Life Is Short

Psalm 103:15-18 - As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;  the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord 's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children —  with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Life on this earth is short.

Tuesday my wife and I drove south on State Route 3. I can't remember if we stopped at SR 3 and Trojan Lane. We were talking about the jump in the price of gas and how we should fill up while we could still find it cheap - not really cheap but cheaper.

While we were pumping gas at I-70 we saw a police car heading north with its lights on.

It seems that just minutes after we safely made it through that intersection in New Castle, another husband and wife did not.

Life on this earth is short.

On March 31^st my father had a massive hemorrhagic stroke - a bleeding in the brain. I flew to Florida and was with my parents and my two brothers for several days. Dad was in a comatose state, but responded occasionally to touch or conversation.

Hospice was called in, and we soon meet with a counselor. She suggested that we talk with dad because he might still be able to hear. She suggested we tell him four things.

Tell him you love him.

Tell him you will take care of your mom.

Tell him you forgive him for anything he has done to hurt you.

Ask him to forgive you for anything you have done to hurt him.

My brothers and I looked around at each other. We could do two of those things, but there was nothing left to be forgiven. My father had left a legacy of settling accounts quickly. Where forgiveness needed to be sought or offered, it had already happened.

Dad died on April 6^th, but what an incredible gift he left for us - a family with a clean slate; nothing left unsaid.

Life on this earth is short.

There are those today who have things to say - important things - but there is no longer anyone to hear them. There are those who have forgiveness to offer, but there is no one left to receive it.

In Ephesians 4:26 The Apostle Paul writes, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." And Jesus said in His sermon on the mount, "Settle matters quickly . . ."

Life on this earth is short.

My wife and I could have been the couple that people are grieving today. Maybe you and your spouse also went through that same intersection a little after 8:00 pm on Tuesday. The question that screams to be answered is, "Why was it them and not us?" But "why" questions are rarely answered to anyone's satisfaction.

The real question is, "What do I have to say that is still unsaid?" Maybe today is the day to settle accounts. Maybe today is the day to lay a solid foundation for a wonderful legacy.

I don't have answers to the 'why' questions, but there are some things I do know and they are true no matter what happens.

God loves us. And He has shown us how to live, because . . .

Life is short, but God is good.

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The REAL Problem With The Casey Anthony Verdict

What happens when we fail to recognize the biblical foundation of our legal system? We get something like the Casey Anthony verdict.

Nobody is happy with the outcome of the trial, except for maybe Casey and her legal team. Everyone knows there is something wrong when a little girl, almost three-years old, goes missing and her mother doesn't report it. When confronted 31 days after the disappearance, Casey lied multiple times. Deep down, everyone knows that this is not the way a mother would normally respond when her daughter was missing for over a month.

So society cries for justice! Go for the death penalty! Prosecutors, equally outraged, give the public what they are crying for - and lose.

After the verdict, most analysts agree that the prosecution's error was in the death penalty. The case was entirely circumstantial, and a "win" was more likely if they had charged Casey with a lesser charge. But the legal system is not about winning and losing - it's about justice. And everyone, including the prosecution team, had forgotten the biblical foundation of our legal system.

This nation, and it's legal system, was built on principles found in Christian and Jewish scriptures.

The concepts of the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances were instituted because our Founders believed and applied Jeremiah 17:9 to real life - "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" If the heart of every human is deceitful, then power must be distributed among several individuals so that power, when it is misused, can be corrected.

The writers of the Constitution applied Deuteronomy 17:15 to real life and required  our president to be a natural born citizen of the United States. It states, ". . . be sure to appoint over you the king the Lord  your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite."

Article 3, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution dealt with the requirements for a conviction of Treason. Deuteronomy 17:6 reads, "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness." Treason is a capital offence meaning you will be put to death if convicted.

Unfortunately, this foundational scripture was forgotten or ignored when it came time to charge Casey Anthony. There wasn't even one witness willing to testify to the crime (the murder or, if you believe the defense, the cover-up of the accident).

There was no biblical foundation for pursuing the death penalty in the case of Casey Anthony. But charging her with first-degree murder made us all feel good.

