Chuck Locklear
fascinating characters, impactful books and messages
Attitude Determines Altitude!
“Attitude determines altitude!” This is a statement frequently made by Dick Moscovic, a teacher with whom I worked for many years. Dick is an outstanding individual and a blessing as he has positively influenced 47 years of students in our community. (Yes, Dick was a public-school teacher for 47 years.) But these are not just words, he lives out this principle, always demonstrating a positive attitude, not that his life is easy. He has three sons, two very successful. One, however, is severely handicapped. For as long as I have known him, Dick has started his day early, hours before school starts, by taking care of Drew’s needs, helping him with even the most basic of human functions. Yet, Dick’s attitude remains positive, helping to elevate the attitude of everyone around him.
Positive Mindset
Over many years, I have observed Dick convincing his students and me of the truth of this powerful statement. What Dick means by these three words is that having a positive mindset, one that expects success and prepares for success, will result in positive and successful things happening in one’s life. This principle has certainly proven true for Dick’s students, who have accomplished great things over the years and become leaders in our community. For me, I have found that you can’t go anywhere in our community without meeting someone impacted by Dick’s positive attitude.
One of the characteristics that I love most about Dick is that he is a strong man of faith. Dick demonstrates a life characterized by excellence. He lives out his faith in public, in front of his students and their parents. Dick connects students who are struggling with other students who are Christians, so that they can shine the light of Jesus. He counsels and prays with parents of his students when they come to him at the end of their rope. Parents will often say, “I’ve tried everything,” usually referring to a son or daughter in trouble. This statement provides the perfect opportunity for Dick to share his personal story.
Coachisms
Actually, Dick has many sayings that he uses to motivate and encourage students. We call these Coachisms; Dick was a wrestling coach for many years, and his students continued to use the title “Coach” long after he hung up his wrestling shoes. Dick’s coachisms are inspired by his faith, sayings such as, “Better to be the shining moon, than the barking dog,” “Trying is better than crying,” and, my favorite, “Every day is a good day, but some are better than others.” Dick often uses these sayings and ties them into what he heard his priest say at one time or another.
Recent research on the brain has confirmed the truth of Dick’s wisdom of the importance of attitude. Carol Dweck summarizes 30 years of research in her book Mindset (2006), which shows the power of attitude. When students believe they can get smarter, they put in the effort, which in turn leads to higher achievement. We have also learned that humans use only a small amount of our available brain potential. In other words, there is much room for growth and development. I am often surprised that this seems to be news to many of the students that I have counseled in my office over the years.
Choose a Growth Mindset
Students will often say, “I can’t do it. I’m not creative.” Or, even more common is the statement students will make after I ask why their math performance is so low: “I can’t learn algebra.” Sometimes students will even get angry when I try to convince them that they can learn math. These students are exhibiting what educators know as a “fixed,” instead of a “growth” mindset. A person’s belief or mindset about intelligence, ability, and talent can have a profound impact on his or her future.
The Lesson we learn from Dick Moscovic aligns with a familiar lesson from the Bible. “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). Daniel is a familiar Bible character to most Americans. We learn the story of Daniel in the lions’ den in Sunday school. In the young man Daniel, the king noticed a mindset or attitude that was “excellent.”
The question for us today is what is our attitude? Do we have a fixed or growth mindset? This reminds me of the woman who said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up.” Are you open to learning and growing? I pray that we would let the Lord transform us by the renewing of our minds.
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Passion.
Relationship Advice
We recently did a survey to determine with what people were struggling.The most commonly listed struggles were with relationships. My guess is that is not unusual. The most frequently provided relationship question was “How do I better understand and work with a difficult relationship?”
You can learn a lot from a relationship with difficult person: bosses, ex-wives, adult children. One lesson that I learned from the most difficult relationship in my life, an ex-boss, is choose your battles wisely. There are two important questions before engaging in a conflict with a difficult person. First, what am I going to gain?
Before the Israelites crossed into the “Promised Land,” Moses set before them a choice, “to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him” or not (Deuteronomy 30:16, NIV). One path would lead to life and prosperity and the other destruction and death. In this choice, there was a lot to gain. Just before this passage, we read Moses instructions; if the people chose to follow God, “The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors…” (Deuteronomy 30:9, NIV). There was a lot to gain in making the right choice.
