The Second 50: Reflections on Life and News from the Other Side

The Habit of Encouragement

    There are times when we are afforded insight into the habits and private life of the historical figure called Jesus.  It is a different way to appreciate the character of the man whose historical influence has been great.

    The opening verse of Mark 10 actually touches on two (2) habits.  The first is the habit or custom of people to seek encouragement and guidance.  That habit still exists today.  People want to be encouraged in a spiritual sense.  Perhaps it is a need to be spiritually encouraged.

A Productive Life in Today's World

    The story told by the historical figure named Jesus about the sower focuses on another group of people. This is a group who hears and receive God's word in their heart but never become productive in a spiritual sense although they remain receptive to spiritual matters.  (Mark 4: 18-19)

    This group does not have the word taken from their heart by the enemy as Jesus discussed earlier in the story.  Nor does this group drift away because of persecution or hard times in life which Jesus talked about as well.  

    Instead, this group hears and receives the word sown in their heart but never become fruitful and productive from a spiritual perspective.  The reason is simple.  

    Their spiritual perspective in life never becomes quite clear. They are unfruitful because their life focus is on the cares of life, or the deceitfulness of riches or their eye of the tiger is on fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.

Spiritual Encouragement....People Do Listen

    The story of the sower extends to another group of individuals.  The historical figure named Jesus refers to this group as those who live among the 'thorns of life'.  The use of the terms 'thorns' of course is an interesting one.  Thorns suggest something an environment that is uninviting, prickly, easy to stick you and sharp pains. (Mark 4: 14-18)

    That is the environment for many.  Yet, even in this environment, those present listened to what the sower had to say.  People listen and take to heart when they are encouraged to have a personal relationship with God. In fact, they want to be encouraged to have faith and a relationship with God.

The Challenges of Life & Dissed for One's Beliefs

    In the story of the sower who encourages men to have a spiritual relationship with God, the historical figure named Jesus shares a sober truism about the challenges of life, and the consequences of living out one's faith.  This sober reality is said to apply to those who gladly hear and accept the value of a personal relationship with God.

    The challenges of life can discourage them from maintaining a personal relationship with God.  Those times when they are put down and criticized can also discourage them from maintaining a personal relationship with God.  (Mark 4:16 - 17).  It is always hard to know, upon meeting a person, whether he "gladly heard' in his heart the value of a relationship with God, but turned away because of a harsh criticism or put down, or because of the extreme discouragement that life can sometimes bring.

    We must always encourage men to never give up seeking to know God in a personal way.  That is the lesson for the sowers...those who encourage others to seek and maintain a personal relationship with God.  It is hard to fathom that clear that this historical figure called Jesus was simply a good man when one thinks about his story of the sower and how people responded to the encouragement to put God first in their live, i.e., the word.

There Are Those Who Will Gladly Hear

    The historical figure called Jesus addresses two (2) additional reason why men do not live true to the spiritual word they receive in their lives.

In the story about the sower Jesus shares there will be those who hear he word gladly when it is shared with them. (Mark 4:16-17).

    It is difficult to know if this second group was seeking God in their lives.  The one thing that is clear is that the sower shared the word about a relationship with God with them.  If we are to follow the example of this historical figure named Jesus there must be times when we play the role of the sower and encourage men to seek God. This is indeed the art of leadership at its very highest...to encourage men to seek to become their very best.

   The story of the sower sheds light on the impact of encouraging men to have a personal relationship with God.  It is hard to reconcile the idea that Jesus was merely a good man when virtually every story and event he shares discusses how men ought to relate to God.  Sheer logic compels the conclusion that Jesus was more than a good man.

Stolen v Glad Received

    The spiritual dimension of our lives is real.  The historical figure named Jesus talked about the responses of people when they heard the word. It is clear from the context Jesus uses the word to reference a relationship with God.  It is difficult, if not impossible to say that Jesus was merely a good man because virtually every comment and emphasis focused on a man's relationship with God. Well, perhaps that is how a "good man' truly lives.

