accountability

Poor Customer Service

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I had an experience in the past couple of weeks where I felt my husband and I received poor customer service. And honestly. It was no fault of ours. The salesperson was new to her job, but she had been doing similar work for years. That means she should have been well informed about the information we were discussing. The only part of her job that was new and unfamiliar was the company she now worked for. And her surroundings were different. I’m sure the commute to work was different. But the work was the same.

However. When this individual realized the product we were looking for was not her preferred product, she got all flustered. In her previous employment, she was responsible for selling her preferred product, which is similar but not identical to what we wanted. And she voiced her frustrations to us. She said she didn’t want to work with the product we were looking for. It was too hard. And then she entered my date of birth incorrectly into the website. When the error was discovered, it was too late to update it. She would need to make a call to another company the next day to make the change. Because it was the end of the workday and she had another client waiting, she didn’t have time to even begin work on my husband’s information. She said she would call us the next day to complete the work.

She didn’t call the next day. And then it was the weekend. She didn’t call on Monday, so I left a voicemail for her. No call on Tuesday, so I sent her an email. You see. We’re on a strict deadline, and we don’t want to wait until the last possible minute to complete this enrollment. Time is ticking by. She finally called us back eight days after our initial meeting. Oh. She apologized profusely. And then she started working on my husband’s information.

All was going well until she hit the enter button to complete his enrollment. She received an error message and didn’t know how to correct what shouldn’t have been an error. Honestly. This time, the mistake wasn’t her fault. Nor was it ours. But it was too late in the day on a Friday to call someone somewhere else to correct the problem. So once again, we’re waiting. And time is still ticking by.

Oh. There is much more to the story that I could share. There were several more missteps on her part that I just won’t go into. I just won’t. I don’t want to nitpick over words and incomplete training or frustrations, but it was frustrating. To say the least. To say that she was ill prepared for our appointment and seemed to have little regard for details is an understatement. On my end, I had thought of contacting her manager to discuss the situation. But I kept stalling. Now I’m glad I did, because when she finally returned my call and was able to finalize my situation she was very pleasant. But does that make all the other words and attitudes on her end null and void?

It isn’t my goal in life to cause someone to get in trouble at work, but I did see several opportunities for improvement at that workplace. I guess I’ll not share those thoughts at this time. I really don’t want to be seen as a troublemaker. But I do expect a salesperson to be ready to sell all the products their company offers. Isn’t the customer always right? I recall that motto being thrown around a lot in the past.

As I’m writing this, I just hung up the phone with this particular salesperson who thought she had fixed the remaining problem. And the problem was fixed. But when we received the information for one final review, there were two huge outstanding errors. We were told it was the other company, not our salesperson, who had entered the information incorrectly. After all the hassles we’ve been through with this person, we didn’t really believe her. It just didn’t ring true. But we could be wrong. And we’re still waiting for resolution.

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. Matthew 7:12

I have to ask myself. What do I expect of myself in that situation? How should I respond when I’m on the receiving end of someone else’s bad day or incompetence? Do I exhibit the love of Christ? Or do I stir up even more anxious thoughts and feelings in them by calling out their mistakes? When is it appropriate to share my concerns with their manager, and when should I be silent about such matters? I need to make sure my attitude reflects the attitude of Christ at all times.

How should a Christian respond when they’re on the receiving end of poor service?

First of all, I’m not sure the salesperson had a full understanding of what to say and what not to say to her clients. She didn’t filter her words, which could have gotten really ugly if we had gone down that path. As Christians, we don’t have to start the fight. We need to know when it is appropriate to confront the misbehavior and ill spoken words and when not to. Basically, we need to choose our battles. That doesn’t mean we should never speak up about any mistreatment.

Being the recipients of inexcusable behavior allows people of faith to show the love of God. We can display godly actions and words while presenting the truth. Oh. It may not be easy in the heat of the moment, but we can exhibit kindness and speak correction all in the same breath. We have to stop and ask ourselves if we really care about the person who’s been poorly trained or having a bad day. If we were in their shoes, would we act any differently than they are? And we have to remember that they too were made in the image of God and are loved by him just as we are. But God is a God of justice, not just of love.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:19-20

And another thing. We shouldn’t keep score. Oh. We may have to recite all the wrongs committed against us when we report inappropriate behavior, but we can’t hold a grudge or try to even the score. We always have the option not to do business with that individual or company again and part ways amicably.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

But our story isn’t over, and the problem still isn’t solved. We’re still waiting to hear back from her, but she’ll be on vacation during Thanksgiving week. I just have to roll my eyes and sigh at this point.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

Coyote Alert

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Our doorbell rang the other night. Our next door neighbor and his seven-year-old daughter popped over to introduce us to their new eleven-week-old puppy. He was a tiny thing and may only gain a couple more pounds during his lifetime. He’s such a cutie. That little girl was so proud of her new puppy. She said she lets him sleep with her. I told her that she could bring him over anytime she wanted.

A few months ago, I was having a conversation with that same neighbor. He had told me that, at one point, they had owned a dog. He said he wasn’t sure he wanted to get another one, because he was concerned about coyotes in our area. Now. They have a new puppy. All fears of coyotes attacking a very small dog must have been put to rest. Or. Perhaps it was the constant asking and asking for a puppy by his ever loving daughter. It doesn’t really matter the reason that worn him down. What matters is that they never let this tiny dog outside unattended. Especially in the dark. I’ve never seen a coyote in the area, but I have heard them. And they sound like they’re the ones being attacked and torn apart.

