Author: preacherpollard

Neal Pollard

It sounds like pure fiction!  Three siblings seemingly rotten to the core.  What triggered their criminal rampage that took them from Florida to Colorado, leading them to shoot at multiple police officers, steal cars, rob banks, and involve themselves in multiple high speed chases with law enforcement?  At the end of the manhunt, the eldest, a 29-year-old woman who was a stripper by profession, repeatedly fired at officers on the scene until she was finally shot in the leg.  Their photos, splashed all across the media, reveal three normal-looking young people.  Yet, between them, they have 20 felony charges in their criminal history.  There is unwed pregnancy, sexual perversion of multiple kinds, and an arsenal of weapons and ammunition they used freely until their capture.

We want to know what happened to create such monsters?  What kind of home training (or seeming lack thereof) did these three receive?  What would make them embrace such reckless, dangerous anarchy?

May I suggest that these three have exhibited an extreme example of a popular mindset in our culture?  What was on display in this crime spree was utter, unadulterated selfishness.  The FBI implied there may be a disdain for law enforcement, but one does not need to be privy to their tweets and texts to see that.  Reports are that on a social media account, the sister said, “I love to farm and shoot guys and wreck cars.  I’m a redneck and proud of it” (ajc.com).  This was self-centeredness and disdain for authority at its most unabashed.

Their parents certainly take the pressure off of any of the rest of us in a contest for “worst parents of the year.”  But, let us consider that we are instilling values in our children, by example, by neglect, by intentional teaching, and by what we prize and value.  We are giving the next generation its worldview by the decisions we make and rationale we employ.

I am not saying that we are raising firearm-crazy rednecks, but we are raising our children to have certain values and priorities.  They will become what we are helping to make them.  That sobers me to no end.  What a great responsibility God has placed upon our shoulders!  He will hold us accountable for the direction in which we are setting them.  Many people will talk about our children in the years and decades to come.  What will they say about them?  May words like “godly,” “committed,” “faithful,” “spiritual,” “unselfish,” and “servant” modify others’ descriptions of them!  May we be modeling those very traits before their impressionable eyes.

Neal Pollard

I know it is on your mind if you are a working adult.  What does it mean that the United States, which, according to Michelle Bachmann, has had a AAA credit rating since 1917 and “has endured the great depression, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the terrorist attacks on 9/11” but has been downgraded to AA-plus?  How will this effect present financial functioning and future economic opportunities, including things like retirement?  Has our nation become like that cliched bum uncle that is loaned $1000 but refuses to pay it back, calling himself unable while keeping premium cable and smoking three packs a day?  If the government is to blame, why must bill-paying, responsible citizens pay?

Perhaps such questions are futile in looking at our national economy.  However, there is one arena in which we will never have to worry about a “credit downgrade.”  The apostle Paul mentions this extensively in Romans four.  In fact, all nine times the word “credited” is used in the NAS version, it is found in this single chapter.  The word is an accounting term meaning “to enter in the account book” (Reinecker 357).  The crux of the discussion is how righteousness is credited. Paul indicates that righteousness is credited to our account, not based on our performance but rather by belief in the resurrected Lord (cf. 4:24).  That is not to discount the necessity of a faith that obeys and does the works commanded by Christ.  It is, however, to remind us that our salvation can be trusted because it is built upon the worth and soundness of the perfect Son of God.  Jesus ever was, is, and ever will be perfect and sinless (2 Cor. 5:21).  God, from eternity to eternity, cannot and will not lie (cf. Heb. 6:19-20).  Therefore, justification through Christ can never be devalued.  Especially on a day like today, such reassurance is timely!  Christ is the only trustworthy foundation upon which to build life (cf. Matt. 7:24ff).

Neal Pollard

It sounds like the beginning of a corny joke.  “A Texas fan and an Oklahoma fan in Applebee’s got into a fight about which football team was better.  The Sooner jumped the Longhorn in the lobby, pulled a knife and stabbed himself.”  Seriously, the fight went worse for the Oklahoma fan, who was charged with assault and was in critical condition.  They say the Texas fan was “stable,” but that might be debatable.  Given the late hour of the brouhaha, it has been speculated that alcohol might have been involved.  Hmm.

