Breaking From the Theme

I've done something a little unusual tonight.
I've gone through and re-read some of my old blogs.
This is for two reasons: one, for inspiration, because I thought since the wife and kids are coming home later tonight, it would be a good time to put up another post. Two, just because I don't want to keep posting the same thing over and over. Goodness knows I don't want my writing to become stale- I have only a few readers as it is.
I realized that for the most part I am a little repetitive. Most of the time I follow the Biblical devotional style. That is, I talk about things going on around me, cite a Bible reference, talk about how it's all going to be okay, just hold on for the greater God has. In other words, the best is yet to come. I relayed how I lost my job at Family Christian Stores in 2010 and then the first thing I heard was how "Greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city."
(If you need a reminder...)

So here I am, almost five years later. A dreamer that is mired in a land of lost dreams. I was supposed to sing gospel music. It felt like God himself impressed that upon me back on January 14, 1995. I recorded two CDs with my brother, led music at my church for seven years. Was that all for that dream? Nine years worth? I know for a fact that God doesn't offer a temporary calling on your life.
It felt like I was supposed to start my own Christian retail store. Yet I have nowhere near the capital, means, or any other assets to start such a business, and I sure don't have a location.
I have several boxes of tile, two bags of thinset mortar, and grout outside waiting for me to put a new floor down in the bathroom. But that has to wait as well.
It just really feels like my life is in a status of "Incomplete."
I still believe the song- greater things are still to come. I totally believe the Bible. I know that glory awaits, I know that there are better days ahead. When do I see those better days?
Now do you understand why I have written two blogs titled "Depressed Christianity" and a blog titles "Called to Hardship." I'm kind of in a standstill. I have a wife facing surgery in a week in a half, expenses I have no idea how my one income is going to cover. I spend my days doing something that is the exact opposite of what I should be doing. Yet it's all I have to do. I'd love to spend a lot more time in the fetal position, but that isn't a practical option.

So that's the conflict. That's the point where what I believe and what I feel intersect. For you readers, I need your prayers. I believe the best is yet to come. I'd just like to see it come.

Called to Hardship

You may have seen from the last two posts on this blog that things have not been so good lately, psychologically speaking. I try to be nothing if not honest, and post my heart from where I am at that time. True, things are not always great. But I know without a doubt that no matter how good things may not be, I know people that have things far worse than I do. 
I think about the friend I saw in concert a few weeks ago. She lost her husband, a dear friend, four years ago, and had her entire world turned upside down. She recalled the whole story and talked how she entered a state of clinical depression. She is a real encouragement to me. Here is a link to TaRanda's website. You need to check out her new CD, and definitely listen to the song "Deepest Praise." 
I also think about a family that in the last week here in Ashe County has lost everything to a fire. A Wilkes County family that lost a little girl that was born no larger than a cell phone. My wife has had ear trouble since childhood and faces surgery in a couple of weeks.
There are lots of issues going on, and they're not just mine. 
The problem with Christianity in America today is that the fringe has become the mainstream, and many people believe a lie about the Christian life. They think if you declare certain things over your life, speak a certain way, do certain things, God will bless you and you will have no troubles. Jesus never said that. He said "In this world you shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). I Peter 4:12 says "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."
God never called us to ease. 
God has called us to hardship. 
Consider the words he said to Moses in Exodus 10: "Go to Pharoah...for I will harden his heart." In other words, go to someone that isn't going to listen to you. Does not sound like my idea of fun. Neither, of course, does leading a nation of people that do nothing but complain, question your authority, disobey the rules, challenge you at every step, and make you so mad they cause you to not receive your promise. 
Consider Ezekiel, and this from Ezekiel 2: "And he said to me, 'Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’" Ezekiel dealt with hardships,to be certain. God asked him to eat bread baked on dung. For goodness sakes, to show him His plans for Israel, God took Ezekiel's WIFE from him, and then told Him not to grieve. That is a life of hardship.
Of course, we don't have to look at the Bible for examples. Think about the missionaries that have been to your church. Where has God commanded them to? Think about where they have had to go to, what they have had to do without, what persecutions they face because of what they believe and where they are. Surely, if you believe the popular theology of the American church, they aren't living right.
I also think about my dad. He turned 86 this year. He still pastors the church he came to in 1970. This church is far away from the beaten path. He wasn't called to be famous, to be rich, to be popular. He was called to preach the Word of God in an out-of-the-way place in Caldwell County. He still faithfully does it.
The people I mentioned- why did they do what they do? Because they realized they were called to hardship. Because they realized at the end (along with many times at the beginning and the middle) the glory of God. 
Moses started by witnessing a burning bush.
Ezekiel started with a wheel inside a wheel.
He knows your path is going to be hard, and He wants you to know that it is worth it. 
That verse at the beginning from Jesus? Remember the rest: "but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Hang on, friends. Hang with me. It will be worth it in the end.

