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DO YOU GIVE A FIG?

Paul J Serwinek — Mon, 07 May 2012 00:27:38 GMT

DO YOU GIVE A FIG?

Countless people go through life wondering what it’s all about. Many consider it too complicated and give up. I read a couple lines in a well-known biography that really clarified my thoughts about my place in our world. I’ve read them before but never really pondered them. Our changing world, though, has forced me to confront a lot of things lately. The line referred to an event in the life of Jesus and since it was just one line, the meaning may not be apparent at first. However, I expected the event had to have an exceptional meaning for it to be included in an original biography of Jesus, given that of the thousands of events that could have been chosen to recount, it was one of the relatively few actually passed on to us. I admit at first I did not fully understand the momentous message in this simple, seemingly uneventful story. I’ll call it a miracle though it doesn’t appear to correlate with most of the positive, exciting miracles of Jesus. I’m talking about the miracle of the withered fig tree. For those of you who don’t remember, you’ll find the account at Mark 11:13. This simply says, “Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever get fruit from you again.’” Then verse 20 reports and assures us, “In the morning as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed is withered!’” Period, the end, nothing more.

Here was an event classified by scholars as a miracle but related as if Jesus were acting just as an exasperated passerby, kind of like when a person pestered by a mosquito and out of irritation slaps it when it lands on his arm. However, there was a reason Jesus picked this tree not ready to bear fruit to teach his lesson on living. The writer doesn’t give details on the circumstances surrounding this event, deciding to only record the pertinent conversation, but makes it perfectly clear what Jesus had in mind. The tree has no reason to exist if it’s just soaking up resources and providing nothing in return; what good is it? The tree might as well wither and die and let something else use the natural resources and contribute something useful, meaningful. What our simple Bible story relates about trees can be taken as a universal principle for all life. All living things, including humans, have a purpose.

Jesus was demonstrating in his own succinct, masterful way that all living things have a purpose and by extension that life has meaning. The story reminds us that a fruit tree, for example, has an ostensible purpose. In the grand scheme of things fruit trees are here to produce fruit, fruit for the perpetuation of the species and fruit for the nourishment of other life. Trees are an integral part of the world. They contribute to the perpetuation of all life on earth though they appear to be an inconspicuous, small part of the whole. However, Jesus observed this same tree, if not fulfilling its purpose, has a major affect on life around it. It’s just taking up space, using environmental resources, but providing nothing in return. What good is it? It might as well not even exist. If it’s soaking up resources and providing nothing in return, the tree might as well wither and die and let something else use the natural resources and, at least, contribute something meaningful.

The lesson for us humans should be perfectly clear. Existence may be a gift, but even existence requires effort. The understanding our little Bible story suggests about trees applies to all living things, including humans. We have a purpose. We need to “live on purpose.” All life is part of a symbiotic whole with all pieces linked together in some, as of yet, mysterious way. Based on Jesus’ explanation, Christians are convinced all humans are part of a grand scheme. We rely on nature and environment for life and are intended to give back in some way. Christians conceptualize our natural universe as a part of God. We, being part of the whole, are intended to be a functioning part of the whole. We not only exist, but are here to contribute back in some way to the whole. Each individual person is intended to give back, as our “miracle” tree, is intended to give back fruit. In fact, scripture frequently employs the analogy of a plant, tree or crop to admonish all to “bear fruit,” as if to say, “Don’t just sit there, do something!”

Unfortunately society, at least Western Society, doesn’t teach that lesson of attitude effectively. If you were to ask a parent, “For what are you raising your child,” not many would answer in harmony with the big picture. They might say, “ I just want my child to be happy,” or “They can do whatever they want when they grow up.” But in harmony with the principle of purpose a better response might be, “ I want her to be a productive member of society” or “ I want him to make a difference in some way.” Attitude does matter. That’s the lesson taught in scripture. You’re not just one meaningless tree. Realize you make a difference. I’ve come to recognize I can’t truly be happy without that attitude… I’m here for a purpose. I’m valuable to someone or something. I feel good when I give back. That’s the attitude Jesus taught. I think we all inherently understand this principle. It may be that we need to bring it to consciousness and perhaps state it audibly more often. Remind ourselves, remind our children, we’ve got a job to do.

I volunteer with a non-profit organization, Grace Centers of Hope, which was founded on that principle. The foundational belief is that a person can be nurtured to exercise his talents and come to discern his place in society and God’s work. The organization was not conceived of as a perpetual “soup kitchen,” though they’d never turn someone away that was hungry. Their vision is to take those in need, offer them food and shelter, but go the major step further of offering to help them embrace the Christian attitude and become productive members of society. They first help those marginalized realize they can be a valuable member of society. They’re needed. In essence the group asserts, “If you’ll only make the effort to adopt the Christian attitude (that you have a purpose), we’ll help you find your place. Come live with us, we’ll support you but we’ll be considerate of you by allowing you to maintain your own dignity by giving you work to do in our community, that way you can do your part, till such time that you’re ready to go out on your own, if you so choose”. I personally know of many who have been assisted to finish their high school education and go on to college, then take meaningful jobs in the work force benefiting the surrounding community.

It’s all a matter of attitude, “I have a job to do.” The Christian idea is that there are two kinds of jobs we were meant for. One aspect is to recognize we were conceived like any entity in nature, a tree perhaps, not to just exist, but to benefit from the surrounding resources and to contribute. We’re not just taking but giving. I like using the phrase, “being a productive member of society” since it reminds me I am a cog in the wheel, so to speak, I count on others as they count on me. I access my talents and preferably find a job, using my talents. That’s one aspect of “ job”. Then the other “job” is to consciously, volitionally, help others on a personal level. The great Christian concept of charity, consciously looking for ways to help others in need, physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually is also a”job,” a calling.

For example, being a homemaker, raising children to find their own places in society is perhaps the most noble of all jobs one might conceive. Getting an education and taking a position that somewhere along the production chain provides a product or service useful for someone, gives meaning, too. Even a career that entertains or a service that relieves pressure off others as they pursue their own version of a calling is laudable. Then just making a conscious effort to personally help another, even encouraging him or treating her as a potentially valuable member of the community is making a positive difference. Any occupation that is a productive link in an integrated society is meaningful, unless it’s one that is detrimental to society’s welfare. Work contributes to one’s sense of independence, dignity, and fulfillment. Again, it’s all a matter of attitude.

The significance of attitude is so well put in another Bible verse. You’ll find it a Colossians 3:23. “Whatever you do work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” The advice here is to be enthusiastic about working, thankful you have a sound mind or the physical strength to complete a task. As the verse is quick to point out, the advice applies to “whatever you do.” As if to say, “Whatever your job is, work at it enthusiastically, being thankful you have a job and you’re doing something useful.” And then the parenthetical thought, “As working for the Lord, {not only} for men (or women).” Remember while working, the world was conceived so all parts, including mankind, have a place, a purpose, a contribution.

I don’t think we can take this idea of “purpose” for granted. Agnostics, for example, are uncomfortable talking about their purpose or don’t know if such a concept is valid or even exists; this is an area where spiritual discernment is essential. A spiritual person, from my experience, comes to realize a life without purpose is like the journey on a ship without a rudder, just going in circles or being buffeted about by the winds of change. A person not living with the concept of an ultimate purpose is forced to guess at his direction, or invent one and then “gamble” (that’s the atheist’s operative word for hope, ”gamble,” since hope from some higher sources than himself is inconceivable). He gambles that when his life is ending he can look back and pray (pray, oh, I guess he can’t do that either) his gamble paid off. I personally prefer to accept a purpose that has been proved to be valid for millions of people for thousands of years. Those living on purpose, divine purpose, have not had to look back with regret. To be handed a clear purpose and meaning for life (while an agnostic is forced to invent his own purpose), is truly a gift.

I don’t know about you, but to me it’s quite gratifying to find a simple story like the withered fig or the simple verse touting, “whatever you do, recognize the purpose” and find them so packed with unbelievable insight. I’m always amazed as to how masterful Jesus was in using any occasion to teach valuable lessons in living. How encouraging to be reminded we, like a simple fig tree, have a job to do and can confidently “live on purpose.” You’ve heard others exclaim, “I don’t give a fig about this or that.” But I hope when confronted with this all important concept you will “give a fig.”

I am confident each of us will discover personalized opportunities, even work, that will challenge and allow us to be fulfilled. Wherever you are now, whatever your health, whatever your circumstances, you have something you’re meant to do. My hope is that you’ll be blessed with realizing what good you’ve already done in this world and eagerly contemplate what more you have yet to do.

TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Paul J Serwinek — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:14:10 GMT

THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Many years ago I happened to go a play. I heard a line that was so haunting and seminal that I never could forget it. Though it hasn’t always been consciously on my mind, at pivotal strategic times it seems to surface, I’d pull out the line and reread it carefully. “In the time of your life, live- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to misery and sorrow in the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.” These are the words of playwright William Saroyan from this play, “The Time of Your Life.”

I guess one of the reasons this quote was so haunting to me was that his use of the phrase, “Time of your life” is not the usual meaning that comes to mind. I remember the first time I comprehended his meaning I was taken aback. I recognized, though the words had a popular interpretation, his was much more profound and significant. Being young at the time, I was fortunate to be having “The time of my life,” exploring, learning, experiencing, enjoying. The play startled me to realize consciously that “The time of my life” was a finite time. I vowed, then and there, to insure the remaining times of my life would be lived appreciating while having the time of my life. I averred to have “the time of my life” during “The time of my life.” The odd thing is that in all these years since, I’ve never once heard anyone use the two phrases simultaneously like I had to myself. It seems so natural, so simple. Yet if I were forced to use my personal life experience to come up with a directive on HOW one should live one’s life, I couldn’t do much better than to advise living life so that you use “the time of your life” to have “The time of your life.”

Let me explain what I mean. It’s obvious the two identical phrases have two different meanings. You go to an amusement park or rock concert to have the time of your life. That’s an experience, an invigorating, enjoyable experience. To live or exist in the time of your life, we’re talking duration, a limited span of time. When employing the first meaning the phrase anticipates a positive, exciting experience, the second usage may connote a somewhat depressing thought, reminding us that this life doesn’t last forever. I personally feel I haven’t truly learned two of Life’s important lessons if I haven’t come to comprehend the difference between having “The time of your life” (life enjoyment) and properly allocating “The time of your life” (the actual, infinite time).

Let’s explore lesson one first. What does it mean to have to have the time of your life? Clearly each of us will offer a subjective opinion on what the idea commutates to him or her. As a Christian I’ve come to believe we’re each here to experience the time of our life. Optimally I should be able to look back on the time of my life with fond memories, to be able to admit, “Yes, I had my set of problems, my burdens to bear, but I also had many, many wonderful moments. I’d recommend this existence to anyone; life was worth the time I spent in it!” As to the subjective interpretation of “the time of my life,” I realize I must tread carefully. For example, my personal idea of having the time of my life is not that of living in a third world country as a missionary allaying the suffering of others. I have good friends, though, who are having their times of their lives doing just that. However, neither is traveling the world to ski the slopes on every continent my idea of having the time of my life, and it’s not just because I can’t ski. Again, I have friends for whom that would be their dreams. When I look back, I’ll freely admit that among the greatest times of my life were times spent exploring, learning, experiencing shared moments with others. I wish I could ask each of you personally what have been the greatest times of your lives. Whatever you do, cherish them, remember them, and revel in them. And then expect there will be more to come. I’ve come to believe “You’re not really living unless you appreciate you ARE living.” Simply being awake through one exciting moment after another, without taking a moment to reflect, to truly experience and be to thankful for the opportunity, cannot possibly produce maximum enjoyment.

A man who lived life to the full, who experienced occasions you and I could never hope to duplicate had this to pass on. Writing in 1Peter 4:2-6 he cautioned not to be enamored with the physical intrigue and pleasure of the material. He observed of a fully functioning individual, “He does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God…LIVE according to God in regard to the SPIRIT.” What an interest expression, “to live with regard or in regard to the spirit.” Peter is claiming, based on his experience, living is more than just living in a material world. There are things, experiences out there we can’t always literally see or sense. Life has a spiritual aspect that must not be neglected. More on “living with regard to the spirit” another time, but Peter is hinting you can’t have the time of your life without connecting to the spiritual aspect of life.

Now for lesson two, which to me is the same as lesson one, but with a different slant. Time, in each turn of events we find ourselves, are moments to be collected and valued. Not that you ever want to live them over again, but these experiences are part of you, you wouldn’t be quite the same person without them. The end product of your personal human life is a collection of a set of finite moments, experiences that molded you in to the unique work of art and bundle of stories that make up you. If only we could appreciate that we’ve taken away within us something from each episode we’ve experienced. We’ve learned as much, maybe more, from the bad times as we have from the good times. Either way they’re our times, the times of our personal lives. As humans, we only have so many of them. And you come to discern you can’t always appreciate at the moment while you’re living the episode, how valuable it may prove to be later. What you discover, the excitement you feel, the beauty you share, are the exact same experiences you have in common and share with millions of others, those before you and those after you’re gone; they are the connections that bind you to the progression of humanity.

Value each moment. Don’t make the mistake of evaluating each moment at the spur of the moment so to speak. You don’t know till all the little moments are collected which you’ll cherish most. I’ve had others tell me as they surveyed their lives toward the end of their own finite string of days, “My most cherished times were the seemingly mundane times when I was a kid at home watching TV with my family, father, mother, siblings.” Or ”I remember so clearly when I was just laying in the grass on a warm summer day gazing up at the sky trying to make sense out of the shapes the clouds were drawing.” Those are all parts of the time of my life.

I’ve come to value the admonition of the many Bible verses like the one at 2 Corinthians 6:2, ”I tell you NOW is the time of God’s favor, NOW is the day of salvation.” The biblical sage fervently stresses the most momentous times of your life are the NOWs. The Now won’t be repeated, it can never be experienced again in exactly the same way, it can’t be taken back, and there are only so many of them.

It really irritates me to hear someone admitting to deferring his or her living in the present for a future afterlife. “I’ll wait till heaven to really enjoy life, that’s when the real life begins.” I want to blurt out, “What do you call this existence, just being conscious, is it to be treasured any less than being the most wonderful gift ever to be conceived? Is this time so trivial that it’s worth so little to be squandered and not cherished? Don’t you realize that one of the men who most fervently pointed to the joys and rewards of heaven exclaimed the words we just read,’ NOW is the day of salvation’? Now is all you’re guaranteed. Don’t miss out on the NOW.”

So to me, having the time of my life means being able to revel in the exquisiteness of nature around me, marveling at what mankind has been able to do, his inquisitiveness and inventiveness, the joy of sharing with others, the satisfaction of doing something, anything, constructive especially for others and getting acquainted with my roots to the divine, my divine connection, my spiritual side and then sharing that discovery with others. Exploring, questioning, marveling, helping, caring, that’s having the time of my life.

Finally the author, William Saroyan had one more observation as he surveyed our collective time here, “In the time of your life, Live-so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed.”

What a joy to read such words. They remind me that living is a magical time. There is so much to do, so many ways to show our concern for those we love and so many things to marvel at. There’s just not enough of it, time. Let’s appreciate that. I wish for all of you, my friends, that you too may have the “TIME of your life during the time of YOUR LIFE.”

BE STILL

Paul J Serwinek — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:28:43 GMT

BE STILL

I don’t have to tell you that we live in a fast paced society. We’re always in a hurry.

Sometimes the events happening around us appear to force us to rush or be left behind. The frantic environment assumes the notion that the faster we move, the more we can get done and maybe we get ahead. However, I found an exhilarating and yet frightening statement not long ago that forced me to take pause. It hints at a paradox of life and nature. This announcement comes from the Bible and like so many biblical verses it’s simple, direct and extremely pithy. I’m not exaggerating when I say I could write a whole book on this one short sentence. The simple advice is this, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Taken out of context it could be an ominous thought. But taken as intended the wisdom encapsulated in this one sentence is infinite.

Let’s take a minute to comment on the wisdom for living proposed here. First, the obvious intended proposition is that there is a value in being still, quiet, pausing, meditating. And there is the heart of the paradox of life. Being too quick can actually slow you down, working too fast often produces fewer positive results. In other words, hastily moving just to keep busy may not be the best course of action. When we have motivating plans and dreams the first impulse is to get started, do something, anything, you’re excited and perhaps impatient wanting to see the results. But really here is where being still comes in. Take time to meditate. You really should be asking WHY I want to take on its project. WHAT do I want it to look like when finished? HOW can I proceed most efficiently? WHEN does it need to be finished? I personally attribute a few of my business blunders to not pausing to ponder these questions, as elementary as they seemed, before I committed to proceed. “Be still” is practical advice.

