PARKS BROWN

College Football on Saturday in the Fall reveals more than winners and losers. Behind the noise of a winning celebration or a frustrating loss there are truths that shape our lives. Pearls of wisdom can be found IF you can ignore the noise of the day.

In a game most football fans didn’t see, unranked Missouri defeated 12th ranked Kansas State on a last second 61 yard field goal for an improbable win. In the adrenaline rush of the moment in an on-the-field interview after the game, the Missouri Head Coach was asked his message to the team before the game. The coach said, “I told our guys to ignore the noise and stay focused.” In another interview, the player who made the winning kick to set an SEC record repeated the coach’s words with emphasis, “Coach said, ‘ignore the noise’ and that’s what we did”.

If you’ve been to an SEC football game between rivals where there is bad blood, you know the noise level is deafening. In fact, bad blood makes the noise more difficult to ignore. In a late night game between Colorado and Colorado State, the Colorado State coach reiterated the fact that between those rivals “there’s bad blood, that’s just the way it is.” Everyone breathing on this planet knows we live in a pool of bad blood these days. That’s just the way it is.

Before time began on Earth, Lucifer was cast out and down like Georgia Tech on a Saturday in November. OK, I digress because bad blood creates noise. Bad blood and the resulting noise was introduced between mankind and Satan in the Garden of Eden. Noise distracts and causes you to lose focus. Recognizing and ignoring noise is imperative. So it begs the question, what is the noise in your life that distracts you? What noise do you need to ignore?

Although we are not all college athletes, we know this pearl of wisdom coaches teach their players is essential. Long after the contests end the games continue. Ignoring the everyday noise is critical to winning in life. So what is noise? Noise can be whatever distracts you and causes you to tune out some one or some thing.

These days race and political opinions can be a noise. Much of what circulates on social media is noise generated by algorithms and AI. Noises are lies that cause dissension and disunity and CAN be ignored. Learning to discern the truth from a lie is the first step to ignore the noise in YOUR life.

A problem in our culture is there are soooo many lies being told. This noise is designed to separate people, cause our love to grow cold for each other and more pointedly, separate us from God and the Truth. We have been conditioned to ignore the truth along with the lies. If we ignore the truth we will lose our very lives. There IS absolute truth in this world but it isn’t found in your truth and my truth. The Word of God is truth. Jesus is truth. Anything contrary to Him IS noise, a lie and endangers your very soul.

Jesus reminded us of the need to discern truth from lies because lies come from the enemy and will kill and destroy. “‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.'” Matthew 10:28.

If you believe and help spread lies you have bought into the noise of the father of lies, the devil. “‘…He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.'” John 8:44. When you can’t discern the truth from a lie, it can take time for the truth to be to revealed. Many lies sound good but are really noise designed to divide. Popular lies like systemic racism, political accusations, Ukraine is about democracy and they are winning the war.

We know noise not only keeps us from living well with others and enjoying a victorious life on Earth, it kills and destroys our very soul. The best antidote to this noise is silence. How much time have you spent in silence the past week opposed to surfing the web or alternative news services? Silence isn’t empty, it’s full of answers. Silence speaks volumes without you ever saying a word. Silence increases the quality of your life while noise will reduce that quality.

I encourage you to spend time in silence BEFORE you spend time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the other distributors of noise on social media. But, I warn you the less time you have spent in silence the more deafening it will be. “WHY?” you might ask. Because truth is found in silence. God can be heard in silence…and remember…there is bad blood between noise and silence.

Just like the college football players from this past weekend can testify, you have to practice and be disciplined to ignore the noise. You play the way you practice and odds favor you’re out of the practice of silence and prone to the comfort and distraction of noise. LEARN to ignore the noise. Practice silence this week and set yourself up for a win.

I’ll close with a request…
What noise distracts you the most today? What noise is causing you to withdraw from friends, family and fellowship with others? I’d genuinely like you to respond. Your responses might encourage and reveal lies to me and others that we don’t see.

IGNORE THE NOISE to win the race…and save your soul.

Numbers are the universal language spoken across the globe and the cosmos. Numbers count days and dollars, space and time. Numbers measure your weight and mark your age. Numbers differentiate winners and losers into first and as far away as last place. Numbers separate and unite people by declaring minorities and majorities. Numbers are powerful and even emotional. Think 45, 666, your address, infinity….WW III.

