Scatterbrain

If it were not so sad, it would be somewhat funny. There are many days – most days in fact, when scatterbrain defines who I am.

Even though there is a band by the name and a book, I am referring to neither of those, rather the state of mind – being scatterbrain.

The on-line Webster definition is “a giddy, heedless person.” Of course the key word there is “giddy.” That word means, 1) “having or causing a whirling sensation – an unsteady sensation, dizzy or 2) frivolous.” Frivolous being the operative word. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines it as, “One who is incapable of concentrated thinking.”

If my scatterbrain were severe, I suppose one might call it ADD. But, of course, I think it’s not. The malady simply allows me to lose focus, it does not cause me to loose focus. And even though the definition says so, it is not that I am “incapable of concentrated thinking.” I am. My condition manifests itself by a myriad of ideas and “need-to-do” activities crowding my brain and heart in such a manner that I allow myself to get lost in the chaos.

The writer of Proverbs says that “Many are the plans in the mind of a man… (19:21a) The two Hebrew words many and plans can lend themselves to this idea of being scatterbrain. The writer goes on to say, “…But it is the purpose/counsel of the LORD that will stand.”

Knowing the purpose/counsel of the LORD is what neutralizes scatterbrain tendencies. Of course the key there is “knowing”, which also brings havoc to me. Not so much because one cannot know the purpose/counsel of God, but because there is an implied time element there. It does not just happen, it comes from listening, learning, and following. Three things that I have difficulty with – Oh, did I mention scatterbrain?

My nature wants things to happen now! Not tomorrow, next week, next year, or a dozen years from now, but NOW! Have you ever felt that way? That, my friend, starts the circle which leads to “many plans”, which feeds the condition of scatterbrain, which can, if allowed to go unchecked, short-circuit the plan/counsel of the LORD.

The writer of Proverbs also says, “When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD (19:3).” The MacDonald translation would be, “Scatterbrain tendencies are like throwing a wrench into the works, then we wondering why God shut down the line.” To put it simply, I undo the knot, then yell and blame God for letting the boat drift off. Rather ridiculous isn’t it?

There is no simple fix for scatterbrain. It takes discipline to focus and bring things into submission. To push the trivial to the background and engage the significant. Easier said than done, but I am working on it.

Oops, gotta run, I have a million things to do today!

Flip Them Pages Folks

Last night I read a brief story about a pastor in Rockwood, TN that made a commitment to read more. Consequently, he read 68 books in a year. Think about that, 68 books! Five books a month minimum. Plus, he read the Bible through several times.

When did he have time to watch television!

This twelve month period, I’ve managed nine and have three more sitting in the “waiting” stack before my year ends in September.

The question I have is how does a 57 year old pastor process or retain all that information? That does not mean I am doubting his feat. It is simply the shear magnitude of that kind of reading must certainly bear a consequence of some kind – Like ignoring his wife maybe!

I had one year where I committed to reading a book a month. I managed a bit more at eighteen. When I was getting my masters it seemed I was reading a thousand of them.

My problem is retention and understanding. If I can’t talk about what I read and process it in some tangible way, it is hard for me to retain the information.

Pastors should read, read with a vengeance and read quality material. But so should those of us sitting in the pew. We should all feed our minds. Not only that, I suspect having an avenue for discussing what we read would also be good.

68 books! An accomplishment I never intend to challenge. However it does inspire me to keep flipping those pages.

The Temptations of Christ

I have spent a good deal of time these last few days wrestling with the temptation narratives as detailed in Matthew and specifically Luke . There are a great many questions left unanswered about these accounts. Nevertheless, the main issue at hand is the purpose of these temptations.

I suspect most of us have heard various homilies on these temptations and what Satan was trying to lure Christ into. Some accurate, others less so. Nevertheless, the main focus is the understanding Jesus has of his role and purpose as a kingdom builder and if he will stay true to that mission.

Each temptation is preceded by the phrase, “If you are the son of God….”

There no doubt in Satan’s mind that Jesus was the Son of God. What he wanted to see is whether or not Christ could be tempted to establish his Kingdom as something other than what it was intended to be. To make his sonship less than God wanted it to be. It was not a matter of “IF you are” but more a matter of BECAUSE you are the son of God, you can take this route to the kingdom instead of the one set by the Father.

The situation is similar to what Peter said to Christ, “Far be it from you Lord! This shall never happen to you,” talking about Christ’s impending death and the event of the cross (Matt 16:23).  Jesus’ rebuke of Peter shows that he knew the enemy was simply trying an end run to the same goal. It was a stab at one of those “opportune times” Luke mentions as he concludes the temptation narrative (Luke 4:13).

