Sometimes when people ask me where I live, I tell them that I live in "Confusion." More appropriately I live in a state of positive discontent. I first coined the phrase "positive discontent" about 15 years ago...maybe longer. It was when I recognized just how attached to the feeling of not being content I was. Paul talks about his not being content with where he was and who he was. I feel the same way. I realize that my life, like Paul's, has been an incredible journey of ups and downs. Though I never was stoned (as he was), many things have taken place in my life where I have been either beat up or felt beat up. My life has always been one where I've wanted to know more. Simple answers are okay some of the time but most certainly not all the time. Wondering since I was a young boy who I was has been a quest that has taken me into many situations and places. Still I wonder who I am. I'm 62 and most people would say that I should be content with who I am. Why should I be? God's not content with who I am. God wants a state of positive discontent to be present in all of our lives. Simply put, being in a state of positive discontent means you are aware of where you have come from, aware of who you are today, and yearning for what will bring the next change up to a better place in our lives.
We have all kinds of societal devices meant to keep us content with the here and now. We're taught to not rock the boat. In my young adulthood I was taught that you graduate high school, get a good job, work for your life and retire. Oh, and have 2.5 children and at least one pet. We were told that should be good enough. Not for me. Over my lifetime I've had 18 different vocations, been in several different relationships, 7 children, 5 grandchildren and many different pets to include some evil goldfish (another story). If our lives were clocked on a speedometer I would be doing 120 most of my life. Society doesn't operate that way. Society tells us to be content with what we have. Society tries to keep us in our "class" of people. Society doesn't have a clue about being in a state of positive discontent. It's not enough to know that the sky is blue because God made it that way. It's not enough to say, "people are just like that." It's should not be enough of anything for those who dream, imagine and desire the return of Jesus. Without a vision the people perish. I don't know who said that off hand. Forgive me. I'm that guy who wonders where God came from, what's beyond the edge of the universe, why caterpillars have poky spines all over them.
It would be nice to be content and when I get to heaven I will be. I'm not content that people should perish because they haven't been asked to have Jesus as their Savior. I'm not content to see people hungry and unfed while I have lots. I'm not content to say pat answers when the questions call for more. I'm not content to stand by and be silent when it's an agreement with evil. I'm not content in any part of my life. Are you? Does contentment mean you're apathetic to what is going on around you? If you aren't part of the solution, are you part of the problem? Am I? Yes! I'm not content to let nature take it's course because that thinking overflows to every area of my life and your life. No, I'm not okay with mediocrity. No, I'm not okay with placated answers. No, I'm not okay with those who can do something but won't. Neither is Jesus. He said, "Even as you do it to the least of these you do it to me." Or don't. Your choice. My choice. Today I'll live in my state of positive discontent in spite of the world and for Jesus.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Communion on the Moon
Communion on the Moon
November 3, 2013
What was the first liquid and food consumed on the moon?
I presume that most of us were unaware of this story. I didn’t know this, but it’s awesome!
43 years ago…guess what happened… many have not heard of this before . . .
Communion on the Moon: July 20, 1969 (This is an article by Eric Metaxas )
Forty-three years ago two human beings changed history by walking on the surface of the moon. But what happened before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong exited the Lunar Module is perhaps even more amazing, if only because so few people know about it. “I’m talking about the fact that Buzz Aldrin took communion on the surface of the moon. Some months after his return, he wrote about it in Guideposts magazine.
And a few years ago I had the privilege of meeting him myself. I asked him about it and he confirmed the story to me, and I wrote about in my book , Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask).
The background to the story is that Aldrin was an elder at his Presbyterian Church in Texas during this period in his life, and knowing that he would soon be doing something unprecedented in human history, he felt he should mark the occasion somehow, and he asked his minister to help him. And so the minister consecrated a communion wafer and a small vial of communion wine. And Buzz Aldrin took them with him out of the Earth’s orbit and on to the surface of the moon. He and Armstrong had only been on the lunar surface for a few minutes when Aldrin made the following public statement:
“This is the LM pilot. I’d like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.” He then ended radio communication and there, on the silent surface of the moon, 250,000 miles from home, he read a verse from the Gospel of John, and he took communion. Here is his own account of what happened: “In the radio blackout, I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the scripture, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit ..Apart from me you can do nothing.’
“I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute [they] had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O’Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly.”
“I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility . It was interesting for me to think the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements.”
And of course, it ‘s interesting to think that some of the first words spoken on the moon were the words of Jesus Christ , who made the Earth and the moon – and Who, in the immortal words of Dante, is Himself the “Love that moves the Sun and other stars.”
Friday, January 29, 2016
Who you are when no one is looking.
Someone is always looking at us whether we are Christian or not. As they look they bring their own definitions of who we should be and by what standard. I have a hard enough time pleasing me, I certainly won't be able to please them! Just what are people looking at and what are they looking for when they look at you and I? Are they looking for their mother, their father, the fantasy person who can make our lives "perfect"? I guess it all depends on perspective. We are all wounded and incomplete people trying to live out our lives in a manner that brings us some satisfaction. We all fail and succeed depending on the day and the issues that come our way. Assuming that we, as Christians, have arrived and don't have issues is ludicrous. I'm living proof that we don't "arrive" until that date God has ordained for us to go home. So, who am I and who are you when no one is looking? We're hypocritical and fallible people who sometimes try to be better and sometimes don't care because of our selfishness. We couch our lives around our wants and that is where we begin to get into trouble. You are what your heart dictates. If your heart is flawed (as it is) then so is the life you and I are living. So, what's the problem?
The problem is our sense of identity. We are who we are trained to be. We are trained by our family, our society and our innate desire to be someone or something we are not. It's not unusual to hear people talk about who or what they would like to be "when they grow up." I do that all the time. I guess by now I should have acknowledged that I'm not going to grow up. As a therapist I looked for any tool hat I could use to help people in their quest to deal with problems. One of the ways I did this was to ask that they consider the question "Who am I?" People said all kinds of things but few answered the question. I followed up the question with this question: "If everything you counted as important in your life was suddenly gone, what would be left?" It was there that people could begin to think about their core being. Their core being was what people saw when they looked at you and I. We didn't necessarily see that core being because we were busy dancing with what we thought everyone else wanted us to be. To say this is problematic is a gross understatement.
When people come to the end of themselves and want answers I like to point to Psalm 138. It is there that we read God's perspective of how he sees us. It is there that we learn that we have an identity that was formed by him before we were ever conceived. It is there that we can look at the truth of what he thinks and begin to debunk what this world has determined us to be. When we begin to learn about how God sees us (and he is always looking in a loving manner), we can begin to live as He wants us to live. People then can begin to see God in us instead of the world. Consequently, when we are living the life God has given us we either attract or repel people around us. Whether we attract or repel others isn't any of our business. Sometimes God needs to wreck a soul before he can save it. That's what the whole experience here on planet earth is about. When we come to the end of ourselves we can answer that question of who am I and be that which we were designed to be. It's a difficult process. The first step is to consider that we've been lied to. We have lived our lives by the definition of man instead of the definition of God. Given the imperfection of man I think we should choose the perfection of God. He amazingly is able to convey this in such a manner that we feel that love, acceptance and approval from Him while we are yet not who we should be.
Who are you when no one is looking?
The problem is our sense of identity. We are who we are trained to be. We are trained by our family, our society and our innate desire to be someone or something we are not. It's not unusual to hear people talk about who or what they would like to be "when they grow up." I do that all the time. I guess by now I should have acknowledged that I'm not going to grow up. As a therapist I looked for any tool hat I could use to help people in their quest to deal with problems. One of the ways I did this was to ask that they consider the question "Who am I?" People said all kinds of things but few answered the question. I followed up the question with this question: "If everything you counted as important in your life was suddenly gone, what would be left?" It was there that people could begin to think about their core being. Their core being was what people saw when they looked at you and I. We didn't necessarily see that core being because we were busy dancing with what we thought everyone else wanted us to be. To say this is problematic is a gross understatement.
When people come to the end of themselves and want answers I like to point to Psalm 138. It is there that we read God's perspective of how he sees us. It is there that we learn that we have an identity that was formed by him before we were ever conceived. It is there that we can look at the truth of what he thinks and begin to debunk what this world has determined us to be. When we begin to learn about how God sees us (and he is always looking in a loving manner), we can begin to live as He wants us to live. People then can begin to see God in us instead of the world. Consequently, when we are living the life God has given us we either attract or repel people around us. Whether we attract or repel others isn't any of our business. Sometimes God needs to wreck a soul before he can save it. That's what the whole experience here on planet earth is about. When we come to the end of ourselves we can answer that question of who am I and be that which we were designed to be. It's a difficult process. The first step is to consider that we've been lied to. We have lived our lives by the definition of man instead of the definition of God. Given the imperfection of man I think we should choose the perfection of God. He amazingly is able to convey this in such a manner that we feel that love, acceptance and approval from Him while we are yet not who we should be.
Who are you when no one is looking?
Thursday, January 28, 2016
How nice of you to drop in!
Unexpected guests are not something most people want. In fact I am sure that there are those people who have intentionally went into another room, turned out the lights and hid until the knocking on the door had ceased and the car had driven away. I've done that. Most of the time we choose this reaction to the local Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses, process servers, and maybe even law enforcement (I haven't done that). Unwanted guests are seldom seen as a blessing, Have you ever had anyone who shows up at your house just before a meal? What are you going to do? You do the obligatory "let's set another plate at the table" thing and move on. The resentment may linger but you did what you thought was right. Sometimes the unexpected guests are the abandoned cats and dogs that people drop off in your neighborhood. They know someone will care for them. You! The younger the pet the greater the chance that someone will keep them for their own. Children bringing home that "cute kitten" from their friends house are hard to resist. Yet, the unexpected hits our living situation, budget and patience. Unexpected guests and pets leave behind the need for you and I to clean up after they go. For the humans that means doing the dishes and whatever else is used in the home. For the pets it's the scooper and carpet cleaner.
The more we get to know people the better we are at predicting their behavior. There is that neighbor who only comes over and is friendly when they need your help, your tool, or your transportation. There at those who come over because they want to give you something like Girl Scout cookies! The Bible tells us to care for the stranger in our midst. The Bible also says that we are unaware but at times are entertaining angels. Perhaps the unexpected guest, the inconvenient homeless beggar or the one asking to use your phone is a test of whether you and I will rise to the occasion? That begs the larger question of what our motivation in life is and whether that motivation is from God or from man. Keep in mind that even Jesus took a break from the crowds AND the disciples! We too need to balance what is going on in our lives to make sure we are focused on Jesus instead of just surviving. Listening to the heart and the Gospel message on a regular basis reminds us that we are here for a purpose. That purpose is to be a reflection of Jesus. Are these really my tools, do I really need that last dollar in my wallet, is it really MY time that I'm trying to protect? What do we believe and how do we react to the unexpected intrusion/visit/opportunity is all validation of whether we are reflecting Jesus or ourselves.
Growing up in the Midwest on a farm provided lots of "lessons" about the unexpected. It wasn't unusual for a neighbor to drop in from time to time. We never locked our homes, kept the keys in the vehicles and tractors, and the gas pump was available to those who had run out of gas. This was all whether we were home or not. Our neighbors did the same thing. You never know what will happen but you do know you can count on your neighbor. When the unexpected neighbor rushes into your yard you know something is wrong and they need help. When it's an ambling drive down your road you're probably going to need a fresh pot of coffee. Regardless, the Midwest mindset was to entertain and help regardless.
Should we even begin to visualize that Jesus is completely and fully aware of the intentions and motivations of our minds and hearts, we would begin to rethink where and what comes out when we have unexpected people with unexpected expectations. Sometimes all we can do is listen and other times we can provide food while yet at other times we can help with the emergency. When we walk down the street or hear the knock on our door, are we ready to do what the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts to do? Are we willing to embrace rather than resist? Do we look at how little we have or do we know how much God can provide? Well, that's what I want us to consider today. It was nice of you to drop in! Come again!
The more we get to know people the better we are at predicting their behavior. There is that neighbor who only comes over and is friendly when they need your help, your tool, or your transportation. There at those who come over because they want to give you something like Girl Scout cookies! The Bible tells us to care for the stranger in our midst. The Bible also says that we are unaware but at times are entertaining angels. Perhaps the unexpected guest, the inconvenient homeless beggar or the one asking to use your phone is a test of whether you and I will rise to the occasion? That begs the larger question of what our motivation in life is and whether that motivation is from God or from man. Keep in mind that even Jesus took a break from the crowds AND the disciples! We too need to balance what is going on in our lives to make sure we are focused on Jesus instead of just surviving. Listening to the heart and the Gospel message on a regular basis reminds us that we are here for a purpose. That purpose is to be a reflection of Jesus. Are these really my tools, do I really need that last dollar in my wallet, is it really MY time that I'm trying to protect? What do we believe and how do we react to the unexpected intrusion/visit/opportunity is all validation of whether we are reflecting Jesus or ourselves.
Growing up in the Midwest on a farm provided lots of "lessons" about the unexpected. It wasn't unusual for a neighbor to drop in from time to time. We never locked our homes, kept the keys in the vehicles and tractors, and the gas pump was available to those who had run out of gas. This was all whether we were home or not. Our neighbors did the same thing. You never know what will happen but you do know you can count on your neighbor. When the unexpected neighbor rushes into your yard you know something is wrong and they need help. When it's an ambling drive down your road you're probably going to need a fresh pot of coffee. Regardless, the Midwest mindset was to entertain and help regardless.
Should we even begin to visualize that Jesus is completely and fully aware of the intentions and motivations of our minds and hearts, we would begin to rethink where and what comes out when we have unexpected people with unexpected expectations. Sometimes all we can do is listen and other times we can provide food while yet at other times we can help with the emergency. When we walk down the street or hear the knock on our door, are we ready to do what the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts to do? Are we willing to embrace rather than resist? Do we look at how little we have or do we know how much God can provide? Well, that's what I want us to consider today. It was nice of you to drop in! Come again!