This San Antonio skirmish is an extreme and, thankfully, rare example of how people can expend inordinate emotion about things that ultimate amount to absolutely nothing!  Our response to the subject of their heated, sustained battle is, “Who cares?”  Appended to the first question is this follow up, “Why so worked up about something so eminently minor?”  I have heard of members of the church who rooted for rivals that allowed their athletics allegiance to cause a rift between them, refusing to fellowship or even speak with their antagonists.  Unbelievable!

While this produces an opportune time to remind us to never let anything, sports, politics, or the like, to become a higher priority than our unity in Christ, reflect for a moment on a common, if less dramatic, occurrence.  Do we ever allow minor things, things that are not matters of eternal consequence, to escalate and grow into rifts and even skirmishes?  Sometimes, such rifts are caused by assumptions, presumptions, innuendos and intimations.  Before you know it, these create camps and schisms.  Look how it started at Corinth.  Paul wrote, “Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, ‘I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:12).  Paul references “fruitless discussions” in 1 Timothy 1:6 and “worldly and empty chatter” in 1 Timothy 6:20.  How wise we are to keep the main things the main things and relegate these other things to the discard pile!

Neal Pollard

Apparently, in medieval times, unscrupulous merchants would advertise a pig for sale.  Less than savvy shoppers would buy one and the merchant would give them a bag, with wriggling creature inside, and instruct them not to open it until the creature was calmer.  When these duped ones finally opened the bag, there would be a cat rather than a pig in the sack.  Smart shoppers, on the other hand, would not fall for this trick but rather “let the cat out of the bag.”  This is also where the phrase, “pig in a poke,” originated.  One was advised not to buy a pig in a sack or they might find out they had been tricked.

Today, letting the cat out of the bag is equated with telling a secret in untimely fashion or gossiping or spreading news without approval or authorization (via “The Phrase Finder”).

While there are some things we should be anxious to tell, no matter the cost–like matters related to evangelism and the saving of souls, we need to be careful not to be known as the type who is prone to “let the cat out of the bag.”  People should be able to trust that what they tell us stays with us and goes no further.  Christians with proper ethics and character know when to keep things to themselves, to be discreet and trustworthy.  In Proverbs, this point is repeatedly made.  In Proverbs 11:13, we read, “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.”  Again, “He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with a gossip” (Prov. 20:19).  Once more, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23).  These are words of wisdom to govern us the next time we are tempted to “let the cat out of the bag.”

Neal Pollard

As you know, the current debt debate has been raging for some time.  It is a tedious process, filled with emotion and causing no small concern.  So many have opinions about how it can be resolved, yet the resolution of the problem is actually clear and simple.  People simply do not want to do what is necessary to resolve it.  It requires sacrifice, hard choices, and not a little faith.

The implications of this debate cannot be overstated.  Consider for a moment the sides involved in this debate over the debt.  Some deny the debt exists.  Others dejectedly assert that there is no way to pay the incredible debt.  Frankly, some who suggest a solution to this debt crisis are misguided and even ignorant.  May I suggest that there is a debt problem, it is solvable, but there is only one way to rid ourselves of it.

God informs us repeatedly of the debt.  Through Solomon, He informs us, “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and does not sin” (Ecc. 7:20).  More succinctly, David and Paul say, “There is none righteous, not even one” (Ps. 53:3; Rom. 3:10).  Paul follows that up, saying, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and “all sinned” (Rom. 5:12).  While the Bible does not explicitly call our sin problem a debt, the idea is firmly implied (see Lk. 11:4; Mt. 18:27ff; Col. 2:14).  By sinning even once, we found ourselves in a debt we could not pay.  The Bible says Jesus, offering Himself at the cross, gave His life a ransom for all (Mk. 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6).  He paid the debt!

Some deny a debt exists (1 Jn. 1:8,10).  Some, filled with guilt, believe their debt is too large to be paid (Lk. 5:8; Heb. 2:15).  So many offer “solutions” that do not suffice to eradicate the debt.  Some plans are incomplete–stressing the essentially of grace and/or faith, but omitting repentance and baptism (cf. Ac. 2:38).  Some plans are humanly devised and different from God’s plan–sprinkling for immersion, babies instead of those who are mentally accountable, baptizing for the dead, a Holy Spirit-induced conversion rather than an operation of free will.  Jesus is emphatic, saying there is only one way (Jn. 14:6).  We are not talking about defaulting on loans.  We are talking about an eternal destiny here.  The New Testament is plain.  There is one, heaven-authorized plan.  Following that eradicates the debt!  Debating that is futile and utterly counterproductive!

