Douglas Young

Today, it’s commonplace to hear aspirations of taking cities for God and taking the country back for God. Sure, I guess its great to aim high, but sometimes in our lofty pursuits of greatness veil our vision of seeing opportunities to pour cups of water. You might think that giving a person a cup of water or feeding the impoverished is silliness, but what you’ll actually find is that such a mindset is actually out of step with Jesus. Take a moment and read Matthew 25:31-46. If you don’t have a Bible in hand, I’ll supply it for you.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

To Jesus, a cup of water in his name was significant. He doesn’t expect us to take cities or countries for God. That’s not within our power anyway. We are seed sowers (Matt. 13) who commit ourselves to the service of others. As unprofitable servants, such is our “duty” (Luke 17:10).

We live out the Truth of Jesus in His Way (John 14:6). We serve. No strings attached. That’s anything but silliness.

“Inquiring minds want to know.” It’s The National Inquirer’s basis for existence. So they say. To a degree there’s truth to it. If not so, it would have folded long ago.

There seems to be an insatiable interest for sordid details into people’s lives. I can’t help but wonder if some aren’t obsessed with such. Look at the kinds of things covered on shows like Entertainment Tonight. Why would ET cover the stories they do if this wasn’t so? Apparently, there’s great desire for the succulent scoop on Hollywood’s elite. There’s a longing to know about the secret weddings and tawdry affairs of the stars. Would it, as a television show, endure if it weren’t the case?

I could be wrong, but I’m inclined to think that not all the stars care for the constant probing into their private lives. Jennifer Lopez’s secretive wedding wouldn’t have been covertly planned had she wanted photos of it to be slapped all over television sets. I think stars deserve some freedom from disturbance and a break from the paparazzi. I don’t think fame warrants the surrendering of all rights of privacy. Quite frankly, I lean towards the thought that overly obsessed people that feed off of this kind of information, themselves, have serious issues.

I appreciate that Jesus didn’t value meddling. At the close of John’s gospel,  he tells us how Peter inquired of Jesus as to who would betray him (John 21:20). It’s an interesting question. Peter had already denied Jesus. Judas had already betrayed Jesus into the hands of those who crucified him. Apparently, Peter had conditioned himself to believe that there was more betrayal to come. Given the preceding verses (vv. 18-19), Peter could be thinking just about anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t, itself, just another rumor. We simply don’t know. Anything was possible.

John reveals, from the third person vantage point, how he had been following Jesus and Peter (v. 20). That Peter is thinking suspiciously of John for doing so is evident (v. 21). I suppose the real question is…Was his suspicion warranted? I don’t believe so. Jesus knows what Peter is doing. But it’s not implausible for Peter to be thinking that John would betray the Lord, and as a result give Peter over to die. This is reasonable, especially, if the thoughts of vv. 18-19 are lingering in his mind.

Nevertheless, Jesus responds: “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (v. 22). One might conclude that Jesus, himself, had an inherent suspicion of another impending betrayal because of his response. After all, he doesn’t explicitly deny the suggestion. Why Jesus answered this way we’ll never know on this side of eternity. Regardless, whether Peter is on to something or not, it was none of his business. The most important thing was for Peter to follow Jesus, and not let himself get swept away into another denial himself. He needed to tend to his own matters. Soon his faith would really be put to the test!

Unfortunately, Peter couldn’t do that just yet, nor could he keep his mouth shut. “So the saying was spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’” (v. 23). Peter didn’t listen very well to Jesus’ advice. He instead gossiped about his inferences from Christ’s words. All he did was increase speculation and make matters worse.

Some things simply aren’t my business. Some things aren’t your business either. Peter shows us that curiosity can get the best of us, leaving us with egg on our faces. I’m inclined to think Peter learned his lesson (1 Peter 4:15).

There’s a fairly new show on A&E entitled Hoarders that captures life as a lot of people know it. Each show documents the lives of generally two people who cannot let go of things. They hoard all kinds of things, and they are suffering as a result. Their families often are trapped as well. Homes fall under decay. Cities threaten to levy fines and/or condemn houses altogether because of the health hazards that are created by the sickness of hoarding.

