Brian "pb" Brijbag

White Collar Sideshow @ FX

Run the play.

When it comes to being on the alert and ready at any moment to do the job, it’s hard to beat the Pony Express.

This historically famous mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri, and California depended on constant movement and readiness. Relay stations were established every ten to fifteen miles. A rider would shout aloud as he approached a station, giving the station master very short notice that he needed to be outside waiting with a fresh mount.

Even when a rider came to the station where he was to spend the night, another rider was already mounted and waiting, ready to grab the first rider’s bundle of packages and continue the trip.

The completion of the transcontinental telegraph system rendered the Pony Express obsolete after just eighteen months.

But we have this service’s intriguing example of what it means to be ever watchful, in knowing the importance of being in your position.

“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-21 Thessalonians 5:1-2
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 ¹ But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. ² For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.

Know where you are stationed or where you’re at in your Christian life—if you don’t know your position in Christ, chances are you don’t know Christ.

Be committed.

I have often wondered what would happen if football coaches approached their work like most youth ministers are expected to.

For example, I wonder what would happen if, when a player was too busy to show up for practice, the understanding coach simply said, “We’ll miss you. I hope you’ll be able to make it next week sometime.”

Imagine the players leaving practice and hearing the smiling coach say, “Thanks for coming. I hope you’ll come back tomorrow.”

If a football team operated like a typical youth ministry, we might expect concerned parents to call the coach, saying, “Can you tell me what’s been going on in practice?

My son says it’s boring, and he doesn’t want to come anymore. I was wondering, could you make it a little more fun for them?  And by the way, you might want to talk to the coach at the school across town to see what he is doing with his teens–he seems to have the right idea.”

A coach, responding like a typical youth minister, might first feel guilty that the practices were not meeting the boy’s needs, and he would try to adjust his program to suit this boy (and every other boy who complained that it wasn’t fun).

Between trying to keep everybody happy and giving every student a good experience, the coach would squeeze in a little football practice.

And what kind of season would this coach have? It’s a safe bet that the coach wouldn’t be the only one who felt like a loser.

To expect that youth be committed to the church at the same level of commitment that would be expected on an athletic team would draw the charge of harsh rules and infringement of religious beliefs and that the expectation of commitment to the church has become unsatisfactory to most Christian parents.

Because the god of individualism pressures most youth ministers to gear their youth program to the lowest common denominator, NOT TO HOLD THEIR TEENS ACCOUNTABLE which seldom raises the expectations high enough for teenagers to experience real community and faith through that in Jesus Christ.

As your youth counselor/pastor, I am your spiritual coach to make you do the things you don’t want to do in order to become the things that you want to be—and honestly, some of you, at this moment, are “uncoachable”.

Don’t be offended at leaders who hold you to your commitment, and then get angry when you’re benched because you didn’t make the training camp or read the playbook.

“Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” – Hebrews 13:17Hebrews 13:17
English: World English Bible - WEB
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

(NASB)

In the year 1519 – the Spanish explorer Cortez hit the shores of the “New World” in what is now Eastern Mexico.

With a total of 600 men and less than 20 horses, they began the work of settling a colony for Spain.

Shortly after their arrival, however, Cortez did something very interesting.
He issued an order to burn the ships.

Fearing his men might be tempted to turn back, he ordered that their only way back to the life they once knew be permanently destroyed.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Maybe you’re a young Christian who is still entangled in sin from your old life.

If so – maybe some drastic action is called for.

Maybe you need to burn the ships of relationships that drag you down, or activities which lead you into sinful behavior in order for you to be able to make a stand for Christ.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.

She told her boyfriend, “’If I could only see the world, I would marry you.”
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, “Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?”
The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.

The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that.
The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: “Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.”

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift–today before you say an unkind word…think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food – think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your mom or dad – remember why you call them when you’re in trouble and love them and all of the good things they have done for you.

