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Fame or Fruit?

Biographies are written about famous people, not because the people are good, but because they were great in their profession, science, military, drama, politics or sport and their lives were fascinating.

These people will be imitated; they will have babies named after them. As an example, Peton Manning will become a great quarterback like his example Johnny Unitas.

Unfortunately bad qualities are also copied and proudly so. This just happens.

Here are two short biographies of men who can be copied:

“Agape Leadership” about R. C. Chapman
“To Know This Mystery” about Lewis L. Bock M.D.

Here is a poem, Status Quo, written by Dr. Bock a year or two before he died in 1985.

To Know This Mystery by Dr. Lewis L. Brock, M.D.

Status Quo!

I’m so tired of mediocrity, Lord,
Weary of the commonplace
Jaded by the customary
Of business as usual
Of life restrained
Shallow and muted

Of preoccupation with trivia
Small talk and egomania
And knowledge falsely so-called
Of confusion called art
Noise called music
Dys-symphony praised

Of self-centered anarchy
Empty and deceptive
Vacuous and suspect
Embracing the usual
As exceptional and normal
A herd mentality of
Unquestioned acceptance
Of what nature suggests
Undisciplined and self-indulgent
The “everybody does it”
Syndrome.

Of great swelling words
Form without substance
Religion devoid of power
Profession and little more.

O natural talent confused with spiritual power
Education equated with competence
Conformity without struggle
Life lacking veracity
Suppositions without challenge
Approval before proof
Fizz instead of ebullience
Observation not participation
Frustration and nothingness
Nowhere to go.

When you were here, Lord,
You promised life abundant,
Overflowing, pressed down,
Shaken together and running over.

You said, “He that believes in Me
As the scripture has said
From him shall flow
Living streams of water.”
Out of internal reservoirs
Alive and life-giving
Abundant, satisfying, his gift
God’s spirit within.

Lord Jesus, never let me affirm the status quo
Or embrace the mediocre,
Accept the commonplace
For this denies your presence;
Makes me tell lies about You

And repudiates the purpose of Pentecost,
Estranges me from my heritage
Shames the Son of God
And denigrates his purposes
For my world.

So, Lord, God of grace, I search my heart.
In your eternal presence
I bare my soul
To know this mystery among the nations
My hope of glory now and forever:
Christ in me
God’s great secret
Completely whole
Vibrantly alive, totally free!


We all know people who know their Bible very well. They are experts in teaching truth. We also know people whose lives radiate scripture. These might not be the same people. R. C. Chapman and Lewis Bock radiated scripture.

Comments

David C. Russell, Author said…
Hi James, just wanted to drop a note of encouragement to you for your blog, and liked this post.. Once in a while I select, next blog, to see who in the neighborhood is posting, and about what. You may not get a lot of commenters, or may be deluged with them in time, but efforts made are well worth it.
Thanks for encouraging this reader to, in the word of the old military ad, be all you can be. I would add in God's army..
mellow roc
8:47 AM
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