Watch Your Six

I was sitting down in my office the other day reflecting on all that has transpired in my life over the past few years and unlike the preacher in Ecclesiastes I do not find all to be vanity.  I do not find this to be true with me because there is always something going on.  There is always a need that has to be met, some hurt to be mended or some crisis to avert.  There is always grace to be extended and above all, there is love to be given and to be shared.  I also believe that our loving God is always active and working and above all, He is still on the throne.  He often places others in our path for us to minister to or at times to be ministered to by them.  People are placed within our lives so that we can experience the grace and love of God on a more personal level and in a physical encounter.  A lot of the people we meet in this life become a part of our lives and though not always present physically, they are present spiritually as the love that is shared for one another resides in our hearts.  If we look at this a little more closely we will find that this is one example that God the Father gives to us to help us to better understand the well-known Bible Doctrine “Omnipresence.”  This doctrine states that God the Father is everywhere present.  This includes that He is not only in our hearts and minds but He is also in the hearts and lives of all His people.  We are more sensitive to this presence of the Holy Spirit in those that He has placed in our lives than we are in others.  We are as much a part of them because He resides in them.  I have said all of this to get us to see that we are all connected to the Saviour and with all of those with in the body of Christ.

Sometime back in a previous posting I mentioned that I had an unexpected heart catheterization resulting in four stints being placed in my heart and the outcome of that catheterization was a wakeup call to reality.  This wakeup call was in all actuality an awakening to the truth that reality is what it is.  We also must come to grips with the fact that we have to face reality no matter how bitter of a pill it may be.  There are no cookies and cream covering, nor are there any rose colored glasses that can change it.  We are all human and part of the makeup of man is that we are frail, and no matter how strong man is he is still a frail being.  It is part of our make up to keep us aware of the truth that in this life we need God.  Fortunately, part of the God that we need is found in the relationships that He pours into our life.  Prior to the heart cauterization I did not consider nor view myself as being fragile because I did whatever I wanted and pretty much when I wanted to do it.  Now that I walk around with these stints in my heart I find my perception has changed.  I have had to learn that mortality is a lesson in existence.  We all exist in this world for just a short time and it is far better learned and explored as we begin to connect and network with other believers.  This network of souls soon begins to keenly knit together into a much needed bond to provide the strength for ourselves and for one another in this life.  I am reminded of the scripture where God says, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)  Alone and by ourselves we are vulnerable and weak.  Teamed up with another there is some strength for the battles ahead but, a three-fold friendship, like a three-fold cord is one of strength.  Why is this?  It is because each one is dependent of the other two though he may at times act or react as independent he still relies upon the wisdom, strength and prayers of the other two.  How true this is for the Christian walk and way of life? 

We were never meant to go through this life alone, which is noted in God’s purpose for marriage, Genesis 2:18.  Man is a communal being and thrives on the connectivity of others whether near or far away.  When studying the Armor of God in Ephesians 6 we find that there is ample armor for battle except for our back and for years I have heard preacher’s proclaim that this is because we are not to turn and run but I do not believe that this is true.  I have found that God has that covered.  I have also come to the conclusion that God has intended for other believes to do the same one for another.  When in the military you would often hear someone shout out “watch your six,” to those who were about to go out into harm’s way.  I believe that in this passage of Scripture God intends for us all to “watch the six” of other believers.  I sometimes feel that we can take is a bit further in saying that as believers we know that God has our back.

Part of a marriage vow in essence states, “I’ve got your back” when promising to never leave or forsake the one to whom you are marring.  The reasoning being that when someone has your back, it is to be an unconditional support.  Life is, as we all know, full of surprises.  The enemy rarely walks up to us and confronts us, most often he blindsides us, tripping us up and knocking us down. If and when we have someone watching our backs they do so without complaint providing us the necessary support no matter how undesirable the situation that we are facing.  Much like a spouse, they should be willing to step in and help, to be prepared to support and defend those that they are bound to support.  Those that have your back at the same time recognizes the goodness within you that others may not.  They recognize the potential and the ability within you at times when others (including yourself) do not.  When someone says that they have your back, your life from that moment on will be greatly enriched.  I believe this is the truth behind Solomon’s writing the book of Proverbs, here are just a few: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Pro. 17:17); “Faithful are the wounds of a friend:” (Pro. 27:6), “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Pro. 18:24) & “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” (Pro. 28:23)

At one of the churches I pastored I had a Deacon who used to always say to me, “growing old ain’t for sissies.”  A Good friend of mine often says in jest, “You don’t know how bad life can really be until you spend most of your time with the person that you loathe the most.” (He says this of himself when he is feeling alone).  Both of these men knew the value of having someone who had their back, someone who would be there for them no matter what the circumstances.  They both knew the value of someone who they could be completely open and honest with, without fear of any repercussions.

