The Folly Of Fellowship – Lies and Truth

Herd mentality is a great anomaly of life. Just recently I had the pleasure of taking public transport in the CBD of my local city; as I approached the station, I was confronted by a plethora of “suits” behaving badly. I was amazed to observe the carnality of this group, obviously professionals working for the same team, their camaraderie was a sight to behold -- for all the wrong reasons; I sensed that it had nothing to do with gender or circumstance, but everyone in this group of ten or fifteen well-dressed mature-aged people acted somewhat like children. Wherever we congregate with many others our behaviour often sinks to the lowest common denominator. Well, I suppose that’s human nature.

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And it’s no different whether we’re spiritual or not, we all struggle when our circumstances bring us into the exposure of the crowd; our demeanour changes and we’re often saying and thinking things that (if we’re spiritual) bring us cause for reflection. True godly fellowship abides in truth.

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Dr. A.W. Tozer, from a Christian’s viewpoint, attacked this sort of herd mentality “fellowship” that is unstructured and in a sense, a free-for-all. He put spiritual ‘communion’ guidelines of engagement in place that would seek to protect the spirituality of disciples. He is quoted:s

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“The nervous desire for ‘contacts’ found everywhere in religious circles is another symptom of the same abject poverty of life. The lonely solitudes seldom hear now the cry of a Moses or an Elijah. These have forsaken the mountain and the desert and are now haunting cafeterias, making contacts for the gospel. Schopenhauer said, “The more a man is in himself, the less he will want from other people -- the less, indeed, other people can be to him. This is why a high degree of intellect tends to make a man unsocial.” If “a high degree of intellect” were changed to “a high degree of spirituality” the saying would still be true. “The greatest saints,” said Thomas à Kempis, “avoided the society of men when they could conveniently, and did rather choose to live to God in secret. He therefore that intends to attain to the more inward and spiritual things of religion must with Jesus depart from the multitude and press of the people.” One of Wesley’s biographers said of him, “He lived habitually with God, and only came down at stated times to speak to the people.” (Bold added later by current author for emphasis.)

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“There can be no doubt that most of us talk too much for our own good. We call it ‘fellowship,’ but the results are seldom beneficial, often bad. The usual effect of religion shop talk is to vitiate the spirit and impair the inward life. ‘As often as I have been among men, I have returned home less a man than I was before.’ This has been the testimony of hundreds of earnest Christians. In the dark hours of persecution when the people of God are few and scattered how sweet has been the communion of the saints.”[1]

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By using this text of the great 20th Century prophet it is hoped his words gain new breath for a small audience today, as it is as much a penetrating word as anyone spiritual will find. True Christian fellowship is rarely with “men,” as Tozer would put it, in his gender exclusive generation. True fellowship is with God, whether alone with him, or together with others -- holding God centrally in our communion. This is not a popular word, but it is nevertheless true!

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It is over to Rev. Dr. Tozer to conclude regarding the types of ‘prophets’ the church (and the world) needs today -- as relevant as in 1946:

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“They will be serious men whose eyes look far; and though they may be meek and lowly as the Lord whom they adore, there will be about them a suggestion of royalty, a noble reserve of bearing that cannot be mistaken. And if there is hope for the Church before Christ returns, that how will lie with such men at these.”[2]

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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ENDNOTES:
[1] Aiden W. Tozer, A Plea for Christian Dignity (from the Alliance Weekly, March 30, 1946) in Lyle W. Dorsett’s, A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2008), p. 183.
[2] Ibid, p. 184.

What Is This Deeper Spiritual Life?

Spiritual people tend not to be able to maintain the crescendo of the salvation experience for long. With a burst they live miraculous, hope-filled faith lives, yet eventually the spiritual fervour settles into a groove at best; a back-sliding at worst. We seem destined to lose our way. It’s our history and it’s our nature. And not only do many never come to truly know God, many who claim to know him never really do in the truest sense.

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It is so difficult to have the continual deeper spiritual life. There are so many sacrifices -- for instance, rejection of worldly, carnal living -- that have to be made. These sacrifices have to be made if our spiritual relationship with God is to be internalised. Externalism is never enough. Yet there are many who think ‘that’s it.’

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Externalism is sacrifice for the wrong reasons -- sacrifice without love, without true spiritual hunger. It’s head knowledge without the heart engaged. Form, ceremony and tradition (without Christ’s love) speak of sacrifice for the wrong reasons. God sent prophets to rebuke externalism; even today he has ‘minor prophets’ with the same mission.

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A.W. Tozer speaks of the deeper spiritual life as the difference between a diamond and bass drum. The true spiritual life is the diamond; easy to miss, it can lie hidden in the crease of your pocket, yet it remains infinitely valuable and ever-potent. The bass drum on the other hand is big (easy to spot) and noisy, yet it’s a dime a dozen, so to speak. External (carnal) Christians are to bass drums what spiritual Christians are to diamonds. There’s nothing wrong with their lives, from a carnal viewpoint, and they live ‘normally.’ But the Christian life is meant to be a miracle, like the Noah in the flood -- set apart from the flood but floating on it. Christian living is extraordinary or nothing at all. Encountering God is never ho-hum.

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The average believer is not after spiritual progress. They stay where they are for five years or more and if anything they slip back. They perform cliché and focus on doctrine at best, thinking they’re doing God a service. How wrong they are! Spiritual progress is what we’re here for; it is the very essence of our purpose. If we do not derive meaning along our journey and use that for growth we’re wasting air. And we’ll feel inherently empty.

