And the Cock Crows Again

The Power Of The Tongue!

The tongue wields great power! For with it we can speak simple undefiled truth or offer up varying degrees of deceitfulness. We can proclaim a blessing or pronounce a curse. We can build up and we can tear down. We can pour out accolades or repudiate bold proclamations. This past Friday, as I came out of the closet and made a public declaration of faith, I witnessed something profound and ironic, and yet very much tragic, occur mere hours after posting my stance.

Allow me to set the stage.

Do you know what it is like to be drifting along in life where everything appears to be fine, but you are restless? It is the kind of feeling where you sense something is festering just under the surface, but can’t quite put your finger on any one specific issue. The type of feeling that doesn’t seem important enough to stop and discern what actually might be bothering you. You seem to have a handle on your day-to-day work activities but let slip some sharp unloving tones towards your spouse. But, all-in-all it is business as usual with none being the wiser. And then WHAM! It happens...

Act 1: The Disgruntled Customer Enters

Throughout the years, I have dealt with my share of unruly and disgruntled customers. Some legitimately had reason for concern.  Often the main point of contention came down to communication—assumptions, misinterpretations or the infamous missing, miss-spelled or non-working email. Most of the customers simply needed a listening year or some sort of finite resolution. And then some were just whack jobs; the proverbial morons that have no legitimate concern and must live in an alternate reality. I know this is not politically correct to say, but I could never buy into the fable that the ‘customer is always right.’ Commonsense is too precious to abandon despite what the PC police would have us believe.

Now, depending on the person, the disenfranchised customer may have expressed their dismay with hesitation, graveling, sour tones, innuendos, gross postulations, and/or profanity laced diatribes. The combinations seem to be endless and can change in tone and severity without provocation.  The art of healthy confrontation and appeal is becoming a forgone discipline.

Friday’s customer, in all fairness, had a reasonable beef that ultimately brought about true catharsis! He explained his displeasure of how Impact Battery communicated back-orders and allowed for them on the website.  His main grumble being that we charge the card at the time of the transaction and not on the date of the shipment. The conversation was mildly emotional with somewhat disrespectful speech coming from the customer as I tried to explain the rationale for such practices that included technology limitations. But things began to deteriorate when I had to inform him that the estimated shipment date (which in this case, was 2 business days after when he made the purchase) was not going to be met and that the manufacturer would no longer provide specific delivery estimates. He immediately demanded his money back and started into profanity laced slurs. What happened next was historical. I’m not sure what exactly happened, other than I snapped and threw my Christian witness and customer service handbook out the window! I matched him slur for slur and even raised the kitty! As he escalated I escalated; as I escalated he escalated. As mean-spirited and obtrusive as possible, I repeatedly asked him how it felt to be on the receiving end of such language. Perhaps this is an understatement, but this was not my finest hour.

As that venomous hate filled speech poured out of my mouth I literally felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I was looking at myself in a state of shock, utterly horrified with the filth coming out of my inner most being. Those who know me can confirm that I am not one to include profanity in my everyday speech. And with that said I am no saint either and do not always speak lovingly, especially and sadly, with those who are most dear to me (my wife and children can attest to this).

When the phone call concluded the reality of what just transpired hit me. My thoughts were aloof. I was devastated! Words kept swirling in my head: HYPOCRITE. FRAUD.  LIAR. COUNTERFEIT. FAILURE.  Prominent phrases began to cluster and besiege me. Some Christian you are! A few short hours ago, you boldly declare Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and rightful CEO of Impact Battery; now look at you! You’re not worthy to call yourself a follower of Christ! You are the worst example of a Christian business leader. You’re a joke! You’re no better than…I was defeated and tried my best to hide from my self—to hide from God.

Act 2: A Glorious Unfolding

Out of the stillness that Saturday morning, a voice whispered to me, “Remember Peter?”

“Of course I remember Peter, Lord. He was one of the pillars of the early Church. He’s one of the giants of Christianity. He was one of your beloved disciples,” I starkly replied.

Then I remembered the rooster! My thoughts raced as I hastily recounted the final hours before the imprisonment and crucifixion of Jesus. In that moment of reflection, the fog hanging over me burned away and the sorrow lifted. I recalled how Jesus’ beloved Peter, over the course of a few hours, sheepishly denied being one of his disciples. On the third confrontation, he spewed forth curses; he denied even knowing the man as the cock crowed just as Jesus had predicted! This event described in Matthew 26 transpired in the wake of Peter boldly declaring he would lay down his life for his beloved friend.

Act 3: Why Is This Glorious?

There is a great little article on GotQuestions.org that tackles the question “What was the reason behind Peter's denial of Jesus?” The short answer for Peter’s [and my] denial is based on weakness, the weakness born of human frailty and fear. As this article so candidly points out, Peter had the opportunity to shore up his own fleshly weakness by praying. Instead, he slept.  Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was fervently praying and his sweat turned to blood. He was asking God for strength for what was about to happen all while his disciples, who were supposed to be praying, had fallen asleep.

We cannot boldly face this world in the name of Christ without daily conversing with God and praying for strength and wisdom. Our adversary, the devil, is roaming around looking for people to devour. He does not have to worry about “Christians” that quietly sit in the shadows or those that simply put there game face on Sunday mornings. Those players are quite happy to stand on the sidelines. They appreciate the ease of sticking with the status quo and thus are not a threat to Satan’s dominion. But the bold proclaimers are a threat. They are an enticing target especially if they are trying to do the Lords work in their own strength. They will erupt in a blaze of glory! What does this tell you about me? My prayer life was not what it should have been, and like Peter, I tried to advance forward in my own strength. When challenged (in a spiritual sense) I was humiliated and devoured within seconds! In my own strength and humanness I stand ashamed, but thanks be to God I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13

The Final Act: Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church

Kristian Stanfill, Jeremy Riddle and some others sing a song titled “One Thing Remains” where the chorus says “Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.”  I am so thankful that despite my foolish sinful nature the Lord still accepts me where I am. Even as the cock crows, he never gives up; he forgives my shortcomings and encourages me to press on! Before Peter was told that he would deny Christ three times he was also told (Matthew 16) that upon this rock [Peter] the Church of Christ would be built. What the devil meant for harm, the Lord uses to bring about great and marvelous blessing.

I have made a choice not to live for my own selfish desire. For those that are keeping score, it would be fair to say that I have not been pulling my weight. However, my eyes are fixed on the goal and I have committed to take one step at a time and press on.

It is not easy sharing one of my darkest hours. Setting my pride aside and putting my faults out there for the world to see is uncomfortable. Frankly, it is downright scary knowing that some will use this to ridicule and attack me! But I trust that it will be a source of encouragement for those that have encountered similar defeat. Don’t listen to the devil when he says you’re a failure! You’re not a failure! You are redeemed and precious and worth fighting for; so much so that Jesus laid down his own life so that you could experience life to the fullest with a resurrected Savior. There is no greater love. As crazy as that may sound to someone who has yet to receive that gift by faith, it is offered to everyone. No strings attached. All you need to do is ask. And when a humbled heart stands before a loving Creator seeking forgiveness, an outpouring of love is bestowed on you as a terrible weight is lifted from your being that surpasses all understanding.

I pray that all of us would take it as a warning to stop trying to make it in our own strength and that we would take the Word of God seriously when it says “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.