All posts by Pastor Curry

Epoch Making

I recently read the book “God and the Oval Office” – subtitled “The Religious Faith of Our 43 Presidents.” It was an easy and fascinating read. I learned a lot and was surprised a lot. Some of the surprises were things I read about President Harry S. Truman. More on that another time. For today I just want to share one of his statements. It grabbed me again yesterday as Michigan had their primary elections. After observing the candidates and their particular emphases while campaigning here, I thought of it again. In reference to public opinion, Truman said, “I wonder how far Moses would have gone if he’d taken a poll in Egypt? What would Jesus Christ have preached if he’d taken a poll in Israel? Where would the Reformation had gone if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn’t polls or public opinion at the moment that counts. It is right and wrong and leadership – men with fortitude, honesty, and a belief in the right that makes epochs in the history of the world.” Amen.

Dismayed – but not Surprised

So now, on some campuses, college room/dormitory options include “gender neutral” . What this means is a student can say that have no gender preference in the selection of a roommate – or they can select someone of the opposite sex. And these campuses accommodate them. Now don’t get me started on this one! What is most disturbing to me is that a couple of the colleges that reportedly allow such arrangements are, historically, church related. Don’t get me started on that either! Sure, some say that mature students can handle it (who’s to determine the ‘mature’ ones?), but I say – with Biblical support – that boys will be boys and girls will be girls. (OK – stop searching – you won’t find those words in the Bible per se – but its passages about human nature and sin make it pretty clear: “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing.” (Rom. 7:19) And whatever happened to obedience to the verse “Abstain from all appearance of evil?” ( 1 Thess. 5:22 KJV) But I said I wasn’t going to get started! When I read the news report, I was dismayed – but not surprised. Ever since our society has decided that morality is an individual choice, we’ve been headed down a slippery slope. Perhaps we need to read again the times of the Kings and Judges in the Old Testament – it is there we see the cycle of history: that when everyone does what is right in his own eyes, there is chaos. I can’t say it any better.

The Irony

I seldom comment on the really hot political issues in my blog. But I am making an exception. I admit that the capital punishment issue is complex - and I am not here claiming to be for or against it. But Gary Bauer, in his 'End of the Day' email, wrote something with which I resonate. With all due credit to him, here is a portion of it:

"The U.S. Supreme Court indicated this week that it is deeply divided over a challenge to the way most states execute prisoners by lethal injection. It seems some of the justices are distressed by the procedure in which three drugs are administered in succession to knock out, paralyze and kill prisoners sentenced to death. “I’m terribly troubled by the fact that the second drug seems to cause all risk of excruciating pain,” said Justice John Paul Stevens, who thinks this method of execution may violate the
Constitution’s 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
I couldn’t help notice the rich irony here. Why is it that those judges most concerned with whether or not prisoners convicted of horrible crimes like murder and serial rape feel pain during an execution always tend to be
the same judges who most adamantly defend the perceived right for abortionists to perform their ghastly deed? Science has established that babies inside the womb feel excruciating pain during an abortion after 24 weeks of gestation. That pain, moreover, can be even more intense than if it were performed on a child outside the womb, because pain inhibitory mechanisms (fibers which dampen and modulate the experience of pain) do not
begin to develop until 32-34 weeks of gestation. All this would be comical if it weren’t so serious." I can't say it any better.

Who’s Kidding Who?

It was in the news last week. A 7 year old girl won free tickets to a Hanna Montana concert. She had written an ‘essay’ about her dad being killed in Iraq. Then it was discovered she had lied so the tickets were awarded to someone else. I find it hard to blame her. First, how could the handlers of the contest expect someone as young as 7 to ‘write an essay’? Give me a break! Second, let’s not let parents of young girls get off either. When Hanna was recently in Grand Rapids – about an hour from where I live – parents paid sums in the 4 figure range because “they didn’t want their daughters deprived of such an opportunity.’ (Note to my sons – sorry you were deprived of so many important things in your young lives!) Give me a break! But let’s also point to the adults in this young girls life – surely they knew what was going on – perhaps even to the point of helping her write the lie? I can’t say for sure but…well you think about it. Who’s kidding who? The desire for entertainment – and a resulting hero worship – hold strong power in America. And what’s so bad about that? More than I can write here – but let’s not forget the entertainment hunger was one of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. That should be warning enough.

Silly Me!