There are those who may want to do Casey harm when she is released in the next few hours, but that would be wrong as well. The government has been given charge of meting out justice. Romans 13 reads, ". . .  he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves . . . For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."

Justice comes in a variety of flavors: social, legal, spiritual, and racial, among others. When we pursue justice driven by our emotions, either by creating law or holding someone accountable to it, we will always end up with the kind of mess we are seeing played out this year in Florida.

But if we stand on principles marked out by scripture, the same principles that the Founders used to "form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, and promote the general welfare", we may actually "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." That was their dream - a dream based on truths found in scripture.

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Another American Icon Advocating Death Panels

In April 2009, Sarah Palin suggested that the health care bill being debated in Congress would create death panels; Health care would have to be rationed and health care decisions would be made based on your value to society. She was roundly ridiculed for this statement. "How could anyone believe something so absurd?"

That was before it became law.

Two months ago, another icon of American success made a similar statement that nobody is ridiculing. During a conference at the Aspen Institute, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, stated that we should have the discussion about the benefits of allowing someone to die a few months early so that we can save the jobs of ten teachers.

Gates continued, "But that's called a death panel, and you're not supposed to have that discussion. . . because of our penchant for generosity [in our end-of-life decisions] we will be laying off over 100,000 teachers, which, you know, I'm very much against that." ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrJBY2l1MQQ )

I highly value our public teachers. There are many who are underpaid, and whose jobs are in jeopardy. But we live in a dangerous time when celebrities like Bill Gates can advocate a speedy death for some individuals so that others, who are more beneficial to society, can keep their jobs. Where should we stop? Do we refuse to treat terminal cancer patients so that we can pay first responders like police and firefighters? Do we sacrifice Down's Syndrome individuals so that we can build better highway bridges?

Is there any job that is so valuable that we can justify "buying" it with a human life? And what would a society who was willing to make that transaction look like? Would you really want to live in that kind of a world?

Celebrities have always spoken out on public policy matters, but Gates is more than an icon, he is a wealthy icon who can financially influence public policy decisions. In American society, few are admired more than those who are financially successful. We would do well to listen to Jesus' letter to the church in Laodicea.

"You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." - Revelation 3:17-18

Mother Teresa plainly challenged the idea that life and death decisions can be carried out based on financial considerations. She said, "It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."

Followers of Christ have an obligation to challenge the idea that any life can be traded for financial or social gain. If the people of God remain silent on this issue, the deaths of some people will be accelerated so that others can take benefit financially. Some lives will be deemed "worth-less" so that our tax burden can be reduced. Other lives will be deemed "worth-more" so that politicians can gain and maintain political power. We must act. We must pray.

Pray for those who make social policy. Pray for financial power-players like Bill Gates. Speak out wherever you find this idea. Stand up for those whose lives are jeopardized by policies that trade human lives for financial or social advancement.

No matter how ridiculous this idea sounded yesterday, it may be public policy tomorrow. The structure is already in place, the battle is now in the arena of public opinion. The choice is yours. Choose well.

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How Do You Love?

New Castle Courier-Times Article for Saturday, February 13, 2010

This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. . . Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:10, 18

While New Castle slogs through the heaviest snows of the winter season, I am in Florida with my parents. My father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and my local congregation has graciously allowed me to travel to Florida and help them navigate the trailhead of this new and uncertain journey.

As I learn about Alzheimer's and what is required of their caregivers, I'm realizing that my mom will not be able to walk this road alone. She will need respite from providing care. She will need sleep and good health. She will need a shoulder to cry on and friends who will listen. In short, she will need a loving community of support.

But the passage I began this article with, from John's first letter to the churches, leaves me with a nagging question: are our churches, in truth, loving communities of support?

I know we say we love each other. We say we are praying for each other, and prayer is certainly not passive or useless, but I wonder if that is the extent of our concern.

Some friends of mine were in the final days of a pregnancy when the first of these two snow storms rolled through Central Indiana. I know people were praying for them, but what they really needed was a snow plow. Two individuals offered to provide a snow plow, but fortunately my friends didn't need the snow plow; baby Cohen came between storms.

A pastor friend and his family is walking through the dark valley of the shadow of death and I know there are thousands of people praying for them, but is anybody providing care for them? I know of some that are.

