Do What You Can

October 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment

6 ‘Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me… 8She did what she could. (Mark 14)

I’ll be the first to admit that I sometimes lack attention to detail. I’m a big picture kind of guy. And so, even though I’ve proofread this article at least once and in spite of modern marvels like Microsoft spell-check, there’s a pretty good chance that there is a typo or two in here. [For example, the first time I typed this sentence it read "a typo or to."] I would make a horrible copy editor. Nor would I be able to hold down a job at Peachtree Editorial and Proofreading.

It’s their job to proofread editions of the Bible for various publishers. “Bible readers are less forgiving of errors because they expect perfection in the Bible text,” says June Gunden, one of Peachtree’s founders.

To remind them of the importance of their task, they have prominently displayed a list of critical Bible errors from the past. The most famous one is found in the “Adulterer’s Bible” of 1631. The “not” is conveniently omitted from Exodus 20:14. Thus it reads, “Thou shalt commit adultery.” Another one, dubbed the “Unrighteous Bible,” omits the “not” in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and has Paul saying that the “unrighteous shall inherit the Kingdom of God.”

One of Peachtree’s most recent projects was the Holman Christian Standard Bible. For two years, workers meticulously scanned each page multiple times in order to weed out errors. Gunden says that many employees view their work as an extension of their faith and regularly pray about it.

Small things can be important. This morning we’re going to begin talking about what we Christians see as the biggest event in history—the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. It is the fulcrum on which everything else turns. Its significance cannot possibly be overstated.

But, as this pivotal week begins, we start with a humble act of faith from an anonymous woman. It is an act that Jesus’ followers dismiss as insignificant and wasteful. But Jesus sees it differently. He comes to her defense. What impresses Jesus is that this woman has done something, anything at all, that honors him.

There’s an important lesson in there for us. We are not called to worry about the greatness of our efforts. We are just called to put forth the effort. I hope we can all be challenged to do what we can for God this morning.

Posted by NCOC | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

The End Is Near

October 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Recently a New York Press columnist wrote about an encounter with an apocalyptic taxi driver in Baltimore. The cabbie asked him about his future plans and, following a thumbnail sketch of his intentions, informed him that they didn’t matter anyway. The driver turned around and said, “I don’t want to scare you, but the world is gonna end in seven months.” Apparently a radio preacher that he listened to had discerned that the end was nigh. The writer goes on to note that the seven month prediction had been made 10 years ago by the time the article was published.

That’s the risk we take when we hazard apocalyptic predictions. History has seen the end of time come and go more times than anyone can count. And you’d think that all of these failed soothsayers would deter others, but not so. Hope springs eternal when it comes to cataclysm.

What is it with end of the world obsessions? Why are some people led to pore over scripture or Nostradamus or Egyptian numerology or Mayan calendars in the hopes of singling out the date that the world will blow up? There are two apocalyptic movies coming out in the next few months alone.

Well I promise not to add to it. I have no predictions for you. But if Jesus would like to come back before the Tennessee Titans can embarrass themselves anymore, that would be fine with me.

As for me, I’m so anxious to avoid those predictions, I even considered skipping Mark 13. It’s all about the “end of the age,” and I would just as soon skip it altogether. But I guess I can’t do that.

What I can do is give you this bit of good news. Jesus doesn’t give us a date either. Jesus avoids that kind of prediction himself. To be honest he doesn’t really give us signs. A careful reading of the text tells us that Jesus is giving hints for the beginning of the end rather than the end.

In fact, to give a date would run counter to his mission. Jesus isn’t interested in giving his disciples a chance to build bomb shelters or stockpile canned goods. As we’ll see, he’s got other plans for them, and those plans involve taking action rather than hunkering down.

To be sure, the end is near. And it means two things for us, his people. First, we have reason to be hopeful. Second, we’d better get busy doing the work he’s set out for us.

Posted by NCOC | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

A Little Perspective

October 16, 2009 | Leave a Comment

When the great Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Lynn Swann was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, he had already spent numerous years on the ballot—more than he felt he should, apparently. According to Terry Bradshaw, Swann’s quarterback throughout his career (and a hall-of-famer himself), Swann blamed him for not making it in sooner. The perceived injury was great enough for Swann to refer to it on the day of his induction. On what should have been a day of celebration, Swann decided to get his pound of flesh. He publicly blamed Bradshaw for not throwing him the ball enough in the late 70’s.

Bradshaw later commented: “…I kept thinking how sad it was that he chose what should have been one of the greatest days of his life to create this controversy.”

