Halloween Frights

With Fright Night, Halloween, only a few moonlit evenings away, a blog about scary things seemed appropriate.  What are you more frightened by, things of the imagination, or things that we all agree represent valid physical danger?  Maybe it is a combination of both that gives you the 'heebie-jeebies'.

I'm short.  I could be wrong, but I feel a lot of short people have a natural fear of heights, acrophobia.  It's not as bad now, but as a child I can recall being virtually dizzy if looking straight down from anything of height, more so if I wasn't confident in what I was standing or sitting on.

We had a barn in our backyard.  The barn, of course, had a hayloft.  My friend and I were in grade school.  He wanted to throw some loose hay down on the gravelly path and jump from the hayloft down to the ground.  He did it!  Naturally, he berated me to jump as well.  I failed to see a good reason to do it.  Then he said he would come up and push me if I didn't jump.  Well, I would rather go down on my own, so I jumped!  As a teen, I climbed a ladder onto the roof of the house for a chore.  In trying to get down, I knocked the ladder over.  Once again, I was faced with the need to jump!

Heights, clearly, represent a true physical danger, made all the greater for a person uncomfortable with those heights.

Another fear of mine is claustrophobia, the fear of being unable to escape or being closed in, tight quarters.  This fright is not too great unless combined with coimetrophobia, the fear of cemeteries.  Don't tell me you are not at least a little afraid of waking up in a buried coffin (typically in a cemetery).  By the way, coimetrophobia is a word I found on wikipedia but can't find in a dictionary.  That's another fear, using words incorrectly in public writing!

Ok, I gave you a couple of my fears, why don't you share yours?

My greatest fears are the stuff of my imagination.  Not Frankenstein, Dracula, Freddy, or any other horror picture ghoul.  Those belong to someone else's warped imagination.  My fears are the things I imagine: financial insecurity; extreme health issues; and greatest of all, loss of my wife and kids from accidents or evil people.  These are the elements of my own warped imagination.  The fear I feel is real, even if the physical danger may not be.

What can we do?  In Psalm 56:11 it says "in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?" (NIV)  But note, the verse says what can man do to me.  What if our greatest frights are NOT from people?  Then we need to keep it even simpler.  When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (NIV)

I have written a story.  It explores some fears.  Maybe the greatest fear you have is whether or not you will make the right choices.  My story, Lumen: The Guise of Darkness also explores making right choices.  This novel is free to read online or download as an Adobe Pdf.  Kindle users can buy it for 99 cents.

Read my superhero mystery novel free!

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 18 - This Is Me

I once tried to explain the song This Is Me by Benny Hester as part of a devotion I was leading. I am certain I failed miserably. So I admit, this is me.  Now if you can honestly say that you've heard of Benny Hester and this song, then I think you are a rare person (and probably about 50 years old).

Assuming you are not 50, there is still something to be learned from this song. Please give me one more chance to explain it, because this is me. Listen first, or we won't get anywhere.




This song is difficult to explain because it tells three stories at once, but (I think) they are all related.

Now, I confess, I've never read or heard anything from Benny Hester explaining this song.  So everything I say will be my own interpretation.  If you or Benny Hester have a better interpretation, I would be thrilled to hear it.

Three stories about 3 men: a traveling preacher, Jonah, and Benny Hester.

The song starts with a traveling preacher at a small church in Texas.  Benny sets the scene: a small child with her mother, a couple filled with strife, and a disinterested 17 year old in a back row pew. The text for the evening, the story of Jonah.

God told Jonah to arise and go to Ninevah.  He was to preach against their wickedness.  Of course he ran the other way.

The scene shifts to Benny Hester reflecting on his mindset before a concert.  Earnestly, he seeks God's help to touch someone's life, in spite of his deep recognition of his own shortcomings.  He cries out, this is me.

The song continues to weave the story of Jonah in distress, a 17 year old suddenly engaged, and a preacher wondering at the mercy of God to use even those who run from Him time after time.

Something in the words of the traveling preacher, though missed by the couple and the little girl, touched the young man.  A longing within him rose, that he might be used by God.  The Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.  This time he obeyed.

Then the boy, the singer, confesses this is me, the part of me that I'm so afraid for you to see.

And this is me.  And this is you.  We have been like Jonah, running from God.  Time and again we missed the mark.  Yet, we earnestly wish that God would use us to touch someone's life.

Lord, this is me.  Use me, let someone's life be touched for you.

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” Jonah 2:8-9 (NIV)

Bon Mot Serenade

A good word and a song of encouragement.
 