Behind the numbers are people, places and things. God said “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.'” The Bible teaches us that numbers are important but understanding the who, what and why behind the numbers is more important. Numbers help us see and understand but they don’t drive our lives. Are they driving your life?

We live in a world obsessed and possessed with numbers. In the story that is your life, do numbers play a lead or supporting role? Is your family dictated by how many children you can afford or is there something else behind those numbers? Do you judge happiness and success by how much money you make, the number of hours you work or how many weeks vacation you take? Do these numbers lead your life or support the decisions you make regardless of the numbers? Is your faith in numbers or elsewhere?

Numbers are often front and center but they don’t speak for themselves. Numbers reveal what is behind them. Numbers tell a story, reveal the narrative, show the character, perspective and people behind them. Numbers expose us. They expose our faith, our hearts and our fears. IF we learn to discern the wisdom behind the numbers they can change your life.

Numbers are so ubiquitous in our everyday lives it is imperative we understand what is behind them. Numbers can reveal what is hidden and give us wisdom when they are understood. This has always been true. More than 3000 years ago the writer of Psalm 90:12 put it this way…’Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.’

The wisdom to discern and understand what is behind the numbers is found in and through a relationship with God and reading His Word. The writer of Job declared God controls EVERYTHING behind the numbers when he wrote ‘..a person’s days are determined and the number of his months depends on you..’ God uses numbers to communicate and share His wisdom…but HE doesn’t need them.

The Bible has numerous stories to show us how numbers can expose our faith. Most often we believe there is strength and power in numbers. The Bible tells us strength and power come from God. God used 300 men under the obedience of Gideon to defeat 135,000 soldiers. David slew Goliath who was much older and larger in size. Twenty thousand people were fed with 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Elijah was one prophet of God against 850 prophets representing the world. The one man of God survived while the 850 perished. These examples emphasize the point…God doesn’t need numbers to accomplish His will. Today, the world is trying to accomplish the same feat.

A friend recently told me she felt outnumbered when Clarke County flew a flag other than the American flag. While ‘feelings’ are real, they don’t connotate the truth behind the numbers. Even after doubling the last 10 years, the numbers reveal that only 7% of individuals ‘identify’ as something other than heterosexual. Those numbers reveal a narrative by a very vocal minority. I reminded my friend she is FAR from outnumbered because God doesn’t need numbers…He needs apostles and disciples.

Numbers can change things. Numbers have changed the game of baseball (Moneyball) into a statistics class. Numbers can be altered to change elections. A $6.2 billion accounting error might change the face of the war in Ukraine. Numbers can make a church lose their first love and focus on programs. In the Garden of Eden, Eve chose to focus on ONE tree as opposed to thousands of others and it altered the course of humanity. It is critical to understand the who, what and why behind the numbers.

Jesus reminded us of the need to understand what numbers reveal but not to make them the driving force in your life. He said “‘Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid…'” In other words, I KNOW the numbers…put your faith in me!

Numbers can make some heads spin and give others clarity. So…do YOU ‘trust the numbers’ or ignore them? Do you focus solely on the numbers or do you look to understand what is behind them?

I’ll close with the encouragement to ALWAYS look at what the numbers say, but look behind them as well. I believe you will see good and evil, God and the world behind numbers. I believe it is imperative to see how the numbers are being used and what story they tell…and WHO they reveal.

The United States is the richest nation on the face of the earth. To whom much is given, much is required. Therefore, Americans are wired to cost benefit analysis and managing risk for reward. Each day we try to balance our time, money and attention with the least risk and greatest reward. We consciously see this activity through a secular lens but our spiritual lives are being more effected than our schedules and financial accounts.

Risk and reward is not limited to markets, investments or golf shots over water. Our very lives are built on risk and reward each day. All day every day we make decisions regarding future uncertainty and unexpected outcomes. We try to mitigate risk and maximize rewards but the degree of risk cannot always be accurately quantified. The hidden fact is we assume greater risks each day than most people perceive. In turn, the rewards we seek are in greater jeopardy as well.

