Chuck Locklear
fascinating characters, impactful books and messages
We Are Not Equal
Equal or not, the United States is not ready for a female President.
I’m hoping this statement causes someone to respond arguing that the opposite is true. However, my intent is not to make a political statement. I am merely expressing an opinion based on our history. We are a patriarchal society, meaning male dominated.
Neither Male or Female
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian Christians “. . . there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” This was a bold statement as those in Paul’s audience were members of a patriarchal culture. It is still a bold statement 2,000 years later.
It is true that most cultures today are patriarchal. However, it has not always been that way in North America. Several Native American tribes had matrilineal structures. The mighty Iroquois nation was a notable example, in which the women owned the land and managed the crops. Iroquois men moved into a longhouse with the wife’s family and their children became members of her clan.While Iroquois chiefs were men, women nominated them for these roles and held them accountable for fulfilling their responsibilities.
Equal Rights
In my family, I enjoy some privilege due to my role as the patriarch. Even though Lizzy and I have tried to equally distribute the leadership responsibilities in the family, she is stronger in some areas. She took time away from her career to nurture our children, which means my job has always held a certain necessity in our house. Actually, there were many days when our children were young that I knew it would be easier staying at work than going home to whining, needy little people. Even so, I am happy that I was able to share a major amount of the responsibility.
It is true that gender roles are important to providing stability in society. However, the American declaration of Independence states that “All men are created equal. . .” and this is an offense to some that argue women in the United States still do not have equal status to men. Women did not even gain the right to vote until 1920, and an equal rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution failed to gain the required 2/3rds approval of state legislatures to pass into law in 1977.
A Difficult Passage
“Wives, be submissive to your husbands. . .” (1 Peter 3:1-2,7). This passage in the Bible is difficult for people to understand. It is true that most Americans believe in the liberation of women and the equality of the sexes, to one degree or another. This makes Peter’s words controversial. It is also true that some religious leaders distort these words to discriminate against and abuse women. This creates enough of a problem that some women have left the church and made those that remain uneasy by the misinterpretation of Peter’s instructions.
For some, it is tempting to try to ignore these biblical passages, saying, “That was written a long time ago and it doesn’t apply to us today.” For me, discounting any scripture is a danger, as it is important to apply all the scriptures to our lives today. If we begin to eliminate passages we consider outdated, we may find ourselves choosing just those parts that happen to suit our own agendas. The Bible is profitable for correction and instruction in righteousness, thus bringing all believers closer to a person that is pleasing to God.
On the other hand, while it is true that all scripture was inspired by God, the Bible was written by fallible humans, who brought their own knowledge and the beliefs of their times to the work. For example, the science and astronomy of the Bible are inaccurate by today’s standards. We all know that the earth does not have four corners (Carter). In the New Testament, the believers were taught that slavery was a legitimate social institution. So, it is appropriate to consider the context of the times when interpreting the meaning of the Bible.
Challenging the Norms
During the first century, when Jesus and the Apostles lived, women were forbidden to play any leadership role. A single woman was the property of her father and a married woman the property of her husband. Women did not speak for themselves in public, including in places of worship. Women were required to walk several paces behind the men in their lives. Yet, Jesus challenged the prevailing norms regarding women. Many of his most faithful and prominent followers were women. Women were the first to proclaim the good news after Jesus had risen from the dead.
Even the viewpoint of the Apostle Paul, who said that women should not speak in religious services, was likely shocking to the people of the first century. In Romans, Paul lists 27 people who played a prominent role in the early church, of these 10 were women (Romans 16). Phoebe was a deacon. Junia was “outstanding among the apostles,” and Priscilla was a pastor, prominent for correcting the beliefs of Apollos, an early evangelist.
Shared Ministry Roles
I am blessed to share the ministry responsibilities at our church with my sister. I am the administrator and the teaching pastor, but she is the nurturing shepherd. She takes care of the needs of the flock. When a member is sick, they call her. If someone needs a ride to the grocery store, she knows about it. If someone is being evicted from their home, she is rallying the church to come to the rescue. Just this past Sunday, she instructed a deacon to take one of the young men to the emergency room. I only found out about it after the church service.
Whether we get a woman President or not, it is clear that Jesus intended women to play a major role in his church. Like many Christian leaders today, I believe that there are no positions within the body of Christ that should be withheld from women. We should accept the social order of the time and place in which God has placed us, while questioning and, even, challenging societal norms that violate the equal love and grace extended to all men. . . and women.
Copyright © 2019 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Jesus Was a Radical.
Carter, Jimmy. Sources of Strength. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1997. Print.
