Just A Thought

Thompson CT is famous! Approximately one half mile west of the granite tri-state marker of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, a few stones and rotting boards mark the former location of a train station where a rare historical event took place. Chuck Straub describes the event (including pictures and directions to the exact location of this event) on his web site . Here are a few key paragraphs from his account:

“During the early, foggy morning hours of December 4th 1891 four trains would meet in East Thompson, Connecticut with disastrous consequences. No one could have known earlier that morning that they were all destined to go down in history in what would later be known as The Great East Thompson Train Wreck. This spectacular crash of four trains, is the only train wreck of its' kind in the history of railroading in the United States.”
“It all happened in what is now known as the "quiet corner" of eastern Connecticut…. Within a matter of minutes, two trains collided head on, a third train smashed into the debris of that wreck and then a fourth train slammed into all of that debris. The amazing thing about all this wreckage is that only 2 train men were killed and 1 passenger was never found but believed killed in the burnt out wreckage. About 500 feet of burnt out, twisted wreckage and debris covered the tracks.”

This amazing story exemplifies the kind of convergence that is to be avoided. We plan for train wrecks to be rare. There is, however, another very unusual kind of convergence that should be pursued: the convergence of spirit, truth, and true worshippers. Jesus describes this convergence as a recipe for successful worship: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 KJV)

Powerful and constructive things happen when people worship God in spirit and in truth. It is rare that the will of man and the will of God converge in this balanced manner. It is rare that man is able to be spiritually sensitive and also intellectually accurate. Many of us have known people who felt close to God and spent time in prayer, but may have taken some notions to an extreme. Others of us can recall people who have been so academic and scientific in their approach to God that they had reduced him to a formula. What if we could achieve both?

Jesus instructs us to pursue worship that is both passionate and informed; worship that engages the heart and the head. It is the kind of worship that is practical and spiritual. Since man is a complex being comprised of body, soul (mind, will & emotions) and spirit, and since the supernatural world is so vast and mysterious, one must work diligently to sort through traditions, prejudice, conventional wisdom, subjective experiences, feelings, etc. in order to find a powerful personal or corporate worship experience. As one might expect, prayer is the key to achieving this rare convergence.

• Prayer is emotional and passionate.
• Prayer taps into the supernatural world.
• Prayer provides a venue for the total surrender of one’s mind, will and emotions.
• Prayer provokes physical expressions of love and obedience.
• Prayer, coupled with Bible reading, helps one discover truth.

The end result of worship in spirit and truth is powerful and will often evoke passions and actions not unlike those of sports fans who clap, shout and wave their hands in adoration. The first two chapters of The Book of Acts describes this very kind of worship. It started with a ten day prayer meeting. When a divine convergence of spirit, truth and worshippers was achieved, the crowd was overwhelmed with God’s power. Within hours, the whole town noticed. The entire world has since been rocked by that historic event.

Are you interested in a powerful worship experience? I wonder what would happen if more people in places like the “quiet corner” would let passionate, biblical worship overwhelm their prayer times and worship services. Do you suppose some place in Southern New England could again make history – this time with a rare, dynamic, positive, spiritual convergence of spirit and truth?

Once again, here’s the recipe: "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." (John 4 23-24 MSG)

Cheating, although as old as mankind, has a way of outwitting us. It always starts with the lie that we can break God’s eternal laws and win. Somehow we think that if we jump off a cliff and flap our arms we will fly, in spite of the many others we have watched fail at such attempts.

Most of us eventually figure out that the person who cheats on a test is really cheating the learning process; they are cheating themselves. In fact, at some level we are so convinced that cheating is wrong that we make laws to insure that doctors don’t cheat on surgeries, contractors don’t cheat on bridge building, policeman don’t cheat by taking bribes, and employers don’t cheat by stealing pension funds. It seems that we all want the other guy to obey the Ten Commandments, but have “good” reasons why we should be allowed cheat. This line of reasoning has successfully destroyed many lives and civilizations since the beginning of time.

Allow me to enumerate some popular ways people have cheated throughout the ages:

We cheat on our health by using drugs, alcohol, and food improperly. The negative results are to numerous to mention. Suffice it to say that these practices kill more people every year that do wars and acts of terrorism.
We cheat on our reputation by compromising deals, telling while lies, doing less than our best at work, etc. This undermines a sense of personal integrity and self-worth. If cheating can steal our identity, it robs us of any possibility for true peace and happiness?
We cheat those we love by running from responsibilities, engaging in immoral behavior, and pursuing selfish interests. For example, the person who cheats on their marriage forfeits trust, respect, peace of mind, true love, honest intimacy, and many other valuable blessing accompany fidelity. Perhaps we have seen too many movies where such activity seems to pan out; in the movies two beautiful people often cheat their way to happiness. But movies are made up. Movies don’t show the elderly man or woman sitting alone in a bar wondering why no one is there for them because years of selfishness have cheated them of a loving family and friends.

