Redondo Reflections…

It was one day before I was to announce the details of a short-sabbatical, and I just wanted to spend time with God.

A “sabbatical” is a break from the daily ins-and-outs of work and regular schedules for the purpose of rest, reflection, and reconnecting with God.

During this break, I wanted some extended time with God, Jennie, and our kids.  I wanted my soul to be recharged, my mind to be transformed, and my heart to simply bask in the love, truth, and passion of God.  (As a pastor, it sure helps to have a fully-alive soul, mind, and heart!)

But on Saturday, August 28, 2010, I gave God one more request.

I asked him to care for the details of the break.

I confessed that – as grateful as I would be for the break – I did not have a clear “schedule” of how I, or how we, would spend that month.  The last thing I wanted was get all immersed in schedules, details, and deadlines.  Check that – I also didn’t want to spend any money to go or do anything costly.

I knew one thing for sure – that God had clearly directed me to seek a break like this.  And, if He was truly guiding in this… I believed He would take care of the details.  I believed that God had a plan for my September.  I believed that God would direct my path, oversee my schedule, and open doors along the way.

So I prayed, “God, this is your month.  September is yours.  If you would also take care of any details, plans, travel, or scheduling things involved, that would be awesome!“

When I first prayed that, I sighed.  God doesn’t have to answer our prayers.  Ever.

Especially ones that feel selfish.

But God knew I needed a time to “recharge” my heart, soul, and mind.   I asked for God’s help with logistics, and I actually believed He would handle it.  I had no clue how much God would delight in blessing me, my wife, and our family during the month of September.

What a novel thought – God loves to give good and perfect gifts to His children?!  I knew that, but to experience that?

Spoiler Alert: God sometimes answers prayers in extravagant ways that are entirely His prerogative…

I thought it might be helpful to spend a few days “out of town” somewhere that I could unplug from daily things and focus on God.  I phoned a friend.  A cousin, actually.

I left a voicemail with Mike & Sarah Phelps (cousins on my Mom’s side), describing my desire to be out of central Ohio for a break.

Within minutes, Sarah calls back saying, “I think I’ve got something that just might be perfect.”

In other words, God was already up to something.  It’s as if He already had the first week of my short-sabbatical planned out, paid for, and custom-made for Gary Underwood.  It’s as if He’d already heard and answered the prayers of our friends (and our church friends!) that this would be a refreshing and blessed-by-God kind of time.

Mike and Sarah live in Southern California.  One of the pastors at their church has a retreat house.  A retreat house that a pastor could use for free.  In a quiet and beautiful neighborhood.  Three minutes from a Jamba Juice.  Five minutes from Trader Joe’s.  Six minutes from Starbucks.  Nine minutes from the best Greek food in the world.  Ten minutes from the beach.  Ten minutes from a few beaches, actually.  With a car I could use for free.

(Important fact: Earlier this year, I was given a $400 voucher for any flight in the country by United Airlines.  Coincidence?)

So… because of God’s grace, power, and sovereign care, my heavenly father gifted me with a week in Southern California.  By the beach.  I spent every morning reading the Psalms, journaling thoughts and prayers, running on Redondo Beach, marveling at God’s creation and the amazing views.

Skies.  Waves.  Mountains.  Dolphins.  Seals.  Jamba Juice.

Praise to the Creator!  He drew me in, planned my retreat, and blessed me in so many ways.

I didn’t blog.  I didn’t e-mail.  I didn’t Facebook.  I didn’t call people.  I didn’t do any tourist-y stuff like seeing the Hollywood sign or walking on some boulevard with stars and celebrity names on them.  I didn’t go to any big, famous churches.  I didn’t try to visit Beverly Hills or Malibu or whatever.

God swept me away for a week, and this week was for Him.  It was also for my wife, Jennie, who flew out (FREE as another gift), for four days together with God and each other.

I’m writing all this to say thank you to God, and to encourage you to seek Him out!

And so here are some of “Redondo Reflections”…

(1) The most important thing about my life is my relationship with God.  Same is true for you!

