Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)
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Scratching the Surface of the Psalms
#40
“Have You Had It With It?”
It’s an
ancient verity that’s always current: “How do you know if a politician is
lying? Her/his lips are moving.”
37: “I am
not a crook!”
41: “Read my lips! No new taxes!”
42: “I didn’t inhale…[and]…I didn’t
have sex with that woman…”
44: “If you like your doctor, you can
keep your doctor.”
While you can get into trouble for
saying this in a state that’s made an industry of his legacy despite the
apostle saying all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, truth is 16
even had some ethical hiccups.
It’s like the inventor of the internet
who’s made a fortune on climate change without offering any viable solutions or
personal modeling for dealing with it observed, “A zebra doesn’t change its
spots.”
Breaking the 9th
commandment of God has always been a lot easier than keeping it.
Pero let’s get back to 42 who
was fortunate enough to be P before the “Me Too” movement: “It all depends on
what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
Not even 45’s idolaters could spin a lie
that well.
It.
Rhymes with…illegit…dimwit…a bit…quite
a bit…chomp at the bit…get up and git…smash hit…close knit…play hard to
git…lit…nit…sit…split…[and my favorite for this occasion]…throw a fit.
Moretheless, if you’re like me,
you’ve had it with it.
Haven’t you had it with men who don’t
take off their hats in restaurants or remember the common courtesy of ladies
before gentlemen along with gender-inclusive selfies who never turn off the
lights when they leave the room or lock the doors when leaving the building or
must have had the exact number of staples in the stapler and paper in the
duplicating machine or don’t flush or pick up or put down the…?
That’s that little, uh, it.
Then there’s the really big, uh, it
like bullying, bruising, beating, battering, and butchering in the name of
nationalism or religion or…
Talking about how bad it is
getting, there’s a banner making the rounds these days that brings those
neo-Nazi governors and legislators in New York and Virginia to mind. From what I’ve been able to discover, it
first appeared as a counter-protest at the 2011 Walk for Life West Coast in San
Francisco: “If Mary Had Had An Abortion, We Wouldn’t Be In This Mess.”
I kid you not.
It’s getting that bad aka
unGodly, mes amis.
Of course, there’s nothing original
about sin.
We’ve been breaking all of God’s laws
for getting along with Him and each other ever since Moses brought down the
first edition: “You shall have no other gods before me except for the ones
who promise lots of free stuff…You shall not make for yourself an idol unless
it really looks good in the narthex or town square…You shall not make
wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God unless you’re really, uh,
ticked off…Remember the sabbath day unless you’re hung over or have
really good tickets…Honor your father and your mother if it’ll keep you
in the will…You shall not murder unless you live in Virginia, New York,
and…You shall not commit adultery unless you’re really in love and can
get away with it…You shall not steal too much…You shall not bear
false witness unless you must to get your way…and…You shall not covet as
long as you can beg, borrow, or steal.
Truly, truly, truly, anybody who still
cares about Jesus by the book has had it with it.
It’s like the little card that I hang on
my study door whenever I’ve had it with it in churches: “The more I read
through the Bible, the less I have in common with modern Christianity.”
David had it with it.
Psalm after psalm after psalm expresses
David’s disappointments, disgust, and disdain for it while begging
divine deliverance from it.
Psalm 40 repeats the theme of Godly
people like David being fed up with it: “I waited patiently for God who
heard me and helped me…[yet]…I still need You, God, because so many troubles
continue to surround me. They want to
disgrace, confound, harm, and humiliate me…On top of that, I can’t stop sinning
either. My sins are more than the hairs
on my head…Please deliver me from them and me!
Hurry up and help me, Lord!”
Surely, David always ends up thanking
God for interceding supernaturally in his life to save him: “How happy
is the man who has put his trust in the Lord and has not turned to the proud or
those who run after lies!”
As usual, David ends by singing the
praises of God because God always saves the faithful: “Let all who seek You
rejoice and be glad in You. Let those
who love Your salvation continually say, ‘The Lord is great!’”
Still, even as the praises extol the
saving graces of God, David notes the continuing struggles with it that
will always require God’s intervention: “I am afflicted and needy. I know You know that. I know You never stop thinking of me. You are my help. You are my deliverer. So, my God, do not delay.”
David knows it will never end.
Though he’s had it with it, he
knows he will always need God to save him.
He knows the only way to keep keepin’
on and get over it is to stay close to Him.
That’s why we always include these
words at the end of every worship service on the corner of Lincoln and Main:
“Until next time, continue in God’s peace through faith in Jesus!…Love God and
be kind to one another!…Remember, the answer to every question is Jesus!…And if
you care, pray and work to make America Godly again!…The grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all!”
If you’ve had it with it, get
with Jesus!
He is the only way to get over it!
When I’m feeling down about it, I
read psalms like 40, Biblically meditate or wrap my soul around His Word
enfleshed in Jesus and explained in the Bible, and often go to YouTube and
watch Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last public witness on April 3, 1968 at
Memphis, Tennessee’s Masonic Temple; turning up the volume as high as I can
take it for the last few minutes: “Well, I don’t know what will happen
now. We’ve got some difficult days
ahead. But it doesn’t really matter with
me now. Because I’ve been to the
mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long
life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the
mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a
people will get to the promised land.
And I’m happy tonight. I’m not
worried about anything. I’m not fearing
any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord.”
That’s why the earliest creed in
Christendom remains the clearest and most conclusive witness to what we can do
about it: “Jesus is Lord!”
@#$%
Blessings and Love!
@#$%
Wake up! Look up! Stand up! Speak up! Act up for Jesus!
Shatter the sound of silence!
Salt! Shine! Leavenate!
Shatter the sound of silence!
Salt! Shine! Leavenate!
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