I’m reminded of the neighborhood we left ten months ago. For some unresolved reason, I still follow that neighborhood page on a popular social media site. That small neighborhood nestled in the midst of a large city has recently been targeted by a band of coyotes. And these coyotes aren’t being shy about their intentions. In full view, they follow people walking their dogs during the daytime. They’ve been caught on camera walking right up to someone’s front door or just sitting near the driveway. They’ve made themselves known, and not in a good way. They’ve become a menace to the neighborhood. Recently, one person who lived two doors down from us uploaded a video of the woods behind the neighborhood. The only thing visible was the trees, but the sound was ominous. The coyotes were in perfect harmony with the sirens going by on the freeway. I would hate to be a pet owner in that neighborhood these days.

As I said, I haven’t seen a coyote in my current neighborhood. I’m not sure what makes me more uncomfortable. Seeing the threat or not seeing it. It pays to always be on guard for unseen predators. We can consider ourselves warned when we see or hear predators in our neighborhoods. We have to be prepared for the unthinkable. And we have to know that a predator can appear at any time, ready or not.

I realize a coyote isn’t a wolf, but they both have cunning tendencies. The coyote likes to hide in tall grass in search of its prey. And there is a plot of land behind my neighborhood that the owner doesn’t keep mowed. The grass has been getting tall. It would be a fine hiding place for an animal of prey seeking its next victim. My neighbor has a rightful fear of leaving his small dog unattended near that area behind our houses.

Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

These situations remind me of a podcast I listened to earlier in the week. The president of a Christian university was being interviewed about how he makes sure the university he leads remains a solid biblical school. The conversation revolved around un-Christian biases that have penetrated biblically sound schools of higher education. They talked about secular schools where it’s common practice to teach from a secular worldview. And the fact that, at those schools, they don’t have to be dressed as sheep when they’re clearly wolves.

But a school that calls itself Christian is another beast. While the school may have the word “Christian” in its name, does it require students, faculty and staff to sign a covenant attesting that they are living biblically? Does it hire only sound Christian staff and faculty? Does it accept only students who are determined to live a biblical worldview? Because if the school doesn’t have a strong, unwavering standard, secular ideologies will creep in. Oh. It may takes years for the change to be noticeable, but there will be change over time.

The concern is that schools that have always been touted as Christian have been infiltrated by non-Christian leaders and teachers. They also admit a high percentage of nonbelievers into their student body each year. The belief has always been that they will convert the nonbelievers to faithful followers of Christ. But the statistics have shown that the opposite happens. The problem is that once people who don’t profess that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior are allowed into the school in different roles, they will begin implementing nonbiblical teachings and practices wherever they can. And over time, the school will be turned into a den of wolves, hardly recognizable in the Christian community. Is that what Christians want?

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20

Wolves don’t destroy the church from the outside — they lead it from the pulpit. ~Bible in Context

The church’s greatest threat today isn’t from other religions. It’s from false teachers within the church who are leading unknowing believers far from the truth. It happens not only in Christian schools, but also in churches and businesses. Any organization that says it stands for Christian values must be on guard against the devil’s ploys. Their hiring practices and organizational decisions must reflect a biblical worldview. Otherwise, it’s a counterfeit Christian organization.

Christian teachers and leaders must faithfully and humbly live a Christian life? Are they honest, or are they a hypocrite? Do they cheat or take questionable shortcuts in their work? We all know that actions speak louder than words. Evil and deception can be found in Christian settings.

As followers of Christ, we need to know what a sheep wearing wolves clothes looks and sounds like. We can’t claim innocence if we haven’t done our due diligence and can’t spot a fake. That means we need to study the Bible so we know what we’re looking for. We should be able to evaluate someone’s words and lives in comparison to the Bible. Do they pass the smell test of biblical Christianity? They may be friendly and nice, but they’re enemies of the kingdom of God. They are counterfeit Christians. Basically, they’re double agents. We have to be on guard against those who appear to be Christian, but inwardly they are agents of Satan.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was wood, he was one of them. ~Turkish Proverb

Harboring the Lost

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I harbored a runaway the other day, and here’s the story.

I was getting comfortable in my husband’s easy chair one morning while drinking a hot beverage before jumping in the shower. As I sat down, I noticed movement in the the neighbor’s driveway. I saw a dog running around, skittish, uncertain of where he was, as if he didn’t belong. I got up from my easy chair and walked to the sliding door to see where the animal went. He ran over to the other side of my house and to the other neighbor’s yard. I opened the door and whistled. He spotted me and came running to the side of the deck before taking off again to the pond area. I realized I would need to rescue him, so I hurriedly dressed in warmer clothes. He didn’t know where he was or how to get home.

I opened the door to look for him again. As I looked around, I realized he was at the deck waiting for me. I convinced him to come up onto the deck, and I bribed him with a piece of meatball to come closer. With each bite I offered, he came a little closer until finally with that final bite, I was able to grab his collar. I saw the name and phone number of his owner on that collar, so I pulled the dog into my house on that cold and snowy day. As I called the number, the dog investigated my home. He realized another of his kind had recently been there. He very thoroughly sniffed out the remaining scents of my recently passed dog.

When I spoke to his owner, he confirmed that the dog belonged to him. I gave him my address and saw him turn onto the street. As his white pickup came my way, I asked the dog’s name. Toby, the man said. I let Toby know that I was talking to his dad, and that he was on his way to pick him up. And then the white pickup pulled into my driveway. When it finally came to a stop, the owner opened the door and stepped out. I opened the door to my house and Toby ran for his dad, jumped in the truck, and off they went to places unknown.

I’m not sure how pleased the man was at his dog getting loose, but I’m sure he breathed a sigh of relief when Toby bolted from my house and hopped into his truck. Even though he might have had words for the dog, I’m sure he was still grateful for a situation that could have had a very unhappy ending.