We think our daily cost/benefit risk/reward analysis mainly revolves around our time and money. Two parent working family as opposed to one income. Working overtime or attending a Little League game. Time with your spouse or a night out with the girls or a round of golf with the guys. These questions and analyses appear simple and skin deep but they are much more deeply personal with eternal consequences. The rewards of personal desires have associated risks higher than MANY recognize. Ask Target…Bud Light…North Face…the Dodgers. Ask God.

The Creator is the Originator of risk, reward, costs and benefits. Psalm 58:10 says the righteous are rewarded and God judges the earth. Christ followers have been told the true cost of discipleship is everything but the benefit is eternal life in heaven. Not many sermons address the risk for believers when their faith is half-hearted, or as Jesus calls it in the last book of the Bible, lukewarm. The reward for just going along and not living your faith out loud is, well, read Revelation 3:16.

Colossians 3:23 is an everyday reminder on the risks of managing your time and activities to achieve maximum reward. ‘WHATEVER you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you KNOW that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.’ The takeaway is…whatever you do at work and play, God is watching and rewarding us accordingly. He judges the heart not necessarily the results.

These days, corporate America has been busted focusing on potential rewards while ignoring real risks. Many corporations have been reminded of these risks with declining sales and lower stock prices. But what about our political leaders? Have our politicians considered the increased risks for all Americans when they fly a flag other than the American flag? I suggest flying one over an embassy in the Middle East for a quick reminder.

Do Christ followers understand the risks when they sit silently while their elected officials risk our nation by promoting an agenda that makes us an enemy of God? Isaiah 40:10 says God is going to pay back his enemies and reward those who have loved him. Do YOU show love with silence or words and actions? God is watching and listening to HIS people. The apostle John spoke directly to Christians risk and reward when he said…’Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.’ 2 John 1:8.

Christ followers need a wake up call. Yes, it’s all about a personal relationship but that relationship is at risk when we allow evil to spread by celebrating a rainbow as anything other than a promise from God? Do we confirm or deny our God by silence and inaction? Jesus said we must acknowledge Him before others or He won’t acknowledge us before the Father. More explicitly…'”But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.”‘

In the same message, Christ reminded the world it’s not about accepting and going along when we accept sin and the unholy. Just the opposite. The risk of celebrating that which God says is wrong brings no reward. ‘”Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword..the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”‘Matthew 10:34-37. There is more risk and less reward in accepting that which God calls ‘ungodly and sinful…unholy and irreverent.’

About now many of us are redirecting to RESULTS and the cost/benefit of silence and inaction. Some choose to focus on the love we have and show for others. This argument allows us to be present in the lives of people and DO good things. Some think the good we do by tolerating evil allows us to keep friendships and not alienate relationships. This perceived benefit is an incorrect analysis. Jesus spoke to this directly. ‘”On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them. ‘I never knew you. Depart from me you evildoers!'” Matthew 7:22-23. Are you at risk?

The point I want to make is simple. We are living in a place and time where risk and reward in the Christian life involves MORE prayer and discernment than what you may be exercising. The cost of ignoring the risk while turning your head to what our political and religious leaders are doing is GREAT. The benefit of remaining silent may not even exist if your actions allow evil to increase.

Stay in the Word so you KNOW and ARE confident in God’s teaching and ways. ‘…do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded.’

Endure and persevere. The benefit and reward of following Christ is eternal. The cost and risk of not knowing and following Him is damning.

It was a matter of when not if. The next pandemic to be declared by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has been widely documented in the U.S. and given the moniker, EWS or Eyes Wide Shut.

The symptoms of EWS start with blurred vision then quickly digress into complete loss of sight. The blurred vision is accompanied by a condition that hardens the heart and leads to a loss of hearing as well. In other words, Eyes Wide Shut (EWS) leaves the victim deaf and dumb.

No one seems to be immune to the rapidly spreading condition. EWS does not respect race, creed, sex or religious belief. EWS has been documented in atheists, Christians, men, women and all races. The disease appears to spread rapidly.

The initial symptoms manifested in suburban school districts but have now spread to inner cities like Chicago and New York. Some of the earliest reported cases involve parents showing a preference for their children to be educated and not indoctrinated with sexual perversions. Historically deemed a no-brainer, when teachers and school administrators labeled these parents as racist and homophobes the CDC went on alert.

