The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for February 1, 2012

Have you noticed how much we speak about God, rather than to God? Sermons, Bible studies, testimonies of believers...all about what God has done. To put it grammatically, we talk about God in the third person, the same impersonal way we talk about the weather, taxes, what have you.

So I found it strange years ago when I began reading St. Augustine's "Confessions" for the very first time.  "Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and Thy wisdom infinite. And man wants to praise You, man who is only a small portion of what You have created..." and on and on Augustine goes, second person, talking directlly to God.

I'm not writing here about prayer, about intentional times of talking to God, but rather about those times when we're thinking of whatever we happen to be thinking. I've put myself under the mild discipline of phrasing those quiet, usually hum-drum thoughts in the second person, directly to God. The result of that little grammatical recasting of my mundane thoughts has been a tremendous advance in my spiritual life. I know His presence more than when I put Him off in the third person. Try it; He'll like it!

The Meyer Minute for January 31, 2012

The Roman poet Horace, who lived just before the time of Christ, praised his father for teaching him to avoid great vices, like adultery and squandering family money. "Thanks to this training I am free from vices which bring disaster, though subject to lesser frailties such as you would excuse. Perhaps even from these much will be withdrawn by time's advance" (Satire I, iv, 129-132).

Have the years softened your lesser faults? Maybe you're a better listener than you used to be. Maybe you're more patient with young people. Maybe you plan better, not waiting to the last minute to get something done. Maybe you treat your body with more care than in your college days. Maybe you think about improving your faults and less about finding the faults in others.

Horace said that aging, "time's advance" can take away such faults. We Christians know that "time's advance" is moving each of us toward God's judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). That lays more on us than simply being content that we're forgiven by Jesus Christ. There's also the desire to improve ourselves before God. "We will in all things grow up into Him who is the head, that is, Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

Then again, some people won't improve themselves. "We never did it that way before."

 

The Meyer Minute for January 30, 2012

In the first chapters of "The Defining Moment," Jonathon Alter describes the home in which Franklin Delano Roosevelt was raised.  He was born on this date in 1882.  Father James was from "the old-money stability and impeccable standing" Roosevelt family and mother Sara was from "the entrepreneurial success of the Delano's." Alter describes that successful financial lineage as "a double-bolted door of invunerability, reinforced by the unusually strong love and attention of his parents." (p. 13)

We've seen the photo of FDR in the back seat of an open car, cigarette holder pointing up, big smile, jaunty and confident. It wasn't simply the money, for we've all known ne'er do wells. It was his parents devotion.  Father James often took young Franklin to sports and civic events and mother Sara "was a walking advertisement for the benefits of ceaseless, even suffocating devotion-the only source of consistent affection in her son's life, a rock not just of financial security but of deep maternal love so central to instilling genuine self-confidence." (p. 16)

I suspect many young parents are surprised, sometimes resentful, about how children dominate their lives. That God commands children to honor their parents presumes that parents will devote themselves to the task of raising His children. It's not just about Mother's Day and Father's Day but about every day, about today.

"Teach us to number our days." (Psalm 90-12)

The Meyer Minute for January 27, 2012

"I first came to this conference 20 years ago at a very low time in my ministry." The conference so renewed his hope that he's come back ever since.  Some minutes later, the same sentiment from another speaker.  The encouraging gathering is the Mega Church Conference, a meeting of many pastors of large Lutheran churches.  Attending this conference myself, I'm impressed by the camaraderie and encouragement these pastors and spouses share with one another. 

Some ministers clumsily corrupt Christianity into nothing more than burdensome rules.  There are rules, the Ten Commandments, and they show our sin, a sad fact.  But Christ's forgiveness?  His resurrection?  His living, His praying for us, His helping us?  Aren't these reasons for joy and confidence? 

Pastors are preparing their sermons for Sunday.  C.F.W. Walther, a 19th century professor  told seminary students, "I wish to talk the Christian doctrine into your very heart, enabling you to come forward as living witnesses with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power.  I do not want you to be standing in your pulpits like lifeless statues, but to speak with confidence and cheerful courage, offering help where help is needed.”  (Law and Gospel, p. 9). So pastors, be with us, encourage us!  Don't turn the Good News we need into your burdensome law.

 

 

The Meyer Minute for January 26, 2012

There’s a notion, I often sense it in ministers and seminarians, that full-time church work is nobler than other professions.  When you remember that Christ called fishermen, tent makers, tax people, and the like to be His leading people, you have to wonder.

I know from my own experiences that members of Congress work long hours, at times in their districts and other times in Washington.  They’re there now, after the State of the Union speech, working on the difficult task of governing in a sorely divided political climate.  Martin Luther wrote that government work “needs abler persons than the office of the ministry.  Therefore it is necessary to keep the best boys (today we add, girls) for this work, for in the ministry Christ does everything through His Spirit.  But in the kingdom of the world one must use reason…. Governing is, therefore, the more difficult task.” (Plass, 1771)

So we pray God’s guidance and care not only upon church workers but also upon all men and women serving God’s purposes through their work in government.  John Newton, author of “Amazing Grace,” wrote to a member of the British parliament, “It’s hoped and believed that the Lord has raised you up for the good of the nation.”  (Os Guiness, “The Call,” 29)  Agreed!

