Manipulation

From My Perspective - - -

The American Heritage Dictionary gives an apt definition for the word, Manipulation: “Shrewd or devious management, especially for one's own advantage.” This tends to be very prominent in the Political climate of our times. Some speak of it as “talking points”, whereas others indicate it is a more blatant “spin” (or intended to make one believe something is true when in fact in may contain a deliberate partial truth). We see this in professional sports and people who are professional actors. Their “handlers” publicize what they want the public to know and think. It is particularly appalling when manipulation occurs within religious groups and denominations. It is especially painful to witness and experience manipulation – the shrewd or devious management as details are blurred and a rationale for actions taken fails to conform to defined procedures and practices – rules and regulations are set aside and personal preferences are substituted.

One of the many problems with Manipulation is that it tends to be dominated by the “devious”. It was Sir Walter Scott who is credited with writing: "Oh! What a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive." Devious is defined as: “not straightforward; shifty or crooked, insincerity or deceit; evasive, indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading…” It is an effort to paint a picture that is less than accurate regarding a person, place, thing, historical event, etc. To get a sense of this, all one needs to do is read the Daily Newspaper objectively and logically (maybe even skeptically) – and it will become very obvious that opinion has replaced fact, as well as redefinition replacing historical narrative and accuracy.

We get a picture of the devious and manipulation in I Samuel 15. The Word of the Lord is clear to King Saul regarding the Amalekites, namely, “Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” It’s difficult to understand the modification Saul allows for the very clear directive: “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.”

Saul’s approach was not the best “spin” because he stated to Samuel: “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” Of course, there was a twofold matter that had not entered into the calculation of Saul, namely (1) the perception of Samuel, and (2) the immediacy of evidence to the contrary. Saul’s explanation for his modification and the contraband was: “And Samuel said, What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear? Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” The only way to deal with the “spin” and the “devious” is to do what Samuel did: “Then Samuel said to Saul, STOP! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” Samuel then asks: “Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” Saul begins to manipulate and spin: “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” Basically, Saul was told he compromised his integrity and he would no longer be King over Israel.

What a sad ending because of the devious and manipulative! What kind of tangled web have you allowed to be woven in terms of your life? Is your life lived with integrity and forthrightness? It would be best to change before it is too late!

Think about this with me - - - -

Government Regulation and Control

From My Perspective - - -

Last week, our nation celebrated the 232^nd Anniversary of its Declaration of Independence. As our nation has evolved, How “free: and how “independent” are we today? Are we a government “of the people, for the people, by the people” or have we relinquished our freedom and independence for self-gratification purposes?

In his Breakpoint Devotionals, Chuck Colson shares about a friend who was trying to develop a camp program for needy children, with this observation: “In order to proceed with the camp, numerous permits, clearances, and approvals were required by an astonishing number of government agencies. These ranged from a County Planning Commission to the state's Historical and Museum Commission to the Environmental Protection Agency to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers…My friend was required to get a permit to cross a "wetland" with a truck. This "wetland" was a damp area some 18 inches wide…In the end, the various government bodies delayed the project for two years and cost my well-meaning friend millions of dollars….This was a case-all too common today-of regulatory agencies making it almost impossible to do anything because they have overlapping jurisdictions.” Colson summarizes: “…There is a profound Christian question at stake here. Scripture says government has just two objectives: to preserve order and do justice. How did we get from that simple function to a government that requires 18 different permits before you can build a new bathroom-or expand a campground for needy, inner-city kids?...We need to work to keep government doing its right roles and no more, because if we do not, it will eventually cease to function at all.”

Someone humorously wrote about the difficulty if Noah was given the assignment to build the Ark within one year. The parody states: “…Exactly one year later…The Lord saw Noah sitting in his front yard weeping. Noah. He shouted, Where is the Ark? …I did my best but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction and your plans did not comply with the codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans. Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system and floatation devices…my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission…The Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me catch any owls…The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Union. Now I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls. When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal rights group…Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood…Then the Army Corps of Engineer demanded a map of the proposed new flood plain…I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving people aboard! The IRS has seized all my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the State that I owe some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a 'recreational water craft.' The ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore unconstitutional… The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully - You mean you are not going to destroy the Earth, Lord? No, said the Lord sadly - The government already has!"

