaments, a proper fear (or reverence or respect) for God and others is a major theme. So is love. Apparently love and fear—or, at least, a certain type of fear—are not sworn enemies.
On the other hand, according to Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” (English Standard Version) Apparently, there is a kind of fear that is not a good thing. In fact, I would go so far as to suggest that there is a kind of fear that shades off into hate.
This thought occurred to me today as I was struggling with why I hate new things so much. Of course, I could blame this tendency in me on old age. Why not? Old age ought to be good for something! Why not use it as a scapegoat—especially when you’re an old goat like me!
But here is my problem: Ever since I can remember anything (which is since I was about three years old), I’ve hated new things. When I go to a Mexican restaurant, I order the chimichangas. My wife asks, “Why don’t you order something different?” My usual response is, “Because I know I like the chimichangas. If I ordered something else, I’m afraid that I might not like it.”
Fear.
I don’t like listening to new songs or reading new books or new genres of books. Why? I’m afraid that I might not like them.
Fear.
I don’t like trying to learn new games generally. Why? By now, you know the answer.
Fear!
But in a sense, all this fear is a form of hate. Hate is often just fear that has hardened into a snarling, vicious dog. So, what if my fears cause me to hate new stuff, new attitudes, even (God help me!) new people.
God says, of the new heaven and the new earth, “Behold, I make all things new.” I’m not so sure that I will like new things.
But maybe hell is a place where everything stays the same. And I’m not so sure that I would like that, either.
I would hate to miss out on the new heaven and earth, just because I’m afraid of new things.
“Pickleball Lesson and Lessons from Pickleball”
We have friends back home who are really into Pickleball. My wife and I now see why. It is great fun and highly addictive!
At the RV resort where we are staying, they have a lot of activities. My wife, who is much more adventurous than I am, signed us up for a Pickleball class. We went, we saw, we were conquered.
The folks who were conducting the class were knowledgeable, patient, funny, and kind. We liked them immediately. It turns out that several of them had been teachers. They still are—and good ones at that.
One of them told us about the three “P’s of Pickleball: Placement, Patience, and Power.” I can’t remember if patience or placement comes first, but I’m certain that power came last.
Of course, I immediately thought to myself, “Well, there’s tomorrow’s blog post!” No matter what I read, here, or experience, my mind goes to life and spirituality.
Where you “place” yourself on the court and where you place your shot is important. It is the same with life. When I get up in the morning, where and how I place myself is crucial to how my day will go. I place myself in the mindset that it is going to be a great day. I place myself in a state of gratitude by making a list of things for which I am grateful. I do my 12-step report to my sponsors, text with another 12-step friend, and do some 12-step readings. I read Scripture and pray. (I also have coffee, which helps with all of the above.)
Patience is crucial to pickleball and life. I am not good at patience. This is, at least in part, a result of the fact that I’ve practiced so little. I’m not very patient with other people and I’m not patient at all with myself. (Hummm . . . I wonder if my impatience with other people is one of the bitter fruits of my self-impatience?) I expect myself to do things that I simply can’t do—go back and change mistakes I made in the past, be really good at things (like Pickleball) right away, and generally be better than I am right now.
Of course, both patience and impatience are the fruit of frustration. And who wants to be frustrated? In fact, it goes even beyond frustration. The Apostle Paul said that “tribulation brings about patient” (Romans 5:3). And who wants that! Someone said years ago, “I prayed for patience and God sent tribulation.” Yep! I am afraid that’s the way it works!
And then there is power. Most of us don’t have enough. At least we don’t think that we have enough power. I was never powerful, even when I was young. Growing up on the farm, I always threw the bales of hay up on the wagon or into the barn more by adrenaline than by strength. I will soon be seventy, and I can testify that my power is not getting more powerful.
However, power is the third and least important of the three “P’s” in pickleball. And I do have some power. So do you. So do we all. Am I, are you, properly using the power we’re given? My 12-step sponsor never tires of reminding me to “just keep doing the next right thing.” I never get tired of hearing it, either. It’s a good reminder and very necessary. Doing the next right thing is the best way to use power.
And, of course, there is God. Where does he come into all this? Let me suggest that God is the Greatest Pickleball Player ever. He is God with us. In fact, this is an important fourth “P”. God is present with us. That is God’s placement. This God who is present is very patient with us, not destroying us for our many stupidities and wrong-doings. And God is present and incredibly powerful. And he waits to empower each of us.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- God’s Specific Likes about Us April 25, 2025God pulled off a surprise love attack on me this morning. God lured me into the trap in a quite trivial way. I thought I would start my day, not by grading students’ assignments, but by reading and meditating on some Scripture. By the way, I am not saying that reading Scripture is trivial. The […]
- “Strange and Wonderful Creatures” March 28, 2025I did not sleep enough last night. Five hours of sleep may be enough for some, but not for me. However, when I tried for a while to go back to sleep after waking up at 1:00 a.m., I realized that it was not going to happen. I might as well get up and work […]
- “Even Computers Need a Rest Sometimes!” February 11, 2025Jumpy cursor! I was trying to grade student assignments, and my cursor was jumping around like a Mexican jumping bean. I would start typing something, and then I would be on a different line. Here is the sort of non-sentences I was ending up with: be Please see my respolownse video. Of course, what I […]
- “Lives as Well as Lips” February 5, 2025“Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!” (Psalm 106:1-3, English Standard Version) […]
- DTEB, “The Wanna-Wanna Method” January 29, 2025“. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12b-13, English Standard Version) In a text exchange with a friend, he confessed that he really, really wants to make some bad […]
- “Fun, Cat Videos, and Transformation” December 9, 2024“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, English Standard Version) One of my twelve-step sponsors suggested that I need more fun in my life. He knows me well, but on this one, I was determined to prove him wrong. […]
- “The Enemy is Perfectionism” December 6, 2024“The good is the enemy of the best.” (A common saying.) “The best is the enemy of doing anything at all that is good.” (My take on the saying and my reality.) Some of you have been wondering why I haven’t been posting any of my musings in the past way-too-long. I am tempted to […]
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
- “Christian Speech” October 26, 2024“Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Foulkes, in his excellent commentary on the Book of Ephesians, writes the following, which I quote at some length: “29. Now the […]
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