God and America

Weekly Thought – May 22, 2018

Fred understood human nature better than most. He was never shocked because he grasped the depth of our depravity, but also celebrated the heights to which we could soar in the Spirit. He enjoyed thinking about philosophical elements of society. The separation of church and state is an example.

God and America

In their writings, memorials, statues, public utterances, and their deepest thoughts, our founding fathers demonstrated their faith in the Divine. When they advocated the separation of church and state were they being hypocritical? No, I think not. They simply understood it better than we do today. Separation was not to isolate or dwarf either.

We have confused the issue of religion in politics with the theory of separation. These are very different concepts which the media and unknowledgeable, biased people treat as synonymous.

The basic tenet of separation is to keep two major bureaucracies (church and state) from uniting and thereby combining treason and heresy under the same authority. If a person became offensive he could be declared treasonous and if that failed, marked as a heretic. The chance to escape was slight.

The union of church and state refused equal freedom to denominationalism. The elimination of choice between denominations would be extremely unhealthy. Personally, I know and respect a great many of the current religious leaders, but I do not know a single one I would risk handing over leadership for all of Christendom. The dispersion of church leadership is an advantage of denominationalism.

When a human leader has the choice between the visible power of politics with money/power and the invisible power of God, the temptation is great to turn toward the visible which can be controlled, neglecting the invisible which is intended to control him.

Unfortunately, we are seeing a revival of the concept of civil religion. To say that morality comes only from the Christian faith, in my view, is untrue. There is a great need for stronger morality in America. I am grateful for greater depth of our moral fiber. But I believe to say it can only come from Christians is not true.

I appreciate the effort to revitalize America. We need it. However, I am afraid of any group who indicates that when we choose them as leaders we automatically get the exclusive sponsorship of God. Quoting religious platitudes can hardly deliver God to our nation. Who knows if He is through with us, but if He is elections can’t return Him.

It is important that I am searching to be on God’s side, not promising that He is on mine. Am I saying religion (and Christian faith) should not enter into political decisions? Certainly not! To say a man’s convictions should be kept out of any of his decisions is to suggest he become schizophrenic. In seeing the validity of a man’s faith in his political life, we also see the wisdom of not creating a society in which a man could be hanged on the dual horns of treason and heresy.

This week think about: 1) How do I react to Fred’s thoughts on church/state? 2) Why do I participate in the political system? 3) When do I most effectively allow my faith to influence my work, church, family?

Words of Wisdom: “To say a man’s convictions should be kept out of any of his decisions is to suggest he become schizophrenic.”

Wisdom from the Word: “He said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” (Matthew 22:21 NET Bible)

Through It All

Brenda’s Blog – May 22, 2018

Dad loved Andrea Crouch’s song “Through It All.”

Before the Fred-in-the-Bed group left each Saturday morning, Dad asked them to sing the chorus. We gathered around the piano singing loudly so he could hear from his bed. In his last hours I sat in the hospital room reading to him.

When we finished our daily passage he said quietly, “I’ve learned to trust in Jesus; I’ve learned to trust in God.” He soon lapsed into unconsciousness and those became his last words. Trust in God is more than a devotional subject. It is a declaration of victory at life’s end.

Maturity is not avoiding the rough seas, but knowing we can make it through by trusting God. Perseverance is not gritting our teeth, but seeing the source of strength and attaching ourselves to the Rock in the storm.

Father God, may our final breaths be used to express hope and acclamation. And as we live may our trust continue to grow ever stronger. How we love you and how we worship you as the one worthy of all trust.

American Musings

Weekly Thought – May 15, 2018

Fred’s early 1980s speeches reflect the depth of his thinking. He always went to the fundamental principles, then fleshed them out with current illustrations. These observations about America reflect the early weeks of Reagan’s administration.

American Musings

We have to think maybe the only real mandate President Reagan got from the people was to replace Jimmy Carter. He was elected, to my observations, not on confidence, but on hope. And hope is such a tenuous political emotion – so often disappointed. The masses knew we needed a change. It is still for this administration to establish that confidence so necessary for a leader if he is going to be truly constructive rather than a poll watcher. Sometimes I think we are getting to be political “poll cats.” Pardon the stinky pun.