There is more to the temptation narratives than either author lets on. It runs deeper than mere symbolic gestures designed to present an un-temptable Christ. Nevertheless, the primary message is about the Kingdom. The true Kingdom which is to be built on the spilling of blood and an empty tomb. If the enemy could be successful with Christ, as the sacrificial lamb of God,  and divert him from that mission, it could end up being no mission at all. 

The enemy always seeks to detour our devotion with easy things. He intends to clutter our life with the doing of things and not the becoming of Christ likeness. For our culture and mind set this is more than tempting, it is desirable. Doing things is measurable and quantifiable. Becoming “in Christ” is less tangible. It requires greater discipline and a sensitive balance of inward and outward focus. There is no easy task list to check off. The narrow road is never any wider than what the cross on our back will allow.

Not in the same magnitude, but often in a similar manner, we are all tempted and tested in ways that stretch and challenge us to make choices. Seldom are our physical and mental resources  depleted on the same scale as Jesus’, but that is no matter. Satan still finds us an easy target. He is good at spotting our vulnerability. He knows how to sift and seek the “opportune time” to moves us off our intended path.

How do we resist? Is it simply a matter of quoting the appropriate verse of scripture? No, it is much more than that. It is understanding who we are in Christ and what our intended purpose is as a child of God and a servant of the Kingdom. What that means for you, I am not certain.  What that means for me, I choose not to share. However, what it means for each of us is this…

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Class Dismissed

This Sunday our pastor will finish a preaching series on The Sermon on the Mount.  I suspect all pastors, at one time or another, have done this exercise with varied degrees of success. After all, what is the objective in preaching this type of series?

Is it that people actually read, see, or hear commentary on this great passage of scripture? Is it that people will do a self-examination and make some alteration in their life or with their life? When the three points and a poem marathon finishes and class is being dismissed, what will be the measure of success from such a series?

Jesus had basically one expectation, at least from what Matthew tells us, and it was not that people would be “astonished at his teaching.”

The expectation of Jesus was that people would understand, the kingdom of God is built by people who “…do the will of (his) Father who is in heaven (Matt. 7:21).”  It was not a matter of blind and superficial obedience or performing the supernatural. It was a matter of doing the will of God.

Furthermore, Jesus emphasizes the importance of hearing that leads to doing. It was not enough to say, “Wow, that is some kind of message.” It was imperative that people act in response to what they heard/understood. That is how one builds a house on rock and not on sand. It is not merely looking at the blueprints, it is actually building the structure per the blueprints.That is how a disciple of Christ stands firm during turbulent times.

If was clear to Jesus that there were plenty within ear shot who lived lives of so called righteousness, but were mere shadow puppets on a wall. Jesus wanted those who desired to be his disciples to respond to his teaching in such a way that their “righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.” To live a life that stood, not so much in contrast to those role players, but one that was lived in conformity to and consistency with God’s will and God’s purpose and God’s desire.

When Jesus dismisses class he expects great things – life changing things — world changing things. He did not expect a classroom full of note-takers, but a classroom full of people making note worthy moral, social and spiritual changes in their lives.

Father, let me be a doer and not just a hearer. May I live what I know to be true and know what I live is true.

Safe at Last

Where do you feel safe? For many of us it is our home, but if you have ever had your home broken into, you know the feeling of violation and fear that follows. It’s never the same again.

Is there something that makes you feel safe? In our city and surrounding area, there has been a spike in home break-ins and robberies where, for a apparently no reason, people have been beaten or shot. Consequently, there has been a significant rise in gun ownership. I suspect it is the false allusion that the presence of a handgun makes one feel safe. Or the ability to carry a concealed weapon somehow provides security.

Who gives you comfort and sense of safety? For many children it is their parents. Running to mom or dad seems to be a normal reaction of children when they are frightened or feel threatened. Then again, for some children, their parents are their worse nightmare.

Does a large nest-egg give you a sense of safety and security? Perhaps building a barrier of things around yourself gives you the assurance you need to feel unassailable. The writer of Proverbs is quick to point out that kind of security is simply in one’s imagination (Prov. 18:11).

That same writer says, in the prior verse, that “The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and is safe (Prov. 18:10).”

For me, the power of that verse hinges on my understanding of God. Not just what He can do, but who He is – His very nature. Seeking refuge in the great I AM, will result in a sense of safety that transcends fear from harm. It can bring a sense of peace and rest that will allow me to say, “No matter what, my defense is certain.”  It is a sense of safety that must no longer issue from my mind, but find root in my soul.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination.