Diplomacy

Gentle Words

                 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” —Proverbs 15:1.

                 There is a reference to Judges 8:1-3 in some study Bibles on this passage. The reference is to a time when Gideon confronts the prickly Ephraimites, who demanded their share of the glory and spoils of war after the defeat of the Midianite oppressors.  Aggressively, they confronted Gideon and postured as if they wanted to turn the battle against their brother Israelites.  However, with great diplomacy, Gideon appeased the Ephraimites, validating their contribution to the war effort and praising them for their assistance on the southern front, and their capture of the enemy kings. When they were thus honored and their contribution recognized, Ephraim settled down and further violence was averted.

It is said that President Lincoln used the same kind of diplomacy toward his detractors in Washington, who seemed almost as numerous and vocal as his enemies in the South. When told once by a staffer that his Secretary of War Edwin Stanton had called him a fool, Lincoln remarked, “Stanton is usually right,” and made an appointment to visit his opponent to try and work out their differences. Later in that sad night in April as Lincoln lay mortally wounded in the Peterson House, Stanton is heard to say “He belongs to the ages—there lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen.”

Gentle speech is a hallmark for the servant of Christ “with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:25.

Brusque words produce quarrels which divide families, churches and communities. Nothing good comes of these. We need to listen to the LORD: “Come now, let us reason together . . .” —Isaiah 1:18

In the New Testament, the apostle directs believers to “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.” —Colossians 4:6. Family gatherings during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays often bring up the need for diplomacy. Practice it and you won't regret it. Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving Angels

After the lady at the donut shop took my order, I turned to my dad. “What would you like?” I asked.

                “What was that you got? I believe I’ll have the same thing.” He replied.

                “My dad liked the way you did my order so well, he wants to see if you’ll do it again,” I joked to the counter-lady. She chuckled and proceeded to fill Dad’s order. Just then, an angel from God appeared at my elbow. She didn’t look like the angels I had envisioned, all pink and pure and young, but she was an angel, nevertheless. Her round, pleasant  Black face broke into a smile and she gave me God’s message.

                “That’s a wonderful ting, to see a father and a son together in this day and time,” she remarked.

                “I know what you mean. But shh!” I kidded, nudging her with my elbow. “Don’t let him hear you. He’ll get the big head and nobody will be able to live with him.” Ignoring me, she repeated her message even louder. “It’s a wonderful thing to see a father and son together. You must be blessed. God bless you!” Her smile was contagious and her message true and timely. Grinning, I nodded. “You’re sure right. Thank you.”  It had been a week during an early ice storm that had put one car in the ditch and blown head gaskets had put the family van in the shop. I hadn’t been feeling very thankful, but my dad came to my rescue, loaning me a car to drive until I could get mine repaired.

                That was the year I was doing a clinical practicum in an Adolescent Behavioral Unit.  Other angels in the Unit confronted me, reminding me that those kids would have traded anything for a father like mine, to pray for them and give them direction and affirmation. Their stories tugged at the heartstrings. Abandoned by fathers, abused by their mothers, they were introduced into the dark world of gangs, drugs and sex by a cruel sub-culture. Each time I left the Unit, I said a prayer of thanks for my father and family.

                Our youngest, the last to leave the house, ended each day by coming to the living room and hugging his mom and dad. Each morning, I still look into the same brown eyes that have returned my gaze for nearly 39 years. Life is good.  Truly, God is full of grace.

                Angels do walk among us. The word in Greek means “messenger.” Listen to the messengers who move about us. Give thanks for God’s gifts. Share grace with others, and you too will be an angel.

I wonder

I wonder

Why is “abbreviated” such a long word?

Why do banks leave the vaults open all day but chain the pens to the counter?

Why is “politics” such an accurate word? Greek poli meaning “many” and tics = “blood sucking creatures.”

                Now that the election is finally over, it’s time to talk about moving forward and treating each other with respect and working together for the greater good. Except that will be impossible as long as the Liberals continue to gloat and the Conservatives continue to rage. I have some observations to make:

                One, if the U.S. could survive the scandal-ridden Grant and Harding administrations and the strife surrounding the Vietnam War, it can likely move forward with President Obama’s second term. Things will likely get rough because no U.S. president ever has a good second term. Reagan’s second term was marred by Iran-Contra, Bush’s by the war in Iraq, and even FDR struggled with opposition from the Supreme Court for his New Deal. President Obama will need all the prayers we can send him. And pray for him we must:  “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” –I Timothy 2:1-2.

                In addition to prayer, our nation needs our influence and example. All the politicians say our nation needs to change, but I believe change must come from the red-dirt level. People need to learn and practice the work ethic taught in Scripture: “Let him who steals steal no longer but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.” –Ephesians 4:28, “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” –I Thessalonians 4:11f.

                No one around here denies that our nation is in cultural decline, with broken families and broken hearts everywhere, and violence in the home and on the streets, and moral principles that used to be commonplace now cast aside. Students of history take heart! It is under such situations that the Lord’s church saw its greatest periods of growth. The church grew stronger in character and numbers when Roman persecution was the worst.

                Finally, remember that Christ is in control of the universe:  “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17. Remember that “He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” –Colossians 1:13-14. Christ is king, and we are citizens of his kingdom. It’s time to talk right, act right and pray right. Our nation needs us.