“Forget about the benefits to yourself and consider the benefits to the other person for doing what you suggest.” Dale Carnegie

The art of persuasion rules the day in every legislative body. Whether it is a group of constituents asking their legislator for help, or a lobbyist attempting to convince a legislator of the righteousness of a client’s cause, or a legislator persuading a fellow member to vote a certain way, the art of persuasion is refined on a daily basis in our state and national capitols.

Think about this: Throughout the history of the Florida Legislature, each and every Speaker of the House had to convince his fellow legislators that a vote for him for speaker was the right thing to do. Of course, the best way to persuade is by letting the other person think the idea was his or hers - let them have ‘your way’ so to speak.

One of the core demographics of the Roman Empire of the 1st Century A.D. was the widespread use and acceptance of slaves. Slavery was woven into the social structure of the times as an acceptable implementation of the forced labor necessary to support the economy of the Roman Empire. If runaway slaves were mistreated in 19th Century America, one can only imagine the brutality shown to a captured runaway during the 1st Century A.D.

That did not make slavery right, but the institution was not something that early Christian leaders were ready to assail. The engrained nature of the institution dictated that the Apostle Paul be careful how he formulated the Christian response to slavery in general as well as how he dealt with specific issues, such Onesimus, the runaway slave, introduced in Paul’s Epistle to Philemon.

While in prison in Rome, Paul had apparently led Onesimus to salvation and enjoyed the voluntary service of Onesimus while confined in house arrest. It is presumed that Paul and Onesimus came to the decision over time that Onesimus had a moral duty to make things right with his owner, Philemon, who happened to be a leading member of the Christian church in Colossae. See, Colossians 3:22-25 for Paul’s admonition to Christian slaves.

Leaving an exhaustive treatment of Philemon to those who have dedicated their careers to its study, suffice it to say that in Philemon we have the outline for Christian advocacy, even the portrayal of Christ’s advocacy for us with our Father in Heaven.

Paul begins his advocacy for Onesimus in a subtle way by praising Philemon for his love for his fellow Christians and reminding Philemon that he has a honorable reputation in the Christian community.

4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6 [I pray] that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for [the glory of] Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 4-7

Obviously, Paul is wise to put Philemon in the right state of mind before moving to the real point of the letter. Note that Paul’s praise for Philemon is not false or pretentious. It was a fact that Philemon had not only opened his home to serve as a meeting place for the church, but there was no doubt that Philemon was a ‘pillar’ of the church in Colossae in every respect.

Next, Paul makes the ‘ask’ but only in such a manner as to allow the answer to truly be Philemon’s free will decision.

8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my child, whom I fathered while in chains—Onesimus. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful to both you and me. 12 I am sending him—a part of myself —back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will.

Allowing others to have ‘our way’ is the ultimate goal of persuasion. However, true, heartfelt empathy and respect for the perspective of others is the essential criteria for successful persuasion. Paul could have demanded that Philemon do his bidding, but he didn’t. That would not have been fair. It would have been demeaning and deflating to Philemon and risked stifling Philemon’s enthusiasm for the church.

Next, Paul shows he is serious by agreeing to pay and stand good for any debt owed by Onesimus to Philemon. By this Paul shows he is not expecting ‘no’ for an answer. He may also be calling in a favor owed to him by Philemon. But, most likely Paul is asking Philemon to weigh the value of Philemon’s eternal salvation provided through Paul’s ministry to the loss of a slave who had been out of service anyway.

17 So if you consider me a partner, accept him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self.

Just as Christ paid our sin-debt, Paul volunteers to take on the sin-debt of Onesimus. Paul signed the letter as you or I would sign a promissory note at the bank, thus showing that he meant to be bound by his assumption of the debt just as Christ’s death on the cross was proof of His assumption of our sin-debt so that our ‘account’ will be marked ‘paid in full’ when we stand before God.

Finally, Paul thanks Philemon in advance for his positive response suggesting that Philemon (as was probably true to his character) would go above and beyond Paul’s request. If there is anything we should be able to presume or assume about our Christian brother and sisters it is those character traits taught time and time again by Paul.

Paul’s advocacy for Onesimus is not unique in Bible history. For example, the story in 1 Samuel 25 of Abigail’s intervened on behalf of Nabal, her boorish husband, who ungratefully insulted David who then swore to kill him. Abigail talked David ‘off the ledge’ in a manner that would make Dale Carnegie proud! God must be telling us something. If we receive anything like the character of Christ when we are saved, we become willing to lay down our lives for our friends, or at least be their best advocates.

