IN TED WE TRUST?

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” --- 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The Green Bay Packers are currently 7-4 and in a good position to make the upcoming NFL playoffs. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is their MVP and putting up incredible numbers considering he has been sacked more than any QB in the league. Obviously, General Manager Ted Thompson made the right move when he sent future Hall-of-Famer and Packer-Legend Brett Favre packing two years ago.

It’s easy to be deceived into thinking that and for some reason the local media continues to peddle that lame tune and the public continues to buy it. However, if one digs deeper and searches for the truth, a different answer comes to the surface.

First of all, and this doesn’t take much digging, Brett Favre has moved on to the rival Minnesota Vikings, who sport a 10-1 record, including two dominating victories over the Packers. Anyone who buys the assumption that Thompson made the right move because Favre was washed up needs to face the facts --- The 40-year-old QB is not only part of a team with a successful record, he’s arguably the most important part of it and is picked by many to be the favorite to win his fourth MVP.

Even more than that, there’s another huge deception that lends itself to the “Thompson was a genious to dump Favre” myth. It has to do with the measuring stick that all Quarterbacks in the NFL are measured by --- something known as the “Quarterback Rating”. It purports to take in all the meaningful statistical data that a QB has and spit out a rating that measures how effective a QB is --- The higher the number, the better. While I think the stats used (Touchdown passes, interceptions, completion percentage and yards per pass attempt) are good barometers, the rating doesn’t take into account how or when they are collected.

The statement has been made by the media around here over and over that it’s “remarkable” that Rodgers has been sacked so much and yet is among (with Favre) the league leaders in that QB rating statistic. Not to take anything away from Rodgers (who may someday prove to be a legend himself), but I would propose that taking sacks enhances a QB’s chance to have a good rating. Not only does the sack itself not hurt a QB’s completion percentage or yards per attempt like an incompletion would, the following example shows how it enhances that QB’s chances of further helping that rating:

Let’s say the Packers and Vikings are playing each other, in Minnesota’s first series RB Adrian Peterson runs into the line for no gain (now 2^nd and 10). Favre then goes back to pass, sees nothing and throws it away (now 3^rd and 10). Favre then hits his receiver for a 12-yard gain and a first down ---- Favre’s QB rating: a pedestrian 68.8 (less than the league average).

In Green Bay’s first series RB Ryan Grant runs into the line for no gain (now 2^nd and 10). Rodgers then sees nothing and rolls out of the pocket and still sees nothing and is sacked for a 7-yard loss (now 3^rd and 17). Rodgers then throws a check off pass underneath to Donald Lee for 12 yards (now 4^th and 5) and the Packers have to punt --- Rodgers rating…135.4!!! Almost double Favre’s, even though Favre got his team a first down and the pass he completed was much more difficult. The NFL’s QB rating system simply doesn’t take that into account.

Even if the sacks are not Rodgers fault, he, and any QB that gets sacked a lot, still has the opportunity to make many more of those easy underneath passes in unfavorable down and distance situations that the QB rating system loves, but that don’t necessarily do much for the team.

The problem and deception comes because people accept as fact that the NFL’s Quarterback rating system is a flawless way to measure how good a Quarterback is. As my example proves, it is not and a Quarterback can actually benefit by doing or being part of negative plays by his team.

The same thing happens in this world. People accept the notion that we evolved from monkeys and that the earth is billions of years old (which conveniently allows for the fact that there is NO evidence of this evolutionary process), because the basis for it (like the QB rating being a totally accurate barometer of a QB’s ability) is not questioned. It’s in fact ingrained in us from the first text book we pick up to the first and last “educational” documentary we view on television. It sounds good because all the reliable scientific data can fit this model and the billions and billions year-old earth is what’s drilled in our head by intelligent looking people.

On the other hand, the Biblical account of a catastrophic flood that also fits all reliable scientific data is simply ignored. Most scientists don’t even consider it. They simply choose to start with the hypothesis of a very old earth. By ignoring the possibility presented in Biblical truth of a 6000-year-old earth, they miss the fact, for example, that evidence from “local” catastrophic events like volcanoes shows some of the errors in the way scientists’ measure the aging process.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is it saves people from having to answer to a Higher Authority for all our sinful behavior. The logic being if we came from monkeys rather than an Intelligent Designer, our behavior is actually remarkably civilized and we’re generally “good” people, especially if we strive to be that way.

