bad news to make your day

The old joke goes like this: a doctor called in his patient following some tests and told him, “I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news; which do you want to hear first?“ His patient says, “Give me the good news first, doc.” Gravely, the doctor tells him, “You only have 24 hours to live.“ “Good grief, doc,” his patient replies. “That’s the good news? What’s the bad news?” The doctor leans in, lowers his glasses, and tells him, “I should have told you yesterday.”

<<<Jesus Juke alert>>>

Jesus, the Great Physician, leans in and tells the church: “I’ve got bad news. The world hates you. But here’s the good news: I have overcome the world.”

Yes, the world hates you. But you are eternally, extravagantly, wholly loved by God. Just know what you are up against when you go out your door today. And know who goes with you.

What prompted this post is the thought I had as I was waking up this morning: except for the restraining power of Christ, the world system would just as soon you not be part of it. The world wants you dead.

George Yancey, professor of sociology at North Texas University and prodigious Christian author, was asked on a recent podcast:

What are some of the things being said about Christians on the college campus today?

He replied,

“Churches and houses of religion should be designated as nuclear test zones.”
“Kill them all, let their god sort them out.”
“The only good Christian is a dead Christian.”
“A torturous death would be too good for them.”
“I’d be a bit giddy, certainly grateful, if everyone who saw himself or herself in that category were snatched permanently from our societal peripheries, whether by holocaust or rapture or plague.”
“I am only too well aware of their horrific attitudes and beliefs—and those are enough to make me see them as subhuman.”

Yancey has produced extensive surveys which have uncovered a rather alarming statistic: 32% of all Americans have an unfavorable opinion toward conservative Christians. That’s nearly 1 out of 3 people, my dudes.

Consider the street you live on or the apartment you live in. Every third residence is occupied by someone who doesn’t like you…for no other reason than your commitment to Christ.

Mind you, most wouldn’t think of acting on their dislike with violence, or repeat the things you read above (out loud), but the fact remains they see you as a germ in society and would rather you didn’t come near.

This is why belonging to a faith community is so imperative. One of the great blessings of gathering with other saints embodies the truth that you are not alone. You may be persona non grata at work or relegated to the uncool table in your high school, but there’s a place for you at the table of grace.

Yancey, again:

We must work together to protect each other from discrimination. We no longer live in a society generally supportive of Christians. We’re going to have to support each other. An important way to do that is to develop our Christian communities. For example, support of Christian-owned businesses may be vital to help minimize the economic costs of anti-Christian discrimination. Working together to socialize our children is vital for allowing us to pass down our faith in a post-Christian culture. We can’t count on support from the larger society.

The last book of the Bible is a book about Jesus. It’s not a book about Babylon or the Beast or the number of the Beast, or Armageddon, and it’s not even about us. These things are included, but the overarching plot is the Person of Jesus Christ.

As the world shows who it really is more and more, cling to Jesus. Trust in Jesus. Come out of Babylon and run to him. Meet with him daily. Walk in his steps. Gather with Jesus people. Listen to Jesus music. Look to Jesus.

May your life be a meditation on the prayer of Patrick in 5th c. Ireland:

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Tomorrow morning, get up, get dressed, and go out your door knowing this: haters gonna hate but the One who is greater gonna get you home.

Selah, beloved.

A Psalm That Calms

Welcome to Podcast #26!

“Psalm 23 teaches us to embrace the immensity of the adventure that takes us home. David has been there. He knows. He’s learned the twists and pitfalls, the sunny trails and the dangerous cliff edges. He knows where the forks are and the spacious green fields. He’s painted us a picture in this stanza. He’s set a table in the wilderness for us and invited us to hear his adventures by a roaring campfire…

“I’m not home yet. But I’m closer than I was 35 years ago when my dad read me this psalm that calmed my terror-stricken heart back then. Wild dogs were snarling at me from that dark valley of death but goodness and mercy were there all along, leading me home.

Every mile, every trial,
every cross, every loss,
Every step, every stop,
All has been mercy and grace.

Through every danger, toil, and snare
Mercy and grace has followed close beside, nipping at my heels.“

I could as easily have called this message “Dad and Me and Psalm 23” because the two are so intimately entwined in my life. You’ll see why.

What you’ll hear today is from a recent sermon I shared with the wonderful people of West Huntsville Baptist Church* back in late May. I pray it’s a blessing and encouragement to you…and that the calming grace of our Shepherd God will lay a blanket over your soul.

As always, thank you for listening – and by all means, please share this podcast episode with others who might need the Lord’s comfort as well.

* I absolutely LOVE these people! My wife and I had our very first date on their campus wayyyy back in 1982 – just 4 months after my life-altering, life-bettering ‘accident’ (go to the “My Story” page)! Then youth pastor Pastor Scott (whose wife’s name is also Sandra) invited me to share my very new-to-me story at their fellowship’s Valentine Banquet, so I took my future sweetheart along for the occasion. Scott has been one of my life’s most important encouragers. So, what you’ll hear today is us being with our faith family of three decades…

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GUEST POST: A Lion Named Jack

You don’t know Jack.

But you will.

Jack’s one of my “young lions” (you’ve read and met several of them on this site over the months and years): guys in their 20’s who are interested in more than just the “American Dream” for their lives. They have spotted a treasure in a field⁽¹⁾ and are spending these seminal years gathering their ‘talents and minas’ so they can buy that field. No holds barred. Nothing held back. All for King and Kingdom.

These are young men who, like Jack, are violently struggling to stand against the current tides of culture, and seeking the ancient and apostolic faith that turned the world (in their era) upside down. They are just foolish enough to believe the same can happen in their time.

Recently, Jack approached me to mentor him weekly and in one of our earlier meet-ups I asked him to compose a mission statement for his life.

The very next week he came prepared, and as he read his personal manifesto, I was admittedly moved and asked if it might be reproduced here for my readers. He graciously obliged. As you read, remember that there’s an entire ‘army’ of Jacks being called out of the earth whose passion is to live out these very things for the glory of Christ.

Does it encourage you? It certainly does me.

Mission Statement

To learn,

to observe,

to trust,

to love,

to exemplify.

To obtain knowledge but let it access my heart and not just my head.

To remain teachable, humble and vulnerable to correction by both leadership and the Holy Spirit.

To use my gifts to glorify God,

edify the body,

and speak truth speak truth myself.

To love with no expectation.

To challenge the mundane.

To show compassion to the hurting.

To keep my eyes open to serve.

To honor those in authority in every area of my life.

To embrace grace and profess truth.

To speak life into dead situations.

To be joyful,

grateful,

and show people the unreserved love that God demonstrates to me daily.

To be less, and have more of God.

To be everything God sees in his son Jack Roper.

To create a life of peace with those I encounter.

To understand those who don’t believe.

To not choose when or who I want to serve, love and show grace to.

To grow more in love with the Lover of my soul,

my Father,

Creator,

and Purpose,

my best Friend.

You’ll be hearing from Jack again pretty soon. He has a harrowing personal story that is his to tell – a story of devastation, depression, and hope leading to overcoming faith and forgiveness. You’ll want to stay tuned.

Oh, and pray for Jack this weekend. He’s been asked yet again to speak at Vida Nueva of North Georgia, a gathering of teens who have already expressed their own desire to live out the very ideals Jack expressed.

Oh for a sweet, sweeping, and lasting move of God!

⁽¹⁾Matthew 13:44