The Zombie Nerve

Do you ever get blind-sided by something someone says or does that hits a nerve that you thought was dead? By dead I mean you thought you didn't have to deal with being a bit reactionary, like maybe you had grown past that...then, BAM!! the dead nerve comes alive.

That happened to me recently. I am always telling my kids that they may not be able to control what others do or say but they can control how they respond. I say often that how we respond is a "choice not a condition". In other words, we are not afflicted with uncontrollable responses to life's less than favorable moments. We choose our responses.

Cue the Zombie Nerve!!

Now, here I am fighting the zombie within my self, the part that refuses to die. I may not have seen Zombie Nerve in a while yet here it was, in full, glorious color, evoking emotion after emotion for about two days.

So, what did I do? I sought the counsel of trusted friends. We prayed together. We pondered together and we reminded each other that, ultimately, God was in complete control. I rested in that knowledge, firmly persuaded that what God began He would complete.

God's word tells us that we must crucify our flesh daily. I wonder if He thought of us being like zombies when He had those words penned? It certainly fits. Personally, I am not a fan of zombie shows/movies, but I know zombies are hard to kill, and that if you are scratched or bitten by one then you become one also.

That falls right in line with when we allow our flesh to rule ove the spirit of God within us. We start to contaminate others who come in contact with us. No wonder the Lord told us to crucify our flesh daily. We must be vigilant at all times.

Love one another. Support one another. Be accountable to trusted friends who, when necessary, can help you conquer your own zombie nerve before you become the reason for the next zombie apocolypse in your church or town.

Unlike in the movies or the shows, there is a cure for zombie nerves. His name is Jesus. At His name every knee must bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord...even zombies. So, take it to Him, take up your cross and follow Him.

Love Never Fails

Love never fails.

We will never know the truth of that promise, we will never see its miraculous power if we do not love. Love without condition. Love without conniving. Love without arrogance. Love without pride. Love without judgment.

We, as a church, fail the world when we don't love to the point of succeeding to the victory that Christ has laid out before us. We, as humanity, fail each other when we withhold love from each other for our one of hundreds of supposedly justifiable reasons...wrong race, wrong religion, no religion, too rich, too poor, too broken, too pristine, too much talent, not enough talent, unworthy, feet are too big, nose is too small, yard is unkempt, too many animals, doesn't like dogs...and so our lists go one as to why we cannot love that one or those many.

What if we decided to take God's promise as a challenge? What if we challenged ourselves to love others until love did not fail? Why do we give up so easy? Love takes time. In fact, the scripture says that love is patient. It also says that love is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

What does our love for others look like? If is does not look as described then maybe that is why our love is failing. Let's make a decision to no longer fail at love because, according to God, who is Love, love never fails. Let's lay our excuses to the side and love without failing.

(Scripture references taken from 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4:8)

Don't Strike the Rock!

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him.

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” ~Number 20:7-12
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Obedience is a big deal to God. The details of our obedience are also a big thing. In the above passage God told Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water. Moses chose to strike the rock instead. When he did water still gushed forth, but his lack of attention to detail cost him his place in the Promised Land.

Why did the water still gush when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it? The scripture does not say but a couple of thoughts are:
-the people still had a need for water and God met that need.
-God honored Moses' faith despite his twist on what God had told him to do.

Attitude is everyting. The people of Israel had been contending with Moses just before, complaining against him. Moses sought the Lord, received his instructions but then proceeded to add his own twist to the instructions. Instead of speaking to rock he struck it.

Maybe Moses was angry with the people and their poor attititudes and their constant complaining. Maybe he thought, "What difference does it make whether I speak to the rock or strike it?"

The difference was life altering. Moses still got to lead the people to the Promised Land. He got to keep his job, but he lost his right to enjoy the blessing of that land for himself.

How often do we do the same thing? The Lord puts us in a place to lead others to Him and His instructions are simple, yet we find ourselves wanting to strike when He wants us to speak. We need to be so careful to pay attention to the details of what He wants us to do.

Attitude is everything. What attitude are we bringing into the assignments God has given us? If we are bringing anything more than love and simple obedience, then let us check to see if our rod is raised in the air, ready to strike.

Speak. It seemed so simple. Just speak to the rock. Surely he needed to do more than just speak. Surely we need to do more than just love. Speak. Lay down your rod. Lay down your way of providing for the people and just speak.

It is amazing how diffifcult it can be to just speak. Maybe, like Moses, we just want to strike. It has more flair than speaking. If we strike we show our strength. If we strike we might feel better, especially if the people are contentious and we think we've had enough. What difference does it make if we speak or if we strike? Speak. Just speak.

Don't lose the land that God wants to give you. Pay attention to the details. Don't strike the rock.