Today before you complain about life – think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn’t clean or sweep – think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive – think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job – think of how blessed you are to have the ability to work and bring home money.

For those of you who are in college, before you throw up your hands in frustration over the studying and weird professors – think of someone who can’t afford to go to college and will have to earn a living the hard way.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another – saying yeah, that’s you….remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down – put a smile on your face and thank GOD you’re alive and still around.

Learn to see the opportunities that God is doing before you decide NOT to run the play as it was given to you.

Running the play is essential…whether you agree with it, or if it doesn’t make sense to you, or even if it looks like it will be a failure.

God has placed each you in a position to be a team player for Him to reach out and run the play that he has put before you, through a parent, a teacher, a youth leader, a pastor, a friend, or even God Himself….

The question is this…will you run the play? Will you sit the bench? Will you complain about the coaching, the drills, the practice, or will you quit the team?

If you’re ready to read the playbook (the Bible), to follow coaching (authority), to make the practices (commitment), to be open to quick changes (The Spirit’s prompting), then God certainly wants you for a player.

Perhaps you need to find out how to make the team. Salvation
Perhaps you need to come back to practice. Rededication
Perhaps you need to sign a contract saying you’ll play no matter what. Baptism

Perhaps.

Excuses

Why is that we feel that we can offer excuses when it comes to things of the church that would be ridiculous if used anywhere else?  Have you ever wondered what would happen if people were as intense, committed and determined about church as they are about sports – or any number of other pastimes?  Some years ago Moody Monthly ran a piece which included excuses which a fellow might use for quitting sports:

 “Every time I went they asked for money.”
“The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.”
“The seats were too hard and uncomfortable.”
“The coach never came to see me.”
“The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.”
“I was sitting with some hypocrites – they only came to see what others were wearing.”
“Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.”
“The band played numbers that I had never heard before.”
“The games were scheduled when I want to do other things.”
“My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.”
“I don’t want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.”
[as quoted by Charles Swindoll. The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart And 1,501 Other Stories. (Nashville: Word, 1998.) p. 189]

In Exodus 3, we see God tell Moses that He has heard the cry of Israel for deliverance and that He is now ready to deliver them.  Then the surprise came in verse ten when God said, “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

 The excuses start.

“I’m too busy, I’m already doing this, get someone else.”
“Homework.”
‘I have Football, Band, Cheerleading, and Norwegian Mountain Dulcimer practice all at the same time!”

Moses had his “reasons” for not following the call of God.  Moses begins a series of five reasons to demonstrate sufficient weakness so as not to be responsible for the call which God had given him.

Excuse One – The “Who Me” Excuse. (3:11-12)
The first excuse that Moses offers is kind of pitiful, but see if it does not sound like something that you may have said to God.  Verse eleven says, “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’”  Moses is terrified of being rejected and feeling like a failure.

Moses’ first excuse expressed doubt in himself; his second excuse unfortunately, however, expresses doubt in God.

Excuse Two – “By What Authority” (3:13-15)
Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”
God didn’t ask Moses to go and explain all that he did not know about God.  He just asked him to go and explain what he did know!!!
The reason why so many people are not committed to God, quite frankly, is they do not know God.  They sort of know about Him.  But like the Hebrews in Egypt, they have lost track of who God is.

When God tells Moses that “I Am who I Am,” He is literally saying that “I am He who was, and is and always shall be!” or “I will continue to be what I have always been.”

Excuse Three -The “What Ifs” (4:1- 9)
Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”

Have you ever used that as an excuse for not sharing your faith, “I would, but I am not an expert on the Bible.  They might ask me a question that I do not know the answer to.”

Moses was so concerned about what might happen, he didn’t hear what God said would happen.
God has revealed Himself to Moses, told Moses of His desire to deliver the people, has promised him success, and given him three signs that the people will believe him.  Despite all this revelation, it is not enough for Moses.