Like King David
Leadership qualities are just as important today as they were in 1,000 B.C. Melek is the name of a Hebrew for king. Being melek was a big deal. Most of the nations around them had one and Israel wanted one. Saul was referred to as king, but he was not the king. He was the nagid. He was appointed as a military leader. Nagid is Hebrew for overseer. If you watched Lord of the Rings, he was the steward. For king, God wanted someone like David.
Character Development Plan
To be a melek took character. Saul was acting as the king, but he did not have the characteristics that God wanted. So, God impeached Saul and told Samuel to go to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse. There he would anoint the king of Israel. One of Jesse’s eight sons had the characteristics that God wanted in the king. Our job today is to sign up for God’s character development plan. Perhaps, God wants to develop some special characteristics in you.
At Jesse’s house, Samuel met seven sons of Jesse (1 Samuel 16:1-13). By human standards, each of these brothers had royal qualities. But God told Samuel “No” to all seven. I’m sure Samuel was beginning to wonder, “Am I at the right house?” Then, Jesse called for his youngest son; who was a shepherd, tending the sheep. Jesse had not called on David earlier. He had disqualified David in his own mind, maybe because he didn’t have the natural qualities of a king or maybe because he simply wasn’t ready. Time is not an issue for God. There would be time to groom David.
What Made David Special?
Is there a time in your life when God did something that surprised you? It seems that God often chooses the least likely person or pathway to accomplish his mission. Sometimes he turns down charisma, good looks, and physical stature. With the things of God, the least likely people often make a huge impact. When God looks at us, he sees beyond what the world sees.
This brings us to the most important question. What was it about David that made him God’s choice? I think it comes down to this; when you spend a lot of time watching sheep, you get time to talk to God a lot. In David’s case, we know that he learned to rely on God to protect him and the sheep from the lion and the bear. David’s experiences taught him that he had to depend on God. Perhaps, you are experiencing trying times in your own life. I’m convinced that God allows difficulties in our lives to teach us to rely on him. When selecting a king, God wanted a God-focused person, someone who would rely on him.
There was a second important characteristics that we see in David; God wanted faithfulness. When the other brothers were at the house, David had to be called from the pasture, because he was faithfully doing his job. Faithfulness is doing reliably that which God has given you to do.
Terrible Jobs
I had many terrible jobs in my life. When I met my wife, Liz, I was a shoe salesperson, which meant that I had to work with a lot of stinky feet, all day long. Sorry ladies, but I hated trying to squeeze a size 9 foot into a size 7 shoe. Next, I took a job at a gas station pumping gas. Yes, in the olden days, you would pull your car up to the pump and someone from the station would run out and pump the gas for you. . . rain or shine; hot or freezing weather. I worked for several gas stations. Then, my dad got me a job in a car factory. . . hard work.
I had good bosses, bad bosses, and drunken bosses. One time while working at a gas station, my boss was an alcoholic. His wife would come up to the station and take care of things when he was drunk. She would balance the books, clean up, and lock the doors, often while he slept it off with his head resting on his desk. One night, I left the station with him in that position. Apparently, she decided not to come that night. I came back the next morning and his truck was running parked next to the building and he was still at his desk sound asleep.
The point is. . . be faithful over something. Good job or bad job, be faithful. Little or large, be faithful, big paycheck or small paycheck. Whatever we do, if we do it as unto the Lord, he will bless us. It is easy to get discouraged and see obstacles as impossible to overcome. Had David let his mind wander away from God as he was tending the sheep, he might not have been prepared for the role God planned for him. David chose instead to be faithful while being a shepherd, which prepared him for the role of king. Faithfulness is a main theme throughout the bible.
Faithfulness On Display
Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!
Matthew 25:21
Faithfulness shows up with Daniel. “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6:3, KJV). In the young man Daniel, the king noticed a mindset or belief system that was “excellent.” Daniel determined ahead of time that he was going to be faithful regardless of the circumstances. Daniel was committed to living a life pleasing to God.
Moral Compass
This is easy to say, but difficult to do. Just after my son entered adulthood, we had an amazing conversation. He was telling me about plans he had made for what he believed would be a fun weekend. Of course, as the worried father, I reminded him of the potential dangers in his plans. He responded by telling me not to worry. “Mom is my moral compass. I always hear mom’s words in my head reminding me to do the right thing.” How reassuring that was for me. Obviously, as parents we had done something right. I only wish that it could have been my voice.
To what degree do you share the leadership characteristics of King David? Are you and David basically twins? Does David have some things going for him but you are close? Or, is David way out ahead? Let’s pray and seek to develop in our lives the qualities that made David the right choice for king: God-focused and faithfulness.