Of course, we don’t know the outcome of the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, but like every Christian we can ‘know’ the outcome of their relationship with God. (1 John 5:13) This is true because all Christians of every stripe have this in common - Jesus Christ is our advocate with our Father in Heaven.

My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous One. 1 John 2:1

We have a better advocate than Paul and one better than Abigail; we have Jesus on our side!

Tags: Persuasion, Paul, Onesimus, slavery

Actions are visible, though motives are secret. Samuel Johnson

What motivates politicians to do what they do?

The most widely offered explanation for political ambition is pure ‘ego’ though I found the motives of my peers in the Florida House ran the gamut of human aspiration. Broadly speaking, ego did seem to be an underlying theme, and I’ll leave it to the psychological community to sort that one out. Or, as it is said of human passion, “It's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart.”

So, having never even taken Psychology 101 while at Auburn, I found it easier to sort my colleagues into one of two groups – the believers and the deceivers. Being an ideologue, I was naturally fond of the ‘believers’ of both parties. These folks were driven; they were on a mission to advance the core tenants of their political party, and mainly, they were straightforward in their goals. Unfortunately, believers in this world were few and far between.

The deceivers were a force to recon with because nothing, and I mean nothing, they said or did could be taken at face value. You may say, “Such is politics.” Yet, there was always a ‘there it is’ moment when a deceiver tipped his or her hand. For example, I wondered why a certain state senator from Miami who termed out of the senate in 2000 would run for a seat in the ‘lowly’ state house after an illustrious career in the senate? That would be quite a letdown from the status of state senator. I got my answer when the former senator became deeply involved in his work on our congressional redistricting committee where he adroitly carved out a new Miami U.S. Congressional district, for which he later ran and won. Nonetheless, while he served his two-year stint in the House he was a reliable conservative vote for the Republican caucus. Which leads to my point.

Whether cast by a deceiver or believer, a vote is a vote at the end of the day. As long as the conservative cause is advanced it really matters not what moves the politician to vote the way he or she votes – or does it?

As we continue our study of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Paul describes his house arrest in Rome and how it served to advance, not deter, the spread of the Gospel.

As Paul describes his conditions while under house arrest in Rome, he alerts his readers to the fact that some evangelists of that day were believers, and others were deceivers, but the message of Christ was proclaimed in any event. Paul was gracious because his goal in life was the preaching of the Gospel, regardless of the motives of those doing the preaching.

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Philippians 1:12-18

What Paul was not saying that motives are unimportant to God. Paul knew that God was in control of the universe, and the Bible is replete with situations in which God uses evil people to work the results that God plans.

For modern Christians it is important to stop and reflect upon our motives for service. We know that in every Christian group there are those people who serve out of goodwill and those who are going through the motions for recognition, power, self-aggrandizment, financial gain or other motives that are anything but Christ-centered. But, how do you stand up to scrutiny? Have others wondered about your true motives for service?

Evaluate yourself this weekend. Are you asking, "What's in it for me?" or are you asking "How can I serve God?" The Holy Spirit pursues you and wants you to develop a yearning deep in your heart to bring others to salvation.

In today's world people who are selfless in their caring for others are considered to be 'out of their minds' because the world is so thoroughly ego-centric. Paul and his cadre of early Christian evangelists were thought to be 'out of their minds' because of their singleness of purpose in telling the greatest story every told. But Paul's response to this criticism should be ours:

13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

Lose your mind in Christ and no one can question your motives.

Tags: Philippians 1, Rome, Paul

I always liked “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones.

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith

And I was 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

Christians know that the Devil is a real living being, not just an idea, concept, force for evil, mythical figure, etc. What better place for Satan to find souls to steal than the halls of government. Clothed with the power of office, public officials become the prime target of the Devil’s plans to tear down the most visible amongst us. Just Google ‘Tallahassee scandal’ or ‘Congress scandal’ and you will get the idea.

Paul closes out his uplifting Christian user guide to the new Christians at Ephesus with the admonition that Satan is indeed real. The Ephesians needed to constantly wear the ‘armor’ of the Lord to fend off the relentless and powerful attacks by the Devil. So do we.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The evil day(s) will come and the Devil knows your weakness. Be sure of one thing: The Devil is as relentless as the Florida termite working 24/7 for entry into your home, but the Devil wants your very soul. When the evil day comes, be equipped like the Roman soldiers that guarded Paul. In Ephesians 6, Paul makes the most repeated and studied analogy between the physical armor of the typical soldier of Paul’s day and the abiding armor available through a strong faith in God.

