Over the years I have known many people who worked in the criminal justice system. In one particular church, one of my members was a county Sheriff while at another church a member worked in the area prison as a guard. The prison guard once said to me, “Did you know that we have an inmate in our jail who knows you?” Looking puzzled I said, “Really… Who?” He smiled with a big grin and said, “Jesus! It seems that he lives down at the prison because almost every inmate who comes through there says he has gotten to know Jesus.” Then he burst into laughter.
Yes, it seems often the case that when people find themselves in trouble and the truth of their actions come to light, it is God that they seek. I guess it is human nature to seek redemption and forgiveness for the things that we have done wrong. This week we have two individuals who have expressed their faith in God as they have faced public humiliation and legal turmoil. Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and Idaho Senator Larry Craig have been the focus of the media spotlight. Both have expressed their wrongdoing and both have begun the campaign to limit the damage done to their reputations. Vick has pled to a felony while Craig pled to a misdemeanor, but both have major problems. Vick faces jail time and has already been banished from the NFL, while Craig is being pressured to resign from his elected position.
Fox news correspondent Mike Straka wrote about Vicks sudden turn to Jesus. Vick said, “Dogfighting is a terrible thing and I reject it ... I found Jesus and turned my life over to God. I think that's the right thing to do as of right now.” Straka states “Gee, that didn't take long. I didn't think the curtain on the "finding Jesus" act would rise until after Vick went to jail, but alas, it came on the same day he made his plea deal official. It took Paris Hilton a few hours in the slammer before she met Jesus, and Vick does it even before lockup. Who knew?”
The problem I have is that some folks just toss the name of God (i.e. Jesus) out into the conversation to exhibit some sort of change, remorse, humility, or whatever wants only to play on many people’s sympathy. As a pastor, I hope that anyone who would make a claim of getting to know Jesus is sincere and honest. Yet, too often I see people wearing crosses around their necks and go about life with no reference to actually knowing Jesus. Years ago pop star Madonna was always flaunting crosses and yet Christianity seemed nowhere near her agenda. All this may sound judgmental, but in a recent study of Exodus 20, my class discussed the Ten Commandments and we talked about “Do not take the Lord thy God’s name in vain.” I believe that claiming Jesus’ name is serious business and has ramifications. It should not be done lightly or casually, but with reverence and honesty. Not simply as a tool to evoke sympathy and control the spin of a story. Does God want to really be a part of Michael Vick’s and Larry Craig’s life… and Paris Hilton’s, and Madonna’s,…and your life and mine? Absolutely! Jesus calls us to follow Him. That is a journey and a walk that means daily discipleship. Life is not always perfect and I know that some come to Him through tumultuous events, but may we turn to God in all circumstances, good and bad, with open hearts.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Wealthiest People in America… Are You On The List?
What does less than 1 billion dollars get you today? I learned that if you have less than a billion, you would find yourself outside looking in on Forbes magazine’s 400 richest people in America. Yes, it’s true. You just don’t measure up if you can’t muster more than a billion. This year the people who made the rankings are worth $1.54 trillion, compared with $1.25 trillion last year. According to cable television mogul Ted Turner, “There is a pride about being on the list. People that are on it look to see where they are and if they have moved up from last year.” Who’s on top you might ask? The top two richest continue to be Microsoft’s Bill Gates (59 billion) and Berkshire-Hathaway’s Warren Buffett (52 billion).
Did you check to see if your name appeared on the list? Probably not! Actually, I only read about the list at an online news service. I could care less who made the list of the richest people in America. The question would be how is that helping them with their faith? The Bible says in Matthew 9:23, “it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.” So, how is all that money going to help them in the long run? Most live extravagant lives, but others are helping charity. A month or so back I saw a special on ABC News with John Stossel. Who gives the greatest percentage of their wealth to charity? The working class people actually give more of what they make. That may be a surprise, but even though both Gates and Buffett gives millions of dollars in philanthropic efforts, their percentage is actually less than many of you who give to United Way at work and your church on Sunday’s.
Now you know what it means to be wealthy, but do you know what it means to be rich? Being rich isn’t about one thin dime. Being rich is about living a life of joy… no matter what your circumstances. It is full of good works and a thankful heart. Being rich means having many friends. Being rich means living a life that has perspective on God and other people. The following story helps to illustrate my point.
One day ... a wealthy family man took his son on a trip to the country, so he could have his son see how poor country people live. They stayed one day and one night in the home of a very humble farmer. At the end of the trip, and when they were back home, the father asked his son, “What did you think of the trip?" The son replied, “Very nice dad.” Then the father asked his son, “Did you notice how poor they were?” The son replied, “Yes.” The father continued asking, “What did you learn?” The son responded, "I learned that we have one dog in our house, and they have four. Also, we have a fountain in our garden, but they have a stream that has no end. And we have imported lamps in our garden ... where they have the stars! And our garden goes to the edge of our property. But they have the entire horizon as their back yard! At the end of the son's reply the father was speechless. His son then said, “Thank you dad for showing me how poor we really are.”
You see you are rich if you have Jesus Christ in you life and call Him “Lord.” For your life is a testament to the love of Jesus and as Matthew 6 says, “your treasure will be in heaven.” That’s the only list of wealth any of us need to worry about having our name on!
Did you check to see if your name appeared on the list? Probably not! Actually, I only read about the list at an online news service. I could care less who made the list of the richest people in America. The question would be how is that helping them with their faith? The Bible says in Matthew 9:23, “it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.” So, how is all that money going to help them in the long run? Most live extravagant lives, but others are helping charity. A month or so back I saw a special on ABC News with John Stossel. Who gives the greatest percentage of their wealth to charity? The working class people actually give more of what they make. That may be a surprise, but even though both Gates and Buffett gives millions of dollars in philanthropic efforts, their percentage is actually less than many of you who give to United Way at work and your church on Sunday’s.
Now you know what it means to be wealthy, but do you know what it means to be rich? Being rich isn’t about one thin dime. Being rich is about living a life of joy… no matter what your circumstances. It is full of good works and a thankful heart. Being rich means having many friends. Being rich means living a life that has perspective on God and other people. The following story helps to illustrate my point.
One day ... a wealthy family man took his son on a trip to the country, so he could have his son see how poor country people live. They stayed one day and one night in the home of a very humble farmer. At the end of the trip, and when they were back home, the father asked his son, “What did you think of the trip?" The son replied, “Very nice dad.” Then the father asked his son, “Did you notice how poor they were?” The son replied, “Yes.” The father continued asking, “What did you learn?” The son responded, "I learned that we have one dog in our house, and they have four. Also, we have a fountain in our garden, but they have a stream that has no end. And we have imported lamps in our garden ... where they have the stars! And our garden goes to the edge of our property. But they have the entire horizon as their back yard! At the end of the son's reply the father was speechless. His son then said, “Thank you dad for showing me how poor we really are.”
You see you are rich if you have Jesus Christ in you life and call Him “Lord.” For your life is a testament to the love of Jesus and as Matthew 6 says, “your treasure will be in heaven.” That’s the only list of wealth any of us need to worry about having our name on!
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