Now here’s the more powerful part of the Bible’s advice, the second part, “Know that I am God.” This is the encouraging part, the inspiring part. We’re reminded we don’t have to tackle the task alone. We can have unexpected assistance if we’re willing to accept the help extended. The Bible claims elsewhere, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Rom 8:28). What we’re promised is that for a good cause (and I believe you and I are a good cause, and that’s what the God of the Bible says anyway) God will put the forces of the universe at your disposal to assist with a task or problem we might not know even where to begin or couldn’t conceive of all the involved steps. During a time of meditation you’ll maybe recall a relevant idea. A friend may call unexpectedly and suggest an idea in conversation that you hadn’t thought of. I’ve often found myself reading a magazine or even the Bible and a verse “just happens to pop out” that gives me the direction I needed at the moment. That’s exactly what happened to me not long ago when I first recalled the “Be Still” directive. I was in the hospital, flat on my back with no end of suffering in sight. Either someone reminded me or I happened to recall these exact words, “Be still and know that I am God.” I could just feel at that moment those words were meant for me as if they were directed to me and me alone. Over the next 3 months in the hospital I repeated the phrase as an affirmation penned just to me. I knew exactly what I had to do, I had to be still and be patient. Nothing I could personally do would hasten my healing. My body was so weak I didn’t have the strength to do anything that might give me confidence that I would recover. The only thing I could do, and I could do it just as easily flat on my back as anywhere, “Know that I (He) am God.” Every time I repeated that affirmation as if it were a prayer, I felt the comfort intended for me. The sensation of a quiet confidence welled up in me as if the sensation was talking to me, “Paul, you can’t do it alone. Paul, just be patient and still. Paul, you’ll get all the support you require, your friends are praying for you, you’ve got the best doctors and nurses, don’t you feel my energy, my spirit converging on you?” And when I repeated, “Know that I am God” I was literally forced to believe what it was intimating to me, “Know that you’ll recover.”

Psalm 46 will always be special to me. But I know that something will be happening in your life, dear reader and friend, either sooner or later where you’ll really require the reminder to “Be still.” Learn it now, repeat it often! I can guarantee when you get sick and the doctors admit they can’t give you a certain diagnosis or you lose your job and none seems to be able to direct your next step, or your friend leaves willfully or unwillingly with her last breathe, you’ll need these words. Don’t wait for such a crossroads in life. Practice it now. So you’re having a personality problem at work, don’t be anxious. Be still and expect you can get divine wisdom if you’re patient. You’re having problems paying your bills, be still and know help is available from some source, government or social service. But ultimately it will arrive, I believe, under divine auspices, if you open yourself to the possibility.

As I remarked at the outset, there’s so much more that can be added as a commentary to our verse. On another occasion we’ll talk about Jesus’ words of wisdom about anxiety and how being still is the anecdote, but for now I have one passing observation that may be, for some of you, the most profound practical thought on stillness.

I think it’s self evident that racing through life without pausing and meditating inhibits you from enjoying the scenery. The beauty becomes a blur. The moments of ecstasy are few and fleeting. What are you missing? The sequence is critical here. First be still, then stop and meditate, next comes appreciation of the beauty and enigmatic nature of life, then comes happiness. Yes, the key to happiness, whether you’ve ever realized it, is thankfulness and appreciation. In fact, scripture stresses this idea often. Col 2:7 says, “continue to live in him…strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” I won’t provide all the scientific studies and scriptural references to verify the claim, one of my future articles will, but suffice it to say true happiness requires thankfulness and thankfulness comes with thoughtfulness. Thoughtfulness takes time, time to be still.

So simple yet so profound. Be still, see the flowers and enjoy. Even if you can’t seem to

see them at the moment, know that they are there hiding. Be still and you’ll find them.

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO SUPERMAN?

Paul J Serwinek — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:22:03 GMT

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SUPERMAN?

I remember when I was a kid, back when television was in its infancy and only streaming in black and white, my favorite program was “Howdie Doodie.” When I got a little older and was then a ‘big’ little kid, us guys, without question, loved “Superman.” Even back then, I still recall that even more exciting than the fighting action between the bad guys and good guys was the sense of satisfaction that came once justice was served on those who went astray and got their recompense. I can still remember the seeming inherent pleasure that came from knowing Justice would prevail. I hadn’t thought about my hero, Superman, for years but when he happened to come to mind the first phrase that immediately popped up was, “the never ending fight for Truth, Justice and the American Way.” Every Superman episode either started or ended with those words.

When I thought of those words, words I hadn’t heard in ages, a feeling of nostalgia came over me. I asked myself, “Why don’t we hear those words anymore?” What was even worse was to come to the stark realization that two of the three terms are rarely ever mentioned anymore. Justice is still a hot topic and we’ve made some progress legally insisting on obedience since the 1950’s, but “Truth” and the “American Way” seem to have little relevance today. First, modern philosophy did a major job on ”truth” proclaiming there can be no such thing as truth because technically nothing can be proved beyond any absolute doubt. Then “post-modern” philosophers came along recognizing that such a claim was obscure because if there were nothing true then the very statement, ”nothing is true” could not be true leading to an absurd contradiction. So the post-moderns have settled the issue among themselves by agreeing there is truth but it is all relative, what’s true for one society may not be true for another. They’ve succeeded in emasculating truth to where it is no longer a useable concept. Truth has vanished.

The term “the American Way” hasn’t fared any better. First, stop to think, there is no consensus on what the “American Way” is any longer. There once was a time back in the 1950’s( in the scheme of things, not long ago) when you could say, ”the American Way” without having to explain what you meant. A person just knew you meant taking pride in recognizing we were all working for the betterment of community. Working to be a productive member of a society, living by a work ethic without the insistence on entitlements and hand-outs was a given. Those were still the days when you knew all your neighbors on the block and you were expected to be considerate of their welfare. No, it sure wasn’t an idyllic world then, but at least there was still a code of conduct, a moral code on which society was in general agreement. A lot could be said but this is not the time to pursue that discussion. Suffice it to say that two of three pillars of US society have all but witnessed their demise in the lifetime of most of us reading this.

What a sharp contrast to a concept I happened to come across when reading the Bible recently. The idea presented in Psalm 51:10 stood out in bold relief. The plea is sounded, “Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit in me.” I guess part of my surprise was the realization that I hadn’t heard that word, “steadfast”, uttered even once in general conversation. It, too, has seemed to go the way of “truth” and “The American Way.” So when reading the verse I couldn’t help but pause to contemplate the term. A myriad of connotations flooded my consciousness. “Steadfast” - these are some of the synonyms I came up with: determined, unchangeable, persevering, reliable, firm, staunch, consistent, tireless and dependable. But which of these did the writer, David, ask for in his plea? First let me explain something about language translation. It’s not accurate to just take a word from one language , like Hebrew, then translate it into another language, like English, and then look up the definition in an English dictionary and feel you’ve come up with an equivalent. There are just too many variables involved as I’ve discussed elsewhere. What we can be reasonably certain of is that a combination of synonyms gives an adequate approximation of the meaning. Then based on the context of the verse we can see David was talking about his resolve not to repeat the same errors he had in the past.

You’ll notice ,too, that all these English synonyms of the Hebrew translated “steadfast” have a positive connotation. We admire someone who is described as “reliable, determined, stable, consistent or tireless.” These are all terms describing a successful person in business and a valued friend in personal context.

Now why is it that our society doesn’t readily admire someone who we’d consider steadfast in moral or ethical standards? As I’ve argued in another venue, the reasons run the gamut of fears, misunderstanding, threat and judgment. If he has no strong conviction on anything and has never enunciated in words, mentally at least, what he stands for, he’ll unconsciously compare himself negatively to someone with strong convictions. Another may feel threatened by an unswerving position. She may be fearful of being judged by that other person’s standards. However as soon as she can enumerate her convictions, mentally, not even audibly, the threat, the fear dissipates. The phenomena occur regardless of how opposed her own believes are to the other’s, whether conservative or liberal. Unfortunately our culture doesn’t encourage publicly espousing value convictions except for maybe one, diversity , which of course is far too nebulous a concept to build a foundation on. It’s tantamount to saying, “Anything goes.” And yet convictions that one considers of value are required for a strong foundation for one’s being or essence. There is something empowering in being able to say with steadfastness, with certainty, “this I believe.” If you’ve ever felt so adamantly the need to announce that belief, you know the surge of power that courses through you at such a moment. I encourage you to enumerate for yourself your own set of values that make you feel empowered, determined, stable, solid and grounded. If you haven’t yet, you may be surprised to find they are the identical values passed on through recorded history. Some call them traditional, intimating they have “stood the test of time,” they work.