Yet, as ‘girded up’ as we may be, Paul makes the final admonition that none of this spiritual ‘armor’ is effective against the attacks of Satan without the presence of the Holy Spirit through prayer.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Notice that the prayers are not just for ourselves to ‘stand’ against the Devil, but more importantly to prayer for our fellow Christians and their struggles to resist the flaming arrows of the evil one. Paul makes the greater point that as Christians we are all in this together. Stop thinking about yourself this week and pray that other Christians, perhaps those clothed with the power of elected office, are fearless in declaring the good news of salvation to all those who would believe.

Be fearless and take a stand against the Devil.
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Tags: Armor of God, Paul, Ephesians

Coming off of the historic 2010 Congressional elections, all eyes will be on the new Republican majority in the US House of Representatives – and many of those watching do not wish them well. I pray that that the John Boehner and his leadership team will have the wisdom to succeed and flourish in an admittedly hostile environment. It will take the Wisdom of Solomon for them to come off as wise, and not foolish, in the ‘thrust and parry’ of the coming game of wits with the White House and the old liberal Washington media. “Evil days” are ahead for the conservative cause.

As a Christian it is comforting to know that true wisdom is a gift from God and available to those who ask and are willing to believe that God will supply them a divine roadmap to navigate the winding road of life. Don’t forget, unlike the other ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit, wisdom is available to all believers who don’t doubt God’s willingness to help. James 1:5-6

In chapters 4 through 6 of his letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts Christians to walk in a manner worthy of their calling and not as unbelievers. We are to walk in the light, in love and in wisdom. As Paul turns to the issue of whether his flock will be wise or foolish in their new walk with the Lord, he admonishes them to ‘be very careful.’

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15

The Ephesian Christians had their share of detractors. Not only was the Roman government adverse to the spread of Christianity, but also the Ephesians polytheistic culture of debauchery was overtly hostile. Times were tough for these new Christians trying to make their lives evidence of the new concept that there were in fact moral absolutes in the universe. Sounds like the challenge Christians now fact in 20th Century America!

All eyes were on the new Christians, so Paul gave some basic strategies on how the Ephesians could stay loyal to their walk in Christ.

Paul’s first practical piece of advice is as good today as it was two thousand years ago. Use your time wisely, and seize the moment of opportunity – carpe diem. In our modern society it seems that there are not enough hours in the day, although there are no more hours in a day than there were a hundred or a thousand years ago. It seems that we have become jacks-of-all-trades, but masters of none. Time management is a challenge, but it is a ‘must’ for today’s Christians. Getting focused on the important things in life requires that we put aside some old habits and develop new ones. Being a life-long learner is imperative for Christians to be effective communicators with the unsaved.

In addition to striving for wisdom, being ready to share our wisdom through a word for Jesus at the appropriate time is essential. How many times have you ‘kicked’ yourself over a missed opportunity to witness for Jesus? Time is our most important asset so we must not throw it away as would a fool. Learn to be ‘scripted’ on what an unbeliever must do to get right with the Lord. As hunters say, “Be loaded for bear!” When the right moment comes, pull the trigger for Christ.

Why is time management so important to Christians? Paul says it is because ‘the days are evil.’ Again, Satan is a real person who roams the earth seeking to tear down what Christ has built up. So, whether you are John Boehner or a Christian with high hopes of seizing the opportunities to witness, Satan is plotting his next attack against us. Only a fool would believe otherwise. Stay in tune with the Lord’s will for your life through Bible study, prayer and fellowship and worship with other Christians.

17 So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 And don't get drunk with wine, which [leads to] reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:17-18

Getting drunk is a terrible waste of time. That is reason enough to avoid it. Politicians also get ‘drunk’ with power take reckless actions. Case in point is the recent Democratic Congress, which, among other arrogant reckless actions, rammed the Obama healthcare bill through the process even as Speaker Pelosi noted that no one had even read the bill! That’s reckless action. Nothing good comes from being foolish in believing in the power of position.

In contrast to drunkenness, literally or figuratively, Paul says we should be filled with the Holy Spirit. In contrast to reckless actions, the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with music and the desire to give thanks to God for all He has done for us. What a contrast. The ‘high’ from the indwelling Holy Spirit is likened to ‘living water’ by Jesus and will never dry up or run out.

Further discussing our ‘walk’ as Christians, Paul suggests that it is desirable to be ‘subject’ to others in Christ. That is the kind of character attribute that Christians should display in this world of evil. Showing humility not as being powerless, but as power under control, is the concept here. Being a humble, servant leader is another way to look at it. Leading by example by making wise decisions after paying careful attention to detail and to our prayer life is crucial. Jesus instructs his disciples that to be the leader of all, you must be the servant of all. Mark 9:35

Finally, as Christian witnesses we may not be dealing with multi-trillion dollar budgets like the US Congress; however, we are responsible for something even more valuable – the eternal life or not of those who would accept Christ as their savior.

