Attention Wal Mart Savages!

Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

Luke 23:20-21

It is not often that I rant on my blog. Yesterday’s incident at Wal-Mart in Long Island left me saddened and outraged as a man was trampled to death by a mob of greedy, selfish, savages who cared for nothing more than saving a few lousy bucks on a TV.

The callousness of the event astounded me; the utter disregard for this man after the event and the anger of the crowd when they were told that the store would be closing because of his death showed the depravity of man in all its glory.

The article highlights a Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $798 that seemed to be the big ticket item that everyone lusted after. Out of curiousity, I googled this item this morning. A few mouse clicks rendered prices at $797, $799, and $899 at different retailers. Let’s say the lower prices were sold out. Was saving a lousy Benji ($100) worth the price in exchange for this man’s life? A cop or a soldier wakes up each morning knowing it could be his last; it comes with the territory. But a part time Wal Mart employee?

We hear all the time that people are getting more hard hearted, more callous, more violent. Yet when I think about the Man whose birth we celebrate at this time of the year, I am reminded of the behavior of the mob surrounding His death. Even the ethically challenged Pilate tried to reason with the crowd, but they cried out, “Crucify Him!” As Jesus was asking His Father to “forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”, the ones below the cross ignored him, casting lots for his clothes. Human depravity is not exclusive to 2008, the first Black Friday happened over two thousand years ago. Bargain shoppers at the foot of the cross.

The great debate over the nature of man has been going on for centuries. Secular Humanists tend to think that man is basically good, and people of faith believe that only God can save them from their depraved sinful state. I know some readers will disagree with me, but I line up with the latter. Horrific incidents from the crucifixion to a Wal-Mart in Long Island convince me of this.

I try to focus on inspir- ational topics, but I felt a need to vent a little. Here’s hoping that our holidays are sacred, and unlike Judas, we won’t sell Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver.

Mark

A Rabbi's Take on Forgiveness

Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."
Proverbs 24:29

That dang cell phone. It was Veteran’s Day and I was doing what I wanted to do, painting the foul poles at the baseball field at Stephen’s school. I wanted to make sure that Blue (nickname for umpire) could make the right call this spring. If he misses the call now, we will all holler our favorite umpire insult line, “You’re missing a good game out there, Blue!”

It was Stephen.
“Dad, Mom wants to know if you are going to be home in time to take her to the Shakespeare thing tonight.”
I had forgotten…my mind was on nothing more than painting the foul poles. Men have a way of doing this. If my mind is cluttered, stressed, etc, I can simply go do some kind of project and think about nothing else but the project.
“Yea, tell her I will be home in time….”

“The Shakespeare thing” was not a play, but a lecture by Rabbi Kushner, the man who wrote the bestseller, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." As we were leaving, Stephen was laughing at me behind Mom's back, "Have a GREAAAT time, at the 'lecture', Dad!" Little did he realize I was looking forward to it.

Rabbi Harold Kushner impressed me immediately. At 73 years old, he spoke as a conversationalist. We Protestants are not used to this. We actually are used to something that should be considered rather strange. Protestant ministers go from normal conversation to air gulping, vein bulging, rooster strutting, bloviators in a nanosecond. I am not a big fan of it any longer. Our pastor speaks like a normal person, like the Rabbi. It is refreshing .

Rabbi Kushner's most passionate moment came when he told a story on forgiveness. He spoke of a woman who had a great chance to advance her studies, but would need a letter from her professor. The professor stated that he would write the letter for sexual favors. She refused, and instead of a letter of recommendation, he wrote a letter stating that she was unqualified for admission for this advanced degree.

Many years later, she told Rabbi Kushner, "I have hated this man for years for what he did to me and I cannot forgive him!" Rabbi Kushner stated quite plainly, "Do you think that this man really cares that you haven't forgiven him? After all of this time, he doesn't remember you and doesn't care; I can say this with all certainty because of the poor character he exhibited in your younger years. Furthermore, you have allowed something destructive and harmful to make abode in your mind and soul. It does not belong there and only you can clean house by granting forgiveness and moving on with your life."

In my years as a Christian, I have witnessed emotional displays at the alter, thinking this will deal with unforgiveness in one's life. Many times, I have seen others'---and my own---bitternesses simply spring back to life after the emotion wears off. Rabbi Kushner said that we hold on to things because of a sense of entitlement---this person hurt me and I am entitled to feel this way, doggone it!

I was immediately reminded of an incident years ago at work with a coworker, one that created very bad feelings, at least on my end. I actually daydreamed of taking this guy behind the building to the drainage ditch and squaring off. OK, so I have seen too many Lethal Weapon movies. Years later, he and I had lunch together with some other people. He acted like nothing ever happened, probably because in his mind, it hadn't. I was the fool who wasted my energy on all this poisonous pondering. After that day, this man and I had many more years of good fellowship until he retired.

Rabbi Kushner presented such a logical and conclusive argument for forgiveness. What I heard that night really spoke truth to me. Why would I want to keep something that makes me miserable in my home? What would be the purpose of keeping a rabid skunk for a pet? Sometimes unforgiveness is a simple decision. Get rid of it.


Hatter's Proverb:

The joy of getting older
is that you cannot
remember to hold grudges.

Mark
(Millie is finally rating a little
higher than a rabid skunk, so
I think we will keep her.)

