PARKS BROWN

You can’t win if you don’t play the game and you can’t play the game unless you buy-in. In fact, you can lose everything when you don’t buy-in.

In poker, a buy-in is an up-front commitment and determines the prize to be won. On a sports team the players buy-in to a game plan and the coach. Put simply, a buy-in is your acceptance of and willingness to actively support and participate in something. If you buy-in to something, you commit and don’t quit. To buy-in, you’ve gotta have faith in something other than yourself. When faith falters the quake is felt around the world.

‘ “The rise of the nones” is the attention-grabbing phrase used to describe the well-documented increase in the percentage of Americans who, when queried by survey researchers about their religious identification, say “none”.’ (Rise of the Nones.)  The ‘nones’ represent a loss of faith that manifests and is dividing our world. This decline and loss of faith lies at the root of many societal, financial, political, religious, and relational problems we face across the globe.

Faith isn’t hope. Faith is complete trust and confidence. Faith is a buy-in and a needed component to solve problems and change things. Jesus was confronted by two blind men who went to Him to change their real world problems. He first checked to see if they were really buying-in to Him or just kicking the tires. Once He saw they had real faith, He asked them, ‘ “Do you believe I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.’ Matthew 9:28-30. What happens on earth is relative to your faith.

Faith is under attack because of the power that comes from it. Brexit and the current divisions between Democrats and Republicans reflect a lack of faith in the electoral process, elected officials and the people who cast votes. The ‘nones’ show a loss of faith resulting from church scandals (Catholic and Protestant) and the tearing down of denominations (from Presbyterian to Methodist…The Art of Holiness) Negative interest rates in Europe and the coming monetary reset are the result of bankers that have lost faith in traditional monetary policies. When faith is under attack you can see it everywhere but it originates in one place.

Many issues we currently face result from the loss of a buy-in and faith in the Judeo-Christian God of creation. The resulting everyday conflicts are at the root of the war to separate people from a faith in God. Why is this so deep and prevalent yet not easily seen? Because ‘faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ Hebrews 11:1. LSU and Clemson didn’t physically see the championship game when they started practice in the spring, but they still bought-in to their ability to get there.

If your faith is challenged on a daily basis with everyday situations, the result can be a weakened faith. A weak faith undermines your relationship with God because ‘…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ Hebrews 11:6. Faith is essential in obtaining God’s favor and necessary for us to pursue a relationship with Him.

The good news is, even when weakened you only need a little faith. Christ said, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20. Do you buy-in with the faith that God will take care of the political mess…your relational issues…anger and division between races and classes?

If we want to see things change in 2020 don’t look to a politician, protest, post or blog. Christ spelled it out. ‘ “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain ‘Go throw yourself into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” ‘ Mark 11:22-24. Almost sounds like Dabo or Coach O before the big game.

The verse above in Mark 11 points out the importance of who and what you buy-in to.  ‘IT, will be done FOR you’ means you have faith in God, trust in Him and let Him work it out in His way and in His time. In other words, buy-in and submit to God. The current world analogy is don’t lose faith in Nick Saban or the Alabama program just because they didn’t make the CFP National Championship THIS season. Don’t lose faith and tear apart a democracy just because you don’t agree with the vote for Brexit or Trump.

It looks and feels like we’ve entered a new era where it’s the end stage for many institutions, powers and principalities. During this time it’s critical to remember that faith itself is under attack but faith alone is not the answer. The Bible encourages us to act on our faith because ‘faith without deeds is dead’ (James 2:26). We are also reminded that ‘if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.’ (1st Corinthians 13:2) ‘Abide no hatred’ is not the course of action. ‘Act in love’ is more powerful. Abide no Hatred or Act in Love

Christ taught to have confidence in God and ‘live by faith, not by sight.’ (2nd Corinthians 5:7). Many things seem to be headed downhill but you know ‘that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ James 1:3-4. Trials, discouraging seasons and unpopular results give us the opportunity to test who and what we have bought-in to and what we have faith in. Persevere, don’t get mad and give up on what you know is Truth (Truth).

Monday night there will be a winner and a loser, for this season. The losers will come back next year and still buy-in to their coaches and programs because they have faith. Don’t lose faith even when you lose a game…an election…a job…or a loved one.

Don’t be a ‘none’. Buy-in to the winner who rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Then watch unity, peace and love flood your heart and mind…and the world.

 

 

 

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller

When life comes at you so fast it’s hard to see, have perspective and assess what is really happening. With speed, risks increase and red flags are ignored.

If you look back over the last year, much less the last decade, odds highly favor you didn’t foresee many of the events that transpired in your world and the world.  You may be really good at reacting, even influencing, but odds favor your ability to predict the future leave room for improvement.

