MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES

Are we raising a generation of young people who are incapable of understanding the deep bonds of love and the necessity of personal relationships with others and with God?

I believe we are.

Christmas morning my eleven-year-old grandson texted me to say he had received a brand new phone for Christmas.

“Great,” I texted back. “Now you can call me more often.”

He quickly returned my text. “No, Mimi. Now I can text you faster.”

I sighed and typed this response. “Focus on calling, sweetheart. Mimi loves to hear the sound of your voice.”

This grandson came for a visit between Christmas and New Years and for some unknown reason, in the middle of the week, his new super phone screen went black. He could receive calls but was unable to text. The boy had a momentary melt-down. His communication to the outside world—ceased! But as the week progressed we had time to talk. He had a wonderful time and the world did not end—even though he couldn’t text.

Texting, emailing and all the other time-saving technological conveniences of this age are no substitute for face-to-face, one-on-one, verbal communications with family, friends, and especially with God.

“Relationships.” Do kids even have a clue what a relationship is?

My grandkids may have 200 “friends” with whom they text and email on Facebook, Twitter or whatever. They believe these are relationships. But, they are mere acquaintances—if  that. Three and four word texts, via electronic device, cannot weave lasting emotional bonds between people.

And talk about “text,” what about the Bible?

Are today’s young people even able to read passages longer than a three line text or comprehend the eternal consequences of ignoring or rebelling against The Lord God Almighty who is the same yesterday, today, and forever? They can text and operate all this plethora of high tech machinery, know the lyrics of every song on their Ipod, but have trouble believing or caring much less connecting the dots from creation, to the cross, and into eternity. And forget about “hiding God’s Word” in their hearts (Psalm 119:11 NKJ). They will tell you they don’t have the time nor inclination to do so.

Throughout scripture God tells of His people crying out to Him, His hearing and answering their prayers. King David says, “I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2 NAS).

God created me in His image and for His pleasure. I was made to have an intimate, personal relationship with God the Father, and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Without that kinship there is an empty chasm in my heart and soul. But, there can’t be a relationship unless there is time spent together, unless there is truth and respect, and unless intimacy exists between the parties, whether it’s between spouses, friends and family or especially God.

I love to hear my children and grandchildren’s voices. Have you considered that God loves to hear your voice too? Not just in a three or four word text, muttered in a time of tragedy or despair or when you’re about to fall asleep. But from the depth of your soul and the need of your heart, on your knees—quiet and still, before the only One who hears and answers your prayers.

Next: Deuteronomy 6:6-7

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Have you ever walked along the beach, waded into the waves, having a cut or scrape on your leg that stings like a bee? Why? Because saltwater is an antiseptic. But when you come out of the water the abrasion to your flesh will be on the road to healing.

Salt heals many things from a sore throat, to mouth sores, to a scraped toe. Salt will clean your teeth. Salt will preserve meat and it flavors food.

Jesus said to those who trust Him for salvation, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). I am to be a fragrant flavor of Truth in the lives of others. Problem is I forget that I ‘m salt. I’d rather be oil. Instead of penetrating lives and preventing spoil, I’d rather duck, cover, and run.

I’m instructed to speak words of healing. Words that will direct people to the only One who can forgive their sins, restore their lives, and put them on the straight path toward an intimate relationship with Christ.

There are folks within my sphere of influence whose lives are train wrecks. They stumble along with hearts and minds that are injured and bleeding—suffering from the consequences of wrong thinking and rebellious acts toward God. I am to sprinkle, not saturate, the salt of the Word of God onto their lives. It may sting as I speak those salty truths, but God’s truth heals.

Jesus warned, “If the salt has become tasteless, it is good for nothing except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men” (Matthew 5:13). Has my life become tasteless from the lack of speaking the truth of the Word? I have been guilty of being more afraid of hurting a friend’s feelings than helping them find the path that leads them to obedience and salvation.

Jesus said I am to “judge myself so that I will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1-5). The salt of His truth stings deep and causes me great pain when I realize my thoughts and actions toward Him and towards others are out-of-balance with His Word.

In Deuteronomy 30:1-3 God told Israel, “. . . when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the cursing which I have set before you and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.” (Emphasis added)

Jesus said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John1:9).

The good news of the gospel is “it’s not three strikes and I’m out.” That’s a lie from the pit of hell that I believed for years. The moment I turn from actions and thoughts in rebellion to God’s Word, confess them as sin, and make the choice to walk in obedience to His Word, He forgives me, cleans me up, and restores my life. Regardless of the sins I’ve committed because that’s what He promised to do, because of the blood Jesus shed for me. And unlike me, God always keeps His promises.

