I am Not Ashamed

...also found this over at "the Search for Integrity"

Enjoy!


I need to tell you what I am not ashamed of:

I am not ashamed to stand with Jesus Christ when he proclaims that he has come to proclaim good news to the poor.

I am not ashamed to be on his side when he touches the untouchable;

when he gives priority to a woman who has endured years of suffering over the child of a leader in the community;

when he goes out of his way to speak words of life to a Samaritan adulteress, or to a man tormented in mind who has been abandoned by his community to wander among the tombs.

I am not ashamed to see him moved with compassion.

I am not ashamed of his instructions when he tells me to love my enemy and do good to the one who hates me.

I am not ashamed when he counts himself among the homeless.
I am not ashamed of the way he prevented a righteous mob from executing a woman caught in sexual sin.

I am not ashamed of how he wept over the hypocrisy of religious leaders.

I am not ashamed of his call to pursue greatness by choosing to serve rather than rule.

I am not ashamed of his decision to pray for his killers to be forgiven, while they were killing him, nor am I ashamed that in this also he calls on us to follow him.

I am not ashamed that he healed indiscriminately and instructed his disciples to do the same, saying: “freely you have receive, freely give.”

I am not ashamed to say that I want to do more than be his worshiper, adoring him from a distance, as many do, proclaiming with false piety that it would be wrong to try to be like him.

I am not ashamed to be his apprentice, a student of the Master. My aim is to learn by doing.

A Disciple of Christ

Here's hoping that your Christmas has been filled with Christ and Love. I heard this in a sermon and looked it up online to find the author.

God bless you!


I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ
by Bob Moorhead

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.
I have Holy Spirit power.
The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made.
I am a disciple of His.
I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.
I’m finished and done with the low living,
sight walking, chintzy giving, dwarf goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position,
prominence, plaudits or popularity.
I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized,
praised, regarded or rewarded.
I now live by presence, lean by faith, walk with patience,
lift by prayer, labor by power.
My face is set, my gate is fast, my goal is Heaven,
my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few,
my guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured,
lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,
hesitate in the presence of the adversary,
negotiate at the table of the enemy,
ponder at the pool of popularity,
or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I will not give up, shut up, letup, until I have stayed up, stored up,
prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
I must go until He comes, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He stops me.
And when He comes for His own,
He will have no problem recognizing me.
My colors will be quite clear.
Amen.

Smarter Than Your Average Bear...

I hear people today often say that we're more knowledgeable today than in generations past. Our systems are better, our standard of living is better, we've just come so doggone far from the "bad old days"...

Let's take discrimination as an example. Christians should never discriminate on the basis of race. We can look at the not too distant past and see examples of racism in general populations of a nature that is baffling to us today. We look at many of those who held those beliefs with an unbelieving disdain that people could so ignorantly condemn and abuse others. We struggle to understand why they could not perceive the evil they were advocating.

We think of Proverbs 14:12

"There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death."

And we "tsk-tsk" and shake our heads at such cruel ignorance and then come back to the enlightened present as the phone rings...

... and we casually agree that "there's really no way to stop kids from being kids and they're going to experiment no matter what we say or do" and we put our daughters on birth control and advocate condoms to our sons in a world rampant with sexually transmitted diseases even as the resulting sterility has become an epidemic in our nation...

...and we stand behind the multi-billion dollar abortion industry because "There's really no choice in cases of incest rape or when the mother's health is endangered" when 99% of the children being killed have nothing to do with rape, incest or the mother's health...

... and we advise our friendS that "although terrible, divorce probably is the only solution and to be brave because the kids will eventually get over it"...

...and bigotry is excused as "outrage"...

...and lies are accepted as "another's truth"...

...and Truth is labeled "intolerance"...

...and lust is welcomed as "healthy urges"...

...marriage is called abuse and serial adultery is called "monogamy"...

... and crime is called a "bad choice"...

...and raw filth has become "entertainment" as we continue to spiral lower to find ever more degrading perversions to shock and titillate a calloused generation...

Whew! But at least we stopped being mean to minorities! Yea!

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."

- Romans 12:3

We marvel at the blindness of past generations while we blythely ignore our own crippling cruelty and foolishness. And as I sit and write of these things I am compelled to ask myself, "Where are you missing the boat, buddy?"

"Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

“He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.”

Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

- John 12:37-43

Today's post, below, is probably the 3rd, 4th or 5th time I've brought up that passage of 1 Corinthians 13, ("Love is patient, Love is kind...)

I just love that passage so much. I love to brag about God's amazing love. I just want everyone to know about it. I think everyone SHOULD know about it.

I just don't think you could, in your wildest imagination, dream up a Father, Lord Almighty better than the True One we have and I know of no better places that is shows than The Cross and 1 Corinthians 13.

I love that passage and I can't even put into words what it means to me...

Groic!

I just posted a quick comment at Amy's Today's Thought blog and had to fill in the ubiquitous "Type in the letters you see" verification. That site's verification usually uses a nonsense combination of letters.

Today's combination was "Groic".
I like that... groic!
"Groic" should be a word!

"May I borrow your groic?" "How many oranges are in a groic?" or maybe "I would love to go with you but my groic is acting up..."

While wew're at it, how about the word "Love" as in "God's Love". The Greek word is "agape" but Shakespeare had it right: "What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet..."

Call it "God's Love", "Agape" or "Groic", it is just wonderful:

God's Love is patient.
God's Love is kind.
God's Love does not envy.
God's Love does not boast.
God's Love is not proud.
God's Love is not rude.
God's Love is not self-seeking.
God's Love is not easily angered.
God's Love keeps no record of wrongs.
God's Love does not delight in evil.
God's Love rejoices with the truth.
God's Love always protects.
God's Love always trusts.
God's Love always hopes.
God's Love always perseveres.

- Adapted (almost verbatim) from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

I don't care what you call it, but that is the size and shape of the hole in my heart. And all we have to do is ask Him and He'll fill it.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

- Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

Ya'll be groic!

The Sabbath

This morning I had a friend ask a question. It is a question I have recently wrestled with myself. I figured I'd post my answer here in hopes that others will also share their prayerful thoughts and beliefs.

For any who might not know, Saturday is the biblical "Sabbath". The Christian church generally observes Sunday as "The Lord's Day" in it's stead. We are commanded to observe the Sabbath. There is no biblical justification for substituting.

"As followers of Christ, what are we to do about God's
commands to observe the Sabbath?"

Here was my answer, for you to pick apart:

You are asking two distinct questions:

Q: "Are we condemned for changing something so important?"
No.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
- Romans 8:1-4

Q: "The bible says and Pastor said we should never take anything out of the bible nor shall we add anything. So why did christians feel they have the right to change the Sabbath Day from Saturday to Sunday?"

I did a relatively in-depth study on this topic about a month ago. I can find no biblical basis, nor reasonable arguments, for using "The Lord's Day" rather than the Sabbath. In the early days of the Church the outside world viewed Christianity as being a sect within Judaism. Christians and Jews, however, viewed each other as being irreconcilably distinct. The Jews were persecuting the Christians and the Christian leaders were very intent on distinguishing themselves from Judaism.

I remember once reading the manipulations and calculations that the early church used in setting the date for the Easter holiday. They wanted to avoid having Easter coincide with Passover so that the celebrations would be distinct in peoples' minds. Although this process sometimes lapsed into anti-semitism, the real original intention was not to "punish those who killed Christ" but instead to reinforce the Gospel message and clarify and emphasize the difference from Judaism.

As the most ardent advocates of observing the Sabbath, I took a hard look athe Seventh Day Adventist doctrines due to their position on this issue and found a mixed bag. Like Walter Martin, I believe there is ample reason to consider the SDA doctrines "Christian", but, depending on the doctrinal stance of the individual congregation, there is a lot of screwy stuff within that church.

And, although I have been looking at the Sabbath versus Sunday issue, there is also an equal injunction not to forsake the gathering of the believers, so Sunday Church must also remain in the equation.

Richard [a Pastor friend] and I spoke on this topic and he pointed out Romans 14:5-8 which speaks to this topic:

"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
Romans 14:5-8

I think that is pretty clear on the topic. I continue to consider observing a Sabbath, but I do so because I long to commune more closely with God. I currently see no reason to question the provision of Christ's blood to resolve any guilt that may result from erring on this issue.

Given Christ's emphasis that we NOT teach others error, I'm not confient in saying that I have this issue nailed down.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
- Matthew 18:5-6

“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck."
- Mark 9:42

"Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves."
- Luke 17:1-3

I think He meant it, so please be wary of my conclusions on this issue.

My Hope...

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."
- Isaiah 12:2
Amy over at Today's Thought had an excellent post on the topic of "hope". Her posting triggered the memory of the first time I encountered real hope in my life.

I was sitting in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting back in 1986 and listening to people "share". I'd been in "the program" for a few months and was familiar with the 12 steps and the members and was sitting there listening.

I'd ended up in that meeting for very good cause. The data had been collected, the evidence had been weighed and there was no doubt about it: I was severely messed up. I had plenty of confirmation from independent sources and there was no getting around it.

Worse yet, as I sat in those meetings and listened to others and mentally compared the notes from my life with their lives, I came face to face with the knowledge that had always been awkwardly hidden in the back of my mind: I'd been messed up my entire life. All my life I'd seen how my reactions and beliefs had differed from others and I had always been deeply ashamed and worked hard to hide that fact. Without ever putting it into words I had unconsciously come to accept:

I was born messed up,
I was still messed up and
I would be messed up my entire life.

It was a crushing and demoralizing burden I'd struggled with my entire life. If anyone has walked up to me and told me this stuff, I would have beaten them to death for daring to say that to me. But my heart told me every day and I knew it was true.

In that meeting a man started talking about how messed up he had been and how, by working the 12 steps and turning his life over to God, he had grown and become a new man through following God. And as he talked something clicked and in a moment my beliefs changed. It suddenly became real to me!

It was true that I had been messed up.
There was no question I was messed up at that moment.
But for the first time in my life I realized:
I don't have to be messed up
for the rest of my life.

And in that moment I remember the word “Hope!” coming to mind and I sat and considered it in stunned silence. It had a whole new meaning to me. For the first time in my life I had genuine and tangible hope. It was a real, weighty and massive thing. And since then that hope has come true.

Through Jesus Christ I have been transformed.
I am being transformed even now.
Jesus will continue to transform me
until I am taken to Him.

Praise God Our Father Almighty!

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

- 1 Corinthians 5:16-21

Solving the "Feelings" Problem

I've often been questioned regarding my growing resistance to the massive inroads counseling and psychology have made into believers' thinking these days. So here is some food for thought regarding the domination of "Feelings", "Desires" and "Beliefs" in modern Christian practice:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

- Luke 10:25-37

Remember! This passage is addressing the question:

"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Notice anything about this passage? It is being impressed upon me more and more how often Jesus talked about “doing” rather than “feeling”.
Jesus says:
“Do this and you will live.”
“Go and do likewise.”

Jesus tells how the Samaritan:
- Took pity on him, (not felt pity for him,)…
- Bandaged him…
- Put him on a donkey…
- Took care of him…
- Took him to an inn…
- Paid and guaranteed reimbursement.

Jews and Samaritans hated each other. Where’s the Lifetime made-for-TV discussion of the Samaritan’s disgust at helping a Jew? Where’s the discussion of the injustice and emotional wounds suffered at the hands of the Jews in his childhood? This is not an "Oprah Winfrey Story of the Month". This is:

"What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Don’t we normally assume that the Jew was grateful and that his feelings softened toward the Samaritan? Don’t we also assume that the Samaritan was kindly, gentle and sweet? I believe these are figments of our modern morals, attitudes and imaginations. They’re not in the story.

The Samaritan could have rendered the aid because he would have done the same thing for a wounded dog and he may have felt like that is exactly what he was dealing with. The Jew could have been ashamed and mortified that he had to accept the aid of a filthy Samaritan and only longed for the day that he could get away and all the while prayed, “Please Lord, don’t let anyone see me this low and desperate!”

Jesus never offered information one way or the other, because that wasn’t what He wanted people to know. He wanted them to know it’s about what you do!

I believe God cares about our feelings. (I really, honestly do!)

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

- Matthew 7:9-10

I also believe that God knows our motives (and that we can fool ourselves.) But we can never fool Him. He knows the difference between obedience and show.

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

- Mark 12:41-44

I just believe this business of worrying about our feelings and our needs and our beliefs has become a deception. I see too many people wrestling with their feelings in the hope that they’ll get to the point where they want to do what God tells them to do.

Dadnabbit! Stop it! Serve others in His name because He told you to! If you’re doing it out of obedience He’ll change your feelings for you. Just ask Him to!

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

- Psalm 51:10-12

Do we confuse a “Heart for God" with “Feelings for obeying God"? Notice how he described a good spirit right there? “Willing” not “Pleased”. My experience has been that when I get “willing” and “Go and do likewise” the “pleased” follows after.

People in our nation are dying and going to a sinner’s Hell every day and God’s people are staring in the mirror saying, “What’s wrong with me? I don't want to do these things! How can He use a sin-blob like me?” Then we turn to "christian" counseling in hopes of having our wants changed, (as if the right understanding or philosophy or attitude would make us Christ-like...)

We’re waiting for God’s calling when He’s already called us and our life’s mission is passing by.

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

- John 4:34-38

She Did Likewise…

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

- Luke 10:25-37 NIV

This morning I received the following email message from someone very dear. This message is worth sharing:

A 98 year-old lady named Irena passed away recently. During WWII Irena, a Polish Catholic, received permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto.

She had an 'ulterior motive' ... She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews.

Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of the tool box she carried and she carried in the back of her truck a burlap sack, (for larger kids,) She also had a dog in the back that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto. The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.

During her time of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants. She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, arms and beat her severely. She was saved from execution only through bribery of a German guard.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it and reunited the family. Most of the parents had been murdered at the Treblinka concentration camp. Irena helped the children who were orphaned find adoption into Polish homes or helped the children go to Israel.

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

- Luke 10:36-37 NIV

To learn more about Irena Sendler:
Snopes.com verification of this email message
Irena Sendler at Wikipedia
www.IrenaSendler.org

To learn more about Jesus:
Pray and talk to Him right now. He’s listening...

Today's Spurgeon...

Here's a thinker from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. (I threw in line and paragraph breaks to make it easier to read on a computer screen and added the entire passage from Luke rather than just verse four.)

For your prayerful consideration:

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,a with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

- Luke 5:1-11 NIV

We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

When God worketh without instruments, doubtless he is glorified; but he hath himself selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which he is most magnified in the earth. Means of themselves are utterly unavailing. “Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.” What was the reason of this?

Were they not fishermen plying their special calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work.
Had they gone about the toil unskillfully? No.
Had they lacked industry? No, they had toiled.
Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all the night.
Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not, for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals.

What, then, is the reason?

Is it because there is no power in the means of themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? “Without him we can do nothing.” But with Christ we can do all things. Christ’s presence confers success. Jesus sat in Peter’s boat, and his will, by a mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up in his Church, his presence is the Church’s power—the shout of a king is in the midst of her. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” Let us go out this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up in faith, and around us in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night comes, and we shall not labour in vain, for he who bids us let down the net, will fill it with fishes.

_{Spurgeon, Charles H.: Morning and Evening : Daily Readings. Complete and unabridged; New modern edition. Peabody, MA : Hendrickson Publishers, 2006, S. October 8 AM}

Much Love.

Me - as a Product...

This morning I came in the office and opened my email to find the following email solicitation:

"I enclose details of our guide for CFOs on how to create personal brands.

In "How to Create a Personal Brand as a Chief Financial Officer", we examine specific ways to use speaking engagements, published articles and social media web sites as a way to establish yourself as a thought leader. Take the 60 minutes to view this webinar... ...to understand how to go about sharing your thought leadership in each of these areas and the best ways to establish yourself as a personal brand (apart from/in addition to that of your company)."

I've worked with several professionals in my career who were "thought leaders" and "go to" professionals within their field of expertise. I've seen the process you use to assume that position and the benefits that come to people who hold that position. I've also seen the cost which that pursuit imposes.

Now you may suspect that this is where I'll start looking down my nose saying, "If they'd spent their time on their homes, their families, etc., etc. the grass wouldn't be so green over their septic tank (or whatever.)"

The truth is, I once had a very dear (and very successful) friend who taught me this important lesson:

"You can do anything you want,
as long as you're willing to pay the price."

- Virginia "Sis" Becker

I first heard this in the early 1990's. Then I primarily heard "You can do anything you want...". Today I look a lot more carefully at "...the price" part of the saying. The big difference between then and today is within me.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

- Luke 14:25-35

I know that, through God's Grace, I have the tools necessary to make myself into a widely quoted CFO. I know I could also reach up and grasp the next rung in the corporate ladder. I could create beautiful craftsmanship in my spare time doing woodworking. All any of these would take is time, patience, hard work, my undivided attention and a maximum effort...

Oh!

...and I'd have to let Jesus have the leftovers... my leftover time, leftover attention and leftover effort and energy.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

"We've Found a Better Way..."

A couple of years ago I came across the results of a study that had recently been performed concerning the relationship between divorce and happiness. I can't find my copy of the study to give you the exact numbers but its' findings were something like this:

People were asked to rate their marriage from "one" (Total disaster) to "five" (Heaven on Earth). Measurements were taken of the participants' overall "happiness" and peace of mind. It was noted, as expected, that the "ones" (unhappy marriages) also scored very low in terms of happiness and peace of mind. Those who rated their marriage "one" in the original study were studied again 3 years later and the same measurements taken, again.

The findings were a surprise to those who advocate for our current norm of divorce and remarriage:

Of those who divorced, their happiness was generally at, or about at, the same level of their earlier reading of “unhappy”.

Of those who did not divorce, about 80% rated their marriage a "five" and their general state of mind was much, much happier.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

- I Peter 5:6-11

Every message in our media and entertainment says that happiness is found by dumping that rascal/witch and "moving on" to the next person who will solve all of our problems, be a better "fit" and make those nasty relationship problems go away. Our culture says that all of that talk about "divorce and remarriage is adultery" is old-fashioned and counter-productive and a barrier to true happiness.

The evidence is unequivocal that happiness is found by avoiding adultery and working to improve what you already have.

Amazing... God knew what He was talking about. Hmmm... if the news and entertainment media really cares about people's happiness, I wonder why this study never made the news?

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful naturea and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

- Ephesians 2:1-10

A Day in the Life of a Moral Giant...

The other day I wore a Polo shirt. I usually only wear button-down pinpoint oxford shirts. My daughter Reagan commented on it and complimented me that she liked the shirt as we walked to the car from lunch.

I told her, “I like Polo shirts, but I don’t like to wear them when I’m this fat. They make my belly look even fatter.”

(They do! It's embarrassing!)

