Back in the '80's, my Father took me to hear this man speak. He was a local Christian celebrity in the Pittsburgh Area and Radio personality for WPIT FM. His name was Dick Hatch. I remember him being very genuine and humble. Charismatic and clever. For the life of me, I don't remember his sermon. But I do remember his joke. It was the first "Grown Up" joke I ever committed to memory. The Joke goes something like this... A blind bunny rabbit is hopping through the forest when he bumps into a snake. "I'm so sorry!", says the bunny rabbit. "You see, I am blind since birth, lost from my family, and I don't know what I am." The snake replies to the rabbit, "Wow! What a coincidence! You see, I too am blind since birth, lost from my family and I don't know what I am either." "Wow! That is a coincidence!" says the rabbit. "Hey, I have an idea!" the rabbit exclaimed. "Why don't we sniff around each other and then tell each other what we are?" The snake pauses for a moment, "That's a fantastic idea!" the snake agreed. The snake sniffs around the rabbit, stops. Thinks for a moment. "Okay! I got it! You have long ears, big feet, a bushy tail, and a wiggly nose. You're a Bunny Rabbit!" "AMAZING! I have waited my entire life to know that! Thank you!" The rabbit gratefully confesses. Now the rabbit sniffs around the snake. He stops. Scratches his head. Sniffs around two more times. "Okay." the rabbit says reluctantly. " I think I've got it. You have beady eyes, a fork tongue and slimy skin. You're a Tele-Evangelist!" As funny and messed up as the punch line is, I think I have finally figured out why I have committed that joke to memory for 30+ years. Firstly, the snake. A lot of the time, people don't realize they are a snake; until someone points it out to them. In their minds, they are oblivious. The same goes for the rabbit. Aimlessly hopping around and bumping into every darn tree in the forest until they can find the path. If they ever find it at all. It doesn't matter if you're the rabbit or the snake, we're all blind without God. God tells us who and what we are. He leads us, guides us and helps us to find our way. Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." We can always help those who are still blind find the path too. Sometimes, we can be the lamp, that God uses to help others. Remember, Jesus had this awesome trick he did,.... making the Blind Man see. It's kind of his thing. God Bless, and C.Y.H.
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There are times in life, that I find myself needing a good swift kick in the pants. Or, a slap in the face. Funny, how God uses the actions of others, or events in ones life to achieve this "tough love" task. Today it just happened to be the message and scripture of my Pastors sermon at church. It has been one of those weeks. Murphy's Law of "...what can go wrong, will go wrong..." was in full gear the whole time. My wife's Grandfather had a stroke, so she left for Georgia with her Mother to be with him. So that leaves me and our son home to get stuff done around the house. Chores, work and the like. Money has been tight, so we have minimal food in the house. I had to count change just to get laundry detergent and gas in the car. Meanwhile, I have been struggling with my walk with God. More recently, than in previous weeks. For my day job I write a Political Blog for another company. Needless to say, I get to see the worst that all sides have to offer when it comes to current events and political issues. This proves to be challenging, as I have been trying to change my life and let go of hatred and bias. Kind of hard to do when it comes to daily headlines. As a Veteran, I find this to be especially challenging. We like to hold on to our hate. It gives us fire when we're in Combat. We use it to destroy our enemies. It's kind of what we do. Mostly. So when Pastor started talking about "reaping what you sow..." and the seeds that we plant in our heart lead to what we harvest later on... *** SMACK TO THE FACE, DEPLOYED!!!!! *** My hands begin to shake slightly as I sat in the pew. Not out of rage but out of humility. Every word he spoke felt like the sermon was written just for me. As he read Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." I took a long hard look inward. Like staring at the mirror and being completely disgusted with what you see. For so long, I have held this hate and anger deep inside. Like a warm security blanket, I would wrap myself up in it. Staying safe surrounded by an impenetrable wall of rage. The sermon hit especially hard, because in Sunday school we have been discussing Islam. As a Veteran, I have to be honest and say that I have no love for Radical Islam. Years spent combating, hating and loathing the zealots of Mohammed have left me tired and angry. I'm tired of hate. I am tired of all the anger. I have been planting seeds of these burdens in my soul for so long, that it feels like that is all I know. In writing this, I was trying to find a passage from the Bible about letting go of hate. When I found the verses, I started shaking again, and almost began crying. *** SECOND SLAP TO THE FACE, DEPLOYED!!! *** Ephesians 4:31-32 31 Get rid of bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.. 32 Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. It is time for me to let go of the hate. I have been trying to tell God what he can and can't do in my life instead of letting him work IN my life. Sometimes it is easy for some of us to forget, that he is the "GREAT I AM." and that ALL things are possible through Christ who strengthens us. Even letting go of hate. Sometimes, you just need a slap in the face to wake up and realize it. God Bless, and C.Y.H. Driving home from dropping my wife off at work, my mind was in a thousand places. Bills, poor financial issues, sick and dying family members, no gas in the car, zero groceries in the fridge... It feels like all hope is lost. Nauseated and light headed from all the stress, I was almost ready to pull over and open the car door to throw up. That's when I looked at the odometer in my car. 77700... With K-Love radio station on in the background, I look at the numbers that are slapping me in the face. Like a Drill Sergeant, yelling at me to "...suck it up buttercup!" The numbers pierced into my thoughts. 77700.... 777, God has me. He has got my back and this is all happening for a reason. A calm washed over me, and suddenly; it didn't seem so bad. I knew, right then that God wouldn't let us fall. That he would watch over us and help us in our time of need. The odometer was God giving me a hug, and telling me that everything will work out in the end. All too often, we are like Simon Peter. Paying more attention to the waves crashing around us and the storm in the distance. Rather than keeping our eyes on Jesus, we are distracted and we start to sink into the sea. Matthew 14:29-33 "... 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith, He said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!" (Courtesy of Bible Hub- Read More) We need to remember that we have to keep our eyes on him to stay on the path. Doubt, fear; these are only natural. But Faith, faith that he will not let us sink. That is what will get us through even the worst of times. God Bless and C.Y.H. (Consider Yourself Hugged) So many times we have heard the phrase, "...Love the Sinner, and Hate the Sin..." That phrase is actually not located anywhere in the Bible. Although the principal of it is very sound. It is a fairly simple concept, that most followers of The Way find themselves struggling against. It is so very easy to judge others and find fault. I myself fight this on a constant and daily basis. Especially in light of recent events, I have heard some appalling things emanate from the mouths of Christians. Things that in no way are becoming of what a Christian should act like. What we need to remember are these few things. Jude 1:22–23 says “Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” This verse to me says, that we should hate sin, but try to save the sinner. Maybe this is where the cliche' phrase "...Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin..." comes from? We need to remember, that even though we are Christians, we are still imperfect beings born into a world of sin. And that the Lord our God, still loves us. It is just as easy for us to sin, as it is for someone who is not a believer. To think that being a Christian makes you better than someone else, above them; is just plain wrong, and prideful. Pride can be a sin, let's not forget. You aren't better than others. You should be an example of compassion, and understanding. Not a poster child for Judgement and social elitism. Jesus died for ALL of us. Not just those that believe. We are all forgiven by the blood of the Lamb. Remember, "...Judge not, lest ye be Judged..." |
AuthorSpike Bowan is the Pittsburgh, PA born Writer and Fiction Author. He is a Veteran of the US Navy, retired Paramedic, Husband, Father and Christian. BECOME A PATRON. CLICK BELOW!
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