I thought I’d heard it all! Silly me! From Mascoutah, Illinois comes a news report that a 13-year old middle-schooler had to serve two days of detention. Why? Did she swear? Start a fight? Skip school? Talk back to a teacher? No – she put her arm around the shoulder of two friends and slightly squeezed them. In other words, she gave them a little hug to ‘say goodbye for the weekend.” For that she got detention. Mom and Dad didn’t like it but the only alternative was suspension – that’s right, suspension! According to the school student handbook, “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.” So a friendly little hug is now a PDA? Hmm…And PDA’s (public displays of affection) are a bad thing. Hmm…
So let me get this right. In some schools kids can get birth control without parental consent, in some states children can get an abortion without parental consent, and that’s all OK. But to hug a friend discredits the school. I wonder – what if the school, or a student in the school, suffered a tragedy, such as death in the family. Just how will they show comfort without a little PDA? And what if, as the basketball player trots off the court after a scintillating performance the coach pats him or her on the butt and says, “Great job!” Will coach be in detention the next day? He/she better be – that is after all a PDA, is it not? And what about the girls volleyball team – after each point they hug and high-five. I guess they’re in detention too.
I guess I’m just old fashioned, but give me a break! Recall the school board and let’s get real! And if the recall is successful…better not hug the board members as they leave their last meeting! Of course, if you did, you could write a new student handbook during your time in detention!

When Surrounded – Run!

Principle: “When surrounded, run!”

No – it’s not time to be a coward! I’ve been thinking about Hebrews 12:1-2. 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Since we are surrounded, run!

Now Heb. 12 follows Hebrews 11 (that’s brilliant, isn’t it?) What I mean is, the key to understanding these words is to remember what’s in chapter 11 – the “People of Faith” Hall of Fame. They are our witnesses. To what? To how to keep the faith in the midst of uncertainty and tough times. There’s Noah – he built the ark when there was no rain. (Imagine the neighbors!) There’s Abraham – he packed up everything, left behind everything familiar, and set out for a place he’d never seen. (I wonder if his family ever asked, “Are we there yet?”) There’s Joseph – so sure of his dreams, but such a long, round about, surprising way to their fulfillment. (I can hear him asking, “Lord, does anything ever come easy? Can I ever catch a break?”) And there are so many others.

In fact, says the author of Hebrews, consider Jesus. He knew all along that He would be King, the Ruler of the world. But first He “…endured the cross, scorning its shame…” Why? Because of the joy set before Him. Do you still believe in your vision? Do you still have your dream? Have you wondered lately if you’ll ever get there, if you’ll ever catch a break? “… ebeeHebrewssince we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hang on. Keep at it. Drop and put behind all the ’stuff’ that’s gotten in the way. And remember to look at Jesus. You’re not on your own. It’s true you’re surrounded – but since you are, run! You’ve lots of running partners!

Success That Never Lasts

What a weekend! The Lions not only won (now 6& 2) but looked like a good team in doing so! Michigan won in exciting fashion! The Pistons won to move to 3 & 0. My alma Mater, Central College is nationally ranked and undefeated once again. East Kentwood High School – from which all 3 sons graduated and for which all played soccer – just became the first team in their class division from the West side of the state to win a state soccer title. And Calvin College, where all 3 sons attended and for whom one played soccer, is headed to the national soccer tournament after winning the MIAA conference. And while they didn’t play this weekend, the Red Wings are off to a terrific start. It’s been a long time since all my teams were doing so well. In fact, the only downer was the Tigers – Joel Zumaya having shoulder surgery because a heavy box fell on it while he was removing things from his family’s California home in preparation to flee the fire. I guess he won’t be shouldering the load next year! I realize this may not be the usual blog entry for me, but hey, it’s not very often I can enjoy writing about such success – so I want to enjoy it while it lasts. With sports, you need to do that – because success never lasts forever. Even the Patriots will lose some day!

Turning Things Out

I believe it was the legendary coach John Wooden who said, “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” How eloquent and accurate. We cannot always control our circumstances but we can control how we respond to them. The apostle Paul’s words, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” were written from prison where Paul was awaiting a verdict on his life. Rather than bemoan his imprisonment, he prayed , preached and dictated letters. The result? “Now I want you to know…that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”
Whatever your circumstances realize only you can determine your response. Just remember, Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.”

My god

Kathy Griffin received an Emmy award – she may even have been deserving of it. I am not in a position to evaluate that. But in accepting the award, on national television, she said, “…a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.” She then went on to hold up her Emmy, make an off color remark about Christ and proclaim, “This award is my god now!”

Hmm…Two comments. First, if she had said equally derogatory remarks about Allah or against Islam, it would have been world headlines – and the network might even have censored it out. But since it was Jesus Christ, the God of Christianity, she was defaming, it was permissible and not newsworthy. It’s just one more case where all religion is not treated equally in the United States.

But secondly, if I could get a message to Kathy, I would send the following: “So, your award is your god! A man named Isaiah once said:
“All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame…Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save…When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man (woman) who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and
possess my holy mountain.”

Kathy, I just thought you’d like to know. Think about it. Or ask your idol Emmy and see what advice she gives you.”