Images of the Price of Peace

Several African countries are suffering from the effects of tyranny and oppression.  Upheaval and mayhem have filled the streets within these countries as political leaders fight to hold on to governmental power.  With unrest from Gadhafi in Libya and rebuilding in Egypt from years under the rule of Mubarak, the civil war in the coco producing Ivory Coast, adds to the list of political chaos in Africa.

After the lives of hundreds have been lost, the self-declared leader Laurent Gbagbo was captured Monday morning (April 11, 2011) by opposing forces stormed his headquarters.  Civil war in the Ivory Coast began when the people elected Alassane Ouattara, but Gbagbo refused to relinquish power.  Ouattara is recognized internationally as being the elected leader of the Ivory Coast. 

It is a sad day when political leaders will hide behind their own people to save what power they do have.  Imagine the lives that have been lost, torn, and destroyed because of political war.  Citizens of the Ivory Coast are in hope that the capture of Gbagbo will end the civil war that has taken lives of many innocent people.

Any type of war leaves people torn and destroyed.  Though not in the same capacity of those in Africa, battles within our own churches leave people just as hopeless and cynical while desperately looking for peace.  Take the Greater New Zion Baptist Church in Henderson, North Carolina as an example.  Their January 31^st brawl depicts what churches throughout the country are going through when battles rage out of control.  Leaders, great and small, have to remember what it means to be responsible. 

For Christians, our example is Jesus Christ.  Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a great leader that will be called the Prince of Peace.  The main tradition in Christianity regards this passage to be speaking of Jesus Christ.  Other interpretations suggest that Isaiah was speaking of someone different from Jesus, but because of the leadership of Jesus, Christians can’t help but to see Jesus in these words.   

Christ worked to bring peace and reconcile people that were at odds with each other and with God.  It is my hope that as Christians, we always remember our example of peace in a world full of war and anarchy.  It is also my hope that as Christian leaders, we are not afraid of having power, using power, and losing power so that we may accurately resemble an image of the Prince of Peace.

Intelligence and Responsibility

A great responsibility comes with intelligence.  Children learn to speak a second language before grade school and the basic college degree has become the new high school diploma. 

         

We live in an era that has information easily accessible to any student of any particular subject.  Nevertheless, man’s unwillingness to do what is right, has taught him to pervert the gift of intelligence. 

Case in point, some Chemist have learned to distort the scientific work of John W. Huffman.  Huffman, known for creating a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol THC, the active component in Marijuana, published his research with noble purposes.  However, his research is greatly abused with the recent flood of “fake-pot” products throughout the world. 

Utilizing Huffman’s research, chemist have learned to produce their own synthetic THC.  This synthetic THC is sprayed onto herbal products and sold as incense to hide their common street purpose.  Common names for this synthetic THC are “K2,” “Spice,” “Blaze,” and “Red X Dawn.”  Though these products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption, users smoke these products to mimic a “high” similar to that found in smoking natural marijuana. 

Given this product’s popularity and dangerous side-effects, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has scheduled five of the most common chemicals (JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200,CP-47,497, and cannabicyclohexanol) as Scheduled I on March 1, 2011.  The DEA is using authority provided by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984.

Christians learn to love God with all their heart and soul with the word of Jesus in Matthew22:37.  Echoing the Shima, Jesus adds an extra command of loving God with your mind.  In doing this, Jesus has made each person responsible for what he does, feel, and knows. 

Christians should not be scared to learn and ask questions, but they should exercise wisdom in handling what they have learned.  We all have a calling to help and serve our fellow man, but there is always someone looking to adulterate the innocence of Christian love and intelligence.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

         With bees moving from flower to flower and the ever-pleasant melodic notes of singing birds carried on the warm air, the season of spring blooms with mystery and intrigue.  The barren winter landscape of dead grass and bare trees slowly begins to blossom with the pastels of spring.  Nature awakens from its winter slumber to greet a new day full of scurrying life and activity.  Hillsides become a colorful collage of wildflowers that stretch for the heavens, as onlookers smell the crisp perfume of spring flowers in a heavenly pastoral scene. The fruitfulness of spring encourages us all that that hope will bud in the midst of our sorrow.  