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What about the person who wants to “Be somebody!” -- driven valiantly all their lives to achieve, then he or she dies, having never achieved an iota of the real meaning to life.

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Spirituality is “concern with things of the spirit.” It is preoccupation with what concerns human inner nature (especially ethical or ideological values); “Socrates’ inwardness, integrity, and inquisitiveness” - H.R. Finch.

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Spirituality is inwardness and the ability to consecrate oneself to God. It’s nothing about surrounding ourselves with people. It’s the simple life. The hungry heart seeks the truth -- the cold hard truth. It seeks and continues seeking, and never stops until breath is no more.

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Spirituality is not about how far have we’ve come. It’s nothing to do with what you’ve accomplished -- like sport; we’re only as good as our last game. We know this in our souls when we’ve had close times with God, then lost our way for a week or so -- we feel abandoned -- yet we abandoned him!

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Spirituality is about which way we’re headed. What direction are we pointing in?

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Is your spirituality social? Is it a once or twice a week tradition? Do you truly consecrate yourself daily (and moment-by-moment) to the Lord your God?

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Life Secret – Beating Boredom

It’s said to be one of the chief things in why teenagers get up to mischief is boredom; that, and too much money. Boredom is ironically ever-present, even in our busy world, and it’s a surprisingly innocuous but destructive force. It not only occurs when there’s little or nothing to do, but it happens also when we’re disinterested in what’s on offer.

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Boredom can be attributed to many of society’s ills including depression, learned helplessness (hopelessness), and is often the antecedent to drug experimentation and use, and other addictions, including gambling.

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Boredom is often said to be attributed to our own vanity, “...for if life, in the desire for which our essence and existence consists, possessed in itself a positive value and real content, there would be no such thing as boredom: mere existence would fulfil and satisfy us.”[1] When we’re honest, our lives often lack the substance of positive value and real content, but only because we get lazy, and do not resist it, and fail to invest in thinking and thanking. To be sure, our lives are a task, and beating boredom is part of the purpose of life, from one viewpoint -- the negative pole. The opposite extreme can be demonstrated easily. Simply look at any of the vast number of achievements in human history. There is purpose to life beyond beating boredom.

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What an irony it is; we’ll do anything to avoid boredom, even do things that we don’t enjoy just so we don’t have to enter into it. At some levels we’re afraid of it. It’s like we’ll have to face our real selves or our real fears if we get, and stay, bored. This is why we eat when we’re bored -- we do it for comfort and so get away from the pain of ourselves and our boredom, and lack of things to do. Others stay busy and do things to beat boredom; it depends on the motive as to whether busyness to this degree is helpful or not.

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One of the things that keeps us on the spinning wheel of life is resisting boredom. I think it is a secret to life that we must actively resist boredom, whilst simultaneously, not be afraid of being somewhat bored if there is genuinely nothing to do i.e. ‘download’ time which needs to happen for us to regenerate our spirits. It requires courage to be appropriately bored (not fearing it) whilst also being diligent to resist it much of the time -- though it must be acknowledged, modern life doesn’t afford us the opportunity to become bored very often.

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The diligent among us sense an awareness of boredom, note that it’s a danger sign which needs rectification, and set out to apply thinking processes to create possibilities, furthering life. They’re also adept at placing themselves in others worlds -- finding fresh opportunities to create gratitude and thankfulness. They see the boredom moment as a window of opportunity to invest in their relationships and in themselves, to ponder, to plan, to discover, to reinvigorate (among many other things).

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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[1] Arthur Schopenhauer, Essays and Aphorisms, trans. R. J. Hollingdale (Penguin Classics, 2004), p. 53. Essay available online: http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/texts/schopenhauer/vanity.pdf

Psalm 2 – “This Is My Son”

Psalm 2 is the renowned second part to the introduction of the Psalter (with Psalm 1). Both Pss. 1 and 2 juxtapose each other; Ps. 2 is the LORD's contemptive response to the derisive nations (the kings of which think they rule) that the Messiah is the true king of all creation. He alone has full power of sovereignty.

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Structure: What are the purposes of the Psalm?

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Commonly accepted 4-point structure [1] consisting of:

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1. vv. 1-3 is rhetorical exclamation; proclaiming a message of current urgency and “astonishment at the rebellion of the nations.” [2]

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2. vv. 4-6 is the LORD’S response, from a prophetic voice. LORD and king are one.

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3. vv. 7-9 tells of the contents of the LORD’S decree – achievement of sonship with complete dominion, today. (The LORD may punish Davidic king but will never disown him.)

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~~ “Ask of me,” in v. 8 seems to suggest a contingency of just and right kingship (ie. Obedience to the LORD’S laws).

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4. vv. 10-12 – the ultimatum is issued! All the kings and rulers of the earth must now bow before THE king, the appointed Messiah.

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Comments: Digging deeper, what is being said?

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Psalm 2 is frequently cited in the NT as prooftext of Jesus’ claim as Messiah. It links the son and the messiah (God’s king) in the same place – the only instance in the OT. [3] And it is often associated closely with Ps. 1 as an introduction to the Psalms. [4]

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Eaton [5] suggests no change of speaker in Ps. 2. The Davidic king speaks in the first and third person throughout. The intention of his speech is the issue of a warning. Mays suggests Ps. 2 is a “poetic speech by the messiah.” [6]

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“The king speaks within the context of enthronement.” Anointing (v. 2), installation (v. 6), legitimation (v. 7) and empowering (v. 9) all point to this context. It is from this context that the king speaks to the world. [7]

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Possibly part of an “annual remembrance or renewal of his enthronement.”