As we’re pulling out of the parking lot Reagan started giving me a stern lecture, “Dad, I don’t say “fat” anymore because it’s kind of mean and it hurts people’s feelings. I just don’t like using that word... ..ya’know, words can hurt…”

She was very earnest and very concerned. Just then we pulled around the back of the restaurant where an overweight staff member was changing his shirt by the back door.

Reagan saw him and squealed at the top of her lungs, “Oooooooh Dad! Look at that fat guy taking his clothes off! Even his boobies have boobies!”

I laughed so hard I almost wrecked the car.

The apples just don't fall far from the tree, do they? It was "my righteousness" in a snapshot...

"How then can we be saved?
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord;
do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people."

- Isaiah 64:5-9

The Top of the World!

One night, after the Cass Lake High School football season of 1978, I laid in my bed and I prayed ferverently, “God, please let me play on a State Championship football team.”

We'd just finished a lack luster season, about par for a perrenial loser. The Cass Lake High team from two years prior had made it into the State Tournament. It had been so rare and exciting that I wanted our team to do it again, only better. I remember begging God to be part of a successful football program.

I guess there was a joke on me. I didn’t realize that God was gonna move my family to Arizona to make it happen.

In the Fall of 1980 our team in Arizona was completing a second straight undefeated season my senior year. I remember walking off the field from the last play of winning the State Championship game and looking at the cheering crowd and looking up at the lights over the football field and thinking, “This is it? That’s all there is?”

I remember that I’d been expected to be transported to a higher level of grace and confidence and existence and now, “Crap!” it was still just me, walking off the field from another game. We walked into the locker room and our coach gave us one of the best locker room speeches I’ve ever heard. He said (as best I remember):

“People are telling you that you’re champions. I say we still don’t know if you’re champions. In 10 years we’ll know whether you’re champions by whether you’re a good husband and father. We’ll see if you’re taking a role in your community and whether you’re helping others. We’ll see if you’re serving God and following Him.”

“Tonight you won a football game. In 10 years we’ll know whether you’re champions.”

That really hit home for me.

Satan wants us to think his way will lead to that elevated level of existence. The right spouse... the right relationship... the right job... the right car... enough money... If we build our lives on the world in just the right way, happiness and peace will follow...

...and that is a lie.

The Bible tell us that our walk is supposed to hurt sometimes and that we will face defeat and failure. Remember, even "the house built on the rock" had to face the flood! God has promised that Her will use our trials to build us and change us and make us grow! This has become a favorite passage to me:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."

- I Peter 5:6-11

Here's to "...strong, firm and steadfast!" May we take our eyes off of ourselves long enough to hope for that.

Christian? Not So Cotton-Pick’n Fast!

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

- Luke 5:8-11

In a personal letter from a friend I found the following quote referring to a person of late middle age:

“…[Person] is a Christian but hasn't been active since [their] teens…”

My friend went on to explain that this person is a member and in regular attendance at a local church.

They have no prayer life,
no witnessing and no works,
no Bible study or devotions,
God neither is sought to lead
nor is God a priority in their life.

They’re just church members trying to “be a good person” and live a “good” life”. That has become what many call a “christian” today.

Now we all know that prayer, witnessing, works, Bible study, devotions will never make you a Christian, just as gluing feathers to your body will never make you a bird! But remember, birds are covered in feathers and there are outward evidences that indicate what is in a person's heart!

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

- James 1:22

Do we promote these two heresies:

“a sinner” = “a bad person”
And
a “good person” who goes to church is a “christian”?

Those are both hogwash! I know many people destined for an eternity in Hell who are much better people than me. Frankly, sometimes it doesn't take much!

But now let’s look at something that is really scary!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

- Matthew 7:21-23

Even hard-core religious works aren't the key to being approved by God. That should strike a profound tone in each and every one of us and compel us to examine ourselves. Are we “spiritual’ or “religious” without a true relationship with Christ? It is noteworthy that Jesus immediately explained that passage by launching into the parable of the builders:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

- Matthew 7:24-27

You tell me, is salvation a prayer or a purpose?

Against the “Country Club” Church

Many years ago I hear a pastor say, “The Church is not a Country Club for saints, it is a hospital for sinners!” * I think that’s a great saying, one I’ve always loved. These days I’m starting to re-think that proposition.

I am becoming increasingly concerned at how church attendance and church membership has become the goal of many “ministries”. To quote a song I recently heard, “I catch’em. God cleans’em!” Get’em in the door and we’ll get these people saved and turned onto God.

One of my personal favorite ministry programs (and for those who don’t know me, I am usually “death" on programs,) is the Baptists’ F.A.I.T.H. Sunday School outreach program. I love it! We operate under the idea that if we can get the lost coming to church, then we can teach them the gospel and they will become saved. And it has worked that way many times. And each time it has worked a soul that is precious beyond our understanding has been saved from eternal damnation to Our Lord and the Angel’s delight!

The problem is, using this idea we are also creating huge, (even “mega”,) churches filled with large numbers of people who are not practicing followers of Christ. And when the unsaved’s numbers in a church get large enough, pastors cannot lead boldly in areas of personal discomfort and sacrifice in following the Lord. And, often, the pastor who does so, does so at the risk of his job.

When we bring the unsaved into the church, they are coming to have a need (“knowledge of God” or “moral guidance”) fulfilled by the church. The church’s role is to serve these needs. However, when saved believers congregate we are sharing our faith and our purpose to serve God. The first group is coming to “take” when the second is coming to “share”.

Many, many pastors will now tell you that our churches are being battered by “The 80/20 Rule” (20% of the people are doing 80% of the work.) And an increasing part of the unproductive 80% is the lost clamoring that they want less Jesus and more entertainment and more social services and more [fill in the blank].

In many places, and in many people’s minds, church membership has become synonymous with being a Christian. And our pastors are often spending the entire "worship" service trying to get these “christians” saved!

We have to find a way to address this problem! This issue is worthy of our prayers.





* <sub>I wanted to give proper credit for this quote and found many churches and ministries using this quote, but never found an attribution. The closest I came to finding the original quote is a similar one from the old “Dear Abby” newspaper column:

"A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." -
- Abigail Van Buren

Possibly this is where the quote originated and was later amended into the form quoted, above. ‘Just a long way of saying, “I don’t know where this came from, I just know it didn’t come from me!"</sub>

Got Word? Part IV

It's time to bring this series of articles to an end, but I did want to drop one last set of suggestions about learning God's Word. Please allow me to reiterate now that there is no substitute for prayerfully submitting to God's teaching. A head packed full of Bible trivia and an unrepentant heart... well... enough said.