Later that day, I saw the white pickup coming around slowly a couple more times. I hoped that Toby hadn’t gotten out again, but I never saw him.

I think of the story of a young man who came to this country looking to improve his life, get an education and go home to help others. But during his early years in this country, a terrible thing was happening far away at home. A war broke out in his homeland, and he was no longer able to return.

Years later when he married, his visa was close to expiring. Immigration came calling. He and his young bride were given a thorough questioning about their marriage. And early one Monday morning, his father-in-law received a call asking when he had last seen this immigrant son-in-law of his. That father-in-law proudly stated that he had just seen him that weekend. And all was well. After jumping through all the legal hoops and hurdles, the young man became a citizen of this country. He did the hard work of making sure to do the honorable task of becoming a proud American.

There are those who come to this great land without jumping through all the hoops. They come running to this country skittish and uncertain, not knowing where they will land or how they’ll provide for themselves. They sometimes pay high prices in order to be smuggled across the border. Some may arrive because they know they will be provided for by the government, and they are rewarded for breaking and entering into a new country.

Oh. Toby wasn’t looking for a free meal, but I fed him in order to help return him to his owner. I would have been of no use to him if I let him continue to run around the neighborhood. But watching him scurry around in a frightened run while standing in the safety of my home, I was no better than the men who came across the injured man and did nothing for him in the biblical parable. The priest and the Levite hurried on past the man who had been beaten and robbed, while the next man we call the Good Samaritan stopped and helped him. He took him to an inn where he could be cared for until he was ready to return home. When we have an opportunity to help others, let’s do the Christian thing and get them to a point of returning to their home.

Don’t think for a minute that I’m comparing anyone made in the image of God to a dog, because that’s not the case. What I’m comparing is the way they left their home and entered someone else’s habitat without going through all the proper channels.

Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly. Leviticus 19:15

What could have happened if I had not called Toby’s owner? Would he have somehow quit looking for him? Would he have stormed the neighborhood desperate to find his dog? Would I have always been looking over my shoulder to see if someone saw me with a dog that wasn’t mine? Would a neighbor have recognized Toby and turned me in to the authorities?

The dog wasn’t mine to keep, and I didn’t want him, anyway. It wouldn’t have been right of me to keep the dog when I knew how to get him back to his rightful owner. Of course. I gave him food and shelter while we waited for him to be claimed.

I wonder. If someone broke into your house, would you invite them in to stay as long as they wanted even if they came with ill intent? Would you invite them in and tell them to make themselves comfortable? Would you freely offer to them the comforts of life that you’ve worked long and hard for? If the person insisted on staying forever without making amends, how long would you allow them to stay? Should your sacrifices benefit someone who hasn’t worked for them?

Sure. The Bible tells us to take care of the poor and the oppressed, but it also tells us to work with our hands. It tells us to obey the laws of the land and give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Some of the Ten Commandments tell us not to steal or lie or covet. How do those who come to this land illegally justify their actions?

The Bible also says all of humanity are God’s image bearers. We are made in his image, and He designed his laws for our good. His laws aren’t made to be difficult.  It’s that we are the difficult ones. When we choose to forge our own path without Him, we forge a deceived path. We get things out of order by not following his specific commands. Namely, we place our own gods before Him, and when we do that, we place our will above his. In other words, we do what we want, when we want, how we want, and why we want. We won’t allow anyone to stand in our way, even if we have to break the law. And then we’re not even sorry. We get to the point of feeling no guilt.

For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14

Did you realize that every person who enters any country illegally has committed a crime? Do you think they should be harbored and protected indefinitely and given special privileges? So, the big question is this. What does God’s Word say about how to treat these intentional criminals? Because they have intentionally committed the crime of entering the country without proper authority. Would God allow someone who has intentionally sinned and never repented enter heaven? Oh. You may say I’m being harsh. But what does the Bible have to say about justice? After all. We do serve a God who metes out justice to everyone of us if we don’t repent of our sins. So, why shouldn’t justice be served to those who break the law?

What should happen to people who violate the laws of the United States when they enter the country illegally? That’s the question. Even though they may be trying to escape horrendous conditions in their homeland, should they be allowed to stay in a country they’ve illegally entered with no plans to become legal?

Do they intend to assimilate into the community and be fully integrated into this country’s culture? Or, are they more concerned about finding harbor in a city that will provide sanctuary from the law? Why don’t they want to follow the law? Were they lawbreakers in their homeland, too?

But you say. What about grace? What about mercy? Grace is defined as unmerited favor. It’s something we don’t earn. Mercy is defined as leniency or compassionate treatment. And what is justice? Justice is defined as judgment and punishment of someone who has allegedly wronged another.

Dr. Calvin Beisner defines justice as rendering impartially and proportionally to everyone what’s due and in accordance with a righteous standard God has set forth in His moral law. He goes on to say that biblical justice does not show partiality or require preferential treatment. He continues in his interview on the Ideas Have Consequences podcast by saying that you can’t give some benefits to some families without taking them from other families.

Oh. It’s true. This country has offered sanctuary with open arms to many who came illegally. What now? Laws that protect the nation and its citizens should be rightfully enforced, and those who want to become law abiding residents and citizens must go through the proper channels to do so. God’s design was for citizens to obey those in authority, but he also planned for biblical principles to be instituted and followed. We’ve lost our way, and it’s time to return to biblical leadership and obedience. Let’s start today.

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Romans 13:1-5

Kindness is Refreshing

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The apostle Paul wrote a personal letter to a fellow believer and friend, Philemon. Now Philemon was a slave owner in the times of the early church. Paul also mentioned Apphia and Archippus in the letter. Scholars have noted that these two were most likely the wife and son of Philemon. This family had a slave named Onesimus, who had run away from their home. This, of course, was very upsetting to the family for various reasons. And somehow in running from his master, Onesimus found his way to Paul. And Paul learned to love this runaway slave as his own son. Somewhere in his life, Onesimus had become a follower of Christ. Was it because of his master’s Christian witness, or was it from Paul’s?