Each individual we meet, every individual that crosses our path are people that God has purposefully placed our lives.  We will find that they either cross our path for just a moment or we may end up walking the same path together for a while.  Either way, we soon find out that their lives are in fact interweaving in and out of our own lives.  God is slowly interlocking their lives within our, in a pattern of spiritual strength and stability much like a weaving loom interlocks the different threads being used to form a tapestry.  Each interlocking color a represents a different friendship or passing individual all of which forms the pattern of the gospel story which we are a part of and becomes our story.  The shuttle that moves the thread back and forth is the presence much like that of the Holy Spirit as He ministers to us and help knit each life each story into our own and into the Gospel story that we are to share with others.

 

Some friends will go deeper within a life pattern that takes us both deeper within a relationship that God uses to improve us both.  As mentioned earlier all relationships become interweaved into a life tapestry if you will some causing change many not.  But there will be some friends who will grow into deeper life changing friends these friends are there to help us in our walk with and for the Lord. These friends are much like a Cotton Gin which separates cotton fibers from their seeds, allowing for much greater productivity and quality of being.  Accountability friends like to the Cotton Gin help us to remove besetting sins and other recognizable issues from our lives in order to help us to become more productive in the gospel community.  These are those who not only say “watch your back,” they will actually do so.  There are not many within our life circle can we honestly say that they “have our back,” there are only a handful (outside of my wife) that we know and trust who we can honestly know that actually “Have our SIX.”

Something simple yet soundly profound

Sometimes it is the simplest of statement that make the soundest sense.  The other morning in church the pastor up stood in the front of the church congregation and proclaimed this very statement.  “We need a regular, personal, unhurried time with the LORD daily.” To this thought I gasped how true. There is nothing overly profound in this and yet it is a statement that struck true to the heart of many a believer and in doing so made it soundly profound.  There should not have been one believer in the room who could not have agreed more.  Yet I would sadly say that many of the believers in the room stood silently still because their only answer to this was a sad guilt of the opposite.  How have we gotten so far as to think that we can go a day without spending time in the Word of God?  How could we think that we can go hours without muttering a single word of Prayer to our heavenly Father?  We can almost sum it up in one word “Conformity.”

There is a certain sense of fear I believe often follows the word “conformity,” in most people because they also fear change and conformity embraces change.  As a biblical counselor I find that many believers do not mind the idea of conforming as long as it is God who conforms to their image, not their conforming to God’s.  It is at this point that we need to turn to the Scriptures and a good starting for this is found in Romans 8:29 which says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  Just like in the statement that we have singled out the root and foundation of conformity in God’s economy.  So with this in mind, let’s take a look at this plea, this challenge that was directed to the members of our church.

To begin with why conformity?  I would say that we do so because we honor God the more we are like Christ.  We are all familiar with Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Our reasonable service is not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the Word and Will of God.  This transformation is in all actuality conformity, it is the transformation takes place as we are conformed into the image of Christ.  So as the Gospel works with in us we find that we must surrender more and more to God in Christ.  Our surrender is a surrender of our will and is an empting of self so that God can in turn fill us and He does so. “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (Galatians 1:16) with all that being said, if I want to bring honor to God and if I want to glorify Christ in this world than others need to see Christ in me. 

Why regular?  Because regular breeds familiarity and this of course leads to consistency which brings about change.  Change is what the Father wants in us, He want to see His Son in us.  This is why we need to set aside and spend regular time with Him.  Notice what David said in Psalm 119:9, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." The cleansing of our ways is the removal of sinful selfish ways.  It is a proven fact that the more we are around someone, the more we become like that person.  Also we find in the Scriptures that it was important for Jesus to take time daily to get alone with the Father and so then this should be important for us as well.  He spent daily quality time with God the Father so He could answer the apostles with confidence when they asked Him to show them the Father.  “Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? (10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:8-10)  This is all evident because He has been spending regular time with the Father.  It was not just a routine time but regular, personal, intimate time with the Father. 

