Remembering A Dark Past

Yesterday, millions of Americans celebrated the annual observance of Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the announcement of slavery's abolition in the state of Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln almost three years prior to this date, it was not until June 19, 1865 that the first official declaration of freedom for all slaves was made in Galveston, Texas. On that day, General Gordon Granger and 2,000 of his men arrived to take possession of the state and enforce the law that Lincoln's signature had put in place three years earlier.

This is a day that brings joy to every freedom loving American. However, it is also a day that brings to memory one of the darkest parts of our great nation's history. Though not every slave was treated as badly as others, most accounts and photos we see from the 1850's and 1860's tell a grim tale of human oppression.

The basic problems are these:

1. A slave's person is deemed the property of another human being.
2. A slave's will is completely subject to the "owner's" authority.
3. A slave's labor is obtained against their will by coercion.

Truly, one of the most sinister and perverted states of mind any man can have is to view another human being created in the image of God as his own property. Consider these basic Bible principles:

1. Since all human beings are created in the image of God, they are all equally worthy of our respect (Genesis 1:28).
2. All human beings are loved equally by God (John 3:16).
3. Every man and woman is to love their fellow man as themselves (Matthew 22:39).

It is difficult to imagine very many scenarios that violate more principles of God's word than the practice of slavery. And though this nation has come a great distance in the past 150 years, the problems of racism still exist (and perhaps always will). As long as there are men and women who will not demonstrate love and compassion for everyone on an equal plane, this will always be a problem -- amongst all races.

At the very least, let's do our part to show the world that the people of God will not only speak about "the golden rule," but will actually live it as well. The next time you hear someone use a derogatory racial term, let them know (kindly) that you do not concur. The next time someone stereotypes a certain group or tells an off-color joke about a certain set of people, don't laugh (not even that nervous and uncomfortable laugh). This is an area where we can have a significant impact on a regular basis.

Let your light shine every day.

r2

Keeping It In Perspective

Earlier this week, I received a phone call from my brother-in-law, Ben, who lives in Tennessee. Ben had received a call from his brother, Dave, in Florida who had made an interesting discovery.

Dave had been making an effort to find my parents' address on WhitePages.com. He typed "Roark" into the name field, and their ZIP code into the address field. He found what he was looking for, but also came across an additional entry with my name listed.

This in itself was not an interesting discovery since Kelly and I did indeed live and work in this same Tennessee town for two and one-half years. The intrigue begins with the job title listed under the entry with my name. It still had me listed as an employee of the West Fayetteville church of Christ, but with the job title listed as "false teacher" (click on the image above to see the screen capture).

Apparently, anyone with internet access is able to submit a name and job title. Dave was somewhat hesitant to let Ben call me with this piece of news, but being my best friend and brother-in-law (some say we were separated at birth), Ben knew exactly how I would take it: with great amusement.

Now, don't get me wrong...being labeled as a "false teacher" is no laughing matter -- especially if there is any validity to such an assertion. Understand, however, that when someone anonymously submits someone's name with that label to a website, that can be somewhat difficult to take seriously. It shows a genuine lack of character and courage, to say the least. And so, one might have to say in a situation as this, "consider the source."

While Ben and I were having a good chuckle over this, he asked if I could think of anyone who might be behind this. My answer was that I had only one or two guesses (after all, I'm not all that well-known!), but it would be impossible to say with any degree of certainty. Besides, I was not overly concerned with the situation in the first place.

Had this situation arisen in my younger days, I may have been hurt, angry, and on a mission to find the culprit. Now, at the advanced age of 30, I've found it much easier to keep situations like this in its proper perspective. For this, I give God the glory...

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:14-26, ESV

When we allow the Spirit of God to operate and mold our lives through the Scriptures, the difference will be plainly evident.

r2

God's Grace As A Teacher

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...
Titus 2:11-13, ESV

Men and women through the centuries have extolled the magnificent grace of God. Beloved old hymns and countless sermons have impressed upon the minds of multiplied millions the wonders of God's undeserved yet unreserved kindness to man. Consider the following brief points from the inspired words Paul wrote to Titus...


