You shall not bear false witness

 Have we had enough of Prince Harry yet? He's everywhere! On the television, the first entry on social media and soon on the book shelves for those foolish enough to buy his upcoming book, "Spare."

 Harry had been busy airing his many grievances in public for awhile now.  His brother is a bully; his sister in law is cold; the King's wife is dangerous and the British media are blood-thirsty destroyers.  His list of complaints runs ad nauseum.

 I am not an expert on Harry.  I haven't watched every interview or read every story.  But one of the many things that bothers me about Harry is this - has he not contributed to the disfunction of this family in any way?

 I get the impression Harry believes that this mess is of the Royal Family's doing.  He's said no angry words? He's made no cutting statements? His actions haven't created pain and angst among his family?

 I spent enough time with couples in trouble to know that just as it takes two people to make a good relationship, it takes two people to make a bad relationship as well.  Surely Harry and his wife are not the pure and innocent people they pretend to be.

 Perhaps you're familiar with the 8th Commandment - You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.  Martin Luther's explanation is clear - We should fear and love God that we do not deceitfully lie, betray, slander nor defame our neighbor.  That is what we should not do.

 But Luther's explanation goes on - but defend him, speak well of him and put the best construction on everything.  

 The hymnwriter says it well - Keep me from saying things that later need recalling.  Grant that no idle words may from my lips be falling.  But then, when in my place I must and aught to speak, My words grant power and grace list I offend the weak.  (CW 459:3)

 Harry has had his say.  He has probably created irreparable damage.  Could he now just be silent and go away?  Or better yet, begin by asking for forgiveness from those family members who he has slandered and defamed.  Then healing can begin.

Jumping back on the bandwagon

 True confession - I have been a fair-weather fan of the Arizona Cardinals.

 I'm on their bandwagon when they're winning.  You can see me wearing my Cardinals hat and Cardinals T-shirt.  Looks like I'm all in.

 Not this season.  I have been dismayed watching as the Cardinals lose game after game.  I had been thinking that I'd find a new team to support.  The Cowboys? My sister is a die-hard fan.  The Packers? My good friend, Jerry, bleeds green and gold.

 But then I starting watching the documentary "Hard Knocks" which has been focusing on the Cardinals.  Cameras follow the team during practices and players at their homes.  The program ends with reporting on the game for that week, which has been loss after loss.

 Watching "Hard Knocks" has given me a different perspective on the team.  Even though they're losing the team is still playing hard.  The coach, which has come under heavy criticism, is at the stadium at 4 am and doesn't leave until the last person is gone at night.  I've watched some of the leaders of the team passionately implore the players to keep trying and not give up.  This behind-the-scenes look at the team has changed my attitude toward them.

 The Cardinals play their last game this Sunday against the 49ers.  They will probably lose.  This supposedly is good because the team will likely garner a high draft pick with another loss.  They can either choose a top college player or trade the pick to another team for a group of players to add to the roster.  Many are calling for a new general manager and head coach.  It remains to be seen how ownership will respond.

 In the meantime I'm going to unearth my Cardinals hat and buy a new shirt or hoodie.  I'll be in front of the TV cheering the team on as hard as I can.  As I said, they'll probably lose.  But winning or losing, the Cardinals are my team.

There's just something about the Gospel

 The word, "Gospel" in the Greek means "good news." I find it amazing how the Gospel can make my heart soar, my mind be at peace and my confidence in my salvation through faith in Christ Jesus becomes more firm.

 In my journal I wrote down this Gospel message from Harold Senkbeil: In His death Jesus Christ swallowed up our death, and rose again triumphantly to take all the teeth out of the grave. In His promise of the resurrection, death loses its power. When we die with Jesus, we really live.

 Death is our enemy.  It is not our friend. It is good news that Jesus has defeated death for us.  When we confess in the Creed, "I believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting," we do so with the confidence that just as Jesus rose from the dead, we too shall rise on the Last Day. And the Last Day for us is just the beginning of our time in the presence of Jesus, not for a day, but for all eternity!

My times are in Your hands

 This year I will be serving as the Pastoral Advisor for LWML Zone 26 group.  I'm not exactly sure what me responsibilities will be but there is a meeting on Saturday so I'll know then what's expected of me.  

 I'm working on a devotion based around Psalm 31:14-15, which read: But I say, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."  My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who pursue me.

 In doing some study this afternoon, I appreciated this comment from pastor and author, John Brug: The words "My times are in Your hands," form a beautiful prayer for all Christians when death is near, and for every day of our lives.  These words are also appropriate for placing every second of our lives in God's hands..."

 How would you complete a prayer that began, "O Lord, my times are in Your hands....?"

A break from social media

 Consider these words from author Reed Lessing: When Richard Nixon was president, social experts predicted that by the twenty-first century, American would work in the morning and have the rest of the day off.  What happened? Let me answer that with some Q&A.

