UNDERDOGS

From My Perspective - - -

In life, most of us have met or seen an underdog – perhaps, even had the sense at times that we were one. An underdog is “…a person who is expected to lose in a contest or conflict; one who is a victim of social or political injustice…” The expectation for the “underdog” is low and the possibility of breaking out of that mold is unlikely and remote. Many are relegated to thinking that it would require a “miracle” for one’s circumstance or situation to be anything other than what it is – impossible and/or a lost cause. Have you ever felt that way?

One of my favorite sporting events occurred in the 1980 Olympics. It is recorded for posterity in the following description: “…the Miracle on Ice – the United States hockey team’s victory over the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The odds were against the Americans in so many ways. They were a group of untested college and amateur players in a culture that was hardly hockey-centric, and they entered the 1980 Games as the seventh seed amongst 12 teams. The Soviets, meanwhile, were essentially full-time hockey players who had played together for years, and they were representing a country which had produced eight of the last nine gold medalists in the sport. The two countries were rivals in every sense of the word, with the political differences between them serving to further the meeting between the two teams on the ice. And to top it all off, the USSR and USA had already played each other in 1980, with the Americans suffering a 10-3 thrashing in a February exhibition match. If they played 100 times, the Soviet Union probably would have won 99 times. But they only played once, and on that day, the United States was the better team, winning 4-3 in what Sports Illustrated has called the greatest sporting moment of the 20th century…” Who can forget the sportscaster who kept repeating the phrase: “Do you believe in miracles?” It was a moment when almost certain defeat became a victory and where the powerful lost to the weaker.

Currently, in the realm of politics, we have an incumbent who ran on the theme of Hope and Change portraying himself as the Underdog (in terms of finances) in his pursuit of a second term. NEWSMAX reports: “A Blog Post on the Obama/Biden 2012 website rolled out the Obama Event Registry, which asks anyone with an upcoming birthday, wedding, or anniversary to "support the President on your big day by asking for donation money in lieu of a gift - Got a birthday, anniversary, or wedding coming up? Let your friends know how important this election is to you—register with Obama 2012, and ask for a donation in lieu of a gift. It’s a great way to support the President on your big day. Plus, it’s a gift that we can all appreciate—and goes a lot further than a gravy bowl." Is this an indication of one projecting himself as an “underdog”; or an act of desperation;  or just more narcissistic behavior?

If you have ever felt that you were an “underdog”, you should endeavor to have hope and confidence in the Lord. While there are many illustrations for reference, a notable one is David and Goliath. In I Samuel 17:8-11, the gravity of the situation is stated: “Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us. Then the Philistine said, This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other. On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.” In this instance, the underdog – Israel is described as being “dismayed and terrified.” The scene changes in Verses 42-47 when David steps forward to face Goliath – “Goliath looked David over and saw that he was only a boy… and he despised him.  He said to David: Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks? …David said to the Philistine: You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty…This day the Lord will hand you over to me…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” David was triumphant! Do you believe in miracles? You don’t need to be an “underdog” – you can be a victor rather than a victim! Put your hope and confidence in the Lord alone and always! Consider these things with me!

NATURE UPHEAVALS

From My Perspective - -

The news gives and shows vivid examples of the devastation in Florida with rain measuring upwards of 30 inches and the resulting flooding – while in the Western States – raging fires are destroying forests, wildlife, homes. The upheaval in the lives of people is incalculable and the overwhelming cost in terms of possessions and property is immeasurable. One’s heart goes out to those who are facing such challenging and devastating days and moments. While it would be presumptive to speculate regarding “why” some of these tragic events are occurring, there can be some lessons learned during and from Nature Upheavals.

There was a time when a people who had been enslaved for a long time were about to be delivered from their bondage. How can an indentured people know and find freedom from their oppression – deliverance from their enslavement. The government that had held them captive and was benefitting from their forced labor would not voluntarily set them free. How could they be delivered? How would deliverance occur? Who would intervene to help them? One gets the sense that divine Intervention is the only way and means for the impossible to become possible. It is not surprising that the Lord would clearly state His Plan and His Purpose for His People – Exodus 6:6-7 - "Therefore, say to the Israelites: I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” Will Pharaoh be willing and enthused  and respond immediately? The answer is: “No!” It would require ten plagues of increasing intensity before he would release the people – but even then – he had second thoughts and sent his army after them to prevent their access and deliverance into Canaan.