In closing, I recently received an email from a reader who wondered how I could be or less taxes and against the ‘welfare state’ and still be a Christian. I sat down and used the time God has given me to write her a loving response that pointed out that Christ saves individuals, not societies, and that no matter how much we give to the less fortunate, that will not make us right with God because we can’t earn it, and government certainly can’t earn it for me or her. Thus, I believe that less taxes and welfare spending is perfectly consistent with a loving God’s plan for our world where individuals make individual decisions to follow Christ and to help the poor through individual donations or through their church.

Spend your time this week on something wise and valuable.

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Tags: Paul, Ephesians 5, Wisdom, John Boehner

Are you more than ready for Election Day 2010 to be done and over? Believe me, so are the candidates, their supporters, and all of us who have already voted, but remain the targets of untold, brain-numbing television, radio and direct mail ads. When the dust settles, the newly elected lawmakers begin the journey of a lifetime, literally. Traveling to Tallahassee two weeks after the election the new legislators will be officially sworn in, moving into their offices in the Capitol ready to go to work. Now, the real fun begins.

Between now and the legislative session next spring, the newly elected will be subjected to a process of character refinement previously unknown to most of them. Awaiting them are hordes of lobbyists and legislative staffers poised to let these starry-eyed novice legislators know just how powerful, intelligent and beautiful they became on Election Day.

No wonder that the ideal of remaining ideologically pure, unadulterated and committed to core principles is an ongoing process for most lawmakers, whether in Tallahassee or Washington. Most veteran legislators who successfully navigated the ‘process’ without being corrupted by it were able to do so by emulating a respected senior legislator or even a former legislator from their district who served, but remained pure to a higher moral standard. Who is your state legislator emulating?

In his letter to the Ephesian Christians, Paul suggests that the goal of personal purity is central calling of these new Christians. Like other major Roman centers of commerce, Ephesus was a place where every known temptation was just around the corner. These early Christians were starting their journey with Christ by traveling through a maze of temptation in an environment legendary for its corruption. Sounds like Tallahassee or Washington, doesn’t it. Paul suggests that a strategy to remaining pure was to emulate the person of Christ.

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. 4 And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. Ephesians 5

For ‘infant’ legislators the decision of who to emulate is even more fraught with peril. The Capitol environment completely isolates these new legislators from their constituents and places them in the midst of many new ‘friends’ who are willing to assist them transition to their status as lawmakers. Thus, the most immediate information available to legislators is, in a word, biased. As they say, “If you want a friend you can trust in Tallahassee, buy a dog.”

All humans emulate those we respect. We’ve always done it and we always will. This process doesn’t magically stop at some arbitrary time in our lives. So, who do most Christian believers emulate? Is it the preacher, our Sunday school teacher, church deacons and elders, church friends, spouse, etc? The answer is probably all of the above to some extent.

The real question is how do Christians live a life worthy of respect? Paul states what should be obvious to believers – imitate God. Paul uses the Greek term for ‘mimic’ or to copy the characteristics of a person. The main characteristic of God we should strive to emulate is His love. This love is the type that Christ showed the world – a self-sacrificing love, a self-effacing personality. Paul says that such a walk of love is ‘fragrant’ and pleasing to God. In essence, we should become ‘saints’ in God’s sight. Yes, that’s a tall order some days, especially when no one is looking, especially when we are at work and out of sight of our family, friends and fellow Christians. This is especially applicable to legislators who are a long way from home, out of sight and out of mind of their constituents.

In verses 4 through 7, Paul identifies the three deadly sins that believers should strictly avoid – sexual immorality, impurity and greed. Just turn on the TV if you need an example of how these three activities can completely ruin the ‘witness’ of a respected politician or Christian evangelist. Every politician who is ‘ruined’ fell into one of these traps.
But how do people so committed to excellence fall prey to these sins? It’s one wrong step at a time. Paul goes on to warn his readers that the subtle temptation to join in the casual crudeness of unbelievers is a step in the wrong direction:

4 And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things God's wrath is coming on the disobedient.7 Therefore, do not become their partners. Ephesians 5:4-7

Our mothers always said, “Be careful choosing your friends!” As adults, we are place in positions of power, great and not so great, and those who have positions of power, such as a elected officials, business or church leaders and board members of organizations, will be tempted. Satan is a real person who will arrange for new ‘partners’ to help us learn the ‘process’ and to present the allure of the deadly sins. Paul says beware of these folks. Don’t be fooled, Satan enjoys working through unrepentant sinners who claim to be Christians.