But matters needed to be settled between the slave and his master. Onesimus couldn’t keep running forever, so Paul wrote to his friend Philemon with the hopes of making amends for this errant slave. No one knows why Onesimus ran away. Was he mistreated? Or misunderstood? Was he dishonest or difficult to work with? It could have been that he just longed for freedom. But in those days, punishment for a runaway slave was not pleasant.

Onesimus had wronged his master. But Philemon was known as a kind man. His reputation was one of kindness. So he must have been disappointed, to put it mildly, to find his slave had betrayed his trust. And now his friend Paul was asking him to accept Onesimus back in the spirit of kindness. Could he make amends with the one who had wronged him? Would he? 

I have to ask myself how I would treat someone who had publicly wronged me. Because it wasn’t as if losing a slave was a private matter. Word gets around when a slave goes missing. Some owners might bend to threatening their slaves in case they get the same idea and there’s a made rush for freedom. 

What is the proper thing to do if the slave comes back seeking restitution?

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Am I known for kindness? Do I always offer the hand of kindness when I have been wronged? Would my first instinct be to play the victim and then speak ill of the offender? Or would I instead speak of their positive traits that I appreciate? Would I dredge up all the inconsistencies I’ve seen in their life or share the good I witnessed? Would I keep my thoughts to myself or would I share every dirty secret I know about the traitor?

When I am remembered by others, what do they remember? Is it my sharp tongue? My art of putting others in their place? Or am I fondly remembered for my kindness? Do others consider the kind deeds I’ve performed in their time of need? Do they know of my goodness and not only my badness? Not that my reputation is of necessity, but as a known follower of Christ, how do I represent the one I claim to represent?

The thing is. Paul expected Philemon to kindly welcome Onesimus back home. Oh. Maybe there would be restrictions on his freedom. There would most likely be a time of testing. But it was clear that Paul’s expectation was that Onesimus would be welcomed with outstretched arms. Philemon’s reputation preceded him, as he was known for his deep faith in Christ. Paul knew Philemon’s faith was proven and true and that it had produced in him the fruit of the Spirit, one of which is kindness. Philemon bore the image of Christ. And didn’t Christ tell us to forgive others as we have been forgiven for our sins? So wouldn’t it be natural to expect Philemon to forgive his disobedient servant? He had shown kindness to others in times past. Why not now?

Oh. No one said it would be easy to forgive a wayward slave. But as one whose faith in Christ had matured, Philemon knew the value of forgiveness. He knew the saving work of grace in his life, so why wouldn’t he extend it to others? As the Holy Spirit had worked to trim the unproductive vines in his life, he had become a solid example of Christlikeness to others. Now he must act on it.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:22-26

Are the fruits of my faith and love on display for others to see? Do others know that I’ll treat someone who’s wronged me with forgiveness? Or, do they wonder how I’ll handle this obstacle in my life? Am I consistent in my faith, or do I act on my feelings and fears? Do I hold a grudge, or do I hold my faith strongly? No one knows our hearts but God, until we act publicly on our heart’s leanings. Then our true nature is on display for all to see.

And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Philemon 1:6-7

Hearts are unknown but to God, till overt acts discover them. Matthew Henry

Lawn Mowing 101

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I grew up on a farm where I was expected to help mow the lawn. And it was a huge lawn. No. It wasn’t a lawn. It was a yard. Nothing fancy. No landscaping. Just grass. All grass with a few trees thrown in. My siblings and I took turns mowing this big green space. We would set the timer on the oven for fifteen minutes and trade places when the timer when off. As far as I know, no one cheated and let someone mow longer than fifteen minutes. But what do I know? And not all of us seven kids actually took turns mowing. I guess some were privileged and never had to mow. They know who they are. For those of us who did, some years we used a push mower and other years we drove a tractor mower. So I have mowed my fair share of grass in my day.

Now that I’m living two states over from where I’ve lived for over forty years, it has once again become my responsibility to mow. The gentleman of the house is still employed in the other state, so he’s only home every now and then. So the task has fallen to me to do the yardwork. The lawn is bigger than comfortable for a push mower, so we purchased a new tractor mower.

I had my first experience at mowing the entire lawn this week. Now I must say. I haven’t mowed in almost 50 years. It’s not that lawns have changed. Or that mowers have changed. But the person driving the mower has changed. The gentleman of the house trained me on the use of the new mower, so I felt somewhat comfortable with it. But the maneuvering and plotting of the mowing path were almost foreign to me. Oh to be sure. I waited until late enough in the morning that my perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor had left for work. I didn’t need an audience for this first solo trip.

I wasn’t sure how low to set the blade, so I’ll just say that I set it low. Really low. And as I looked back at the path I was mowing, I realized that was a problem. Too low is not good. So I raised the blade a bit. Much better. But the first trip around the yard was lower than the rest. And it’s obvious. And to top it all off, the low row is right next to the perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor’s yard. There’s no way he can’t spot it. It’s a good thing that grass grows.

I finished mowing the lawn, and it turned out fine. All except that first pass. And of course. When the neighbor got home, he went out and started mowing his lawn. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes at my work, but I’ll never know for sure.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

All this lawn mowing got me to thinking. Mowing a lawn is much like the life of a believer. Even though we may have been raised in church, and even though we know how to be a Christian, it’s not complex but it’s also not all that simple. There’s much to learn and experience as we grow in our faith. Oh for sure. I had to text my husband to see what setting I should use for the height of the mower. And when he didn’t respond instantly, I made my own decision which turned out to be incorrect. Just as we need guidance on performing new or unfamiliar tasks, we too need guidance and mentors when we face new hurdles as a Christian. We can’t do this life alone.

