Suicide of Junior Seau

On May 2, Junior Seau put a gun to his chest and ended his life. It really affected me because right before his retirement from the NFL I saw the guy at Downtown Disney with his wife and three kids. He was laughing with his daughter, chasing his son and holding his wife’s hand.

And now he’s dead. Tragic!

Junior was a brute of a linebacker in the NFL! I always loved his beady eyes beneath his helmet and how intimidating he must have been to quarterbacks. He was 10-years All-Pro and often held the highest number of quarterback sacs in the league. He had a career total of 155 tackles with 16 alone in the 1994 AFC Championship game. He still holds team records on the Chargers.

After his retirement in 2010, he ran a successful restaurant in Mission Viejo; had a new, exciting clothing line with a bright future. And then something snapped. His wife found him dead, alone in his house at 10:00 in the morning. So sad!

What deep despair or thick darkness could cause someone to do such a thing? Or perhaps the better question is, what could prevent it.

Before we get all huffy and judgmental, we would do well to recognize our own vulnerability and capacity to self-destruct. I see it happen all the time. The weapon of choice may not be a gun but a mistress or a bottle or even a computer screen. Some people commit suicide over a longer period and do it right in front of their children. The results are worse than doing it quickly. So what’s the answer?

You already know that I’m gonna say, huh? Jesus is the answer. And that’s because He is! But sometimes, even godly, powerful people get so discouraged and so weary that death seems more attractive than living. Paul thought so in 2 Corinthians 1:8. So did Job! King David never put a sword through his own heart, but at one dark moment, he wished someone would have! Read about it in 1 Samuel 21.

Nothing can prevent dark moments. We all have them. King David called it, “Walking through the valley of the shadow of death.” Have you been there? I’m gonna talk about it this Sunday and lead you through a psalm that is the template for healthy thinking during dark moments. The psalm is… well, you’ll have to come listen. I’ll tell you a truth story though right now.

John Huss knew he was going to die, and in the worst way- burned at the stake. His crime? He love Jesus and spoke the truth against a corrupt religious system. With his own hand he wrote about his darkest moments in a prison pit. Ocean water splashed through an air hole and wet his straw that rotted beneath him. He often had to lay down in his own excrement until the water washed it away. It took six months for his clothes to rot off his body. They were replaced by a biting rash and stinging blistered. His teeth loosened and fell out of his mouth and his fingernails grew inward because he was no longer able to bite them. His beard was full of parasites that bored beneath his skin and tortured him continually. He had grown so sick and weak they had to carry him to his place of execution. His life was taken on July 6, 1415.

“Okay, okay… he suffered.” you say. “So, what’s the point?”

He could have easily saved his life by recanting his beliefs. But instead, he was thankful for the loving embrace of God. He never took his eyes off of Jesus. He chose not to be woeful. John Huss was gratified with God, hopeful and forward-looking to heaven. He abandoned himself in the all-encompassing presence of God.

If Downtown Disney, a large income, a big house, a buff appearance, a loving family or an impressive NFL career is all people have or hope for, no wonder more and more people are snapping. Yes, the answer is Jesus, simple but true!

Homosexuality is Sin

Two weeks ago President Obama “made history” by being the first president to endorse same-sex marriage. Actually, it didn’t surprise me much. Did it you? I think we all knew it was coming, especially in an election year. Like most liberals, Obama wants to change America’s traditional values and even altar history if it promotes his “evolving” agenda.

“I’m a Christian,” Obama proclaimed on ABC with Robin Roberts. “… and I use my faith to help me form my opinions, and like many, I believe in the Golden Rule that we are to do unto others as we want them to do unto us…”

So, what do you think of that theology? Unfortunately many hold it. Whatever secular opinion anyone holds is certainly his right in this country, but to use Christianity to endorse homosexuality speaks of biblical ignorance.

Homosexuality is sin. There… I said it. Some find it very hard to say due to the enormous amount of political incorrectness brought to bear on those who cherish the Bible. Alarmingly, the levels of aggression are rising along with the strong rhetoric that lambasts anyone who believes in traditional values.

“Do you believe homosexuality is sin?” About a month ago, I heard the question posed by Piers Morgan who pressed actor, Kirk Cameron. Kirk is a strong brother who took a courageous stance, but the intent of the question was to discredit him and to blast his new movie, “Memorial”. Smugly, Morgan continued his full-court press while Kirk lovingly held his ground and spoke biblical truth.

