When Power Makes You Nervous

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.  But whoever obeys the law is joyful.  Proverbs 29:18

I must admit that I have never understood the obsession underlying power.  Personally, it has always made me quite nervous to be in the company of those who wield the kind of strength of presidents, governors, and other influential positions.  Those who lead bear a considerable weight of responsibility for the well-being of others.  It is an inherently-unselfish calling.  The fly in the ointment of the democratic system of choosing leaders who are perceived as strong-enough to do well, is that politics is a magnet for the best and worst of motives.

In an article[1] reflecting on the state of world affairs, published earlier this year by Princeton University professor, Jonathan Gold, calling for (at a minimum) mandatory psychological testing of candidates for public office, Gold trotted out the elephant in the rebel room, concerning the two most powerful leaders who should never have been elected by sane people:

At the extreme end of the scale are the symptoms associated with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD), which ought to be out of bounds for an elected official but read to the untrained like a character description of Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin.

This devotional blog is not a blatant political tool, rather a purveyor of Godly advice from the Scriptures.  What Solomon said about God’s guidance as the life-giving need for any nation, is precisely what leaders Putin and Trump ignore, in favor of ascribing all knowledge and power to their own imaginations.  It is often quoted that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  And if that is true, it removes (by definition) any hope of governance without corruption; the lone exemption is the one, true, living God. 

For You Today  

If your children and grandchildren are the hope of the next generation of leaders for this world, better teach them by example to be humble and honor God.  Otherwise those who live in those generations and beyond are going to be bound to the same human foolishness of the current times, thinking we have all the answers, yet having no vision at all.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

   Stubborn to the Bitter End and Without Vision Nations Crumble

Images:  Title Article - Don't Hand Power to Dangerous People   Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] Don’t hand power to dangerous people (even when they really want it) — a modest Buddhist proposal

Using Power Wisely

[1]

Friday, February 7, 2020

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.  For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom.  Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.  For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18[2]

No, that guy isn’t John Wayne, or Roy Rogers, or some superhero; that’s Russell a few years ago on vacation in Brevard, riding a horse for the first and only time in my life.  It’s easy to tell the difference between the superheroes and Russell; I’m the one shaking in the saddle. 

And it’s all because of Big John, my ride for that afternoon.  They had a sign that said if you’re over 210 pounds (I was, and I’m not going to tell you how far over), you couldn’t ride unless Big John was available.  Normal humans who can’t leap 28-feet in the air need a stepladder to mount the stable behemoth.  I’m smiling in the picture, but it’s a frozen in time, is this how I’m gonna die kind of smile.

Well, the afternoon turned out to be a favorite memory of mine.  Big John was well named for his size, but better named for his disposition.  This was a beast who was gentle and calm.  There was no doubt who was in charge; when Big John wanted to stop along the mountain trail to munch on some low hanging branches, well…by golly…no matter how much Russell urged us on, we stopped and munched on low hanging branches.  Big John that is; Russell had Reece’s PB cups.

Sometimes it worked the other way around.  There were a few times I wanted to stop and take a picture of the lovely mountain scenery.  Brevard has some breathtaking views of rolling, majestic sights, including lots of waterfalls.  But John had seen them so often he would just keep plodding.  Once I did what our guide had suggested when instructing this greenhorn…if John didn’t stop, to just tighten up my knee pressure on his neck and yank a bit on the reins.  And when I did it, John ignored me like a rhino with a gnat on his back.  We kept plodding...no pictures!

In the end I decided John was smarter than the one riding him.  Big John had done that trail hundreds of times in his 25 years; he knew the right way to enjoy an afternoon.  I learned a little something that day about truly vacationing as opposed to cramming leisure time with too much distraction; life in the 21^st century has enough of that.

One of the takeaways from that few hours with Big John is an understanding of keeping a focus on how to use what power you’re granted.  John could’ve flattened me if he chose.  He could have insisted on riding me, or just depositing me in a ditch.  However, he chose to use his power wisely, treating me to a wonderful afternoon ride, aesthetically pleasing and memorable.  It was a gift!

It’s almost painful to make this leap, but such are the risks of contrast and comparison – I wish some of our political leaders would learn Big John’s lesson.  Access to power doesn’t mean grabbing what you want at any cost.  Rather, like my four-footed beautiful friend taught me, it means offering the best you have to the people you serve.

