Cheating is wrong . . . unless it doesn't help you win.

Nobody likes double standards.

Very few people are open to the thought that they may be living according to a double standard.

Double standards bore a hole in our character in such a way that we lose trust and credibility.

Yet, not one single person alive can claim to be without some sort of double standard.

As Major League Baseball finally got started last month, Covid helped overshadow the darkness that surrounded it - the cheating scandal of the Houston Astros.  Ever since MLB began before 1900, people have been cheating to some degree in order to get a little advantage.  Even today, sign-stealing is normal.  You put down signs as a catcher and I will try to read them as I'm a baserunner on second base and somehow relay them to the batter.  This is why they switch up signs when runners are on base.  It is a part of the game.

Houston Astros players took it too far.  But, does it deserve the death threats and former players  guaranteeing that Astros batters will be getting hit all year?  This quote from a current pitcher seems to sum up the mood of the hundreds of players who have spoken out: “I’m not going to let them forget the fact that they are hypocrites, they are cheaters, they’ve stolen from a lot of other people and the game itself."  For a system that identifies winning World Series with success, is it any wonder that people do (and always will) see what they can get away with in order to win one?

With this in mind, let me ask you one question:  Would there be this outrage (or even the investigation at all) if Houston did not win the 2017 World Series?  I think it's safe to say that it would not be the shadow that it is on the 2020 season nearly like it has.  You can do whatever you want in your sport, in your profession, in your large university, but if you end up succeeding AND you get caught, you'll hear it from the rest of us.  We really don't care about right and wrong, when it comes down to it, because, guess what, we've all done wrong, we've all either sought to get ahead or looked the other way when we knew that someone else did.

Psalm 73 addresses this concept of human behavior.  The writer didn't like the fact that people were doing evil and getting away with it.  Who would like that, right?  He returned to his senses when he declares near the end, "Nevertheless, I am continually with you."  When our standards seem to be double-standards, admit it and return to the God of focused standards.  When life seems unfair, to any degree, run to the Rock that is higher than us.  Ultimately, humility is the best answer:  "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26. 

God's standards, thankfully, are always the same and they are never contradictory to each other.  Yes, we get confused on what He's doing and what He's up to, but that's on us, not Him.  Run to the Rock, God Himself.

Covid-19 and the Lies that Abound

llustration #7 of how our current Covid-19 pandemic speaks to our even more real spiritual need:

Who can you trust with all of this information floating around? I mean, how many Covid-19 cases are there really? Is Covid-19 really a brand new virus or do we already have some protections for it? How much is the government keeping from us? Who really has our best interest in mind?

The ultimate question is, "Who is lying to us and why?"

If there truly is something going on that most of us are being duped on, there are two truths that will remain - they will be found out eventually and we still have control over our own outlook and attitude.

There are lies, though, that have been told for, well, forever.  We know that these are lies, that they are still being believed by the masses, and that we have a way to combat them. These lies are communicated through our adversary, the devil, who wants nothing else than our destruction. Just three simple examples and the truths that combat them:

1. Lie: You have no hope of forgiveness, you've messed up too much. Truth: In Jesus, there is offered to every human being the forgiveness of all your sins and the salvation of your souls.

2. Lie: God is not in control and/or is uninterested. Truth: God is sovereignly and perfectly knowledgeable about all that is going on, having a history of making good out of bad and drawing people to himself through patience and compassion.

3. Lie: What's best for you is to "be true to yourself." Truth: What's best for you is being true to who God has created you to be. It has been proven over time that the many forms of this falsity does not provide hope or satisfaction, whether it's in the form of sexual freedom, financial pursuits, or any kind of "look out for myself" focus.

For more information on the TRUTH in this post, see the extensive writings of the Apostle Paul and others in the Bible.  More specifically, Romans, chapter 3, Hebrews chapter 9, and 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.

Covid-19 and Returning to Normal?

Illustration #5 of how our current Covid-19 Pandemic speaks to our even more real spiritual need:

What will you return to?

Written now a month later than the last illustration, this illustration centers around the anticipation of lifting restrictions that have been in place for over a month. What are we most looking forward to? What are we anticipating in order to feel like things are “normal” again? Similar to someone returning from a foreign land and craving some sort of “taste of home”, we realize what we truly missed . . . and didn’t miss. 

With God, though, we’re never put in that position of being without what we truly need, for He never leaves us or forsakes us. When we know He's always there, though, we risk taking the Creator of the universe and the Lover of our souls for granted. Maybe you'd say, "He’s always with us in quarantine or in large gatherings, so why do I need to attend a worship service or even be a part of a church?"

