Bring Back the Blindfold

ME OR US

 

Justice is blindfolded.  She is not blind, just ‘blindfolded.’  And for good reason.

She is also impartial, because she is blindfolded.  She weighs cases according to law, and she carries the sword of judicial ‘execution’ should it be required.

But we have taken her blindfold off, tampered with the scales (what is ‘truth’ anyway), and broken the sword – or replaced it with a wooden spoon (and even that is contentious).

In divesting her of the blindfold we have blinded her, so that justice becomes judgment based on extenuating circumstances, fuelled by behavioral irresponsibility and the toxic notion of sentimentality, in which people are all victims and not perpetrators, and certainly never responsible.

Justice can no longer ‘see.’  She can no longer stand back, and look past an individual, and look towards the community. And it is for the community that law exists to foster cohesion and parameter.  The law effects me, guides me, and protects me but it wasn’t written just for me – it is a community consideration crafted by greater minds than those who happily dismantle it in a sympathetic attempt at ‘understanding.’

She, justice, is ‘press ganged’ into feeling an empathy with a litigant as though the litigant is to set the tone for the law rather than the law set the tone for the litigant – for all of us.

I posit the reason is that the drift into individuality with its attendant ‘rights’ has hamstrung an instrument that was created for a community’s wellbeing.  I now matter rather than us.

The law simply won’t be her self unless we replace the blindfold and allow impartiality (a philosophically impossible task we know but not for this reason jettisoned) to weigh a case.

And my feelings are not good arbiters, neither are a person’s feelings the hand that should guide justice in her pursuit of, of … justice.  Ah, I had all but forgotten that word.  So has everyone else – until, of course, they are aggrieved and need the law or are carpeted by the law.  It is then that the blindfold is indeed welcomed.

To Belong or not …

Psalm 92:12-15 NLT

“But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. 

For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.

Even in old age they will still produce fruit: they will remain vital and green.”

A person has to be planted to flourish – no planting, no flourishing.  Scripture, experience, church life all teach us that being a part, an active part, of a church is vital for ongoing fruitfulness and salvation.  Yes!  Our salvation hangs on the connections we maintain in church life.

Trees with no fixed roots are in trouble, and so a disconnected believer is an anomaly.  Imagine an arm walking from a body – of course you can’t, and it seems folly to suggest it, but that is the picture of a believer without connections to a body that both nurtures and gives a context for living the life of Christ.  That is, if the NT picture Paul presents, as a master builder, of the church means what it implies.

I have been hearing a consistent theme from many pastors of churches, big and small, lively and otherwise.  Their people are attending, with increasing regularity, only once a month.  In simple terms, and exceptions aside (we all like to quote exceptions to make a case for our own excuses), a person who is casually attending isn’t any longer treating their faith or the scriptures with any seriousness what so ever.  God no longer means much more than sentimental acknowledgement.  If something is important we make time for it, otherwise we don’t.

And one of the dangerous corollaries of us not attending much is that we are teaching our children to not attend at all.  I spoke to a pastor this week and he said one family, a good family, had decided to let their children make their own minds up re church attendance.  Do the parents maintain the same stance when it comes to them going to school and maybe using drugs or having sexual experiences. I doubt it.  Strongly!

Planting in the Lord’s house has wonderful promises  – a life of fruitfulness, strength of character and flourishing in all you do.   If we stay the course in church life the course will be stayed in us.

Your church needs you.  Stay vital and green by being planted.

 

Alone or Lonely? Which is best?

I Don’t Want to be Lonely But I do Want to be Alone.

 

“It is not good for the man to be alone.”  Gen 2:18.  “The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.”  Mark 1:35-36.

One of these alones is deleterious to our well being and the other completely essential to maintain it.  Without one our human needs unsatisfied will cause unhealthy habits and responses and without the other we will lack spiritual vitality and progress.

One ‘alone’ refers to social relationships, the most important element being love – it is this ‘alone’ that isn’t good for us.  Long term we need others to be completely ourselves, if we understand ‘self’ to be a complex entity that has interdependence at the heart of it, of us – created for connection.

The other ‘alone’ refers to God time and space, and this ‘alone’ is very good for us. We need to be alone to replenish, to hear from heaven, to quieten the soul from all the noise of life’s traffic.  Whilst a healthy portion of our spiritual life is spent in and done via community alone is still essential to compliment this.

Some people can’t stand their own company or are barely comfortable with.  Without a doubt some people are more inclined to replenish from community/connections but even they still require time out to remain whole.  Some find being alone disquieting as it faces them with themselves or an inability to do the same.