I was asked the same question quite a while ago. I didn’t have the pressure of being on television, but I turned the question around. I answered, “Of course homosexuality is sin, but I’m not alone in my views. Moses thought homosexuality was sin. Jesus thought homosexuality was sin. Paul thought homosexuality was sin. Even Mohammad and Martin Luther King thought homosexuality was sin. The more appropriate question would be, ‘Why do you believe it is not?’”

Geez! I feel so out numbered in this battle, though! But no matter how out-gunned we feel, the truth is something we are obligated to defend. The growing hostility against Bible-embracing Christians and the insistence to silence, or worse, malign the Scriptures is growing louder and fiercer. Do you feel it? Have you seen it face to face?

Prepare yourself. I believe the worst is yet to come.

Who knows what the president’s next historic statement may be, but as for you, “fear God, honor the king (president) and show respect for all men.” (1 Peter 2:17).

And if you happen to sit down with Robin Roberts, Piers Morgan or even President Obama, show the love of God and share the incredible Gospel of Christ with them. The truth will always please God.

The Choice- Hope or Despair

In my youth-pastor days, I took a group of young adults into a mountainous region of Guatemala to build homes for the destitute Indians ravaged by civil war. After an long air flight and a 16-hour bus trip, we arrived at a remote village not far from our destination. I’ll never forget what I saw.

The living conditions were deplorable, and so was the stench. The war had taken the lives of most men; malnutrition and disease left these Indians hopeless. The smells of human waste, burning trash and rotting foliage were overwhelming. The twisted bodies of people littered the streets, appearing dead, but in fact were the carnage of sniffing glue all day. The name of the village was a tongue twister, but in my mind its name was obvious-

“Despair”.

A few more miles down the road we arrived at our destination. It was the village of our contact, a Wycliffe missionary who was in the 20-year process of translating the Bible into the language of the local population. After 11 years of serving the village, the evidence of Christ was clear- Two churches, a medical clinic and a school. Children played together; adults wore large smiles and clean clothes. Women washed their hair in a local river without fear. The market was full of food and laughter filled the air. The name of this village was also a tongue twister, but in my mind its name was obvious as well-

“Hope”.

Despair or hope- the difference between the two is simply Jesus. This remote part of the world was a small microcosm of a monumental truth mirrored in every family, community and culture throughout human history. The difference between despair and hope is Jesus.

Where the Bible is honored human life is hallowed, women are esteemed, marriage respected, laws enforced and education furthered. Where the Bible is honored, freedom reigns and abuse is abolished.

Without a determined pursuit of God, however, like a computer that defaults to certain settings, human nature defaults to darkness. And the further away we get from our Creator, the deeper our darkness, disorder and death.

A Living Example

This Sunday, Mother’s Day, our church will hear and see a living example of this truth. Her name is Diedrah McAulay, a mother of 31 children. That’s not a typo.

Diedrah runs an orphanage in Uganda, named “Answering For the Children”. It occupies a mere two acres of land in a region rocked by a history of civil war and genocide. Still today, Uganda is ravaged by governmental neglect, disease, malnutrition and illiteracy. In a land where women and children live in daily fear of gun-toting militias, lawless abuse, human trafficking, witchcraft and local corruption, Diedrah and her family relish the benefit of God’s Presence on a campus obviously blessed. Her children are happy and well-educated. They sleep in bedrooms; take showers in functioning bathrooms; eat meals in a full kitchen, and interact in playrooms full of God’s love. Outside her window is a lush vegetable garden, a playground and facilities that produce security, safety and laughter.

Certainly Diedrah has needs and budgets every nickel to meet the daily demands. But like a beacon of light, Diedrah shines upon her community with the testimony of Jesus. The result is atmosphere of dignity, mutual respect and charity.

The Choice

Every human being lives and dies with a choice: Hope or despair. We live our lives either with God or without Him; blessing or cursing; grace or judgment; heaven or hell. A third way is simply non-existent. Jesus said, “I am the Way. Chose Christ and the hope that anchors your soul through the storms of life.

Famous!

Know anyone famous? Back in junior high, my best friend Eddie won the annual Pepper-Eating Contest, and took the title away from Mr. Howe, the unbeatable science teacher. Eddie consumed 55 hot ones that day! Wow! We paraded him around on our shoulders with a sense of empowerment over the teachers. He was applauded as he entered classrooms, given hugs by pretty girls and high-fives by the jocks on campus. He even got a ribbon! I felt an inch taller just because I knew him.

