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

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.

The Case for for Daily Meditation

    My oldest son (Jonah) left for Helsinki to try out for a professional soccer team.  He has graduated from college at UAB and despite four (4) years of playing soccer there has a passion that burns brighter than ever to continue playing.  Although he will only be there a month, I have the sense this is a life changing event as he steps fully into the career world.

    I decided to share with him a few of the verses which have been a pillar of strength for me over the years.  One of the verses was Joshua 1:8 where God, according to biblical accounts talks to Joshua about becoming the leader for the people of Israel after Moses had passed away.  The emphasis placed on a daily mediation could not be clearer, nor could the words: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and then, for then you will be careful to do all that is written in it and then you will have good success".  (Joshua 1:8).

    The effective leader meditates on the words of scriptures as he navigates the issues and challenges of life.

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.

A Sad Reminder at Xmas

    I was sad to see the attempted bombing of Flight 253 outside of Detroit. My oldest son travels to Finland next month to try out for a professional soccer team. Flight 253 began in Nigeria, went through Amsterdam then Detroit. The bomber had Al-Queda ties. A sad reminder of the terrorism we face today. 

    The article at Huffington Post made me realize my son's world will soon be an international world.  There will be new challenges, security concerns and a need for a fresh awareness of what is taking place around him.  It also reminded me of the practical need to have insurance need in place due to the uncertainties we face in life.  It has equally reminded me that one day we will give an account of our lives before the Creator of this Universe.

    I am thankful and happy no one was hurt on Flight 253.  At the same time, it is indeed a grim, sad reminder of the passions that drive others to hurt and maim...sometimes in the name of the Lord.

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.

Some Do, Some Do Not...and Tiger Woods (again)

    I have concluded that the events of Tiger Woods greatly sadden me, perhaps more than I care to admit.  I am at the stage in life, The Second 50, where one can have great satisfaction in the skill and achievement of others. My personal diary and spiritual journal again take me to Tiger.

   It is with sadness to see a man who was highly regarded in the eyes of the world to be publicly humiliated and disgraced. Tiger will always be the standard of the disgrace and humiliation that extra-marital affairs can bring. As Saddam would say, this is the mother of sexual scandal.

    One can only wonder what his close friends and confidants said to him during these times.  Particularly when the National Enquirer became aware two (2) years ago that Tiger was seeing a lady but agreed to bury the story in return for a cover story. Unfortunately there was not a friend or confidant strong enough, to refuse to assist in flying ladies on Tiger's behalf.  Perhaps economically he had no choice and had no other career option.  As the advertising empire crumbles, he will be faced with finding another career choice.

    The consistent spiritual perspective that this historical figure called Jesus maintained is rather remarkable. The book of Mark recounts a time when Jesus was teaching those who had come to hear what he had to say. His mother, brother and sister apparently had joined the crowd on that occasion.  Their presence was made known to Jesus.  

    Jesus then shared with the crowd that whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3: 31 - 34).  The converse of this statement is equally true.  Yet, the great satisfaction in life, if Jesus is correct, is that you and me can live a life consistent with the will of God. And when we do so, our efforts are treated with the greatest respect in the eyes of Jesus.

New Lessons from the Tiger Affair(s)

      As I read the Biblical accounts of the life of Jesus and the current affairs of Tiger Woods, I have reflected often.

    Both individuals received tremendous public attention.  There is an incident recorded that Jesus had a difficult time enjoying a meal with his family because word had circulated that he was in town, and so many were coming to him for healing.  Surely, the healing was not only physical, which was miraculous enough, but it was also an emotional healing of the inner hurts and wounds that life often brings. (Mark 3:20)

    This idea that Jesus was merely a good man is again hard to accept by all that is written about him.  Despite all the scrutiny then and over the hundreds of years, we have yet to hear a scandal or a character blemish.  Even a good man would have clear, cut character flaws that were noted by critics then or by the many historians who studied and followed his life and the events of the day. 

    Tiger Woods has been publicly humiliated.  There is a certain amount of empathy from this writer.  One wonders how many men who have been innately given a voracious sexual appetite would satisfy the constant hunger if presented with attractive women time and time again who wanted to be viewed as special in his eyes. It is easy to throw stones at Tiger, or at President John Kennedy, or President Thomas Jefferson, or the great Benjamin Franklin, or the spiritual leader, Dr. Martin Luther King.  It is far more honest to say, but for the 'grace of God go I'.

    The scandalous-free life led by the historical Jesus of Nazareth is indeed remarkable.  One is forced by sheer logic to ask, was this Jesus simply a good man, or was he more?

Tiger Woods...and a Historical Lesson on Mentoring

    I have often wondered as the current events of Tiger Woods' have unfolded who is in his life to to 'talk tough' to him, or is a spiritual mentor who he trusts and respects.  I am glad to see he and Elin are getting 'spiritual counseling'.  Yet the road ahead for Tiger, as it was for many of the high profiled individuals before him, will always be a difficult road.

    There will always be the natural drive within for sexual intimacy.  That drive will be triggered time and time again by attractive women who will make themselves available to him.  My hope is that Tiger will learn the hard character lesson that one must accept that certain intangible enemies are beyond one's own natural strength and discipline.  

    So how does one combat these intangible enemies of the soul?  The first step of course is gaining spiritual strength through times alone, in prayer or through the Bible and inspirational works.  The additional step is to change one's natural habits, the places one frequents, how one spends his down time, and the company of confidants who, as in this case here, provide cover for undesirable habits.  Yes, the confidants must go.

    It is interesting that this historical figure called Jesus selected twelve (12) men to be 'with him'... (Mark 3:12).  They were also called 'to preach'. They also were to engage in 'spiritual combat'.  One of the great stories of life is how the values, lifestyles and focus of these men changed after they were 'with him' - and afterwardly how they led their lives differently. 

    I am forced to ask myself again...as I have 'again and again' in this Second 50 of life, are the biblical accounts of Jesus consistent with the notion he was a great man?  I must again answer that question in the negative.

Mega-Churches & The Silent Miracle Within

    There always has been something about a church building a larger facility that has been heartwarming.  The same is true about the mega-churches of today, and the book, tv and radio ministries which are increasing in size.

    Often missed in the criticism of these organizations is the personal story of those who decide to place their membership there.  There personal story is much like the story of the inner man for you and me.  So many of us suffer from a deep inner hurt that often flows from a career setback, a failed relationship, or a character flaw that leads to an addiction that seems so difficult to overcome.

    The growth of a church into a larger facility often means an inner miracle is taking place.  Individuals do not follow a leader in today's critical world in an absent minded way.  They do so because there is a healing of the heart.  The every day miracle is the daily decision that so many make to live their lives differently according to values and principles which are faith based.

    I take heart every time I see a church building a larger facility, or a tv, radio or book ministry.  I find it encouraging that the spiritual message of faith in God and the principles of the Bible are changing lives, values and convictions in a fellow man.  It results, as it did when the multitudes began to follow Jesus in great numbers, of when man saying to another, in effect of course, 'I think you should really hear what this guy has to say.  God speaks to my own heart when I hear his message'.

    It is hard to reconcile the thoughts that Jesus was simply a great man or simply a good man. The historical accounts show that great multitudes followed him around (Mark 3:7-12) to hear Jesus teach and encourage about a relationship with God.  The actions of Jesus are not the actions of a good man.