Overcome Evil with Good

Yesterday, my Pastor at Lifechurch in Cookeville, Bobby Davis, reminded me of a Scripture that was all but forgotten to me. I’m sad to admit this but I had not stood on this verse in a long time. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NKJV). The reason I share that is because God brought it to my mind when talking to my children later that evening.

Pastor Bobby shared something to the effect that we – the Church – are on the defensive rather than the offensive. By that, I mean, that he was utilizing the metaphor of a football team to describe the Church. Obviously, there are different positions that each person within the Church are chosen to play by God. Over time, though, we often allow our comfort zone to become that which hinders us from advancing the kingdom.

Pastor referenced his own “education” in things of the Church. There was an expectation of “don’t do this” or “don’t do that” when in all actuality all that was being done was giving his sin – and everyone else’s – a name. “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are” (Romans 3:20). Maybe you’ve been told that from those who practice religion within Christianity. “Don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Don’t have sex. Don’t chew. Don’t hang out with those who do.” Now, granted, advocating abstaining from certain practices is absolutely wise but to make the “tradition” higher than the “relation” is worse than the sin.

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him” (Romans 6:1-8).

But getting back to the point, Sophia and Angus had gotten up from their nap. Amanda and I had already decided to split the afternoon/evening with them to give them each some one-on-one time. I had plans to take Sophia to Lowes and then get a bite to eat at the Manchurian Palace. The AFC Championship game was on. It was the final quarter and hard to leave when you’re hoping Tom Brady – who you don’t normally cheer for – has to do everything within him to stop Ray Lewis and the Ravens from going to the Super Bowl.

Needless to say, we got out of the door later than expected, but as we were loading up, Sophia asked me, “Daddy, can we go to a restaurant.” I began to answer her with a list of “Yes we can if you don’t ______.” How awful! Rather than giving her a yes or no, I put stipulations on her request. That, in and of itself, isn’t the bad thing about it. What’s bad is that my initial response was to give her a list of “don’ts.”

God nailed me with what Pastor Bobby said earlier; “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NKJV). What a great place to show Sophia that we can do things in a positive light! So I changed my tone. I said, “Yes, we can go to the restaurant if you have what?” Sophia said, “If I’m nice, if I smile, and if I hug myself?” She melted my heart! Thank God for little girls.

It’s a no-brainer that I’ve often acted like I don’t have a brain in the issue. Why bring my child up with the negative side of options all the time. I can teach her to begin with the thought that a lot of teachers utilize in school. The students start out with 100 or an “A” average. It’s only by jacking things up do their grades get any lower. So by doing the right thing, the reward is exactly what they expected and sometimes even richer!

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good – Romans 12:21 NLT

Here’s your challenge: read Romans!

Value

            Amanda and I have been looking for a place to rent in Knoxville. It’s a time-consuming, sometimes overwhelming process. It’s so much easier to move when you’re single and don’t have little people about who to be concerned. Fortunately, my case is that I do have others involved in the process. I never really understood how much of a difference my thinking would become once married with children. I guess I used to rib my mates who were married. They always seemed so much more “concerned” with the logistics of things. Wives who were mommies, in particular, always seemed to let me know how much more they knew about “real life” than I did. I can see their point – to a degree – now.

            The housing market is crazy. One house on a street runs 200K and two doors down one runs 400K because in the winter – when there are no leaves – if you stand on the right corner of the property, you can see a small portion of the Tennessee River. Now, I don’t really know that as the reason for the price increase but it sure is fun to speculate on a house you find quite attractive and pleasing to the eye.

            My question throughout our day of house hunting on scene was this, “Who really determines the value of something?” Why can the retired little, old lady who owns five of the surrounding properties ask 1K/month for a house that, anywhere else, would only draw – at the max – half that amount! It’s funny. I just haven’t been out on the market in a while so it’s been an eye-opener in regards to seeing what the perceived and accepted value of property is these days.

            Consider the parable of the Hidden Treasure:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” – Matthew 13:44

           

And what about the parable of Choice Pearls:

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” – Matthew 13:45-46

            It’s all about the value of something. What do I value in regards to where I want my family to live? What about the values Amanda has? Are they the same? Do we need to step back, reevaluate, and move forward again with tenacity? Maybe it’s simpler than even that because we want the best for our family – we want God’s will.

