Chained to the Past

Faith always moves forward no matter what’s in the rear view mirror! This is a hard concept for those of us who tend to let history determine our response to the future. Think about it. How many times have I acted or failed to act because of something that happened in the past?

Let’s say you are staying at a rental cabin in the mountains and the glass in the sliding glass door shatters as you open the door to go onto the deck. Is that going to prevent you from opening doors in the future? Of course not! It is something we will remember, but future door opening will not be chained to the past. It may shape, or influence how we open doors in the future, but it will not keep us from opening doors.

More and more people seem to be chained to past events, problems and pains. Many struggle to break free, but they always seem to resign future events, relationships and experiences to what has happened in the past. Blame and guilt are really good at creating a “victim” mentality, which can ultimately relieve us of any responsibility in future relationships or situations. The past pain, hurt, or mistake begins to become the justification for personal behavior, attitudes and actions that are no less serious and even injurious to others. We start to rationalize our present/future behavior in light of what has “happened to us” in the past.

We see this a lot in Recovery circles. Blaming the past (people, family, situations, job, etc.) is a big roadblock on the journey to a better future. Sure we need to remember our roots and what we’ve experienced and learned in life, but there’s a big difference between remembering and being held hostage. My life experiences help shape me, but I cannot allow them to singly determine my response, or actions in the future. This is the road that leads to prejudice, ignorance and a critical spirit. At what point will we ever accept personal responsibility if we are always blaming someone, or something from the past? Better yet, how can we positively face the future if we consume a steady diet of negative memories, circumstances, relationships and events?

We have a choice. Regardless of what’s happened to us, or what we’ve experienced we can choose how we are going to act, speak and respond to the people, events and circumstances around us. Too many times I have made poor choices based on past hurts and pains. And if I’m honest, a lot of those were self-inflicted as the result of my own poor choices.

When I am future focused I’m less likely to let the past dictate my actions or limit my response. Let the past inform the future, but remain free enough to choose how you will act. Who wants to be a slave to the past? Paul put it best in Galatians 5: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

In Need of Rescue

Imagine being trapped 2,300 ft. below ground for 18, 30, 60 even 90 days! By now you've heard the story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped August 5th, when their San Jose copper mine collapsed in Copiapo, Chile. Since then they have been receiving food, water, vitamins, medicine and other supplies through a narrow emergency supply line. Yesterday they were told that they may be confined to their "safe room" until Christmas! Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich told the AFP news agency:

"We expect that after the initial euphoria of being found, we will likely see a period of depression and anguish," Manalich said. "We are preparing medication for them. It would be naive to think they can keep their spirits up like this."

The government has asked NASA and Chile's submarine fleet for tips on survival in extreme, confined conditions, and are looking to send them space mission-like rations.

"We hope to define a secure area where they can establish various places — one for resting and sleeping, one for diversion, one for food, another for work," Manalich said.

Chilean officials have consulted NASA and Chile's submarine fleet for survival advice in extreme, isolated conditions. The miners have each lost about 22 lbs., but they are being challenged to develop a routine that will keep them focused and insure their sanity. Music, playing cards, writing materials and clothes have all been passed down the emergency line. They are even working out a way to record video messages to and from their family members. Meanwhile, they simply await rescue. I can't imagine their state of mind, attitude, or feelings at this point, let alone by November.

We all need to be rescued. At some point every Christ-follower realized that God has provided a way out of the darkness of sin through Jesus. It took longer for some of us than others, but make no mistake about it, rescue came. Sometimes I think we forget that there are still people all around us who need rescue. We can also forget what it's like to be in that desperate period of darkness and loneliness. I love the a song we sing in our worship entitled, "Rescue":

I need You Jesus to come to my rescue
Where else can I go?
There's no other Name by which I am saved
Capture me with grace 
I will follow You

Verse 1
You are the source of life And I can't be left behind 
No one else will do 
And I will take hold of You

Verse 2
My heart is Yours for life
I need Your hand in mine
No one else will do 
I put my trust in You
© 2003 Vertical Worship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.) by Jared Anderson


Holy God,
Grant rescue for those trapped miners.  Thank you for rescuing each of us.
Help us to share Christ with those who are in desperate need of rescue.
Show us how to heal their wounds, clothe, feed, counsel, listen, and
touch them with the hands and feet of Jesus.  We are Your hands and feet,
but only You can rescue the perishing.  Amen.

