Divisiveness

To be honest, I do not watch the news too much anymore.  Years ago, I used to watch it regularly, or at least read the news on the Internet, so that I could keep up with current events.  However, even though keeping up with current events is still important to me, I have a very hard time doing so.  Why, because almost all news outlets have a very specific political agenda that they want to expound upon, so they twist their news that way.  I know that it was always been this way, but it seems that it’s become very much more blatant in the last few years.

You are probably wondering why I feel that most major news outlets are becoming more ‘blatantly political.’  This is my perspective:  Most of the time when I watch to Fox News, CNN, local news, etc., they cover a current event, but then greatly expound on how ‘their side’ (be it conservative or liberal) is right and everyone else is ‘un-American,’ evil,, etc.  A very good example is the recent ‘unrest’ concerning illegal immigrants being separated from their parents.  If you watch CNN, CNBC, or other liberal media outlet, they only focus on ‘how evil it is’ for President Trump to allow the children of illegal immigrants to be separated from their parents. They call all people who want stronger protection measures against people entering American illegally Nazis, totally uncaring, etc.

On the other side of things, many from conservative news outlets, like Fox News, will cover the exact same issue, but call those who are liberal un-American because they want to allow criminals to enter the US and more easily allow children to be used for sex trafficking, mules for bring in drugs, etc.  Though these are valid concerns which I also share, the way they often express these issues are almost as bad as the left, or worse. 

Unfortunately, Facebook is become even more ridiculous when it comes to divisiveness.  At times, I really do feel like closing my Facebook account and being done with it.  So far I have not because Facebook is still good enough outlet for discussing things with friends.  Although tolerating the divisiveness is becoming more difficult.  For starters, I find that I have to not only hide a lot of extremely liberal posts that I do not like, but I also have to hide a lot of mean-spirited conservative posts as well.  Whether it is on the issue of gun control vs. 2^nd Amendment, abortion vs. Pro-Life, immigration issues, etc., I end up hiding at least half of the topics because of being divisive and mean-spirited.

I admit, I do not ‘toe the line’ when it comes to conservative values.  I have always held to my own moral and religious beliefs and endorse those that best parallel what I believe.  One of the main reasons why I was disliked by many of my seminary professors and fellow students was because I did not accept their viewpoints as totally valid, but did my own research and maintained my core beliefs.  That is one of the main reasons why I am not a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).  I do not just accept doctrine, but analyze it, compare it to what Scripture clearly says (including linguistical issues, history, and cultural context), and come to my own conclusions.  While many have respected me for my beliefs and willingness to challenge other ideas, many other have not.

I do enjoy a good discussion on issues, and I do enjoy hear other view points and learning as much as I can.  Just because I don’t agree with someone else’s perspective doesn’t mean I can’t respect its importance to that person.  Sadly, many people are of the opinion that if I don’t agree with then and endorse their opinions on whatever subject, I am somehow evil, un-Christian, un-American, what have you…  Sorry, but I cannot and will not tolerate that kind of attitude. 

Just today I had to ‘un-friend’ a person that I have known for decades.  Almost every time I discussed an issue, the immigration issues being the most recent one, he repeatedly looked down at me for my beliefs.  I definitely do believe in allowing people to immigrate to America.  My biological mother’s side were ethnic Germans who had initially emigrated from Germany to southern Russia (in what is now the Ukraine), but later had to emigrate to America in the 1880’s due to the ‘re-Russification’ of Russia.  My wife is a second generation Irish-American, and very proud of it.  Thing is, both her family and mine went through the process of coming here legally, become US citizens, and contributing productively to our new home and communities.

In my opinion, it is more important to take care of our domestic problems that it is to take care of those who come here illegally.  For example, I share two different memes on Facebook about the importance of taking care of the children of US citizens who live in poverty, American homeless Veterans, as well as our own senior citizens who have worked as productive citizens and have earned the privilege of retiring and living comfortably.  To me, taking care of our own needy have a much higher priority than those who come here illegally.  While we have a moral right to take care of those in distress with their immediate needs for food, medication, and shelter, I do not believe we have a moral obligation to take care of them for a long period of time.  And, if they want to come here illegally and/or have a criminal background, then I believe they should be sent right back to where they came from.

Although others have the perfect right to disagree with what I believe, that does not give the person the right to be grossly disrespectful.  Being told that I am ‘un-Christian’ because I do not believe that illegal immigrants need to be just blindly allowed into our country is just plain wrong.  That would be the same thing if I accused him of being ‘un-Christian’ and a ‘Nazi’ for not wanting to put our citizens first.  This isn’t the first time that this particular person has attacked me for my beliefs, but it is the last time.

Years ago, it was the norm to discuss different issues without name calling, making personal attacks, being inflammatory in our own responses, etc.  While there were exceptions to this, there was a lot more civility with most of political and religious discussion while I was growing up.  Now, people easily become enraged when others disagree with them on political issues. 

I really wonder if people really think before they post something on Facebook or write something for the news.  At this times, it seems like more and more people blindly write and post things that are purposely inflammatory.  Why?  I don’t know.  Maybe it makes them feel stronger posting such things.  Maybe they are so engrossed with their personally religious and political stances that they don’t think about how others might perceive it.  I don’t know.

What I do know is that I go out of my way to be as civil and respectful as possible.  To that end, I seek to share things that are disrespectful and mean spirited in nature.  While I know that somebody will always be offended by what I say or share.  However, I seek to be as respectful as possible.  I also seek to remove/hide all uncivil posts on my Facebook wall as I can.  I am also commenting less and less on such things because too many people are able to have civil discussions.

I believe that if all of us take a little more time and think before we act or say something, we can all do a better job.  In fact, we all take a little more time to encourage each other, to pray for each other (according our own individual faith practices) and respect other’s beliefs, we can make this world a better place for others.

RC

Agenda Hijacking

(This will be written as I originally wrote it about 1.5 days ago. Things have been a little busy, so I haven’t been able to post this blog entry until now. I hope that you enjoy it.)

At the time of putting ‘pen-to-paper,’ it is almost 3 AM, Sunday, February 18, 2018. I have just sat down after brewing some tea so that I can write down what my mind has been pondering for a good hour. I don’t get times like this very often, where I feel inspired to write and can sit down to write it down.

