Friendly Fire

By Michael L. Alumbaugh, ©1987, 2014

You never know what tragedies have built a life. You wonder why a coworker has no interest in salvation or Jesus, or why some people lack the vision or zeal you have for the Lord. You get this explosion from someone you barely speak to. Or a customer verbally runs you down like a steamroller, and for no apparent reason. 

  There are times when a word rashly spoken by another Christian misses the mark and tears your heart out. Your words don't match the message or the timing was rotten. Instead of words that edify, they petrify. And the hearer's response may be a gruff or angry retort instead of a soft answer. You think, "They are having a bad day" or "They are always a crank!" Your mental reaction: they need a sign hung around their neck reading, "Warning:Doesn't play well with others." Or "What a harpy!"

Hmmm. Ever wonder what happened to "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."?

We tend to think what we do as a loving rebuke will build up another, when in fact it tears down. Isaiah says, "Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart,'Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance,with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.' Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, . . ."  

In Ephesians we are admonished to "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give  grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of  redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

I can't walk.

I can't run.

I've been shot down

By our own guns!

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.

I can't fight

Enough to stand

Though I know

The Master's plan. 

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.

Seems I'm losing . . . that One desire.

And I hear the Captain shout,

"All my soldiers . . . Come Out! Come out! Come out!

I see those dying

With my own eyes.

But my heart,

My heart seems paralyzed

From being wounded . . . by friendly fire.
I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.

Cries for help

Around me ring!

But I can't move

'Cause I feel the sting,

From being wounded . . . by friendly fire.

Seems I'm losing . . . that One desire.

I see the Captain's men advance.

Should I? . . . Can I? . . . Do I get a second chance?

----- Bridge -----

Oh, God help me!

I can't run.

I've been shot down

By our own guns!

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.

Seems I've lost . . . that One desire.

Strengthen my hands

And those weakened knees.

Heal my wounds.

Help me hear their pleas. 

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.

Seems I've lost . . . my One desire. 

See the Captain's men advance,

Could I? . . . Should I? . . . Do I get a second chance?

'Cause I can't walk.

And I sure can't run.

I've been shot down

By our own guns!

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire.
Seems I've lost . . . that One desire. 

I've been wounded . . . by friendly fire. 
And it seems . . . I've lost that One desire.

Doing the Humanity Shuffle

By Michael L. Alumbaugh, ©1989, 2014, 2023
 

You swing to the left, but you lean to the right.

 You listen to the media with all their hype.

You know they're lying, "But they might be right!"

You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

You both found love when the night was still.

You were out of luck and she was out of pills.

Avoiding your guilt at the "Abortion Mills"?

You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

"I want a new Ferrari just for me,

And a house in Newport, . . . Go on a spending spree!

And I want to stream live football on my HD TV."

You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

"I love to sail on the open sea,

Down to Jamaica or to Waikīkī.

She wants kids. Hey, no kids for me!"

You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

Another promotion, another raise.

Navigate your money through the market maze.

"Gotta make it to the top where the Big Boys play."

'Cause you're doing the humanity shuffle!
 
Now you're sitting in church to warm a pew.
Last time you were here you'd said, "I DO!"
Sometimes you show up here for Christmas, and for Easter too.
You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

You go the the bar for a drink and a song.

You look at the dancers all too long,

And you wouldn't want your wife or the kids along.

You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

You change your partners: Doe sues Doe.

And all the little children are the last to know.

With another set of parents, their anger grows.

You're doing the humanity shuffle!
 

So, you swing to the left, but you lean to the right.

 You listen to the media with all their hype.

You know they're lying, "But they might be right!"

You're doing the humanity shuffle!

You're doing the humanity shuffle!

 You're doing the humanity shuffle! 

Back to the Bible Ways

Illustration by Keith Alexander

By Michael L. Alumbaugh, ©1982, 2014

I have a lot to learn about life, both the earthly and Christian. After 60 plus years, I still haven't arrived. Nothing profound in that. (A work in progress!)

That's not to say I haven't learned a lot in my time because I have. But there's one thing I have definitely concluded; The longer I live . . . the older I get. And all that really means is God has at least one more day of lessons for me. I aint out of the woodshed yet.

So either I become more teachable, flexible, available and responsible with His economy or He removes me from this terrestrial ball. Why? Because I am of no use to Him. I am become a detriment to His testimony and purposes. I am absolutely worthless, fruitless without Him: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5.  

A pretty sobering word. NOTHING! Conversely, if we operate on our own "yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. - Matthew 13:21

To think I was pondering this issue over 40 years ago when I penned this. You'd think I would be better than I am by now. But, I have hope! He isn't through with me yet.

 

They talk of the economy
And financial security but they,
They say very little about the Lord.

They talk of the ecology,
Save the whales, save the energy, but they,
They say very little about the Lord.

So I’m goin’
Back to the Bible ways
To pray like the Saviour prayed
And learn to live according to God’s Word!
I’m going to tell them
Why He died,
Why He was crucified.

I’m going to walk a lot closer to the Lord.

They talk of drug dependency

And the latest therapy but they,

They say very little about the Lord.

There’s Christian psychology

With all the things it might do for me but they,

They say very little about the Lord.

 

So I’m goin’

Back to the Bible ways

To pray like the Saviour prayed

And learn to live according to God’s Word!

I’m going to tell them

Why He died,

Why He was crucified.

I’m going to walk a lot closer to the Lord.

---- Bridge ----

I said I’m goin’

Back to the Bible ways

To pray like the Saviour prayed

And learn to live according to God’s Word!

I’m going to tell them

Why He died,

Why He was crucified.

I’m going to walk a lot closer to the Lord.

They preach their prosperity

Health and wealth and theology but they,

They say very little how He is Lord!

They tell of how He healed the blind,

How He turned that water into wine but they,

They say very little how He is Lord!

So I’m goin'

Back to the Bible ways

To pray like the Saviour prayed

And learn to live according to God’s Word!

I’m going to tell them

Why He died,

Why He was crucified.

I’m going to walk a lot closer to the Lord.

I said I’m goin’

Back to the Bible ways

To pray like the Saviour prayed

And learn to live according to God’s Word!

I’m going to tell them

Why He died,

Why He was crucified.

I’m going to walk a lot closer,

And live a lot closer,

Walk a lot closer to the Lord.