Posts in Category: down to earth believer

“Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence”

On January 9, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

DTEB, “Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence”

In a wonderful book that I need to reread, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen R. Covey identifies two circles: the circle of concern and the circle of influence. The circle of concern refers to everything that we care about. Many of them are huge and important.  He includes such things as the national debt and the dangers of nuclear war. The circle of influence refers to areas in our lives in which we might be able to do something positive.

Covey goes on to say that the problem is that too many of us operate—or try to operate—directly in our circle of concern. But, since these concerns are not within our sphere of influence, we simply spin our wheels and don’t get anywhere. In fact, such a preoccupation with those things that concern us actually causes our circle of influence to contract. We become less and less able to change anything that concerns us.

Now, I think that it is safe to say that a lot of us right now are concerned with a lot of different things. This may be the greatest understatement that I have ever made in my life. Think about it: COVID-19, economic havoc, racial injustice, political instability—and that’s just today’s headlines. There are plenty of other things that concern us. And these things should concern us!

However, if we spend too much time on these things, thinking about them, worrying about them, talking about them, we simply dimmish our ability to do anything about them. Our circle of influence contracts.

For those of us who are praying people, even “praying about” our problems and concerns can be a euphemism for worry. I am reminded of an old Christian hymn that counsels us to “Take your burdens to the Lord.” But the hymn lyrics don’t stop there. The lyrics say, “Take your burdens to the Lord, and leave them there.” Even those of us who claim to be believers are prone to taking our burdens to the Lord, and then picking them right back up. That is why so many of us are bent over before we’re forty years old.

The circle of influence refers to areas where we can make a positive difference. These are areas where we are more or less in charge. Let me give a simple example. I can’t do anything directly about COVID-19. It is something that concerns me for sure. And it should! But I am not a medical person or a scientist. (I got straight Ds in chemistry, and the only reason I didn’t get Fs was that the teacher liked me and knew that I was a good student in my other classes.)

But what I can do is wear a mask and practice social distancing. I can wash my hands. I can take the vaccination when I get the chance. These actions are within my sphere of influence.

In the case of this pandemic and in a multitude of other concerns, the best question I can ask at any given moment is this: “What can I do right now to stay within my circle of influence to make a positive difference in this concern of mine?”

One of the many ways in which we get way out of our sphere of influence and into an illegitimate preoccupation with what concerns is our consumption of information. This has been called “The Information Age.” I’m not so sure that it shouldn’t be called “The Misinformation Age.” But no matter what you call it, it is largely a snare and a delusion. Even if the information is good and true (and much of it is not), does it really help us to change things? In most cases, I suspect that all the information we consume is junk food. A thing is believed simply because our friends affirm it on Facebook.

But even consuming good, nutritious information can cause our circle of influence to contract. For example, I have been listening to National Public Radio a lot of late. I had to resist the urge to stream NPR live this morning, before I had done my devotions, read my Scriptures, written and posted this post, taken the dog outside, or written my gratitude list. (Of course, I had already had some coffee. First things first!)

Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with National Public Radio. I think that NPR tries to be balanced and to go into depth in its reporting. Do they always get it right? Of course not! But I think they actually try to get at the truth. However, there comes a point when I have consumed all the news that I can handle. Anything more, and I am out of my sphere of influence.

In a deep sense, the Serenity Prayer is precisely what we need at this moment. If I, if we, are to stay in our circle of influence, we need to pray it many times each day. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

There’s a longer version of the prayer that I like even better. It goes like this:

“God grant me the Serenity

To accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time.

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would like it.

Trusting that he will make all things right,

If I surrender to his will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this world

And supremely happy in the next.” (Reinhold Niebuhr, Theologian)

So, may you have a serene, courageous, and wise day! And may you operate in your circle of influence today!

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“An Email to My Students the Day After an Insurrection”

On January 7, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

My Dear Students,

And you are dear to me, already, right now. I always feel a great affection for all my students—even those who are dill pickles with bumps. (None of you falls into that category, of course!)

The events at the capitol building yesterday were profoundly disturbing to me, and I’m sure, to you as well. However, I would remind you of a few basic, spiritual realities.