We need to be happy with our own company on a regular basis and maybe even for a season.  Modern life militates against this practice but a disciple of Jesus will find time and space – to effectively remain so.  Being able to reflect and listen is an antidote for a lot of temptations and pressures.  It allows you to sit back and take stock with someone alongside more interested in truth than performance.

There is a difference between ‘loneliness’ and ‘alone-ness.’  One is troubling, the other nourishing, and one indicative of relational breakdown or weakness, the other relational wholeness.

I don’t want to be lonely but I do want to be alone.

Because You’re Worth It!

BECAUSE YOU’RE WORTH IT

 

By Valerie McIntyre

 

The title of this blog is an advertising slogan for a large beauty company. Because you’re worth it—‘it’ being shiny hair, or beautiful skin, or gorgeous lips. Now, I am not against looking good. I make a living helping brands promote themselves via the need and desire of most people to look and feel a certain way. And, I can assure you that shiny hair can give you a little lift in your step on most days. But it does make you question the concept of ‘worth.’ For those of us who live in the relative comfort of the west, we have a refined vision of our worth. For those less fortunate, who have to scrabble about in the midst of civil wars, shocking poverty and droughts of Biblical proportions, I imagine a sense of worth comes from a very different place. Am I worth being alive, might be what they consider on a daily basis. The sad thing is, their life often tells them no, you actually aren’t worth it. I remember reading stories of slavery in America in school and how the slaves were told they weren’t human. When your whole life confirms that you are nothing, just chattel, what is that thing inside of you that rises and up and says no, I am human, I am not an animal. I matter. I actually matter.

But to whom do you matter? What are we really worth? Worth is placing a value on something or someone. So, who places the value? I certainly can’t answer these questions in this blog, but I’ve thought a lot about injustice lately after watching some pretty sordid news shows, hearing some truly distressing stories about abuse and tragic deaths, where people’s lives didn’t seem to amount to anything, really. This is where what I believe kicks in. I know for those people who don’t believe in God, or who think that if there is a God, why is he deaf and mute to so much obvious suffering? But, for me, I can’t imagine doing this life, seeing these awful things, without believing that there is a God who one day will set everything right. I don’t believe this is his perfect plan, or that he wanted things to be this way. I believe he had a different plan, one in which we would not only live in harmony with each other, but even with the earth—and that includes our beautiful animal friends. Yet, we have freewill and a very bad decision has defined us, in many ways. You see, I believe without God, without a belief that he will bring ultimate justice, reverse this evil and bring us into a place of rest and freedom and love, much of what we see that hurts us has no meaning at all. Yes, you can argue that if God loved us he would save us, now. He would wipe away every tear, now. All I can say is this: if none of what I believe is true I’m glad I had my belief in God as a traveling partner along the way. It was a much better way to live. He has brought me comfort when nothing else could. He has helped me believe that my worth is not locked away in a bottle, or a successful business, or even a loving relationship. My worth is tied to the one who made me and said I do matter. To him. Forever. He brings me worth, he makes all of this make sense, somehow. Yes, I am worth it. Because he said so.  John 14 reminds us, “1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

He’s coming for us. Not because we’re worth it, because he loves us.

Well or Whole – Whats the Difference?

I Don’t Want to be Well But I do Want to be Whole.

 

Of course I want to be well it’s just that I’d rather be whole, if push comes to shove – and it does.

What is well?  It is a life largely enjoyed by the young without physical impediment and free of disease.  Equally it isn’t something that lasts for most through the years.  What is whole?  It is a growing internal health and congruence, space within and self knowledge – that sort of thing.  This is available to all regardless of age, although it tends to come with age.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:16 that, “Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”

‘Well’ is well and good, unwell isn’t enviable. ‘Well’ is a laudable goal where what you can do or not do makes a difference, and so we should but it’s not always enough and how will we live if ‘well’ is threatened or alludes us?  Our responses can lead us to ‘whole.’

1 Timothy 4:7-8.  “Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.  Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is more important, for it promises reward in both this life and the next.”

‘Well’ is the unashamed paraded in your face goal of this world; ‘whole’ is that of another world, a lasting world – it lasts, that’s the point.  Paul was accustomed to weakness but he was profoundly whole.  His life was Christ.  2 Corinthians 13:4, “Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God.  We too, are weak, but we live in him and have God’s power.”  See also 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 and Galatians 4:13-15 where Paul specifically states he was sick when he first brought the Good News of ‘wholeness’ to the Galatians.

We should do our best to be ‘well’ but we should do everything to be ‘whole’ with emotional strength, richness of character, capacity to triumph in difficulty, with humour in the soul, and tenderness and compassion.