© 2019 Chuck Locklear All rights reserved
Also, see Finding Wisdom & Brain Development.
Messiah or Anti-Christ
“Be not deceived. . . for as lightning cometh out of the east. . .” (Matthew 24:24-27). When the Messiah, Jesus, comes back to earth, we will know. We won’t have to read about it on Facebook.
The Real Question
The real question is, “Does Jesus care about who leads our country?” When asked if he was the king, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). In another place, Jesus was asked a question on the issues of governmental authority. He answered, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (Mark 12:17). This was not just a clever statement to keep him out of trouble. It was an important principle that he was establishing. Jesus was not interested in supporting or challenging the authority of the government.
So, if Jesus doesn’t care about our Government, why is this important to us. Because he wasn’t neutral, Jesus sided with the poor, sick, and immigrant. We should desire to be like Jesus. Jesus didn’t live in a democracy. He didn’t have the responsibility of choosing the governmental leaders. . . but we do. Our understanding of politics will determine our choices. Our choices will impact our witness and our ability to influence our world.
Left or Right?
So, here is a civics lesson you should have gotten in high school. The American politics can be placed on a spectrum. You can answer almost any political question by knowing where a person falls on this spectrum. However, to find the center, we must learn about a Scottish economist named Adam Smith. Adam Smith wrote a book entitled The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776, in which he defined capitalism. His theories were central to the foundation of Western Democracies, including the United States.
Adam Smith’s most noteworthy concept was that of the “invisible hand,” which would cause markets to do whatever is necessary to allow individuals with capital, for example owning a factory, to make as much wealth as possible and, thus, do what is in the best interest of the nation. The theory of supply and demand is based on this concept. With the Great Depression, however, we learned an important lesson. Those with capital, capitalist, would definitely act in ways to allow them to produce as much wealth as possible, but they would not always act in the best interest of the nation, particularly if the interest of the nation was to help those without capital (i.e. workers). Therefore, the government has an important role in regulating the economy.
This question defines where you fall on the political spectrum: “What is the Government’s role in regulating the economy?” If you believe the government has a role. . . then, you are on the left. The government should enact policies to make life better for workers (i.e. those without capital). If you believe the government has no role, then you are on the right. The government should protect the “status quo,” meaning “things are good like they are” and protect those with wealth.
Hot Button Issues
Can you really predict a leader decisions based on where they fall on this spectrum? Well, it does get fairly complicated, but you can come very close. Let’s explore some hot button issues to see if we can provide answers based on Adam Smith’s “invisible hand.”
- Abortion — First, we must understand that no one is arguing for more abortions. Left: It is a fairness question. The government must ensure that poor women have the same access as wealthy women. Right: Things were good like they were; we need to “uphold the social order.”
- Big government – Left: The government has a role in regulating the economy, business, and industry though taxing and spending policies. Right: Let’s give big tax cuts to the wealthy. They’ll do what is right.
- War – Left: Protecting the interest of American capitalist is not worth the lives of young Americans. Right: We must protect American interests (capital) and free markets.
- Welfare – Left: We need to help those who cannot help themselves. Right: We need to help those who help themselves.
- Equal pay for women – Left: The government is the only institution strong enough to interfere with the market and ensure equity for women. Right: The market will take care of itself; stay out of it.
- Worker’s rights – Left: “One for all and all for one.” Right: “Survival of the fittest.”
Back to the question of “Why does any of this matter?” It is true that politics is not the end and purpose of being Christian. However, our politics influences our witness for Jesus. We must protect our witness. What will an unbelieving world say if we brush off immoral words and behavior in the cause of political expediency. If we are not careful, will anyone take anything we say about justice and righteousness seriously? Can we say with a straight face that the character and actions of our nation’s leaders don’t really matter?
Mission of the Messiah
This reminds me of what Jesus, the Messiah, said was important. When he was in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus announced his mission. . . his purpose for coming to earth and, by extension, our mission. . . our purpose, as Christians. Jesus was setting for us what should be our priority. Jesus said,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19
As Christians, this mission should be reflected in everything we do. I believe we should keep these words in mind when we elect leaders and when we proclaim our support, or lack thereof, for policies and actions of our government. The question is, “How will the world judge our actions in light of Messiah’s mission?”
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Will We See the Rapture?
The Journey Continues
Happy Anniversary! I am thankful for those who were at the beginning, but also for those who joined somewhere along the journey.
Inspirational Hope is more than my blog. (Although, I hope you find inspiration in my writing.) It is a marketplace for pastors, teachers, and church leaders. Our goal is to provide sermons, bible studies, videos, and other resources, created for pastors. Share your sermons and bible studies and earn extra income, while expanding the Kingdom of God. Inspirational Hope is about and reducing the workload of others.
