Week 36 2013 Mr. Potato Head Jesus

“Mr. Potato Head is an American toy consisting of a plastic model of a potato which can be decorated with a variety of plastic parts that can attach to the main body. These parts usually include ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose, and a mouth. The toy was invented and developed by George Lerner in 1949, and first manufactured and distributed by Hasbro in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on television and has remained in production since its debut. The toy was originally produced as separate plastic parts with pushpins that could be stuck into a real potato or other vegetable. However, due to complaints regarding rotting vegetables and new government safety regulations, Hasbro began including a plastic potato body within the toy set.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Potato_Head)  This is an interesting bit of trivia about a child’s toy.  The allure of Mr. Potato Head is the ability to make him into what you want him to be.  How can we forget that wonderful line in Disney’s “Toy Story” where Mrs. Potato Head tells her husband to pack his angry eyes?  Mr. Potato Head can be made to look angry, sad, happy, amazed, or disguised to look like someone he isn’t, all with a simple change of a plastic piece.  It’s difficult to know who the real Mr. Potato Head is, and what his intentions are.  The truth lies hidden in the one who controls the pieces.

Unfortunately, many people “play” with Jesus in much the same manner as children play with Mr. Potato Head.  These take parts of Jesus to establish His identity while either changing some of the other parts or simply ignoring them.  Thus, the image people have of our God has changed over time.  God has never changed.  But, the way people see Him has changed, largely because of people treating Him like Mr. Potato Head.  The changes made often reflect the current culture with its ideals and mores.  For instance, when the culture was predominately led by monarchies, God was viewed as a king who controlled his kingdom with force.  His subjects were meant to be afraid of Him because of His wrath.  The concept of a personal relationship with this heavy-handed dictator was unheard of.  Those who fostered this perception would point to passages of scripture that demonstrated God’s terrible power and horrible judgment on people who wouldn’t submit to His leadership, much in the same way most monarchs dealt with people in their kingdom.  While the Bible does show us a part of God that metes out justice in a decisive manner, to limit his character this narrowly does injustice to Him.  It’s Mr. Potato Head with just his angry eyes.  The kind, benevolent, gentle eyes have been discarded.  Jesus is only seen with the whip in His hands driving the money changers from the temple.

Our culture today is much more enlightened.  In America we have rejected the concept of the monarchy with its dictator looking for obeisance from his subjects.  Punishment has been changed to rehabilitation.  Jesus is now viewed as our brother.  We are able to have a strong personal relationship with Him.  He is the friend of sinners, forgiving those who have committed grievous acts.  God is pictured as a tolerant, benevolent, father.  He has lost His angry eyes.  Many are questioning the reality of Hell and the final judgment.  These read where Jesus forgives the prostitute, but fail to see where He admonishes her to sin no more.  Our Mr. Potato Head Jesus looks upon the sinner with tolerance, not rebuking them for the sin in their lives, because that might alienate them.  Rather than convict them of their sinful way of life, Mr. Potato Head Jesus loves and accepts them without requiring repentance.

The truth is that Jesus is not Mr. Potato Head.  He does not come with interchangeable parts.  He is the same as He always has been.  He is a monarch who will mete out judgment, condemning some to Hell, while rewarding others with eternal life in Heaven.  He does seek out a personal relationship with each one of us, not wanting any to perish.  He does forgive, restore, and cleanse.  However, He also requires repentance.  The good news is that He also gives us the tools and strength to repent and overcome.  He realizes that those who refuse to repent will be lost.  Therefore, with amazing love and grace, He encourages the sinful to turn from their sinful lifestyle to a life in Him where overcoming sin is not only possible, but probable.  He never accepts someone who refuses to repent!  Tolerance ends where sin begins.  Mr. Potato Head is a fun toy.  Jesus is so much more.  Regardless of what our culture calls right or wrong, Jesus is the final authority.  If you want to really see how much He goes against current thought and cultural mores, engage in a close reading of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew five through seven.

