It is a symbol that we see all over the place. People wear it as if it is something beautiful, and it is when it is made out of gold, silver, or platinum. But the symbol itself is something that reminds us–or should remind us–that it is most likely cruelest way to put someone to death. It is the Cross.
Romans perfected what the Persians started. They began to place people on crosses as a form of corporal punishment. It begins with nailing the person’s hands (wrists) and feet to the cross then they pick up the cross and plop it down into a hole. There the person who is hanging on the cross begins to suffocate from the weight of himself. His lungs fill up with fluid and eventually the person dies an agonizing death. Much of the time, the person on the cross was beaten prior to being hung on the cross so they were already weakened to the point of exhaustion.
In Jesus’ case, He went to the cross willingly. He did this for the whole world because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Jesus went to the point of death so that we might have life. He traded His crown of glory for a crown of shame. And what was that shame? It is my sin…it is your sin…it is the sin of the whole world. He died so that we might live.
And praise God that the story doesn’t end with such a cruel picture of a cross, but rather, it begins when Jesus Christ is resurrected from the dead! Through His resurrection we have eternal life. Through His resurrection we have abundant life. Through is resurrection, we have now a passage from this life to the next knowing that we shall see Him for who He is in all of His glory and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).
If you do not know Jesus Christ, let me know and I can tell you how you can know Him as Lord and Savior. He died according to the Scriptures on a cold, cruel cross. He was buried. However, He was resurrected according to the Scriptures three days later. Believe Him. Know Him. Love Him.
Yes…I deal with people. Sometimes I don’t like dealing with people. This is why Staff is so important to have. At times I will let my Staff put up with people so I don’t have to. But there are times that the leader of the organization has to take the bull by the horns and just say and do what is necessary to get things done and finished. It doesn’t matter who the other person is either. They may be wealthy or they may be poor, they may be this color or that color, they may be demanding or they may be congenial, they may be complaining or they may be conniving. Whatever the case is, sometimes as a leader you just have to deal with people and say no to them.
There is a difference in dealing with people and working with people. The difference is that when you deal with people it carries with it a negative connotation. When you work with people it carries a positive connotation. The negative side is that the other person is causing problems, creating issues, or just being a jerk about not getting their own way. The flip side to that is that people are willing to come to your side, see the God-given vision that God has given you, and are willing to work with you to see the vision accomplished. It’s that simple!
Now when someone attempts to create or cause issues in the organization, the leader needs to simply say, “No, I will not allow it to happen that way.” This includes the leadership of churches. Sometimes the Pastor of a church has to say no, even as much as he wants to say yes to accommodate the parishioners. However, he also has to look out for the best interests of the church from the word go! The Pastor has not the benefit of changing something just to change something to meet the needs of an outsider–someone who is not even a member of the church or someone whom they simply do not know.
In my case, I have said yes to many different things over a thirty-four year ministry, but I have also learned how to say no to things that will not benefit the church or the ministry of the church but will rather harm the church. People don’t generally understand this. They expect for me as a Pastor–yay, as a Christian–to simply roll over and do whatever they want me to do. Let me make this perfectly clear: I do not roll over for anyone unless the Lord urges me to do what they want because what they want is what God wants and He reveals that to me. And there are times that people want to do certain things in the church like they do for their business that will not work in the church. Or they want me to do something in the church like what they do for the civic club or social club or horse club or whatever other kind of club of which they are a part. But if these things are not the will of God according to the Scriptures for the church, I certainly am not obligated to take the suggestion and do it.
So why am I writing this today? Well, it’s just something that is on my mind. I know what goes on in the church that I pastor. I know that there are some who would like to see things happen according to their wishes and wills. As the pastor, I cannot let that happen. I am not doing everything that I wish we could do nor am I willing things to happen in my own stead. I have the stark responsibility as the Pastor of this church to do what God has called me to do: nothing more and nothing less! This means that I will not always do what people want me to do. I have to be obedient to the Lord, not to others. I have to honor the Lord and I honor the people by honoring Him.
