I recently asked a college student, “How are you classified”? “Oh, I don’t know, I’ve been taking mostly courses that I want to take,” she said. Focus on electives, and graduate in 5, 6, 7 years. Focus on requirements, and more likely graduate on time! Life is made up of both electives and requirements, and the Bible helps us separate them. The verses that precede Micah 6:8 ask what kind of sacrifices would please God – burnt offerings, calves one year old, thousands of rams, 10,000 rivers of oil, and finally, “Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” These are electives. If sacrifice is not what God desires, what does He require? Micah 6:8 has been called the high-water mark of the O.T. One author called it, “the greatest saying in the O.T.” True or not, it calls us from our self-seeking, and self-satisfying versions of true religion. Not our familiar forms and rituals but God’s requirement. Not our emotional highs, but God’s steady requirement. Not our comfortable agendas, but God’s requirement. Not what we desire, but what God requires. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with your God?” Enjoy your electives, but remember, the priority lies with the requirements.

I was in the Emergency Room Waiting Area, waiting on the arrival of a friend from the church where I was serving as Interim Pastor, when a young mother brought her screaming child in the room. The frightened child was yelling loud enough to be heard three floors up – “I OK, I OK, No owie! No owie!” Other than being temporarily deafened, I survived the experience with only a ministerial application. How many times have I hurt, yet still screamed to my listening world, “I OK! No owie!” Is it pride that keeps me from admitting pain? Or is it fear that others will think less of me if I share my owie? Perhaps it is the memory of a baseball coach of long ago responding to every injury with, “Rub it off and play ball!” What was it, that allowed Paul to admit, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)? I really hope the little girl calmed down long enough to admit her pain and get relief. Me? Honestly, some days, I not OK, I owie! I’d like to be more like Paul, and acknowledge my hurts while assuring every one that I’m not yet “crushed” or “destroyed.” At the very least, I’d like to make my old coach proud and just “rub it off and play ball!” How about you?

I guess it all started with my parents’ subscription to Reader’s Digest. I enjoyed reading the brief articles. I never much liked reading long bodies of material at one setting. Then I had a Seminary professor who assigned us fifty-word papers to write. He said anyone could elaborate, but an accomplished writer could abbreviate. So I guess that’s how I got to writing my one paragraph, spiritual jump-starts for the week, entitled, Dr. Dan’s Monday Morning Manna. It doesn’t quite fit in the 140 character Twitter world, but its close. And it’s biblical. In Ephesians 3:3, Paul writes of the mystery, “as I have briefly written already” and Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:12, “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.” Having written the Monday Manna long enough to finally have 365 editions, I have recently signed a contract with Worldwide Publishing Group, and sometime in late summer “Morning Manna: Hidden and Unhidden” will be released – brief, daily jump starts for your spiritual life, each followed by a prayer to continue. I am oft reminded of the five B’s of public speaking that could apply to writing just as well – Be Brief Beloved, Be Brief. That’s it for today. Be brief this week.

A few years ago, an interesting question surfaced in classrooms and seminars, “If you knew you wouldn’t fail what would you do?” In the follow-up discussion, I always had to remind my students the only way to avoid failure, was to do no more, nor no less than what God called them to do. The Apostle Paul had an amazing agenda, and may have been asked, “How do you keep doing all that you do?” His answer was written to a group of believers in Philippi, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)” Paul did not say he could do all things by eating the right food, or getting the right amount of sleep, or even exercising properly, although those certainly help. Nor did he say God would strengthen him to do the wrong things. While certainly not at the level of Paul, I too have occasionally been asked, how I do all that I do? I made a vow to God that as long as He gives me the needed strength, I would continue to do whatever He calls me to do. Furthermore, when He ceases to give me strength, I sure don’t want to keep doing something, just for the sake of doing it. For then, in my own strength, it would be both tiring and somewhat unrewarding. So the original question needs adjustment – If you knew God wouldn’t let you fail, but would rather empower you to succeed, what would you do?

Numerous times I find truth in a statement shared by a friend. Occasionally, I find humor in a comment made by a friend. Sometime, I find both truth and humor in the same quote. It happened recently with an anonymous quote posted on Facebook: “Make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.” Anyone who has driven Texas highways and backroads as I have, understands the meaning of the reference. Granted the image is a bit gross, but shockingly sobering. Decisions must be made. While thoughtful analysis must precede every decision, it need not be unduly prolonged. The most important decision in life is, “What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 27:22)? Further emphasizing the importance of making clear, firm decisions is the passage from James, “Let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No” (James 5:12). Peter Drucker’s quote about business could be said of life in general, “Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” Not all decisions will be popular, but better to make a correct unpopular decision than to stall too long, and become a “flat squirrel.”