When my children were young, Lizzy and I brought them to church regularly. I was a leader in the children’s ministry. I led the youth group. We made it our family’s priority. We brought the neighbor kids to church too. Also, we picked up my niece and nephew and took them to church. This action resulted in the salvation of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. At one point, my niece said to my brother-in-law, “Dad, you don’t stand a chance. We are all praying for you. You might as well start coming to church.” And, he did.
Now, I am so glad we made the house of God our priority. Looking back, those days are gone. I couldn’t have a “do over,” even if I wanted it. But, I don’t need one. We did what was right or righteous in the sight of God. Praise God!
Choosing what is righteous is important, especially when it comes to relationships. This brings me to the second question with regards to choosing your battles wisely. What am I going to lose? In relationships, the issue is not “right or wrong,” but “getting along.” I challenge you with this truth as it relates to all of the difficult relationships in your life: Instead of being right, be righteous…remember, WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). My wife is the best example of a peacemaker. She does not like conflicts and will go out of her way to keep the peace. Me on the other hand, I like logic and order. I want to convince others of the truth of my reasoning. Sometimes, I will make my point with a sledge hammer. “Of course, you were the one to leave the coffee pot on. You were the last one to leave the house.” It took me a long time to learn that there was more to lose than to gain in these types of arguments. From my ex-boss, I learned that, for her, emotions were a lot more important than logic.
The other day, Lizzy and I were using the “Maps” app to determine the best route for driving to my son’s office. She kept clicking the map. I said, “I want to see the difference between the options.” But, she kept clicking. My voice got loud and I said, “Stop, clicking! I want to see the difference.” Of course, logically, I knew that the only important difference in the alternative routes is the time difference which shows on the overview screen. But, she was clicking each route so I can see the alternate roads that we could travel. I start to explain that the most important difference is how long it takes, but stopped.
It didn’t really matter; saving a few minutes is not much to gain when compared to what could be lost if I continued the argument. The point, someone can do something differently than you and still be right. Being righteous is much better than being right. If you are that person, like me, that has to be right all the time, this may be a difficult, but important lesson to learn.
You won’t find the word relationships in the King James and only a few times in the NIV, but we have a sure model for a God-like relationship.
“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…” (Philippians 2:1-8, NIV)
Let this be our prayer today, “Lord, let us have the mindset that you modeled for us!”
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see How to be Happy.
Passion
How is making tacos God’s work? God is pleased when we service others, which ignites passion deep within our hearts.
Everyone who knows me knows my favorite fast-food restaurant. Bonnie, who works there, is someone I see almost daily. She makes tacos, serves tacos, and, when I pull up to the window, she says, “I already know what you want. Just pull up.” Bonnie makes the choice to greet people with a smile and ask about their lives.
A New Position
In the early church, we learn that the number of disciples was increasing, causing the Hellenistic Jews to complain that their widows were being overlooked in the daily food distribution in favor of the Hebraic Jews. (Notice that the church was only serving Jews at this point in time.) This conflict resulted in the creation of a new position in the church: deacon (Acts 6: 2-3).
The new position was a service position. While the United States is moving toward a service economy, the economy of the church has always been based on service. To be the body, we must serve. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be the servant of all.” Philip, chosen to be one of the first deacons, started his career as a server. In Acts 8, however, we learn that Philip’s vocation changed when he was called to baptize the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-31).
So, what is vocation? Vocation is most commonly named as a job, profession, or career. However, I like author Frederick Buechner’s beautiful definition of vocation: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
Vocation
The example of Philip’s change in vocation illustrates this collision of great hunger and deep gladness. Philip’s commission was to be a deacon or server, like serving tacos. I can imagine that Philip brought gladness to his job, knowing that it was an important one.
Vocation describes not only the work we do, but what we feel most called to: including family, neighborhoods, community, the environment, those in need and so on. I’ve always felt that my family is my number one vocation. Sometimes, vocation may come to us as we are called to do the unexpected. Circumstance may lead us to recognize a new depth of the world’s hunger or a well-spring of our own deep gladness. Where these two forces meet, we find the greatest passion.
But, the Holy Spirit had other plans and Philip listened. My guess is that he had practiced listening to the Holy Spirit. You should listen to God’s voice even when and especially when your work is making tacos. God put Phillip in the path of a man who was searching, reading the scriptures looking for an answer. The Holy Spirit said go up close to him so you can hear what he is reading. The Spirit will call us to get close to people. As you are washing cars, you might notice a Bible in the seat, giving you the chance to start a conversation.