Back to the illustration: How many of these “creature comforts” would you say we need? Anything that truly is necessary, including a relationship with God, will not be the things we naturally crave, so we need to figure out a way to keep them before us. Keep God’s Word before you, keep God’s people within reach, keep God Himself as your peace and comfort and refuge. #Psalm50

No matter how long you've been away you can always return to God


Illustration #6 - At what point is it "safe" to return to "life"?

The huge debate around MN is that we need to open things back up, at least to some degree.  I just saw a picture of friends that were celebrating Mother's Day IN a restaurant!!  What!? How dare they do that during this time!  At the same time, how envious I was of them doing this.😁  Now, it was in North Dakota, who has different restrictions than we do here in MN, so I shouldn't be too surprised.  Yet, what will MN do this coming week as the latest stay-at-home directive expires on Monday, May 18?  How will its citizen's respond?  Now, even Congress is considering legislation that would protect businesses from liability if they return to business and Covid-19 spreads through their actions.

This fact remains: life itself is a risk.  Every time we enter on on-ramp to a freeway or put money into an investment or even shake someone's hand, we are trusting that the other people on the freeway, handling our money, and touching our hand will do their part to, well, not harm us.  Whether it was before Covid-19 or now, none of us knew what each day would bring.  When we return to some sort of normalcy or a new normal, who can you trust?  Who will you trust?  God has given us two things that can bring us peace and joy in the midst of any kind of turbulence:  First, the ability to choose - nobody else can choose for you, though you can choose to allow others to influence you.  Second, to help with our tendency to allow others to choose for us, God has given us Himself.  Through his Word (#Psalm73, #wordsoflife) and through His Son Jesus Christ (see John 3:31-36), we have all we need for this life.  By receiving His witness, we receive His Spirit and, as a result, His peace, grace, joy, and life that is truly life.

It is never safe to return to life, but there's always safety in the arms of God.

Covid-19 and Getting the Right Information

Observation #3:  A seemingly inordinate amount of attention is given to something that causes way less deaths than Influenza A or even old age.  Why?
NOTE: This one comes with credit to Joe Williquette, a pastor friend of mine.

 
First, experts who know about viruses and microscopic organisms are telling us how serious this has been and could be. 

Second, the numbers don't lie - as of this morning there's been over 60,000 deaths and over one million cases in the U.S. alone (1 per 17 cases is ending in death) and the numbers are still growing.

Similarly, there is a movement and phenomenon called, "Biblical Christianity." Though it is based on a person, Jesus Christ, that hasn't walked on earth for 2000 years and though it is empowered by God and His Spirit, who cannot be seen, the numbers don't lie. Voice of the Martyrs just published a stat that the amount of Biblical Christians in China outnumber the amount of Communist Party members 100 million to 90 million. Not only that, but just do a quick search of the origins of the many humanitarian efforts that have started and continue over the centuries. Christians love others, serve others, and trust God through all sorts of life situations. The numbers don't lie. 

Trust Jesus today for your salvation, for it is BECAUSE we're saved that we do these things, not IN ORDER TO get saved. See Ephesians 2:1-10, John 14, or Romans 3:21-26 for more good stuff! #bygracethroughfaithyouaresaved

Observation #4:  I have found it refreshing to know where I can get good, reliable, information during this time of COVID-19. 

Though there are many reasons why a person may not be able to ALWAYS trust information coming from the "authorities," I would say it's irresponsible not to listen to CDC at a time when we so are so NEEDY of the right information. 

Similarly, if there is good, right, and life-saving information available regarding spiritual things and your eternity, wouldn't you do your best to do two things?
1. Make sure it's right information.
2. Listen to it.

This is what the God of creation has offered to us. Starting with Genesis 1:1 and "In the beginning God . . . ", continuing with Psalm 51 and what His forgiveness does and finishing with John 3:16 and the need to believe in Jesus for your salvation. We need RIGHT information. 

Make sure you're getting it and listening to it. Be safe. Stay at home. Be kind. Do no harm. Seek God first.

Covid-19 Hygienic Practices and Germiphobes - What We Can Learn

Observation #1: Most of us, I think it’s fair to say, have taken our “hygienic practices” to a new level recently. 

We’ve always known how germs spread but take more action now because of the threat to ourselves or even to the more vulnerable around us. 

Similarly, many do not address their spiritual need until it’s either too late or until they’ve spent most of their life ignoring it. I'm sure you've felt something like this: that inner sense that there’s got to be more to this life or that feeling like there’s something else that you need. Well, my friends, that inner emptiness is something you were born with and it can only be cured, or filled, or remedied, with Jesus. 

Let me ask you, is it sillier to quarantine yourself for two weeks or even two months in order to keep yourself a much less risk to get or spread a virus that has a 3-5% chance of killing you OR is it sillier to ignore God, your creator, at this moment and risk losing your very soul? Read John 3:31-36 and Romans 5:6-11. 

Believe today.

