Concentric Circles

‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ Matthew 25:44-45

Perfect circles have no end, are perfectly symmetrical at all points and these points are equidistant from the center of the circle. This is the description of the circle of your influence as well. However, there is one thing that you must consider in this description of your circle of influence. And that is the power of your influence upon others.

Evangelistic emphasis is mostly found in preaching to strangers, anonymous crowds. Evangelism must take place where we are. Concentric Circles of Concern is a book written by Oscar Thompson that provides suggestions about sharing Christ's love by meeting the spiritual needs of those around us. Beginning with family, followed by friends, then to everyone in your field of influence and continuing to move outward in concentric circles. However, I find it interesting that this is a concept that has its beginnings in Scripture. In fact, the circle has provided humankind with great curiosity for thousands of years.

Ancient peoples the world over have observed the effects of the circle in relationships and have placed this idea in their centers of worship. Two examples that come to mind are the Stonehenge in England and stone circles left in the ruins by American Indians in the Southwestern United States.

Therefore, the image of the circle is not new and is profoundly powerful as an example for us today. Although Jesus does not make mention of the use of the circle in His statement found in Matthew 25:45, the effect is the same. , ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ Everywhere we go our influence impacts people in one way or another simply because of our presence. This being true, why not make an effort to have a positive influence wherever we are?

Hopefully, the statement itself will arouse your interest only because the words come from the heart of Jesus Christ. Understand that Jesus Christ is the Author of this statement and He is not some ‘Joe’ that has recently come in out of the rain….so to speak. This is Jesus Christ and it is important that He be listened to.

Whatever you and I do does impact the lives of others and Jesus says that He takes serious note of what we do and do not do. Why? Because we are impacting Him in the process. Our lives are important and who we influence is important because we are important to the Savior of the world.

Take a quick walk through most bookstores and libraries and there you will discover the importance of influence. Some authors refer to influence as a science and big dollars are being made by peddling influence. First impressions, first words, and many other things are considered as we encounter people. These impressions fall into the category of influence.

All that has been noted are ideals that will come from your heart….not your appearance. Your appearance is only the reflection of your heart. Consider this, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

Why proclaim the Gospel? This is the heart of God and as believers His heart is our heart. “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 1 Corinthians 5:11-15.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lonesome Dove

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23 (ESV)

In 1989 the epic mini series Lonesome Dove appeared on American television. This is probably one of the very best if not the very best western produced for television. My guess is that the big Screen has never viewed anything quite like this story.

I have done a fair amount of study about the Old West, the cattle drives, etc, and this story pretty well depicts what may have taken place in a very hard land crossed by very tough people. And this is the reality of the show. Demonstrated for the viewer is the heart of man in bone-chilling form. Not bone-chilling as in horror, but reality.

Indescribable human courage is depicted as the drovers move a herd of cattle across miles of wild and hostile land. There is the near inexhaustible human will accomplishing the near impossible.

Ethics, the principles and faithfulness that at one time were the primary guides for every man and woman in America are viewed in a harsh reality. The unforgotten principle of not tolerating a wrong, no matter how slight is demonstrated throughout. The basic elements of humanity are also seen in the horse thief and bank robber who murders and then burns the bodies of his victims.

But what the movie does not depict is the need for lonesome man in search for an all loving God. The reality is that most of these very hard men who did drive cattle across the harshest of unrelenting difficulties had no idea of who God is. And in the comfort of being a person being born into a Christian environment, I have the luxury of pronouncing an unmet and unmentioned need of those people. But your reality is different. You do know the Presence of God, and His unrelenting desire to be your Guide.

When David wrote this Psalm, we find that he is in a difficult situation, and we know this because he says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” Something was going on in his life that causes him to write about death. But he drew great strength in knowing that his God is the Shepherd of his life…something that he lived as a boy. But now he is a warrior seeking deliverance from King Saul.

You and I have this day, no matter the difficulties of our 21st century, God as our Shepherd. We are not being pursued by a jealous and outraged enemy, and we do not drive our food to market….we drive in our air conditioned vehicle and shop in cool comfort for every necessity of life. No pain and suffering there. But, God is our Shepherd in our very stress-filled lives.

