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A DUO OF FOOLS

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By Ken Blue

“And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.” 1 Kings 22:10.

Neither robes nor thrones keep men from being wicked and fools. The throne does not make one a king, and the robe does not mean one is royalty. We see both truths illustrated in the two men before us. Ahab was a wicked fool, and Jehoshaphat was a blind fool.

Ahab was the king if the ten Northern tribes; known as Israel. Jehoshaphat was king of the two Southern tribes; known as Judah. There was no limit to the wickedness of Ahab. He killed God’s prophets, set up idols for Israel to worship, had Naboth killed in order of steal his vineyard, rejected the Word of God, and secured his own false prophets.

Ahab had repeated wars with Syria and had won the last two, in spite of his incomplete obedience. He decided the time had come to attack Syria and reclaim certain cities. He contacted Jehoshaphat, asking him and his army to join him in this venture.

Sad to say, Jehoshaphat traveled to Samaria and met with Ahab. They felt they should seek God and ask how the battle would go. Both, Ahab and Jehoshaphat donned their royal robes and sat in an elevated place at the gate.

Jehoshaphat was nervous and asks Ahab to seek advice of the prophets. Four hundred of Ahab’s prophets were available. Each one assured the kings that victory for Israel was certain. However, Jehoshaphat still was not convinced and asks Ahab if a prophet of LORD was available. There was one, but Ahab hated him and had him in prison. Jehoshaphat persuaded Ahab to send for him.

Micaiah, the prophet of the LORD was brought before the kings and ask how the battle would go. He assured them that Israel would be defeated. In fact, he assured Ahab that he would be killed. In a fit of rage, Ahab sent him back to prison to be afflicted. However, true to form, Ahab was a wicked fool and went against the Word of the LORD again.

We are reluctant to call Jehoshaphat a fool, but we can come to no other conclusion. What was he doing joining with the likes of Ahab? Why did he sit by and allow Micaiah to be mistreated and returned to prison? But, these are not the extent of his stupidity. Notice the suggestion Ahab makes, and that Jehoshaphat went along with it! (?). “And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.” 1 Kings 22:30.

If there are two men in the Bible more stupid than these two, I don’t know who they would be. Ahab was wicked and stupid. And what can we say of Jehoshaphat? Ahab should have worn a t-shirt that said, “I’m with stupid.”

There is a lesson for all of us. Don’t assume that preachers who are esteemed royalty and held in high esteem are either good or wise; they might be otherwise.   

TRIMMING THE CHURCH BUDGET

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By Ken Blue

church budget“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Proverbs 21:20.

Recently, a pastor friend asks if I would write something about trimming the church budget. He then laughed and said, “Maybe the answer is to just run it through the shredder.” That would be an easy way to get rid of the budget, but it will not eliminate the problem.

The first thing is to make a list of every known expense you have. Once you have done that, separate between the fixed expenses and the variable or non fixed expenses. Fixed expenses are easy to identify. However, it may be necessary to keep a diary of all other expenses so you will know where non-designated monies go. You will discover that these differ from day to day.

See where you spend your money, and decide what you could do without. Some expenses are one-time events. But there are also expenses that you’ll regularly see in the diary. Monitoring your spending this way helps alert you to the expenses that add up quickly and really don’t significantly improve your ministry. Eliminate as many of these as you can.

As you consider expenses, there may be ways to reduce the overhead. I will list a few things to consider.

1. You might be able to cut down on the number of phones you have, or the plan.

2. Turn the water heater down. Check to see that toilets are not running 24/7. You can work out a fixed yearly budget with the city or county concerning utilities.

3. Put lower wattage and fewer light bulbs in fixtures.

4. Install motion sensor switches in each room so lights will go off when there’s no activity.

5. Make sure the heat and air conditioner are off when the building is not in use.

6. See that windows are closed.

7. Set heat a couple of degrees lower.

8. Look for signs of waste and eliminate it.

9. If required, talk to the bank about refinancing to lower your payments.

10.  Do not add missionaries or building projects that you can’t pay for.

11. Cut back or eliminate special meetings and guest speakers; they do not build your church attendance or budget.

12. If necessary, have the midweek service in a smaller room and save on heat.

13. Double your outreach efforts. When Jesus wanted Peter to pay the taxes, He sent him to catch a fish!

14.  If none of these solve the problem, you may need to lay off some staff.

15. Take special offerings occasionally to meet a need.

16. In some cases, the pastor may be required to seek additional employment.

Pastor, there’s only so much you can do. However, I am convinced that there are some things you could do that might ease the financial burden a little.

“MY SON, MY SON, ABSALOM”

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By Ken Blue

“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 2 Samuel 18:33.