9/11 Heros
Can you remember where you were and how you responded on 9/11? For those of us who lived it, 9/11 is one of the events etched into our memories. As a pastor, in Washington DC, Dave Milam ended up watching the events of 9/11 on a little TV brought into church by Jerry, who had come to do some painting. As Jerry and Dave watched the horror of the tragedy, Dave decided to host a community prayer vigil. After the sadness of the morning, the afternoon was spent planning the service and inviting other churches to join in. Then, a different kind of Ethiopian eunuch appeared at the door.
The doors of Dave’s church are always open for anyone to visit the sanctuary for prayer. An inebriated (drunken) man came in wanting to talk. He had been at a bar, drinking while watching the news. He had joined in the banter “cursing Muslims.” Then, he came to himself: “I’m a Christian and I’m not supposed to hate.” “Also, I’ve never been baptized.” Dave hesitated, thinking, should I really baptize this drunken man. Then, Dave heard the words of the Ethiopian eunuch in his heart, “There’s Water: What’s to prevent us from…” Dave baptized the drunken man with deep gladness. Even in the darkness of that day, the Holy Spirit was calling, connecting Dave’s vocation to deep passion and meeting the world’s great need.
Passion at Work
It is easy for us to recognize the heroic service of the first responders on September 11th. We ought also to recognize the joy in the work of a librarian, teacher, social worker, town planner, minister, nurse, doctor, business person, as well as in the farm worker who picks our food, the trucker who brings it to our town, and the server at Taco Bell who makes and brings us our food.
We are all called to service as the body of Christ inside and outside the four walls of the church building. Ask yourself these four vocational questions:
- Is this the place I belong? (Then affirm it.)
- Who has my heart? (Our call must be ordered by God.)
- What can I offer? (Do you have a surprising gift to offer?)
- What do I want to do? (God will put joy in your heart for what he wants you to do.)
If you cannot answer these questions with deep gladness, then, I challenge you to begin a new journey. Pray and ask God for the answers. They may require you to do some exploration, get some training, or take a risk. Ask that God shows you the first step and gives you the courage to take it. I know that God will answer. He did in my life. Today, I pray for passion as you prepare to meet the world’s deepest hunger.
Copyright 2019 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Joy and Gratitude.
Joy and Gratitude
Joy is linked to gratitude, but not in a way that seems obvious. “For it is not joy that makes us grateful.” “It is gratitude that makes us joyful.” Practicing gratitude produces fruits of joy. The way of joy and gratitude is illustrated in the story of the Philippian jailer who finds that his prisoners have stayed to bring him and his house salvation (Acts 16:25-34).
Reminded of Gratitude
My 27-year old son, Holland, invited me to travel with him to San Francisco and he paid my way. It was a wonderful experience! One of his middle-school teachers responded to my Facebook posts asking, “Is that Holland?” Her question reminded me of my gratitude. I said, “Yes” and thanked her for helping Lizzy and I raise such a good young man. Then, I said, “There were days in middle school when we were worried.” A mom of Holland’s friend Nick chimed in saying, “Thank God they are both okay! It really does take a village.” This is so true and a reminder of the gratitude we should all have for those who have helped us along the way.
San Francisco is a great place to visit, though, I can’t image how anyone can afford to live there. I used my Zillow app to check home prices in every neighborhood we visited. The cheapest price I could find was a 700 square foot house for…$1 million. The cheapest rent was a 400 square foot apartment for… $2,400/month. Crazy! I suppose that is why they have so many homeless people and tent cities everywhere.
Oakland Stadium
Our excuse for going to San Francisco was to watch the Detroit Lions play the Oakland Raiders. Oakland is a tough town, just like Detroit. It was fun watching Detroit lose in a different city.
We visited Alcatraz, which is most famous for being a Federal prison, but started as a Civil War era fort and at one point was taken over by Native Americans to force the United States government into recognizing treaty rights for Native Americans. At Alcatraz, we learned a lot about Al Capone, the prisons most famous “guest.”