First, God is still in control. Not the Democrats, thank God. Not the Republicans, thank God. Neither you nor me, thank God. God is in control, thank God! While I do believe in God’s guidance, I also believe that God holds the reins of this wild horse called “humankind” with a very loose hand. God does intervene at times with miracles and judgments, but at least for now, God allows us a lot of free will. Unfortunately, we often abuse that free will.

Second, the Bible actually speaks often about political issues and it speaks to (and often, against) human violence. For example, last night I taught a Hebrew class. I almost canceled, but my students wanted to meet. So, we looked at two verses from Isaiah: Isaiah 8:12-13. Here are these verses in their immediate literary context:

“Is. 8:11   For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” (English Standard Version)

I pointed out to the class that this word from the LORD came to Isaiah and to Judah at a time of profound political unrest. Assyria was menacing Judah from the northeast, and Egypt was trying to reassert its authority from the southwest. And there were people within Judah who were divided among themselves. Some favored Egypt, some favored Assyria, and some just wanted to ignore the whole thing.

Sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it?

But God says to the prophet, “Now don’t you be the same as everybody else who are always saying ‘Conspiracy!’ and who are afraid all the time. Instead, fear God. And also, make God your sanctuary.”

I think that, in this time, indeed in any time, we need to hear this Word from the Old Testament. Joyce Myer often says, “I know this is not a new word, but it is a now word.”

Right! So it is with this word from Isaiah: It is not a new word, but it is most definitely a now word. I am sending you this email (which will double as a post on my website, downtoearthbeliever.com) mainly because you might need to hear it. Of course, I’m trying to listen to this word myself, because I need to hear it.

But there is a secondary motive behind this email. I think that this illustrates something very important about the Word of God. The Bible, both the Old and New Testament, speaks to our modern 2021 struggles and fears. The Bible is not silent about the real social, political, or personal struggles that we all face.

Furthermore (and this has nothing to do with the Isaiah passage), I would remind you that I am praying for you right now and throughout the day. I will be available for most of the day if you need to email me (dldocterman@seu.edu), call me (513-827-8936), or text. I believe in praying over the phone, so don’t hesitate. If I am taking a nap (and remember, I’m an old guy), I will have the phone on DO NOT DISTURB anyway, so you won’t wake up grumpy (a.k.a. me!). And I don’t generally take long naps, so I can call you back soon.

But let me not just talk about prayer. Let me pray for you right now. “What? You can pray via email??!” Yes, actually, you can!

Oh God our Father, I affirm that you are in control. While you give us free will, and while we are all responsible for the exercise of that free will, you ultimately either cause things to happen or you allow them to happen. And your ultimate intention for the whole human race is that we repent and trust and love you. So, help us—help me—to repent and trust and love. Grant a spirt of kindness, generosity, and holiness. Grant us a fresh filling with your Holy Spirit. Without your Holy Spirit cleansing us and empowering us, we are not simply dead in the water. We’re just plain dead!

Help us to get on with our days as best we can. Raising children, working at our jobs, doing our studies, loving our friends, reaching out the lost, and encouraging one another. May your divine love be in our hearts today, and may your love flow out to others from our overflowing heart. Amen and amen!

Daryl, Instructor for Old Testament Interpretation (and Application!)

“Stay in the Ark! The Ground’s Not Dry Enough Yet!”

On January 5, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“He waited . . . .” (Genesis 8:10, of Noah, after the waters had largely abated after the great flood.)

So, we have several vaccines now! Praise God! And a hearty thanks to all the people who were involved in the development of said vaccines. Maybe science matters after all.

However, the pandemic still rages on. We still need to be careful. We can still die or be seriously sick with this plague. Seriously! We can also make other people sick. It is not just about me. Frankly, I hate wearing masks. They steam up my glasses. They are uncomfortable and make it hard to breathe or be heard and understood. Sometimes, I forget that I am wearing a mask, and try to put food or drink in my mouth. The results are not felicitous.

However, if there is even the slightest chance that wearing a mask might protect me or others, I think I’ll continue to do it. No, I don’t like it at all. Yes, sometimes I forget. But I am trying to remember that, while we may indeed see the light at the end of the tunnel, I’m still in the tunnel. And so are we all.

Noah had been quarantining with his family and a bunch of noisy, stinky animals for months. He could already see the tops of the mountains. The ground was drying out. Yet Noah still didn’t come out of the ark—for months—until God said to do so.

