Pale Side of Life » faith

Misguided Faith

Chad — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:34:08 +0000

As my personal faith in God grows, I’m seemingly reminded more and more the words of a friend. He told me that the closer I try to get to God, the harder the devil will work to pull me back. I was reminded today of yet another reason so many people have trouble – or even hate – religion. A gentleman I chatted with mentioned his grandmother sitting in a hospital bed refusing treatment. She apparently was certain God would cure her cancer. She died, leaving behind a family undoubtedly broken by misguided faith.

I’m not an expert, but rather someone who tries to observe and learn. Did anyone in this gentleman’s family try to remind the grandmother that perhaps God’s answer rested in the skilled hands of her doctor? Or that perhaps her prayer was being answered by the fact she was offered treatment? What a travesty to see how this man reacts to “religion” because of his grandmothers illness and death. All too often we pray for something we want… what a difference it makes when we pray for God to send us in the direction He wants us to take.

I’d like to think this gentleman would view religion or faith differently if his grandmother had prayed for God’s guidance, instead of praying for what she wanted. Maybe it would not have made a difference in her life or death, but I’d like to think it would have made a big difference to the lives of her loved ones left behind.

Who is “We”?

Chad — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:44:17 +0000

This was an email I received the other day:

President Barack Obama said in Turkey : “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”

Do you know the Preamble for your state? . .

Alabama 1901 We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..
Alaska 1956 We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911 We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution…
Arkansas 1874 We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government…
California 1879 We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom…
Colorado 1876 We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe…
Connecticut 1818 The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
Delaware 1897 Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences…
Florida 1885 We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution…
Georgia 1777 We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution…
Hawaii 1959 We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance …… Establish this Constitution.
Idaho 1889 We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings..
Illinois 1870 We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851 We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857 We, the People of the St ate of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859 We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891  We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..
Louisiana 1921 We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
Maine 1820 We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776 We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…
Massachusetts 1780 We….the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
Michigan 1908 We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.
Minnesota, 1857 We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings.
Mississippi 1890 We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845 We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .. Establish this Constitution…
Montana 1889  We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..
Nebraska 1875 We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864 We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution…
New Hampshire 1792 Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
New Jersey 1844 We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
New Mexico 1911 We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..
New York 1846 We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
North Carolina 1868 We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those…
North Dakota 1889 We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain..
Ohio 1852 We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.
Oklahoma 1907 Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857 Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences.
Pennsylvania 1776 We, the people of Pennsylvania , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance……
Rhode Island 1842  We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing…
South Carolina 1778 We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889 We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ….
Tennessee 1796 Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience…
Texas 1845 We the People of the Republic of Texas , acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
Utah 1896 Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
Vermont 1777 Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man …
Virginia 1776 Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Washington 1889 We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
West Virginia 1872  Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ..
Wisconsin 1848 We, the people of Wisconsin , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility…
Wyoming 1890 We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution..

Put Me In Coach

Chad — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:54:04 +0000

Tommy sat at the end of the bench. He was all dressed, ready to go at a moments notice. His uniform was clean (which was part of the problem), his pads were all on, and he even had his eye black smeared across his face just like the starting running back. For cryin’ out loud my helmet is on and my chinstrap is buttoned, he thought to himself. Tommy was used to the bench and somewhere deep down he was actually quite comfortable riding the pine, so they said. Of course Tommy wanted to play. Each game day would bring new hope the coach would see use for him on the field. He knew he wouldn’t start – he wasn’t ready. Just one play and I’ll show ‘em.

Tommy attended every practice, ran every drill, sweated just as hard, and worked just as hard. Perhaps he complained a little more, grunted a little louder with each sit up, push up, high knees or ropes run. Everyone grunted during those drills and Tommy didn’t feel he was much different. Tommy looked down the bench and saw his boyhood friend Jason, who had a little sweat dripping from his nose and a beautiful grass stain on his left shoulder. They made eye contact and Jason gave his old friend a wink and a smile. Jason wasn’t a starter either, but he did touch the ball five or six times each game. Though perhaps a little stronger than Tommy, he was shorter by an inch and at least ten pounds lighter. Tommy smiled back, masking the pity-party he was having in his head, complete with streamers, disco ball and neon lights.