There has been tragedy in the news, once again. There was another school shooting in Florida, with 17 killed and maybe 50 injured. All done by one angry, young man. Who may or may not have ties to white supremacist. I don’t know much of the details because I have been very busy with work, family, dealing with some really bad back pain, etc. But, truth be known, I probably won’t read much from the main news networks because I am getting pretty sick and tired of all the special interest groups hijacking the events for their own agendas.

Pretty much every day, be it on tv, on Facebook, on LinkedIn, or some other place, I see one article after another take an event, be it current or not, and make it fit their particular agenda. Those wanting stricter gun control will focus on the details that support their agenda. Those touting a ‘armed everybody” will focus on those details that give credence to theirs. The list goes on and on.

And while we are allowing the special interest groups to pull us one way or another, there are still many people still bleeding, still hurting, still mourning, still screaming, Why God, why?!” and still people ready to stone others who don’t see life their way, etc. To me, that is the greatest tragedy.

I am in my mid-forties and will be celebrating a birthday soon. I have served in the US Army, both Active Duty and in the Nebraska National Guard. Although my current job is with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, I have worked as a church pastor, done sales floor at Office Depot, done landscaping, worked as a lifeguard, etc. Each of these events are a part of me. Though some aspects might have a greater influence, they are all a part of me.

It saddens me that this happens so often, but id doesn’t surprise me at all. On the rare occasion where this “addenda hijacking” doesn’t happen, it’s like a breath of fresh air! I try to enjoy it as much as I can, even if it’s a perspective that I don’t necessarily agree with or can relate to. And, I am naturally angered when my perspective, my narrative is hijacked for someone else’s agenda.

About two decades ago, I was attending Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and working on becoming an ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (USA). As part of the ordination process, I had to attend a three day ‘career counseling workshop.’ My experience was a very negative one because of how they ‘evaluated’ me. One example that I will share is thus…

We were to spend some time drawing how we saw ourselves at this point and time in our lives, and give a narrative why we saw ourselves that way. We each had a large piece of newprint paper (probably 24x36 inches, and very thin paper) and a lot of pens, pencils, crayons, etc. My picture was of me hiking on a trail in the woods, complete with backpack, walking stick, and a hat. I was on a pat that was lined by trees, and on a hill. My narrative was that I was on a hill during this journey of my life, and that I could see a lot before me. Because I was in a forest with lots of hills, my exact route was hidden. I new which direction I needed to go (ministry), but the exact details were hidden. I also added in my narrative that I could occasionally see bits and pieces of my path, but mostly unknown. And, most of all, I was excited about everything!

After we all shared our narratives, those leading the discussion/session, gave their ‘observations.’ Bare in mind that I have always been an introvert, very introspective, a lover of nature and exploring, and a lover of learning. Although I had grown up in the church as a pastor’s kid, my personal relationship with Christ was just starting to really brow and blossom. The ‘career counselors,’ though, interpreted my narrative very differently. You see, they only saw a young man who was lost, alone, and afraid. And, I needed ‘professional help’ to get read of my ‘shyness’ and become ‘more outgoing,’ as well as to deal with many (supposed) issues with adoption and other things. I was angry then.

A few weeks later, when I receive their 8ish page ‘report,’ I was outraged! When I shared it with my small group of close friends (felt more like a family), they barely recognized the person in the report. This is based on their experiences with me over more than 6 months of being together. A couple of brothers-in-Christ sat down with me at different times to discuss what I could use to better myself and what was not worth keeping.

Although my time at LPTS was often very difficult, I was blessed with my wonderful friends and many enriching experiences. And, I will share one of my more positive experiences with you.

During my senior year, I took an ethics class on Frederick Douglass. Some of the books were written by the former slave who became a major voice with the US abolitionist movement before and during the American Civil War. Other books were written about him. In our class, there was the instructor and 10-12 students. All of us students ranged from very conservative to very liberal in theology and politics. We also varied in age from 20-something to over 50. A very diverse group, indeed! Though our Professor might not have always agreed with our observations or perspectives, he encouraged us to share them. He also challenged us with, “have you considered this perspective,” or “Okay, why did this impact you so much?” He also kept the discussion on the topic and minimized the rabbit trails and personal agendas. It was a challenging, but deeply enriching experience!

Now, I have done my own ‘agenda hijacking’ to an event and used it to push forward something that is important to me. That is, try to learn all you can from the whole situation. Don’t just let people speak, but listen to what they are saying. Be there to help them. Even if you disagree with their life stories, listen. In listening to what people are saying, we can learn and grow. By at least trying to understand their perspective, maybe we can help others to heal and grow, too.

Right now, there is a tragedy unfolding before our eyes. A tragedy so terrible more lives could be lost. A tragedy of anger, maybe even pride and/or deep lostness. A tragedy of a very young man so angry, who became so bitter, that he chose to take the lives of at least 17 people, some of whom ma not hae had any role in this ager, his malice. A young many with the intestinal fortitude to take ownership with what he did, not deny it.

Where his actions wrong? Absolutely! Should he be held accountable for his actions? Yes! Should we cast him a way and do nothing more with him? May it never be! He needs healing in his live, just like those who were injured or lost loved ones need healing in theirs. His friends and family need help with their own grief, mourning, anger, confusion, etc. Each of them are a human being, each made in the Image of God. Each of them deserves love and compassion.

Are we brave enough to help each of them? Or, will we choose to just follow some easy path/agenda that pleases us or is comfortable. Our chose will have repercussion in the future. What kind of future do we want for ourselves and our children?

A Living Faith

References:
- Psalm 37:1-10 NAS
- Mark 5:1-20 NAS
- Luke 10:38-42 NAS

The other night I was at the regular Wednesday night Bible Study. I and my co-teacher were ready to teach. But, the few people that usually attend the Gospel of John study that we do were not there. So, we decided to attend another group that was studying Romans. I was expecting a really good discussion. I ended up being a bit disappointed.

