Author: Rev. Charles Pugh

Playing off my last article (Get The Point?!), I want to take time now to address an issue I brought up before. Pointing does help get people’s attention and quite often reveals a personal point needing to be taken. If you will take the time to think with me here, you may learn a secret that will help resolve conflicts in your life and help you grow as GOD intends. By the end of this article, may you learn to say: Point Taken!

Emotions are an integral part of who we are as human beings. How we feel impacts our decisions, and thus all those around us. Your feelings will either take control of you or you will take control of your feelings and point them in the right direction. Your feelings not only serve as a way to experience life, but should also serve as a teacher. You should come to understand the reasons why you feel as you do.

What happens when you point your finger and what is happening that leads you to do this? Unless it involved just giving someone a direction to go for something, you likely have had some emotion to well up within you and lead you to stick out your finger and point toward someone. So, how many fingers do you have pointing at someone (assuming that you have the typical 5 fingers on your hand)? Likely, you have only one, or at the most two, if your thumb is grasping your other fingers (or perhaps just relaxed on top of them, possibly indicating that the emotion may not be quite as strong). Often, especially if your emotion is particularly strong, your thumb is pointing upward. Unless you have a strange way of pointing, you will have three fingers that are aimed right back at you. Take note of this! Three fingers are pointing back at you and only one (or at the most two) at someone else! If you find your thumb pointing up, you should let that remind you that the point you should be taking is to be looking up for help to resolve whatever led you to point.

Now, why do you think that most of your fingers (typically three) are pointing back at you? Let this serve as a reminder for you to pay close attention to what is happening! Get control of your emotions and consider why you are pointing in the first place. You likely have even more to consider yourself, especially since you have three fingers pointing back at you! This is a good way to judge yourself and if you judge yourself first, you won’t have to be judged by others (the Bible teaches this in 1 Corinthians 11:31 and in many other places and ways). Jesus spoke of this principle as getting the plank out of your own eye before trying to get the speck out of someone else’s eye (see Matthew 7:3-4). You may want to consider the context in Matthew 7, too, as instructive on the dangers of judging without seeing how you yourself may need to be judged. So, consider those three fingers back at you and take that point to evaluate your own heart and actions!

This point could be taken even further. I have wanted to write a book for many years on this principle, which I often refer to as “The P.K. Principle” (the pot calling the kettle black). The fact is, that due to our old, sinful nature, we are naturally blind to our own faults and even evaluating our own actions. GOD tries to get our attention on things we need to change by bringing it up to where we can see it. You tend to see things in others first, as you naturally look outward at those around you. When you see something in someone else that really bothers you, take that point to consider what GOD is trying to teach you first! Almost certainly, you will find that you are guilty of the very thing you are so upset at others about (or in some similar way). This really is an amazing principle that works. If applied, it will help you grow and be more of what GOD wants you to be!

Test this out, but be careful, you may find you have much to change! May you say, Point Taken!

Have you heard about the recent exchange between Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer and President Obama? Maybe you have seen the picture of her finger pointing up toward the face of Obama? I have even read her personal letter and invitation to President Obama when he visited Arizona. Did you get the point?! Rather than deal with the particulars of this encounter on the tarmac in Arizona (there is already much buzz about this among many), I want to play off this and address a deeper issue for all of life—do you Get The Point?!

Have you ever thought much about that expression? Do you get the point?! 😉 Do you like it when people point at you? Do others like it when you point at them? There is something forceful and even sometimes a bit unnerving when people point. Pointing helps get people’s attention (and it may even reveal something you need to be seeing as well [I’ll have to address that another time]). You “getting the point” is when there is a penetration of your personal or conceptualized space (you may also want to review my 11-24-10 blog, “Space: The First Frontier”). Getting the point means that something has come close to you and is now directly impacting you. It may be something physical, but it is certainly mental and emotional. This “get the point” expression certainly is a strong way to get your attention!

