Aug 2010
Glenn Beck and a Donkey
Mon 30 Aug 2010 Filed in: Reflections
But for this Christian, the rhetoric was interesting. I take pleasure in hearing a powerful call for Americans to return to God. That the source of that call was a self-avowed Mormon nudges me to figure out what to make of that. Most Mormons I know consider themselves Christians; most Christians I know consider Mormons non-Christians. So I am left with a question: Is it possible for a Mormon to incite genuine spiritual renewal among Christians?
It’s a question worth asking. And it reminds me of the Old Testament’s most famous donkey. Balaam’s ass was not only not one of the chosen people, it wasn’t a person at all. Yet it became an instrument of God and spokes-beast (seems more appropriate than spokesperson) for God in moving its ungodly master to act for God. God, after all, wastes nothing, not even a donkey. So I suspect that He won’t waste Saturday’s rally either. What do you think?
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The Other Johnny
We were not friends. We traveled in different circles and had different interests. He was a greaser who must have gone through a bottle of hair oil every week. The large economy size. He obviously took issue with Brylcreem’s claim that “a little dab’ll do ya.” The jingle went on to say, “The gals will all pursue ya; they’ll love to run their fingers through your hair.” Johnny obviously figured that a big dab of the stuff would attract even more gals. He was not what I would call an academic success. As I remember, he gained the distinction of being named the student least likely to succeed.
That, of course, is the trouble with drawing conclusions too soon. Making final judgments before things are final is dangerous business. The reason I ran across Johnny’s name the other day is that he has become one of the richest men in America. He ultimately turned what some of us regarded as a hair fetish into a wildly successful business developing and marketing Paul Mitchell hair products. (Would anyone have bought Johnny DeJoria hair products??)
I thought of the other Johnny again this morning as I had breakfast with a friend who reminded me that the fruit of Matt’s ministry would continue to blossom in the years ahead. He is right. I doubt if any of the kids with whom Matt worked will become as financially rich as the other Johnny, but I’m blessed to have seen and heard already the evidence of growing spiritual riches in young lives. And I’m reminded of how foolish it is to hang a loser label on those the Lord loves before He is done.
A Letter to My Congressman
Tue 24 Aug 2010 Filed in: My Life
As a retired (read "unemployed") 65 year old widower, I have watched with interest the government's efforts to help the economy and create jobs. I understand that according to the government's numbers, each job created or saved has cost the government approximately $200,000; this is a significant investment that evidences a strong commitment on the part of the federal government.
That commitment has started me thinking. I think I have found a way to make a small but positive impact on the government's efforts. Instead of seeking a job that it will cost the government $200,000 to create or save, I will agree to stay retired (read "unemployed"). While that only removes one person from the demand stream for jobs, it is admittedly a small step in the right direction of lowering the unemployment rate. In exchange for my commitment, the government can send me $100,000. Since there is no need to create or save a job for me, the government's cost is reduced by $200,000. In short, the government will be $100,000 ahead and so will I, and you can take credit for helping to lower the unemployment rate as well as decrease the federal deficit.
This is a plan in which everyone wins! I know these things can take time, but I look to you, Congressman McDermott, to expedite my $100,000 check. Thank you for your consideration and help.
Sincerely,
Malcolm Brewer
Oxymoron du Jour
Mon 23 Aug 2010 Filed in: Humor
It may be a sign of age if you can remember when it wasn’t an oxymoron. That’s one of the reasons my next trip will be on the train.
Foundations
Thu 19 Aug 2010 Filed in: My Life | Grief Notes
Bit by bit I’m meandering though Matt’s papers. I sort slowly. I don’t want to miss anything, and so I tend to read almost everything. That tendency, along with my grief-limited tolerance for sorting stuff, slows the process down, but occasionally there are rich rewards along the way. In a notebook that almost got tossed was a Matt-generated list of foundations for his ministry that came out of a day of prayer. (There was also a collection of fascinating TAG quotes that some TAG alumni would just as soon I don’t share, but that’s another topic....)
Whether written or not and whether consciously decided or not, most of us involved in ministry accept the constraints of some set of principles that guide our ministry and by which we evaluate our success. Matt’s seems to be the kind of list that creates a foundation for effective and principled ministry. How do you think he did?
Hmmm, maybe I need to edit and revise my own list . . . .