Next: Texting God

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Tragedy plagues our little town of Crandall. Death often drapes an ugly shroud over families in this East Texas town. So it was no shock when I received a phone call this morning seeking prayer for a family whose son has been critically wounded in Afghanistan.

The shock is that it is the third phone call this week. An eighteen-year-old, who lives around the corner returned from college tired from final exams and went to bed. His father found him dead next morning. A mother of three, suffering depression, committed suicide over the weekend leaving a newborn and two children without a mother. All this week! Oh God, where are You in all this?

And it’s Christmas!

I know grief never takes a holiday. But what do I do with this load of suffering? How do these families survive?

The holidays have been difficult for our family for the past eleven years since we lost our twenty-eight-year-old daughter. After her death, God called me to be a GriefShare facilitator, prayer warrior, and helper for those called to walk this dark journey.

This morning I’m reminded of the One who willingly carried an enormous burden for me. The Holy One, The Son of God, stepped down from His place of authority and power, left all the glories of Heaven, and allowed Himself to be confined in a human body, in the womb of a young Jewish girl. This King of Kings was born to die. For thirty-two years He walked the earth with one purpose—to die, so that I might live for Him and with Him. Forever.

It is only through trials, tragedy and tribulations that we learn to endure. We don’t learn to persevere when times are good and there are no problems. Scripture confirms, “In this world we will have trouble.” But Christ also tells us we are to “be of good cheer, He has overcome the world.”

So what can I do with this overwhelming load of grief today?

Take it to the One who understands sorrow. Dump it there and remind myself these are secret things. They belong to the Lord. My focus will no longer remain macro-lensed on the muck and mire of this earth. God gives the eyes of my heart and mind the ability to zoom out and inhale His perspective, His power and His plan.

The light of His joy floods in and pushes the grief of the moment into it’s proper spectrum. But He uses grief as a necessary tool to break my pride and help me understand that I’m not in control—He is. I am to trust Him during these times of abject sorrow and pain.

Through the depths of grief God produces in me the strength to climb those breath-taking mountain tops of joy where purified air flows and I can begin to comprehend a tiny portion of the depths of His love and grace.

That is the miracle! Accomplished for all who choose to believe in Jesus, the Balm of Gilead, the Great Physician, my Savior, my Lord and my King.

The question is not if grief comes, but when grief comes.

Will you allow Him to enfold you in His arms of love each day and comfort you ‘til joy returns?

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“. . .for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me. . .” Exodus 20:5

Mention the phrase “generational sin” and most church members roll their eyes. A few years ago, I didn’t want to think about it either, until a relative of mine, Arthur Clinton Coleman, published a book on our family genealogy entitled The Colemanac – The history of the Coleman family from 1750 to 1976.

TRACING MY LINEAGE

A number of years ago, while thumbing through the voluminous pages of The Colemanac, I stumbled upon pieces of historical information about one of my great-great-great-greats–Lucretia Coleman, wife of Baptist preacher Elisha Coleman.

The writer refers to their relationship as “being seasoned with a high-octane rating.” Lucretia was “a woman of imagination and talent, very vocal and outspoken, in a day when it was not acceptable.”  She was a rebel. It was a second marriage for both Elisha and Lucretia and they had thirteen children between the two of them. An 1831 newspaper article documented:

“Elisha Coleman says his wife Lucretia has forsaken his bed and board, saying at the same time she would be his ruin, and notified public not to credit her on his account.”

The sketchy history mapped out in subsequent newspaper articles reported that these two moved in and out of their marriage relationship through the years. Records indicate that the church “gave Lucretia Coleman papers of dismission after she made acknowledgments to Elisha and the church in 1844.” History and the grave have swallowed the nature of these events.

My maternal grandmother, married five times–in the early 1900’s. Two aunts, on mother’s side, were also married various times and my dad’s father could only be described as a scoundrel.

After reading the account of Lucretia, I was stunned that the description of this far distant relative could have been used to identify me–imaginative, talented, very outspoken, difficult to get along with, a rebel who was possibly irresponsible in relationships.

A child of the ’60’s, during my early adult years I marched to my own beat. My mom and the two aunts, were also creative, outspoken, aggressive women and we all gave our husbands heartburn. My mom and dad were the only ones in the group who avoided divorce. They retorted through the  years, “We’d rather fight than switch.” And fight they did.