From my own personal observations, it seems that many today are living in an ideal world or a false reality. Common sense doesn’t seem to be all that common anymore. Pop culture and technological gadgets and games contribute to a more digitized world that many seem to often be living in. What will it take to help more people get the point? What might it take for you to consider your life in a deeper way and find your true purpose and meaning? Do you get the point of what your life is all about?

If you are living for just yourself, your life is likely filled with trouble and even loneliness. You probably have a few friends who relate to one of your interests and you likely have family that puts up with your narcissism. You may escape into television, movies, games or some other world of interests. There is so much out there today to take your attention! Whether or not you are self-focused (and I trust you will consider the degree to which you may be), you will likely at some point come to think about what the point of life is all about. Do you get that point? The universe does not revolve around you and your quest for fun or search for meaning! If you have come to perceive some sense of the real world and the great expanse in the universe, you have gotten the point or are on the pathway to getting the point.

My life and your life is not very important apart from something outside of ourselves. We each must come to the point for why we are here and seek to find out what our life and this world and universe is all about. It makes absolutely no sense (science also confirming) that all of what we experience (physically, emotionally and mentally) is a product of nothing. Random time and chance working through evolutionary development is no way to adequately explain all that exists! Despite what is promoted through the media and in our academic institutions around the world, a big bang followed by some progressive evolutionary process cannot answer the questions of meaning. This philosophy of life, be it atheism, agnosticism or the practical agnosticism where many are living, does not get to the point!

Your life is given to you by your Creator (Who also Created your parents and all their ancestors). It is not simply yours to do whatever you wish to do. God does give freedom, but not absolute freedom. He retains the right to use you for His Glory and to reflect who HE is to those around you. Do you get the point? Are you placing yourself on the path that allows God to be glorified in everything you do? Are you living for others and helping them consider how to get the point? We are supposed to be glorifying Him in eating and drinking, in working and playing, and in whatever we do (see I Corinthians 10:31)! We are supposed to be loving Him and loving others better than ourselves! Jesus said that this is even the essence of the Ten and actually all of the Commandments (Matthew 22:40)! What will He have to do to get your attention? What will He have to do for all of us to Get The Point?!

This is the time of year for many to travel in special trips around the world and when many who can, decide to go on an adventurous cruise. Personally, I am aware of many who have recently been or still are on special mission trips or even some cruise. News of last Friday’s tragic crash (ironically on the 13th 😐 ) of the large Italian cruise liner, Costa Concordia, continues to impact people worldwide, even reminding many of the tragic historic sinking of the Titanic, 100 years ago this April. Search efforts continue for some 21 (of the 4,200 Concordia passengers) who are still unaccounted for, with 11 now confirmed to have died. While divers have found some passengers still alive days after the tragic crash, a continued gradual sinking of this tilted ship that ran aground is controlling the search efforts, putting rescue workers at greater peril and diminishing the hope of finding any more survivors. Reports of some questionable actions of this cruise ship’s captain, possibly even leading to the tragedy itself, have further complicated this story, leading to his incarceration and making future manslaughter chargers likely. Apparently, warnings and instructions were not given in a timely and proper manner and panic ensued as the ship’s crews tried to control getting passengers safely off the ship. As we pray for those families impacted from this latest tragedy and for those still hoping for some miracle rescue (including for 2 Americans), I would like for you to think with me further about this idea of cruise control.

There are many ways I could take this article, including a discussion about leadership and tying this to the political process (especially important in South Carolina today). Leadership is crucial in order to keep things under control and headed in the right direction. There have certainly been many abuses and failures of leadership among the various authorities involved in all of my personal tragedy! Much of what I discuss in the teaching portion of my book deals with the issue of authority and control (framed within the House of Authority/Control diagram I show on page 249). The thought I wish to focus on most here, has more to do with what happens when leaders and authorities fail to act or act properly. I am thinking more about the type of thing that happens when you stop manually driving and put your vehicle into cruise control. Are you living your life in cruise control?