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Within this ‘festival’ context, Ps. 2 features in the “final stages of this drama” and is closely aligned to where Ps. 110 would feature. It appears to play out the post-battle monologue. [8]

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There are some, however, that argue well that it is used pre-battle. i.e. “before ritual combat.” [9]

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The Psalm combines the king and Yahweh in sovereign roles into an “entire unified sovereignty.” This is “projected in a highly imaginative, dramatic fashion.”

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The rites in enthroning the king, as shown by Ps. 2, were highly dramatic, ritualistic, seasonal (most likely at autumn festival), and reflected the influence of other culture (Egypt, Hittite, Mesopotamian) as well.

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Force is the key issue in the last part of the Psalm; ‘obey or else’ is the catchcry. It is only when the LORD is provoked with such utter defiance, that he responds this way.

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“The thesis of the psalm is that the… messiah, the son of God [has been given] the right and power to rule the world… by the sovereign of Heaven.” [10]

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

ENDNOTES:
1. Combined commentary from Broyles, Mays and self.
2. Mays, J.L., Psalms – A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, (Interpretation Series, Miller, P.D., & Mays, J.L., eds., John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 1994), p. 45.
3. Mays, J.L., Psalms – A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. p. 44.
4. Broyles, C.C., Psalms, (New International Biblical Commentary – Old Testament Series, Hubbard, R.L., & Johnston, R.K., eds., Hendrickson Publishers, Paternoster Press, Peabody, Massachusetts, 1999, 2002), p. 44.
5. Eaton, J.H., Kingship and the Psalms. (Studies in Biblical Theology 2/32; London: SCM, 1976), p. 111.
6. Mays, J.L., Psalms – A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. p. 44.
7. Eaton, J.H., Kingship and the Psalms. p. 111-12. Italics added.
8. Eaton, J.H., Kingship and the Psalms. p. 112.
9. Eaton, J.H., Kingship and the Psalms. p. 112. (See Bentzen (KM, pp. 16f.))
10. Mays, J.L., Psalms – A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. p. 45.

‘Elegant Simplicity’ – Achieving It

“From chaos and complexity to elegant simplicity...”[1]

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Getting from the shell of a walnut to the kernel is an easy process; you just need a nutcracker. In essence you are getting into the nutritional matter of the nut by breaking the outer protective shell that keeps it healthy and edible inside.

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Working systems also have layers over them, but let us think of the outer shell as complexity, and the kernel as the real issues to deal with. Now, we have to deal with the complexity -- there’s no getting around it. We have to break through and reconcile these issues if we’re going to settle the main problem, just like we have to break through the shell to get to the kernel inside the nut in order to eat it.

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Trying to break the shell and work with organisational systems -- with people in them -- is a different matter altogether. These are but a few problems:

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- It is people that introduce complexity,

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- It is in trying to satisfy people that we often create (and prolong) issues of complexity, and

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- Some issues of complexity are necessary, whilst some are unnecessary; some are plain problematic whether necessary or not.

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Complexity brings with it problems and issues to be solved. However, organisational systems, by design -- to work effectively and efficiently -- need to be as simplistic as possible. Simplicity is power.

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When we achieve simplicity in a way that includes all the complex issues that must be taken into account we have achieved elegant simplicity -- the result has elegance about it and anyone who’s worked in any organisation can attest that this result is rare. Yet it need not be.

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Two great quotes demonstrate the tension we must hold in finding elegant simplicity:

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“I wouldn’t give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but, I’d give my life for the simplicity on the far side of complexity.” -Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.[2]

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“Any idiot can simplify by ignoring the complications, but, it takes real genius to simplify by including the complications.” -John E. Johnson.[3]

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Again, keeping things simple by including complexity is very rare indeed. All sorts of organisations are grappling with this scourge of post post-modern existence. Common problems are people:

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1) Resist thinking because it is hard work,

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2) Get too detail-oriented and processes get bogged down, and

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3) Perceive things differently and disagree too much. (I’ve been in meetings where all five people there disagreed with each other!)

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The following things are part of the answer toward elegant simplicity:

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- Don’t forget the big picture -- every now and then (regularly) come back to the ‘helicopter’ viewpoint.

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- For every problem, assign ‘the simplistic view’ to some people. Ask them to be deliberately simplistic and challenge any complexity they see. Give them license.

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- Understand that people introduce and entertain complexity for all sorts of reasons -- some of these are not genuine. Some are due to impure motives. This is the worst complexity.

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- Don’t be afraid to think laterally and innovatively (which is “implementing creative ideas”). Thinking will break down complexity every time.

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- Believe in your heart that there is simplicity everywhere -- because there is. We just need to be able to see it. This can only happen when we work hard on our thinking.

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We ought to remember this truth-saying of Morton C. Blackwell’s, “Don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good.”[4] In other words, perfection is not the goal in today’s world -- and it’s never been the real goal -- perfection is not necessary if we can deal with the ‘people’ element. If we can get people to accept this we’re over halfway there.

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When people finally accept...

