Questions Melting Into Praise and Worship

                People frequently say, “When I get to heaven I’ve got some questions I want God to answer.”  Often the questions have to do with the unfairness of the suffering of the young or some good person.  We want someone to answer to our satisfaction why something happened or failed to happen.  We are often stunned by the way life can knock someone down or take the life of a young child.

As I prepared to write this piece the 10 p.m. newscast was playing the story of a young firefighter who lost his life as he fell over a rail catching a baseball that a star player wanted him to give his son.  The father caught the ball but fell twenty feet to the concrete below.  A second story told of a Snyder, Texas police officer who answered a domestic dispute call and, before he could help, a man drew his pistol and shot him in the head point blank.  He now holds to life by a thread in a Lubbock hospital.

Story after story screams “UNFAIR” because the helper gets killed.  Our world is crazy and cruel.  Random acts of violence characterize our neighborhoods that we desperately want to be safe.  So the questions for God add up.  And some preachers feed the notion: “There is a reason for everything that happens and one day we will know all about it.”  We sing that we will understand it better by and by.

Well, I don’t want to damage anyone’s faith but it is entirely possible that we may never understand random acts of evil done in this world any better later than we do right now.  Why?  Because all that happens doesn’t always have a clear, understandable answer.

Maybe something else is going occur when we enter the eternal world that will displace our questions.  What might that be?  The wonderful, eternal beauty of Jesus Christ – the only King above all Kings and Lord above all Lords.  His throne and our overwhelming desire to give Him glory and honor may easily block out all those nagging questions our earthly sense of justice seems to press for answers.

My dear reader I want you to know that you will be gasping for breath (so to speak) as you look upon His glory!  We are much more likely to have forgotten all earthly questions after we’ve seen Him as He really is.  When we arrive we won’t remember the suffering of a child of God, perhaps, nearly so much as the fact they have entered into the rest of their dear Lord.  There’ll be no more questions then – only worship of the glorified Lord Jesus who gave it all for you and me.  Could this be the true response of our hearts upon arriving in the heavenly realm?  Remember, “We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.”

Hallelujah, Thine the glory,

Hallelujah, amen.

Tebow’s Help

Writer’s block?  Yes, I’ve had this illness for three months and I can’t describe the choking feeling it engenders.  Think about it: it’s not an illness that can be cured by antibiotics, certainly not surgery.  I’ve prayed for a release from this illness because I have begun twelve different messages I’ve wanted to share with you.

I have finally come to the possibility that if I read all the articles I could find on the outstanding football player, Tim Tebow, a brilliant quarterback for the Denver Broncos whose leadership has led his time to the football playoffs I might find a breakthrough to my illness of writer’s block.  Today’s New York Times has a full page photo of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning — an equally excellent quarterback.  But I find no inspiration from Eli’s photo.  Why?  Because unlike Tim Tebow, Eli does not give public credit to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for any good he does in his life whether it be on the football field or anywhere else in his life.

Tebow gives Christ the glory for any and every good thing in his life as the Bible teaches Christ lovers and Christ followers to do: “Whatsoever things you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” says Matthew’s gospel.

So for today I feel a small breakthrough provided by Tim Tebows’s example.  I don’t mean his expertise in a sport but his everyday habit to give his Lord credit for any good that comes through his life.  He wants everyone to give God glory and to lift up the name of Jesus for the purpose of giving Him glory.  I can do that.  I will do that.  No more excuses.  Just live for my Lord’s glory, whether it be giving a small amount of money to someone who needs help or listening to someone who thinks they aren’t worth anyone’s time to listen to them

I can’t do everything I want to do nor can I do very much.  But, I can give Christ credit for whatever He enables me to do.  Tebow is likely to leave his next game in Foxboro Massachusetts as a loser of a playoff game.  Thousands and thousands, however, will remember his giving credit to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving him the opportunity to try to reach the heights of football excellence.  He will keep on giving His Lord credit for the good that comes from his life.  What about me?  I can remember in whatsoever I say or do to do all in the name and for the credit of my Lord and Savior.

Wait!  I hear a little of my writer’s block breaking up.  Maybe my next blog is on its way.  I truly hope so!