(2) The most important thing is to seek God’s presence, to be with Him!  He invites and calls us to that!  Read Psalm 16 a few times before you disagree with me.  Read Matthew 6:25-34 as well.

(3) In every day life, we are often “too busy” to seek God.  We need to get over that.  We need to fix that.  I want to spend focused time with God every day, every week, every month, every year.  Life is too precious to waste time on lesser relationships.

(4) In order to have time with God, you’ve got to fight for it, protect it, schedule it, defend it, and eliminate distractions from it.  Turn off the celly.  Close the laptop.  Schedule a daily meeting with God into your Outlook or iCal.  Get up a half hour earlier each day.  Be more intentional about what you do with your family time.  And yes, turn off the television.

I lived without all those things in Southern California (of all places), and I already remember this as one of the best weeks of my life.

(5) Read Psalm 16 – read it every day until it means something to you and you actually apply it.

At Redondo Beach, I experienced “God as my Refuge” in so many ways, and I am grateful.

(6) Upon my return to central Ohio… it was immediately clear that the landscape is different.  The schedule is different.  The cost-of-living is different.  All the doors don’t open up to a Southern California vacation every day.

But that isn’t the point.

The best part about my California time wasn’t the beach, the running, the rest, the food, or even the time with my wife.

The best… was knowing and experiencing the love of my Father in a very powerful and personal way.  He cares for the big things and the little things in our lives.  He is waiting for us to carve out time in our frenetic schedules to make Him our Lord once again.

God LOVES to take care of His children.

The point is that He’s waiting for us to SEEK HIM first.  To prize His presence.  To ASK Him to show His power, His love, His thoughtfulness, His beauty to you.  To recognize it in Delaware, Ohio every bit as much as Redondo Beach, California.

To punch out time in your schedules to be with God again through the Bible, through His world, through His people and through your own life… and find that HE is so very good.  God is too good to be true.  And yet… He is true.

Leaving the “Third Person” God…

In language, you can refer to someone in “third person.”  Gary Underwood is now referring to himself in third person.  When you talk “about” someone all the time, without any direct address to that person – you are referring to them in “third person.”

Gary likes football.  Gary is finally writing a blog.  Jennie likes to make healthy salads.  Luke is playing with race cars.  Each sentence there refers to these Underwoods in third person.

When you start talking TO someone, language takes on a whole different level.  It’s direct.  It’s personal.  It’s actual communication between you and that person.

Ask me a direct question, like, “Hey Gary, why are you writing a blog?”  That sentence addresses me, means something to me, and might even warrant a response.  This direct-talk, usually including words like “you” – this is called second person.  Talking to someone in the “second person” is addressing them directly.  Keeping the communication open, personal, current, and interactive.

By now, an appropriate 2nd-person retort would be, “Thanks, Gary, for the refresher course on the painfully obvious!  Does your high school English teacher read your blog?”

Well, I wonder if most people only deal with God on a “third person” level.  If they acknowledge Him, it’s not direct.  They’ll use his name and make statements about who God is, what God does, and how God might be to blame for their circumstances.

Even the well-intentioned believers fall into the “third-person” only talk about God.  It’s a pitfall of well-intentioned theology – we learn ABOUT God, but never interact with God.

This week, I’m studying Mark 3:13-19.  Jesus takes his friends to a mountainside retreat.  Mark tells us that Jesus chooses “those he wanted…” Lists each one of them personally, by name.  Mark further explains that Jesus called them here so that “they could be with him.”

Jesus is saying, “I want 2nd-person relationships.  You and me.  Let’s hang out.  Let’s get to know each other.  Let’s talk.  Listen to me.  I’m always listening to you.  I’m interested in your life – past, present, and future.”

The Bible presents a personal God.  He walks with Adam in the garden in Genesis 1.  He talks directly and intimately to Noah, Abraham, Moses, and countless others.  He sends prophet after prophet – speaking directly to His kids.  Ultimately, God sends His Son, gives him the name “Emmanuel,” which means…

God.  With.  Us.

