As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
The day has finally arrived, today myself and several good friends strike out on our annual Great Adventure. Traveling north into Ontario, Canada this year, we’ll be canoeing, fishing, camping, eating, praying and generally enjoying the counsel of fellow Christian Men.
I’m sometimes asked why make this journey to such a far off wilderness; wouldn’t a trip to a State Park be adequate for some “male bonding” time? The answer might be a little different for each man who goes, but all the answers will share some of the same themes. One is that men need Great Adventures to challenge us physically and emotionally in ways we aren’t challenged in our normal daily lives. It makes us feel “real” as compared to our often times very pampered and indulged existence. We also feel the challenge to go to a place where not many go, to feel that pioneering spirit which resides deep within us. We want to see and feel as John Eldredge put it in his book “Wild at Heart”, “Most of the earth is not safe; but it’s good.” And finally to be in the company of men who want to be real with themselves, with each other, and with God.
Being in the company of other Christian men is an extremely under rated concept today. General fellowship with other believers is needed and proper, but I believe men really need the fellowship of other men to grow in their faith and their manhood. I encourage each man reading this to get away to a Men’s Retreat, Adventure Outing or other men’s event. You’ll be blessed by the experience.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Shortcuts
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention. Matthew 7:13 (The Message)
Whether it’s finding a way around that traffic delay or sheer boredom with the daily commute, I sometimes fall for “the shortcut” lure. Even equipped with the best maps, trusty Garman, and my automobile compass, it usually turns out poorly. I find out the alternate route is just as bad as the original route or has delays which would have made staying on the normal course more efficient.
There have been a number of books out lately which have, at least it seems to me, trying to sell me a surefire way to a successful life. Successful, in the book, is usually measured by material possessions, health, and happiness. They tell me if I’ll just belief hard enough and if I think the right way that I will be successful in this life and have everything that I want. While I certainly think that there are right and wrong ways to live and good and bad attitudes toward living it, it just seems to me that this is trying to take a shortcut to God’s will. GOD holds the high center, he sees and sets the world's mess right. He decides what is right for us earthlings, gives people their just deserts. Psalm 9:7 (The Message)
Is there a shortcut to Gods heart? I think so; it is reading, and inasmuch as possible understanding and living by his Word. Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health. Proverbs 4:20 (The Message) Sticking with the tried and proven route will always get me there. Worked well for Moses and Paul, I’m sure it’ll work for me too.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Whether it’s finding a way around that traffic delay or sheer boredom with the daily commute, I sometimes fall for “the shortcut” lure. Even equipped with the best maps, trusty Garman, and my automobile compass, it usually turns out poorly. I find out the alternate route is just as bad as the original route or has delays which would have made staying on the normal course more efficient.
There have been a number of books out lately which have, at least it seems to me, trying to sell me a surefire way to a successful life. Successful, in the book, is usually measured by material possessions, health, and happiness. They tell me if I’ll just belief hard enough and if I think the right way that I will be successful in this life and have everything that I want. While I certainly think that there are right and wrong ways to live and good and bad attitudes toward living it, it just seems to me that this is trying to take a shortcut to God’s will. GOD holds the high center, he sees and sets the world's mess right. He decides what is right for us earthlings, gives people their just deserts. Psalm 9:7 (The Message)
Is there a shortcut to Gods heart? I think so; it is reading, and inasmuch as possible understanding and living by his Word. Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health. Proverbs 4:20 (The Message) Sticking with the tried and proven route will always get me there. Worked well for Moses and Paul, I’m sure it’ll work for me too.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Fearless
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Let me start out by saying as my public confession that I’m a big fat chicken. I have my moments of absolute fearlessness which are usually reactionary to emergency situations. You know the things you do then afterwards ask yourself, “what was I thinking?” The Bible uses fear often as terms meaning honor and reverence of God, Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:13. But there are several instances where God definitely means, people, you’d better be afraid, especially of those who worship him. People in places like Jericho found this out in very real ways.
Aside from some physiological issues with my body which give me a rational fear of fast moving directionally erratic objects which cause my inner ear to freak me out, I must admit that my fear of most things is a direct or indirect fear of dying But the question is who or what I should fear. David poetically and emphatically put it this way, The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. Then Jesus responded, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:5. Then Paul summarized and drove the point home, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14,15
To modify Winston Churchill’s famous quote: We’ve nothing to fear but the devil himself. Looks like I’m out of excuses for not doing that cliff jump this week.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Let me start out by saying as my public confession that I’m a big fat chicken. I have my moments of absolute fearlessness which are usually reactionary to emergency situations. You know the things you do then afterwards ask yourself, “what was I thinking?” The Bible uses fear often as terms meaning honor and reverence of God, Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Deuteronomy 6:13. But there are several instances where God definitely means, people, you’d better be afraid, especially of those who worship him. People in places like Jericho found this out in very real ways.