            “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Luke 12:34

            I started thinking about all this because of the Life Journal reading for today. *** In particular, I was reading from Genesis and hit a scripture that has really sparked my interest in the psyche of man, especially those of us who have engaged in combat. This scripture makes me wonder if this is the origin of the issues that warriors face with combat stress, post-traumatic stress, and PTSD.

:

“And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.” - Genesis 9:5-6

            After reading this post, if you have any insight to offer especially concerning Genesis 9:5-6, I would love to engage in some dialogue.

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” - Philippians 3:8

***      (If you’re unfamiliar with Life Journals and would like a way to engage the Bible, check out www.lifejournal.cc. Check out www.lifejournal.com for an even deeper technological experience with your Life Journal).

What I Do - First Lyrics of 2012!

What I Do (I Don’t Want to Do)

Copyright © 2012 by Malcolm Rios

Well I know the Lord has shown me the way

He’s taken my darkness and thrown it away

But there’s something deep inside me

That wants me to stay the same

Yeah, there’s something deep inside me

That doesn’t want me to change

And what do I do

To keep on runnin’ to you

What I do I don’t want to do (x4)

Well sometimes I think it’d be easy to do

Walk away and turn my back on you

But there’s something deep inside me

That keeps me from turnin’ away

Make a choice for the hope of a lifetime

Instead of hanging on a moment today

But what do I do

To keep myself runnin’ from you

What I do I don’t want to do (x4)

And what I don’t want to do

I always end up doing to you

What I do I don’t want to do (x4)

All is Quiet on New Years Day

Another year has ended. Maybe I have finally gotten to that point in my life ... I didn't care nor do I give a rip about watching the ball drop in NYC or the note drop in Nashville although I watched them both last night with Amanda. I feel like Andy Rooney - I'm over all the hype involved in what New Years Eve has become. Over promised and under delivered ... As has been the case for so much of our media driven entertainment lately.

Enough of my complaints though because I hate whining as much as anyone else. Right now I'm lying on the couch, Sophia's on the love seat, Angus is in his crib, and Amanda is napping in the bedroom. Life is good. We are blessed and highly favored. God's been so good to us.

For me, peace is the greatest gift God is blessing me with right now. It's quiet in the house although I just heard Sophia snore. Peace has been hard to maintain grasp of this year. So many changes ... So many attempts to move mountains ... So many tragedies - too many and too close. But for all that, I think God is really beginning to open up my eyes and heart to a better understanding of what his peace really is all about.

I pray that for all of us this year.

Attrition

                The last few weeks have been absolute hell on Earth! Besides battling through the skirmishes of my own day-to-day existence, I hear horror story after horror story about suicide, divorce, addiction, abuse – substance, physical, and otherwise, homosexuality and the cost of choosing to live that lifestyle, atheism … I mean you name it and somebody’s out there overwhelmed by the very fact they are going through this thing called life! We expect so much out of it and yet are often let down by it. Is it any wonder people are checking out on life? Is it any wonder that people have become so indifferent about life? It’s almost like we’re all saying, “Screw it! I’m getting what’s mine and that’s it!”

                A couple of things have really hit me hard in these last two weeks: (1) life is never going to be easy, i.e. the SEALs say, “The only easy day was yesterday,” (2) you have to wade through all the crap to find the pony in the room, (3) it’s all about beating the attrition rate – dum spiro spero, and (4) the greatest gift that has ever been given cost a man his life.

Life is never going to be easy – “The only easy day was yesterday.”

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” – Romans 5:3

Life is just like this, isn’t it? It just sucks sometimes but you know what, it’s expected. The Bible is clear about situations we’re going to face and it’s also clear that we have a choice in how we engage those situations and either overcome them or be overwhelmed by them. The story that Jesus tells of the two houses built on sand and rock is a great example:

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27

                The key to remember is that the rains come down in both houses in this story. The floodwaters rise and the winds beat on both houses as well. There’s nothing different about the situation. The only thing different is the foundation on which the house was built!

You have to wade through all the crap to find the pony in the room!

“Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” – Proverbs 14:4

Sometimes I really have to work hard at persuading myself to believe that there is or there is going to be something good in every situation. Ultimately, there has to be because:

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” – Romans 8:28

In all likelihood (and I say this because I’ve been there) time may be the biggest factor in finding out what  the pony looks like in that room full of crap. But let me ask you this: if you were in a room, waist deep in horse piss and poop and it was still rising … wouldn’t you like to see if there was at least a pony in there somewhere?

It’s all about beating the attrition rate – dum spiro spero

                I used to believe that this was something that only the elite men of the SPECOPS community had to deal with as they qualified for their respective teams and units. Not so. This “attrition” gig covers every aspect of life. Think about it: what’s the current divorce rate? What’s the suicide rate in returning combat vets? How many people quit Church – quit God – because they just don’t see it or him happening?

                Here’s the hard reality I’ve been learning. If I want my marriage to make it “till death do us part” I’m going to have to be willing to fight into hell for a heavenly cause! It’s not an impossible dream! It’s about having the stones to stay in the game. It would be so easy to walk away – to quit – that’s why so many people are broken. They’ve quit.

                Go back to the SPECOPS community. How many fully qualified men – men who believed in their hearts before they got there that they could succeed and come home with a Trident or a Green Beret – dropped out? Exponentially more than will ever wear those distinguished items. Is it because their bodies couldn’t do it any longer? Maybe 1% if that many but I’ll bet you it was simply because they quit. They gave up.  At some deep, dark recess in their psyche, they became comfortable with throwing in the towel. Their heads – and their hearts – weren’t in it anymore.

                It’s always going to be hard. I don’t doubt that one bit. But it’s like the old combat saying, “Complacency kills.” The minute you quit moving forward – even if it’s just moving forward a centimeter at a time – you cease making progress. You regress. You lose.

                The greatest thing we have in life is hope.  DUM SPIRO SPERO – “while I breathe, I hope”

The greatest gift that has ever been given cost a man his life

                Have you heard the quote or read the email containing the quote, “Only two defining forces ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier: one died for your soul … the other for your freedom.” It humbles me when I read that because I know others who have gone long before me providing for the very freedoms that I so often take for granted. It almost reads cliché but it’s true. Jesus said:

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

I have found that it’s only when I truly lay down my own agenda’s that my marriage is at its best. I have found that it’s only when I lay down my life that I can serve my fellow Soldiers without hesitation or judgment. I continue to find that when I lay down my life for others, Jesus is proclaimed. And that’s the ultimate goal - being a light for Christ.

“Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:16

True Gentleman: Self Control

            What is self-control? Merriam-Webster defines self-control as, “restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires.”[1] But is it simply restraint from doing things you know you shouldn’t do? Or is it leaning toward moderation in certain situations … for instance: drinking, discipline of one’s children when you are angry, or retaliation when you feel like you have been “done wrong?”

Unfortunately, for most of us, self-control is often thought of as a bad thing – a thing that hinders all that a person can be and/or experience. What we fail to realize is that self-control can be one of the most beneficial attributes of a person who is seeking to serve and lead others. Maybe that’s why they see it that way. They aren’t planning to serve or lead, they simply want to take. They are self-serving.

            One of the best modern examples of self-control draws from Mark Bowden’s Black Hawk Down. For those readers who are not familiar with the operation, book, or movie, a military operation that should have been routine escalated into what military personnel call FUBAR – F’ed Up Beyond All Recognition.

An angry, retaliatory mob of people from the city of Mogadishu swarmed down on some of America’s most elite combat units who had been sent into the marketplace to extract targets from warlord Aidid’s Tier One personalities. The sheer number of people who wanted to kill the American’s would have overwhelmed anyone but the composure of the men on the ground and their teammates overhead allowed a majority of the men to escape immanent death. Though many were wounded, nineteen gave their lives, and one held as a prisoner of war, the situation could have gone from bad to worse if it had not been for their self-control, professionalism, and training.

            How can I present a combat situation as self-control in the same stroke as I write about Jesus who told us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves? That is a bit bizarre but self-control can be seen in so many different ways. One example involving Jesus was at the Temple (Matthew 21:12-16).[2] He often went to the Temple to hear the reading of the Scriptures and be in the house of his Father. On this occasion, the abuse within the confines of the Temple was to such a degree that Jesus showed the jealous fury of our God and began overturning tables and running the moneychangers out of his Father’s house.

