Stop, look, and listen

     I dislike letting so much time go between posts, but sometimes life simply gets in the way. I'm sure everyone has had similar circumstances, wondering if it's possible to squeeze a few more hours into each day. And yet, there are times you just have to stop, look, and listen.

     Yesterday was one of those days.

     The first two weeks of the Winter college semester have been rather hectic. This has been made worse by the variety of winter weather we've been having; everything from snow to sleet, freezing rain to whiteout fog. Then include normal responsibilities with family, friends, and congregation, which still need their share of attention.

     Last night was rehearsal for the worship team. Our keyboardist will be absent this week, and I usually step up with the guitar when needed: though I'd prefer to stick with my primary instrument, drums, if everything falls into place.

     Missing most of our musicians, and down to one female voice, the need for a little extra work on a few tunes was in order. But we took it in stride, accomplished the tasks, and finished with our customary prayer.
However, just as we finished, a young man entered the auditorium, which is a bit out of the ordinary. It's a small church, with nothing planned for Friday nights except worship practice.

     For the sake of privacy I will call him "Bill." Bill has not been a member of the church very long. Just a few months back he rededicated his life to Christ, then followed the profession of faith with baptism a week later.

     Bill is partially disabled, and attempts to make do with a fixed income. He lives with a roommate, who shares the financial burden. Unfortunately, the continuing economic crisis continues to devastate our small Central Oregon community. And Bill's roommate has just joined the ranks of the unemployed.

     This is not a casual or quick fix problem in an area plagued with a much higher rate of unemployment than the national average. An area that sees thousands of people going after a few dozen jobs.

     Bill's partial disability payments are not enough to make the monthly bills. And just because he's partially disabled does not mean he doesn't have the normal amount of male pride. He eagerly wants to work, even if it's only part-time. Yet there isn't anything available.

     Bill is at his wits end. He humbled himself before the few remaining worship team members. That's not an easy thing for any man to do in this society: a society that raises the bar high on what it allegedly means to be a "real" man.

     With regard to the worship team members, I realized, after everything was over, we spent more time with Bill than we did for the entire rehearsal. We each forgot our own problems for awhile, and dismissed the usual urgency of our daily grinds, while attempting to comfort, help, and find solutions for one of our brothers in Christ.

     I am not bringing this up for any verbal pat on the back, but as a reminder to us all. Even though most of us have our share of difficulties, it doesn't take any of us too long to find someone worse off than we are. If we simply stop, look, and listen we can find many opportunities to help. And even though helping the victims in Haiti is a positive thing, we can find just as many starving and/or shattered lives right here. Maybe right next door.

Not another alleged rapture date prediction!

     An article posted on SFGate.com by Justin Berton, Chronicle Staff Writer, on New Year's Day proclaims, "Biblical Scholar's date for rapture: May 21, 2011."

     The article tells how Harold Camping, who runs Family Radio, an evangelical station with a global following, has a laugh over the "fairy tale" Mayan prediction for the world's end in 2012 (as portrayed in the new movie).

     As an 88-year-old alleged biblical scholar who claims to have studied the Bible for nearly 70 years, and states "he has developed a mathematical system to interpret prophesies hidden within the Good Book," he then makes his own prediction, claiming May 21, 2011 will be the "end of times."

     Camping is the same so-called biblical scholar who prophesied for two years that September 6, 1994 would be Judgment Day. A day when dozens of his gullible flock gathered within Alameda's Veterans Memorial Building to "await the coming of Christ."

     Unsurprisingly, a day that came and went without the heavenly trumpet blast, and Camping reaching for any excuse to cover up his faux pas. He settled on the possibility that he might have made a mistake on his calculations.

     He made a mistake all right, but it has nothing to do with his mathematical calculations.

     However, it obviously did not deter him from giving the old cosmic roulette wheel another spin, and coming up with his present prediction. Nor did his egg-faced followers forego their loyalty and, in fact, have helped sponsor and spread his present message around the world.

     Answer me this: how does a self-proclaimed biblical scholar, with 70 years of studying the Bible, never come across the words of Jesus claiming that "no man" will know the time of his return, only God?

     But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels, but my Father only. --- Matthew 24: 36

A fact which is stressed various times in God's word: for instance, Matthew 24: 35-51, Mark 13: 32-37, and Luke 12: 35-48.

     Then why does a so-called scholar continue to engage in the same foolish action that brought such laughable disgrace to himself, his followers, and his alleged faith?

     Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves wise, they became fools. -- Romans 1: 21-22

And:

     As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. --- Proverbs 26: 11

     Needless to say, I would urge you not to be as this man and his followers. Do not be overly concerned about the day or hour, it is not for us to know. Likewise, do not allow the foolish interpretations of those who take the Bible out of context to destroy your faith. Just continue to do your best, and be as Christ-like as possible. Let God handle the rest.

[Quotes and facts about Camping taken from Justin Berton article in SFGate.com]