For You Today

If you’re watching too much news coverage of impeachment trials and disaster, take a Big John ride…breathe! 

And then thank your heavenly Father for the view.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:  Russell Brownworth (original photo)    Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

[2] For another post on this James 3:13-18 see Wisdom From Above

Learning the Hard Way

[1] 

Friday, January 17, 2020

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.  O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.  Your plans for us are too numerous to list.  You have no equal.  If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.  You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.  Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand— you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.  Then I said, “Look, I have come.  As is written about me in the Scriptures:  I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”  Psalm 40: 4-8

I guess one of the reasons this devotional is named “Rocky Road” is because I’m (painfully) aware of the pathway; in my life I have so often learned the hard way.  King David indicated he had this same character deficiency when he wrote, in what seems a tone of resignation:  Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand….  

Life’s road is mostly not a cakewalk, but it’s a much rockier road when you learn the hard way.  Scripture is full of backup to this thought.  Solomon learned from David that a child’s life is much more likely to hold success and fruitfulness if he listens to what a loving parent tries to share.  Listen to the father-son chat:

“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind.  For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought.  If you seek him, you will find him.  But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.                   1 Chronicles 28:9

In marriage, men do well to listen to their wives (I speak here from personal, and at times painful experience of failing to hear with open ears).  Often God tries to get through the thick exterior covering the husband’s brain, and a loving wife just might be God’s voice. 

In business or government, leaders that learn the hard way rarely get to stick around for re-election encores, or franchise expansion.

In church, pastors who begin to believe the press reports of how wonderful their sermons are, or how wise they are, flirt dangerously with the worst kind of pride; Scripture declares that is the prologue to the un-gluing of your ministry!

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.  Proverbs 16:18

In any discipline of life, we can learn from David’s wise words that life itself is a gift.  Making that life a valuable contribution to the lives of others and God’s Kingdom is a sacred responsibility.  And it becomes abundantly more achievable when one’s heart and mind remain humble enough to stay off the rockier path of going it alone. 

For You Today

If you have had enough of life’s rockier road, seek God’s will in Scripture.  And a trusted mentor wouldn’t hurt. 

Most of all, remember that God gave you two ears and only one tongue; that suggests a good ratio of use…you learn much more when you hold that one tongue and use those two ears.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

The Mix of Religion & Politics

[1]

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.  Put aside your anger against us once more.  Will you be angry with us always?  Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?  Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?  Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.  I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people.  But let them not return to their foolish ways.  Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory.  Unfailing love and truth have met together.  Righteousness and peace have kissed!  Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven.  Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.  Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.  Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps.  Psalm 85:4-13

Listening carefully to God is a matter of learning to understand what is right.  The kind of righteousness which leads to peace is the art of doing what is right.  Learning to understand what is right is a matter of the heart, or faith.  Having the courage to do what is right is a matter of politics, putting into action the right thing you’ve learned. 

Here you have what is a cardinal sin to many people, the marrying of faith and politics.  I grant that many, including more than a few politicians use the guise of faith to win the vote of faith-filled people rather than allow faith to be their guide to govern righteously.  That is an abuse, not a practice of religion.  But to say religion, or faith has no place in governance is to say our founding fathers were corrupt in taking the major ideology points of Scripture as the bases of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.  That’s not a fair argument.

So, what place does faith play in politics?  It plays the same role as atheism, agnosticism, hedonism, capitalism, socialism, and any other belief system; it defines who you are by what you think and do.  To quote an old, but reliable source:  believing is behaving.  The fact is, people do what people think is right.  Our thinking, or that in which we place our faith, informs and governs our doing. 