Neal Pollard

Congham, England, was home to this year’s riveting race between arguably the world’s fastest snails.  Sidney, the winner, traveled 13 inches in a scorching 3 minutes, 41 seconds.  For the feat, he was awarded a silver tankard full of lettuce (via UPI).

Do you ever feel like a contestant in a snail race?  Does it ever seem like the faster you go, the further behind you get?  Perhaps you find yourself, at times, a jackrabbit observer helplessly watching others move at a snail’s pace, unwittingly testing and trying your patience as the wheels of progress seem, if turning, to be doing so imperceptibly.

There are times the Bible tells us to be swift.  James says to be quick to hear God’s Word (Js. 1:19).  Jesus says to quickly reconcile with our enemies (Mt. 5:25).  Ananias urged Saul to wash away his sins in baptize without delay (Acts 22:16).  There are also times the Bible tells us to be slow or to go slower.  Back in James one, we are to be slow to speak against or be wrathful against the Word of God (Js. 1:19).  Solomon wrote, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God” (Ecc. 5:2a).  He also lauds those “slow to anger” (Prov. 16:32). Hurriedness can amount to sloppiness (Pr. 19:2).  Quick-tempered behavior is roundly condemned (Pr. 14:17, 29).

Certainly, there are times when being slow, spiritually, can be costly or even catastrophic.  Jesus called those men slow to believe God’s Word “foolish” (Lk. 24:35).  Felix put off a response to the gospel, likely never getting around to the salvation of his soul (Ac. 24:25).  How many were going to get around to obeying the gospel, but will have been eternally too slow?  How many Christians were going to be restored to faithfulness, were going to get more involved, or were going put away sinful habits and lifestyles?  While growth is a protracted process, it is a detectable one.

Are you dragging your feet regarding something vitally important?  Are you traveling at a snail’s pace when you should be moving with haste?  Say with David, “I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119:132).

[TODAY’S BREAD comes from Thom Vaught, our deacon of missions and active member at Bear Valley, one who excels in the Bible classroom as well as behind the scenes.  You will enjoy this thought-provoking slice of bread from our guest “baker.”]

Thom Vaught

Shane Hamman was ready for competition on October 3^rd, 1996 in Philadelphia.  He loosened up approaching the bar with determination and confidence.  Because the bar was at chest level, Shane had to duck under it positioning himself bent slightly with the bar across the back of his shoulders.  As he lifted up the, the reinforced steel bar began to sag beneath the weight at each end.  Carrying the full weight, Shane stepped back from the barbell rests while the crowd watched on in anticipation.  He then executed an awe inspiring squat lowering until his upper legs were parallel to the floor then lifting the weight once again to shoulder height.  What made this so incredible is that Shane had just set a new powerlifting record by squatting 1,008 pounds.  That is more than the weight of two average refrigerators.  Often called “The Strongest Man in America”, many wanted to know the secret to Shane’s amazing strength.  After countless interviews, Shane continued answering questions about how he accomplished such a feat with the same response.

“the power of God flows through me and provides me with all of the strength I need.”

You see, even more powerful than the strength Shane’s body was the strength of his convictions.

However, as strong as Shane was, he could not manage to lift a single sin.  As a mater of fact, no man is able to lift the weight of their own sins.  David knew this well and makes a record of his spiritual struggle in Psalm 38.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; 

There is no health in my bones because of my sin. 

For my iniquities are gone over my head; 

As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me (3-4).

I cannot speak for anyone else, but I know exactly how David feels.  On several occasions I have found myself struggling in tears as the weight of my sin crushed down upon me.  No matter what burden of sin you are carrying on your shoulders right now you need to realize that there is hope.  Let’s look at how David ends this Psalm that starts off on such a sorrowful note.

Do not forsake me, O LORD; 

O my God, do not be far from me! 