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- Things not going all their way,

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- Solutions that are less than perfect, but all-the-same, acceptable, and

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- Outcomes that even leave some level of (tolerable but nonetheless) residual discomfort,

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... They’re able to move on to the next revelation, and the greater good of the system can finally be achieved with simplicity, whilst bearing the essential complexity. Enter leadership, and the product of people leadership, teamwork.

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People are the problem in achieving elegant simplicity outcomes to organisational quandaries. The real missing link in achieving organisational elegant simplicity is leadership. True leadership will get us there, negotiating the people issues as it goes. Most issues are people issues.

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True leadership is about engendering teamwork and togetherness, whilst making courageous decisions, in achieving elegant simplicity; it’s beginning (and continuing) with the end in mind.

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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ENDNOTES:
[1] Stephen G. Haines, The Complete Guide to Systems Thinking and Learning, (Human Resource Development Press, 2000), pages: Introduction and Prologue.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Morton C. Blackwell, Law in Politics (More available online: www.leadershipinstitute.org)

Destructive Double Talk – A Very Real Peril

We hear it all the time; people saying one thing to someone, and yet other things to other people. There’s an absence of truth. Talk is cheap. It is integrity stuck in reverse; duplicity to be exact. It’s the antithesis of trustworthiness and faithfulness; disrespect. It’s destructive and perilous for the people concerned -- both the perpetrator and the victim, obviously, as well as consorting bystanders. In short, nobody wins and most people lose when verbal garbage hits the streets.

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In plain terms, language is roundly abused, and plays a key role in human double-mindedness; duplicitous people in faithless relationships; floating attitudes with no firm-ground-based values. When language is flimsily regulated and flattery and slander get open billing, we know we’re in for lots of conflict.

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Yet, it is implicit in creation that speech be used as a function of honouring God. “Language is a world creating capacity.”[1] The power of speech either way -- positive or negative -- is awesome. It creates miracles and destroys.

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“The real peril of the tongue is not found in the passing angry word or the incidental oath or the petty bit of slander. It is found in the creation of distorted worlds of meaning within which the word of truth is suppressed.”[2] We only need to take a look at the advertising industry -- false images photoshopped and air-brushed, and messages designed to falsify things and present an unreal world that looks real -- these are designed to attract people through deception to what looks better, supposedly.

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People are duped into spending “their fortunes and their energies” based on promises derived from lies.[3] It’s all driven from desire, greed, and envy as hearts are seduced by the harlots of materialism and vanity. Unfortunately, the Enlightenment has seen to it that the world is ‘more obvious’ than God -- James gets us back to the truth, however.[4] A ‘divided consciousness’ is the real trap.

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“If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).” (James 1:26b Amplified Version) Spiritual power is subdued when we don’t control our tongues. Anyone who claims to be spiritual and does not seriously seek to control their tongue is a liar.

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The key “warning against being ‘double-minded’ ... identifies the specific audience for James’s exhortations, namely those who ‘know’ the construal of reality given by faith but want also to live by the measure of the world.”[5] We cannot be a friend of God’s and a friend of the world -- life doesn’t work that way. We cannot love God and money simultaneously.[6] We live best in life when we make a choice to live one way, and one way only. Trying to please everyone and follow several directions at the same time is a quick way to madness.

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Yet, most people prefer the ability to compromise. James is hard for those who are like this. To grow in faith when compromise is ever present is ludicrous. “Faith only matures by what it endures.”[7] This means that compromise and double-living seriously bring undone any progress of maturity in the faith realm. Growth does not come without pain.

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There is the same impact for speech. Its purpose is good. “Nothing so vividly reveals double-mindedness than to have [cursing] proceed from the same mouth that blesses God.”[8] The mouth that blesses God is not to curse people; yet we have these people in life -- and each one of us is tempted -- who pretend to be pious and yet deceive themselves by hating or dishonouring their fellows, peers, or family. This is not godly and never can be.

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James’ covenantal perspective conjoins religion with ethics; what we believe we must also say, and we also must do![9] It is a single-mindedness that he’s advocating. It’s the simple and courageous life that sets and maintains a concise standard of values toward God and all people based on what is right, just, and fair.[10]

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We must all remember that “the human tongue can be tamed by no [person]. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8 Amplified Version)

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Let’s get used to imperfection regarding our speech and deal with it, says James. It’s inherently evil is the tongue, not to be trusted for more than a moment. Enter the fear of the LORD. It is only with an appropriate fear of God we can keep watch over this blatantly deleterious muscle.

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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ENDNOTES:
[1] L.T. Johnson, The Letter of James – The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. XII, (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 1998), p. 205.
[2] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 205.
[3] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 206.
[4] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 190.
[5] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 189.
[6] See Luke 16:13.
[7] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 190.
[8] L.T. Johnson, Ibid, Abingdon, p. 203.
[9] L.T. Johnson, Taciturnity and True Religion: James 1:26-27 in Brother of Jesus, Friend of God – Studies in the Letter of James, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: W.B. Eerdmans, 2004), p. 166.
[10] See Proverbs 1:3 and 2:5.

Spirituality Does Not Last

Getting a band new model mobile phone is something to look forward to. It has all this new technology and ways of doing things we couldn’t do before, or do so easily as now. We shop for it and then finally having purchased it, we eagerly get home, unpack it and learn how to use it. For some time, at least a day or three, it takes pride of possession and are so thankful for it. Then the novelty wears off. It becomes another tool; handy but nonetheless any more special than the other tools we ‘can’t do without.’

