Men Will Be Men

Men Will Be Men

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by the pastor from Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, NC, Bo Wagner.  He was responding to people dismissing the comments and/or behavior by Donald Trump and Bill Clinton as Men Will Be Men.  The scripture is in the excerpt.

 "Men will be men."

That statement is an implied universal absolute.  It is an indication that all men are lewd and somewhat debauched and at some point will behave accordingly.  It is also a statement that gives men license to do so.  If men will be men, then there really is no need to behave otherwise.  "Men will be men" therefore becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  It actually helps men to behave badly since they are basically given a free pass for it.  It is in their DNA, how can they do otherwise? 

So let me say it.  Not all "men will men."  Men do not have to behave badly, and many choose not to do so.  Little boys ought to be taught early that they have a responsibility and the ability to do right, and that they will be expected to do so.

There are some men out there who are base and boorish.  There are also some men out there who are godly, kind and classy.  There are men who will make lewd comments when they think that they are speaking in private.  There are also men who would never dream of making lewd comments even when they are speaking in private.  What I am saying is:  Not all men settle for being "men."  1 Samuel 9:6 says, "And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man . . ." 

This ought to be said of every man who claims to be a follower of Christ.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Every Life is Valuable

Every Life is Valuable

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the scripture is Psalm 53:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

  

A secular person is one that is saying that as far as he knows this world is an accident, and we are the accidental collocation of molecules.  If he thinks out the implications of this, then he is saying that there is no reason for attributing to a man a significance different from that which belongs to a baboon or to a grain of sand.  Nothing has any purpose, and everything is an accident.  There is no right and wrong, but just power.  

 

They say, "Yes, I agree that as far as I know this world is an accident, but I know that people are valuable.  I also know that injustice is wrong, and I know that there is a right and a wrong.  Violence is wrong, and people are valuable.  I just know it."  

 

These people are getting their peace by refusing to think out the implications of their own view.  Right and wrong means that there is a design and that there is a reason for things, and you have to conform to it.  The Bible says is that this world was created by a God who wanted our friendship and even though we've turned away from Him, He has come down in the form of His Son to get us back. 

 

If you believe that, think of how valuable every human life is.   

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Made For Something Beyond This World

Made For Something Beyond This World

Dear Champions,
 
The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is Isaiah 55:2  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
 
In every single one of us there is a raging, unquenchable and all consuming thirst that leads us to decide that nothing is good enough and will ever satisfy us.  We all have an infinite capacity for boredom and irritability with anything, even the best things.  The more successful you are the faster you come to realize that you have a bottomless pit inside of you.  There is a black hole and an infinite vacuum in you and me, and it does not matter what you put in there.  At first it is great, she is great, or he is great.  Then, after awhile you find fault, and you want to pull away. 
 
I have a large folder filled with quotes from successful people famous people who after they got to the top, said," I do not know what happened, but I wanted to kill myself."  The tennis great, Boris Becker, looking back on his life said that when he was at the height of his power, achievement and fame, he wanted to kill himself. When he got everything that he ever wanted, he still felt empty.  He said, "I had won Wimbledon twice, and once I was the youngest player to ever do so.  I was rich, and I had all the material possessions that I needed.  I guess it is like the old song about movies and pop stars who want to commit suicide.  They have everything, and yet they are so unhappy.  It is true.  I had nothing on the inside." 
 
Like I said, it goes faster if you are successful, but we are all on our way.  Unless there is a cure or some kind of intervention, we are all on our way to being unhappy with anything and with everything.  Nothing will ever be good enough. If there is nothing in this world that ever satisfies me, then it must mean that I am made for something beyond this world.
 
Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Grace and Truth

Grace and Truth

Dear Champions,

The first two paragraphs are by Tim Keller, and the last paragraph is by Steve Chesney.  The scripture is John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

 

God says, "I am forgiving, but I never let sin go unpunished.  I am absolutely loving and just.  I am full of grace and truth."   I forgive everybody, and I refuse to let anything go unpunished."  

 

When you hear Him say that, you say, "That's impossible."  Yet God says, "Unless you understand how I can be both, you will never see My glory.  That is the essence of My glory."  It's only in understanding what Jesus has done does that glory come.

 

Do you want to see how much God hates your sin.  Look at the cross.  It's where His anger boils up and overflows.  But in the same breath, do you want to see how much God loves you.  Look back at the cross.  That's where God says, "I love you so much I will come, and I'll take your place.  I will send my precious son to absorb the full blow and penalty that you deserve.  I'll take it on my own head."  Is God a God of justice?  You bet!  Look at the cross!  It's where His justice and His love come crashing together, but the crash is not on your head.  It's on Jesus!  The cross is where God says, "I love you this much!"