Can we think together about what it takes to build confidence on hope’s foundation? America was built by confidence in the founding fathers whom we still revere. They were men who were willing to serve the nation even at a personal sacrifice. Now we have shifted to those who ask to run the country to take power, not to serve it. Those willing to serve were the statesmen while those anxious to serve are the politicians.

We must once again feel America has a destiny – more than survival. Mere survival will not inspire the energy and commitment w need for world leadership. As Faulkner said, “The life worth living does more than survive, it prevails.” When our highest concern is survival then compromise becomes our modus operandus. When communism first threatened the world those who chose survival were represented by the scholar who said, “Better Red than dead.”

Those who refuse to cave in to fear are saying with Solzhenitsyn “Better dead than a scoundrel.” He was willing to put aside risk survival for the life that prevails. He, like Bonhoeffer, was offered survival in exchange for compromise and silence. They both chose excellence over mere existence. Only when life is really worth living is it worth dying for.
I have had some concern that some of our past state department leaders have not believed us as a people capable of leading and therefore adopted compromise.

If the character of our people has weakened, if we have run our course in defense of freedom, and if leisure has become our goal, then compromise is all that is the only option open to us… and that will be for a short time. Compromise is a downward spiral, just as the prevailing attitude draws us upward.

This week think about: 1) How are these 1981 thoughts pertinent to today? 2) What did Fred see that I can apply to my own thinking this week? 3) When do I accept compromise in my work, faith, or family?

Words of Wisdom: “Only when life is really worth living is it worth dying for.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God.” (1 John 3:21 NET Bible)

In the Zone

Brenda’s Blog – May 8, 2018

“They have a sweet spot. If you find it, they work just fine.”

My son-in-law fixes Hello, Fresh meals three nights a week at my house while working out of town. I watched him manipulate an old, stubborn pair of scissors to open one of the neatly packaged ingredients. “Don’t you want me to find you another pair that would work better?” “No, I have figured out the sweet spot.”

As he cut across the bag, I thought about his words. Aren’t we like that? Don’t we have people in our lives who seem to be difficult, rusty, and hard to manage? Strangely enough, others seem to have a gift of working with them without tension and resistance. What is the secret? Finding the sweet spot… we all have them.

Gary Chapman wrote about Love Languages decades ago. His premise: each of us has a distinct way of receiving love. He believed most strife in relationships came from the inadequacy of recognizing and operating in the other’s love language. One is “Words of Affirmation.” Another is “Gifts.” And “Acts of Service” makes the list, too. One of our biggest difficulties is discovering the other’s language and not trying to use our own language as a “one size fits all.”

A dear friend definitely values time spent and words of affirmation. Her husband is clearly a gifts and acts of service kinda guy. He spends their weekends washing the car, buying her flowers, and generally believing himself to be extravagantly loving his wife. She longs for time over a cup of coffee, talking, and receiving reassurance of her value. She constantly tries to engage him in “meaningful conversation,” to his frustration. Both head their separate ways on Monday wondering how they missed so badly.

Finding our own sweet spot is key, as well. There are times when I feel like that old pair of scissors, trying so very hard to perform a task, but doing it badly or failing entirely. Oh, but when I am doing something in my giftedness, those blades just whiz through making clean, sharp cuts.

Looking for the sweet spot in others makes life work. Finding my own sweet spot gives my work life.

What Does It Mean?

Weekly Thought – May 8, 2018

Fred thought and spoke much about life with meaning. His executive friends often cluttered their world with work to the point of shutting out everything else. His thoughts to a Dallas group in 1981 are still relevant and helpful.

What Does It Mean?

Recently I met an old and prosperous friend who wanted to relive earlier times. Once an active layman, he has become stagnant. I asked him if he remembered the scripture verse “when it is day I long for the night and when it is night I long for the day.” He became quiet and then barely audibly said, “Fred, that’s me.” Like too many, when given the choice of filling the soul or the pocketbook – he grabbed the cash. His poor soul has been on a starvation diet. He needs some nourishment.

