I heard him before I knew him.

Several years ago the style of music in the worship services at my Church were progressing toward a more contemporary, “younger” style.

I liked it.

During particular songs which were of a fast beat I heard a guitar sound similar to that of The Edge, U2s lead guitar.

It was not out of place…it gave those songs the same “anthem” sound and feel of a U2 song….if you know U2 then you know their spiritual component…and contributed to the lifted up worship which Hillsong and other contemporary Christian churches were putting out at the time.

The rift was coming from Chris Griffin’s guitar.

I made it a point to go meet him….because of what I was hearing.

Little did I know…..
I was meeting one of the best people I would ever come to know.

And, I still feel that way years later.

I came to know a great musician.

I came to know a better person.

Chris was and is a husband, father, musician, band leader, music teacher, marketer and with all the attention which comes from playing on stage in front of adoring people….one of the most humble people I have known in my many years.

As I had heard him before I saw him….
I came to understand this was a great example of who he was…and is.

While he is in front of so many people when performing…
Chris is not one to ask that the spotlight be directed at him.
I can name several young musicians he has trained, encouraged and mentored…and seeks that they step into that spotlight.

While he fits the role of any performer that may have lights shining on them, Chris has given up seeking that to a great extent and has taught children to play musical instruments.
In spending time with him I hear him talk about them and their abilities and potential, their futures….and hardly at all about his own career.

He has spent years teaching others when most musicians of his looks and talent would have left their life to go seek fame in Nashville, Los, Angeles or whichever road they could find away from where they were to what they thought they wanted.

He stayed at home with his wife, raised his children, invested himself in the lives of others and today is a leading creative voice of influence at what may be the fastest growing Church in America.

He still plays.

The band he has been part of for many years is in demand locally.
That band has also been chosen several times by our State Department to globally travel the World to play and teach about American music.

He has had positive influence around the world because of his gifts and talents.

What greater thing could be said of any person?

If you know Chris you cannot help but love him.
In the years I have known him I have never heard one negative comment about him.

Again….what better comment about a man?

There are people in our lives who amaze us because of what we see them do. Chris Griffin amazes crowds with what he does.

I write this comment about Chris Griffin this morning because he has always and still does….amaze me with simply who he is.

While he could be chasing a stage where notoriety would be fast and furious ….he has given up that chase for lasting and eternal things which do not fade quickly.

My days have been blest with his gifts, his friendship, his time.

I heard him before I saw him.

While his sound was out front, he was a bit behind the scenes.
When he has been out front, I have seen him force the gift he has been given to get the attention more than he, himself.

He possesses a character I seek to grow into even though I outnumber him in years.

As I have heard his gifts and seen the full use of his abilities…
my highest compliment would be to say that those things have blest me with a great friend…. and have drawn me closer to my Lord.

Terry
April, 2016

You know…
If you truly live as Christ did…
actually or aspirationally
you will,
as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7…
“wrong no man.”

You might irritate them…
as He did the Sanhedrin.

You might disappoint them…
as He did those who wanted Power.

But you will WRONG no man.

Their definition of right and wrong can be at variance with yours… but you will not do wrong.
You will wrong no man.

Did JESUS ever wrong anyone?

They might have FELT or THOUGHT
He did…
they had incorrect judgement.

Paul said in Galatians 5:22-23…
there are behaviors against which “there is no law.”

You will wrong no one..

when you live out
1 Thessalonians 5:13-22

when you live out
Philippians 4:8

when you live out
Ephesians 4:14:32

You will wrong no man.

Terry
April 2016

If you look at a compass there is a “true north”. Just like a true south, east or west….

true North has a real  location which does not change….90′ latitude.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west…..every day.

On planet Earth, Gravity is an absolute. In Newtonian physics, the force of Gravity  is

defined as the resultant factor of two forces….gravitational attraction and centrifugal

force. Step off a cliff and Gravity will take you to the next lowest surface. Guaranteed.

Mathematics is a science. Not an Art.

Water boils at one exact temperature and freezes at another…..always.

Are you on board yet…?

There are ABSOLUTES in this world.

There are ABSOLUTES in life.

There were and are ABSOLUTES in and from creation.

We have ABSOLUTES in our daily existence. The topics mentioned above are ABSOLUTES. They are standards we accept.. They do not change.

What are your ABSOLUTES which have nothing to do with science or physics ?

If Gravity were not an ABSOLUTE we would be wavering and floating around. If Mathematics were not an ABSOLUTE we would not have the physical structure to our society. If North was not a true and constant location….we could not have the GPS gift we have today.