2019 was saturated with extreme events that unfolded at such a rapid pace it resembled jumping out of an airplane. At 12,000 feet (beginning of the year) you can’t see the ground approaching and the view of where you’re headed isn’t in focus. At 2,500 feet (during the year) you finally start to see the ground coming but, the apparent diameter of objects increases faster and faster than your distance from the ground decreases. This gives a feeling you are not seeing them closer but seeing them move apart. Perspective is dependent on speed…it’s a function of acceleration. With speed, risk increases.

A distorted perspective in skydiving can downplay the risk of ‘hitting the ground.’ Losing perspective in everyday life can downplay the risk of discerning between the noise we hear and the red flags that we should pay attention to. When life comes at you too fast people burn out, companies lose focus, relationships are neglected and time flies. When you aren’t still and quiet your perspective on what is important is distorted…and ignored.

The Bible constantly reminds us not to live so fast…which is why the world is constantly speeding up. God (I AM WHO I AM..Exodus 3:14) exists in the moment. ‘He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ‘ Psalm 46:10. Giving your time to stop, listen and seek God is a sacrifice that comes with a responsibility and a reward.

The Holy Spirit is a reward that gives perspective and discernment. Jesus said, ‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own: he will only speak what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’ John 16:13. We all need more of the Spirit as we enter 2020.

‘And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ Hebrews 11:6. What did you earnestly seek in 2019? Success at work…taking care of your family…building your nest egg…vacation time…a healthier lifestyle? All of these are fine ambitions but if you seek anything more earnestly than Him you’re simply living for today.

Now is when some folks must admit they are living for today. It’s true, God’s ways and rewards are not the same as ours (Isaiah 55:8). And, He doesn’t deal with timeliness the way we do (“…With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8.) I hope living for today has more to do with the distorted perspective that comes with the speed of life than a heart that has turned away from God. Either way, let’s not forget the ground is approaching faster than you probably perceive.

‘Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2. Talking about Christ’s return is usually a conversation killer regardless of people’s faith or maturity. The point is, He’s either a liar or He’s coming back soon and you’re not going to see it coming. If you want to risk pulling the rip cord at 100 feet, good luck with that call.

Living in the moment has become a lifestyle with technology, but it comes with higher risk and a greater price tag. Living each day without being still and quiet presents the difficulty of differentiating between noise and the red flags all around us. Red flags are signs of danger. Mariners use red flags to signal dangerous wind and wave conditions. In auto racing a red flag indicates a stop due to dangerous conditions.

Were you still and quiet enough to see many/any red flags in 2019? Do you see any red flags in…the weather, geopolitical events, the conditions of your heart and relationships, the Word of God? Don’t let the speed of events taking place make your life look like the lyrics to the Eagles song, Life in the Fast Lane.

‘Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind…life in the fast lane,           everything all the time’

In the meantime, the letters in red speak clearly as the distance from the ground decreases. ‘He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.’ Revelation 22:20-21.

 

“You want answers? I think I’m entitled to them. You want answers? I want the truth!! You can’t handle the truth!!” Can You Handle the Truth

I hope Jack was wrong, but we do live in a world with walls that try to keep us from the truth. Data supports facts showing the fruit of these walls are people have become more apathetic, less optimistic, less hopeful…more secular. When faith, truth, hope, and love become casualties men lose sight of the future and reason for living.

But, why does this matter? What difference does it make if no one believes in absolutes anymore? ( read more..Yes or No) Because absolutes are the characteristics and attributes of God. If we ignore or stifle absolutes, then we stifle God. Who or what wants the voice of God to be hidden; and why? Powers and principalities are in opposition.

To kill a thing, you need to attack the root, not the fruit. When the dominant conversation focuses on relative truths and not the Truth, look out. If absolute Truth is ignored, providence in everyday life will surprise you. How much do you know or care about the Repo Crisis, digital currencies replacing physical currencies and Boris Johnson’s landslide win in Britain? Get ready for 2020 and 2021.

Absolutes shape our everyday lives and direct our thoughts, attitudes and actions. If we only deal in relativity and ignore absolutes, chaos and disunity are the result. Real truths in everyday life can be more easily hidden and ignored when the pillar of absolutes is destroyed.

Truth and love, are two primary absolutes. There is an effort to disprove all absolutes and destroy any argument that supports them…for a reason. Ghandi was right. Truth is an absolute and it comes from God. When you hear and acknowledge absolute Truth, you hear the voice of God. God is absolute….can you handle that truth?

A lack of consensus by any other name is disagreement. Look around and you see it everywhere. When relative truth is elevated in your personal life, absolute truth is diminished in society and disunity spreads. But, let’s never forget, truth doesn’t always unite. The truth can and often does divide. This is why truth must always be accompanied by love.

