Living Above Reproach

I've really done some personal soul-searching in the light of the supreme court hearings of the last few weeks. I’ve thanked God, innocent or not, that no one has ever pulled something from my past and accused me of something I did. If anything good can come out of all this, perhaps it’s to awaken us to be certain we are living a “clean” life because simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time can have serious consequences. As the saga continues on with the hearings, I've reflected on the questionable “act” and the importance of living our lives above reproach.

I was reminded of the “tawdry” story of Joseph in Genesis 37:1-36 and Genesis 39 to 41:57. You must read it for yourself. It’s a story of false accusations that turned into redemption. Here is a quick overview: Joseph’s brothers sold him to a caravan of traders who in turn sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh in Egypt. Potiphar saw the Lord was with Joseph, and “that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and Potiphar left all that he had in Joseph’s charge." Wow! That is favor!

But, that’s when the plot thickens. Joseph was “handsome” and after a time, Potiphar’s wife began to "sexually harass" him as she asked him “to lie with her.” Joseph’s refusal of her advances was honorable. He reminded her of the trust that Potiphar had placed in him and described her intentions as “wickedness” and "sin". Joseph continued to resist her, but eventually, after being physically assaulted by her and his cloak stripped from him, he made the choice to flee. After his escape and arrest on false charges, Joseph seemed to have had no legal recourse.

Unfortunately, Joseph’s godliness didn’t rescue him from false accusation and imprisonment. Our godliness and good character is no guarantee that we will escape unscathed. But if we read on to the end of Joseph’s story, we see the favor of God on his life and how his redemption unfolded when he was promoted to Governor of Egypt and became the “savior” to his family and nation.

The story of Joseph is a story of hope that by God’s grace, good may eventually prevail in the situation. Joseph also provides a model for us, that even when we are falsely accused and wrongly treated, we carry on, living above approach, allowing God to make it right in the end.

I remarked to my daughter how important it is that we instruct our children and young people (and even the rest of us) to be careful who we hang out with and where we hang out; to be wise in our activities; to be above reproach in our decision making and being sure that we are in the right places at the right times. Only God and the individuals know the total truth in the Kavanaugh hearings. And, only God and you and I know about the mistakes we have made in our lives. Living our lives with the WWJD perspective: “What would Jesus do?” would most certainly help steer us in the right direction of living above reproach.

I heard this question asked: “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Never has it been clearer, that character should be the highest priority for being trustworthy and credible to our children, our peers, our neighbors, our constituents, but most of all….to God. He has a front row seat in our lives. Our actions DO speak louder than words. It makes Dad so proud of His kids when He sees them “doing the right thing when no one is looking."

Psalm 119:9 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word."

What if our daily decisions, actions and reactions were always led by "What Would Jesus Do?"

Yesterday, Larry (Staci's husband and I call him "my son"), was asked to be the speaker for the Regional Speech & Debate morning devotions here at Concordia University in Austin. I don't think I was ever prouder of him than I was of him, this day. Larry told his story to the students.

His dad left him and his mother when he was just a baby so he grew up being raised by a single mom that had to resort to working three jobs just to make ends meet for her and her young son. She had to make choices that weren't easy. For example, there was the time when she didn't have enough funds for child care so Larry was a "latch-key" kid, coming home from school to fend for himself -- cook, wash his own clothes and overall take care of himself. There was also the time when she bought a season pass to Six Flags Over Texas and she would drop Larry off daily as a sort of baby sitter while she went to work.

Later on, Larry's Mom told him that if he wanted to go to college he would have to get a scholarship or earn enough money, himself, to go to college. He knew he didn't have the academic ability for a scholarship (LOL! The kids laughed here), so he began to pursue athletics -- particularly, football. Larry's coach, who was also their neighbor, saw him hanging out with the "wrong crowd" and he walked over to Larry, pulled him aside and pushed him against the wall and said, "Larry, if you want to make something out of your life, you've got to stop hanging out with the wrong crowd." It was such an impactful conversation, that Larry made the decision to become the best version of himself that he could. He changed his friends, changed the things he was doing and began to work hard. That coach's support and encouragement in football and life paved the way for him to get a 4-year scholarship to Texas A&M, from 1989 to 1993. That was a great season of football at A&M. Their team went to 5 post-season bowl games, 2 pre-season bowl games, won 3 Southwest conference championships. Larry played defense and his team's defense was ranked #1 while he attended there. Larry went on to receive his Engineering Degree from A&M.