Two Matters of Concern

by Randy Becton

Iris Delgado has had enough.  She’s fed up with Satan’s attacks on our children and grandchildren without parents and grandparents standing up, getting properly equipped and taking the fight to the forces of darkness.  The king of this world’s wicked kingdom must know God’s youth will fight successfully and faithfully with parents’ help as well as youth ministers with a largely overlooked band of grandparents and great grandparents.

Fueled with information and righteous indignation they can quickly take up the fight.  They will act again and again to help young hearts and minds know who to trust and who the real enemies are. They will understand how to steer clear of really harmful thoughts.  Let me be clear: if you don’t think there is a war on for the minds of our kids you are sound asleep!

You and I know God’s light is stronger than Satan’s darkness.  But if God’s light is in the closet, darkness dominates for sure.  Iris Delgado’s Satan, You Can’t Have My Children, must be read.  It provides real practical help so we can have confidence and faith to stand firm against Satan’s attacks.  God’s power is greater than the power of the enemy.  But let me be gut honest – one hour of Sunday School, one hour of Wednesday night class will not equip our children and grandchildren.  Nor will the effective but limited work of our youth ministers.  “Well Randy,” you ask, “what more will it take?”  I’ve got a Heart to Heart DVD on “Saving Our Children” with a stiffer plan I want you to have.  It’s free if you cover the postage and handling.  Among other things, we must pay a steeper price in time and prayer.  I want you to see it and, if you want, return it to me.  Please take me seriously.  I’m not the smartest mind but I know we can do better…and we must!  Tell me what you think.

We see New York State’s approval of same sex marriage and grow ill in our soul.  We see our highest leaders at the state level calling for “Days of Prayer and Fasting.”  This call from our governor in Texas was met with severe ridicule as a prelude to his announcement to run for president in 2012.  It was a call based on Joel 2 which calls for a people to return to the Lord with all their heart with fasting, prayer, weeping and mourning.  The event was called “The Response,” hoping for lasting change in America whether from the cynical, the pious, the politically interested or the curious.

There exists in America 365,000 churches and we know the Lord can use deeper devotion from each of us beginning with me and, I think, you too.  Whatever groups lent their name in support of this effort may or may not have helped the effort.  It’s fairly certain, however, that pointing fingers has never helped build a bridge between people who differ when it comes to righteous issues.  You might not believe it to have been spiritually wise to participate yet I believe it’s a beginning without a compromise.  At the least, pray for each attendee to grow closer to Jesus, his way of handling conflict and the core message of how he wants us to live.  I know we can do better.

Kate’s Dilemma

Kate asked me if I’d meet with her Sunday afternoon to talk about something very important.  “Sure,” I said, “I’ll be glad to meet.”  Shortly after, we sat across the table from each other and she began to talk about what had gone wrong with her senior year in high school.  She clearly doubted her future.  The she dropped the bomb: “And on top of all that I stupidly got pregnant.”  All was silent.  What was I going to say?  After what seemed like five minutes she said, “Randy, I’ve made the decision to go to Dallas on Monday to have an abortion.  My friends have taken up a collection to pay the fee and my travel expenses.  What do you think?”

“I think you are a very special young lady,” I replied.  “I’m sure you’ve thought a lot about your decision.  If you are asking me if this decision is the right one, I’ll give you my thinking but I believe you already know what I really think.  You know I believe what you are carrying is a real live human being, not just a fetus.  God makes a human life and if you’ll allow me, I’ll do everything possible to persuade you to allow that baby to be born.  I’ll try not to preach or make you feel worse than you already do.  But if you’ll let me, I’ll try to persuade you.  Of course, I promise to keep our visit confidential as you asked before we began our visit.”

Here I know many readers might write angry words telling me I had no choice but to tell Kate’s parents so they could stop her using whatever means necessary!  I did not believe she could be stopped unless it was by means of loving persuasion.  She had already proved she could outsmart a number of adults.

I made the best case I could.  I prayed with Kate.  She asked a final question before we left our meeting.  “If I go through with this will you hate me when I come back?”  Why would she ask that?  What difference would it make?