Why personal?  Because personal time is more than simply alone time, it is in reference to an intimate time alone with the Lord.  The more intimate we are with anyone the more we want to be with them and this is so true when it comes to Jesus.  Regular, personal time with the Lord allows us to get as intimately involved with the Lord as we possibly can be.  It allows us to develop a right relationship with the Lord.  We should all see the benefit of taking the time to get alone with the Lord as Jesus did with the Father, and it must be both personal and intimate time.  The Apostle Paul said “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)  The way one can truly have the mind of another is through long-term intimate contact, married couples are living examples to this.  Through years of personal intimate contact they begin to act and think like one.  This is the type of mindset that the Lord want for us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians 2:5).  We become more like Christ the more that we expose ourselves to Him.  As a general rule I have lunch with my father every Friday and those who know him often tell me I am just like him.  Why is that?  Because I purposefully spend regular and personal time with him every week, because I cherish the time that we get to spend together.

Why unhurried?  Because the truth is, anything worth having, anything worth keeping requires the giving up of time.  Every good relationship takes time to build.  I am reminded of an old slogan that the Keebler Company used to have, which was, “you can’t rush richness.”  How true is that?  If you want a relationship that will last, one that will endure the test of time then it will require that we sacrifice the time that is needed to develop that relationship.  As we noticed earlier in Romans 12:1-2, the author gave us a hint that time and sacrifice are needed in our relationship with the Lord and part of that sacrifice was conformity and through conforming we become transformed by the renewing of our mind.  This takes some time and that time like the transformation cannot be hurried.  Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”  Abiding by definition means to continue for a long time without change, to endure or remain steadfast.  Here we see that the Lord tells us to Abide in Him, he is calling us to come and remain with him.  Not to hurry but to rest and patiently endure in his presence that we can come to the complete knowledge of the Lord.  Jesus continued o in John saying, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7).  An unhurried time in the presence of the Lord will build the relationship that we need with Him and it will in itself transform into an intimate relationship.   He said “If” we abide in Him, and “If” His words abide in us, we can ask what we will and it shall be done unto to us.  That is the true and perfect benefit of an intimate relationship. 

Once again, our Pastor stated, “We need a regular, personal, unhurried time with the LORD daily.”  After pondering this I feel the need to add one more point, and that is: this time should be uninterrupted.

Why uninterrupted?  Because if it is uninterrupted it will be pure, if it is uninterrupted it will be genuine, if it is uninterrupted it will be focused, if it is uninterrupted it will be honoring to Christ, if it is uninterrupted it will be specific and dedicated time for the Lord, if it is uninterrupted it will be life changing, if uninterrupted it will become intimate and if it is uninterrupted it will be unhurried because once this practice starts you will look forward to it, you will long for it because it will also life changing.  By practicing an uninterrupted time with the Lord we can slow down, we can calm down so that we can listen for the still small voice with which He wishes to talk to you by.  The further our culture develops the desire for more multitasking the more selfish it becomes.  The faster our culture develops this desire for multitasking the shallower relationships will become because they lack the depth that is necessary to develop a strong relationship. 

I say all of this first to thank the pastor for his dedication but also to echo to other that “We need regular, personal, unhurried and uninterrupted time with the LORD daily.”  Any thought contrary to this would be selfish and in such it will be SIN.

Attack, attack, attack…

There is no better word to use to describe that which happened Tuesday night.  Everything was going according to our scheduled plans for the day.  There was nothing to predict that things would end up out of the ordinary.  My wife dropped me off at the churches counseling center as I had a scheduled appointment with one on my counselees.  After dropping me off, she and our youngest son were to take Gabriel (our fifteen year old Bichon Frise) to the Vet for his annual checkup.  Thus a somewhat typical evening for our family was planned out and running according to plan.

