Broken Merchandise by Tom Hovsepian

Everybody loves an underdog. How about those 2004 Red Sox as they faced their formidable nemesis the Yankees in the American League Championship Series down 3 games to 0. The Sox came back, winning 4 straight games, a feat no other major league team has ever done. They then went on to break the dreaded “Bambino’s Curse”, that 86 year World Series victory drought, ever since they traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920, by drubbing the Cardinals in 4 straight games to become World Champions.

God likes underdogs too. A lot. Little boy David, tongue tied Moses, vulnerable Esther, lion-taming Daniel, and scaredy cat fishermen just to name a few.

I’ve spent 25 yrs. in the construction trade and have found the adage, “you get what you pay for”, as being absolutely true. The use of cheap or shoddy materials will always come back to haunt you.

But God doesn’t see it that way. He states in Psalm 147 that He builds Jerusalem with the outcasts and brokenhearted. It says He heals their hearts and binds their wounds. Sometimes a broken heart can be more devastating than a physical ailment or injury.

Psalm 147 goes on to say that God doesn’t take delight in the strength of a horse or take pleasure in the legs of a man—He favors those who trust in His love expressed through His kindnesses.

Jesus used some unexpected materials to build with too. When 5000 people need to be fed He uses a little boy’s lunch.

Another example of this is when Jesus healed the tormented and demon possessed man from Gerasenes. When he was healed and in his right mind, Jesus didn’t send him off to Bible school or Seminary but told him to go to his people and tell them what God had done for him. Imagine that; broken, healed and sent, that quick.

What about that encounter Jesus had with the relational wreck of a woman at the well who had five husbands and was now living with a guy. To her Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah. When He told her that He was the source which could quench her thirst, she ran off to tell her whole town the good news! “Hey, God knows everything about me, and doesn’t condemn me. Could this be the Messiah? Come and see!” That busted up lady’s testimony brought many to faith.

Jesus said He came for people just like that, “broken merchandise”. I think of what Andy Cominsky, the founder of Desert Stream Ministries said, “The most powerful thing Jesus ever did was to become weak.” Wow!

God has chosen us, the weak, the foolish, the broken to build His kingdom. As we embrace our brokenness we can then embrace the Cross—Christ being broken for all of us who are “damaged goods”. It’s here that the worst curse of all is broken, and in our weakness we become strong building materials for the Master Builder’s hands.

Tom Hovsepian is the pastoral team leader at Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30a.m. Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org

Confront Fear Head On by Paula Friedrichsen

Walking is one of my favorite activities, and I try to get out for a daily trek through the neighborhood. A few days ago, while enjoying my morning stroll, a large German Shepard mix bolted out of nowhere snarling, snapping and growling. This dog meant business!

I froze in fear as I watched that menacing dog approach, his teeth bared in a low, mean growl. It appeared he had every intention of attacking me. I looked around for his owner, but the street was completely deserted.

Suddenly, something akin to indignation rose up in me. I thought, "This is my neighborhood! Who do you think you are?" I just couldn't believe the audacity of that stupid, ugly dog, to think he was going to bite me on my street, in my neighborhood!

I charged toward him a step or two and yelled, "BACK OFF!" I meant it, and the dog knew I meant it. Sullenly he backed off a few steps and stopped growling, letting me pass without incident.

This was a real victory for me, since I was bitten several times as a child by neighborhood dogs. For many years my fear of dogs accompanied me on my walks. Even if I came upon a friendly tail-wagging dog, my heart would start to pound and I would literally have to stop myself from running home at full speed (now how would that look - a grown women running in frenzied terror from a friendly, galloping Golden Retriever?)

Though I experienced some relief from my terror in the past few years, it was the incident with the German Shepard that set me totally free. It took me getting outraged at that stupid, ugly dog (and at my stupid, ugly fears) to experience victory.

This incident started me thinking about other fears I still need to conquer. I believe God has placed courage in each one of us - but it's up to each individual to "unearth" it and put it into action. And just like that stupid, ugly dog thought he would take some of my territory for his own, I wonder what other fears in my life have taken over territory that belongs to me?

Fear is a bully that preys on the wounded. Fear will take a past event from your life that caused trauma, hurt, injury, or wounding and capitalize on it until the fear is so blown out of proportion that it doesn't even resemble the initial event.

If fear is casting dark shadows over your life, perhaps it's time to put your foot down and say, "Enough!" Allow the things you fear to be the catalyst that drives you deeper into your relationship with God. He is the source of all courage and bravery, and we would all benefit by spending time in his presence every day. When we build our spirits through relationship with God, we are fortified to face those lying fears and say with confidence, BACK OFF!

Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org