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"Helping Others Communicate"

A LIFE THAT MATTERS

10/24/2010

 
Since I am celebrating my 49th birthday this week, I thought
I would post the following famous statement from American history.


The date was August 18, 1805.  The place was the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains.  The occasion was his 31st birthday, while he was trekking across previously uncharted territory exploring the Louisiana Purchase for then President Thomas Jefferson.  The man was Captain Meriwether Lewis of the Corps of Discovery.  The journal entry he made was as follows: 

“This day I completed my thirty first year, and conceived
that I had in all human probability now existed about half
the period which I am to remain in this sublunary world.  I reflected that I had as yet done but little, very little indeed, to further the happiness of the human race, or to advance
the information of the succeeding generation.  I viewed with regret the many hours I have spent in indolence, and now sorely feel the want of that information which those hours would have given me had they been judiciously expended.
  
But since they are past and cannot be recalled, I dash from
me the gloomy thought and resolved in future, to redouble my exertions and at least endeavor to promote those two primary objects of human existence, by giving them the aid
of that portion of talents which nature and fortune have bestowed on me; or in future, to live for mankind, as I have heretofore lived for myself."


Food for thought:  especially for anyone pausing on their own birthday for a time of reflection on the significance of their life - which is obviously where I am this week.  Like Lewis, I hope
that what I am doing with my life is making a difference.  I hope what I have done has mattered in this world.  And I hope in what time I have left that I can continue to make a difference in the lives of my fellow man- not only for this world, but for the world to come as well.

The Unbaptized Arm

10/20/2010

 
Years ago, as a young pastor, I collected up every copy of The Pulpit (a publication of Dr. Wayne Dehoney, pastor of Walnut Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky) that I could find.  He had a way of producing thought-provoking illustrations which effectively communicated the truths of the gospel.
 
Here is one of my favorite stories shared by Dr. Dehoney…  

      
Ivan the Great was the Tsar of all of Russia during the Fifteenth Century.  He brought together the warring tribes into one vast empire - the Soviet Union.  As a fighting man he was courageous.  As a general, he was brilliant.  He drove out the Tartars and established peace across the nation.

However, Ivan was so busy waging his campaigns that he did not have a family.  His friends and advisers were quite concerned.  They reminded him that there was no heir to the throne, and should anything happen to him the union would shatter into chaos.  "You must take a wife who can bear you a son."  The busy soldier/statesman said to them that he did not have the time to search for a bride; but if they would find a suitable one, he would marry her.

The counselors and advisers searched the capitals of Europe to find an appropriate wife for the great tsar.  And find her, they did.  They reported to Ivan of the beautiful dark- eyed daughter of the King of Greece.  She was young, brilliant, and charming.  He agreed to marry her sight unseen.

The King of Greece was delighted.  It would align Greece in a favorable way with the emerging giant of the north.  But there had to be one condition: "He cannot marry my daughter unless he becomes a member of the Greek Orthodox Church."  Ivan’s response: "I will do it!"

So, a priest was dispatched to Moscow to instruct Ivan in Orthodox doctrine.  Ivan was a quick student and learned the catechism in record time.  Arrangements were concluded; and the tsar made his way to Athens accompanied by 500 of his crack troops - his personal palace guard.

He was to be baptized into the Orthodox Church by immersion, as was the custom of the Eastern Church.  His soldiers, ever loyal, asked to be baptized also.  The Patriarch of the Church assigned 500 priests to give the soldiers a one-on-one catechism crash course.  The soldiers, all 500 of them, were to be immersed in one mass baptism.  Crowds gathered from all over Greece.

What a sight that must have been: 500 priests and 500 soldiers, a thousand people, walking into the blue Mediterranean.  The priests were dressed in black robes and tall black hats, the official dress of the Orthodox Church.  The soldiers wore their battle uniforms with of all their regalia - ribbons of valor, medals of courage, and their weapons of battle.

Suddenly, there was a problem.  The Church prohibited professional soldiers from being members; they would have to give up their commitment to bloodshed.  They could not be killers and church members too.

After a hasty round of diplomacy, the problem was solved quite simply.  As the words were spoken and the priests began to baptize them, each soldier reached to his side and withdrew his sword.  Lifting it high overhead, every soldier was totally immersed - everything baptized except his fighting arm and sword.

That is a true historical fact.  The unbaptized arm.  What a powerful picture of Christianity today.  How many unbaptized arms are there in church on any given morning?  How many unbaptized wills are there?  How many unbaptized talents?  Unbaptized check books?  Unbaptized social activities?  How many are there this day? 

PET DIARY EXCERPTS

10/12/2010

 
This week, I thought I would share a little humor.  My wife was out of town this past weekend visiting our kids at college.  That left me in charge of Diesel, our black Labrador Retriever dog, and Rudy, our Turkish Angora mixed cat.  The two of them are entertaining to say the least.  They each have their own personality.  It is also truly amazing to see just how different they are.   