What are your ABSOLUTES?

At my senior high school athletic banquet the speaker made his presentation around the belief that there are no ABSOLUTES in life. Other than the parents present, I do not believe many of the attendees understood, at that time, what in the world he was referring to or talking about.

But on the way home, my Father made the observation and suggestion to me that the speaker was wrong. My Father told me that, absolutely, there are ABSOLUTES in life. Without them we have no center, no STANDARD, no place to operate or exist from.

Yes, I did not drive myself and my date to my Senior Athletic banquet because I had broken an “ABSOLUTE” with my Father, two weeks before.

I learned early.

What are your non-negotiables?

Without ABSOLUTES one can wander from belief to belief and be easily influenced.

What moral compass would guide you with no ABSOLUTES?

It would be whatever was the “latest” or “hot” topic.

In my mind, with no “true north”, or no ABSOLUTES, you can be led to go along with and buy into whatever comes along.

I believe that so many people have accepted some of the more recent social changes because they have no ABSOLUTE belief system.

What can be wrong if you have no ABSOLUTES?

This is not a directive at any person…..but the acceptance of alternative lifestyles has grown because people have no ABSOLUTES. The acceptance of the thought that it is proper to end a life in the womb…is arrived at in possessing no ABSOLUTE about the definition of what a life is, or what a child is. Its why so many on that front frown on escalating the quality of sonograms. They create the ABSOLUTE picture that a child exists before actual birth.

The social acceptance of the “right” to be whatever the season calls for as far as sexuality and gender …is because people ignore what has been the norm since time began. This progressive attitude to welcome any and all alternatives is a result of having no ABSOLUTES. One can change their appearance…but it is impossible to change ones gender. Chromosomes dictate gender and cannot be changed. That’s an ABSOLUTE.

Having ABSOLUTES is what William Buckley referred to as he started his magazine,         THE NATIONAL REVIEW, saying that one must “stand athwart history and yell STOP!”

There are things at which we need to stand up to and yell…..STOP.

This is not aimed at the social treatment of individuals, races, countries or religions.

Its about acceptance of the social slouching of civilization on the downward plane.

I believe in ABSOLUTES.

GOD is the ABSOLUTE ABSOLUTE.

Look at the order in Creation….in the Universe.

Gravity came from where? The planetary order, the seasons in our year, the placement of the Sun, the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, excretory systems in our bodies come from where? When you cut your skin and it bleeds, coagulates, scabs and then heals…do you cause that process…?

Why are so many laws across the globe similar…?

There is an ABSOLUTE order to things.

Build your life on the ABSOLUTES most likely already in your mind. Don’t deny they exist. One can deny them and go another direction….but those are steps taken in rebellion.

List your ABSOLUTES.

A recent candidate encouraged people to not be afraid of language which insults the standing up for ABSOLUTES. That language is called “political correctness”

Know your ABSOLUTES.

Live them.

Do not fear them… nor anyone who challenges them. Learn to explain and defend them.

For they make us who we are …or need to be.

ABSOLUTELY.

Terry
March 2016

terrybethea.com

The 40 days began two days ago…..
Easter, April 4th.

The 40 days is the period of time in which Christ was on earth,

after His Death and Resurrection,

in His glorified state,

ministering and instructing His Disciples,

blessing others with His presence, most likely dwelling on earth and in Heaven.

Validating His Words, as well as the words of others, concerning Prophecy.

Think about this from now until
May 13th…..

That’s right,of

That’s how long it was.

Consider the Joy felt by the disciples during this time.
Consider the validation His earlier words had now, in the minds of those who heard Him say He would rise from the dead.
Consider what the Sanhedrin thought during these 40 days….two of their number had exited …..

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.

Consider that those who beheld Him during this period were seeing Christ in His glorified state ….
as we will see Him when He appears again.

He appeared to Mary outside what had been His Tomb.

He showed Himself to His Disciples,
in the Upper Room at John’s mothers house.
He appeared…….to their surprise….. without walking through the closed doors.

He appeared to the two travelers on their way to Emmaus.

He again appeared to the Disciples,
allowing Thomas to be convinced.

His earlier words were validated.

His earlier prophecy of His death and Resurrection was fulfilled.

Validation.

Confirmation.

We do not know this but it makes sense He would not only restore and encourage Peter….

but that He would also instruct the eleven or twelve in what they faced ahead

and how He desired for them to walk into their future.

He also gave them His Constant and Eternal Presence when He spoke to them in John 20 and said to them…

“Receive ye The Holy Ghost”.