 

The Meyer Minute for January 25, 2012

Sometimes a verse puts your troubles into a few short words.  Psalm 34:19 begins, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”  You’re on the short end.  Someone is spreading lies about you, cheating you in some deal, using you, not following the Golden Rule….  These are the afflictions that trouble sincere and godly people.

For that the psalmist gives this promise, “But the Lord him out of them all.”  Sometimes you’ve seen this promise kept in your own lifetime.  You’ve seen people who have wronged you finally get what’s due them.  But much damage was done and now, right now, you may be suffering because of some wrong being done to you.  These troubles can drive us two ways.  One is toward retaliation.  Don’t go there, the psalmist says, but instead trust the promise. “The Lord delivers him out of them all.”  God sees; God knows; God hears your prayer.  “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.”  So if people are doing you wrong, if you can’t get them to stop, and if, this is a big if, if you’re not retaliating but trusting God to set things right, this verse, Psalm 34:19, is for you.  It’s affirmation as you walk the way of Christ.

 

The Meyer Minute for January 24, 2012

Psalm 34:19 is strangely comforting verse.  It begins, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”  Isn’t that the truth!  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”  Before throwing a pity party, does this verse even apply to us?  Are you righteous?  Am I?  Psalm 143:2 says, “Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.”  We’re disqualified, this verse isn’t for us, unless…..  Unless God gives you righteousness, which makes it His gift not your merit.  Jeremiah 23:6 – “The Lord our righteousness.”  St. Paul says that God made Jesus, “who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Yes, the verse is for us.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”  If you think about it, sincere Christians are troubled by more things than people who don’t care about God and things eternal.  Striving to follow God’s word, we see and experience things that threaten our walk with Christ.  Those temptations trouble us but are of no importance to people who are spiritually apathetic.  These first words of Psalm 34:19 affirm the life you and I are trying to live.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”  More about the verse tomorrow.  

 

The Meyer Minute for January 23, 2012

On this date in 1960 the “Trieste” descended 35,813 feet into the Pacific Ocean near Guam.  Down in the deepest known place on the surface of the earth, the pilots saw what no human had ever seen, including fish living in that deep darkness.  What wonder they must have felt!

In contrast, a Barna study found young people have a very superficial understanding of Christianity but, surprise, they don’t think so.  “The vast majority of churchgoing teenagers said they understand the teachings of the Bible ‘very well.’”  Too sure of themselves?  Asked about his life goals, a 17-year-old said, “I don’t know.  I am really good at a lot of things.  I am also really interested in a lot of things.  I’m thinking of starting a college.  I feel I have a lot to teach others about many subjects.”  (“You Lost Me,” p. 117)    

Who to blame?  The “Trieste” was a “bathysckaphe,” the word coming from two Greek words, “skapha” for “small boat” and “bathos” meaning “deep.”  Are you and I going deep down into the depths of Christianity so that we can teach and model for youth the complexity and marvel of the life God has made?  “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33)

 

 

 

The Meyer Minute for January 20, 2012

Hi, Christian here!  Know what?  Opa had a birthday last week.  We went to his house.  We took some black balloons.  Why black?  We gave Opa two books.  Mommy picked out one book.  It was a big book called “Prefaces by Martin Luther.”  I don’t know if Opa will really like that book.  It has no pictures.  I picked out the other book.  It’s called “365 Children’s Prayers.”  I like that book and have one just like it. 

One prayer says, “Dear God, Thank You that You love children.  Thank you that Yours is a very special love; You love us even more than a father loves his own children, because You made us and we belong to You.”  One prayer was written by a boy ten-years-old! “Dear God, I like birthdays even when they are not my own, because everyone is happy.  I like giving people presents.  At Christmas what do You celebrate most – Your birthday or Christmas?”  I like these prayers.  And this book has pictures.

I’ve heard people talking about Roe versus Wade.  I don’t know what that’s about.  All I know is that I like birthdays, Opa’s birthday and especially my birthday.  I’m so glad I was born!

 

 

The Meyer Minute for January 19, 2012

Antonius Felix was the procurator of Judea from 52 to 60 A.D.  A procurator was a financial and sometimes military official who answered to the emperor in Rome.  So it was an important position, Felix understandably had things on his mind and one of the things he didn’t want to bother with was Christianity.  When Paul was on trial and presented his faith before Felix, Felix said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient I will send for you.” (Acts 24:25)

You might call Felix an “apatheist.”  The word was coined by blogger Hemant Mehta to describe a growing fact of American life, spiritual apathy.  44% of us spend no time seeking ‘eternal wisdom.’ 46% don’t think about whether they’ll go to heaven or not.  28% say, ‘It’s not a major priority in my life to find my deeper purpose.  (USA Today, January 3)

Hebrews 3 is a plea against “apatheism.”  “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”  The name “Felix” can mean “fortunate.”  I wonder what the final outcome was for his spiritual apathy.  Maybe Paul’s witness sank in and he is eternally “fortunate.”  Is there an apatheist who is learning from you “the hope that is in you?” (1 Peter 3:15)