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 17 - Save Me

We are Lois Lane--dangling from a rope hanging high above the streets of Metropolis.
We are Steve Trevor--captured by a Nazi Colonel bent on breaking the American soldier.
We are Polly Purebred--tied up and left on a railroad track by Simon Bar Sinister.

We need a hero--will someone come to our rescue?

We are the supporting characters in an animated adventure, earnestly crying out for our hero to appear in the nick of time.  Just like Lois Lane, Steve Trevor, and Polly Purebred, episode after episode we seem to get ourselves in trouble.

Our enemy is constantly laying traps. Somehow, we never get wise, we always fall into them.

What did the psalmist say?

Save me from my enemies, for you are just! Rescue me! Bend down your ear and listen to my plea and save me. Psalm 71:2 (TLB)

I think you know who our hero is, but who is our real enemy? Lex Luthor... Adolph Hitler?

Roman 7:19-20 make it clear that WE are the enemy.  We are the arch-villains-- our own nature of sin battles against us AND our hero, constantly putting our lives and souls in peril.

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (NIV)

In spite of our follies, if we cry out, HE will save!

Bon Mot Serenade

A good word and a song of encouragement.

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 16 - Breathe

Breathing must not be as easy as everyone supposes.  For example, when a young child is crying hysterically, every parent knows to say 'breathe'.  When our children were young we urged them to breathe on several occasions.  Similarly, I attended a class with my wife so I would be trained to tell her to breathe while she was in labor with our first child.  So, breathing must not always come natural.

Last night I woke up suddenly because I could not breathe.  I had done some weed-whacking that morning without the benefit of a pollen mask.  At 2:00 AM my allergies kicked in and I was stuffed up enough that I could no longer breathe through my nose while sleeping.  I've also felt that discomforting situation at the pool when swallowing some water and having circumstances prevent me from immediately being able to cough it up and get air.  Both of those scenarios can be unnerving, because we so desperately need to breathe.

No doubt many people with asthma or other life threatening situations that affected their ability to breathe for awhile can feel this even more deeply.

Today in church, our music minister, Robert Comeaux exhorted us to make praising God like breathing.  It should be as natural and rhythmic as breathing to praise our Lord and Savior. Yet, it is often more like those times of struggle when we are holding our breath or gasping for air. Rather than simply praising God, letting His graces flow in as easily a drawing a deep breath, and letting the praises flow out as simply as exhaling, I am often asthmatic in my adoration of my Father.

When healthy, we need no training or process guide to breathing; we only need to breathe.  Neither are degrees or professional standards of excellence required, we only need to breathe.  In Exhale, Plumb focuses on the grace and goodness from God only needs to be breathed in, and then in turn, we exhale and breathe out that grace on others, and let that breath also bring praise to God.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 150:6 (KJV)

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 15 - Ceiling

As a kid, I would lie on the floor and look up at the ceiling. Imagination spurred me into thoughts of walking on the ceiling around hanging lamps, stepping over door frames like they were short walls next to a sidewalk.  Now, suppose it was night, and someone, also walking on the ceiling, handed me a shovel.  Could I dig a hole in the ceiling, and look down at the stars?  OK, that's random!

Returning to sane thoughts.

Last night we watched Colton Dixon streaming live on Stagehop: Night of Joy from Walt Disney World. #DisneyNOJ . One of my favorite songs by Colton is Limitless.  Prior to singing this song, he reminded us of Philippians 3:13 and the promise of that verse.  This is a song of faith.  Regardless of our condition (young or old, shy or bold) what we can do in Christ is limitless based on the amazing character of God.

The disciples experienced a crisis of belief in Mark 9:14-29.  They were asked to cast out a demon that was tormenting a child and his family.  No problem, they had done it before. But this demon, he wasn't going easily.  The disciples, the child's father, and even the crowd were distressed.

Then Jesus showed up and it was a different story. When he (the boy and his demon) saw Him (Jesus), the evil spirit caused the boy to convulse violently. Recall what James 2:19 says about believing faith, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." (NASB)  The disciples and crowd thought they believed God's power could cast out the demon, the demon had no doubt and he shuddered!

Jesus admonished them (really us, too) for our lack of faith, "O unbelieving generation".  The child's father asked Jesus to remove the demon, if you can.  Jesus' answer should cause us to shudder, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”  Maybe we should respond like this father, Help my unbelief! 

Back to Colton's Limitless:

Fear sees a ceiling
Hope sees the stars

Do we put a ceiling on what God can do?  Do we believe God can help us reach a few people for his glory, or millions? His inheritance is as uncountable as the stars, limitless!