Subconscious Abortion

Abortion. It is an ugly word. It is a word that divides many, incites protests and violence, wounds and separates.

Abortion is medically defined as:

- Induced termination of a pregnancy with destruction of the embryo or fetus.
-Any of various procedures that result in the termination of a pregnancy.
-An operation or other procedure to terminate pregnancy before the fetus is viable.
-The premature termination of pregnancy by spontaneous or induced expulsion of a nonviable fetus from the uterus.

Generally speaking, Christians are largely seen as a group whose stance against abortion is staunchly pro-life. The argument is made that as soon as a woman’s egg is fertilized life begins; therefore the fertilized egg has the right to live, grow and be birthed into the world. Pro-lifers hold the position that even a mother who does not want her child, nor is capable of caring for her child, should not deny her child its right to life.

Adoption is listed as an option for a mother considering abortion. Likewise, there are many groups and individuals who devote their time and talents to provide the necessary support for a mother who is scared or not quite ready for the responsibility of motherhood. The support and options given often, literally, make the difference between life and death. 

Fast forward thirty years to the life of a child, now an adult, who was spared from being aborted in the womb. Maybe he is successful. Maybe his life is picture perfect. Maybe he is an addict. Maybe she has ‘been around the block’. Maybe they are living in the world, like the world, as fast and hard as they can. Maybe they cuss. Maybe they drink. Maybe they pray to a foreign god or no god at all. Whatever their circumstance, they seem ‘lost and undone’. They just don’t look like you or me.

They have been reduced to the ranks of one of many labels or stereotypes. They are disenfranchised, whether by choice or circumstance. They are seldom known by their given name. They are known by labels such as druggie, homeless, loose, ex-con, hopeless, ain’t never gonna change, dirty, less than, liar, thief, good for nothing….and the list goes on.

Let’s go a little further. This same person seems to cycle through their life from one struggle to the next. They repeat the same mistakes, the same bad behaviors…but they need help. Maybe they need food. Maybe they need a ride or a job. Maybe they want to hang out and talk about stuff, stuff that seems so far removed from where you have ever been or ever wanted to go in thought or reality.

What do we do? Surely there are other people more worthy or deserving of the help. Why should ‘they’ be helped? Maybe you think to yourself, "All they are going to do is squander what you give them or not appreciate it enough."

If a child struggles in the womb, doctors fight to save him.

If a child struggles in the classroom, teachers fight to educate him.
If a child struggles in the home, authorities fight to protect him.
When a child grows up, becomes an adult and struggles, society fights against him.

Abortion is also defined as:

-Something that is regarded as poorly made or done.
-Anything that fails to develop, progress, or mature.

We will fight hard to preserve a child’s right to life and we should. I support life at all stages. However, if we are not careful, we will easily commit subconscious abortion against the disenfranchised, the stereotypes and the ones whose names have been replaced with labels. We will abort the ones who seem to have become an inconvenience to our otherwise ordered and structured lives. We will abort the ones we have decided we just don’t want anymore. We will abort the ones we think aren’t trying hard enough, who don’t meet our predetermined requirements for our goodwill.

How do we subconsciously abort them? We remove them from our thoughts. We remove them from our lists. We reduce them in importance. We favor one over another. We compare them and they always fail and pale in comparison. Without realizing it we begin to play our own version of God.

We forget that we are simply called to plant and water the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We forget that it is God, Himself, who brings forth the increase. While God is no respecter of persons we often become judge, jury and executioner. We exalt and we put down.

We forget that there is power in the name of Jesus. We forget that He has power to save, heal, deliver, set free, redeem, enlighten, comfort and restore. We forget that God is love. We forget that love never fails.

Jesus told us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. He told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. He did not include any clauses or any terms and conditions.

In the Book of 1 John the word, love, is listed 51 times. Here are a few of those listings:

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”  -1 John 4:8

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  -1 John 4:10-11

 “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”    -1 John 4:20-21

Are people going to try to take advantage of us? Of course. What should we do? Love them anyway. No one likes to be taken advantage of, but we are told in God’s word to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. We should walk in wisdom and be led by the Holy Spirit. Will there be times we can’t or shouldn’t help someone? Yes, but we need to be certain that we are acting in obedience to the Lord.

We need to check ourselves daily…our hearts, minds and attitudes. How do we view this world around us? What if the very life that was saved at conception is later subconsciously aborted by us? Let’s keep it simple. Let's lay aside our surgical instruments of judgment, self-righteousness, pride, smugness and any other tool used to perform our subconscious procedures against those whom we refuse to know, love and acknowledge.

Let's fight to love people from all 'walks of life' the way God instructs and may that love flow freely and be drawn from the depths of sincerity within us.