I answered, “If you go I’ll weep for a long time.  But hate you?  Never!  You are someone Jesus won’t hate so if I’m trying to be a follower of His, I will only keep loving.”  What else should I do?  I added, “Kate, I want to ask you for a bold reversal: have that baby, let me have the privilege of holding that newborn and then either let me help you work with a Christian adoption agency or to rear that child with the help of a number of us Christians.”

As time went by, I learned that she chose to give birth to a beautiful baby girl – and yes – she let me hold her.  Don’t be misled.  I didn’t change her mind.  Her years of Christian nurture at home and through church tipped the scales in Kate’s heart to do what she herself believed the Lord wanted her to do (To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done).

Kate’s decision was very, very difficult for she had to live with her parent’s sense of her having betrayed them because of sexual promiscuity.  She wasn’t welcome in their home for a few months.  I don’t want to be too hard on them.  Time helped move them to rethink their hostile feelings and love grew toward their daughter.  This story has a purpose and that is to remind us: people are making up their minds every day about many things.  Try to be a Christian someone would want to talk over the decisions of life with.  It makes a big difference if you’ll hold your judgment and try to point people to a better way.

Are You Starved for Just One?

Even in my small city of 102,000 and my church of 600 members it’s easy to see a very staggering truth: Christians are starved for meaningful relationships.

I’ve hungered for one true friend rather than 15 – 20 somewhat close friends.  There’s a real difference.  No, I don’t want to dominate someone’s time and attention in such a way as to practically “own” them so their wants and needs are never met.

It was Lee Grady who recalled his Puerto Rico preaching experience when he began at 10:30 on Sunday morning and didn’t leave until 5 p.m. because his listeners wanted him to continue teaching and preaching.

You remember in the Bible the book of Acts reports that after the first disciples were baptized they “…were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).  The word “fellowship” or koinonia (the Greek word) appears only 19 times and can be thought of as a heart-to-heart partnership, a bonding of two who know one another deeply, trust one another without fear of being exposed in any unlovely thought or word that may have been said.  For me it means, I’ll pray for you, care about your heart’s concerns, try to help you bear your burdens and, if you need money, my billfold is open to you.  I’ll try to help you love and serve Jesus if you’ll help me do the same.

Let’s keep our brothers and sisters from being starved for soul friendship.  Yes, some betray us, but not all.   Try again to have a deep, meaningful soul friendship.  Do me the courtesy of telling me if you have one.  Tell me if you are hungry for one or have you given up.  Are you willing to try again?  Are you starving?  Healthy, happy Christians have meaningful deep soul friendships – at least one.  I hear about Christians who have given up on this ever happening for them.  Change your thinking.  Ask God for one.  Lay behind you those who have let you down.  The way past your wounds is with the fresh love of a Christian brother or sister.  God’s Holy Spirit will provide the love to make it happen if you are willing.  Are you?  Let me hear from you, will you?

Dad’s “Killing” Secret

My dad was an everyday alcoholic.  As a talented general contractor, he developed a number of housing units that were characterized by solid workmanship and were always brought in under budget.  This made my father popular with investors in development projects.

He was up and out of the house by 5 in the morning drinking the strongest coffee I’d ever smelled or tasted.  A thick Maxwell House thermos jug helped him start his crew each day.

I worked as a lumber associate one summer and found my father’s work ethic amazing.  I wanted this quality in my own work life.  As the mid-afternoon came, dad began to drink alongside his work.  By the time he arrived home he was “lit,” a word that denotes one who is on his way to being drunk.  Why?  I don’t really know.  One theory I thought I picked up from him was a deep-seated resentment/conflict with his mother and two sisters.  I’m under the impression his mother was super-critical of him.  She opposed him going to college claiming he was needed to help his father build houses after their shift on the railroad.  To be honest, I don’t really know why he had such a strong urge toward daily drunkenness.