Billions of dollars being sent to defend the borders of a foreign country while allowing illegal immigration on the southern border of the United States has spread the pandemic. Initially, cases were reported in Texas, Arizona and Florida. Towns complained they were being overwhelmed by illegals but no one seemed to care or SEE the resulting devastation. This past week Chicago and New York revealed their cities are suffering from the infected as well. Residents are voicing their displeasure and concerns with the influx of illegals. Leaders in these communities have been infected and refuse to see what is in plain sight.

The release of the Durham report this past week reveals the initial pandemic infection began years ago in the inner sanctums of Washington. The Executive branch, FBI, CIA, NSA, State Department, DOJ all spread the disease to various American Universities and medical associations. The NIH and U.S. Board of Education have their Eyes Wide Shut as well. Republicans, Democrats, Independents are all infected. EWS has spread from coast to coast and even deeper.

EWS effects the eyes, ears, heart and soul of it’s victims. Jews were warned about EWS 700 years before Christ was born. Christ followers were warned this pandemic would show no partiality. When speaking about the people infected, Jesus repeated the Old Testament prophet Isaiah to describe the infected…”For this people’s heart has become calloused: they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.” Matthew 13:15.

Advanced EWS takes away what is in plain sight. It robs victims of the ability to see and hear bank records showing money laundering schemes involving tens of millions of dollars. EWS steals what was once common sense and dulls the remaining senses.

Similar to how Covid effected some groups disproportionately, EWS MAY appear more acute in the Christian community. Many Evangelicals believe in a phenomenon referred to as the rapture. In this scenario, Christians are whisked up into the air when Christ returns to Earth. This causes many ‘believers’ to harden their hearts and close their eyes to conditions that don’t currently effect their lives or pocketbooks. Target is selling pro-trans buttons saying ‘Satan respects pronouns’ and ‘Cure Transphobia’ sweatshirts down the street from your church but….EWS is blinding.

It appears many believers suffer from EWS when they do not see themselves being directly persecuted. Obviously, this subgroup doesn’t consider 60 million aborted babies as offensive or antithetical to Christ’s teachings. Some ‘believers’ keep their Eyes Wide Shut when visiting theme parks promoting transgender characters in movies and books.

Today, many are being told that truth is an oppressive tool of white supremacy, that Christian morality is tyrannical nationalism and discriminatory against pedophiles and other sexual perverts. Biden even told a graduating class of an HBCU that white people are the greatest threat to America…and the aftermath is silence. EWS is rampant when the young and educated can’t see and hear propaganda for what it is. I’m afraid this was a super spreader event.

BUT…there is GREAT news. We can rest assured there is a day when EWS will be cured and no one will be effected ever again. ‘”Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “EVERY eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen’ Revelation 1:17. When Christ returns, ALL eyes will be wide open and EWS eradicated.

A disease and cultural eclipse is overtaking America in the form of EWS. There is ONE vaccine to cure the disease. Get vaccinated with the Holy Spirit as soon as possible.

Confidence and trust in people, places and things is in a free-fall. These are the facts, and they are indisputable. The ramifications are as well.

Trust and confidence in the U.S. dollar is falling at 10 times the speed of the past two decades as evidenced by global dollar reserves held by all nations. Confidence in the future is declining as evidenced by a drastically increasing suicide rate the past decade. Someone took their own life every 11 minutes in 2021. Trust in politicians, scientists, church leaders and government is at historic lows. Faith is under attack and in a free fall.

Faith is complete confidence and trust in someONE or someTHING. Faith is not an ephemeral feeling, thought or religious word. Faith is a muscle that if not built up and confirmed by successful use, will deteriorate and decline. The brother of Jesus put it bluntly, ‘…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ In simple terms, your actions speak louder than your words.

Whatever metric you choose, the erosion of faith is evident across the planet. Democrats have lost faith in the President. Everyone has lost faith in the DOJ to represent justice and not a political agenda. Some beer drinkers have lost faith in Budweiser products to culturally represent them. Catholics and Protestants lose faith in Church leaders because their actions and words betray beliefs held for thousands of years. When the loss of faith is apparent in the obvious, look for faith to wane in the not so obvious as well.

Faith is not alone in it’s free fall. Hope is the kissing cousin of faith and represents your desires, expectations and wishes. When faith declines, hope plays follow the leader and takes a hit as well. WHY is this important? What are the implications for YOU when faith and hope becomes flabby, obese and out of shape?