Depressed Christianity, continued

(Starting off with a note: I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. If you think you have struggles with depression, you are not alone. There is help.)

None of what I write should be considered a diagnosis of depression. It comes in many forms. I just speak from what I believe God has impressed on me to write, my opinions of His Word, and also from the voice of experience. No, I have never been to a doctor or psychologist and sought out an official diagnosis, but I have felt so down in my life it has seemed like nothing helps.
If you read the previous listing (and if you haven't you can do that here), you'll get a little overview of my thoughts on depression in the church. Seeing an old friend last week who has experienced great tragedy in her life in recent years, and hearing her testimony, just solidifies that. Christians get depressed. It doesn't make them worse sinners. It doesn't mean they aren't saved. It means they are humans, and the emotions we face affect us greatly. Sometimes it means we don't feel anything at all, even when we should be happy.

If you have a friend that you believe, or in fact you know they deal with depression, there are some things you can do and not to to help them.
DON'T: Criticize. They didn't plan on being depressed.
DON'T: Tell them to snap out of it. They didn't snap into it.
DON'T: Hit them with cliches. For example, telling someone that is having a hard time at work "at least you have a job" DOES NOT HELP. IT NEVER HELPS. The depressed person is not looking for perspective.
You know, I used to love quotations, and have books of encouraging quotes. I have no desire to find those things.

Job's friends were a lot like this. Trying to convince him all the stuff he suffered was all his doing, admit to his sin, God is punishing him, all that he-jazz.
Don't be like Job's friends. You wonder why nobody names their kids Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar? Besides the fact that you can't spell them? This is why.

The best thing they did for Job was what they did at the beginning.
They sat in silence with them.

DO: Be there. You don't have to say anything. You don't really have to be in the room, you can be a room away or a phone call away. Just be there, and be willing listen.
DO: Pray without ceasing. Whenever you think of that person, talk to God on their behalf. 
DO: Love.

Finally, one more don't.
DON'T Give up on that person. They may not say it, but they need you. If the person is depressed to the point you think harm may come, help them seek help.

Comments are welcome below, or you can email me at jlwide@hotmail.com.

Depressed Christianity

There is a question I have dealt with for many years. To some people the answer is yes. To others, the answer is a resounding no. This question has lingered with me for years, and I want to take this out to all of you, however few or many of you there are:
Can a follower of God be depressed?
For the people that say no, I picture them like this:

(Don't misinterpret- I like this song.) Just the thought of depression is not wanted, not supposed to be visible. At the thought of depression we are just supposed to snap out of it. If you can't snap out of it, maybe you don't trust God. Maybe you aren't saved? You have such a problem!
I'm here to tell you my point of view on the subject.
I believe Christians can do and often will be depressed, and the Bible is full of examples.
Ever read the book of Ecclesiastes?
Solomon, author of Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and the Song of Solomon, had it all. He was provided by God with wisdom, riches, honor, and power. He had more than anyone. But it wasn't enough. He sought after it all and came to one conclusion- it's all vanity and chasing after wind. In the routine of my routine, I can deeply relate.
The song above references the "Patience of Job" in the first verse. It's true that at the beginning of his ordeal that Job blessed the name of the Lord and "Never sinned or charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22). Then he cursed the day he was born, which was followed with much searching for explanation regarding why it happened with his "friends."
John, in chapter 5 of the Revelation, wept when he realized no one could open the seven seals to the scrolls.His anguish was short lived, but existed.
Even Jesus in the garden praying sought out another way than the road He was foreordained to travel on. He was God, yes, but at thus moment his humanity came to the fore.
Elijah did an amazing thing in chapter 18 of 1 Kings: He showed up 450 false prophets when God answered him and rained down fire. Then he witnessed the slaughter. At his spiritual top, he wa threatened by Jezebel. Then he ran for his life, asking for God to take his life.
After warning, and warning, and warning some more the destruction of Judah, Jeremiah composed his Lamentations.
I would say that is some solid evidence for depression. With most of these people, the only exception being Job's friends, no one was telling them to snap out of it. But in each situation except one, there was hope:
God was there.