THE GENERATIONAL MIRROR

The personalities of all of these women were in the mirror God held before me to change my heart and mind about wrong attitudes and behavior–sin in my life according to His Word. But not before I took my two children and walked out  of a 13 year marriage, ignoring the warning that “God hates divorce.”

Were there problems in the marriage? Yes. Did I let God solve the problems, change the marriage, or change me? No. When trouble threatened my second marriage it became apparent I might be a large part of the problem. Like a frog cooking in a pot of water, I was unaware of the impending danger as the heat of destruction smoldered in our home.

Besides the crumbling marriage, an even deeper problem existed. I knew about Jesus, but had no relationship with Him. My church experience began in the nursery. Went to church all my life. Walked the aisle at twelve with a group of friends. Worked hard to be the best Christian I could. It was all about me and how good I could be.

Dr. Phil always asks the troubled people on his TV show, “How’s that workin’ for you?” I can tell you it didn’t work very well because try as I might, I couldn’t be good enough. Those generational quirks–God calls them sins–sucked me deeper into the strangling undertow of life without Christ.

Like the foolish woman of Proverbs 14:1 who “tears down her house with her own hands,” my tongue shot those fiery flames referred to throughout the Book of James. Together with my outrageous temper and a need to control every situation, our house became a danger zone.

In January of 1989 I drew a robe of self-righteousness around me and declared “I’m going back to church.” I did and my husband came with me. We found God had another plan that Sunday morning. No more business as usual. Life Action Crusade was beginning a revival meeting at Spring Baptist Church. On Tuesday evening of that week we met Jesus, surrendered our lives to Him as Savior and Lord. He took our robes of self-righteousness and wrapped us instead in the blood soaked robe of  His pure righteousness. Twenty-three  years later He continues to patiently renovate our lives and our marriage. As we obey, He blesses.

However, generational strongholds die hard. Every day is a battle and I am called to be on the alert, on guard, because I have an enemy who seeks to destroy me and I give him the ammunition to do the job.

God instructs me to choose His way over the natural inclinations of my emotions. My constant prayer is that God will develop in me a gentle, quiet spirit which 1 Peter 3:4 says “. . . is precious in the sight of God.” The desire of my heart? To become the wise woman of Proverbs 14:1 who “. . . builds her own house.”

I have the tendency to run ahead of God, thinking I’ve learned the lesson. I grab the reigns and charge ahead even though He instructs me to stand firm and wait for His direction. While I am better than I used to be, I still have a long way to go.

Can God bless my life after I have rebelled against Him or does He say “Oops, DiAne. That’s the third strike. You’re out?”

For years I believed the lie that God would never forgive me. How about you? Where does this find you today? Accused by the enemy of  your soul or forgiven by the Sovereign God of all the universe because of the blood offered by His Son?  Jesus Christ died for you.

NEXT: What God Has to Say

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“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth . . .  because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen . . .understood through what has been made . . .they are without excuse . . .  even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks, but became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened . . . they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.” Romans 1:18-23

OLD TESTAMENT IDOLS

Between the pages of Genesis and Malachi we find descriptions of idols–golden calves, wooden carvings, and statutes of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay. All crafted and carved by men who worshipped and depended on inanimate objects to protect, provide, and meet their needs.

DO WE HAVE IDOLS IN AMERICA?

Can a piece of stone deliver a person from tragedy, heal a child on the edge of death, or save a marriage headed for divorce? Can a piece of gold or wood justify a person before the Sovereign Holy Righteous God and Creator of the Universe ensuring him an eternal home in heaven?

There are places in the world where people fall down and worship images of stone, declaring them gods.

But in America? Idols? Surely not.

An educated twenty-first century American would never take a chunk of gold, rock or wood to the foundry or to an artist to make an image to fall down and worship–would he?

In the previous blog, “Violation of God’s Laws,” we talked about the meaning of God’s first command–no other gods before Me–nothing between your face and God’s face.

Wives, when your husband asked you to marry him, would you have said yes if there was something or someone standing in the way when he proposed? For instance–an old girlfriend he still had affection for, beliefs contrary to God’s law, or habits and addictions that would destroy the marriage.

A problem surfaces between you and a dear friend. Can the friendship continue if issues put a barrier in the relationship? For example, an insistence upon always having one’s own way. Jealousy over other friendships. Unresolved anger about past issues. A continual hateful spirit.