Check out our sermons and PowerPoints at our Share Library. By exploring the Inspiring Hope library, you find out more about us. Check out sermons by Chuck Locklear, Bill Farina, or Dave Milam. Our pastors represent a diverse background . . . small to large churches and various denominations. However, we all share the mission of preaching the Gospel.
You can also connect with us on FaceBook at Chuck & Lizzy. We would love to hear your feedback. Are our prices to high? Is there a subject that we are missing? Do you have a sermon and you are not sure of your next steps? I encourage you to reach out and let us know what you are thinking.
You know your congregation. So, use the search feature at the bottom of the page to find sermons and PowerPoints on topics that you are planning to speak on. If you don’t see a topic covered, consider sharing one of your own sermons.
Thanks for joining me on this journey!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Also, see About Inspirational Hope.
Yeah But. . . Never Give Up
There are a lot of teachings regarding the subject of faith, but none more powerful than that of the three Hebrew children: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Like many of us, they found themselves in the middle…in the middle of a problem, people, predicaments, or a big mess. Yes, our God is the God of new beginnings and great endings, but, lucky for us, he is also God in the middle. Despite the “Yeah but” going off in your head, never give up.
These three servants of God were faced with a choice when King Nebuchadnezzar made a prideful decision and decree:
The Fourth Man
“At the time you hear the sound of the music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image the king has set up. Whoever falls not down shall be cast into the middle of a burning fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego said to the king; “If it be so, our God is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace, and he will deliver us; but if not, we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up” (Daniel 3:4-6). Then, the king full of fury commanded that the furnace be made seven times hotter, and that they be bound and cast into the middle of the fiery furnace. The furnace was so hot that the flames slew the men that cast them in. When the king looked, he said; “Did we not cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?
Before we jump to the end of the story, let us pause at verses 17 and 18 for a moment. Here the three Hebrew children made three powerful statements. First, they said, “If it be so, our God is able to deliver us.” How many agree with this statement that God is able? “Our God is able” is a declaration of faith. It demonstrates the confidence that we have in our God.
Yeah But
Their second statement is more difficult. “He will deliver us” demonstrates an assurance that we expect from a father who loves us, because we have experienced his deliverance in the past. How many would agree that he will deliver us? I can sense the hands going up, but I can also hear the “yeah buts” going off in your heads. We have all experienced examples when God did not deliver. The “yeah buts” are the reasons that the third statement of faith is the real clincher. “But if not…” our faith will not be shaken, regardless of the consequences, and the consequences were real.
It is easy for us to jump to the end of the story. We all know how it turns out, but it could have turned out differently. I wonder, if it had, would it have been written about in the Bible and told 3,000 years later? Maybe not, but it should, because this third statement of faith provides the perseverance that we need in our lives today. “But if not…” I will serve you anyway. I will praise you…anyway. I will speak of your goodness…anyway.
Jesus is the fourth man in the fire! We are not alone and our God is able! Never give up.
“I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24-25)
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Victorious Living.
Stuck?
As humans, we spend most of our lives “stuck in the middle,” in the middle of a problem, between a rock and a hard place, in the middle of a mess, or stuck between here or there.
Most often, we are not at the beginning of something or at the end of something, but we are in the middle of something! God is the God of new beginnings and great endings, but, lucky for us, he is also God in the middle.
When Samuel found himself in the middle, between Mizpah and Shen, he took a stone and built an altar.
“The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines… Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between (in the middle of) Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. So, the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel…”
(1 Samuel 7:11-13)
Mizpah and Shen were cities in Canaan. The name “Mizpah” means “lookout point.” The name “Shen” means “peak point.” I can picture myself standing on one point looking across the valley to the other. The context for the Israelites was that they were between the lookout point and the peak point. More specifically, they were between where the battle began and where the battle was won. In other words, the outcome had not yet been determined. Most likely, this is the place where we all find ourselves, between where we started out and where we want to be.
In this critical point, Samuel, the leader of the people, built an altar to acknowledge God’s help up until that time and to ask for God’s continued help to take them the rest of the way. Samuel called the name of the stone or altar he built between Mizpah and Shen “Ebenezer,” which means stone of help. Have you ever heard the phrase “Ebenezer stone” and wondered what it meant? Samuel explained what he meant, saying “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” In other words, “up to this point (looking back) the Lord has helped us.” But that is not all, “from this point (looking forward) the Lord will help us!”