There are many things in life that are outside of our personal control. You cannot control the daily changes in the weather (and it certainly is going up and down so far this winter! 😉 ). You cannot control the movement or spasms (like the recently observed one) of the sun, nor can you change the moon’s gravitational pull. You cannot change the laws of nature and reality, though you might choose to ignore or somehow try to replace them. You cannot make your arms and legs longer or shorter and you do not even have that much control over all of the automatic functions of your body. You might have some control over your mind and emotions, but you have very little control over the mind and emotions of any other person. I discussed this issue of control further in one of my earlier blog entries (05-01-08 “It is ALL about CONTROL!”). Again, my question here is how much are you trying to control or have you mostly given up and decided to just live in cruise control?

Have you heard the saying, “all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing”? Please try not to focus so much on what you know you cannot do (reality defines this) or on what you think you cannot do or change (thus defaulting to a cruise control). Instead, focus on what you can do or what you can try to do to make a positive difference in whatever you face and with whomever you interact. Use the heart and soul and mind and strength that GOD has given you to change things for the good! Remember that HE is in Ultimate Control! Jesus Christ is The Creator and with Him, nothing in His will is impossible (see Mark 10:27)! Remember though, that you cannot do things merely in your own strength or in your own wisdom alone. Remember further that Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Learn to control what you can and keep your ship in His deep and satisfying waters! Instead of putting your life on cruise control (or even under some crews’ control 😉 ), how about giving your life to Christ’s Control? There is no better place of peace, safety and adventure than this!

Looking at a title like this, what could I be talking about in this article today? What lessons are there to learn from what has become a talking point for sports people and many other people all over the world? By now, you likely have heard of the controversy surrounding NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow. Many are talking about his many miraculous-like comebacks and end of the game wins this season. Nearly all Sports commentators can’t get enough of a story like this and a chance to offer a variety or opinions and responses. Late night talk show hosts, comedians, politicians and commentators are taking notice and sometimes even mocking Tebow’s public dedication to GOD and his signature of bowing on the field in reverence. The recent playoff game win and first in some time for the Denver Broncos propelled this even further into the mainstream discussions in homes throughout our society and all over the world. Why such interest in this? Why are so many critical and even mocking? There are underlying issues here that I want to address in this article; it has to do what I’ll call “The Sport of ThE-Bowing!”

Sports and competitions of all sorts have been a part of human interaction from our very beginnings. Human beings competing for status and recognition or even survival have led to games and events of all kinds all throughout history. From chariot races to horse races to car races to space races 😉, many compete to be the fastest, the best or the most skilled at a particular event. Olympic games of some sort have been around for thousands of years. Today, soccer is wildly popular all over the world, while the football of another sort 😉 is still more popular in America. No doubt, the NFL Superbowl will again be one of the most publicized and watched games around the world (hence, filled with high paying and entertaining commercials to sway the viewers). Whether or not the Denver Broncos make it to play in this Superbowl game, Tim Tebow, by his private (though, made public) demonstration of bowing before the LORD during his games, has made an incredible impact in the world of sports and through this has demonstrated an important and needed character quality—The Sport of ThE-Bowing!

Like it or not, you have to acknowledge the importance of sports and gaming in our society. Sports have become such a priority for so many and have taken the place of learning and study and even the necessary quieter times needed for healthy relationships. Certainly, skills can be learned and discipline taught (at least to be successful) through training and playing in sporting events, yet often the drive for success or winning in the games takes priority over nearly everything else and pushes aside things that are really more important. How often are parents making sure the children are so involved in some kind of sporting event that the sporting events themselves really determine the schedules and daily direction of that family? How often do they take kids away from needed studies in other areas and from spiritual activities? Yes, it can be and should be fun to play in games and in various sports, yet how easy it is for the desire to succeed and win to control a person’s entire life and attitude and keep them from living and serving others as they should! Sports and competitions themselves are not bad or wrong and it is not wrong to desire to succeed and win. It is wrong to let that drive control you and to feed a spirit of pride that will not consider others before yourself. It is wrong to not bow to the Creator in your attitude in playing any game or sporting event. To play off the incredible success of Tim Tebow (“Tebowing” also becoming somewhat of a catch phrase today), the key to balancing sports with the rest of life is in ThE bowing. Playing off these words further, the key is actually to learn The Sport of ThE-Bowing!