For instance, I have an office chair at my desk.  When I first saw it in the store I thought it looked comfortable.  I put my hand on the leather and began to believe it would feel great to sit in and do a day’s studying.  Eventually I sat in it and made the decision that a chair so comfortable, and on sale for 1/3 of the original price, was a good buy.   As I peck away on the keyboard even at this very moment, my old sore back is thanking me for that purchase.  And, so, when it’s time to study for a sermon, write a devotion, pay bills, or generally do some thinking, there’s no wondering where I’m going to sit; I head for the chair.  My belief in that chair has been validated and it affects the way I do things in my study. [2]

For government to be righteous, in the way that pleases God, it is important to do more than check the soundness of economic theory or promises of this program or that giveaway.  Character will determine how those who rule do so.  When David wrote to his son, Solomon about being a king that would rule so he would please God, he didn’t speak of the right schools, choosing generals, or theories of government; he warned Solomon about his heart, the seat of his faith:

“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.  1 Chronicles 28:9

For You Today

In any decision about whom you select to rule over you, remember to mix your faith in with the political dilemma; look to the candidates’ heart to see if his or her faith is on a kissing relationship with doing righteously.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com        Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Forgetting to Remember - Part 2

[1]

Friday, January 12, 2018

Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers.  Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods.  How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.  Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime.  For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.  But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them.  They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them.  And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.  So the Lord burned with anger against Israel.  He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.  I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.”  That is why the Lord left those nations in place.  He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.  

Judges 2:16-23^(NLT)

A ten year old boy checked out the Baptist churches and was really impressed when he saw, for the first time, a baptism by immersion.  He was greatly interested in it, and the next morning proceeded to baptize the family’s three cats in the bathtub.   The kitten bore it very well, and so did the young cat, but the old family cat was a rebel; it struggled with the boy, clawed and scratched at him, and finally got away.  With considerable effort he caught it again and proceeded with the ceremony. 

But she acted worse than ever, tore at him, spit, and scratched his hands and face.  This was not going as well as the worship service down at the Baptist Church.  Finally, after barely getting her fur splattered with water, the budding evangelist let go of the ornery old cat.  As she ran away he hollered in disgust:  "Fine…BE a Methodist." 

Every time I read God’s account of the human family (us) in Scripture (and it is US even though we try to distance ourselves and say it was THEM)…I have that baptizing a cat image…stubborn, stubborn, and stubborn! 

But the verse that really grabs me in this particular passage is:

But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them.  They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them.  And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.  Judges 2:19^(NLT)

Every time God put a leader in front of the people, a leader that had the sense to point God’s people to the one true God, they followed.  But when that leader passed off the scene they went back to being stubborn and evil. 

The writer of Proverbs had a commentary on this kind of behavior:

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.  Proverbs 26:11^(NLT)

It’s hard to miss the message in this; when we refuse to let go of our stubborn ways, we refuse to actually BE God’s children, no matter how much we may SAY we belong to Him.

For You Today

It would be a good practice to look back regularly…like every day…over all the ways God has rescued and blessed you.  And then go live like a blessed child of God.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com

The Cost of Arrogance

[i]

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime!  No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction.  It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God.  Its leaders are like roaring lions hunting for their victims.  Its judges are like ravenous wolves at evening time, who by dawn have left no trace of their prey.  Its prophets are arrogant liars seeking their own gain.  Its priests defile the Temple by disobeying God’s instructions.  But the Lord is still there in the city, and he does no wrong.  Day by day he hands down justice, and he does not fail.  But the wicked know no shame.  “I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers.  Their streets are now deserted; their cities lie in silent ruin.  There are no survivors—none at all.  I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now!
Surely they will listen to my warnings.  Then I won’t need to strike again, destroying their homes.’  But no, they get up early to continue their evil deeds.  Therefore, be patient,” says the Lord.  “Soon I will stand and accuse these evil nations.  For I have decided to gather the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them.  All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy.  “Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together.  My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings.  On that day you will no longer need to be ashamed, for you will no longer be rebels against me.  I will remove all proud and arrogant people from among you.  There will be no more haughtiness on my holy mountain.  Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord.  The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will never tell lies or deceive one another.  They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”  Zephaniah 3:1-13^(NLT)

Hans Christian Anderson wrote a tongue-in-cheek fairy tale about an emperor who was so vain and arrogant he was convinced by a shrewd tailor that because of the new invisible suit of clothes made for him he was the finest dressed ruler in the entire world.  Parading around in his skivvies, the emperor was the laughingstock of the parade!

Many have compared America as a chosen the purpose of being to God’s representative to the world, and a great force for good…just like ancient Israel.  Now, I would not, as the old expression has it, throw out that baby with the bath water.  However, if my friends are right about America’s self-view of invincible exceptionalism, and if our leaders are fully-clothed, in their right minds, I would simply submit that the comparison between the United States and God’s chosen Israel must be accepted in its’ entirety!  Another old saying holds that you must take the bad along with the good!

