The Doctor is In
I don’t know if Lucy is anyone’s favorite character in the
Peanut’s universe. But the reality is
that we all either know a Lucy or are a Lucy and if you are a Lucy there is
really no way to see that as complimentary.
Peanut’s universe. But the reality is
that we all either know a Lucy or are a Lucy and if you are a Lucy there is
really no way to see that as complimentary.
Lucy is not a nice person, she calls Charlie Brown a “Block
Head” torments her little brother Linus and endeavors to belittle Snoopy. Lucy was first introduced in 1952 and soon
became a popular addition to the cast, maybe because she is so easy to dislike
and I think anyone who grew up with a big sister could probably identify with
her little brother Linus’s view when he said “Big sisters are the crab grass in
the lawn of life.”
Head” torments her little brother Linus and endeavors to belittle Snoopy. Lucy was first introduced in 1952 and soon
became a popular addition to the cast, maybe because she is so easy to dislike
and I think anyone who grew up with a big sister could probably identify with
her little brother Linus’s view when he said “Big sisters are the crab grass in
the lawn of life.”
Lucy’s full name of course is Lucy Van Pelt and she has two
younger siblings, Linus of the blanket and Rerun their baby brother. The only time it seems that Lucy is
vulnerable is when she is mooning over Schroeder and we are never sure if it’s
true love or because of her belief that musicians make lots of money. Let’s take a brief look at the life of
Lucy. (Video)
younger siblings, Linus of the blanket and Rerun their baby brother. The only time it seems that Lucy is
vulnerable is when she is mooning over Schroeder and we are never sure if it’s
true love or because of her belief that musicians make lots of money. Let’s take a brief look at the life of
Lucy. (Video)
In the same way that Schroeder is associated with his piano,
Linus with his blanket and Snoopy with his dog house Lucy is identified with
her five cent advice. She is never
overly sympathetic nor does she sugar coat her advice, instead she bluntly
tells her clients what she thinks they need to hear, whether it is in their
best interest or not. And she truly
believes that her clients need to accept her judgments and face up to their
problems.
Linus with his blanket and Snoopy with his dog house Lucy is identified with
her five cent advice. She is never
overly sympathetic nor does she sugar coat her advice, instead she bluntly
tells her clients what she thinks they need to hear, whether it is in their
best interest or not. And she truly
believes that her clients need to accept her judgments and face up to their
problems.
And that might seem a little simplistic but then again they
only paid five cents for her help. And
as a friend of mine is fond of saying “Don’t you hate when you get what you
paid for?” But regardless of how
unhelpful and potentially devastating Lucy’s words are to Charlie Brown he
continues to seek out and pay for her advice.
He continues to allow her to speak into his life and to a certain degree
control how he sees himself. (Peanuts
strip)
only paid five cents for her help. And
as a friend of mine is fond of saying “Don’t you hate when you get what you
paid for?” But regardless of how
unhelpful and potentially devastating Lucy’s words are to Charlie Brown he
continues to seek out and pay for her advice.
He continues to allow her to speak into his life and to a certain degree
control how he sees himself. (Peanuts
strip)
Now Lucy wasn’t the only one who spoke to Charlie Brown and
offered him advice, there were others who offered helpful suggestions like
Linus, those who offered encouraging words, like Peppermint Patty and those who
offered love and hugs like Snoopy. And
yet time and time again Charlie Brown found himself listening to the negative
natterings of Lucy.
offered him advice, there were others who offered helpful suggestions like
Linus, those who offered encouraging words, like Peppermint Patty and those who
offered love and hugs like Snoopy. And
yet time and time again Charlie Brown found himself listening to the negative
natterings of Lucy.
Each one of us has someone who will speak negatively into
our lives. It might be someone who we
work with or someone we live with, but as long was we allow them to continue to
do that we aren’t doing ourselves any favours.
Now I understand that we can’t banish those people from our lives,
although. . . but we can decide how much we allow them to influence us.
our lives. It might be someone who we
work with or someone we live with, but as long was we allow them to continue to
do that we aren’t doing ourselves any favours.
Now I understand that we can’t banish those people from our lives,
although. . . but we can decide how much we allow them to influence us.
In the scripture that was read earlier we discover a man by
the name of Nehemiah who had various people speak into his life, so let see
what we learn from the book of Nehemiah.
the name of Nehemiah who had various people speak into his life, so let see
what we learn from the book of Nehemiah.