Qualities like love, forgiveness, integrity are being verified as efficient and effective by the latest scientific experimentation. In my field of study, sociology, I read study after study affirming the importance of the traditional American family, for example, though that lifestyle equates to perhaps only fifty percent of what constitutes “family” in our culture. The level of happiness, stability, protection from substance abuse and criminality provided by a traditional family is now unquestioned. Back in the 60’s before long term studies were done, my colleagues, sociologists, were predicting just the opposite, but no more. I personally can’t help but respect anyone I know to be steadfast in humanity -enriching beliefs. I envy the passion that emanates from them. I admire the stability and trustworthiness they engender. Look at someone like S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, the national chicken fast food restaurant franchise. Though a billion dollar operation, Mr. Cathy is firm, steadfast, in his unrelenting demand that affiliated stores be closed on Sundays. He is still adamant that everyone needs at least one day per week to devote to recreation, worship and time with family. Being a businessman myself, I don’t know if I could go that far in running my business, but I can’t help but admire someone who stands firm though conventional wisdom would predict such a stance eliminates a mountain of revenue and profit (the truth is, his operation is immensely profitable).

So what is it you feel passionate about? What is it in your relatively short life you feel as strongly about today as yesterday? Anything? Do you stand for some cause, anything? Self respect is enhanced once we can decide on where we draw the line. “This I believe.” Win first your own admiration, don’t worry about others. I can note a number of ideas I believe that haven’t changed for some 50 years or so. Such concepts as absolute truth, justice, the power of love, a Higher Power and other generic ideas I’ve based my life course on.…they have served me well .

In this article my thesis has been there is something to be said for why the Bible writer, of all things, would pray for a steadfast spirit. I hope you can value the qualities of “determination, reliability and perseverance, tirelessness” inherent in being “steadfast.” I say, “Bring back those elusive values of truth, justice, and that idyllic dream of an ”American way.” I think we need more supermen and superwomen.

WHY THIS BLOG IS NEEDED!

Paul J Serwinek — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:10:10 GMT

WHY THIS BLOG IS NEEDED!
Have you noticed the phenomenon of late among Christians to begin rethinking some long held believes? I remember when pretty much all Christians believed that Heaven was up there. Current analysis seems to indicate you can prove equally cogently that a "new Earth" is the "new Heaven" (Revelation) and this New Earth will be our home. Which is correct? I’m not going to adamant here. But I’d like to hear others views before making a final decision. The same is true with "Hell." I hear Christians say, "Of course I believe in Hell. I just wonder to what extend do we take the parable about a physical fire literally." I ‘m not sure about you but I’d like a little more dialog here. One more topic that I wouldn’t be so adamant about if I were you... How do we interpret Paul’s comments about women in today’s world?

To what extent does a vast transformation in our culture play a part in our beliefs? For example, what do sheep and goats connote to a non-farmers? Only 1% of the US population still does farming and can truly understand the nuances here. I can go on and on. A Christian out of necessity must always being thinking, not smugly averring his/her interpretation is the only correct one on any given issue. Remember scripture says, "For we know in part" but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." (1 Cor. 13:9-19) I feel a dialog is healthy for Christian growth.

OUR MISSION
We propose a site to open up dialog on scripture. This facility is for open minded Christians who believe the Bible is the word of God and want to grow closer to their Father and Christ. We believe that "where two or three come together in my name" ( Matt. 18:20)God and Christ will be with us. Our goal is an increased and clearer understanding and wisdom of doctrine and Christian living. Therefore all topics of interest to sincere Christians are entertained, sometimes controversial but never dogmatic. I submit that none of us has all the answers. We don’t envision this as a site for extremists whether extreme fundamentalist or extreme liberal Christians who question the authenticity of God or scripture. All gathering here need only be sincerely concerned about their ever- evolving relationship with our Lord and Savior.

HELP MY UNBELIEF

Paul J Serwinek — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:43:18 GMT

HELP MY UNBELIEF

Most of us believe or want to believe in something. We’d like to believe in miracles, to believe that God thinks we’re special, to believe that good things are on their way to us. I want to believe, I do believe. I’ve learned to be happy in life a person must be optimistic, that’s one of the aspects of faith. Study after study in my field of sociology confirm the essential of optimism for a satisfying life. Most of us have experienced at least an inkling of beauty, joy, rapture, transfixed by the vastness of nature and the endless possibilities of life. Most of us would concur, “I believe in something greater, something more astounding than me, something I am a part of, that I belong to. I want so much for justice to triumph, I believe it’s possible, I believe it will happen.

However, there is the other side of the coin. I see suffering, I feel the uncaring, I feel the “me-first” attitude of many people and I doubt. The doubts invariably creep in…nobody seems to care. But I want to believe, I can’t feel good about myself, my life, the world’s life without believing in at least the possibility of a better world. I desperately want to believe in something better, something that gives meaning to life and a goal to existence.

Like most of you, I have those times when things are going well, I’m happy. It’s easy to be optimistic, to believe but then… you know what happens…I guess that’s why I was so impressed by a little passage in the Bible found at Mark 9:24. A father of a suffering little boy confessed to Jesus, “ I believe, help my unbelief.” When I read that I realized that man, that father, said in 5 words what it would take me pages to say if I weren’t in tune to his perception. He said it all, “ I believe, I want to believe in miracles, believe that something good is on the way , but there is a part of me that has doubts, help that part of me to believe.” I love that honesty.

A little background might help here. In this Bible passage we read the eye witness account of a man, a father, confronting Jesus. The father’s son has been suffering with various ailments for years. He asks Jesus if he could help in some way. Jesus responds, “ If I can? What do you mean, ‘If I can,’ all things are possible for those who believe.” This is where the father retorts, “ I believe, help my unbelief.” In other words, I believe but there is a part of me that says it’s too good to be true, that you couldn’t possibly help with my son’s ailments. I can’t hardly dare to belief and get me hopes up and be disappointed but I do believe, I want to believe. Help my unbelief, my disbelief. Help that little part of me that can’t seem to believe for fear I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t come true. Help me with that Jesus.

That ambivalence describes everyone of us at times. I personally struggle with why people around me and worldwide suffer and yet why do I deserve to have life so good, will it continue? That’s unbelief. Then I, when I catch myself thinking negatively have to say, “stop…stop it! I believe but Lord help me with the doubting part of me. Help me to dream dreams that are seemingly impossible. I know life is not worth living without dreams and dreams can’t float, can’t be animated without the faith, the belief, the assurance they’re possible. So much of life is improbable but it turns out with persistent believe and effort to be probable after all, and only then crystallizes into reality.” I find I have to repeat this prayer or affirmation often to control my attitude.

Do we understand ourselves as well as the father in this story seemed to understand himself? as we be as honest with ourselves? Our friend here makes a statement about his feelings that I believe is true for most of us. I know it’s true for me. I believe, I want to believe, to believe in the resolution of all evil and suffering, to believe I have a true worth, to believe someone cares for me unconditionally, to believe I have a purpose, I’m going to accomplish something with my life, to believe when all is send and done I can be proud of where I was and am. I know if we’re truly honest with ourselves we all want at least that much, but there is that unbelief that creeps in. I admire this guy who could admit in public, and then for millions to read, the predicament he was in and what each of us contends with.

I unbelieve in God at times, I unbelieve in myself at times, I feel “what’s the use” at times. I feel the world will never be transformed into a better environment for living at time. I don’t want that, I can’t be happy feeling that way all the time. The speaker said it so succinctly. I have groped for his words at times, “Help my unbelief,” so simple yet so profound, a universal human sentiment, as big as the universe yet so simply expressed in 3 words. I really learned something about my own life when I first read those 3 words or 5 words actually, “I believe, help my unbelief.” After hearing the father’s confession, I could exclaim, “ I’m not alone, I’m human with those feelings of doubt, though I’d rather not admit in public like this guy did. But it does give me solace to know he put in a few words what I found hard to verbalize. He asked for help to believe in possibilities, inspiring possibilities. Dreams can’t come true if we refuse to allow them to incubate.”

The beauty of Christianity is the sheer honesty expressed by contributors to the Bible. “ I’m weak, I can’t do it all alone, I need help but I’m ashamed to have to admit it. Help my unbelief.” Every Bible writer, hundreds of them who told their own stories confessed the same, “ I believe but at times I don’t believe. Moses said in effect in Exodus, “ I believe we Israelites can be a free people and come out of Egypt emerging as a new nation, but I can’t believe you want me to be the leader of this multitude out of bondage.” Jonah, the prophet, exclaimed in effect in the book of Jonah, “ I believe that you, God, care about people but I can’t believe that people will ever change so what’s the use of trying to preach to them. I believe in you but I can’t believe in people, that they will change.” I could go on and on with biblical examples. They didn’t say it in so many words but their actions belied their disbelief. Even the apostles begged Jesus, ”Give us more faith.” ( Luke 17:5 ) Daily I have to remind myself to believe, to believe in something , believe that good will come of my life today. I must affirm like King David, “ I am CONFIDENT of this, that I will still SEE GOOD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING.”( Psalm 27:13) ( His words have story of their own that I hope I can relate to you another time. In other words, while I still live in this world, it’s all going to work out well for me even now, even with all the problems I’m having. I’m going to feel it was worth the suffering, good will come of my life. I believe all that but there are times I have a hard time, God, help my unbelief.” I hope you can relate, but living continually in doubt is not. We need to remind ourselves of that and keep asking our Lord for more faith. I can affirm, now, I know in this moment that you, my friends, have many more exciting prospects to look forward to in this world just as David was convinced. I pray that God helps you in your unbelief and leads you to believe good will come for your efforts and God’s purpose for all will come to fruition.

