Any of you who are parents have experienced those days when your children take you to the edge, either through behaviors, or ( in most cases) attitudes.  I have discovered it is in those times where once you regain you right mind great opportunities for growth are to be found.  In those instances we can understand so much about our relationship with God.  Try this on.

You as a parent tell your child to do X or probably Y will happen.  He doesn’t.  Tomorrow, you tell you child to do X and remind him about Y. He doesn’t.  And the next day and the next day and the next day.  And then finally Y occurs, and your child is absolutely stunned and upset. And blames you!

I hope that sounds familiar to two of your relationships.  ( in case that is confusing, I am talking about you as a parent and you as a child of God.)

But what happens next is the most confusing and where the lesson really is.

As a parent, you love them anyway.  You offer them grace and mercy, and forgiveness, because you want them to be successful.

Sound familiar?

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8

Hm.. That probably wasn’t worth that wait, but I hope you that are parents consider how your parental relationship can teach you about how God is and that you can use that to emulate both as a child and as a parent!

Anyway, that song has rumaged through my head all morning, as the idea of giving and receiving mercy seems so strong with me today.  (Especially living with a 15-year-old son – more about that later this week.)

Today, since the topic of extending mercy seems right on the tip of my mind, it seems appropriate to remind you of the benefits of being a merciful person.  Oh, and quite simple reminder of a definition I found this morning – Mercy is like a judge finding you guilty, but then withholding any punishment.

¹⁷ The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm. Proverbs 11:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

But anyway, today I will roll with it, as I roll through a very significant milestone age wise and post the Buffet’s 500th post. And today, I am thinking that I want(need) to put more wood behind fewer arrows and really really focus in on the important things in life.

As you now, there is one certain thing about birthdays – they keep coming, until they don’t.  And there is no going back – only going forward.  I sorta of sit in the middle of life today, strengthened by my past, but faced with the heavy realization that I don’t have as many days to waste as I had when I was 15.   I have referenced these few verses many times in the last few months, but they seem best to help describe the arrows that I (we) should put my(our) wood behind.  Not those of career advancement, not those of accumulation, not those of entertainment, but these.

 ⁸But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

It’s very similar to what my father use to say to his sports teams  – “Go out, have fun, do the right things and winning will take care of itself.”  If we focus on love, mercy and humility, those other things will take care of themselves.Those are the arrows I want to focus my self on.

So today I am putting more wood behind fewer arrows, I am numbering these days, and I am looking forward to what life as a mature person actually is.!!!!! 

And as Coach Gundy says “I’m a man, I’m 40!”

“I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.” Psalm 119:14 NIV

Instead, I am not sure that I have even thought about any of those things this morning as the house was busy with preparations for another day.  Interestingly enough rejoicing, great riches nor following his statutes has entered the vast emptiness that sits between my two sound catching devices.

So today here is a simple yet somewhat complex reminder of the pleasure and satisfaction that awaits us when we are joyful because we have surrendered to the teachings of the Christ.  It’s quite a paradox, but one I plan on dwelling on today.  Think about this. Sometimes, when I see the 220 million dollar Power Ball sign I imagine what I could do with that money – and the projected happiness it would bring him.  Well, I know I have never sat and imagined what it would be like if I actually followed the Lord’s statutes and the various rewards that come from that.  Ones that actually have long term value.  Try that little exercise today.

But one thing I notice is that no one checks in at work.  Whats up with that?  I guess we have Adam to blame! You know the whole work curse thing!  We spend the majority of our lives at our place of employment, but we don’t allow ourselves to acknowledge the significance.  As a matter of fact the one time that I did notice that one of my friends ‘checked-in’ at his workplace, the one comment on that post was “Lame”.

So I was thinking today that I would check in at work, and I would check in with one thought on my mind – this one from Micah:

8The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands:

“See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” Micah 6:8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I determined this morning that this may help take some of the lameness out of the whole work thing, since it might just possibly help me look past the curse and to the influence I could exert on those people around me.  Maybe those concepts will make the work check-in just as interesting as the other fun places we go.  Well, who am I kidding, checking in at work will probably always be lame, but considering  justice, mercy and humility might change the way we consider the time we am there!

