When I was a boy, my sisters and I would usually spend some time each summer at our grandma’s house in northeast
Oklahoma
. She lived out in the country. I always liked going there. Granddad had lots stuff that a boy would find cool. My favorite thing was a lamp that sat on the table beside his chair. The lamp had a picture of a train on the shade. When it was on, it looked like it was moving… but it wasn’t. I’ve always loved Raisin Bran. Kellogg’s not Post. On one of our visits grandma asked if I wanted some cereal, I asked, “What kind do you have?†Hoping for Captain Crunch or Boo
Berry… Cheerios at least, I was very disappointed when she offered words I had never heard of as cereal. After several offerings that did nothing for me, she said some magical words, “Well I guess you could have Raisin Bran.†Eureka!! This will work. Then she sat a bowl and spoon on the table and brought a strange box out that said, “Bran Flakes†and another familiar red box with a woman on the front… raisins. I protested, “That’s not Raisin Bran.† In the Old Book, the Lord often warns his people to be wary of things and people that are false. The Psalmist wrote, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false†(Psalm 24:3-4). The Lord requires authenticity, purity and honesty.  The culture we live in is replete with cheap imitations. We encounter bogus friends, back stabbing brothers, forged documents, false prophets and even off brand products. In all things: political leaders, pastors, teachers, love, friendship or even religion – choose quality, demand purity, expect honesty and never settle for fake Raisin Bran. telemicus out
and I caught the film School for Scoundrels. It’s not going to be nominated for any awards. Its funny, a bit course and slightly lame. The plot of the movie is that Dr. P runs a school for wimps. He teaches them how to stand up for themselves and be confident. The hero of the film is Roger, played by Jon Heder. He is one of the wimps but becomes the star student. Dr. P always attacks the strongest student because of his competitive streak. The school is not really for scoundrels, but it is run by one. Driving away from the theater, I said to Britt, “What’s sad is that there really is a need for a school that teaches guys to be real men. I have to say that I also watched
Lake House this week… a 100% chick flick – and a good one. I like romance. I think men should cry. I’m not saying they should be calloused, harsh, overbearing mean spirited ogres. We see churches and parents try to teach their boys all kinds of things these days, but the Bible tells us to teach them only two things; God’s Word and self control. “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.†Titus 2:6  Last night was a great night. Caleb had a football game. He plays for The Lightening. It is a team of 11-12 year olds. Caleb wont be 11 till next month. He is one of the smaller boys out there. He plays offensive end. Last night on the last play of the game, they called a pass play to Caleb. He ran the pattern exactly right. The ball was thrown perfectly on target. Caleb caught the ball and a half second later, a boy a full foot taller and certainly 30 pounds heavier, smashed into him driving him to the ground. Caleb got up without even a whimper and walked off the field. The Lightening didn’t win the game, but Caleb won. He took a hard hit from a bigger foe and walked away. I told him after the game that I felt bad about encouraging him to join a team where he was smaller than everyone else. It’s been a tough season for him. But he didn’t quit. The struggle will serve him well. I’m going to do my best to make sure that he never needs a school to teach him to be a man. He’s a tender, caring little guy who has learned to take a hit, and I’m proud of him for that.  telemicus out
This past week our souls were once again assaulted by evil. And once again the nobility that God placed within the heart of humans by his own will, in his own image shined through and over the evil that was so weakly displayed. For this spineless man, (no I wont use his name) whose greatest courage was the cowardly act of assaulting little girls was found to be less than human and certainly less than courageous. On October 2nd the peace and gentleness of the Amish world was attacked by an outsider who intended evil. When it became clear that intended to kill, Marian Fisher, a 13-year-old young woman, bravely asked the pathetic man to kill her first - thinking that it might give the other girls a chance to live. Marian displayed the noble heart that resides within us – not because we are good or strong or because we choose it, but because we are made in the image of God. And even with our weaknesses and frailties, He shines through. Â
A couple of weeks ago the satirist Bill Maher, an unabashed hater of religion was on T.V. and, as is his custom, he was speaking ill of the Christians. Maher proclaimed, “If Christians would act like Jesus instead of acting like Christians that would be fine.â€Â So I have this message for Maher. Take note of the Amish people who ministered to the family of the killer. Take note of the way they cared for each other and the love they demonstrated in the name of Christ. Don’t forget Marian Fisher. She acted like Jesus. Don’t forget how she was brave in the most terrifying situation we can imagine. Don’t forget that she loved others more than her own life. She was living what she believed. Â
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,†John 15:13  Be sure to tell your kids about Marian Fisher. Make sure they know that the ability to live as Christ would in the world is in them because God’s Spirit lives within them. Remind them to display a noble godly heart in the world. And don’t forget Marian. telemicus out
One day, my daughter Hope cried out, “But that’s not fair!†In my frustration I replied, “When you were born and you opened your little blue eyes in the delivery room, where was the sign that said, ‘Welcome to the world, this is a fair place, enjoy!’ I was there, but I don’t remember seeing the sign!†I think we need to teach our kids that life is not fair. At the same time, we need to teach them that God is just and wrongs will be made right in His time.  There was a story on the news last night about some old African American people whose families have lived on a section of land near
Marshall for over 100 years. Many years ago, a company came and “leased†the rights to the minerals under their land. They’ve been paid a little bit over the years, but now they’ve been ordered to move. They have no recourse. Apparently, those who signed the agreements signed away the land without knowing it. It’s not fair.  I don’t know how this thing can be made right, but I do know what the Old Book says about taking advantage of the impoverished. I know what it says about taking advantage of widows. I hope the Lord exacts justice on the company that is doing this. And what about ambivalence? Should we care that these old folks were taken advantage of? They aren’t our relatives or family. We’re just bystanders, right? Why should we get involved? Its not our fault. Most folks I talk to have never read Obadiah. Even though its only 1 chapter in the Old Testament, most leave it alone. In my opinion, it’s a not so minor prophet – especially for our kids. God pronounces a judgment on Edom, (that the descendants of Esau) because they showed no concern, but rather gloated at and took advantage of the fall of Judah, (that is the descendants of Jacob). The prophecy of Obadiah is harsh. Look at what God said, “On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were like one of them. You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. You should not march through the gates of my people in the day of their disaster, nor look down on them in their calamity in the day of their disaster, nor seize their wealth in the day of their disaster. You should not wait at the crossroads to cut down their fugitives, nor hand over their survivors in the day of their trouble. “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.â€Â                                                                                                                  Obadiah 1:11-15 Verse 15 is really instructive for us. In everyday language it says, “What goes around, comes around.†Teach your kids that life is not fair. But in doing so make sure that you remind them that God is just and he takes note when wrong is done to those who cannot defend themselves. Teach them that its not “karma†that makes things right. But rather there is a principle at work in the world that says, “God remembers wrongs and makes them right – in His time.â€Â telemicus out