It goes without saying that Nehemiah was a little
confused. There were some people who
loved him and others who hated him. He thought he was doing a good thing, a
necessary thing, even a God thing, but obviously there were those who
disagreed.
confused. There were some people who
loved him and others who hated him. He thought he was doing a good thing, a
necessary thing, even a God thing, but obviously there were those who
disagreed.
Nehemiah was one of the Jews living in exile and was in the
service of the King of Persia a king by the name of Artaxerxes.
service of the King of Persia a king by the name of Artaxerxes.
His life had been very comfortable, he had a great job, a
nice place to live and job security for as long as he lived. You see he was the
King’s cupbearer, which doesn’t seem to be much of a job today but then it was
very important. In that day and age
Kings lived under the constant threat of assassination.
nice place to live and job security for as long as he lived. You see he was the
King’s cupbearer, which doesn’t seem to be much of a job today but then it was
very important. In that day and age
Kings lived under the constant threat of assassination.
Therefore, if you were a smart king, you had a cupbearer
whose job it was to ensure that your cup was not hazardous to your health. He carried that cup with him everywhere he
went, it never left his sight and he could always reassure the king that when
his drinks were poured that there would be nothing wrong with the cup.
whose job it was to ensure that your cup was not hazardous to your health. He carried that cup with him everywhere he
went, it never left his sight and he could always reassure the king that when
his drinks were poured that there would be nothing wrong with the cup.
Now the only drawback with the job was that Nehemiah
always got to have the first drink out
of the cup, just in case. But being an
optimist Nehemiah’s outlook was “so far, so good.” Nehemiah had it made, and he knew it.
always got to have the first drink out
of the cup, just in case. But being an
optimist Nehemiah’s outlook was “so far, so good.” Nehemiah had it made, and he knew it.
And then one day his comfortable little world was disrupted
when his brother showed up after having been away for a while. They were
sitting down having a Tim’s and Nehemiah asked Hanani how things were going in
the old home town, not really expecting an answer or at least not an honest
answer. But Hanani obviously chose being
honest over being polite because he said “You know brother, it stinks,
Jerusalem is in ruins, the walls around the city have collapsed and everyone is
just kind of moping around. It’s really kind of sad.”
when his brother showed up after having been away for a while. They were
sitting down having a Tim’s and Nehemiah asked Hanani how things were going in
the old home town, not really expecting an answer or at least not an honest
answer. But Hanani obviously chose being
honest over being polite because he said “You know brother, it stinks,
Jerusalem is in ruins, the walls around the city have collapsed and everyone is
just kind of moping around. It’s really kind of sad.”
And for some reason something clicked with Nehemiah, he had
no real connection to Jerusalem, his grandparents had been brought to Babylon
as slaves sixty years before and Jerusalem was no more tangible then was the
far side of the moon. He had heard about
it before, he even knew that it had been destroyed and left in ruins, but it
had never been real before. And now for
whatever reason it broke his heart. And
the more he thought about it the more it bothered him, it began to gnaw away at
his very being and eventually he began to mope around and it wasn’t long before
the king noticed that something was bothering Nehemiah. After all Nehemiah was a constant fixture at
the king’s table, he was always there with the king’s cup.
no real connection to Jerusalem, his grandparents had been brought to Babylon
as slaves sixty years before and Jerusalem was no more tangible then was the
far side of the moon. He had heard about
it before, he even knew that it had been destroyed and left in ruins, but it
had never been real before. And now for
whatever reason it broke his heart. And
the more he thought about it the more it bothered him, it began to gnaw away at
his very being and eventually he began to mope around and it wasn’t long before
the king noticed that something was bothering Nehemiah. After all Nehemiah was a constant fixture at
the king’s table, he was always there with the king’s cup.
Well it didn’t take much prompting from the king before
Nehemiah poured out his heart, telling his boss the entire story, how Jerusalem
had been left in ruins and that it was breaking his heart. The king asked what
he wanted to do about it and the words he spoke almost came from their own
volition. He wanted to return to this
city he had only heard of and do the impossible, he wanted to rebuild the walls
and rehang the gates. And amazingly
enough the king agreed and that is where we began our story.
Nehemiah poured out his heart, telling his boss the entire story, how Jerusalem
had been left in ruins and that it was breaking his heart. The king asked what
he wanted to do about it and the words he spoke almost came from their own
volition. He wanted to return to this
city he had only heard of and do the impossible, he wanted to rebuild the walls
and rehang the gates. And amazingly
enough the king agreed and that is where we began our story.