Make haste to help me, 

O Lord, my salvation (21-22)!

Similar to David, it is because of both our weakness in temptation and desire for salvation that we put on Christ in repentance.  Only Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was able and willing to take our burden of sin upon himself .  As we go throughout life, we need to reflect not in hopeless guilt, but in love and appreciation at the burden that has been lifted from your shoulders.  Remember that Jesus has done the Heavy Lifting.

Afterword

Further credit goes to Shane Hamman in that after retiring from weightlifting, he has continued good works by engaging in the Rachel’s Challenge program as a speaker.  This program was started in the wake of Columbine as a means for prominent individuals to deliver positive and compassionate messages to our nation’s teenagers.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,

Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995

by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Neal Pollard

I am currently reading a fascinating book by David Dary entitled, “The Oregon Trail: An American Saga.”  Though it contains a few factual errors, the gist of it is correct and it is well-written.  What originally piqued my interest in a book on this subject was a quick stop made with the Hites on our mini-vacation up to South Dakota a few years ago.  We stopped at Fort Laramie and Independence Rock, Wyoming, both spots integral to this famous American road.  We even stood on the trail, so well-traveled that there were actually ruts in the rock making up the portion of road where we stood.  The trail was blazed as the result of European explorers searching for a northwest passage to travel west from Europe to trade in the orient as well as by fur trading interests from several nations seeking an overland route to the northwest.  The Lewis and Clark expedition also contributed greatly to the formation of this road.  The blazing of this trail helped settle the west and give America its modern boundaries.  However, starvation, ambush, poverty, and natural hazards cost many their lives and their livelihood.  They would not give up, but rather traversed raging waters and withstood unthinkable adversity to open up one-half of this nation to settlement.

The old preachers used to say, “We are standing on the shoulders of pioneers.”  We sit in buildings we did not build or for which we did not pay.  We often are surrounded by Christians won to Christ or whose ancestors were so won through the efforts of brethren long since dead.  We are beneficiaries, in so many ways, of efforts made by Christians we will never meet until eternity.  The first Christians were part of the church persecuted, depicted apocalyptically by John in the book of Revelation.  The Christians in the next several centuries were driven underground and served “under the radar” (cf. Dan. 2:44; Mat. 16:18; Heb. 12:28).  Men and women influenced by the Reformation Movement made more public the cry and effort to return to “primitive Christianity.”  New Testament Christians in the 19th and 20th centuries made sacrifices to preach Christ and spread the message of unadulterated, New Testament Christianity.

To me, it is remarkable how often their efforts, methods, and message are scorned, ridiculed, and lambasted by men and women not worthy to tie their shoes.  These have converted few to none.  They have sacrificed scant to nothing.  They have endured no persecution, realized no meaningful hardship, and contributed no lasting gift to the perpetuation of the glorious body of Christ.  Yet, they deem themselves experts on where the church needs to go–even if it 180 degrees from the direction where these predecessors back to the first century went.  May we pray for the humility to appreciate the fact that we travel a well-worn path.  May it motivate us to follow, with dedication, the same road (cf. Mat. 7:13-14).

Neal Pollard

It is the orchestra of the Almighty, the sacred symphony.  Often, in the mornings, I sit in Kathy’s refinished rocking chairs drinking coffee and listening to the euphonic euphoria of the birds singing their morning songs.  Knowing there are not an abundance of trees in our neighborhood, I am amazed at the deafening levels of their constant chirping.  In describing the intricacies of God’s creation, the psalmist declares, “Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they lift up their voices among the branches” (Ps. 104:12).  I think of the words of that beautiful song, that “this is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.”  It feels for all the world that those birds have gathered to perform solely for my enjoyment.

When it comes to counting cursings and blessings, how often do we forget those “little” things God gives us for our pleasure and happiness that we too often overlook or ignore.  That God made the birds is tribute to His and our aesthetic appreciation.  That He gave them color and physical beauty is more so.  But, that they also sing goes even further.  It is a reminder of the nature of the God we serve.