Other people in this community are grieving the loss of a loved one and prayers have been said and continue to be said for those who grieve, but is anybody expressing their love for those who grieve in deeds and not just words?

DC Talk was right several years ago when they released a song called "Luv Is A Verb". Love isn't something we say, it's something we do. Love isn't something we feel, but something we WILL. Remember the classic wedding vows? For better or worse; in sickness and in health?

In better and healthy times it is easy to FEEL love. But in sickness and worse times we often must WILL ourselves to love.

This passage from 1 John challenges me. Am I truly loving or do I just say that I am loving? John is really saying, "Let your actions speak for themselves. Shut up and show that you love each other."

How do we know that Mother Teresa loved the people she ministered to? It's not because of her sermons or speaking ability. We know she loved the people of Calcutta because she gave her life for the dying and destitute of Calcutta. She didn’t have to say anything.

A friend of mine plowed my driveway three times this year, without me asking him to do it or expecting me to pay for it. I know he loves me and my family. My church gave me several days to travel to Florida so that I could express my love for my parents. I know that my church loves me and my family.

The question that haunts me today is, "If people only looked at what I did, and ignored what I said, would they think that I love them?"

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and it is Sunday, a day when we celebrate the Author of Love. As we gather in our churches, will we heed John the Apostle's words? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Any questions or comments? Write me at curt@smdcog.org

You can find me on FACEBOOK at my Facebook Page (http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=504321719).

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Thanks for reading!

A Story Of Self-Sacrifice

Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article for April 11, 2009

As I write this, the story gripping the headlines is the Maersk Alabama hijacking saga; the first pirate capture of a United States boat in about 200 years. Details about the hijacking are fluid, but it appears that the storyline unfolding off the coast of Somalia mirrors a storyline almost 2000 years old.

The Maersk Alabama is a cargo ship laden with food supplies to relieve some of the suffering and starvation in several African nations. A few days ago it was hijacked by Somalian pirates wanting to trade it for ransom money. The economy in Somalia is very depressed and the most efficient way to earn money there is to hijack cargo ships; 66 have been taken since the first of January.

Like I said, the details are still sketchy but the crew members were able to regain control of the ship. Apparently the ship’s captain, Capt. Richard Phillips, has traded himself for the lives of his crew. The outcome of the story is still being determined by the actions of the pirates, the crew, the captain and the U.S. Navy, which is now on the scene. The story of self sacrifice has been played out before in many ways but most notably in the Easter story.

But to fully understand the Easter story, we really need to go back several hundred years earlier to the story of the Exodus. You remember, the story where Charlton Heston raised his staff in the movie, “The Ten Commandments”, and parted the waters for the Israelites to escape the oncoming armies of Egypt. Whether it happened the way Cecil B. DeMille scripted it in the movie we’ll never know, but the bible tells us that what happened before the sea parting was the key to the Israelites release from captivity.

There were several plagues that came upon Egypt in an effort to prompt the Pharaoh to free the Israelites. Each succeeding plague increased in intensity until the final plague, the death of the first born. The plagues affected Egyptians and Israelites alike but, when the death angel was sent to take the life of every first born, God provided a way of protection – the Passover lamb. The night of the final plague, the Israelites were instructed by God to kill a spotless lamb, consume all of it by morning, and to place some of its blood on the doorframe of their houses. The death angel would see the blood on the doorframe of the house and “pass over” the house, and all those inside, protected by the blood of the lamb. One life exchanged for many.

For generations the Israelites have celebrated the Passover as the way God chose to deliver his people. It was during the Passover meal that Jesus revealed to His disciples that He would be sacrificed, like the Passover lamb, and that His blood would deliver His followers from spiritual death. One life exchanged for many.

On that dark day that we call Good Friday, just as the lamb was being sacrificed for the Passover celebration, Jesus was crucified and became the true Passover Lamb for all people. The sinless Christ traded his life for the lives of His disciples. And the headlines on that following morning read that Jesus Christ was dead.

But, like many stories in this modern, 24-hour news cycle world, the story was still being written. On the first day of the week, Sunday morning, Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave! Death had been conquered; Christ was alive! And the story continues . . .