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We know that material things will never satisfy us -- ultimately. But, an incredible lie is that spirituality will -- in the longer term. Some people believe that we can reach the ultimate in satisfaction through spirituality. This is wrong.

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Contrary to popular belief, spirituality does not last. It lasts no longer than materialism, though the basis is infinitely more sustainable -- and this is its truthful essence. We find this one way to more of our true selves -- the inner most being -- and having captured it, we must learn how to capture it more and more. It’s a lack of diligence, vision, and ultimately wisdom, that sees us lulled into thinking we’re ‘there’ already when in fact it’s not how far we’ve come that counts, but the direction we’re headed. The journey does not finish until bodily death.

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Staying hungry for spiritual manna is the key. We must continually stoke the visceral furnace of truth, breaking down within us the propensity to gorge life and scour it of meaning. And we only establish hunger with practice, based on the very real knowledge of need -- we need it -- nourishment from heaven.

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Material things are fine if we need them. But we take them for granted eventually. Taking the spiritual life for granted is the worst transgression of all; and this is not only a crime against God. It’s the worst thing we could do against ourselves!

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

2 Powerful, Resounding Words – “No” and “Now”

There are words, messages and language all about us. Some of it makes no difference to us whatever, yet other communication truly changes and impacts on our lives. We all fall into ruts in life. What we need in those times is not meaningless words and thoughts taking up cognitive space; we need meaning that will produce in us the change required to get us back on track. Words, thoughts, meaning.

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There are two words that are very simple in meaning -- for this very reason their meaning is in power. “No” and “Now” are simply miraculous words.

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We must say no at times, yet we don’t say it often enough. At times saying no means having the courage of convictions; at times it’s to exercise self-control. We only realise in regret later on, having said “yes,” we wish we could have had the foresight, conviction, or temerity to say no. Saying no means:

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~ Acknowledging our weaknesses to temptations of a lack of self-control;
~ Saves the regret of betraying self (our values, ideals and beliefs); and,
~ We build upon our own empowerment -- we encourage ourselves to say it again, once more, later on.

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“Now” on the other hand is just as powerful, and just as engaging. It is the perfect corrective to the bureaucracy of the generations. As humans we put off most things to tomorrow, whether it be procrastination, indecision, lack of courage etc.

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Now is an important concept. Herein lies the secret simplistic power of the present. We’ve all seen it. Few people use the present to full advantage, yet the present lies captive to us, if only we’d challenge ourselves a little more. Consider “now” regarding the following:

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~ The habit that plagues you -- besides healthy planning to stop, do it now;
~ Crush worry and indecision with “now,” and even if it’s not perfect, at least you’ve started; and,
~ Investing in “now” with people shows them you’re dinkum (committed) with them. Commitment and faithfulness are all too rare virtues these days.

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The power of now cannot be underestimated. It’s a divine wisdom truth. Invest in “now” and you too will see what many successful people do all the time. “Now” is indeed a miraculous concept; even more miraculous is its simplicity.

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Now, be warned. “No” and “Now” juxtapose. They’re not mutually exclusive. There are distinct times for “No” as there are distinct times for “Now.” Caution beckons us to consider closely the differences and the potential applications.

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If we can consistently get the application right regarding these simple words, we’ll be living a vastly more wise and balanced life.

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Anointed For the Lonely Task Of Leadership

A.W. Tozer is as close to being the fullness of legacy of human inspiration of a minister as anyone could find, save the idolatry of worship. The more I read about the man the more I engage with his heart to fearlessly and faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelist in the atypical mould, he presented truth starkly and his message endures through the generations.

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The Christian and Missionary Alliance church ordained Tozer on August 18, 1920, aged 23. At the time he sought not to celebrate his anointing in the typical fashion, instead finding a quiet place to utter his own prayer of allegiance humbly before God. The essence of his prayer is captured in the “Prayer of a Minor Prophet.” Reading this prayer, I extracted part of it which draws out his insurgent desire to walk the narrow, lonely road of life. He prays,

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I accept hard work and small rewards in this life. I ask for no easy place. I shall try to be blind to the little ways that could make life easier. If others seek the smoother path I shall try to take the hard way without judging them too harshly. I shall expect opposition and try to take it quietly when it comes. Or if, as sometimes it falleth out to Thy servants, I should have grateful gifts pressed upon me by Thy kindly people, stand by me then and save me from the blight that often follows. Teach me to use whatever I receive in such manner that will not injure my soul nor diminish my spiritual power. And if in Thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as intimately as I know myself they would withhold their honors or bestow them upon others more worthy to receive them.

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These words offered to his Saviour echo his desire to try to honour God. It is as amazing as it is humbling to read these lines and A.W.’s complete devotion to God -- as complete as any human being could make I imagine. This would be a daily challenge, a daily struggle, and a daily re-commitment -- no doubt -- for the remaining forty three years of his life.

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His ordination is said to be one of the pivotal moments of his life, yet he did not celebrate as the world might expect. He lived counter to the world, set apart, for God’s purposes. How difficult it must have been for this lonely shepherd to discern spiritual right from wrong; impossible without prayer, faith, and surrender.

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For anyone who is compelled of God -- to answer his call (and I do, resoundingly), A.W. Tozer has left a clear legacy of true and timeless gospel-honouring discipleship. It is a swath of courageous action prepared to be utterly unpopular and succinctly miraculous.

