Have We Abandoned Ship?

 

            Recently, the Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia, struck a reef off the coast of the island of Giglio. Passengers were enjoying their evening meal when there was a sudden, loud bang, supposedly from an “electrical failure.” The guests were told that everything was under control and they need not panic. According to a survivor, the boat began to shake, with dishes crashing to the floor, and people falling down the stairs. Suddenly, the ship tilted to the port side, which consequently hindered access to life boats.

             The Captain, Francesco Schettino, has been indicted for abandoning the sinking ship, and the death of at least 11 passengers. Claiming that he accidentally “fell” into a lifeboat, he left the stricken vessel early on, and refused to obey coast guard orders to return. Prosecutors said he rammed the vessel into submerged rocks by making a risky maneuver, disregarding the alarm for the ship’s computer navigation system.

            Schettino said: “I was navigating by sight, because I knew those seabeds well…But this time I ordered the turn too late…” Instead of facing the consequences, he                   secretly took off, leaving hundreds of passengers trapped on board. The aftermath was a literal nightmare of horror, as thousands of precious people struggled to escape a black, watery grave.

            How does a ship captain justify such bizarre behavior? Did he “jump ship” to cover up his guilt in failing to follow procedure? He abandoned his responsibility as the pilot, which resulted in a most egregious act of cowardice. Everyone knows that the captain stays with a sinking ship. Duty, integrity, and commitment are glaring issues here.

            It’s easy to say that this tragedy would not have happened if Schettino had obeyed the rules. But that’s a big “if”--- one that plagues our society as a whole. This act of irresponsibility reflects a cancerous attitude that permeates our civilization.       

            Soon after the aforementioned incident, a political cartoon appeared in the Tribune depicting the huge ocean liner tilted on its side. The vessel’s name on the bow was replaced by “Obama Record,” with a message from the bridge saying, “It was human error…by the previous captain.” What a clever and accurate portrayal of the arrogant irresponsibility in the White House in failing to steer our nation aright, then placing blame on the previous president. What else is new?           

            Significantly, the sacred institution of marriage has increasingly been abandoned by those who see little purpose in its legality and/or privilege. Granted that the divorce rate of 50% is alarming, but disregarding this time-honored bond is to throw the baby out with the bathwater. As one who has been married for almost 55 years, I can vouch for this beautiful and endearing institution.

            Human failure in marriage is also no reason to change its definition. It’s still a covenant relationship between a man and a woman, with intent to reproduce offspring. Same-sex marriage cannot fulfill this purpose.

            Husbands and wives have an awesome responsibility to make their marriage work, especially as children come along. Serving each other in mutual love is essential.

So many children today have a house, but not a home. School-teachers can tell the difference. Whatever the cost, fathers must not “jump ship.”   

            Finally, churches need to take a hard look at their responsibility. “Separation of church and state” was never intended to take God out of national life. A better word is “distinction” between the church and government; this means that the church can do what government can’t; namely, care for the spiritual needs of the populace.

            The clergy must believe and preach the Bible, God’s Word. To do otherwise, is to abandon the spiritual ship. Social programs have their place, but not as a substitute for proclaiming the whole counsel of God. Without seeing individuals change, there’s not much hope for our community or society at large.

Reflections on the Costa Concordia Debacle

Reflections on the Costa Concordia debacle

            Recently, the Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia, struck a reef off the coast of the island of Giglio. Passengers were enjoying their evening meal when there was a sudden, loud bang, supposedly from an “electrical failure.” The guests were told that everything was under control and they need not panic. According to a survivor, the boat began to shake, with dishes crashing to the floor, people running and falling down the stairs. Suddenly, the ship tilted to the port side, which consequently hindered access to life boats.

             The Captain, Francesco Schettino, has been cited for abandoning the sinking ship, and the death of at least 11 passengers. Claiming that he accidentally “fell” into a lifeboat, he left the stricken vessel early on and refused to obey coast guard orders to return. Prosecutors said he rammed the vessel into submerged rocks by making a risky maneuver; he sounded the alarm too late, and secretly took off, leaving hundreds of passengers still trapped on board.

            “It’s a matter of honor that the master is the last to leave. Nothing less will do in this profession,” said Jorgen Loren, a Swedish Maritime Officer. Possibly this cowardly act was a cover up for his irresponsible conduct on the bridge. Some suggested that he was in shock or on drugs.