It would be a shame to survive this plague for so many months, and then go out of the ark just a bit too soon. I don’t want to be the last person to die from this horrible thing. I don’t want you to be that person either.

Stay in the ark, beloved. Yeah, I know it’s uncomfortable and it smells bad. Still, stay in the ark. Please!

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“A Prayer about What we Don’t Know”

On January 4, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“Psa. 19:12      Who can discern his errors?

                        Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

13        Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

                        let them not have dominion over me!

             Then I shall be blameless,

                        and innocent of great transgression.”

We don’t know what we don’t know. And it is quite likely that many of the things we no for sure are wrong. Blind spots are the norm rather than the exception for our species.

The ancient psalmist, after raving on and on about how wonderful God’s communication through nature (Psalm 19:1-6) and through God’s Law (verses 7-11) suddenly makes a sharp turn (verses 12-13. He realizes that no matter how wonderful nature or God’s Law may be, he—the psalmist—may not be able to make good use of what God has to say. Why? Hidden faults!

The Hebrew word order in verses 12 and 13 (13 and 14 in the Hebrew Bible) is interesting. Usually, word order in Hebrew is verb, subject, and object. If a word other than a verb occurs at the beginning of a sentence or clause occurs first, it often suggests that this word is being emphasized.

In the case of verses 12 and 13 (13 and 14 in Hebrew), the object is batting lead-off. Here is my very literal translation, which will help to illustrate how this is done in Hebrew:

“Hidden faults, who can discern?

From hidden faults, cleanse me.

Moreover, from presumption, spare your servant.”

And then the psalmist prays, “Don’t let these things rule my life.” In other words, the psalmist prays about he-knows-not-what. But he does know that the problem is in himself, even though he also knows that he doesn’t know precisely what the problem is.

And that is probably a good prayer for all of us to pray. The truth is this: No matter how much or how loudly God speaks through nature or through his Word, I may have a hearing problem.The problem isn’t that I can’t hear. The problem is that I refuse to hear. And it is my own chosen ignorance about my own hidden sins that keeps me from hearing God’s voice.

Ultimately, it isn’t the sins of our parents, or our husband, or our wife, or our boss, or our fellow church attender, or the Muslims, or the Jews, or the atheists, or the Republicans, or the Democrats—it isn’t any of those other individuals or groups, that keeps any of us from hearing God speaking to us. And, to make it very personal, it is my sins that I don’t know about—and that I don’t know that I don’t know—which will drown out the voice of God.

“Repenting of Not Repenting”

On January 3, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

Our pastor preached a wonderful sermon today. It was all about coming back from setbacks. It was altogether a great message—especially after 2020. The best thing that most of us got out of 2020 was ourselves! And that is no small thing.

However, I was really intrigued and touched and moved to change by Pastor’s altar call. I was watching online, so I couldn’t go to our corporate altar, but I could and did kneel at my chair in front of my desk where I was listening.

So what was this challenging invitation? Pastor invited us to repent.

What?! That’s it! Isn’t repentance kind of an old-fashioned word? Who repents anymore? And do I need to repent?

However, our wise Man of God blockaded that exit in a hurry. “And if you don’t need to repent, you really need to repent!” he told us. That may not have been his precise words, but that was what I heard—heard and took to heart.

Have I done wrong things for which I need to repent? You bet! Have I wanted to do wrong things? Absolutely! And if I indulge those kinds of wants, if I ask them in for coffee, I most certainly need to repent of those desires.

And then, of course, there are all the good things that I have been too lazy to do. Need to repent of those too! (Well, maybe I am not so much lazy as I am busy. Nah, that’s a dodge! Much of my business is just laziness dressed up in nice clothes.)

So, on this third day of the Year of our Lord, 2021, I knelt and repented. I had a surprising amount of repentance to be doing for just three days into the new year, but there you go. Resentments, gluttony, lust, looking back too much, garden-variety selfishness: The list goes on and on, but I won’t. And then there was all the positive, godly, helpful things that I refused to do.

One of the lay leaders in our church wrapped up the service online by saying, “Repentance is not feeling sorry. Repentance is doing a one-eighty.” His wife is one of the fine leaders on staff on our church, but he’s pretty wise too.

