Sometimes we learn a lot from our detractors. Don Henley is an outspoken critic of those who call themselves Christian. In “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture” he and Glenn Frey lambast the “American way” and the “God is on our side” mentality that is so prevalent in both America and Canada. Has North American culture lost its way? Are we headed for a new “dark age?” Is there truth in the words of these prophets?
Frail Grasp on the Big Picture
Written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey; published by Pivet Songs/Red Cloud Music (BMI)
Well ain’t it a shame ’bout our short little memory
We never seem to learn the lessons of history
We keep making the same mistakes – over and over and over and over again
And then we wonder why we’re in the shape we’re inGood ol’ boys down at the bar
Peanuts and politics
They think they know it all
They don’t know much of nothin’
Even if one of ’em was to read a newspaper, cover to cover
That ain’t what’s going on
Journalism dead and goneFrail grasp on the big picture
Light fading and the fog is getting thicker
Frail grasp on the big picture
Dark agesAnd you, my love-drunk friend
All that red wine and candlelight
Soulful conversations that go on until the dawn
How many times can you tell your story
How many hangovers can you endure – just to get some snogging done
You’re living in a hormone dream
You don’t have the slightest notion what long-term love is all about
All your romantic liaisons don’t deal with eternal questions like:
“Who left the cap off the freakin’ toothpaste?” “Whose turn to take the garbage out?”Frail grasp on the big picture
You keep on rubbing that, you’re gonna get a blister
Frail grasp on the big picture
I’ve seen it all beforeAnd we pray to our Lord, who we know is American
He reigns from on high
He speaks to us through middlemen
And He shepherds his flock
We sing out and we praise His name
He supports us in war
He presides over football games
And the right will prevail
All our troubles shall be resolved
We hold faith above all
Unless there’s money or sex involvedFrail grasp on the big picture
Nobody’s calling them for roughing up the kicker
It’s a frail grasp on the big picture
Heaven help usFrail grasp on the big picture
All waiting for that miracle elixir
Frail grasp on the big picture
I don’t wonder anymoreFrail grasp on the big picture
You brought her here, so go ahead and kiss her
It’s a frail grasp on the big picture
In honour of Saint Columba day (June 9):
O Lord, grant us that love which can never die, which will enkindle our lamps but not extinguish them, so that they may shine in us and bring light to others. Most dear Savior, enkindle our lamps that they may shine forever in your temple. May we receive unquenchable light from you so that our darkness will be illuminated and the darkness of the world will be made less. Amen. –Saint Columba
Mark Buchanan, pastor of New Life Church in Duncan, BC, speaks of roof-tile syndrome.
Roof-tile Syndrome is when we are so caught up in the preaching of Jesus, we turn our backs to the needs of those still outside the building. We become barriers and not gateways. It’s when we care more about keeping things intact than about restoring lives that are shattered. It’s when we’re more upset when stuff gets broken than excited when the broken are mended. It’s when church gets reduced to the preaching of Jesus so that we fail to notice that we’re seeing very little of the forgiveness and healing of Jesus. It is when we are so fearful about upsetting the religious folk (or homeowners) in our midst that we stop taking risks to get people to Jesus.
It’s when my program, my office, my title, my privilege, my influence, my comfort takes precedence over others’ needs.
It’s when the church exists for itself; to hell with the rest of you.*
Are we willing to wreck the roof to bring the Kingdom of God to people? If this Jesus is the wild and untamed Lion of Judah who wants us to follow Him and bring others to Him, then our answer must be yes! Unfortunately, we sometimes let things get in the way of bringing justice and truth to people. We let our comfort or our leisure, or something else get in the way of helping people and bringing them to Jesus. I must ask myself, “What is the roof I am trying to protect?” “What is preventing me from providing for the needs of others?”
Today, I choose to wreck the roof.
*Mark Buchanan, “Wreck the Roof,”
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/001/13.52.html
Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
TWO COATS
(Traditional, Arranged By: Emory Gordy, Jr. and Patty Loveless)
Two coats were before me, the old and the new
I asked my sweet Master, what must I do
The first coat was ugly, so tattered and torn
The other a new coat, had never been worn(Chorus)
I tell you the best thing I ever did do
I took off the old coat and put on the new
I tell you the best thing I ever did do
I took off the old coat and put on the new
[ Gospel Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]The first man was earthly, and raised from the ground
We bore on his image, the whole world around
The next was my Savior from Heaven so fair
He gave me this new coat you now see me wearNow this coat, it suits me, it keeps me so warm
It’s good in the winter and it’s good in the storm
My Savior has blessed me with a garment so rare
He gave me this new coat you now see me wear(Chorus)
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (NIV)
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Is it time to stop using the “fish symbol” to identify our faith? In the first century church when Christians were being persecuted by Romans and other groups, the symbol was a secret message that allowed followers of Jesus to identify each other and mark locations where the church met. Presumably this was a very helpful symbol at the time. The Greek word for fish, “ICTHUS,” was a simple acrostic reminding early Christians of the nature of this Jesus whom they followed: “Jesus, Christ, God’s Son, Saviour.” It could be very helpful to have a symbol that only the faithful recognized.