Of course, there was no excuse for the behavior of Absalom. There are many things about which one can speculate, but that’s all it would be. For some reason, Absalom hated and resented his father. He sought to take the kingdom from him, and shame him by committing adultery with his father’s wives.  

Absalom may have been angered by his father’s neglect. It is difficult to run a kingdom and have time for one’s family. But, none of us need excuses to rebel against our parents. We always justify our actions. David may have been at fault, but Absalom was guilty and still responsible.

However, our concern is not with the behavior of Absalom; it is with the grief of a father. David was grieving for Absalom long before Joab killed him. And so it is; every parent who has had a rebellious son or daughter can understand David’s cry. And, if that child dies in rebellion, the heart ache is just so much greater.

We are quick to pass judgment on others when tragedy strikes them, and many times suggest that the parents or the child had it coming. That may be true, but that should never be our response. We need to learn to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Christianity is a religion of the heart as well as of the head.   

All of us can read the story and hear David’s cry. But, only a few can read it and identify with it. Nothing hurts like a broken, crushed heart. Thus, we too learn to cry with David “…O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Our own family failures, personal sins, and gratitude for God’s forgiveness, ought to put us in a frame of mind that not only hears David, but holds his hand as we climb the stairs with him.

HOW NOT TO APOLOGIZE

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By Ken Blue

Apologizing is not easy for any of us. The primary reason is our pride, and our confidence that we are right in our actions and words. However, it is humors to hear people make apologies, who either don’t know how, or they believe they haven’t really done anything wrong; rather, the apology becomes a defense.  

Here are some rules to follow when attempting an apology.

1. Don’t uses such words as: “if,” “I’m sorry you were offended,” “If I didn’t make myself clear.” “You misunderstood me.” “That’s just my personally that many can’t accept.” Or “If you were offended, I’m sorry.”

2. Don’t spend 2/3 of the time attacking the person you are apologizing to. When you do, you are mounting another attack, and justifying your position. Sometimes attempted apologies turn into a rehash of the same argument you wanted to amend. Be very careful not to re-argue any topics or open any old wounds.

3. Don’t remind the other person of how wrong they are; that is not an apology. Do not talk about how bad you feel. The apology is not about your guilt, your shame, your fear of rejection, your anxiety or your loneliness while waiting to be forgiven. It is about the other person – remember that, even if it seems to be taking them a long time to forgive you.

4. Don’t attempt to apologize unless you believe you were wrong, it only makes you appear more arrogant.

5. Take full responsibility for the offense, without sharing the blame with anyone else, and without presenting mitigating circumstances. Admit that you were wrong emphatically, unreservedly, and immediately. An incomplete apology often feels more like an insult. An apology with an excuse is simply not an apology. It may very well be that other people or circumstances contributed to the situation, but you cannot apologize for them; you can only apologize for yourself, so leave them out of it.

6. Avoid using the word “but.” (“I am sorry, but…” means “I am not sorry.”)

7. Don’t say “I’m sorry you feel that way” or “I’m sorry if you were offended.” Be sorry for what you did! “I’m sorry you feel that way” makes it seem like you are blaming the other person, and is not a real apology.

8. To be truly sorry is a feeling of grief for the wrong you did to another.

“Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd  covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” Proverbs 26:23-26.

WONDER WHY MUSLIMS ARE SILENT ON MERCY KILLINGS AND EXECUTIONS

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Why Muslims are silent.

2 Teen Girls Executed by Somali Militant Group

Published October 28, 2010,  Associated Press AFP

Why Muslims are silent“MOGADISHU, Somalia — An Islamic group that controls much of southern Somalia executed two girls by firing squad, and hundreds of residents of a town were forced to view the spectacle.

Sheik Mohamed Ibrahim on Wednesday sentenced the girls to death in the town of Belet Weyne for spying …The local al-Shabab administration appoints judges and the only needed qualifications are that the person must be a man who knows the Quran.

Al-Shabab is linked to Al Qaeda and has carried out several whippings, amputations and executions to enforce its own strict interpretation of Islam. This was the first public execution of girls in Belet Weyne, a western Somali town.

al-Shabab militiamen had walked through Belet Weyne’s streets, informing residents about the pending executions by loudspeaker and ordering everyone to attend.

Ayan Mohamed Jama, 18, and Huriyo Ibrahim, 15, were brought before hundreds of residents. Ten masked men opened fire Wednesday on the girls, who were blindfolded, soon after the sentencing. As the girls were shot, they shouted “There is no God but Allah,” said a witness who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.

Ugas also warned residents against using their mobile phones or cameras to document the execution, saying violates of his rule risked amputation.”

Now you understand why no Muslim dare speak out.  You understand why Muslims are silent. He, or she, or a family member risk mutilation or execution. This is how a mafia lead dictatorship operates in a peace loving religion. To a Muslim, peace means the elimination or subjugation of all other religions.