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is an English nursery rhyme dating back to 1862. We all said this when some bully, or some insensitive friend, made remarks to us or about us. Even though we said it, we knew it wasn’t true. Words do hurt, sometimes more than sticks and stones. I was reminded of this not long ago, when a friend made a hurtful remark about me. If the remark had been true it wouldn’t have hurt so bad, but it was false. Perhaps a misunderstanding, perhaps built-up frustration, I’m not sure what prompted it, but it hurt. The words reminded me of Psalm 55:21, “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” I came away from that experience praying another Psalm, “Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14). If you watched your words this week, what would they look like? Join me in the watch.

Fear is a major part of life. It is both bad and good, sometimes crippling us, other times protecting us. Not even the bravest among us is exempt from fear. We fear everything from what others do to us, to what we might do to ourselves. We fear words, feelings, impressions, reactions, the unknown, the uncomfortable, and the unsure. According to former President Franklin D. Roosevelt we even have a fear of fear itself. This is not new. In biblical times God reminded Israel, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God” (Isaiah 41:10). The angels said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10). The resurrected Lord said to His disciples, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me” (Matthew 28:5). Paul reminded Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). So what do we do with fear? Max Lucado asked, “Can you imagine a life with no fear? What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats?” Faith vs. fear! Now there’s a solution. If only I could have faith in the face of fear. I’ll work on that this week.

The sign attracted my attention. It was so simple, yet so profound. It bypassed theory and landed on reality. “You know it’s cold outside” the sign read, “when you go outside, and it’s cold.” It reminded me of a weather forecast I heard on a Brownwood, Texas radio station during my college days, “The low tonight will be near tomorrow” said the weatherman. Simplicity is often overlooked in favor of more sophisticated expressions. Some days, we just need simple truth. This one comes to mind: You’ll know God is faithful when you get into the midst of a crisis and find that God is faithful. Joshua learned that truth over and over and said so in his final address to Israel, “You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed” (Joshua 23:14). What has God promised you this week? Whatever it is, you can count on it to be true. As my grandfather would have said, “You can take that to the bank.” In other words, God’s word is trustworthy. So next time you think it is cold outside, and you go outside and find it is cold, remember, when God claims to be faithful, and you get into a tough situation, you will discover that He is. Simple. Profound.

Some jokingly say there were actually four wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus, but the forth was rejected because his gift was a fruitcake.  Have you ever had a Christmas gift rejected?  The expression on the face of the recipient tells you the gift is not what they wanted, or needed.  Maybe it was the wrong color, incorrect size, or unacceptable model.  Perhaps they tried to cover their disappointment, but you knew. If so, you have some small idea of how God must have felt when Jesus was sent to earth, and then rejected by many. John observed about Jesus that “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).  Furthermore, if you ever gave a gift that appeared to be unwanted, you have an idea how God feels today, when someone rejects the gift of salvation, personified in Jesus.  I think this Christmas I’m going to try to be more appreciative of the gifts I receive, whether from God or others.  I’m going to even try hard to be appreciative of the fruitcake gift that invariably shows up at our house. And I’m going to make an extra effort to give God that which would be pleasing to Him.  How about you?

Early in my attempts to follow God’s will, it seemed to some that I had gotten myself on a dead-end road, in a place that had no future. Looking back, it was a place used by God to prepare me for everything else I was to do in ministry. I learned when you follow God’s will, where you are is as important as where you are headed. After Joseph had been sold into slavery, he was put into Potiphar’s prison. Genesis 39:20 says, “Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined.” Surely it was Joseph’s dead-end road. Not so. Later Joseph would serve in a position of power. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41). Joseph was in prison, on his way to the palace. Don’t ever let where you are, keep you from where God is leading you.

I was suffering from what a minister-friend called, “intestinal uncertainty” but it was certain enough that I did what I almost never do – cancelled a nearby speaking engagement, and then cancelled an out-of-country trip. When I saw the doctor I told him, half in jest, “I need to retire one of these days” to which he replied, not in jest, “No, you don’t need to retire, but you do need to slow down.” Then he added a rather profound thought, “Knowing how much you travel and how many different restaurants where you eat, I’m not surprised you have this problem. I am surprised you don’t have it more often.” Robert Louis Stevenson said, “He who sows hurry reaps indigestion.” He got that right! So, when does one slow down? I thought retirement would do it, but as I said then, “I’m retiring from a position, not from a calling.” That calling has kept me rather busy. So, when does one slow-down from the calling? I don’t have an answer for that, but my doctor might. So my advice to my younger friends is do all you can, while you can, and when you can’t, don’t. Hopefully, someone will occasionally remind me of that.