• God warned Solomon to repentance through the prophets. He composed Ecclesiastes as a warning.
• God listened to Job and his "friends" and told him ultimately that His purposes are His alone. Then He blessed Job double from what he had lost.
• John was reassured to weep not, because the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" had conquered, and prevailed to open the seals.
• In Lamentations 3, the lamentation is interrupted with a message of faithfulness, and new mercy every day.
• Elijah traveled for forty days and was visited by God, not in the frenzied, overwhelming madness of power and might, but in a still, small voice.

Jesus is the exception, but He had to be. Other wise we would have no hope. I want to make a statement to you:
God often wants us to be alone to remind us that we are never alone.
Let that sink in. Preachers, you can use that one for free.
You will get down. It happens. It happens to me more than most. I'm not going to tell you to snap out of it. That doesn't make you "get better," and I know, it doesn't help. But He is there, and He wants to talk to you.
He's listening to you. He loves you. Listen for Him to speak like He did to Elijah.
"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).

To Wilkesboro...and beyond!

I realize I haven't placed a post on the Wide Scope in the past few weeks.This isn't a surprise- consider how many posts I have actually put up in the last two years.
Post I still do and post I shall.
In the meantime...
A friend of mine has started a blog called Wilkesboro and Beyond. A couple of weeks ago he asked me if I could contribute a couple of  posts for him.
In the words of Barney Stinson, "CHALLENGE. ACCEPTED."
He had some ideas, and I had some ideas. So far, I have contributed two.
The first is a posting regarding the Hibriten High School Band, which, if you've read over the years, know is dear to my heart. That post can be found here.
The second, which was unplanned and kind of spontaneous, regards the Lenoir Mall. Here is the link to that one.
I'm still figuring out the dynamic of typing and sending to someone else, but so far the system is working, and can only get better. Of course, feel free to peruse the other posts by Jason and the other authors. You'll find a variety of postings regarding other topics.
I have a couple of other ideas I'm working up, so stay tuned. I'll let you know when more is available.

Catching the Vision -or- "Great. Another Football as life Metaphor."

The above title can lead to a lot of wondering of how this author can weave a tale about football and relate it to life in general. This will be a little different, so go with me.
In 2013 the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South Division with a 12-4 record. It was a very successful year, but a loss in their first playoff game revealed room for improvement. So, in the offseason, they did something I still have a hard time fathoming:
They said goodbye to every one of their wide receivers. Also, their most experienced and possibly best offensive lineman retired. This included Steve Smith, Sr., the most famous and possibly the best player in Panthers history. Panthers fans very surprised, disappointed, and very vocal. This extremely introverted, potentially Aspergian author, was as vocal as he could be.
New receivers were signed and drafted, the preseason proved lackluster, and the NFL season began. You may have heard some details from it, most of them not football related.
On the Panthers' end, though, nothing but good news- when it comes to the action on the field. The team is 2-0, so far, and this past week shut down the best receiver in the league. The offense has been enough, essentially, to get the job done, and can only improve as Cam Newton gets into the flow.
If you're not a football fan, you're bored by now. But the point is this: I now know the plan the Panthers' management had when they set this offseason plan forth- and I like it.
In other words, I can see the vision.
Proverbs 29:18 starts in the King's English: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." In The Message, it says "If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves." It finishes: "But he that keepeth the law, happy is he," or "But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed."
Here in the middle of our messes, it's hard to see what God is doing a lot of times. We live in a time of terror, doubt, uncertainty, and fear. I personally live in a time of immense stress and seemingly little reward for that stress. Some days are harder than others. and none of the days are easy it seems. I'm currently reading a wonderful book by Anne Graham Lotz called Wounded by God's People. It's fabulous. It takes the Biblical account of Hagar, Abraham's servant and mother of Ishmael, and relates it to the wounds, difficulties, and issues that we have faced from other Christians- and also things we may have done to others. She also references in this book Moses in Exodus 33-34, asking God to show him His glory. God showed up for Hagar at a time of rejection from Sarah. God showed the back of His glory to Moses. I'm also reminded of Elisha in 2 Kings 6:17 praying the Lord would open the eyes of his servant Gehazi to see the army surrounding the enemy at his door. Elisha had the vision- and it thrilled him. Gehazi needed it. 
What I'm saying is what Anne said in that portion of her book. What Moses asked in the cleft of the rock. What Hagar needed to see. What I need to see. Ask God to show the vision. Ask for His guidance as you travel through the situation. I grant there are times where it is too great for us, and He simply asks us to trust. Take His hand in those times, and walk with Him. One day you will be able to see it all clearly, and will rejoice.