“Tommy!” Tommy heard his name but it didn’t register just yet. He was staring at the score board and noted his team was up by three touchdowns. In the midst of his internal temper tantrum he hadn’t noticed his team crossed the goal line twice unanswered.

“Tommy, next time you better come runnin’ the first time I call your name!” the coach yelled. Tommy could see that little vein on the side of his head that bulged out seemingly all the time. But when he was mad the vein bulged and pumped. “Next play, you’re in. Tell Jimmy to run red hawk, jackrabbit split two on one. This is your chance, son, give ‘em everything you’ve got.”

Tommy couldn’t breathe. He ran onto the field for the first time in his high school career. Of all the sensory cues to take in, he only noticed Jimmy waiving him into the huddle. Jimmy was the star quarterback and this was his senior year. He was tall, strong and fast, and being chased by three universities and one college. Tonight Jimmy was on fire. He was reading defenses, making occasional audibles at the line, finding his man and laser-beaming the ball on the numbers nearly every pass. He seemed unstoppable.

“What you got, Tommy?” Jimmy asked as Tommy pulled up to the ranks of the huddle. Tommy barely heard the question – he was still soaking it all in.

“Red hawk, jackrabbit split two on one.” Tommy was certain he got that right. He knew what to do, where to position himself, and he knew he’d go on one. This was a simple draw play – he’d hesitate, take the ball and hit hole number two. He heard Jimmy give the play to everyone in the huddle and slapped his hands in unison with his teammates as they broke. This was it! This was his chance. Everything was slowly getting more real to him. He noticed the smell first. While it was very familiar there was something altogether different about it. He quickly decided that he loved that smell and didn’t care to figure out why it was somehow different. He thought about looking to the stands to make sure his dad was watching. He started to turn his head but it was too late. Everyone in front of him was in motion. He stood for two counts then extended his arms. He cradled the ball and began leaning left… then he saw the wall of jerseys. He expected this, but he didn’t expect the first wall to be the opponent’s jerseys. The hit came hard and fast. Tommy remembered the whistle but not much else. When the dog-pile finally lifted and he was pulled up by Jimmy he noted they had lost at least six yards on the play.

“You didn’t hear my audible, did you?” Jimmy was doing all the talking. “I saw the blitz coming on the left, so I sent you right.”

As Tommy jogged off the field Jimmy’s words were still ringing in his ears. He looked toward the coach fully expecting a big frown of disappointment and a bulging, pumping vein. But what he saw instead was a look of satisfaction and an inviting, two fingered hook telling him to come here. Tommy headed for his coach.

“Son, look at me. Study the playbook extra hard when you get home. Listen to your quarterback next time and we’ll try this again.” Tommy was on a permanent high despite his run having been the only negative yardage recorded for his team that night. His team had won and he was a part of it. It’s what he’d longed for but feared. No longer. He was a part of this team now. He had stepped across that sideline and gotten dirty and bruised, and he had smelled that smell. He was in the game.

As a Christian I’ve sat the sidelines for a long time. I’d attend most Sundays with my family and read the bulletin, where I’d see different announcements of upcoming events geared toward men. Like Tommy I felt I was doing my part as a Christian, and I didn’t understand why God hadn’t called me into the game. I had the Bible open during church and I read along with the pastor. I knew this stuff and I was ready. One night I was called into the game. I pulled a one-eighty on my plans and registered for a men’s retreat. During that weekend I heard testament from other men of the strength of the Devil and his demons. I saw what the Devil was capable of and I met men who were strong enough to admit they needed Jesus Christ in their life to help hold the gate closed against the demons. It was very powerful and, sufficed to say, a life-changing event for me. But I drove home that Sunday wondering what was wrong with the sidelines. On the sidelines I wasn’t noticed by the opponent, so they left me alone. Now I’m in the game and the opponent is starting to take notice, sending their wall against me to knock me down. But just like Tommy, I love it. I was finally in the game and it felt good. My coach is God, my quarterback is Jesus, the huddle is my fellowship with other men in the game with me, and the playbook – the Bible is my playbook. I’ve begun to study it, not just read it. I’m starting fellowships with other men, discussing our walk with Jesus. I can feel the opponent staring me down, but I’ve got my team – and what a powerful team it is.