Friday Fodder - Flavor (8/28/20)

 Colossians 4:6 reminds us to “let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…”

Seasoned with salt...when I cook I like to experiment with different “flavors”. Whether it is chicken, pork chops, hamburgers, steaks, etc., I like to put different flavors on them or have them marinade in a new flavor overnight before they are cooked. Some people like spicy flavors while others prefer the sweeter flavors. And, still others, prefer a combination of the two. Some want a lot of kick; others, not so much (we call them wimps).

As Christians, our speech--our conversation, our lifestyle--should have a specific flavor to it. The flavor of our speech should simmer, boil over even, in the flavor of Christ. The flavor of our lifestyle should be the flavor of the kingdom of God, that which is not attached so closely to the things of this world.

Does our speech, our conversation, leave people wanting more of Christ, thirsty for Christ? Does our speech move them in the direction of Jesus? Does it have the flavor of Christ in our words, our responses, or our reactions?

Does our lifestyle--our values, pursuits, longings, desires, activities, attitudes--have the flavor of the kingdom of God, the things of God & the eternal or the flavor of the world?

When people hear our speech or watch our life, what do they taste?

Friday's Fodder - July 10, 2020 - Remember

How many of you are "date rememberers"? That's probably not a word, but, for whatever reason, I remember dates of things. Maybe it's because I love math or for some other reason. And, I'm not necessarily talking about birthdays and such. 

I remember certain dates of things that are significant, not just the event, but the date itself sometimes.  It might be a series of dates or a particular time period, but oftentimes it is a specific date. We will be talking about something as a family, and they can't believe that I remember that.

I imagine you do the same with certain things.

One of the commands in scripture I have come across several times is the command to "remember". Think about when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. They were told to set up a "memorial" to "remember" what God had done for them. I remember (ha ha) in college at our Spring Conference for BSU (Baptist Student Union) as a senior, we made a picture of the significant events in our lives leading up to our senior year of college. 

Those crude drawings were to help us "remember" significant times along our Christian journey that were particularly significant in our walk with the Lord. 

With the uncertainty of the future, it is good to "remember" the faithfulness of God in the past. It is good to remember, especially, the faithfulness of God in the gospel--the life, the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Christ.

While there is still a "pandemic" going on and the times in our country are kinda crazy right now, maybe it's a good time to spend some time "remembering" the faithfulness of God in your life. Maybe it would do your soul some good to get a little notebook or journal and start remember today.

Be Like Christ

Over the last 3 weeks, there has been a documentary on ESPN about this dude named Michael Jordan. You may have heard of it...it's called "The Last Dance". I was introduced to MJ when I was about to turn 8 years old...yes, it was 1982 and he hit the first of many "the shots" to defeat Georgetown in the NCAA championship game for the Tarheels...beginning his streak of defeating Patrick Ewing over and over again, but that's another story.

From that day, the basketball goal on the tree in the backyard at the parsonage of Oak Grove Baptist Church went up (and everywhere else we lived), and a million times, I took "the shot"...tongue hanging out with the clock running down. Then, in the summer of 1982, I was at the Campbell University basketball camp...yep, the man himself was there...live and in person.

In May of 1982, I was introduced to someone else...Jesus...by my dad. Yeah, I had heard dad preach the gospel every Sunday, but this was different...he sat me down and personally shared the gospel with me. In October of that same year, God opened my heart to believe the gospel...I knew I needed a Savior...not MJ, but Jesus, the one who gave his life in my place.

Fast forward 11 years...the summer of '93 working at the BEST camp in the world...Camp CaRAway. And, what is one of the most popular songs in the country at the time...yes, "Be Like Mike"...the Gatorade commercial...the single...

Well, I had the single...I would play that song EVERY morning to wake up my campers that summer...oh, yeah, I got roasted for it at the end of the summer by my friends...

It wasn't that I really wanted them to "be like Mike" -- that one or even this one...the goal was to call these young men to "be like Christ" every single day. It was really about making disciples...like Jesus did...like Paul did..."follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:18-22) and "follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).

So, did I have a little fun with the song...of course I did...even the rap in the song...but, it wasn't really about that...it was about making disciples.

And, sure, did I want to "be like Mike" in my basketball game...you bet...tongue out, baggy shorts, and the wrist band...but in life...I just want to "be like Christ" (Philippians 2:5-8).

The Struggle is Real

As you live the Christian life, do you ever find yourself immersed in the battle of Romans 7:15-25? Some days, that battle is off the charts. It's like you're wrestling against the Beast, Brock Lesner and it's a lumberjack match with all the "bad guys" surrounding the ring (yes, that's a WWE reference).

With the "quarantine" having been in full force the last few weeks, it has reminded me that while there is an enemy I'm wrestling against outside of myself, sometimes, no...many times...no, most of the time...I am my own worst enemy in this battle.

Sometimes, I feel like screaming with Paul, "Wretched man that I am!" The struggle is real! The fight for righteousness and joy in Christ is not for the faint of heart. Fortunately, like Martin Luther wrote in the hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God, the right man is on our side.

"Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

We fight, we wrestle from the position of victory in Christ--that we've been given everything we need to win the battle.

So, keep fighting today...in the immortal words of Jimmy V, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!" (yes, I quoted a coach from NC State)

Wherever You Are

Remember the books from years ago called "Where's Waldo?" Of course you do. Today, I ask you, "where are you"? I mean, what are the circumstances of your life at the present time? Sure, we are all navigating a stay-at-home order because of the Covid-19 crisis. But, I'm not necessarily talking about physical circumstances. What about your soul, your internal circumstances?

Where are you spiritually? What are your spiritual vital signs?

Wherever you are...start there. Maybe, just maybe, this is the time for many of us to get our life compass re-calibrated to true north...toward Christ, His mission, His purpose for our lives..toward a vision of life that reflects a view of those things that matter for eternity.

Sure, it will take some self-reflection, asking and answering some honest questions about ourselves, our decisions, and our habits. But, it will be worth the time and effort when we come out of this time with a better sense of God's purpose & direction for our lives and a greater love for Christ moving forward.

A friend of mine was preaching on 2 Peter 1:3-11 this past Sunday. And, as the Lord would have it, He has been moving me in the direction of that text for this coming Sunday as well for our church.

Maybe this holding pattern is the perfect time to apply the principle of 2 Peter 1:5, "for this very reason, make every effort (be diligent) to supplement your faith with virtue..." Putting this instruction into practice is not simply a matter of "pulling ourselves by our boot straps".

The application of this principle is grounded in the gospel, the power of God toward us who believe. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us that "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire".

For this reason...because of what God has done for us in Christ through the Holy Spirit...make every effort...pursue godliness, pursue Christ-like character, pursue God Himself.

Wherever you are...start there...make every effort...start today.