In the Christian Community and ministry effort, we are almost as complicated. Matthew 28:19-20 states: “Go…Make Disciples…Teach them God’s Law/Word…” It would be perhaps as difficult – or more difficult - for a William Carey, Martin Luther, Mary Slessor to be appreciated and approved for Christian endeavor today. We would still have people in the Churches who would not be engaged in the task to: “Go…Make…Teach…”

Think about this with me - - -

Danger Ahead

From My Perspective - - -

We all see warning signs every day. In some instances, those signs are so ordinary and common place that we hardly notice them any more. For instance, Railroad Crossings used to have this warning: “Stop, Look, and Listen.” We don’t have as much railway traffic as in previous years and the only thing that modifies our speed at such crossings is the uneven terrain when crossing the tracks. Another sign one often sees when driving is: “Watch Out For Falling Rocks”. I doubt anyone pays much attention to that warning of possible danger. Few slow down for Curves; many do not make a complete Full Stop at an intersection. We just don’t take Danger Warnings seriously.

Regrettably, the matter-of-fact attitude permeates our culture, and with that attitude, detachment from the realities and lurking dangers. I think of two areas in our nation currently. First, economic instability. The following report should serve as a Major Warning of Danger: “The total unfunded liabilities for Social Security and Medicare amount to $41 trillion dollars. Our government has promised $41 trillion dollars to Social Security and Medicare recipients without any plan to raise the needed money. So... just how much is a trillion? Have you ever asked for something from someone and had them reply "Just give me 5 minutes." Fine --- but what if he says "Just give me 1,000 minutes...or a million? Or a billion?" Here's the breakdown: 1000 minutes would equal just less than 17 hours. You'll get what you asked for before the day is out. 100,000 minutes would be almost 70 days. One million minutes? Look for whatever you need in just less than 2 years. One billion minutes? Try 1,900 years. One trillion minutes? Well, today is 2008. Your wishes will be fulfilled in the year 1,903,377. That's 1,901,369 years from now.” One wonders about the devalued dollar; the higher price of gasoline, the increasing costs of basic necessities – the basic truth is our outgo has greatly exceeded our income – therefore – our upkeep as a nation is leading to our downfall!

Secondly, the very considerable realities of terrorism. Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of American Center for Law and Justice writes: “Christians are under attack. In Iran, a couple is tortured for reading the Bible. Two men are tried and convicted for possessing Christian books in Algeria. This is serious. Right now, there is a radical proposal being pushed before the United Nations that will make expressing your faith an international crime. Speak out for Christianity and you might face the death penalty. In countries around the world, Christians are under attack as never before. There are examples of a growing global crisis - Christians targeted, facing the harshest of penalties - often death. Why? For simply sharing their faith or even reading a Bible! Now, one of the largest organizations inside the United Nations has made a bold move. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at the U.N. is pushing a dangerous resolution - making speaking out against Islam - including proclamation of Christianity - an international crime. It's an anti-Christian measure and it clearly endorses what's taking place in many Muslim countries - where those who even speak out about Islam are severely punished with imprisonment and even death. I firmly agree with Justice Scalia who said in his recent dissent on the Supreme Court ruling on Guantanamo Bay, ‘American is at war with radical Islamists’.”

Despite these very real dangers, we read in I Peter 3:14 that must learn to cope with the degrading circumstances and press onward. Peter writes: “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." No fear! No fright! We must function responsibly. We must live and model righteousness in the midst of chaos and darkness around us.

Think about this with me - - -

Is God Speaking In Nature?