Who did He save? Who were His “crew members”; His disciples? That part of the story is still being written. You and I have an opportunity to write ourselves into the story, the greatest story ever told.

The self sacrifice of Capt. Richard Phillips may save the lives of as many as 20 crew members. The self sacrifice of Christ is still delivering people from captivity. The bible says all we need to do to be part of this great story line is to become a “Christ follower”; a disciple of Christ. All we need to do is to claim the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb for ourselves.

The final chapter of the Maersk Alabama piracy case will soon be written. Hopefully it will end with no loss of life, but that part of the story is still being written by the pirates, the crew, the captain and the U.S. Navy.

The final chapter of the Passover Lamb saga may soon be written, only God knows. The question today is, have you written yourself into the story line? Will you be one of His disciples who are saved by the self sacrifice of Christ? Or will you be a tragic reminder of what could have been? On this day before Easter, you have a choice. Choose well.

Any questions or comments? Write Curt Ferrell at curt@smdcog.org

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Thanks for reading!

A Week Of Questions About Life And Death

Courier-Times Article for Saturday, April 21, 2007

Monday, April 16th, 2007 is a day that many will not soon forget. It was a day of unimagined tragedy on a university campus in Virginia. It was a day of several heroes and at least one coward who took the lives of 32 other people rather than deal honestly with the pain in his own life. It was a day of death and dying.

It was also a day of life and living. On Monday, I became an uncle again. My brother and his wife brought an 8-pound, 20-1/2 inch bundle of joy into the world; her name is Jessica. In a hospital in Michigan it was a day of unimaginable possibilities. It was a day of hope and excitement.

The questions that are being asked today in Virginia are the same we ones being asked after 9-11 and Columbine. They are the same questions that were being asked on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor and in the concentration camps in Germany. They are the same questions that were asked after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 where at least 8000 people lost their lives. Why did it happen? Could it have been prevented? If God is a loving God why did He let this happen?

These are valid questions. And it is important to wrestle with these questions. In the days following these tragedies many got tired of answering these questions and turned to entertainment. We needed a distraction because we didn’t want to deal with the questions. But we must wrestle with these questions until we understand who God is and who we are.

There is a character in the bible named Jacob who wrestled with God. It was only recently that I’ve come to see what that wrestling match was all about. When I was younger, it just seemed like a weird story about God wrestling with Jacob, Jacob not letting go of God until God blessed him, and Jacob being injured in the wrestling match resulting in a life-long limp. The key to this story is God’s question to Jacob, “What is your name?”

When God asks a question, it’s not because He doesn’t know the answer. God knew who Jacob was; He wanted to know if Jacob would be honest about who he was.

The last time Jacob was asked that question was also the last time Jacob was seeking a blessing from his father Isaac. When Isaac asked Jacob who he was, Jacob lied and said he was Esau, Jacob’s older brother. Jacob was seeking a blessing that wasn’t rightfully his; it belonged to his brother Esau. Jacob’s deception with Isaac resulted in a time of wandering, loneliness, and wrestling.

When we wrestle with God about issues, the only way to be blessed is to deal honestly with who we are and who God is. It might be painful, but it is the only way to be released from the time of wrestling.

If we are honest we will see that God is good, all the time; He is good in Virginia Tech and He is good in a hospital in Michigan. If we are candid we will also understand that we are imperfect; Cho Seung-Hui was imperfect and baby Jessica is imperfect. Also, if we are transparent with God, we will realize that we will all die just as we were all given life on the day of our birth. We may never know all of the reasons behind the tragedies in Virginia Tech, Columbine, Pearl Harbor, Dachau, or any of a thousand other heartrending locations. The question today is, will we discover the reasons for God giving us life?

The question about why God gave us birth is even greater than the questions about why God allowed “unexpected” deaths. As we wrestle with the life and death events of this past week, including the United States Supreme Court decision to uphold a ban on partial-birth abortions, remember the example of Jacob and how his honesty with God resulted in the birth of a nation. That nation bears Jacob’s new name even today, the name that God gave him after their wrestling match – Israel.

Why did God give you life? For what reason did God bring you into this world? You’ll only find out if you deal honestly with God even in the dark days. My prayer is that my new niece will discover the “whys” behind her birth and will choose to fulfill God’s plan for her life.