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER

Paul J Serwinek — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:24:00 GMT

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER

This is an expert from a short letter I wrote to students I had taught at Grace Centers of Hope, a Rescue Mission in Pontiac, Michigan. Recovering as they were from past mistakes and unproductive life styles, I felt these 3 ideas might be a major consideration for them. I often try to remind myself of these 3 meditations and I hope you find these few paragraphs meaningful too.

May the Lord continue to bless you,

Paul Serwinek …

Here are three things I’d like you to remember. They are among the most important things I’ve learned in life. If you practice them, I know you’ll be unbelievably successful in whatever you do.

The first is to remember that “All things are possible with Faith.” What I mean is don’t let anyone tell you, “You can’t do it.” Whatever it is, whether it’s career success or a personal goal, I’ve learned “all things are possible with faith.” Faith means never doubting the possibility of your attaining a goal. Be certain it can happen. Or another way of saying it, “Dare to dream big dreams.” I was “silly” enough to believe what scripture says when I was younger and didn’t know any better, and guess what? It all came true beyond my wildest expectations. With God’s help I have seen dream after dream come true-whether a career goal or a personal desire. I know your dreams will come true too.

Here’s the second thing I’d like you to remember. Be a friend to yourself. In other words don’t beat up on yourself. There are enough other people out there that will do that for you. Think of yourself the way the Lord wants you to think. Scripture says (Romans 12:2) “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Your mind is very powerful. If you think you’re not worth it, you’ll believe it. But God thinks you’re worth it. He considers you “an heir with Christ.” An heir to a fortune! You have to decide for yourself what you want to believe about yourself. Before I knew the truth, I was cowardly and bashful and had low self esteem. I realized I was no good to anyone that way, not to God, let alone myself. I learned to watch what I said about myself to myself. When I failed at something, rather than saying, “I can never do that” or “I’m always unlucky,” I caught myself saying negative things about myself and then reminded myself that the Lord has a different opinion. He thinks I’m worth it or He wouldn’t have died for me too. Catch yourself saying negative things about yourself, then tell yourself, “I don’t really believe that about me, I believe what God says of me, I’m His child.”

Finally, remember there is someone you can always count on, someone who won’t let you down. So when you’re worried, when you’re nervous, when you’re scared, you don’t have to go it alone. Christ said, “I call you my friends.” (John 15:14) He also taught us to talk to “Our Father.” I’m fortunate enough to have a best friend, my wife, Marlene. But even we have our disagreements. You may have a best friend too but it’s nice to know there is someone there constantly for you even when others can’t be, namely, the Lord. I proved that to myself with all the health issues I’ve survived thus far. I hope you can bring yourself to feel that way, too. You never have to be alone or face anything alone or be fearful alone. The Lord cares about our success constantly. This is what I wish for you, these 3 things I’ve learned over my life. So remember: Faith, Frame of mind, and a constant Friend.

God Bless You,

WHAT'S A FRIEND

Paul J Serwinek — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:09:00 GMT

WHAT’S A BEST FRIEND?

What’s it like to loose a best friend?

Studies show that most people have one or two best friends all their lives, if they’re fortunate. My best friend was Bob. I know I’ll have a difficult time with the absence his ever-grinning, jovial countenance. I’ll probably never have another best friend like him. I only have one left, my wife, Marlene. I lament Bob’s loss, not only bewailing the fact that he won’t be able to enjoy this life like he used to, but also, I admit, more than he can know, I’ve got to live without that one special friend. Everyone should have a peer friend, someone with similar interests, compatible goals, a circumstantial connection and similar values. Bob and I were best friends for over 50 years. He was the best man at my wedding and I at his.

So what does it mean to have a best friend? Everyone needs someone to talk to, someone you can tell anything to unrehearsed and unedited, someone you know won’t judge you while you’re confessing your inner feelings and emotions. When we were younger we’d huddle together and I’d bemoan my shyness and then I loved to hear Bob’s stories. He was always popular and I’d love to hear about the new girl he went out with and why she just wasn’t the right one for him. Then we’d bounce off ideas between us not worrying about being ridiculed by the other. That’s a best friend!

Everyone craves and needs unconditional love. That’s a caring for a person so deeply that he is not automatically judged by his outward circumstances. It means hoping for and believing in the other. I could say to Bob, and he in turn could say to me, “I believe in you, I know you can do it.” And we both really meant it. Each person has a self-worth independent of what he has accomplished thus far in life, a worth based upon the belief he is a child of God. Unconditional love means hoping and believing in one’s friend. That’s a best friend, a special friend.

The last time I saw him was when I invited him to a football game, not his favorite pastime and especially since this was a few weeks before his health gave out. He was weak but he came because we loved each others’ company. The Bible in Proverbs 18:20 admonishes to be thankful for “A friend closer than a brother.” I had that. I read 1 Samuel about the story of the future King David and his best friend, Jonathon, of whom it is written, “Jonathon began to love him (David) as his own soul.” And proved it by risking is life for his friend. I had that kind of friend.

Someone to relate to is critical, someone whose comradery confirms one’s values as if to say, “I can’t be all wrong, at least someone understands and hopefully feels the way I do about life.” There is consolation in that. Values are the deep-seated beliefs you hold at your very core, what you just assume to be right, no questions asked. Good friends don’t have to have the exact same interests but do need congruent values. Just by his dialogue, a friend unconsciously confirms to you, “someone really understands me.” That’s a best friend!

Everyone needs someone he/she can dream with, someone that won’t butt in before you can finish a sentence, delineating all the reasons a dream can’t come true. Some of my fondest memories were when as teenagers cruise along in the country at night in his car driving to no particular place. We were living in the now and dreaming of how our futures would even better. A friend allows that. That’s a best friend.

Everyone needs someone to help him/her affirm his/her own personal self-worth. We have a tendency to compare ourselves to others and elevate the other’s appearance, accomplishments or personalities to ours. We get enough negative feedback from others but even worse is the feedback we give ourselves. Both internally and externally I have negative comments fabricated about me. How wonderful it is to have at least on person proclaim, “You are a nice guy.” Bob didn’t have to say it aloud, he said it by his actions, “I like being with you just because you’re you.” Bob, having heard about my kidney problems, not just once but several times, offered to donate one of his healthy kidneys to rescue me. I was worth that much to him. That’s a best friend.

Each of us yearns to be around others for whom we can do something and knowing these recipients appreciate what we’ve done for them. As scripture says, “There is more happiness in giving than receiving. It’s true. Do something for a close friend and we know they appreciate the gesture. In a way this also affirms our self-worth. We say, usually subconsciously , “I’m not perfect but at least I can do good to those I love.” Friends are always gracious recipients of our offerings, however small they maybe.

This is what I just realized but didn’t comprehend before Bob’s passing. I know my God better because I know what a true friend is! I can connect the dots. I cherish my relationship with my best friend for all the reasons I just recounted and many more. But I know my Heavenly Father created humans to be that way. In some special people that image of God shines through. I know now what God’s feelings and concerns for me really are. He allowed me to have, as a friend, one of those special people. I just now called to mind 1 Corinthians chapter 13 of the Bible and realized that all the qualities of love manifest by our Heavenly Father are also the very qualities I saw in my best friend. The Father didn’t come down and personally explain what he was really like to me. What he did, I know now, is give me a book, the Bible, that reveals what he’s truly like, he then sent his Son, Jesus, to show us God in action and then…for anyone so fortunate, He allows him, like me, to have a best friend come into his life so he could experience the love of God in action personally. Thank God for best friends.

I lost a best friend. But I guess I shouldn’t dwell on the loss so much. I image I should focus on the good times we had. I repeat this maxim rather tentatively now and perhaps not with the conviction I’d like to be voicing it. I admit it’s hard for me at the moment. With God’s help it will get easier to accept. I affirm I will think of the joy, happiness and love my friend, Bob, brought to me. I’ll continue to be in debt to him for revealing God in his actions.

Bob’s passing is just a little bit easier to handle knowing that God is saying to me and others, “Be thankful I sent someone to help you know me better. Yes, Lord…Yes,Lord, I get it. Thank God for best friends!