Oh. The longer we’re following Christ, it should become natural to lean on him for guidance and wisdom and strength. But we’re human, and we humans have a mind and a will of our own. We think we can make the right decisions in any and every situation, but we can’t. We get distracted by circumstances and desires that aren’t godly. We become dissatisfied with life and search for something better.

We need godly mentors to disciple new believers in the way of walking the path of Christianity. We need seasoned Christians to walk alongside newbies to guide them in growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We need people willing to speak truth to fellow Christians on the disciplines of Bible reading and study, praying, attending church and fellowshipping with other believers. Some things aren’t second nature to us, so we need help. We need mentors to share their up and down experiences and how to maneuver through this tricky thing we call life.

Oh. I’m sure the man of the house chuckled to himself at my explanation about this job mowing. And that’s ok. But he also gave me pointers on how to handle the situation the next time. That’s what we need in our spiritual walk. Not necessarily someone to laugh at us, but someone to give us pointers on how we can keep our walk consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

Yesterday the neighbor asked how the lawn mowing was going. I knew he could see my mistake, so I explained it to him He just shrugged it off. He said that grass will grow. He was kind. He’s always been kind to me. So maybe he isn’t standing back judging me for the poor decision making when it comes to mowing the lawn. We need those kind of neighbors and followers of Christ to stand beside us as we follow the path of life.

Angry at God

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God called Jonah to travel to Nineveh, and Job decided he had other plans. He didn’t want to go to Nineveh and warn the people that their city would be destroyed if they did not repent and turn from their evil ways. So, instead, he went as far as he could the other way. He boarded a ship headed for Tarshish, which is approximately 2,500 miles in the opposite direction of Nineveh. If it hadn’t been obvious to God before he boarded the ship, Jonah’s attempt to get as far away from Nineveh said it all. He refused to go.

After Jonah was swallowed by a whale and laid in its belly for three days, he had a change of heart. He repented of his foolishness and told God he would do what God asked of him. So Jonah went throughout the city warning the people of God’s coming judgment on them. And lo and behold. The people repented, and the king sent out a decree that everyone must mourn and turn from their evil ways.

Jonah was angry that they had actually listened to what he told them. He wanted them to suffer. He wanted them to pay for their sins. He was mad. And he went outside the city and sat under a shelter to see if God would really destroy them. But God taught Jonah a lesson. He caused a great plant to grow up quickly to shade Jonah from the heat, and Jonah was relieved. But God also sent a worm to destroy the plant, and the next morning the plant withered. This angered Jonah even further. But God told him that just as Jonah felt sorry about losing the plant, God also felt sorry for the people of Nineveh.

You can read this story in more detail in the book of Jonah.

What if God had treated Jonah the way Jonah wanted him to treat the people of Nineveh? Was living in the belly of a whale for three days something to laugh about? God punished Jonah, but he also saved his life when Jonah repented and promised to go to Nineveh. God gave Jonah a second chance to preach God’s message to a nation that hated Israel, so why wouldn’t God also give Nineveh a chance to repent? Jonah begged for mercy and forgiveness, so why didn’t he want the Ninevites to do the same? He wanted them to suffer and pay for their sins. He wanted retaliation for being an enemy of the nation of Israel.

And just perhaps Jonah was afraid for his reputation. If he warned Nineveh to repent or be destroyed and they survived, what kind of prophet was he? He wasn’t considering that God’s mercy for the Ninevites was greater than his prophecy not being fulfilled. After all. There was a condition to the prophecy. If they repented, they would be saved. If they didn’t repent, they would be destroyed. He wanted them destroyed. And he wanted to gloat about it.

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. James 1:20

It’s easy for someone to speculate on the reason Jonah didn’t want to do what God wanted.  But it sure is a great reminder to point the finger back at ourselves and ask why we don’t want to do the things God asks of us. Why do we fight God? Does the task he’s asking of us seem too hard? Will there not be enough fanfare and applause for us after the fact?

The question is. Do we have a legitimate reason to be angry with God when we only know a small part of his plan? What do we expect of God, anyway?

Why would Jonah not want the Ninevites to experience repentance and forgiveness? Why would he want them to suffer? It seems he didn’t love his neighbors as himself. After all, Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and history tells us that Assyria was an enemy of Israel and Judah.

Jonah knew that if the Ninevites repented of their sins, the spotlight would then turn to the wickedness of his people. The Israelites had turned from God and were worshipping false idols. If God showed mercy to Israel and Judah’s enemies, would he be merciful to them, as well? Perhaps they wouldn’t even repent as Nineveh did.

What Jonah didn’t know was that God was storing up punishment for the Ninevites. Sure. They repented of their sins that day, but God would later punish them for their revenge on God’s chosen people. The Ninevites were an evil and extremely cruel nation. They would later be destroyed, but Jonah didn’t know that part of their future. God kept his full plans hidden from Jonah. We can’t expect to know all of God’s plans for ourselves or for anyone else. What we must remember is that nothing goes unnoticed by God. He will repay everyone for the good and bad they do.

The story of God’s punishment of Nineveh can be found in Isaiah 10 and the book of Nahum.

Perhaps we need to consider the difference in retribution and retaliation. Retribution is motivated by justice, while retaliation is driven by a desire for revenge. Jonah’s anger reflects a deep seated desire for revenge, and God acted in retribution when he later wiped out the Assyrians.

