Saturday, December 27, 1997

'Lamp Unto My Feet'

By Mike McManus

Art Monk holds the NFL record for the most career catches, 934, the most consecutive games with a catch, 180, and, as a Redskin, went to three Super Bowl championship games. But half way through his career, he says, "I began to feel a lot of emptiness and loneliness. I had everything I wanted and yet still felt something was missing.

"I started going to some Bible studies in 1987 and, upon doing that, all the things I had been taught by my parents and by the church ... came flooding back."

He knew then that he "needed Christ."

He came across these verses from Paul's letter to Timothy (1:15-16): "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst. But for that reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."

Art Monk gave his life to Christ, and his life changed. He says, "The emptiness and loneliness just kind of went away."

I learned about Art Monk's story by reading his testimony in a book, "Lamp Unto My Feet," a daily devotional published this year with Art Toalston as its editor.

I know Toalston as the very effective and helpful editor of Baptist Press, the news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant denomination.

Art's idea for the book began when he learned that Astronaut Dave Leestma, carried a microfiche Bible on his 1992 "Atlantis" flight.

"I was stirred. Off and on for days, the thought came to mind of this astronaut a real person, a highly trained professional, a scientist carrying Scripture into space. He must have a strong belief in the Bible's value and relevance," Art reasoned.

"I was moved by the courage it took to make that kind of statement of faith."

Leestma said his favorite verse in Scripture, was "Trust in the Lordwith all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Art began wondering what Scriptures might be pivotal to other Christians in the sciences, arts, business, sports and education fields. Over time he put together 365 daily readings, each of which begin with a thumbnail of that person's life, his or her choice of a favorite verse, followed by a personal story of how the verse guided or changed their lives.

For example, Fred Rogers, creator of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood in 1968, the longest running program on PBS, seen in 8 million homes, says his favorite Scripture is "For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (I Cor. 1:25).

Therefore, when he writes a script or a song or walks into the studio for a taping, he prays, "Let some word that is heard be Thine."

His goal is to use TV "to show and tell our children that they really matter, even when they are very little."

Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, which mobilizes 50,000 volunteers to love prisoners, chose Philippians 4:11-13: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation ... I can do everything through him who gives mestrength."

He says those verses are the story of his life: "I have been at the top, sitting in the office next to the president of the United States; I've been at the bottom, in a prison cell ... But in every circumstance the secret is to know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Our human circumstances do not determine the course of our lives; our relationship with Christ does."

Herbert Blomstedt, music director of the San Francisco Symphony chose "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." (Psalm 63:4).

He says this is a perfect motto for a symphony conductor: "The conductor serves the music, and together we serve the Creator. What a privilege! We are on holy ground."

In 1998, why not begin your day with a fresh view of Scripture as it has affected the lives of a wide range of people?