Regarding the rule of law

     

     How often have we heard the saying, "Rules were made to be broken?"

     

Pablo Picasso

     Pablo Picasso once said, "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist." 

     Growing up as a child, I recall being taught a number of social behaviours or rules; to say please and thank you; to show respect for my elders, giving up my seat if an elder entered the room; to hold the door open for the person behind me; to say excuse me when passing directly in front of someone. 

     When I began attending school, I soon learned there where rules there also. I needed to respect others in my class and also what belonged to them. So many rules! 

     I began to feel adults must stay awake most of the night, thinking them up, just to make us kids feel miserable. 

     Then, as a young adult preparing for my driver's licence, I needed to become familiar with more rules — "the rules of the road." It didn't take long for me to feel grateful for each of them, appreciating their purpose. 

     Somewhere along the way, I began to learn that most rules are necessary and there is usually a consequence to rule-breaking. 

     As I matured, I learned that, as a society, we elect government that legislates proper behaviour for its citizens. I decided I would not want to live in our massive world, without the order and respect good laws bring to all of us. 

     Yet, with the mayhem we hear daily in the news, perhaps some are following the advice of Picasso (see above quote). The science of behaviour is called "ethics," (a system of morality). 

     In our western world, over the past 60 years, ethical perspectives have changed —  drastically. 

     Once it was assumed there was a universal right and wrong; today few would agree there are moral absolutes (perfection). But, we find them within the Ten Commandments, the Law that God handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai, recorded in the Bible. 

     They were given first of all, to show the people what God is like, because He created us to be a reflection of His moral image. 

     They were important guidelines for His people to live together in unity. 

     God's laws or commands are the core of how we were created and intended to live. 

     Sometime ago, my pastor Tim Schroeder presented a sermon on this very topic, later sharing some of his thoughts through his writings in our local newspaper. 

     

     Pause a moment to consider his words: 

     "Rather than viewing the Ten Commandments as an outdated list of prohibitions, try viewing them through this lens. 
     'Imagine,' says God, 'a world in which you and I have such a clear, intimate relationship that I am always your God. You're not confused about that, you're not off chasing after other gods trying to satisfy your cravings.'" 

     You shall have no other gods before me — no idols.

—Exodus 20:3-5 

     Imagine life with a sacred rhythm of productivity and rest and worship. (Keep the Sabbath day holy. — Ex. 20:8). 
     
     Imagine a world where life and relationships are treated as sacred. (You shall not murder. — Ex. 20:13). 
     
     Imagine a world in which family is all it can be, where parents are honoured and marriages are characterized by faithfulness and fidelity. (Honour your father and your mother. You shall not commit adultery. — Ex. 20:12, 14). 
     
     Imagine living in neighbourhoods where everyone can be trusted, and where their word is their bond. (You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbours. (Ex. —  20:15-16). 
     
     Imagine living in a world where everyone has enough because we don't live in a constant state of coveting more. (You shall not covet. — Ex. 20:17). 
     
     Just imagine life like that!" 

      Schroeder adds, "Many who want to push the Ten Commandments aside, do so in the name of freedom, resulting in paying the price of a moral vacuum." 
     
     Strangely, though given to us to reveal God's attributes, and for us to be a reflection of His image, He also knew they were humanly impossible for us to keep. 
     
     Then, along comes Jesus, the only sinless One who ever lived, with God's exact moral character, coming to fulfill the law, giving it its full meaning. (Matthew 5:17). 

     So it is —"only by His in-dwelling Holy Spirit, that Christian character is produced within," not by the mere moral discipline of trying to live by the law! 

   

     Whether it pleases us or not, Romans 13:1 reminds us... "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." 
     

     God is Sovereign! After all, He is the One we will ultimately answer to. 

     "By your grace, Lord Jesus, enable us to overcome the world (live victoriously), through faith and obedience to You." Amen.

— beulah

Tuum est! — It is yours! Choose wisely

     

Melissa, mom Krista and recent graduate Brayden Eagles.

     Recently, I had the privilege of watching my youngest grandson, Brayden Nicholas, receive the Degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology, from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. 

     The graduation ceremony was held at Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, a very stunning concert hall. Adding to the excitement of the big day was the added distinction of it occurring at a historic milestone for the university. 

     Exactly 100 years ago, UBC held its first Congregation Ceremony at which it granted degrees to the first 40 graduates, celebrating with their families at the Hotel Vancouver in spring of 1916. It has grown from those 40 inaugural graduates to over 310,000 alumni, from a student body of less than 400 to one that now exceeds 60,000. Close to 13,000 students will become the Class of 2016.  

     Echoing Chancellor Lindsay Gordon's challenging remarks to the graduates — "May you remain curious, open-minded and flexible as the journey unfolds, ensuring that you play your part in helping to build a better community, understanding the obligations that we make to one another in our civilized society, to our neighbours and also to strangers from afar."  

     President Martha C. Piper urged the now alumni to become involved with their society, turning their hard-earned knowledge and expertise to good use. Urging them to remember their motto, Tuum est!  It is yours!  

     Time will reveal the direction and destiny of Brayden and those several hundred classmates! Their career choices may take an entirely new direction than what they may now be contemplating. 

    Throughout the weekend Brayden and I spent some quality times, albeit brief, sharing interesting and insightful conversations. 

     

Brayden with Grandma Eagles.

     This Grandma was impressed and pleased with Brayden's maturing outlook on life; forming his own opinions and conclusions on important life issues; questioning and searching for his own answers — not necessarily accepting the status quo. 

     


     I'm sure, during his years of study thus far, the thoughts and writings of many, have broadened his perspective on life, as he seeks his own approach and answers to life. 

     My interest was immediately peaked when he mentioned Ben Carson, one of the world's foremost pediatric neurosurgeons at John Hopkins University Medical School. Finding the link (thanks to Brayden) and reading Dr. Carson's astounding accomplishments, I soon realized the "why" of Brayden's admiration of him. 

     Called, "the man with gifted hands for his surgical skill," Dr. Carson is a leading scholar and scientist who has inspired millions. He is also a creationist who is not afraid of openly voicing his conclusions to audiences the world over. 

     His openness about creation may inspire millions as well. After reviewing in detail the evidence for design in nature, Dr. Carson concluded, "I just don't have enough faith to believe that the living world happened by evolutionary processes." 

     He added that 150 years after Darwin, there is no evidence for evolution.  

     

Proud father and son, Roger and Brayden.

     Someone once made the statement that "what you are when you are 20, you will probably be for the rest of your life." 

     I heard of a sign on a dirt road in the outback of Australia that says, "Choose your rut carefully; you will be in it for the next 500 miles." It's a great description of life and the importance of choosing the right path while we are young. 

     When we are older, we have already formed behaviours, values and expectations, often creating some deep ruts. 

     

     So, my words of wisdom to Brayden and all graduates of 2016 are — choose God's way while you are young. As you seek God's agenda, anticipating all that He will do in your life, you will not have a more exciting and fulfilling life. After all, He already has a unique plan all laid out — just for you!  

     He says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."      

     "Every man is a miracle! Hidden deep within his bosom is something special waiting to surface and grow into a great work. Honour a man for what is hidden within, for once discovered, that he will become."  

 — Unknown 

— beulah