God who we respect as “Him” – wants to be called “You!”  God in the second-person!

Whether you are new to faith, seeking God, or have “been a Christian all your life…”  It’s time to get back to your 2nd-person connection with God.  Ask Him direct questions.  Tell Him what’s on your mind, heart, schedule, checkbook, physical, family – open your life to Him again.

All those times we talk “about” God, and He’s right there in the room.  All-present!  If God was a mere mortal sitting in the room, we’d think it completely rude and uncool to talk about Him impersonally and never directly communicate.  It’s what David says in Psalm 16:8 – “I have set the Lord always before me” – He’s always here!

Those who merely talk about God like He’s some subject to be studied… (and I’m guilty too!)… we are all missing the point. Even to study the third-person God (in a Bible Study or theology class) without prayer and seeking Him personally is doing God – and your study – a disservice!

When you read a verse or a chapter, remember that God is communicating to you in that moment.  Think about what you’re reading.  Think about the circumstances and the main point or what it means, but don’t forget to ask God to show you what He wants you to see and hear in that very moment!

Jesus didn’t come to teach us how to study, how to be clones of someone else, or how to explain the mysteries of life.

Jesus came to be “with us” in so many ways.  He’s all about a second-person, personal relationship with YOU.

In my own life (In the first-person, now), I am learning to do more talking WITH God than ABOUT God.

What about you?

Making Sense of Halloween…

This Sunday is Halloween.  October 31.

As a kid, all this meant was a chance to get enormous amounts of free candy.  I got to run around the neighborhood with my friends and be silly.  We got to dump out our candy and trade favorites.  We rejoiced with the Snickers and mourned over the Mallow Cups.  Every year, some house gave out apples or unknown bags of stuff that swiftly found their way to the trash.

As a side note, we always liked the houses that gave out “name” candy.  Don’t try to be original and give out Charleston Chew or Bit-O-Honeys.  Nobody wants that.

Every neighborhood has a family (or ten) that goes “all out” for Halloween.  I mean, they really get into the scary aspect of it all.  They try to scare kids.  They play haunting music.  They dress up like witches and spook people.  Their costumes involve blood.  They remind us that this “holiday” has an evil side, a darker history, and a spiritual battle at play.

As a believer in God and Jesus Christ, I always want to be aware of the spiritual realities.

Good and evil – that’s a real battle.

Angels and demons – they really do exist.

The devil?  Yep, he’s real and he’s the true enemy of God and of all mankind.

And here is October 31st, placed spiritually and on the calendar – in the midst of a battle.

Since it’s very beginning, there has been a battle, back-and-forth, about how and why to celebrate this fall holiday.  To some, it was indeed a “holy day” to honor the saints.  To others, it has been about worshiping false gods and casting spells and celebrating evil spirits.

The History Channel posts a solid, thorough article about the history of Halloween.  I’d encourage you to read it – think it through – why and how you “celebrate” this upcoming Halloween.

A few things I can say for sure…

(1) Jesus isn’t scared or threatened by evil, Satan, ghosts, spells, witches, or the like.  When he walked this earth, the demons trembled and cried out to Jesus for mercy.  He cast out demons and offered help to the spiritually-oppressed.  He brought light into a world of darkness, and offered help to people in the midst of spiritual battle.

(2) If Jesus isn’t scared by these things, then neither am I.  Nothing can separate us – believers – from the love of God.  Jesus’ death and resurrection has rendered the evil powers as helpless against Him.  Yes, they try to intimidate, steal, kill, destroy, and “haunt,” but it is all a part of their demise in a battle that they know they are losing.

(3) That being said, do not mess around with the evil side of Halloween.  It’s not “just a game.”  At any level, a concern, curiosity, or pursuit of spiritual darkness is a bad idea.  If you invite demonic ideas into your mind, your house, your family, your neighborhood – at best, that’s a horrible decision.  The Bible says that if you resist the devil, he will flee… but if you invite him over, he has ways of wrecking a life, a child, a marriage, a family, a faith, a career – this is not a game.