If you remember your Old Testament history, you do remember your Old Testament history don’t you? So,
the Babylonians had conquered Israel in 586 BC and had taken the residents of
Jerusalem into captivity. Persia in turn
conquered Babylon in 539 BC and later allowed the Jews who wanted to return
home. Some chose to remain because
Babylon had become home.
the Babylonians had conquered Israel in 586 BC and had taken the residents of
Jerusalem into captivity. Persia in turn
conquered Babylon in 539 BC and later allowed the Jews who wanted to return
home. Some chose to remain because
Babylon had become home.
So what’s up with Nehemiah?
Well throughout the story we run into a multitude of different
characters, each who has his own agenda and who affect Nehemiah and his quest
in different ways. As I read through the
book I realized that the same is true with us as well, that none of us function
in a vacuum, in isolation. We all are surrounded by people, for good and for
bad. It was John
Donne who wrote “No man is an island entire of
itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” So,
who are some of the people that Nehemiah comes in contact with and what effect
do they have on our hero?
Well throughout the story we run into a multitude of different
characters, each who has his own agenda and who affect Nehemiah and his quest
in different ways. As I read through the
book I realized that the same is true with us as well, that none of us function
in a vacuum, in isolation. We all are surrounded by people, for good and for
bad. It was John
Donne who wrote “No man is an island entire of
itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” So,
who are some of the people that Nehemiah comes in contact with and what effect
do they have on our hero?
1) His Sponsor At some point
or another we are all going to need a sponsor in our life. Someone who believes in us and is willing to
go to bat for us. This is the person in your life that you could call at 3
o’clock in the morning and tell them you need a thousand dollars and they would
write you a cheque or go to the bank machine and get the money. This is the person in your life that you could
tell your deepest darkest secret and they wouldn’t walk away. You can call them your sponsor, or your mentor
or your best friend. You know what they
say “Friends help you move but best friends help you move bodies.” In
the Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell writes “To be someone’s best friend requires a minimum investment of time. More than that, though, it takes emotional energy. Caring about someone deeply is exhausting.”
or another we are all going to need a sponsor in our life. Someone who believes in us and is willing to
go to bat for us. This is the person in your life that you could call at 3
o’clock in the morning and tell them you need a thousand dollars and they would
write you a cheque or go to the bank machine and get the money. This is the person in your life that you could
tell your deepest darkest secret and they wouldn’t walk away. You can call them your sponsor, or your mentor
or your best friend. You know what they
say “Friends help you move but best friends help you move bodies.” In
the Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell writes “To be someone’s best friend requires a minimum investment of time. More than that, though, it takes emotional energy. Caring about someone deeply is exhausting.”
In Nehemiah’s case this was the
King. He not only believed in Nehemiah
and Nehemiah’s dreams but he wanted to be a part of them and he didn’t just pay
lip service. When he asked Nehemiah was
bothering him and Nehemiah told him listen to the King’s response, Nehemiah 2:4 The king
asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
King. He not only believed in Nehemiah
and Nehemiah’s dreams but he wanted to be a part of them and he didn’t just pay
lip service. When he asked Nehemiah was
bothering him and Nehemiah told him listen to the King’s response, Nehemiah 2:4 The king
asked, “Well, how can I help you?”
Now it’s easy to ask that
question but where the rubber meets the road is when a person tells you how
they can help. “How can I help
you?” “Well I’m glad you asked, you
could do this and this and this.” What now?
I guess there’s one of two things that will happen, either it will get
done or it won’t get done. Listen to what happened in this case, Nehemiah 2:8 . . . And the king granted these requests, because
the gracious hand of God was on me.
question but where the rubber meets the road is when a person tells you how
they can help. “How can I help
you?” “Well I’m glad you asked, you
could do this and this and this.” What now?
I guess there’s one of two things that will happen, either it will get
done or it won’t get done. Listen to what happened in this case, Nehemiah 2:8 . . . And the king granted these requests, because
the gracious hand of God was on me.
Sometimes you don’t even have to ask, when Angela’s dad
passed my best friend drove up from Yarmouth the next day to be with us, didn’t
ask if he could or should he just did it. You probably don’t have too many of these
people in your life because it requires such a commitment, and you probably
can’t be this type of person to many different people for the same reason. Which is probably what Thomas Fuller meant when he said “If you have one true friend you have more than your share.”
passed my best friend drove up from Yarmouth the next day to be with us, didn’t
ask if he could or should he just did it. You probably don’t have too many of these
people in your life because it requires such a commitment, and you probably
can’t be this type of person to many different people for the same reason. Which is probably what Thomas Fuller meant when he said “If you have one true friend you have more than your share.”