Which brings us to the cross ---What would be our response to Someone coming down to live a sinless life and to die on the cross as payment for our sins so we can be forgiven. Probably something like:

“That’s ridiculous and besides, I don’t need a Savior. I’m a good person and modern psychology gives me an excuse for all my sinful behavior.” The danger, more than even resenting Jesus and His actions, is a lukewarm response --- seeing the cross and thinking, “That’s nice for someone, I guess, but I don’t even want to understand what it’s all about.”

“…So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My (Jesus’) mouth.” --- Revelation 3:16

THE RETURN OF BIG MAC

“The wicked flee when no one pursues…” --- Proverbs 28:1a

Greg Stejskal, a retired FBI agent, who investigated steroid use in Major League Baseball, quoted the above scripture to describe the situation of ex-Major League star Mark McGwire.

McGwire made news recently when it was announced, after a four-year absence from not only baseball, but a public life, he was being hired as the St. Louis Cardinals hitting coach. The hiring has been lauded by most including Major League Baseball commissioner, Bud Selig. However many, like Stejskal, question the approval of the hiring.

McGwire had disappeared from the scene after appearing before Congress regarding baseball’s steroid problem and issuing the now infamous line, “I’m not here to talk about the past,” when asked about his use. McGwire pledged to help tackle a steroid problem that had trickled down to the High School level. That pledge, however, has gone unfulfilled, as McGwire disappeared into seclusion and did not follow up on any of the requests he got for helping the problem. That’s what prompted the Stejskal scriptural quote --- What or who was McGwire fleeing from? He was no longer in baseball and therefore not subject to any discipline. Though steroids are illegal, he wasn’t being pursued by the law. If it was to protect his legacy, it wasn’t very effective (despite numbers that should have made him a surefire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, he has never even received 25% of the vote).

No one was after him, yet McGwire felt the need to run and hide --- Why? I would speculate (and I think it was the point Stejskal was making) that he fled, and continues to flee, from the truth. Maybe if he keeps running, people, including himself, will forget about the past and be able to move on without dealing with it or taking responsibility for it. I digress, but in contrast, I find refreshing the recent revelation by former tennis-great Andre Agassi, who admitted to being on an illegal substance for almost a year (meth) at the height of his fame, but at the worst point in his tennis career. Though roundly criticized, I find it refreshing that someone took responsibility for his actions. More specifically taking responsibility for a being a poor role model at the time, hoping it will inspire others to not make the same mistake. Amazingly, Agassi’s admission prompted fellow tennis legend Martina Navratilova to label him the Roger Clemens of tennis --- Which brings us back to McGwire. 

McGwire, along with Clemens and other prominent stars of this era like Alex Rodriguez, have all been implicated, but haven’t really owned up to the fact that their performances were enhanced by steroids. Even Rodriguez, who admitted using them (only after his name showed up on a substantiated user list), blamed “the culture” rather than his own appetite for fame, glory and riches as his motivation for cheating --- That’s not taking responsibility, that’s making excuses. Rodriguez, Clemens and especially McGwire should take responsibility for being the pioneers of that “culture” or they’re only kidding themselves.

Getting back to McGwire --- What’s the problem? He’s taking a “relatively” low paying, low profile job and hasn’t he paid a stiff enough penalty in being snubbed by Hall of Fame voters?

Here’s the problem: McGwire made more money in one season (and he played close to 20 of them) then 99% of the population makes in a lifetime. An impressionable young High School athlete, who puts an even greater premium on the importance of money and stature than the world’s lofty view of it, looks at that and says, “The heck with what it does to my body (I’m indestructible anyway!) or if it makes me live in ‘infamy’, I’ll do it for just a small portion of what Mark McGuire made and for just a piece of how he lived.” Take that even a step further: though it may be viewed as pedestrian to most, the position McGwire is now taking as batting coach came as a direct result of his “tainted” playing career. He will draw a salary in six figures for a half year’s work and travel the country in first class during that half year’s work --- What is that saying to that same impressionable High School Athlete who may be confronted with the temptation of being a user? Obviously, though it’s wrong, it sure pays off with very little consequence.

The lesson it teaches is that you can run and hide from your problems without facing or being confronted with them. In scripture, King David learned from God through the prophet Nathan that this is not possible (see 2 Samuel 12). David confessed his sins and was forgiven by God (though he lived the rest of his life with the negative consequences of those sins being played out) --- McGwire needs to do the same!