Lil' Sis the Blogger

http://abakkiriza.blogspot.com/

I wanted to give a plug for my sister's blog. LeeAnn spent most of this past summer in Africa on a mission trip and has written a diary account of her experiences. I know it was a life changing time and I am proud of her for taking time out to share the love of God with others.

Trust

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named

Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night...John 3:1-2

The first time that I noticed my night visitor was a hole in the dog food bag that I had left out overnight. On a whim, I snuck a handful of dry morsels and placed them on the carport wall. They were gone the next morning...

I wonder why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Was it a matter of trust? A member of the ruling council probably had to watch his back when meeting with this spiritual enigma of the day. Or maybe he just didn't trust Jesus and needed some personal time with him to pick his brain. What develops from this night encounter is some of the most quoted words of Christ in the Bible. Almost everyone can recite John 3:16.

I caught a glimpse of my night visitor. A Tuxedo colored cat, he (I have no idea if it is a 'he' or a 'she' so I will just call it a 'he) fled at my sight. I found an

old plastic bowl and began to put out a handful of dry dog food, and found it empty each morning. One evening, I was caught red handed by Annie with the kibbles in my hand.
"What are you doing?"
"Um, I am teaching Belle a new trick out on the patio."

Annie lifted that one eyebrow she is so famous for when she knows I am stretching it.

Take a look at Belle. Do you think this old dog is ready for a new trick? I can't even lie creatively.

"Feeding that stray cat, aren't you?

Busted. She KNEW about him!

"I felt sorry for him, don't worry, I am not trying to tame him, Tux is a feral, I just don't want him to starve."

"Tux!? You have named him already? Just be sure you keep him away from MY cat!" Almost no chance the two ever crossing paths and she knew it. Blue, our indoor feline, follows Annie around the house like a newborn duckling. So I knew that I 'had her permission' to keep feeding Tux. Sorta.

.

The next time Nicodemus shows up is in John 7. He defends Jesus in the midst of the Pharisees and chief priests:

"Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" (v.50)

Their reply is rather sarcastic in tone and it is easily inferred that they were not pleased with his rejoinder. Perhaps the patience of Christ, a deeply personal night visit, a challenging spiritual discourse...perhaps these things established a trust in Nicodemus...

The next logical move was to purchase some cheap cat food for Tux. Couldn't have him eating dog food. A trip to the local grocery store rendered a bag of food that only an alley cat would eat. It was called 'Alley Cat Crunchies'. Tux didn't mind. The bowl was always empty. He began to sit on the wall and stare at me. My goal at this point was to gain his trust. I knew it was going to take time. No telling what kind of life he had endured. Tux began to come in the yard, and seemed to have no fear of Belle, and Belle simply ignored him as she has been around cats for a while now.

We did have one dog-cat incident, but it involved our newest member, Millie. Golden Retriever number three over the years... and so far, the dumbest one we have ever owned. If what they say is true about Goldens, they end up the color of their ears. In Millie's case, it appears that she will look like a fine Kentucky bourbon. She seems to already be under the influence.

.

Regarding the incident...You know, puppies have tons of trust. She will run headlong at the sight of Blue, who simply ignores her, turns her backside to her and trots off. The little brain that rattles in Millie's head figured that she could do the same thing with Tux. 'Tire screeching' comes to mind when Tux slapped Millie across the nose. She no longer trusts Tux. That is a good thing.

We see Nicodemus one more time in the book of John. The last part of chapter 19, he and a man named Joseph of Arimathea, ask Pilate a favor. They ask for the body of Jesus. Nicodemus was not only willing to identify with Christ among his own religious collegues, but was not ashamed to be associated with Him before the judge of Jesus' trial...perhaps the trust had become solidified.

Tux began to show up like clockwork. His 'meow' is one of the sweetest I have ever heard. He has graduated to Meow Mix, and Purina ONE is probably next. He began to sit on the wall and allow me to pour the food in his bowl, but made no attempt to eat it until I backed away.

One morning, as I was pouring the food with my right hand, on a whim I gently stroked his back with my left. He arched with each stroke live a wave, as many cats do, indicating that it felt good. I also noticed a conflicted countenance; he did not know whether to bolt like a rocket or stay and enjoy the attention. He finally resolved it by retreating a few feet. I knew I had won his trust. But I also knew that I didn't need to push him any further. He was a survivor and needed a good dose of caution (the kind Millie now has around him) to continue his challenging existence.

Later that day, I came to another conclusion. Even if he would have clawed or bit me, I would still continue to fed him. I was not looking for obedience or love in return. I realized that if a flawed man with a built in cynical gyroscope could think this way, so much more is the love and patience of God in dealing with his children who may go through times of mistrust or confusion in their spiritual walk.

.Nicodemus and Joseph carefully wrapped the body of Jesus with strips of linen and spices, as was the custom of the Jewish burial process. John writes that Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of spices, a very large amount, traditionally used in royal burials. I believe Nicodemus had come to trust the King of Kings....

I try to find personal spiritual lessons even in the most mundane events of life, such as a stray cat showing up at our doorstep. We as a family are in a transitional time; our son Stephen will be making decisions about college soon and Annie and I will start those empty nest years. We are trusting God. I can't say that I have always acted in faith in the last few years but I do know one thing...God is patient with His children.

.Time and patience establishes trust. A feral cat trusting a less than perfect man. A religious leader trusting a Savior. God will surely be patient with me as I continue to learn to trust Him.

Mark

Excuse the long absence. Hope to be around a little more.