But Nehemiah wasn’t able to
fulfil his dream with just the King.
fulfil his dream with just the King.
He also had 2) His Supporters When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem he spent
the first three days scoping out the situation and then he approached the local
leaders and told them what God had laid on his heart for them to do. You might say that he cast the vision for
them. And listen to their response back
to him, Nehemiah 2:18 . . . They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” but
that wasn’t all the scripture also says, it goes on to say: So they began the good work.
the first three days scoping out the situation and then he approached the local
leaders and told them what God had laid on his heart for them to do. You might say that he cast the vision for
them. And listen to their response back
to him, Nehemiah 2:18 . . . They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” but
that wasn’t all the scripture also says, it goes on to say: So they began the good work.
Throughout the book of Nehemiah
you read about people who helped to rebuild the gates and the walls surrounding
Jerusalem. Eliashib helped rebuild the
Sheep Gate, the sons of Hassenaah repaired the Fish Gate, Meremoth repaired one section of wall and
Jedaiah fixed the next section. It was
Hasshub who rebuilt the Tower of the Ovens. And how would you like to have been
Malkijah who got to repair the Dung Gate.
And then there was Shallum, listen to what he did, Nehemiah 3:15 The Fountain
Gate was repaired by Shallum, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it,
roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired
the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall
as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.
you read about people who helped to rebuild the gates and the walls surrounding
Jerusalem. Eliashib helped rebuild the
Sheep Gate, the sons of Hassenaah repaired the Fish Gate, Meremoth repaired one section of wall and
Jedaiah fixed the next section. It was
Hasshub who rebuilt the Tower of the Ovens. And how would you like to have been
Malkijah who got to repair the Dung Gate.
And then there was Shallum, listen to what he did, Nehemiah 3:15 The Fountain
Gate was repaired by Shallum, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it,
roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired
the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall
as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.
Wow! Talk about overachievers.
If we are going to accomplish everything we need to do in
this life we are going to need supporters, they may not be there at 3 o’clock
in the morning with a thousand dollars but they will be there to help. And if you are going to make an impact in the
lives of those around you then you need to be willing to help when they need
it.
this life we are going to need supporters, they may not be there at 3 o’clock
in the morning with a thousand dollars but they will be there to help. And if you are going to make an impact in the
lives of those around you then you need to be willing to help when they need
it.
3. His Critics Here’s the reality folks if you ever say anything or
attempt anything worthwhile you will be criticized for it. And we can’t understand that. I mean why would people criticize you for
doing something good? Nehemiah must have
wondered that himself. All he was trying
to do was rebuild the walls of the city, what could people possibly find wrong
with that? And yet they did. Listen to the word of God, Nehemiah 4:1-2 Sanballat was very angry when he
learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the
Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does
this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can
build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they
actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and
charred ones at that?”
attempt anything worthwhile you will be criticized for it. And we can’t understand that. I mean why would people criticize you for
doing something good? Nehemiah must have
wondered that himself. All he was trying
to do was rebuild the walls of the city, what could people possibly find wrong
with that? And yet they did. Listen to the word of God, Nehemiah 4:1-2 Sanballat was very angry when he
learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the
Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does
this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can
build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they
actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and
charred ones at that?”
Nehemiah should have paid attention to Robert Kennedy who said “One-fifth
of the people are against everything all the time.” We don’t know for certain exactly why
Sanballat was so upset with the rebuilding of the temple but some scholars have
said that he was the Governor of Samaria, which is the area to the North of
Jerusalem and felt that Nehemiah was encroaching on his territory. Whatever the reason we find Sanballat
surfacing time and time again throughout our story trying to turn the people
against Nehemiah.
of the people are against everything all the time.” We don’t know for certain exactly why
Sanballat was so upset with the rebuilding of the temple but some scholars have
said that he was the Governor of Samaria, which is the area to the North of
Jerusalem and felt that Nehemiah was encroaching on his territory. Whatever the reason we find Sanballat
surfacing time and time again throughout our story trying to turn the people
against Nehemiah.
How do you answer critics?
Good question, I have been pastoring for over thirty years, which isn’t
all that long is you say it quick, and believe it or not there have been a few times
that people have criticized things that I’ve said and things that I’ve done.
