Honoring Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger

Honoring Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger who selflessly sacrificed his life nine years ago in Afghanistan for our great Country. Please help me honor him so that he is not forgotten.

I Was Wrong (about so much)

When I look back at over seventy years of life, I see a whole lot of things I was wrong about.

Mostly this was because I just accepted what I was taught by parents, peers, school, and church. Most of those folks were not intentionally lying to me, they were just sharing the lies and misinformation they have been taught. I swallowed it and then gave it to others, passing on the problem.

Then at about the age of forty, I started to check what I had been told. Among other things, I started to check various doctrines against what the Bible actually says. I was shocked at how many common doctrines can’t be found in the Bible. Even worse, some were contrary to what the Bible says. Some were off by a little, some by a great deal.

When I started doing marriage ministry we found more of the same. And when I started dealing with sex it was horrible. And it wasn’t just things being unbiblical, much of what was spouted as common knowledge was at best unsupported and often contrary to good science or expert experience.

I was wrong about a lot of things. And after decades of trying to find my errors I know I still have some. For me finding the truth is a lifelong journey that can’t end. It’s not always comfortable, but I think we should all be this way. In fact, God seems to feel that way:

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” [Acts 17:11 ESV]

God has no problem with you checking what people claim He said. In fact, He expects you to do so! Since we know no one is infallible, it seems prudent to check on what is said. If someone has a good track record you can be a bit laxer, but even then it never hurts to verify things. Anyone who gets upset that you check what they say about is showing insecurity or that they don’t really want the truth if it’s not what they think.

BTW, learning to be kind about this is an important part of it. Sometimes that means finding the truth for yourself and letting it go, not correcting the person who gave you the bad information. Not all errors demand correction.

Rev. Dan Polecheck
Universal Life Church Ministries

My Way

Reposted from Doug McWilliam

"I did it my way!"

I had trouble getting Frank Sinatra singing "My Way" out of my head.

I dislike this song more than I dislike most other songs. To me it’s just awful and yet it always ranks in the top ten of funeral songs. "The Lord is my Shepherd" ranks as the top hymn; depending on which list you care to look up.

I was so caught up with the song; why was it repeating in my mind? I decided to do some research, so I did it my way…. I found out that Frank Sinatra did not like this song, although it became his signature song, it was years before he was persuaded to record his version of it.

“Frank Sinatra hated “My Way”; Frank Sinatra’s daughter later revealed that he actually despised this song for two reasons. One is that, being his signature track, he couldn’t shake free of it. And secondly he perceived “My Way”, according to Tina Sinatra, as being “self-serving and self-indulgent”. In fact Mr. Sinatra, in his own words, was upset that such a song “became a kind of national anthem”.

Sure there will be many people who will love this song. As one of the top ten songs sung at funerals it sits in pride of place. Because that is what "My Way" about – pride.

It is self-centred and gives no credit to others who may have been influential in one’s life; for either good or bad. There is a line in the song; "Regrets I have had a few…" Well Frank Sinatra regretted this song.

But as I pondered; is this really the memory that someone would wish to leave when they part this mortal soil? For some it obviously is. I would have to say that standing before the throne of God they might have to have some explaining to do.

The bible has a point of view on this. It’s found in the book of Isaiah, Chapter 55, and verse 3:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

God’s way can be painful and it can hurt because God asks you to leave everything you have and follow him; and to do it My Way.

It’s going to be tough; it might cause you to doubt, it will challenge you. People may laugh and ridicule your motives and throw your history in your face. They might begin to mistrust your motives, you might lose some friends. You will be asked not to look over your shoulder and think that what you have left behind is better than what you’re going through or what the future might hold. There may be flash-backs that bring regret and sorrow, what "if’s", some "but’s". Old habits might rear up and bite you. New relationships are tricky particularly if there is misunderstanding caused by doing things on the new, My Way.

Being on My Way also lifts us up into a new kingdom where the meaning and purpose of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control shows… this is My Way.

Of course My Way is a loving fitting epitaph for all of us.

I can only think of one person who can without fear say, "I did it my way" – Jesus.