Thompson on Hepburn: Lessons Learned

Last week British actress Emma Thompson made critical comments about the acting ability of the late actress and humanitarian ambassador Audrey Hepburn.

Thompson (aka: Nanny McPhee) is working on a remake of My Fair Lady, the 1964 box office smash that featured Hepburn as the peasant flower-girl turned lady, Eliza Doolittle. The film version of the Lerner and Lowe stage musical won eight Academy Awards and 3 Golden Globe awards. The article in the NY Post reported:

Emma Thompson said, “She can’t sing and she can’t really act" about actress Audrey Hepburn.

Thompson said she found Hepburn’s portrayal, “fantastically twee.” By "twee" the British actress said she means "whimsy without wit. Its mimsy-mumsy sweetness without any kind of bite. And that's not for me.”

I must confess that My Fair Lady is one of my favorite movies and musicals so I am slightly biased. I can’t wait to see how moviegoers and the Academy respond to Thompson's yet to be released remake of this classic. She is a really good actress so I’m sure it will be a quality performance. To be fair, Thompson’s comments were confined to Hepburn’s acting, not her personally, or her humanitarian efforts.

What can we learn from Emma Thompson’s public comments? I think there is more than one lesson so here are a few observations:

• Beware when someone elevates themselves at the critical expense of others. It says far more about the person criticizing than it does the person being criticized.
  

• The old saying is true, “Don’t speak ill of the dead.”

• Just because your thinking about something doesn’t mean it needs to be verbalized. There’s a time to speak and a time to refrain. Timing is an art and most actors have it. Miss Thompson will need a better sense of it when she takes on the role of the beloved Eliza Doolittle.

• Just because you think your right doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Kind of like building a mosque near the WTC site. It's legal, it's okay, but is it the right thing to do?
  

• Criticizing others when receiving personal accolades/awards (like a star) is bad form.

• Opinions are purely subjective, even yours and mine!

I don’t know about you, but I am, or have been guilty of most of these. Emma Thompson’s comments have made me face my own imperfections and shortcomings. And that is a good thing. The body of Christ would be well served by some serious self-examination as well.

One Awesome Camp for Kids

CZC stands for Comfort Zone Camp. CZC is a camp intentionally designed for children who have suffered the loss of a parent, sibling or primary care giver. The camp is free and CZC even helps with transportation for the children. Watch this video with the stories of some kids who've lost parents and loved ones. To hear their story of coping with loss, pain, growth, healing and triumph reminds all of us that life is indeed a gift.

Baptism

If you are a Christ-follower do you remember your baptism? What was it like? Were you a child, student, young adult? How did you feel about it? Does it evoke passionate memories of a hungering for God? Do you remember what led to your decision to be baptized? Who was at your baptism? Was it in a church, a lake, or swimming pool?

Believers baptism is an act of obedience. It's roots in the New Testament church run deep. Our leader, Jesus, not only commanded it, but modeled it when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. Remember the story?

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

Baptism is our declaration to the world that we have been changed by Jesus Christ. Through baptism we publicly profess our love and devotion to Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, we will baptize several new Christ-followers at Lake Hartwell. It will be a time of great joy for our church family. As we baptize, those gathered will be asked to remember their own baptism and recall its significance in their life. They will be encouraged to pursue Christ with the passion of those first steps of faith. They will be asked to reflect on how much they've grown in their relationship with Christ since their baptism. Baptism is the beginning of our spiritual formation in Christ.

A Precious Gift

According to the national organ donor website
every day there are 77 organ transplant operations in the U.S. However, 19 people die every day while awaiting an organ transplant. There is a shortage of organ donors. The national organ donor waiting list is just over 108,000.

It's a simple box on your driver's license. You can make a huge difference simply by checking it. You can give life by donating your organs upon your death. Choose life!

For more information go to the Donate Life website in your state.