The man who was leading the Bible Study started things off with having a couple of volunteers come up and share their personal testimonies. If you are unfamiliar with what that is, a 'personal testimony' is when a person shares how God has changed a his or her life. In some Christian circles, the can mean any time that God has done something to significantly impact how a person lives, how they view life, how they relate to others, etc. This can be something really big, like a 'Road to Damascus' experience. Or, it could be something small, like reading a familiar Scripture passage and God points something new out to you. For others, it either means a 'Road to Damascus' experience (aka 'conversion experience') or God doing something major in your life. Like deliverance from drugs, bring someone out of a self-destructive lifestyle, or something else that is “incredible.” Personally, I fall into the first group.

After the volunteers talked about how they had 'come to know Christ,' the Bible Study leader had us read the Mark 5 passage noted above. His emphasis was how Jesus directed the person that He had delivered from demonic possession to not stay with Him, but to tell his friends and family all that God had done. He then tied this in to how we need to be willing to share our 'personal testimony' with others and to encourage people to 'make a decision for Christ.' This did not make me real comfortable for a number of reasons. The primary one being that sometimes it is more important to 'be Christ' to others instead of just 'telling them about Him.' So, I shared how God has used me on many occasions to help those who were burdened with something. In some of those conversations, I shared what God has done in my life. However, in many of them, I simply listened and empathized with what they were feeling. That is, I listened to how a situation had impacted their lives and tried to understand how that made them feel.

Though I did more of a 'story telling' instead of summarizing, I was hoping that I got my point across. While it is always important to be able to share with others what we believe as Christians and the hope that Christ gives us, sometimes that is not what is most important. I could be wrong, but it seemed that the person leading the study didn't really like my observation. He acknowledged it, but seemed to be very dismissive of it. It could be he was so focused on what he was wanting to teach that he wanted to get back on track. I don't know.

I do know that some Christian denominations have a very, very strong emphasis on 'soul harvesting.' That is, the members of some denominations focus their energies on going out into their communities, telling other people about how God has changed their lives, and to encourage people to 'make a decision' on becoming a Christian. Although I do believe that sharing your testimony is important, and that there will come a time when each of us have to 'make a decision (for follow Christ),' I do not believe that should be the main emphasis.

I also know of some denominations that focus so much on 'social justice' and reaching out to people that they leave out how God came into this world as Jesus to save us from our sins. They focus on serving and helping others, but at the expense of telling others about the life changing message of Jesus Christ. People are helped, but not changed.

I believe that both have to be done. We need to do both, 'be the Gospel' to others and to 'share the Gospel' with others. But, before we can effectively do either, we have to know who God is, we need to be deeply changed by Jesus. That is why I included the other two Scripture passages. We need to spend time studying God's Word on our own, attending worship services where we can be challenged to grow in our faith, and spend time with fellow Christians to encourage each other in our spiritual growth. We need to purposely take time and 'be still,' as the Psalms passage emphasizes. Just like we cannot hear what a friend or co-worker says to us if we are not paying attention, we can't hear God speak to us if we do not take time to be still and listen.

As the Luke passage points out, there are times when we allow ourselves to become too busy with things in life. Martha was so focused on taking care of all the food and other hosting requirements that she was missing out on actually being nourished on what Jesus had to say. Mary, on the other hand, was being still and soaking it all up. When Martha became upset about it, Jesus corrected her. Though it is important to do things and help others, we also need to 'just be still' like Mary was doing.

I have been a follower of Christ since early 1994. There have been seasons in my life where things have been joyful and fun, and seasons where I have struggled with staying positive, doing the right thing, etc. During those times of difficulty, God has always ministered to me. Sometimes it was while having my 'quiet time.' But, many times it has been because God used someone to walk with me during my times of difficulty and shared the burdens that I had.

In my many years of walking with Christ, I have found that God most often uses me to be His presence in another person's life. Not sharing how God has turned my life around and/or up-side-down. Not the need to face the fact that all of us are sinners and are in desperate need to find salvation in Christ alone. Not the 'you have to make a decision.' No… I find that God most often uses me to listen to what is going on in a person's life and to walk with them. So many people have been turned off by the 'in your face' of some people that, if you start telling them about God, they will immediate start shutting down. In that case, no matter how eloquent of a speaker you might be, they will not hear you.

I have found that, most of the time, people are wanting a physical person to help them with what is bothering them. To most people, God is a foreign concept, or something that they have grown to hate because of one reason or another. For them to be able to know that God really does love them and wants to redeem them from their life of sin, we have to be there for them. We have to be willing to listen to them share their ugliness, their pain, their questions. And there will be times where it may take months, even years of listening and loving someone before they will be willing to really listen to you about how God has changed your life.

It really boils down to 'walking the walk' before we 'talk the talk.' If we do not allow God to show His love through us in our actions, then all of our knowledge of Scripture and eloquent speech will be for nothing. If people do not see Christ in our lives, they won't believe what we say about Him. As His ambassadors to this world, we have to intimately know who He is and allow Him to deeply impact our lives. If we do not allow God to change us, we will still resemble this world. If we are not changed ourselves, how can we expect others to want to know Christ?

It is never easy to “walk the walk.” Change can be difficult. But yet, if we genuinely seek God's help in changing, He will do so. It may be painful at times, but God will help us get through it and be better followers. Are we willing to do so?

Thoughts and Feelings, So Thorough

Thoughts flowing freely, unhindered, carefree;
going this way, that way,
unhindered and free.
Anger and frustration, mine or soaked up?
Now they ease, fade to the distance,
thoughts and feelings are now more clear…
Time passes, not paying attention…
Stresses and frustration, mine or others,
are finally fading away.

Sometimes I go for a long walk.
Sometimes I read, sometimes watch tv.
Sometimes, only in quiet stillness they leave.
Although through the day, talking and interacting,
things build up, they're soaked up.
Now, processed, examined, set free.
Many times I spend long hours
trying to sort through all that I feelings
examining this way and that.

At times I will rehearse conversations,
trying different approaches,
hearing their voices, feeling their mannerisms…
Trying out different ideas, mental role-playing,
knowing their patters, their tendencies…
How to address? Is it worth it?
Seconding guessing all these thoughts,
present plans, future plans…
What will work? Will it all fail?