A. God's grace brings salvation (v. 11a).
B. God's grace has appeared to all men (v. 11b).
C. God's grace teaches six crucial concepts (v. 12-13).

1. We must renounce ungodliness (v. 12a).
2. We must renounce worldly passions (v. 12b).
3. We must live self-controlled lives (v. 12c).
4. We must live upright lives (v. 12d).
5. We must live godly lives (v. 12e).
6. Doing all the above will enable us to anticipate the return of Christ (v. 13).

r2

Love's Lists

Read 1 Corinthians 13, and notice the description of what love is and is not.






Love is/does:

Patient (v. 4a)
Kind (v. 4b)
Rejoice with the truth (v. 6b)
Bear all things (v. 7a)
Believe all things (v. 7b)
Hope all things (v. 7c)
Endure all things (v. 7d)
Never ending (v. 8a)


Love is not/does not:

Envy (v. 4c)
Boast (v. 4d)
Arrogant (v. 4e)
Rude (v. 5a)
Insist on its own way (v. 5b)
Irritable (v. 5c)
Resentful (v. 5d)
Rejoice at wrongdoing (v. 6a)


Thus, when we find ourselves reflecting some portion of the latter list, we can know assuredly that our actions are not according with love. Let us strive day by day to implement more characteristics from the former, and less from the latter.

r2

You Say, God Says

You say: It's impossible
God says: "All things are possible" (Luke 18:27)


You say: I'm too tired
God says: "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: Nobody really loves me
God says: "I love you" (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: I can't go on
God says: "My grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: I can't figure things out
God says: "I will direct your steps" (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: I can't do it
God says: "You can do all things" (Philippians 4:13)

You say: I'm not able
God says: "I am able" (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: It's not worth it
God says: "It will be worth it" (Romans 8:28)

You say: I can't forgive myself
God says: "I FORGIVE YOU" (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: I can't manage
God says: "I will supply all your needs" (Philippians 4:19)

You say: I'm afraid
God says: "I have not given you a spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: I'm always worried and frustrated
God says: "Cast all your cares on ME" (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: I don't have enough faith
God says: "I've given everyone a measure of faith" (Romans 12:3)

You say: I'm not smart enough
God says: "I give you wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:30)

You say: I feel all alone
God says: "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)

r2

She Bit Her Tongue, He Was Impressed

Melina Salazar learned firsthand the value of being kind to one's fellow man.

Melina is the Texas woman who, at the close of 2007, was given $50,000 and a 2000 Buick. The money and the car belonged to 89-year-old Walter "Buck" Swords, a regular patron at the Luby's cafeteria where Salazar worked as a waitress.

For nearly seven years, Ms. Salazar put up with what was apparently one of the most cantankerous and cranky customers one could ever imagine. She put on a smile and showed remarkable restraint for all that time. Mr. Swords was most favorably impressed.

Swords died in July of 2007, but it was just days before Christmas in 2007 that Salazar received word that she had been placed in Mr. Swords' will.

There is a lesson here for all of us. Being kind to those who are kind is no great feat. Is that not what Jesus said?

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:46, ESV

Yes, part of loving one's enemy involves self-restraint (a big part!). Bringing one's emotions under control is a sign of spiritual maturity (Galatians 5:22-23) and goes a long way toward becoming a "peacemaker" (Matthew 5:9).

The "reward" of which Christ spoke in the verse above refers primarily to the heavenly reward. But every so often -- as in the case with Melina Salazar -- there may be an additional reward for one's kindness.

Be conscious of how kind you are to those around you today, and every day!

r2

Hot-Tempered Woman Burned Up Over Heat

A Michigan couple made headlines this week after having a disagreement about the temperature of their home.