In East Texas when I first saw the large beetles on the pine trees, I thought they were alive. They looked completely natural. But when I looked more closely, they were hollow. Often I have to remember how possible it is to become hollow even while looking alive. The inside seems to go before the outside.

It isn’t easy to keep the inside renewed. Sometimes life seems to be a lot of activity and very little being. We use up the inside in maintaining the outside.

I truly wish I could help the many bored, frantic, angry, even violent, and meaningless people who cross my way… people who need to laugh, and love unselfishly… those who need relief from a social life that becomes rote and empty. Executives whose business life is their only life come into my office expressing their lack of preparation for life after career. I see so many who live with family lives which are fractured and scratchy – the home is only a transfer station where dirty laundry is deposited and bills are paid. These are the hollow ones who are overly concerned with the opinions of others. Some have let their bodies become little more than clothes racks or display mannequins – totally empty on the inside.

We need to help each other through the process of constant internal renewal of spirit. We need to assist each other be those worthy of respect, attention, and affection – whose insides and outsides both have substance.

Malcolm Muggeridge defines life as a mystery to be illuminated not a problem to be solved. When the true awe goes out, life becomes boring and repetitive. Too often I see prominent men and women who have substituted acquisition and entertainment for genuine awe. As a poor kid in the slums of Tennessee, I spent hours on my back leaning against the curb, looking up at the stars. Not many experiences rival those times. The awe of the universe stretched me.

This week think about: 1) How am I doing – am I getting hollow or whole? 2) Where do I find meaning for my life? 3) What one thing can I do this week to improve my family life?

Words of Wisdom: “Sometimes life seems to be a lot of activity and very little being. We use up the inside in maintaining the outside.”

Wisdom from the Word: “For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12 NET Bible)

Down to Earth Gifts

Weekly Thought – May 1, 2018

Fred had a high view of giftedness and their use. He appreciated the effective application and dedication of gifts to the glory of God. He saw them as part of our stewardship responsibilities.

Down to Earth Gifts

As a businessman I work to hone my discernment skills. Good judgment and common sense are vital to successful leadership. These skills are often associated with the secular world, but I believe my ability to discern and make good decisions applies to my spiritual life, as well.

For example. I was asked to speak to a singles’ retreat hosted by Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church and pastored by my good friend Steve Brown. They didn’t ask me to come preach – they wanted my viewpoint as a Christian layman. I didn’t pack my discernment gifts away in my office desk drawer when I went into this church environment. I went knowing all my gifts were dedicated to God’s use.

During the time a young couple anticipating marriage asked me for coffee. She had a background of insecurity and instability. He was one of the most irresponsible young men I had ever met. They asked my opinion of their upcoming engagement. I was quite frank telling them she was looking for security but he didn’t offer that. He spent his time in non-revenue producing activities. He had a winning personality, but a losing plan for supporting a family.

She took me seriously and they decided not to marry. Three years later I was on a plane flying cross country. A flight attendant saw me and said “You are Fred Smith. Remember me from the singles’ retreat?” She gave me an update which included an upcoming marriage to a seminary professor.

At the same retreat a Christian lawyer asked me this question: “Is Christian morality more than legality?” He explained he thought if it were legal, then that meant it was moral. He amassed a great deal of money manipulating his ethical standards. “Legality is the minimum standard for the Christian, not the maximum” was my comment. Christian morality is a much higher bar. As he asked I made the decision to tell him the truth, not shade it or try to give him a way out. Discernment carries with it the responsibility of integrity and avoiding the desire to be liked when hard words are required.

Bringing our faith and our God-given gifts together makes sense. If we are given the ability to read people, their patterns, and their motivations the church needs us to operate in such a way that we are a benefit. We do not leave our thinking processes and strengths at work when we participate in the local church. Our gifts are given for full-time use.

This week consider: 1) What are my strengths God has given? 2) Who has helped me with wise counsel? 3) How can I effectively bridge work and faith?