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Timeless Advice – “Wear Sunscreen”

There comes a time in everybody’s life when transformational or transitional moments come. They take you from one point of conscious awareness to another entirely. You’re suddenly shaken from the ho-hum existence of ‘just living’ when you’re truly woken from your spiritual slumber.

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I recall a time when I was driving back from University (College) having failed one of those bewildering computerised human biology exams -- one where you regret going back and changing your answer because you had the answer right in the first place! Well, as chance would have it, I turned on the car radio as I travelled home and the ‘Sunscreen Song’ came on. (The song is titled, “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen.”)

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I was immediately taken with the timeless wisdom of the song. It awakened me spiritually!

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I was only recently reminded of it, when a dear one in my family passed away suddenly. It reminded me to, “[not] worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are actually things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.” We can never tell when our lives will be turned upside down and suddenly we’re at the mercy of God -- or anybody else who might change the course of our lives in the blink of an eye. We do not have the control over our own lives we think we do! This is precisely why we should never take for granted the things we do in life -- but we do, we always do!

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It reminded me to not “waste [my] time on jealousy; sometimes [I’m] ahead, sometimes [I’m] behind… the race is long, and in the end, it's only with [myself].” How often do we waste our effort and energy thinking badly of others due to the personal feelings of inadequacy we’d be better off addressing within ourselves? It is human instinct to envy. When we understand this, investing the rest of our lives in resisting the instinct via re-training the mind is a worthwhile endeavour.

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Anyone with knee troubles will love the advice the Sunscreen Song gives: “Be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when they're gone.” And we do. We think that just because we have our health and a capable body we can abuse it and not care for it. Wrong. We’ll see. Hammering our knees will lead to problems. We should revise our running and aggressive stair-climbing routines, not to mention ride our bikes wisely. Knees, like backs, like hips, eyes, hearing, fingers, and toes, are severely missed if we lose them.

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As adults, most of us get the opportunity to get to know our parents. We get the advice, “Get to know your parents, you never know when they'll be gone for good.” But, how often do we take our parents for granted? The loss of a parent or grandparent suddenly means they are there no more -- there’s no return to that state of relationship. It might seem obvious, but we hardly ever treat death as permanent. Siblings again, perhaps we fought with them; we need them more and more the older we get.

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“Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you'll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders...

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“Respect your elders.”

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There’s nothing new. A.W. Tozer once said, “There’s nothing new since Adam.” And he’s entirely correct; everything is re-badged, much to eternal torment of teens and young people who forever think they’re original and ‘cool.’ Let’s face it, in essence, our times (our natures) are no different really to the generation before or the generation to come -- the environment changes but “the script sounds the same to me,” to paraphrase Mr. McPhisto -- a.k.a. Bono of U2 during their 1993/4 Zooropa tour. At our core, we are no more or no less noble than any other generation in history.

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“Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.”

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Advice. We all need it and we all invest in it. Our lives go horribly wrong at times when we don’t seek it or take it. Advice, again, is not new. The same schemes produce it. Advisors may think they’re original but really they’re not. They’re conservative or aggressive, prudent or bold, and many, many forms in between. Sure, the environment changes, particularly the legislative, socio-political, and economic environments, but the forms of advice are essentially the same.

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The suggestion is that we ensure we carefully consider whose advice we seek, but ensure we do take it (patiently) when it’s given. We’re the final judges. Even if the advice (in our estimation) is wrong for us, and we choose not to accept it, we got the opportunity to assess options -- that’s the blessing of advice; it’s the consideration process that’s most important.

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Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Demonstrating Personal Leadership: We Only Get One Go

Imagine arriving to lead an international forensic team in Tsunami-ravaged Thailand days after with no time, no staff, and no money. With clarity of purpose, Detective Inspector Peter Baines ‘managed the chaos with certainty’ -- citing the example of Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s leadership during the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Unique challenges require unique solutions.

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The 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami was one of the most devastating disasters to affect the world in modern times. The level of devastation is hard to rationalise in human terms and it is a great blessing to us to learn more about the suffering and the triumph of these times. Regarding disaster recovery we learned, ‘Hope is not a plan.’ Wishing people well in times of need when we can help might be good, but it’s not good enough. This is Baines’ biggest legacy.

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True leaders are identified by their actions and reactions -- what they do. After all, it’s said, ‘Leadership is a verb.’[1] These people lead without authority. They manage chaos with certainty. They have a way of staying calm through the storm; effective for the tasks at hand.

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They have clarity of purpose. Det. Insp. Baines describes the wall of water that took so many lives that it left very few families affected untouched. There are so many orphans. As a parent, you might identify with the struggle of trying to physically hold your child or children as the torrent swept through, rendering you powerless to hold them. Dealing with this level of grief would be overwhelming, if not for the most clear and clarified-within-your-own-mind sense of purpose. There are many competing priorities for our care and attention, including those in our personal lives; we must be clear at the core level what we’re doing it for otherwise any good work and effective personal leadership we have could easily be undermined, broken down, and vanquished, leaving devastating consequences.

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Value statements mean nothing unless they can be backed up in action. Words may sound powerful, and we’re apt to say many things that we don’t carry through with. Our true values are refined through the sieve of reality. They come to the fore when our resolve is tested. We truly know what we stand for when the heat is on. Words alone have limited power; action, however, speaks volumes and makes the difference.

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Communication leaves a lasting impression; it’s our choice. It’s the choice of viewing leadership as people need it, rather than as a process to achieve things. Entering into relationship with people, as a way of leading, might not seem to be a very efficient way of leading but its effects are powerfully paradoxical.