So, I need to do a one-eighty and get moving in the right direction. This blog post is my pledge to God, to myself, and to you that this is precisely what I am doing.

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“God is in the Seeking”

On January 2, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” (Psalm 9:10, New International Version)

One of the many things I love about the Bible is how it contradicts itself.

Now that I have your attention, let me explain. I’m not sure that it is a matter of the Bible contradicting itself. It is more a matter of the Bible contradicting our usual notions of logic.

Take the second line of Psalm 9:10, for example. The psalmist affirms that the LORD hasn’t forsaken those who seek him. What?! Wait! Say that one more time! . . . Now say it again!

If the LORD hasn’t forsaken us, why do we need to search for him? And if we are seeking God, doesn’t that suggest that he is not with us right here, right now? You see what I mean, don’t you?

And yet, it is a wonderful image isn’t it? Not logical perhaps, but wonderfully refreshing: a God who accompanies us, even as we seek him. Now that is the kind of God a body would want! And that, according to the psalmist is precisely the kind of God we have!

Keep seeking God, dear believer—or unbeliever! He is with you in your questing and in your questioning. He will not abandon you until you’ve found him. He won’t abandon you then, either.

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“And the Word for the Year: Generosity!”

On January 1, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

Several years ago, I read a post by Jon Gordon that encouraged his readers to choose one word for the year to set the tone for the year. I have been doing this for several years now. The past two yearly words have been self-control and holiness. I can’t say that I have done well with them, but I still think that Gordon is onto something good.

This year, my word is generosity. This word, as I perceive it, is not just about money or stuff. And generosity is not only about giving to others. Rather, generosity is about giving and receiving. It is about giving material things and giving lots of other things that could hardly be called stuff.

Generosity is something that many of us have received. In fact, no matter how difficult life is (and it is so for many people), there are very few of us who haven’t experienced receiving generosity at one time or another. Some of us, like me, are swimming in a sea of generosity. I have received generosity from my parents, friends, twelve-step compatriots, my wife, family, and a host of others. Even if I didn’t believe in God, I think I would have to believe in generosity.

But I do believe in God, and I have experienced so much generosity from God! Forgiveness, grace, life, life eternal, spiritual gifts of service, the sending of his Son to this planet, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the church—and on and on and on. Yes, I’ve received generosity alright!

And then, there is the giving of generosity. If I have received so much generosity of all kinds, material and spiritual, how could I not be generous?

But the truth is, I can be incredibly selfish. I’m more generous, I think, than I used to be, but as Robert Frost said, “I have miles before I sleep.” Generosity is always a possibility, but it only becomes lived reality in the living itself.

So, this is the Year of Generosity. My intention is to be a generous person in a plethora of ways. (I just love the word “plethora”!) I plan to be generous with stuff—even including my books. I will be generous with my time, with my praise and gratitude, with words of encouragement. I will be generous with my sweetheart, my students, my church, people that I like, and people of whom I am not so fond.

I’m even planning to be generous with myself. Can you believe it?! I do!

(For another post on generosity, see my post “Brimming with Wealth and Generosity” at https://www.downtoearthbeliever.com/?p=1723.)

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“All the Time in the Universe—and Then Some!”

On December 31, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

A twelve-step reading this morning reminded me that God has been doing a lot of construction work in (and on) my life. However, now is the time for building on a new, more solid foundation.

Initially, I did not find this terribly encouraging. Terrible, yes. Encouraging, no. “After all,” I said to myself, “I’m almost seventy. How much more building can even God do in such an old guy?”

And then a very unexpected and encouraging wave of Truth swept over me. God is not limited by the years of my life. In fact, God is not limited by time at all! God has all of eternity to work on me. Even if my entire earthly life is limited to dirt work and foundation laying, it might be a life well-lived. God is not in a hurry. God took seven days to create the universe. God took four-hundred years to get Israel out of Egypt. Why shouldn’t God take seventy years or so to work on me.

So, as an active worksite, I need to be patient. Bring on the bulldozers, the pile drivers, whatever equipment the Divine Workman wishes to use. I’m a mess, but then so is every worksite until the building is finished.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. . . . 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3)

Apparently, the author of 1 John realized that, even though we are now children of God and that we are called to holiness in the here and now, we are not a finished product just yet.

Be content to be fragmentary, dear reader.