Words of Wisdom: “I didn’t pack my discernment gifts away in my office desk drawer when I went into this church environment. I went knowing all my gifts were dedicated to God’s use.”

Wisdom from the Word: “A person’s gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people.” (Proverbs 18:16 NET Bible)

Child’s Faith

Brenda’s Blog – April 24, 2018

“God is not a meanie.”

Phoebe Fair was four years old with cancer which soon took her precious young life. Her faith was mature and pure. Her trust in God ministered to all who knew her. But even more than that, her faith stretched world-wide as the story spread. As a member of the Zig Ziglar family, Phoebe’s platform for her witness went “to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

Even more significant than her reach was the profound knowledge of the Most High. He wasn’t a far away, impersonal force. He was her very special Abba… Father. And her relationship showed everyone around her the reality which takes a lifetime to achieve. In her short life, she walked and talked with God… and taught us all what that could be. She knew Jesus loved her – and she loved Him back.

What would you say about who God is? Would multi-syllabic theological terms be your go to? Would question marks fill your mind?

Theology is the study of the nature and character of God. Phoebe was a theologian of the highest order. My brother asked my Dad at the end of his life, “If you only had one more talk to give, what would be your topic? “ Dad answered, “The nature of God and the nature of man.” Dad taught us a correct understanding of each allowed life to make sense.

There are times when we doubt the goodness of God. We question His processes and wonder about the outcomes which we see (or more often don’t see). When those gray days come perhaps we can reflect on sweet little Phoebe who is enjoying the eternal presence of the God she loved and trusted and say, “God is not a meanie.” He is a working God who has it all under control and shows us His love through Christ Jesus. We can pray for child-like to love Him completely.

Three Giving Points

Weekly Thought – April 24, 2018

Fred once counseled “You never really know a person until you have counted money with them.” His generosity was never trumpeted. He gave to specific needs, not naming opportunities. He once said one of his questions for heaven was why ministry and money were so closely connected.

Three Giving Points

Giving can be a complicated discussion, but there are three simple points I have found:

1) I never enjoyed giving until I started giving more than the tithe. Recently, I have been close to a dear friend with a drinking problem. In fact, he spent $50,000 (in 1980 dollars) in one clinic. He is a man of substance and international reputation. He has shared the material he has on the subject. One of the most intriguing studies shows that someone may be sober for 20 years then go back to drinking. I wondered about the reason. It was actually very simple: those who went back were staying sober by following the rules and consistently working at it. Those who reached the “joy of sobriety” were much more inclined to stay sober and rarely go back. Those who stress and strain to give a tithe never really enjoy it. Those who give out of love rarely get caught up in the “gross or net,” “tithe or offering” debates. They reach the joy of giving.

2) Giving is the only drain I know for greed. If we want to drain the greed out of our souls, I think we can only do it by giving. Since I grew up poor I understand that environment. And since our financial condition has greatly increased I can appreciate the dynamics of the monied. The sin of the poor is envy and the sin of the rich is greed. We hear much about the sin of greed, but I think envy is much less productive, giving only ulcers. However, Christians should not be known as greedy (or envious). Giving pulls the plug on the desire to excessively accumulate.

3) Maxey Jarman taught me money can be temporary. After he gave millions of dollars to missions worldwide his financial situation seriously deteriorated. I asked him if he ever thought about the millions he had given away. “Of course I have, but do you realize I never lost a dime of what I gave away – I only lost what I kept.” For those who are waiting to give money, this should be a great inspiration to give now.

I do not believe God is fundamentally interested in your money, but in your maturity. If you will show me your calendar and your checkbook I can write your biography. I will know how you spend your time and money. Where those resources are is where your treasure resides.

Some people try to substitute service for giving and others try to substitute giving for service. Neither can be done – both are required for maturity. You are being dishonest and Christian growth doesn’t come through a dishonest process.

This week think about: 1) How much joy do I find in giving? 2)What measure do I use to gauge my greed factor? 3) How loosely do I hold onto things?