DISSCUSSION

Paul J Serwinek — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:50:00 GMT

Have you ever had an experience that radically affected your spiritual or religious outlook, similar to or different from the experience I mentioned in the article posted entitled A SAFE PLACE TO REST. Tell us about it.

what I learned from my ordeal

Paul J Serwinek — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:44:00 GMT

Many of you already know what I've had to go through in the last few years. Suffice it to say I was on the verge of death and received a Heart transplant at a moment of crisis. I learned an aweful lot during this ordeal. I have no choice but to relate some of what I learned, I'll explain why later. From time to time you'll be getting emails and blogs from me. I hope it's not a nuance, let me know if it is. First let me tell you why I had to write you. Please see my article SAFE PLACE in "Articles of Note.

FINDING A SAFE PLACE TO REST

Paul J Serwinek — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:13:00 GMT

FINDING A SAFE PLACE TO REST

I’m writing in to you to thank you again for your thoughts and prayers during what has proved to be the most turbulent and terrifying year of my life. I, like many of you, have had to endure trials and hardships this past year, but I’ve come to find that along with trials always come blessings if we only notice them. For me, with my trials of a failed heart came a new, healthy heart. And I’m happy to report my strength is gradually returning. Along with that has come the bonus of being forced to perfect a virtue that makes life so much more enjoyable -patience. I hope you’ll consider this meditation I’m writing to you as my way of showing you how much I appreciate your thoughts and prayers. I confirmed an awful l lot about life this past year that I thought I already knew but maybe didn’t. In fact, no sooner had I finished patting myself on the back in congratulations for what I learned did I happen to open my Bible by chance to the book of Psalms. There, in the 16^th Psalm I discovered a song written some three thousand years ago that laid out so clearly, and much more succinctly, than I could ever hope to duplicate. I only wish that I had read and comprehended its meaning before having to learn these secrets through my own experiences. My hope is that you will read it, comprehend it and apply it in your life long before you come upon the next life-shattering calamity that is bound to meet you sooner or later. This Biblical expression of hope will fortify you for your next bout with life-God Bless!

I can’t think of a more encouraging and inspiring affirmation than Psalm 16. Written by a man named David who was destined to become a king, he reminded us that life is not always easy. There would be a pile of troubles, near-death experiences, and disappointments before he met his destiny. The driving force that allowed him to press on through the mire of difficulties was his faith. Listen to his confession in Psalm 16:1-2: “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I Take Refuge. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, apart from you I have nothing good.” He learned early what I had to learn later in life. Namely, I can’t do it on my own! “Keep me safe, O God, “ David pleads. I learned this the hard way. There is no security on my own. Once upon a time, for many years in fact, I felt subconsciously that I could get through anything with perseverance, ingenuity and the strength of youth. My plan seemed to work well. When I wanted something (to get a good education, to provide well for my family, to start a business, etc.), I’d pray and then proceed with determination to see the task through to fulfillment by using the resources at my disposal – my energy, contacts and abilities. In most cases, I was successful. Then something happened for which I wasn’t prepared. For some reason my energy and strength began to wane. I found I had heart problems. “No problem,” I thought, “I’ll go on a strict diet, I’ll lose some weight, I’ll exercise more. I can do it!” It didn’t work out that way. I guess if I’d had an issue with cholesterol or clogged arteries, that my have worked but I came to find I had cardiomyopathy. My heart muscle was degenerating, with no immediate explanation of why. But I persisted in the fantasy that if I worked hard enough, if I researched the problem thoroughly enough, I’d prevail.

I thought that way till I reached the end of my rope when I found myself flat on my back in a hospital bed with the doctor waking me up from a sleep of complete exhaustion to say, “You’re not going to be able to leave the hospital, you’re too far gone!” At that moment, my bubble burst. My delusions of stubborn optimism went “poof”. I had met my match, I couldn’t do it anymore. “Try harder” was a meaningless option. After three days of utter desperation, the feeling of loosing everything, I came to the identical conclusion as David the songwriter. I confessed on my own, not as eloquently as David but, essentially the same idea, “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge,” I confessed, ” I finally admit without reservation, I can’t do it on my own. There are some things too big for me to handle by myself. I need you, Lord”.

As many of you know, I later had a heart transplant but that’s a story in itself to be saved for another time. But as if to indelibly impress on me my revelation (“I can’t do it on my own”), I went through a host of life threatening experiences, just like King David, just like many of you. Shortly after my operation and while still coming out of a hallucinatory state, I caught pneumonia. What could I personally do? Nothing. Yes, I was learning already. Next, the muscles in my throat stopped working and I had to be fed intravenously. What could I do? The doctors’ answer was, “Nothing. You can only wait and hope.” Yes I got it I needed help outside of myself and I acknowledged as much. It came to be a little easier for me to say, as David did, “O God, for in you I take refuge”. Happily, within 4 weeks my throat muscles began to work again. All I could do was HOPE, WAIT, and PRAY. I didn’t (and couldn’t) do anything but follow those 3 rules! Oh, but that wasn’t enough, next my kidneys began to malfunction; I had to spend hours a day hooked up to a dialysis machine. “ What could I do?” I asked the doctors. Their reply, “Nothing. Sometimes your kidneys may revive, sometimes they won’t, we don’t have an answer, all we can do is keep you on this machine and hope for the best.” “Ok, I get it, des ja vous,” I muttered to myself. But, you know, it got easier to accept. I just had to follow my new rubric (not the old me, myself one I used to employ). I’ll hope, wait, and pray. I also furiously searched the internet for answers but found the doctors were right, there was nothing more I could personally do. “I can’t do it alone, I need your help.” It’s been no fun being tied to a machine for eight months every other day. But guess what happened? After eight months, my kidneys seem to be awakening from sleep. Why, there was nothing I did, nothing I could do on my own. “What’s happening?” I asked the doctor. “I don’t know and I can’t explain it but you may be one of the lucky ones.” Well, I think I know what’s happening finally, though most people won’t believe me, I believe there’s something to this ‘taking refuge in God’ stuff. (I use that term advisedly and not disrespectfully).

When David learned the lesson about trusting in God, he was being hunted by his enemies on death’s door or as he said in another Psalm (Psalm 23), “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.” My own ‘valley of the shadow of death’ was first encountered in a hospital. I know others have encountered the ‘valley’ in a car, a car accident, and still others tell me their encounter with the ‘valley of death’ was when they lost their jobs and couldn’t find work no matter how hard they tried. The “lucky ones” (again, I use the word advisedly for effect) have learned to say, “Keep me safe, O God”.

I can only appeal to some of you who haven’t learned this lesson of life. Be determined to open yourself up to the possibility of God keeping you safe. Experiment with the possibility that it could be true in your life.

I’m writing you with the same invitation that Jesus offered to all of us. The challenge of Jesus from Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Learn the lesson the easy way before your next encounter with “the valley of the deep shadow of death.”

Now from Psalm 16 permit me to recount some of the insights David discovered (and I discovered 3,000 years later) after he learned that first all important lesson (of hope, wait and pray). He proclaimed (Ps 16:5) “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.” First David recognizes and is grateful for his “portion.” He reminds us that each person has a “portion,” a place in this life; David could feel that in his life. I, too, feel that each of us has a destiny in this life. But again, I feel, take it for what it’s worth, each of us was born with a purpose, but also being born with “free-will” we have a choice to act or not act on the Lord’s imperatives to us. How gratitude inspiring it is to think, “Lord you have given ‘little me’ a part, a portion in your grand scheme. I can play a small “bit” part but I’m going to be on the winning team in the end- I might be just another “water boy” or “bat boy” to take a simile from sports, it doesn’t matter since I have a “part,” a portion, a place on the winning team, God’s team.”

Not only a portion, but David imagines that the Lord gives him a “cup.” As if he were invited to a banquet and God personally offers him a “cup.” What an honor to be given a cup or an acknowledgement at God’s celebration feast so to speak. Other places in the Bible speak of “the cup of salvation (Ps 116:13) or the cup of blessings. I don’t know about you, but when I became a Christian I didn’t take Jesus’ invitation as being a motive given all the blessings I might receive along the way, I didn’t think it was right to presume for as much. I thought, “I’m appreciative for what Jesus did for all humans, the least I can do in appreciation was to show my solidarity with Jesus’ cause, God’s cause. Little did I realize then that I would be able to say along with the Psalmist, “look you have assigned me “my cup,” my “own cup of blessings.” The psalmist realized not only was he getting a “cup of salvation” from his enemies who were obsessed with killing him but a “cup of blessings” he didn’t even realize came with the bargain. I’m sure that you who are Christians can testify as I can, “I accept you, Jesus, as my benefactor because I feel grateful to you and that offer of salvation into an eternal life is too good to pass up”. But I never dreamed that the welcomed cup of blessings God assigned to me was going to be filled with so many blessings. I expected this hope of salvation would take faith and it might take many years of faithfulness to attain but it doesn’t take much faith to “count the blessings” I’m getting now, right now. I acknowledge, like many of you who are Christians, the Lord has given me a cup of blessings including a wonderful wife, a loyal family, a measure of security, salvation from a deadly disease and many, many more such blessings. That reminds me that David in the most famous of all Psalms (Psalm 23) exclaimed, “My cup runneth over”, my blessings from the Lord are more than I could ever imagine. My hope for you is that you, too, will realize you have been offered a cup of blessings from your Father, your Lord. Accept and enjoy!