While walking, while resting, while sleeping or eating,
my thoughts will often wonder
this way, that way, where ever.
From past conversations to future expectations
they are examined, processed
no mental stone left unturned.
Good possibilities, bad possibilities,
all are considered, analyzed.
Which one more? God only knows!

Approached by someone, asked if I have a little time.
A heart hurts, mind is confused,
or a burdened needs to be shared.
Sometimes this is totally expected.
Other times a great surprise.
But helping is my calling, so listen I will.
I listen to their words, spoken or not.
Sense their emotions, even draw them in.
I filter all they share, through heart and mind.

As time goes by, conversation wanes.
They feel calmer, heart is lighter.
Do I have anything wise to say?
Their problems, experiences, sorted and sifted,
and analyzed within my mind.
Thoughts and feelings, mesh with mine.
A thought, an idea, or even my own deeds,
sifted through, maybe shared,
or just gentle quiet of a burden shared.

We part and I continue sifting and sorting,
their thoughts, feelings I felt, even absorbed.
Gradually the mess is made into sense.
Though I rejoice that a life was touched,
God has blessed through me,
I am tired, or even exhausted.
My day is still young, much yet to do.
A silent prayer for guidance, energy, focus;
till I can finally, fully rest.

RC Underwood
20SEP2015

The Art of Creating

References:
- Genesis 1; Genesis 2
- John 1:1-18 NAS
- Dickblick art supplies
- Pebble Mosaic idea
- German artist Albrecht Durer

I have a question for you… What do you get when two shutterbugs get married and go off to a State Park for their honeymoon? Answer… A lot of joking banter of whose turn it was to use the camera and almost 1,000 pictures taken within a week. Granted, we were using a digital camera so we didn't have to buy film, but still… That is a lot of pictures, isn't it?

Thing is, that is my wife and myself. We love taking pictures. She has taken an actual photography course on the science behind good photography. I, on the other hand, have not. My use of the camera has been primarily to recording significant events (like pictures of family and friends, vacations, holidays, etc.) and to gather possible references for drawings or paintings. Yes, I do love art. I have taken an art class just about every year of middle school, high school, and college. I am definitely not a Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo (and I don't mean TMNT), or an Albrecht Durer. But, I do have good artistic talent. I have never tried pursuing art as a career, just as a way to express myself.

I have worked with many different mediums, or types of art. For example, I have done a lot with charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, ceramics, painting, etc. For what ever reason, I don't seem to be as strong working with colors as I am working with black-n-white mediums. That is, my quality of work is not as good when I working with colors, like pastels, as it is working in black-n-white, charcoal for example. Usually I will use a reference for my art work. It can either been a photograph that I have taken, a picture from a magazine, or a still-life that I put together. Sometimes I draw from my imagination.

Whether it's drawing, painting, using pastels, or photography, art as a hobby can be expensive. I have no idea how much I have paid in my art supplies over the years. And, I have quite a few supplies! And, I admit, some of them are the cheap end of a certain medium. This is more often the case with my colored pencils or pastels. I don't use them a lot and I am not as strong in that medium. So, I am not going to invest nearly as much money as I would in something like a camera or a pen set. In fact, a good friend of mine in college had a very nice pen set. He was a psychology and art double major and pen-n-ink was one of his favorite mediums to work with. He let me use his pen set for one of my art projects and I fell in love with their quality. I told my parents about it and, the next thing I knew, I had my own set for Christmas. Except it was a 7 pen set. Each pen had a nib of a different thickness, enabling me to draw more exact lines. I still have that pen set today and try to use it on occasion.

Over the last few years, I have done a lot more 'artistic work' with writing than I have with drawing. I have always had good talent with creative writing, be it writing prose or poetry. No, I have not done much in the realm of poetry lately. But, I have done a lot of creative writing over the last few years. This blog is just one example of creative writing for me. I journal at times, though not very regularly. I also have done a lot with sermon and Bible Study writing. For me, they are no different than writing a good story. You have a message to deliver and you have to do it effectively. Although I usually organize my sermons and Bible Studies in an outline form, I have used those outlines to create blog entries on occasion. My blog on Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one example.

We all have artistic skills of some sort. For some, it is cooking. Others are gifted in story telling. Still others are gifted in how they arrange things in the home. Still others are gifted in music, be it singing, playing an instrument, etc. Some have amazing gifts in a certain area, and others don't seem to be 'as strong.' But yet, we all have some sort of artistic talent.

I believe that this is because the God that created the world and all that we see is the Author of 'being creative.' I mean, think about it… Think about the huge variety of animal and plant life that is around you. Ever think how many different kinds of butterflies there are? Or how many different kinds of spiders? Not only do they have very different coloring and size, but their favorite habitat or favorite food greatly differs.

Also taken into consideration how many different shades of skin the human race has! There's black, white, tan (like Asian), medium brown for Native American or Middle Eastern, or black. In fact, there are many variations of each! Not just skin color, but also eye and hair color.

When I look around and the many different kinds of flowers one can see in the Prairie alone, I am amazed. At the Homestead National Monument, they have a large area set aside for allowing the plants that used to grow on the Prairie. Each time I have walked through that area, I have been astounded that the rich variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Needless to say, I have taken many pictures of that area alone. I don't know of anyone who can create like that! Many have tried, and have created wonderful works of art. But yet, to me, nothing a person can do compares to what God has already done.

It amazes me just how talented some people are. It also greatly saddens me when people use their talents to hurt others. For example, some people are very gifted at singing. But, instead of writing songs to inspire others, they write songs to hurt others. The same thing goes with drawing or humor. Instead of using their talents to be a blessing onto others, they use their skills to put others down to feed their own egos or the egos of their 'race.' They use their skills to feed their negative stereotypes and promote more hatred instead of using their gifts to bring people together.

We all have choices to make, and there will always be consequences to our choices. They can either be positive consequences or negative consequences. We can either sow the seeds of love, joy, and peace through the things we do. Or, we can use our time and talents to sow seeds of anger, hatred, discontent. The choice is up to us. Even when we are using art as a way to express the sadness or anger that a person is feeling, care needs to be used with how it is expressed. Sometimes, something has to be drawn or written to put those feelings into down so that they can be processed. But then, because of how hurtful they are, they need to be thrown away, burned, shredded, or the like. As a way of letting go of the anger or sadness that one feels.