Earlier this year, when Michael Jordan was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, he chose a similar approach. Shortly after hearing himself proclaimed the greatest basketball player who ever lived and watching an awe-inspiring career highlights video, Jordan took to the podium and things got personal. He used one of the greatest moments of his life to exact petty revenge on those who had slighted him throughout his career. He went after former Knicks coach, Jeff Van Gundy. He scolded Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson for snubbing him way back in 1985 (!) at the NBA All-Star game. Rather than enjoy the evening celebrating his accomplishments, he chose to stir-up controversy.

It’s frustrating when people take an opportunity for celebration and turn it into something petty and mean-spirited.

That’s exactly what happens to Jesus in Mark 12. Jesus, the Messiah, finally comes to Jerusalem. The Son of David comes to the Temple. This man who has spent his life healing the lame and feeding the hungry, who has brought the Good News of God’s kingdom to his people, doesn’t receive a very kind welcome.

Instead he is greeted by religious leaders motivated by personal vendettas alternately trying to publicly embarrass him or have him killed. And even though Jesus obviously saw it coming, I wonder if it wasn’t also difficult for him.

Mark 12 would be a truly tragic chapter, if not for a couple of brief highlights. In these two instances, we can see past the foolish controversies and into the heart of pure religion. These moments are an important reminder to us not to miss the big picture in our faith. I hope you and I can get the big picture this morning.

Posted by NCOC | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

I am Second

October 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment

I believe this weekend marks the 104th installment of the Red River Shootout.  (I refuse to call it the Red River Rivalry, just because AT&T is sponsoring it.)  For many of you that means nothing.  That’s because: A) You don’t watch college football.  B) You’re not from Texas or Oklahoma.

The Red River Shootout is the annual football game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma University Sooners.  It’s almost always a huge game, because one or both teams are usually in the National Championship picture.  The game takes place every year at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the Texas State Fair.  If you’re a college football fan, this game is one that should make your bucket list.

This year the starting quarterbacks are Colt McCoy for the Longhorns and Sam Bradford for the Sooners.  Both have been talked about as HeismanTrophy contenders (though Bradford’s chances have been diminished some by an early season shoulder injury.)  Both really want to win this game.  Both must be incredibly competitive to play a sport on this level.

But there is one thing they can agree on.  Check out the video below.  It was posted on Facebook by the Christian Chronicle.  When you’re done watching the video, you can go read an interview with Colt McCoy at the Chronicle website.  He attends a Church of Christ in Austin.

Posted by Robert | Filed Under Amen Corner, Blog 
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Culture Clash

October 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment

Every year I make it a point to watch “A Christmas Story” at least once during the holiday season. This isn’t hard to do, given the twenty-four hour marathon that’s on one of the cable networks. Lately it’s been my companion as I play the role of Santa’s helper into the wee hours of Christmas Eve.

One of the recurring themes of the movie is disillusionment. As our hero Ralphie grows up in the Midwest during the 1950’s, he learns that not everything turns out as expected. Again and again, Ralphie anticipates something with giddy excitement only to be disappointed by the anticlimactic nature of it all.

For instance, Ralphie keeps a constant vigil over his mailbox, waiting for the “Little Orphan Annie Decoder Ring” that he sent off for in the mail. When it finally arrives, he dashes up to the bathroom (the only place in his house where he can be alone) and feverishly decodes a secret meant for his ears only. Imagine the anticipation as he unscrambles a message that will give him special knowledge. Now imagine his disappointment as he reads the message he’s waited so long to hear: “Be sure to drink your Ovaltine.”

But perhaps the most soul-crushing moment of clarity comes when Ralphie finally gets to visit Santa at the local department store. He’s hoping to bypass his parents and take his Christmas plea for a Red Ryder BB Gun straight to the man himself. So he endures a long wait in line and finally gains an audience with the fat man in red only to freeze up. Then, when he finally manages to muster the courage to make his petition to Santa, Santa crushes his dreams with the same reply that his mother did: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

This morning we’re going to read about how Jesus disappoints everyone. Everyone has expectations of this Messiah—his followers, his enemies—everyone. And Jesus refuses to fit into their narrow definitions of who the Messiah is. Jesus causes trouble everywhere he goes.

That’s a good reminder for us, because we often prefer a Jesus that caters to our needs—bless us every day and then take us to heaven when we die. But that’s not how it works. Jesus wants to do all of that, but he also has his own agenda. I’m reminded once again of C.S. Lewis’ description of Jesus: “He’s not safe, but he’s Good.”

Posted by NCOC | Filed Under Amen Corner, Articles 

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