Whether written or not and whether consciously decided or not, most of us involved in ministry accept the constraints of some set of principles that guide our ministry and by which we evaluate our success. Matt’s seems to be the kind of list that creates a foundation for effective and principled ministry. How do you think he did?
- God will be in absolute control of all ministry decisions.
- I will spend required time before Him to seek His face and will.
- People are more important to me than programs; therefor I gladly alter programs as God works in people.
- I will be a God-pleaser first, man-pleaser second, and pray I do both lots.
- Ministry will never be limited to my strengths or abilities but blessed by His infinite resources.
- People will see Jesus Christ at all events - not optional - not a sermon but His love.
- Advancing the kingdom of God is more important than the numbers of any group or church.
- My spiritual walk will take precedence over ministry stuff because that’s how tone is set.
- I will commit to and pour into the lives of a ministry staff; I can’t do it all by myself.
- My foundations of ministry are non-negotiable with man but open to direction from God.
Hmmm, maybe I need to edit and revise my own list . . . .
Getting There
There was time in my life when the journey was as good as the destination, particularly if it involved traveling. When I was a kid, I mastered public transportation not so much to go somewhere as for the joy of the journey; where was almost irrelevant. But now four hour drives are less fun than they used to be. The body gets stiff and the bladder gets full. There (wherever there might be) has become more important that getting there.
I’m not sure that that is all good. The destination is important; Paul had something to say about that (I press on toward the goal....) But the journey is also valuable. And this journey had some wonderful moments. Because the Christian life is a relationship with Christ, whatever I experience on the journey I experience with Him. And in the process of the journey, before I arrive, I get to know Him better.
It is a reality that is important as I walk through the adjustments of grief. Matt is there and so is Joan. Suzanne and I are still getting. While it may occasionally be difficult, the journey is marked by joy.
Drawing Near
Fri 06 Aug 2010 Filed in: Reflections
Reality is much too good to settle for phoniness. In spite of that truth, I have encountered a lot of phonies along the way. And sometimes I have even been one.
I’m not talking here about the kind of recreational misdirection that can inject some unexpected fun into life. I am occasionally guilty of that kind of phoniness. The other day, for example, I called up a friend who was seeking new tenants, disguised my voice, and pretended to be something that I am not: I need to rent a condo, but I don’t have no money. I could pay you with food stamps. I don’t need food; I can shoot squirrels and other small animals to barbecue. Are there dogs and cats in the neighborhood? You get the drift. It was an interesting conversation, but after a couple of minutes, I had to tell the truth: It’s Malcolm, and I’m messing with your mind.
A couple of minutes of phony might be tolerable. A lifetime of phony is tragic. One of the characteristics of my family for which I am thankful is a lack of phoniness. I was reminded of that again sorting through some of Matt’s old papers. He had the family wysiwyg characteristic; what you see is what you get. And I was reminded of it again in Hebrews 10: Let us draw near with sincere hearts.
One simply cannot draw near to God while being a phony. I am what I am and He knows it and loves me anyway. His character demands that the masks come off, and his grace gently sees through them. I don’t understand people who try to develop a relationship with God while practicing phoniness. The reality of drawing near is much too good to settle for less.
I’m not talking here about the kind of recreational misdirection that can inject some unexpected fun into life. I am occasionally guilty of that kind of phoniness. The other day, for example, I called up a friend who was seeking new tenants, disguised my voice, and pretended to be something that I am not: I need to rent a condo, but I don’t have no money. I could pay you with food stamps. I don’t need food; I can shoot squirrels and other small animals to barbecue. Are there dogs and cats in the neighborhood? You get the drift. It was an interesting conversation, but after a couple of minutes, I had to tell the truth: It’s Malcolm, and I’m messing with your mind.
A couple of minutes of phony might be tolerable. A lifetime of phony is tragic. One of the characteristics of my family for which I am thankful is a lack of phoniness. I was reminded of that again sorting through some of Matt’s old papers. He had the family wysiwyg characteristic; what you see is what you get. And I was reminded of it again in Hebrews 10: Let us draw near with sincere hearts.
One simply cannot draw near to God while being a phony. I am what I am and He knows it and loves me anyway. His character demands that the masks come off, and his grace gently sees through them. I don’t understand people who try to develop a relationship with God while practicing phoniness. The reality of drawing near is much too good to settle for less.