From My Perspective - - -

Many of the Psalms were written by David. He was an outdoorsman – a shepherd caring for his flock of sheep – protecting them; leading them beside still waters; bringing them to verdant pastures – seeing to it that they were nourished and preserved from harm. It’s not surprising then to read in the Psalms about God’s handiwork in nature. In Psalm 8:3-9, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” In Psalm, 19:1, David writes: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”

I wonder what the Psalmist would write about today if he was shepherding his sheep in the United States of America. In the given news cycle, we have fires raging in the West, floods impacting mid-America, a section of our country (Louisiana) still not fully restored following the hurricane Katrina (August 2003), Levees collapsing, rising fuel and food costs, the prospect of a famine as crops have been wiped out and some food sources are being used to produce ethanol, drought conditions in the southwest and other parts of the country. Would the Psalmist remind us that God will attempt to get our attention by one means or another. If we ignore His Word and His Gospel, will conditions be permitted to deteriorate until we cry out to Him in repentance on the one hand, and seeking His face on the other?

Max Lucado in his Upwords devotional for today (MaxLucado.com) raises the theme: In God We (Nearly) Trust? He writes about a beautiful day and a cruise on a friend’s boat. All is going well until the winds start blowing and a storm begins – and they are totally dependent on their friend – the Captain of their boat. He applies that experience to life and asks: “Does God know what he is doing? Can he get us out? Why does He allow the storm? Can you say about God… I know God knows what’s best. I know I don’t. I know He cares. Such words come easily when the water is calm. But when you’re looking at a wrecked car or a suspicious-looking mole, when war breaks out or thieves break in, do you trust him? In regard to God and life… look toward the Captain and resolve - he knows what’s best.”

I always find comfort and reassurance in the words of the Hymn based on Mark 4:35 through 39 - - -

Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh;
Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep,
When each moment so madly is threatening A grave in the angry deep?

Refrain

The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace, be still!

Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea, Or demons or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, be still!

Think about this with me - - -

Freedom Is Not Free

From My Perspective - - -

Lee Greenwood wrote the stirring words to, “I’m Proud To Be An American”… Some of the lyrics express the following:

If tomorrow all the things were gone I’d worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife.
I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom
and they can’t take that away.

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there’s pride in every American heart,

and it’s time to stand and say:

I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.
And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land

God bless the U.S.A

Freedom isn’t free. It carries a price of commitment and sacrifice to preserve that freedom and to pass it on to future generations intact. In order that Freedom will become a reality, our nation needs to return to its spiritual heritage and to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are two basic considerations shared with us in Galatians 5, (1) vs. 1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery, and (2) vs. 13: You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” The price for our freedom was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sin. The price of our obligation in the freedom we enjoy is to serve one another in love.

A nerve was touched when words resonated across our land as Martin Luther King gave his “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, DC on August 28^th, 1963. The familiar words are - - -

And so –
Let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside,
Let freedom ring.

For the Church and the individual professing Christian, there must be the commitment to make our freedom in Christ be genuine and working at its best and finest - everywhere. We can no longer live for ourselves and by our own set of rules. Submission to authority is not easy but it is the responsible way to live and interact. No one is ever really free in this world and lifetime – there are guidelines and expectations ranging from civility on the secular plane to yieldedness on the spiritual plane. The restrictions God places on our freedom are not infringements on our liberty – they are protections against evil.

Think about this with me - - -

Wandering Sheep

From My Perspective - - -

A Hymn written by Horatius Bonar in 1843 describes beautifully the state of lost and wandering sheep… It reminds one of Isaiah 53:6, “all of us, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned to our own way…”

I was a wandering sheep, I did not love the fold;
I did not love my Shepherd’s voice, I would not be controlled.
I was a wayward child, I did not love my home;
I did not love my Father’s voice, I loved afar to roam.

Thankfully, there is One Who came to be The Shepherd Who would seek for His sheep. The Scriptures paint a very beautiful picture for us. Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd...” and John 10:11 where Jesus states: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…”

The Shepherd sought His sheep, The Father sought His child;
They followed me o’er vale and hill, O’er deserts waste and wild;
They found me nigh to death, Famished and faint and lone;
They bound me with the bands of love, They saved the wand’ring one.

Sometimes a sheep will wander far from the fold. The lamb/sheep are so vulnerable and fragile (and a little bit dumb). They believe they can go places that are neither wise nor safe for them. Sometimes there are wounds and pain…

They spoke in tender love, They raised my drooping head,
They gently closed my bleeding wounds, My fainting soul they fed;
They washed my filth away, They made me clean and fair;
They brought me to my home in peace, The long sought wanderer.