When Joseph Grucz asked his wife, Cheryl, to turn up the heat, she grabbed the couple's gun and fired one round. The bullet missed Joseph, but instead struck and destroyed the couple's flat-screen television (which is just simply a tragedy in its own right, in my book).

While speaking with the police dispatch operator as he hid his head under a pillow, Joseph claimed Cheryl was, "all excited about it because she's so cheap."

Well, let's look on the bright side here: Mrs. Grucz's frugality is certainly commendable, as is her determination to conserve energy and be "green." Okay, we're probably stretching a bit there, but you get the idea.

Despite her best efforts to be fiscally and environmentally conscious, one would hope Mrs. Grucz will be able to manage her temper more effectively in the future.

No doubt, each of us can recall a time or two (or seventy) where we let our own tempers get the best of us. Remember, anger is a natural human emotion. The difference is made in how our actions are affected by that anger:

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27, ESV

So lest we ruin a perfectly good flat-screen television (or worse), let us always remember to take a moment to collect ourselves when the blood begins to "boil."

r2

Thoughts On 'The Christian Graces'

Verses five through seven of Second Peter chapter one are commonly referred to as, "The Christian Graces."

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:5-7, ESV

Consider these brief thoughts relative to "The Christian Graces":

1. All of us need these.
2. All of us need all of them.
3. None of us are born this way.
4. Adding these to our character will enable both others and ourselves to see that we are a child of God.

r2

Brotherly Love Conquers All

Tomorrow night (Friday, September 28th) at 8:00 p.m., the West Virginia Mountaineers will take the field at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. They will line up against the South Florida Bulls in what is being hyped as one of the biggest games in all of college football this season, and as one of the biggest games in the history of the Big East conference.

The University of South Florida is an institution comprised of more than 40,000 undergraduate students in Tampa. It also happens to be the university my wife, Kelly, and I attended. We have been devoted fans of the Bulls (especially football and men's basketball) since our time there in the late 1990's and early 2000's.

Obviously, Kelly and I are "pumped" for Friday night's showdown on ESPN. We are in the middle of ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) country here, but we have at least two WVU Mountaineer fans that I know of here at Cold Harbor. I have been preparing both of these brothers for their defeat over the past two or three weeks, but I am not convinced they are ready to handle the deep depression that will set in when the clock reads 0:00 and the point total under "Bulls" is higher than that under "Mountaineers" (sorry guys, had to say it!).

I write all that to say this: No matter how passionate we may be about a sports team or any other interest in life, there ought to be nothing that supercedes these two things:

1. Our love for God
2. Our love for our fellow man

While we should be good and kind to everyone about us, our Christian brothers and sisters should occupy a unique reservation in the love we bestow (Galatians 6:10). Would you believe churches have been split and preachers have lost their jobs due to arguments about football games?!?! 'Tis true! What a tragedy when brethren place greater value on their allegiance to a sports teams (or anything else) than on their relationship in Christ.

It is so rewarding to have Christian brothers like Joe and Steve. We can enjoy the rivalry on the field, all the while maintaining our love for and commitment to Christ and one another.

Friend, never allow anything this world has to offer come between you and your Lord, nor you and your brother!

ps -- be sure to turn on ESPN2 tomorrow night @ 8:00 p.m. to see the Bulls stampede!!

r2

Clothed With Humility

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5, ESV

Good guys, and bad guys: Every movie has them. If you have "a team," every game has them. Life itself has "good guys and bad guys," too.

Men and women who have considered the evidence, and therefore, have faith in the God of the Bible understand the very simple choice in life every individual must make: Serve the Lord of all goodness and love, or the great deceiver who tempts and destroys in this realm and that which is to be. It comes down to good guys and bad guys. And although God "made man upright" (Ecclesiastes 7:29), we have all sought out many schemes. We have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Our own pride led us away from God, and that puts us on the side of "the bad guys."

