Thank You For Your Service

Today is Memorial Day.  We gloss over the meaning of today.  It is a day off, a chance to get outside and enjoy.  But it is a day of remembering those who gave their lives in service for our country.  Whenever Debsue comes across a serviceman whether it is in the airport or on the street somewhere, she always thanks them for their service.  Sometimes she gets odd looks because it is so rare for someone to come up to them and actually thank them for their sacrifice for our country.  We take it for granted.  Most times once they get past the shock of her stating that, they are appreciative of her comment.  It used to make me uncomfortable, but now I am very glad she does it.  We all take for granted the freedoms we have in this country and what it took for us to have those freedoms. 

Thank you for your service!

A Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3 says our hope is a living hope.  My hope is alive and I base my life on it.  What is interesting is that the living hope is based on the resurrection.  That means it required death to be made alive.  That is why Paul says in 1st Corinthians 15 that without the resurrection, we have no hope.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead gave us our living hope.  This verse goes on to say that the hope is tied up in an inheritance which cannot perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for us.  As I have gotten older, the concept of perishing, spoiling, or fading is much more real.  But what is happening in heaven is a reservation at the Ritz (John 14:1-3).  It is totally and completely pure and unstained.  And it is in the perfect tense so it continues to be made unspoiled.  Now there is work on our part - the faith part.  Verse 5 says it is through faith that I come into this living hope and the inheritance will be revealed "in the last time".  Peter was addressing this to Christians who had suffered lots of trials.  Some of us are experiencing trials, but there is much more than we see.  We see Jesus, a living hope. 

Lebron Hype

We here in the city of Cleveland are overwhelmed by the Lebron soap opera.  Will he sign?  In the sports page, they are publishing every day the latest rumors.  It is really picking up as the Cavs now have fired their coach Mike Brown.  I am as big a fan as any out there, but really so what?  If we gave as much attention to the other problems in our city as we do the Lebron saga, maybe we could accomplish a lot more.  I recognize the importance of having a superstar in your city, especially one that is home grown - I get that.  But for crying out loud - let's put it in its perspective.   Will life go on if Lebron leaves?  If he leaves, he will follow a well established pattern of players leaving for the mega cities such as LA, Chicago, and New York.  After all, Cleveland is not the big stage.  Pro sports is big business, not true sport.  Lebron says he has to council with his "team" before signing.  He wasn't referring to his sports team, but his agent, his marketing firm, etc.  Kevin Garnett supposedly told him "do what is best for your family".  Sounds rather silly - do I stay and make 30 million in Cleveland or go and make 30 million in New York?  I am sure his family will make do either way.  

Lebron, I have followed you since you were 14 here in Akron.  You have showed some decent maturity for one so young who was anointed a superstar at such a young age (although please marry the woman that you have two children with).  I hope you factor in what it really means to be a hometown guy.  If you don't, well then good for you and your family and we wish you well.  And life in Cleveland will go on.

A Hope that is Certain

I have started a little mini-study on hope as revealed in the Bible.  Hope is one of those words that sounds really wishy washy.  When we hope for something, there is no real assurance that it will happen.  It is kind of a wing and a prayer.  A while back a guy published a sales book called "Hope is not a Strategy".  Great book.  I tell our co-workers all the time that hope is not a strategy.  We can't hope for something without fixing the conditions that make it happen.

In the bible, however, hope is a much more active term.  When we put our hope in what God says, it is as good as done.  I never really thought about that difference.  Yes, our hope is certain.  Read through the references of hope in Christ.  For example, Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see".  I don't usually think of hope and sure or certain in the same sentence.  Romans 5:5 says that hope does not disappoint us.  I know many times in my daily life, I hope for something and that hope disappoints.  I really hoped for the Cavs to win an NBA championship this year and I was severely disappointed.  But my hope was not grounded in something that is certain.   My hope in God is absolutely grounded in what is certain.  It is as good as done.  It does test our faith however because we don't see it and it is yet to come.  So while it is certain, we still must have faith to believe it.

In future posts, we will unpack this truth.  At least, I sure hope so. 

Sorry I Misspoke

Attorney General and Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal conceded last week that he had "misspoken" about having fought in the Vietnam War.  Blumenthal, the state's top law enforcement officer since 1991, was captured on video in 2008 saying in a speech, "when I served in Vietnam."  Blumenthal, 64, enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1970 after receiving deferments from the military draft, he said at a news conference. He spent six years in the Reserve, none of it overseas. 

"On a few occasions I have misspoken about my service and I regret that and I take full responsibility," said Blumenthal, surrounded by veterans. "But I will not allow anyone to take a few misplaced words and impugn my record of service to our country."

The definition of misspoke is to speak mistakenly, inappropriately, or rashly.  Was he mistaken?   I doubt that?  He knew what he was saying - this wasn't an exaggeration.  He stated he served in Vietnam.  It certainly is inappropriate because he flat out lied.   This is yet another example of double-speak we see from politicians, particularly lawyer politicians.  Have you ever been caught in a lie?  Sounds bad to say, "Yes, I lied!"  Sounds better to say, "I misspoke".  No sir, you lied.  Admit it.

Introducing Meghan Cutherell

Yesterday, I gave away a daughter and gained a son-in-law.  Today as Debbie describes is a celebration hangover.  It has nothing to do with alcohol (which was very minimal).  As the father and participant in this wonderful wedding and evening celebration, it is just a natural letdown to come to today.  Meghan and Josh hopefully are finally off on their honeymoon after I know some flight difficulties today.

It seems like just yesterday this little girl was born.  And now, she is married.  That is bitter-sweet.  But what is really sweet however is that we gained just a great son-in-law, Josh.  We also gained some wonderful new relatives who we have gotten to know in the past few weeks.  Josh compliments Meghan well and more importantly, I know both are committed to a holy marriage - a marriage centered in Jesus Christ.  Both are servants who love to help and serve people in the name of Jesus.  Josh comes from a multi-generational family of medical missionaries.  We know God has great plans for them.

I am sure Debsue will give a much more detailed update on her blog complete with pictures.  I will be posting videos onto Facebook as I go through them.  In the meantime, following is the tribute video I played at the reception.

What God Wants is to be Believed

Then they despised the pleasant land

they did not believe his promise

Psalm 106:24

Covenant occurs three times within this psalm.  A covenant is a promise.  For most of us, a promise is a better word than covenant for covenant suggests a bargain and God's covenants are established apart from anything we have brought to the table.  A promise on the other hand is a unilateral covenant God has made.  On the other hand, we tend to treat promises lightly and God does not treat his promises lightly.  So maybe the better word is oath or solemn commitment.  God makes a solemn commitment to Abraham that is extended to us through faith.  

So the only thing we do is to believe or not believe.  Do we believe God?  Boice says what God wants most from us to be believed.  That really struck me and something I have really meditated on and the Holy Spirit is really convicting me on.  Do I really believe God?  Do I really trust God?  It is a real stretch when things are going bad to really trust God.  I have a relationship with the living God who really does care for me.  There is nothing going on in my life that God does not know about it.  I have an advocate, Jesus who is constantly interceding for me.  That same advocate has experienced all the same trials and temptations I have had.  

This is a really stressful time in our life but I know in the midst of it, there is joy that is so unspeakable.  Through brokenness comes beauty. 

P.S. - I will be taking a break from the study of the Psalms for a little while.  Will be coming back to it shortly.