In Luke 15:3-6, “Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.”

Jesus my Shepherd is: ’Twas He that loved my soul;

’Twas He that washed me in His blood, ’Twas He that made me whole.
’Twas He that sought the lost, That found the wand’ring sheep,
’Twas He that brought me to the fold, ’Tis He that still doth keep.

In Luke 15, Jesus is telling His disciples about valuables that become lost – the lost sheep; the lost coin; the lost son - and the effort that is put forth to find those valuables. Sometimes it will take a while before the lost is found, but perseverance and patience and awareness must be constant. Like the father of the prodigal son, one must faithfully and earnestly keep looking down the road for the son to return. It is said of the Prodigal – “When he came to his senses” – he began his long journey home. Many voices may have been inwardly trying to discourage him – but – he did come home. And when he did, he had a new perspective and commitment - - -

No more a wandering sheep, I love to be controlled;
I love my tender Shepherd’s voice, I love the peaceful fold.
No more a wayward child, I seek no more to roam;
I love my heavenly Father’s voice, I love, I love His home!

Keep looking faithfully for your lost and wandering sheep/lamb… One day there will be rejoicing when that lost and wandering sheep/lamb returns to the fold – comes to his/her senses and returns home - no more to roam! May God grant that it be soon!

Think about this with me - - -

Liberty and Fractured Freedom

From my Perspective - - -

The Liberty Bell has been visited by millions of people who journey to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to see this symbol of our heritage. We rely on History and Tradition to get a sense of the reason and significance of this symbol. “The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the Bell in 1751 to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, Pennsylvania's original Constitution. It speaks of the rights and freedoms valued by people the world over. Particularly forward thinking was Penn's ideas on religious freedom, his liberal stance on Native American rights, and his inclusion of citizens in enacting laws.” Of special significance is the Inscription on the Bell: “…As the Bell was created to commemorate the golden anniversary of Penn's Charter, the quotation "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof," from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly apt. For the line in the Bible immediately preceding "proclaim liberty" is, "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year." What better way to pay homage to Penn and hallow the 50th year than with a bell proclaiming liberty?”

Another reference indicates about the Bell: "Tradition tells us…it continued tolling for the First Continental Congress in 1774, the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775 and its most resonant tolling was on July 8, 1776, when it summoned the citizenry for the reading of the Declaration of Independence produced by the Second Continental Congress…and to hear the first public reading by Colonel John Nixon…” The Bell was often used “…throughout the period from 1790 to 1800, when Philadelphia was the nation's capital, uses of the Bell included calling the state legislature into session, summoning voters to hand in their ballots at the State House window, and tolling to commemorate Washington's birthday and celebrate the Fourth of July…”

Liberty is defined as: “The condition of being free from restriction or control; the right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.” Most of us have become familiar with the Bill of Rights contained in the first ten (10) Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. In our complex culture and society, it becomes a fair and valid consideration: How Free Are We In This Nation. When we remember the inscription on the Liberty Bell: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof…”, we are caused to wonder when we read on June 30, 2008: “An evangelist convicted of federal crimes for preaching on a public sidewalk in front of the Liberty Bell is appealing his case. Repent America director Michael Marcavage was sentenced to a year's probation and fined by a federal magistrate for refusing to leave a public sidewalk near where the Liberty Bell is on display outside Independence Hall. Marcavage is now appealing the conviction for "obstructing agency operations" to the U.S. District Court. "We weren't obstructing anyone. In fact, the government even stipulated, during the trial, that we were not obstructing or blocking anyone and that I was not acting disorderly…”
(http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=157564)

It seems as though more than the Liberty Bell is cracked. We mouth the words in our Pledge of Allegiance to The Flag: “…one nation, under God…” while preventing the mention of and the praying to God in our schools and many public forums. Students have had their diplomas withheld, and microphones turned off, when they attempted to give their testimony about Jesus Christ and their relationship to Him. It seems as though Liberty and Justice are selectively applied. “Proclaim Liberty…” – by whom and to whom - well – not by a minister standing by The Liberty Bell in A.D. 2008, and not by our public school children today…

Think about this with me - - -