Even after graduating, "being the best version of himself" continued to be his mode of operation in life. He realized that he didn't come from a 2-parent family, or a family of means like many around him had. He could have looked at himself as deprived, rejected, troubled, lost, forgotten -- but he didn't. He knew that nothing defined who was except for who he believed God made him to be.

He went on to talk about the 90s bracelet and slogan (still around today) -- "What Would Jesus Do?" Though he wasn't raised in an environment of believing and serving God and attending church, he met his wife (my Staci) and attended a Bible Study she was teaching, gave his life to Christ and "What Would Jesus Do?" became the mode of operation that he would continue to live out in his life today in order to be the best version of himself. Larry went on to encourage the students that even in Speech & Debate Tournaments, competition is stiff, attitudes and actions can be on the edge toward their competitors and how they are being judged, but still, the higher calling and to be the best version of themselves is to always apply "What Would Jesus Do?" in every situation, conflict, and circumstance here or at home or in any place in life.

I like to think that way back when Larry's dear mom made the sacrifices she did for her boy and instilled hard work ethics into him, God was already working out His perfect plan for his life. That's just the God we serve. Jeremiah 29:11 "Oh the plans I have for you," says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future" was already at work in him when he was a latch-key kid, becoming responsible and able to be independent. God was at work in him when his coach became a male role model that would point him to doing what's right. God was at work in him when he moved to Tulsa for work and met my daughter and received Christ into his life. God was at work in him as he has become the most incredible husband, dad and even son to me, and who is the role model to so many others in business, in life and in his walk with God. Yes, Larry became the best version of himself.....What Would Jesus Do? not only was his mode of operation way back when, but it lives out in him daily. Maybe we should start living "What Would Jesus Do?" in our own lives to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be!

It's Clean-Up, Clean-Out, Clean-In Time!

About this time of year, many of us start to think about “Spring Cleaning”. We accumulate so much clutter (you know those little corners where we stack up mail, flyers and magazines), that we start getting weary from just walking by that corner. We need to CLEAN-UP! Then there’s the closets full of winter wear – boots, coats, gloves, hats – squeezed in so tight you couldn’t get another item in it. We need to CLEAN-OUT! Then there’s the attic that bears our seasonal decorations, old furniture, hunting equipment, years and years of boxes of tax records and more building materials than you could shake a stick at! Okay, I just described our attic just after my Sweetheart graduated to heaven. When I climbed those stairs and looked in the attic, I hollered “RONALD WUERCH, how could you leave without CLEANING OUT this mess?” LOL!

Yesterday, I began another type of “clean-out” mission. With all the negativity in the media, it seems many of my nearly 3,500 Facebook friends have gravitated to join them. I'm not referring to the occasional words of disappointment because their guy didn’t make the White House cut, but there are those who have become outright obscene and indecent with their language and with the images they post. While I won’t de-friend them (I want my light to shine brightly just in case they pass my way), I’m cleaning out by “unfollowing” them. You know the saying “Garbage in – garbage out”? In order to protect my peace (which is my most treasured possession), garbage has to go out!

Last year I turned a new leaf in my cleaning out processes. I realized how much time I was spending going through my emails each day. Valuable time being consumed by ads and even, in my effort to consume as much "Good News" as possible each day, I had devotions and motivations "overload" coming in daily. It wasn't just the emails that consumed precious time, but often the ads were so enticing, it made me want to go to that store for their sale or go shopping on their website. So, more precious time was given to "wants" not "needs" in my life. So, I purged and cleaned out.

I was on a CLEAN-OUT binge when I realized there were even some TV shows that I recorded that weren't so optimistic and peace-building, so I removed them -- those shows that contained immorality, violence, crude language, etc. I'm so glad I did. I even removed those political talk shows that just went on and on in negativity. Proverbs 23:7 says "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." I sure didn't want to be thinking those thoughts.

I know this may sound like my goal in life is to be in the next "Miss Goody 2 Shoes" Contest. That is so not my intent. My intent is to be a fully devoted follower of Christ and in order to do and be that, it means my choices must align with His desires and best wishes for me. "What Would Jesus Do?" provides the benchmark for me. You may be thinking “That is way too far to the extreme!” I am simply telling you my “measure of rule”.

Most importantly in this CLEANING MISSION, is my utmost desire to CLEAN-IN. I am doing a house cleaning on the inside, too. In Galatians 5, St. Paul reminds us of those things that need to be cleaned out of our hearts: hatred, fighting, jealousy, anger, gossiping, complaining, criticizing, idolatry, selfishness, etc.