Aside from some physiological issues with my body which give me a rational fear of fast moving directionally erratic objects which cause my inner ear to freak me out, I must admit that my fear of most things is a direct or indirect fear of dying But the question is who or what I should fear. David poetically and emphatically put it this way, The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1. Then Jesus responded, “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:5. Then Paul summarized and drove the point home, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14,15
To modify Winston Churchill’s famous quote: We’ve nothing to fear but the devil himself. Looks like I’m out of excuses for not doing that cliff jump this week.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Three things to remember
“But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." Luke 6:49
There’s an old joke that there are only three things that a man needs to know; who you are, where you’ve been, and what time it is. The punch line was that when guys arrive home in the wee hours of the morning after spending a late night reveling with friends, that there were three questions their wives will ask; who do you think you are coming in this late?, where have you been all night?, and do you have any idea what time it is? Unfortunately, there are some guys around who never got the point that those questions in that situation would be rhetorical and there would be no acceptable answers.
I’ve always remembered those three questions though. I’ve found that is good for me to continually ask of myself, “who am I?” Especially in regard to who it is God calls me to be. The Bible provides answers, from Genesis to Revelation. Now the question “where have I been” is only relevant as it relates to the general direction I now head from the origin of my journey with Christ, and begs the question, is my path HIS path? And finally, perhaps the most important question, what time is it? Not that it’s 5:00 PM on July 15th, but that I’m potentially a millisecond away from my eternity. I keep reminding myself that I don’t have until next Wednesday to make decisions that will impact my eternity, those must be made now. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32
The questions are still relevant, and the answers are more important than ever, but in some ways just elusive as ever. At least I know where to look. And as long as I remember that it’s not so much about the journey as it is the destination, the answers just keep coming.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
There’s an old joke that there are only three things that a man needs to know; who you are, where you’ve been, and what time it is. The punch line was that when guys arrive home in the wee hours of the morning after spending a late night reveling with friends, that there were three questions their wives will ask; who do you think you are coming in this late?, where have you been all night?, and do you have any idea what time it is? Unfortunately, there are some guys around who never got the point that those questions in that situation would be rhetorical and there would be no acceptable answers.
I’ve always remembered those three questions though. I’ve found that is good for me to continually ask of myself, “who am I?” Especially in regard to who it is God calls me to be. The Bible provides answers, from Genesis to Revelation. Now the question “where have I been” is only relevant as it relates to the general direction I now head from the origin of my journey with Christ, and begs the question, is my path HIS path? And finally, perhaps the most important question, what time is it? Not that it’s 5:00 PM on July 15th, but that I’m potentially a millisecond away from my eternity. I keep reminding myself that I don’t have until next Wednesday to make decisions that will impact my eternity, those must be made now. "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:32
The questions are still relevant, and the answers are more important than ever, but in some ways just elusive as ever. At least I know where to look. And as long as I remember that it’s not so much about the journey as it is the destination, the answers just keep coming.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
From the ashes
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5
Just a few days ago, on July 4th an accidental fire, which originated on the outside of the building, caused extensive fire damage to the two year old Muncie Mission, the inspiration and dream of founder Rev. Ray Raines. It renewed painful memories for me, as all fire losses do, of the house fire my family survived in 1985. The feeling is hard to describe but it’s like when you’re doing and job and your hand makes unexpected contact with a sharp object or a tool and through the pain all you can think about is getting that glove off and making sure all the digits are there. And finding all members present the pain is so much more tolerable. The most important thing we learned as a family from that experience was fully realizing that the most important things in our lives are our health, our family and our faith.
I’ve been in spiritual winter the past week. A chronic sinus infection that I’ve been battling all summer turned severe and its symptoms caused me to lose focus, concentration, motivation and inspiration. I equated it to having a three beer buzz with a constant headache. It is times like that I find myself clinging to my faith feeling the full impact of Paul’s words, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I’m now going through what my EENT Specialist called “blasting” (high dosage of antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, etc) in preparation for a CT scan of my sinus’s and I’m starting to feel somewhat normal.
Just as our home rose and grew from the ashes to be a loving and fruitful home, and as my spirit has been renewed and refreshed by the onset of healing of my body, I’m just as certain with the help of servants faithful to the calling of Christ through the Muncie Mission, it too will rise to be stronger and more fruitful than before. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Just a few days ago, on July 4th an accidental fire, which originated on the outside of the building, caused extensive fire damage to the two year old Muncie Mission, the inspiration and dream of founder Rev. Ray Raines. It renewed painful memories for me, as all fire losses do, of the house fire my family survived in 1985. The feeling is hard to describe but it’s like when you’re doing and job and your hand makes unexpected contact with a sharp object or a tool and through the pain all you can think about is getting that glove off and making sure all the digits are there. And finding all members present the pain is so much more tolerable. The most important thing we learned as a family from that experience was fully realizing that the most important things in our lives are our health, our family and our faith.
I’ve been in spiritual winter the past week. A chronic sinus infection that I’ve been battling all summer turned severe and its symptoms caused me to lose focus, concentration, motivation and inspiration. I equated it to having a three beer buzz with a constant headache. It is times like that I find myself clinging to my faith feeling the full impact of Paul’s words, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I’m now going through what my EENT Specialist called “blasting” (high dosage of antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines, etc) in preparation for a CT scan of my sinus’s and I’m starting to feel somewhat normal.