I’ve always loved stories. Loved them as a child sitting on my grandfather’s front porch and listing to him tell of his earlier days. Loved hearing my 6th grade teacher read the stories of William Green Hill. Only natural that I would develop a teaching/preaching/writing style heavy with story telling. Seemed to always work well. Good response from learners/listeners/readers. Then I began to hear criticism of those, like me, who included “too much story telling” in their sermons. “Use more exegesis of scripture” the critics said. Don’t misunderstand. I believe strongly in the adequate and accurate exegesis of scripture. I also believe as strongly in the exegesis of the audience. People not only love and listen well to stories, but they remember the truth of scripture when illustrated with applicable illustrations. Many years ago Rudyard Kipling wrote, “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” What Kipling wrote of “history” might also be said of scripture. In fact, it seems that Jesus had a great deal of success telling stories in the form of parables – “He spoke many things to them in parables” (Matthew 13:3). So, I’ll just keep telling my stories, and providing another target for the critics.

I know very few people who enjoy waiting. We are an impatient people. A split-second is the time that elapses between the traffic light turning green and the vehicle behind you honking. We fidget at the microwave oven and get anxious at the revolving door. But God is not in a hurry. In “Knowing God” J.I. Packer writes, “It is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.” The Bible is clear that while the time is sometimes right for action, there is also a time to wait. Both the Psalmist and the prophet repeatedly said to “Wait on the Lord” (Ps. 27:14; 37:9; 37:24; Isa. 8:17; 40:31). But why, we impatiently ask. Why can’t the Lord work on our schedule? Why must we wait on the Lord? The writer of Lamentations says it succinctly, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him” (Lamentations 3:25). So practice waiting this week, and allow the Lord to be good to you.

Once again, I passed my annual physical exam, but not without one interesting exchange between doctor and patient. “Doctor”, I said, “I used to be able to go full speed ahead for days and even weeks, and while I still come home refreshed, it now takes me several days to get over every ministry experience or trip.” As I expected, the answer had to do with age. It reminded me of 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” Paul’s reference to the “outward man” related to the body, the flesh, the human conditions of life, while the “inward man”, was a reference to our moral and spiritual being. The outward is “perishing.” One commentary says, “Grows old; becomes weak and feeble; loses its vigor and elasticity under the many trials which we endure.” Lest someone think this begins in old age, medical research shows that parts of our bodies begin to deteriorate
as early as age twenty. Whereby then is the inner man renewed? By the power of God; by the energy of the Holy Spirit, and this is accomplished “day by day.” So whatever your age, wake up every morning with expectation that, regardless of the condition of your body, your spirit is being renewed. After an early trial in her life, Carolina Berg grew up to become Sweden’s most celebrated author of Gospel hymns. Among other hymns, she wrote:
“Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.”

Tis’ the season – baseball season, that is - my favorite season of the year.  One of the things I love about baseball is the unique jargon that is not heard in any other sport.  No other sport has “ducks on the pond” or a “bull pen” or “tools of ignorance.”  A few games ago, the pitcher had suddenly begun to give up hit after hit, in mid-game.  Someone described him as being “out of gas,” meaning he had grown tired and unsuccessful.  While some baseball lingo must remain forever within the sport, this phrase transfers beyond.  In fact, I know some Christians, and a few ministers, who are “out of gas.” The more acceptable term is “burn-out.” But whatever you call it, it is sad to see, and difficult to correct.  When this malady befalls us, we try to remedy it by acting more spiritual, serving harder, employing more spiritual discipline, saying things like, “I’d rather burn-out than rust-out,” while the real cure is within.  Quoted by E. Stanley Jones, someone said, “If we haven’t that within us which is above us, we will soon yield to that which is around us.”  Even God rested on the seventh day, and blessed it as a day of rest and refreshment (Genesis 2:2-3).  Likewise, Jesus “withdrew” (Mark 3:7) from the crowds, understanding that life in general and ministry in specific needs times for renewing and refueling.  Out of gas? It’s hard to gas-up on the move. Stop long enough for God to re-fill your spiritual tank.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is also the WestCoast Baptist Association (Vancouver, Canada) Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.

Faith-steps How many steps of faith does one take in a lifetime? For a believer, the answer is many. As one who has taken more than an average share of faith-steps I am disturbed by the misunderstanding in today’s new age, post-modern culture. The prevailing misconception embraced by much of the unchurched world is that church going Christians are, for the most part, unthinking, irrational, Bible thumping nerds. The Apostle Paul, from whom we get a large portion of our walking orders, and who by the way, was one of the best educated men of his day, having been trained by Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; 22:3), wrote, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The writer of Hebrews added, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). From his book of poems (The Learning Tree), Patrick Overton, a Ph.D. in Communication and an ordained minister, offered the following definition of faith, “When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen: There will be something solid for you to stand upon, or, you will be taught how to fly.” Pray for those who do not understand, and thus attempt to walk by sight. Believe and walk on!