Bottom line…..it’s clean up, clean out and clean in time for those of us who sincerely desire that the bandwagon we are on is the one that brings immeasurable blessings, peace and joy. You know how a fresh, clean house feels? Don’t you want that fresh, clean house feel, inside AND out? It comes by starting Spring Cleaning and requiring that the House Cleaner (Holy Spirit) comes more than once a week to clean. We want Him to show up every day to remind us ....Psalm 24:3,4 "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart....."

Love Our Enemies? It's an Upside Down World!

It can seem like we’re really in an upside down world when we read some quotes from Jesus. In Matthew 5:44, He said “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you, and persecute you!” Holy jumping catfish! Doesn’t that sound just preposterous? How could I possibly love someone that hurt me or rejected me or even cursed me?

How is it possible to love our enemies? How can we do good to anyone that hates us, curses us, uses us and persecutes us? And, even a step further, to “bless them and pray for them”? How absolutely IMPOSSIBLE these words seem to be!

I think Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words explain it so well: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, 'Love your enemies'. It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says 'love'. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies."

I like to live by the words, What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD), in determining what action I should take in any given situation. He set the example for us in every area of our lives. He had enemies – plenty of them. They lied about Him. They beat Him. They mocked Him. Eventually, they even killed Him. He loved them anyway. And if we believe in Him, it’s time to turn things “upside down” and “inside out”, and say to our enemies, “I love you. I would rather die than hate you.” When we live that way, we’ll find the strength to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who spitefully use us. Let’s don’t get even with our enemies. Let’s ask God to bless them instead. If we can let go of our anger long enough to pray like this, we’ll discover an amazing benefit – we’ll be putting ourselves in a position TO BE blessed and loved!

John said in 1 John 4:7 “Let us love one another”. I like that. John included himself in that exhortation. He is telling us that everyone is called to love. And actions speak so much louder than words. It’s not enough to just say “I love you”. We really need to actually do it.
I don’t know which side of love/hate you live on, but as for me, I plan to do my best to err on the side of love. I know it will serve me well as I sow seeds of love everywhere I go. Maybe we should be love seed scatterers.

Good or Bad Name?

When we hear someone's name, quite often their character and integrity accompanies our thoughts about them. "Phil is such a kind man." "Kim is so generous." "I wouldn't trust Sam for that position."

King Solomon said, "A good name is more desirable than great riches....." Proverbs 22:1, and he also said, "A good name is better than fine perfume.” Ecclesiastes 7:1.

In the ancient world, they would often use very rare oils and sweet-smelling perfumes for special occasions. King Solomon wanted us to understand that even as expensive as those precious ointments were, their value and all the riches in the world, didn't compare to a good name.

Our good name stays with us wherever we go and in every setting of life. It will last past our lifetime. What do people think when they hear your name? Do they think about your integrity, your honesty, your heart of giving and serving?

I'm certain that the more we live in the mindset of WWJD "What Would Jesus Do?", the more His character will be seen in us....and our GOOD NAME will go before us, opening doors of blessings and friendships beyond what we can imagine!

We can't take the riches with us when we leave this world......but we sure can take our good name! I'm counting on that!

Everybody Deserves Somebody

Day 261 of Photo Inspirations -- Everybody Deserves Somebody
I have the solution for relationships that last, whether it be a marriage, partnership, or friendship.  It's also the solution for raising kids, caring for elderly parents, maintaining healthy appreciation and cooperation in dealing with extended family.

There are so many opportunities for conflict and disputes in whatever relationship we may have. But....if this one criteria is met, I can guarantee success.  It is being CENTER-FOCUSED on the PEACEMAKER.  He who speaks "PEACE BE STILL" and He who is the epitome of unconditional love --- is the ONE who, if placed at the core of every relationship we are in, we will be operating in HIS LOVE and will have appreciation for each one in our lives -- regardless how sweet OR not so sweet they may be.  How can that be?  God IS LOVE and when He is invited into the equation of our friendships and relationships, then His love will be in us and going through us to others.  

This kind of love is only possible, when we fix our eyes and hearts on the ONE who loves us unconditionally even though we fail Him and disappoint Him. He gives us forgiveness over and over. He overlooks our faults and He lavishes His grace upon us when we sure don't deserve it.  If we follow His lead and always consider WWJD "What Would Jesus Do?", then we'll become more and more like Him.  

This first photo inspiration came from the Amish Restaurant that we went to yesterday.  It absolutely described me. "Everybody deserves somebody who makes them LOOK forward to tomorrow."  I had been looking forward to this day for days.  So, of course our day, yesterday, prompted this post.