Just as our home rose and grew from the ashes to be a loving and fruitful home, and as my spirit has been renewed and refreshed by the onset of healing of my body, I’m just as certain with the help of servants faithful to the calling of Christ through the Muncie Mission, it too will rise to be stronger and more fruitful than before. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Real freedom
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts… Psalm 119:45
At this 225th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I pause to consider what real freedom is. God has always intended for man to be free, but we placed ourselves in slavery to sin from the get go. Then 2000 years ago God sent Jesus to free us from our slavery to sin. But even after Jesus freed us, governments rallied to prevent the free expression of worship. Then 225 years ago the United States was born not just for the sake of political freedom, but as President George Washington said in his Farewell Address in 1796, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
John F. Kennedy in his 1962 Independence Day address at Independence Hall said, “The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; that the word went out to all, in Thomas Jefferson's phrase, that "the God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." And today this Nation--conceived in revolution, nurtured in liberty, maturing in independence--has no intention of abdicating its leadership in that worldwide movement for independence to any nation or society committed to systematic human oppression.”
The real freedom I have comes from the same God who gave me life. He never intended for me to be a slave to sin or other men who tell me how, where, or when I can worship, live, or a host of other things. There are those who worship Christ daily in countries which forbid it under penalty of death. I pray for them and that the USA will continue to offer a place of freedom to live and worship; to experience Real freedom.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
At this 225th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I pause to consider what real freedom is. God has always intended for man to be free, but we placed ourselves in slavery to sin from the get go. Then 2000 years ago God sent Jesus to free us from our slavery to sin. But even after Jesus freed us, governments rallied to prevent the free expression of worship. Then 225 years ago the United States was born not just for the sake of political freedom, but as President George Washington said in his Farewell Address in 1796, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
John F. Kennedy in his 1962 Independence Day address at Independence Hall said, “The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice; that the word went out to all, in Thomas Jefferson's phrase, that "the God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time." And today this Nation--conceived in revolution, nurtured in liberty, maturing in independence--has no intention of abdicating its leadership in that worldwide movement for independence to any nation or society committed to systematic human oppression.”
The real freedom I have comes from the same God who gave me life. He never intended for me to be a slave to sin or other men who tell me how, where, or when I can worship, live, or a host of other things. There are those who worship Christ daily in countries which forbid it under penalty of death. I pray for them and that the USA will continue to offer a place of freedom to live and worship; to experience Real freedom.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wheat and chaff
”His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3:12
I occasionally wonder how hard I can push someone toward a life of faith in Christ without alienating them. John the Baptizer painted, in this scripture from Matthew, what I believe to be, a very prophetic image of Jesus’ return. John announced that Jesus was bringing the way and the truth (of God’s Kingdom) to mankind, and made it quite clear that some were going to accept it and some weren’t, and furthermore that those who didn’t would face dire consequences.
Jesus spent a relatively short time here on earth showing and telling his message of redemption and salvation and relaying in every manner understandable to those of the time and now the hope of eternity and the price of rejecting it. And all the while the reality of his message was there, "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47.
The message that I take from all this is that I need to be authentic, be serious, and be bold. The next to last thing I want to do is push someone away from discovering Christ, but the worst thing would be to allow them to die without ever having known about him. One of the most often misquoted sayings of Jesus is, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:51 Taken out of context is sounds completely contrary to virtually everything else Jesus ever said, but the true meaning is that no matter how much love I pour into the mission of bringing all to Christ, some of people are destined to be wheat and some chaff. I surely don’t want to be responsible for chaff that could have been wheat.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
I occasionally wonder how hard I can push someone toward a life of faith in Christ without alienating them. John the Baptizer painted, in this scripture from Matthew, what I believe to be, a very prophetic image of Jesus’ return. John announced that Jesus was bringing the way and the truth (of God’s Kingdom) to mankind, and made it quite clear that some were going to accept it and some weren’t, and furthermore that those who didn’t would face dire consequences.
Jesus spent a relatively short time here on earth showing and telling his message of redemption and salvation and relaying in every manner understandable to those of the time and now the hope of eternity and the price of rejecting it. And all the while the reality of his message was there, "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47.
The message that I take from all this is that I need to be authentic, be serious, and be bold. The next to last thing I want to do is push someone away from discovering Christ, but the worst thing would be to allow them to die without ever having known about him. One of the most often misquoted sayings of Jesus is, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” Luke 12:51 Taken out of context is sounds completely contrary to virtually everything else Jesus ever said, but the true meaning is that no matter how much love I pour into the mission of bringing all to Christ, some of people are destined to be wheat and some chaff. I surely don’t want to be responsible for chaff that could have been wheat.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Bad is bad
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11
Huey Lewis and the News, perhaps the last secular rock group I “got” sang the song, “Bad is Bad.” I liked it because I’ve never really liked the idea of calling good bad. I don’t know when the terms good and bad started being used interchangeably. I think calling good bad can be confusing, especially to those who have a difficult time telling the difference. Perhaps that is what the Prophet Isaiah had in mind when he said, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,…Isaiah 5:20.
It seemed as I was growing up the movies always had a good over evil theme. The good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black hats. Their actions made their character more recognizable than their hat color, and the good was accomplished for “goodness” sake. Somewhere through time the motives slowly changed, the good was accomplished for the benefit of “humankind” and the focus became more on the hero’s abilities not of good conquering evil and the end always justified the means; thus “revenge” movies evolved.