For those of us here in the States must remember that our family member, David, is in a reality at this very moment that none of us here will ever know. Pray for him and his warrior friends who are very much living out the harsh realities of the 23rd Psalm.

Think about us for the moment….Rebekah is nearing her 17th birthday preparing to go to college in 18 months…remember those days…you who have already travelled that street??? Robin and Robert are moving in with us…in Hope, Arkansas…entering a new phase of life….Kae-la and Greg finishing up college and re-entering college almost in the same breath…new challenges there, too. David and Lisa…separation beyond any comprehension that I have ever known. No doubt more stress and fear than any of us can understand at this moment in time.

But, each of us is able to reach out and know that our God is here with us. No matter the difficulty or horror of the moment, He is here with you. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Trial by Fire...Forgotten Truth

"taken for granted": accepted as real or true without proof

Americans have become soft. And when I say this, I am necessarily referring to many things. But for today, I am speaking of moral compass. For the most part the majority of Americans do not search for truth, but rather accept what is seen on television, viewed on computer screens and heard from Hollywood Icons, etc. Half truths are now 'taken for granted' as being real truth without proof.

What most have seemingly lost are the facts of history, whatever they may be. But the one fact that has been taken from the course of education is the rule of law. The democratic experiment that began on the North American Continent more than 200 years ago depended upon many things. And perhaps the most significant principle is that Law rules the State. But from the 1940's this principle has eroded and the rule of State is quickly absorbing the rule of Law.

Our social order is falling into chaos because the populace is becoming dependent upon the State for existence. And this depends upon thte rule of State rather than the rule of Law. HOWEVER, the law does fall under the proper maintenance of the State which must yield authority to God.

Look for the moment at 1Peter 2:13-17, "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (ESV) "God has ordained the state as a delegated authority; it is not autonomous. The state is to be an agent of justice, to restrain evil by punishing the wrongdoer, and to protect the good in society." (Chrisitian Manifesto; Francis A. Schaeffer, p.91)

What we have witnessed from the 1960's until this moment is a decay of the Western culture.

Leaders of political and religious America (conservatism) have cut the ropes of integrity from the moorings of responsibility and have drifted into the swift currernts of moral collapse. There are some definite signs of the desire of returning to those moorings in search of new ropes that will secure them to sound morality.

But there is so much doubt and frailty among the constituency that the path to change will be difficult...not impossible, but very, very difficult. The house is divided against itself and Jesus Christ has said that with problems like that, division rules and collapse is near at hand.

In June of 1858, Abraham Lincoln addressed the Republican State Convention of Illinois and began with these words, "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do it." This is a well known phrase that has its foundations in Lincoln's rich faith in God and trust in the Bible.

Lincoln's 'Trial by Fire' came when he wrote (in 1861) and later delivered (in 1862) the "Emmancipation Proclamation" speech. In that speech Mr. Lincoln stated, "I made a solemn vow before God, that if General Lee was driven back from Pennsylvania, I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves." (Abraham Lincoln, Elton Trueblood, p.24) His moral struggle until the delivery of the speech was a difficult one because of the division of the Union that was obviously at stake, in part, because of slavery.

For the eighty years that followed the United States struggled to free itself from the horrors of the Civil War while being involved with military and political conflicts that ravaged the Nation around the world. The Nation that was born on the Atlantic Ocean had spread itself to the Pacific Ocean. Many trials were endured by the pioneers who crossed mountains and plains to find 'home'. Wars were fought with countless Indians who fought for their own survival under the press of the 'Blue Eyes' coming on the 'Iron Horse'. Our military and economic power provided opportunity to defend our shores in Europe and the thousands of islands in the Pacific without shedding blood on and destroying our homeland. We had survived the 'Trials by Fire'.

Today, that truth seems to have been forgotten by those that claim leadership at almost every level of our culture. We no longer "dance with the girl we brought." Those principles of Judeo-Christian heritage have not only been forgotten, but have been substituted with Secular Humanism.

This is enough for now. But life as I see it is hard and becoming more difficult for all of us. No, the end is not so near as some might believe, but the road back is one of rediscovery of our roots.......