Bracket Busters and Other Troubles

Bracket Busters and Other Troubles
By Brenda Black

Take one spring weekend in the middle of March. Mix in, basketball upsets, a foot of snow and historic votes and what do you get? Failed dreams, frozen tundra and bum-fuzzled fans and citizens. Brackets busted and hearts broken. Spring fever escalated and snow plows shoveling. A country divided and more and more fear and distrust for anything that has to do with government.

Hello, spring! Not quite its typical entrance, but then, what is normal any more in America. Actually, the March madness–turned–insanity is a fairly good picture of our country these days. A blizzard on the tail of 70-degree sunshine is pretty zany. But accusatory slurs, screaming oppositions and a vice president who whispers profanities into the ear of our nation's president in front of the media very near a microphone is absolute stupidity! No wonder so many natives are restless and feel ashamed of the way our nation is headed. If the high offices can overlook simple respect and decency when the world is watching, who knows how badly they misbehave off-camera.

And speaking of poor judgement, how about this comment from a radio DJ this weekend. The radio personality was quizzing his guest about a legal incident. His question: “If a guy wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun goes into a convenience store to rob it, but since the attendant is not there, he aborts his plan, is he still guilty of attempted robbery?” The law student defended his answer of yes and then the DJ proceeded to enlighten his listeners with this idiotic advice. “If you're going to rob a store, at least do it right or don't do it at all.”

Did he just condone robbery as long as you do it “right”? What's the right way to hold up a clerk? Shoot first, ask questions later. Take all the money and a hostage? Good grief! This is just another example of March madness to the nth degree!

In case any of the people in Washington are listening, we have bigger problems than any sweeping, uncertain health care reform can fix. Our society is sick from the grotesque and growing disease of selfish disrespect and careless indifference. America's cancer can't be fixed with chemotherapy. It has to be healed with humility.

This spring, a few things need cleaning to alleviate the madness that is escalating – the heart of man needs to be swept of selfishness. And the mind of man must be cleared of rubbish. It's time to get back to the basics of human decency and good manners. It's time to act with integrity instead of shoving our own policies onto others. It's time to deny ourself and see the bigger picture.

I have a terrible spring fever not only for sunshine to warm the air and daffodils to bloom. I have a maddening need to believe that this land of the free and home of the brave is not ruined.

I'm glad Easter is upon us soon. Maybe, just maybe, we'll look to the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ and be reminded what real leadership looks like. Love at all cost. Humility and heart. Christ set the example that breaks all brackets of sinful selfishness. It casts all votes for what is best, not what pleases the elite. The Lord's sacrifice blazed a trail to the throne of grace. It did not leave us out in the cold with no hope.

Easter is the perfect time to take a good, long look into the heart and search the mind. Because if ever we needed a Savior, it is at this moment in our history, when men are as arrogant and rude as those who spat upon Jesus and cursed Almighty God. We are crucifying Christ all over again in America. He died once for all time, but unless we repent, each one in honest humility, we are without a future or standing.

When Jesus looked down upon his tormentors, he pleaded compassionately, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) We know better today.

Who Do You Say That I Am

Who Do You Say That I Am
By Brenda Black


“Who do you say I am,” Jesus asked his disciple. Peter passed the exam with flying colors, but I wonder how modern-day disciples might answer. It seems the farther we advance in history from the cross, the faster the facts about Christ get altered. There have always been false religions and misinformation dispensed concerning Jesus. But in my lifetime, I've never seen more disregard for the truth. I have a theory: some people still think that ignorance is bliss. Not necessarily.

Current research says that only 9% of American adults hold a biblical worldview. Even among born again Christians, evidence reveals that many have indoctrinated their own version of absolute truth. How have we wandered so far from knowledge? However we arrived at this dubious place, the danger of losing more ground with each generation leaves Christianity in America hanging precariously by a thread. The less we know about the Word of God, the more blurred the lines of right and wrong become. Now, more than ever, it is time to know what you truly believe, who you honestly serve and be able to clearly define God's principles. As Jesus said, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’" (Luke 4:4)

Daniel Webster, the great American statesman, offered this warning concerning the importance of biblical knowledge: "If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity" (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 18)

George Washington, the nation’s first President, preceded Webster with his own succinct observance: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible" (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 18)

A young man came to Jesus and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Did Christ flippantly say, "You don’t have to do a thing"? No! Jesus said to him, "‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘"You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’" (Matthew 19:16–19).

I contend that Jesus knew best. How blessed we are that we still have his thoughts and examples after which to pattern our lives. And it is by those standards that we weigh the world's advice. When ignorance and indifference encourage false arguments and say the Bible is archaic or hatefully intolerant, do you believe the loud enemies of God. When powerful politicians down to the peanut and beer man at the ball park say the commandments are not valid for modern, cynical society, will you follow their lead. Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross—His commandments were not! The commandments continue to define the sin that put him there and provide our measuring rod.

It is not the first time in history, mankind has forsaken the Scriptures. Time and again, the Israelite nation fell away and followed pagan gods. For one generation, it took the strength of youth and strong conviction to stand up for the truth. Josiah was a mere child when placed on the throne in Judah. His father certainly had not provided a good example for godly living, but this youngster somehow found his way back to holiness. By the age of 26 his mission to rid the territory of Assyrian idols, unearthed the secret to righteous living.

“Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets – all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord – to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.” (2 Kings 23:1-3)

Almost 200 years later, after the hot-then-cold, then hot-again faith of the Israelite nation, Ezra the priest introduced the key to life once again. “Ezra opened the book...and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, 'Amen! Amen!' Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” (Nehemiah 8:5-6)

Here we are, a fickle nation with the history of an ebb and flow faith that strengthens and wanes. We're running out of time to impart God's promises and warn of his pending vengeance. Who do you say that Jesus is? Answer that question based on truth, then teach the Bible to the next generation so they can do the same.