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Det. Insp. Baines says leadership matters and results, not excuses, are what needs to be focused on. This has relevance in our personal lives as much as in our corporate lives, as much as any area of life. Far too often we make excuses for ourselves in seeking to improve one area we’re not happy with. We lack staying power, and Det. Insp. Baines explains this as a process that affects motivation and how to counter it toward results.

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Results matter, not excuses. We must have the commitment of courage to meet adversity head on every day. The leader’s challenge goes on. That is why we’re all leaders. Our challenges continue on and we never truly conquer them. At the end of the day, in Det. Insp. Baines’ own words, “we only get one go” at life.

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Copyright © 2008, Steven J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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More on Detective Inspector Peter Baines at http://www.peterbaines.com.au/AboutPeter.asp

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[1] Quote from Gino Valenti.

A Killer Marriage – A Husband’s Dying To Himself

You know when you hear good advice -- it sticks like a sheathed sword sticks when attacked by frost. It gels and resonates. It not only makes sense, but it also often comes in such a timely fashion. It’s indeed a ‘word’ for the time. People look at each other and just know this is from God. Its wisdom cuts through potential nonsense and the truth is chilling.

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At a table of young people and relative newlyweds I witnessed a conversation sparked by a question to a couple married 32 years. I’m still unsure what the actual question was, but the answer which was long deliberated over was, “The wife must kill her husband (for the marriage to thrive).” This answer led to a long, deafening silence. The man then explained himself further, clarifying the meaning of the absurd statement.

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It goes something like this:

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The husband must come to the end of himself and present himself as a ‘living sacrifice’ before his wife; essentially becoming dead to his own hopes, dreams, goals, and plans, in order to bring his wife, life. He must become her rock in which she can truly trust -- a firm and natural trust in his unbending intent toward her. Anything less than a full commitment undermines the faith she’d otherwise place in him.

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I later considered this as biblically faultless (though nonetheless ‘incomplete’) counsel. Romans 12:1 says a lot about ‘being a living sacrifice’ in only a few words. Its power of brevity is incredible. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Italics added for emphasis.) In marriage terms, men are to worship God by offering their bodies as living sacrifices to their wives. This is how wives are loved and respected so that they might submit to their husbands.

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We offer to our wives our bodies to be killed if they so choose.[1] This means we forget the selfish thoughts of running our own lives and truly transfer ownership to our wives; we give them first say. 2 Corinthians 4:10 says, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our body.” Spiritual death in me means life for someone else -- it is sacrifices of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. In marital terms, death for me and life for her means I live for my spouse and offer to her my time, love, money, resources, support, encouragement etc before I offer them to myself. It is a surrendered existence.

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I earlier suggested that this advice was ‘incomplete,’ and now I’ll qualify it. The law of reciprocity is recognised as both a spiritual and social psychology phenomena – ‘You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,’ could be the catchcry. It’s reflected biblically as the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) and the Royal Law (James 2:8).

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Notwithstanding this, the husband should take the lead, offering himself, in faith, as an (unconditional) living sacrifice to his wife that she might too offer herself for him. Reciprocity recognises the need for both to engage, but does not limit unbending intent on the part of the husband.

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Copyright © 2008, Steven J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Acknowledgement: This advice is attributed to Mr. And Mrs. Steve and Sandra Binks.

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[1] Loving wives do not ordinarily choose to kill their husbands’ hopes, plans, pastimes and dreams.

4 Good Reasons to Forgive

By Tim Ong

Much has been said about the virtues of forgiveness, yet many today who need to forgive are unable or unwilling to do so. This is mainly due to the wrong understanding of what forgiveness is. Most people, when given a clearer understanding of what forgiveness is, become more willing to do so.

Here are some good reasons why you should forgive:

1. Forgiveness is about YOU

Many people are of the opinion that forgiving a perpetrator allows the perpetrator to escape punishment. They think that forgiveness is about giving the perpetrator a second chance at the expense of the injured party.

The truth is forgiveness is all about the injured and is for the benefits of the injured. The focus of forgiveness is for the injured to finally be able to let go of the pain that has continued to hurt him or her even long after the initial assault. It is to help the injured find peace within so that he or she can move on in life without having to continuously carry the pain of the injury.

Forgiveness does not mean condoning the act or absolving the perpetrator of his or her responsibility for the action. It does not mean that the injured will tolerate being inflicted with the same injury again and again. It does not mean reconciliation although reconciliation may happen if the injured wishes.

Forgiveness means standing up for your rights and your self worth. It means drawing a boundary about what you will accept as OK and what is not OK. It means having the courage to assert your rights and responsibilities.

2. Forgiveness is the best revenge

People who have been badly hurt by an intimate person such as a spouse, partner, parent, sibling or close friend sometimes erroneously believe that by staying in the hurt, they are somehow indirectly punishing the perpetrator. They see it as their way of getting back at the perpetrator.

This logic does not hold water because very often the perpetrator does not really care about you in the first place or else he or she would not have cause the injury. In addition, continue to wallow in the pain only prolonged the injury long after it has happened. If it was the intention of the perpetrator to hurt you, clinging on to the pain only multiplies his or her success at hurting you.

In fact, the best revenge of the injured is to live a good and happy life after the injury. This is the surest way to foil the perpetrator's "success".