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Every time I think I'm about there...
Now arriving at gate 4 God's Airways flight number 2 from Olympia, WA. Passenger Steven Hawley disembarking. The angels yelling, whistling, screaming and singing glory to God in the highest! He's arrived home! You can't even imagine how I long for that flight and arrival. It'll be a one way trip and well worth the waiting. Oh yeah, and I won't have to be searched, carry 3 kinds of picture identification or check any baggage! Such a deal! The Bible tells us that we will enter into his presence with thanksgiving and laughter! I'm imagining that Jesus himself will be there to give me that welcome home hug! Can it get any better? Yes, it could happen today! Well, maybe my work on earth isn't done. I don't want to be so heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good. There are enough of those. So, for today I'm glad that I arrived on the right side of the grass! I'm alive! I'm glad that I arrived with my family and friends intact. Okay, my dogs as well. Cats don't care as long as they are waited upon. I'm glad that you arrived here to read this today and perhaps God will be speaking to you. The big question that comes up is not the arrival but being ready for arriving. Are we really a people who are ready?
In my flesh I think I'm ready. When I allow the Holy Spirit to inspect my life; it's clear that I'm not nearly as ready as I think. Besides the work to be done in my life (ongoing sanctification) there is the work I'm to do in other peoples lives. There are the orphans to care for, the widows who need help, those in prison and in need of visiting to name a few. Perhaps the question I need to ask myself is whether or not I'm doing my part to bring a bunch of people with me to heaven or not? I'm harder on myself than anyone I know. That's because I know what's inside of me even if others don't. So, when I look at me I lose track of what Jesus sees. He sees a portal to others that is blocked by my standing in the way rather than being the way. Jesus desperately wants us to be a part of the plan and not a barrier to the plan. It's all about being who he wants us to be, doing what he wants us to do and saying what he wants us to say. It is his airplane. Jesus doesn't fly alone though. He has with him the Father and the Holy Spirit. The three in one have whatever part of us that we surrender. Imagine arriving at your destination without preparation. That's the space so many people live in today. Just think about it for a minute. There are millions of people on planet earth that are not saved. They will not be making that flight. They won't arrive in heaven. They will arrive in hell. And what part will I have played in either decision?
I took a flight once to Chicago from Seattle. Somewhere in that direct flight (no stops) my luggage was diverted to St. Louis, MO. I arrived without my clothing, personals and needs for the business trip. The airline gave no excuse, no alternative and no reassurance that my luggage would be retrieved. Imagine that you have prepared for the past 3 years for this dream trip to wherever it is you really want to visit. You have planned, arranged for care for the pets, visited your friends and relatives and rewritten your will. There are contingencies that you have attended to and all your affairs are in place. You've arranged for a ride to the airport and are travelling first class. Days before your trip you get your boarding passes online and have passed your itinerary around to those who need it. All is done. The day of your trip comes, you arrive at the airport and you've stood in the security line an hour before coming to the agent who checks your id. You hand over your documents and they enter your information into the computer. They advise you to step aside and hand your paperwork to another security supervisor who informs you that you are on the "No fly" list. You are crushed! Defeated after a long argument with the agent you call your friend to come back and pick you up. Your luggage is off loaded and you go home. After some research you discover you are on the "no fly" list because you neglected to ask Jesus into your heart when you had the chance. Every time I think I'm about to arrive...it's your choice.
In my flesh I think I'm ready. When I allow the Holy Spirit to inspect my life; it's clear that I'm not nearly as ready as I think. Besides the work to be done in my life (ongoing sanctification) there is the work I'm to do in other peoples lives. There are the orphans to care for, the widows who need help, those in prison and in need of visiting to name a few. Perhaps the question I need to ask myself is whether or not I'm doing my part to bring a bunch of people with me to heaven or not? I'm harder on myself than anyone I know. That's because I know what's inside of me even if others don't. So, when I look at me I lose track of what Jesus sees. He sees a portal to others that is blocked by my standing in the way rather than being the way. Jesus desperately wants us to be a part of the plan and not a barrier to the plan. It's all about being who he wants us to be, doing what he wants us to do and saying what he wants us to say. It is his airplane. Jesus doesn't fly alone though. He has with him the Father and the Holy Spirit. The three in one have whatever part of us that we surrender. Imagine arriving at your destination without preparation. That's the space so many people live in today. Just think about it for a minute. There are millions of people on planet earth that are not saved. They will not be making that flight. They won't arrive in heaven. They will arrive in hell. And what part will I have played in either decision?
I took a flight once to Chicago from Seattle. Somewhere in that direct flight (no stops) my luggage was diverted to St. Louis, MO. I arrived without my clothing, personals and needs for the business trip. The airline gave no excuse, no alternative and no reassurance that my luggage would be retrieved. Imagine that you have prepared for the past 3 years for this dream trip to wherever it is you really want to visit. You have planned, arranged for care for the pets, visited your friends and relatives and rewritten your will. There are contingencies that you have attended to and all your affairs are in place. You've arranged for a ride to the airport and are travelling first class. Days before your trip you get your boarding passes online and have passed your itinerary around to those who need it. All is done. The day of your trip comes, you arrive at the airport and you've stood in the security line an hour before coming to the agent who checks your id. You hand over your documents and they enter your information into the computer. They advise you to step aside and hand your paperwork to another security supervisor who informs you that you are on the "No fly" list. You are crushed! Defeated after a long argument with the agent you call your friend to come back and pick you up. Your luggage is off loaded and you go home. After some research you discover you are on the "no fly" list because you neglected to ask Jesus into your heart when you had the chance. Every time I think I'm about to arrive...it's your choice.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Welcome to the other side of the tracks!
Growing up poor, I concluded from people's reactions that I was "less than they." "They" thought I was less than them and only reinforced who I thought I was. Let me back up. I grew up on a farm 12 miles outside a town of 300 people (dogs and cats included). If you have ever lived in a small town you know that if you have moved there at any age in your life that you are an outsider and always will be. You could have 4 generations of your family who continued to live there but "you" would always be someone who intruded upon the status quo. You would be an outsider till death. Granted, there weren't many people in town or on the farms surrounding that were what anyone today would call rich. Some acted like it. But time proved them to be posers. It wasn't all about wealth though. Being on the other side of the tracks could just indicate you didn't dress as nice, didn't know as much about the town and heritage, didn't have any family connection living nearby. We moved to this farm when I was in the middle of the third grade! I left a one room country school where I was one of three in my class to a public school where my class numbered just shy of 30. Today they would be screaming about class size. Then it was teachers taught. It didn't matter how many. Finally, being from the other side of the tracks led me to discover that this town of 300 had 7 churches of which most of my class attended or claimed to attend. My family didn't attend church. Just another strike against the kid from the other side of the tracks.
Jesus, despite being God, was a kid from the other side of the tracks. He was a pregnancy of an unmarried woman who was engaged to an older man. They, despite the gossip and looks, married. Jesus, as you know, was born not in a hospital or even in a home. He was born in a manger in a barn where the prominent smell wasn't a freshly powered baby's butt. The family was uprooted because the authorities wanted Jesus dead. Jealousy of his heritage and power driving that wish. So, he moved out of country (not the Caribbean) to Egypt. Remember his ancestors stole all of the Egyptians gold, silver and jewels before fleeing Egypt under false pretenses. Not exactly unlike some of the issues going on today. Once it was safe to return home, Jesus and his family did so. They were likely bi-lingual now and most likely wearing Egyptian garb. Outsiders? Definitely. From the other side of the track? Definitely. Unwelcome? Yes, that too as people asked the adult Jesus to leave their town. Kind of what some of our churches do today. He was and remains an outsider to many who feel, for whatever reason, that they don't need him, don't want him and want to eradicate his name. Even some of the good he did was put down by people as his having done this or that by the power of the devil.
So, what do people from the other side of the tracks do? They flock together, have parties and stay up all night drinking Mountain Dew and eating Oreos! Well maybe not the Dew. Anyway, I digress. I'm reminded of a college assignment that really stuck with me. I was studying addictions and was told to visit 10 different 12 step groups. I didn't know there were 10 different 12 step groups. However, an assignment is an assignment. I went to these groups and discovered all those from the other side of the tracks. They were desperate to find help (some of them) for what had hounded them for some time. The destruction of their lives was unbelievable in some cases but none the less true. These men and women in the 12 step groups taught me so many of life's lessons. The first one and most important one was to have a relationship with God. With the other person from the other side of the tracks, Jesus. The 12 step groups were the church and the members confessed and relied on one another without pretense. People were called out not because they got caught but because people cared. Discipleship was rampant, coffee perked continually, and they each were ministers of the Gospel. The church is supposed to be like that. We're nothing but sinners gathering together telling one another where to find grace. At least that's what it's supposed to be. If this isn't your church, your group, your friends and family; it's time to move to the other side of the tracks!
Jesus, despite being God, was a kid from the other side of the tracks. He was a pregnancy of an unmarried woman who was engaged to an older man. They, despite the gossip and looks, married. Jesus, as you know, was born not in a hospital or even in a home. He was born in a manger in a barn where the prominent smell wasn't a freshly powered baby's butt. The family was uprooted because the authorities wanted Jesus dead. Jealousy of his heritage and power driving that wish. So, he moved out of country (not the Caribbean) to Egypt. Remember his ancestors stole all of the Egyptians gold, silver and jewels before fleeing Egypt under false pretenses. Not exactly unlike some of the issues going on today. Once it was safe to return home, Jesus and his family did so. They were likely bi-lingual now and most likely wearing Egyptian garb. Outsiders? Definitely. From the other side of the track? Definitely. Unwelcome? Yes, that too as people asked the adult Jesus to leave their town. Kind of what some of our churches do today. He was and remains an outsider to many who feel, for whatever reason, that they don't need him, don't want him and want to eradicate his name. Even some of the good he did was put down by people as his having done this or that by the power of the devil.
So, what do people from the other side of the tracks do? They flock together, have parties and stay up all night drinking Mountain Dew and eating Oreos! Well maybe not the Dew. Anyway, I digress. I'm reminded of a college assignment that really stuck with me. I was studying addictions and was told to visit 10 different 12 step groups. I didn't know there were 10 different 12 step groups. However, an assignment is an assignment. I went to these groups and discovered all those from the other side of the tracks. They were desperate to find help (some of them) for what had hounded them for some time. The destruction of their lives was unbelievable in some cases but none the less true. These men and women in the 12 step groups taught me so many of life's lessons. The first one and most important one was to have a relationship with God. With the other person from the other side of the tracks, Jesus. The 12 step groups were the church and the members confessed and relied on one another without pretense. People were called out not because they got caught but because people cared. Discipleship was rampant, coffee perked continually, and they each were ministers of the Gospel. The church is supposed to be like that. We're nothing but sinners gathering together telling one another where to find grace. At least that's what it's supposed to be. If this isn't your church, your group, your friends and family; it's time to move to the other side of the tracks!
Monday, January 25, 2016
Imagine my surprise!
I don't win the lottery even when I buy a ticket. Raffles don't seem to come to my number or name. I'm usually one call too early or one call too late on the radio give-a-ways. Imagine my surprise when something actually comes my way! Okay, that doesn't seem to have happened lately as far as the above are concerned. The Christian who plays the lottery is focusing on what they want and the same applies to raffles and call in's. We all want to win! There are some who are pious to the point where they downplay the possibility of having something for little or nothing. Yet, in their core human being they too want to have something given to them. Christians have a perspective of not what they have but what they have not. We don't have enough of this, we don't have enough of that, we want more of what we have and then squander everything on ourselves. Imagine my surprise when something comes my way when I am not requesting it! The Bible clearly states that God has given us (present tense and future tense) all of our needs. So, why do we chase the "big win"? If God has poured out the blessings from heaven so much so that we cannot contain them, why do we want that second BBQ? We want what we want and seldom really appreciate all the needs we have that are mysteriously taken care of by a God who counts the hairs on our heads...for you who have hair. For those who don't have hair, he counted them when you were born and that hasn't changed.
My memory is very clear regarding my firstborn, Jeremy. My wife and I were in Germany and were about to get out of the military and go home. It was about 2 months away when I got the announcement: "I missed my period." Imagine my surprise. Here I was newly married, in a foreign country, wife is pregnant, getting out of the military and no job waiting for me at home. The surprise of a new life compared to the surprise of "how am I going to do this?" left me questioning what was going on in my life. Surprises can be positive and negative. I prefer positive but God also intends us to see his will in the negative surprises as well. The more we are challenged with, the greater we have our faith challenged. It's much easier just to give the situations to God and then wait to be surprised. When Jeremy was born 9 months later we were blessed beyond belief! It's been that way for all of my children. Along the same line of thought is a negative that also turned into a positive. Both were surprises to me. The story I'm about to tell you is true and there will be no names given. I had an affair while married to my second wife. The woman became pregnant after we had been together for some time. She asked me if I wanted us to abort the baby. I said no. Soon thereafter I stopped the affair, confessed my sin to my wife and God, and began the road back to Christian living. I wouldn't see my daughter for 5 years. She is beautiful! There is much pride in who she is for me. The action on my part that so devastated so many people and relationships was instrumental in bringing into this world a wonderful girl who is now 16. The surprise that was the greatest was the grace of God on everyone. We all survived.