A casual observance of society reveals loyalty is a lost art. In earlier days, sports fans could expect professional athletes to remain with one team for the life of their career.  Now loyalty yields to a "show me the money" mentality. My grandparents believed, to guarantee a long marriage they should leave the word "divorce" out of their vocabulary. Now loyalty gives way to no cause, easy access divorce. A recent survey showed 57% of workers are dissatisfied with their jobs and would change employers immediately if a better position were offered to them. So much for vocational loyalty. At the first hint of disagreement or dis-satisfaction, loyal church members transfer membership down the road or across town. An old favorite hymn, written for the first convention of the Baptist Young People’s Union in 1894 would no longer be popular if we sang, “From over hill and plain there comes the signal strain, ’Tis loyalty, loyalty, loyalty to Christ; Its music rolls along, the hills take up the song, Of loyalty, loyalty, yes, loyalty to Christ. ‘On to victory! On to victory!’ Cries our great Commander, ‘On!’ We’ll move at His command, We’ll soon possess the land, Through loyalty, loyalty, Yes, loyalty to Christ.” The Bible says, “Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments” (1 Kings 8:61).  May this kind of loyalty never be a lost art.

In a group meeting we were discussing the negative features of a recent experience. One member blurted out, “It was a God thing!” When reminded of still other negative features, the self-appointed super-saint insisted, “Everything is a God thing!” I am aware of God’s sovereignty, omniscience, omnipresence, and even the fact that it can be a God thing in the midst of multiple negative features, but “everything” is not a God thing. My first question would be, why did Paul label Satan, “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4) if some “things” are not Satan’s? My second question would be, why could Jesus “do no mighty work” in Nazareth (Mark 6:5) if His visit there was totally His “thing.” My third question would be what about murder (Exodus 20:13), which is clearly not one of God’s “things” (commandments). You can’t take a violation of God’s law and suddenly make it God’s “thing,” My point is, with God’s gift of free will, in order for there to be “God things,” there must also be “not God things.” That does not leave God out of “things,” but simply means, He will not violate His own gift of freedom of choice, but will allow negative features to control some experiences, making them not His thing. What we do know is that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

During my teaching years I often wondered why those who were saved as college students or older, were often more aggressive with their evangelistic witness than those who were “born in church” and became believers as a child. Then later I suffered sciatic pain stemming from bulging disks in my lower back.  For nine months I tried multiple cures – MRI, X-rays, meetings with specialists, epidural injections in the lower back, discussion with back surgeon, de-compression table, physical therapy, chiropractor visits, dry needling, cryotherapy, and various prescription pain meds. Nothing relieved my pain. One day I was introduced to deep tissue laser therapy, and the pain was gone. I wanted to tell my story, and especially my healing, to everyone who would listen.  Then I understood.  Those of us who were raised in Christian homes, grew up in church, and became believers at an early age, never suffered the pain of sin as did those who were saved later in life, after sin had taken a toll on them.  They had a more dramatic story to tell and told it with more intensity. Their pain was gone.  They had found healing. Both groups were equally saved, but those who had suffered from the pain of sin, seemed more ready to talk of the cure and their relief.  Both have a responsibility to share their story – “You shall be witnesses” (Acts 1:8); one group has a more deeply felt reason.

The medical procedures were not major, but were enough of a concern that I shared my anxiety with friends on social media. The three epidural injections were scheduled over a period of time and designed to relieve pain. I had opted to skip the pre-shot sedation. Sometimes, with no ill intent, “friends” increase the anxiety level. One friend replied, “I had the series of three; two out of the three weren’t bad.” Another commented, “A friend of mine was un-sedated for the first shot, chose sedation the second time!” Still another testified, “Hope they work for you. I’ve had more than I can remember and none worked for me.” One well-meaning friend wrote, “I hope this is your last injection.” Wow! One could take that as sounding a bit terminal. But one long-time friend assured me all would be well and encouraged me to just breathe correctly, passing along a soon-to-be favorite Spanish phrase, “Huele la flor y sopla la vela.” (Smell the flower, blow out the candle.). It reminded me of a proverb: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.” (Proverbs 27:9). The procedures went quickly and well, and I once again thanked God for friends who were supportive, even if some shared more encouraging words than others.