There is a very stern warning issued by the Lord in Jeremiah 6:9-19 – “This is what the Lord Almighty says…To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in…their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land…From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush…This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look…ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, We will not walk in it. I appointed watchmen over you and said, Listen to the sound of the trumpet! But you said, We will not listen. Therefore hear, O nations…Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law…”

Could it be that Nature Upheavals in our day – drought in the Southwest, raging fires in the Northwest, floods in the Southeast – are intended as the Lord’s means to regain the attention of a society and culture that has ignored Him and His Word and His Purpose? Could it be that the Lord is speaking to our nation and world today in a similar way as in the day of Jeremiah? Does this word spoken by Jeremiah – “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush” – describe our nation and culture today? The answer should be – “YES!” As real people in real time are suffering catastrophes and as they flee to safety - one will often hear the utterance of the phrase – “Oh, my God!” If only, the “Oh, my God” would translate over to repentance and a return to the Lord – the losses could become victories, and the disasters could become blessings. The other “if only” – why does it have to  take calamity for one to call on God? Consider these things with me!

DESPERATION AND DESPERATE TIMES

From My Perspective - - -

As one looks at the world-scene today, how desperate are the times in which we live? With the upheaval among nations, such as (a) continued unrest in the Middle-East, (b) reciprocal saber-rattling between Israel and Iran, (c) the Financial crisis in Europe, (d) with a continuing recession in the United States – have we crossed the threshold and entered into desperate times? What does the financial news of yesterday mean for us and the world: “Moody's Investors Service dealt a fresh blow to the financial sector, downgrading more than a dozen global banks to reflect declining profitability in an industry being rocked by soft economic growth, tougher regulations and nervous investors. The move hit five of the six biggest U.S. banks by assets, including Morgan Stanley, which had mounted a campaign to persuade Moody's not to cut its rating by three notches. It was downgraded instead by two. The lower ratings are likely to raise the companies' borrowing costs and affect how they raise capital, and could deprive some banks of trading revenue…”?

Some of the definitions for “desperate” include: (a) having an urgent need; desire (b) leaving little or no hope; very serious or dangerous (c) extremely bad; intolerable or shocking… Do these definitions describe the unemployed and under-employed in our nation? Do they describe those who have had to endure foreclosure and losses on their property investment? Does this describe how recent university graduates may feel when they cannot find entry-level work opportunities in the field of their expertise? There are the fading memories of The Great Depression of the 1920s - 1930s and the impact that had on individuals, families and the nation. There is also the fading memory of The Great War (World War II) and the national restrictions and rationing of basic supplies as the War effort was pursued. Were those times more or less desperate than the current world situation?

In Deuteronomy 28:49-59, there is a description of desperate times brought on by (a) the Lord being ignored by the people and (b) the Lord’s judgments upon their disobedience. Verses 56-57 give the sense and gravity of those times: “The most gentle and sensitive woman among you…will begrudge the husband she loves and her own son or daughter the afterbirth from her womb and the children she bears. For she intends to eat them secretly during the siege and in the distress that your enemy will inflict on you in your cities.” Lamentations 4:9-10 echoes this same plight at a later date: “Those killed by the sword are better off than those who die of famine; racked with hunger, they waste away for lack of food from the field. With their own hands compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food when my people were destroyed.” When the King of Aram had besieged Samaria, we read in II Kings 6:26-29, “As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, Help me, my lord the king! The king replied, If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the wine-press? Then he asked her, What's the matter? She answered, This woman said to me, Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we'll eat my son. So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, Give up your son so we may eat him, but she had hidden him." The plight of this woman was further compounded when she sought help from the secular government, It was desperation upon desperation!

Will the world in which we live become this desperate? Will people in our world resort to similar behavior? Can “civilized” people become so desperate that civility and morality are jettisoned and survival at any cost becomes the dictum of life? If or as desperate times increase and we are surrounded by greater numbers of desperate people, I hope we can remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:31-34, “do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus wants us to keep looking to Him and to live/walk in obedience to Him. Consider these things with me.