(4) Kids need protection, guidance, and encouragement toward the “good”! – My first Halloween costume was as “Superman.”  Rather than hide our kids from the realities here… I suppose my choice is to teach them right from wrong, guide them in the discovery of truth and the love of God, and protect them from others who “aren’t quite there yet.”  In other words, our family is choosing to participate in the “fun and good side” of Halloween, dressing up in a fun costume and getting free candy and seeing our neighbors as they all come out on Sunday night.

Protection – Obviously, we’ll walk around the neighborhood with our kids.  Every year, some teenagers (and younger) wear bloody or violent costumes, and I’m not letting them intimidate my children.  At the same time, I know that the kids in those scary costumes are NOT the enemy, and that they NEED to see families that are safe and not intimidated by their “shenanigans.”

Guidance – Naturally, our kids will ask about witches, ghosts, goblins, evil spells, and (gasp) spiders!  They do that all year, let alone on October 31.  They do that when we read about Satan or demons in the Bible.  Some snake starts talking in Genesis 3, folks!  We dare not shelter our kids from the realities of life… and we dare not miss the opportunities to process, explain, talk with them about the disturbing things we see or hear.  Obviously, all within reason and pray for wisdom as parents, but we’re not just going to let our kids run the neighborhood without our care, direction, presence, and involvement.

Encouragement – Yes.  We’ll encourage our kids to love the good and avoid the bad.  More than this, we’ll require it.  We haven’t had any issues with this yet, but of course one day the peer pressure and all that.  I think it’s great that some parents choose to do “alternatives” to Halloween like fall events at the nursing home, church, or Christian schools.  Especially to be in environments where they are encouraged to seek the good, to be good, to focus on the good… you know.

Rabbit-trail Alert – At the very least, it’s bad form to let your kids devour candy at a record pace.  Bad for their teeth, their stomachs, their metabolism – you name it!  It’s probably a good parenting “technique” to set some boundaries in the area of sugar.  Okay, now back to the majors…

(5) Jesus calls me to love my neighbors.  I know that for sure.  I also know that there’s ONE NIGHT a year when all of my neighbors – and their families – are out in the streets, walking around, and even passing through our driveway.  For me, turning off the porch light and locking the front door, that’s not an option.

I’ve got no interest or responsibility to “judge” my neighbor.  But I do have interest and responsibility to love them.

I want to be like the man who came to save sinners like us.  Who had dinner with the “sinners” in public.  Who was always approachable.  Who didn’t run and hide, even from the demon-possessed.

(6) Do what you want on Halloween – As long as you’ve thought it through (and even prayed it through…), you’re going to do what you want to do.  Just be aware of the issues, the people, the ideas and dangers involved.

But as for me and my house… we will serve the Lord.  Christ has given us victory over sin, death, evil, and fear.  He is the Light of the world!

He also wants us to shine His Light in our world… even on “dark nights” like Halloween!

“Easter, you’ve changed…”

Change is a part of life.

In fact, I’ve heard it said that change is the only “constant” in life.

Over the years, we change.

Our tastes change.  Our priorities change.  Our perspectives change.  Our relationships change.

As we approach Easter Sunday, I’m waking up to the reality that Easter has changed.

I look at Easter differently.  I celebrate it in different ways.  I appreciate it for new and unexpected reasons.

For example… when we were kids, Easter was a lot about the candy.  Back then, we just took for granted that Easter was about Jesus, the Easter bunny, and some terrific treats.  One of these treats, the beloved “marshmallow peep” somehow became a favorite.

As typical seasonal fare, our Easter traditions can be linked with jelly beans, Reese’s peanut butter eggs, Cadbury eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and a zillion other candies.

This year, I haven’t touched a peep.  I haven’t eaten a jelly bean.  I haven’t seen a Reese’s egg.

I’m okay with that.  I don’t miss them.

Physically, I am trying to count calories and not kill my teeth.  So there’s a reason.  And that’s reason enough.

Easter hasn’t changed, but my tastes have.  Through the years, I hope Easter – and how I think about Easter – continues to change.

