20/20 Hindsight: Just a Phone Call Away

This is 20/20 Hindsight. I am posting a new one each Monday. The purpose of this series is to show God's hand of providence in the lives of people throughout history. Sometimes God works His good through a person and sometimes He does it in spite of that person.

Hindsight Obituary Entry 2:

Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell lived from 1847 to 1922. He was the inventor of the first practical working telephone. The telecommunications industry was born through his passion and hard work.

His design continually changed throughout his life from a phone that had to be shouted into even for short distances to one that would span a continent. The New York Times had this to say after a ceremonial debut of a new design in 1915:

On October 9, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas A. Watson talked by telephone to each other over a two-mile wire stretched between Cambridge and Boston. It was the first wire conversation ever held. Yesterday afternoon [on January 25, 1915] the same two men talked by telephone to each other over a 3,400-mile wire between New York and San Francisco. Dr. Bell, the veteran inventor of the telephone, was in New York, and Mr. Watson, his former associate, was on the other side of the continent. They heard each other much more distinctly than they did in their first talk thirty-eight years ago.

Bell could not have foreseen the advent of the cell phone or the fact that just about everyone would have one. He also would not have understood why we would choose to go back to texting (essentially a telegraph). Skype and FaceTime were probably the furthest thing from his mind, but yet he made all of that possible.

The telephone has gone from mere wires to satellite and towers. It has made the world much much smaller. How has God used this invention to further His good news? Because communication is the heartbeat of relationship. We were created to be in relationship with God and others. The telephone and all of the technologies that followed (remember the Internet began using phone lines to log in) have brought us closer together and enabled us to share God's truth with others.

We no longer have to wait weeks to correspond with a foreign missionary. It can be done in an instant. The phone has given us amazing opportunity. What about you? Is it just another gadget, or a tool to share your faith? Let me leave you with this challenge. Think of someone you care about that has not decided to follow Jesus. Now, take out your phone and call them. You can use this blog as an excuse. Tell them that you read a blog that told you to think about someone you care about who has not decided to follow Christ and they were the first person that came to your mind.

Tell them how you became a Christ follower and ask if they would like to do the same. I led a friend to the Lord the very 1st time I tried it. Let me know what happens.

Read other 20/20 Hindsight entries

What Does it Mean When a Pastor Falls?

A pastor doesn't find himself in hot water from making one mistake, he finds himself in hot water because he climbed into the wrong pot. There are small things, a few compromises, a lack of accountability, and a lack of transparency in his life. Its a slow boil.

What happens when a ministry leader falls? I have seen so many pastors, youth pastors, and worship leaders fall in my lifetime. It’s a wonder that I am still involved in ministry circles; much less do what I do for a living. After all, the fall of leaders has been a huge talking point for skeptics over the past few years.

From Baker and Swaggart to Ted Haggard and the catholic priest scandal, it is certainly in the public eye. But its not just televangelists and prominent people who are falling, I have friends and peers who have succumbed to temptation and fallen by the way side.

Why does it shake us to the core when someone we admire falls? After all they are sinful humans like the rest of us. Is it because we made an idol out of them and should only look to Jesus? Maybe, but I don't think that is necessarily always the case. You see, John the Baptist had disciples (followers) and Jesus did not rebuke him. In fact Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ" (1 Cor 11:1).

What did Paul mean? We are to follow and emulate those that follow Jesus as long as they are following Him. All of the work of God that a person does is through Christ's power, and all of the sin he does is in his own power.

Think of the first ministry leader to fall. It was Satan! Through his fall 1/3 of those closest to God called it quits. I believe our enemy took notice of how easy it was to tear apart God's congregation, and he employs the same tactic today. Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter!

As the sheep we need to follow our shepherds as they follow The Good Shepherd. If we see our shepherds fail and fall (and we will), lets recognize the enemies attacks, restore them gently (Gal 6:1) and keep our eyes fixed on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

A Heart to Heart with Mooresville's Mayor After a Moral Lapse

Mayor Chris Montgomery

Chris Montgomery is the Mayor of Mooresville, North Carolina (he also happens to be a Christ follower). The news broke a few weeks ago about intimate emails that he sent from a town email address to a woman who was not his wife. He has said he will continue to serve until his term ends, but not seek re-election. He wants to work on his faith and family.

Jesus was not the stone throwing type and neither should the church be. Chris agreed to do an interview for Randumblog that I pray will be an eye opener for us to see that this could happen to anyone. My hope is that anyone dealing with secret sin will be able to hear Chris’ heart and flee one of the many self-destructive paths our enemy places before us.

Nate: I appreciate your willingness to do this interview for Randumblog. My hope is that my readers gain a clearer understanding of how truly challenging political life can be.

Chris: Thank you for asking me to participate, Nate. It was kind of touch and go there for a while. But I have been blessed with good friends and family who have supported me unconditionally. I have been very overwhelmed. I have been even more thankful.

I would contend that LIFE is challenging. The politics just added to it in my case. But everyone has their demons. That statement is not designed to be a cop-out, just fact. Quite literally, my saving grace was realizing I had Jesus Christ. He was always there. I just ignored the Bible or pretended not to need him. That is a recipe for disaster, particularly when you have been chosen to lead. It has been a tough road. But the weight was lifted once I realized how much God loves his children.

Nate: First, I would like to apologize for myself and other Christians in Mooresville who have neglected to lift you up in prayer. I believe God has called us to this and I for one have failed you as a leader in this way.

Chris: No one has failed me. It was quite the opposite. But it's not about deserving each other. We have already been accepted. Who else do you know that would give his only son's life for a bunch of sinners? It's overwhelming when you think about it.

Nate: People in positions of leadership (especially believers) tend to be targets of the enemy’s attacks. What advice would you give to others in leadership positions in the area of fidelity?

Chris: Well first let me make it perfectly clear that my wife and I love each other. We have volumes of stories and experiences, not to mention three beautiful children. But I, like most men, thrive on attention. Of course some of that is human nature. However, the thought process should go further than that. I for one am very narcissistic and am learning to deal with changing that behavior. I believe putting God as your number one priority is the first step. Then back it up with daily devotions and scripture. My wife has helped me build such faith. She is my rock. 

Nate: It seems that many Christians tend to shoot their own wounded or distance themselves from those who have fallen. It is easy to swell with pride and think that it could not happen to us. If you could go back five years and give a much younger Chris Montgomery some advice—what would you say?

Chris: "Pride comes before the fall."; "Check yourself before you wreck yourself." Leave your ego at the door." "There is no I in team." -- We were all taught these proverbs and lessons as kids, but some people get so wrapped up in themselves and agendas that the message gets lost in the shuffle.

I have been in advertising sales for the last twenty years. Salespeople are trained from the get-go to appear confident, wear a smile, and provide solutions better than the competition. I fell prey to my own pitch. In a nutshell, I would tell the younger Chris Montgomery to be more humble and less assertive in most situations.  

Nate: I know that you have asked for forgiveness in this situation. You said in a letter to the town commissioners that you are going to, “…focus on my faith and family.” How can my readers pray for you specifically as you do this?

Chris: Don't pray for me, pray for everyone. Ask God to show ways to help others. Pray that leaders everywhere make sound decisions, personally and professionally. Or as my wife says, "Let go, let God.”

Nate: Thank you for your time and straightforward answers. You have given us a lot to think about as we take stock of our own lives.

Chris: It has been my pleasure. If this virtual Interview can influence one reader, you and I have made a difference. 


Another Interview from Randumblog:
Jerry Jenkins on The Brotherhood