He gives the same to us.
If we accept and receive Him.

Think about Him and meditate on this,

and on Him during these 40 days….until May 13.

He was blessing His followers.

He allowed them to know that His Words were validated.

It is as if He was saying …

You see Who I Am…

The Comforter is coming.

Now….

Go….

Do as I did,

and as I  instructed.

We know the phrase” throw down the gauntlet” to mean that one is issuing a challenge.

In its early use it was not meant as a metaphor, but as a physical action intended to issue a formal challenge to a duel.

When chivalry and honor were paramount, this act was considered an insult that could only be answered with personal combat.

We see it today in hockey when one player throws down his gloves and fisticuffs ensue for a few minutes.

In the past it could mean death….

as it did for a great American in July, 1804, when the sitting Vice President, Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton.

There is a scene in the second “HOBBIT” movie where the wizard, Gandalf, enters a large cavern.

He said a few short sentences and then took his staff, held it firm and thrust it down striking the floor with great force.

The cinematographer created a wave of light and force from the staff striking the ground, outward throughout the cavern.

Gandalf was calling out “evil” and “darkness”.

He then confronted those enemies, was temporarily restricted by them… but eventually triumphed.

The same action occurred in the trilogy of The “Fellowship of The Ring” movies

when Gandalf said, emphatically, to a behemoth… “you shall not pass”.

This happened again when Gandalf called out another wizard and was detained.

 

In both instances, Gandalf was temporarily bound, restricted or detained.

In the end, though, Gandalf triumphed.

 

Not making any level comparison here, but ….
that’s what JESUS did when He began His Work.

 

When JESUS walked out of His home in Nazareth, went to John, His cousin, was baptized and began His Work… the Gauntlet was thrown down.

 

Evil, Darkness, the devil and every minion that fell with him, was put on notice, called out and confronted.

The Force of Light and Hope which sprang out of that beginning moment led,eventually, to the Redemption and Salvation of us all.

Gandalf gave the Hobbits, Elves and Dwarves, courage and hope. He was with them and led them.

He did not create them, he could not live on in them.

 

JESUS not only created us, He came for us, fought and won The Great War for us…and today reigns for us as we have His Allowed Presence in us.

When the stone was rolled away and He exited his short term grave….

That Force which went out into the world when John baptized Him… came to full fruition and the darkness, evil and death were defeated for good.

 

It is now up to us,
with Him in us,
to exercise the Power given us,
to reap the Victory won for us.

We are more than actors in a movie.

Our role is real.

Our rewards are eternal.

 

 

Terry
March, 2016

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terrybethea.com

Heard a radio guy say the other day that people who were angry about a particular political topic were disillusioned.

I do not believe you have to be disillusioned to be angry.

The Colonials in pre-revolutionary America were not disillusioned… they were angry at a distant Kingdom ruling them without any representation.

They did not go to War without some degree of Anger.

There is a justifiable Anger.

FDR on December 8, 1941.

George W. standing on the ruins of the World Trade Center a few days after September 11th…with the megaphone.

You….
If your child were attacked.

Martin Luther King led a social uprising, not from disillusionment… but out of a measured anger at mistreatment.

At least since the 1964 election the Left has labeled active participants on the Right as “angry” and most times “disillusioned”.

Protestors who stand in front of “Women’s Health Clinics” and encourage women to think and maybe look at a sonogram… are not disillusioned.
They are angry at the shedding of “innocent blood”.

Disillusionment is not a prerequisite for Anger.

It can be.

But it’s not absolute.

It’s more of a political or manipulative tool to belittle one who shows passion…right or wrong.

Jesus was not disillusioned when He formed the “whip” and angrily chased the violators out of His house.

Using the “disillusioned” approach Is manipulative to the extent that the one who throws that out is attempting to make another get derailed or feel guilty.

Jesus’ did not feel guilty about His actions.
His anger was righteous.

Not all anger is righteous.

Much of our Anger might be overblown, out of proportion, and simply reactionary.

But…
not all anger though flows out of disillusionment.

The use of the terms ” disillusioned”
and “angry” has been used to quiet
conservative positions.

Anger results when passion rises.
Anger can rise when an Issue rubs our sense of propriety to the extent it cannot be ignored.

It’s like Beauty.
It has a variety of definitions but you know it when you see it…. where ever it is.

Understand that opponents will label you “angry” when they see you being passionate about your stance.

You can stand firm and not show anger.

There are times when action should be driven by a level of Anger. There is a righteous Anger.
There can be an anger with a measured response …under control. There is an Anger which is out of place.