As I mentioned earlier, a close friend of mine in college was a dual major in psychology and art. His hope was to use art as a means of helping people to heal. There have been times where I have written a poem or drawn a picture to express what I am feeling. But, because of the nature of what I have written or drawn, and the fact that it is something negative that I am letting go, very few people have seen them. In fact, most were never meant to be shared with others. They were meant as a way of letting go with what I was angry or sad about. Although it hasn't always helped, there have been times where it has. Not just is the act of writing or drawing, but also in the tearing up or shredding. Though I still have the memories, those acts of doing something creative to express them in a controlled manner, and then purposely 'letting them go' has helped to lessen the impact those memories have on me today.

While in seminary, I participated in what is called CPE, Clinical Pastoral Education. Its a type of intense 'on the job training' for doing ministry. Typically, it is done in a high stress environment, like in a prison or hospital. Usually, half the day is spent in a class setting, learning more about ways to minister to those who are hurting. The other half is the actual ministry. I did my CPE at a Level One Trauma hospital in Louisville, Ky. I saw all sorts of people come in with very wide range of sickness and injuries. Some looked like slabs of meat that used to be a person. Others were those who were deathly ill with cancer, poisoning of some sort, or a serious infection. During my time there, I learned that ministering to those who are hurting is a real art. Although there are scientific ideas and research behind different disciplines of ministry, how you apply it is a real art. No two situations are the same. One method of ministering to one person my be extremely effective, all the while being totally ineffective in another situation.

During this time, I learned that times of prayer, either by myself or with others, can be like a form of art. We see that in the Book of Psalms. Some Psalms express deep sadness and distress. Others express great rage at a person or group of people. Others express awe and wonder towards God and all He has created. But, all of them are someone's expression of what they were feeling, written down as a prayer to God. A classmate of mine did a class on prayer that included some hand motions. I have to admit, it I was a bit skeptical of what I would get out of that class. But, I did find it rewarding. From a book she had read, she learned that sometimes, while confessing one's sins and shortcomings, a person should try holding one's hands out, hands open, and facing downwards. The reason for this is you are physically representing the fact that you are trying to let go of something and give it to God. Then, when you are asking for God's help and blessings, you change your hand position. Now, hold your hands straight out or at an upward angle, with your hands held like cups. This is to express your hearts desire of receiving God's blessings. It was an artistic expression of prayer, something that I was impressed with and have used on occasion.

The other night, my wife shared an article with me that she had found on the Internet. In the Facebook post, she asked me if I could see myself doing it. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical of whether I could see myself doing a 'pebble mosaic.' But, as I read through the article, I soon was picturing myself doing just that. Or, at least trying to. I started picturing how I could use something common and every day, like a river pebble, and making something beautiful out of it. Having done some really neat works of art by carving clay, I knew that I could do something in 3D. Might be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.

But, it also got me thinking about something else. Something very awesome that God does. For those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, God becomes even more of an Artist. He takes something that was broken, dull, or even evil, and creates something beautiful out of it. Think about it… A favorite example I like to use is the life of John Newton, the author of the song 'Amazing Grace.' I mean, here was a man who sold fellow human beings into slavery. After his conversion to Christ, God used him to impact the lives of countless millions through his sermons and songs. Eventually, God also used him to help end slave trade in England. Something that used to be a source of income for him, he helped to end. Astounding, isn't it?!

And that is something God can do with each and everyone one of us. If we are willing to allow Him to work in our lives and through us. We can either choose to live life our own way, or we can choose to be God's instruments. One of the main reasons why I have this blog is so that God can touch the lives of others through me. Although it is an effective way for me to express myself creatively, it is more than that. It is a way for me to touch the lives of others. People I may never have been able to impact face-to-face. People that, because of how I write something, or what I feel inspired to write about, can impact them in a way that someone else might not be able to do. On this side of Heaven, I know that I will never fully understand how God has used this blog to touch the lives of others. Just like I will not know, in this life, how a 'chance meeting' to me was something God used to change someone's life. All I can do is walk in faith, trusting that God will use me. And, it is a form of art, I think, to prayerfully and actively walk with God and to be used by Him. Something that takes the common, the uninteresting, even the broken or evil, and something beautiful is made. May that be a reality in your life.

Mr. Holmes and the Human Heart

References:
- Mr. Holmes (the movie
- Ephesians 4:1-16 NAS
- Jeremiah 17:1-18 NAS

I went to the theater here on base and watched a very interesting movie earlier this evening. It wasn't a movie that I was initially planning on seeing, mainly because I was just looking at the titles quickly and not carefully. But, when I read the titles more carefully, two stood out as ones that I would probably like. One of them was the one that I saw this evening, “Mr. Holmes.” It stars Ian McKellen as an aged Sherlock Holmes struggling with memory issues and 'solving one last case.' If you enjoy a good thriller, a “who done it?” or movie with lots of plot twists, this would be a good movie for you. Although I like Benedict Cumberbatch a little better as Sherlock Holmes, I believe that Ian KcKellen did a very good job.

In “Mr. Holmes,” Sherlock struggles with his memory and 'solving' a crime that had happened 30+ years prior. For those who might not be familiar with who Sherlock Holmes is, he is a fictional character created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In my researching for this article (done over a period of a few hours, so not exhaustive or extremely in depth), I came a cross two interesting articles. One on his methodology (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/shadow-boxing/201301/mind-sherlock-holmes) and one what his IQ might be (http://wellingtongoose.tumblr.com/post/44097596230/sherlock-iq-and-the-concept-of-genius). Although it is very likely that Sherlock Holmes is an intelligent person, much of what he does is through very focused training. Over the years, he developed very honed skills in deductive reasoning, keen observation, and keeping his mind relaxed in order to piece together all of the information that he had gathered.

Although Holmes has very keen senses for gathering evidence and reading a person's intentions and where they have been, he isn't very good at social cues. It is probably one of his greatest flaws, that he is not comfortable in social settings and interacting with large groups of people. He often comes across as brash or cold. He does care about some people very deeply (Watson being one of them), but he does not have a very large circle of friends. And, part of the plot for this movie is the fact that, though he is very intelligent and can read a person well, his understanding of a person is flawed. Although he correctly deducts how one character in the movie was planning on acting and made a logical suggestion to someone, the consequences of his actions were huge and not what he had intended. I will not spoil the plot for those who don't like spoilers by discussing this any further, but it was important to highlight this.