Actually there have been more then a few times.
And there are a couple of things that I remember when Abraham Lincoln was
President he said “If I were to try to read, much
less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for
any other business. I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I
mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s
said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten
angels swearing I was right would make no difference.” And the
Greek Poet Epictetus wrote “If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself,
if it be a lie, laugh at it.”
Good question, I have been pastoring for over thirty years, which isn’t
all that long is you say it quick, and believe it or not there have been a few times
that people have criticized things that I’ve said and things that I’ve done.
Actually there have been more then a few times.
And there are a couple of things that I remember when Abraham Lincoln was
President he said “If I were to try to read, much
less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for
any other business. I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I
mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s
said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten
angels swearing I was right would make no difference.” And the
Greek Poet Epictetus wrote “If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself,
if it be a lie, laugh at it.”
There will always be critics, realize that and get on with
doing what God wants you to do. Even
Jesus who was born perfect and lived perfect had critics.
doing what God wants you to do. Even
Jesus who was born perfect and lived perfect had critics.
The next group that Nehemiah
had contact with were his critics squared.
had contact with were his critics squared.
4. His Enemies The critics
said nasty things about him, and spread rumours about him but it was his
enemies that wanted to do nasty things to him.
Listen to the story in Nehemiah 4:11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s
happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”
said nasty things about him, and spread rumours about him but it was his
enemies that wanted to do nasty things to him.
Listen to the story in Nehemiah 4:11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s
happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”
That’s pretty serious stuff, and as Henry Kissinger said “Even a paranoid can have enemies.” But Nehemiah wasn’t going to be put off by threats;
he stationed guards whenever he had people working on the wall, he told them to
keep a watch out and to be careful.
he stationed guards whenever he had people working on the wall, he told them to
keep a watch out and to be careful.
In our spiritual life we have
enemies, those who not only want to see us fail but actually try to make us
fail. You know what I’m talking about,
they try to persuade you to abandon your faith to compromise your morals and to
deny your God.
enemies, those who not only want to see us fail but actually try to make us
fail. You know what I’m talking about,
they try to persuade you to abandon your faith to compromise your morals and to
deny your God.
Our greatest enemy is Satan, he
wants to leave your spiritual life in ruins and he will use any means possible
to do it. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm
against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers
and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you
are.
wants to leave your spiritual life in ruins and he will use any means possible
to do it. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm
against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers
and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you
are.
And like Nehemiah the only solution is to be on guard.
Nehemiah could never have accomplished what he did, even
with the King’s help and his supporter’s help in the face of his critics and
his enemies if he was functioning in his own strength but he wasn’t.
with the King’s help and his supporter’s help in the face of his critics and
his enemies if he was functioning in his own strength but he wasn’t.
5) His God From the very
beginning the dreams and desires of Nehemiah came from God. And God helped them
do what people said they would never be able to accomplish on their own. Nehemiah 6:15-16 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days
after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about
it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done
with the help of our God.
beginning the dreams and desires of Nehemiah came from God. And God helped them
do what people said they would never be able to accomplish on their own. Nehemiah 6:15-16 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days
after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about
it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done
with the help of our God.
When you set out to do something great for God, understand
that will not exempt you from criticism or from the attacks of the enemy. When I first went into the ministry when
people criticised me or attacked me personally I would wonder whether or not I
was doing the right thing. But then I
realized that people were being saved and lives were being changed and I
couldn’t make everyone happy but I had a moral obligation to make God
happy.
that will not exempt you from criticism or from the attacks of the enemy. When I first went into the ministry when
people criticised me or attacked me personally I would wonder whether or not I
was doing the right thing. But then I
realized that people were being saved and lives were being changed and I
couldn’t make everyone happy but I had a moral obligation to make God
happy.
That is the secret for your
Christian life for the life of our church to make sure you are doing what God
wants you to do. To play to an audience of One.
Because if God is on your side then you are on the winning side. Listen to Romans
8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful
things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Christian life for the life of our church to make sure you are doing what God
wants you to do. To play to an audience of One.
Because if God is on your side then you are on the winning side. Listen to Romans
8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful
things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
So where are you at today, and who are you allowing to speak
into your life? There are people who you
can’t banish from your life but you can minimize the effect their words have on
your life.
into your life? There are people who you
can’t banish from your life but you can minimize the effect their words have on
your life.