Northern California is beautiful. We ate at Fisherman’s wharf, Chinatown, and Little Italy. Interestingly, we rode bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge on a day that was so foggy you couldn’t see more than 10 feet in front of you. We visited Muir Woods National Monument and saw the giant redwood trees. We climbed to the top of a mountain to see the “canopy view.” I even recorded an episode of Chuck & Lizzy while climbing up the steep, narrow trail to the top.
Gratitude Is Linked to Joy
I keep using the word gratitude to describe my trip because of the connection to joy. A line from the new Paul Simon song Stranger to Stranger says, “I’m just jittery, I’m just jittery. It’s just a way I’m dealing with my joy.” This lyric is catchy and fun; but at first, it doesn’t make sense. Why would you be jittery about joy?
Brené Brown, professor and author of five New York Times best-sellers, describes joy “as the most terrifying of emotions.” Joy opens us up to vulnerability. She thinks of the joy she felt watching her sleeping child; “Whew! I love like I didn’t know it was possible!” But then . . . “What if something horrific happened? Something to take away joy?” I remember, feeling that way when Holland was a baby; “Just jittery, it’s just a way I’m dealing with my joy.” Yes, I was joyful and terrified at the same time. Now, I have experienced that same emotion with my grandkids.
Grateful For Being Alive
In the example of the Philippian jailer, it was truly miraculous that God opened the prison doors. However, equally miraculous is that Paul and Silas stayed put when the doors opened. In Roman times, to lose a prisoner was catastrophic. The consequences of a prison break would have meant death to the jailer and his family (upstairs) would have lost everything. However, Paul said: “Don’t take your life away: Jesus’ salvation has come.” One can only imagine the sense of salvation the jailer must have felt. He was saved from death; his family was saved for a future. Their entry into the new way of Jesus Christ was mirrored in their own gratitude for being alive. Theirs became a joy that was more consequential than their experiences of vulnerability. Joy poured forth from their deep gratitude at being alive. Salvation means wholeness. They were whole.
Recognizing the Good
The key point is to tolerate vulnerability so that joy may flourish. Brené Brown suggests that “when we lose our tolerance for vulnerability, joy becomes foreboding. Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.” Brown illustrates this in the story of a man who kept life on an even keel. Never too excited; never too joyful. He avoided vulnerability. In his sixties, he and his wife were in a car accident. His wife of forty years was killed. The second he realized that she was gone, he thought, “I should have leaned harder into those moments of joy,” because not doing so did not protect him from what he now felt. Brown sums it up like this: “We try to dress rehearse tragedy, so that we can beat vulnerability to the punch. But it’s better to lean into joy.”
We can nurture joy by practicing gratitude. We can find opportunities to tolerate our vulnerabilities by practicing gratitude so that we can lean into joy. How might we intentionally practice gratitude? It can be in the small ways. We can thank someone or show appreciation. Gratitude can be practiced in being more generous, experiencing vulnerability by giving away ourselves, our money, and what we cling to. We can practice gratitude as a people who walk in the way of joy, sharing the news of Jesus’ salvation to our world, wherever we go.
Copyright Chuck Locklear 2019
Also, see How to Be Happy.
Joy and Resilience
by Dr. Dave Milam & Chuck Locklear:
We can have joy during the storms of life and develop resilience.
When we are first introduced to Saul, later to become the Apostle Paul, he was persecuting people of “the Way” (Acts 9:1-2, NIV). After his conversion, Paul would come to epitomize the “Way Marked by Joy.” Yes, joy marked this movement, but it didn’t mean things were easy. We learn about Paul’s story in the book of Acts, written by Luke and dedicated to Theophilus.
Who Was Theophilus?
Theories abound as to the identity of the “Most Excellent Theophilus,” the person to whom both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are addressed. I like the theory that claims he is Titus Flavius Sabinus, a converted Roman official and older brother of future Roman Emperor Vespasian. In gratitude for his kindness during Paul’s imprisonment, Luke made a dedication, proclaiming Sabinus to be a “friend of God.” Theophilus translates “Friend of God” in Greek. This makes sense as Luke was present with Paul during these events. The theory goes that Luke assigned him the name, Theophilus, as an honor and to protect Sabinus from the persecution of Christians under the tyrannical rule of the Emperor Nero.
Paul needed someone to have his back, given the consequences of his courageous witness to Jesus’ resurrection and the Gospel. Paul had made powerful enemies in Jerusalem. He appealed his case as a Roman citizen, and was transferred to Caesarea, the provincial capital, where he was held for two years. Defiant, trusting that his life was lived as a gift to Christ, Paul had a resilience that left him free to serve with abandon.