] 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — 9 for the fruit of the light [results] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth — 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead, expose them. Ephesians 5:7-11

Well, what are we to do? Just as Jesus said, be a light to the world, be different, and the resulting fruit will be ‘goodness, righteousness and truth’ – what we set out as our ideals in the first place.
But, Paul says go further and ‘expose’ those who produce works of darkness. That’s a tough one. Not only are we to walk in the light, but we are to use our ‘light’ to ‘expose’ the darkness. That takes more courage than most of us have on any given day.

On that note I’ll close with a war story. In the Legislature the committee chairs normally seek the Speaker’s permission to undertake a special project, bill, or, in the case of the judiciary committee, to pass articles of impeachment against a public official. One Monday morning I was approached by the chair of the judiciary committee who said he felt that a certain circuit judge should be impeached because of the judge’s admitted sexual immorality and the reluctance of the judicial branch to take any action to clean up their own house. So, I had to decide whether to ‘expose’ this dark blot on our judiciary, or to look the other way. I knew the press would have a field day if we moved ahead with the impeachment, but something had to be done. After really, really praying hard about it, I was led to call the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court. I told the Chief that I was calling as a courtesy, and that if the judge in question was still sitting on Friday I would give the go-ahead to start impeachment proceedings. When I opened the paper Friday morning it was reported that the circuit judge had decided to retire.

Taking the right step to let your light show shine as to glorify God is not all that easy sometimes, and it is impossible without prayer. Expose everything in your personal and public life to the light of Jesus and everything will come clear.

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Tags: sexual immorality, Greed, Light and darkness, Paul

To say the least, the Florida Legislature is a diverse body. From the multicultural and international flair of Miami, to the “crackers” of central Florida, to the genteel and refined pillars of the Panhandle, the diversity represents everything interesting and inspiring about our great State. Not only do the Legislators hail from areas and cultures largely unknown by their colleagues, but also they descend upon Tallahassee with individually unique personalities, interests and temperaments, as well as different visions for the future of Florida. Thus, unifying this group is a demanding and sometime elusive goal.

The ability of the Legislature to accomplish any work depends on order. That is true of any collegial body attempting to act as a group. To paraphrase British Prime Minister Disraeli, in order to have civilization, there must be order, and to have order there must be subordination of individual action. In a civil society individuals don’t just do whatever they want. They must give way to the ideas of others, or at least consider them. The ultimate goal is ‘unity’ but not uniformity.

In the American legislative branch of government this order is accomplished through rules of procedure and the committee structure. So, the first thing the newly formed legislature does every two years at its organizational meeting on the third Tuesday in November is to elect a leader (called “the Speaker” in the House and “the President” in the Senate) whose job is to assure ‘order’ and to agree upon a set of rules of procedure, followed by organizing the members into various committees.

One of the duties of the Speaker is to name the members and chairs of the various committees created in the rules. Knowing the personality, temperament, experience, knowledge and gifts of the members is the key to filling out a successful committee structure, the goal being to unify the members around the “process” so that the results are seen as legitimate and worthy of support.

One of the strangest things I had to deal with as Speaker was the time when a member came to my law office to meet with me about his upcoming committee assignments. I almost fell out of my chair when he told me that I had promised to make him chairman of the appropriations committee, a very powerful chairmanship. I told him that he must be mistaken, as he knew that I had never promised anyone anything prior to being elected Speaker. I think my exact words were something like, “What have you been smoking?” Yet, he insisted that I had done so. It was so bizarre. From the wild look in his eyes I figured that he was either experiencing some type of psychological ‘break’ or he really thought I would give in to his ruse. He stormed out saying he was quitting the House and running for the Senate. Well, he did run and get elected to the Senate where he was eventually appointed chair of the Senate appropriations committee – and wielded the power with a heavy hand. I often wonder if he used the same ploy on the Senate President to get his appointment?

In his letter to the Christian Church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul sounds a lot like the Speaker of the House addressing the newly formed legislature. First, Paul exhorts the new Christians to set a good example when dealing with each other and the outside world that would scrutinize their every move. Then Paul explains just how God’s plan for the church was a group of totally diverse folks with their individual ‘gifts’ unified around the work of Jesus Christ.