BEING A CHAMPION

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” --- 1 Corinthians 9:24

I’ve spent this past spring, summer and fall participating in local races --- runs, triathlons and duathlons --- By my count, twelve in all. I run, bike and swim to win, but in all reality, I have little or no chance to win my Age Division, let alone the race. Probably my strongest finish by far was in the Lake Country (Oconomowoc, WI) half marathon, where I finished 119^th out of 839 total runners and 20^th out of 46 in my age group.

Many of the events are put on by Midwest Sports Events, a fine organization that puts on first-class races, making it fun for all participants from the elite to the novice. They have something called the “five-star” series, which includes all of their multi-sport races. It caught my attention only because if one takes part in five of the races, they receive entry into the sixth race for free. As I chalked up participation, and mediocre finishes, in event after event, I decided to take advantage of this. I also read, but took very little notice, about how there was a point system for those who took part in at least five events and that a champion for each division would be crowned at the end of the year.

Well, lo and behold, the year is complete and the results were all tabulated and the winner of my age group is ME! How could this happen? Did the computer go haywire and list the results in reverse? As it turns out, despite the incentive, not many in my age group did enough events to qualify and strong finishes in the last few events helped vault me past those who did. Will this make me a favorite to win any individual race next year? Probably not --- still, it’s encouraging sometimes to see hard work and effort paid off, especially in contrast to the discouragement of entering event after event and not seeing any tangible results.

The same can be said for our walk with the Lord. Some, like Billy Graham, can see their efforts on behalf of the Lord quantified at large crusades that introduce many to the hope and salvation of Jesus Christ. But there is far more who put in the same dedication to the Lord’s call, but don’t see those efforts quantified. In fact, all they seem to see are family conflicts, an unexciting workplace that barely allows ends to meet and friends shunning them for being perceived as a “Jesus freak”. The enemy swoops in on this and sows seeds of discouragement lessening those believers’ effectiveness for Christ and sometimes worse. That’s where a believer needs to step back and realize that there is only one Judge tallying up the score and as long as that believer is following the path God has laid out for him, he will be a winner in the end --- even if he feels like he’s losing every battle.

One of the great concepts I took from the CS Lewis classic “Mere Christianity” is the fact that, though they are just small glimpses, there are things in this life that give us a “picture” of eternity. We need to look at them and realize that this is a way that God speaks to us and encourages us. I believe this 5-star “victory” was just such an event. I spent the season working hard and sacrificing to take part in these events and, while I enjoyed my participation, often got discouraged by the results. I often feel the same way in my walk with God in my everyday life. God showed me His grace by giving me this victory to remind me to keep plugging away in my walk with Him so I can enjoy the real glory and joy that will go with my eternal victory with Him!

THE JOURNEY HAS BEGUN!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
       but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” --- Proverbs 1:7

I remember the first time we tried to take our then one-year-old son, Caleb, into the sanctuary of our former fellowship for worship. The stares were long and every noise he made seemed to be magnified 1000 times. That’s because the fellowship, right or wrong, had an unwritten rule against babies in the sanctuary during a service. Our desire to corporately worship the Lord with our child is one of the big reasons we left that fellowship.

I only bring this up because at age five, Caleb’s now entered another phase of his life’s journey that may come under the same kind of scrutiny --- that being our decision to home school him. We need to be prepared, because the minute he misbehaves or acts uncomfortable in a social setting or the minute he stumbles over a reading that his “grade level” should be able to handle, the naysayers (probably “well intentioned” friends and relatives) will be there to swoop down and mention concerns about what he may be missing by not attending public or private school. We’ll probably even question the decision ourselves many times.

I’m confident, though, that the decision is right for Caleb and has come after much thought and prayer. In fact, as we enter the fall of what would be Caleb’s first year of school (albeit half-day Kindergarten), I’ve received strong reinforcement from the Holy Spirit to back up the wisdom of the decision.

It came in the form of a Devotional book that was actually a gift given to our other son, Joshua on his second birthday in May. As I glanced through the book, I saw that it was written to about a 3^rd to 6^th grade level and put the book aside. But, encouraged by my wife, I started reading them to Caleb each evening. He not only paid attention, but he grasped on to major concepts and themes, so much so that he would often apply them to what I was teaching on at the nursing home on Sundays. The enemy will challenge our confidence in teaching our son the ABC’s and 123’s, but if Caleb can rightly divide the word of God, I’m pretty confident the phonics and math will follow!

