WEDNESDAY'S WORD - LOYALTY - 10/30/19 - Sadell Bradley

 

   

"What is a disloyal act? A person is disloyal if he treats you as a stranger when, in fact, he belongs to you as a friend or partner. Each of us is bound to some special others by the invisible fibers of loyalty."  -Lewis B. Smedes 

 

My day job is working at a business incubator called MORTAR in Cincinnati. One of the things we teach is that it's easier and often cheaper to retain customers once you offer a quality service or product than it is to obtain new ones. We try to help them find ways to arrive at customer LOYALTY - a strong feeling, or giving of firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution. Loyalty makes you get the same brand of toothpaste over and over again. You might be loyal to a particular make and model of car, a fraternity or sorority, or an educational or religious institution. The word derives from the Latin legalis, or legal. A loyal person holds a very strong bond.

 

Loyalty is a relational matter. David, the shepherd-warrior, had a loyal friend in his predecessor king Saul's son Jonathan. In 1 Sam 18-21, we see Saul's growing fear of David's impending rule and Jonathan's steadfast loyalty, not to his own father, but to his friend. His allegiance is so deep that he is willing to forego his own birthright and inheritance as the next king. When Saul seeks to kill David, Jonathan runs interference, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"  (1Sam 19:4-5) Despite his son's loyalty to his friend, Saul determines to kill David. David is aware of this plot. Jonathan makes an oath to David in 1 Sam 20:12-17 that he will tell him if his father attempts to carry out his murderous desires. The Bible says they affirmed an oath of love because Jonathan loved David, 'as he loved himself.' (vs. 17)  

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Every leader, every spouse, every person for that matter...wants to have that kind of relationship: someone on whom they can rely no matter what. Sadly, loyalty, deep bonds, and alliances are hard to come by these days. This section of the quote above hits hard, "A person is disloyal if he/she treats you as a stranger when in fact, he/she belongs to you as a friend or partner."  We wish sometimes that others were as loyal to us as we are to them. It's painful to find that's not the case; but love is still loyal, and loyalty is love. 

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - IRRATIONAL - 10/23/19 Sadell Bradley

   

"Rational anxiety is when you're aware of the source of your anxiety. Like, if I have to host an award show or talk to millions of people on the radio, I'm going to feel anxious, and I know why. Irrational anxiety is when I'm leaving CVS, and there's a car behind me, and I'm wondering if he's following me home."  -Charlamagne Tha god - American Radio Personality  

 

Last year, Sherman and I visited Oakland, CA to see the Warriors play the Lakers. We didn't know how close San Francisco is to Oakland. When we found out, we took an excursion over the

	Nob Hill

Bay Bridge. I'm not a fan of bridges or heights, though I fly all the time. And... we kept getting lost on and off the exit to the bridge and had to go over it multiple times. I thought, "The LORD is proving me to rid me of my fear."  If you've been to San Francisco, you know there are steep and winding hills; the most notable of which is Nob Hill on which their infamous Trolleys ascend and descend. I was too chicken to go up and down the hills in the car. Thank the LORD it wasn't necessary for us to get around. So when I had to go back to San Francisco for work, my first question was, "Is my hotel gonna be on one of those hills?" My host said, "Those hills are supposed to be inspiring!" Inspiring, or terrifying?

 

Many would say my fear was not IRRATIONAL- meaning not logical or reasonable. I mean, look at that hill! But the anxiety I felt prior to getting on the plane was palpable as I braced myself for the worst...that never happened. My hotel was not even on a hill. My fear, however, had ascended to disturbing heights - to the point that I dreaded the trip. Huffington Post said that 85% of what we fear never happens, yet irrational fears stall our dreams, hinder our relationships, and postpone our callings. How many times have you not made a move because of fear? Jesus said that one of the signs of His return would be, "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken." (Luke 21:26) It makes me wonder how many health conditions are a result of the underlying fear of the present or the future.    

 

"I sought the LORD and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:4) Sometimes the only way to challenge an irrational fear is to face it head-on. So as soon as I got to my hotel, I headed straight to Nob Hill and got on the trolley. I'm not a great photo taker but here's a photo. None of it was nearly as traumatic as my fears had been, in fact, it was rather calming. The sight (not faith) and fear of heights I was walking in did not serve me well. Metaphorically, I've often felt similar anxieties about certain aspects of ascending to heights in my life and calling. It's time to face those head-on too.

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - DAILY - 10/16/19 - Sadell Bradley

"Truth is, I think, if God just gave us our daily bread, many of us would be angry. 'That's all You're going to give me? You're just going to give me enough to sustain me for today? What about tomorrow or next year or 10, 20, 30 years from now? I want to know that I'm set up.' And yet Jesus says just pray for your daily provisions."  -Francis Chan  

 

Yesterday at a local church, I glanced at their welcome table and saw a very familiar sight. Some of you might be familiar 

with the "Our Daily Bread" devotionals. They have been published and distributed monthly for over 75 years. The ministry was started in Grand Rapids, MI by Dr. M.R. DeHaan to connect people (now millions) every day with God and the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. My mother was a faithful distributor of these booklets. She sent them to family and friends and she was serious about that mission. Honestly, just seeing those little books brought comfort and fond memories of my mom, who literally got on her knees by her bed and prayed DAILY - which means done, produced, or occurring every day. 