Whether you are a pet owner or not, you will probably appreciate the following (fictional) excerpts from the diary of two such pets.  (I first found this in the June, 2002 edition of the Smoky Mountain Mensa Newsletter, Volume 25, Number 6.)  Enjoy these...

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG’S DIARY

Day Number 180
8:00 AM -        OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
9:30 AM -        OH BOY!  A CAR RIDE!  MY FAVORITE!
9:40 AM -        OH BOY!  A WALK!  MY FAVORITE!
10:30 AM -      OH BOY!  A CAR RIDE!  MY FAVORITE
11:30 AM -      OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
NOON -           OH BOY!  THE KIDS!  MY FAVORITE
1:00 PM -        OH BOY!  THE YARD!  MY FAVORITE!
4:00 PM -        OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM -        OH BOY!  MOM!  MY FAVORITE!

Day Number 181
8:00 AM -        OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
9:30 AM -        OH BOY!  A CAR RIDE!  MY FAVORITE!
9:40 AM -        OH BOY!  A WALK!  MY FAVORITE!
10:30 AM -      OH BOY!  A CAR RIDE!  MY FAVORITE!
11:30 AM -      OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
NOON-            OH BOY!  THE KIDS!  MY FAVORITE
1:00 PM -        OH BOY!  THE YARD!  MY FAVORITE!
4:00 PM -        OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM -        OH BOY!  MOM!  MY FAVORITE!

Day Number 182
8:00 AM -        OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
9:30 AM -        OH BOY!  A CAR RIDE!  MY FAVORITE!
9:40 AM -        OH BOY!  A WALK!  MY FAVORITE!
10:30 AM -      OH BOY!  A CAR RIDE!  MY FAVORITE!
11:30 AM -      OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
NOON -           OH BOY!  THE KIDS!  MY FAVORITE!
1:00 PM -        OH BOY!  THE YARD!  MY FAVORITE!
1:30 PM -        o00000o....bath....bummer.
4:00 PM -        OH BOY!  DOG FOOD!  MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM -        OH BOY!  MOM!  MY FAVORITE! 

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT’S DIARY

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal.  The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded.  I must try this at the top of the stairs.  In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...  I must try this in their bed.

DAY 765 - I decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts.  They only cooed and condescended about what a good cat I was.  Hmmm.  Not working according to plan.

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason, I was chosen for the water torture. This time, however, it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo".  What sick minds could invent such a liquid.  My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices.  I was placed in solitary throughout the event.  However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the things they were consuming.  More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies."  I must learn what this is, and how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and may in fact be snitches.  The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return.  He is obviously a half-wit.  The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly.  I am certain he reports my every move.  Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.  But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...

GOODBYE BOBBY!

10/4/2010

 
I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was the fall of 1991
and Sid Bream rounded third base, virtually dragging an incapacitated leg with him, and slid into home to give the Atlanta Braves their first Divisional Championship of my adult life.  Skip Carey yelled, “From worst to first!”  And, like most of Atlanta, Mrs. Vickie and I celebrated by jumping all over our living room. 

That was the beginning of a spectacular run for the Braves.  Fourteen straight Division Championships, five National League Pennants, and one World Series Championship, all  under the leadership of General Manager Bobby Cox.  This past Sunday, after 29 years (four with the Toronto Blue Jays and 25 with
the Braves), the now 69 year old Cox managed his last regular season as a Major League Baseball Manager, sending the Braves into the playoffs yet again. 

Along the way, he has managed over 4500 games, winning over 2500 of them, and compiling the fourth highest number of wins of any Major League Manager in history.  (It is surprising to discover that guys like Joe Torre and Lou Piniella have a long way to go catch him.)  Cox also holds the dubious distinction of being ejected more than any manager in major league history.

What makes all this so intriguing to me is that whenever Bobby Cox gets interviewed, he is usually quick to point out that his role in the matter has been limited.  He points out that baseball is a team sport.  Accordingly, he gives a lot of credit to his assistant coaches and especially to his players. 

Ironically, this past September marked my own 29th year of ministry.  I was Licensed to Ministry in 1981 and then Ordained in 1986.  I certainly hope that I still have quite a ways to go before that day comes when, out there in the future somewhere, I finally ride off into the sunset (of retirement)
and bid adieu to professional ministry. 

In the meantime, I long ago came to realize that no pastor ministers effectively by himself.  Ministry is absolutely a team effort.  Any pastor with an ounce of sense (and integrity) will admit this.  Without the help of others, one cannot be successful.  Because of this, I thank God daily for the Staff,
the Deacons, and the members of the wonderful church I am blessed to pastor.

Of course, what is true for managing baseball, and what is
true for pastoring, is also true for most every other profession.  We all depend on others.  And they depend on us.  Not just at work.  But also at play.  And at school.  And at church.  And at home.  May we never forget the role others play in helping us succeed.  And may we do our part to help them succeed as well.  This way, we all win.

    Cleo E. Jackson, III

    Occasionally I will add
    a few thoughts to my blog. If you find them inspirational, I will be
    honored.

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