Tearing Down

In so many circles it is so easy to enter into gossip and tear another person down. Focusing on there bad habits or issues they are struggling with . No one has been immune from it. The work place has to be one of the worse. Back stabbing and tearing down another usually goes hand and hand with inflating our own ego. In reality it is violence to the soul.I'm just as guilty to my shame of doing the same thing .

Who cannot remember learning about someone tearing you down behind your back and how deep it hurt. Then of course you have those who use innuendo in front of you to tear you down and the more bold , will do it to your face. They say it takes numerous positive comments to undo a negative. I can still recall vividly a teacher calling me out in front of my class . Granted looking back I needed a kick in the pants but humiliating me in front of my friends deeply hurt .

Sadder still is that this type of thing happens within the body of Christ. Gossip can become a nasty and toxic element . It robs the Church of witness, it creates mistrust and destroys like a unseen snake in the grass. Then you have those Christians who will come to you and say before they begin to tear you down , I'm only speaking the truth in love and the begin to criticize any numerous behaviors. Now I believe in Church discipline and we do need honest brothers and sisters in Christ to confront us in mercy but most of the time it really has nothing to do with that.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
In this statement the Apostle Paul tells the saints at in Thessalonia to encourage one another , to build each other up in the faith .  Christians should be marked separate from the world . If we have a real love for Christ and others , the use of the tongue to gossip , tear down have no place. Even if one needs to talk to another about a real sin issue , it should be done with discretion and grace. Following the biblical mandate , seeking repentance and reconciliation first.

Tearing others down or even taking some type of glee even when another falls has no place in the heart of a believer.  Jesus said that one way the world would know us is the way we love one another(John 13:35 ) .  The world has enough gossip and joy when one falls , let us not be marked by it nor take part in it . 

Ok , So What !!

Recently I read a story about a climber on Mount Everest who after making the summit had  to be left behind to die because of his failing health.  Apparently he went blind and do to extreme fatigue could not help the other climbers make his decent. If they had have tried to bring him down , it would have risked other lives.

Now this is a sad story . A tragic loss for his family and friends . But my question is why? What purpose does climbing this mountain or any other   that has no scientific purpose make any sense . Really it boils to the ability to say I did it , it was me . I'm sorry but life is too precious to be wasted on a big mound of earth and rock  other than to have to have bragging rights or to push human endurance to yell, see how great I'am.

When I read of people losing their lives in some pursuit of vain glory , I get mad . Risking life to get a thrill or to master something means nothing . If you are a scientist or explorer mapping new uncharted territory that could benefit humanity and lose your life , I can live with that. But not like this.

Laying down your life for a worthy cause is a noble thing. Police, Military,Firefighters and many more do so in the service of humanity. Even when someone loses their life at work in an accident , it is not in vain in the same way someone willingly putting life at risk for no purpose.

The greatest of course is when someone lays down their life to save another .John 15:13 

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. . This is what Jesus did for us . A sinner like me , Jesus laid down his life willingly that I might be forgiven and reconciled to God.  

But sorry , all risk takers seeking a thrill just to say I did it , no way. If you want a thrill with purpose , become a missionary , donate your time in a part of the world that need help like Africa or Haiti . Loose your life with purpose not fro some van glory . 

In and Through the Idol Factory

Exodus 20 :3 “You shall have no other gods before  me."

In today's world athletes  are almost  "gods". We flock to see these modern day gladiators perform in arenas around the world. No culture is immune . We look up to them  , we follow them , we cheer for them and many live vicariously through their love for the team or athlete they follow.In many ways they are the modern day Golden Calf . It is not just athletes of course but the whole entertainment field.

Now sports and following a team is in itself not a bad thing but if it becomes an obsession does it not become an idol in ones heart. When God told the Israelites not to have any gods before Him , it meant anything that would replace worship and devotion to Him . We make sports an idol , the athletes many "gods" . Watch the crazy devotion and religious fanaticism when a team wins a championship or loses. John Calvin said the heart is an idol factory . In rebellion we will replace God with anything . In our sin , in our hatred we want nothing more to replace Him . Many do it with sex,drugs etc... we see these idols as wrong but the most dangerous ones are those that seem right. Family ,your spouse,children and even sports . They all seem decent but these are the ones that Satan would use to blind our eyes.

But God is the business of breaking down idols and replacing them with the truth . The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ . The one who deserves our devotion,our love and adoration. He gives life , an idol destroys by keeping our eyes and hearts distracted.

I love hockey and the Leafs , don't laugh. At one time they were not the only idol in my life , I followed the rock band Kiss in almost religious fashion . But God has broken those idols and replaced them  in my life with Him but it is still a struggle at times not to fall back into old ways. I still love my leafs but I try to keep it in perspective . So  do you have idols that need to be broken down? Pray that God will reveal them to you . 

The Darkness Speaks From within .....

Today was not a good day . Today was a day that one realizes how utterly sinful and dark the heart is . Its funny how close the line is with the sin that still lurks within. I still recall after becoming a believer there was a euphoria , a feeling of love and completeness . But then I soon realized two things , how much sin was in my heart and how easy it can be to slip into it. My weakness I confess , is when life is going to hell and hand-basket ( I know strange saying but my Grandfather used ) I let my sinful nature begin to root , which allows the world to entice and the Devil wins. Instead of turning to God and following the example of Jesus when he was tempted in the wilderness by the Devil and using God's word to subdue my old nature , cut down the world , I give in and relish in it to forget .This does not happen all the time , but today I was weak. The problem is , once you give in it only leads to shame ,guilt and defeat.