 

Many of us have prayed, recited or even sung 'The Lord's Prayer.' With this simple instruction in Matthew 6, Jesus taught His disciples: to pray in secret so that God could reward them openly (vs. 4); to pray privately, not to be seen by people, but to go into their secret closets to petition the Father, who openly dispenses rewards (vs. 5-6); and not to babble on with vain repetitions like heathens who think that many words will get them to the Father's heart because...God knows what you need before you ask Him (vs.8) Then Jesus showed them the model prayer with which we're all familiar:  

     

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matt. 6:9-13) 

Now we have jobs, budgets, savings plans, pensions, investments, a 401k retirement...why do we need to pray for God to give us daily bread? Francis Chan exposes our craving for control and challenges our need for long term security. Are we trusting in God or in our assets and ingenuity? These practices, though certainly not all bad, can lead to a less faith-filled, prayerful, and God-dependent life. In fact, some of us are doing all that we can to avoid placing ourselves in any position that requires total reliance on the LORD for what we daily need.  

 

God told the Children of Israel through Moses that He'd led them through the wilderness to humble and test them, to know what was in their hearts - whether or not they would keep His commands. (Deut. 8:1-3) He humbled them with hunger and then satisfied it with just a DAILY provision of a food He created called 'manna' (meaning 'what is it?'). He did this to rid them of their pride and self-reliance - so they could understand that they did not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.   

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - CONTROVERSY - 10/09/2019

    

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy."  -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Certain events each year bring us to intense debate.  None have been more sensational than the sentencing of police officer Amber Guyer in the shooting death of Botham Jean, a 28-year old accountant. His brother Brandt's request to hug the 

	Botham Jean & Amber Guyer

convicted officer was a display of mercy and forgiveness in his closing statement at the jury trial. The Hon.Tammy Kemp, the African-American judge, hugged Guyer and gave her a bible. Joshua Brown, the main witness, was shot and killed almost immediately after the sentencing. All of this has sparked great public CONTROVERSY - disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated. On social media and in-person forums, people are wrangling over their thoughts and feelings.

 

An African-American community weary of unwarranted police brutality and corruption, marched through the streets of Dallas, TX after the September, 2018 shooting of Botham Jean, an innocent man shot in his home. I'm still not really sure why. Our community is all too accustomed to trials of officers not returning convictions. This case was different in that the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Normally, that would have rendered a "FINALLY" sigh from us...until we heard the words of young Brandt Jean, stating that he "didn't even want her to go to jail," but "wanted God's best for her, which would be to accept Christ into her life." These  statements started a maelstrom of controversy with Christians about forgiveness, justice, and mercy. How could he forgive her? Why did he have to hug her? How could the judge hug her? How could Brandt state he didn't want her to go to jail? Some pastors were furious, even though the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about forgiving even the most undeserving, which makes Brandt Jean's words and actions truly remarkable. If we could not imagine ourselves being that full of Christ's Spirit, we'd still have to believe that it was right...AND...Jean's mother, Allison's calls for justice and the end of corruption are also right. These are complexities Christ-followers must master.

    

"In a controversy the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves." It seems to offten we cease to promote the cause of Christ and the supernatural cross-life He calls us to lead (Matt. 16:24), and we begin to struggle and fight to hold on to our carnality. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy his protege about entering into these types of arguments. 

23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26, ESV)

  upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hand       

Praying we will do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. (Mic. 6:8)

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - SCAFFOLDING - 10/2/2019 - Sadell Bradley

   

"A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections at a time."  -Annie Dillard  - American Author 

 

SCAFFOLDING is a temporary structure inside or outside of a building, made usually of wooden planks or metal poles used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings. Scaffolds are used to get access to heights that would otherwise be hard to get to. Scaffolding is also employed in adapted forms for grandstand seating, concert stages, access/viewing towers, exhibition stands, ski ramps, half pipes and art projects. If you've ever roamed the streets of a big City, you've probably walked under scaffolding. In 2 Chronicles 6:12-13, after King Solomon erected a temple for the LORD, he blessed and dedicated it and offered up a prayer from a platform of scaffolding he'd erected:   

 

And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven... (KJV)

 

The sight of scaffolding in construction is exciting because it denotes progress, creativity, and new beginnings. You may have heard that our congregation will be moving before the end of the year into a location at the former Nast Trinity Church on 1310 Race Street in the Over the Rhine, right across from Washington Park. The church's name will change to "The Warehouse," describing God's transformation of the raw material of our lives into His individual masterpieces. (Eph. 2:10, NLT) The structure, built in the 1800's, is being renovated with paint, wood restoration, carpet, audio and visual components. The process is fascinating, especially since to restore it, some things had to be torn down. To the left, painters are using scaffolding to gain access to the ceilings. The scaffolding will not be a part the finished work, but is necessary for the process.     

 

I love the metaphoric use of a schedule as scaffolding for life and work. Whether you use a to-do list, planner, or an app to bring structure to your days; that framework supports your visions and dreams. Once your vision has been accomplished, the scaffolding is removed because it is no longer necessary. It has served it's purpose and has now been replaced by the permanent structure. Dating and engagement are a type scaffolding for marriage. Charts and Sheet Music are scaffolding until musicians and singers master the song. Temporary jobs can provide scaffolding for permanent opportunities, and certain seasons in our lives that we've attempted to hold on to were really just scaffolding for a more enduring legacy.