            Interestingly, the Titanic sank 100 years ago, with striking similarities. Both vessels were considered unsinkable. Schettino, like the Titanic’s Captain Smith, placed his faith in “bigness.” “Today everything is safer than it was in the past and we are better prepared,” he said. In the same vein, Captain Smith told a reporter in 1907, “Shipbuilding is such a perfect art nowadays, that absolute disaster…is inconceivable.” These grandiose claims were soon shattered!

            In both instances, the captains failed to heed warnings of impending danger. The Titanic bridge had 6 wireless warnings from other ships regarding potential ice berg sightings; that didn’t stop Smith from continuing at top speed, until the lethal collision with the ice occurred. Schettino simply jockeyed the vessel by sight, disregarding the computer setting, then striking the reef. The egotism of these two irresponsible sea masters is disturbing.

            Sea stories grant an opportunity to study and learn from human nature. The recent fiasco near Italy must have been horrendous for those struggling to survive a dark, watery grave. One can only imagine the screams of terror, hostility, and utter hopelessness!

            Who would have ever anticipated that a calm cruise on a luxurious liner would end in disaster? Whatever the problem, they were told that everything was under control---or was it? Assuredly, an experienced skipper was in charge, what could possibly go wrong?

            Furthermore, whatever apprehension gripped the passengers had to be quelled by the ship’s reputed invincibility. The Titanic may have sunk, but not this “big, perfected” craft.  Well, that was not the case! There were no guarantees of peace and safety, just hopes and wishes. No one anticipated the outcome. But is this not the way life is to all of us?

            I’m reminded of an episode with Christ and His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. (Mark 4:36f.) While sailing to Gadara, a tremendous wind storm arose; the waves beat furiously on the ship, filling it with water until it began sinking. In the midst of this trauma, Jesus was asleep, which could only intensify their fear. After all, He was the Captain of the ship! With that, they awakened Him, saying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

            Unlike any ship Captain in history, he got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace be still.” Guess what? The wind ceased, and “there was a great calm.” The frightened seamen were now overwhelmed by this miraculous feat, saying to one another, “What manner (kind) of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

            There are no guarantees in this life. No unsinkable ships and no predictable events. Like the wind, things can change so quickly. Therefore, we must have an anchor for our souls, and One who can not only deliver us from sin’s turbulent sea, but supply the “peace of God that passes all understanding.” Dear reader, do you have that kind of Savior?

            The story is told of a young lad who was cruising across the Atlantic, thoroughly enjoying the trip. On route a severe storm arose, with gigantic waves tossing the vessel to and fro. While passengers scurried to find their life jackets, the young boy sat serenely with a gleeful expression. Folks around him were amazed at his calmness; someone finally asked him the reason for his seeming indifference, to which he replied, “My father is the Pilot of this ship, and he has always made it safely to shore.”

            It does make a difference who controls the “ship.” True believer’s in Christ have boarded this “Ol’ Ship of Zion,” which is destined to port safely one day in Heaven, despite the crashing waves of daily tribulation. This world is “shipwrecked,” and headed for eternal destruction. It’s time, dear friend, to enter the Ark of Safety, trusting the Master of the Sea.           
            Edward Hopper (1818-1888) captures the heart-cry of weary souls:

 “Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee:
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

 As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will
When Thou say'st to them, "Be still!"
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.”

ARE THERE ANY STANDARDS LEFT?

Are There Any Standards Left?                  

            In the midst of a pending economic collapse, the airways are replete with advertisements to buy gold. “It’s the investment that has never been worth zero,” so they say. It is pretty obvious that our paper money (the dollar) is rapidly losing value and has no gold backing as it once did some 50 years ago. In its big spending and bail out program, our US government continues to print more and more money with less and less worth. Eventually that can only lead to financial and economic bankruptcy. But so what? Big government is the answer, isn’t it, just look at France and Greece. Not too encouraging. Yes, new jobs are being established by the government, but with whose money—the tax-payers!