 How much time does the average American spend on social media every year? That would be 912 hours or about thirty-eight days and nights.  What about television? That would be roughly 1460 hours, or roughly sixty days and nights.  And what is the constant message on social media and television? Be kind to your neighbor? Forgive those who wrong you? Be content with what you have? The message is singular.  When in Egypt, do as the Egyptians do.  Live by these watchwords: more, mine and hurry up.

 In the first chapter of his book, "Deliver Me," Lessing describes how the Pharaohs of Egypt were focused on gathering as much as possible and they did this on the back of the children of Israel.  His point is that not much has changed.  We are a people who want the most and the best of everything.  And social media and television fuels that desire.

 I spent much time yesterday pondering Lessing's words and realized that they applied to me.  Like lots of folks I had gotten to checking social media sites constantly throughout the day.  I think the devil uses social media as a tool to take our minds off the most important things - our relationship with the Lord and with each other.

 So, last night I looked at my last Facebook and Instagram feeds.  Interestingly, I'm still going to use Twitter for my blog posts but except checking each morning for messages and feedback that's all the time I'm going to spend on social media. 

 What do I hope is the result of this exile from social media? An enriched time of devotion and prayer with God, more time spent just talking with my dear, sweet wife, checking in with family and friends, and more time spent reading or practicing the guitar.

 You might want to try this too.  Wouldn't it be great recapture some of the time that gets wasted with social media?

Books, books and more books

My goal each year is to read 24 books, basically finishing off a book within two weeks.  However, being retired, I reached my goal in July! So, needless to say, I demolished my goal and read some pretty good books in the process.

I discovered British author, Alex Gurlis.  He writes spy-espionage books mostly centered during the time of WWII.  He has a way of connecting you to the major characters to the point that when they find themselves in harms way, you become deeply concerned for their safety.  I read the four books that make up the Richard Prince series and have now started on a two book series.  If you are a fan of this genre, check out Gurlis.

Michael Connelly has also become a favorite author.  He writes the Harry Bosch series of books and the Lincoln Lawyer books as well.  I like the Lincoln Lawyer series especially because the stories are written in the first person.  It's as if you are following Mickey Haller around as he defends his clients and solves mysteries in the process.

I've started out 2023 by reading Reed Lessing's "Deliver Us - God's Rescue Story in Exodus."  Lessing is an engaging writer who draws connection with Exodus with other Biblical texts.  I started digging into the book yesterday and I can't wait for a little quiet time to dig back into what looks to be an interesting and informative book.

Here's to reading good books in 2023!

 

 Hello kind readers! I hope your New Year celebration was wonderful and that you are looking forward to 2023 with great anticipation.

 I've taken a long break from blogging.  Fighting depression was a real battle last year.  It tends to sap energy.  Even if you've done nothing you can still fill exhausted.  So I found it real hard to sit down before the keyboard and write anything.

 We spent last week with my two daughters and their families in Michigan. Yesterday I had a long time of prayer with the Lord.  I resolved to be more focused on self-care.  I have a number of steps I'll be following with the hope that the black dog that's been following me will seem as about as threatening as a puppy. I trust that the Lord will give me the faith and strength to follow through.

 We were greatly blessed with our travel last week.  You know about the big winter storm that hit most of the US just before Christmas.  My dear sweet wife and I flew out on Christmas day.  By then the storm had passed through the Midwest and Southwest Airlines got us safely to Midway Airport in Chicago.

 If you were following the papers, the following day Southwest Airlines suffered a complete meltdown.  Thousands of flights cancelled.  Hundreds of flyers stranded. What a mess.  Watching this unfold left Sherri and I wondering how we would get home.  But by Friday Southwest got its house in order, so to speak.  Our plane left on time yesterday and we arrived back in Phoenix just as scheduled..

 Sherri and I realize just how blessed we were throughout this whole mess.  We didn't have to sleep in the airport like so many other travelers.  We enjoyed a white Christmas with our family while spending the week in our new summer home.  And then we made it home without a hitch. 

 For the next four months my schedule is fairly packed.  I'm preaching twice a month at Christ the Redeemer.  Once a month Ron, Connie and I will provide music at the 9:30 service at Life in Christ. I'll start my duties as Zone Counselor with our LWML branch. I have a medical procedure later this month - nothing serious (I hope).  Sherri and I have pledged to be more intentional with exercise and to hold each other accountable.  We have a session with a exercise leader who is going to put a plan together for us.

 What's in store for us in 2023? Do any of us know for sure? In Matthew, chapter one, an angel tells Joseph about the child his intended wife, Mary, carrying.  This child is the fulfillment of a prophecy - He is Immanuel, "God with us."  And that is our hope for the New Year.  No matter what we face, whether is be a blessing or a challenge, our God goes with us into 2023.  Trust Him to be with you throughout the coming year.

 God's blessings to you and your family!