Having said that God is our Source and Instructor, I'll share a few resources, hints and suggestions that I've found invaluable over the years. These are just things that have helped me and may be of no value to you because (hopefully) God is the Source and Director of your growth and development.

If you are a mature christian who has also encountered valuable aids that have impacted your Bible study, please share them in the comments section of this post. The more the merrier!

Here are some resources that God has used to make a big difference in my life:

Firefighters for Christ
These folks can be found at this link and they have a wonderful tape ministry that is available on a true donation basis, (ie. you request the material and you can make any donation you feel led to cover costs. No donation is required.)

They also have a wonderful library of .MP3 files of sermons, bible lessons, music, you name it, that is available for free download at this link. God has and continues to bless me through the ministry of the Firefighters for Christ.

"30 Days to Understanding the Bible" by Max Anders
This is gonna seem hypocritical coming from the guy who just spent almost an entire post lecturing you to "Let God be your teacher!" but I cannot recommend this book enough. The problem it addresses is that there's some basic background and structure needed to read the Bible with much comprehension.

I have taught high school Sunday School students for years to be wary of those people who run around saying that they "read the Bible from cover to cover." I've always said, "Show me a person who read the Bible from cover to cover and I'll show you someone who didn't understand what they were reading." The Bible just isn't laid out sequentially and some additional knowledge is needed to better understand the book. "30 Days..." gives that needed information quickly and effectively.

"30 Days to Understanding the Bible" has 30 sections that are intended to take about 15 minutes each to read. They outline and review the structure of the bible, the basic flow of the region's geography and history and give basic information about how it all fits together. I developed a set of high school Sunday School lessons based on this material and have used them over a number of years because it is so important to getting your feet under you in the Word. Anders' material is very effective at bringing people up to speed quickly on the basics needed for Bible comprehension. My personal Bible study leapt forward when I learned that material.

A Bible Dictionary
For years I have used a Billy Graham Crusade Edition Bible Dictionary of my father's that I just love. There are many good Bible dictionaries out there. It sure helps to have one handy as you read the Word. There are free versions available online and a good place to start would be at The Blue Letter Bible web site (here). It has a lot of references, Bible versions and other tools that will give you a good chance to try things to see what works best for you.

Bible Software
Nothing speeds Bible study like a good Bible software package. It helps in lesson preparation, quickly accessing study aids and by allowing study in greater depth by simplifying the comparison of multiple translations and language reference material (for those of us who don't read Greek or Hebrew.) I have mine open even as I'm writing this. There are many packages out there. I've worked with two programs and so can only speak to my experience with those two packages.

There is a free (donation basis) package available online called "eSword" that has a good integrated interface and many resources available for free download from their web site (here). I've used it quite a bit and was pleased and impressed. I used it until I was ready for something a little stronger and that something stronger is Logos.

For many years Logos Research Systems, Inc. has continued to develop and improve the Logos Bible Software package (here). It is, I believe, generally regarded as the best of the best with massive libraries of compatible publications spanning the gamut from home devotions to hard-core scholarly publications. It comes in seven packaged versions starting with the "Christian Home" set for about $150 up to the "Scholar's Library: Gold" version which goes for about $1,400. (Yikes!)

Once you buy the initial package, with it's accompanying library, you can then purchase and add in publications from both Logos Research Systems, Inc. and other publishers. (For example, I have purchased two "Lifeworks" libraries from Thomas Nelson Publishing that have all of the published works of Max Lucado and John MacArthur, respectively.) I love this software and am an unabashed fan, so please know I'm not particularly objective.

The are other packages out there that I have never used, such as QuickVerse, BibleWorks, iLumina, PC Study Bible, SwordSearcher, and Theophilis, to name just a few. I've never used them so I won't comment. Just know that good Bible software is a very useful tool.

Bible Versions
Oh boy! This is a big, big topic that I can't do justice to! So here are just a few quick thoughts...

Bible versions come in two flavors (and the line between them obviously isn't as simple as I'm about to say): Translations and Interpretations.

Translations
This is where a group of scholars sit down and study the Greek and Hebrew texts and try to recreate the passage in another language. Usually these versions are more accurate and reliable. They are also less "user friendly" and a little harder to read.

Here is an example of a translation (from the www.scripture4all.org online interlinear Bible) showing the (transliterated) Greek words and the corresponding English translation of each word in John 1:1

En (In) archE (ORIGIN) eimi (Was)ho (The)logos (Saying: Word) kai (And)ho (The) logos (Saying: Word) eimi (Was) pros (Toward) ho (The) theos (God) kai (And) theos (God) eimi (Was) ho (The) logos (Saying: Word)

Using their knowledge of Greek and that text, The King James version translaters gave us this as the famous opening sentence in the Gospel of John:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

- John 1:1 KJV

There is some really meaty material in this sentence that the King James shows, but it does so at the cost of an odd sentence that may confuse you the first time you come across it.

Interpretations
Interpretations are where someone sits down with a translation or the Greek and Hebrew texts and then writes out what they think it means in English. (Danger Will Robinson!) The problem is that you are getting what a person's believes God's Word says rather than necessarily God’s Word. But the advantage is that interpretations are usually much easier to read. For example, here is John 1:1 in Eugene H. Peterson's "The Message" "version" of the Bible:

"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood."

- John 1:1 The Message

Well, I guess that's simple enough and it certainly is clear... but what it has to do with what the Greek text was saying? I dunno... (I suspect there's more Eugene H. Peterson than God in that sentence.) See the problem?

Honestly, I used to think there was a place for interpreted Bibles to help new and young christians, but my opinion has changed over the years. Today I have grave reservations about many interpretations out there and it seems that with each passing year more interpretations are released with lower and lower standards of faithfulness to the underlying text. Where is the line between "interpretting" and when a person gives their own words and says "Thus saith The Lord"? (See Ezekiel 13 for details. I guess that's a topic for another post.)

Obviously, today I favor strong translations over interpreted versions of the Bible.

Commentaries
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.) defines a commentary as "...a systematic series of explanations or interpretations..." Many great christian figures have written Bible commentaries to summarize their teachings and understandings of the Bible text. Many really lousy Bible students have also have written Bible commentaries to summarize their teachings and understandings of the Bible text. Ouchie! I'll leave that topic for the next section, but here is one thing that should be mentioned...