God says nothing between your face and My face. I take that to mean God has authority over every particle of my being every minute of every day–my thoughts, emotions, reactions, choices, and decisions are to become level against the plumb line of His laws, principles, statutes, and precepts.

IDOLS WE STRUGGLE WITH

For a time I allowed my children to come between my face and God’s face. I lived for them. And when the grandchildren arrived, they took center stage as well. I hung on their every word, spent money on them we didn’t have. Time in God’s word was put on hold when the grandkids called or came to visit. Going to church? Only if it agreed with their schedule, and it seldom did.

My husband’s idol for a number of years was his job. He worked long hours, indifferent to family life. But Richard and I learned the hard way that God was his employer. After living through a corporate downsizing, a fifth grade boy in my Sunday School class prayed, “Dear God, please don’t let Mr. Gates go without a paycheck.” Five downsizings later, we give testimony to the fact we never missed a paycheck. Twice we had overlapping severance and new employment paychecks.

We were blessed by that young man’s prayers but God was also teaching that fifth grader about faithfulness. Fifteen years have passed and I still remind that now young father how God answered his prayers for us.

Neighbors and friends have allowed their lake houses, boats, fine homes, recreation, and money take the place of priority in their hearts and minds. Anything that takes precedence over your faith, worship and praise of God Most High is an idol that has come between your face and God’s face.

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The supersized idol who lurks inside each one of us, waiting to grab the heart–if only for a moment–to dethrone El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, and take us captive.

THE GOD OF SELF

We make thousands of choices each day. Choices to walk in obedience to God and His Word or choices to do what we feel like doing–because we believe we have a very good reason to replace the Eternal Power and Divine nature that created us. Each time we give the idol of self authority to call the shots, darkness reigns until we ask forgiveness and allow the light of His Truth to dispel deceptive thoughts, choices and actions.

In John 10:27 Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they know Me.”

How long has it been since you’ve heard the Lord speak to your heart? Have you ever heard Him speak? Could it be that something or someone has taken you captive–inserted itself between your face and God’s face?

But Paul tells us that “We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.” Romans 8:37.

What idols do you struggle with? Identify the idol. Ask Jesus’ help. That’s a giant leap along the road to becoming more than a conqueror.

NEXT: Generational Curses and Blessings

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“You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

In 1973 the Congress of the United States of America declared Humanism a religion.

At our first parent group meeting we were able to identify the teaching problem at the schools in Longwood, Florida. They were teaching another god and another religion to our children–the god of self.

Our parent group filed a lawsuit against the school board on the grounds that if we couldn’t teach our religion–you can’t teach yours. We won and the books were removed. But how did we remove damage from impressionable, young hearts and minds?

We were not naive enough to think ours was the only school district involved in this teaching; and, history has proved we were correct. Where were the parents in those other districts?

Let’s get to the question at hand. Which one of God’s boundaries does this teaching violate?

God told His people: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

The translation of that statement means–Nothing between your face and My face. God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and we are His creations. Just as my mom had authority over me, I am under God’s authority as His creation. He holds my next breath in His hand and has the absolute right to rule my life. If I choose to rebel against that truth, God does not change nor does His truth.

Believing and acting on the lie that we can do whatever we like, if we have a good reason is the violation.

If I choose to believe the lie and disobey God–so what? I have removed God from the equation and elevated myself to a place of authority above Him. That’s what Satan did and that got him booted out of heaven.

God operates outside of our time. Just because He doesn’t send lightning to strike at our point of rebellion doesn’t mean we won’t have to answer to Him. The forbearance and longsuffering of His grace speaks to the reality of His patience, mercy, and love for His creation. “He is not willing that any should perish.” 2 Peter 3:9

However, His Word says, “Whatever a man sows, that shall he reap.”  The rest of that statement could be–what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow. Violations to His Word always brings consequences. Look around  you. Read the newspaper, or watch the six o’clock news. You choose the violation. God chooses the consequences.

We can look at the history of the nation of Israel and recognize that God means what He says. The Old Testament Books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, or better yet–Judges–are filled with God’s instructions, peoples’ rebellion, and God’s judgment for their sins. Let the final words of Judges ring in your ears “. . . and everyone did what was right in his own eyes,” and compare those words with Americans today.

Scripture says God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That should cause a thinking person to fear Him. So why don’t people fear? They don’t have a clue who He is nor do they have any interest in knowing Him. Because they are their own god.