Friend, bowing before the LORD takes work. It, like a sport, is something needing to be learned and practiced. We have an enemy and nature of pride inside, so there is a struggle for us all. Paradoxically, it takes humility to win. It takes accepting what God brings into your life and letting HIM work in you to get personal victory and through you to proclaim Truth and bless others. Scripture teaches (such as in Luke 14:11, 1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6) that GOD resists the proud, but gives Grace to those who are humble. Learn from Tim Tebow’s passing for 316 yards (31.6 average) and his favorite Bible verse of John 3:16! Learn from his example of bowing in humility to receive Grace. Get victory in your life and practice The Sport of ThE-Bowing to Jesus Christ. One day, all will (see Philippians 2:10-11)!

January 2012! According to many in various segments of society, this year is set to be a year of great change. Economic problems in the world and the great debt and obligations that many Countries carry will no doubt add to the winds of change. The United States political election for the Presidency will also add to all of the intensity and upheaval of change and calls for more change. No doubt, you have heard of alignments in space or even the discussion about the Mayans and the interesting ending in their calendar surrounding this date of 12-21-12. Well, I will not take the time to delve into the specifics of all of these claims, but I do want to take this moment in time and deal with something that you likely have considered at the beginning of this year. Do you have goals or expectations? Are you Resolved!?

Life is certainly full of changes and uncertainties. 2011 should be a good reminder of this! There was great upheaval in governments around the world and many long standing regimes have fallen through some uprising or even death, as with the recent passing of the North Korean dictator. There were record devastating tornadoes in this Country and some kind of natural disaster, be it with wind, water, drought, fire or even the shaking of the ground of the earth itself, in every State of America! How could you not notice or be affected by all of these upheavals and changes in the world? Such great changes have the tendency to steel you or steal from you. Will you be fearful with worry and even pushed into hiding or will you be faithful and resolved to go on and stand, no matter what? You will only be steeled or resolved when you refuse to allow the Enemy to steal from you, as you are stilled before the LORD!

Have you already made or are you going to make a resolution for this New Year? If you have or plan to do so, are you resolved to keep it? Failure to keep past resolutions does not mean you should give up your resolve to grow and change and become the best person you can be! Remember that old Army slogan, “Be all you can be!”? 😉 Our ultimate Enemy (the Devil) does not care how he gets you off this course. He will even use good things to get and keep you distracted. He would have you just give up on trying harder, since it has not worked before or since you have failed in your previous efforts. You must not give up or give in. You must give over to the Creator’s control and find strength in Him to try it or go at it again! This is how you re-solve your problems. You have resolve to live through His Power!

What have you lost in this life? Have you lost family or friendships? Have you lost your health or happiness? Are you defeated or determined? Are you only relaxing or are you Resolved!? No matter what you have lost or lose in this life, there is nothing that eternity will not reconcile. GOD will make all things right! HE is a Good Judge and HIS Justice will be done, without favoritism toward anyone! We all have at least some guilt before our Creator! The question there is not what you can do to earn some standing before HIM, but what you have done with The SON, Jesus Christ! If you have trusted in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (The Gospel or good news) and if you have trusted in tHis work to be the Substitute in payment for your sin and offenses before a Holy and Righteous GOD, then you will be forgiven and saved from the eternal penalty of your sins. Repentance toward GOD and faith in Jesus Christ is the condition. It is for all people. Consider the words (and resolve 😉 ) of the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:21: “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Resolve to get this right, even if you fail at all else!

Friend, I have lost much (physically and emotionally), including reputation and fellowship with family and friends, since that terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech on 04-16-07 brought about the conditions for my personal tragedy. It is only by my resolve in HIS Strength and the testimony of His Word that I go on, even through many more trials and further testing to this date. What will it take to get you off track? What will your greatest Enemy and Accuser have to do to defeat you? Will you give up trying, give in to others (opposed to HIM) or give over to HIM? Will you just sit on the sidelines and try to entertain yourself as you can or will you keep working to grow and change to become the best person you can be? Fix the problem, and Be Re-solved!