He does not do the bare minimum, whatever He might eke out or spare.  He is not sparing or stingy with His blessings.  The Bible describes His generous character.  He is the One who gives good and perfect gifts (Js. 1:17).  He pours “into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaking together, and running over” (Lk. 6:38).  He is “able to do far more abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).   The remarkable thing is that for all the extras God has provided in nature and on earth, they absolutely pale in comparison to what He has done spiritually for us and what He has in store for us eternally.  His salvation plan was in His mind from eternity (Eph. 3:9-11).  The eternal home He is preparing for us has been in the making 2,000 years (Jn. 14:1-4; compare that to the fact that this whole world was created in six days!).  Please enjoy the elegance of His earthly engineering, but remember that His greater emphasis is on the eternal!  Wow!  What a God!

Neal Pollard

In the 1970s, when I was a boy, “The Muppet Show” was one of my favorite TV shows.  There were many characters I really liked, Dr. Teech, Beaker, the Swedish chef, the Pigs in Space crew, and others, but Statler and Waldorf were probably my favorites.  Why? That’s a good question.  They sat up in the balcony, week after week, heckling and criticizing the jokes and performances.  The talent was always terrible, yet they kept returning for the next show.  They thought each other to be very witty.  They hyperbolized curmudgeonly, cranky, critical people that all of us have known.  It was such an intentional exaggeration that it was funny!

What is not funny, however, are the real life Statler and Waldorfs that too often populate our pews and fill our fellowship.  They may or may not be up in age.  They may or may not couch their criticism with humor, but either way they are not funny at all.  Like those two gallery grouches, some, appointing themselves as the church’s critics, sit, idly and oblivious to their own faults, and point out the shortcomings of the singing, sermons, Bible classes, programs, leadership, building use, and numberless other matters they feel need their “expert” opinion.  They see so many flaws, yet somehow they keep showing up week after week.  They point out others’ deficiencies, but they do not volunteer themselves to help everyone see how it could be done better.

One of the signs of worldliness in contemporary society is an increasing consumerism.  We are customers and, as such, critics.  The media has anointed us analysts, to, in Caesar-like fashion, give a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”  It takes no particular talent, nor does it demonstrate the spiritual fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).  New Testament writers often urge saying and doing what leads to edification (Rom. 15:2; 1 Cor. 14:12, 26; Eph. 4:29).  What passage anoints any of us as congregational critics?  I cannot think of a single person or group who tore down their brethren and were praised for it by the Lord!

It’s time to burn down the balcony and fire the fault-finders!  That way, we can all join hands and work together to build up the precious bride of Christ.  Certainly, this will draw the applause of heaven!

Neal Pollard

In the matter of giving money to needy, first-century saints, Paul makes the statement, “For we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Cor. 8:21).  Every child of God needs the same desire to be and do what is honorable in the sight of men.  Often times, we do not stop to ask if the words we say, the information we share, the efforts we make, the ambitions we possess, or the actions we take are honorable.  Yet, intentions and motivations matter.

In fact, it is a matter of the heart.  Paul said to think on honorable things (Phil. 4:8).  This word means “worthy of respect and honor, noble, dignified, and serious” and is used of men who would be elders (1 Tim. 3:8), aged men (Ti. 2:2), Christian women (1 Tim. 3:11), and used by Josephus and Hermes to describe people of the highest quality (BDAG 919).  Inherent in the word is the idea of trustworthiness, being aboveboard, and not possessed of an ugly, hidden agenda.  It describes one who is exactly what he seems, and what he seems is righteous.  What a fragile quality, one so easily spoiled by indiscretion and intemperance!  Each of us needs to ask, concerning our thoughts, words, and deeds, “Is it honorable?”

The church is often hurt by those whose plans and motives are less than honorable.  It is important that our agenda never be selfish or our intent malicious.  Such vices as gossip, hypercriticism, greed, envy, railing, bitterness, and jealousy are many times driven by dishonorableness.  Cloaking one’s true feelings, in a hypocritical or two-faced manner, is not honorable.  Flattery and false praise is not honorable.  Leading people to believe something that is not true or the whole truth, to make ourselves look better or justified, is not honorable.  The list is nearly endless.

It is important that we care about being honorable.  It is important in business dealings, interacting with the opposite sex, and in promises made.  It is also important in how we treat one another in the family of God.  Like Paul, may we have regard for what is honorable in the eyes of God and men.