Later in the story, Jesus is found sharing the Scriptures and his love with children. The chief priests and teachers of the Law of Moses got upset with him because of the miracles that He was doing and the reaction that the children were having to him and the miracles – “shouting praises to the Son of David.” This story shows us two beautiful sides of an amazing Lord – jealous fury and loving compassion. Opposites that live together in a wonderful harmony that is so much of whom the Lord is and what He does.

            Jesus’ self-control always proceeded from his good will, had a definite sense of propriety, and was equal to all emergencies. He understood when things were necessary for certain situations and when they weren’t for others. Another example is the story of a woman caught in the sin of adultery (John 8:1-11). Why didn’t Jesus condemn the woman? He, of everyone involved in the story, had the right to condemn. Why didn’t Jesus condemn everyone involved? Why not accuse the accusers? Again, He had every right.

I think Jesus taught us a great lesson by accusing neither the woman nor her accusers. Instead, He offered each party the opportunity to reflect on who they were on the inside. He simply said, “You throw the first rock if you’ve never sinned.” When no one was perfect enough to even pick up the stones He said to the woman, “No one can judge you because of what you’ve done – your sin – because they have sinned. Now you … go and don’t sin anymore.”

            Wow! “Go and sin no more!” That sentence more than any other in the Bible haunts me to this day. Can I sin no more? The first three words of his command are very easy to keep, “Go and sin” but Jesus challenges us with two more words, “no more” and expects it to happen. Does He really mean that I don’t have to sin anymore? Is that conscious sinning or is that all sins? Does this simply mean have some self-control and quit disobeying God? I’d like to think it’s that but it’s one of those paradoxes in the Bible that I know I’ll never answer fully on my own accord and I’d seriously question the motives of someone who did say they had a concrete answer for it. Paradoxes, I’ve come to believe, are some of the most awe-inspiring things about our God.

            The following verses may offer some insight to you as to the self-control that our Lord showed and ultimately expects of us. I fully believe that his greatest victory in self-control was shown on the cross and that every situation that surrounded his passion culminated in his suffering and death on the cross, the ultimate victory.

• “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
• “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7)
• “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” (Matthew 4:10)
• “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:27-30)

Reflect on this:

• In what areas of your life do you still lack self-control?
• What do you think about the command, “Go and sin no more?”
• Describe a time when you lost all self-control. What could you have done differently to achieve a different result? Do you know that you are forgiven? Have you confessed this to the Lord?
• How do you practice self-control?

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[1]               http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-control accessed December 21, 2011.

[2]               See also Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-22.

He Without Sin

            I realize that not everyone was as excited as – much less cared about – my birthday as I was this year. Facebook, for all the things about it that frustrate me, has been a tool that has humbled me to no end with all the “Happy Birthday” shout outs that I received on the 19^th. I attempted to respond to every person who was kind enough to stop what they were doing that day just to drop a note to me but it was too much so for those of you to whom I didn’t personally say, “Thank you,” forgive me and thank you.

            I realize that it is only by the grace of God that any of you have been a part of my life. To some degree or other, we have all made some kind of impact on each other. Sometimes I feel like it’s the “Six Degrees to Kevin Bacon” game. Particularly with Facebook, when you can get online and see who has mutual friends and which friends of friends you’ve never met. Pretty cool, actually.

            So, in some way we’re all connected. This brings me to Christmas – the most obvious time in our existence when we’re connected on a large scale. I don’t care – well, let me rephrase that one – I understand that some folks simply choose not to believe in the existence of God. Some, in fact, blatantly disregard him and deny his very existence in ways that – in their own minds – lift them up to an “enlightened” place. Well … that’s tough because I feel pity for you. In my mind, the saddest person is he who dies “enlightened” yet has chosen NOT to walk in the Light.

            My wish this Christmas is that humanity would quit mocking God. Maybe that’s an unattainable request but I’ll throw it out there anyway. My heart breaks for those of you who continue to crucify my Lord because you criticize his followers thereby criticizing Him; but He said you would do that. All I can think to share with you at Christmas are the words of the Savior: “Let he without sin cast the first stone.”

           

¹ Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, ² but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. ³ As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

 ⁴ “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

 ⁶ They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. ⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

 ⁹ When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. ¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

 ¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.

   And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”