Excuse Four – “But Lord I Don’t Speak Well” (4:10-12)
Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”

He may have been slow of tongue but he seems fast enough with the excuses.

Our inadequacies are not problems for God.  He made us the way we are.  But if we do not make ourselves available, then God’s plan for our lives cannot go forward.

Excuse Five – “Send Someone Else” (4:13-17)
But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.”

This last objection was not based on even the slimmest shred of a reason.  Moses just does not want to do it.  Moses is simply putting his foot down and telling God, “No!”

God accommodated Moses’ lack of faith, but the compromise was less than God’s best.

God’s perfect will is always better than His permissive will!

Dr. B. J. Miller once said, “It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it.” – (MBI’s Today In The Word, November, 1989, p.11)

 The cost of obedience is nothing when compared with the cost of disobedience.

Can’t or Won’t?  Christians need to be very careful which one they choose.  Although we often choose to say we can’t, it really is a case of we won’t.  Is your excuse “I can’t” or “I won’t?” Let face facts – when we refuse to follow the Lord, it is because we won’t…we disobey because we choose to… not because we have to.  The sooner we accept the truth, the sooner we can make a change.

Intricately involved in God’s calling is God’s Plan.  Now listen carefully to what I am about to say or you may not understand.  God has a plan, but He never expects you to carry out the plan.  He is going to see that it is carried out.  He simply wants you to make yourself available as His instrument.  

After all, it is His reputation that is at stake, not yours.

The Wealth of Poverty

For the majority of people, Christian and non-Christian alike, the popular idea of finding happiness is based on having the right circumstances. It is what one preacher calls, “When & Then thinking.” “When I get a good job, then I’ll be happy.” “When I find the right mate, then I’ll be happy.” “When I have kids, then I’ll be happy.” “When the kids leave home, then I’ll be happy.” We think outward circumstances bring contentment. But Jesus Christ tells us the exact opposite is true. He insists that happiness doesn’t come from without but from within. Further He says that all of us have the potential of possessing genuine contentment, authentic joy, if we will just recognize it.

I heard a story of how a man and his wife went up into the mountains and stayed at a beautiful, quiet cabin. There were none of the normal distractions. No TV, no phones, no neighbors, just peace and quiet. But after a couple of days they were also looking for something to do. One of the things the cabin did provide were jigsaw puzzles. They loved doing that kind of thing so they picked out a 1000 piece puzzle and started. However, from time to time they became annoyed because they couldn’t find the right piece. They would check borders and colors and the puzzle box picture but finally they became completely frustrated when they realized that the puzzle was missing several pieces. Then, just as they were about to break up their work they happened to pick up the box and heard some noise. When they looked further they found all the pieces they were missing in the packing of the box. Once they retrieved the pieces their puzzle became complete, the picture made sense. And it had been right within their reach. What was root of frustration became a source of joy.

That true story illustrates precisely what Jesus is trying to teach in the Beatitudes. The key to genuine happiness, to a genuine contentment is not from without but within. Joy is not based on certain external pieces but on internal attitudes. Jesus insists that we can have a happiness that holds its ground against pain, a contentment whose roots extend deep into the bedrock of eternity. What type of joy is this? It is a sacred delight. It’s a delight because it thrills. It’s sacred because it is God’s. Think about God’s joy. What can cloud it? What can quench it? Does God ever have a bad day? Does God get ruffled over long lines or traffic jams? Does God ever refuse to rotate the earth because His feelings are hurt? No, His is a happiness which consequences cannot quench. His is a peace which circumstances cannot steal. And it is right within our reach. Within the packing of our Bibles, in Matt. 5, lie the pieces that will complete your life. But be prepared for the fact that the answers will surprise you. We’ll have to shift our thinking some.

Many of the things that Jesus says bring contentment are directly opposite from what we think. But if we will listen, if we will heed what He has to say, we will be surprised with joy. Let’s gather with those on the mountainside and listen as He says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”