Revival n' Wrestling

It's time to play a game of true confessions. Since I'm the only one with a voice on this blog, I'll go:
I have been a wrestling fan for 27 years, since I was ten years old.
There. I said it.

It used to be fun in 4th and 5th grade, especially after school when I would wrestle around with others in school, we put each other in figure-four leglocks, etc. I even went to school with my face painted as Sting.  I was the only one I knew that was a wrestking fan, though, after 6th grade.This used to be something I had to keep quiet about.
Wrestling became mainstream in the 1980s, thanks to the efforts of Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, and the WWF's Rock n' Wrestling time. The NWA was what I gravitated toward, however, thanks to living in North Carolina, and World Championship Wrestling on Saturday nights. 
Wrestling revolutionized in the 1990s, with the NWA morphing into WCW, the Monday night wrestling wars, and the "Attitude era." It also got a lot more raunchy in different aspects, and things got a lot more real.
Wrestlers were dying.
I used to collect wrestling magzines like crazy. I read Pro Wrestling Illustrated like it was going out of style, while my friends read comics, Tiger Beat, etc. I remember the deaths of Mike von Erich (David was before my time), then Bruiser Brody's murder, the fatal accident that killed Adrian Adonis. Then it was Chris von Erich, then brother Kerry. Then it was Brian Pillman, later on Owen Hart, then the list grew by leaps and bounds. If you want to get an idea, check out this site. It goes from the 1980s to the 1990s, and then starts breaking down by 5 year increments, if that tells you anything.
There was a common denominator on all of them: drugs, suicide, or heart conditions. Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, the list continued to grow. Chris Benoit's seemingly tragic-then revealed murder-suicide shook up a lot of people.

Something else started happening as well. Something glorious. It started with reading the book Every Man Has His Price by Ted DiBiase. There was Jake Roberts becoming born again. There was my childhood hero, Sting. 
Wrestlers were being saved by the grace and power of God.

Shawn Michaels, Nikita Koloff, and the Road Warriors, Hawk and Animal. Hawk (Mike Hegstrand) is unfortunately one of the wrestlers that is also among the statistics of wrestlers that died early, but told quite a story of deliverance from drugs and a dangerous lifestyle before God called him home.
In the last two weeks, two things brought this back to me. I finally got to read Lex Luger's book, Wrestling With the Devil. God saved him from, basically himself. I lifestyle of self, drugs, alcohol, infidelity, and deceit, that found him dealing with the death of Elizabeth Hullete and in jail.  His story of redemption is well worth a read.
This past Sunday was the other- getting to meet Marc Mero at Bald Mountain Baptist Church here in West Jefferson, NC. Here's a link of pic's his team took of this event- I'm on the far left of the congregation shot (just saying). He has a powerful message that he is taking to schools and churches, and I wish his group the best. They are changing lives and reaching people.