            What’s happened to our beloved land? I’m tired of hearing about our poor economic condition, while our poor moral condition is ignored. It’s like our troublesome economy just happened in a vacuum with no underlying causes. We’re trying to revive the gold standard, while denying any moral standards which call for individual responsibility. We still want to have “stuff”, while embracing and propagating immorality throughout our culture. The liberty that made our country great cannot be preserved without individuals using that liberty to preserve that liberty. In other words, liberty requires personal responsibility for oneself and family; to fail here is to lose our liberty and end up “pimping” off of the government. This is what socialism is all about.

            Our President, Mr. Obama, has become the object of conservative political commentators who decry his liberal and socialistic agenda. Although no fan of Pres. Obama, I have to say in his defense that he revealed that agenda up front during the elections. Did he just walk into the White House or was he placed there by the misguided voters of America? This whole fiasco is not focused on one man, or his liberal cronies, but on a country that’s been on the toboggan slide to Hell for many decades. Cry as they may, this country basically thinks like Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter; we really don’t want anyone with moral character to lead us. We have what we deserve.

            Though I cannot go into detail at this time, I can only point to the Standard that made our country initially and ultimately great---the Bible. No, this was not technically a “Christian” nation, but certainly it was based on Judaic-Christian principles. One only needs to study the Constitution and Founding Fathers to make such a conclusion. Our whole legal system is based on the Bible, and thus it’s no wonder that since the Bible was thrown out of the public domain in the 60’s, the judicial system has rapidly deteriorated.

            “If the foundations be removed, what shall the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) We have lost our bearings or foundational standards which once made us great. The economic scene is only a reflection of the moral demise of our populace. Yes, we need the gold standard, but that’s meaningless without a restoration of God’s standard of life and liberty---the Bible.     

CAN ANYONE PLUG THE HOLE?

Note: This was written some time ago.

IS THE TEBOW MANIA OVER?

I hope so. Denver’s recent crushing defeat at the hands of the fired-up New England Patriots should have silenced the “Tebow Craze.” We found out again that Tim isn’t really the “mile high messiah” that some have made him to be. He is the first to admit his failures, having never bought into the “mania.” He wisely didn’t have a post-game interview, thus able to avoid stupid questions like, “If you’re a Christian, how come you didn’t win the game.” Such ignorance prevails by those who have a distorted view of true saving faith. Yes, thankfully, the hype is fading.

            However, I couldn’t resist doing a follow up piece on Tim after reading “Tebow 3:16,” depicting Denver’s previous game against the Steelers. The “magic” number 316, in this case, denotes his passing yards in that game, breaking down to 31.6 yards per throw. Quite remarkable, in light of Tim’s history of placing “John 3:16” on his eye black during his college days.

            Call it coincidence, superstition, or providence, etc. ---it sparked interest across the country. I doubt if Tim was as impressed with the stats as was the media. For those not familiar with “John 3:16,” this is a Bible verse which states,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

            This is the Christian Gospel in a nut shell, which has become Tim Tebow’s testimony. It explains the basic reality and purpose of his life, especially in light of his mother’s near-abortion decision while Tim was in the womb.

            Consequently, his determination to give God thanks, privately and publicly, has become habitual. Not all habits are wrong, especially when they promote integrity and strength of character. He’s made a tremendous impact on others, especially young people who are swamped by the negative influence of a decadent society.

            Detest the “3:16” or not, you can’t argue with this young man’s example. Especially, since he’s not in it “for the money,” nor does he exude an arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude. The critics can only slander his sincerity and the God he serves.

            I remember how popular “Forrest Gump” was several years ago. While not embracing all of its content, I thought the movie portrayed well the unusual and refreshing character of this country boy from Alabama. Overcoming early paralysis, Forrest became a runner extraordinaire, saving the day both as a football player, and a war hero in Vietnam; eventually, he became a wealthy shrimp boat captain.

            As the village “idiot” or, at best, a simpleton, he stymied his critics. Despite his naiveté, they couldn’t fathom his loyalty, integrity and undying love. Gump’s pristine character captured the hearts of movie goers who could only respect and envy such genuine enthusiasm for life. How stimulating, in contrast to the immoral and loveless complexities of our society. But remember, it was just a movie based on a novel---a fictional acting performance.