It was this character flaw that Holmes had that, according to the movie plot, drove him to exiling himself into the English countryside. And, it is something that I believe that we can all learn from. First of all, from a Christian perspective, we have to remember that our sinful nature taints all that we think, say, and do. That is, all that we think and do is tainted by self-interest and self-preservation to some degree. Though some people learn to be more 'self-less,' this sinful nature is with us our entire natural life here on earth. Although a person may have good intentions with what they want to say or do, how it is expressed becomes tainted to some degree. For some people who are highly manipulative, this can be apparent. For those who have more honest intentions, the 'sin-taining' is less noticeable.

In some professions, being able to 'read a person,' is extremely important. If a person is a police officer, a politician, a lawyer, or even a pastor, one needs to be able to read others' body language very well. One needs to be able to observe how someone is reacting to what they are saying and doing, in order to assess what needs to be done next. As someone who has trained for the ministry and has worked in corrections, I have gained some skill in this area.

For example, funerals incorporate many things, including 'saying good-bye,' memories, traditions, developing closure, etc. In helping a family start developing some closure to their loss, I have to learn what was important to them and to the person who has died. This, of course, requires me to ask lots of questions. But, because people are struggling with their loss and often raw with emotion, care must be used with how I ask questions. Or, sometimes to just wait. It is both a science and an art. And every person is different. So, what might have worked with one person might have very bad consequences at another time.

Working in corrections is similar, to a point. As custody staff at a maximum security prison, I deal with very dangerous people on a daily basis. In order to do my job well, I need to be able to effectively read a person or a group of people well. Not just with tone of voice, body posturing, how they interacting with others, but also with what they might be doing that isn't normal. It takes getting to know a person or a group of people and being very mindful of all that is going on all around. It is something that I have been learning to do over the years, and something that I will continue to hone. Some people have much better skill than I do in this area. However, I may still better pick up on one type of issue than someone else would. For example, I would probably be more likely to notice if someone was having a personal issue or having an emotional problem. That's because of my ministry background. Someone else might be able to just step out onto a yard and realize that someone is planning to initiate a fight because of the 'tone in the air.' I might realize that something 'isn't right,' but not know exactly what it is.

Whether one is using deductive skills to solve a crime or 'reading' a person in order to do counseling, knowledge only goes so far. Knowing how to apply one's knowledge in an appropriate manner is just as important. Even if a detective knows how crime was committed, his or her work is made much easier if the suspect confesses to the crime. The detective has to convince the suspect that it is in his or her best interest to acknowledge their wrong doing. If the suspect does not, then the detective has a lot more work to do with convincing a jury that a person commit a certain crime, at a certain place, within a certain time period, etc. A detective also has to be able to properly interview witnesses and victims so that they can get the most accurate information possible. If the detective is not careful how he or she gathers their information, they could lose the case and a criminal could go free. On the other hand, if a detective does not investigate a crime thoroughly or allows biases to misdirect him or her, an innocent person could go to jail.

Although I have not been ordained, I have done a lot of ministry work over the years. Sometimes in a paid position, other times as a volunteer. A co-worker, family member, or inmate has often asked me about a spiritual and/or personal issue. On many occasions, although there may have been a quick answer to the question asked, there was a deeper need that was really needing to be addressed. For example, I remember talking with several inmates over the years about angels and demons or something having to do with spirits. During the conversations, the inmate will often try to blame bad choices on something spiritual. At that time, I will often share with him (I work in a male prison) an observation a good friend had shared with me. While in seminary, a man who was a spiritual mentor reminded me that, at times, we can be our own worst enemies. While there are angelic and demonic forces out there, our own sinful nature and desire to avoid negative consequences are often what causes things to happen. Or even our own negative attitudes towards a person or situation that color how one responds. This has challenged the inmates to reconsider what they had been thinking.

God calls us in the Ephesians passage to always share God's Truth, but with love. Although, because we all have a sinful nature, we will never be able to do this perfectly in this world. But, as we seek to be more Christ-like (sanctification), God can help us to share His Word in ways that honor Him. It is a life-long process. And it can be extremely difficult at times to do so. I don't know how many times I have said something to a friend or family member and, though it was the truth and meant to help them, the way that I said it was poor at best. Because of how I said something, I made them angry and pushed them away. When words are used harshly, or even just poorly, it can leave deep emotional wounds. In the movie “Mr. Holmes,” how Sherlock Holmes choose to confront one person had very profound and life changing repercussions. How we interact with others can have just as profound of an effect. In fact, if we are not paying attention to what or how someone is talking to us, we can respond in a way that causing them to close down instead of opening up. As in the case of “Mr. Holmes,” this caused a person to loose their life. Let us earnestly seek God's help to listen to others and to help them with a loving spirit.

Games People Play

Please read:
- Philippians 2:1-18 NAS
- James 3:1-12 NAS

While I was growing up in the 70's and the 80's, my family and I would take a long vacation (one to two weeks) every summer. Most of the time we drive from one place to another. To help keep us occupied, my mom would sometimes read to us articles from the Kitchen Klatter Magazine that she would get in the mail. Other times she would read to us from a book. Two books that I remember very well (and still have) are 'Fuzzy Bones' and 'Fuzzy Papers'.

When my mom didn't feel like reading, I would sometimes entertain myself with reading my own books or playing a games like travel bingo. Other times we would play a game like going through the alphabet using the letters that we saw on billboards and license plates. All of these activities would help the time to pass more quickly, so that it would seem that we arrived at our destination sooner.

I have played numerous bard and board games over the years with friends and family. Just a few of them are Monopoly, Risk, Clue, Chutes and Ladders, Mr. Mouth, etc. Usually I have really enjoyed playing games with others. Games can be a great way to help people get to better know each other. It can also be a great way to have fun and help facilitate conversation. My kids are both getting to the age where they can join my wife and I in some games. And they have loved it! But, not all games are good.