My life has always involved hard physical labor whether that was in my job or around the places where I have lived. I grew up working hard on a large farm/ranch in the Midwest. I believed that was the only to live. When I was 61 I moved to where I currently live. We had several large trees taken down and I proceeded to carry, move, roll and throw wood for firewood. On a particular day in February last year (2015) I had moved about 6 cords worth of fir and maple rounds that weighed 200-350 pounds each. Feeling tired I stopped and went into the house to take a shower and relax. Upon doing so I felt ill. One thing led to another and I realized that I was in the beginning of having a heart attack. I called 911 and the paramedics and fire department were there within minutes (largely because they are 2 miles away). They took excellent care of me, took me to the hospital and long story short, I lived! Okay, that was obvious. The surprise was that one of the best cardiologists was in the ER when I arrived and I was very well taken care of. Surgery was a few days later and today I can once again move the wood, work in the garden and interact with many. I have much to be thankful. In turn I returned a few months after the heart attack to the fire department where I met with the people who saved my life. They were surprised because they had not had anyone ever come in to thank them for what they do. Imagine my surprise! I know that surprises are positive and negative. God blesses us with both for our sake and his. Imagine that!
My memory is very clear regarding my firstborn, Jeremy. My wife and I were in Germany and were about to get out of the military and go home. It was about 2 months away when I got the announcement: "I missed my period." Imagine my surprise. Here I was newly married, in a foreign country, wife is pregnant, getting out of the military and no job waiting for me at home. The surprise of a new life compared to the surprise of "how am I going to do this?" left me questioning what was going on in my life. Surprises can be positive and negative. I prefer positive but God also intends us to see his will in the negative surprises as well. The more we are challenged with, the greater we have our faith challenged. It's much easier just to give the situations to God and then wait to be surprised. When Jeremy was born 9 months later we were blessed beyond belief! It's been that way for all of my children. Along the same line of thought is a negative that also turned into a positive. Both were surprises to me. The story I'm about to tell you is true and there will be no names given. I had an affair while married to my second wife. The woman became pregnant after we had been together for some time. She asked me if I wanted us to abort the baby. I said no. Soon thereafter I stopped the affair, confessed my sin to my wife and God, and began the road back to Christian living. I wouldn't see my daughter for 5 years. She is beautiful! There is much pride in who she is for me. The action on my part that so devastated so many people and relationships was instrumental in bringing into this world a wonderful girl who is now 16. The surprise that was the greatest was the grace of God on everyone. We all survived.
My life has always involved hard physical labor whether that was in my job or around the places where I have lived. I grew up working hard on a large farm/ranch in the Midwest. I believed that was the only to live. When I was 61 I moved to where I currently live. We had several large trees taken down and I proceeded to carry, move, roll and throw wood for firewood. On a particular day in February last year (2015) I had moved about 6 cords worth of fir and maple rounds that weighed 200-350 pounds each. Feeling tired I stopped and went into the house to take a shower and relax. Upon doing so I felt ill. One thing led to another and I realized that I was in the beginning of having a heart attack. I called 911 and the paramedics and fire department were there within minutes (largely because they are 2 miles away). They took excellent care of me, took me to the hospital and long story short, I lived! Okay, that was obvious. The surprise was that one of the best cardiologists was in the ER when I arrived and I was very well taken care of. Surgery was a few days later and today I can once again move the wood, work in the garden and interact with many. I have much to be thankful. In turn I returned a few months after the heart attack to the fire department where I met with the people who saved my life. They were surprised because they had not had anyone ever come in to thank them for what they do. Imagine my surprise! I know that surprises are positive and negative. God blesses us with both for our sake and his. Imagine that!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Etiology...a study of first things or causes.
I'd like to share today that mankind has an origin. There is a beginning just as there will be an end. For those of you who buy into the big bang theory, what was the catalyst for the big bang. For those of you who wrestle with what came first the chicken or the egg, there is still hope. For those of us who are constantly analyzing and trying to interpret our world, the first cause is not important. It's essential! We all have beginnings that we remember. That first step your child took. Your first love. Your first time eating sushi. With all of these there is a quizzical factor trying to find out how that event came about and why. Okay, maybe we overdo life. But we do have the questions. I can tell you the date and time I surrendered to Jesus. That wasn't the beginning though. I can detail my life from age 5/6 on but that wasn't the beginning. Being born wasn't the beginning anymore than my mother conceiving and birthing me. The beginning of me was before the foundation of the world. How can that be? If I were to rely on logic and general understanding I would soon be overwhelmed with the immensity of the facts. There is a time when many of us have stood outside and gazed up into the heavens and wondered about the complexity of all the heavenly bodies in place and where did it begin. My mind goes on the fritz when I contemplate anything beyond where I can conceptualize or think. What's beyond the end of the universe? Where was I before the foundation of the world. Why was I created as I am from a sperm and an egg? How would my life had changed if there was a change in my past? What would I be doing now if this or that choice had been made instead? What is it within me that searches for the first cause?
Wow! That was intense! Maybe I'm the only one who contemplates the world in this way. But, I don't think so. I think these and maybe other questions come up in the Christian's mind every day. What is the etiology of me? Where do I have my beginning and where will I have my ending? So, here is what I've discovered and believe. I've discovered that there are some questions that only God knows the answer to and when I meet him face to face those answers won't matter anymore. So, why are these questions of etiology so important? For the believer it's important we know some of the beginnings merely from a historical perspective. From this perspective we can know where we came from and to whom we belong. Without this perspective we wouldn't be able to tell others of the hope that is within us. Without conveying that hope to others how would they too be saved? You see, my beginnings are important and so are yours. When a 2 year old asks a "Why?" question we want to answer them in a way they can understand. Nothing is different when we convey the Gospel to those who don't know the Gospel. Knowing our story and living it causes others to (hopefully) want what we have. If we are unable to provide a convincing and believable rendition of the beginning, why should they believe us?
The Bible begins with "In the beginning..." and is followed by the creation story. Where did God begin? What was the cause that brought God about? Why can't my mind conceive beyond that point? Hebrews 11 holds the answer. The Word begins with "It was by faith..." and lists many men of God who by faith moved the world for God. The beginning for each of us is to believe that which we cannot see and to know that God is who he says he is, does what he says he does and that he loved and created us from before the foundation of the earth. Being able to live in faith is an etiology of itself. Believing that God can heal, deliver, provide, and save mankind is mind boggling. It's only mind boggling because our faith only goes so far. Beyond that point our understanding ceases to exist and it is there that we surrender to that which we do not know. Mankind has been trying to find God through science, mathematics, theology, philosophy, and a myriad other ways over the existence of mankind. None have succeeded. The only manner by which God can be found, discovered, engaged is by faith. Faith is the evidence of things unseen and the hope of things to come. Next time you are telling someone that Jesus loves them, let them know about the etiology of the God your are proclaiming. He is your and my first cause.
Wow! That was intense! Maybe I'm the only one who contemplates the world in this way. But, I don't think so. I think these and maybe other questions come up in the Christian's mind every day. What is the etiology of me? Where do I have my beginning and where will I have my ending? So, here is what I've discovered and believe. I've discovered that there are some questions that only God knows the answer to and when I meet him face to face those answers won't matter anymore. So, why are these questions of etiology so important? For the believer it's important we know some of the beginnings merely from a historical perspective. From this perspective we can know where we came from and to whom we belong. Without this perspective we wouldn't be able to tell others of the hope that is within us. Without conveying that hope to others how would they too be saved? You see, my beginnings are important and so are yours. When a 2 year old asks a "Why?" question we want to answer them in a way they can understand. Nothing is different when we convey the Gospel to those who don't know the Gospel. Knowing our story and living it causes others to (hopefully) want what we have. If we are unable to provide a convincing and believable rendition of the beginning, why should they believe us?
The Bible begins with "In the beginning..." and is followed by the creation story. Where did God begin? What was the cause that brought God about? Why can't my mind conceive beyond that point? Hebrews 11 holds the answer. The Word begins with "It was by faith..." and lists many men of God who by faith moved the world for God. The beginning for each of us is to believe that which we cannot see and to know that God is who he says he is, does what he says he does and that he loved and created us from before the foundation of the earth. Being able to live in faith is an etiology of itself. Believing that God can heal, deliver, provide, and save mankind is mind boggling. It's only mind boggling because our faith only goes so far. Beyond that point our understanding ceases to exist and it is there that we surrender to that which we do not know. Mankind has been trying to find God through science, mathematics, theology, philosophy, and a myriad other ways over the existence of mankind. None have succeeded. The only manner by which God can be found, discovered, engaged is by faith. Faith is the evidence of things unseen and the hope of things to come. Next time you are telling someone that Jesus loves them, let them know about the etiology of the God your are proclaiming. He is your and my first cause.
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Admitting the obvious isn't always easy.
Awareness of my environment, people and other essentials sometimes gets muddled because I take them all for granted. There is something about being involved in and around the everyday that keeps us from seeing what is going on. For instance, most of us have computers and most of us have social media of some sort. When we go on social media "just to check for messages", we find ourselves 2 hours later looking at someone's posting from Pakistan about the price of food there. Finding ourselves having just wasted time we try to find some justification for doing so. It's there that the "obvious" comes into play. We obviously know the difference between good choices and bad choices, sin and righteousness, grace and selfishness to name a few. There comes a point in each of our lives when we are taught either directly or by example that the events, people, and concerns are "outside" of our need to address. So what if there are starving children in Africa. I still am not going to eat that food placed before me. So said the 6 year old. Obviously we in our world don't put things in perspective. Perspective is a means of comparing what is and what isn't. For me there is no hunger. For someone who is homeless, it's always hunger. For me there is not a thought of shelter and a warm bed. For the homeless there is only dreams and memories of a bed much less shelter. For me there are not only clothes on my back but there are dresser and closet full of clothes that I haven't worn in years. Who else has a closet with 3 or more sizes? Obviously I'm better fed than I need be.
A serious question we must ask ourselves is whether or not our Christianity is visible to the world around us and outside of us. If being a Christian were a capital offense demanding the death sentence, would there be enough evidence to convict me? Okay, I stole that quote. I don't know who said it but the implications are there for all of us. Is there that amount and quality of evidence that a trial of 12 of our peers (fellow Christians) would find us guilty of the crime of exercising Christian living? Obviously we don't ask ourselves that question nearly as often as we should. Should we ask that question more frequently than when we put that dollar in the offering on Sunday we may just rethink our place in the world. It seems that I'm always confessing my failure here in this blog and today is not different. I've obviously ignored the Christ mandate to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. I've obviously ignored the Christ mandate to minister to the widows and the orphans. I've obviously ignored the Christ mandate to preach the Gospel, shelter the homeless, exercise mercy to my enemies, be gracious to strangers, and about a thousand other acts of Christian living. How about you? Obviously we need to. It's that simple and complex at the same time.
I once went to an elderly neighbors home to offer to mow his lawn for free. It was a large lawn and he wasn't able to do the task. He kept asking what I wanted for mowing the lawn. Nothing, I told him. He finally relented and insisted I use his mower and gas. It took me 2 days to mow all of his lawn as it was abut a foot tall. When I was finished I was invited in by his wife. We had lemonade and talked about the need to do good in the world. The obvious became clear as we talked. Their son lived about 2 blocks away and had been promising to mow the lawn for several months (obviously). I was shocked. They were more than thankful. I found out that they were Christian and that he had serious heart problem. She was frail and unable to work outside the house. Two weeks later as I was driving by their home I noticed the son mowing the lawn. The obvious gift that God had given through me did more than provide a mowed lawn. The son continued to mow the lawn regularly after that. Sometimes the obvious result of our Christian living isn't seen until down the road. It's important that we don't lose sight of the obvious message of Jesus to let him live through us every moment of every day. If it's so obvious, why don't I do it? Because obviously it's not important enough. Obviously that has to change.
A serious question we must ask ourselves is whether or not our Christianity is visible to the world around us and outside of us. If being a Christian were a capital offense demanding the death sentence, would there be enough evidence to convict me? Okay, I stole that quote. I don't know who said it but the implications are there for all of us. Is there that amount and quality of evidence that a trial of 12 of our peers (fellow Christians) would find us guilty of the crime of exercising Christian living? Obviously we don't ask ourselves that question nearly as often as we should. Should we ask that question more frequently than when we put that dollar in the offering on Sunday we may just rethink our place in the world. It seems that I'm always confessing my failure here in this blog and today is not different. I've obviously ignored the Christ mandate to go into all the world and make disciples of all men. I've obviously ignored the Christ mandate to minister to the widows and the orphans. I've obviously ignored the Christ mandate to preach the Gospel, shelter the homeless, exercise mercy to my enemies, be gracious to strangers, and about a thousand other acts of Christian living. How about you? Obviously we need to. It's that simple and complex at the same time.
I once went to an elderly neighbors home to offer to mow his lawn for free. It was a large lawn and he wasn't able to do the task. He kept asking what I wanted for mowing the lawn. Nothing, I told him. He finally relented and insisted I use his mower and gas. It took me 2 days to mow all of his lawn as it was abut a foot tall. When I was finished I was invited in by his wife. We had lemonade and talked about the need to do good in the world. The obvious became clear as we talked. Their son lived about 2 blocks away and had been promising to mow the lawn for several months (obviously). I was shocked. They were more than thankful. I found out that they were Christian and that he had serious heart problem. She was frail and unable to work outside the house. Two weeks later as I was driving by their home I noticed the son mowing the lawn. The obvious gift that God had given through me did more than provide a mowed lawn. The son continued to mow the lawn regularly after that. Sometimes the obvious result of our Christian living isn't seen until down the road. It's important that we don't lose sight of the obvious message of Jesus to let him live through us every moment of every day. If it's so obvious, why don't I do it? Because obviously it's not important enough. Obviously that has to change.
Friday, January 22, 2016
The problem with Christian perspective.