Our family never heard of AA or Al Anon in any practical way.  We never found a way to help dad for he swore that he did not drink and resented anyone who said that he did.  When I read what Bill and The Big Book have done for millions of alcoholics, I ache in my heart that our family bypassed that wonderful program.  I know for a fact that having a problem in one’s life is not the big sin.  Failing to address the problem is.  Help is available from God and properly chosen people who can help us.  But it all begins with the genuine cry, “O Lord, I have a problem that is destroying the quality of my life.  I know it brings me shame, guilt and stops my forward progress.  I need to tell you the truth.  And I need someone who can help me.  Help me be a courageous man and meet my problem head on.  I know truth is the first step toward healing and hope.  Help me act, Lord.”

Do you need help to overcome something that has a boot holding your neck down on the pavement, crushing the life out of you?  Take a chance with trusting me.  I’ll try to help you.  I know your Heavenly Father wants you to succeed.  Start today, please.

Remember: to have problems is human.  To address them shows your courage.

A True Soul Friend

by Randy Becton

“…the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1).

In the boldest friendship described in Hebrew Scripture, we see David and Jonathan, two true warriors, who should have been difficult to perceive as friends, unfolded as dear friends at the heart level.  Instead of suspicion or carefully plotted power matches, the men who knew them understood they were witnessing love in action.  They had become one spirit, caring for each others needs.

I experience warm thoughts toward a dear soul friend, Virgil Fry, when I see his columns in “Lifeline News,” the monthly newsletter of the powerfully effective Lifeline Chaplaincy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Hospital as well as their hospital outreaches at Dallas and Tyler, Texas.  They grow compassion ministries in amazing ways.  They persistently stand beside suffering people.  They serve long hours with no applause.

I’ve also learned there are different kinds of soul friendships although they frequently have similar characteristics.  Self-sacrifice is always evident in soul friendships.  Often there is deep faith in God and sustaining prayers for each other.  Frequently one gives sacrificially of time and money on behalf of the other, not once or twice but regularly.  One can never give too much because our Lord Jesus is the example of giving deeply again and again.  There is joy in living to meet the needs of another.

Between soul friends, sins are discussed, prayed over, and God’s forgiveness is liberally applied to the soul; for confession is deep and real, repentance with tears is frequent but, most of all, mercy is received.

Can you become a soul friend with whom you can relax and be yourself?  Does this person cover your back against jealous opponents?  Are you sure?  I am with Dwight, a dear soul friend, no matter what we face, when we face it and no matter how difficult the issue.  He helps me battle the interior loneliness I sometimes must fight.  Do you understand?  He is a Soul friend.  God has given me the best.  Do you have someone God has provided?  I really feel that hopeless at times.  Without soul friends in my life there would be no way to push on.    I’m so sorry I travelled solo for so long.

A real friend who shares openly, sometimes painfully, helps me find God’s healing.  What a friend I have in Jesus and in Jesus’ friends.

Lou Gehrig: A Life Well Lived

by Randy Becton

                Younger people only know him by the name that was attached to the illness that took his life: A.L.S. (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).  Baseball enthusiasts know him by his legendary feats on a baseball diamond.  He was a teammate of Babe Ruth and his records surpassed Babe’s by almost every power slugging standards except number of home runs.  He was the holder of the most famous record for stamina, playing in 2,130 consecutive games until that record finally was broken.  Perhaps the last record of his to be broken will be 23 home runs with the bases loaded.

To many long-time baseball fans, Lou Gehrig remains baseball’s most revered figure.  According to Ray Robinson, sports writer for the New York Times, the fans he’s interviewed agree that Lou remains baseball’s most respected player even though he played side-by-side with the more famous Yankee Babe Ruth.  Ruth was known for being unfaithful through his years of marriage while Gehrig stayed loyal to one woman.  Gehrig was known for putting his teammates ahead of himself while Ruth hogged the spotlight.  Gehrig called himself the luckiest man alive when he was forced to stop playing the game he loved so much.  No self-pity.  He only wanted to be remembered for the things he was thankful for.  He spent his last days working in the mayor’s office trying to help prisoners to better their lives when they left prison.  No wonder his name carries words like integrity, self-respect, humility and thankfulness.  We should read his life story, tell it to our children and grandchildren.  We need to be sure to explain why his life sparkled more than the “Great Bambino,” Babe Ruth, the mighty home run slugger of the Yankees.