Be careful to know the difference.

Anger can drive you at certain times…but it must be an Anger under control.

As the One who chased the money changers out of His house.

No disillusionment.
A proper response measured to the
provocation.

Terry
March 2016

In the story of Davids son, Amnon and the rape of his step-sister, Tamar, Amnon was at full fault.

He knew it was wrong before he did it. His prolonged thoughts about Tamar made him appear distraught.

This was noticed by a friend,
Jonadab. The description given by the scripture about him was than he was a “subtil”, crafty man.

In Genesis 3, scripture defines the serpent as “more subtil” than any beast of the field.

You know what influence it exerted over Gods highest creation.

Jonadab was crafty. He asked Amnon
what made him appear so down.
Hearing Amnon say he loved Tamar .

Jonadab crafted the plan which became the sin Amnon committed.

Be careful of any Jonadab in your life.

Those who have encouraged you in and toward misbehavior.

Proverbs 1 refers to this when the words instruct the reader to “consent not” when sinners entice you.

It’s naked manipulation.

To see you fall or to get them gain.

As the Scripture defines this type person in a similar way as It described the devil….
This person is serving the manner of the devil when they seek to manipulate and encourage you toward misbehavior, mischief and sin.

Discernment and maturity will assist you in eyeing these influences. Be careful when you are weak…
for they come then.

These people may appear to be your friend and to be looking out for your interests.

The serpent appeared to be helping Adam and Eve understand that their Creator surely would not allow their death.

Be alert.
Be aware.

As a “roaring lion” the Jonadabs In the world seek whom they may influence.

Terry
February, 2016

Currently we hear of the contaminated water system in Michigan.

A few years ago a heavily trafficked  bridge in Minnesota collapsed.

Yankee Stadium had a portion of its concrete collapse years ago.

The city where I work has extensive plans to redo most of the elevated roadways in the busiest part of downtown because the bridges
which carry heavy traffic around, over and through downtown are almost 50 years old. The expansion joints are failing therefore the strength and integrity of those bridges are weakening.

And, the city government has or is about to file a lawsuit to stop the project because the demolition and reconstruction will inconvenience those trying to make their way through those areas.

These are visible examples of the crumbling infrastructure in our country.

Comparably, there are people you know whose lives are crumbling apart because of needed inner reconstruction.

There are families whose foundations are rusting and wasting away because of the lack attention to detail and maintenance.

Is there an element of your life beginning to rust…?

Could there be a part of some relationship you have which has developed a weakness which is causing faultlines and cracks …?

Just as the Infrastructure across our country was build many years ago… and without strengthening it will crumble….

so to our lives and relationships will fall to rubble without a rebuilding once in awhile.

Our Maker made His Greatest Creation to heal itself in some ways.
After having a small cut, your skin bleeds, the blood coagulates, forms a scab and eventually the cut is repaired.

Our bodies do that because of His Hand.

Our hearts, minds and lives cannot do that without His Hand.

Crumbling Infrastructure will injure us off we fail to fix it.

When it’s visible everyone helps in the recovery.

When Haiti was “earthquaked” and crumbled…the world came to Its aid.

When someone has an automobile accident the sirens announce help is on the way and emergency rooms spring into their full intended use to help.

When a marriage is failing and wasting away….do you reach out, interject yourself to help?

When you see a life ruining and running to destruction ….
are you an ambulance …
or do you do, as the city filling a lawsuit to get out of repairing what’s needed because of inconvenience, neglect the obvious?

Inconvenience is temporary irritation.
Without it though, progress fails to be generated.

Looking inwardly…
we should watch ourselves to be aware and cognizant of the first cracks and failures in our body…

in our minds and in our hearts.

Because if we falter and fail within ourselves…
then we become a part of the crumbling infrastructure in our family, in our Church,
in our Company…..our World.

It’s easy to shake our heads at a city choosing, with eyes wide open, to neglect the obvious…

Therefore, let us do the harder task of choosing to take the difficult steps to correct any old and crumbling structures in our lives.

Inspect what is causing the deterioration. Fix or eliminate It.

Nehemiah fret over the crumbled Walls around Jerusalem.
He prayed, sought assistance….
received more help than he expected….
and did the hard but needed work of  restoration and reconstruction.

Be a builder.

Terry
February, 2016

 

We all have seen these signs mostly from the past.

NO LOITERING

Basically it meant not to just hang around somewhere.

Definitions…
To linger aimlessly.
Remaining in a public place for a prolonged period of time with no apparent purpose.