It used to be that you got the Bible, let's say a King James Bible and then you also bought a seperate book that contained a commentary. Today many Bibles actually have the commentary right in the Bible text as introductions to chapters and extensive footnotes and call-out boxes accompanying the Bible text. This is so popular because as a student reads the Bible the reference material is right there with you and you don't have to juggle two books, look up each passage, etc. It really is handy... (Do you hear that "But" coming?)

There is a danger when you match Infallible Scripture to completely fallible human interpretation of the Scripture. I've been in classes to hear a young christian come out with some wild point of view and have them say, "It's right here in the Bible" and they open it up and show us the commentary that's accompanying the Scripture text. A commentary, notes system, study Bible isn't necessarily a bad thing, (I've recommended the Life Application Study Bible to many,)but it is very important to understand the limitations of the notes and that they are completely separate from the Bible, even if they are printed in the same book.

And finally, here is a hint that has made all the difference in the world:

ALWAYS CHECK IT ALL AGAINST THE WORD!

A Bible teacher I used to listen to quite a bit (Chuck Missler) used to start out a lot of his lessons with Acts 17:11:

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

- Acts 17:11

His point was that we are to listen carefully and verify what we hear against the Scripture. We all develop a preference for particular teachers and preachers. Once we, in our minds, designate someone "A Man/Woman of God!" we face the temptation of not verifying their teachings against the word. (We emphasize "of God" and forget the "Man/Woman" and that they're subject to human limitations.) There is always a need to understand where the line between human teaching and God's Word is drawn.

(For example, in this four part extravaganza of "Got Word?" postings I can honestly tell you that the first post seemed to be more inspired and kind of wrote itself. The next two? Not so much. There is much more of "me" in those next two postings. And this post? :-) I'm not telling!)

"Caveat Emptor" - "Buyer Beware!"

Another way to say that is the old Russian proverb that Ronald Reagan used to always quote "doveryai, no proveryai" - "Trust, but verify."

And that goes for what I write, too!

Good Morning

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

- 1 Pe 5:6-11 NIV

Got Word? Part III

In "Got Word?" we discussed the problem of "Reading the Bible" becoming confused and lost in the myriad of "responsible" things expected from christians.

In "Got Word? Part II" we discussed the power of God's Word and the promises God has given us about what reading His Word will do within and to us. We finished "Part II" with the promise to discuss the problem that many people don't understand the Bible when they read it. It frustrates them.

Addressing that problem needs to be done in two parts. The first part is to address the spiritual issue and the second is to address the material issue. Oh, and it needs to be done quickly because "Part II" was way, way too long! Here goes:

The Spiritual Issue
When God made His promises concerning the power and activity of His Word in believers did you notice that He never spoke about our understanding or intelligence? We are so programmed to believing that the power of an idea is found in our understanding and application that we cannot fathom God's Word where it is the seeking that unleashes the power.

The power in God's Word IS NOT the power of the IDEAS in the Bible. The power of God's Word is GOD in the Words. You are transformed by seeking and finding God in His Word, not by finding God's ideas. In fact, Proverbs specifically warns us against leaning upon our understanding as the foundation of our lives!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.

- Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV

You are reading God's Word! Do you really expect to understand God? Relax, read God's Word, trust Him and that His love is absolute. Don't worry about understanding right away. He will lead you!

Now that's where some will will say:

What a load of metaphysical manure!!!
God said that we are to "rightly divide the Word of Truth"!
Don't you dare teach people that God's Word is a metaphysical meditation aid!

That complaint is absolutely true. The Bible isn't a philosophical/meditation/mystery tool that you are supposed to trip through in blissful ignorance. The point is simple:

God is going to teach you.

In patience and faith, if you seek God's face and ask Him to reveal Himself to you through His Word He will provide you the lessons He wants you to learn in His Word.

If you are just starting out in His Word I cannot caution you strongly enough about arrogance and self-confidence because your mind and our enemy will try to assert themselves to frustrate and embarrass you. Relax, be humble, follow God and continue to seek God's Face. He has promised to lead you, teach you and transform you according to His design.

Submerge yourself into His Word. When "teachers" arise and "lessons" present themselves in the world, prayerfully ask God's guidance in showing you what is from Him. Compare everything to His Word. He cannot, He will not contradict Himself. He will not teach you in contradiction of His Word.

Accept no substitute! Work out your salvation with fear and trembling as He leads you and you will discover His Peace, His Love, and His Grace in His Word. Every man and Woman of God has been taught by Him in His special school designed for that individual by the individual's master and creator.

There will be times when His Word shows you your sin, your unworthiness, and the impossibility of a person like you pleasing Him. Those times will come and they will be stepping stones to growth if you turn to Him in faith, prayfully take your hurts and fears to Him and allow Him to show you how He has provided for your unworthiness. Trust Him. He will.

Don't be intimidated or frightened when you don't understand. Relax and trust He will show you the answers. God encourages and welcomes your questions.

Be frightened of being certain about something that is not of God! That's where the real danger lies.

"My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones."

"Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you."

- Proverbs 2:1-11

(One last Part Coming: To Be Continued...)

Got Word? Part II

We often hear people making remarkable statements about God's Word that are based on a worldly perspective. They refer to the Bible as a book of philosophy, historical text, or group it as just another segment of “sacred literature” along with Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and other religious texts. The bottom line is that to many, (sadly, heart-breakingly many,) they just think the Bible is a book.

Did I mention that many of the folks who think this way are in “the church”; some are even in “church” leadership? (Relax! The Bible says it's always been that way! But doesn't that just blow you away? It does me.)

God, however, designates scripture as "His Word" and He tells us that reading the Bible is a process with unique properties. When we read the Bible God’s Word changes us.

Now stop right there! _{(Huh, what?)}

Think about that sentence:

When we read the Bible God’s Word changes us.

We ask, we beg, we plead with God to change our hearts, to transform our minds, to make us into the people He wants us to be. No step will take us farther down that road than prayerfully reading God’s Word, reading His Word in His Presence.

Here is a series Scripture as parsed in John MacArthur’s “The MacArthur Topical Bible”*. These Bible passages pertain to God’s Word. Listen how God explains the process of taking His Word into ourselves and the powers of His Word upon us:

The Word of God discerns the thoughts and intents of [the Heart].
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God the means of producing [Holiness].
2 Tim 3:16–17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Word of God instrumental to [The indwelling of the Spirit].
Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

_{[Here’s that passage in context: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27]}

The Word of God is the instrument of [Spiritual Life].
Is 55:3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—The sure mercies of David.