In Zephaniah’s prophecy, Israel is lambasted and warned that their arrogant ways, ignoring God, justice and mercy, are stripping the nation of any chance of being God’s witness of love.  Instead they are full of themselves and ripe for judgment. 

Where did this arrogance come from?  It was largely the leaders who began to believe their own press reports about Israel’s special history, power and protection by God.  With impunity and unmitigated gall they began to congratulate themselves on their place in history and how they held all the cards.  They forgot the One who was really in charge. 

Those who want to compare America as the New Israel need to see the pitiful similarity between ancient Israel’s leaders and America’s political power brokers, who act with either ignorance of, or indifference towards God. 

Of course this is not much different than the voters who put them in power.  We have gone way past even the pretense of being a Christian nation, past modern and post-modern, all the way to godless hedonism.

May God have mercy on us; we are going to need it!

For You Today

As bleak as the political scene and horizon may look for America, there is always hope for a nation, an individual, or a neighbor who will return to God. 

May it be so with me, and with you, as we commit ourselves to proclaiming His kingdom today; let the revival begin!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

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[i] Title Image: Pixabay.com

Praying for a President

[i]

Friday, December 2, 2016

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son.  Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.  May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.  Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.  May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky.  Yes, forever!  May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.  May all the godly flourish during his reign.  May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.

Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.  Praise his glorious name forever!  Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!  Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19^(NLT)

This Psalm may have been composed by David, anticipating the coronation of his son, Solomon.  It is a wonderful prayer for any ruler, because it’s hugely challenging for any ruler to live up to the high-bar goals this prayer holds forth.  It’s also exceedingly difficult for the people of any nation to choose a leader whose character matches this resume’.   

The two great pillars of character are justice and righteousness.  Justice is the rule of law, and that is a matter of the mind.  Righteousness is a condition of fairness and mercy tempering the harshness of rules, and that is only possible as compassion and love spring from the fountain of the heart.  It’s a thin line for any human to walk.

I have prayed for many presidents, from the 1950’s when Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower sat in the Oval Office, to the present day.  It is wisely said that, if you voted, but don’t pray for whomever sits in that seat, you have neglected the more important part of a citizen’s right and duty!

And this is the urgency I feel for the people of our divided country today.  We have just come through what is, in my lifetime, the most perplexing presidential election campaign…ever!  We are now facing uncharted waters in terms of the personality and volatility of the one who will become the 45^th President of the United States in January.  Many are already praying, indeed some, as the apostle Paul, never ceased praying.  Some are planning to leave the country; others are glad to see them go.

While there have always been differences between people (sharp differences) when it comes to political rubber and road, I do not believe I have ever seen a more shameful time when hatred and vitriol rule the day, as we now have from both sides of the aisles of both Washington and Wal-Mart.

Now, I don’t have time here for a sermon, but let me ask Methodist founder John Wesley to give us all a sermon-like reminder.  In Wesley’s day there was a brouhaha boiling over such things as baptism, church membership and how to administer the Lord’s Supper.  In Wesley’s rather well-known sermon A Catholic Spirit, after recounting the many differences held, he called for action that befits people of character:

Let all these smaller points stand aside. Let them never come into sight. "If your heart is as my heart," if you love God and all mankind, I ask no more: "give me your hand."[ii]

That’s the rub today – can those of you on the “right” side of the aisle take the hand of those on the “left” side?  Can we put aside the petty, and join together in prayer for the one who will occupy the hot seat in Washington?  Can we do this for the sake of our country and its leadership and duty around the world in a very troubled time?

There is a vast difference between loyal opposition and dividing dissenter among those who didn’t get their way in the election.  And there is also quite a difference between winning the White House as a prize, and rubbing it in the face of honest people who would hold the winner to a higher standard.  There is a nobler way that awaits us.

For You Today

Democrat, Republican, Green Party, Tea Party, or no party, I want us all to pray for the outgoing president, and the incoming president; will you give me your hand?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

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[i] Title image: By Projectprayerflag07 - Own work, via Wikimedia Commons

[ii] John Wesley, A Catholic Spirit, , The Voice