We can do this in every area of life.

It is wrong in every area of life.

It is not taking a break.
Not a vacation.
It’s not catching ones breath.

Read the definition above.
Aimless….No apparent purpose.

Consider for a moment your most important horizontal relationship.

Your marriage.

You loitering ?

What work have you put into it since January 1st ?

Have you asked how your spouse is?
Have you invested any time together?
Having small children is not a viable excuse.

What about your second most important relationship here??

Your children.

You paying attention?

Do you know who they are seeing?
Do you read their texts?

Do you know what influences are exerting themselves on your children?

If you do not know then you may have no purpose regarding your child.

You can love them in the abstract…
but be ignoring them in the specific and difficult areas.

I know some parents who say…
” If I am paying for your phone and you are living in my house…. Then I will be able to check each text on your phone at any time”.

I do not think that to be overbearing….
It’s parenting in the modern world.

If you are not holding them accountable….
You might be “loitering” as a parent.

Some are loitering but couch it as not wanting to cramp their children’s style or personality.

Inject yourself with purpose into your child’s life.

What about your vertical relationship with God???

Loitering?

When have you read and considered
Scripture…allowed yourself to meditate and think on It.

When have you read a whole Chapter ?

I ask you and I implore myself to pursue God, His Word and His Presence every day.

Loitering can lead to being lackadaisical.

Lackadaisical life opens up our minds to what David dealt with when he stayed home from fighting, enjoyed his success,
was aimlessly out on his porch when he saw Bathsheba.
In the loitering mindset he was in…
he was struck by what his eyes saw,
his feet were not aimed at the battle.

Because he was not operating with a purpose….a temptation took hold of him and his laziness led him to watch, think, consider, and then his decisions walked him into adultery, deceit, manipulation, plotting,
and to an arranged death of a
loyal subject.

Loitering kills initiative.

Loitering creates rationalization.

Loitering slowly takes you away from a higher Intentionality.

Catch yourself before remaining dormant for very long.

There is a time for rest and recovery….
but extended and protracted periods of aimlessness breeds stagnation and death.

Catch yourself.

Get your eyes and mind fixed on the proper course.

No loitering.

Terry
February 2016

We are born with it.

It begins to be revealed sometime within our first two years. What was a wonderfully cute little being pitches a small fit over not getting its way.

From where does that come?

There was no training…
there was no class we attended.

It’s the Nature that lies within us.

I see it in my grand daughters. They smile and make everyone else do the same as they make noises, do things which amuse us.

Out of the blue they will react with a
frown, or with a thrown down toy, or
some demonstrative act.

Fitzgerald defined it as he described
his most famous female character, Daisy. …
” she wants what she wants when she wants it, and she makes everybody miserable until she gets it.”

The grand daughters are not purposely acting out of sorts.

We are all of that sort .

It’s the Nature within us.

Why does a one year old cry when you shake your head side to side and say no?

Why do some people react to another’s promotion with jealousy?

That nature.

The bed is comfortable, the alarm goes off. What do you do?

If that “nature” rules you, you do not get up. You hit the alarm for more time.

Why do ones eyes go to particular body parts when they meet a person of the opposite gender?

If that ” nature” continually rules you,
It will lead you to harm, imaginations
and eventually, destruction.

Pure discipline can present a person with the tenacity to refuse that existing Nature….temporarily.

But discipline in its purest state can build up the ego so much that the existing Nature manifests itself even greater in pride and arrogance.

Mere discipline is not enough to over rule and overcome that inborn Nature.

There must come into our lives a Nature from another Source.

A higher Nature must come from a higher place. The Apostle said to think on things that ” come down from above”.

The only way we overcome our existent Nature is to receive this other “higher” nature …. earned by Our Advocates Suffering
and presented to us upon His Resurrection.

Remember, even though the Disciples became better men during Christ’s time with them….they did not receive any new strength or evidence of a new and higher Nature …, until after He died, ascended and filled them with His Spirit when the “rushing wind” blew them into their New Nature.

This New Nature allowed them access to do greater things.

It was their decision to daily access that New Nature.

As it is ours.

They were fulfilled and successful in this new Nature…. but were continuously dealing with that older Nature, as well.

As we are.

Everyday, we make decisions as filled and potential Christ- followers … whether or not we succumb to the Nature which makes our eyes wander or whether we allow the new Nature
to lift our hearts, minds, hands and feet to exemplify The Christ Who both possessed it and has gifted it to us.

The old Nature or the New???
We possess both.

Which one will we pursue today?

Terry
February 2016