I am so happy to see what God is doing in the wrestling world. The battle is still going on- I noticed former wrestler Shawn O'Haire committed suicide this week at age 43. The saddest thing I saw while reading his biography was that he was a practicing Buddhist. That breaks my heart, knowing what that means for his eternal soul.
The really good news for us Christians is that our battle, like the wrestling world, is pre-determined. We don't know what our battle will look like, how long the match will be, but we know who will win the match.
Now that should get a pop!

What am I up to? About page 250.

Is blogging a lost art already? Have our attention spans grown so short that we no longer can look at anything more than two sentences? Do people no longer have time to even write a couple of paragraphs?
Sorry. Didn't mean to start on a tangent.
What does the title mean?
Well, in the last couple of years (since 2012) I have become an avid reader. I used to read only biographies, and even then only sporadically. Since 2012, I've been devouring books. I don't know what triggered the change in me, but I love it. I've read several topics, wrestler biographies, books about the introvert nature, UNC football and basketball, books about Asperger's syndrome, music, even books by cartoonists.
My big interest has been Civil War history. This was true before I started reading in earnest, but my knowledge has expounded since then.
For example: in 2010, I chose in my college English class to write a position paper justifying the South's secession from the Union. I aced that paper, by the way. If I could go back and write that paper in 2014, I would not only re-ace it, I would blow that paper away. The thing is, we have been taught so much wrong information about that time period and the reasoning behind the war, it's scary.
My latest book has been turning heads, primarily because of the size of it. People at work have been doing double takes and asking me about it- primarily because of the size My mother-in-law has even looked at it in bewilderment. To them, I guess I look like Charlie Brown carrying around War and Peace.

  The book is called Memoirs of Service Afloat, by Admiral Raphael Semmes of the Confederate States Navy.

Okay, that picture may not make it look that big. Let's measure it for perspective:

Most people tend to shy away from books with a 3 inch spine. Yes, it's 833 pages, not counting the Preface and Introduction. But after a week in I am a quarter of the way through and am thoroughly enjoying it. Admiral Semmes was an excellent storyteller, defender, and expounded on the justifications for what happened in an amazing fashion.
(By the way, the cause of the war was NOT slavery, like you've been told.)
So the journey continues. I'll expound more about what I learn and have learned from other authors and books in future writings.

My Return & The Solution to the Problem Facing America

Not that I have that opinion of myself. I am not the solution to America's problems, though if more Americans thought like I did, we'd have a lot less problems. (That's not overly boastful, is it?)
But here is what I'm talking about- the solution to the great problem facing America.
What problem am I talking about? The "threat" of climate change? Obamacare run amok? Terrorism? Rising gas prices? Justin Bieber?
No- none of those. I'm talking about...

When you see this logo, what do you think of? Do you think of disparaging images of American Indians? Do you look of them as oppressed people in American history? Do you think of them as anything different than you?
I don't. I know in God's eyes, we are all people, equal in the sight of God. When I see that logo, I think of:
Slingin' Sammy Baugh
Joe Gibbs
George Allen
John Riggins
Sonny Jurgensen
The Hogs
This guy:

Doug Williams and his awesome Super Bowl XXII performance
RGIII
But don't get me wrong- I'm not a Redskins fan. I've had lots of fun with Redskins fans reminding them of :
Richie Pettibon
Albert Haynesworth
Jim Zorn
Steve Spurrier's lips flapping like a horse
and this:

Do the Redskins need to change their name? Absolutely not. The name is meant as a tribute, just like the Chiefs, Braves, Indians, Blackhawks, and Seminoles. If this name goes down, you guys are next.
So here is my solution. Don't change the name, change the mascot. Presenting the new Washington Redskins:

And okay, this is not my image, but I'm glad to see that someone has thought of it:

Look at it like this: you would be promoting nutrition, so Michelle Obama would be on board. Vegetarians would not be upset, and meat eaters would be happy as well, because what's better than meat and potatoes? Farmers would be happy, and the name would linger on.
What are we waiting for? Let's embrace it, and pay the person that created this image (whoever they are)!
Problem solved. Thank you America. I'll be back in a week or two.