3. Forgiveness improves your health

Studies have shown that an unforgiving heart suffers increased risk of stress, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred, jealousy, ill will, sadness and insomnia. In addition, an unforgiving heart also risks high blood pressure, heart attack, skin eruptions, arthritis, backache, stomach ulcer, migraine, frequent cold and perhaps even risk of malignancy.

Genuine forgiveness, on the other hand, can have the opposite effects. There is reduced stress, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred, jealousy, ill will, sadness and insomnia as well as a reduction in physical ailments. On top of that, studies have also shown that those who are forgiving tend to grow old with more peace and satisfaction, and less afraid to face death.

So, a forgiving person benefits from improved health in all areas, i.e. physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

4. Forgiveness makes you a better and stronger person

Another myth about forgiveness is that only the weak forgives. The truth is that only the strong can forgive. That is because forgiveness requires the courage to truly face the emotional pain and injuries, to embrace them and then to eventually let them go. This task is so difficult and painful that many are not able to face it but it is a necessary initial step towards forgiveness.

So, only the strong can forgive. The good news is that once the injured is able to go through the process of forgiveness, he or she will grow to become stronger. There will be a change in his or her fundamental belief systems as well as a renewed purpose and meaning to life. Life will be re-invigorated once again when the old hurt can be left behind without becoming a burden.

So, if you have been hurt before and find it hard to forgive, seriously consider all these good reasons why you should forgive and start to learn how to forgive. It's going to do you a world of good. I promise.

Dr. Tim Ong is a medical doctor who runs his own thriving medical practice. In his free time, he enjoys giving public talks, teaching meditation and offering his service to hospice work in the community. He also has keen interest in self improvement, mind science and spirituality. Dr. Ong is the webmaster of MindScience101.com and TheSelfImprovementSite.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Ong
http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Good-Reasons-to-Forgive&id=1365261

Gospel Flavour Of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

There is a song that makes me feel small, but in a very good way. It commences gently but assertively with a trickling piano then booms at the end in an eerily cool and comforting sort of way. The crescendo of the third verse is what brings goose pimples to the skin as I’m taken to the inner sanctum of God’s court; his Presence. In this way it has ‘oaks’ of the 23rd Psalm. It is the safety of the Shepherd whom fills us with the feeling ‘I shall not want.’

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At his 92nd birthday celebration a son fulfils his elderly father’s wish -- the reading of the 23rd Psalm. It’s an amazing cogent dirge of faithful assurance, read slowly, strongly, faithfully; so much like the song...

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Of course the song I’m referring to is the 1970 classic, Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Many an artist (including more than one Christian artist) has recorded their own rendition of this universal favourite that lived atop the billboard top 100 for a couple of months. It was Simon and Garfunkel’s swansong.

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The song is colossal. There is an eternal shrill to it. It builds upon the images of the overwhelmed. Whether we’re ‘feeling small,’ ‘friends can’t be found,’ or we’re simply ‘down and out’ he is a bridge over that troubled water -- he’s on our side. Who is this person? Have you ‘met’ him yet? He comforts and dries the tears. He’ll surround us with safety and answers when ‘pain is all around.’

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The first and second verses are melodies for the melancholy -- an elixir for desperates. Then the divine ballad shifts up in gear and suddenly lifts us... first musically, then spiritually. The theme of loneliness and sorrow ends suddenly and a new era of victorious hope emerges; again the overtones of the 23rd Psalm.

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‘Silver girl’s time has come.’ She is about to live her dream; there is a sure pillion of hope as he shows her how she’s to shine. He will ‘ease her mind.’

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Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh when you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

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Imagine in your pain and desolation, the bridge that carries you safely over the dark and treacherous torrent below, and through that dark period, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically.

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Bridge Over Troubled Water is a wonderfully inspirational yet expansive song for the downcast complete with music and feeling of epic proportions. It’s a creative touch of God for humankind; a miracle of creation and modern day art. In the spiritual sense, it’s a ‘saving’ work that must have saved thousands upon thousands of lives. Praise God.

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Copyright © 2008, Steven J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

A Husband Of Noble Character

A husband of noble character who can find?
He is worth far more than sapphires.
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His wife has full confidence in him
and lacks nothing of value.
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He brings her good, not harm,
all the days of his life.
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He plans for his family
and works with eager hands.
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He is like the merchant ships,
bringing him resources the family needs.
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He gets up while it is still dark;
he provides means for his family
and quantities for his less well-off associates; for everyone in his sight.
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He considers investments and buys them;
out of his earnings he provides for the future.
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He gets into his work dynamically;
his arms are capable for all his tasks.
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He sees that his trading is profitable,
and his lamp burns into the night.
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In his hand he holds his plans
and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.
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He opens his arms to the poor with compassion
and extends his hands to the needy.
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When winter sets in, he has no fear for his family;
for each one of them is ably provided for.
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He helps out around the house, doing the dishes and ironing;
he is well prepared for work.
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His wife is admired when she walks in town,
where she takes her place within the community.
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He serves in other capacities and loves to learn,
supplying things of value to those he mixes with.
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He is clothed with resilience and integrity;
he can smile confidently at the days to come.
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He speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on his tongue.
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He watches over the affairs of his family
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
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His children arise and thank God for him;
his wife also, and she praises him:
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"Many men are noble from time to time,
but you're consistently gracious, surpassing them all."
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Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a man who fears the LORD is to be praised.
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Give him the reward he's earned,
and let his deeds bring him praise within the community.