While on the subject of Winston Churchill and England, today’s Pursuit of Happiness video on YouTube is a no brainer. I have watched this scene countless times, and it never ceases to stir my heart. Whenever I need a little extra inspiration to push through, I watch this clip.
Ragged, weary, and worn, Henry V and his men are outnumbered 5 to 1 by the French at Agincourt. In what I consider some of Shakespeare’s best writing, young King Harry stirs his “band of brothers” to prepare for battle.
When Jeremiah had finished his sermon, saying everything God had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and people all grabbed him, yelling, “Death! You’re going to die for this! How dare you preach—and using God’s name!—saying that this Temple will become a heap of rubble like Shiloh and this city be wiped out without a soul left in it!”
All the people mobbed Jeremiah right in the Temple itself. Jeremiah 26:8-9 (MSG)
In the early 1930’s, a young member of Britain’s Parliment began boldly warning that Germany and it’s upstart leader, Adolph Hitler, were arming for war. With the painful memories of World War I still fresh in their minds, no one in England wanted to hear the dire warnings. The prophetic member of Parliment was roundly criticized and shunned. Undaunted by the criticism, he was stalwart in raising the alarm and calling for England to prepare for war.
His name was Winston Churchill. And, much like Jeremiah, history now records how prescient his warnings were. Were it not for Churchill, the second World War may have had a very different outcome. I find it fascinating how one individual can be so critical in the course of world history.
We need prophets. Nationally, locally, individually, we need people who are willing to say the things no one else will say and bring to the conversation the things we don’t want to hear. We need people in our lives who will speak truth when there are so many other voices hell-bent on tickling our ears with the status quo.
When my daughters were young, I started each day by making works of edible art out of their toaster strudel.
The verdict of God-of-the-Angel-Armies on all this: “Because you have refused to listen to what I’ve said, I’m stepping in. Jeremiah 25:8 (MSG)
My experience: Whenever a person of authority has had to “step in” because those under his or her authority has not done what they are supposed to do, it’s not a good thing.
When mom or dad “step in” because their child refused to do what he was told. [not that I would know anything about that]
When a teacher “steps in” because the class willingly refused to follow directions.
When a coach “steps in” because the team did not follow his or her clear instructions.
When a boss “steps in” because the employee(s) refused to do what was expected.
It’s never a pretty picture when the authorities “step in.” All the more reason to take it seriously when it’s God who’s threatening to step in.
Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and 1uk3
God showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the Temple of God. Jeremiah 24:1 (MSG)
God is Creator. God is creative. God expresses Himself endlessly in what He’s created and what He continues to create.
We are made in the image of the Creator. We are children of the Creator. We are creative. We express ourselves in our words, thoughts, and our actions; Made in the image of the Creator, we express ourselves in what we create.
It is no wonder that word pictures and metaphors are such powerful tools of communication.
Take a message and say it plainly: The best and brightest are going into exile, and they will flourish. Those left are rotten, and will be thrown out as useless. The message is simple and straightforward enough. But, then you wrap it in a word picture: Look at the figs in those baskets. Make the connection. See the ripe, tasty, figs. Those are the exiles. See the rotten, moldy, maggoty figs. Those are the rulers left in Jerusalem. Now the message takes on new depth and power because we’ve wrapped it in new layers of understanding. In the figs we can visualize the contrast between ripe and rotten. The lesson now has texture. We can taste it. We can small the rotteness of the bad figs. In the word picture, the message gains communicative power.
The best communicators are those who understand the power of word pictures; They wield metaphor like master craftsmen. If you’re struggling to express yourself, the key is to find the right word picture for your message.
Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and mythotoIf you’re getting this in email, simply click here and watch this video. No one does sketch comedy better than Tim Conway. No one.
I don’t want to hear it anymore. Only the person I authorize speaks for me. Otherwise, my Message gets twisted, the Message of the living God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Jeremiah 23:36 (MSG)
Many years ago I knew of a church who was in between pastors. The son of a church member had been educated and ordained in this particular church’s denomination. He had no job at the time and was living at home. So, the denomination and the church board tagged him to help fill the pulpit. The man was a nice person and extremely intelligent. But, he was not a gifted communicator. He had all the head knowledge and denominational credentials, but the words died on his lips each Sunday morning as the congregation struggled to figure out what he was trying to say.
In this particular congregation was another man. He lacked the denominational credentials and had not attended the denomination’s seminary. But, everyone in the church agreed that he was gifted in communicating God’s Message. When he spoke, God’s Message was alive and active. The Holy Spirit moved in the congregation. And yet, this man was eventually banned from the pulpit because he lacked the approval of the denominational authorities.
I am all for doing things decently and in order. I believe in education. Many times, however, I’ve watched as human organizations confuse their authority with God’s. I’ve observed how easy it is for us confuse man’s approval with God’s. Those who are gifted by God will be used by God. On the contrary, no amount of education or denominational credentials can manufacture God’s spiritual gifts.