1 Pet 4:6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The Word of God keeps people from [Sin].
Ps 17:4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

Ps 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

The Word of God is [Truth].
John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Did you catch that? Reading God's Word unleashes God inside of us! (So to speak.)

He pierces us and dissects us...
He equips us and makes us complete...
He corrects us...
He cleanses us and sets us apart...
He brings life to our souls...
He keeps destruction from us and keeps us from destruction...
He gives us, He gives our hearts, Truth!

The world says that we feed facts and experiences into our marvelous minds and our minds use these to change and improve ourselves. God says that our minds are filled with the wickedness of our hearts, but that He can come in and transform us, if we seek Him.

In Part I we talked about the "shoulds" that assail our lives. Do not believe for an instant that reading God's Word is an item for your "to do" list.

Shouldn't you be neck-deep in God's Word before you even think about creating your priorities?

Consider some common alternatives:

Use a "daily devotion" book, (usually 10% scripture/90% commentary and philosophy),

Read christian authors who peddle their ideas, suggestions and insights on following God, or

Commit to one of the many "holy-fication" plans and programs (with accompanying workbook and interactive DVD-ROM!) to be transformed through the development of your beliefs, habits and attitudes.

These, and others, aren't necessarily evil or unproductive. But isn't there a step missing?

Wouldn't you FIRST want to commit to devotedly and prayerfully reading God's Word in the most profound act of SURRENDER to TRANSFORMATION possible?

"But I don't understand the Bible when I read it!"
Let's look at that problem. It is real and it can be frustrating, but maybe the answer is easier than you think...
(To be continued...)

* _{MacArthur, John: The MacArthur Topical Bible : New King James Version. Nashville, Tenn. : Word Pub., 1999}

Got Word?

Every single one of us knows we should read the Bible. It isn't even a question. We know we should read the Bible.

We also know that everyone should, (in no particular order,):

eat right,
exercise,
spend time with your family,
assist the less fortunate,
get regular check-ups,
take your vitamins,
attend church AND Sunday School,
tithe,
_{[Tired Yet?]}

have a personal quiet time,
pray with your children every day,
prepare for retirement,
do special, thoughtful things for your spouse,
teach your children to walk in the Lord,
succeed in your chosen profession,
be a good neighbor,
vigorously celebrate the usual personal events and national holidays,
_{[Now are you tired?]}

stay informed on current affairs,
listen to your spouse AND your children,
entertain,
consult your elders,
"be there" for your friends,
be environmentally responsible,
support "Feed the Children", "Christians Children's Fund", AND "UNICEF".
be sexually attractive and engaged with your spouse,
mentor a younger person,
care for your parents,
_{[How about now? Is weariness creeping in?]}

be involved in community affairs,
support the ministries of your church,
support a charity with money AND time,
pay your bills on time,
take vacations that entertain and rejuvenate,
spend time with your friends,
perform timely routine maintenance on your car,
get preventative vaccines,
Groom, dress, and speak well,
_{[I'm getting tired just writing this!]}

maintain your residence and yard,
read and continue your education,
keep a spotless house,
prepare healthy meals,
have a hobby,
be punctual,
be organized,
be happy, relaxed and popular,
"give something back",
prevent forest fires,
give a hoot AND not pollute...
_{[I'll stop. You get the idea.]}

Oh. And did I mention, you need to read your Bible?
_{(I know. You're very welcome.)}

I feel guilty even discussing something you should do, knowing the burdens that the world is trying to lay on responsible, well-meaning women and men. But here's the thing:

God's Word is the answer to the problem of an overcrowded, hectic life. It's more than another "should" in the endless list of "shoulds" that assail us. It's foundational!

"The Word of God" is a title for Jesus. And Jesus knows what is being asked of you these days:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

- Matthew 11:28-30

How do you keep from being swept away by the overwhelming demands of our world? It takes two steps and the very first one is "hearing" the Word of God.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

- Matthew 7:24-27

As believers we mustn't allow reading the Word to become just another "should" on the list. Again, God's Word is the solution to the "shoulds" in your life!

But there's even more going on here... Reading God's Word has greater benefits than just coping in this world.
(To Be Continued...)

A New Low in Navel Peering...

I went to YouTube to look at a sermon that a friend had mentioned. They now have these little transparent "Ads by Google" that they overlay on the botttom of the video. Here is the ad that popped up on the sermon:

"Could my Husband be Gay?
Worried your husband might be gay? Take the test and See. Free Online"

Can you imagine?

My first thought when I read this was, "What is wrong with us?" (but I guess I know the answer to that.) But can you imagine the poor rascals who are going to have those "test results" waiting for them at home some evening soon? And to get them from the woman you've pledged to honor and love and cherish for the rest of your life?

((shudder!))

It brings to mind...

Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 21:9 NIV

But let's face it. There are great odds the "test" was written by a man.

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."

2 Timothy 3:1-7

Rather than going on further about how misguided and terrible "they" are, this would be a good time to for all of us to stop and pray for our nation.

Two Months and Two Days... One God Almighty.

It has been necessary to be elsewhere, doing other things, but it is so good to be back posting. Thank you for still being around.

I woke up this morning with The Doxology playing in my head. I's a good way to start the day and I like to sing it when I'm alone. (Sometimes I sing it when my daughters are with me, but I have to kind of cool it... I'm already making that eventual institutionalization decision way too easy for them.)

Something is telling me I've shared this in the blog before, but I have to get back to work and I don't have time to check it out. And this is a song that is worthy of a repeat.

THE DOXOLOGY

[A] doxology in widespread use in English, in some Protestant traditions commonly referred to simply as "The Doxology" and in others as “The Common Doxology”[2], is "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow". The words are thus:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

This hymn was written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, a priest in the Church of England.[3] This hymn was originally the final verse of two longer hymns entitled "Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun",[4] and "Glory to thee, my God, this night",[5] written by Ken for morning and evening worship, respectively. It is usually sung to the tune "Old 100th", but also to "Duke Street" by John Hatton, "Lasst uns erfreuen", and "The Eighth Tune" by Thomas Tallis, among others. Many Mennonite churches, especially those composed primarily of ethnic Mennonites, sing a longer and more highly embellished version of this doxology to the tune "Dedication Anthem" by Samuel Stanley.[6] This version more fully utilizes the a cappella harmonizing for which Mennonite services are known.