The story of Jonah and the Ninevites is an example of God’s justice and mercy. We should pay for our sins, but the death of Jesus Christ on the cross paid the ultimate price for our sins. We still have to live with the consequences of our sins, but our sinful slate is wiped clean with the forgiveness that only comes from God our Father. Let’s let God decide who to punish and how to dole it out. Let’s not take matters into our own hands, but trust that God can and will do his job very thoroughly in his own time.

Skimming the Truth

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The thing is. I didn’t lie. I didn’t embellish. But I still didn’t tell the truth. I omitted facts in my story that would have implicated me. No. It wasn’t a harmful omission. It just wasn’t a full truth. And God checked me on it. 

Oh. When I was sharing the story, I realized I should give the full details. But in a moment of self-righteousness, I omitted the information that would bring me down a notch in the other person’s eyes. So, I just didn’t share that part of the story. I didn’t realize when the conversation started that I would be faced with this dilemma, and I was a little caught off guard.

And then God tapped on my heart. And I couldn’t ignore the tap. So, I set the story straight and shared all the details. She probably didn’t think a thing about it, but I knew that I had set things right between me and my God. And that is the way I want to live my life. Keeping things straight between me and God.

I knew I needed to be exonerated in God’s eyes. Because. After all. If I ignore his tug on my heart for a seemingly inconsequential omission of information, what will I do when in a situation of consequence? If I can’t own up in the small offenses, I surely won’t have the courage to do or say the right thing in a really tough situation. 

Partial truth is not complete truth. Obviously. So is it truth? We live as if it is. Oh. We say. I didn’t lie. But if we don’t tell the entire true story, we’re leaving out vital information. And that information could steer the hearer to a different conclusion. And sometimes that’s the goal we’re aiming for. Giving enough truth to call it truth, but making sure the listener doesn’t get all the facts that leads them to a decision, act or thought that goes against our objective. It’s a faulty thing this manipulation of people and actions and facts. We need to be careful.

My dad used to say that a lie was the skin of the truth. And he was right. When the layers of the story are peeled back, it moves further from the truth. Especially if we have to stretch the information to put ourselves in a good light. The conscience will only prick for so long until a callous forms. And then it hardens to the truth. Until the day comes that truth is basically invisible. Then we must ask the question. Is it still truth?

Tell the truth. No matter what.

We lie because we’re threatened by the truth.

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12‭-‬14

Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:13-14

The Jews and Gentiles were a mixed lot. The Jewish nation was chosen by God as his treasured possession. His son, Jesus, would be born into their nation to save us from our sinful condition. Then there were the Gentiles. They had their own separate beliefs, which were much more relaxed than Jewish traditions. The apostles Peter and Paul had preached to them about the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They wanted the Gentiles to know that Jesus died not only for the sins of the Jewish people, but he died for the Gentiles, as well.

Since the Jews had many regulations about food preparation and foods they were allowed to eat, anyone who was a Jew wouldn’t eat with those who weren’t of their persuasion. But when Peter spent time with the Gentiles, he ate with them. He gave up his Jewish rules in order to share the good news of salvation with his Gentile friends. He became one of them to win them to Christianity. He wasn’t trying to change their traditions. But then, some Jewish friends came to visit. All of a sudden, Peter no longer ate with the Gentiles. He became a strict Jew again. While living among the Gentiles, Peter snubbed them because his Jewish friends came to visit. Perhaps he felt torn between the two groups of people. Perhaps he was unsure how to please his Jewish brothers but still continue his relationship with the Gentiles. It was a touchy subject, to say the least.

Instead of skimming the truth with our words and actions, we need to preserve it. Let’s preserve the truth by making sure that’s all we say. No cutting corners. No exaggerations. No hedging. If we can’t say the truth, then we should be silent. And if we can’t be silent, then we should speak the truth. I know. At times, we get caught off guard. That’s what happened to me. I wasn’t planning to skim the truth, but there it was. I didn’t tell the full side of my story, so I led my listener to believe something of me that wasn’t true. And I’m sure it didn’t bother her in the slightest when I corrected my story. But it mattered to me.

And when Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles, he was hedging the truth to both the Jews and Gentiles. In his case, Paul set him straight. Paul confronted him and demanded he live authentically at all times. That’s exactly what we as followers of Christ are called to today. We must live authentic Christian lives. We must be willing to speak truth, not only in inconsequential conversations, but in all situations. Because when we are in the throes of a heavy conversation, we’ll be in a position to naturally speak truth. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Let’s be authentic. Let’s be truth tellers.

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me. Psalms 66:18-20

Tattle Tale, Tattle Tale

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Oh. Their long wait was over. Seventy long years had ended, along with their exile to Babylon. The Israelites were now free to return home to their country. God had punished them for disobeying and ignoring his commands. So they had been conquered by the Babylonian army and moved to a strange land. Sure. God had spoken through his prophet, Jeremiah, who told them their stay would be only seventy years. And then they would return home. Seventy years seems such a short time once it’s over. But to be a young person at the start of those seven decades was one thing. To be on the back end meant your life had passed you by in a foreign land. Your life was lived not of your choosing. But you were alive. And now you were free to go home. So home they went. They were survivors. They were the chosen remnant.

But when they got home, they realized that others had moved into their land as it stood mostly empty all those years. There were squatters living in their cities. And those squatters had their own way of living. And it didn’t fall in line with what the Israelites knew to be true. So they were at odds. But one thing the Israelites knew was that they had been advised to start rebuilding the temple of God. So they began the work.