 You are in a battle . That although you have been given a new nature , that the Holy Spirit in dwells and seals you , the old man still lingers. Read through Romans 7 which speaks of this struggle.  1 john reads ," 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. " So sin is a ever present reality even in a believer. As Martin Luther coined it we are "simul iustus et peccator", justified and a sinner all in the same package. 


So today was a bad day , what then? I need to run to Jesus , repent and be cleansed . Trusting in the words of John  that if we confess , he will cleanse us from all unrighteousnesses. The gospel is not just for unbelievers but Christians as well. We will never stray away from the cross . So pray for me that I will run to Christ because it is a battle and we need to be ever ready when the old man comes calling .


I like the  idea of a warrior getting ready for battle . He would put on his armor , maybe some war paint and then with his other soldiers , typically they would do some  chant or just holler to get them ready . May we all realize we do have enemies outside the camp (the world and the devil) but a even more insidious one is camped inside and the most dangerous . 

Why Ask at All

Recently in the UK , a taxi driver went on a shooting spree that killed 12 at last count and left a swath of grief across the land. Now I'm sure many who do not believe in  God will thunder , see I could never believe in a God that would allow that to happen. Of course they could raise other major events but the question is always the same. But I think they are asking the wrong question . In fact why are they so adamant at all. If  they believe in no God then what is perceived an evil act is nothing more than just random acts that  have no moral depth. So if someone kills 12 people , that is all it is . The person who did this just happened to have "bad" wiring . If we are nothing more than walking evolved cells , having no more value then any other organism , why is it different when a insect eats its own .

You have heard it said , I think you do protest too much . That is why I have a problem with all who cry , how can you believe in your God if He allows this to happen. At the heart of the cry is a deep truth that these things are wrong . We are made in God's image , even though we haved sinned and in open rebellion against God , we still have the image of right and wrong. It is totally fractured but intact enough to know certain acts are evil. The first few chapters of Romans give us a solid starting point to enter into a dialog.

When someone comes at you with these arguments we can have solid answers . That is the beauty of the  Bible. It is no naive book. We would have a problem if it was full of stories of flowers and perfect lives . However it reveals the real human condition. It doesn't explain it all but in its narrative of creation,fall. reconciliation and consummation , God in His wisdom gives us the tools to defend and take the offensive. As Peter tells us 1 Peter 3:15
"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect"
Finally ,the one great truth that differs Christianity from all religions is that God entered into this sinful,fallen ,evil age to redeem man . When Jesus came , God in the flesh , He came to undo what we were responsible for. The fact of the cross stands as a answer to the evil we see . God is no spectator but an active participant. That for me answers so many of the questions .

Arrogance is Deadly

So the Oil spill is still ongoing in the gulf of Mexico and they still haven't been able to stop the flow devastating the waters and coastline. If God has placed us in charge of the planet without being a enviro fanatic , I would say  we have done a very poor job. Man is so sure science and technology has all the answers that we tend to be over confident to drill perhaps where we should not .                                                                            Proverbs 16:18 
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.   Maybe they should have read this verse before they drilled in 5000 feet of water. 

Friday Nights Was Alright .....

When I was growing up I would look forward to going to town with my Nan on Fridays . It was always the same day to get groceries at the store on the corner of Webster street in Kentville,NS. I think it went with the name Dominion at the time , then switched over to IGA a little later . 

The main reason I was so excited to go, it was allowance day . I would usually get a couple of dollars from my Mom and Dad for doing a few chores . Plus my Nan ( OK I was spoiled) would give me a 1 or 2 dollar bill to go with it. So with my pocket full of cash , off I would go just down the street to Chisholms . It was a local book,magazine and hobby store. It is still open , which is nice to see in this age of corporate and online madness. 

My heart would race as I entered the store , quickly heading to the racks with magazines and the spin rack full of comic books. Then I would spend at least 30 minutes deciding what adventures I would walk out with. You have to realize that having anywhere between 2 or 3 dollars with comics being around 10 cents or so when I started buying them when I was 5 or 6 (this was 1969) , I was a rich man in comic heaven . 

Standing there I would pull each title that caught my eye. From Spider-Man ,The Fantastic Four,The Avengers,Batman,Superman . I would walk out with at least 2 or more , get to the grocery store get a Pepsi or Coke , a bag of chips and then couldn't wait to get home and enter the world of the superhero.

It was exciting and full of adventure . I mean who didn't want to be Spider-Man or Superman. I still recall the towel around my neck , held there with a Cloths pin, flying around the house . They were our entertainment . Who needed cable or the internet or video games . I was transported to  worlds of wonder ,with each comic panel full of great art and cool dialog. Much cooler then the stupid books of my primary and grade 1 readers. See spot run! Yeah right ,whatever. I still recall getting into trouble for sneaking in my Comics to read during reading time . Another friend of mine did so as well . It was worth the standing in the corner. 

I kept reading comics and buying them till about the mid 80's . Then I grew up (highly overrated) and made a huge mistake of selling them or giving them away . Dumb idea. I miss them at times and sometimes I search out some of the titles I had  collected on E-Bay just for fun. They played an important part of my childhood. They helped me escape to a world were good guys won and bad guys paid the price. Not such a bad thing . 

So I have great memories of Friday nights , clutching my money and heading off to find that adventure with one of my many favorite heroes.Good times . Simpler  and more innocent times .