If we build an altar and ask, the Lord will help us to get where we want to be. However, in order to receive what we ask, there are two important steps that we learn about from this Ebenezer stone.
First, the stone of help is an altar of thanks. Between Mizpah and Shen, Samuel was grateful that the Lord had helped the people this far despite the fierce battle. The first thing when it comes to building an altar is thanksgiving. The altar represents true worship that connects us to God and gets us from where we are to where we want to be. To build this altar, we have to start with thanksgiving.
“Enter (first thing) his gates with thanksgiving, come into his courts with praise; be thankful and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.”
(Psalm 100:4)
It is God’s will for us to give thanks. As every parent knows, one of the things most desired from our children is appreciation. When they are thankful, it only makes us want to do more for them. I think this is how God feels when we are thankful. So, when you find yourself in the middle…build an altar and say, “Lord, I thank you that you have helped me up until this point.”
Second, the stone of help is an altar of trust. In the middle, Samuel was hopeful that the Lord would continue to help the people all the way to victory! The greatest thing when it comes to building an altar is trust. If we are to experience true worship that connects us to God and gets us from where we are to where we want to be, trust is the key.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
This is the relationship that God wants with us: one of trust. He desires that we trust in his greatness. The importance of trust is illustrated to us in the marriage relationship. There is nothing more foundational to a sound marriage than trust.
When you find yourself In the middle…build an altar. Start by giving thanks; then, pray “Lord I trust you that you will continue to help me in the future.” Here is a way to remember. We are lucky God gave us two hands: left and right. Start by raising the left hand and say, “Up to this point, Lord, we thank you that you have helped us.” Next, raise the right hand and say, “From this point, Lord, we trust that you will continue to help us.”
When you find yourself stuck in the middle, create a memorial to the greatness of God! Do it as a reminder that God has answered and brought you through so much already. Do it as an acknowledgement of future victories, as you look forward to all the times you will be able to sing God’s praises because of his great love and faithfulness.
See sermon by William Farina, In the Middle… Build an Altar. Also, see Victorious Living.
Finding Wisdom & Brain Development
A recent encounter with a black bear in the Great Smoky Mountains taught me a lesson about wisdom. This experience launched me into a Bible study about wisdom and understanding. With my findings, I suggest that Proverbs be retitled the Book of Wisdom. It has more instruction on wisdom than any book in the Bible.
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”
Proverbs 3:13-14
It is interesting that Solomon uses the pronoun “she.” Lizzy suggests this is because “Women are smarter than men.” To some degree, this has been true in our relationship, especially as it relates to gaining wisdom and knowledge. When our children were young, Lizzy would try to teach me about “assimilation and accommodation.” She attributes this concept to Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist known for his work on child development. Lizzy studied Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and epistemology, which basically describes how knowledge develops in the brain. Child development was her first major in college. Like Piaget, Lizzy places great importance on the education of children.
Let me tell you how this worked in our family. Lizzy would propose, “We need to take our kids to Disney World.” I would argue that it is expensive and we can’t afford it. Then, I would make the mistake of adding, “. . . and they are so young. They won’t remember a thing. Let’s wait until they are older.” With this statement, I had lost the argument. Lizzy would launch into an explanation of how the brain works and how this experience would make our kids smarter. How could I say “No” to that. We borrowed the money from our retirement savings and took the kids to Disney World.
It is true that recent research about learning and how the brain works has supported the concept of “assimilation and accommodation.” The brain is looking for novel stimuli, which it processes and assimilates or files with prior knowledge that it has stored. Often, the brain needs to accommodate this new knowledge by adjusting the understanding previously held about how the world works.
Actually, researchers can see this happening in the brain. The brain is made up of billions of neurons, which are connected to one another by dendrites. Dendrites are electrolytic connectors. They trigger nerve impulses. This triggering is sometimes called firing, which can be seen using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging technology (fMRI). As novel stimuli is processed, more firing. No firing means the neurons are at rest, not active, and not growing. To grow the brain you need more dendrites, in other words, more firing. Lizzy was right! As parents, we need to provide more novel stimuli to light up our kids’ brains.
Does this work with adults too? Yes, we can even grow our brains when we are older. For example, on our recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, my son-in-law, Greg, grew his brain with a novel experience. Many of you have seen the video of him walking up to a bear on the trail saying “Hi, buddy, hi buddy.” Then, you see the bear lunging at him, growling. . . and Greg dropping the camera. Thankfully, Greg and my granddaughter, who he was carrying on his back, are fine. The momma bear was just scaring Greg off to protect her three cubs. The lesson: don’t approach bears in the wild. I’m sure Greg had read warnings about approaching bears, but this new novel experience made a connection in his brain that he will never forget.
