Longings and desires

Have you ever felt like a misfit? As I boy I was ignored because of my small size and immaturity. In High School I was attracted to a classmate but was told she was only interested in upperclassmen. I attended a regional high school where I was considered an outsider because I lived in a small town. I assumed that as I entered the ministry everything would change, and they did for a season. Then my politics changed!

As long as I believed in the party line I was accepted; I was like the rest. Peer pressure wasn't really pressure because I had already conformed to it. Spiritual writers are right when they say the devil doesn't have to tempt his children; they already sin willfully. He only tempts those who are seeking to break Satan's power. Then temptation is the strongest. When I moved to Worcester and began to experience the pressures of inner city living and the inadequacy of my political views to experience relief, I began to look at a more "politically liberal" perspective on life. I also began to study the Bible to understand what the role of government was as well as the role of the church in public life. What I experienced was a transformation of thought and an alienation from my evangelical colleagues.

As a Christian God has always had me involved in prayer ministry. I am convinced that all divine work emanates from prayer. Personal spirituality is foundational to my understanding of living for Jesus. We are told to pray the Lord's Prayer, which is Jesus' vision for his church; we are told to pray for government because it holds our peace in its hand. If you want to accomplish something for God it must come from prayer. My evangelical colleagues understand that to a certain degree (I think they spend too much time tweaking programs to make them work and too little time trusting God).

As a Christian Citizen I realize that God works in our civic lives through government. Government is God's shepherd for its citizens. As we have seen in the health care debate, politics is a very dirty business. However, politics is the way government is accomplished and my civic life is managed. There is no need for less government because then we citizens will do what is right in our own eyes. We need government to discipline our own corruption.

What is needed is a Christian citizen who will be a prayer warrior and an activist; someone who has authority with God through prayer and authority with government through political action. I yearn to be part of a clergy prayer group that is also politically active. So far I have been frustrated.

A leader within the Southern Baptist Convention identified my problem: Wally, you have the theology of a Southern Baptist and the political views of the Cooperative Baptists. Perhaps what I wish is that Southern Baptists would be examine the authoritative Scriptures to discover that they teach us how to live as well as what to believe.

I'm writing this on the cusp of a new year. Next week I will be attending a conference with fellow clergy and Henry Blackaby; perhaps, I will discover a kindred spirit. Will you pray that you will discover prayer partners to help you be active in life, and pray for me that I may find that prayer group that believes in activism.

Monday made Tuesday possible

It's been some time since my last blog; let's blame it on the weather!

This past Monday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day. That day was special because it made the inauguration of an African-American President possible. I, as many of you, lived through the 60s. We remember the lynchings of Negroes; we remember the fire hoses and police dogs resisting the marchers; we remember the smear campaign against King. After the cycle of assassinations in 1968 we remember the cities that were nearly burned to the ground. In the early 70s we remember the opposition to forced busing in Boston and the hatred that spilled from the mouths of ordinary Americans. While we couldn't use the "n" word, we sure thought it in referring to them. We remember how we justified our opposition to the civil rights movement. The marchers were all wrong in their approach; civil rights will come another way (although we never knew what that other way was). We proudly said you cannot legislate morality. From a Christian perspective we just said that if enough people were converted then everyone would have their civil rights. How naive was that when the Bible Belt was the battleground for civil rights?

It was the marches; it was the efforts of President Johnson; it was the efforts of the civil-rights legislation of the 60s that changed the way American functioned. Negroes began to achieve their previously denied rights; they began to move up in the economic ladder; their began to wield their political power. Today, millions of white people voted for President Obama because race did not matter. Morality was legislated. People's attitudes did change. Government did its job and America won - we demonstrated to the world that America is the land of opportunity, the land of freedom, the land where change happens peacefully, the land where different peoples can live together in harmony.

President Obama will have to prove himself to all America to warrant a second term. This blog is not a support letter for him; it is a support letter for America. We live in a great country. We Christians should recognize that we too can impact our world; we can fight for our freedoms; we can demand equality; but it will come at a cost. The African-American community paid the price with their lives as well as their fortunes (sounds like the sacrifice our Founding Fathers made); are we willing to pay the same price?

Year End Thoughts

Twas the day after Christmas, and my thoughts move towards reflection. I must admit that our country is in dire straits. Why? Trust has been shattered.

For me the saddest component of my thoughts are on the sad state of the American church. Our Catholic friends groan under the weight of the moral scandals involving their priests. We protestants discovered that the leader of the National Association of Evangelicals, while fighting for a pro traditional marriage amendment to Colorado's state constitution, was himself a closet homosexual and drug user. Add that to the numerous clergy involved in their own sex scandals. 