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining 

In Honor of Katie Beth Carter

In Honor of Katie Beth Carter

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is from Jim Dobson's book, When Life Doesn't Make Sense.  It has been inspired by the death for our dear friend, 18 year old Katie Beth Carter.  She was killed in a car wreck while heading back to college last Monday.  The scripture is Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 

Pastor Jim Conway's daughter, Becki, had her leg amputated because of cancer.  Here is part of his story.

 

I remember a guy I saw in a restaurant a few days after Becki underwent surgery.  He was sitting at a table, and as I walked by, he reached out and grabbed my coat.  He said, "Jim, I think God has allowed this to happen because it has brought about a revival in our church."  I said, "So what is God going to do to bring another revival when this one passes, chop off Becki's other leg?  Then her arm and her other arm?  There isn't enough of Becki to keep any church spiritually alive, if that is what it takes."

 

When you start reaching for puny answers like that, it dehumanizes those who suffer and insults our magnificent God who loves and cares for the oppressed.  I couldn't explain why Becki had to lose her leg, but I knew the answers being given were not right.

 

Probably the most important thing I learned in this entire process is this:  I became deeply aware that there were only two choices that I could make.  One was to continue in my anger at God and follow the path of despair I was on.  The other choice was to let God be God, and somehow say, "I don't know how all this fits together.  I don't understand the reasons for it.  I'm not even going to ask for the explanation.  I've chosen to accept the fact that You are God and I'm the servant, instead of the other way around."  And there I left it.

 

It was in that choice that I came to cope with my situation.  I frankly admit that after all these years, I still struggle with some things.  I will get sick to my stomach when I see my daughter hopping on one leg.  But I have come to recognize that God has a higher purpose, and I just don't understand that purpose.  I am prepared to wait until eternity to receive answers to my questions, if necessary.  Like Job, I am now able to say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15 KJV).  It's either despair, or it's the acceptance of His sovereignty.  Those are the alternatives.

 

Champions, if you remember, please pray for Katie's Beth's family.  Have a great week!-David Vining

 

P.S.  You can read more and see a picture of  Katie Beth at this gofundme.com site.  https://www.gofundme.com/2nh4ej56

Happiness & Humility

Happiness & Humility

Dear Champions,
 
The short excerpt is by Whit Criswell , and the Scripture is Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
Psychology Today magazine did a survey and asked 52,000 people, "What would it take to make you happy?"  In order of most votes were:  friends and social life, good job, love, recognition, sex, good financial situation, owning a house, being attractive, health, religion, recreation, being a parent, marriage, and for their spouse to be happy.  The interesting thing is happiness is mostly sought through external situations rather than internal ones.  Then does happiness mean having the right circumstances?
 
The wisest and wealthiest man ever was Solomon, and he said he was going to deny himself nothing in order to find happiness.  He found three dead-ends:  accumulating things, experiencing all kinds of pleasure, and achieving success.  He concluded, "All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 2:17).  The world's view of happiness is having the right circumstances, but God's idea of happiness is having the right attitude.
 
In Matthew 5, Jesus sat on a mountainside and, contrary to popular opinion, began teaching what is commonly referred to as the BE-attitudes.  And He repeatedly said, "Blessed," which means, "Happy are you."  He reminded them that happiness is not determined by what's happening around or outside of me, but rather what's happening INSIDE of me!  It's an internal attitude.
 
Jesus tells us that the first step to happiness is HUMILITY.  He's got to be kidding, right?  "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit."  What does that mean?  It means when compared to a holy and righteous God, we are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  It means that I don't have it all together, I am not the sum total of the universe, I am not God!"  Humble and happy go together.

Champions, have a great summer!-David Vining

Commitment

Commitment

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Dennis Rainey, and the Scripture is 1 John 4:18. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. . .
 
A powerful picture of how love casts out fear is found in the book Welcome Home, Davey. While serving aboard a gunboat in Vietnam, Dave Roever was holding a phosphorous grenade some six inches from his face when a snipers bullet ignited the explosion.  Here he describes the first time he saw his face after the explosion:
 
When I looked in that mirror, I saw a monster, not a human being . . . My soul seemed to shrivel up and collapse in on itself, to be sucked into a black hole of despair.  I was left with an indescribable and terrifying emptiness.  I was alone in the way the souls in hell must feel alone.
 
Finally he came back to the States to meet his young bride, Brenda.  Just before she arrived, he watched a wife tell another burn victim that she wanted a divorce.  Then Brenda walked in.
 
Showing not the slightest tremor of horror or shock, she bent down and kissed me on what was left of my face.  Then she looked me in my good eye, smiled, and said, Welcome home, Davey!  I love you.  To understand what that meant to me you have to know that's what she called me when we were most intimate; she would whisper Davey, over and over in my ear . . . . By using her term of endearment for me, she said, You are my husband.  You will always be my husband.  You are still my man.
 
Love is not just a feeling.  It is a commitment and a decision.

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining