What occurred to me from this ‘blast from the past’ were two things:  1) How quickly something can get stuck in your head and replayed over and over, even when it doesn’t make sense.  And 2) Some people really enjoy playing head games and can become very skilled at twisting things in the process.

One of the oldest head games in the Book is the blame game.  Genesis records the first episode in the story of Adam and Eve. When God asked Adam about their wayward fruit selection he was quick to twist and shout, shifting blame and naming names.  The Bibles says: The man said, “The woman you put here with me —she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” –Genesis 3:12 NIV

From the Garden it seems we’ve perfected the sport.  Avoiding personal responsibility for words, deeds, attitudes, and mistakes is at Olympic proportions.  And many cry foul at the slightest suggestion of any type of personal accountability.  Truth-twisting and finger-pointing is simply part of the play-book these days, even when culpability is obvious, because allegation is very convenient and often the spin is effective.

But there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9).  Take for example Moses and the children of Israel.  God heard the cries of oppression from His people and sent a Deliverer to shake a stick at Pharaoh and all of Egypt (Exo 3:9-4:5).  Moses and Aaron became the hand and mouth of the Almighty, dispensing signs, wonders, plagues, and administering the greatest exodus in history.  Yet how did the people of God respond to their first challenge in the wilderness?

They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” –Exodus 14:11 NIV

And they continued to play head games for the next 40yrs, mumbling, grumbling, and bumbling every step of the way.  Even as they followed the cloud by day and the pillar by night, Moses could do nothing right for Israel.  No wonder Joshua command them “not to say a word” when they marched around the walls of Jericho (Jos 6:10).

Over the years I’ve seen the game play-out in a variety of ways, I’m sure you have too.  I’ve been falsely accused, gossiped about, fault-found, manipulated, and rejected by people that I have deeply loved and tried to help.  And unfortunately there have been times when I have geared-up and entered the game myself.  Regrettably the Church can be center-field for relational maneuvers.  Too many of us have learned to position and protect ourselves becoming offensive and/or defensive even in our closest relationships.  And when that happens nobody scores.

But I also think that folks can get a wilderness mentality stuck in their heads that plays over and over no matter what is happening around them.  For some, everyone, anything and everything else is to blame.  Others are so busy blaming themselves that they don’t move forward.  Neither is living in the reality of identity.  We are all prone to victim or negative attitudes, but it should be the exception instead of the rule, because head games are never fun regardless of who has the ball.

Frankly, I believe most of us are tired of the games we play, and I’m sure God is too.  Can we be honest with ourselves and responsible for the change required to be like Christ?  Without passing blame, twisting truth, or running with condemnation?  Can we value and apportion “grace and truth” both personally and relationally?  If so, certainly we will get ahead of the game, and be who God wants us to be.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. –Romans 8:37 NKJV

Going to War was an interesting experience.  McDowell County is a beautiful place, rich in scenery, nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains where cell-service is spotty (at best) and GPS units are unreliable and where twisty roads are referred to as “Holler #4” and “Frog Straight”.  The people are warm and friendly, hard-working, and good hearted, but the need is great.  McDowell County is one of the poorest regions in the Nation; the estimated per capita income in 2008 was $12,480 and a shocking 40% of the residents have a fourth grade reading level or lower.  One of the locals, Denny, explained to me, “When the coal mines pulled out, everything went down-hill”.  And the social and economic problems have had a devastating impact.  Unemployment, healthcare and often drug and alcohol abuse are both symptoms and causes of the despair. Another local mentioned to me that “Oxycontin is the drug of choice around here”.  But the Bible teaches us that “where sin abounds, grace abounds much more” (see Romans 5:20).

One of those places where grace is abounding is at Albert and Della’s house.  Albert and Della purchased their place just a few years ago for only $3,000 and began to fix-up the house into a home. Then Albert suffered an accident that not only limited his income but also had him bed-ridden.  When Craig Snow heard about Albert and Della’s need, Hopeforce mobilized to help, and Craig has been building relationship with them since.  Albert’s health is still limited, but he is back on his feet and was working along-side us as we began to restore their front porch.  Our team of eight (4 adults and 4 teens) under the direction of Craig and his right hand man Big Jake (local) set joist, assembled decking, and reset porch post.  Della said to us as we could hear hope rising in her heart, “I can’t wait until I can get a porch swing”.  Hopefully Hopeforce will be able to do more for Albert and Della.  For example, the previous homeowners had two house fires that Albert believes were due to faulty electrical wiring.  One of our team members (my son Ryan) had a shocking experience first-hand with a porch receptacle.  Ryan said, “All of a sudden it was like the fourth of July!”  Please pray for Albert and Della and their son that God will meet all of their needs “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Another place where grace is abounding is at Ms. Minnie’s house.  We were not only able to provide monies to help purchase roofing materials, but we were also able to help with some preparation work for the next Hopeforce team scheduled to replace her roof.  Ms. Minnie is 93yrs young with a sharp mind and a huge heart.  She said several times to the teens “Follow the Lord and trust in Him, and he’ll take care of you, look at me, He takes care of me!”  On the last night of our stay we went to Ms. Minnie’s where Ryan led us in worship with her.   She stood and raised her hands to heaven with tears flowing down her face as we sang “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace”.  Ms. Minnie told us her stories of her “hard but blessed life”. She showed us pictures of family and friends now gone and insisted that we receive small tokens of her gratitude like; Crosses off her wall, vases and a picture frame, and hugs for all as we departed.

You see, missions doesn’t have to be in a foreign land, there are desperate people everywhere looking for hope and longing to experience grace.  We can “Go to War” with the enemy that desires to kill, steal and destroy by sharing the abundant life that Christ has given each of us (see Jn. 10:10).  Those of us that have encountered God have the joy and obligation to express compassion and enrich relationships, after all, Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many (see Mk. 10:45).

During one of my devotional times in War, the Lord impressed a scripture upon my heart that should benefit us all.  The Apostle Paul was challenging the Spirit-filled church of Corinth and the Holy Spirit is challenging us today.  The Message Bible relates the passage this way:

¹⁹ Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: ²⁰ religious, nonreligious, ²¹ meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, ²² the defeated, the demoralized — whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ — but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. ²³ I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!  –1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Let’s be in on it; each of us sensitive to opportunities becoming a servant to any and all for Jesus; in West Virginia, Central PA, or in your neck of the woods!

For more info about Appalachia, Google: “A Hidden America by Diane Sawyer” and contact Jack Minton of www.hopeforce.org in Nashville, TN or me at Grace Covenant Church of Lewistown, PA.  www.gcclewistown.com.  For pictures of our missions trip visit our website gallery at http://www.gcclewistown.com/svmanager/g16/ or visit our Facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lewistown-PA/Grace-Covenant-Church-of-Lewistown/206720670212

Definition: An extreme sense of entitlement, an expectation of blessing without acknowledgment or gratitude, named for the ungrateful character in Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

If you recall for Goldilocks it was either “too hot” or “too cold”, “too big”, “too hard” or “too soft” as the fair-haired girl was only satisfied with the “just right” scenario.  And the story ends with Goldilocks running away from three angry bears.  Yikes!

But unfortunately, Goldilocks Syndrome has plagued our society for a very long time. Actually we’ve designed agencies, ministries and governmental systems that in many ways have contributed to the spread of the disease.  Granted, there are genuine needs that are real and earnest; many situations are desperately dependent on the benevolence of both Church and State alike.  But the Syndrome has little to do with hardship and everything to do with heart.  Because this disease strikes without regard to status or privilege, in fact, often the wealthiest among us fall victim and believers are not immune from the plague.

The Bible records an outbreak of the Syndrome in the book of Numbers. God supernaturally delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and provided Manna from heaven for every day of the week.  Yet it wasn’t good enough, they wanted “meat to eat” as they remembered the “fish” of Egypt. The people of God grumbled and complained every chance they could, even calling the miraculous Manna “worthless bread”.  And the Bible says that “severe plagues” and calamity struck them (see Numbers 11 and 21), because Goldilocks Syndrome can be very destructive, both then and now.

Today it seems the more people are helped the more they expect, and sometimes demand.  Generosity and goodwill are often met with rudeness, complaint, and belligerence because everything has to be “just right” even if it’s free.  Entitlement is replacing appreciation in what seems to be a celebration of self-love and justification.  And it seems like conditions are right for continued outbreaks.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—2 Timothy 3:1-4a NIV (emphasis added)

But Goldilocks Syndrome has a treatment!  The Bible tells us to keep a “tight rein on our tongue” (James 1:26) being “patient with everyone” (1 Th. 5:14) never tiring of “doing what is right” (2 Th. 3:13) considering “others better than ourselves” (Phil. 2:3).  And it tells us to “be thankful” (Col. 3:15b) always “giving thanks” to God “for everything” (Eph 5:20).  And whenever we have to deal with other folks suffering with symptoms, Jesus gave us the right prescription when He said:

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. –Luke 6:35-36 NIV (emphasis added)

When entitlement goes viral and expectation mutates out of control, mercy medicates. Goldilocks Syndrome is no match for mercy, because mercy always satisfies and heals.

“The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed- it blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.” –William Shakespeare

So the next time you’re feeling fussy and critical or become angry as a bear at someone who has, remember that, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matt. 5:7).

We need to learn from our mistakes because many of us regularly have to deal with unscrupulous salespersons, or dishonest contractors, or crooked office politics, or the deceitful relative, etc.  So we embrace the proverbial wisdom “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” because we don’t like being played the fool.  But honestly, it’s hard to fool-proof your life!  Sometimes it seems like foolishness is everywhere because it shows up where you least expect it.  In fact, sensible expectations are frequently ruined by the foolhardy.

“It is folly to expect men to do all that they may reasonably be expected to do” –Archbishop Richard Whately

Careless conduct can be particularly difficult and disappointing in close relationships. Tricks like hidden agendas, pretentiousness, manipulation, control tactics, patronization, broken promises and a host of other egocentric behaviors will erode the foundation of trust with a flood of excuses, lies, insults and accusations.  Friendships usually don’t die a natural death, neglect or narcissism is often the destroyer, and the foolishness can be brutal.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. –Proverbs 17:12 NIV 

The Bible is full of people who have made foolish mistakes, and the truth is, everyone makes them.  But there is a big difference between stupid mistakes and an obnoxious persona.  Some foolishly believe that they can do whatever they like, hurt whomever they wish, and take advantage of every situation.  But the Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Gal. 6:7).  In other words; don’t be fooled, nobody can make a fool of God and get away with it!  If you sow bad seeds you’re going to reap a harvest of weeds.

For me the story of King Saul epitomizes the fool.  If you remember, King Saul had it all; he was handsome and tall, hand-picked by God to lead, and he was successful.  Saul united the people and defeated the Ammonites, Amalekites and a lot of the Philistines, but his love for glory and honor ruined him.  In his foolishness he stopped listening to the voice of God (the Prophet Samuel), then he stopped listening to the voice of reason (Jonathan and David), because he had more interest in following his own voice, obsessed with his own way, convinced that he was always right.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. –Proverbs 26:12 NKJV

Eventually King Saul met his fate on Mount Gilboa, falling on his sword with his armor-bearer, because God will not be mocked by the fool.  And the lesson is clear for us, like Saul, we too can be fooled into becoming the fool. 

Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. –1 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

Self deception is the hardest to recognize and the most sinister form of trickery.  We get fooled when we think we are smarter, or more skillful, or more anointed, or more experienced, or more spiritual, or more deserving, or more whatever.  God help us to know the truth about ourselves, and the grace and wisdom to relate with others, so that we don’t get fooled; because nobody likes to stand with a fool.

David sang a song when the Lord saved him from the hand of Saul. Part of it goes like this, “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud. You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness…The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!”  –Psalm 18:25-28, 46 NLT

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. –Galatians 5:1a NIV

God wants us to be completely free; body, soul and spirit. But freedom is never free. If we are going to experience true freedom then a Spiritual Revolution must happen with each of us on a very personal level.

Think about this Nation’s history; long before the Boston Tea Party or the “shots heard around the world” at Concord and Bunker Hill, long before independence was declared and the back of British oppression was broken, the “True-born Sons of Liberty” were willing to die to be free. They were willing to die to live in the reality of their identity. Are we?

There is no doubt that when we gave our hearts to Jesus we became true-born sons of liberty. But the question remains “Are we willing to die?” Die to sin and self, or die for the cause of Christ? –On the job, at church, in the store, at the gym, in the Dr.’s office, at home with the spouse and kids, or when nobody else is watching; are we willing to be Freedom Fighters for Christ? Are you ready, willing and able for a spiritual revolution in your life?

Lately I’ve noticed too many battle weary, shell-shocked souls. And some have gone completely AWOL. Too many have surrendered to the tactics of the enemy. Today more than ever Christians are choosing to go their own way, making decisions that seem right in their own eyes, and ignoring the ways of God. And the Bible clearly warns us; “Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil” (1 Peter 1:14b NLT) because freedom has never been a free-for-all.

[Live] as free people, [yet] without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but [live at all times] as servants of God. –1 Peter 2:16 Amplified Bible

Our culture places freedom as the highest value, liberty is the greatest goal, but look around, what kind of freedom is being pursued? –drunkenness, adultery, gambling, carousing, pre-marital sex, etc… A lot of wicked behavior has been defined as freedom today, and unfortunately there are a lot of Christians that are participating. But the Bible is very clear on the matter that “those who practice such things will notinherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:21 NKJV).

Did you know that the Pilgrim Fathers of America were so concerned about an unrighteous definition of liberty in the New World that they drafted a list of sins that they said would lead to “Extreme Liberty”? They were afraid that a society that wrongly defined freedom would lead to a culture of immorality. And they were right. Now more than ever we need a spiritual revolution to turn this Nation back to God.

“Everything is permissible”-but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”-but not everything is constructive. –1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV

Permissibility is not always beneficial or constructive. But I’ve noticed something else; we live in a world that says “Yes” to everything? No boundaries for adults or kids. Parents today are allowing their kids to do whatever they want to do because they’re afraid that if they don’t, they might lose them somehow or harm them in some way or the kids might miss-out on something. But the very opposite is true.

Some years ago there was an interesting study that was conducted on school children playing at recess. They wanted to see how much play area the average group of school kids would utilize during their play-time. The results were interesting; they found when the kids were in an unfenced area, they would tend to huddle together and play in only a small portion of the playground. But if the area was fenced, the kids would utilize the entire playground; they would spread out and play right up to the limits of the fence. The fence provided safety which empowered freedom.

Freedom is not striping off every limitation in life. God wants us to be Free, but He also wants us to be Safe, and the two go hand in hand, not only for our own good, but also for the people in our lives. He wants us to live well, and also help others to live well too. So we must be very careful how we live (Eph. 5:15) this life of liberty.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. –1 Corinthians 8:9-10 NIV

It’s so easy to be influenced by the wrong people or have the wrong focus on the wrong things. It’s so easy to get our priorities out of whack or careless with our relationships. And the wrong focus and priorities can easily influence others the wrong way. Elton Trueblood was right when he said that “Discipline is the price of freedom”.

If we are going to experience the freedom that Christ set us free to live, then we have to be ready, willing, and able to have Him control of every aspect.  Spiritual Revolution takes place when we say “yes” to God every time, every day, every way with everything. He set us free from the lesser, so that we can reach the greater. He longs for us all to live in the greater reality of our identity, as True-born Sons and Daughters of Liberty.  So Be Free!

Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him…  –Gen. 35:14a NIV

But have you noticed that stones are hard and heavy?  They are very tough things that must be handled correctly and appropriately placed.  They are often difficult to move, awkward to manage, and challenging to position.  And they can be painful too; toes can get smashed, fingers crushed, and blisters can quickly form.  But they are also solid and durable, and when done right, the structures are lasting and significant.

There are times in our lives when God asks us to establish stones.  Some are memorials where Christ marks significant events along the journey, places to look back and see divine crossings or happenings.  Salvation and baptism experiences are common memorials, and are among other encounters unique to each of us in our pursuit of God.  Constructing memorials often are exciting activities, but there are other stone projects that are not nearly as fun or pleasurable.

Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones…  –Deut. 27:5a NIV

Altars are places where God requires sacrifice.  Hard heavy stones laid upon hard heavy stones, until they are covered with blood, sweat and tears.  They are places of surrender and death, but they’re also places of worship and renewed promise.  Many times God will take us through difficult places where He helps us “let go” of the past, so that we can embrace the future.  The patriarchs built these types of altar; Noah (Gen. 8:15-20), Abraham (Gen. 22:9-18), Isaac (Gen. 26:22-25) and Jacob (Gen. 35:7-9), but the story of Jacob has a few significant stones that we should notice here.

If you recall, Jacob was in difficult situation relationally with his brother Esau.  And the Bible says that he found himself in a “certain place” a lonely place, stressed-out and tired.  And it says that Jacob “took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. Then he dreamed…” (Gen. 28:11).  In that hard place, on that hard stone, God began to show him the movement of heaven; Jacob’s ladder was revealed and the promise of God was renewed.  Then the Bible says that Jacob anointed that particular stone with oil and named the place “Bethel” the “house of God” and the “gate of heaven” because “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Gen. 28:16-17).  God will take us to hard places and then un-expectantly reveal himself through the uncertainty.

But that’s not all, the story doesn’t end there.  If you recall, Jacob finds himself in another difficult situation relationally, this time with his father-in-law Laban.  The two men reconciled at a place called ‘the watch’ where they “gathered some stones” and “ate there by the heap” and then “offered a sacrifice there” as they reestablished a covenant of grace.  (Gen. 31:43-54).  The Lord was at work, but He still wasn’t finished.  A short-time later we find Jacob still dealing with a rocky relationship with Esau, but the Bible says that the “angels of God” were in the camp and Jacob soon finds himself wrestling with God and being ‘blessed’ with a limp. But there, in that difficult place, he reunites with Esau in a tearful embrace. (Gen. 32:22-33:4). Afterward Jacob settles in ‘Bethel’ and built an altar there to God, and the Lord changed his name to Israel.  (Gen. 35:1-9).

All of those places are where God used significant stones in Jacob’s life, transforming his heart and his relationships.  When we walk through difficult relational places embracing hard and heavy issues, building altars in our lives, God will change us too and set us free to be the person we are destined to be; “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God”. (Rom. 12:1).

So the next time you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, remember that it might just be a stone that God wants to use to shape something significant in your life –so worship Him there!

Over the years I have been misjudged many times; I’m sure you have too.  People have misread my intentions, misheard my message, and have misrepresented me to others.  And the funny thing is; I’m sure I’ve done the same to some of them.  We don’t like it when it happens to us, yet do the very thing to other people; funny huh?

And often what we perceive about a person will determine how we interact (or not) with them. Have you said or heard; “She seems mad, I better let her alone today” or “He seems tired, I won’t bother him now” or “They seem so busy, I’ll just do it myself”?  Many times perceptions are a way of conceiving something in our mind to protect, excuse, or justify the way we feel about someone or something. But they are often wrong, and frequently used as a springboard for accusation; “She’s an angry person” or “He’s unapproachable” or “They don’t care”.  Perception can be deceiving.

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? –1 Corinthians 2:11a NIV

Sadly many Spirit-filled Christians label perceptions as ‘discernment’.  People say, “The Lord showed me something about that person” and then critically change the way they treat them or feel compelled to help them with ‘their problem’.  But the funny thing is many times we’re seeing the ‘speck’ in someone else’s eye but do not perceive the plank in our own (see Luke 6:41).  We must be careful not to spiritualize a critical spirit in our own lives because “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17:9).  There is no question that we need discernment, but the Bible says that:

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. –Proverbs 18:15 NIV.

We must remain hungry for the knowledge of the truth concerning other people and circumstances, and be diligent to seek it out; but even more so with our own hearts. Especially with our own hearts!  Lord, help us to perceive the right way, from your perspective, and change our funny way of seeing things.