ice vs nice

We had an ice storm recently. Everything was covered with ice. The trees were especially mesmerizing as they drew from streetlights to produce their own radiant glory.

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[click to enlarge]

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There is a time to be cold and indifferent. I really believe that. But is it the exception or the rule? I don't believe it should be our Standard Operating Procedure.

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A friend of mine intercepted an email. The letter was inappropriately hostile, so this friend brought it to my attention. (It's a game we play. We get a bizarre kick out of intercepting the most freaky exchanges.) The letter writer ended his venomous spewing with a tag. You know, those quotes at the bottom of someone's email. It said:

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"It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher."

-George Whitefield

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Somehow, I don't think that Whitefield was suggesting that we behave like a grinch. No, it's more like this: When you go to the doctor, he shouldn't say "everything's fine" if it's really not. The preacher must dispense medicine for the soul, not politics. That's what I think it means, anyway.

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I told my friend to send a nice response, but their tag line should quote Ephesians 4:29, in which the Apostle Paul says,

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

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We laughed, but didn't send that as a reply. After all, such a jab would have been a contradiction.

i'm no andy taylor

Mrs. Craver brought home a DVD of the Andy Griffith Show. It’s good clean fun, and I thoroughly enjoy the shows. Sheriff Andy Taylor’s skills of diplomacy are absolutely stellar! He is able to peacefully negotiate every jam people get themselves into and they all come out playing fair with each other by the end of the show. It is especially amusing to see how the sheriff guards his deputy’s self-esteem, even when Deputy Fife’s character and goals are in conflict with the good sheriff.

We could learn from this fictional character. He’s a good role model. As for me, I don’t always have that pacifying effect on folks. (I must admit that my own sinfulness is chiefly to blame.) But as we compare, let’s remember that we are talking about a fictitious story versus real life. Furthermore, the great TV sheriff’s primary goal is to keep the peace, whereas mine (my primary goal) is not. As an ambassador for Jesus Christ, I must strive for grace AND truth. That makes it more complicated than simply going for the path of least resistance.

There are allowances that the sheriff makes when people do not do right, because it is not his way to stir up contention. As I try (imperfectly) to point people to Jesus Christ, I will sometimes shine a light on things that we find hiding in the darkness. Sometimes, I don’t even do that on purpose.

Today, my mind is drawn to the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior. I can easily find more flaws in MLK than in Sheriff Andy Taylor, but it would serve mankind and our Lord better to emulate MLK. Unfortunately, Doctor King was not rewarded on this side of the grave for his efforts. His wife and children paid a heavy price for MLK’s dedication to righteousness.

That’s a difficult call for a husband and father, putting his family at risk, but what did the heroes of the Bible do? How could I please God best when faced with the tension between peace and righteousness? I truly desire to avoid unnecessary conflict, but ultimately, I hope to make choices for the pleasure of the Lord and primarily act as His ambassador rather than a politician.

We’ll see how it goes. Meanwhile, I’ll continue enjoying the illusion of Mayberry. (whistling Andy Griffith theme song...)