Growing the brain is sometimes hard work. As a principal, students would often ask me, “Why do I need to learn Algebra II? When will I use this in the real world?” Of course, I would give them some examples, but the best answer was always, because it grows your brain. Thinking in new and novel ways is sometimes hard work, but it helps us to problem solve and apply new and different approaches in all areas of our personal and professional lives.
Does God want us to be smarter? Absolutely, we are to “study to show ourselves approved. . .” Learning is important at all ages. Some of our young people are still in school, and some of us have children or grandchildren in school. Remember, “understanding is more profitable than silver.” Yes, it is hard work. If it wasn’t, you wouldn’t be growing. Some of us older people think it is too late for us. But, we too can learn. We can grow. We can also teach. Let me ask this question: How many of you just 15 months ago had never attended a Zoom meeting or had never attended church online? This is proof that it is never too late to learn.
It is true that our bodies are miraculous and we may never completely understand the mysteries of how God made everything work together for our benefit. King David wrote about his wonder of this mystery.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
We may never completely understand the ways of our creator. But, this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t keep trying and learning. As my dad would say, “You can’t just sit around eating bon bons.” (If you don’t know, bon bons are cholate candies.) And, we can’t rest on our laurels. (That’s our past successes). We need to get up and keep going. Don’t let those neurons rest, make them work, make them keep firing. The bottom line is this: Let’s find wisdom and grow our brains together.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Happily Ever After
Hallmark movies are great! The theme is about falling in love. Spring, summer, fall, and winter — each season provides a new setting for a familiar plot. A young girl leaves the big city to visit a small town. She meets a young man. There is a conflict, making them hate each other. In the end, true love wins out and they live happily ever after.
Hallmark movies are always about one kind of love: romantic love. Is there any other kind? Yes! Though, as an English speaking people, we have a handicap in that we have only one word for love. This handicap can create confusion and misunderstanding. In Greek, there are multiple words for love. The New Testament, first written in Greek, describes three distinct categories of love and uses different words for each.
Romantic Love
First, the word eros refers to the category of love featured in Hallmark movies. It is infatuation, simply stated, physical or sexual attraction. It is a desire to be with a person continuously, morning, noon, and night. People commonly spoke the word eros at the time, but it is not found in the New Testament. However, we do see the concept of physical attraction (see Hebrews 13:4). Infatuation is strong but it doesn’t last and it fizzles out quickly. This is the kind of love most on display in romantic comedies, like Hallmark movies. Unfortunately, it is the reason that people say, “I’ve fallen out of love with you.” Infatuation is not meant to last. These people will spend their lives moving from one relationship to another. Eros is important, however, because without it we would not likely have enough babies born to keep the human race going. Young men and women, if you want “happily ever after,” you need a relationship based on love that is stronger than eros.
Brotherly Love
The second word to describe love is philos, which means warm affection or friendship. Philos is used in the New Testament to describe friendships and family relationships. This word is used in Matthew 10:37 to describe love for a father, mother, son, or daughter. Philos also describes the love of Jesus for his friend Lazarus (John 11:3) and for his disciple (John 20:2). This is also not the “happily after after” for which most people are looking.
Unconditional Love
The third word agapē describes sacrificial, unconditional love. The New Testament writers used agapē to express the highest kind of love. Agapē was not used commonly in everyday life. Actually, prior to the New Testament, agapē did not carry special significance as a higher form of love. In the New Testament , we first understand the uniqueness of God’s love for us as expressed through the gift of his son.
John 3:16 uses agapē to describe God’s love for us, “God so loved the world. . .” (KJV). Interestingly, the scripture most used as a reading during wedding ceremonies, 1 Corinthians 13, uses the word Agapē for love. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul illustrates agapē with some very practice examples of self-sacrificing love.
To say that agapē is the highest form of love is not trivializing the other kinds of love. I, for one, am glad that God created sexual love (eros) to be expressed between husbands and wives. I’m also happy that he created us to be connected to friends and our community with philos. It is important to affirm both romantic love and friendship love as meaningful. All love comes from God, because “God is love” (1 John 4:16). Whether that love is romantic or the bond between friends, love that is genuine comes from God. We love others best by loving him first.
Love One Another
At the last supper, Jesus gave his followers a new command “Love one another.” He went on to explain that this was how we would be distinctive from the world. . . not by our clothing or our how we wear our hair, but by our love. In this important passage, Jesus said, ”As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35, NIV). The word used for love in John is the verb form of agapē. We are to love as he loved us.