As if this weren’t enough, being God’s friend comes with another valuable consideration, far better than a buy-one, get-one free offer popularized in the consumer world. In fact, I’d go so far as to say in my opinion this consideration from God is the number one possession all humans want but they don’t even realize what it is they’re searching for. People run helter-skelter looking for the one thing that will finally make them happy, but they don’t know what it is or where to find it. My studies in psychology and sociology have convinced me that what people want most, but don’t know it, is security. What I mean by security is referred to in the Bible as “peace of mind” or “the peace of God that transcends d all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). That sounds too simplistic, doesn’t it? But it’s true. People just want to feel good about themselves. They want that relaxing, calming feeling of peace of mind. “I’m happy, I’m secure”. While this notion didn’t escape the perception of David, he says, (Psalm 16:5) in speaking to God, “You have made my lot secure”. He learned the lesson I learned the hard way: there is no security unless it’s attached to the Supreme Being of the universe. That’s the beginning and end. Everyone of us sooner or later has to admit that there is no such thing as security in this world. You can’t count on financial security or even the security that friendship and family can offer (I lost one of my two peer best friends, a friend I had most of my life just this last year). I found, and I’m not claiming anything you don’t already know, that, Yes, there is such a thing as security but security only comes if it’s connected to the most powerful force in the universe, no other source of security can be imagined. David knew with confidence “you have made my lot secure”. I now ask you, think about it for a moment, isn’t it true that what you want is security. Isn’t that what you most want, to be happy? You might say, “I want salvation”, but isn’t salvation just another way of saying ‘security’? The Psalmist says you can have what you most desire now, not just in eternity.

I’d like to highlight one final verse from this Psalm that is really inspirational. In the way of summary, the Bible writer affirms, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”. That first part about “the path of life,” is one of the things I’m most appreciative of in my walk with the Lord over the years – direction. Living in a rapidly changing world where ideas become obsolete overnight, I find myself questioning where I’m going, why I’m going, how I’m going. Is there anything that hasn’t changed? I’ve found the “path of life” hasn’t changed. The Super Highway is not an improvement over “the path”. The values espoused in ancient sacred writings are as relevant as ever. I don’t know about you but I need a stabilizing force in my life, something I can count on. Through my training as a sociologist and by my own research and observation I’ve verified the Biblical moral code and a grounded set of values are more crucial than ever. We can have something in common that binds us as a community, yet since each of us is unique from all others, God promises a customized “path of life” for each of us if only we ask. So many choices – what career, what education, what friends, what pleasures, what direction? I remember in my 20’s and again in my 30’s, begging the Lord for help. “Just point me in the right direction”, I begged. I’d always get an answer, even direction on starting a family has proved satisfying and successful. I can aver, ”I wouldn’t change any major aspect of my life. He showed me the path, my path of life”. I concur with David, we are shown the path to a stable, satisfying, secure life as long as we have faith and are patient and observe the signs along the path.

What comes with following in the path of life is “joy” according to the Psalmist. “You will fill me with joy in your presence”. Joy, happiness, satisfaction, all the positive emotions that humans were created to seek are fulfilled when we trust our Heavenly Father. He offers true joy, lasting joy, genuine happiness, the real thing, when we finally resolve to accept God’s direction. This stipulates it’s in “your presence”, God’s presence, we feel good about ourselves. I’ve discovered being in God’s presence means allowing the Lord to befriend us. He doesn’t force anyone. I’ve learned, personally happiness is missing when I don’t feel intimate with God. Something is missing and that something is God’s presence. I’ve learned I’ve got to let him into my inner circle, so to speak. Rather than try to solve problems my way, I ask Him for His help and I look for signs along the way indicating the direction on my path in God’s universe. What a fantastic sensation to know I don’t have to do it all on my own. As another Bible author, Paul, put it, “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28). Many of you know exactly what I’m talking about and for those that don’t, those who haven’t yet personally experienced God’s presence in their lives, I beseech you to open up, asking for God’s help, try living that way for just a week and see what a difference it makes.

As I started at the outset of this meditation, I’m writing you as a “thank you” for your support during my walk through “the valley of the shadow of death”. The last year has brought physical pain, mental anguish, the sapping of every ounce of strength I had, worry, not knowing if I’d survive, multiple diseases manifesting themselves in my body (I didn’t bother giving you all the details), on top of all these, the death of a best friend, a business betrayal and more. Through all this I learned an awful lot about myself, an awful lot about God and an awful lot about needing friends like you. I learned I’m not unusual in all this grief and trial. The Bible writer, David, went through worse suffering. He survived and he lived to write about it as have millions in the past thousands of years of recorded history. Those millions somehow, some way, learned the secret of survival and joy, the secret I learned, the secret David learned and the secret you’ll learn if you haven’t already. I pray for you to repeat the same words, the same prayer of David, (Psalm 16:1), “Keep me safe, O God, for you are my refuge”.

WHICH CAME FIRST, THE PERSON OR THE CULTURE?

Paul J Serwinek — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:19:00 GMT

Not long ago I was in Paris. There, a frequent sight was that of a man or woman, on their way home, carrying a long thin loaf of uncut and unwrapped bread.   Parisians, I found, insist on the very freshest of bread. The sight I describe would be an unusual event in America. As a result, I couldn't help but conclude that the phrase "daily bread" meant something far different for the French than for Americans. The phrase, used by Jesus in the Lord's prayer, carried more than just a subtle difference in meaning. That's just a simple example of how difference in culture can lead to difference in understanding. I wonder how often readers, coming to the Scriptures, use their own cultural filter to bring meaning to passages.

My thesis is that much of the misunderstanding that leads to ridicule and misinterpretation of scripture comes from the simple fact that those scrutinizing the Bible are applying a 21st century view of things to a first century situation. As a professor of Sociology, the first issue I try to clarify to freshman college students is the need to always account for the difference in cultures. We come to any situation assuming, unless we consciously suspend judgement, that our interpretation of that situation,   based on our experience and our reality, will be accurate.   Our culture, our world of familiarity, provides our norms, values, and basis for behavior. However, in a global economy ,   communication often fails when not taking into account the culture of the speaker, 'encoder,' and the culture of the listener, 'decoder'. Furthermore, In Biblical communication, misunderstanding occurs due to cultural differences not accounted for (an agrarian verses a post-industrial society) let alone the two thousand year gap in history and information left out of the equation.

I often use the illustration of cultural views of animals as an example. When someone in Western culture see a kitten or puppy, he or she sees a playful companion for a child or an adult. A person from a Far Eastern culture seeing the same puppy or kitten will see his or her next meal. Chinese culture uses these "pets" in their cuisine as we do chicken or turkey. Can we in the West insist that such practices be abolished in deference to our sensibility? Of course not, any more than we'd consider any importuning from India to insist we abandon cattle ranching in deference to their view that cows are sacred. Any argument in these areas is really attributable to cultural issues and not necessarily ethical issues. To argue on an ethical level without first considering the cultural chasm would be ludicrous and unproductive.