    The "Sower sows the word"  (Mark 4: 14).  The first group that Jesus references are those who hear the word by have it immediately taken from them by the devil (or Satan). The second group are those Jesus referenced to as being "stony ground".  We know those folks heard the word 'gladly". We never actually learn how the first group responded to the comments about a spiritual relationship with God.  All we know is the encouragement to have a relationship with God was taken away from them.  We also know that the "stony group' enjoyed hearing about a relationship with God. (Mark 4:16). 

Takeaways in the Game of Life

    I enjoyed watching tidbits of the football game between the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Greenbay Packers. The game pulsated with excitement as the teams moved up and down the field scoring on each other.  The final play of the game was a takeaway. The quarterback was stripped of the ball, i.e. a fumble that led to a touchdown by the Cardinals.

    It can hardly be disputed that the historical figure called Jesus viewed issues in life from a spiritual perspective.  If one is inclined to believe this Jesus was merely a good man, the explanation Jesus gives of the parable of the sower raises unique questions.  

  Jesus describes a takeaway situation in the game of life!  He says that when some hear the word sowed by the sower that immediately, meaning right then without a moment's delay, Satan takes away the word that they heard. (Mark 4:15)

    A takeaway...in the game of life. If Jesus was an unusually good man, why, one wonders, would he tell a story about a person hearing about a relationship with God and the significance of that relationship being taken from them?

Leadership and The Sower's Example

    The Sower sows the word.  This short phrase shared by the historical figure called Jesus defines so much about the man.  It has occupied my thinking for today's diary.

    There is such a natural tendency to refer to Jesus as  great historical figure, or simply a great man. or even a great leader.  Yet as one read through the biblical accounts, once is faced with words and actions of Jesus that do not fit the definition of a great man who was spiritually indifferent.

    Jesus is asked by those closest to him to shed light on a parable he had just taught the crowds.  It was the parable of the Sower.  (Mark 4:13).  Jesus begins by sharing, 'The Sower sows the word'.  As one reads this story, it is clear that 'the word' refers to teachings about a relationship with God.  In our own way, we must also model the Sower's example.

An Example Worth Following?

    We all have a morning routine, and perhaps one in the evening as well.  One of my favorite is to take time for personal reflection.  It is a time to think about my work (which is selling health insurance to businesses), spiritual relationships, the boys and values that are meaningful to me.

  Sometimes, the personal reflection is a time for a mid-change course on how I use my time, personally or professionally. This personal diary or what some would call a personal journal, or spiritual journal, is one of my favorite times of the day. 

   And then, I like to take a 30 minute walk to further reflect on my life, current events like the debate on healthcare, the work for the day, and to simply enjoy the unique beauty of the morning air. The morning exercise clears my head for the day.

    As I venture down the Second 50 years of life, I am increasingly taken aback by reflections on the historical figure called Jesus who is written about by four (4) separate authors in different mini biographies in the bible.  As I make my way through the first four (4) chapters in the biography written by Mark, I am struck by how often Jesus took time to teach.  The fourth chapter of Mark has repeated references to this historical figure teaching the crowds, or those he chose to be near him.

    And so, I wonder.  If Jesus the historical figure made teaching others about spiritual values a regular priority, is that an example to follow? It is so easy to say I 'teach' by the life I live, but that is not the example before us.  

Merry Xmas...Leadership That Provides Insights on Life

    I have immensely enjoyed learning to blog and maintaining a personal diary of sorts online.  It has been nice to comment on a few current affairs, mainly the matters with Tiger Woods, healthcare, and Carrie Prejean.  And also to reflect on the historical life of Jesus as I read through the  book of Mark and share a few thoughts that come to mind.

    I try to reconcile what I am reading with the notion that this historical figure called Jesus was simply a great man, or a great leader. All that I read conflicts with this view.

    Anyways, today's reading focuses on an event where those closest to Jesus asked him to explain one of the parables Jesus taught the crowd that day.  That thought alone has meaning.  I have been struck by how often in these first few chapters that Jesus is taking the time to teach the crowd, or talk to those around him about spiritual matters.

    If the historical example of Jesus is to be followed in any way, it means of course that insights about life, values, character are to be shared and discussed with those around us.  The insights that this historical figure called Jesus shared were consistently spiritual in nature.  Our sharing should also have a spiritual dimension and serve as food for the soul.