Sailing Across the Mediterranean
From Caesarea, Paul was sent across the Mediterranean to Rome. However, even during a violent storm at sea, the joy of the Lord was Paul’s strength. Paul didn’t shrink from the storm, but instead sought to advise the captain through his centurion guard (Acts 28:1-10). The captain did not follow his advice and the ship crashed on the small island of Malta. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners, including Paul, so they would not escape, but the centurion, who valued Paul’s warning about the storm, intervened.
The people of Malta treated the castaways hospitably, making a large fire, because it was raining and cold. However, tough times for Paul continued. While he was gathering wood, to throw on the fire, the heat panicked a viper hidden in the sticks. It struck Paul, latching onto his hand. Ah, sweet justice – saved from the sea, karma gets him in the end the islanders thought. Perhaps, Paul was a murderer, and the goddess Themis (Justice) or the Fates (her children) had not allowed him to live. Alas, Paul was no believer in fate. He shook the snake off and returned to his service of Christ. Now, the islanders thought Paul was a God.
Resilience In Action
Paul’s resilience allowed him to summon spiritual strength that helped him face the storms of life, allowing him to continue to serve. Without guile, Paul preached to the stunned Maltese and responded to their cries for help, praying for them and healing their sick.
Countering cynicism, following the way of joy invites us to walk a path blazed in exemplary fashion by the early church whose stories embody a new life lived believing and demonstrating the power of Jesus’ resurrection. This way does not negate but challenges sorrow and injustice. It invites us to greater resilience in the midst of trouble, neither pretending trouble does not exist, nor giving up hope that we must give over to despair.
According to Salvador Maddi, author of Resilience at Work, resilience may be strengthened where our commitments, sense of control, and challenges overlap. Paul’s sense of commitment came from his purpose to give witness to the Gospel. This gave him a sense of control that he could live confident of his trust in God. He then was free to face challenges with courage.
Personal Mission Statement
We can do the same in our daily lives. To do so, start by making a list of what you value most, turning this list into a personal mission statement. Hopefully, your mission statement includes a commitment to serving Jesus. Next, when you feel challenged about your life being out of control, try this technique. Make a list of the things that you are tolerating. These are the things you feel you “have” to live with. Stretch yourself. Don’t list just a few things. Push yourself to list 25 or more things you are tolerating. Then, come up with a plan to address two of them. Even acting on only two will put you on a path toward getting things back in order. You’ll be surprised that your entire attitude will change.
Paul epitomizes the “Way Marked by Joy,” a way also filled with challenges. Like him, we can develop resilience during the storms of life. If you are not feeling challenged about anything, you might need to open up and make yourself vulnerable. It is likely time to take a risk. Listen to the voice of God and let God trouble your spirit. I am confident that God has big plans for you.
Copyright © 2019 Chuck Locklear
Also, see How to Be Happy.
Busyness
Having goals means having a checklist. If not on paper, at least mentally. This is true for most of us, even if we don’t know it. Do you start each day with a list of priorities that you want or NEED to accomplish. These lists can provide direction, but also produce busyness and create pressure.
I have a list of things to do every day, even on Sunday, which should be a day of rest. For me, these checklists created a lot of pressure, making me crabby, just ask Lizzy.
I thought this would change after I retired, since I would have so much extra time on my hands. It happened. I sat around relaxing. . . for about a week. I had often heard retired people say that they are more busy now than when they were working. Yes, there is a lot of truth to this statement. I have found that our busyness expands to fill the amount of time we have available. So, if you are blessed with a free half day, your mind goes to work filling it with all of the things you want or need to get done. It seems this is how we are wired.
Is Everyone Busy?
This is not just true for retired people. No one is off the hook. Young mothers have checklists, and the checklist grows with the number of kids. Number one on their list is keeping the kids alive. If you have grandkids, you have a checklist. If you are a student, you have a checklist. Medical condition. . . checklist. If you have a job, you have a checklist for your working hours, and one for after work. And, don’t get me started about weekends. There is the grass around the house, catching up on housework, repairing the car, the boat, bike riding around the park, playing basketball, watching basketball, walking the dog. . . Wow, I’m getting tired just thinking about it.
