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Exhilaration turns to sorrow

By Dave Harris (Jan 4, 2006)

Imagine the gut-wrenching emotional roller coaster of mining families in West Virginia.

First, they heard about their miner loved ones trapped after an explosion.

Then, they had hope of a rescue.

Next, they heard the terrible news that contaminants in the air were three times the toxic levels.

Later, among whoops and hollers and arms raised in joy, they heard that 12 were alive.

Finally, with utter horror, they heard that the rumors were false, and 12 miners were dead.

How would you feel?

One family member reported that "one minute they were praising God. The next minute they were cursing," he said. "One person shouted, 'What the hell has God done for us?"

While I can understand the feelings I am, like you, deeply saddened by the reaction. I am reminded of two examples in scripture:

"With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on" (James 3:9-10).

How would I react to such a reversal of news? How would you react?

In another passage, Acts 28, a snake fastened itself to Paul's hand. The crowd thought God was punishing him for his sins. When Paul shook the snake into the fire, suddenly the crowd psychology reversed and the people thought he was a god.

Do I too often go along with the crowd? I have found that crowd psychology is too often wrong.

It's too easy for me to judge reactions. It's too easy for me to miss the mark. And far too often, I was surprised by the reactions of people after I said something that was misunderstood.

I managed a staff of professional communicators, but I found that we communication pros often fell short of clear communication. As Isaiah asked, "Who believes our report?"

It is especially difficult to deliver the truth when it is bad news.

Emotional roller coaster ...rumors...miscommunication... crowd psychology...crushing news about a loved one...

O Father, our hearts go out to these families. Comfort them by your grace. And, Lord, no matter what happens in my own life, whether the news seemingly is good or bad, may I be so rooted and grounded and engrafted in You that I may rest in You and that You would use me to provide Your healing words and actions to others.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you" (Matthew 5:4, Message).

An attitude of going beyond the platitude

By Dave Harris (Jan. 2, 2006)

 “Have a blessed New Year.” What does that mean?

 A divorced mother came to my divorce recovery class in Seattle about 15 years ago. Her story wrenched my heart. She had been a pastor’s wife, and he had run off with another woman. I’ll never forget what she told us.

 “When I was trying to comfort troubled people in the church, I used what I now know are platitudes. I’d say ‘God bless you,’ or ‘I’ll pray for you,’ or even a scripture, ‘All things work together for good…’”

 After she was abandoned, she learned that sometimes those words needed something more. They needed helping hands and feet.

 The dictionary defines “platitude” as a “banal, trite, or stale remark.” I hesitate to pass this along. Can scripture be so described?

 I think the answer goes deep into our motives. If we carelessly utter a platitude in the hope of avoiding involvement, we simply fail to deliver. How do things work together for good? God often uses us to make things happen.

 I was teaching a Christ Memorial Sunday School class that Ethel Zaren, a Colombian American, attended. It was the first Sunday School class she had attended as an adult, and she loves the Lord. About half-way through the quarter, Ethel walked in with three kids and announced that her daughter was dying and Ethel now had responsibility for her grandchildren.

 The classmates could have told Ethel, “Go in peace.” “All the best to you.” “You’re on our prayer list.” Those are all good. But, believing God wanted to use the class members in a miracle, they mobilized to provide housing, home maintenance, financial aid, legal services and alerted church members, who donated furniture, clothing, food and finances.

 It didn’t end with a fiery launch. The commitment continued over the long haul.

 It’s the same in the Men’s Roundtable. Tony Fend was dying. The men of the Roundtable did more than search for the right words. They sat with him 24 hours a day, praying and providing and being a conduit for God’s ministry to Tony.

I sometimes get an email from someone needing help in the form of hard labor. At first I lacked faith that anyone would help. But then I would hear from such men as Claude Best, Jerry Springer, Walt Malley and numerous others who would step up and make it happen – motivated by a gentle and loving thumb in their backs belonging to the Holy Spirit. I’ll not doubt that needed help will come though in the future.

“Have a blessed New Year.” That means that when the going gets tough, you can count on the blessing of God, working through the brothers of the Roundtable. It doesn’t mean you won’t feel pain or frustration. It means the men of the Roundtable allow themselves to be used of God to express their gratitude with their hands and feet.

As one brother put it, “I always thought tithing was solving problems by throwing money at it. I’m learning that tithing also means giving of your time.”

 God uses brothers to go far beyond mere platitudes. That’s what makes the Men’s Roundtable unlike any other group of guys.

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