Week 35 2013 Profound or Pro Found

I love to write.  However, I have no illusions about my writing.  I am neither gifted nor profound.  While I may be able to occasionally come up with something that is interesting or amusing, there are many others who do it a lot better.  My reading list includes many of those who are truly profound.  These are gifted people who are able to take those things that many of us see as ordinary and discover the hidden spectacular, and then open those secrets to the world in a comprehensible manner that amazes and amuses.  These are those I refer to as the pro found.  In other words, the professional who is able to utter those prophetic phrases that help to influence my thought processes.  Yet, they would not be recognized if they had not honed their talent through an educational process that includes a great deal of time reading and studying the gifted ones from the ages.  Thus, in one sense, much of what they do is an amalgamation of what others have already proclaimed, giving credence to Solomon’s dictate that there is nothing new under the sun.  Put in its proper perspective, this truth takes nothing from the truly profound.  They would be first to confess that much of what they have to say has been said before, albeit in not the same manner or context.  It is this latter truth that aides in the profundity of these gifted writers.

I once had a friend who, while talking, would stop and repeat something he had just said and say, “See, I come up with these profound statements all the time.”  I would have to use extreme self-control to keep from laughing and hurting this fellow’s feelings, because I knew he was serious.  He truly believed that he was profound, when, at best, he was just repeating what someone else had already said, and, at worst, saying something that was so ordinary that even a stretch of the imagination would find nothing profound.  It sort of reminded me of some of those poor souls who try out for American Idol.  One finds themselves asking if they really believe they can sing?  I know from personal experience that many of them do believe just that.  The same is true with writers and public speakers.  There are many who are self-deluded into believing they are profound, when, at best, they are pro found.

Week 34 2013 God is Great, Beer is Good, People are Crazy

I’m not much of a country western fan, but this song caught my attention.  What an interesting sentiment.  The lyrics tell the story of an old man who has suffered the indignities of life, having gone through two wars and a divorce.  His prophetic piece of advice to his younger protégée is that God is good, beer is great, and people are crazy.  It is a different kind of wisdom.  One that some might find offensive, while others may laugh, and still others finding it to be profound.  I’m not sure which category I fall into.  I must admit that his sense of priority is appealing, only because it is so different from anything I have heard before.  Yet, when I really put my mind to it, I must come to the conclusion that is flawed.  As much as we may tend to dwell on the negatives of our society and the people who seem to be falling into a morass of sinful and difficult to understand behavior, I can’t escape two truths that have helped guide my life.  We are made in God’s image, and, as my mother used to say, there is good in everyone if we will only look deep enough to find it.  The second truth is found in the Lord’s prioritization of God’s commands, giving us the mandate to love others as we love ourselves.  Understanding that some have a difficult time loving themselves, it is still true that God has found something within us that is very lovable.  So much so, that He provided the life of His only begotten Son out of love for each and every one of us!

Therefore, as crazy as people might often be, we have been bought with an indescribable price, the cost of which is far greater than beer, or anything else for that matter.  Yes, God is great!  Whether or not beer is good, I will leave that up to the individual.  However, I must conclude that, at base, people are not crazy.  Yes, we are a sinful lot, filled with idiosyncracies that befuddle each other, but we are still chosen by God to be with Him forevermore.  I, for one, cannot and will not call that crazy.  Having said that, I will probably continue to enjoy the fanciful lyrics of this song, along with its catchy tune.

Week 33 2013 Lifestyle Choices

My wife and I are constantly trying to overcome the effects of aging.  We try and eat right and less.  Our daily routine includes an exercise routine that works on our muscle structure and, combined with our diet, attempts to keep our weight under control.  All in all, it seems to be effective.  With the realization that we will never again enjoy our twenty-something bodies, we are content in the knowledge that we will not be grossly obese and that our health is as good as can be expected at our age.  However, we also know that if we fail to keep up with our routine we will quickly become flabby, overweight, and less healthy.  So, this will continue to be our lifestyle for the rest of our lives.  And, that is a good thing.  We have discovered that with regular workouts and proper diet we have more energy and life is just better.  Unfortunately, some of us didn’t get this message when we were young, so we are working off the flab of our youthful indulgences.  I am impressed by young people who have established a healthy routine in their early years.  They will be glad they made that choice when they reach my age.  It takes less effort to stay in shape when you are already in great shape.