And now it seems that the conquest of evil; an increasingly subjective end state, is accomplished by whom, just a few years ago would have been considered the icons of evil. I’ll stay clear of examples to prevent controversies from distorting my point. I’ve always heard that I will imitate what I put into my mind through reading and viewing; GIGO (garbage in, garbage out.) So when engaging in conversation or seeking entertainment I’m going try harder to let Proverbs 8:13 guide me, He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Huey Lewis and the News, perhaps the last secular rock group I “got” sang the song, “Bad is Bad.” I liked it because I’ve never really liked the idea of calling good bad. I don’t know when the terms good and bad started being used interchangeably. I think calling good bad can be confusing, especially to those who have a difficult time telling the difference. Perhaps that is what the Prophet Isaiah had in mind when he said, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,…Isaiah 5:20.
It seemed as I was growing up the movies always had a good over evil theme. The good guys wore white hats and the bad guys wore black hats. Their actions made their character more recognizable than their hat color, and the good was accomplished for “goodness” sake. Somewhere through time the motives slowly changed, the good was accomplished for the benefit of “humankind” and the focus became more on the hero’s abilities not of good conquering evil and the end always justified the means; thus “revenge” movies evolved.
And now it seems that the conquest of evil; an increasingly subjective end state, is accomplished by whom, just a few years ago would have been considered the icons of evil. I’ll stay clear of examples to prevent controversies from distorting my point. I’ve always heard that I will imitate what I put into my mind through reading and viewing; GIGO (garbage in, garbage out.) So when engaging in conversation or seeking entertainment I’m going try harder to let Proverbs 8:13 guide me, He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Giving up
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. Matthew 18:21-22
I was talking with a brother recently about another brother who consistently has difficulty synchronizing his heart and his actions. It is as if he’s mired in that Romans 7:15 “do loop” that Paul claimed, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I have that problem too, more often than I wish were true.
Some brothers, because of a host of reasons, have greater difficulty fighting the urge to not do what we hate. Whether because of a physical or mental addiction, the reaction to a life of externally caused pain, or the sum total of the entire life crisis which surrounds us, we can get painfully stuck in sinful behavior.
So how long do I put up with this? How many times to I accept the excuses, the denial, and the lies? When is it acceptable to just give up? I remind myself, Jesus didn’t give up, he continued to forgive the sinners even when they hung him on a cross and killed him. Matt Redman’s song, “You Never Let Go” reminds me of Gods enduring faith in me and how I cannot let go of that. It also convicts me to continually share that hope with my brothers. In Luke 18:1 Christ tells a parable to illustrate how I should “pray and not give up.” So I won’t, ever.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
I was talking with a brother recently about another brother who consistently has difficulty synchronizing his heart and his actions. It is as if he’s mired in that Romans 7:15 “do loop” that Paul claimed, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. I have that problem too, more often than I wish were true.
Some brothers, because of a host of reasons, have greater difficulty fighting the urge to not do what we hate. Whether because of a physical or mental addiction, the reaction to a life of externally caused pain, or the sum total of the entire life crisis which surrounds us, we can get painfully stuck in sinful behavior.
So how long do I put up with this? How many times to I accept the excuses, the denial, and the lies? When is it acceptable to just give up? I remind myself, Jesus didn’t give up, he continued to forgive the sinners even when they hung him on a cross and killed him. Matt Redman’s song, “You Never Let Go” reminds me of Gods enduring faith in me and how I cannot let go of that. It also convicts me to continually share that hope with my brothers. In Luke 18:1 Christ tells a parable to illustrate how I should “pray and not give up.” So I won’t, ever.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Far and near
"Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? Jeremiah 23:23
My job has taken me on the road for a couple of days. Traveling like that and spending the night alone in a hotel room always throws me out of my routine. Even when my prayers and devotion time is only slightly modified, I seem to lose focus and contact and find myself feeling far from God. I remind myself that when God seems far away the real question is who moved? It wasn’t the unmovable, unshakable God. I’m the one who has strayed. But why?
Upon evaluation of the of my heart and mind, I find that somehow being away from home causes a change in my mental state which changes my relationship with God. I hope that is not uncommon in normal people (I consider myself at least an associate member of that club.) Perhaps not, since dramatic changes in other aspects of my life seem to produce a similar effect. I comforted by the words in Deuteronomy 30:4, Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back.
With all this in mind, I vow to maintain a vigilant watch for any evidence of my heart straying from the presence of God as circumstances or environment change. God says, "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15 He’s always here, I just need to do a better job of recognizing Him in a different surrounding.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
My job has taken me on the road for a couple of days. Traveling like that and spending the night alone in a hotel room always throws me out of my routine. Even when my prayers and devotion time is only slightly modified, I seem to lose focus and contact and find myself feeling far from God. I remind myself that when God seems far away the real question is who moved? It wasn’t the unmovable, unshakable God. I’m the one who has strayed. But why?
Upon evaluation of the of my heart and mind, I find that somehow being away from home causes a change in my mental state which changes my relationship with God. I hope that is not uncommon in normal people (I consider myself at least an associate member of that club.) Perhaps not, since dramatic changes in other aspects of my life seem to produce a similar effect. I comforted by the words in Deuteronomy 30:4, Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back.