Give it a try.

Oh and here is an alternative ending!

 ⁸But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,

what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously. Micah 6:8 The Message

So, the verdict came down yesterday and the world went crazy.  Surprise, shock, and even outrage has been the rule of the day.  As I mentioned, I have tried to avoid this whole thing and have only paid partial attention whenever I have been around any coverage, but even with that little bit of observation, it’s pretty easy to lean toward the guilty side.

But today, I wanted to throw some other thoughts in the ring for your consideration.  I probably should not go here, and maybe very wrong about this, but here are some things tangentially related to the trial that I post for your consideration.

I noticed the outrage and condemnation all over my Facebook world last night and it reminded me of my old preacher man Steve Riley who would frequently say something to the effect of “we are quick to judge when it’s others, but quick to beg for mercy when it is us”.  (That’s not really a quote, and I am sure he was not the original creator of that thought, but it is him who I always think of when that concept creeps into my little brain)

Anyway, as you consider the Anthony young lady, and the disaster that is her existence on this Earth, think about the mercy that you walk in the the light of everyday.  Do she do it? – yes probably.  Is it just the most horrific thing you can think of – well for me, I can actually think of some things much more horrific, but this one is pretty bad.  Should the legal system produce a more just result?- I would think so.  (That being said, I am glad for a legal system that leans toward innocence, versus the alternative).  Should we react to her in a condemning way – hm, this is where I catch myself.  Take a look at these two teachings:

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! James 2:12-13 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Jude 1:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Christ, the most beautiful man to ever live, and I mean that not in appearance, but in his character and spirit, admonishes us to be careful with judgement, even so much as to turn that over to God, and to be free with mercy – rescuing those who are in trouble, but hating the actions they have taken. I wish I could be that way, and that is why I sit and stare at these verses this morning and consider the tragedy in Orlando, and formulate what sort of reaction to have to that mess.

What do you think?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

What I was spending a lot of time thinking about where the words “in view of God’s mercy”. It is such a great thought to consider – that we have been given mercy from the creator of the world. That is reviewed in great detail in some of the previous chapters in this book – especially chapters 6 and 8, and then it ends with this great exhortation ( I love that word).

Today, remember the mercy that you live in the light of, and change your actions and behaviors to account for that truly remarkable gift!

Well what to do?  How should we celebrate this glorious day of mathematics?  Check out this page for some interesting facts.

On this day that we celebrate Pi and things mathematical, I think that is only correct to have a verse or two that  express simple formulas and demonstrate arithmetic operations.

For instance addition:

33″But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (New American Standard Bible)

subtraction:

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (New International Version, ©2011)

And finally multiplication:

2May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1:2 (New American Standard Bible)

I think that last one will make a great formula for a successful and fun way to celebrate Pi day.

Let M = Mercy, P = Peace, L = Love and U = you. Therefore:

GreatPiDay = ((M+P+L)*U)^Spirit

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 NIV

It’s such an encouragement to live a life that follows God. Not to show how good we can be. Not to earn one single thing. But in view of the mercy of God! An old preacher friend of mine used to say if you see a Therefore, find out what it’s there for. So take a peek back in Romans 11

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36

Live for him today, not to earn, not to prove, but because of what he has given us – which is well – everything you have.

Anyway, during his show, one of his joke sets is about the whole WWJD thing.  But he talks about Jesus’ brother – James, and spins a few very funny stories about James growing up with Jesus asking the question What Would James Do?

So, I thought I would take a look myself.  However, at first I had to find a bible that still had the book of James in it – as I have been known to tear those pages out of the bible since they are so difficult and penetrating.

Take a look at this.

12 In everything you say and do, remember that you will be judged by the law that makes people free.13 So you must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment. James 2:12-13 New Century Version (NCV)

Taking nothing from Michael Jr’s comedy, which is outstanding, I think we have found what James would do – and it is to live a life that reflects the mercy we have been given from the Creator of the world through the forgiveness of our mistakes.  James reminds us to show mercy to others in the same way we have been shown mercy.  That’s whats James would do – ’nuff said…..