The next step is an adult devotional book/workbook called the “Road to Emmaus”. It’s written to what I would categorize as a 6^th to 8^th grade level, but I think we can wade our way through it and that Caleb will learn the important Biblical concepts and themes along the way. As much as homeschoolers are marketed expensive learning kits and packages, I think we’re going to stick to the basics --- God’s word and math and phonics workbooks from places like Sam’s Club. It would be nice if there was a voucher system from not using the free public school system, but since there isn’t, we need to budget our finances. I’m not judging those who are led to use them, but I think the enemy plants huge seeds of discouragement through the cost of these learning kits and such.

The other reason for homeschooling is based on the use of time and energy. I remember once sitting in the home of a family that sent their children to public school. It was about 8:00 in the evening after a day of school and activities. The mother was peppering her son with questions that sounded like psychobabble to me and the son’s answers sounded like they were just coming from memory and that they’d be forgotten (probably for the better) hours after the test was given the next day. Suddenly the answers stopped, as we all turned to see why, we saw that the boy had fallen into a deep sleep. Now bring it in to the future: Imagine I, the anointed bible teacher of the family, who has worked a long, hard day at work and come home to help with the cooking and cleaning, sitting at the table with my son, who has gone through a long day of school and activities. As much as we might be dedicated to Bible studies, how much effort will we really put into it and how soon will we decide bedtime at that point is a much better option. When trying to combat the world view perspective children get on a daily basis for eight hours at school, this should not be an option.

Once again, I will not judge anyone who chooses the option of public school. In fact, I think God equips many families to be able to choose that option so that He has some light in the otherwise dark closet known as the public school system. However, the bottom line for us is this: We want to put our boys in a position to pursue success in this world, but not at the expense of pursuing first His kingdom!

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (material “necessities” that the world puts a premium on --- amplification mine) shall be added to you.” --- Matthew 6:33        

WHAT IS LIFE

“ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
      Before you were born I sanctified you;
      I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” --- Jeremiah 1:5

I recently heard some great testimony at the home fellowship I attend from a woman who shared about how she and her husband felt the call to adopt a special needs child 12 years ago. They agreed to the adoption BEFORE the child was born. Tests had determined that the child would have birth defects. As it turned out, he was born with basically half of a brain and life has not been easy for anyone involved since the birth.

The child requires constant attention and has no ability to perform any bodily function on his own. She was sharing on how the last 9 months have been particularly hard as many complications have reared themselves. However, it was far from a “woe is me” or “where is God?” talk. Instead, it centered on, what a blessing the boy has been and continues to be!

She talked about how the birth parents of the boy, especially the mother, have re-entered the boy’s life. The couple had the boy when they were both 17 and in active rebellion. The mother was a drug user and alcohol abuser, who since that time has turned around her life and given it over to the Lord, rather than to be a guilt-ridden malcontent to society.

She talked about how a smile on the boys’ face lights up a room like no light could and about how her other children had grown in so many ways as a result of their role in caring for the boy. And, though the heaviest burden in his care went to her, she had absolutely no complaints about it.

Her goal and prayer for the boy is simply for his comfort --- A perfect picture of God’s role with His children. She talked about some of the pain he has to endure, but also the joy that he shows most of the time.

The bottom line is that this is a boy, who is touching many lives in a very positive way. Though he experiences more pain and discomfort than most people endure, he has many caring and loving people attending to his every need. The outward result is a loving and joyful human life.

Then she talked about the naysayers --- the ones who say, “That’s no way to live” or ask, “what kind of life is that?” Though the Bible makes clear that all lives and people living them are precious in God’s eyes, society doesn’t seem to put much value in a life like this boy’s.

Worse, though, is the government and more particularly its proposed health plan. It says not only that a life like this has little or no value, but that it’s a HUGE liability. Health coverage would NOT be available to another couple in the same position, who receive the same call as this woman and her husband received twelve years ago. This, in conjunction with the fact that taxpayers will continue to offset the cost of abortions, will make that an “easier” choice when the next young mother is confronted with a similar situation.

This theme of certain lives being a liability extends to the elderly. In my nursing home service ministry, a message I try to hammer home on a weekly basis is that regardless of age, physical limitations or anything else, if God still has someone here on earth, He also still has a purpose for their lives. Unfortunately, certain provisions of this health plan regarding the cost of care to the elderly fly in the face of that.   

Back in Old Testament days when the Israelites used to offer up burnt sacrifices to God, it was said that it was sweet aroma to Him if done in a sincere way. Unfortunately the policy that would be implemented as a result of this new health plan stinks to high heaven.

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’” --- Matthew 25:44-45