With all this in mind, I vow to maintain a vigilant watch for any evidence of my heart straying from the presence of God as circumstances or environment change. God says, "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15 He’s always here, I just need to do a better job of recognizing Him in a different surrounding.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Now I see
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:3&5
It seems that I am constantly bombarded with messages about how wretched someone or some group is and how out of touch with a Biblical worldview they are. And most of the time I can understand the position from which the writer or speaker is striking out. I often see that the subject of the criticism is not approaching an issue from what nominally might be considered to be a Christ follower’s perspective.
Yes, I concur there are many people not living Christ focused lives and are leading others, voluntarily or involuntarily, down the same misguided path they are taking. But sometimes I have to slow down and step back when I realize I’m elevating myself through this mental transaction to a position of moral superiority of judging a person and not the outcomes and affects of their actions. This self righteousness enters my thoughts so subtly that I sometimes don’t even recognize it.
It’s so radical to the way the world wants me to think, that sometimes I just don’t know what to do with it, but Jesus did say, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37. It’s so countercultural that I find it almost painful to “love my enemies.” God calls me to arms to do battle with evil, but not to enact revenge, in word or action, on another, that I’m leaving to Him. Mahatma Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye just makes the whole world blind." Today I’m going to keep prying on that stubborn plank.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
It seems that I am constantly bombarded with messages about how wretched someone or some group is and how out of touch with a Biblical worldview they are. And most of the time I can understand the position from which the writer or speaker is striking out. I often see that the subject of the criticism is not approaching an issue from what nominally might be considered to be a Christ follower’s perspective.
Yes, I concur there are many people not living Christ focused lives and are leading others, voluntarily or involuntarily, down the same misguided path they are taking. But sometimes I have to slow down and step back when I realize I’m elevating myself through this mental transaction to a position of moral superiority of judging a person and not the outcomes and affects of their actions. This self righteousness enters my thoughts so subtly that I sometimes don’t even recognize it.
It’s so radical to the way the world wants me to think, that sometimes I just don’t know what to do with it, but Jesus did say, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37. It’s so countercultural that I find it almost painful to “love my enemies.” God calls me to arms to do battle with evil, but not to enact revenge, in word or action, on another, that I’m leaving to Him. Mahatma Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye just makes the whole world blind." Today I’m going to keep prying on that stubborn plank.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Something’s missing
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 2 Timothy 2:8
How many times I’ve started on a trip, out of town or just to the office and from the moment I put the garage door down felt that something wasn’t right. Next there’s that fateful stop for coffee and upon reaching for my wallet, oh yes, now I remember what’s missing. Once I even filled my gas tank before realizing my wallet was still where I laid it the night before.
I sometimes do the same thing when I jump into a situation full of self confidence or even sheer panic of uncertainty. There is this question mark which plagues me until I recognize that I haven’t prayed for guidance, strength and discernment, even in what might have been an urgent situation. And when I have the presence of mind to stop, take a breath and talk with God things usually go better, For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:26
I pray that today I will not forget to challenge myself, when faced with any difficult situation or decision, to remember Paul’s words as he recalled the suffering that he and others faced when spreading the truth of Jesus, But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, 2 Corinthians 1:9
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
How many times I’ve started on a trip, out of town or just to the office and from the moment I put the garage door down felt that something wasn’t right. Next there’s that fateful stop for coffee and upon reaching for my wallet, oh yes, now I remember what’s missing. Once I even filled my gas tank before realizing my wallet was still where I laid it the night before.
I sometimes do the same thing when I jump into a situation full of self confidence or even sheer panic of uncertainty. There is this question mark which plagues me until I recognize that I haven’t prayed for guidance, strength and discernment, even in what might have been an urgent situation. And when I have the presence of mind to stop, take a breath and talk with God things usually go better, For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:26
I pray that today I will not forget to challenge myself, when faced with any difficult situation or decision, to remember Paul’s words as he recalled the suffering that he and others faced when spreading the truth of Jesus, But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, 2 Corinthians 1:9
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Prisoners
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesians 4:1
Unless things get a lot worse in the good old USA, I don’t suspect any of us will ever have to physically be incarcerated for our faith, like Paul was on many occasions. And it wasn’t for his radical violent actions that he was convicted, just simply believing and professing his belief in Christ Jesus as his risen Lord and Savior. Being chained in a prison cell for my belief in Christ is difficult for me to imagine. But I know that there are many who today are under imprisonment of mind and body, not in cells, who need the same encouragement that Peter gave, For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 1 Peter 2:19.
There are men who are imprisoned by addictions which hold them as tightly as the strongest chains imaginable. There are those with hurt and anger which bind them so tightly that they find it hard to be positive about anything and with anybody. And those with physical afflictions which bring so much physical pain, they would trade sitting in a prison chained to the walls over the pain.
Each day I strive to make my life worthy of the blessing of health, peace and happiness that are mine, but more importantly I pray that my life displays a gratitude for the grace I receive through Christ even though I am unworthy. And most importantly, I pray for those who are imprisoned by fear, pain, hurt, anger, or addiction as if I were there with them, Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Unless things get a lot worse in the good old USA, I don’t suspect any of us will ever have to physically be incarcerated for our faith, like Paul was on many occasions. And it wasn’t for his radical violent actions that he was convicted, just simply believing and professing his belief in Christ Jesus as his risen Lord and Savior. Being chained in a prison cell for my belief in Christ is difficult for me to imagine. But I know that there are many who today are under imprisonment of mind and body, not in cells, who need the same encouragement that Peter gave, For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 1 Peter 2:19.