Ken wrote this hymn at a time when the es­tab­lished church be­lieved on­ly Script­ure should be sung as hymns, with an em­pha­sis on the Psalms. Some con­sid­ered it sin­ful and blas­phe­mous to write new lyr­ics for church mu­sic, akin to ad­ding to the Script­ures. In that at­mo­sphere, Ken wrote this and sev­er­al other hymns for the boys at Win­chest­er Col­lege, with strict in­struct­ions that they use them on­ly in their rooms, for pri­vate de­vo­tions. Iron­ic­al­ly, the last stan­za has come into wide­spread use as the Dox­ol­o­gy, per­haps the most fr­equent­ly used piece of mu­sic in pub­lic wor­ship. At Ken’s request, the hymn was sung at his fun­er­al, fit­tingly held at sun­rise.

_{Doxology. (2009, June 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:01, June 9, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Doxology&oldid=295448685}

Even if you are tone deaf and have a terrible voice it all arrives at the Throne as beautiful praise! All together now:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

And Amen.

I Laughed Until I Cried!

It's been a really rough week, but I finally got some relief this morning when this item came out in a daily newsletter for bankers.

I did not make this up. My imagination for the ironic is not this well developed...

TARP Chief Says Federal Efforts Must Continue
The newly appointed head of the TARP said the economy is improving, but the government must continue its economic recovery efforts. Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Herbert Allison told the Congressional Oversight Panel the economy remains “vulnerable” due to rising unemployment, falling home prices and pressure on commercial real estate.

Allison, the former chief executive of Fannie Mae...

At this point I literally fell over laughing. I mean, I laughed until I cried.

[For those who might not know, Fannie Mae is the company that made the rules and created the sub-prime instruments that collapsed the capital markets last year. TARP is an agency tasked with bringing order and economic recovery to the markets.]

Sometimes I really wonder if Our Father laughs, rolls His eyes, or is just deeply, deeply saddened by us. And to think how often we (I) turn to our (My) own judgement, rather than trusting Him.

And when I think that through, it isn't funny.

Much love to all. (That's a goal, not yet a reality.)

A Man's Greatest Challenge

I grew up admiring three men that epitomized what I wanted to be in life:

My Father, My Grandfather, and... ...wait for it... ...John Wayne! Oh yeah!

I've learned the hard way that modeling myself after any man isn't necessarily the best way to follow Jesus. (There's enough material in that sentence for a series of ten posts, at least.) But today I just want to highlight one place where the John Wayne model breaks down.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

- Ephesians 5:25-27,

We've all heard preachers preach on this passage as they try to smack the guys back into line on occasion.

But, let's stop and think that one through for a minute:

"...just as Christ loved the church..."

When does Jesus love us?

When we reject Him?
When we follow false gods? (The Biblical model for this is "adultery"...)
When we break His heart?
When we walk away from Him?

Yes, yes, yes and yes!

When are we allowed to give up and walk way from a wife? Here's a self-test:

[ ] Yes [ ] No When she burns the dinner?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she disobeys the Word?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she no longer interests you?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she costs you a lot of money?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she has an affair?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she has another affair?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she divorces you?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she dates other men?
[ ] Yes [ ] No When she enters an adulterous marriage?

When do you get to give up? (Isn't that how we look at it? "We get to give up!" As if getting to go on to our own adultery is a gift!).

A good place to start is to ask, "When should God give up on me?"

Note the following single passage from scripture and the order that it gives to these topics.

1) Forgive seven times seventy
2) Parable of the forgiven servant
3) Instructions on forgiveness
4) Instructions on divorce

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents [millions of dollars] was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. [a few dollars dollars] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”

Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”

Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriagec because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

- Matthew 18:21-19:12

If you think that your wife has done so much that she cannot be forgiven, then maybe you don't understand exactly how much you've had forgiven.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."

- Ephesians 5:25-27,

It really isn't that complicated. It's very simple. And it's an impossible task if you don't have God's help.

Let'em Go in Love!

"Those wascally wabbits over at the Berean Call" just posted another current events article on "De-Baptism" that is very interesting. (The link is here.)

De-Baptism Gains a Following in Britain [Excerpts]
More than 100,000 former Christians have downloaded "certificates of de-baptism" in a bid to publicly renounce the faith, according to the London-based National Secular Society (NSS).

It seems that several campaigns are afoot around the world asking people to publicly disavow the faith they no longer practice or believe. These campaigns encourage people to request that their names be withdrawn from church membership roles. They’re on the internet, Facebook, etc., etc. promoting this cause.

The purpose seems to be to reduce the political and social power of churches who use their "large memberships" as a tool for political power. The Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches in particular seem targeted, but there is no reason these campaigns would stop there, given the adamant atheist agendas their web sites present.

As a testimony to the general increasing Godlessness of our societies, the article is disturbing. My initial reaction was negative. Then I started to think this through…

What if churches were forced to focus on impacting the world by changing lives, rather than trying to change Congress?

What if people were confronted with the difference between a church membership and a person who has a relationship with their Savior?

What if we were to get some help destroying the illusion that there is a comfortable fence you can rest between being lost versus being a follower?

Our fear is that people will be lost, that people will go to Hell. If this is truly our concern, then who should we be more concerned about than those who are under the illusion that they are saved, when they are really lost?

"These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

- Revelation 3:14-18

It concerns us to see the world becoming more and more antagonistic to Christianity. In our fear, we sometimes error by turning to political influence and worldly help rather than to Our Lord for protection. But things are working out as God understood and confirmed to us:

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

- Matthew 24:9-14

The world will hate us, but we don't have to be afraid. God is always was and always will be in control:

"But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them."

- Genesis 50:19-21

These folks behind these campaigns believe that they are "striking a blow against God's followers" and "declaring their independence from God." And in doing so they may perform a great service for those who are known by His name. Hilariously, (at least to me,) a South American group with one such agenda actually adapted the slogan "No En Mi Nombre!" which means "Not in My Name!" Out of the mouths of babes...

"The Lord works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster."

- Proverbs 16:4

And yet, above all, we live in hope. It puts kind of a hopeful spin on that wonderful passage from Hosea where God adopts the rejected children:

“In that day I will respond,” declares the Lord— “I will respond to the skies, and they will respond to the earth; and the earth will respond to the grain, the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel. I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’

I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’ ”

- Hosea 2:21-23

Thank you, Lord!