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

The King James Bible states Paul’s command as “…walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called” without expressly stating the ‘call’ is from God. It is important to stop and consider that a Christian’s ‘calling’ is more than a self-selected job or vocation, but results from a divine ‘invitation.’ The Greek word used for ‘calling’ implies that we do not choose our calling but receive it as an invite from someone else – that being Jesus. For example, in the legislative setting, appropriations chairs do not merely decide one day that they will be appropriation chairs. They are selected by invitation of the Speaker. We should always put our place as Christians in the perspective of Romans 8:30:

29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans 8:29-30

Since we were chosen by God in advance what is our calling as Christians? First, Paul addresses the personality traits that will enhance our unity as Christians – humility, gentleness, patience, loving-kindness and peacefulness. The fruit of these is harmony amongst believers. Note, Paul did not say Christians are to be ‘wimps’ that are cowardly or unadventurous - not by a long shot! In my research I found that in the field of astrophysics, the term “WIMP” stands for “weakly interacting massive particles” which are a form of invisible matter. As Christians we are called to be just the opposite - strongly interacting agents for change and the epitome of gentleness rightfully defined as “power under control.”

Paul restates the central tenants of Christianity around which believers should unify as follows:

4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all. Ephesians 4:4-6

There is one way. The ‘way’ is Jesus who calls his church as one body indwelled communally and individually by the one and only Holy Spirit. There is one ‘hope’, which is eternal life with God as a result of the defeat of death by the one and only Son of God, Jesus Christ. He died so that we may live. That is the one and only thing in which we need to have faith. I look forward to that time when God himself will be with you and me, when God himself will wipe away every tear from my eyes and your eyes, when there will no longer be any death, mourning, crying, or pain. That is glorious, magnificent, splendorous, wonderful, and quite amazing. It is good news and we should spread it.

But how can there be unity with such diversity in the Church? As he confirmed to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:4-31) and other early churches, Paul assures the Ephesians that each believer possesses some gift that was given by Jesus, and that all of these gifts are needed for the mission of the church. Everyone may not be ‘up front and center’ but everyone is necessary.

You may not be able to do everything, but you can do something. You may not be able to reach everyone, but you can reach someone. Above all, the church must be committed to growing in the qualities and traits that unify the body of believers for the purpose at hand – bringing others to Christ.

What is your calling?
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Tags: unity, Calling, Paul

"People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge." Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism

Information leads to knowledge, and knowledge is power.

I was perplexed when I first heard the term "Information Age." Now I get it. The Internet has been the greatest weapon against ignorance in the history of mankind. (By the way, the inventor of the Internet was Tim Berners-Lee.)

When I was first elected in 1996, there weren't many ways for constituents to know what was going on in the Capitol. In fact, the only way was reading articles in the local papers written by the Tallahassee press corps. Having seen how the print media reporters and editorial boards 'filtered' the news during my campaign, I knew that direct communication with constituents was going to be essential.

I began to spend about half of my monthly House expense allotment on postage for the thousands of letters and updates mailed to the folks in my District. At one point the House administration cut off my allotment of House letterhead and envelopes!

When I became Speaker, I reassigned a number of House staffers to form a communications department to assist the House Members in communicating directly with their constituents through TV, radio, direct mail and email. Of course, the Tallahassee print media corps went ballistic when they realized I was doing an ‘end run’ around their ability to ‘filter’ what news got out of Tallahassee. In fact, that was the old print media’s main source of power – controlling what information came out of Tallahassee. Until this day, when I run into former legislators they thank me for the ability to speak unfiltered to their constituents.

Today, I am pleased to see that the information age has completely washed the foundation from under the heretofore powerful, and biased, print media. Suffice it to say that the advent of the information age confirms the age-old notion that power needs to control information.

The art of communicating ideas is no new thing. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul continues to defend his ministry with the church he started in Corinth by clearly addressing the ancient Greeks’ ingrained acceptance of the art of rhetoric as an end unto itself. To the Greeks the medium was the measage. The Greeks at Corinth knew Paul’s oratorical skills were lacking, but ... Read More...

Tags: Rhetoric, Paul, 2 Corinthians, Tenacity

In the State Legislature I learned early on that there are two opposing ideas about the role of government in society. Conservatives believe in limited government – that there is a place where the government’s role in a your life ends, and your faith, family and friends begins. Liberals believe that government can do it all – that government can be your faith, your family and your friend.

Not only do conservatives believe in limited government, we are convinced that allowing the government to be the ‘middle man’ for social welfare has damaged the national physic of both the giver and the recipient. For example, out of the misguided respect for the ‘dignity’ of welfare recipients, we do not require them to do anything for what they receive, much less acknowledge that the payments they receive come from the blood, sweat and tears of other Americans, most of whom are trying to stay afloat financially from payday to payday.