There are men who are imprisoned by addictions which hold them as tightly as the strongest chains imaginable. There are those with hurt and anger which bind them so tightly that they find it hard to be positive about anything and with anybody. And those with physical afflictions which bring so much physical pain, they would trade sitting in a prison chained to the walls over the pain.
Each day I strive to make my life worthy of the blessing of health, peace and happiness that are mine, but more importantly I pray that my life displays a gratitude for the grace I receive through Christ even though I am unworthy. And most importantly, I pray for those who are imprisoned by fear, pain, hurt, anger, or addiction as if I were there with them, Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Peripheral living
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
I went to a movie theater a while back. Before the show started, a very nice young man walked to the front of the theater and a voice exuding the confidence of his full 16 years of age announced, “Let me have your attention please.” I felt a sense of presence from him that I hadn’t felt from the messages flashing on the giant screen in front of me. I actually stopped cramming popcorn into my face to listen. Not everyone in the theater was so captured and there was still a hum of voices which almost distracted me from the warning of dire consequences should I fail to mute my cell phone.
It reminded me of how difficult it is to remain undivided in the world today. There are so many choices, so many options, and so many decisions. As an undiagnosed ADD child, focus and concentration are two things I constantly struggle to maintain. Too often my focus has been on the wrong things; career and leisure, and even obsessive attention to family and church. All these things are important, but aren’t what God wants. He wants from me my undivided heart and mind so that I can hear and see his truth. Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
It has taken me a while but I finally realize that my focus must be on the center of the throne of God, “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17 The rest of my life is guided by the Spirit and the Word, but essentially peripheral.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
I went to a movie theater a while back. Before the show started, a very nice young man walked to the front of the theater and a voice exuding the confidence of his full 16 years of age announced, “Let me have your attention please.” I felt a sense of presence from him that I hadn’t felt from the messages flashing on the giant screen in front of me. I actually stopped cramming popcorn into my face to listen. Not everyone in the theater was so captured and there was still a hum of voices which almost distracted me from the warning of dire consequences should I fail to mute my cell phone.
It reminded me of how difficult it is to remain undivided in the world today. There are so many choices, so many options, and so many decisions. As an undiagnosed ADD child, focus and concentration are two things I constantly struggle to maintain. Too often my focus has been on the wrong things; career and leisure, and even obsessive attention to family and church. All these things are important, but aren’t what God wants. He wants from me my undivided heart and mind so that I can hear and see his truth. Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
It has taken me a while but I finally realize that my focus must be on the center of the throne of God, “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17 The rest of my life is guided by the Spirit and the Word, but essentially peripheral.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Surrender
I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. Psalm 44:6-7
Sometimes the fight is just overwhelming. It might be a disgruntled coworker whose undaunted negativity eventfully, regardless of my efforts to counteract it, brings everyone down. Then there’s the family situation which is just out of my grasp to bring to a joyful conclusion. After a time all my weapons of words and actions are ineffective and I just want to lay down arms and admit defeat. The problem is that sometimes I wait too long to surrender.
Sometimes I act like King Zedekiah when he refused listen to the Prophet Jeremiah who passed along instructions from God. Zedekiah was to surrender himself to the king of Babylon, but instead his fear and a lack of trust in God kept him from taking the right path and things didn’t turn out so well [Jeremiah 38:21.] That path of surrendering everything to the will of the Lord all too often runs counter to my “I got this, I can handle it” attitude.
I’m learning that the sooner I yield my will, my fears, and my anxiety to God the sooner situations seem to resolve themselves. I still have difficulty accepting that because things don’t usually turn out like I think they should, that it may be what God wants. One of the most difficult things for me to do is give up, and I’m still not likely to lay down my sword at the first flash of battle, but I am trying to always rely on Gods promise that as long as I am acting honorably, not out of self interest, he’s got my back. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Sometimes the fight is just overwhelming. It might be a disgruntled coworker whose undaunted negativity eventfully, regardless of my efforts to counteract it, brings everyone down. Then there’s the family situation which is just out of my grasp to bring to a joyful conclusion. After a time all my weapons of words and actions are ineffective and I just want to lay down arms and admit defeat. The problem is that sometimes I wait too long to surrender.
Sometimes I act like King Zedekiah when he refused listen to the Prophet Jeremiah who passed along instructions from God. Zedekiah was to surrender himself to the king of Babylon, but instead his fear and a lack of trust in God kept him from taking the right path and things didn’t turn out so well [Jeremiah 38:21.] That path of surrendering everything to the will of the Lord all too often runs counter to my “I got this, I can handle it” attitude.
I’m learning that the sooner I yield my will, my fears, and my anxiety to God the sooner situations seem to resolve themselves. I still have difficulty accepting that because things don’t usually turn out like I think they should, that it may be what God wants. One of the most difficult things for me to do is give up, and I’m still not likely to lay down my sword at the first flash of battle, but I am trying to always rely on Gods promise that as long as I am acting honorably, not out of self interest, he’s got my back. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 1 Peter 3:12
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wet Hornets
Complain if you must, but don't lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for his verdict. Psalm 4:4
I once lived in a home with a swimming pool and next to it was a tree in which every summer bald face hornets would construct one of their most interesting paper mache nests. Initially they built them in the top of the tree and were nearly invisible, but each year the nests were lower and closer to the pool. I refused to do anything about them until the one year the nest was at chest level built over the pool deck. The nest got splashed and the hornets began to swarm which brought light to my mother’s saying, “madder than a wet hornet.”