Today, that symbol is anything but secret. It is commonly recognized as something which followers of Christ use to identify themselves and make a statement. Numerous parodies of the symbol exist in popular culture. The darwinian fish with legs being the most recognizable. Christians sometimes even engage in “fish wars” by using symbols depicting the christian fish swallowing the darwinian fish.
Friday night Maureen and I saw the movie “The Soloist.” For the most part, it is a great movie with beautiful cinematography, interesting foley, a great score, impressive acting and a wonderful story.
At one point in the movie we are introduced to a cello instructor who offers to give lessons to Nathaniel, a gifted player who lives on the streets of Los Angeles. It was at this point that I noticed the instructor had a fish symbol on his cello case and I wondered where the writers were taking us. The movie then goes on to portray the instructor as an insensitive, blundering, idiot who only wants to help Nathaniel as a project that will earn him Christian brownie points. The fish symbol here was code for simple-minded, fool who thinks the world’s problems can be solved with prayer and pats on the back. The movie did show Christian ministries serving on the streets of LA and making a difference; but the viewer would have a hard time making the connection between the work of social justice and the Jesus of the Bible. The motivations of those serving were not made explicit.
So, what am I saying about symbols? I guess I am saying that those of us who follow Jesus need to be seen as those who are willing to live out our faith in sacrificial ways that show that we too are committed to the poor and are willing to come out of our clean homes and safe church buildings to sit down beside a street person and find out their story. Our symbols should show that we understand that following Jesus is costly. Perhaps we need to meditate less on the symbol of the fish and more on the symbol of the cross.
I know that God is good and that He is involved in my life. I also need constant reminders that He is good and that He is involved in my life. Spring of 2007 was one time where we saw God at work in answering the prayers of His people.
Around the middle of March I began having some pain in the right side of my head. It was consistent with something called trigeminal neuralgia. Basically a nerve gets inflamed for some reason and sends pain signals to the brain. This may be caused by a tumour pressing on a nerve, it may be caused by a virus, or some other less obvious cause. As my doctor investigated, a CT scan indicated a possible mass on the pons of my brain. No one wants to hear the words “possible mass” on any portion of the brain. Was this a cancerous lesion? Was this something that might grow? Could we be looking at the thing that would usher me out of this world? Many questions and fears went through our minds as we did our best to trust God with the future.
This brought us to a period of waiting for an MRI which would be a better form of imaging for structures inside of the head. During this period of waiting we asked many people to pray that God would take away the pain and take away anything that might be causing the pain. Many people did pray for healing. On about April 10th the pain began to subside and within four weeks the pain was completely gone, never to return again.
On Monday, May 7th I had an MRI. The next day, my doctor gave me the results. The MRI results were absolutely normal. There was no evidence of a mass of any sort. There was nothing abnormal in my brain.
Whatever the CT scan showed, it was no longer there. Had there been something there and God removed it? Was there an artefact on the CT results? We will never know for sure. However, if God chose to miraculously heal someone, this is likely what it would look like from a medical, scientific, perspective.
What we do know for sure is that God has told us “prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. . . . and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results” (James 5:15 -16). He has not promised that He will heal in every circumstance, but today I will say, “Praise God, I’m healed!” (Luke 17:15).
Randy Stonehill is one of the great songwriters of our time. He is known for many of his humorous songs like “Lung Cancer,” “Great Big Stupid World,” and “Baby Hates Clowns.” But allow these lyrics to soak into your mind. Sometimes I look at the darkness of our world and I ask myself, “Can Hell Burn Hot Enough?”