A song that was popular when I was growing up was “Don't Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John & Kiki Dee. Unfortunately, I am sure that a lot of people have experienced this. A person would lead someone else on, manipulating their emotions in one way or another. Although not always, it would often be an issue of commitment from one person. Unfortunately that would often lead to great heartache. It is saddening that some people continuously do this with one person after another. After one person finally puts their foot down, the manipulator goes and finds someone else to lead around.

But, that isn't the worse of it. There are those who are very good manipulators and play con games with others. But, instead of just misleading a person's heart, they use their charm and manipulative skills to take things from others. Things like money, healthy, and/or property. For them, it's a game with how much they can take from others and how many lives they can hurt, or even destroy, before they are caught. Many of these people go for years before they are stopped, leaving a trail of emotional, physical, and spiritual wreckage in their wake.

I have observed some very manipulative people in my life. And, it saddens me to say, there are many within the physical church. It could be a congregation that has very unhealthy dynamics, a lay leader who uses his/her position to manipulate others, or even a pastor who uses his/her position to take advantage of others. I have even seen youth, who don't like how a youth leader does things, to 'play games' to try and get rid of that person.

These 'games people play' can take the form of spreading false rumors, being argumentative with someone over petty things, character assassination, showing ill will towards those who support someone they don't like, or even making false accusations with law enforcement or with a church or denomination’s legal organization. I have read numerous articles over the years with how a person or group within a church destroyed a person's life through false accusations. Even though they were later found innocent of the charges, their reputation and, potentially their ministry career, was ruined.

The thing is, we don't just 'play games' with each other, we also try to play games with God. Think about it… How often have you gone through life making excuses for things you may have said or done that you knew displeased God? When you justify your actions, are you not trying to play games with God? Take a moment and read about why God choose David (1 Samuel 16:1-11 NAS and how God later confronted David (2 Samuel 12:1-15 NAS). In both examples, God shows us that He knows what is on our hearts, what our attitudes are. Whether we like it or not, we cannot lie to God. We can only believe the lies that we tell ourselves. And God will confront us about it.

While playing card games and board games can be a great and wholesome form of entertainment, not all games are good. God calls us to be honest with ourselves, with each other, and with Him. When we try to play games with others so that we can manipulate them, we are not just being selfish, but we are essentially lying to them (and to God) about what our real motives are. Let us strive to repent of when we are false with each other, and towards God. That way we can edify (to build up) each other and tear each other down.

Thoughts on a Great Injustice

Red Cry Behind The Lakota Tribe - Documentary Films

Several years ago, I bought a book by a man named Richard Twiss, who co-founded Wiconi International. It is titled One Church Many Tribes - Following Jesus The Way God Made You. Although I didn't finish it, I had read several chapters of the book and it really got me thinking about the many experiences that Richard had growing up. Honestly, I have had to start over several times because I would read for a while, then get distracted by something else and, months later, start over again. But, I digress...

Around the time that I first started reading that book, I bought a DVD set that was about the Indian Wars. What was unique about this DVD set is that it looked at the history from three perspectives. One was purely historical, about the different Plains Tribes from Texas on up into the Dakotas, how different Tribes migrated from one part of the country to another, etc. One was purely from the US Government perspective. The third one was purely from the Native American perspective. Although a lot of the information overlapped, there was a lot that was different. This was especially the case from the Native American perspective. The one thing that really stood out to me was how many times the US Government made a treaty with various Tribes. And then, out of greed for more land, we (as a Nation) broke our promise, 'made a new treaty' the took more from one Tribe or several Tribes.

I did a word search for the word “justice” with an on-line Bible Study site, using the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation. I was also only looking in the Old Testament. Want to know how many results I got for the Old Testament alone? I got 129 results! Think this is something that is important to God? I think so. No, I don't 'think so.' I know that justice is very, very important to Him. As a holy and righteous God, He seeks out and demands true justice. What many will call 'Divine Justice.' God is just as loving and forgiving as He is holy and righteous. Here are just a few examples:
- Exodus 23:1-9 NASB
- Deuteronomy 16 NASB
- Deuteronomy 27 NASB
- Proverbs 2:1-15 NASB
- Jeremiah 7:1-15 NASB

Like I said, that is just a very brief sampling of the times that 'justice' is used in the Old Testament. To get a good understanding of God's sense of justice and how all of us as sinners stand before Him, read Romans chapters 1-7. Paul does not mince words as he explains what our fallen condition is, that we all deserve God's wrath for rebelling against Him in thought, word and deed each and every day. But, because of His great love for us, God became a Man, Jesus, and took our sins upon Himself and took our place. Think about it… While we were yet sinners, enemies of God, Christ chose to take our place (Romans 5:5-11). I encourage you to read that passage slowly a couple of times and let it sink it.

Because God is holy and righteous, when we choose to mistreat other people, we are showing gross disrespect towards our Creator. As it is written in Genesis 1-2, God created all people in His image. That is, with the same kind of characteristics as what He possess. The ability to love, the desire to create, the desire to be in relation with others, etc. We are all made in the Image of God. We are all His creation.

I have worked with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for over 7 years. Although there are many Hispanic and African Americans there, I have noticed that there is a large number of Native Americans in prison, too. As I spent time reading Richard Twiss' book, I found an opportunity to talk with one of the Native American inmates. I asked him a number of questions about his culture and shared what little I knew. I can still remember the initial look of shock on his face. Here was one of the 'guards' that not only wanted to treat him as a fellow human being, but was genuinely interested in learning more about his culture. At first, he did not want to talk with me, and I respected that. But, after about a month or so, he and a few others became more willing to talk with me and answer various questions that I had about their culture. This particular individual has never forgotten that.

As I have mentioned before, I love theology and I enjoy reading about other cultures, even experiencing them when I have the opportunity, and I also enjoy reading history. Not just biblical history, but US history and the history of other countries. Although I find history fascinating, it can be discouraging, too. Why? Because I will read how a country elected or allowed a group of people who talked sweetly but had corrupt values lead them. Though it wasn't always evident in the beginning, eventually the leadership would express their 'true colors.' It was true in Ancient Israel, it was true with Rome, it was true in German in the 1930's, and it has been true within the US.