Jesus intends His disciples to be in great shape.  Thus, the Bible is openly provided to all.  Even more, the revelations of the Divine in nature are inescapable.  That is, unless we choose to ignore Him, or lack interest in His teachings.  If, on the other hand, we choose to know more about Him, learning all we can about His will and ways, we can establish a routine filled with prayer, meditation, reading, and study, that will strengthen our spiritual beings, causing us to be more Christlike.  Fortunately, this exercise regimen takes little effort and tends to fill one with great joy.  Just as a healthy physical lifestyle requires one to voluntarily avoid unhealthy choices, so too a healthy spiritual lifestyle.  However, as anyone who is physically and/or spiritually fit can testify, the benefits far out weigh the sacrifices.  What we gain in return for what we lose is so beneficial that we soon lose interest in the “forbidden fruits.”

Week 32 2013 New Devices

We are blessed with many “toys.”  In fact, one of our close friends once told me that I had too many toys.  Just recently we updated our phones with new iPhones.  These are slick, reliable, pieces of technology that are useful and enjoyable.  Yet, when one breaks it down, they still only provide the basic tools we have always had in our modern world.  Smartphones are telephones that have features we have been able to access in one form or another for many years.  The only thing that’s changed is the ease and convenience.  Because of these those tools are used more frequently and efficiently.  That has been the beauty of technology and human advancement.  Fortunately, we live in a nation where almost everyone has access to these luxuries.

Knowledge of God’s word is more readily available through many “new devices.”  Over the past two centuries archaeological discoveries, along with technological advances, combined with higher literacy rates, have made the will of God more understandable for everyone.  The truth of the Word has always been around, and it hasn’t changed.  I have known Christians who came to a saving knowledge of Christ before they learned to read.  Many of our ancestors received the word from itinerant preachers who were able to read and deliver the message.  Unfortunately, many were dependent on human reasoning outside their own understanding for their comprehension of God’s word.  However, because of the advancements in education, technology, scholarly research, and archaeological discovery, we are not nearly so dependent on fallible human instruction.  Each is able to interpret for themselves through readily available resources the truth of God’s will and nature.

The downside is willing human ignorance.  I cringe when I hear someone proudly proclaim that they are free from technology, because I know how much they are missing.  Even worse, are those who boldly proclaim that they don’t need modern translations and extra-biblical books, software, or other advances, because I realize how they are depriving themselves of much of the meat of the Word.  Truth doesn’t change.  Accessibility to truth, however, does change.  Just as we can choose to not avail ourselves of the benefits offered with new technological devices, we can also choose to stay in the dark ages when it comes to the Bible.  The primary reason for either is laziness.  It takes effort to learn how to use new devices.  Are you willing to be diligent in learning to gain deeper knowledge of God’s truth?

Week 31 2013 Smiling Faces

“Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend

Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within

I'm telling you beware, beware of the handshake
That hides the snake
Listen to me now, beware
Beware of that pat on the back
It just might hold you back”

These are words from an old song demonstrating the truth of racial discrimination.  Very often those who are pretending to be a friend have a hidden agenda.  There are those who offer handouts only to keep one from advancing themselves.  Some of these are devious.  Others are acting in ignorance.  Our national welfare system is a prime example.  By providing unlimited welfare we have developed a group of people who no longer have any incentive to better themselves.  They are being held back, having become dependent upon their master, the government.  Instead of limiting welfare and helping its recipients get job training and jobs, the system actually rewards those who choose to remain on welfare by making it more financially lucrative than an entry level job.  With food stamps many of them are able to eat better than a working family.  Even though history has proven the failure of these types of social programs our politicians continue to fund and promote them.

Back in the early nineties Una and I lived in Tulare, California.  We bought a tract home in a new housing development.  The total cost for building the home was $64,000.  Soon after we moved in there was an article in the local paper about a proposal for low-income housing.  It was to be an apartment complex at a cost of $68,000 per unit.  Since I had been involved in local politics, I knew all of our city council people and the mayor.  So, I called each one to make a case against this development.  My argument went as follows: If you build an apartment complex, filling it with low income people, it will turn into a slum because they will have no respect for the property.  However, if you take that same money and use it to build single-family houses and then subsidize the payments for low-income families, giving them a stake in the property with the hope and possibility of one day owning their own home, you will have provided them a hand up, helping them to become productive citizens instead of dependent citizens.  The cost would be the same, but the outcome would yield greater benefits for everyone concerned.  My argument fell on deaf ears.  They went ahead and built the apartment complex and it stands today as a slum filled with people who have been robbed of their honor and self-respect, becoming dependent upon those “smiling faces.”

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”  1 Thessalonians 3:10 NIV