But there were those who just couldn’t stand it. The squatters were upset by this new development. Their new neighbors, who rightfully belonged in this city, were rebuilding the temple of God. And the usurpers of the land, those who had moved in while the Israelites were in exile, were upset that the Israelites were obeying God’s command. So the newbies did what immature people do. They tattled on their neighbors. They wrote a letter to the king and demanded that he instruct the Israelites, the chosen people of God, to stop their work on the temple. And their immaturity won out. The king demanded all work on the temple be stopped. And so it did. The Israelites stopped rebuilding the temple. For fifteen years, no more work was done on it.

And then the king died. And the Israelites resumed work on the temple. After all, that was the command they were given when they had returned to their country. Rebuild the temple of God and observe his commands. And yet they hadn’t been able to complete the work. Now was their chance to make things right and finish the temple.

But once again, the newbies complained. They wrote another letter, this time to the new king. And in their second complaint letter, they asked the king to research the court archives to see if there was any reference to work on the temple. Lo and behold! There was. The king told them in no uncertain terms that work was to begin immediately. And he told the newbies that they must pay for all the work. And all the supplies. Anything the Israelites needed to finish the temple was on them. And if they didn’t obey, their lives would be taken from them. Wow. So the newbies bowed to the commands, and the temple was completed.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. Genesis 50:20

I’m reminded of the many stories of the Israelites. Year over year, they refused to obey God. They refused to follow his commands. They ignored his threats of punishment and exile. Yet he still loved them. After all, they were his chosen people. But enough was enough. He wanted them to love him and pledge to him their allegiance. Oh sure. They did from time to time. They repented. But their humility and devotion to him was short-lived. And then they went back to living life their way. And when God had finally had it, the Israelites were once and for all defeated and taken as exiles to the foreign land of Babylon. Oh. God had promised this would happen unless they repented. And they never repented. So they were punished. He had promised seventy years of exile in Babylon. And that’s exactly what happened.

But God also knew that those who had defeated his chosen people and taken them prisoner were evil. He knew they needed to be punished for harming his chosen ones. Being against God’s chosen people was the equivalent of being against God. And that’s not a winning combination. So God made sure that eventually the Babylonians were destroyed. All because they defeated the Israelites.

Just know that Satan will always find someone to oppose God’s work. Someone is always gullible enough to do Satan’s bidding. But also. Just know that those who oppose God’s work and give in to Satan’s scheming will be on the list of those punished by God. Oh. God doesn’t forget those who oppose him. If they never repent and confess their sins, they will be exposed on judgment day. Make note of it.

And there’s more.

God had plans for the Israelites who had returned to Babylon. Although their efforts to rebuild the temple were stopped, God knew that the work would eventually be restarted. And so he had his people wait for fifteen long years. But he wasn’t worried. If they had continued the work, they would have paid for it out of their pockets. But by waiting, God turned their enemies plans on their heads. The squatters paid for all the repairs and supplies. The Israelites rebuilt the temple debt free. Thanks to God’s timely planning.

Oh. God doesn’t forget his people in need. When the people of God are being used and abused, he sees it. When his people are being tortured and tormented, he sees their pain. The suffering of God’s followers does not go unnoticed. In due time, God will repay those who harm his people. So when we think we can’t continue on in a state of abuse or oppression, know that our ultimate reward is eternity with God. All suffering will not be in vain. God is our redeemer.

Empty-Handed

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It hit the headlines last week. The divorce of the millenia. One of the wealthiest men on earth and his wife of 27 years are divorcing. Oh. It wasn’t a surprise to him when she filed. It had been in the works for some time. Apparently. She met with divorce attorneys two years ago. Perhaps it took that long to divide the wealth they had amassed over the years. But at some point, long before the d-word ever came up, they had put in motion the separation plan. The backup plan. The disaster recovery plan that apparently couples think they need. But then again, when you’re talking about that much money and that much property and that much wealth, maybe a plan should be in place. I don’t know. That won’t ever be my issue. And I hope and pray that the d-word never comes out of my mouth as a threat or a promise to the man I vowed for better, for worse, till death us do part.

But now they’re divorcing. They’ve been living separate lives for awhile. He told his golfing buddies that the marriage was loveless. What does that even mean? How did it become loveless? Doesn’t a marriage become loveless when love is forgotten? When acts of sacrifice and forgiveness, when the sharing of ideas and plans, when the thought of being one is pushed aside? Did they not put as much time into their marriage as they put into making money? Over time, the marriage became loveless.

If what I’m reading in the news is true, the marriage started out on rocky ground. He had the gall to ask his wife if he could have a weekend each year with a former girlfriend. Who does that? That must have started the marriage off on the wrong foot. Why a wife would have allowed that is beyond me. Perhaps she had her own secret requests. That hasn’t come out in the tabloids, but other news have come out about his secret desires. His other women. I guess it’s safe to say that money doesn’t buy happiness or faithfulness. Is it true that the more you have, the more you want?

Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere. Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

When we have conquered our financial and business goals, what other goals are left to conquer? Oh. He’s purchased the bulk of private farmland in this country. He has ownership in a couple of fake meat companies. He wants humans to stop eating beef. He’s willing to fork over money to try an experiment to block the sun. He wants us to become a cashless society. Meanwhile, I ask, will he continue eating beef while he is demanding that the rest of us remove it from our tables and diets? Will he vacation at the beach after he blocks the sun? Will he wish he had a wad of cash when his digital currency fails? Will we who have not amassed fortunes be used as pawns when we’re expected to do his bidding? And he calls only the marriage loveless, as he’s trying to control the rest of creation? Who does he think he is?

Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

He is not God. Oh. He’ll face God one day, and he’ll give an account for all his actions. He’ll give an account for all those weekends with his mistress. He’ll give an account for trying to stop the sun that God created. He’ll give an account for all the money he’s made. Sure. He’s become a philanthropist. Because what else do you do with money that you don’t need. That you can’t spend on your own, because you already own so much. You already have the best of everything. And you vow not to leave your self-amassed fortune to your children. I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, but aren’t his children more important to him than other people’s children? Sure. His kids have had the best advantages. The best of everything. I’m sure they’ve attended the best schools. I hope for their sake that they can do well and live the lives they’re accustomed to. That sure would be a drop in status and comfort if they can’t, if that’s important to them.