I was appalled to hear the President’s news guy misquote the Bible the other day when he said, “The Bible says God helps those who help themselves.” I challenge any of you to find that verse in The Word of God.

That’s the crux of the problem. The majority of people, even those within the church, don’t know how to or choose not to spend time in the Word in order to find God’s revelation of Himself–words from the sovereign Creator of the universe to His creation. Sad!

Did you know Congress declared Humanism a religion? And that public schools have been integrating this religion into their teaching for at least the past 40 to 50 years? Have you read the Humanist Manifesto? If you have, what do you think about it?

NEXT:  What Is An Idol? Do we have any in America today?

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“Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones . . . ” Lamentations 2:19

During my teen years Mother recited again and again, “I don’t build fences to keep you in. I build fences to keep the bad stuff out”.

But it sure felt like I was being detained. Until I grew  up and had children of my own.

God sets boundaries for His kids too. Not to hold us captive but to keep us safe. He’s not the Cosmic Killjoy. He’s the Great Protector.

My kids were third and sixth graders in the late ’70’s. Their school in Longwood, Florida, became the battleground and my first exposure to the guerrilla warfare waged against them from the confines of the classroom.

We were busy working, earning a living to put food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothes on these children who grew like weeds in my garden.

Little comments began to slip from their mouths, to which we responded, “They’re just kids”. Then one afternoon our third grader retorted, “My teacher says I don’t have to mind you. You’re old. I don’t have to do what you say. I can do what I feel like doing.”

Now what teacher in their right mind would tell that to a child? So we instructed our daughter, “You’re not listening. Your teacher wouldn’t say that. You need to sit down, be quiet, and listen.”

But then other parents began to voice concerns when their kiddos came home with the same rhetoric. Gradually we realized their teacher really taught these lies and the kids were acting on their newfound enlightment.

A gang of kids is annoying, but a gang of irate moms–well, you don’t want to go there. We organized, divided, and mounted a siege from every angle. We discovered the guidance counselor held classes with every kid, in all grades, each week. The Seminole County School Board and Wekiva Elementary allowed this counselor to use a book not approved by the State of Florida Text Book Committee, nor was the book  on the list  from which they could choose for approval.

We tracked the elusive publication to another school and borrowed it. A meeting was called, inviting all interested parents with kids at our elementary school. Charlie Reese, a reporter from the Orlando Sentinel Star, met with us and we previewed the book DoSo the Dolphin which was being taught at the elementary school. The book being used at the middle school level was Total Affective Behavior.

The essence of DoSo the Dolphin taught it was all right to do anything you wanted to do, if  you had a good reason for doing it. One example used in the book was “Little Johnny told a lie. But Little Johnny had a very good reason for telling this lie. What would you do if you were Little Johnny?”  The text and the teachers encouraged the children not to go to their parents for answers, but to come to the group, their “Magic Circle” where they would be understood and accepted.

This book was used in grades 1 through 5. And by the way, the kids were not allowed to bring school books home nor did they have homework. And parents were not allowed in the classroom–ever.

The middle school kids were exposed to survival games–where they were taught to make life and death decisions based on a person’s worth to society. This teaching became known as Situation Ethics, i.e. The situation you’re in determines the ethics you use.

The question remains: Is God’s Word truth? Is there absolute truth? Satan asked Eve in the garden, Did God really say that? And the blurring continues as it has since that day.

Fast forward to 2011. Is it any wonder we find ourselves dealing with high school shootings, drug gangs in schools, teen pregnancies, abortions, alarming STD rates, wrecked homes and an overcrowded prison system? And that just scratches the surface of the muck. We have raised a generation of adults who were taught in public schools “if it feels good–do it”. How can we expect them to have a moral or spiritual compass?

This brain-washed generation is raising children of their own with few, if any, boundaries. This begs the question: Where do we go from here? As parents and grandparents, what is our responsibility before God, to our children, and to this failing society?

In the coming blogs let’s discuss some of the boundaries God set in place. Let’s talk about why He constructed the fence and why His rebellious kids catapult over those restraints and find themselves in a place they thought would bring freedom and joy only to find destruction.

Jumping the fence has brought tragedy to many young lives, crumbling families, and the decline of a morally and spiritually sound society.

Were you a student in the classroom during this deceptive teaching or do you know people who were? What effect did it have? I invite you to join the conversation.

NEXT: How does this violate one of God’s boundaries?

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