However, that is exactly what Bible scholars and opponents of the Bible have often done. A classic example of this is the venomous comments critics (often bibliophobics) assert about what they suppose to be the original Christian view toward women's rights. A verse at Ephesians 5:24, "wives should submit to their husbands in everything," taken out of Biblical context and out of cultural context at the same time, gives the appearance that women are second-class citizens in the Christian scheme. Such a view could only be suggested by someone who hasn't come to know the Christian God and our Lord, Jesus Christ. Indeed, for centuries, the winsome words of the gospel included coming to know our Father to be completely egalitarian. The point I always stress in my personal Biblical testimony is the practical advice for daily living that assists us to live in the present world and at the same time prepares for a future life. A Christian realizes Paul's purpose in this passage was to give orderly advice on how to live, based on the circumstances and age Christians found themselves in. His goal, and ours, is to “let our lights shine" and provide a living testimony of our faith (Matthew 5:11). Christianity was and is to be primarily known for the free gift of salvation and meaning life Christ provides. Spiritual Christianity would never have flourished if it was known primarily as the religion that purported to change the organizational culture of the times. The society assigned men the role of preeminence. This tradition emanated from an agrarian culture. In such a society, where manual labor and physical strength were the basis of power,. It would be natural that man, having superior physical strength, would dominate over the physically less powerful gender. Living in that society, Paul was merely showing Christians they were to live in accordance with the culture, but he went further. He advocated that Christian men, knowing this example of Christ, would go beyond the callous culture of the times and treat their wives as Christ would have them. Ephesians 5:25-8 shows this additional step a Christian husband would take. As Scripture avers, Christ gave up himself for his congregation, husbands should be willing to do likewise for their wives. In fact, a husband is to love his wife as he does himself. Any Christian realizes you can't take one injunction without the other and have a balanced picture. A Christian husband will take his responsibility as head, dictated by the culture of the times and the traditions of the ancient world, a tradition that goes back to our original heritage, but will go beyond this and do what culture of the times did not dictate - to show true love. That's what Jesus came for - to model a practical example of love. He did it in his personal treatment of women. Women were treated no differently than men. Salvation was for all as Jesus demonstrated by his many discourses directed to women (Luke 13:12).

I stress again, Christ came foremost to change lives, not culture. I, as a Christian who happens to be a sociologist, would assert that when we are confronted by questions on the issue of rights, we must not be persuaded to counter with a barrage of scripture to someone who does not accept Biblical authority, when we can simply say, "Please don't apply our present cultural view to that verse."

I Timothy I:15 says simply that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That simple Christian maxim makes it clear that Jesus came to "save" and transform people first and not culture. Cultural transformation will be evident once people change. Jesus did not want to confuse his mission so he persisted in appealing to individuals and refused to make culture the issue - whether political or economical (He said, "Give Caesar's things to Caesar," for example).

The beauty of Christianity is that it works under all circumstances and in all cultures. A Christian living in harmony with the culture of the times emulates in his or her life the principles Christ lived and Paul expounded on - grace, love, unselfish caring for others. A Christian husband in the first century would not be noted for his revolution against the cultural norm of male headship, whether or not divinely mandated, but for his love for his spouse, family and others. That's the meaning Jesus wanted him to get across, namely, love for others that mimics the love of God toward us. Again, Christianity's goal is to change first and foremost lives, not culture. As any sociologist can attest, as individual lives improve, cultures also improve. But the primary focus is on lives, individual lives. The beauty of the Christian philosophy is that adherents need not wait indefinitely for the culture to change to improve their lot but immediately they individually can feel a miraculous change in their minds, emotions and perceptions toward circumstances.

As a Christian sociologist, I would hope no Christian would fall into the trap of trying to justify queries into a Biblical standard that appears out of step with the times by using Bible principles completely beyond the fathoming of someone whose motive is only to discredit the Bible when such an attack can be so easily deflated by simply pointing to the culture of the times and repeating (many times, if necessary), "Christ came to change first individual lives, not culture".   Many passages in scripture state, in harmony with Ephesians 4:7, "But to each ONE of us grace has been given, as Christ apportioned it". Christianity's goal is to spread the gospel, the good news of God; love and salvation, one life at a time and not to change cultures primarily. Jesus, when given the opportunity to participate in cultural change, reassured us of his primary focus when he said, “My kingdom is no part of this world. If it were, my servant would fight to prevent my arrest..." (John 18:36). Let's not forget this salient point - lives are what count.

NonChristians are not the only ones needing to heed the lesson that the discipline of sociology offers to would-be interpreters of scripture. Often Christians with a pure and honest motive will contrive intricate explanations to justify Biblical messages . I think now of statements by Christian leaders claiming that God used slavery to Christianize the nonChristian African world. Rather than resort to such an hypothesis to explain why Christians were slaveholders we need only appeal to the economic culture of the time. The instance of Paul's admonition to Onesimus, a runaway slave, comes to mind. Paul directed Onesimus to return to his master. Paul made it clear (Philemon 1:14) that he did not want to presume to tell the master (Philemon) how to treat the slave, saying, “I do not want to do anything without your consent". Paul recognized the culture and protocol of the times. Paul then appealed to Philemon to take back his slave no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. Some in their zeal for Christianity will contrive explanations when critics denegrate the simple Christian view toward slavery. They merely have to remind critics this was not the Christian view of slavery, it was the cultural view of slavery being discussed. Christianity neither invented nor condoned slavery. Slavery was a cultural reality of the times. Christians then had a mission to preach the gospel to individuals, to transform individuals one by one and not to revolt against the customs that were economic realities. Spiritual realities were of primary importance, economics and political freedom were secondary to spiritual freedom. Spiritual, emotional, mental freedom can be attained immediately and miraculously at any time a person accepts the aid of God's spirit. This has been the case throughout history.

Was it God's desire that families be sold as slaves in the first century? Of course not. Was it the Christian God of the Bible who was desirous of slavery in more modern times? Of course not. No more than it was God's desire that thousands were killed by bloodletting in the 18th and 19th centuries, which was the cultural medical practice of the times. The Lord's primary concern was for the gospel to reach all, individual by individual. As individual lives are transformed by God's spirit and individuals personally feel God's love and power in their lives, they can endure anything and do so with joy as Paul demonstrated when tortured and in prison. James also admonished, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2,3). Then when enough individuals see a vision for a changed material world and the time is ripe, powerful things can happen, including a revision of the culture.

I'm proud to know that it was Christians who first, not only caught the vision of economical and political freedom for all humans and acted on it with faith, confident the Lord would give them necessary power to effect change.   The faith and reliance in God's spirit and power motivated Christians to come to this country seeking to build a model of political and economic freedom for others. It was Christians in Europe and America in the 19th century, the Abolitionists among them, who had faith in God's power to end slavery then and it was Christians primarily who caught the vision and prayed for God's power to change the culture of slavery in the 20th century. This, long before the non-Christian world followed suit.

I would submit, though, unless individual lives had been transformed by the power of the spirit, giving them the self-esteem knowing they were set free emotionally, mentally and spiritually, they would not have had the vision to insist on physical freedom.

One final caveat regarding the cultural background of the verse may be helpful.   Cultural background will often illuminate the scriptural message when allowed to make a contribution. At other times, the cultural relevance will prevent us from being too sweeping in our modern application. The steps are then to first discern the cultural context, compare that context to our current cultural milieu, discern whether the cultural perspective enhances or obscures our understanding of the actual words used, and perhaps imagine how that scripture might be worded using the cultural terms of our age. Then, and only then, make application. I am not a Biblical scholar but what I suggest is a simple guideline that I believe has been followed in most cases, I only suggest, in our zeal to discover new understanding, not to go beyond what is warranted.

Let me take a simple, innocuous example of what I mean. The scripture exhorts, "Take up the full armor of God," (Ephesians 6:15) Christian armies have used similar words from scripture to embolden their troops in battle. Following the guidelines I suggest above, recognize first the culture of the times. Most generations through history have lived within a culture of warfare. Such exhortations, in the context of many culture, are a fitting analogy. Now, however, we have several generations in our presence who have not personally been acquainted with warfare. A biblical interpreter who recognizes the cultural shift would strive to word these exhortations in the culture of the present day.    Mentioning in passing why such a phrase was used, as an analogy to those living at a time who would comprehend both intellectually but more importantly, emotionally, would be helpful. Those words on spiritual warfare may not convey the emotional impact to anyone living in a time of relative peace as it would to most past generations personally feeling the terror of warfare. Supplement those Biblical words using analogies that appeal to the emotions of our present cultural generation.    My suggestion again, merely remember, when reading scripture, to account for the culture of the time, take note of any differences to our cultural views, then think of an analogy our present society might appreciate.

So going back to the opening questions, "Which came first the person or the culture?" the answer is elementary. While some sociologists may have differing opinions, the answer from an all important Christian viewpoint is clear., The person, the individual comes first to the Lord.   Never lose sight of the Christian truth - God first works on individual lives, that counts most and that's the greatest miracle of Christianity. The concomitant cultural changes are laudable and awe-inspiring, too, but never overshadow the primary thrust of God's word. My goal, as a Christian who happens to be a sociologist, has been to provide these suggestions.. Take culture into account when interpreting scripture and take culture into account when desiring change in social structures. The culture of a society may have taken years to establish itself and may take considerable years (but not necessarily) to change, but lives can be transformed instantaneously!

Paul Serwinek, Ph.D.

2385 Leamonth

Milford, MI 48381

248-685-1299

Welcome

Paul J Serwinek — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:00:28 GMT

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