Observation #2: I have a friend who is a self-professed germophobe. I asked him about how our current COVID-19 situation is effecting him and his answer surprised me. 

He said that he's actually more calm than normal because, now, many other people understand him and are on his same "level." His desire for cleanliness and his fear of what germs can do have been justified, at least to some degree. 

Similarly, those who live out, day-to-day, the truth about who Jesus is, what He did for us, and what He offers each human being, will someday be seen as RIGHT. One day "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10). 

Be that self-professing Jesus follower, maybe you will be instrumental in saving others from their spiritual uncleanliness, once they realize their need.

We in America clearly don't get it.

Until hashtags and articles and award speeches turn into action and personal change, our culture will continue to lean towards moral failure.

About two years ago, I posted a four-part series on the disconnect our culture has between being OK with making sex a part of almost everything and the continued issues of sexual harassment, body-shaming, human trafficking, and the like.

This past weekend, the Super Bowl Halftime Show clearly made a statement that says, "A woman's body is her main feature."  No, I did not watch it.  Yes, I realize the incredible amount of talent that was represented and displayed on that stage.  All I needed to know is that, in my circles where the TV was left on at halftime, men were embarrassed to watch it with their wives, parents were embarrassed to watch it with their children, and church groups who kept it on were filled with awkwardness. 

It is February, 2020.  What I wrote in December, 2017 still applies and still calls out our world system for pandering to the basic lusts of people rather than being willing to see people for who they really are.  I'm certainly not bragging about what I wrote, but I am pointing a spotlight on the Creator of truth that brought about those observations over 2 years ago.

If we don't start listening to truth and doing the things that Part 4 of my blog series (based on God's truth) suggest, we will find ourselves in a crisis much worse than what brought on the #MeToo Movement.

The Societal Cancer We Don't Address, Part 4 of 4

The best way for me to conclude this post is for me to be very clear on what I'm calling for.  

Yes, in my previous post I said that we need to get rid of all pornography.  I can understand if your immediate response is, "Yea, like that's going to ever happen!  It's about as likely as us getting rid of all greed."  Why would I call for something that I realize is unrealistic?  By addressing pornography one person at a time, we can see the consequences of pornography (broken homes, wrecked lives, drained bank accounts, sexualized culture, etc.) get real help by addressing it one person at a time.

Here's what I'm realistically calling for:  I'm calling for each person who is reading this to do away with pornography in your life.  I urge you to, first, stop watching it in all forms, even the subtle yet real promotion of sex through movies that treat sex and sexuality in a casual way.  Second, I urge you to stop endorsing, stop attending, and stop allowing your children to go to movies that have nudity in them, that clearly are using nudity to attract viewers.  Third, I urge you to take the high road.  Use Covenant Eyes or Net Nanny or another service that either keeps you from certain sites or keeps you from viewing sites undetected. These sites have done an excellent job of both keeping trash out of your home and eyes while not hindering you from doing normal things that you need to do on a day-to-day basis.  Fourth, I urge you to have high standards of screen watching in your home, that computers be in plain site of all, and that hand held devices be highly monitored.  If you have cable, satellite, or a video streaming service, utilize the parental controls as if you're physically protecting your home from a predator.

Do your part.  Say, "Not in this home.  Not in this place.  Not on my watch"  Then, take it a step further.  Be an advocate of healthy respect of other people, that we see each person as valuable, no matter their mental capacity, their history, their affiliation, their race, or their age.  That you go out of your way to ask them questions, to look them in the eyes and listen to their response, to treat them with truly unconditional love.  Be that person that looks that girl in the eye and says, "Hi!"  Especially, dare I say (and I regret that I have to say it this way, but our culture has already judged women this way), those girls who are not accepted because of their looks or who have bought into the lie and are clearly seeking to earn a place in society by the way they dress.

IF you're a young man and you are of a dating age, I urge you that, if you find a girl that you like, treat her with respect.  Open doors for her, don't make any sexual advance on her, tell her that you've chosen not to have sex until marriage because you don't think it should be the basis for marriage.  And if you don't believe this then don't be dating at all.  Because until you're at a point when you can love a girl the way God has made her inside and out, you have no right dating.  Be a man!

If you're a young lady and you're reading this, I urge to be the woman that you were made to be by treating all others with respect, by not making sexual advances on a boy; by dressing in such a way that you don't need to be noticed physically in order to be accepted; by not watching things that will feed the romantic fantasy in your life where the next boy that says the "right thing" will sweep you off your feet.

Let's address this, not by villainizing every man that's had a bad thought about a woman, not by blaming women who "dress to kill," and not through well-worded social media quips.  Rather, let's each repent of the part that we've played and let's each respect and love people for how God created them, not how the world has defined them.

Please, do your part, that's what I'm asking.  Do your part.