What would happen if Washington got out of the social welfare business?

In the days of Second Corinthians, social welfare was not considered a core function of government. Yet, there were examples of government-sponsored programs, such as “Alimenta” which was the Roman Emperor Trajan’s version of a basic welfare program for children and widows championed by.

The early Christians had to look to themselves for support. Paul spent a significant amount of his time as a fundraiser for the needy churches he had founded.

The final passages of Second Corinthians are devoted to inspiring the church at Corinth to move on from its internal squabbles and focus on raising an offering for the church in Jerusalem. Writing from Macedonia, Paul artfully inspires the Corinthians to act upon the generosity they once professed.

1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Paul raises the following questions:

Who was the source of the Macedonians’ generosity?
What emotion follows sacrificial giving, and why?
Why did the Macedonians consider it a privilege to give to the Christians at Jerusalem?
Who wants you to give more than is hoped for?

In modern parlance, we might say that Paul is ‘calling out’ the Corinthians to finish what they promised. Paul is putting the Corinthians to the test. He is laying down the gauntlet.

The Corinthians needed to finish what they started. They had everything else - faith, good preaching, knowledge and love for Paul - but something was missing. Genuine commitment means putting some ‘skin in the game’ and Paul was not about to let the Corinthians out of their prior commitment to conribute. Paul was not ordering them to give, but using the more financially challenged Macedonians as an example to prick the consciences of the Corinthians.

Today, the recent world wide financial meltdown has hit everyone from the highest to the lowest social strata. Everyone is hurting. We simply cannot afford our previous lifestyles. If you are depressed about your finances and recent losses, and the bleak prospects ahead, God has a message for you: This is no time for the church to let down all those who are suffering around the world and in your own community. The government can only do so much, and should only do so much. Let’s take some joy in giving of what we have, not what we don’t have, and sacrifice for others as Christ sacrificed for us in the days ahead.

The government cannot put hope in someone’s heart or give purpose to their life. Only God can do that. Now is not the time to take a ‘time out’ on helping others.

So, if you have made a financial commitment to the church, but have been ‘hammered’ by the recession, at least do something in accordance with your current means. Listen to Paul:

10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 2 Corinthians 8:10-12

Isn’t it remarkable how God has a word for every situation? Let’s finish what we started.
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Tags: Paul, 2 Corinthians, Giving

“I actually did vote for [it] before I voted against it.” U.S. Senator John Kerry

Bad men are false; good men are fickle; but God is true, neither fickle nor false. Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary.

One of my colleagues in the Florida Legislature was a Republican before she was a Democrat before she was a Republican! Go figure! To say the least, as a representative she was not the model of consistency. Unfortunately, she was not a loner in that respect. I saw a whole lot of folks telling anybody and everybody just what they wanted to hear. One would think that sooner or later these slippery politicians would figure out that they can't have it both ways, and at some point they would have to vote one way or another on a bill. Well, believe it or not, there is a way to vote one way AND the other. Here's how it's done.

When a vote on final passage takes place, a member's vote is recorded in the 'machine' which tallies the vote with the results announced by the Speaker. However, the House Rules allow a member to file a 'change of vote' form with the clerk of the House so that his or her vote is changed in the House Journal. If was truly shameful to see a stampede of representatives running down to the clerk's desk right after a controversial vote so that they could switch their vote on paper in order to later argue that one or the other vote was their real vote, depending on who they happened to be with at the moment.

Consistency takes a lot of courage and conviction some days. Thus, the saying in the Legislature is, "You can put all the courage in Tallahassee in a thimble!"

In Second Corinthians, Paul continues to deal with one of his churches at Corinth in ancient Greece. This church was built from both Jews and gentiles who were subject to the constant whiplashing of false teachers and the notorious immorality in Corinth. Assaulted from within and without, these new Christians had begun to believe some of the vicious rumors spread about Paul in an attempt to discredit his ministry and the Gospel.

One of the most vicious charges against Paul was that he 'talked out of both sides of his mouth.' That he said what was convenient at the time - that his message was not consistent. Paul not only rebuts this assertion but, as always, turns his response into a lesson for the new Christians about the character of Christ.

12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you. ...

Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 18 As surely as God is faithful, my word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

 21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:12-21

Paul put off a visit to the Corinthians because he knew that he would have to chastise them for going astray. He put off the visit because he decided to give them some time to work through their problems. They did, but for this change of plans Paul was criticized by his detractors as being 'inconsistent' and fickle. So, Paul used this as another learnable moment for the Corinthians.