On the front page of the New York Times the day he died a column was written so that many people could pause to pay their respect for a life well lived.  Lou was surely that man.

Fear Has Always Chased Me

My wife asked my God during our prayer time together tonight that God would give me two special blessings: (1) God, please infuse Randy with your comfort for his soul and (2) please give him the peace that passes our own understanding.  He needs your peace to trump his anxieties and fears.

You know I want these gifts and long for them to be in my heart.  So many fears and so few ways I’ve kept them stomped out.  Too often, because of fear I’ve been too weak to offer any meaningful efforts to minister to people.

I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior more than forty-five years ago.  I knew He would be my Savior and my example of what it means to trust God with life’s fearful moments and I was aware that I’d be an imperfect follower.  I was less aware of the power of Satan’s lies.  Lies come from the underground hater of God (Satan) in forms like these:

1. Don’t you realize you can’t live the Christian life, Randy, you’re a fool for thinking you can.
2. Surely you know that your existence is one covered with doubts, confusion and inability to enjoy any real peace.
3. I’m closing in on you and you’re going to find it harder and harder to hold on to faith.

These three examples of Satan’s lies are just that: dangerous, empty lies.  They are the opposite of those truths Jesus wants you and me to enjoy:

1. You are mine and I’m always with you so that in your weakness I can be your strength.
2. I don’t ask you to trumpet your strength and your successes in perfect trust of my promises (Jesus says), all I ask is that you rest in my love and what I accomplished for you on the cross.
3. In the midst of pain and your perceived failure just pray to me remembering no one God has given me will be snatched out of my hand by Satan.

When I was only a teen I remember memorizing Jesus’ words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, also trust in me” (John 14:1-2).  I’ve held this truth close whenever I’ve been afraid of anything or anyone.  Now that I need it again it’s time to repeat it.  Also, these words, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Jesus assure his followers that, “…the prince of this world…has no hold on me…” and these same words color my heart when I think Satan has a grip around my neck.  He doesn’t, can’t, and never will.

Jesus, I’ll try to remember.  I trust!  Help me, Lord.

What Kind of Friend Do You Need?

Today’s test is called the “Upper G.I.” My gastroenterologist is looking for the causes of my spitting up small amounts of blood.  At the end of this test he pronounced me clean, saying the problem did not come from his area of expertise; that is, the throat or stomach.  Have you had enough of my anatomy problems?  Well, there is a point to what I’m telling you.  We meet one another often with these words, “How are you?”

“Fine, how about you?”

“Fine.”

Is that truly how it is going or are we giving the answer people want to hear?

Answer “How are you?” with one of these real life answers, and see what happens:

1. I’ve been battling a migraine for the last two days.
2. We just received a call that our son-in-law has been let go from his job.
3. I can’t get anyone to volunteer to head up the new committee.
4. Our son called last night to tell us he and his wife are splitting up.
5. If this economy continues to decline we may have to move to a smaller house or sell it for a big loss.

How much one’s real challenges, problems, difficulties or call-it-what-you-may, can one put up with?  I cherish real life friends who can share anything they want with me, knowing its “safe” and I’ll help if I can.  And, if I can’t help, I can at least listen with empathy.  Dr. Phil, the television counselor that Oprah Winfrey brought to prominence, has an understanding heart along with a problem-solving mind.  He draws tons of viewers who want to know if his advice could help them with their problems.

Most of us don’t really need an expert to fix what’s wrong in our work life or relationships.  What we need is some courage to look ourselves squarely in the mirror and courageously do what we already know we should do.  Often a friend can walk beside us as we do the necessary thing.  Friends don’t fix friends; they walk along beside them without a condemning word.  And encouraging word will work wonders in the life of someone going through tough stuff.  Don’t you think that’s what you most appreciate?  I know I do.

OK, sure, there are times I can’t see something that a friend can point out.  But it’s rare when correction is the need; just understanding.  I’m not downplaying good judgment from a friend but my experience tells me the longer a friend has walked along beside me the more his good sense seems to ooze out when I need it – he really doesn’t even need to voice it.  Do you have a friend like this?  Drop me a message and give me your experience.  Let’s see if we agree.