            Tebow, on the other hand, is not “performing.” From every indication, he’s a real-life, genuine role model. Moreover, he’s not a simpleton or idiot, as some would make him. He’s true to his convictions, whether popular or not. What you see is what you get.   Even so-called religious people can’t believe that Tebow is for real. Many professing Christians hide behind their religious façade, hoping never to be exposed. Hypocrites are actors by definition. Tim admits his sinfulness and seeks God’s forgiveness. That’s not hypocritical, but real humility. Dislike him, if you will, but his example is undeniable.

            It’s easy to be critical when we don’t understand what makes people tick. Could it be that “we’re down on, what we’re not up on?” Away with the frivolous, fanfare called “Tebow mania;” rather, give us a genuine and ongoing epidemic of Tebow-like young people across the nation.

TAKING INVENTORY IN A UNSTABLE WORLD

            “2011 ends with 4.0 quake.” So read the headline of last Sunday’s Tribune. The 4.0 magnitude earthquake at 3:04 p.m. (Sat.) shook the Mahoning Valley and jarred area residents. After 10 previous quakes since March 17^th, this was the most severe in Mahoning County history. “It scared the (stuffing) out of us,” said John Leach, a local resident.

            A neighbor, Bob Berry, was napping, and heard his dogs barking just before the impact. “It was like a truck hit the house, it was so bad,” Berry said. He thought the house next door had exploded.          

            What caused this earthquake? Many blame the series of quakes on the drilling operations which use the fracking process to extract natural gas from underground shale. But Jim Zehringer, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources disagrees, saying that “the seismic events are not a direct result of fracking.”

            I certainly don’t want to discount any natural cause for this phenomenon. But you can’t help but consider the matter of Divine providence. One thing for sure, Mr. Berry had to be gripped with a deep sense of awe during the ordeal. We’ve all wondered at times why these things occur.

            After seeing some of the devastating world and local news on Sunday, I said to myself, “Here we go again, there’s nothing new.” The quake just reminded me of not only the unpredictability and brevity of life on this planet, but the shattered condition of our civilization. In the midst of the presidential primaries, I thought, “what difference does it make who saves the economy, if the moral fiber of our nation continues to crumble?”  Who will rescue us from the “cesspool” of corruption?

            It’s time to take inventory on our personal lives. Communities are made up of individuals, so change must come one person at a time.

             Ben Stein, the well-known economist, made the following astute remarks regarding the demise of our nation:

            “I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians….Where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren’t allowed to worship God?...There are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.”

            Anne Graham, Billy Graham’s daughter, was asked about Hurricane Katrina on the Early Show. The question was posed, “How could God let something like this happen?” Her response, Ben says, was most profound and insightful.

             She said: “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools…our government…and our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?”

            “I think it started,” Ben says, “when Madeleine Murray O’Hare…complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.”

            “Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about. And we said okay.”

            “Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.” We are “reaping what we’ve sown.”

            Indeed, these are sobering words to ponder as we enter 2012.

SPIRITUAL INTOXICATION

     2012 has finally arrived! The streets were all but empty today as we traveled to church. I wondered how many folks were sleeping in after a late New Years Eve. I would think that a good number had "hangovers" from too much "partying."  With all the tragedies and problems people face, it's understandable how this holiday has become just another excuse to "cut loose," attempting to escape reality.
     Christians face trials too. If fact, we're told by James to "count it all joy" when confronted by various conflicts, knowing that trial is used to develop our spiritual endurance and character. Thus, we need to revert, not to alcohol and gluttony, but to the abundant provision of the Holy Spirit and His Word.
     Paul said, "be not drunk with wine...but be filled (drunk) with the Spirit." (Eph. 5:18) What's wrong with being anebriated with the Wine of Heaven? We must be "drunk" with something in this world. If we're not to be unduely influenced by wickedness, then we must live under a heavenly influence, namely, the joyous fruit of the Holy Spirit.
     Compare Col. 3:16ff with Eph. 5:18ff, and notice that being filled with the Word of God produces the same graces as being filled with the Spirit. Show me someone who is saturated with the substance and reality of the Word, and I'll show you someone who is filled with the Spirit, and visa/versa.
     Let me suggest Grant Horner's Bible Reading System, reading 10 chapters per day from various Bible books. Don't let that scare you---give it a try for a month. This discipline has revoluionized my life!
     You can download it at http://www.thevinefellowship.com/  Let me know how it works. Have a Spirit-filled and Bible-saturated New Year!