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“Star Trek, Birth Times and Places, and Jesus”

On December 25, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

Honestly, I’ve never been much of a Trekkie. I say that with a little bit of regret. “Star Trek” no doubt deserves its fame. Anything or anyone that so many people adore deserves at least a closer look from me. This is not a comment on our current national leader, though it might still be applicable.

Because I am not a Trekkie, I did not realize that Captain Tiberius Kirk had an Iowa birthplace and a specific birthdate. In fact, I never really considered the matter. But, yes, as a matter of fact, Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, does have a birthplace and birthdate: Riverside, Iowa and March 22, 2228. This was pointed out by a friend’s Christmas newsletter. She and her daughter visited the town where Captain Kirk would (eventually) be born. The city of Riverside, Iowa (population 993, according to the 2010 census) even has a statue of Kirk, complete with his radicallyfuture birthdate.

This set me thinking, as most things do, about biblical and Jesus stuff.  Honestly, we don’t really know precisely when Jesus was born. The early church began celebrating it at about this time of year, probably in order to compete with the Roman Saturnalia celebration.

Nonetheless, I am glad that we celebrate Jesus’ birth this time of year. We need some light and peace and joy and kindness this time of year. This is especially true in the northern hemisphere, when the days are cold and short. It is even more especially true in this year of Covid-19, economic and political chaos, and the usual private sorrows and tragedies that we all experience. Most of us do not have a story that reads like a typical Christmas newsletter. Everything is not fine. We struggle.

But then, there comes crashing into our stories this story about God invading this planet. Not at the head of an army, not in power. No! God came (so the story goes) as a fragile baby in a manger, a baby that had to be nursed and changed, a baby that no doubt sometimes cried, the song that says he didn’t, notwithstanding.

Yeah, I know: It is a strange story. I can see why many smart people don’t believe it. I don’t know if I’m smart people or not, but I do believe it—at least, most of the time.

The writer of the letter that we call 1 Peter, who is traditionally thought to be one of Jesus’ original followers, wrote the following:

“1Pet. 1:13   Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (English Standard Version, italics mine)

If these verses are taken at face value, they make startling claims about Jesus Christ. Before the world was created, God’s Son was on his way to be born in Bethlehem. He was also on his way to die for the sins of the world in Jerusalem. Furthermore, he was on his way to be raised from the dead.

It is an image with which to conjure. God knew, his Son knew, when they created the world that one day the Son would be murdered for the sins of the humans that God would create. If this is true, I am amazed that God went on with creation at all. Why not leave keep things as they were—tohu wa vohu, waste and chaos? Above all, why create humanity? After all, we ourselves are tohu wa vohu, waste and chaos, a good deal of the time and in many ways. If Peter got it right, God knew that we were going to go wrong, and he had a plan: sending his Son. Why on earth would the God of the universe come this God-forsaken planet?!

Maybe because we thought it was a God-forsaken planet?

I told you that it was a strange story and that it is difficult to believe. But there are millions of us who do in fact believe it. That, of course, does not automatically make it true. However, it might give unbelievers some pause for thought. And, for sure and certain, we who are believers ought to pause and think. And we ought to pause and thank! For one even greater than Captain James Tiberius Kirk has come to this planet.

Merry Christmas, all!

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“Keep on Dancing!”

On December 23, 2020 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“for the righteous falls seven times and rises again . . .” (Prov. 24:16, English Standard Version)      

Last night, while watching “The Nutcracker,” one of the dancers seemed to stumble and fall. He stayed down and looked up at his dance partner. I was not sure if it was part of the dance routine or not. In any case, he made it part of the dance.

I wonder if there isn’t a wonderful lesson in that for me. How do I use my many falls? Do I incorporate them into the dance that is my life?

Or perhaps I am not the one to incorporate my falls into the dance. Perhaps it is God who is The Great Choreographer. Perhaps God is the one who weaves the weakness that is me into a graceful and meaningful dance.

Falling is painful to me and to others. We do not dance alone. Awareness of the dangers of falling, exercising, and practicing in order to avoid falling—these are very important in our lives, and important for others in the dance too.

But just because I’ve fallen doesn’t mean that I have to give up on the dance. No! It is God, who is not only The Great Choreographer, but also Our Great Dance Partner. He is the one who enables us to keep on dancing.

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