On the show, counselors work to help those entrapped in their hoarding ways through psychology, as well as through the clean-up process. It’s painful to watch people anguishing over getting rid of what to most of us is junk. People desperately cling to what seems to be insignificant. Oftentimes, people even hoard trash and rotten food. It’s saddening to watch, but what’s even worse is to see how so many see themselves as not having any problem.

We can become obsessed with things and not even be hoarders. Jesus spoke of such people (Luke 12:15). But life doesn’t consist of the things we collect. Life is about much more important things- God, community, love, family, friends, and etc. The things that we cling to are things that endure.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5, HCSB.

We cling, by faith, to something that isn’t subject to destruction, cannot be tainted, is resistant to decay, and his heavenly in its constitution. What God gives as his inheritance endures. It lasts.

Instead of desperately clinging to things that do not endure, may we remember the things that do!

Heartburn is real. Most of us, at some time, have experienced it. It’s no fun. No fun at all.

So I find it intriguing that there is a heart burn for which I currently yearn. This burn is different though. It’s been experienced before, but not by me. I sense it is immensely powerful. It must be, because simply reading about it has instilled in me a desire for it.

The gospel historian Luke writes of how two disciples are traveling by foot, on the road between Jerusalem and Emmaeus. It appears they are discussing events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus appears, but they don’t realize its him, for “their eyes were kept from recognizing him” (Luke 24:16). His inquiry into their conversation amazes them, given the buzz going around Jerusalem. Still, unbeknownst to them, they are conversing with the resurrected Christ. So they offer him a dinner invite and he accepts. Luke says, “When he was at table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight” (vv. 30-31).

And then comes the recognition of The Jesus Burn. The two express to each other the mutual burn that came with their time with Jesus. “Did not or hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (v. 32).

Their walk with Jesus formed in them both a burning sensation in their hearts. What a wonderful testament to their experience with the Christ.

Scripture tells us that Christ dwells in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17). Does his presence in your heart create a similar burning sensation? There have been times when I’ve sensed his nearness, but I long for his burn. I hope you will to!

How could one forget 9/11/01? I was ill that day. As I lay on the couch watching Good Morning America, the tone of the show changed completely. Something had gone terribly wrong. Multiple planes hijacked? You’ve got to be kidding me! One plane hits a tower. No accident. Smoke envelops the NY sky. Another plane hits the other tower, caught on camera. Shortly thereafter, a tower crumbles; the other soon follows.

The sick feeling in my stomach was now compounded. I felt bad when I began the day, but now another sick feeling consumed me that brought me to tears. I’d hoped it was a dream.

I laid on the couch virtually all day long, watching planes repeatedly crash into the twin towers, as well as the subsequent crumbling of the towers to the ground. All day long. It was like the movie Groundhog Day. How could I ever forget?

I’m convinced Christian’s gravitate to James because he pulls no punches. He doesn’t beat around the bush. What’s he’s trying to say is inescapable. I think such is greatly appreciated, especially when you consider to whom he was specifically writing (James 1:1).

Christianity began with Jews from all over the world who’d converged in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 2). It took a while, but eventually the gospel was received by non-Jews. When it did, though, it was not without incident. The New Testament reveals a Jewish prejudice against Gentiles that warranted exposure and reproof on more than one occasion. Furthermore, keep in mind that behind prejudice is conceit.

This brings us back to the book of James. The people to whom he writes are hardly lacking in pride, arrogance and conceit. They are resistant to truth (James 1). They show favoritism in their assemblies (James 2). They use their tongues in degrading ways (James 3). They think they are wise, but the signs reveal otherwise.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? He should (emphasis mine) show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness” (James 3:13, HCSB). They supposed themselves wise, but the evidence was to the contrary. Pride, arrogance, and thinking we’ve got it all figured out leads to blindness. The Pharisees got sucked into it, leading Jesus to say in reference to them, “They are bling guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, HCSB).

Wisdom warrants discretion, contemplation and consideration for others. Heavenly wisdom is “pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy” (James 3:17, HCSB). Wisdom isn’t found in the denigration of others. Unfortunately, those who think themselves wise often find much delight through it. Who really are the wise?

The other evening I got home a little later than normal, around the time my kids were going to bed. I kissed them each goodnight, as per their requests. Reese was already half asleep when he uttered, “Dad, can we pray?” I responded, “Sure bud!” and he commenced almost instantaneously.