Now I know that this is a difficult thing for people to understand. How do I know? Because there is dissension in the churches that I have served over the last thirty-four years. I see it, I hear it, and I know who the problem-makers are and who the problem-solvers are. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who these people are. They make themselves known by the fruit that they bear and by the backbiting or the building up that they do. Others are well aware of who the problem-makers and problem-solvers are as well. It’s beyond me that people think that they fly so low under the radar that no one will notice what they do. Let me say this as clearly as I can: People see you, hear you, and know you. They know where you are in problem-making and problem-solving. Do you think people around you just fell off a turnip truck yesterday? May it never be!
At any rate, people also know when there is ignorance and stupidity involved in what we do as people. Ignorance is the state or fact of having a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. Stupidity is to be slow of mind: obtuse; given to unintelligent decisions or acts: acting in an unintelligent or careless manner; lacking intelligence or reason: brutish. It is evident that these two words are similar, but they are different. Ignorance just means that you don’t know while stupidity means that you do know but are careless. I am not careless nor do I make stupid decisions (for the most part!!!). This means that I take into consideration everything that people suggest to me but that does not mean that just because I take their words into consideration that I believe that the suggestion or what they are saying is something wise. On the contrary, I have to weigh every decision for the church according to the Bible–God’s holy Word and will for us.
So I typed the last paragraph to let people know that I deal with people: these are the ones who I would take as being careless, those who have in their minds their own preferences instead of looking out for the preferences of others, or those who are simply making stupid decisions and suggestions. I would rather people really prayerfully think through what they say to others and how they say it to others. I can put up with ignorance and help others to be educated about things that I am able to teach or know to be true, but I cannot teach or help someone who is stupid.
I know I need to change the way I say and do things as well. I’m not immune not only to being ignorant but also stupid at times. At times people have to deal with me just like have to deal with others. But let’s consider this one thing:
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).
This is not stupid. It’s just too bad that too many people are ignorant of this verse…and too many are stupid about this verse and still try to do it their own way.
It is a wonderful place visit. I am sure that it is a wonderful place to live. I know what some people are thinking reading those last two sentences: “Are you kidding me? Are you not aware of the bombings going on from Hamas just on the other side of the border? Are you not aware that her neighbors want to destroy Israel?” Well of course I am aware, but when I visited Israel in 2010 I felt safer there than I do where I live. Let me explain why.
First, every citizen of Israel is required to serve in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) between the ages of 18-21 years of age. This means that every person at that age is required to carry their guns with them between those ages whether they are on or off duty. Now that may seem crazy, but the truth of the matter is that no one will mess with anyone because there are those IDF soldiers that are ready to act to protect the nation. I remember sitting in a restaurant when some of these young men and women came in to eat. They were obviously off duty as they were in civilian clothes, but all of them were carrying their weapons. It was as if a group of police officers had just walked into the joint; I felt perfectly safe.
Second, the tour that I was taking was not taking us to different places that put us in danger. Everywhere we traveled in the nation was clearly a place that was safe to visit. Even when we went to the border of Israel and Jordan (in the southern region of Israel, at the Jordan River in the Jordan River Valley), it was safe. While the Jordanians across the Jordan River were smoking cigarettes and chatting with each other, although they had the AK47s, the IDF was present with us and they never took their eyes off of the Jordanians. They were not looking for a fight by any means, but they were prepared to take care of us at a moment’s notice. No offense to the Jordanians, they just did not look as prepared as the IDF. For this reason, I felt safe.
Third, the guide that we had been extremely good. He knew what he was speaking about when it came to his own country. He served in the IDF as a young man during the Six Day War (1967). He took us to different places that were off the beaten path. Although we visited some tourist places, he took us to see things that most people do not see. Again, the places we traveled to were safe and away from any harm as far as Hamas or other folks that are looking to harm Israel.
Finally, we visited some wonderful cities. For instance, we traveled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberius, Sophia, Jericho, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, and Capernaum. We saw Bethsaida, Bethany, and went to Herodia. Each place was beautiful. Each place was incredible to see. Everything that I have believed from the Bible came to life when I visited in 2010.
So why am I speaking of Israel like this? Well, I get to visit the nation once again in 2019. I believe it will be a really special trip as my wife gets to go with me this time. I will be planning to go again in 2020 if at all possible taking others with me. I cannot wait to see her expressions as she sees everything that she has believed from the Bible. Like me, I would expect that she will absolutely fall in love with the nation and her people.
The next time I post something about Israel, I will be able to use my own photographs instead of finding some online. It will be exciting to see God’s people and His property again.
D.J. Gorena 