If one does a quick search on Native American Treaties, you will find many sites. Just a few that I found quickly are:
The Avalon Project Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy, Yale Law School, Broken Promises On Display At Native American Treaties Exhibit, and Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Vol. II (Treaties) in part. Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1904.

Again, that is just a few results from my search. I know that some of you will say, “With the winner goes the spoils of war.” Okay… A nation wins a war against another nation and makes a Treaty, something that is a legal and binding document for both sides. Now, the conquering nations decides that they want more and either provoke a fight or 're-negotiate' the Treaty so that they get more and the conquered country gets less. Do you think that this is something honorable in God's eyes? Do you think that it is something that He can bless? I do not think so. No... It's not, "I don't think so." It is, "I know that it is so!"

In Richard Twiss' book, “One Church Many Tribes,” he puts forth the idea that part of the problems that we are having in this nation are because of deeply rooted spiritual disobedience. When people hear this, they think about the Civil War and the mistreatment of African Americans. While I was in seminary, I took an ethics class where one of the main authors that we read was Frederick Douglass, the Civil Rights Activist (c. 1818–1895) (http://www.biography.com/people/frederick-douglass-9278324 and http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-douglass). I still have these books and look through them from time-to-time because of what I have learned looking at life through his eyes. But yet, what the African Americans have suffered is not the same as the genocide that the Native Americans have suffered. I am not the one referring to their plight as genocide, that is what many Native Americans have perceived. And, because of this repeated gross injustice and treaty breaking, instead of receiving God's blessings we are inheriting His correction and justice.

Over the years, I have watched quite a few documentaries on various Native American leaders, and I have been able to read a few books. The video link that I put at the beginning of this blog entry is just the latest of stories, videos and books that I have seen. But, let me share what I have experience…

I was born near Rapid City, South Dakota. My adopted Father's parents used to live there and I still have family from my biological Mother and biological Father's side living the area. While growing up, my parents and I would visit South Dakota almost every year. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Custer State Park. And, after I returned from a deployment to Iraq in 2011, my wife, son, and I spent about two weeks vacationing in various parts of South Dakota. One thing we love to do together is visit various historical monuments, State Parks, National Parks, etc. It is a shared love for history, whether it was good or bad, that we want to learn from and teach our children.

Well, we stayed in Wall Drug, SD, for a number of days. Because of the numerous documentaries that we had watched as a family concerning the growth of our Nation and how it treated the Native Americans, one of our priorities was to visit museums about their history and plight. We walked into one museum in Wall Drug that was specifically about the Massacre at Wounded Knee. I was the last one to leave. Both of us had felt a very, very strong presence of anger in that museum. She took our son out and waited in the car while I spent a little more time looking around. I have experienced a lot of spiritual oppression in my life, but that was one of the worse experiences that I've had in a long time. It was that overwhelming!

Although that was the worse spiritual experience that we had during our vacation, it wasn't the only one. On several occasions, we could sense an angry, sometimes even extremely demonic presence. This was usually because of what had been allowed to happen in that area. We were a bit disappointed that we were not able to drive all the way to Wounded Knee. Both of us were very interested in visiting it. But, though we felt really uncomfortable at times driving through the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. We could tell that many there did not like us being there. But, it is an experience that I am thankful for. I was able to see for myself a lot of the gross poverty that many have to live in. Though most of the people that we interacted with treated us respectfully, I could tell that at least some of them did not want us there, maybe even wished us ill. I do not know for sure.

Going back to my experiences with the Nebraska Department of Corrections… After building a positive relationship with several of the Native American inmates, the became willing to share some of their stories as to why they were in prison. A lot of it stemmed from their sense of worthlessness because of how they, as a people, have been treated. Many have a sense that there is no hope, especially while trying to maintain a connection to their religious heritage and native language. The sense that many of them have is, unless they 'truly become white' and give up their heritage, they will never be accepted as a person. Is this not discrimination?

Not only is this a US Government problem with abusing them as a people. We as the Body of Christ have done the same. I am not advocating that we not share the Gospel of Christ with them. Far from it! God calls all Christians to share the hope that we have because of what Christ did for us. However, we show them great disrespect, no are racist to them, by demanding that they get rid of all their heritage. I have had the privilege of worshiping God in many different churches over the years. Although my preference is usually a liturgical service, I have experienced God's presence in a Catholic Mass before, amongst African American brothers and sisters in a Gospel service, etc. I have not been able to witness a Native American style of Christian worship, but I would like to some day.

When I was a sophomore at Centre College, I was invited to a student led Bible Study. I had been invited there the year before, but had no desire to attend. This is a preacher's kid, someone who grew up being very active in his Dad's church, saying this. But, this time, I decided, “What the heck?! What do I have to loose but maybe an hour or so of my time?” It wasn't the songs that made me want to come back again. It wasn't the content of the Bible Study. Nor was it all the different personalities, per se. What floored me was the fact that each of the members came from extremely different backgrounds. There was at least two Catholics, several Independent (Baptist), at least one who was Methodist, and several other denominations. Instead of using their differences of understanding Scripture to separate them from each other, they used it as a way to look at a passage of Scripture in a fresh way. Although they sometimes agreed to disagree on how they understood a passage to say, they found more common ground than not. It was this mutual love for each other and desire to learn more about God by learning from others that made me want to come back. It was in that group that I finally got honest with God and with myself and gave my life to Christ.

Why do I add that here? Not only have we as a Nation shown Native Americans gross injustice, but so have we as the Body of Christ. And, I agree with Richard Twiss and several other Christians that I have read, in that as a Nation, we very well may not experience true healing from God until we repent of this. No matter what the color of our skin is, we are all created by God, in His image. Although not every custom and every tradition honors God, that is no excuse to demand that any group of people, be it Native Americans in America, Chinese believers in China, Japanese believers in Japan, etc., have to give up all of their traditions and customs. Not everything that has come out of Europe has been God-honoring, though many want to believe they were. The Spanish Inquisition, the wars between Catholics and Protestants, the Holy Wars/Crusades into the Middle East, are just a few examples that I can quickly think of. Because of our sinful nature, we will make mistakes. However, when we realize that we have made a mistake, we have an obligation to change it. To change our attitudes and our behaviors. What are you willing to do?