In Mark, chapter four, Jesus is teaching by the lake and he gives The Parable of the Sower, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. . . an some seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear fruit” (Mark 4:19)
Thorns
The “thorns” represent our busyness. We can make sure the cares of this life don’t choke out God’s purpose for us by examining our checklists. Take a look at your list. Did God make your top five? Did you pray or look into God’s word to find direction for your day? Were your neighbors on your list? Did you do something to spread the love of Jesus? Did you nurture some children? Or, is your list just filled with things important to you?
As Christ followers, we must make Jesus a priority. He has to make our top five. Until we do this, we will be always searching, but never satisfied. You see God made us with a void inside that can only be filled with him. We will never be complete without him. Nothing else will work, none of our busyness. Until God is in your top five, you will not be satisfied. You will not be happy.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Looking for Peace.
Privilege?
Are we better than others? Do we walk on the other side of the road when we see someone in need? Our sense of privilege can get in the way being his hands and feet.
Invest Our Talents
During World War 2, bombs fell on Poland. One lone building partly survived the bombs…a wall stood with these words clearly legible: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Bombs will continue to fall in our world because of sin. Our world was corrupted by sin. This world will be impacted by natural and man-made calamities. This will continue to happen until Christ returns to set up his new kingdom. Until that time, we should invest the talents God has given us while there is still time. There are people in our communities that need the love of God. In addition to praying for world peace, let’s pray for peace on our street.
I recently read this question in a Bible study: “Are you on the front lines in the defense of Christianity, or has your love for God grown cold?” Wow, really? Does Christianity really need to be defended? You may know that I love history. That question sounds like a recruiting poster for the war against the Turks in the battle that saved Christendom in 1683.
Hero King
The Great Siege of Vienna was the historical culmination of the Turks’ long struggle against Christian Europe. The besieging force was the largest Turkish army ever assembled. Vienna was the door to Central Europe. Within the city walls, the choice was surrender or be ruthlessly slaughtered. The hero of the defense of Christendom was the Polish King John Sobieski. He led the largest cavalry charge in history with 18,000 winged Hussars. They charged down the hill and broke the Turkish siege. The Christian forces had won the battle.
Yet, the call to come to the defense of Christendom was more about kingdoms, culture, power, and money than about coming to God’s defense. It was about entitlement. God doesn’t need us to defend him. God doesn’t need us to argue his side on Facebook. American prosperity has nothing to do with God’s plan for our world.
Don’t Be a Jerk
“What about me?” This one question will keep you from serving God and cause us to act like a jerk.
It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. “I deserve it more than she does.” “I’ve worked harder than he has.” This also lets us off the hook. “I don’t need to help them. They should help themselves.” You know the saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This is a silly statement and it is not in the Bible. It is a rationalization that justifies me saying “No” to God. “No, I don’t need to give to him or her. If they only learned to fish; they could help themselves.”
I love this idea from John Pavlovitz, If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk. God is love and we are children of that love. Our feelings of privilege can get in the way of us being like Jesus. We are called to shine the light of Jesus’ love to the world around us.
The truth is that we are our brother’s [and sister’s] keepers. Don’t be a jerk. We all have needs. God understands this. Our cup will overflow with blessings as we serve others.
Privilege or Responsibility
Our feelings of privilege can get in the way of doing God’s work. We are no more entitled than anyone else. If we feel we are better than others, we are just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. We will walk on the other side of the road when we see someone in need. Instead, we have a responsibility to hear Jesus’ voice calling us to be the Good Samaritan.
“Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will repay them.”
Proverbs 19:17
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Growth Mindset.
Advice from a Grandfather
As a grandfather, I can tell you that when one of my little ones ask for something, it melts my heart. I will move heaven and earth to give them what they request. This grandfather’s desire is to bless my grandchildren. This is how it is with our heavenly father. Jesus said we could ask the father anything, in his name, and it will be done for us. Yes, you heard that right: anything.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus teaches us how to pray. There are many lessons that we can learn from the Lord’s Prayer. My intention is to focus on one lesson that God placed on my heart. This lesson is, when we pray, we are speaking to our father. Jesus starts with these word, “Our Father.” Our father is not the name of God. So, Jesus is not providing us with the proper way to address God. He is telling us that we need to talk to God as we would speak to our earthly fathers.
God doesn’t want fancy words and vain repetition. We won’t impress him with our vocabulary. He wants to hear our hearts. Jesus said, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11). I know how to give good gifts to my grandchildren. Because of my love for my grandchildren, I better understand God’s love for me.
Our heavenly father desires to give us good gifts. Yes, he desired to give us exceeding more that we could hope for or imagine. However, he wants to hear us ask for what we need. When he hears us, he will “move heaven and earth” to give us anything and everything we need. Like this grandfather, God desires to bless his children and grandchildren. Unlike me, he is the god of the universe. Just imagine the resources that comes along with that title.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Advice From A Grandmother.
The Lord’s Prayer
“Stop banging your head against the wall.” How many times have we tried to force something to happen . . . something beyond our control? Sometimes we need to learn when it is time to stop banging and trust God. Sometimes, when our efforts seem fruitless and we need to turn our will over to God. We are reminded of this in the Lord’s Prayer.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
For me, that doesn’t always happen so quickly. I turn to God only after I am too dizzy, from banging my head against the wall, to go on. Yes, I have tried many times to force my will on situations far beyond my control. Is this true of you as well? We need to pray, “Teach me, Lord, to ask for your help first, not last.” We must learn to approach his throne, ask in the name of Jesus, and leave it with him . . . something, easier said than done.
This week, we launch year-of-prayer campaign for our city: Warren, Michigan. We have volunteers praying each day. You can join us on the Warren Hope Facebook page. I kicked off the campaign with a focus on prayer, the Lord’s prayer, to be specific. With this prayer, Jesus taught us to pray:
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our day bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:7-13
There are many lessons that we can learn from the Lord’s Prayer. My intention is not to provide an exhaustive study, only a few lessons over a series of posts.
The first lesson is when we pray we are speaking to our father. He doesn’t want fancy words and vain repetition. We won’t impress him with our vocabulary. He wants to hear our hearts. In Matthew 7:11, Jesus says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Our heavenly father desires to give us good gifts. He wants to hear us ask for what we need. As a father and now as a grandfather, I can tell you that when one of my little ones ask for something, it melts my heart. I will move heaven and earth to give them what they request. This is how it is with our heavenly father. Jesus said ask anything in my name and it will be done for you. Yes, you heard that right: anything.
The needs of our city are bigger than me and way beyond my control. I am confident, however, that if we pa as Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer, we will see miracles. We will have many testimonies to what God has done in our little section of the world. So, with this campaign, we stop banging and turn to God first.
Also, see God’s Will.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
God’s Will
If the good Lord’s willing and the creeks don’t rise . . . How many of you had a granny who said this? I did. Growing up in Stinkin Creek, Kentucky rising creeks were a real thing. They might prevent you from almost any commitment: visiting a relative, attending to church, going to the market. Praying for God’s will was more than words.
Creeks In the City?
Long after she moved to Detroit, my grandmother would still attach this condition to almost any commitment, “If the good Lord’s willing and the creeks don’t rise.” As a child, I thought this was strange. I did not know of any creeks around our neighborhood, and there was almost no chance of the Detroit River rising to the level that it would affect us. For my grandmother, this condition allowed her an “out” if something came up and she couldn’t fulfill a commitment. But, more importantly, it was a reminder to her, and everyone she spoke with, that the “Lord’s will” is what she wanted in her life.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray,
“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
I can hear my grandmother’s voice saying, “If the good Lord’s willing and the creeks don’t rise.” It was in her heart to align her words and actions with the will of God. If we align our requests with God’s will, we know that he hears us and will answer. For example, “God I know it is your will for this family to have a roof over their heads. Please show me how to make this possible.”
Change Our Focus
As we pray, that must be our focus. to see God’s will be done in our life, in our community, in the lives of our neighbors. I can hear some of you saying, “But, everything happens for a reason,” meaning it is out of our control. “God works everything according to his purpose.” This is not true! It is not God’s will that anyone should perish. The truth is that he gave us free will. We get to choose whether or not God’s will is done in our lives and in the lives of those around us.
Let’s choose to focus on God’s will. In so doing, we can have confidence that God hears us and will answer our prayers. We know that he has been faithful in the past and will show up on our behalves now. We don’t have to worry about “If the good Lord’s willing and the creeks don’t rise.” It is God’s will, but we have to do our part.
Also, see Advice From a Grandmother.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