Over the years, maybe I’ll become more grateful for God and less self-centered.

Maybe I’ll become more grateful, generous, and self-controlled when it comes to things like eating and treating.

Maybe I’ll be more humble and honest about how much I really do need God’s help.

Every year, I hope to appreciate Easter a little more, from a maturing perspective… grateful… humbled… willing to change even more – however God wants me to change.

Ironically, isn’t that what Easter is all about – change?  From death to life?  From sinful to forgiven?  From old to new?  From slave to free?  From enemy to family?

Yes, Easter is all about life change… and I hope it never stops changing me!

“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Today is the day we remember and practice as “Good Friday” – in honor of Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross nearly 2,000 years ago.

The Bible treats this as a “once and for all” type of event, where the innocent son of God received unspeakable punishment for the sins of the world.

All human beings have sinned, falling short of God’s glory and character (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).  We deserve physical death and spiritual death – both of which are characterized by suffering and separation from God.

Though Jesus was without sin, we find that He chose to take these realities for himself – to suffer and be separated from God. He chose to suffer in my place (and yours) to pay the penalty… to pay the ransom… to satisfy the demands of God’s holiness… to demonstrate a tremendous amount of love – on our behalf.

In his own words, the emotion and pain gushes out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46).

Forsaken.  Rejected.  Broken.  Punished.  Mocked.  Beaten.  Pierced.  Cursed.  Insulted.

Any one of these feelings can lead us to a life of depression or addiction or despair.

Somehow, God “so loved the world” that He wanted to give you a chance.  Somehow, Jesus believed that his temporary suicide mission could offer you a permanent kind of joy.   Somehow, my sin and your sin were dealt with on an old rugged cross, and God provides the opportunity to be forgiven.

Because of the Cross, you can have all your sins (past, present, and future) forgiven.  You can start over with a new heart, a new standing before God, a new hope of heaven, and a new Spirit to lead and guide you through.

Because of the Cross, death is no longer a permanent state.  You don’t have to fear it.  You don’t have to dread it.  You might even learn to grieve a bit differently, when you know that your friends and family have assurance of faith and forgiveness through Christ – and that you’ll see them one day in Heaven.

Because of the Cross, you can say goodbye to performance and trying to earn your way to God’s place or God’s favor.  The Cross is an admission that we will never measure up, never atone for our own sins, and that God is taking it upon Himself to repair the relationship.

One of my favorite verses of all-time is 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit…”

There it is.

Christ died for sins.  A perfect sacrifice, innocent and undeserving – but willing and chosen.

The righteous for the unrighteous.  Perfect Jesus for sinful Gary and sinful you.

To bring you to God.  You have been bought back.  Reconciled.  Reconnected.  Renewed.  It’s all good…

For those who believe.

If you have decided to believe, to follow, to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and embrace the Cross as God’s payment for your sins, then this is a very, very Good Friday.

This is why Jesus endured the pain.  This is why God had forsaken Him, for a moment in time… that whosoever believes in Him would never perish, but would have eternal life.

“Beware of dog…” – Jesus

Jesus mentions dogs.  In Matthew 7, in the midst of this conversation about not judging people.. Jesus inserts a few words about dogs and pigs.

As a kid, I had two dogs.  Shadow and Peppy were like part of our family.  Shadow was small, black-haired, and tougher than any 6″ tall Terrier you’d ever met.  Peppy was the fearless and brainless cockapoo who loved to race, wrestle, and snuggle.  Shadow and Peppy played and fought and barked like any good brothers would.

So, what was Jesus saying about dogs, again?

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces” (Matthew 7:6).

The basic observations of Matthew 7:6.  (1) He tells his followers not to give sacred things to dogs.  (2) He says they aren’t fit for handling or protecting the sacred things – directly, that they will (a) trample them under their feet, and (b) then turn and tear you to pieces.

Good stuff.  Any questions?