O, back then, how I wished I had an ironclad stomach!

Within a week though, the fame wore off, and Eddie was back to being the nerdy guy who blended in with the sidewalk cement. That’s the way it is with fame- here today, gone tomorrow. It’s weird how people will do anything for it, though… and I mean ANYTHING!

Ever heard of Joey Chestnut? Every Independence Day on Coney Island, New York the world-champion hotdog-eating contest is held. Joey won last year by consumer 63 in ten minutes. Burp!

But get this… a guy named Martin Strel wanted his shot at fame, and so he swam the entire length of the Amazon River, 3,273 miles in 67 days! Gulp! What about the alligators and Piranhas?

Roddie Maddison holds a world record, too. He jumped 378 feet on a dirt bike. Leading up to that jump had a price tag, though. Over the years, he crashed and burned many times, and broke… hmm, let’s see- His nose teeth, neck, shoulder blade, two ribs, left hip, collarbone, knee, femur, finger and wrest, not to mention multiple concussions and a punctured lung.

Next up is William Trubridge. With a single breath, this guy free-dived 397 feet from the surface of the ocean. He’s developed gills on the side of his neck. Just kidding! But really- 397 feet! He’s got my attention…

… today. But really… I had no idea who he was until I wrote this article.

That’s just the point- I never heard of any of these guys, and in a year… no a month, I’ll probably forget their names. The Bible says it best.

“As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower in the field, so he flourishes, and then the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” Psalm 103:15-16.

God takes pleasure in His own fame, too. But unlike the fame of man, the fame of God saves a nation. People will forget Joey, Robbie or Martin, but they will never forget Jesus, because He is constantly at work in our lives. His name is above every name, and for His name’s sake, He will save His people from their sin.

The word, “name” is often synonymous with the word, “fame”. Psalm 8 is one example: “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name (or fame) in all the earth.” The word, “excellent” refers to both position and practice. God’s excellence is clearly seen throughout history, both in authority and deeds. His glory and works make Him eternally famous.

I’ve lost touch with Eddie over the years, but I hope someone has introduced him to Jesus. He may have lost his fame in junior high, but if he knows Jesus, Eddie will never be forgotten. And that’s because of his Famous Father.

Dream a Little

On April 3, 1860, the Pony Express sent its first rider from St. Joseph, Missouri and promised to deliver mail to Sacramento, California in 10 days. An advertisement read: “Wanted! Young, skinny fellas over 18. Must be experienced riders and willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.”

The company also advertised for investors. Businessmen hoped to double their money within a year, but instead, they lost it all. The Pony Express went belly up in 18 months because of the invention of the Telegraph.

Today’s shrewd investors would never put their money in a typewriter company or door-to-door Encyclopedia sales. Instead, they look for those companies on the cutting-edge of what’s new. That’s why Apple stock has risen more than any other company in the Standard and Poors 500 today.

God says, “Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it will spring forth! Shall you not know it?” (Isaiah 43:19). God desires to win the lost, and His tactics are always changing.

When the Church was only 250 years old, men with names like Irenaeus and Tertullian began meeting in public buildings instead of local homes. Simple idea, huh? The response was huge! Whole villages would turn out to hear the Gospel. In the 4 Century, a man named Ambrose of Milan introduced singing in churches, and thousands responded. In the mid-1800’s, Charles Spurgeon introduced the first Bible tracts to the streets of London. People treasured them. Hudson Taylor reached out to the poor in China; David Livingston to the sick in Africa; and John Bunyan to the hopeless in prison.

What about you? Have you asked God for a new idea?

God’s Word never changes; neither does His nature, but His tactics and style do. More recently, Billy Graham was the first to rent out whole sports stadiums, and Chuck Smith simply invited longhaired, barefoot youth inside his church, along with their guitars and bongos. “The Jesus Movement” was an American phenomenon.

A fresh idea doesn’t have to be big, only God-breathed. Perhaps God will show you a new way to reach your neighbor. Maybe he’ll give you a fresh tactic for your college campus or lunchroom around the water cooler.

Wait on the Lord, and take some time to be still before Him. Stay faithful in what you’re doing now and courageous enough to try something new.

Dream a little.

Who knows, God may use you to close the books on a modern-day Pony Express.