One by one our politicians are being outed for their corruption. Having been reared in the Chicago area, I am particularly sensitive to Illinois' Governor being arrested for seeking to sell President-elect Obama's senate seat to the highest bidder. Unfortunately this governor is only one of many politicians being charged with corruption. In Boston, a City Councilor and a State Senator were both arrested for accepting bribes.

In the world of business we are experiencing the collapse of the financial world. Government bail-outs are now an ordinary part of economic life. Much of this money has been diverted from its primary purpose to lining the pockets of corrupt CEOs.

So, our religious, governmental and economic parts of our society are all demonstrating a certain amount of corruption. In other words, every element of society has been infiltrated by corruption. We have become rotten to the core. I come to this conclusion, not because this is unusual, but because the systems have become corrupt. There have always been corrupt clergy, corrupt politicians and corrupt business people. What is particularly galling is that the systems try to cover up the corruption. Within the church, the very guilty parties have found new opportunities for ministry and bring their corruption with them. Politicians refuse to police themselves. Business leaders, even in the midst of a crisis, line their pockets. Trust in our systems have been destroyed.

In our City the Police Department refused to honor the law when a Request for Information was properly submitted. First, the PD asked for an enormous sum of money for the report; then they refused to facilitate the request within the legally defined time guidelines; and then they blacked out everything of substance. Who do you trust when your own Police Department breaks the law? We are all familiar with how the Supreme Court telling the current administration that it was breaking privacy laws with its desire to know everything. Who do you trust when you can't trust your own President? Our governor made a strong pitch to every citizen of Massachusetts to come to the State House and demand what they want. When several hundred thousand citizens signed a petition asking for a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage, our governor did everything in his power to stop that amendment from being voted on by the citizens of Massachusetts. Who can you trust when you can't even trust your governor?

While people fail us and systems have been compromised our only hope is in the Lord. He is still king of kings. Let us pray not only for revival but for a Reformation - something that will spiritually change the way we do business in America. Let's do things God's way.

Walking the Talk

Many years ago, at the beginning of my ministry, Linda and I were engaged in a solve the world discussion with other pastors and missionaries. The topic was vitamins and the amazing powers of Vitamin E to cure all things. I was convinced and ready to go to the nearest health food store to buy some. Then I asked a stupid question, How many and which vitamins do you take? The answer was - you guessed it - I don't take any; my wife does! Well, no Vitamin E for me. If you don't walk the talk then the talk has no value for me.

Evangelism follows a similar logic. There are many programs assisting us with the talk. we can present the gospel in a host of ways. My denomination seems to have a different approach every year! With all the approaches we should expect America to be converted and living for Jesus. We know that's not true, so what happened?

Peter gives us a major clue when he instructs the early believers to be able to give non-Christians an answer for the believer's faith. This verse is the John 3:16 for apologists since the word for reason is the same word from which apologetics is derived. The key, however, is that non-believers are asking believers why they have hope. This verse is in the context of how believers should live in a non-believing world.

Jesus spent his life living and teaching the Kingdom of God. Because of that he was always being asked spiritual questions. Now, for a period of self-examination. When was the last time someone initiated a spiritual conversation with us because of our lifestyle? That is the problem with contemporary evangelism, our walk does not match our talk. Look closely at the Sermon on the Mount - our lives should mirror those three chapters.

You see, non-believers can argue theology and philosophy but they cannot argue our lives. Our new lives are our self-disclosure of our acceptance of the Gospel. If the effects of conversion aren't evident then the non-believer will conclude that the gospel is not powerful enough to change anything. If our lives come anywhere close to the Sermon on the Mount we will get a reaction.

John 3:19-21 tells us what that reaction will be. The reaction depends on the heart condition of the onlooker. If the onlooker is attracted it is because (s)he is of the light; if not (s)he is of the darkness. What one loves will either attract or repulse people from us. Remember when Jesus told his disciples to beware of when people speak well of you? Could it be that the normal reaction of non-believers is repulsion to the gospel? Those that truly are looking for hope will find the gospel inviting, especially if they see the gospel being lived out in you and me.

Christmas is coming - let us not only tell people about the coming Christ; let us also live in a way that demonstrates that he comes to my house. Honey, it's time to pick up the house, company's coming! Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

Justice begins with information

Frustration sets in when you are placed in a situation where the system is broke. For some unknown reason my daughter's medical insurance was cancelled, just as she was having ear infections that required medical attention. For me and her this was a frustrating situation. However, because we know that the insurance company was at fault, and this will be straightened out in due time. We will receive justice because we know our rights.