Pain can make us ‘whole’ whereas it’s unlikely that it will make you well – not in the short term at least.  My lovely wife Helen was sick with cancer for 5 years; she wasn’t ‘well’ but she was certainly ‘whole,’ remarkably so – more than most who are ‘well,’ untroubled by disease or grief.

We need and should eat well, exercise and live well to be ‘well.”

But we must love, have hope, repent, believe, and sacrifice to be ‘whole.’

I don’t want to be well but I do want to be whole.

Failure? Maybe Not!

FAILURE: Only the Beginning of Success?

 

By Valerie McIntyre

 

Lately, I’ve been reading books on mountain climbing, specifically scaling mountains over 8,000 meters in height. I’m not entirely certain what has captured my imagination beyond the obvious—pure thrill. I suspect it’s the voyeuristic nature of reading about crazy things that other people do, things that would surely kill me if I ever tried them. The first time I read the book “Into Thin Air,” chronicling the disaster that happened on Mount Everest in 1996 when over 10 people died in a convergence of a wicked storm and series of questionable decisions, I was mesmerized. I literally walked down Fifth Avenue reading the book, unable to put it down. After I finished that book, I then read another account of the same storm by a man who had been hired by an adventure travel company to help bring people up to the summit. Only at the end of his own riveting tale did I read the footnote, the author died in an avalanche after writing the book I was reading. The deal with mountain climbing is that it is very dangerous, highly addictive to those that respond to its call, and can create a strange, almost a-morale sense of survival “at all costs.” Apparently, there are no morals above 8,000 feet. You may want to help that climber struggling in his ropes, but if you do you will surely die. You need to leave him behind.

So here I am, today, still reading these stories. Still fascinated. Why am I bringing this up? I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of failing. In the West we are obsessed with winning. If you aren’t a winner you’re a loser. End of story. But is it really? Is it really that black and white? And why does it matter? Because winning means you matter, that you can be assured of good things happening in your life, good things coming your way. Being a winner means that people will be attracted to you, want to know you, care what you have to say. Failing is not an option. It’s the kiss of death for your reputation, never mind your ego. Failing is for lazy people or people who haven’t been smart enough to do the right things to win. Maybe too, we think in the back of our minds, failing is for people who have been born on the wrong side of opportunity. Aren’t we lucky that hasn’t happened to us? But one of the prevailing concepts in my mountain climbing books is that the winners aren’t necessarily “better” than their fellow climbers, they’re just cautious. Only 200 meters from the coveted summit, the smart ones will turn around, go back down, and live to try again. Did they win? Nope, they lost. They lost their summit bid. Something they may have been working toward for years.

I’ve been considering the concept of failing because lately I’ve met a lot of people during this economic downturn who have lost their jobs, lost business, or seen their career stall. Admittedly, there is a good reason for this, and for those of us who have been riding the rollercoaster that is the shaky market, we don’t necessarily have to feel badly about where we’re at – we aren’t alone. But for someone like me who is a type-A personality, shaky market or not, it’s hard on some days not to feel a bit down. But this is also where my faith kicks in (thank goodness for hope!). I think about my heroes, the men and women in the Bible who saw the promise from afar, who never received the promise in their lifetime, and still kept going. I think about the men and women who walked and talked with Jesus, experienced the miracle of “God with us” and still were executed after a long life of serving the gospel. They didn’t care if the world thought they were losers, part of some strange sect, fools who believed a man could be raised from the dead. They may have looked like losers, but they weren’t. And I think about Jesus who for the joy set before him endured the cross. As he hung there on that hill, just days after His triumphant procession into the city, don’t you think people who knew him would have had their faith rocked, believed that everything they had hoped for was not true, after all? This was the Messiah? No, this was the ultimate loser, wasn’t he? From the outside he had lost everything that matters to most of us, not the least of all reputation. This is what I think about when I start to judge myself, and my life, and I’m re-energized to keep going, reminded that things are not always black and white, sometimes success looks like failure and often failure can produce character that then produces success. So, when contemplating my life and my experiences that feel like failure, I try not to think about what other people will think of me, or worst yet, my own ambition (like those unwise mountain climbers) I keep my eyes fixed on the author and perfector of my faith, and I remember that with Him when I am weak then I am strong.

Rich or Prosperous

I Don’t Want to be Rich But I do Want to be Prosperous.

 

Wealth is not my goal but neither need it be my opposition.  When wealth is the prime motive, and motive is always more slippery than we’re prepared to admit, we’re likely “to fall into temptation and are trapped by many harmful desires that plunge us (them) into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:9.  And v10 adds, “For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil.  And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”   You can always tell a person taken by money – it’s all they talk about or that which their conversation sooner or later gets around to.