We all have opinions. We know those who believe their opinion is the only right one. Sometimes our opinions are the only right ones...or so we think. Little do we know that when we come to the area of opinions that our opinions don't really count that much. Let me give you an example. In my opinion, the rapture should happen now and you wouldn't even finish reading this unless you weren't a Christian. My reasons are selfish. I want to go home and be with Jesus. There is not much that is a draw for me to choose to stay here when I can go there. God's opinion is that Jesus will return when he determines that to happen and not a nanosecond sooner. Why? Because there are still people who need to come to know Jesus. My opinion would have resulted in people lost. His opinion is that those people are worth the wait. Opinions are choices we make that affect not only areas of our lives but also those of our family, friends and enemies. We are told to love them all. The problem is we don't do so in the Christian perspective. What we do is try to make God, in our opinion, fit into our perspective denying Him access to people. My opinion sucks!
The Christian perspective today is the same as it's always been. God is love and we are to be that love to the world we are visiting without constraint. The perspective that gets us into trouble isn't the constraints that are manufactured according to our will, but rather placing them above the love of God. Who do we think we are? God? Well, I do know some people who think they are god. You do as well. Okay, I admit it! I've played god to my world a lot! There I said it. I've been outside of God's perspective of what a Christian is every time I choose me instead of Him. That's sin. My picking and choosing (like yours) of who I will love and how I will love shouldn't be about me. It should be about God and his relationship with mankind through the life and work of his Son, Jesus. Look around you. What do you see. All the lonely people looking back at me. All the lonely people. Where do they all come from? The Beatles sang this song. It could have been written and sang by John the Baptist. The cry of mankind's heart is the same now as it was then. The Christian perspective either cares about the separation between man and God or it doesn't.
Some people have told me (even in writing) that my up front, in your face, writing style is hypocritical because I'm no better than anyone else. They are, of course, right. That fact (and it is a fact) doesn't lessen the Scripture. My perspective, like theirs, lessens the Scripture. God doesn't want that anymore than he wants to see people choose an eternity in hell. When I make my choice based on my perspective and opinion, I'm wrong. When I make my choice based on God's perspective and opinion, I'm right. Whether or not you live a perfect life, your words, thoughts and deeds tell God whether or not you believe that He is God. There's that harsh perspective again. Show me where in the Scripture you or I have been given the right to be the god of our world. It doesn't exist. The Christian perspective of defining Christianity according to our whims, biases, and prejudices are counter God's perspective. The problem we face is submitting our free will to God and allowing him to fully live through us. That's the Christian perspective from God's point of view. How do I know? I read the Bible.
The Christian perspective today is the same as it's always been. God is love and we are to be that love to the world we are visiting without constraint. The perspective that gets us into trouble isn't the constraints that are manufactured according to our will, but rather placing them above the love of God. Who do we think we are? God? Well, I do know some people who think they are god. You do as well. Okay, I admit it! I've played god to my world a lot! There I said it. I've been outside of God's perspective of what a Christian is every time I choose me instead of Him. That's sin. My picking and choosing (like yours) of who I will love and how I will love shouldn't be about me. It should be about God and his relationship with mankind through the life and work of his Son, Jesus. Look around you. What do you see. All the lonely people looking back at me. All the lonely people. Where do they all come from? The Beatles sang this song. It could have been written and sang by John the Baptist. The cry of mankind's heart is the same now as it was then. The Christian perspective either cares about the separation between man and God or it doesn't.
Some people have told me (even in writing) that my up front, in your face, writing style is hypocritical because I'm no better than anyone else. They are, of course, right. That fact (and it is a fact) doesn't lessen the Scripture. My perspective, like theirs, lessens the Scripture. God doesn't want that anymore than he wants to see people choose an eternity in hell. When I make my choice based on my perspective and opinion, I'm wrong. When I make my choice based on God's perspective and opinion, I'm right. Whether or not you live a perfect life, your words, thoughts and deeds tell God whether or not you believe that He is God. There's that harsh perspective again. Show me where in the Scripture you or I have been given the right to be the god of our world. It doesn't exist. The Christian perspective of defining Christianity according to our whims, biases, and prejudices are counter God's perspective. The problem we face is submitting our free will to God and allowing him to fully live through us. That's the Christian perspective from God's point of view. How do I know? I read the Bible.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Exaggerating for a purpose
I heard the other day that it was so cold that teenagers were pulling their pants up! It was so windy (in North Dakota) that I saw a chicken lay the same egg 4 times! There was a fisherman who caught this 400 pound rainbow trout from his swimming pool! Okay, you get the point, there are exaggerations that run from realistic to unrealistic. Most border on the space in between the two. Sometimes it's difficult to understand what is okay to exaggerate and what is just plain stupid. For instance, people who don't know the Lord, when they hear about a miracle claim it's something other than what it actually is...a miracle.to the unbeliever and to the world in general are exaggerations, imaginings, or unbelievable. While believers know this to not be the case, the world can and will believe what it will. I have exaggerated. You have exaggerated. It's a part of being a human being. It wasn't really all my doing that this went right or wrong. Nor was it all my fault that this went right or wrong. We have an innate ability to try to claim that which is good or positive as something we thought up or did ourselves. After all our media force feeds us this stuff every day. "I invented the internet." and "I was there" come to mind in recent years.
Surely, God wouldn't send people to hell? No, God wouldn't. Surely, God wouldn't let an innocent child die? No, God wouldn't. Surely, God wouldn't condemn those who haven't heard about Jesus? No, God wouldn't. Exaggeration is based on fear and insecurity. We seek someone to blame for the bad and take credit for the good. It's all about exaggeration. The Christian is asked to not exaggerate. James tells us to let our yes be yes and our no be no. Translated: yes and no answers. No, God won't send people to hell...that's people's choice. No, there are no exceptions. It's all about our choice. I didn't cause the most recent war. Nor did I prevent the most recent war. If someone has told you I am responsible, they are exaggerating. My choices may have contributed but they weren't the cause. The same goes for our pasts. I didn't choose to have my childhood as it was. I did choose what I did with what I was given. To say that I'm to blame for being abused is absurd! Yet, that's what perpetrators say about their victims. Thus the victim becomes the perpetrator in their minds. It's just a short exaggeration from there for our society to play the blame game to their advantage and call it normal. Exaggerations are not normal.
I'd love to say that I have never exaggerated. That would be an exaggeration. Wait! That looks more like a lie to me! That's because exaggerations are lies. Telling someone my fish was a foot long when it was six inches is a lie and not an exaggeration. The purpose for exaggerating is to put ourselves in a better light. The purpose in the world is to have us believe something that isn't true. The world takes exaggeration and uses them to tell us that this or that is acceptable and true even when it isn't. We've all had fun with exaggerations. We tell jokes, make fun of people and situations and generally try to be funny. The serious side of exaggeration comes when we believe the lie. That being the assurance of the world that the worlds wisdom is better, greater and more believable than that of God. You can pick the topic. Look around you and examine the world's messages in comparison to the message of the Word of God. Exaggeration will get you whatever you want. Faith in God will get you what you need. Your choice.
Surely, God wouldn't send people to hell? No, God wouldn't. Surely, God wouldn't let an innocent child die? No, God wouldn't. Surely, God wouldn't condemn those who haven't heard about Jesus? No, God wouldn't. Exaggeration is based on fear and insecurity. We seek someone to blame for the bad and take credit for the good. It's all about exaggeration. The Christian is asked to not exaggerate. James tells us to let our yes be yes and our no be no. Translated: yes and no answers. No, God won't send people to hell...that's people's choice. No, there are no exceptions. It's all about our choice. I didn't cause the most recent war. Nor did I prevent the most recent war. If someone has told you I am responsible, they are exaggerating. My choices may have contributed but they weren't the cause. The same goes for our pasts. I didn't choose to have my childhood as it was. I did choose what I did with what I was given. To say that I'm to blame for being abused is absurd! Yet, that's what perpetrators say about their victims. Thus the victim becomes the perpetrator in their minds. It's just a short exaggeration from there for our society to play the blame game to their advantage and call it normal. Exaggerations are not normal.
I'd love to say that I have never exaggerated. That would be an exaggeration. Wait! That looks more like a lie to me! That's because exaggerations are lies. Telling someone my fish was a foot long when it was six inches is a lie and not an exaggeration. The purpose for exaggerating is to put ourselves in a better light. The purpose in the world is to have us believe something that isn't true. The world takes exaggeration and uses them to tell us that this or that is acceptable and true even when it isn't. We've all had fun with exaggerations. We tell jokes, make fun of people and situations and generally try to be funny. The serious side of exaggeration comes when we believe the lie. That being the assurance of the world that the worlds wisdom is better, greater and more believable than that of God. You can pick the topic. Look around you and examine the world's messages in comparison to the message of the Word of God. Exaggeration will get you whatever you want. Faith in God will get you what you need. Your choice.
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
What about those less fortunate?
Am I my brother's keeper? Where do I begin and end in relationship to caring for those less fortunate, those afflicted with diseases they did not ask for, and those who lack because they won't work? The story is told of a man who comes to his pastor and tells the pastor that he cannot stand his situation anymore and is going to divorce his wife. The pastor asks the man if he loves his wife. The man says he doesn't love her as his wife. The pastor asks the man if he loves her as a fellow believer. The man said he didn't love her in that manner either. The pastor asks the man if he loves her as a friend. The man sadly tells the pastor that he is unable to do that either. The pastor asks the man if he loves her as a part of humanity. The man says no. The pastor then said that the man is left with the responsibility to love his wife as his enemy. There was no escaping the responsibility to love. The ability to love is governed only by how we want to expend ourselves for others. For many there is no expending done at all. Others, though few, expend their lives for those around them who are fortunate or not. Discretion shouldn't be used in the same sense as the verb, love.
Defining who my brother is should be easy. However, we seek only those who agree with us, understand like us, believe like us and act like us to fill the definition of brother. If you fall outside of that understanding the result is we don't consider you our brother and use this as justification to not be my brother's keeper. Jesus tells us that "whatever you do with the least of these, you do to me." Well, that doesn't really fit with what I do, believe and do not do because I do not believe. Love your enemy? Do good to those who persecute you? Go the extra mile? Give your coat to someone who asks for it? Really!? Jesus, you surely don't mean so and so? They aren't in my social group. They don't believe in you. They don't do what society expects them to do to fit in. They are mentally ill. They are sick and might be contagious. They are to big, to small, to...whatever. They are the wrong color. They don't do to me what they want me to do for them. Ahh...there is part of the problem. Jesus didn't tell us to be our brother's keeper in order to have anyone treat us as we treat them. He told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
What it comes down to is what kind of vision we have. I don't mean what we see God doing in the future. That's important but not at question right now. What I mean is how we see others. Do we see others from God's eyes or our own? My eyes are tainted with all the crap of humanity. There is a prejudice in the way we look at anything and everything. Some think this way, some think that way and others don't seem to think at all! What do I see? What does it take to see what God sees. First is a willingness to see me as God sees me. I am the brother that I'm asked to be a keeper to. There is no difference between anyone. We are all a fallen creation who sin daily and live a fallen life. Except for the grace of God there go I. How about you? When I stop seeing my fallen nature, I begin to exclude people and groups from the tab labelled "brother" in my mind. Like Samuel told David when confronting David on his multiple sins, "You are that man." That's what God tells us every day. Yet in our piety we don't see the world from God's eyes and ignore the simple command to "feed my sheep." As far as excuses go, I am the king of excuse making. I've driven by the homeless, ignored the pleas of the plight of those less fortunate and corralled my resources and protected my bank account while not once realizing that TODAY my soul may be demanded of me and all of my unspent life wasted. God want us to be spent today...totally...for Him.
Defining who my brother is should be easy. However, we seek only those who agree with us, understand like us, believe like us and act like us to fill the definition of brother. If you fall outside of that understanding the result is we don't consider you our brother and use this as justification to not be my brother's keeper. Jesus tells us that "whatever you do with the least of these, you do to me." Well, that doesn't really fit with what I do, believe and do not do because I do not believe. Love your enemy? Do good to those who persecute you? Go the extra mile? Give your coat to someone who asks for it? Really!? Jesus, you surely don't mean so and so? They aren't in my social group. They don't believe in you. They don't do what society expects them to do to fit in. They are mentally ill. They are sick and might be contagious. They are to big, to small, to...whatever. They are the wrong color. They don't do to me what they want me to do for them. Ahh...there is part of the problem. Jesus didn't tell us to be our brother's keeper in order to have anyone treat us as we treat them. He told us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
What it comes down to is what kind of vision we have. I don't mean what we see God doing in the future. That's important but not at question right now. What I mean is how we see others. Do we see others from God's eyes or our own? My eyes are tainted with all the crap of humanity. There is a prejudice in the way we look at anything and everything. Some think this way, some think that way and others don't seem to think at all! What do I see? What does it take to see what God sees. First is a willingness to see me as God sees me. I am the brother that I'm asked to be a keeper to. There is no difference between anyone. We are all a fallen creation who sin daily and live a fallen life. Except for the grace of God there go I. How about you? When I stop seeing my fallen nature, I begin to exclude people and groups from the tab labelled "brother" in my mind. Like Samuel told David when confronting David on his multiple sins, "You are that man." That's what God tells us every day. Yet in our piety we don't see the world from God's eyes and ignore the simple command to "feed my sheep." As far as excuses go, I am the king of excuse making. I've driven by the homeless, ignored the pleas of the plight of those less fortunate and corralled my resources and protected my bank account while not once realizing that TODAY my soul may be demanded of me and all of my unspent life wasted. God want us to be spent today...totally...for Him.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
The problem with patience...
I want to begin today by telling everyone reading this that I am not a patient man. I learned long ago to not ask for patience as you get trials. Hence the late post today. Actually, I was dealing with other situations today and the blog had taken back seat. Now that the crisis are over and calm has returned to my home and life I am able to write. That is until the next crisis. That's the way it is with patience. We pride ourselves (first mistake) on being able to handle the situation that we should have given to God and left with him (second mistake). We then attempt to repair damage, adjust thoughts and feelings and move on with life (our third mistake). Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes all lead to frustration, frustration and more frustration. At least for me. Those of you out there who are perfect may disagree. Of course I do learn from the mistakes. At least I like to think I did until I find myself repeating the same mistake in the same manner with the same results. Insanity is what that is called. Patience doesn't have "insanity" in it's definition. I checked. I know that my life can and has been run by the seat of my pants before. Many times I have succumbed to explaining to others how God didn't tell me to do it this way. He told me to do it differently but I knew better. Pride, then is not an element of patience either. No, we cannot and should not be proud of our patience. Pride shouldn't be in the equation at all.
I don't know about you but I have taken the sacrifice off the alter more than I have left it there for God to deal with. You know how you pray and tell Jesus it's too much for you to bear, that it's solution is unknown to you and how the worry won't do you any good. So, like me, you leave it on the alter and forget to remove the tether from your ankle and you drag the thing back off the alter, out into the street and into your car. You realize a block down the road that there seems to be something hanging you up and look beside you and there it is, the problem. Since it's there beside you there is no need to take it back. You repeat this day and day out like stopping at the coffee shop for a cup of coffee and donut. The repeated independence from God begins to grow on you like the fat around your gut from to many donuts and not enough exercise. What to do? Be patient, I'm getting there.
The third problem we seem to not want to do without surfaces in our everyday life. We get so used to "everyday" life that we fail to see that we haven't moved out of the rut we've been living in for eons. People know us and begin to predict our behavior. "That Steve, prays well but doesn't mean it." "He has no peace but won't acknowledge God is the author of peace." Substitute your name if you like. Patience is what God is best at...at least when it comes to dealing with me. The Word says he is patient and long suffering not wanting that any man should perish. His mercies go on forever and his love endures even longer. So, the problem with patience is me and not someone else. The problem is I choose to keep my problem. The choice is always mine...and yours.
I don't know about you but I have taken the sacrifice off the alter more than I have left it there for God to deal with. You know how you pray and tell Jesus it's too much for you to bear, that it's solution is unknown to you and how the worry won't do you any good. So, like me, you leave it on the alter and forget to remove the tether from your ankle and you drag the thing back off the alter, out into the street and into your car. You realize a block down the road that there seems to be something hanging you up and look beside you and there it is, the problem. Since it's there beside you there is no need to take it back. You repeat this day and day out like stopping at the coffee shop for a cup of coffee and donut. The repeated independence from God begins to grow on you like the fat around your gut from to many donuts and not enough exercise. What to do? Be patient, I'm getting there.
The third problem we seem to not want to do without surfaces in our everyday life. We get so used to "everyday" life that we fail to see that we haven't moved out of the rut we've been living in for eons. People know us and begin to predict our behavior. "That Steve, prays well but doesn't mean it." "He has no peace but won't acknowledge God is the author of peace." Substitute your name if you like. Patience is what God is best at...at least when it comes to dealing with me. The Word says he is patient and long suffering not wanting that any man should perish. His mercies go on forever and his love endures even longer. So, the problem with patience is me and not someone else. The problem is I choose to keep my problem. The choice is always mine...and yours.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Biting my tongue
It's a painful experience if we are talking about the actual physical action where you are about to chomp down on a nice piece of food and the side or corner of your tongue gets in the way! The flash of pain, the head jerk and resulting words all suggest less than wonderful. The Bible also has something to say about biting my tongue. "Better to thought an idiot than to open your mouth and wipe away all doubt." I was sitting at a table with a group of people and discussing aspects of our Christian lives. Tonight's topic was in confession of sin. It came my turn and I wasn't about to spill my guts on the sins I've committed. Much to revealing and my trust level isn't that high anyway. So, when asked, I told them I had this past week broken all of the 10 Commandments. There was silence. So, not one to keep my mouth shut, I went on to say that even if I hadn't broken them with my words or actions that thoughts do go through my head that equate to sin. At least that's the way Jesus put it. So, I didn't have to share specific sin that would have exposed me to those who could possibly either shy away, use it against me down the road, or love on me. The latter seems to be least likely given my past experience with mankind. William James once said, "There may be a God in heaven who forgives us our sins; but mankind does not."
Do I trust you? Do you trust me? Perhaps the biting of the tongue has less to do with me then it has to do with you. Maybe it has more do with me than it has to do with you. Perhaps avoidance of situations isn't a good thing. Maybe confession is supposed to be healing and not punishing. Could it be that we should look past the past and live in the present in order to hopefully help others to find Jesus? The Christian who bites their tongue fails to speak for various reasons. They may be under the cloak of guilt that Satan keeps reminding us we have. See David in Psalm 51. Do they feel unworthy to forgive themselves and then unable to forgive others in the classic struggle of what we are versus what we should be? When I put myself down, in prison of my own making, and feel the weight of all that is wrong instead of is right, I break relationship with God and indeed bite my tongue. I stay silent. I don't speak up. When I was writing my book "While I Was Still Sinning" I was told by more than one person that because of my sinful past that I didn't have any right to write the book or profess holy living to anyone. I had somehow forfeited my right to be a Christian because of my sin. Is this where I bite my tongue?
The act of biting one's tongue displaces attention from whatever we were going to say or do to the pain that is now radiating throughout my mouth. The distraction keeps us or prevents us from moving forward in the direction once started. After biting my tongue I don't really care how good the food tastes. All I care is how to lessen and be rid of the pain. Eventually the pain subsides and the moment is gone. Unable to get past the act of biting my tongue I have wandered past the moment of enjoyment. How many of us have walked away, driven home, sat in our recliners and said, "I wish I had said something."? I have. Have you, like me, shied away from telling someone about Jesus because you thought you might offend them, that some of the company you are with would be offended or you didn't think you would be able to finish the task? I have. Biting the tongue is something we all do. I have scars inside of my mouth where I've bitten my cheeks over and over. Never on purpose. Perhaps sometimes God arranges for me to bite my tongue because it's not the right time or place to say what needs to be said. Maybe you, like me, just lack the coordination to eat a meal without doing harm to ourselves. When it comes to your and my witness, we need to remember to not bite our tongue unless the Spirit says to do so.
Do I trust you? Do you trust me? Perhaps the biting of the tongue has less to do with me then it has to do with you. Maybe it has more do with me than it has to do with you. Perhaps avoidance of situations isn't a good thing. Maybe confession is supposed to be healing and not punishing. Could it be that we should look past the past and live in the present in order to hopefully help others to find Jesus? The Christian who bites their tongue fails to speak for various reasons. They may be under the cloak of guilt that Satan keeps reminding us we have. See David in Psalm 51. Do they feel unworthy to forgive themselves and then unable to forgive others in the classic struggle of what we are versus what we should be? When I put myself down, in prison of my own making, and feel the weight of all that is wrong instead of is right, I break relationship with God and indeed bite my tongue. I stay silent. I don't speak up. When I was writing my book "While I Was Still Sinning" I was told by more than one person that because of my sinful past that I didn't have any right to write the book or profess holy living to anyone. I had somehow forfeited my right to be a Christian because of my sin. Is this where I bite my tongue?
The act of biting one's tongue displaces attention from whatever we were going to say or do to the pain that is now radiating throughout my mouth. The distraction keeps us or prevents us from moving forward in the direction once started. After biting my tongue I don't really care how good the food tastes. All I care is how to lessen and be rid of the pain. Eventually the pain subsides and the moment is gone. Unable to get past the act of biting my tongue I have wandered past the moment of enjoyment. How many of us have walked away, driven home, sat in our recliners and said, "I wish I had said something."? I have. Have you, like me, shied away from telling someone about Jesus because you thought you might offend them, that some of the company you are with would be offended or you didn't think you would be able to finish the task? I have. Biting the tongue is something we all do. I have scars inside of my mouth where I've bitten my cheeks over and over. Never on purpose. Perhaps sometimes God arranges for me to bite my tongue because it's not the right time or place to say what needs to be said. Maybe you, like me, just lack the coordination to eat a meal without doing harm to ourselves. When it comes to your and my witness, we need to remember to not bite our tongue unless the Spirit says to do so.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Can't remember where I left my identity?
Did I leave it with my family home? Did I leave it at work? Did I leave it in that outfit I use to go out on the town? Maybe I left it at church and can pick it up today? I'm not talking about Paul's statement of being all things to all people. I'm talking about not being true to your God given identity. What exactly does that mean? Take Jeremiah for instance. Around the age of 13-15 God called him to be a prophet. That's kind of young isn't it? God told him to never take a wife, to not father children and to own nothing because his life was going to be miserable. God told him that he would prophecy doom and destruction to the Israelites due to their abandonment of God. Jeremiah's prophecies would take them from their arrogant self sustaining selves to enslavement under the hands of the Babylonians. Would you have liked to have the identity of Jeremiah? I use Jeremiah but there are a host of others that were and are called by God to be his identity to their world. Wait! That's what we are supposed to do when we become Christian! The very first step in our Christian life is to identify with Christ and no longer against Him. We are to "put on" Christ. We are to put on the "armor of God". We are to stand firm to the end and overcome the evil one. That is our identity.
When I get up I have the best of intentions of manifesting the identity of Christ in my life. I even read the Bible and journal about what God has brought me through the previous day. Then I type this blog and proclaim to you what God has given me to proclaim. Today he has asked me to talk about identity and where we left it. We know that when we go off to church, work or a friends/families home that we "put on" clean clothing, brush our hair and look presentable. We put away that which may offend and focus on what will be a good time for all. We do this day in and day out and consequently never really live fully the identity that God gives us. We laugh at the crude jokes, share lustful looks with others, swear occasionally so that we "fit in" and even go to the bar for a drink "with the guys" before going home. We present and represent an identity that is pleasing to the world but not necessarily pleasing to God. I think God likes football. He created it. So, watching a game isn't a bad thing. When football (or any other sport/hobby) gets in the way of what God is wanting to do and is doing, they are no longer part of God's identity that is to reside in us. What you put in the way of God manifesting himself in your life? Why do you do it?
Living out the identity of Christ in us costs us nothing. We don't believe that though and even Scripture talks about counting the cost of following Jesus. The disciples were sent out to minister to the masses. He sent them with the clothes on their basks because he had already clothed them with everything they would need on this short journey. None of them returned to say,"If I had just had my fly fishing outfit." None. Their identity was worn in their lives. Yes, we know that Peter in particular had difficulty with this area of his life. Yes, they all fled from the Cross but John. Yes, the one called Judas cast off the identity. What are you going to do? What is your identity in Christ? Are you going to wear that identity? Are you going to put on Christ when it fits you and no other time? Do the people around you know that you have died to self and put on Christ? Where did you leave your identity?
When I get up I have the best of intentions of manifesting the identity of Christ in my life. I even read the Bible and journal about what God has brought me through the previous day. Then I type this blog and proclaim to you what God has given me to proclaim. Today he has asked me to talk about identity and where we left it. We know that when we go off to church, work or a friends/families home that we "put on" clean clothing, brush our hair and look presentable. We put away that which may offend and focus on what will be a good time for all. We do this day in and day out and consequently never really live fully the identity that God gives us. We laugh at the crude jokes, share lustful looks with others, swear occasionally so that we "fit in" and even go to the bar for a drink "with the guys" before going home. We present and represent an identity that is pleasing to the world but not necessarily pleasing to God. I think God likes football. He created it. So, watching a game isn't a bad thing. When football (or any other sport/hobby) gets in the way of what God is wanting to do and is doing, they are no longer part of God's identity that is to reside in us. What you put in the way of God manifesting himself in your life? Why do you do it?
Living out the identity of Christ in us costs us nothing. We don't believe that though and even Scripture talks about counting the cost of following Jesus. The disciples were sent out to minister to the masses. He sent them with the clothes on their basks because he had already clothed them with everything they would need on this short journey. None of them returned to say,"If I had just had my fly fishing outfit." None. Their identity was worn in their lives. Yes, we know that Peter in particular had difficulty with this area of his life. Yes, they all fled from the Cross but John. Yes, the one called Judas cast off the identity. What are you going to do? What is your identity in Christ? Are you going to wear that identity? Are you going to put on Christ when it fits you and no other time? Do the people around you know that you have died to self and put on Christ? Where did you leave your identity?
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Why me, why now?
Sometimes we just end up in a place where we start feeling sorry for ourselves. The feeling doesn't just jump on you like some close friend playing a trick. The feeling sneaks into your life, takes command of the mothership and holds you hostage until you cry "Uncle!". Or something like that. Regardless, feeling sorry for ourselves has a long genetic component running all the way back to Adam and Eve. It's what a fallen humanity does. Sometimes when we least expect the feeling to appear we get caught by surprise and are complaining even before the whole thought has a chance to take hold. Satan knew what he was doing. Feeling sorry for one's self is a selfish act. That's what he did when he chose to oppose God in Heaven and was cast to earth. He chose to be selfish. Wanting something that wasn't his to have. He didn't feel sorry for the 1/4 of heavenly host he took with him to hell. He doesn't feel sorry if he takes you to hell either. There is a difference between feeling sorry and feeling sorry for one's self. Often we are sorry for what has happened whether we are part of the equation or not. When we feel sorry for ourselves we disregard God and possibly others. The focus is on me. That sense of entitlement grows into sin and there we are.
In the Spirit controlled life we should try to minimize the selfishness. We can't eliminate the trait but we can submit it to the Spirit. There isn't a character in the Bible (except Jesus) who hasn't felt the complaining selfish nature of this trait. Feeling sorry for ourselves is something that we learned and teach. It's something that we've practiced. This trait is as manipulative of ourselves and others as we let it be. More significantly is our delusion that with this "sorry" attitude that we can manipulate God into being and doing what we want. Quite frankly, we have two spirits to choose from as we live out our lives here on planet crazy. First we can submit to the Spirit of God (good choice) and second we can submit to the demonic spirit (bad choice). If you are waiting for a third choice, there isn't any. There never was and never will be. We either, as Christians, choose to glorify God or we glorify Satan. That seems harsh. Because it is. If we choose to honor God then we will be seen as harsh to the world. If we choose to honor the world we are harsh to God.
In the Spirit controlled life we should try to minimize the selfishness. We can't eliminate the trait but we can submit it to the Spirit. There isn't a character in the Bible (except Jesus) who hasn't felt the complaining selfish nature of this trait. Feeling sorry for ourselves is something that we learned and teach. It's something that we've practiced. This trait is as manipulative of ourselves and others as we let it be. More significantly is our delusion that with this "sorry" attitude that we can manipulate God into being and doing what we want. Quite frankly, we have two spirits to choose from as we live out our lives here on planet crazy. First we can submit to the Spirit of God (good choice) and second we can submit to the demonic spirit (bad choice). If you are waiting for a third choice, there isn't any. There never was and never will be. We either, as Christians, choose to glorify God or we glorify Satan. That seems harsh. Because it is. If we choose to honor God then we will be seen as harsh to the world. If we choose to honor the world we are harsh to God.
Friday, January 15, 2016
Living with unrealistic Christian expectations.
The reality of the 1st century church and the 21st century church are so opposite that it's difficult to find evidences of the former in the latter. What was a standard in 33 AD is barely recognizable today. I realize this is a very general statement about a very specific topic. Please bear with me. Since the beginning of time mankind has taken to task what definition fits on a certain people, time, community and future. What was once thought impossible is now in museums. The world has changed so much over time that we no longer have any idea what was first meant by Christian living. Circumstances and their responses have been crippled with minimization on major issues and making major issues out of minimal ones. It's what mankind does to fit inside a definition. If we don't like how the definition looks and that definition requires something I'm uncomfortable with; simply change the definition. George Orwell, in his book "198"4, speaks of the changing of history in order to justify the existence of a certain group of leaders. Everyone was expected to adjust to this new version of history as gospel. Civilization, in that world, were expected to capitulate or be retrained so they could fit back into the new society. Civilization has done the same with Christianity. Redefine so that our disobedience can be justified and rationalized into obedience.
Karl Menninger, in his book "Whatever Became of Sin", traces the behavior of mankind backwards from today identifying mankind's redefining of responsibility for sin. Blaming and shaming being the greatest motivators in doing so. Menninger is correct in stating that all of our redefining is for the sake of our comfort on every level with whatever it is we want to do. This is especially true in the Christian community. Becoming all things to all people for Paul resembles nothing what he intended in today's Christian life. For Paul, the surrender of his person and all that it represented is essential to bring Christ to others on an ongoing and saving manner. Today we ask that others become like us so that they can then belong to our distorted world of self-centered living. Our expectations have turned from what we give to what we can get. Give little and take a lot. Jesus argued the opposite. Give everything and receive the blessings of heaven so much that you will not be able to contain them. What a difference from the prosperity preachers of today. Shame on them. They truly have their reward. In the meantime instead of edifying those who belong to Christ, they victimize and rob from them in the name of a redefined Christianity. As Paul would say, they follow no Gospel at all.
Why is it we belong to a body of believers? Is it for reasons dictated by Christ or is it for more human like reasons. The church for many is a wonderful social gathering marked by food and drink. I've attended a Christian home group that is comprised of individuals whose focus is on wine tasting. It's not that wine tasting is bad for any of us. Rather, we need to be asking ourselves two questions. The first is whether or not this edifies Christ and the body of believers? The second is whether or not it's what Jesus instructed when he told us to not "forsake the gathering of yourselves."? Is our desire to be "inclusive" so strong that we deny the very basis of our belief? Have we moved to that place where it's more important to guard someone's feelings in order that they not deal with the guilt of their sin? Do we avoid saying anything because, "I'm a sinner too and have no room to judge."? How many of our churches, denominations have gone so far from the first church that their worship is not recognizable and not even Scriptural? Those and other questions form how you and I think, serve and obey. It's not a do what you want and feel what you want world. It's a world where the unrealistic expectations are now regarding those who hold true to the faith in a negative, hindering and "wrong" manner. The first century faith and community are for many now wrong. It's still your choice. Do what God wants or do what you want. That's it. No other choices.
Karl Menninger, in his book "Whatever Became of Sin", traces the behavior of mankind backwards from today identifying mankind's redefining of responsibility for sin. Blaming and shaming being the greatest motivators in doing so. Menninger is correct in stating that all of our redefining is for the sake of our comfort on every level with whatever it is we want to do. This is especially true in the Christian community. Becoming all things to all people for Paul resembles nothing what he intended in today's Christian life. For Paul, the surrender of his person and all that it represented is essential to bring Christ to others on an ongoing and saving manner. Today we ask that others become like us so that they can then belong to our distorted world of self-centered living. Our expectations have turned from what we give to what we can get. Give little and take a lot. Jesus argued the opposite. Give everything and receive the blessings of heaven so much that you will not be able to contain them. What a difference from the prosperity preachers of today. Shame on them. They truly have their reward. In the meantime instead of edifying those who belong to Christ, they victimize and rob from them in the name of a redefined Christianity. As Paul would say, they follow no Gospel at all.
Why is it we belong to a body of believers? Is it for reasons dictated by Christ or is it for more human like reasons. The church for many is a wonderful social gathering marked by food and drink. I've attended a Christian home group that is comprised of individuals whose focus is on wine tasting. It's not that wine tasting is bad for any of us. Rather, we need to be asking ourselves two questions. The first is whether or not this edifies Christ and the body of believers? The second is whether or not it's what Jesus instructed when he told us to not "forsake the gathering of yourselves."? Is our desire to be "inclusive" so strong that we deny the very basis of our belief? Have we moved to that place where it's more important to guard someone's feelings in order that they not deal with the guilt of their sin? Do we avoid saying anything because, "I'm a sinner too and have no room to judge."? How many of our churches, denominations have gone so far from the first church that their worship is not recognizable and not even Scriptural? Those and other questions form how you and I think, serve and obey. It's not a do what you want and feel what you want world. It's a world where the unrealistic expectations are now regarding those who hold true to the faith in a negative, hindering and "wrong" manner. The first century faith and community are for many now wrong. It's still your choice. Do what God wants or do what you want. That's it. No other choices.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
What you can expect and depend on in life.
It's often been said that there are only two sure things in life: death and taxes. So far it's been proven correct from the worlds point of view. The "worlds" point of view is self centered. The Christian point of view is to be God centered. Thought I would give some clarification on "the world" as I use it often and haven't done so before. The epic battle is self versus God. Really it's between "god" small "g" and "God" as in the only one God. "Taxes" is the connection with the "world" and "death is the connection with "God". We cannot escape the latter. In the long run anyway. Taxes are something else. It would seem, like everything, that mankind has worked harder at avoiding taxes, escaping taxes and eliminating taxes from their lives all in vain. In the end the "taxman cometh." God's been there all along. Even though we look at death as something that happens at the end of our physical life, the truth is all people are born "dead" and only have life when they surrender their lives to Jesus. Then it's His life that is infused into our dead lives. Those who have not given their lives are the walking dead. Within this understanding of spiritual death we come to the understanding that paying taxes isn't so bad compared to eternal life.
I have a problem with expectations. Not just the expectations that are put upon me but the expectations that I have of others. We go to bed with expectations and we wake up with expectations. Some are realistic and others totally out of line with reality. The world expects us to pay taxes. God expects us to obey him. The Bible says we cannot serve both money and God. What a quandary! One of the very premises of living in America is the exact opposite of living for God. Well, maybe not. While it's true that we do have the choice, in some sense we don't. There is the expectation we obey God. What happens when the world asks us to obey them instead of God? Do we go along with the world? Do we tell God that in this case we need to obey man rather than God? If and when we do, what is it that we expect God to do to get us out of our dilemma of living a dead life? God expects us to obey him. Whatever belongs to Caesar belongs to Caesar...as in taxes. Expect to have to pay taxes...at least while you are living. Expect taxes but depend on no man for what God gives you.
Depending on anyone other than God will bring you heartache and disappointment. People will fail you. You will fail people. God never fails us. Combining your expectations with your view of who God is grounds you and I to His reality. Combining your expectations with your view of the world ground you and I to the worlds reality. The two clash. Those two worlds come into conflict the moment you say, "I give you my life Jesus." They don't end until your physical death and change of address to heaven. In the meantime we are asked to pay taxes so that Planned Parenthood can kill 1.5 million babies every year. We are asked to pay for corrupt government agencies and all kinds of stuff we don't even know about. We are told to pay up for those who refuse to work and to give of our income to subsidize ungodly projects in the of this world. What is the Christian to do? What do you do? What do I do? Do we roll over and play dead? Do we stand and fight the good fight? What can I expect from you? What can I expect from the world? Nothing. BUT I can expect that God who is nearby, close to me, loving on me, protecting me, and fighting for me will continue to do so as long as I honor Him. What we depend on in our life creates our expectations. If we depend on the world we will be disappointed. If we depend on God we won't be disappointed. It's your choice.
I have a problem with expectations. Not just the expectations that are put upon me but the expectations that I have of others. We go to bed with expectations and we wake up with expectations. Some are realistic and others totally out of line with reality. The world expects us to pay taxes. God expects us to obey him. The Bible says we cannot serve both money and God. What a quandary! One of the very premises of living in America is the exact opposite of living for God. Well, maybe not. While it's true that we do have the choice, in some sense we don't. There is the expectation we obey God. What happens when the world asks us to obey them instead of God? Do we go along with the world? Do we tell God that in this case we need to obey man rather than God? If and when we do, what is it that we expect God to do to get us out of our dilemma of living a dead life? God expects us to obey him. Whatever belongs to Caesar belongs to Caesar...as in taxes. Expect to have to pay taxes...at least while you are living. Expect taxes but depend on no man for what God gives you.
Depending on anyone other than God will bring you heartache and disappointment. People will fail you. You will fail people. God never fails us. Combining your expectations with your view of who God is grounds you and I to His reality. Combining your expectations with your view of the world ground you and I to the worlds reality. The two clash. Those two worlds come into conflict the moment you say, "I give you my life Jesus." They don't end until your physical death and change of address to heaven. In the meantime we are asked to pay taxes so that Planned Parenthood can kill 1.5 million babies every year. We are asked to pay for corrupt government agencies and all kinds of stuff we don't even know about. We are told to pay up for those who refuse to work and to give of our income to subsidize ungodly projects in the of this world. What is the Christian to do? What do you do? What do I do? Do we roll over and play dead? Do we stand and fight the good fight? What can I expect from you? What can I expect from the world? Nothing. BUT I can expect that God who is nearby, close to me, loving on me, protecting me, and fighting for me will continue to do so as long as I honor Him. What we depend on in our life creates our expectations. If we depend on the world we will be disappointed. If we depend on God we won't be disappointed. It's your choice.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Open mouth and insert foot.
This is one of the items that I should have on my resume! It seems that over time this is one lesson that I've found difficult to learn. Take last night for instance. I was at church sitting at a table talking with a young lady. She asked me what I had retired from. I told her that I had worked in social services. She said, "That must have been difficult." We knew each other to be Christians and when you and I do that we make assumptions. When we make assumptions we end up not being in a very good space. I told her that it was sometimes difficult and that "I found it most difficult to see women getting free medical care to murder their babies." Yep, that is what I said. She said that she could empathize with me as she was one of those women. Foot definitely in mouth. Not being one to show a poke face embarrassment for my words flooded across my demeanor. I immediately apologized for my words and asked for forgiveness. I still feel that giving out free medical treatment for people who use it as a means of birth control is wrong. However, I'm not talking about that today. I was so over the line that I had no where to step back onto firm ground. My sincerity in the apology was accepted and this young lady went on to talk about her past, bad choices, and eventually giving her life to Jesus. Like me, she is unable to undo the past. What she did accomplish was to put me in my place.
There have been other situations where I've made statements and lived to regret my words. Some have been hurtful and others have been honest but inappropriate for the time and situation. The Bible is full of people (followers of Jesus mainly) who seem to have paved the way before me. Peter comes to mind the most often. Here was a man who lived with, followed, and emulated Jesus for three years! Yet, he said some of the stupidest things! The most famous being his pledge to never deny Jesus and then doing so three times. The cock crowed and foot in mouth disease proceeded to break through to Peter. Here is the interesting part. Jesus not only restored Peter and forgave him; he also used this as a teaching point through the Word even until this day. Like it did with me. It wasn't enough that I apologized to the young lady. I needed to ask Jesus to forgive me for my sin. We may believe that something is wrong. We may know that God too believes it's wrong. We may even feel compelled to speak about that which is wrong. What I spoke, how I spoke and with ignorance spewed onto this young lady was without the Spirit. Same as Peter. It's difficult to listen to the Spirit of God when we are busy trying to do that job ourselves. "I will never deny you!" was what Peter said to Jesus (who knows everything by the way even to the end of time). What Peter was saying was that he wouldn't be needing Jesus on this simple task.
Please don't misunderstand, the Gospel is offensive to those who are perishing. The Word is very specific about what is right and what is wrong. The Son of God was adamant about this to the point of righteous anger in the temple. Strong words and actions are warranted from Christians because of who God is and what he says. These strong words and actions MUST be guided by the Holy Spirit and not Steve. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to speak there is no foot in mouth disease even if the message is difficult for someone to hear. I knew better. So did Peter. I failed to listen to the Spirit because of assumptions. So did Peter. I hurt someone. So did Peter. I asked for forgiveness and was forgiven. So did Peter. Jesus restored me. Jesus restored Peter. Did Peter fall again? Probably. Will Steve fall again? Most likely. Will Jesus be there to forgive and restore? Yep! He is the only cure for open mouth and insert foot disease.
There have been other situations where I've made statements and lived to regret my words. Some have been hurtful and others have been honest but inappropriate for the time and situation. The Bible is full of people (followers of Jesus mainly) who seem to have paved the way before me. Peter comes to mind the most often. Here was a man who lived with, followed, and emulated Jesus for three years! Yet, he said some of the stupidest things! The most famous being his pledge to never deny Jesus and then doing so three times. The cock crowed and foot in mouth disease proceeded to break through to Peter. Here is the interesting part. Jesus not only restored Peter and forgave him; he also used this as a teaching point through the Word even until this day. Like it did with me. It wasn't enough that I apologized to the young lady. I needed to ask Jesus to forgive me for my sin. We may believe that something is wrong. We may know that God too believes it's wrong. We may even feel compelled to speak about that which is wrong. What I spoke, how I spoke and with ignorance spewed onto this young lady was without the Spirit. Same as Peter. It's difficult to listen to the Spirit of God when we are busy trying to do that job ourselves. "I will never deny you!" was what Peter said to Jesus (who knows everything by the way even to the end of time). What Peter was saying was that he wouldn't be needing Jesus on this simple task.
Please don't misunderstand, the Gospel is offensive to those who are perishing. The Word is very specific about what is right and what is wrong. The Son of God was adamant about this to the point of righteous anger in the temple. Strong words and actions are warranted from Christians because of who God is and what he says. These strong words and actions MUST be guided by the Holy Spirit and not Steve. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to speak there is no foot in mouth disease even if the message is difficult for someone to hear. I knew better. So did Peter. I failed to listen to the Spirit because of assumptions. So did Peter. I hurt someone. So did Peter. I asked for forgiveness and was forgiven. So did Peter. Jesus restored me. Jesus restored Peter. Did Peter fall again? Probably. Will Steve fall again? Most likely. Will Jesus be there to forgive and restore? Yep! He is the only cure for open mouth and insert foot disease.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
The story behind the story.
There is always a story behind the story. Yours, mine, others, and of course the world story. I've often wondered what England's history books teach about the revolution and it's outcome. Maybe the reflections of the French on what the Roman occupancy was like. How about the real story behind some of America's mysteries? While working on my undergraduate degree I was required to take a class in California history. The instructor knew that almost all of us were there for a requirement rather than the deep interest in the subject. So, he taught the class from the perspective of all the scandals in California history. Wow! Now that was a class! The story behind the story is almost always more interesting. When someone minimizes their story I can almost bet there is a story behind the story that give more insight. When we are with people we have this fear of being known for that story. We don't want people to see our blemishes and to be able to use them as a power over us. Confession has become a lost art amongst Christians for that very reason. Where once we were safe with others, perhaps we now feel less than safe giving up our information. What would be your response to someone's dark deep secrets? Would you be okay with that information? Would you feel comfortable with other Christians having your information?
We hear about the baby Jesus lying in a manger and have all the hype that he was surrounded by wonder and things glistening. It smelled awful! There was manure everywhere! They didn't have anything so they wrapped the baby in old cloth. Oh yes, we have the drummer boy and the angels and the wise men and the shepherds all in their glory. But, they smelled the manure too. Yet, they didn't shrink away from the story behind the story. Why was that? I suggest that this was because they came to see Jesus no matter what the story. They came to engage the Son of God as an infant in a stable, in a manger, amongst dirty animals and a poor set of parents with a piece of cloth to their possession. They came to engage that first sign of grace from a loving God who would be the story behind the story so that your and mine would be okay in his presence. To many he was not looked upon kindly. Think of all those parents of boys who were murdered when they searched for Jesus. Did they know the story behind the story? Were they filled with awe of the Son of God? I doubt it. Having your child murdered is awful for anyone.
Sometimes our story behind the story is all about getting away with murder. Cain and Abel? David and Uriah? Steve and... Okay, I haven't murdered anyone physically. I've done so in my mind though. Maybe you have too? We have so many thoughts about things wrong. We lust after just about anything this world has to offer. We wish ill upon multitudes. We plot to get revenge. Many of us never act on these thoughts and impulses. I haven't. Yet, that's part of our story behind the story. We don't act on the story but it's none the less part of our story. In many ways we do the same as Christians but in reverse. We wish people well but don't feed, cloth or care for them. We think about those in less fortunate situations and wish them well bud don't go beyond that. We believe the Scripture but don't really want to be part of fulfilling the commands that Scripture asks us to obey. We get away with murder...or so we think. The Bible tells us that we will be held accountable for every thought we have, every thing we've done and everything we've not done. Ouch! The story behind the story.
The story behind the story is "Who are you when no one is looking?" I'm the greatest of sinners Paul told us. Rather than vying for that title we should be surrendering our story for His story. It's a very difficult task. Looking on ourselves in a way that Christ would should spur us on to living the life he wants us to live, being the representation that he wants us to be, and holding out hope to others as we have been given grace ourselves.
We hear about the baby Jesus lying in a manger and have all the hype that he was surrounded by wonder and things glistening. It smelled awful! There was manure everywhere! They didn't have anything so they wrapped the baby in old cloth. Oh yes, we have the drummer boy and the angels and the wise men and the shepherds all in their glory. But, they smelled the manure too. Yet, they didn't shrink away from the story behind the story. Why was that? I suggest that this was because they came to see Jesus no matter what the story. They came to engage the Son of God as an infant in a stable, in a manger, amongst dirty animals and a poor set of parents with a piece of cloth to their possession. They came to engage that first sign of grace from a loving God who would be the story behind the story so that your and mine would be okay in his presence. To many he was not looked upon kindly. Think of all those parents of boys who were murdered when they searched for Jesus. Did they know the story behind the story? Were they filled with awe of the Son of God? I doubt it. Having your child murdered is awful for anyone.
Sometimes our story behind the story is all about getting away with murder. Cain and Abel? David and Uriah? Steve and... Okay, I haven't murdered anyone physically. I've done so in my mind though. Maybe you have too? We have so many thoughts about things wrong. We lust after just about anything this world has to offer. We wish ill upon multitudes. We plot to get revenge. Many of us never act on these thoughts and impulses. I haven't. Yet, that's part of our story behind the story. We don't act on the story but it's none the less part of our story. In many ways we do the same as Christians but in reverse. We wish people well but don't feed, cloth or care for them. We think about those in less fortunate situations and wish them well bud don't go beyond that. We believe the Scripture but don't really want to be part of fulfilling the commands that Scripture asks us to obey. We get away with murder...or so we think. The Bible tells us that we will be held accountable for every thought we have, every thing we've done and everything we've not done. Ouch! The story behind the story.
The story behind the story is "Who are you when no one is looking?" I'm the greatest of sinners Paul told us. Rather than vying for that title we should be surrendering our story for His story. It's a very difficult task. Looking on ourselves in a way that Christ would should spur us on to living the life he wants us to live, being the representation that he wants us to be, and holding out hope to others as we have been given grace ourselves.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Thank you MONDAY!
Just got my computer up and running. I'll skip the post today. See you tomorrow!
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Minimize to the maximum!
I couldn't live in a "tiny" home. There just wouldn't be enough room for me much less anyone else including two dogs. Yet, this trend has taken off and there are even tiny house communities here and there. Lots with their vehicle ready to tow them to a new location at a moments notice. Some to tow them our of their parents driveway when they have had enough! They are cute. They are functional and they are not going away. When I was younger we had tiny houses that we called "studio apartments". Nothing was more than an arms reach away. The whole idea behind studio apartments was the housing was something we could afford. The whole idea behind the tiny houses are their portability and carbon footprint. It's a different world and we minimize for different reasons. I'm not a minimalist. Well, in some ways maybe I am. I don't like to have long drug out conversations about the theology of Christ's work on the cross when I can just say, "Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so." That's enough. Simple. To the point. Jesus had neither a tiny house or a studio apartment. His closet was relegated to what he wore and his food came to him day to day from wherever. He was a minimalist living in a maximum world.
Many of us have had teachers, professors, preachers and family members who ended up talking to a wide awake comatose audience. The "deer in the headlights" look plastered on our faces was enough that they should have noticed. I had a classmate who slept with his eyes open! What a great trick for just such people! Having our eyes closed even when they are open is a way of minimalizing our involvement in anything. Jesus said, "though seeing they do not see." and "though hearing, they do not hear." Following that we can add, "though they could be doing, they don't." We all have our excuses as to why we see this but not that, hear this but not that and think we are doing but don't. Most of the time it's to maximize our own pleasure and comfort in our place in society as well as in the body of Christ. The vast majority of people in the world have no reason to complain for lack of needs being met. The vast majority of people have excess all around them. The vast majority of people see but don't see, hear but don't hear and don't do because they choose to engage the first two. Minimizing to the maximum to the Christian means minimizing the focus on me, mine and ours while maximizing the focus on Jesus and what he wants.
I'm a hypocrite. So are you. We say we have given our lives to Jesus. BUT we retain so many rooms in the mansion that it's hard to see the room within which Jesus is patiently waiting for us to visit. Jesus would most likely put a dozen homeless in a tiny house or a studio apartment and have room to break bread and fishes to feed them all. We call it tuna helper today. It's not that we aren't supposed to have anything in our lives. That's not scriptural either. We all need food, clothing and shelter. We all need clean air, medical treatment and a place that is safe. The difference between need (minimize) and want (maximize) is found in how much of our total life belongs to Jesus. I've disappointed Jesus more times than I like to confess by looking at my wants instead of his plan. His plan always maximizes the proclamation of the Gospel so those who need him can find him through you and I. To sum it all us, "more of Thee and less of me."
Many of us have had teachers, professors, preachers and family members who ended up talking to a wide awake comatose audience. The "deer in the headlights" look plastered on our faces was enough that they should have noticed. I had a classmate who slept with his eyes open! What a great trick for just such people! Having our eyes closed even when they are open is a way of minimalizing our involvement in anything. Jesus said, "though seeing they do not see." and "though hearing, they do not hear." Following that we can add, "though they could be doing, they don't." We all have our excuses as to why we see this but not that, hear this but not that and think we are doing but don't. Most of the time it's to maximize our own pleasure and comfort in our place in society as well as in the body of Christ. The vast majority of people in the world have no reason to complain for lack of needs being met. The vast majority of people have excess all around them. The vast majority of people see but don't see, hear but don't hear and don't do because they choose to engage the first two. Minimizing to the maximum to the Christian means minimizing the focus on me, mine and ours while maximizing the focus on Jesus and what he wants.
I'm a hypocrite. So are you. We say we have given our lives to Jesus. BUT we retain so many rooms in the mansion that it's hard to see the room within which Jesus is patiently waiting for us to visit. Jesus would most likely put a dozen homeless in a tiny house or a studio apartment and have room to break bread and fishes to feed them all. We call it tuna helper today. It's not that we aren't supposed to have anything in our lives. That's not scriptural either. We all need food, clothing and shelter. We all need clean air, medical treatment and a place that is safe. The difference between need (minimize) and want (maximize) is found in how much of our total life belongs to Jesus. I've disappointed Jesus more times than I like to confess by looking at my wants instead of his plan. His plan always maximizes the proclamation of the Gospel so those who need him can find him through you and I. To sum it all us, "more of Thee and less of me."
Saturday, January 9, 2016
Alice Cooper loves Jesus!
I watched his interview yesterday with amazement. Most of his life stood for everything that Christianity is not. As he chronicled his journey to Jesus I reflected on my own. All of our journey's resemble each other in some way or another. There have been several bad boy celebrities that have recently proclaimed their faith in Christ. Just what there impact on the world is to be seen. We all have an impact. It's just a fact. That impact will, as Alice stated, "be marked with sin as we aren't perfect and there is God's grace." The impact radiates out from us to those who are close to us first and then on down the line. When I accepted Jesus and gave him my life, I was delivered from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and quite a foul mouth. The first impact of my salvation was with my friends who found out quickly that I had changed. Since we didn't have much in common anymore we parted ways. Being raised in a non-Christian home meant that I needed to share the Gospel with my family. I wrote letters and talked on the phone as well as in person to no avail. When I went to my mentor and told him of my burden I was told that there was an easy solution. Prayer. The Bible says that wherever two or more Christians are gathered that Christ is in the middle of them. It goes on to affirm that if we agree in prayer and it's God's will that our prayers will be answered. So, my mentor and I claimed salvation for all of my family members. I'm sure that Alice's parents, in laws and others were praying as well. His dad was a pastor, his grandfather was a pastor and his wife's dad was a pastor. He really had no choice but to come to Christ sooner or later. Alice ended his interview telling the interviewer that he hopes his story helps others to come to Jesus "before it's to late."
Billy Graham, Alice Cooper and Steve Hawley all stand on level ground brothers in Christ. None above the other. Yet we know that Billy Graham has impacted millions with his preaching. We know that Alice has sent millions in the other direction. We know that Steve has been on both sides seeing people come to Christ and also sinning with others instead of being a Christian to them. Billy talks of his failures, Alice talks of his failures and Steve does as well. Barry McGuire and Brandon Heath are two more professionals who have given their lives to the Lord. Both have shared their faith through music for some time now. They too stand on level ground with the rest of us. There have been some who professed faith but their lives didn't show that faith. I've done that as I'm sure you have as well. Tim Tebow and other professional sports figures make an impact on the sports world. Racing enthusiasts know who believes and who doesn't. Given their profession believing in God is a good thing! The Bible says that ALL will hear the Gospel. Sometimes I wonder about that and then I think about great Biblical movies. Even though many of the actors and actresses aren't believers (by their own admission) they are proclaiming the Gospel message to a huge audience. And some do love Jesus.
No one in the body of Christ who has professed Christ as their Savior is excused from proclaiming that faith. Giving the love of God to others comes in many forms. All those forms should leave people asking about the Son of God. However, it's the personal testimonies and personal touches that compel that question. Am I living my life in such a way that people want what I have? Are you living a life in such a way that people want what you have? Let's be very clear here. None of us will accomplish this 100% of the time. We will fail. We will succeed. Others will be impacted by the faith we live...or don't live. There are many ways we can be open vessels for Jesus. The first is to pray. The second is to live the witness. The third is to share the Word. There are others as well. All of them Jesus centered. It's still hard to believe I heard Alice Cooper proclaim Jesus as his Savior!
Billy Graham, Alice Cooper and Steve Hawley all stand on level ground brothers in Christ. None above the other. Yet we know that Billy Graham has impacted millions with his preaching. We know that Alice has sent millions in the other direction. We know that Steve has been on both sides seeing people come to Christ and also sinning with others instead of being a Christian to them. Billy talks of his failures, Alice talks of his failures and Steve does as well. Barry McGuire and Brandon Heath are two more professionals who have given their lives to the Lord. Both have shared their faith through music for some time now. They too stand on level ground with the rest of us. There have been some who professed faith but their lives didn't show that faith. I've done that as I'm sure you have as well. Tim Tebow and other professional sports figures make an impact on the sports world. Racing enthusiasts know who believes and who doesn't. Given their profession believing in God is a good thing! The Bible says that ALL will hear the Gospel. Sometimes I wonder about that and then I think about great Biblical movies. Even though many of the actors and actresses aren't believers (by their own admission) they are proclaiming the Gospel message to a huge audience. And some do love Jesus.
No one in the body of Christ who has professed Christ as their Savior is excused from proclaiming that faith. Giving the love of God to others comes in many forms. All those forms should leave people asking about the Son of God. However, it's the personal testimonies and personal touches that compel that question. Am I living my life in such a way that people want what I have? Are you living a life in such a way that people want what you have? Let's be very clear here. None of us will accomplish this 100% of the time. We will fail. We will succeed. Others will be impacted by the faith we live...or don't live. There are many ways we can be open vessels for Jesus. The first is to pray. The second is to live the witness. The third is to share the Word. There are others as well. All of them Jesus centered. It's still hard to believe I heard Alice Cooper proclaim Jesus as his Savior!
Friday, January 8, 2016
Scriptural or not.
Surrounded by people who love to quote Scripture, I thought I would take a moment and share some thoughts. Each of us have the right to interpret Scripture anyway we want...even if we are wrong. Throwing Scripture out there to communicate what God wants, thinks and feels is often fret with out of context interpretation. For instance, it's not in Scripture that says anyone needs to apologize to you or make right for you what has been a wrong. The Lord's prayer is from Jesus to us (printed in red so we know it's His words). He says that we should pray like this. We ask the Father who is in Heaven to forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Catch the connection? We are to forgive others as the Father forgives our confessed sin. Nothing there that says you or anyone else owes me an apology. Yet, that's what's preached and proclaimed. In the Bible's instruction for communion we are exhorted to go and make right that which is wrong before taking communion lest we drink and eat condemnation upon ourselves. Gulp! The Gospel is preached and taught to us so that we can be right with God first and people second. The Gospel isn't concerned about wrongs done to you being made right. The Gospel wants YOU and I in right relationship with God and then if that is real our relationship with man will follow. Just saying...
The Bible tells us that God will pour out his blessings from Heaven so much that we cannot contain them. However, we seldom read the before and after and take into context what else is said. The Israelites had this problem. God proclaimed to them that he would go before them, provide all they needed, give them victory and bless the efforts of their hands. That is all true. The condition is that the Israelites (and all believers) do two things. First they are to Love the Lord God with all their hearts, souls and minds. Secondly, they are to not make any images to worship. When they left captivity in Egypt the crowd was estimated around 2 million. When they went into captivity again in Babylon they numbered 80,000. The prosperity preachers out there would have us look at the blessings handed down to us if we would only ask. There is little talk of the wants, needs or desires of God from his people. The Scripture tells us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He can sell a cow anytime he pleases and meet the needs of the people who are in right relationship with him. Keep living in sin and God has no reason to bless you or I. Yet, God chooses to provide for the needs of believers even though we sin and fail daily. He is a good God who takes care of our needs. There is no promise of our wants. Our desires of our hearts should be God and not what God can give. James tells us that we ask and do not receive because we ask with wrong motive. We ask so that we can consume it ourselves. James, being the half brother of Jesus, knew firsthand what his brother said, did and showed us to be and do.
I'm tired of all those who profess to have a "word from God" for me. Anyone can tell me to leave my life of sin. Anyone can tell me to treat others right. Anyone can tell me to love and not hate. Anyone can tell me to read the word and go to church. We hear it all the time. The "word from God" serves several purposes. First is to teach. Second is to reaffirm. Third is to warn. Should we look at the message of the prophets we would see that there is weight in what God told them to say. The word of a prophet always comes true. That's what the Bible says anyway. Mike Warnke, Christian comedian ad ex satanic priest, once said, "When you come to me to say something and begin with 'I want to tell you this out of Christian love', it's not." (slightly paraphrased). You get the picture. If it's from God then you don't need to preface the message. God didn't through the prophets and still doesn't today. When you feel the need to say something to someone and believe it's from God simply address the issues. Open your mouth and let God speak. If it's not from God you have sinned against God. Accept grace, repent, and repeat.
The Golden rule is not what we think. We shouldn't treat anyone like we want to be treated. Ask anyone who is mentally ill. We are commanded in Scripture to love others as God has loved us. Wow! What if we actually did what God commanded? How would your world and mine change if we as Christians attended to all of Scripture and not just part of it. Jeremiah 29:11 is quoted often as a prediction that all will be well with you. Wrong. The "if" has been left out. IF you obey the Lord and IF you return to him then HE will cause you to be blessed. Read the context next time before you say what you have heard. Those who preach only what people's itching ears want to hear are not preaching the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that God will pour out his blessings from Heaven so much that we cannot contain them. However, we seldom read the before and after and take into context what else is said. The Israelites had this problem. God proclaimed to them that he would go before them, provide all they needed, give them victory and bless the efforts of their hands. That is all true. The condition is that the Israelites (and all believers) do two things. First they are to Love the Lord God with all their hearts, souls and minds. Secondly, they are to not make any images to worship. When they left captivity in Egypt the crowd was estimated around 2 million. When they went into captivity again in Babylon they numbered 80,000. The prosperity preachers out there would have us look at the blessings handed down to us if we would only ask. There is little talk of the wants, needs or desires of God from his people. The Scripture tells us that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He can sell a cow anytime he pleases and meet the needs of the people who are in right relationship with him. Keep living in sin and God has no reason to bless you or I. Yet, God chooses to provide for the needs of believers even though we sin and fail daily. He is a good God who takes care of our needs. There is no promise of our wants. Our desires of our hearts should be God and not what God can give. James tells us that we ask and do not receive because we ask with wrong motive. We ask so that we can consume it ourselves. James, being the half brother of Jesus, knew firsthand what his brother said, did and showed us to be and do.
I'm tired of all those who profess to have a "word from God" for me. Anyone can tell me to leave my life of sin. Anyone can tell me to treat others right. Anyone can tell me to love and not hate. Anyone can tell me to read the word and go to church. We hear it all the time. The "word from God" serves several purposes. First is to teach. Second is to reaffirm. Third is to warn. Should we look at the message of the prophets we would see that there is weight in what God told them to say. The word of a prophet always comes true. That's what the Bible says anyway. Mike Warnke, Christian comedian ad ex satanic priest, once said, "When you come to me to say something and begin with 'I want to tell you this out of Christian love', it's not." (slightly paraphrased). You get the picture. If it's from God then you don't need to preface the message. God didn't through the prophets and still doesn't today. When you feel the need to say something to someone and believe it's from God simply address the issues. Open your mouth and let God speak. If it's not from God you have sinned against God. Accept grace, repent, and repeat.
The Golden rule is not what we think. We shouldn't treat anyone like we want to be treated. Ask anyone who is mentally ill. We are commanded in Scripture to love others as God has loved us. Wow! What if we actually did what God commanded? How would your world and mine change if we as Christians attended to all of Scripture and not just part of it. Jeremiah 29:11 is quoted often as a prediction that all will be well with you. Wrong. The "if" has been left out. IF you obey the Lord and IF you return to him then HE will cause you to be blessed. Read the context next time before you say what you have heard. Those who preach only what people's itching ears want to hear are not preaching the Word of God.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Grass is greener on the other side!
We are told that the grass is NOT greener on the other side of the fence. That's not true. The grass is greener on the other side. The problem is that we tend to place ourselves on the wrong side the fence. Mentally we place ourselves where the world and those around us want us to be. We're reminded of our faults, failures and fruitless lives on a daily basis. If we aren't reminded in person, writing or subliminally, we have our ever present memories to remind us. The problem is obvious. The solution is obvious. The inconsistency is found in between the two. That would be me, you and whoever else finds themselves in the quandary. When I read the Bible and see the promises of God I am amazed and yet shouldn't be. He loves me. He said he would take care of all of my needs. He said that he has gone to prepare a place for me. He said he is personally building my room in his mansion. He said he will return to take me home with him. He said to not worry. He said to not lose focus on Him. That's some really green grass!
IF I believe what the Bible says, the grass is greener on MY side of the fence. Why? Because I already have all that He has promised me. I have salvation through his son Jesus. I have eternal life through his grace. I have daily guidance through the Holy Spirit. I have love, acceptance and approval as he created me and destined me. So, adding to the list seems overkill. However, here it is. I have friends, family, and love like no other. I have possessions way beyond what I need. I have a nice home, car, two dogs and a full fridge and pantry. I have today. I have more Bibles and Christian books than I can read. I have a computer (actually 3)and the ability to read and right. He has given me the ability to reason, argue and to stay silent. He has blessed me with physical abilities to walk, run (if I have to), and to work. He has provided me with eyesight to see (positive and negative) and his creation to utilize that sight. He has provided me ears to ear and nerve endings to feel. Tell me that my grass isn't greener! We've talked about the solution. It's our frame of mind and how we visualize who God is. Let's look at the problem.
You and me. That's the problem. I look out into my back yard and see the orchard, garden, green lawn, trees, and in the spring there will be flowers on rose garden and other places. The deer come through my yard and linger to nibble on the grass and my green beans (in the summer). They eat the leaves and not the beans. Something I need to ask God about. Yet, I complain about so much! I complain about the politics going on and not going on in our country. I complain about my medical and mental issues. I complain about the carrots not producing and the vegetation (blackberry vines) that seem to spring up no matter what I do. I complain about the moles that make mounds of dirt all over. Why do I do that? Because I'm not focused on the green grass that is already mine. In the long run it doesn't matter that the deer eat my beans or that the moles dig up my lawn. They were here first. It doesn't even matter that politics are what they are. God told us all about the politics long before they arrived so that we could see the greener grass and not be pulled into the dead brown grass. For the Christian (metaphorically) the world is always Spring! So why don't we act that way?
Would you believe me if I told you that we've become content with the same old thing and worse? Would you believe me if I told you that we don't read our Bibles and don't remember the promises that are in plain view therein? Would you believe that our pastors and church leaders don't believe the grass is greener on our side of the fence. I know, there are those who do. With the prosperity gospel (not a gospel at all) at an all time high, the preaching is what you can have, what you should have, and what you can expect their magical god to provide because YOU deserve it. Obviously not true. But millions send in their bucks because they are promised greener grasses. But we already have the greener grass. We already have all the blessings of heaven. At least that's what the Bible says. Look it up if you don't believe me. I dare you to read the Bible and find a flaw in anything I've written today. When you find the Bible to be true, change your thinking and worship the God of greener grass.
IF I believe what the Bible says, the grass is greener on MY side of the fence. Why? Because I already have all that He has promised me. I have salvation through his son Jesus. I have eternal life through his grace. I have daily guidance through the Holy Spirit. I have love, acceptance and approval as he created me and destined me. So, adding to the list seems overkill. However, here it is. I have friends, family, and love like no other. I have possessions way beyond what I need. I have a nice home, car, two dogs and a full fridge and pantry. I have today. I have more Bibles and Christian books than I can read. I have a computer (actually 3)and the ability to read and right. He has given me the ability to reason, argue and to stay silent. He has blessed me with physical abilities to walk, run (if I have to), and to work. He has provided me with eyesight to see (positive and negative) and his creation to utilize that sight. He has provided me ears to ear and nerve endings to feel. Tell me that my grass isn't greener! We've talked about the solution. It's our frame of mind and how we visualize who God is. Let's look at the problem.
You and me. That's the problem. I look out into my back yard and see the orchard, garden, green lawn, trees, and in the spring there will be flowers on rose garden and other places. The deer come through my yard and linger to nibble on the grass and my green beans (in the summer). They eat the leaves and not the beans. Something I need to ask God about. Yet, I complain about so much! I complain about the politics going on and not going on in our country. I complain about my medical and mental issues. I complain about the carrots not producing and the vegetation (blackberry vines) that seem to spring up no matter what I do. I complain about the moles that make mounds of dirt all over. Why do I do that? Because I'm not focused on the green grass that is already mine. In the long run it doesn't matter that the deer eat my beans or that the moles dig up my lawn. They were here first. It doesn't even matter that politics are what they are. God told us all about the politics long before they arrived so that we could see the greener grass and not be pulled into the dead brown grass. For the Christian (metaphorically) the world is always Spring! So why don't we act that way?
Would you believe me if I told you that we've become content with the same old thing and worse? Would you believe me if I told you that we don't read our Bibles and don't remember the promises that are in plain view therein? Would you believe that our pastors and church leaders don't believe the grass is greener on our side of the fence. I know, there are those who do. With the prosperity gospel (not a gospel at all) at an all time high, the preaching is what you can have, what you should have, and what you can expect their magical god to provide because YOU deserve it. Obviously not true. But millions send in their bucks because they are promised greener grasses. But we already have the greener grass. We already have all the blessings of heaven. At least that's what the Bible says. Look it up if you don't believe me. I dare you to read the Bible and find a flaw in anything I've written today. When you find the Bible to be true, change your thinking and worship the God of greener grass.
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