As legend has it, Harry Houdini died because he was sucker punched. Out of nowhere he was punched in the gut and he wasn't ready for it. I have read where some of his contemporaries blamed him for not being prepared; he should have seen the punch coming. But how can one man be prepared for a sucker punch that can come at any time? It is impossible to be prepared for everything at all times. In our arrogance as "know it all" onlookers we judge and stamp the label of "failure" on others when they make a mistake or are casualties of events that are out of their control. What could Harry do, he was sucker punched? Sin sucker punches us all. When we least expect it sin unleashes into our world deadly unforeseen damage that can leave even the strongest of us speechless. I have seen people weep & wail because of sin's venom. So, often out of the blue the hurting come running to their pastor, the leadership, or trusted counselors and cry "help me!" In their pain they wonder why no one has stopped this, or why no one warned them about the real horror of sin's consequences. "Hey, we all were sucker punched!" Instead of casting stones of blame, or demanding a new policy to be put in place to stop all sucker punches; let's first learn to offer mercy toward each other, practice patience, and do not leap to judgment. "Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ." My good friend Ken Vanderwest told me a story about what it means to be a pastor. It is quite cryptic, but if you chew on it awhile the truths will squirt out...that is how it is with all good parables. Imagine you are walking along a scenic path in the mountains. It is a beautiful day, a cloudless sky with soft rays of sunlight warming you as you enjoy your hike. Up ahead is a long wooden bridge connecting the trail that is interrupted by a deep canyon crevice. As you pass along the bridge you stop to look down; the steep cliffs of the canyon stretch a good 500 feet into a fast moving river. Out of nowhere, you see a man running toward you down the path...he has a rope tied around his waist. He comes to you quickly on the bridge and commands you to hold the end of the rope that is tied to him. As you grab it he jumps over the edge. "Hey buddy, what are you doing?" He says nothing while he dangles 20 feet down over the open mouth of the canyon. You can barely hold on so you yell down,"Climb up, I can't hold on to this forever." The man doesn't respond he just dangles. What do you do? Well as the rope starts slipping, you realize you have no leverage to pull him up on your own. There is nothing you can do. When the rope finally does slip out of your hand who gets blamed for his death? The one who was holding the rope, and that is ministry. Sin makes sport of all of us, it sucker punches us and we are left blaming each other. That is Satan's whole objective of the sucker punch -- not to hurt us directly but to distract us, turn our anger on each other rather than on the sin that so easily entangles.
4 Comments
Buddy
1/19/2014 10:08:08 am
Anyone who can make a career out of vocational ministry and come out on the other side of his career not embittered and not cynical, has my deepest admiration.
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Christopher Weeks
1/20/2014 12:39:51 am
I can honestly say it is an honor to serve, yes it is taxing at times, but being in the service of Jesus is still too good to be true.
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Jesse Kahler
1/20/2014 05:20:45 am
The story about ministry is honestly sooo good and true. Your correction to all of us at the end is even better. While Satan distracts, we are easily distracted. While Satan feeds our ego, we are prone to pointing fingers. Our effort, "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." Hebrews 11:4 One thought as a pastor: it is so good for me to remember that I am a normal, person in need of grace daily. This is something that not many people are privy to remembering about me and that is ok. For our security come from Christ and our service is for the King. Who is the next one running, thrusting their rope in my hands, and jumping?? If Jesus asks, I have my hands ripped up by rope burns, taking blame, only to do it again tomorrow. "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10
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Christopher Weeks
1/20/2014 06:18:14 am
I am desperately in need of grace, and I think we fall into trouble when we think we can actually pull someone up by our own strength....impossible! But, alas, nothing is impossible with God.
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