My two walking buddies, and I, took a road trip to celebrate Nancy Crow​'s birthday.  We planned this day for weeks.  There's nothing like "girl time" when we can be silly (especially with a selfie stick), talk about lots of things, go shopping, and eat lots of yummy food.  But, here's the glue that has bonded us together.  We each love God with all our hearts.  Most of our conversations are about the goodness of God, and if one of us veers off into any worry or concern, we tenderly rein each other back in with encouraging each other from promises in God's Word.  We love to celebrate, appreciate and inspire each other.  For a fact, I know that girl friends make us healthier, happier, less stressed, and I know we'll live longer because of each other.  Seriously, we ALL need friends.

These two gals inspire me so much.  In fact, many of my FB posts and blogs come from something they said in a casual moment.  These women make me stronger. I see them caring for others and in spite of some "stuff" in their own lives that are not perfect, their inner strength that comes from their relationship with God, causes them to rise and shine daily.

If today, you are lonely or tired of going it alone through life, go out and BE a friend.  Show yourself friendly.  Be an encourager.  Brighten someone's life with generosity.  Pray for a friend.  Pray God gives you true friendships -- and make sure that THE FRIEND who sticks closer than any brother is RIGHT in the middle of those relationships.

How Salty Are You?

Today, Tuesday, our missions team will be attending schools, feeding meals, seeing precious children who once lived in a trash dump, now with hope for their future because of loving and caring people who "salted" their world.

How "salty" are you? Salt has three qualities: it creates thirst. What if we lived our lives in a way that we made people thirsty for what we have.

It adds flavor – we are not called to be boring, do-nothings. We are called to be full of life…..with faith and excitement for what each day holds for us.

And, salt works as a preservative against decay. What if our lives were so on purpose and lived by the “WWJD -- What Would Jesus Do?” philosophy, influencing others with our optimism, clean living, and great attitudes that they would choose to live like that also?

And, lastly, for salt to be accomplishing all of these things, it must come out of the shaker or box – it does nothing unless it is commingled with the dish it is to season.
Let’s get out of our shakers and quench the thirst, be flavorful and provide ourselves as a preservative in our world. "You are the salt of the earth....." Matthew 5:13

Character is Doing the Right Thing -- When No One is Looking

Character is doing the RIGHT THING – when no one is looking. You know – putting the grocery cart in the stall instead of just leaving it in a parking space, or putting the lettuce back in the produce department instead of conveniently slipping it in the laundry detergent department. Our logic says “After all, those store clerks are paid to put stuff back where it belongs”. Or, how about the extra change that we received from the cashier and telling her she overpaid you? Or, how about the items in our grocery cart that we weren’t charged for, and taking the time to go back into the store to pay for them?

What are the life rules that we play by? The ones that are just obvious because “they’re the rules”, or, though inconvenienced, the ones that are simply just the right thing to do? I think about our kids and grandkids that watch our every move and, quite frankly, they pay more attention to what we do rather than what we say. When we, on purpose, are people of honor, integrity, character, sportsmanship, appreciation, and courtesy, we are demonstrating the lessons of life, and quite frankly, rules won’t even be necessary. As I’m typing this, I’m thinking about a Sunday School song that I sang as a kid. If we lived our lives with these words, and with the "What Would Jesus Do?" (WWJD) state of mind and state of actions……we would be known by others, and God, as men and women of great character.

O be careful little eyes what you see
There's a Father up above, and He's looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see

And, replace the first line above with these:

O be careful little ears what you hear.......
O be careful little hands what you do.......
O be careful little feet where you go........
O be careful little mouth what you say....

Love Transforms an Enemy Into a Friend

Yesterday I posted about an “upside down world – but, it’s a matter of perspective”. I started thinking about how upside down Jesus’ words seem to be in Matthew 5:44. “Love your enemies! Bless them that curse you! Do good to them that hate you! Pray for them who spitefully use you, and persecute you!"

How is it possible to love our enemies? How can we do good to anyone that hates us, curses us, uses us and persecutes us? And, even a step further, “bless them and pray for them”? How absolutely IMPOSSIBLE these words seem to be!

I think Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words explain it so well: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, 'Love your enemies'. It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says 'love'. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies."

I like to live by the words, What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD), in determining what action I should take in any given situation. He set the example for us in every area of our lives. He had enemies – plenty of them. They even killed Him. He loved them anyway. And if we believe in Him, it’s time to turn things “upside down” and “inside out”, and say to our enemies, “I love you. I would rather die than hate you.” When we live that way, we’ll find the strength to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who spitefully use us. Let’s don’t get even with our enemies. Let’s ask God to bless them instead. If we can let go of our anger long enough to pray like this, we’ll discover an amazing benefit – we’ll be putting ourselves in a position TO BE blessed and loved!