Romantic love doesn’t result in happily ever after. Only the love demonstrated by Jesus does. If we love one another with agapē love, even our partners, we will have lasting love in our lives. We won’t need to fall in love over and over again. We will love and be loved. People will see us as different. This is true love, even better than a Hallmark movie.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Unconditional Love.
Strong Love
A couple of years ago, Lizzy and I traveled to North Carolina for the 50th Annual Lumbee Homecoming and the Locklear family reunion. In one way, it was a difficult trip as it was my first one since the death of my dad. However, it was also a blessing as I was reminded of the Christian legacy of my ancestors and the key to strong love.
Scooppie
But, let me start by introducing you to Scooppie, no relation. On his grave marker it read, “Do unto others as they have done unto you.”
This is a misquote of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” and an indictment of the life of this young man, Scooppie, buried at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. I asked my aunt if they use a different version of the Bible at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. She asked why. Then, I showed her the grave marker. She was shocked, not realizing that was actually in the church’s cemetery.
Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount were not a discipline built into this young man’s life. His young life ended, when he took his gun to kill the boyfriend of his sister, but it was an ambush and he was the one who was shot and killed. To be Christ-like is to love those who are difficult to love, “Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. . .”
We spent a lot of time during this trip visiting cemeteries. I think we visited every cemetery in Robeson County: Christian Cemetery, Dial Cemetery, Willis Cemetery, Union Chapel, and Mount Olive. But, most of the trip was filled with stories of lives well lived, not like that of Scooppie.
Weave a Strong Love
This trip reminded me of this verse, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV).
Three stands are good, as long as one is Jesus. Any relationship that you have will be made stronger if Jesus is one of the strands. Liz and I have allowed God to strengthen our marriage. This is true of my Uncle Grover and Aunt JoAnn as well. They are really good together. Their’s is a strong love. My uncle told me he was very shy growing up and my aunt said, “I made him a lot better person.” She then said, “Well, we made each other a lot better.” He said, “That is right.”
In watching them, it was also obvious how much their faith in Jesus has made them better. They pray at meal times, attend church together, teach Sunday school, and work in the community. The three strands of their chord have made them strong and blessed their lives. God has blessed them with children, grandchildren, land, houses, and influence in the community. We spent one morning at the county court house, where JoAnn introduced us to the Chief Judge of Superior Court, the district attorney, and many other influential people. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” This promise has been definitely fulfilled in the lives of Uncle Grover and Aunt JoAnn.
Legacy Of Faith
Faith in Christ , however, didn’t start with them. My grandmother wove the strand of her relationship with Jesus into the cord of all her relationships. She was a praying woman. My grandfather traumatized her and all of the relationships in his life. I asked my Uncles Grover and Jerry, “How is it that you brothers turned out to be good people? They both said, “We had a praying mother.” I have been blessed to spend some significant time with Grover, Jo Ann, and Jerry since the death of my dad. Reflecting on his mother, Grover said, “Isn’t it something? She didn’t even get to see the answers to many of her prayers.” It wasn’t until after her death that my uncles became leaders in the church and devoted followers of Jesus.
As a child, I remember my mother and grandmother, Mary Lowery, praying together. The strongest memory I have of my dad’s mother was how kind she was. She was kind to everyone, whether they deserved it or not. In Luke, Jesus uses the word “mercy.” Verse 36 says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” By showing mercy, we are being like Christ. Mary loved the Lord and her children and grandchildren have been blessed because of her. Psalm 103 says, “From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him… with their children’s children (Psalm 103:17-18, NIV).
Answered Prayer
At my Uncle Louis’ house, I saw a photo on the wall of my dad and eight of his brothers and sisters standing on the steps of Mount Olive Baptist Church, next to my Grandfather, Dock Locklear. I said, “Uncle Louis, what is this photo?” He said that is the day that your Granddad got baptized. The day was April 24, 1988; he was 87 years old. Praise God! That was 15 years after my grandmother had died. She did not live to see it. But, let me guarantee, she prayed for that day and there he was standing with nine of his children who were blessed to celebrate for her.
I also discovered on this trip that the legacy of faith did not start with my grandmother. My great grandparents on both sides attended Mount Olive Baptist Church. In fact, James E. Dial, Mary’s grandfather was a founding member of the church and of the Croatan Indian Normal School, later to become the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Recently, Grover said he was talking with Hazel, a 92-year old woman at church. She said, “Did you know that your grandmother led me to Christ?” She then recounted the story of how, as a 14-year old girl, my great grandmother, Gatsy Locklear, invited her to come to the alter and pray to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
On this trip, I was reminded that weaving Jesus into your family relationship makes the love strong. Also, weaving Jesus through all of your relationships makes your community strong. It is now our turn. Together, let’s build on the legacy of faith. . . and expand the God’s community.