Aristotle said, “Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and that is not easy.” How true that is; “but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. James 3:8-9
As I reflect on the things which have caused me to be angry, the worst of them was pride. Pride only breeds quarrels, Proverbs 13:10 Someone once said when you’re angry count to ten and if that doesn’t work repeat. I find it helpful as Pastor William Arthur Ward put it; “…to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.” But ultimately I must remember this. for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:20
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
I once lived in a home with a swimming pool and next to it was a tree in which every summer bald face hornets would construct one of their most interesting paper mache nests. Initially they built them in the top of the tree and were nearly invisible, but each year the nests were lower and closer to the pool. I refused to do anything about them until the one year the nest was at chest level built over the pool deck. The nest got splashed and the hornets began to swarm which brought light to my mother’s saying, “madder than a wet hornet.”
Aristotle said, “Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and that is not easy.” How true that is; “but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. James 3:8-9
As I reflect on the things which have caused me to be angry, the worst of them was pride. Pride only breeds quarrels, Proverbs 13:10 Someone once said when you’re angry count to ten and if that doesn’t work repeat. I find it helpful as Pastor William Arthur Ward put it; “…to direct your anger towards problems -- not people; to focus your energies on answers -- not excuses.” But ultimately I must remember this. for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:20
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Disclaimer
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26
A small publishing company in Virginia recently reprinted copies of some of Americas founding documents: the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Common Sense, etc. The publisher posted a disclaimer in the front of the books that says in part, “This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today.” Probably true in light of the number of Americans, even Christians, who have been pushed in to the Political Correctness corner and accepted the premise that, a least historically speaking, this is not a Christian Nation. That the Christian founding’s of the USA by its Christian founders are against the desires summarized in the founding documents by those same founders appears to me to be prima fascia counter intuitive.
I thought of how sad it would be if there came a time when a disclaimer would be printed in the front of the Holy Bible. As I think about it more, that is exactly what is happening to Christianity today. Christians are often labeled as fanatical and intolerant. John Gibson elaborates in his book, “The War on Christmas” how Christmas is being not just disclaimed, but outright banned in many segments of our secular society today.
These are difficult times to be bold for Christ, but remember what he said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Here's my disclaimer is, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ, doing my best to imitate his love and compassion for the world as I progress to my destination, my Father’s house. I’m just a human so don’t tailgate as I’m prone to swerving, sudden acceleration and irrational braking.”
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26
A small publishing company in Virginia recently reprinted copies of some of Americas founding documents: the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, Common Sense, etc. The publisher posted a disclaimer in the front of the books that says in part, “This book is a product of its time and does not reflect the same values as it would if it were written today.” Probably true in light of the number of Americans, even Christians, who have been pushed in to the Political Correctness corner and accepted the premise that, a least historically speaking, this is not a Christian Nation. That the Christian founding’s of the USA by its Christian founders are against the desires summarized in the founding documents by those same founders appears to me to be prima fascia counter intuitive.
I thought of how sad it would be if there came a time when a disclaimer would be printed in the front of the Holy Bible. As I think about it more, that is exactly what is happening to Christianity today. Christians are often labeled as fanatical and intolerant. John Gibson elaborates in his book, “The War on Christmas” how Christmas is being not just disclaimed, but outright banned in many segments of our secular society today.
These are difficult times to be bold for Christ, but remember what he said, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Here's my disclaimer is, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ, doing my best to imitate his love and compassion for the world as I progress to my destination, my Father’s house. I’m just a human so don’t tailgate as I’m prone to swerving, sudden acceleration and irrational braking.”
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Re-gifting
If you start thinking to yourselves, "I did all this. And all by myself. I'm rich. It's all mine!"—well, think again. Remember that GOD, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:17-18
A practice which, has probably gone on for years unacknowledged has a name today; re-gifting. It’s when I take a gift given to me and give it to someone who I think needs it more. Yes, and sometimes because I just don’t like, want, or need it.
I heard a story recently of Indy Colt’s wide receiver Reggie Wayne’s ex-girlfriend’s stealing his credit card and charging over $90,000. She used the money to buy things and pay bills for her friends and family. The worst part of the whole story, in my opinion, was her explanation for doing it. She said, “I just like doing things for people.”
I thought to myself, “the ludicrousness of that notion.” How could someone say “they” were gifting another when they were doing it with someone else’s wealth? But after thinking about this a little more it occurred to me that what I give away is actually re-gifting what God has enabled me to have.
I thought, “but if someone takes from me, even if to give it away, it’s theft.” Then I received the conviction from God that if I accept a gift from him and give it away without acknowledging its origin, I’m doing the same thing as the ex-girlfriend. I have God’s blessing to acquire wealth, but I also have the responsibility to be thankful. “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6 and to re-gift what he’s provided "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Luke 3:11
How amazing it would be if everyone considered all their wealth a gift from God to be shared, like in Acts 4:32. I suffer no delusion that the devil will allow that to become a reality. Until then I’ll just continue to praise God for the strength he’s given me to produce wealth and re-gift as much of it as possible.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
A practice which, has probably gone on for years unacknowledged has a name today; re-gifting. It’s when I take a gift given to me and give it to someone who I think needs it more. Yes, and sometimes because I just don’t like, want, or need it.