One phrase has stuck with me ever since. “God, please take away my bad dreams, and Haylee’s, Aby’s, and mom and dad’s bad dreams too.” When he was done, I kissed him on the forehead and said, “Thank you, buddy.”

I’ve heard it said that whether we realize it or not, when we sleep we always dream. I’ve also heard it suggested that we, on average, have several dreams a night. No one may be poorer than me at remembering what I dream about, but I know that when I have bad dreams, I tend to remember them.

Growing up, I repeatedly had the same terrible dream that caused me to wake up screaming at the top of my lungs. Funny thing is that nothing that I remember about the dream itself was really frightening. It wasn’t as if Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees or Michael Meyers were hunting me down or anything like that. The dream that caused me to awaken in terror, night after night, was centered around my being trapped at the bottom of a hill as hundreds of wooden barrells plummeted down from the top. That’s it. No blood. No guts. No creepy figure from the big screen. Just me, a hill, and barrels.

As we experience them, dreams are very real to us. They may invoke any number of different kinds of emotions because they are tremendously powerful. Our minds, the most powerful tool God has given us, are intensely at work. A lot is going on while we dream, stirring up good and bad emotional responses.

So I’m not the least bit surprised that Reese prayed for God to take away his bad dreams. They are no small matter to him, and the depth to which he is affected by them is seen in his desire that God takes away the bad dreams from the rest of his family too!

God can do that. But God can do much more. He can take away the harmful effects of sin- guilt, shame, and emotional pain- by the power of his might. For that I am eternally grateful. But I’m also thankful that he can take away our bad dreams as well!

When it comes to having children, in particular bringing children into the world, I often say, “My quiver is full” (cf. Ps. 127:5). But down deep inside, Tisha and I both have a yearning to adopt a child. If we do, we will wait until our children are old enough to understand, as much as they possibly can, the rationale behind it. If it goes as planned, we will not adopt an infant, but instead an older child—one that has slipped through the cracks.

Hopefully, we all feel for children without parents, regardless of how or why they are in the situations they’re in. Parentless children are most unfortunate. If you have never thought about a child who is orphaned or abandoned by dead-beat parents, the thought should bring sadness to your heart. And if for some reason, you feel as if you cannot sympathize with what I am expressing, then try empathizing with it instead.

You see, in a sense, all of us who were once lost but are now found, are adopted children. Sin creates a terrible chasm between God and man (Isa. 59:1-2; Eph. 2:11-12), leaving us spiritually alone, Fatherless in sense. But through the blood of Christ the chasm is traversed (v. 13). The process is redemption and adoption (Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5). Our disposition becomes one of adoption, and no longer one of bondage (Romans 8:15). The terminology could not be any clearer.

By faith, we become “children of God” (Gal. 3:26-27). He is our Father, unto whom we cry, “Abba” (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6), and with Him, no earthly relationship can compare. He is our heavenly Father and we are His children. The thought alone is one that should give us chills.

So all of us should understand, at least to a certain degree, having been Fatherless once and in need of spiritual adoption, what it is like for any child to not have parents. Adoption is a great thing. It gives a child hope, and of course, that is a good thing; for all of us need hope. For this reason, it is a concept to which we should cling. Fortunately, we have hope through having been adopted by God. Therefore, let us never take it for granted!

I don’t have a clue where I got this, nor who the author is, but I’ve used it repeatedly over the years as a part of funeral service. I love it. Hope you will to!

You and I have been together a long time in a most intimate and valuable relationship. Now you have grown old. Your hearing and strength are failing. Your resistance to cold is diminishing. You cannot climb and run as you once did. In a word, you are running down. In a short time you will cease to breath and your heart will stop beating. When you can go no further, you will be returned to the substance of which you were made, and I shall continue on in that life where you are not needed. A Power greater than us both started us on this journey together.

Now I recognize that you are aware of the fact that your journey is nearing its end, while my journey has scarcely begun. I know this to be true, for while you are feeble, I have never been more alive. Our separation, therefore, cannot be one of sadness, but will be one of joy. You are weary and want to stop. I am longing to alight from this slowing vehicle and go on without you. Death will mean that your desire to stop is granted, and my longing is satisfied.