FATHERS AND THEIR DAY

From My Perspective - - -

Today, in a special article entitled “Fatherhood Could Alter Men's Behavior” by USA Reporter Sharon Jayson, she reports: "We're finding that (fatherhood) does have mental health, well-being and actual physical health benefits," says David DeGarmo, a research scientist at the non-profit Oregon Social Learning Center in Eugene. In…”an 18-month study of 230 divorced fathers of kids ages 4-11 that was published in 2010 in the American Journal of Men's Health. It found that when a father was more involved with his kids, he had better health, drank less and had lower substance use." The report includes: "…fatherhood prompts men to be less self-centered, more giving and more outward-focused. It can prompt them to be more responsible and become more mature, especially to temper some of their risks…involved fathering promotes more positive attachments and relationships…"

A sad truth is that many children grow up in life and the world and have little or no knowledge of their Father nor the benefit of a role model one can emulate in later life. This was true in my life. My Father was removed from the home because of Tuberculosis when I was five years of age. He would die of Pneumonia when I was seven. For the better part of my life, I did not have a Father who cared and or who could demonstrate what it meant to be a Father. When I became an Adult, and married, and soon became a parent – I became a Father with little or no first hand experience regarding how to be a Dad. Additionally, my schedule of going to school and working at nights gave little opportunity for me to become acquainted with  and to be more involved in “Training up a child in the way he/she should go, so that when they are old(er), they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).” I tried, but in retrospect believe I could have done much better. It is a sad truth that a Father doesn’t get a “do-over” – just one chance to get it right.

I appreciate H.B. London and many things he writes and has written. In a posted Blog on June 12^th, 2012, he wrote: “Father’s Day: Three Things for Fathers to Emphasize. There are approximately 64.3 million fathers in our nation. An estimated 26.5 million of those dads are married with children under the age of 18 - millions who have the priceless opportunity to influence their children and direct their lives.The challenge comes, however, when a Dad decides how involved he will be in his children’s lives. That decision is priceless.Here are three things for fathers to remember:(1) Fathering must be intentional. Parenting of any value does not leave the results to chance. Dads must take seriously the development of their family.(2) Fathering must be patient and loving. Dads need to be involved.That means we are called to show love in such a way that our children can model our behavior. Showing love to their mom is a great start-loving them is priceless.(3) Fathering must be spiritual. For a child to properly develop as a whole person, he or she needs a dad with biblical values, and one who puts into practice his faith. Statistics prove that families with godly dads have better results. Bottom line: Dads are priceless! Encourage…men…to be involved fathers.”Above all else: ‘‘And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, KJV).

In November 2010, HuffPost Black Voices reports: According to Children-our investment.org, homes without fathers ultimately affect children in numerous tragic ways: 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes; 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes; 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes; 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes; 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes; 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes; 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes.”

We need to be better Fathers/Dads. In Deuteronomy 6:1-7 (selected), we read: “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe…so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Consider these things with me.

INEPTOCRACY

From My Perspective - - -

A friend sent me a picture of a T-Shirt that suggests a new word for our vocabulary, namely, Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc-ra-cy). The suggested definition is: “A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.” Many would ignore this new word definition and/or argue that it is merely a political point of view. In doing so, they fail to notice the decline in manufacturing in our country, and the diminishing wealth, as well as the constant rate of unemployment and underemployment. A once great and proud nation is disintegrating and decaying slowly in broad areas of life – industrial, technological, monetarily, spiritually and morally. Our values and lifestyle are succumbing to the creeping Ineptocracy of the day.

The History Channel features some interesting programs. Among these features is, American Restoration. The introduction to the weekly telecast contains some of the following remarks: “Remember back in the day when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work? My name's Rick Dale, and I bring these things back to life. Every restoration has its own set of challenges. There's no owner's manual for what we do, but there's no job we can't handle.” Another interesting observation made on the telecast is: “Look at a man's workbench. You see his passions. His works in progress. The things that drive him crazy. Projects that... you get the point…every workbench tells a story. And this is ours: American Restoration.” They proceed to take items that show years of neglect and wear, spend hours working on such items, and producing a product that looks completely new (in some instances, almost better than the original). Their result is due to their standard of excellence – their unwillingness to accept mediocrity as an alternative.

