"Don’t Go Looking For Trouble."

"Don’t Go Looking For Trouble."

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

“Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.”  [Rom.12:17,18, NLT]

My grade-school teacher, Mrs. Wright, used to tell me, “Jack Arthur, if you go looking for trouble, it’s bound to find you!”  Of course, she always said that after I tried to excuse my behavior by blaming someone else for what had taken place.  You see, things were never my fault…someone else always made me do it. If not innocent, I certainly was not guilty. Man, does that ever resonate with recent events in the George Zimmerman case.

Such a travesty, and all because one ill-advised person went looking for trouble. Make no mistake, I understand and agree he was acquitted, which, in this case simply means the prosecution did not prove the necessary intent of hatred. Yet no amount of legal maneuvering or self-justification can erase the needless death of a young man who was pursued in a manner opposite the Biblical admonition above. Here in Texas we are allowed to defend our homes and families in a reasonable manner; when we step outside those homes, however, common sense and brotherly love are expected to rule our hearts and minds.

Do they? When we walk our communities, do we see our brothers and sisters as people worthy of God’s compassion and grace? If not worthy, do we see them as needing His mercy and peace? You see, those are hard questions -- for me -- because I am often an unmerciful respondent to those who drive alongside me, or those who clearly reflect different values than those I supposedly hold dear. Oh, dear Lord, hardly a day goes by that He doesn’t show me what a poor job I do of genuinely loving my neighbor! Truth be known, it’s not that I hate those in my community, I just don’t give them a second thought -- and that’s perhaps worse.

If George Zimmerman wanted to be effective in his neighborhood watch, he’d have done better to stop and ask Trayvon Martin if he could help him. Instead, he suspected the worst and instigated the worst possible scenario. God forbid we should do the same as people of faith in our own neighborhoods and communities. Our call and commission is to be a Light, the light of Christ to all we meet in our everyday lives. Where necessary, indeed we are to be wiser than serpents and harmless as doves.

Don’t go looking for trouble. Surely, it will find you. Instead, live at peace, as far as it depends on you. 

- Jack

"Be Well"

"Be Well"

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”  [Rom.1:7, NIV]

My daughter was incensed -- a nice way of putting it. She was truly hacked off when she called the other day to say, “Dad! You need to write about this! I can’t believe what just happened!” Once calmed down enough to explain what had her upset, we talked about the creeping cultural shifts making their way into our lives…and, perhaps, the faith-life of careless Christians. The issue? She had gone into one of our national-chain drug stores and, at checkout, got a greeting she’d never heard. 

What do you normally expect to hear from your checkout clerks? That’s right -- probably something like, “Have a good day!” You might even get a “Thanks for shopping ______!”  Not this time. The greeting/dismissal that had Karen so worked up was “Be Well.”

Be Well? Come on…be more creative!  “Be Well” is a line from the 1993 sci-fi action film, “Demolition Man” with Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bullock.  In this satire about a 2032 A.D. Utopian [supposedly] society, Stallone is the “thawed” hero, John Spartan, charged with capturing bad-guy Snipes [also thawed]. Bullock is the hero’s modern police partner, and the film has as much unprintable humor as action in presenting the flaws of a politically-correct society gone amok. “Be Well, John Spartan!”

Someone in the drug store chain didn't do his/her homework.

Compare this with Paul’s greeting to the Romans [and others]. We’re not supposed to be so direct today as Paul writes, but wouldn't you rather hear -- and give -- a grace- and peace-filled greeting than the empty “Be Well” now required in Walgreens? In fact, the best greeting is one that’s shown in our lives by the way we deal with one another in Christ-like love and transparency. Treating sales-people and others with kindness and thanks is a start; being unhesitant to smile and wish someone a pleasant day in a Godly fashion is just a step away. Faith that shows will grow and bear fruit.

I have no plans to boycott Walgreens over this inanity. I will, however, send their corporate office an e-mail of my opinion.  That’s part of what makes America great: we’re free to communicate important principles while exercising respect for others. Now if only the rest of our culture would allow Christians the same freedom with no bias…

This can get a person worked up, even make you hungry. Wanna go get some Taco Bell, John Spartan? And, hey, don’t worry; be happy!

- Jack

"A Bad Tooth Wears On You."

"A Bad Tooth Wears On You."

By:  Rev. Jack Schneider

“To Adam He said, ‘Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you…until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken.’”  [Gen.3:17,18, NIV]

A bad tooth wears on you. It’s not my practice to place blame, but in this case it’s small consolation that I know Adam is the reason I had such a painful week. There’s no fun in nursing an abcessed tooth and waiting to get in for a root canal so, by the time my dental appointment rolled around, I was ready to walk up to Adam at the Last Day and tell him “Thanks a lot for the misery of toothaches!” Three days after the repair I still resemble a chuffy-cheeked chipmunk and impatiently await the night I can sleep through without discomfort.

Yes, there’s a lot wrong in this world that can be laid at the feet of our fallen first parents, Adam and Eve. Scripture tells us that childbirth would be painful, cultivating crops and food would be sweaty, and that even death would rest upon us. Worse, the broken relationships are countless -- including family and marital struggles, the failure of simple courtesies between tribes and nations and, above all, the failure of relationship between Creator and created. And, while I can’t say I contemplated all this during my recent days of tooth misery, I can tell you the last thing I felt was the desire to be cordial and pastoral. That’s the result of sin from our ancestors, and it’s a carryover to every corner of our lives today.

“Who will deliver me from this wretched body of sin?”  Paul asked and answered this by the Holy Spirit in his letter to the Roman Christians. “Thanks be to God Who has given us the victory” in Christ Jesus. Yes, Adam and Eve certainly messed things up but it was also to them and through them that God delivered the promise of a Savior -- even the simple assurance that discovery and modern medicine could one day help ease the sufferings of this world.

Make no mistake, there’s only one cure for sin and separation from God; His name is Jesus, and it took great pain and suffering on His part at the Cross to bring us this peace. Yet we have every reason to praise God for what He accomplishes in our world through the compassionate hands of doctors and nurses, as well as researchers who tirelessly devote themselves to developing medicines and treatments that bring relief and hope to the ill. My prayer is that their efforts always keep in mind Who is the Creator, and who is the created. Without that distinction, it’s hard to know the difference between life and death.

“I will praise You, O Lord, as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.” [Ps.63:4]

- Jack

"Without It, We're Cat Food."

"Without It, We're Cat Food." 

By:  Pastor Jack Schneider

“Be sober, keeping your head straight…and alert, on your guard. Your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion looking for someone to gulp down.  Stand against him, firm in the faith!”  [1 Pet.5:8-9,PJV]

Someone dropped off a child’s box with the Armor of God here in the pastors’ office, probably for Sam Whaley. I get a kick out of looking over at these kid-sized items and can imagine him running around with helmet, shield, sword -- hey, he’s all boy! Even better, I know he already understands the meaning of these things because his mom and dad are teaching him God’s Word of Truth.  It’s the best defense parents have in preparing children for the world.

The thing is, too many of us leave home without our armor each day, and that’s one big, mean cat running around out there, just waiting for us. It’s so easy to be caught napping -- after all, this is Plano, Texas, home of never-ending distractions and, besides, summer is only days away. Sweat, vacations, kids out of school and underfoot, over-heated traffic…  Oh, yeah. And these are just the local, minor-league distractions satan will throw into your relationship with your Savior.

It could be much worse. In an old file yesterday I ran across an article predicting the arrival of an “anti-Christian chapter” to our modern Western culture. Startling in his accuracy, the writer spoke of the rise in levels of intolerance toward Christianity, and that public policy would become hostile, seeing this faith as the opponent of the common good.  He even said Christian schools, ministries and media would be reduced, if not eliminated, and people will desert the faith from fear. Yes, it’s happening now, for God’s Word is under attack daily.

But remember, please: satan has been doing his worst ever since Easter Monday, and he still has not won. No matter how much our culture changes or the tide of popular opinion wavers toward the Church and God Himself, the grace and mission of God will reach the ends of the earth. His Word will accomplish the purpose for which He sends it out [Is.55:10-11] as we, the Church, are trustful and obedient to His commission -- making disciples in the name and through the person of Jesus Christ.

Don’t leave your armor at home. Don’t leave it in the box. Don’t leave it unnoticed between the pages of a family Bible gathering dust on a coffee table or book shelf. Get back into that Word and put on the Armor of God [Eph.6:13-18]. Be faithful in worship and the Sacraments, for the truth is, this grace of God is our greatest defense, just as He intended in your daily struggle with satan.

Without it, we’re cat food.

- Jack

"God is in Charge."

"God is in Charge."

“You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong and firm.  He is in control forever! Amen!”  [1 Pet.5:10-11,CEV]

Wish I could claim credit for the following, but I can’t. The origin is unknown; I adapted it long ago as “observations on the nature of suffering,” and it seems appropriate to share in light of recent events. Just remember what Peter says above: God is in charge.

1] Suffering is painful. It’s never easy. No matter what we know and how hard we apply Godly principles, it’s going to hurt.

2] Suffering makes us scratch our heads. It’s mystifying. Why now? Why me? What’s God doing? All we know is, it’s designed to build our trust in God.

3] Suffering is purposeful. In spite of 2], it’s not without meaning. The main purpose is to make us Christ-like in character.

4] Suffering proves/tests us. It’s what challenges our character/integrity and the object/quality of our faith.

5] Suffering is a process. It takes time, and the results God seeks require time and endurance.

6] Suffering acts as a purifier. It will raise the dross - our impurities - to the surface, for we won’t be perfect in this life.

7] Suffering provides opportunity. …For God’s glory, our growth, transformation, witness, ministry -- though not of our choosing.

8] Suffering requires our cooperation [to achieve God’s purpose]. We all want the product, character…but we don’t want the process, suffering. We can’t have one without the other.

9] Suffering is appointed. The Word says it will come; it’s no surprise the children of God are struggling as much or more than the children of the world.

10] Suffering is inevitable. It’s not a matter of “if” we’re going to have trials in life but how we will respond to them.

11] Suffering is a struggle.  It’s going to be a battle all the way. That’s why they’re called trials and testings.

Even when we understand the purposes/principles of suffering and know God’s promises in the Word, dealing with “life” is never easy because suffering hurts. Trials simply give us the opportunity to practice what the Spirit gives us the capacity to do: joyfully trust in God’s grace each day -- something we could not do in and of ourselves.

- Jack