All things went well at the counseling center, as we used no more than an hour to cover the past homework assignments and cover that which was new in the counselee’s life.  Once we were finished, I handed out and reviewed their homework assignment and then we concluded with prayer.  After letting them out, I called my wife to let her know that I was finished and that she could come pick me up when she was ready.  She said she would be there shortly so I took that time to review the notes that I had just taken that night.  Shortly became a lot longer than I thought it should be but then twenty minutes later I saw her pull up.  As I gathered my belonging to leave I noticed that she was getting out of the car to come inside.  I went to the door to meet her and look on her face was not what I had expected to see that night.  She had a look of despair in her eyes, and then I noticed the red glow about her nose and I knew something was wrong. 

She took a moment to look me straight in the eyes before she spoke.  The first words out of her mouth were’ “Gabriel was ok but...” and that “but” stopped me solidly in my tracks.  There was nothing out of the ordinary in regards to his appointment even to the point that our son had taken him outside for a short walk while my wife took care of the bill.   It was at that time that Gabe began to act differently than his normal self.  At first he just sat down and would not move, and then he experienced problems trying to stand.  What he did not know was that he was starting to display the signs of an allergic reaction.  This caused our son to immediately bring Gabe back into the clinic and it was there inside the clinic that Gabe completely collapsed, succumbing to the reaction.  The staff was quick to examine and begin to treat him and it was not long before he began to show signs of improvement.  My wife let me know that by the time she left the clinic to come pick me up from the counseling center that she could tell he was starting to feel better. 

So why the name of this writing Attack?  I chose it because this came immediately after a time of victory in the counseling room.  It came at a time when rejoicing in the Lord would normally take place.  Instead of rejoicing there is heartfelt grief and sorrow.  The sense of victory that was achieved was quickly replaced by the feeling of hopelessness.  I also believe that since we as a family had started to become more and more active in our roles within the church that it is at times like this that the enemy raises his ugly head.  His attacks most often come in an area where we least expect it. Gabriel has been in our household all of his life and is a part of the family.  So when I heard this news, it was with a “punch in the gut” feeling.

When my wife first gave me the news I could not even frame a simple sentence, it had caught me completely off guard.  All I could think was that it was “just a simple yearly checkup.”  But there she was standing there looking up at me and I could not say a word.  She went on to say that the best option for Gabe at this time was to leave him at the Vet for overnight observation to which I agreed with her.  I locked up the church office got in the car and faced the quiet and solemn drive home.  I did pray for his health needs and for wisdom for the Doctors that were treating him but more so I wanted to thank God for my wife and her support at this time.  I thanked God that our youngest son acted quickly to get Gabe back into the clinic for treatment.  I know that God is in control of all things and that all things happen for a reason.  I am well acquainted with Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  This was happening for a reason and God knew the purpose for which He had ordained it to take place.  For which again I thanked Him for a loving wife and companion who knows me well enough to know how to walk with me as we walk through this new event in our life.  We can see the hand-print of God in this episode, and we know that He will get the glory out of it.  Part of that glory will come from our letting others know about it and how we could see His hand weaving in and out of the story.  The one true fact about our Lord is that He can be seen moving about the lives of all of His children.  We may not see Him in the foreground but we can testify to the fact that He is there and moving around.  Especially now that we look back on this we can clearly see the guiding hand of God.

Another passage scripture that comes to mind at this time is one that I had just recently unpacked in a counseling session, “Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.  You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.” (Psalm 36:6, NLT)  Our God not only cares about His children, he cares about His entire creation as noted in this passage and as evidenced in our lives.  He once again is in control of all things and in loving care of all things.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:29, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”  There is nothing that goes on in the lives of His creation that He is not aware of.  All too often we seem to walk around in a self-induced state of self-awareness which at times trumps the presence and power of God and in doing so plunges us into stages of despair as we quickly find ourselves in need of His help.  Paul assured the Philippians of this and also assures in Philippians 4:19 which says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Paul’s confidence in this statement resonates with assurance, assurance of his God, and that same assurance needs to resonate within us are we talk to others.  How true is this and how precious this can be.  No matter when the need, no matter what the need we can be assured that “My God, that our God” can and will supply it.  Sometimes even before we are aware of it or have time to ask. 

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As an addendum to this or the lessons learned here are many as we look back at this incident in the light of Scripture.  This visit was to a new Veterinary Clinic, one that we had prayed about because we are soon to be adding a rescue dog to the family.  This incident helped us to bolster the confidence level of the choice that we made and to reassure us that the Lord was watching over us (especially Gabriel).  We have taken Gabe home and he is doing fine.  We are now anticipating the day that we bring the rescue pup into our home.