What about the mother of his children? Apparently, she’s appalled at some of the people he associated with. What was it that turned her to the divorce lawyers? I don’t need to know. Personally, I don’t want to know. It’s none of my business. But when you’re already so well known for your billions and for your donations, I guess it’s only appropriate to be knows for your failures and flaws, too. Because they won’t stay hidden forever. We can try to hide our failures and flaws. Our mistakes. Our annual trysts. But there’s one who’s keeping record of all that. And he doesn’t miss anything. He. Doesn’t. Miss. Anything.

And we live our lives as if no one knows the things we do or say or think. We live as if we’re immune or exempt from God’s judgment. We can fly under the radar for awhile. Sometimes. At different times in our lives. But we never fly under God’s radar. Someday, we’ll be seen on judgment day. It’s an important day that people choose to ignore. Or maybe they don’t know that a judgment day is coming.

Perhaps this man who’s gained so much and given so much also has much to lose. If on his judgment day, the right choice on his part was never made. That act of humility and repentance for his sins. If that was never noted in his life and written in his record. If all his sins have not been wiped out and erased, then all the wealth you can afford. all the houses. all the women. all the inventions. all the plans and dreams and schemes. all the philanthropy. will be worthless. They won’t matter. Because you can’t take any of that with you to eternity. Those things won’t impress God or change his mind. In eternity, you will stand bare before God.

We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us. Ecclesiastes 5:15

So that’s what he has to look forward to, just as you and I do. It seems a little daunting. That day of reckoning. Because we all will be humbled as we are made to recall all of our good deeds and evil deeds. Good intentions and evil intentions. Good words and evil words. They will all be on display. Not for the entire world, but between us and our Maker.

So as I think about this man, some of his life that he thought was hidden is now being made public. Should he have been a little more cautious, a little more careful, a little more selfless? Some people say he’s selfless, because of his philanthropy. Philanthropy is one thing. Good morals is another. But he will stand before God. I’m not his judge. I don’t want to be his judge. My prayer for him is that he gets right with God and he bows to the Creator on his own will, before there’s no choice but to do so.

The Fade

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It’s been in the news lately.  A couple of famous people have fallen off the sobriety wagon.  Oh.  They’re jumping back on, but now their private acts have been exposed.  The battle they’ve been fighting is still being fought but now out in the open.  Their worst private moments are made public.  They lost their way.  They had a tough year.  They gave in to the dark thoughts and desires within.

Oh.  It’s easy to point fingers and name names.  It’s easy to blame others’ problems on their lack of self-control or unknown weaknesses.  But I don’t know these people.  Except for what I read in the news.  I’ll never meet them.  I’ll never shake their hand.  I’ll never look them in the eye.  But what I do know is that the issues they’re facing can’t be faced alone.  They need others to help guide them and hold them accountable.  They need help.

They’ve had years of sobriety and great success.  They have been applauded and rewarded.  They have been the center of attention for a period of time.  But something happened.  Poor decisions.  Hard times.  Uncertainty.  Temptations.  Dark thoughts.  Who knows what caused the downfall.  They knew all the right things to do.  Go to meetings.  Be accountable.  Get help when things start to spin out of control.  But this time.  This time things were different.  The downward spiral started and before too long, they were too far gone to rescue themselves.  They no longer listened to the voice of reason within themselves or from those who wanted to help.  They got lost as they walked the path of sobriety.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:11

I read a story in the Bible about a nation called Israel.  They had a history of ups and downs in their relationship with God.  Oh.  Life was good when they kept God on their side.  But when they started to spiral downward.  And they did.  Life went out of control.  Their enemies came calling.  No.  It wasn’t social calls.  It was war.  All-out war.  Then when life became so unbearable, they remembered God.  Oh.  Yes.  God can help us.  They remembered.  When they allowed God in their lives and routines, He always came through.  He helped them win those battles.

During the times of forgetting God, the temple priests preached feel-good religion.  The priests quit reading the Bible to the people when they visited the temple.  The Bible got lost in the shuffle and wasn’t read for years.  Oh the joy when they found the Book.  When Josiah became king, he commanded the priests to dust it off and read it again.  Oh.  The change was real.  The king and his people repented and enjoyed peace in their land and in their homes and hearts.  But when Josiah died, the people forgot God and went back to their old ways.

It makes me wonder.  What happens in our lives and homes when we don’t read the Bible?  When we put the Bible on the shelf to accumulate dust?  How long does it take for us to forget God’s commands and promises?  How long before we begin to ignore God’s calling and will for our lives?  How long before we no longer talk about God to our children and families?

What do we turn to during our times of trouble if we’re not turning to God and his Word?  What stumbling block is in our path if we don’t keep the path to God clear and uncluttered?  Who will hold us accountable when we start down the slippery slope?

How does it happen?  It’s not an overnight change.  It’s gradual.  A slow move to accepting.  Or thinking.  Or acting in ways you once thought repulsive.  A giving up.  A letting go of values.  Beliefs.  To accepting the viewpoint you once disapproved.  The gradual release of convictions.  Of letting inhibitions go.

How do we go back?  How do we return to our first love?  How do we get back on the road of redemption?

Oh God.  Forgive us for not faithfully reading and studying your Word.  The lifeline to you.  We’ve forgotten it and moved to thinking that being good is good enough.  But really.  The Good Book needs to be dusted off and placed in the center of our lives.