Cheating techniques, like clothing styles, have a way of resurfacing in society as “new” and creative, when, as King Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.” There is nothing new about incest, violent sexual practices, multiple partners, drive by shootings, drunkenness, or extortion. They are the same tricks played on new victims who think they can cheat and get away with it. But cheating ruins marriages, families, companies, communities and nations. Cheating does not start working to your advantage just because more people are doing it. History testifies that cheating has a way of becoming an epidemic that ravages entire people groups.

The good news is that cheating can be cured. In the same way that clean drinking water and basic health codes protect millions of citizens, a few simple practices could drastically reduce the number of cheating incidents in our world. Here are some simple antidotes to cheating:

1. Get honest with your Counselor. God set up system of FREE daily counseling and accountability; it is called prayer. Prayer is a time when we can talk right to God about our thoughts and feelings. Bounce your plans off Him and you’ll be more likely to make responsible choices that don’t cheat you and your loved ones.
2. Operate by “The Manual.” There is currently a deadly stunt that is becoming popular called “Ghost Riding.” The practice includes starting a vehicle down the road and then climbing outside the vehicle – even letting go of the steering wheel. It has been fatal. I’m sure it violates the operating instructions included in the owners’ manual. The Bible is not a list of unreasonable rules, it is a manual filled with time-proven principles that work.
3. Take advantage of grace. God built in solutions for those caught cheating. Although cheating always has repercussions, it can be forgiven and people can change the way they operate. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” (1 John 1:9)
4. Associate with others who have chosen to live honest lives. There are many great prayer groups, Bible study groups and churches that are committed to helping people live complete, healthy, disciplined lives. Worship, fellowship, and accountability will often save someone from cheating on themselves and their families.

Doing the right thing may seem more difficult, but cheating has consistently proven more deadly. You really don’t want to cheat on your life. If you’ll seek Him out God will give you the courage you need to overcome a cheatin’ heart.

Bright lights glared down on my small frame. Men with needles stood poised to do their deeds. This was my first such experience and I was rather afraid. My head throbbed and blood trickled down the side of my forehead and congealed in my crew cut. All this because, earlier that day, as a daring pre-schooler, I had attempted to ride a tricycle down my grandparents’ cellar steps. My forehead now required stitches.

Though this event transpired many years ago, I still remember it vividly; my first trip to the hospital. It was both scary and comforting. It was a new experience, but everyone seemed to be kind and on my side. I don’t recall any snickers. Furthermore, I doubt that anyone was surprised that a small boy with a gash in his forehead would be in a hospital. The hospital is not where “well people” congregate. It is a place of passion and intensity where people are ministered to and given aid, so they can heal.

Churches should be like hospitals. They should be clean, efficient and healthy, but they should also be ready to admit hurting, sick and injured souls. People should know that there are places they can go when life beats them up. They should be assured that it is not hypocritical to go to church when you are experiencing trouble or when you realize you have not been living by God’s principles. If you are weary, sick or in trouble, church is just the place for you. Church is not just for the well, it is for the sick.

Jesus cleared this issue up during his time on earth. The self-righteous religious leaders of his day despised those with moral and social “issues.” Their primary goal, as “believers,” was to look holy and avoid those whose lives were “messed up.” But, Jesus had quite another approach. He was not interested in fellowshipping with those who were well or who considered themselves whole. He wanted to spend time with folks who needed his company. Matthew captured Jesus’ philosophy in this story:

Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9:10-13 New Living Translation)

Personally, I often need a place to heal... a place to repent… a place to cry… a place to get my head straight. The services I attend are passionate and therapeutic. Sometimes church services can look more like an emergency room than a social event. I am so thankful for the many people who have lovingly helped me with my hurts throughout the years. I am glad there are Christians who maintain high living standards, yet they willingly minister to others who are finding it difficult to live a spiritually healthy life.
Our world is full of hurting people. Does your faith lead you to condemn, or does it lead you to administer first aid. If your approach is anything like Jesus’ approach, you will hold fast to your faith and extend mercy. Do what doctors do: take care or your own health, take health precautions, and then tend the sick. Make your home and your church a spiritual hospital; a healing station.

If you are currently hurting and in great spiritual need, visit your nearest spiritual healing station; find a church that thinks like Jesus thought. If it is a good spiritual hospital, you will find kind people who are on your side. No one will snicker – we all need a doctor from time to time.