I heard a story recently of Indy Colt’s wide receiver Reggie Wayne’s ex-girlfriend’s stealing his credit card and charging over $90,000. She used the money to buy things and pay bills for her friends and family. The worst part of the whole story, in my opinion, was her explanation for doing it. She said, “I just like doing things for people.”
I thought to myself, “the ludicrousness of that notion.” How could someone say “they” were gifting another when they were doing it with someone else’s wealth? But after thinking about this a little more it occurred to me that what I give away is actually re-gifting what God has enabled me to have.
I thought, “but if someone takes from me, even if to give it away, it’s theft.” Then I received the conviction from God that if I accept a gift from him and give it away without acknowledging its origin, I’m doing the same thing as the ex-girlfriend. I have God’s blessing to acquire wealth, but I also have the responsibility to be thankful. “in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6 and to re-gift what he’s provided "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Luke 3:11
How amazing it would be if everyone considered all their wealth a gift from God to be shared, like in Acts 4:32. I suffer no delusion that the devil will allow that to become a reality. Until then I’ll just continue to praise God for the strength he’s given me to produce wealth and re-gift as much of it as possible.
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The bold and the blusterer
“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30
There are, in my way of thinking, two kinds of weaknesses. There is the powerless weakness and the voluntary weakness. I think one of the most difficult challenges in reading the bible, as it talks about weakness, is to understand differences. Otherwise, and some try to do this, one might assume that we are told to be wimps. God is a warrior (Exodus 15:3) and we are made in his image (Genesis 1:27.) Christ instructed us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), but we’re also instructed to be prepared to fight for our faith (Luke 22:36-37.) The difficulty is differentiating between the causes: ourselves (the former) and others, especially the weak (the latter.)
I evaluate those who wield power, including myself when applicable, based on how they treat the weak; Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. Psalm 41 And I operate with the knowledge that we all have our weaknesses, especially of the flesh (Matthew 26:41) My barometer of my own weakness is whether I allow sin to overpower Christ’s desire for his will for me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
I pray that I will, this day and always, be bold for Christ and not for myself. That I as a man can be a warrior and a bold advocate of the weak knowing God is by my side, But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; Jeremiah 20:11
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
There are, in my way of thinking, two kinds of weaknesses. There is the powerless weakness and the voluntary weakness. I think one of the most difficult challenges in reading the bible, as it talks about weakness, is to understand differences. Otherwise, and some try to do this, one might assume that we are told to be wimps. God is a warrior (Exodus 15:3) and we are made in his image (Genesis 1:27.) Christ instructed us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), but we’re also instructed to be prepared to fight for our faith (Luke 22:36-37.) The difficulty is differentiating between the causes: ourselves (the former) and others, especially the weak (the latter.)
I evaluate those who wield power, including myself when applicable, based on how they treat the weak; Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. Psalm 41 And I operate with the knowledge that we all have our weaknesses, especially of the flesh (Matthew 26:41) My barometer of my own weakness is whether I allow sin to overpower Christ’s desire for his will for me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9
I pray that I will, this day and always, be bold for Christ and not for myself. That I as a man can be a warrior and a bold advocate of the weak knowing God is by my side, But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; Jeremiah 20:11
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Out of the frying pan
"But look!" he said. "I see four men, walking around freely in the fire, completely unharmed! And the fourth man looks like a son of the gods!" Daniel 3:25 (The Message)
What a rollercoaster ride it was for Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah a.k.a. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Taken captive from Jerusalem when God delivered Judah into the hands of Babylon in about the year 605 B.C., they were given important positions in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 1). But when they refused to worship the gold statue god of Nebuchadnezzar’s, they were thrown into a blazing hot furnace.
I have never had my physical life in peril for believing in Christ, unlike millions of Christians around the world will today. But as for my soul; that is a different matter. Every day is a battle with temptation and to follow in Christ’s path. I’ve often figuratively had my “feet held to the fire”, but never has my life been in jeopardy. Standing firm in my faith and beliefs is not comfortable or easy sometimes but it’s necessary to avoid the eternal fire. “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:6
I pray that if it ever comes to putting Christ ahead of my physical body, I’ll have the strength of conviction and belief to say as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said: ”If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it,…. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
What a rollercoaster ride it was for Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah a.k.a. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Taken captive from Jerusalem when God delivered Judah into the hands of Babylon in about the year 605 B.C., they were given important positions in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 1). But when they refused to worship the gold statue god of Nebuchadnezzar’s, they were thrown into a blazing hot furnace.
I have never had my physical life in peril for believing in Christ, unlike millions of Christians around the world will today. But as for my soul; that is a different matter. Every day is a battle with temptation and to follow in Christ’s path. I’ve often figuratively had my “feet held to the fire”, but never has my life been in jeopardy. Standing firm in my faith and beliefs is not comfortable or easy sometimes but it’s necessary to avoid the eternal fire. “If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:6
I pray that if it ever comes to putting Christ ahead of my physical body, I’ll have the strength of conviction and belief to say as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said: ”If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it,…. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Daniel 3:17-18
Bless you brothers, live this day in peace, in His Word.
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