Paul first emphasizes that he is confident of his sincerity and straightforwardness in all of his dealings, trusting in God's consistent and unwavering wisdom, not the ways of the worldly man who is likely to say 'yes' when he means 'no' and vice versa. (We need a few more like Paul in politics!)

Paul drives the real point home by pointing out that not only is Paul consistent and faithful, but that Jesus does not waiver between 'yes' and 'no' because Jesus is the very embodiment of God's ultimate 'yes' to us. The important thing to these new Christians is not whether Paul is guilty of inconsistency or unreliability, but knowing and believing and having faith that God always says 'yes' to those who will draw near to him.

Take a strong stand with Christ and consistency will not be your issue. Read More...

Tags: Paul, Consistency

1 Corinthians 15

1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

I grew up in LA, lower Alabama, that is. When it came time to register to vote everyone became a ‘yellow dog’ Democrat. (The supervisor of elections had thrown away all the Republican forms!)

I first heard the ‘good news’ of the Republican Party from Ronald Reagan and other ‘evangelists’ for the conservative cause. I was convicted that the core principles of less taxation, more personal freedom and free market economics would build a better future for America. When Melane and I settled in Florida we took a stand with the GOP.

As a GOP Florida Legislator one on my primary roles was spreading the ‘good news’ of Republicanism to all who would listen, especially while recruiting and screening candidates to run for the legislature as Republicans.

I was sworn in as Speaker during the recession following the 911 events. I was surprised that many Republican legislators, mostly Republican state senators, were clamoring to raise taxes and raid state trust funds to ‘stimulate’ Florida’s economy and assure continued government spending levels. In my first speech to the legislators I stressed a simple message. If conservative principles of less taxes and free market economics had worked during the good times, we should stick with those same principles during the bad economic times. In other words, if the principles of the GOP were a lie, we were all doomed.

So, Republicans, real Republicans that is, have a set of core principles that clearly separate them from the Democrats, Libertarians, Communists, National Socialists, and others. (Yes, Virginia, there are still communists and socialists in America.) Believe it or not, some people have a problem with core values. That's a bit confining for many folks, like folks who were elected as Republicans but never really believed in all that malarkey about less taxes and small government. And, don't forget those on the Left who are too elitist to be held to any universal truth (the liberals down at the Tribune and St. Pete Times come to mind). Those of us who actually try to take a consistent stand on Republican principles are taunted by the Progressives as they shutter at the thought of a "litmus test' for party loyalty. (What a backward concept they say - saying what you mean and meaning what you say - come on!)

On a higher plane, the Christian faith is based upon a single core belief: that Christ died and was resurrected in a victory over death that confirms an everlasting life for those who believe. The ‘lynchpin’ of the resurrection can be a stumbling block to new Christians and those who lack faith.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reminds the new Christians at Corinth of how they first believed in the ‘good news’ of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and His victory over death for them. Some of those new Christians were having a hard time ‘getting their arms around' this core principle of the bodily resurrection of Christ. As a result, they were not able to fully appreciate the exciting prospect of their own eventual bodily resurrection and new spiritual bodies.

For those who had been saying that there was no bodily resurrection, Paul gave a methodical and logical explanation of how the resurrection is central to a complete faith in Christ. Read More...

Tags: Paul, Resurrection

“Man is made to adore and to obey: but if you will not command him, if you give him nothing to worship, he will fashion his own divinities, and find a chieftain in his own passions.” Benjamin Disraeli

Just like a church, to say that there are ‘factions’ within any legislative body is an understatement.

For example, it is the tradition in the Florida Legislature that the legislators of each political party select one of their own as ‘speaker-designate’ to serve as Speaker of the House in the event that their party wins a majority of the 120 House seats in the upcoming election. In other words, the internal process of selecting the one who will rise to the office of Speaker of the House can go on for years with the members dividing into various factions supporting one candidate or another.

After I was selected as speaker-designate and even after I was elected Speaker, the contest to determine my successor narrowed down to a hotly contested campaign between Miami legislator Gaston Cantens and Panama City legislator Alan Bense. The process raged on for several years, but finally Bense won the approval of the majority of the Republican caucus. Unfortunately, the members remained so polarized that they continued to self-identify themselves not as Republicans, but as either being on the Bense team or the Cantens team.

Because of this disunity, the focus on a conservative agenda was ‘put on the back burner’ as the factions jousted for leadership within the Republican caucus. Eventually, the Democrats ... Read More...

Tags: Disraeli, Paul, Jesus, Florida Legislature, Alan Bense, Gaston Cantens, 1 Corinthians, factions, divisions in the church, corinth