When faith is attacked and weakened your love for others grows cold. You become apathetic and indifferent. You lose empathy for others. Your witness to those with a weaker faith becomes less. The fabric of our society declines and unity decays because we lose faith in the most basic truths. When a learned person can’t or won’t define the basic biology of men and women because of their politics, it’s impossible to put faith in their ability to tell the truth. After this, faith in public safety and freedom of speech join the free fall.

If you think the decline in faith and hope is a problem for others but not yourself, go deeper. Read 6 little verses in Luke 18:9-14. This short story is about people who use others as their standard of righteousness. In one man’s view, his words and actions surpassed others so he celebrated his own virtue. Thinking he was better than everyone, he assumed God was pleased with him. He had become apathetic and indifferent, arrogant and prideful towards others. Jesus said this man exalted himself above others therefore condemning himself. ‘ “… For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” ‘ Before you virtue signal others or flat out judge your faith to be intact, look in the mirror and acknowledge the decline in faith and hope is an epidemic effecting us all.

Faith, confidence and trust in ANYTHING is only as strong as the object in which you place and exercise that faith. Faith in a political party or person has ALWAYS failed us. Faith in money will soon fail you as digital currencies replace cash. Your bank accounts will no longer be your own. This will cause anger and a loss of faith. There is ONLY one place to go all-in with confidence and trust.

Jesus proved faith in Him was worth it. The Bible tells us faith in Christ healed the sick ( “your faith has healed you” ), restored sight to the blind (“According to your faith will it be done to you.”) and even secures eternal life ( ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith’ ). The mic drops in Hebrews 11:6…’ 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.’ Do we want to please God?

Christians use the word ‘faith’ like a badge of honor. But, the number of ‘believers’ congregating to praise and worship is a canary in the coal mine of America. Read up on the ‘Nones’ to quantify what is happening. Church attendance is the first thing to go and HAS been in a free fall. Next, the sense of belonging declines. Finally, belief and faith dwindle. Look at your own Sunday morning schedule. Watch the cars in your neighbors driveway. If actions show your faith, where is it?

When Christ-followers lose faith and the PRACTICE of faith, the culture is quick to follow… OR it shows Christians have been led by the culture and not their faith. Christ followers are the last line of defense to protect society by exercising faith in the only One who CAN save our nation. Jesus’ life spoke directly to this dilemma of little faith and the current climate. ‘And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.’ Matthew 13:58.

We need to get back to the basics of where we place our trust and confidence. The Bible reminds us what we see in real time has been expected. ‘…in later times some will abandon the faith…’ by being deceived and placing their faith elsewhere. Many reading this blog have faith in God but…is it the kind of faith that confirms confidence when Christ said… ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.’ Seen any miracles lately? Yes or no, it’s a faith issue.

The story in Mark 9:14-29 is a must read for everyone who has any kind of faith left in 2023. This man had enough trust and belief to take his deaf, mute, possessed epileptic son to Jesus for healing. This guy is a poster child for too many of us. His prayer, his words to Jesus revealed the depth of his faith when he said… ‘…”But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. ” ‘

I love it when Jesus speaks so adamantly and pointedly about faith. Christ addressed his disciples faith by calling them an ‘unbelieving generation’ and asking ‘How long should I put up with you?’ When he spoke to the dad he drilled the point, ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Let that sink in a minute…EVERYTHING for one who believes.

The dad’s response is similar to what you and I might be thinking. “I do believe: help me with my unbelief”. Read the rest of the story. Jesus rewarded this man’s faith and honesty by healing the son. If you ask God for more faith, He’s ready and willing to provide it. Are you willing to ask?

‘When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.’ Good men and women have lost faith in people AND God because their faith has been shaken across the board. A weakened and immature faith has led to childish and perverted ways becoming the modern day mindset. Is this decline in faith really an issue? Absolutely yes.

Jesus warned about the decline in faith we are living through. When He spoke about returning to His creation, Christ asked a piercing rhetorical question. ‘” However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'” ….How will He find yours?

No matter how little, weak or waning your faith is, be encouraged.
2 Timothy 2:11-13…

‘Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.’

Exercise more faith in God and watch what happens. HE remains faithful to us no matter what. Will we have faith in Him?