Unfortunately, many if not most people know their rights. My daughter works for a medical clinic, and I am on the Board of another clinic - perhaps, you can say we have inside information. Those who don't know their rights are at the mercy and indifference of the system who has denied them justice. I remember when the Registry of Motor Vehicles had the worst customer service of any industry; they were just plain rude. Often you stood in line and as you approached the counter the person told you that you were missing a document. So, to the back of the line you went. Now, to be fair the Worcester RMV has good customer service now.

Think on a larger scale of those who have been denied their rights and they don't even know it; they have been purposely kept in the dark. Do you remember in the recent election how much concern there was about who is a proper voter? There were subtle efforts to deny people the right to vote by questioning their registrations (I'm not referring to the ACORN scandal). What about those denied housing, employment and other rights?

One level of education in which we can all participate is informing everyone of their rights under the constitution. This is a basic fight for justice with which we can all agree.

A wake up call

Last week's Wally's Whispers presented a high light in my month with the Lord. Everything was going right, but then life happens.

Tonight was spent at the funeral home. Pastor Rick, my predecessor at Christ Baptist, was being waked. Rick took good care of himself, exercised and dieted properly and was cutting wood when God called him home. Life can end so quickly and when the person is younger than yourself you begin to think about your own mortality.

For me, I am spiritually ready. For some time I have had my bags packed - my heart belongs in heaven, and I yearn to be with my Lord - he is my all in all. But I'm not physically ready. My will is still on my computer, yet to be notarized. There are many loose ends to consider. Who will do my funeral? Will I be buried or cremated? The questions keep coming, and Linda & I haven't taken the opportunity to talk about these final things. It just seems to morbid; until a friend unexpectedly dies. I'm not ready to die vocationally. I have a to-do list that I just can't leave undone. I love preaching and only Jesus preaches in heaven. so I got to get that out of my system here in the now, not the here-after. I have accumulated much pastoral wisdom over the years, and I would love to share that with others. Lord, I have too much to do; I'm not ready yet. I'm not ready emotionally. I love my wife, my children, my grandchildren; I'm not ready to leave them behind. To be honest, there is quite a bit of this life I would still like to experience. Lord, I'm ready but not yet-please.

I visited my doctor today - my annual physical. I'm healthy and not ready to go to heaven yet. Good. The doctor was pleased at my weight loss and took away one of my prescriptions for hypertension. Life is good. You know - I may have a lot of reasons for staying, but when the Lord calls me home I will rejoice for THEN I will be ABLE to sing with full gusto and no one will complain. The angels will rejoice; Jesus will rejoice; and my heavenly father will say, ... (I'll leave that to your imagination.

I trust these meditations were not morbid but maybe to encourage you that most believers have that I want to go to heaven but not yet attitude.

Worship - continued

This has been a very rich week for me. At times pastors have all the fun, but sometimes I wonder how our wives get replenished. There are so few times when wives can get away to enjoy the same conferences we pastors enjoy, especially if they work outside the home.

Anyway, let me be selfish and talk about me and my experiences. I began (this time Linda joined me) with the worship described in my previous blog - our time with the Singing Men of South Texas. Each song washed over us like the balm of Gilead. Then came Monday. Monday, I picked up "my pastor" Bob Wiles, and the two of us journeyed north to Pilgrim Pines Conference Center. For the next 3+ days we spent in prayer, worshipping our God. At times there was confession; other times we gathered around another pastor for prayer; still other times we broke off in small groups praying for specific needs each one of us had.

I remember my first Prayer Summit way back in 1991. There I met God in a most wonderful, liberating experience. I bawled like a baby, raised my hands in wonderful worship, and experienced the healing of anointed prayer by my brother pastors. This Summit was like revisiting that memorial altar. Another brother felt the same way. He was at a point of transition, just like he was back in 1992. Then he had the brothers pray over him, and this week he made sure the hot seat was exactly where it was so many years ago. Wow - the power of memorial altars.

During some quiet time in prayer I was struck by our inability to do anything of consequence for God; it was totally dependent on his empowerment, breathing into his work his Spirit. I wondered what that meant - why wasn't there of a more positive message. That afternoon session provided the answer. Someone mentioned the power of Christ's name. We work in his name; we don't have silver and gold, all we have is the name of Jesus and that is enough. That spread over the pastors like a powerful wave. One after another picked up on that, and then it dawned on me - we have authority, we have the name of Jesus. We do ministry NOT in our own power, but in the power of the name of Jesus. It is not magical; it is the person of Jesus through his Spirit who accomplishes spiritual ministry. if I want to do something it must be in the name of Jesus, not words but in his authority. WOW.

This past Sunday began with the Singing Men of South Texas; my week was spent in prayer with fellow pastors; now this Sunday Gavin and Glenda Williams will join us for a Sunday afternoon tea, sharing their training mission to India, Africa and Romania. What a luck guy I am!