Colton Dixon's Limitless appears on his new acoustic EP Calm.


And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” Mark 9:23-24 (NASB)

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 14 - Ambiguous Ambivalent Ambulance Amb...

Out of the blue, better, out of the ambiance of the couch I was napping on, a strange thought struck me. Are there any really good circumstances surrounding words that begin with AMB? Yes, it is far from an ambrosial thought, that is, suggestive of the divine.  Rather, it is more of a rambling, ambling, barely ambulatory, series of awkward logical leaps.

The first word that came to mind is ambiguous.  Since I am on this ambagious, roundabout trail, I would like to come back to that word.

The second word to come to mind was ambivalent or indecisive.  Well, that's usually not good, especially if you are driving somewhere and are uncertain about the road to take.  Back and forth decision making not only causes confusion and delay, but often leads to wrecks.

The next word to come to mind is ambulance.  Which unfortunately, is closely related to ambivalence when driving.  There definitely appears to be a pattern with these AMB words.

A word that seemed positive to me is ambidextrous  Being able to do things equally well with both hands seems like a good thing.  Then, I recalled that I switched from my right hand to control the mouse to using my left hand because my wrist was hurting all the time.

Let's go back to ambiguous, or susceptible to multiple interpretations: vague. That was the word that started me on this tangent. So many songs today are written with vague meanings.  Jesus is merely an innuendo in the song.  It could be talking about boy/girl love.  It could be a song about God's agape love.  The FM Radio listener, if they still exist, wouldn't know for certain unless they were familiar with the band.

I love Steve Taylor and Peter Furler's lyrics in God Is Not A Secret:

Your in-depth research shows
drop the God, emphasize the beat

and

I am not running for office here
I won't keep it purposefully vague

I will not play those games
God is not a secret to be kept.

Let me add one more AMB word: ambassador. No one has ever been a secret ambassador.  In fact, the whole point of an ambassador is to be a bold representative.  This is not a time to be vague in songs or speech.  We are ambassadors for Christ!

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:19-20. (ESV)

 

Bon Mot Serenade - Day 13 - Good Dirt

Good dirt! That is all that is required of my heart. The parable of the sower has always presented some challenges to me. I got caught up in the idea that there were 4 types of people. Once a person fell into their slot, they were locked in.

Based on that hypothesis, a person (for all time) was either hard soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, or good soil. Once they made their choice, they were done. While there is some merit to this idea, the tricky part came in deciding which of the soils represented true believers and which represented those who rejected the Gospel. Hard soil - pagan, thorny soil - carnal Christian, good soil - blessed believer. Then, what about the rocky soil? Jesus said 'this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy'.  Is that a person who receives salvation but loses it because they don't have a proper foundation, or in this case, a proper base of soil?

That is not a very satisfying idea and inconsistent with God's word about the Holy Spirit being a believer's seal of salvation.

So, I have to focus on the heart.  And, on the present condition of the soil of my heart for receiving a word from the sower, Jesus.

Recall in Matthew 13:19, Jesus says "When anyone hears the word about the kingdom" and later in the same verse he says "...what was sown in his heart."  All scripture is word about the kingdom including the story of salvation.  Jesus is clearly stating this parable is a message for the heart.  And, are our hearts prepared as good soil to receive that message?  Can the hard soil of our heart be cultivated to yield a bountiful crop?  Can our good soil be burdened by rocks of neglect or thorny weeds of materialism, causing our crop to suffer?

I know a young man that for some time had a heart that was a rocky road.  He claimed to be an atheist.  He spent some time at church, around believers: cultivation of his heart soil occurred.  At camp, he gave his life earnestly to Christ.  But between one camp to the next, his heart became rocky through neglect of God's word and fellowship.  He still believed, but was failing to thrive.  I pray for him regularly that his roots will be established and he will become the productive soil that the sower desired when He cast the seed.

Those of us who may feel we are good soil, but recognize that we have not produced as Jesus described, need to understand that even committed believers experience times when we reject God's Word in our lives. In those times, Satan plucks away what God is telling us, where He is leading us.  There are also times when we are rocky soil.  We will go to a conference or listen to a sermon, but then because we don't go deeper, that word is lost to us.  Certainly, none of us would deny the inescapable weeds of life and materialism that distract and choke out the joy of our salvation.

My encouragement is not to read Matthew 13 and be content that you are a believer so you must be in the fourth group.  Rather, let's ask ourselves what the condition of our heart soil is today.

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. Matthew 13:16 (NASB)