It has been said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” The nature of America’s political divisiveness is to tear apart and make ‘one nation under God’, divisible. The nature of  the current enmity between people is to destroy the cities in our country. The root of divorce is dividing a household so the family cannot stand as a united force. This is true.

I have a hard time understanding the First Family……the one in the Bible (Genesis 4). Cain and Abel were brothers. The first parents had trained their kids to bring an offering and a sacrifice to God. God looked favorably on one but not the other. Cain became angry at God when God didn’t view what he did as acceptable. Not much has changed, huh? Truth is, God defines what is right and wrong and man doesn’t. We’ve always had a hard time accepting that truth, so we build walls between us and God.

Absolutes aren’t negated by walls or disbelief. Some days it’s hard for me to remember that truth perseveres and finds a way. God always finds a way to make truth real and personal. The Christmas story is usually presented as a story of love, mercy, salvation and redemption. Christmas is a celebration of when truth became flesh and blood.

Truth can divide and be flat out offensive and hard to understand at times. Christ told people ‘whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life…’ John 6:54. Maybe not palatable or popular, but the truth isn’t always what you want to hear. Do you know it when you hear it, or have the lies drowned it out for you? Jesus said he was ‘the way and the truth and the life.’

When Jesus began His ministry, he unreservedly spoke truth to His followers, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law- a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ ” Matthew 10:34-36. Truth doesn’t always sell or win a majority vote in an election cycle. The truth may even divide families…but truth saves our world.

A percentage of the world is tired of division and wants everyone to co-exist and just get along. Another group of people buy into their truth and are on a mission to force their truth on others. Christians know the truth doesn’t need votes or force to get it’s way. In fact, if the truth doesn’t travel with love, it doesn’t gain traction. Love and the truth rejoice in each other together, never separately (1st Corinthians 13).

Absolutes have a way of dividing things. Just because you don’t like them or believe in them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. God gave the truth in the physical form of his Son (John 3:16) to speak truth into a polarized world at a chaotic time. Not much has changed. It’s not popular to speak the truth about anything, much less God and Jesus.

So, here’s a foundational truth that is at the core of the battle against absolutes. This truth causes good people to stumble and evil to get busy. Jesus spoke the truth to save souls, not fill the pews and offering plate. This truth separates and divides almost more than any. I’ll remind you, truth and love must exist together or it is not real truth.

Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Drop the mic and hear the truth in love. The world won’t give a thunderous applause, but keep listening.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a short blog with a big question. One quick yes or no decision will potentially open the door to a better life for you and the world we both live in.

Before reading this blog and proceeding with another minute of your time, you need to decide in your heart and mind if there is such a thing as an absolute. Deciding if there are absolutes will help you enjoy life and fulfill your dreams and desires. Answering the question of absolutes will help define and shape how you think about everything and therefore the world we all live in. Absolutes effect the here and now…and the hereafter.

An absolute is a thing that is universally valid and exists independently of anything. An absolute is not relative or comparative.  Deciding if there are absolutes dictates that you’ll want to know what absolutes you believe in, but first things first. Does anything stand straight for you at all times and in all places regardless of the circumstances? Yes or no?

You might think absolutes are easy to identify but the war against absolutes has left no absolute behind. The battle has been raging for-ever and all around you. God creating man in His image might be considered an absolute by some but not others. At one time, you would have been considered illiterate to claim life started as a muddy slime more than 3 billion years ago. Darwinism claimed Creation by God was not an absolute and now standard educational curriculum includes his teaching.

In defense of their beliefs, Evolutionists might retort people once thought the Earth was flat as well. But if everything is on the table of relativity, Evolutionists can be labeled haters. If theories of creation are relative, hate is as well. If you believe there are NO absolutes, then colleges can teach there are 5 or 6 different sexes. Oh, wait….

At the center of the struggle against you believing in absolutes is the battle against believing in an absolute Creator; God. If there are absolutes then where can you find and validate them? If you can’t agree on an absolute God and where to learn about Him, then it’s all up for grabs.

At this point, a lot of folks will stop reading and not tax themselves. Too esoteric, offensive, boring and not practical. The truth is, truth is the biggest casualty and the lowest hanging fruit in your decision on absolutes. These days people say there is my truth, your truth, their truth…everyone has a truth. Along with the argument against absolutes, this is a lie. Truth can be found but you must identify where it comes from.

The practicality of the question on absolutes is evident in the lack of space for truth in society. Social media posts, politics, churches, institutes of learning and holiday gatherings no longer wade into open conversation. People hide behind political correctness and safe spaces and hate-free zones. There is a lack of dialogue and meaningful discussion with Facebook posts and Instagram pictures. Stating an individual belief without inviting and giving space for discourse, correction and truth to reveal itself has become the way of life.

