Some Things You Can't Take Back

    My heart was broken as I read of the two fourteen-year-old girls who died together in a suicide pact last Saturday. Haylee Fentress and Paige Moravetz were found over the weekend, having hung themselves in one of the girl’s homes in Minnesota. Both girls had been struggling in school and saw themselves as outcasts. They were made fun of repeatedly by classmates. The one girl had recently moved from Indiana and was never accepted in her new school, other than by another bullied girl, with whom she died.
    Kids rarely have any idea the kind of torment they can inflict on others. They get caught in the moment of deflecting their own pain or getting attention by getting the better of an easy target. It’s part of our sin nature. But the things those kids said will now haunt them for the rest of their lives. With all of their mechanisms for dealing with guilt, they will not be able to escape the gnawing awareness that their cruel words and thoughtless actions were felt so deeply that those poor girls could not see beyond eighth grade to want to keep living. And now there is nothing these classmates will ever be able to do or say to make up for or retract their culpability.
    Whenever my kids have complained of being bullied or put down by others at school (and yes, it happens to most kids to some degree), I have reminded them that it is far better to be bullied than to be a bully. Most kids who pick on and put down others have parents who have no idea how their kids are treating others. Sometimes its the kids from dysfunctional families, but as often it is the kids from stable middle class two parent homes who bully.
    Parenting is more than providing for our kids’ necessities and making sure they get a good education or do well in extra-curricular activities. As a father, I would far rather have a child who struggles with his grades and is sub-par in athletic or music performance, but kind and sensitive to the needs of others, than the other way around.
    We all grow out of middle school eventually and with maturity comes a certain level of fortitude to handle put downs (at least to know its not the end of the world) and the social maturity to back off the bullying. But many never grow out of the grade-school mentality of measuring their worth against others and attempting to elevate themselves by putting others down, either in ridicule or behind their back. I am sometimes shocked at the freedom some adults feel in criticizing and running another person down when they are not present to defend themselves. They excuse it with comments like, “I just needed to get it off my chest,” or “I needed to bounce it off someone else to get their thoughts,” all at the expense of someone else’s reputation.
    Adults hurt each other with their words as well. The people who are hurt may not enter into a suicide pact, but it hurts nonetheless. And the perpetrators inflict harm that, like the case of the mean eighth graders in Island Lake, Minnesota, can do the kind of damage that cannot ever be retracted.
    This would be a good time to talk with your kids about how they reach out to others. And it might also be a good time to do a self-assessment. Do your words always benefit the listener and the person you are talking about?
    “It is pleasant to listen to wise words, but the speech of fools brings them to ruin.” –Ecclesiastes 10:12

Is Everyone Going to Heaven?

    Even those who have little interest in the Bible, Christianity or religion in general, have heard the hype, reactions and turmoil surrounding Rob Bell’s latest book, in which he reveals his latest theological thoughts. Bell, always the cutting edge hipster pastor/theologian, has embraced an old form of 19th century liberalism: universalism. He splits hairs with definitions and thereby refuses to call his position, “universalism”, but most of us would be hard pressed to see any substantive difference between what he is now promoting and the theology that took down the mainline denominations a century ago.
    All of the discussion, however, is healthy. People are honestly asking, “Is there a real heaven and a real hell?” “Will people who reject Jesus be condemned forever?” Can we be assured of heaven in this life?” “What was the purpose of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection?” While Bell’s apparently new position (new for him, anyway) goes contrary to Jesus’ teaching, I’m really glad it has spurred necessary conversations. People are talking about heaven and hell and the state of humans in eternity. That’s definitely good, and it’s an opportunity for those of us who understand the Gospel to get it out there!
    It seems like every year at this time there is some big religious news to take advantage of people’s religious consciousness that is heightened because of the Lenten/Easter season. Remember how they supposedly found the family tomb of Jesus a couple of years ago? Ever wonder what happened to that story? Then there was the big deal over “The Gospel of Judas” that was supposed to turn Christianity on its ear. Before that was “The Da Vinci Code”, released as a book shortly before Easter, and as a movie the Easter following.
    Why does this keep happening? Because people really are thinking about matters of faith at this time of year, and marketing experts (Rob Bell included) know that and do their best to take advantage of it.
    As followers of Christ, we have a more pressing reason to elevate our voice and strengthen our witness. Despite Bell’s conclusion, not everyone is going to heaven (at least, not according to Jesus)! But they can if they embrace the Gospel. So let’s tell them….NOW! We’re not trying to sell a book or tickets to a movie. We’re trying to do so for so much more! We’re trying to rescue lives and deliver souls! This is the best time of the year to do it.
    So don’t run away from those conversations. Encourage them. Look for ways to bring Jesus into your everyday relationships. On Easter Sunday, more people will be interested in coming to church than on any other Sunday. So make invitations and make lots of them!
    According to Jesus, not everyone is going to heaven. But one of my life’s goals is to bring as many people along as possible. The gate may be narrow, but at the very least, we can show everyone we know where it is. Bring them to The Bridge this Easter, and I’ll help you out! :-)

Take This Job and Love It!

    In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch. He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery. “Your Majesty,” said Prior Richard, “do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.”
    “I understand,” said Henry, “The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.”
    “Then I will tell you what to do,” said Prior Richard. “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.”
    When King Henry died, a statement was written: “The King learned to rule by being obedient.”
    Any job, after time, can become distasteful. Maybe your job has become boring, or frustrating, or just plain unpleasant.
    It is interesting to me that some who have the most attractive jobs find a way to loathe going to work. Then there are those who are employed in the most obnoxious situations who exude cheerfulness about their employment. I have come to believe that whether or not one enjoys his job has more to do with his own attitude than any other factor. Your attitude toward your employer, your tasks, and your coworkers will probably determine how meaningful you find your work to be.
    I have a proposal. See your work as God’s work. Understand how all that we do is to be to God’s glory. The submissive spirit you display toward your boss is a reflection on your love and respect for God. Pouring yourself into your tasks and doing your work (whether it be counting beans, sweeping floors, or managing people) with excellence is a reflection of your commitment to glorifying God. Being gracious to difficult coworkers, forgiving offenses, and staying out of break room gossip communicates to those you work with whether or not you just claim to be a follower of Jesus, or really follow His example.
    I am sure someone reading this is currently contemplating switching jobs. I am not telling you not to. But first, see your work as your ministry. Look at your coworkers through the eyes of Christ. You’ll find that when you accept your employment as a blessing from God and an opportunity to represent Him daily to people who need Him, the work itself and the people at work become a passion.
    One way to love God is to love the ministry He has given you. That includes your job!
    “…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31