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Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!”
David’s lament after receiving news of the defeat of Israel’s King Saul and the death of his son Jonathan, David’s best friend, is recorded in 2 Samuel 1:25 NLT. Perhaps you saw it dramatized in part two of THE BIBLE miniseries, March 10th on History Channel. The Scripture has crossed over into popular culture and expresses my expanding grief in recent weeks and months. Where better to let it spill over than in blog space!
Check out exclusive video on The Bible by clicking here.
Think about the “mighty” in today’s world, who have reached places of stunning achievement, leadership and admiration—hero status in the eyes of many, only to be exposed as liars and cheats who will do anything to achieve their goals. No victory on the golf course for Tiger Woods will succeed in impressing me, after the exposure of living a lie as a dishonorable husband and father. Likewise, Arnold Schwarzenegger who loves to play the movie hero and served two terms as the 38th Governor of the State of California, has terminated any respect I had for his gifts, charm and motivations. Somehow these indiscretions were even more disturbing when a decorated military leader like General David Petraeus displayed Hollywood morals and was forced to resign as Director of the C.I.A. Seven time Tour de France champion cyclist Lance Armstrong repeatedly and convincingly denied charges of using illicit performance-enhancing drugs, for so many years that the USADA branded him “a serial cheat” with “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.” Talk about a history maker!
Jesus makes this appeal…
”And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Matthew 16: 26 NLT
Proverbs 22: 1 says; “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
It’s not just a disillusioned public that’s on my heart; what about their devastated children and a whole generation coming up behind us that is desperately seeking role models. Beyond comic book characters, are there real heroes—men and women of integrity in today’s society?
“God’s Honour Roll” in Hebrews 11 names men and women “of whom the world was not worthy” (v. 38).
These individuals “through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised (V. 33). They were not perfect. You need only read the Old Testament accounts for details of their failings, but their “weakness was turned to strength” (v.34) through their dependence on God and His power. That’s why the apostle James warned against favouritism and judging people’s value by worldly standards. “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love him?” (v. 5) The apostle Paul writes that “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” (1 Cor. 1:27)
There are no unimportant people in the Body of Christ. Even as I type this, faces come to mind of godly men and women whom I have had the privilege of meeting and interviewing on 100 Huntley Street. Sometimes I have been surprised that they still walk this earth. You might not know the names of these true heroes… but Heaven does. Their self-sacrifice, patient endurance and eternal investment is so counter-culture. My spiritual life has been shaped by their journeys and their character.
Steve Saint, wasn’t quite 5 when he lost his Dad in 1956. Nate Saint, the missionary pilot was martyred along with four other courageous young American men when they attempted to make peaceful contact with a primitive tribe in Ecuador. Elisabeth Elliott, who lost her husband Jim, and Rachel Saint, Steve’s aunt lived with the Waodani People. Also known as Aucas, they were trapped in a downward spiral of revenge and violence. Through the women’s demonstration of God’s love and forgiveness a stronghold of Satan was torn down. Rachel Saint lived among the tribe for her remaining 36 years, translating God’s Word into their language, teaching them about “God’s Carving” (the Bible), and “how to follow God’s trail”. Steve would visit in the summers, and was baptized by two of the men who were part of the massacre. When Steve’s children reached their teens, they too would be baptized by “Grandfather Mincaye”, the man who murdered their biological grandfather, in the very river where the men had died. Rachel was named “Nemo” (“Star”)by the tribe, many of whom were transformed by coming to know Jesus. In 1994 when Aunt Rachel died, Steve was asked to come with his family and live amongst them, to help them improve their living conditions. Steve took enough dentistry to teach the man who speared his father how to drill and care for his people’s teeth! Out of the tough obedience of embracing jungle life for a year, came a ministry; I—TEC. Indigenous People’s Training and Education Center, has taken Steve and Mincaye around the world to teach practical skills to Indigenous people.
Steve’s memoirs are recorded in the book END OF THE SPEAR, which became a major motion picture in 2005.
Five years earlier, on March 2nd, 2000, the most famous missionary story of our time came to life when Steve and Mincaye walked into the green room at Crossroads. I had taken my children out of primary school to meet these heroes of the faith. Our time with them was a joy and delight. Just a couple of months after that interview we learned that Steve’s lovely 20 year-old daughter Stephanie died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than 9 hours after returning home from a year of traveling as a missionary. Grandfather Mincaye spoke at her memorial service, and Steve’s eulogy was a stunning example of living your life with eternity in view.
June 13, 2012 while testing new equipment for the mission field, a safety belt snapped and an aluminum wing struck Steve in the head. The spinal cord injury left him partially paralyzed. At 61, Steve is back on his feet with the use of a walker, still facing hours of physical therapy in the recovery process. There is nothing you can throw at this man that will keep him from serving the Kingdom of God and bringing glory to His Lord and Saviour. Spend some time with Steve online, and let him minister hope to your heart.
While you are enjoying stories of amazing grace and indomitable faith, go to 100huntley.com and meet a few more of my heroes, like Don Richardson, Dr. Helen Roseveare and Dr. Neil Anderson—to name just a few.