Prosperity is something all together different.  It is always an attitude before it is ever an acquisition and it exists when the other doesn’t.  3 John 2.  “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”  This can read – in line with how your soul prospers, how it goes within will determine how it goes without, first things first …  See Psalm 1:1-3 and Joshua 1:7-8.  The unambiguous message is that if God is first, truly, then we will prosper.  Perhaps we could go as far as saying if God is first anything can be second.  Those who find this dangerous or even untenable have forgotten the self regulatory nature of the statement and what God first may actually mean.  Subtlety eludes these people which is often why they like money.

When riches fail so does hope for many people and when riches abound so does a false sense of security along with its obnoxious twin – arrogance.  We are all susceptible to this – none is immune.  In this case well being becomes fickle, tied in dependency to circumstance.

Paul knew how to handle both, much or little, with equal dexterity.  Philippians 4:11-13.  “For I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or with little.  For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me strength.”  And here it is – the secret of living in every situation, whether with much or little.  The help of Christ secured him in either.  This scripture is usually employed in a manner it isn’t strictly directed at.  But it is certain we need the help of Christ when we have and when we don’t have – when we have so that we don’t lose sight of God and priorities and don’t lean into presumption and pride, and when don’t have so that we don’t lose heart and think things of God and ourselves that are patently untrue, none the less temporarily convincing.

Being prosperous can lead to wealth but being rich never necessarily makes one prosperous.

“True religion with contentment is great wealth.”  1 Timothy 6:6.  This wealth doesn’t preclude riches but it is never reliant on them.  To temper this line of reasoning it is worth noting that although he’d learnt the capacity of having or not having Paul was still grateful for the gifts the churches sent him.  Given a choice we, along with the apostle, prefer to have – its more comfortable.  His point is be prepared for whatever condition you find yourself in, as you will.

Money is also to be employed in a manner given little attention by those who amass it and those who spurn it – two equal and opposite errors.  1 Timothy 6:17-18.  “Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money … But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us everything we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good …”  Most focus is directed to reproof of those who are loaded to not trust in their uncertain wealth (good advice) and to be generous to those with less (again good advice).  But will any admit to wealth also being for enjoyment – that’s right, enjoyment, which is a quality given all too little attention, and it is my contention that unless you are prosperous you’ll never enjoy your wealth.  You’ll either feel guilty or overly protective.

I don’t want to be rich, but I do want to be prosperous.

Fame or Influence?

I Don’t Want to be Famous But I do Want to be Influential.

 

Fame makes us captive to our audience, we are at their behest.  We become indiscriminately available to others instead of being available to God, which is one of the reasons why Jesus maintained prayer at the height of his popularity.  Popularity can easily turn good into an enemy of God’s will/best.  But who wouldn’t want to stick around when people are clamouring for you, hanging on every word and action?  Mark 1:35-39. “The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him.  They said, “Everyone is asking for you.”  But he replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too, because that is why I came.”  So he travelled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and expelling demons from many people.”

Fame is ‘ability’ or ‘gift’ oriented, whereas influence is ‘character’ oriented, and takes much longer to develop, be effective, and noticed.  Fame intoxicates and consequently deceives us – we begin to believe our press.  Influence goes under the radar for much longer than fame is prepared to. Fame offers the illegitimate; influence has no such offer or interest.  Jesus spurned notoriety and a cheap way to it in favour of giving his attention and life to the worship and service of God and not what was enticingly offered by Satan.  Luke 4:5-8.  “Then the Devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  The Devil told him, “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them — because they are mine to give to anyone I please.  I will give it all to you if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.’ ”  Not for a moment was this less a temptation to Jesus, because he was Jesus.  If he struggled I’m not sure how we will any the less.

You can be given fame.   Luke 2:52.  “Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him.”  But it is another matter to be given to it – it will be a demanding mistress.

I fear for the young (and the not so young) that become famous.  Few have the inner resource to not be affected, a rare person indeed.  Western Christianity has, taking its lead from the world, created a star culture that ‘reflects’ much more than it challenges or ‘reaches.’  And it is very difficult to distinguish the lives of many ‘popular’ Christians from the world around them.  They divorce at the same rate; they are addicted to life enhancers and styles much as those around who have no pretence of moral fibre and belief; they are as disconnected from the safety of community as their fellow travellers, but very rarely did they ever set out to become like they have, but the show must go on.

Influence is a life slowly lived.  It is not on display but is noticed by many.  It is never cheap or easy.

Who has had the most influence in your life?  It is almost certainly not a movie star or media personality, sports star or one famous for being famous – read, vacuous.  And how long has that influence taken?  It is unlikely to be overnight.  People crave for a way forward, accessible and reproducible in their lives.  Influence enables and empowers this need whereas fame creates envy and unhealthy adulation therefore personal minimisation.

I don’t want to be famous, but I do want to be influential.

Faith and Obedience – The Dynamic Duo

By Valerie McIntyre/Donati

Obedience. It isn’t a word that normally conjures up a warm, happy feeling. When I hear the word I think: “prison.” Excellent. Now I have to do something that I probably don’t want to do. Not a lot of attraction in that word. But, in the past few months, as I grapple with the challenges of basically doing 2 ½ jobs, I had a revelation about obedience that helped me see the word in a better light. You see, I know that what I really need is FAITH. I need faith to believe that as I “step out” in business and church life God will both go before me and pave a way for my endeavors, plus provide a cleanup crew behind me when I make mistakes (as you do). It’s wonderful to have a husband, a partner. But Simon can’t save me, or my business.  And, I’m not in favor of saying: “I have faith for this to work, let me sit back and watch God do it.” Even Paul had a profession, and he encouraged others to have one too.

So, I need faith, because I can’t do this alone, and if God doesn’t help me, ultimately I’m on my own. No matter how “good” I am, I’m not good enough to make things work the way that I want them to. I need help. Faith. I need it. But here’s the kicker. Isn’t it the way, that when you NEED faith the most, it seems so hard to find? I can walk around all day long, know what I need, cry out for it from the bottom of my heart and still feel wanting. I know this faith business is not about a feeling, but feelings can help you make it through some days. This is where obedience has become a light in challenging times for me. Obedience is the “easiest” hard thing you may do, but it can set you free. Obedience will position you for success. If you can’t find the faith you need, you can be obedient. Stepping into obedience is an action that produces fruit. Not some of the time—ALL of the time.

There were two things that characterized the life of Jesus: love and obedience. He was obedient to love and for love. He loved so much that he was obedient to death. Sure, he knew he would rise again, but he did ask his father to take it away, if possible. When the answer came back “no” he went through with it. He was obedient and his obedience changed the world. In my life the biggest, most lasting, most productive changes have come through acts of obedience. Celibacy, tithing, truthfulness. None of the things come naturally or are any fun, but my life has pivoted positively on the decision to be obedient. When I don’t have it in me to bring up faith I know I can go to a place of obedience and trust that God will show up and take care of things. My circumstances may not always reflect what I think I need or want, and the timing may be all off (according to me) but I know I am in a safe space, a place where I can be blessed. Most importantly I am in a position to be used by God for his purposes. If there is a place in your life that you feel God is calling you to be obedient give it a try and watch him go to work.

God With Us.

Merry Christmas  – God is with you.

Wonderful time of year, Christmas!  We get to spend it with the people we love, we have a break from the crush of living, we get to sing carols – and how good are some of them?  We get to eat turkey, Christmas pudding, sweets, treats and a stomach full.  People seem somewhat happier and maybe even nicer, and that is never a bad thing.  In the Northern Hemisphere we get snow, frosty breath, rugged up warmth, Christmas lights to make up for the shy absence of the sun – it has gone south for the winter and can you blame it?  And we have more Santa’s than you hope a child ever sees, and starts to put two and two together.

All good and all fun.  No need to get Cromwellian about it and ban everything ‘Christmas’ for fear of commercialization and a drift from the moorings of the ‘reason for the season.’  Mind you the Puritans had a point.  Still, being a party pooper isn’t very endearing and it didn’t make the remembrance of Christ’s birth more memorable to the average person/church goers.  Everyone likes Christmas unless they are a Grinch or a ‘good’ atheist.

It is up to us to celebrate in the midst of the tinsel and holly the actual purpose of Christmas.  In the gospel of Matthew we are told Joseph was to name the child Jesus, meaning ‘God is with us’ – ‘Emmanuel.’

This is the most important thing, the backdrop of all our celebrations – the fact that God has declared himself close to us and on our side.  He is so ‘for us’ that Paul asks the questions in Romans 8, who can possibly be against us?  No one is the resounding implication.

Of all the things about God’s relation to us little can better the knowledge that he is for us and not in opposition to us, against us, forever angry with us.  On the contrary Jesus was God’s way of saying I’m with you, I understand you, I love you and I have good plans for you.

God is with you when others may not be (and sometimes for good reason, we need to admit); God is for me when I’m not for me. God is for me and difficulties are no proof of opposition to us.  God is for you.

Merry Christmas – Happy ‘God is with us.’