Closed discussions shut out the light that exposes truth. CNN and Fox have broadcast impeachment hearings where one side, because of a majority in the House, has closed the door on calling witnesses and rebuttal therefore potentially closing the door to truth. In regards to these politics, I am NOT saying one side or the other represents truth. I AM saying truth needs the scale and light of equal representation and to not hide behind the door of relativism.

Absolutes are slandered and have always been under attack. Good people with well intentions have debated absolutes for years, but in 2019 the door is closing. Deplorables hiding behind their Bibles with guns has become the way to describe what used to be known as discussion.

It is necessary to maintain the integrity of if and where absolutes originate to even define them. Only then can we truly answer the question of absolutes. Free-will sets the stage for this discourse but the stage has been hijacked to the detriment of civilization. Admittedly, Satan led the attack on absolutes when he questioned God’s word in the beginning of time. He is still at the root and helm of questioning absolutes.

Maybe the best way to put a bow on this is NOT to ask about the absolute of truth, or love. A better question is to ask about God. Who or what is your God and where can He be discovered and learned about? Is He true at all times and in all places, regardless of the circumstances? Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Maybe He’s a good place to start. If He is truth, then everything He says is truth.

So, a short blog is not an absolute, it’s obviously relative. But, what is absolute in your world? Anything?

 

If you want to become something you first have to see it. Ask Tiger Woods or LeBron James about seeing the shot before they take it. Ask any successful athlete or businessperson and they will tell you the necessity and value of visualizing a thing before achieving it. You must SEE the object of your desire in plain sight or in your minds eye. What you look at will change you. It will mold you into it’s image.

If you can’t see it, you can’t be it. If you want to see a profit in your business, then you devise a plan of profitability and not just revenue generation. If you want to see something other than your home life you focus on work. If you want to see life without blemishes, you fix your eyes on Facebook. We look at what we desire and what we want to become. In turn, what we see in the world around us is the heart of people.

It’s critical to see clearly and understand what you see. This is easier said than done. An Old Testament prophet reflected on people in his generation, ‘You have seen many things, but you pay no attention: your ears are open, but you do not listen.” Isaiah 42:20. Years later, Jesus understood the same situation and dealt with it accordingly…’ “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ ” Matthew 13:13.

When we look at a thing why do we not see clearly and understand? A common denominator that thwarts the ability to see things clearly is the condition of your heart. Jesus taught that a hardened heart was at the center of seeing and understanding. ‘ “…Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?…” ‘ Mark 8:17-18.

Greed and anger effect judgement, sight and understanding. Greed and anger are sin and sin separates us and causes us to harden our hearts to God. Greed was alive and well in the late 90’s when the stock market looked out 10 years at the earnings potential of a company and saw inevitability; a crash soon followed that effected us all. In 2019, those of a certain persuasion are so angry they see impeachment as a simple means to an end; what follows won’t be good for any of us. We need to SEE God to become more like Him. Geez, can that be done??!!

No one has ever seen God, but Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. The author of Hebrews said…’Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’ Hebrews 12:2-3. Headlines that vacillate between dire economic consequences for Brexit, political choices, dramatic climate changes that destroy crops, marriages that are destroyed by despair and infidelity….it’s hard not to grow weary after a while. The only way NOT to lose heart is to keep your sight fixed appropriately. You are what you see.

First, you gotta know what you need to see. Seeing Jesus may not be the easiest thing to do but it is the answer to terrorism, racism, sexism, classism and every other ‘ism you can name. As Kanye rapped in 2009…

I ain’t here to argue about His facial features                                                                                  Or here to convert atheists into believers                                                                                    I’m just tryna say the way school needs teachers                                                                            The way Kathy Lee needed Regis, that’s the way I need Jesus

Thoughtful people at some point look towards Jesus but they hijack the gospel and get sidetracked in one or two aspects of Him. Only seeing Jesus’ stance against social injustice but not His views on sexual choices and perversions is the same as not believing. ‘The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’ (my emphasis) 2 Corinthians 4:4. When you only see Jesus from a worldly perspective to enhance an agenda of power, pleasure or money, it can be worse than not seeing Him at all …you can lose your sight completely.

You are what you see and your sight is effected by how you see the living God and His Son, Jesus. Our world needs to see Jesus now more than ever. Christians are in the cross hairs and the world calls it cognitive dissonance when we don’t embody each word in THE Word. The best way to help others see Him is to boldly speak out what we believe… then acknowledge and humbly repent for how short we fall…but Jesus saves. The world needs a savior, not another person or politician with a plan of action.

If we don’t look for and see with clarity the enormity and power of Jesus, we are more vulnerable to the consequences of being myopic…and wrong. The consequences of not seeing Jesus in 2020 will be more catastrophe in our world and your world. I want to run my life, my business and my relationships to let others see Him in me…and I can’t do it without seeing Him more clearly myself.