It reminds me of an account in the Bible after the death of King Solomon and the Kingdom becomes divided between his two sons – Jeroboam and Rehoboam. In I Kings 12:1-16, there is some detail regarding this divided kingdom and evidence of Ineptocracy. You remember the scene in I Kings 12:1-16 – King Jeroboam comes to see Rehoboam. Jeroboam says to him: “…Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." Rehoboam answered, Go away for three days and then come back to me." So the people went away….” Rehoboam then proceeds to seek advice from two groups of people – (1) King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. How would you advise me to answer these people? he asked. They replied, If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants. But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and (2) consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, Lighten the yoke your father put on us? The young men who had grown up with him replied, Tell these people…My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions…” He accepts the counsel of the young and inept and rejects the counsel of the elders – the wise.

Ineptocracy usually misses the moment – the opportunity – and follows the path of failure rather victory; the path of turmoil rather than peace; the path of division rather than unity. In our daily lives, we are faced with moments and opportunities where we can make a positive contribution and have a positive influence. We need to follow a right and wise course of wisdom rather than the sounds of protest which seek to drown out values that matter. I love the words of the Hymn published in 1976 – “We are God's people, the chosen of the Lord, Born of His Spirit, established by His Word; Our Cornerstone is Christ alone, and strong in Him we stand: O Let us live transparently, and walk heart to heart and hand in hand.” We can and must make a positive difference in our nation and world today. Consider these things with me.

WHAT'S UP?

From My Perspective - - -

During one’s life, there are times when one will hear the question asked: “What’s up?” There are sometimes trite answers given, such as: The sky is up; or The price of Gasoline is up; or Inflation is so bad that even the price of duck-down is up; etc.” The lingering question is – what exactly is meant by “up” when we use the term so frequently?It is said: “UP - This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is ‘UP.’ It is listed in the dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].”

In June 1994, someone wrote to Dear Abby and asked the following: “…Some time ago, you published an item on the word "up"-how frequently it is used, and how comical it sometimes sounds. Will you please publish it again?”One can find similar posts to her answer, She posted:"We've got a two-letter word we use constantly that may have more meanings than any other. The word is UP. It is easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or toward the top of a list. But when we waken, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? And why are participants said to speak UP? Why are officers UP for election? And why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? The little word is really not needed, but we use it anyway. We brighten UP a room, light UP a cigar, polish UP the silver, lock UP the house and fix UP the old car. At other times, it has special meanings. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, think UP excuses and get tied UP in traffic. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special. It may be confusing, but a drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, and close it UP in the evening. We seem to be all mixed UP about UP. In order to be UP on the proper use of UP, look UP the word in the dictionary. In one desk-sized dictionary, UP takes UP half a column; and the listed definitions add UP to about 40. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways in which UP is used. It may take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a thousand."

The way one uses our language can cause some misunderstanding – We refer to some people as being “Uppity” whereas we say other people are “Down to Earth”. The “Uppity” person is seen as one who considered himself/herself as being superior to others, whereas “Down to Earth” generally means (a) a normal…easy to get along with person, or (b) a “gutter-snipe” who is viewed as a lower-class type individual (not too far removed from the “white Trash” designation). In the physical realm, most people know what is meant when they use the word “up” or “down” (or use some other directional term). When the spiritual realm is being considered, Heaven is usually seen as being “Up” (the future home of the Saved) whereas Hell is usually viewed as being “Down” (the place reserved for the Devil and the Lost)!

If the spiritual approach is to be meaningful, How should one put into practice the basic truth that Heaven is the dwelling-place of God and the final-destination for those who are “saved.”? A basic commitment must include: Psalm 121:1-2,7-8  - “I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth…The Lord will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”  Isaiah 40:25-31 (Selected) - "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens…Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Look Up to The Lord and be renewed in strength for the journey. Consider these things with me.