Are you a bully sheep?

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

- Ezekiel 34:20-22

Notice how in this verse, God isn't judging between sheep and goats, but between sheep and sheep? Do you think that there will be bullies in Heaven? Yes and no. Certainly there are people who are bullies who are saved, but that God once we're on the other side of eternity, all of us will be Christ-like.

Be that as it may, this side of eternity God wants us to be patient and kind and consider others before ourselves, but we don't always, do we? It's one thing to be assertive and stand up for yourself, but it's another to be aggressive about only looking out for yourself.

At recent congressional town-hall meetings there have been people so bent on being heard that they're preventing everyone else from being heard too. It's one thing to make sure that your viewpoint is heard, but it's quite another to deliberately disrupt any discussions so that others are unable to ask questions of their representatives let alone share their viewpoints too.

Maybe you aren't into politics, or you agree with the people doing the screaming. But doesn't this scenario sound a lot like a school classroom? Or a checkout line in a store? Or the line at a fast food or coffee place? Or in a club or at church?

Do you ever push and shove with "flank and shoulder?" Or butt the weaker personalities around to get your way? How can you be more considerate of others without letting yourself get completely trodden upon yourself? How can you promote your own agenda without annihilating everybody else's?

"Scattering far and wide" suggests to me that there are people who don't feel welcomed in church or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, not because God doesn't love them, but because God's people have hurt them or made them feel like they aren't accepted.

Dear Lord,
Please help us (your sheep) to do our part to welcome other sheep to their Shepherd, rather than competing like pigs at a trough. Thank you for saving Your flock. Teach us not to ravage each other and forgive us when we do.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Sheep Dip

This Sunday's Old Testament Lesson, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 was fascinating to me. It seems to me that God wants to protect His children from bullies. It also sounds a little bit like sometimes, WE sheep ARE those bullies. Makes you wonder (& worry) sometimes whether you're a sheep or a goat (Matthew 25:31-46).

I say, when in doubt, try being humble and putting other people first. And since we all get things wrong, I say better to fault on the side of the Gospel than on the side of the Law. Does that make me a "Gospel Reductionist?" Then I'll "sin boldly," on the side of grace.

Ezekiel 34:
11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness... 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice...

20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.

Psalm 23 -- explained

The other night after my wife's grandfather's funeral, some of us in
the family were sitting around talking about God and Heaven, and
plenty of other things like faith and parenting... Pastor's sermon was
about how forgiveness leads to an attitude of thanksgiving. Someone
admitted that it's very hard to forgive yourself sometimes, and its
hard to receive God's love and forgiveness as free gifts- we often
think we have to do something, we have to be better or somehow win
God's approval. We decided that this may be why He gave us analogies
like fisherman, farmer, potter and shepherd- these are all occupations
where the person supposedly in charge doesn't have absolute control.
Any kid in 4H or FFA who's had to show sheep will tell you how they
want to do what they want to do. As an art teacher, I can tell you
that throwing a pot on a wheel is no where near as fun and sexy as
Demi More made it look in the movie Ghost, and my Farmer-in-law tells
me that he'd drive himself crazy if once he tilled and planted the
seed he didn't tell God, "Okay, I've done my part, now I need You to
bring some sun and rain."

Now today, my sister-in-law (on my side of the family this time) sent
this email forward. Guess I'm too much of an Art snob to have
appreciated all the schmaltzy pictures that came with it (no offense
intended, Deb) so I took them out before posting it here. (Like this
blog isn't full of cheesy pictures) Be that as it may, I just thought
that the explanations are so simple and clear and practical and real
and... well, beautiful. It really makes Psalm 23 meaningful and
powerful, rather than just a piece of rote memory work from Sunday
School. I hope you find it as moving and profound as I did:

Me ka pule,
Pirate Ted

Some probably never thought nor looked at this Psalm in this way....
even though they say it over and over again.

The Lord is my Shepherd
That's Relationship!

I shall not want
That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters.
That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul
That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
That's Guidance!

For His name sake
That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
That's Testing!

I will fear no evil.
That's Protection!

For Thou art with me
That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,
That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
That's Hope!

Thou anointest my head with oil,
That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over.
That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.
That's Security!

Forever
That's Eternity

Face it, the Lord and I think you are special.
Send this to the people you think are special.
I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU!!!
What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives;
but WHO we have in our lives.

_______________________________
Ted's cartoons, artworks, photos, and commentary at:
http://tmal.multiply.com

Pirate Prayers at:
http://malloryprayer.blogspot.com

"The gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the
comfortable." ~Garrison Keillor