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Unconditional Love.
A Promise of Blessing
Some battles are not our battle, but this does not completely let us off the hook. We still may be required to take up our positions and stand firm. There is a mythology in Christianity today that the chosen of God will not have to fight battles in this life. My experience is that this is far from true. In the 133 miracles that I have studied in the Bible, all required some action to receive the promise.
On the Map
I trace this mythology and misunderstanding to a place in the land of Israel called The Valley of Blessing. Yes, it is a real place. On the map, it is actually called the valley of Beracah. It is on the main road from Hebron to Jerusalem. It is significant because of a king of Judah named Jehoshaphat.
The kings of Judah and the kings of Israel all fall into one of two categories: those who did right in the sight of God and those who did evil. It is a sad commentary that even with all of the blessings God had given his people most of the kings did not act in a way that pleased God. Jehoshaphat was a king of Judah, however, who did what was right in the sight of God. In 2 Chronicles we find, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David…The Lord established the kingdom under his control…so that he had great wealth and honor…His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 17:3-6).
Favor
This favor from God did not mean that there were no challenges during Jehoshaphat’s reign. God allows challenges in the lives of his people. No one is excluded. At one point in the story, a vast army from three neighboring nations, Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir, came against Judah. Not surprisingly, Jehoshaphat was overwhelmed by fear and gathered the people together to ask God for deliverance. He prayed, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
God’s reply that came is a promise that Christians still rely upon today, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The battle is not yours, but God’s. This promise is the source of our misunderstanding. It is true that the prophet said, “You will not have to fight this battle…” But, he did not stop there. He went on to say, “. . . take up your positions; stand firm.” If you do this, then, you will “. . . see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” They could not sit around and wait for a miracle. They were commanded to “Go.” My experience is that, while God is with me, I still have to go and face my challenges. This is what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat, “Go out and face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).
Crazy! They sang!
Indeed, Jehoshaphat did just as he was directed. Early on the next morning, they left for the place of the battle. Regardless of his fearfulness, he assembled the people and went out to the battle. As they went, Jehoshaphat’s confidence increased to such a degree that he did something very unusual. He appointed people to sing to the Lord and praise God for the splendor of his holiness. Crazy! They sang!
“Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever.”
On this day, Jehoshaphat and the people began to sing and praise God and God answered their prayers by stirring up the enemy to kill each other. “The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir…After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another” (2 Chronicles 20:23). Just as God had promised, when Jehoshaphat and his army entered the valley, the enemy had completely annihilated each other. Judah’s army took three days to sort through the dead bodies and collect the valuables, including gold, silver, and precious jewels. On the fourth day, Jehoshaphat assembled the people in the valley of Berakah, which means blessing, where they praised the Lord. To this day, the valley is called “The Valley of Blessing.”
We Must Stand
While the battle was God’s, Jehoshaphat still had to take up his position and stand. Too often, Christians use this scripture as an excuse to do nothing. “It is not my battle, it’s God’s.” But, God does not take us out of the battle; He fights on our side! In all of the challenges that I have faced so far in my life, God has been Jehovah Saboth, the Lord our protector and Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner. However, that has never meant that there was no role for me to play.
During a difficult time at work, Debbie Backy, a woman of strong faith, reminded me of Isaiah 54:17 and gave me this promise on which to focus my attention. I printed this scripture and posted it beside my computer as a daily reminder.
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17
Isaiah wrote this promise to the people of Israel as a reminder of the future glory of Zion. Through Debbie, I was reminded that this promise is also for God’s people today. Truly, no weapon or instrument of persecution will be successful. The sense of Isaiah’s words is that attacks against the servants of God will not prevail. God’s people shall have final and ultimate prosperity. These attacks may appear for a time to prosper, but there will not be final and result in complete success. Of course, it is difficult for us to believe that victory is on the way when we are faced with overwhelming odds…or a vast army.
A Heritage of Blessing
This is not a blanket promise for everyone. Isaiah specifically says, this promise is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. If you have committed your life to serving God, then you can rest easy in His promised protection. The Lord also says that this is a promise for those whose righteousness or goodness is from Me – from the Lord Himself – and not from us. When we understand that our righteousness is really from God, we can take comfort in letting the Lord protect his righteousness.
God will vindicate us. Isaiah’s promise is an assurance that the inheritance which awaits those who serve God is truth and victory. This is a promise of protection in times of trouble; God is our banner and protector in times of adversity. God will see us through and place us in The Valley of Blessing.
© 2019 Chuck Locklear All rights reserved