Truly, God stands in opposition when we allow pride to chart life's course. The potential for the happy ending is there, though! The latter part of the statement from First Peter chapter five above reveals, of a truth, that God will bestow his kindness (i.e. grace) to those who will draw near to him in self-resigned humility. A chance to be on the side of "the good guys." A chance to serve God in humility, to be sure; but also an opportunity to gain a more complete understanding of how to treat our fellow man with respect and dignity.

The instruction given in the God-breathed statement above is to "clothe yourselves" with humility when it comes to our dealings with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Certainly, the same applies to our treatment of the entire human race. In the original language, the phrase, "clothe yourselves" is a term (engkomboosasthe), occurring only this once in the New Testament. It is a verb formed from kombos, which means "a knot," or "a buckle." As the verb occurs here in First Peter, it means, "to attach," or "to fasten." As Ceslas Spicq points out, "It evokes the large apron that workers or slaves fitted or fastened to their tunics to protect them."

Such an apron was one of the primary ways in which slaves (indentured servants) were distinguished from freemen during the first century. The idea, then, is that every Christian ought to present himself to his neighbor in a spirit of modesty and self-denial gained by an attitude that is firmly fitted with the "apron" of humility."

How many problems (both within the church and without) would be averted if every man would so clothe himself?

r2

A Balanced Life

These days, we hear about the importance of balance on a regular basis. Balanced diet, balanced bank account, balancing one's time wisely, balance beams........okay, that's one too many.

Truly, balance is a virtue. You and I should be striving for spiritual balance. The Bible says,

Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left...
Joshua 23:6, ESV

The people of God ought to avoid extremes. We should be committed to being Biblical -- ignoring terms such as "conservative," or "liberal." Can we not simply strive to be "Biblical?" Consider a handful of practical suggestions on creating and maintaining balance:

God's people ought to be...



SELF-RELIANT, but not Self-sufficient


STEADFAST, but not Stubborn


TACTFUL, but not Timid


SERIOUS, but not Sullen


UNMOVABLE, but not Stationary


GENTLE, but not Hypersensitive


TENDERHEARTED, but not Touchy


CONSCIENTIOUS, but not Perfectionistic

r2

One Weak Valve Equals One Big Mess

Those who know me at least somewhat well are well aware of the fact that I am one of the most squeamish of all the people who have ever walked the face of this planet. It's not only the sight of blood or an injury that will cause me to squirm and feel ill. Often just hearing about it will cause me to be weak in the knees! I've always said it's a good thing I had no aspirations to work in the medical field, for my dreams would have been dashed early on.

I struggled mightily in my science classes in which I was responsible for dissecting everything from a cow's eye (yuck!), to a frog (ugh!), to a fetal pig (ahhhh!), to a cat (excuse me for a moment........). Don't bother sending me emails making fun of my wimpiness, for I acknowledge it in full.

I'm glad I was sitting down this morning when I read a story about a certain tanker truck spill in the Pacific Northwest. This past Wednesday, the truck -- carrying 4,000 pounds of pig blood -- spilled all its contents on a roadway in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Zoikes!! Biohazard teams were sent to clean up the scene caused by a broken valve on the tanker truck.

Here are the numbers:

4,000 pounds pig blood
200 feet of roadway
1 tanker truck
1 broken valve on said tanker truck

That tanker truck was only as strong as its weakest link, and its weakest link happened to be exceptionally weak! The church of God is a living organism, made up of all sorts of individuals. At any point in time -- past, present, or future -- that number will always include those who are experiencing a spell of weak faith.

How are we to treat these brothers and sisters?

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."
1 Thessalonians 5:14, ESV

If my counting is correct, this divine directive includes four verbs -- four terms of action God prescribes for our dealings with a weak brother or sister.

1. Admonish
2. Encourage
3. Help
4. Be patient

So friend, while holding fast to and being uncompromising with the doctrine of Christ, take care to admonish, encourage, help, and be patient with our weak brethren. When your own weaker times come, you will need the same!

R2