Words of Wisdom: “I do not believe God is fundamentally interested in your money, but in your maturity.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.’” (Hebrews 13:5 NET Bible)

The Influence of Identity

Weekly Thought – April 17, 2018

Fred’s “Don’t Duck” story influenced many at a men’s retreat in California. A few weeks later he received an envelope filled with buttons graphically designed to send the message with a bar drawn through a duck. Years later the illustration still lives.

The Influence of Identity

My friend Ray Stedman said he was struck when reading Michael Green’s book, Evangelism in the Early Church that first century Christians influenced their world for Jesus Christ more than believers do today. Their world was more openly hostile to Christianity than ours. They were fewer in number, did not hold powerful positions, did not have our technology or financial holdings, yet in thirty years spread the story of Jesus from Jerusalem to the capital of the Roman Empire. Today in the 1980s Christians have more established rights, are greater in number, and hold some of the most influential business and political positions in the land. Greene stated that their influence seems stifled and anemic by comparison.

Stedman said Greene believed the first century Christians were rooted in their identity. They were sojourners on their way home. The reality of eternity was the filter through which all of their thinking was channeled.

Too often we identify as American Christians (or even as narrowly as Texas Christians). Our focus is not on eternity, but on our piece of earth.

One of the most delightful men I know is Ron Ritchie of the Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, CA. He is one of the least likely people you would pick in a crowd as a preacher. He told me he got tired of being isolated by calling himself a preacher. He finally arrived at a clear answer when asked “what do you do?” “I tell people about Jesus if they want to know.” Then he shuts up and lets the Spirit take over. He has had some fascinating experiences.

I am not one to buttonhole people to “tell them about Jesus.” However, I have found an interesting possibility that the Spirit might use me in some small way on a one-to-one basis. If, each morning, I tell the Lord “today I won’t duck” and that if religion comes up in a natural way in a conversation I will deal with it just as I would any other subject. I have been very surprised how often when I go with a “don’t duck” attitude I end up in significant exchanges.

I have found that if I duck the natural conversations about spiritual matters I can’t make up for it by coming to the church visitation program and calling on three people I wasn’t necessarily led to by the Lord. This won’t make up for ducking the encounters He brought across my path.

I think of this as a stewardship of identity. I can’t get away from the fact that I am a Christian. I believe the Spirit, when we do what we do in the Spirit, has a way of bringing a great deal of light and removing most of the heat.

This week think about: 1) When have I “ducked”? 2) How can I better identify as a Christian? 3) What can I do to steward my Christian identity more effectively?

Words of Wisdom: “I have been very surprised how often when I go with a “don’t duck” attitude I end up in significant exchanges.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26 NET Bible)

Asbestos Faith

Brenda’s Blog – April 10, 2018

“Put on the shield of faith to ward off the fiery darts of the evil one.”

One of my favorite visuals is the spiritual armor from Ephesians 6. I try diligently (but not truly consistently) to “put on the armor” each morning before I start the day. One of my most important pieces is the shield of faith. It isn’t the tiny little hand shield, but the large one used to form a strong front for the entire line of warriors. It required several people to stand together connecting their shields in front, along the sides, and over the heads. It created an iron box which protected from the flaming arrows.

These days those arrows are flying fast. If I walk into the day without the protection, I am a sitting duck. What are those darts? Discouragement, distress, distrust, depression – all those D-arts. And there is a vocal track which accompanies the whizzing weapons. “You are not good enough; your children are hurting and where is God? You are making a mess of everything.” And as the song says, “on and on and on and on it goes. BUT faith says, “No, you are my child and you are in my plan. Your family is Mine and I have them in my hand.” NOTHING can separate me from the love of God.

What darts are aimed at your heart? Where are your soft spots? Enlist others to stand behind the shield with you. The last part of the armor verses says, “having done all to stand firm, pray at all times in the Spirit.” Join with others to form a shield which the enemy of our souls cannot pierce.

Let me pray with you – and you pray with me. Let’s be soldiers of the Cross together.

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