Grace Wins

The date was April 9,1865, and by all accounts the American Civil War was over. Confederate General, Robert E. Lee dismounted from his horse and walked inside an old farmhouse near Appomattox, Virginia where his rival, General Ulysses S. Grant, waited for his surrender.

It had been four long years of American bloodshed. Brother fought brother and sons fought fathers in a war that took more American lives than all other wars combined in American history. More than 620,000 households suffered the loss of a loved one, while many thousands returned home with amputated limbs from the bone-crushing slugs used in the war.

The defeated General Lee entered the small room to see the face of his nemesis. Both men paused; tearfully pondered the enormity of the moment and embraced with open sobs over years of bitterness fighting.

These two warriors were brothers, fellow Americans and sons of Liberty both longing for a new beginning. The terms of surrender were full of grace. Southern soldiers were given immediate medical attention and food. Every soldier received an unconditional pardon and allowed to return home with all their private property, including horses to help them with a late-spring planting.

Southern General John B. Gordon, known for his fearlessness and multiple wounds in combat, rode in advance of his troops. Lines of Union soldiers viewed their defeated foe. He slumped in his saddle with a downhearted appearance, battle-weary expression, and bloodstained uniform. Northern General Joshua Chamberlain watched Gordon approach, and a feeling of respect stirred in his breast. He ordered a bugle call to sound; Union troops snapped to attention and saluted the defeated general in a display of honor…

… and grace.

In fact, the setting was full of grace, and a broken nation was now ready to heal.

So, what’s my point? Grace always invites healing. Has someone acted dishonorably; perhaps embarrassed himself, or worse, embarrassed you? Has your spouse or a friend said something that hurt your feelings? You’re reaction is important. Do you show grace, or would you rather launch your own assault and “stick it to them”? If you’re hateful, vengeful and hold a personal grudge, then prepare for your own endless civil war.

However, I’ve found that grace always wins. If you show grace, people show it back to you. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and in a week from now, most infractions vanish, and godly people learn from their mistakes.

Longevity’s Lesson

Okay, here’s a question for you… Which vocalist has performed “live” in front of the most people? Let’s see… what about Bono, Paul McCartney, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash or Tina Turner? Actually, if you took all of the audiences of all of the live performances of all the vocalists I just mentioned, they would still fall short of the number of people that just one man has inspired with live song. In fact, he holds the Guinness Book of World Records for singing in front of the most live audiences.

His name is George Beverly Shea, the singer at the Billy Graham crusades. He has sung to an estimated audience of 220 million people. Incredibly, he’s still singing! This past February George Beverly Shea celebrated his 103^rd birthday! From his wheelchair, he continues to praise his Savior, Jesus Christ.

When asked to share his wisdom he’s gathered from living so long, he quotes the words of King David from Psalm 37: “I have been young and now I am old, but never have I seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.” Okay, so after living a full life of 37,595 days and counting, he boils his existence down to one simple thought…

“God is faithful.”

I hope to learn that before my 103^rd birthday. But it’s a challenge when the circumstances of life turn negative and my expectations are dashed. Life is full of harsh realities, you know? Sometimes a young woman won’t find the man of her dreams, or a couple can’t afford a house with a white picket fence. Businesses fail in spite our best efforts, and children don’t always grow up happy, healthy and well-adjusted.

But is there a bigger plan? Is God really in control? Ugh! I want to simply believe without struggling with my own flesh! My carnality can grow so gloomy, so fearful and pessimistic! Just like the disciples after the crucifixion, the flesh wants to abandon ship, get out of Dodge and put as much distance between itself and the Cross as possible. Like Peter, we’ve all felt the anguish of fear, fled to a wilderness and had a good cry over our own lack of faith.

But God is faithful.

Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we want to put as much distance between ourselves and the Cross as possible. Our misery loves company and we’ll complain to anyone who cares to listen… even Jesus. I can picture Him running in order to catch up to these guys. The Scripture says, “He drew near and went to them.” Why?

God is faithful.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus overcame deep, suffocating darkness. On the Cross, He endured the torments of the devil and from the grave He triumphed over the absoluteness of death. And if He can change the nature of death, certainly, He can change you.

So, maybe you can learn the lesson of longevity long before your 103^rd birthday. Perhaps you can walk through the uncertainties of life without fear or worry. Why? Like George Beverly Shea, you’ve got a good grip on the faithfulness of your Father!