Unfortunately, spring brings the deadliest of storms.  Spring storms build as cool and warm air rage above us, while their violent whirlwinds blow wherever they please.  Life and death continue their eternal dance across the world, taking and giving with each move. 

Yet, God’s mercies are new each morning.  There is a plethora of things to lament over, but once the storms have passed and the coldness of winter has left, will we enjoy God’s spring flowers?  Moreover, will we enjoy them with loved ones?  Will we step away from the busyness of life and participate in the beautiful subtlety of tulips and togetherness?   

The theme of steadfast love is undeniable in the Song of Songs.  Verses 11 through 13 of the second chapter depict a scene of two lovers enjoying the beauty of spring.  The challenge for Christians in Song of Songs 2:11-13 is to learn how to celebrate in God’s creation with someone they adore.  It is important to “stop and smell the roses” with people who love you.  You never know when you all have weathered your last April shower and smelled your last May flower, together.  

Pressing On.

I can remember hearing some of the elders in my youth say "I'm gonna keep pressing on."  These words seemed to be just gibberish as a child.  I could not conceptualize the need to move towards a “higher calling.”  The most important thing then was Saturday morning cartoons and getting the prize out of the cereal box.  Life was easier and less complicated, but times have certainly changed.

Now that I am responsible for the direction of my life, “pressing on” is more relevant each day.  There are accomplishments, accolades, and achievements that fill our lives.  There are resumes to upkeep, goals to reach, and professional advancement within reach.  There are houses to buy and cars to drive, but there is also ministry to do.

In the midst of building 401k’s and great portfolios, God’s calling is the most persistent and important in a Christian’s life.  The aforementioned gifts are but garnish decorating the Christians’ full plate of ministry and service to God.  Those things will nourish us for a while, but the sustenance of displaying Christ love in poverty-stricken areas will sustain us through life’s long journey. 

 

In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul reminds us to continue to press on towards our calling in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3 is an extremely popular text and many Christians are no stranger to Paul’s letter.  Despite its popularity, Christians still struggle with arrogance and humility.  Pictures of greed and indifference fill the portrait of America while man’s compassion is gives way to his wants.  Many people have forgotten about the pains of lacking because they are busy obtaining. 

               It does not matter if we are Conservatives or Liberals, our gifts are not our own and our lives are not our own.  Let us remember the humility of Christ and strive to show his love in the most deprived of places.  Let us forget what is behind us and press on towards the mark, goal, and telos before us.

Looking Up

         When issues seem to be getting difficult, I look up in the night sky and try to see how many constellations I can find.   I do not know that many, but I try to pick out as many as I do know.  

         Though strange, I find something therapeutically soothing in looking up.  The twinkling and shining stars illuminate the dark sky and if you are looking in the right place, you can see a distant planet smiling back at you.  

          It is not the science, but the simple act of looking up and beholding something much bigger than I am. When we get lost in our internal problems and struggles, it easy to become consumed by ourselves.  We have deadlines to make, meetings to attend, families to raise, people to feed, bills to pay, and in the business of life, we miss the excellent opportunity to lift up our eyes and behold the one greater than I.    

          Psalm 123 is an individual’s painful prayer to God about suffering at the hands of the arrogant.  He begins his prayer by stating his powerful trust in God, but he lifts up his eyes first.  Like a servant looks up to his master or a maiden to her mistress, the author looks to God to show them mercy and to provide all that their needs.  

          The challenge for us today is to understand what it means to lift up our eyes to the Lord.  We should be looking up to God in all our situations.  No matter how bleak they might seem, we should be looking towards God.  Let us not forget the hectic lives around us, but let us also not neglect the God above us.  I will lift up mine eyes …