For starters… (1) What are the sacred things?  (2) Who are the “dogs”?  (3) What were dogs like in Jesus’ day?  (4) Were they home-dwelling pets like Shadow and Peppy?  (5) Did Jesus refer to other people as “dogs” at some point?  Why?  (6) Why did the “dogs” pose a threat to the sacred things?  (7) Why would the dogs not be thrilled to get something sacred?  I mean, dogs usually aren’t that picky with food or play-toys… so why would they apparently reject this sort of sharing?  (8) Was Jesus referring to a specific conflict?  (9) Who would the dogs tear apart and why?

Most scholars believe that two types of people are in view with these “dogs…”

(Option #1) The “dogs” are the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.  Much of this sermon (Matthew 5-7) confronts their brand of religious showmanship and spiritual judgment of others.  They judge others, without first dealing with their own sins.  Perhaps Jesus is encouraging his friends to take the gospel (“sacred things”) to an audience that is open and willing to listen.  Most of the Jews would NOT be willing to listen.  In fact, didn’t they trample on Jesus’ message and eventually protest and seek his crucifixion?  One viewpoint would say that these “dogs” are the Pharisees, or “religious” Jews who were so committed to punishing people that it didn’t matter what or who came along – even the Son of God would be rejected by these senseless and violent “dogs.”

(NOTE: In the first-century, “dog” was an insult.  Dogs were dirty scavengers that were rarely befriended.  They roamed in the wild and were often present in packs, ready to devour the remains of a dead animal.  No ancient versions of Shadow and Peppy are mentioned in Scripture or in History (at least during that time).  In fact, even an inscription in Pompeii (ancient city) read, “Beware of Dog.”)

(Option #2) – Another option is to think of “dogs” as being anyone who rejects the sacred message and truths revealed by God – specifically, the Gospel of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus repeatedly encouraged his disciples to go to places and people where they were well-received, and people were interested in knowing God.  This option also makes sense, and you can see some nice overlap with the resisting Jews.

(Option #3) – Some scholars believe that the “sacred things” refer to the communion rituals of bread and cup.  They imply that if someone rejects the faith, then don’t give them the bread and cup.  In reality, the context has nothing to do with communion, a tradition not-yet established by Jesus.  Granted, isn’t this option an obvious result or tag-along with the previous two options?

(NOTE: Incidentally, you could consider this just one more reminder from Jesus that people will reject Him early, often, and with violence!  Trampling under foot?  Turn on you!  Devour you!

True… history is littered with stories of people who have suffered and died because they openly talked about their faith in Jesus Christ.  At times, Jesus called his followers to endure suffering.  Other times (like here), he encourages them to be wise and careful and pick their battles.)

At the end of the day, Jesus picks a disgusting symbol (dogs) to clarify that some people are not ready or willing to have a discussion about faith in Christ, the Bible, or trusting God to help us embrace any “sacred things.”

Jesus said it… Beware of dog!

From 64 to 1… making sense of the madness

Just four hours ago, the madness started.  The annual NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament is well on its way.  Each March, 64 teams from around the country are invited into a single-elimination tournament to decide the champion.

You lose, and you’re out.

Take a game off, and your season is over.  Miss a shot, and go home.

For some teams, it’s a dream-of-a-lifetime just to get invited to the NCAA Tournament.  Take Robert Morris, for an example.  This team was probably considered the 62nd-best team, and only got in because of a guaranteed bid to their conference champion.  Robert Morris took Villanova, one of the best teams in the country, into OVERTIME in the first round of games.  Somehow, ‘Nova survived the attack, avoided the upset, saved face, and advances to the second round.  Nevertheless, a school called “Robert Morris” caused millions of fans around the country to hide from their bosses the fact that they’re watching games online.  Wait a minute – the bosses are watching with them!

Only one game and you’re out?  Any team can win.  David can beat Goliath.  Richmond can beat Syracuse.  Akron can beat Indiana.

(I just looked up from my computer screen to see the final shot… Murray State just beat Vanderbilt on a LAST SECOND SHOT!)

MURRAY STATE???