POSTCARDS FROM BANGKOK
HUB OF THE EASTERN WORLD
WHERE ALL THE TOURISTS COME
TO PARTY WITH THE PRETTY GIRLS
THEY DANCE LIKE SLEEPWALKERS
UNDER THE DISCO LIGHTS
UP ON THE AUCTION BLOCK
HATING ALL THE HUNGRY EYESAND I’VE SEEN THE WOODEN SHACKS
ROW AFTER ENDLESS ROW
WHERE OPEN SEWAGE FLOWS
IN THE SHADOW OF THE FACTORY
I’VE SEEN THE CHILDREN’S FACES
HOPE BURNING IN THEIR EYES
TOO YOUNG TO REALIZE
THEY FACE A LIFE OF MISERYChorus
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR ALL THIS SUFFERING
THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENT
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO BALANCE OUT THESE SCALES
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGHI’VE SEEN THE CORPORATIONS
BUILT UPON HUMAN BLOOD
THE NAMELESS, FACELESS WORKERS
CRUSHED LIKE DIAMONDS IN THE MUD
EXPAND YOUR OPERATION
THE LABOR COMES DIRT CHEAP
NO ONE COMPLAINS WHEN THERE’S
A MILLION JOBLESS ON THE STREETAND I’VE SEEN THE SICK AND BROKEN
TOO WEAK FOR STANDING UP
HOLD UP THEIR BEGGAR’S CUP
JUST HOPING FOR ENOUGH TO EAT
WHEN JUST AROUND THE CORNER
AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
THE WEALTHY TAKE THEIR LUNCH
AT POOLSIDE TO ESCAPE THE HEATChorus
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR ALL THIS SUFFERING
THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENT
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO BALANCE OUT THESE SCALES
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGHBridge
O GOD OF JUSTICE
MY GOD OF EQUITY
I KNOW YOUR HEART BREAKS
FOR THE SINS OF THIS WICKED WORLD
I KNOW THAT JUDGEMENT WILL BE SWIFT AND IRREVERSIBLE
TILL THEN YOUR TEARS RAIN
ON THE EVIL AND THE GOODI KNOW THAT GOD IS HOLY
I KNOW THAT STATE I’M IN
I KNOW THAT SIN IS SIN
AND IT’S NOT MEASURED BY DEGREE
HERE IN THE LAND OF DARKNESS
WE ALL ARE GUILTY MEN
I KNOW I’D STAND CONDEMNED
WITHOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUSChorus
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR ALL THIS SUFFERING
THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENT
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
TO BALANCE OUT THESE SCALES
CAN HELL BURN HOT ENOUGH
Written by Randy Stonehill
© 1990 Stonehillian Music/Word Music (a div. of Word, Inc.)/ASCAP
Prayer of St Ignatius
O Lord,
teach me to be generous,
teach me to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost
to fight and not to heed the wounds
to toil and not to seek for rest
to labour and not to seek reward
save that of knowing
I do Your most holy will.
St. Ignatius of Loyola
God, heal me of my disease. I want to surpass others. I want to be put on a pedestal higher than others. I want others to see me and give me praise. In my dreams of heaven, I see myself more highly honoured than others. This is a sickness.
God, allow me to be someone who cheers others on. Help me to be one who helps others to be successful. May I work to see others increase. Heal me of my disease for there is truly only One who is worthy of praise and honour and accolades.
Rev. 4:9-11
Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created everything,
and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”
We were sitting in our living room with some friends discussing Beluga whales at the Vancouver Aquarium and the fact that one of them was pregnant. Someone asked, “What is the gestation period for a Beluga?” Not having a marine biologist in the group, no one knew. However, a quick Google search gave us the answer. We live in a world that offers almost limitless information at our finger-tips. Yet, we have more questions than any other time in history.
I just watched a television debate on the question, “Does Satan Exist?”* Everyone in the debate claimed to believe in God. Only two of the panellists believed in Satan. It was a popular debate showing that people are interested in this and other such questions. We question the meaning of life and why we are on this planet. We can observe and quantify brain waves and neural chemical processes but we question consciousness, love, and altruism. Science can’t give adequate answers regarding why or how such things exist.
Maybe it is time we consult God rather than Google. God Himself is a mystery too big for us to fully comprehend. Yet He has partially revealed Himself to us and we now understand God and our world as if we were looking at them through a bad mirror. In his song, “Naïve,” Chris Rice says “I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark.” We may not have the answers, but the answers exist. God holds them in His hands.
By the way, for those who are still wondering, the gestation period for a Beluga whale is 14-15 months. I thought I would save you having to Google it yourself.
Naïve – Chris Rice; Past the Edges (1998).
How long until You defend Your name and set the record right
And how far will You allow the human race to run and hide
And how much can You tolerate our weaknesses
Before You step into our sky blue and say “That’s quite enough!”Am I naive to want a remedy for every bitter heart
Can I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark
And can I leave the timing of this universe in bigger hands
And may I be so bold to ask You to please hurry?I hear that a God who’s good would never let the evil run so long
But I say it’s because You’re good You’re giving us more time, yeah
‘Cause I believe that You love to show us mercy
But when will You step into our sky blue
And say “That’s quite enough, and your time is up!”Am I naive to want a remedy for every bitter heart
Can I believe You hold an exclamation point for every question mark
And can I leave the timing of this universe in bigger hands
And may I be so bold to ask You to please hurry?Am I naive…
Can I believe…
And can I leave…in bigger hands
And may I be so bold to ask You, to ask You, to ask YouHow long?
*You can watch the debate here. Unfortunately, the debate is a Hollywood debate with little substance and does not help anyone come to any conclusions.