If Hate is Necessary… then hate what God Hates

I know that this title will catch a few eyes so that is why I have left it as such.  There is a lot of disgust, detestation, abhorrence, and loathing going on in the world today, and that often translates down into one word which is hate.  I do not know how many times I have heard that little four-letter word come across my desk in the counseling office.  What saddens me is that those who come in and sit across from me are often guilty of the same sin that they say they “hate” in others.  They have come in for counseling, they came in for help yet once they sit down and begin to share their story with me what I hear is their anger and hatred of others.  In the midst of their story it is often noticeable that they are totally oblivious to the fact that they are equally as guilty of the same sin.  They are self-deceived and caught up in their own arrogance, oblivious to the sin that they are caught up in.

As I took the time the other day to go over my notes for the past week’s sessions that I had engaged in, the Lord revealed to me that this one common thread was running though almost every case.  That common thread was the phrase “I hate,” it was associated with almost every session.  As I sat there I began to wonder, was I too experiencing this same distaste?  Was I just as guilty as they?  And sadly I have to say guilty.  I was starting to go off course in my own life.  This led me to the conclusion that I needed to ask my God for forgiveness because I was going in a direction that He had not intended for any of us to go.  I was going in a direction that I did not want to be traveling.  I was starting to take things too personal and to selfishly.  It was then that I was reminded of a statement that George Washington once made, “There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.”  A very straight forward and sound statement and it is biblical in meaning.  “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14), “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

If I am to serve Christ and that is my desire then I need to change my way of thinking.  As I went to the Lord about this issue I had a new revelation, a new line of thought to pursue.  If we are to hate something we need to hate what God hates.  Our focus needs to be directed at exactly what it is that He hates.  There is a passage of Scripture that stand out here and that is found in proverbs which reads, “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, (19) A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)  It really cannot be much clearer than this, God Hates Sin.  I am convinced that this sin that He hates is one that all believers struggle with and that has its roots in selfishness and pride.  If not dealt with, this self-deception will work its way through every aspect of my ministry if it is not dealt with immediately. 

As we read this passage it is interesting to note that God says that there are six things he hates and of which seven are an abomination yet five of the things mentioned are lying or directly related to lying.  God here in this passage is clearly stating that He hates lying.  If God is adamant about hating lying should not we be also?  There is nothing more frustrating in the counseling situation or life in general than to be confronted by someone that you know or face and you know that that they are lying to you.  This sin is one that is committed by all believers and is a common practice by many.  I would dare say that if someone says to you that they do not lie there is a good chance that they just did.  Edmond Burke (1729-1797) once said, “Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.”  This is one bold statement but one that hits the nail directly on the head.  If we are children of the Word then we must live, walk and breathe by the Word. 

Many try to cover up this sin using pleasantries such as “embellishment’s,” or “exaggeration’s” but the truth be known, they lied.  They strayed from the truth and lied, they did that which God hates, they have sinned note the following verses:

Proverbs 14:5, “A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness will utter lies.”

Proverbs 14:25, “A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.”

Proverbs 19:5, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.”

Proverbs 19:9, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.”

Proverbs 19:22, “What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.”

The problem is that we have deemed it socially acceptable to do so.  You cannot watch a program on the TV where lying not practiced, accepted or encouraged.  You cannot watch or listen to political ads and you must be leery of those we face from day to day.  It's almost a given that we really cannot trust most people that we wind up talking with until we know that they are not lying to us.  It is sad that we have to do so.  It is sad that we have to hunt the truth in everyday conversations.  We search it out in the writings and notes that we take in the counseling room.  Psalm 58:3 says “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.”  This truth is evident in that many of the people we encounter.  With some, they will rather tell a lie than the truth.  I do believe that this is why the psalmist wrote Psalm 120:2, “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.”  The Psalmist did not want to be around those who lied either.

I do believe that as believers we need to make an effort to return to the things of God.  We must return to the truth and the way of truth.  One of the first steps that we should take is one back to total honesty.  We must hate the sin of lying as God does.  Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.”  If we take this challenge, if we make it a priority, we will once again return to being a delight to the Lord.