Oh, the madness is on.  That’s why people watch.  Play ball for five months and it all comes down to one shot.  Sorry, Vanderbilt.  The mighty Commodores (a 4-seed, probably a top-20 basketball team, from the mighty Southeastern Conference) have fallen.

MURRAY STATE???

Yeah, it’s madness.  Tournament just started, and anything can happen.  Anything DOES happen.

As a kid, I remember watching Denny Crum’s Louisville Cardinals win the whole tournament back in 1980, or so.  I remember seeing Villanova (a no-name back then), somehow defeat the mighty Georgetown Hoyas and Patrick Ewing.  I grew up loving basketball, watching this tournament, and embracing so many huge shots and surprise victories.

Keith Smart.  Tyus Edney.  Bo Kimble.  John Wallace.  Danny Manning.  Scoonie Penn.  Stacey Augmon.  Johnny Dawkins.

Who could forget Eric “The Cricket” McLaughlin or Kenny “The Mouse” McFadden?  “Never Nervous” Pervis Ellison.   Bryce Drew.  And now, Denaro Thomas of Murray State hits a 15-footer to beat Vandy.

From unsung to heroic, right in front of our nation’s eyes.

I suppose we shouldn’t try to make sense of the madness at all – we should enjoy it!

Got a favorite March Madness memory?  I’d love to hear it…

MURRAY STATE??

Before you judge, read…

We do it all the time.  We observe what other people are doing.  We hear what he said and how he said it.  We see how she spends her time.  We notice what he’s got and guess how much he spent for it.

We human beings tend to observe the things done and said by other human beings.  For some reason, our thoughts move beyond mere observation.

From observation to evaluation.  “He didn’t say that right.”  “She doesn’t do this right.”  “They obviously made a great decision,” or “they had no idea what they were doing over there.”

With our eyes, we observe.  With our minds, we evaluate.  It just happens.

But what happens next is up to you.  You face a decision to become a friend or a critic.  After observation and evaluation, you can choose the next step.

Is the next step something like condemnation?  This is pretty common.  We observe what someone does, we don’t like it, and we call that person a name.  We gossip about them.  We proceed to judge them in some way, and sometimes we just close the book. It’s a vicious thing to judge another person, even if they never know you did it.  You render his behavior inappropriate and lock him up in your own mental prison.  “He’s such an idiot.”  “That sin she committed was disgusting and un-called for, she deserves whatever punishment she gets!” “I’ll never trust him again.”

Somewhere, a voice from the past whispers thoughts that are contrary to the idea of condemning others…

“Judge not, or you too will be judged.”  Jesus said things like that.  Be careful what you do with your observations and your evaluations.  They are necessary and often “instinctual,” but we should be careful what we do with them.

You can see, you can observe, you can ask… but… simply… who am I to judge anyone? Who am I to condemn another person?  To slander?  To gossip about them?  To wish punishment for them?  To rejoice in their demise?  To revel in all the ways and circumstances where I have been better than him?  To laugh or poke fun at such “losers?”  Who am I to ‘judge’ these?

Here’s who I am…

I am a sinner too.  I am a human being with flaws and regrets.  I am a subject of observation, evaluation, and…  well…

Jesus’ words seem to indicate that if I respond to people in a certain way, then I will get the same kind of response.  Golden Rule.  Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Two implications here.

First, I should always remember that others are evaluating me.  People watch my behavior too, and they are making their own observations and thoughts…  If I am harsh on them, they will be harsh on me.  If I resort to anger, then why shouldn’t they?

Second, and most important, one of those “others” is God.  God notices how we treat other people.  Are you critical?  Are you a gossip?  Are you happy to see someone else fail?  Are you tough in evaluating others, but unwilling to humbly admit your own blind spots?

It’s all there in Matthew 7:1-6.  A great passage that hits us all right in the face.

Observe all you want.  Be careful how (or IF) you evaluate others.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  Recognize that nobody appointed you as sovereign judge or evaluator of the behavior of others.  Choose, literally, to mind your own business.

And certainly, hear this fair warning – not from me, but from God himself – “judge not, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.”