David was Israel’s greatest king. Let me remind you that his sins trump any of those mentioned in the opening paragraph of this blog. His adultery and the murder he arranged were followed by genuine repentance! He wrote, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” (1 Chronicles 29: 17) The historian, Dr. Luke records David’s epilogue in Acts 13:36: “…after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors…” How’s that for finishing well? It’s never too late for God to rewrite the text of your life!
David prayed….
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Check out your alignment with this passage in Ephesians 5: 1-14:
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Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful May the fire of our devotion light their way May the footprints that we leave Lead them to believe And the lives we live inspire them to obey. Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. -Steve Green
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“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall at last unveil.” John Ruskin
Once in awhile you read something that makes you laugh and cry at the same time.
Dr. Mark Rutland, the third president of Oral Roberts University was with us on February 20th with his New York Times best seller, entitled—RELAUNCH—How To Stage An Organizational Comeback. Now, that isn’t likely to touch a felt need in our average viewer-- but wait for it! Two of the most powerful encouragers in Dr. Rutland’s early life were women--his mother, and a precious school teacher.
I have lost count of 100 Huntley Street guests who have had to overcome a defiling, defeating, discouraging comment from a parent or teacher. It only takes one to brand a child and derail their destiny! Dr. Phil says, “You can always tell people who live within their label, because they lack passion.” Report cards regularly reminded my husband that he was “just average”. He often heard his parents echo this assessment of their second of seven children. One teacher prophesied that Richard would never graduate high school. By the grace of God, knowing there was more in him than the label he wore for so many years, Richard pulled out into the passing lane and graduated from university fourth in his class, Summa Cum Laude, and went on to earn a Master’s degree. There is nothing about the man I didn’t dare to dream that is just average!
Oh the power of our words!!! James 3:5 warns “…the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.” May God’s Spirit ignite our hearts, correct our course and fuel our mission through Dr. Rutland’s delightful stories…
“When I was in fifth grade, I had a teacher named Mrs. Burkett. My family was living in a mean little town somewhere in Florida. The school held kindergarten through twelfth grade in one shabby building. There were fights every day. It was a pretty scary place for an eleven-year-old new kid to try to fit in.
The saving grace was Mrs. Burkett. She was a short, rotund little woman, and she wasn’t particularly well educated. In fact, she taught me a mispronunciation of Mesopotamia that came back to haunt me decades later when I was giving a talk at the University of Maryland. That’s for another book. Whatever Mrs. Burkett’s shortcomings, she more than made up for them on the first Monday of every month.
On those Mondays at the unwelcoming little school, she would rub her chubby hands together and glance around the room with twinkling eyes. “Class,” she’d say, “it’s Dream Day!” Knowing what was coming, the students would quickly circle up their chairs and wait expectantly. And one by one, for as long as it took, we would go around the room and tell our dreams for the future. There were two rules for Dream Day: first, everybody had to share a dream. That dream could change from month to month (and they usually did), but no one was allowed to take a pass. And second, nobody was allowed to laugh at a classmate’s dream, no matter how unlikely it sounded. Anybody who laughed, giggled, or so much as raised an eyebrow would have to stand out in the hall during the next month’s Dream Day. Believe me, no one wanted to miss Dream Day.
I’ll never forget Danny Raffield’s dream. He was a lumbering dangerous hulk, and not the sharpest knife in the drawer. The way I remember him, he was about thirty-seven the year we were both in grade five.
“So, Danny,” Mrs. Burkett asked, “tell us about your dream.”
“I want to be an astronaut,” Danny said. He pronounced it “aster-nawt”.
I didn’t laugh (I had been warned!), but I did think, Yeah, that’s gonna happen. If Danny Raffield goes into space, it will be with the chimpanzees.
Mrs. Burkett acted as if Danny’s dream made perfect sense. She clasped her hands together and got this dreamy look as though she was looking into stars. She gushed, “Won’t it be exciting for me when I’m sitting on my couch, watching television, and the news announcer says, ‘There’s Colonel Danny Raffield of NASA and the United States Air Force climbing into his space capsule… Wait, he’s lifting the visor on his space helmet. It looks like he wants to make some kind of announcement.’
“And then imagine my surprise,” Mrs. Burkett went on, “when you announce, ‘I’d like to dedicate this flight to Mrs. Burkett and all the students of 5A.’”
Everybody in 5A erupted in cheers. “Hurray for Danny! Hurray for astronauts!” And I thought, This imbecile is actually going to do it! Danny Raffield is going to fly to the moon.
Maise Blanchard was a pale, skinny little girl with crooked teeth and dishwater blonde hair that hung limp on either side of a sad face. She came from a poor family; she wore the same print dress to school every day, and her shoes were castoffs from her older brothers. Her dream, she said, was to be a movie star.
“Won’t that be exciting?” Mrs. Burkett gasped. “I’ll be settling into my seat at the movie theater with my coke and my popcorn, and the lion will roar and the screen will say, ‘Starring Maisey Blanchard!’ And I’ll turn around and announce to everybody else in the theater, ‘You might not realize this, but I taught Maisey Blanchard in the fifth grade.’”
Against all the evidence, I thought, This girl is going to be rich and famous someday. I’d better be nice to her.
“How about you, Mark?” Mrs. Burkett asked me. “What is your dream?” As far as I know, no adult had ever asked me that. I had never thought to ask myself. So I was as surprised as anybody when I announced that I wanted to write books when I grew up. Mrs. Burkett thought that was a brilliant idea.
I don’t know if Danny ever signed on with NASA or if Maisey made it to Hollywood. But this is my fourteenth book, and I’m convinced I wouldn’t have written the first word if Mrs. Burkett hadn’t nurtured that dream. In fact, I might not have accomplished anything at all. I might not have considered what I really wanted to be or what I thought I was made to do. I might not ever have thought about how even my smallest dream could become a practical reality, about how dreams need plans and doing to take on earthly form. But all these things did happen, and they happened because someone looked at me as though I had meaning and asked what I wanted that meaning to be.
Now, with Mrs. Burkett’s help, turnaround leadership becomes a simple thing to define: it is a matter of asking the meaning—the dream—of an organization and doggedly executing a careful plan to make it so. I first saw it modeled by a sweet, chubby woman who didn’t even know how to pronounce Mesopotamia.
Ah… I’ve just laughed and cried…again. Perhaps this story will always touch my heart because I had a Mrs. Burkett. My Kindergarten teacher, Cora Bailey impacted generations of children. I ploughed through snowdrifts on “Snow Days” just to be with her. There was always a warm welcome and a consistent, safe and happy environment in her classroom. She didn’t probe our dreams, but she made “Show and Tell” a daily adventure. For over forty years I’ve been making a career of it! My most important broadcast training took place at the age of six, when I learned to listen respectfully and take an interest in other people’s stories, while being lovingly supported as I communicated mine.
Everyone needs a dream… and someone to champion it. Do you know that the One who made you for Himself is your Champion? He wants you to trust Him for what seems impossible. He is already cheering you on!!!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
May this excerpt from Dr. Rutland’s book turn us into C.E.O.’s (Chief Encouragement Officers)…right where we are!
You can meet Dr. Rutland here...
http://crossroads360.com/watch?v={4252A284-E456-4DB5-A933-C1789F30B763}&s=1#.UTEG21fhcnU
Watch for another interview where he shares more of his personal story—coming soon.
Dr. Rutland’s book is at our estore here...
http://crossroads.ca/product?stock_code=EO290
The saying is tied to the belief that there should be a balance in weather and life!
If the month roars in with the kind of cold temperatures and snowstorms that have blasted so much of the U.S. this week (and made me so thankful yesterday that my husband cleared one side of the garage for a car)…we can ONLY HOPE that March will end warm and sunny. Please note: the idiom should NOT be taken as a weather prediction!
There is an incomparable unchanging “balance” when the Lion and Lamb come together in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
When the Lord called Roma Downey, and then her husband Mark Burnett to bring THE BIBLE to dramatic life for a television miniseries (starting this Sunday night at 8-10pm on History Channel and each Sunday till Easter), they were passionate about finding the right person to portray Jesus. Mark said to Roma, “He’s got to look strong, like a carpenter. He is described as ‘meek’, but meek is not weak. Jesus needs to be shown with the human strength of a manual worker but with the compassion and love of a saviour.” Roma responded, “Yes, the Lion and the Lamb”. They were down to just a few weeks before filming was to begin when Roma sent an urgent prayer request to her support network. I think you will agree that Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado is winsome in the role.
Easter is approaching and it’s early this year. As a child I always looked forward to new white shoes for church and the sound they made on newly dry sidewalks. We may have to submit to winter attire this Easter Sunday. It’s March 31st—the LAST DAY OF THE MONTH! Whatever the weather, the triumph of the most important celebration on the Christian calendar will not be diminished!
THE LION AND THE LAMB is a stirring song that my soul seeks out in this season. The first time I heard it, Steve Green sang it in our Crossroads Towne Square.
Here are the beautiful lyrics…
Who is He...Who's the mightiest of all
Who is He...Creation trembles at His call
Who is He...The lowly sacrifice, who paid a victim’s price
His name is Jesus
Jesus...From the Father's own right hand
Jesus...Son of God and son of man
Jesus...Who died and rose again
Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb
Who is He...With the power none can tame
Who is He...That every foe would fear His name
Who is He...Who was humbly led away, to suffer that dark day
His name is Jesus
He's the Lion and the Lamb
He's the Lamb that was slain
He's the Lion that reigns
My Savior and King both the same
Who is He...With the eyes that burn like fire
Who is He...Oh the wonder He inspires
Who is He...Who bore the guilt and shame
For those who've gone astray
His name is Jesus
He's the Lion and He is... healer from the Father's own right hand
Jesus...Son of God and son of man
Jesus...Who died and rose again
Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb