Matthew 15:14 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. Ad if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
The above quote was spoken by Jesus. It is the culmination of a discourse between Himself and the unbelieving Jewish leaders of His day while his disciples were witnesses. It started out with a question that implied that Jesus and His disciples were ungodly. "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"
As Jesus continues His comments, He says, "These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
Farther on in the discourse, the disciples said to Jesus, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
That's when Jesus spoke our text, "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind."
If you were to read this quickly, you might miss the phrase, "Let them alone." But when you realize that this is a very serious statement of God's judgment, it causes one to slow down and contemplate this for a moment.
"Let them alone."
We have often heard someone jokingly refer to the "lightning bolt" judgment of God. Someone may tell an off-colored joke and the person next to them will say, "Step back!" inferring that they may get hit with lightning. Although nothing is impossible with God, few really understand the severity of how He really does judge people. God's judgement is much more subtle than a lightning bolt.
Throughout His Word, you will see that when God wants to judge a people, He will often do it by withdrawing His Hand from them. When Jesus says, "Let them alone," He is pronouncing the judgement of withdrawal. In other words, God is going to allow them to continue in their folly and let them reap the full consequences of that folly.
Hosea 4:17 "Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone." When God's judgment is ready to fall upon a people the last thing that happens is God, in essence, removes His Hand from them. This happens in Romans 1 with those who become futile in their thoughts and dark in their hearts. "Therefore God gave them up to uncleanness... (Romans 1:24) And we see it happen throughout the chapter, "God gave them up... (vs 26) and again, "God gave them over... (vs 28).
The one thing you do not want God to do is leave you alone!
If things are going difficult for you, you don't want God to leave you alone! If you're not doing right before Him, you don't want God to leave you alone! If God has taken you to the woodshed to teach you a thing or two, rejoice and be exceedingly glad for it only proves your sonship!
You may wonder why there seem to be some people who are so "anti-God" and it seems as if they just continue without any repercussion. God seems to just let them do what they are doing. That is exactly what is happening. If they are under judgment, God has removed His hand from them. They are under His severe judgement. It is the judgement of withdrawal.
Our prayer today is, "Lord, whatever You are doing in me and through me, as uncomfortable as it may be, I thank You for not leaving me alone!"
Friday, April 11, 2014
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
When It Come to Faith, It's All or Nothing
ALL things are possible to him that believes. - Mark 9:23
But without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him... - Hebrews 11:6
Faith. Only believe. According to your faith. Do not doubt. O you of little faith.
The theme of faith is woven over and over again throughout the New Testament. I wonder if we don't lose its import because we hear it so much and so often. Is it possible that we hear it and think that we've heard it enough and that we "know" this?
We're justified by faith, saved by grace through faith, move mountains by faith, etc. But just recently I was pondering again this marvelous thing called faith. It is the currency of heaven. On earth I purchase things with money. Money represents my time and talent. I gave my labor or knowledge to someone who in turn gave me a representation of their time and talent in the form of money. I took the money they gave me and gave it to someone in exchange for their time and talent.
It's interesting that God operates on this exchange system but He doesn't use the dollar, or the British pound, or the Euro, or the yen. The thing that is valuable to Him that causes Him to 'release' His treasures from Heaven, is faith.
Think about it. You can't get His grace for salvation without faith. He gives us that faith, true, but He then expects us to use it to 'receive' His gifts. No faith, no receive. "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting... let not that man think he will receive ANYTHING from the Lord." - James 1:6,7 It seems that when it comes to faith, God is all or nothing. ALL things are possible to him who believes, but without faith we can receive NOTHING from the Lord.
God wants us rich. But His currency is not earthly. "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" - Jam 2:5 What? How can a poor man be rich? Simple, he can lack currency in this realm and have lots of currency to receive God's riches.
So it is possible to live in a small house with a barely-running vehicle and sleep with great peace. God values peace more than He values a Lexus. "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet." - Proverbs 3:24 And it is possible to not be able to travel to some exotic location for a vacation and still feast on joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength..." - Nehemiah 8:10
God increases our faith by lavishing His promises upon us. Each promise He gives in His word is meant to increase our faith. He expects us to believe what He says and anticipate Him fulfilling His promises. So He gives us exceeding great and precious promises.
I will forgive you.
I will heal you.
I will be with you.
I will protect you.
I will guide you.
I will comfort you.
I will correct you.
I will...
What promises are on Heaven's shelf still waiting to be apprehended by you? What promises go unfulfilled because you have not reached up by faith to receive them? What damage has little faith done to your walk? Don't forget, when it comes to faith, it's all or nothing!
But without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him... - Hebrews 11:6
Faith. Only believe. According to your faith. Do not doubt. O you of little faith.
The theme of faith is woven over and over again throughout the New Testament. I wonder if we don't lose its import because we hear it so much and so often. Is it possible that we hear it and think that we've heard it enough and that we "know" this?
We're justified by faith, saved by grace through faith, move mountains by faith, etc. But just recently I was pondering again this marvelous thing called faith. It is the currency of heaven. On earth I purchase things with money. Money represents my time and talent. I gave my labor or knowledge to someone who in turn gave me a representation of their time and talent in the form of money. I took the money they gave me and gave it to someone in exchange for their time and talent.
It's interesting that God operates on this exchange system but He doesn't use the dollar, or the British pound, or the Euro, or the yen. The thing that is valuable to Him that causes Him to 'release' His treasures from Heaven, is faith.
Think about it. You can't get His grace for salvation without faith. He gives us that faith, true, but He then expects us to use it to 'receive' His gifts. No faith, no receive. "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting... let not that man think he will receive ANYTHING from the Lord." - James 1:6,7 It seems that when it comes to faith, God is all or nothing. ALL things are possible to him who believes, but without faith we can receive NOTHING from the Lord.
God wants us rich. But His currency is not earthly. "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" - Jam 2:5 What? How can a poor man be rich? Simple, he can lack currency in this realm and have lots of currency to receive God's riches.
So it is possible to live in a small house with a barely-running vehicle and sleep with great peace. God values peace more than He values a Lexus. "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet." - Proverbs 3:24 And it is possible to not be able to travel to some exotic location for a vacation and still feast on joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength..." - Nehemiah 8:10
God increases our faith by lavishing His promises upon us. Each promise He gives in His word is meant to increase our faith. He expects us to believe what He says and anticipate Him fulfilling His promises. So He gives us exceeding great and precious promises.
I will forgive you.
I will heal you.
I will be with you.
I will protect you.
I will guide you.
I will comfort you.
I will correct you.
I will...
What promises are on Heaven's shelf still waiting to be apprehended by you? What promises go unfulfilled because you have not reached up by faith to receive them? What damage has little faith done to your walk? Don't forget, when it comes to faith, it's all or nothing!
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Why Some People Can't Understand the Bible
I love the Bible. I love reading it. I don't find it hard to understand. I don't find it full of contradictions. It makes perfect sense. It should. It's God's revelation of Himself to man. He wrote it for man so man could know Him. He had to write it in a way man could understand it. That's not to say I understand all of it, or everything in it. No one does. It's depths are more vast than the ocean. Surely I have questions about things that don't seem to make sense to me. That doesn't discourage me at all. It only confirms its "otherworldliness".
The gospel of John begins, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Greek word translated into English for "word" is logos. It means word. It's where we get our English word, logic. So it's not a far stretch to understand the passage to say, In the beginning was the logic, and the logic was with God... We know that the "Word" that is being referred to is Christ, the second person of the trinity. But what I love about God and His word is that He and His Word are logical. He's consistent. What He reveals about Himself in Genesis is consistent with who He is in Revelation.
And the book itself is logical. In other words, a book written over thousands of years by forty different authors from all walks of life lines up to tell one consistent revelation of the character, ways, acts and purposes of God Himself. It's like watching a craftsman putting together a complex mosaic. Some pieces of glass don't seem as if they should go there and some colors seem incongruent with the rest of the work. But as the craftsman continues to put the pieces in places suddenly one begins to see the picture. I learn to trust the craftsman.
Or it's like one of those 3d images with a picture hidden inside a picture. At first glance it appears that one is looking at a bunch of repetitive images that don't seem to make sense, then as you gaze upon the scene all of a sudden you see another image hidden deeper within the picture.
Many people struggle with the Bible. They say it's too difficult to understand. It doesn't make sense. It's full of contradictions. To me, they are like those who can't see the image within the image. You just have to keep looking. It's right there in front of you as plain as the nose on your face.
The Bible explains why some can't "see" it. It's written in code. You have to have the decoder in order to understand it. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14) That's the secret. You have to be spiritual. I know that many people consider themselves spiritual but the Bible uses that term for believers. In other words, the Bible remains a closed book to the unbeliever.
I understand the argument, "Hey Paul, if I could understand it, maybe I'd believe it. But how am I to believe something that is so hard to understand?" I feel for you. It seems impossible doesn't it? But God rewards your understanding when He has your trust.
I was trying to teach my four year old grandson to tie his shoes. I held one string and told him how to put it over the other and so forth. Before I was finished he was already grabbing for the strings. "I know, I know," he kept saying.
"You don't know," I would say, wrestling with him for the shoelaces. "Here, put this string here and this string here..."
But he was insistent. He snatched the strings out of my hand and started twisting and turning until he had one beautiful knot. Now he could neither tie his shoes, nor untie them. All he had was a mess. I let him struggle with them for a few moments. As he fought with the strings he only made matters worse. The more frustrated he got, the harder he yanked causing the knot to tighten all that much more.
Finally he softened and asked me to help him.
"Will you let me show you how to do it now?" I asked.
"Yes," he conceded with a pout.
Many people come to the Bible thinking that they already know how things work. They take a quick glance at a few passages and wrestle with them until they have themselves tied into a spiritual knot. Perplexed at the difficulty, they walk away thinking the book is unknowable. The reality is that they are like my grandson. They think they know. In order for the Bible to become understandable, we have to be willing to accept that we don't know anything about the spiritual realm and that we are completely dependent upon the Lord to teach us. We have to come to it believing that He knows how to tie our spiritual shoes and we have to be humble enough to let Him.
Now, a few years later, my grandson can tie his own shoes. He grew into the understanding. But he first had to trust someone other than himself to teach him. God says that He will teach us His Word by His Spirit. We have to trust Him to do so.
The first step to understanding His Word is to invite God Himself into your life and heart through His Son, Jesus Christ. He has made a way for you to receive Him. Believe. Trust. Accept. This is the path to life in Christ and this is the path to understanding a spiritually discerned book, the Bible.
Start with a simple prayer of belief and acceptance. Then read with a heart of belief and acceptance. It will open up to you. You will see. Only believe.
The gospel of John begins, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Greek word translated into English for "word" is logos. It means word. It's where we get our English word, logic. So it's not a far stretch to understand the passage to say, In the beginning was the logic, and the logic was with God... We know that the "Word" that is being referred to is Christ, the second person of the trinity. But what I love about God and His word is that He and His Word are logical. He's consistent. What He reveals about Himself in Genesis is consistent with who He is in Revelation.
And the book itself is logical. In other words, a book written over thousands of years by forty different authors from all walks of life lines up to tell one consistent revelation of the character, ways, acts and purposes of God Himself. It's like watching a craftsman putting together a complex mosaic. Some pieces of glass don't seem as if they should go there and some colors seem incongruent with the rest of the work. But as the craftsman continues to put the pieces in places suddenly one begins to see the picture. I learn to trust the craftsman.
Or it's like one of those 3d images with a picture hidden inside a picture. At first glance it appears that one is looking at a bunch of repetitive images that don't seem to make sense, then as you gaze upon the scene all of a sudden you see another image hidden deeper within the picture.
Many people struggle with the Bible. They say it's too difficult to understand. It doesn't make sense. It's full of contradictions. To me, they are like those who can't see the image within the image. You just have to keep looking. It's right there in front of you as plain as the nose on your face.
The Bible explains why some can't "see" it. It's written in code. You have to have the decoder in order to understand it. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14) That's the secret. You have to be spiritual. I know that many people consider themselves spiritual but the Bible uses that term for believers. In other words, the Bible remains a closed book to the unbeliever.
I understand the argument, "Hey Paul, if I could understand it, maybe I'd believe it. But how am I to believe something that is so hard to understand?" I feel for you. It seems impossible doesn't it? But God rewards your understanding when He has your trust.
I was trying to teach my four year old grandson to tie his shoes. I held one string and told him how to put it over the other and so forth. Before I was finished he was already grabbing for the strings. "I know, I know," he kept saying.
"You don't know," I would say, wrestling with him for the shoelaces. "Here, put this string here and this string here..."
But he was insistent. He snatched the strings out of my hand and started twisting and turning until he had one beautiful knot. Now he could neither tie his shoes, nor untie them. All he had was a mess. I let him struggle with them for a few moments. As he fought with the strings he only made matters worse. The more frustrated he got, the harder he yanked causing the knot to tighten all that much more.
Finally he softened and asked me to help him.
"Will you let me show you how to do it now?" I asked.
"Yes," he conceded with a pout.
Many people come to the Bible thinking that they already know how things work. They take a quick glance at a few passages and wrestle with them until they have themselves tied into a spiritual knot. Perplexed at the difficulty, they walk away thinking the book is unknowable. The reality is that they are like my grandson. They think they know. In order for the Bible to become understandable, we have to be willing to accept that we don't know anything about the spiritual realm and that we are completely dependent upon the Lord to teach us. We have to come to it believing that He knows how to tie our spiritual shoes and we have to be humble enough to let Him.
Now, a few years later, my grandson can tie his own shoes. He grew into the understanding. But he first had to trust someone other than himself to teach him. God says that He will teach us His Word by His Spirit. We have to trust Him to do so.
The first step to understanding His Word is to invite God Himself into your life and heart through His Son, Jesus Christ. He has made a way for you to receive Him. Believe. Trust. Accept. This is the path to life in Christ and this is the path to understanding a spiritually discerned book, the Bible.
Start with a simple prayer of belief and acceptance. Then read with a heart of belief and acceptance. It will open up to you. You will see. Only believe.
Monday, June 11, 2012
INNER STRENGTH
Yesterday morning at 5 o'clock my cell phone rang. It was Dad. He informed me that my brother, Dale, passed away some time in the night. He died in his sleep. He was 52.
Dale had struggled for a number of years with his health. He had a construction accident years ago that caused him terrible back pain. From there, he went on the prescription meds merry-go-round. Sometimes he would be so medicated that I couldn't understand a word he was saying. Other times, he would be his old self, joking about one thing or another; complaining about one thing or another; enthusiastically talking about the Miami Dolphins and our hope for the upcoming year; or celebrating a NASCAR race.
These last few years things got worse. The "highs" were more frequent. He had heart surgery a few months ago. A few weeks ago he started having unexplained seizures. He seemed to believe that he wasn't long for this world. He was soft towards the Lord and very loving in every coherent phone call we had. We had a good conversation Friday, he sounded good. Sunday morning he was dead.
Although he sensed the end was near, I didn't. I kept believing that if they could just get his meds adjusted and he could get some semblance of balance that things would be good. He was, after all, only 52. He had lots of life to live. When Dad told me, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. I couldn't breathe; my mind swirled. When I got off the phone, I sobbed.
That morning I was planning on preaching on Elders and Deacons. We had a business meeting coming up with a vote on some new By-laws and I needed to teach what the Bible says on such matters. Not fun, but necessary. As I drove to church, my mind was swirling with thoughts. There's no way I can preach today; especially on that topic. I was feeling so discouraged. Dale's dead. Life sucks. I just want to get away. I want to go some place where there are no people and just walk for three weeks. It seemed that every difficulty I had just got larger. I wanted to quit. Not quit living, just quit life. No obligations, no responsibilities, nothing that required energy, thinking, laughter, or interaction.
As I was spiraling downward in my thinking, all of a sudden I sensed the Holy Spirit in the deep place of my soul. There was a strength that I knew He was imparting. I thought of the Scripture phrase, "strengthened by His Spirit in your inner man." (Ephesians 3:16, I looked it up later.) It wasn't a great sense of victory, or praise; just strength. I felt stable. Psalm 1 says that we will be like trees planted by the rivers of water. That's what I felt like. A sturdy oak. Even though the winds of despair were howling around me, and the waters of grief were rising, I could sense God's Spirit firming me up in a deep place.
When I got to church, I looked up passages on strength. I was impressed how often we are told that the Lord will strengthen us.
"For You have armed me with strength for the battle..." (2 Samuel 22:40)
"My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to your word." (Psalm 119:28)
"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul."
(Ps 138:3)
"The way of the Lord is strength for the upright..." (Proverbs 10:29)
"It is God who arms me with strength... (Psalm 18:32)
This strength didn't take away the pain. It didn't answer all the questions. I didn't run and jump and shout. It just stabilized me. I have friends that wear knee braces when they play tennis. They say it stabilizes their knees which are susceptible to injury. That's what I felt; internal strength from an external source. His Spirit strengthening my spirit.
My thinking changed from despair and escape to sturdiness and stability. I no longer wanted to run. I wanted to love. I wanted to love God, love His people, feed His flock, strengthen those who, like I, were wobbling.
So the message that morning was not about church polity. I spoke on inner strength. I gave out what I sensed the Lord had put in. As I walked in the sanctuary, I heard a retired pastor speaking to a younger man. "The Lord will not put more on you than He puts in you to handle it." I smiled to myself. That's the message. I wasn't preaching it. I was living it.
Dale had struggled for a number of years with his health. He had a construction accident years ago that caused him terrible back pain. From there, he went on the prescription meds merry-go-round. Sometimes he would be so medicated that I couldn't understand a word he was saying. Other times, he would be his old self, joking about one thing or another; complaining about one thing or another; enthusiastically talking about the Miami Dolphins and our hope for the upcoming year; or celebrating a NASCAR race.
These last few years things got worse. The "highs" were more frequent. He had heart surgery a few months ago. A few weeks ago he started having unexplained seizures. He seemed to believe that he wasn't long for this world. He was soft towards the Lord and very loving in every coherent phone call we had. We had a good conversation Friday, he sounded good. Sunday morning he was dead.
Although he sensed the end was near, I didn't. I kept believing that if they could just get his meds adjusted and he could get some semblance of balance that things would be good. He was, after all, only 52. He had lots of life to live. When Dad told me, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. I couldn't breathe; my mind swirled. When I got off the phone, I sobbed.
That morning I was planning on preaching on Elders and Deacons. We had a business meeting coming up with a vote on some new By-laws and I needed to teach what the Bible says on such matters. Not fun, but necessary. As I drove to church, my mind was swirling with thoughts. There's no way I can preach today; especially on that topic. I was feeling so discouraged. Dale's dead. Life sucks. I just want to get away. I want to go some place where there are no people and just walk for three weeks. It seemed that every difficulty I had just got larger. I wanted to quit. Not quit living, just quit life. No obligations, no responsibilities, nothing that required energy, thinking, laughter, or interaction.
As I was spiraling downward in my thinking, all of a sudden I sensed the Holy Spirit in the deep place of my soul. There was a strength that I knew He was imparting. I thought of the Scripture phrase, "strengthened by His Spirit in your inner man." (Ephesians 3:16, I looked it up later.) It wasn't a great sense of victory, or praise; just strength. I felt stable. Psalm 1 says that we will be like trees planted by the rivers of water. That's what I felt like. A sturdy oak. Even though the winds of despair were howling around me, and the waters of grief were rising, I could sense God's Spirit firming me up in a deep place.
When I got to church, I looked up passages on strength. I was impressed how often we are told that the Lord will strengthen us.
"For You have armed me with strength for the battle..." (2 Samuel 22:40)
"My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to your word." (Psalm 119:28)
"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul."
(Ps 138:3)
"The way of the Lord is strength for the upright..." (Proverbs 10:29)
"It is God who arms me with strength... (Psalm 18:32)
This strength didn't take away the pain. It didn't answer all the questions. I didn't run and jump and shout. It just stabilized me. I have friends that wear knee braces when they play tennis. They say it stabilizes their knees which are susceptible to injury. That's what I felt; internal strength from an external source. His Spirit strengthening my spirit.
My thinking changed from despair and escape to sturdiness and stability. I no longer wanted to run. I wanted to love. I wanted to love God, love His people, feed His flock, strengthen those who, like I, were wobbling.
So the message that morning was not about church polity. I spoke on inner strength. I gave out what I sensed the Lord had put in. As I walked in the sanctuary, I heard a retired pastor speaking to a younger man. "The Lord will not put more on you than He puts in you to handle it." I smiled to myself. That's the message. I wasn't preaching it. I was living it.
Monday, January 17, 2011
You Just Can't Get What You Already Have
"I can't find my glasses," I whine to my wife as I wander through the house. "That's because they're on your head!" she retorts.
Now wonder I couldn't find them, I already had them. I was looking for my glasses while I had them the whole time! If you think that's bad, I've actually glanced around for them while they were on my nose! Fortunately, I never actually got up and asked my wife to help me find them.
The Bible says that through Christ we have been given all that we need to live this Christian life. "...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.." [2 Peter 1:3]
or "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [Romans 8:32]
Since we have been given all things, how is it that we keep crawling up to God and asking Him for these things? Do you need strength, you have received it through Christ already. You pray, "Lord, give me strength," and God who is merciful and remembers our frame is patient and lovingkind will strengthen us. But He would remind us that He actually has already given us strength in His Son. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." [Philippians 4:13]
Do you need provision? "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." [Philippians 4:19]
I have seen believers spend so much time wearying themselves as they ask God for this blessing or that and sometimes I want to say to them, "You already have those blessings, you're wearing them on your head. Stop looking for them elsewhere when you already have them!"
So Jesus says, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." [Mark 11:24] Is it because our great believing will cause it to come to pass or is it really because we realize that we are asking for things that God has promised is ours already? If it is our promise, it becomes our place to believe it and move on the promises of God.
I can then say, "Thank you, Lord, for strengthening me," when I face adversity because strength is one of the "all things" God says He gave me in Christ. If I need patience, I find it in Christ, if I need self-control, I find it in Christ. So, stop looking for those blessings when you already have them.
Now wonder I couldn't find them, I already had them. I was looking for my glasses while I had them the whole time! If you think that's bad, I've actually glanced around for them while they were on my nose! Fortunately, I never actually got up and asked my wife to help me find them.
The Bible says that through Christ we have been given all that we need to live this Christian life. "...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.." [2 Peter 1:3]
or "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [Romans 8:32]
Since we have been given all things, how is it that we keep crawling up to God and asking Him for these things? Do you need strength, you have received it through Christ already. You pray, "Lord, give me strength," and God who is merciful and remembers our frame is patient and lovingkind will strengthen us. But He would remind us that He actually has already given us strength in His Son. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." [Philippians 4:13]
Do you need provision? "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." [Philippians 4:19]
I have seen believers spend so much time wearying themselves as they ask God for this blessing or that and sometimes I want to say to them, "You already have those blessings, you're wearing them on your head. Stop looking for them elsewhere when you already have them!"
So Jesus says, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." [Mark 11:24] Is it because our great believing will cause it to come to pass or is it really because we realize that we are asking for things that God has promised is ours already? If it is our promise, it becomes our place to believe it and move on the promises of God.
I can then say, "Thank you, Lord, for strengthening me," when I face adversity because strength is one of the "all things" God says He gave me in Christ. If I need patience, I find it in Christ, if I need self-control, I find it in Christ. So, stop looking for those blessings when you already have them.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
A Salute to the Faithful
"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord." (Matthew 25:21)
In this day of scandal and public failure by leaders in the church, I'm reminded that for every one pastor that brings embarrassment to the church there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, that continue in quiet, consistent, faithful service to their church and community. We don't hear about these guys because they aren't attention grabbers. They are found in the pulpit week after week proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ. Each service they reach deep into the treasure chest of God's Word and expound another jewel-laden ornament of grace for their hearers.
Their congregation knows they will be there with a message of hope, faith and love. If they come with words of correction or rebuke, there is a compassion in their eye and a tear in their voice. There is no question by those who know them that they are loved. Many times these pastors are taken for granted because of their consistency. If we can't make it to church this week, no problem, pastor will be there next week and we can pick up where we left off.
These faithful men can be found in their quiet places praying for those around them. They pray for their family, their congregation and their community. They walk the halls of the hospitals bringing comfort, they walk the halls of the nursing homes bringing assurance; they walk the halls of the schools bringing smiles to the faces of the kids.
At the end of their ministry few really recognize the price they paid to be faithful. Some will pat them on the back and the church will have a nice pot-luck dinner and say good-bye. Then they will have a few nice words written about them on their obituary. They never had a multi-million dollar ministry on television. They never wrote a best-selling book. They never built a college with their name on it. They just loved, and wept, and prayed, and served their community year after year after year.
I salute the faithful pastors. I salute these faithful men and women for the lack of attention they received. I salute them for standing their post, keeping the faith, feeding the flock, warning the wayward, reaching the lost, helping the hopeless, strengthening the weak and mentoring the fatherless. They will not get much recognition here. They will never be rich, live in the biggest houses or drive the trendiest cars but what they lack in material goods they make up for in spiritual riches.
"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
In this day of scandal and public failure by leaders in the church, I'm reminded that for every one pastor that brings embarrassment to the church there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, that continue in quiet, consistent, faithful service to their church and community. We don't hear about these guys because they aren't attention grabbers. They are found in the pulpit week after week proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ. Each service they reach deep into the treasure chest of God's Word and expound another jewel-laden ornament of grace for their hearers.
Their congregation knows they will be there with a message of hope, faith and love. If they come with words of correction or rebuke, there is a compassion in their eye and a tear in their voice. There is no question by those who know them that they are loved. Many times these pastors are taken for granted because of their consistency. If we can't make it to church this week, no problem, pastor will be there next week and we can pick up where we left off.
These faithful men can be found in their quiet places praying for those around them. They pray for their family, their congregation and their community. They walk the halls of the hospitals bringing comfort, they walk the halls of the nursing homes bringing assurance; they walk the halls of the schools bringing smiles to the faces of the kids.
At the end of their ministry few really recognize the price they paid to be faithful. Some will pat them on the back and the church will have a nice pot-luck dinner and say good-bye. Then they will have a few nice words written about them on their obituary. They never had a multi-million dollar ministry on television. They never wrote a best-selling book. They never built a college with their name on it. They just loved, and wept, and prayed, and served their community year after year after year.
I salute the faithful pastors. I salute these faithful men and women for the lack of attention they received. I salute them for standing their post, keeping the faith, feeding the flock, warning the wayward, reaching the lost, helping the hopeless, strengthening the weak and mentoring the fatherless. They will not get much recognition here. They will never be rich, live in the biggest houses or drive the trendiest cars but what they lack in material goods they make up for in spiritual riches.
"Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
A New Year Means to Remember an Old Command
It's the start of 2010. It seems like just yesterday that we were celebrating the change of the century and people were wondering what Y2K would bring. Now we've gone through ten years of the 21st century already!
As I think about what and where I should put my focus for this new year, an old commandment comes to mind. "Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength," Jesus said, "and the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
It's good just to stop and assess, have I been loving God with all my heart? Is there space to expand His love within me? Are their things that I've allowed to grow up in my heart and clutter His space?
What about the way I treat my fellow man? How can I really love God whom I can't see, if I don't love my neighbor whom I can see? Some people may be looking for a "new" word for the new year. For me, I'm refreshing myself on the old word.
Lord, check my heart. Help me to love you with all I am. Help me to love my neighbor. I give myself afresh to You this 2010. I love You, Lord.
As I think about what and where I should put my focus for this new year, an old commandment comes to mind. "Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength," Jesus said, "and the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
It's good just to stop and assess, have I been loving God with all my heart? Is there space to expand His love within me? Are their things that I've allowed to grow up in my heart and clutter His space?
What about the way I treat my fellow man? How can I really love God whom I can't see, if I don't love my neighbor whom I can see? Some people may be looking for a "new" word for the new year. For me, I'm refreshing myself on the old word.
Lord, check my heart. Help me to love you with all I am. Help me to love my neighbor. I give myself afresh to You this 2010. I love You, Lord.
Monday, August 24, 2009
A Prayer Strategy
The Bible reminds us that we have an enemy that walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1Peter 5:8). We are to be sober and vigilant. In Ephesians, we are told that this same enemy is a strategist, "...that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Eph 6:11) [Wile - a trick, artifice, or stratagem meant to fool, trap, or entice; device.] In this passage we are told to put on the whole armor of God.
I was recently meditating on these passages when I noticed one verse in particular. First, we are told to put on the armor, and then the armor is detailed: waist girded with truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the Word of God. At the end of that list, God says, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." I noticed how important it is that we pray for one another, especially in the area of spiritual warfare. When the enemy strategizes against us, it would be helpful to know that there are others who are praying for us.
I am reminded that God restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10) And I wonder if our victory may be found in our praying for our friends. It is interesting that the Scripture does not tell us to call around and find intercessors to help us in the evil day, but to pray for others. Perhaps your victory is only a prayer away; not the prayer, "help me, Lord," but the prayer, "help them, Lord!"
I was recently meditating on these passages when I noticed one verse in particular. First, we are told to put on the armor, and then the armor is detailed: waist girded with truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the Word of God. At the end of that list, God says, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..." I noticed how important it is that we pray for one another, especially in the area of spiritual warfare. When the enemy strategizes against us, it would be helpful to know that there are others who are praying for us.
I am reminded that God restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10) And I wonder if our victory may be found in our praying for our friends. It is interesting that the Scripture does not tell us to call around and find intercessors to help us in the evil day, but to pray for others. Perhaps your victory is only a prayer away; not the prayer, "help me, Lord," but the prayer, "help them, Lord!"
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Seventh Dip
I've been thinking recently about the fruitfulness of fruitlessness. Doesn't it seem at times that we take three steps forward and two steps back? As I was pondering this, a couple Bible stories come to mind. The first one is found in Luke 5. The disciples had toiled all night out on the open water to no avail. They caught no fish and returned to shore with empty nets. Jesus then said to them, "Launch out into the deep for a catch." Peter explained to the Master, "we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. "
You probably know the story. The net was so full of fish they could barely bring it aboard. Often we focus on the great miracle of the catch, but I have been pondering the necessity of the fruitless night. It seems that we must learn to endure the arduous task of enduring the night of fruitlessness before God brings us to fruitfulness. The miracle shone brightly against the dark backdrop of futility.
There's another story in the Old Testament. A guy named Naaman had leprosy. He was instructed by a prophet, Elisha, that he would be healed if he would dip himself in the river Jordan seven times. At first Naaman was hesitant. It seemed too simple a thing to do to receive healing, but a servant convinced him he should at least try.
Naaman dipped himself seven times in the river and on the seventh dip he was healed. Again, many would focus on the seventh dip but my mind is drawn to the first six. I see the prinicple again, fruitlessness.
After the first dip there was nothing to show for Naaman's trouble. All he was was wet and maybe cold. How frustrating to apply yourself to something and have nothing productive to show for it! I wonder how many people quit after one dip. Give Naaman credit though, he dipped a second time. Again nothing. Cheat me once, shame on you, cheat me twice, shame on me. Surely after two dips and no results it is time to quit.
Naaman dipped a third time. I imagine that the voices on the shore began to encourage him to come out of the water. "Maybe this isn't the right place for you."
Naaman dipped a fourth time. Bystanders were probably offering advice on how to dip. Some were suggesting he attend a "dipping seminar."
Naaman dipped a fifth time. People were now walking away having concluded that Naaman would never be a successful dipper. It was obvious that he didn't have what it takes to reach the top of the dipping ladder. He would never be invited to speak on how to dip. No one would call asking for his steps to success. He had none. He was a failure at dipping. Many were now sure that he had missed his calling. He should obviously be doing something else. Who in their right mind would keep laboring like that with no results?
Naaman dipped a sixth time. Few people were left to watch this exercise in futility. They had long given up on a guy who wasn't in the "Who's Who" of dipping. He was becoming a joke now.
Naaman dipped a seventh time. When he came up out of the water, he was completely healed! Success at last. The question to ask yourself, "Which dip was the most important?"
You probably know the story. The net was so full of fish they could barely bring it aboard. Often we focus on the great miracle of the catch, but I have been pondering the necessity of the fruitless night. It seems that we must learn to endure the arduous task of enduring the night of fruitlessness before God brings us to fruitfulness. The miracle shone brightly against the dark backdrop of futility.
There's another story in the Old Testament. A guy named Naaman had leprosy. He was instructed by a prophet, Elisha, that he would be healed if he would dip himself in the river Jordan seven times. At first Naaman was hesitant. It seemed too simple a thing to do to receive healing, but a servant convinced him he should at least try.
Naaman dipped himself seven times in the river and on the seventh dip he was healed. Again, many would focus on the seventh dip but my mind is drawn to the first six. I see the prinicple again, fruitlessness.
After the first dip there was nothing to show for Naaman's trouble. All he was was wet and maybe cold. How frustrating to apply yourself to something and have nothing productive to show for it! I wonder how many people quit after one dip. Give Naaman credit though, he dipped a second time. Again nothing. Cheat me once, shame on you, cheat me twice, shame on me. Surely after two dips and no results it is time to quit.
Naaman dipped a third time. I imagine that the voices on the shore began to encourage him to come out of the water. "Maybe this isn't the right place for you."
Naaman dipped a fourth time. Bystanders were probably offering advice on how to dip. Some were suggesting he attend a "dipping seminar."
Naaman dipped a fifth time. People were now walking away having concluded that Naaman would never be a successful dipper. It was obvious that he didn't have what it takes to reach the top of the dipping ladder. He would never be invited to speak on how to dip. No one would call asking for his steps to success. He had none. He was a failure at dipping. Many were now sure that he had missed his calling. He should obviously be doing something else. Who in their right mind would keep laboring like that with no results?
Naaman dipped a sixth time. Few people were left to watch this exercise in futility. They had long given up on a guy who wasn't in the "Who's Who" of dipping. He was becoming a joke now.
Naaman dipped a seventh time. When he came up out of the water, he was completely healed! Success at last. The question to ask yourself, "Which dip was the most important?"
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Who Are the Happiest Workers?
The Yahoo! homepage posted a survey today of the the "top occupations in general happiness." According to the survey the happiest workers in the U.S. are...(drumroll, please) Clergy!
When I saw the title, I immediately wondered if clergy had been interviewed, and then I wondered if they made the list. I thought to myself, "I love my job. I get paid to talk about the thing I love most. How great is that!" But then I wondered if most pastors feel the same way about the ministry. Most that I know do.
I was very pleased that we topped the list. It only makes sense. As the Rev. Dr. Rick Wright states in the article, "With ministry I get to tie in my fundamental beliefs about God and life with what I do all day. So I get to work with people and assist them."
I became a pastor by accident. I just loved talking to people about the Lord. I was raised without knowing one thing about Christianity. All I knew about th Bible I learned through "Charlie Brown's Christmas." When I gave my life to Christ, He became so real to me that I felt I could sense His presence everywhere and see His glory in everything. I became a radical, fanatical, Bible-thumping believer. I just couldn't see how everyone couldn't see it.
That excitement for spiritual things carried over into every area of my life. At church, I just loved talking about the Bible, the Lord, and anything Heavenly. When I did, people would come up to me and say that I had helped them understand things in a new light. Eventually I was asked to Pastor a congregation. After much prayer, I felt that the Lord was indeed leading me into the ministry.
I have never regretted doing so. Sure, there have been times that I would liked to have "taken the wings of the morning and dwelt in the uttermost parts of the sea," but deep down inside I've always loved ministering to the Lord and His people.
So count me as one of those happy workers the article talks about. And if you have any questions about spiritual matters I love talking about it, not as one who thinks he has all the answers, but as one who has been captured by His beauty!
When I saw the title, I immediately wondered if clergy had been interviewed, and then I wondered if they made the list. I thought to myself, "I love my job. I get paid to talk about the thing I love most. How great is that!" But then I wondered if most pastors feel the same way about the ministry. Most that I know do.
I was very pleased that we topped the list. It only makes sense. As the Rev. Dr. Rick Wright states in the article, "With ministry I get to tie in my fundamental beliefs about God and life with what I do all day. So I get to work with people and assist them."
I became a pastor by accident. I just loved talking to people about the Lord. I was raised without knowing one thing about Christianity. All I knew about th Bible I learned through "Charlie Brown's Christmas." When I gave my life to Christ, He became so real to me that I felt I could sense His presence everywhere and see His glory in everything. I became a radical, fanatical, Bible-thumping believer. I just couldn't see how everyone couldn't see it.
That excitement for spiritual things carried over into every area of my life. At church, I just loved talking about the Bible, the Lord, and anything Heavenly. When I did, people would come up to me and say that I had helped them understand things in a new light. Eventually I was asked to Pastor a congregation. After much prayer, I felt that the Lord was indeed leading me into the ministry.
I have never regretted doing so. Sure, there have been times that I would liked to have "taken the wings of the morning and dwelt in the uttermost parts of the sea," but deep down inside I've always loved ministering to the Lord and His people.
So count me as one of those happy workers the article talks about. And if you have any questions about spiritual matters I love talking about it, not as one who thinks he has all the answers, but as one who has been captured by His beauty!
Friday, October 24, 2008
You Become What You Look At
2 Corinthians 3:18 says that as we behold the glory of the Lord, we actually are being transformed into His image. Advertisers realize that if they can get people to "behold" a famous person with their brand in their hand, the viewers will become transformed and begin to bear that same brand or image.
I began to think about that today as I was mulling over some political news I had been reading. I was pacing in my mind about perceived injustices and inconsistencies that were perpetrated recently. I realized that this was consuming my thinking. My attitude was beginning to sour. I realized that I was violating a basic principle of God's Word, I was becoming agitated by ruminating on these things. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything , by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the Peace of God [emphasis mine], which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I was allowing these things to cause me to lose my peace; as I was beholding those things, I was being transformed into an ungodly image. I fear that happens to too many of us in the faith. We watch or listen to political news and lose our peace. Obviously, we are not to be ignorant of what's going on, but the question I ask myself, "How much time do I give mental energy to these things compared to meditating on the things of God?"
God promises spiritual prosperity when we "meditate day and night" on His Word. I wonder if we spend so much time in the political arena that it becomes easy to resort to name-calling and people-bashing because of their their political views. Jesus warned us to stay out of that trap, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." If we are Kingdom oriented we cannot allow ourselves to be pulled down into the mud of this political arena.
So, while I do intend to stay informed and I do hold my own political viewpoints, I will try to rise above the morass of politics and think on those things that are above. "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Philippians 4:8
I began to think about that today as I was mulling over some political news I had been reading. I was pacing in my mind about perceived injustices and inconsistencies that were perpetrated recently. I realized that this was consuming my thinking. My attitude was beginning to sour. I realized that I was violating a basic principle of God's Word, I was becoming agitated by ruminating on these things. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything , by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the Peace of God [emphasis mine], which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I was allowing these things to cause me to lose my peace; as I was beholding those things, I was being transformed into an ungodly image. I fear that happens to too many of us in the faith. We watch or listen to political news and lose our peace. Obviously, we are not to be ignorant of what's going on, but the question I ask myself, "How much time do I give mental energy to these things compared to meditating on the things of God?"
God promises spiritual prosperity when we "meditate day and night" on His Word. I wonder if we spend so much time in the political arena that it becomes easy to resort to name-calling and people-bashing because of their their political views. Jesus warned us to stay out of that trap, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." If we are Kingdom oriented we cannot allow ourselves to be pulled down into the mud of this political arena.
So, while I do intend to stay informed and I do hold my own political viewpoints, I will try to rise above the morass of politics and think on those things that are above. "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." Philippians 4:8
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Seasons Change
It seems that just a coupla days ago it was ninety degrees in the shade. Now I'm scraping frost in the morning and seeing my breath in the evening. I've never been a fan of the cold. I look toward the winter with fatalistic resignation. What will be, will be. Winter's coming, I've gotta deal with it.
I like seasons changing when it's for the better. I love Spring 'cause it points to the wonderful warm Summer but let's not talk about that now. I'm going to do my best to make the best of this season.
I have gone through some seasonal changes over the last few years. My youngest daughter went off to college. No more kids at home. That was good, kinda. Then my grandson was born three years ago. That was great, kinda. Now he's running around under our feet. That's good, kinda.
I'm wearing glasses almost all the time now. And the folks I run around with all have gray (or colored) hair. I don't feel like I fit in with this crowd until I go by a mirror. I don't know when that happened. That season really snuck up on me.
The most wonderful thing about changing seasons is the unchanging love of God. For every season there is a new revelation of the faithfulness and care of our Lord. He has promised to be with us till the end of the age...I'm thankful He's with me at every age.
I like seasons changing when it's for the better. I love Spring 'cause it points to the wonderful warm Summer but let's not talk about that now. I'm going to do my best to make the best of this season.
I have gone through some seasonal changes over the last few years. My youngest daughter went off to college. No more kids at home. That was good, kinda. Then my grandson was born three years ago. That was great, kinda. Now he's running around under our feet. That's good, kinda.
I'm wearing glasses almost all the time now. And the folks I run around with all have gray (or colored) hair. I don't feel like I fit in with this crowd until I go by a mirror. I don't know when that happened. That season really snuck up on me.
The most wonderful thing about changing seasons is the unchanging love of God. For every season there is a new revelation of the faithfulness and care of our Lord. He has promised to be with us till the end of the age...I'm thankful He's with me at every age.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Those Were the Days, My Friend
Yesterday our prof showed photographs of culture-shaping events from my generation. He started with the atomic bomb (BEFORE my time) through JFK assassination, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr, Anti-war protests, and even Woodstock. The purpose was to give perspective as to how much our culture was in upheaval then and bring a perspective to the cultural shift we are seeing today. We are feeling the same unrest our parents or grandparents felt when the world they knew was changing before their very eyes.
In the midst of all that chaos, the Christian culture was going through its own upheaval. They were facing the Jesus movement. Hippies were finding Christ and coming into the church in droves. But they didn't come in suit and ties. They came in halter tops and blue jeans. I remember preaching at a church in Key Largo, FL, that was going through a split because the pastor had the nerve to take food out to the homeless beach bums and let them use the facilities to shave and wash. He even allowed them to come to church!
I was taken back to the years when I and many of my friends started going to church. We all had long hair and wore sandals. I didn't realize then how much countercultural courage it took for my pastor to accept us and mentor us. I remember some disapproving looks but I just thought they were old cranks.
Fast forward to today. I have hope for another Jesus movement. It's very possible that God will start revealing His Son to this generation one confused person at a time and when He does the big question for me will be, "Will I be ready?" Will I be able to accept piercings and tatoos and spiked collars and whatever else may come through the door looking for love and direction? I hope so. I'd like to think so. I kinda like those cultural rebels, they remind me of me!
In the midst of all that chaos, the Christian culture was going through its own upheaval. They were facing the Jesus movement. Hippies were finding Christ and coming into the church in droves. But they didn't come in suit and ties. They came in halter tops and blue jeans. I remember preaching at a church in Key Largo, FL, that was going through a split because the pastor had the nerve to take food out to the homeless beach bums and let them use the facilities to shave and wash. He even allowed them to come to church!
I was taken back to the years when I and many of my friends started going to church. We all had long hair and wore sandals. I didn't realize then how much countercultural courage it took for my pastor to accept us and mentor us. I remember some disapproving looks but I just thought they were old cranks.
Fast forward to today. I have hope for another Jesus movement. It's very possible that God will start revealing His Son to this generation one confused person at a time and when He does the big question for me will be, "Will I be ready?" Will I be able to accept piercings and tatoos and spiked collars and whatever else may come through the door looking for love and direction? I hope so. I'd like to think so. I kinda like those cultural rebels, they remind me of me!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Check Out the Website at Waynesvillelife
I just linked to a new evangelistic endeavor called 2-1-1. Twenty-one one refers to twenty-first technologies meeting first century truths. The questions page has links directing a seeker to videos addressing problems such as loneliness, death, hopelessness, illness, emptiness, etc. Check it out at http://www.waynesvillelife.com/Questions.html Let me know what you think. You may want link to it. The pages offer an opportunity to respond by accepting Christ or asking more questions.
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
I just finished two days of classes with Mark Batterson, the author of In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. And I just finished reading the book. How much fun was that! Mark challenges his readers to become lion chasers. The premise is taken from a passage of Scripture that tells of Benaiah, one of the soldiers of King David. It says of him that he slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day.
I've loved that passage for years for its poetic ring. Mark caused me to stop and really think about the event and then stirred me to desire to have that kind of aggressive passion for God's purposes.
The idea of the book is that if we want to reach our God-given potential and purpose, we cannot be afraid of the lions in our life. Often the lions we face are disguised blessings waiting to be grasped. When it seems we are in the wrong place at the wrong time, God has hidden his glory in that difficult circumstance.
Mark explains that long-shot odds are markers God wants to cash in for us. Then Mark challenges us to recognize that boldness to chase a lion means we will have to unlearn our fear. He talks about learning to reframe our situations, or see them from a heavenly perspective.
I have really enjoyed these last couple of days listening to Mark in the daytime and then reading his book in the evening. (It's a quick read...)
He mentions that is we're going to get "God ideas" we have to live in prayer mode. This stirred me to dessire God's creative thoughts to begin to rattle around in my brain.
Anyway, if you get a chance, pick the book up. Let me know what you think of it.
God Bless.
I've loved that passage for years for its poetic ring. Mark caused me to stop and really think about the event and then stirred me to desire to have that kind of aggressive passion for God's purposes.
The idea of the book is that if we want to reach our God-given potential and purpose, we cannot be afraid of the lions in our life. Often the lions we face are disguised blessings waiting to be grasped. When it seems we are in the wrong place at the wrong time, God has hidden his glory in that difficult circumstance.
Mark explains that long-shot odds are markers God wants to cash in for us. Then Mark challenges us to recognize that boldness to chase a lion means we will have to unlearn our fear. He talks about learning to reframe our situations, or see them from a heavenly perspective.
I have really enjoyed these last couple of days listening to Mark in the daytime and then reading his book in the evening. (It's a quick read...)
He mentions that is we're going to get "God ideas" we have to live in prayer mode. This stirred me to dessire God's creative thoughts to begin to rattle around in my brain.
Anyway, if you get a chance, pick the book up. Let me know what you think of it.
God Bless.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Judgmentalism
I'm finishing up a book titled, "UnChristian," by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. It researches the perceptions of sixteen to twenty-nine year olds towards Christianity. The chapter I just finished is titled Judgmentalism. The conception is that Christians are prideful and quick to find fault in others.
Unfortunately I'm afraid that is way too true. As a member of the Christian community for thirty years, I have found many "believers" intolerant, judgmental, bigoted, and closed-minded. I know that they struggle with the same things that all people do, it's just that somehow when they get victory over something it seems they become intolerant of others who struggle in the thing they now no longer do. Sometimes they just don't understand the struggles of others, having never been there themselves.
My fear is that is true of me, too. I'd like to think that I'm patient, kind, tolerant, and all the other things that the Bible says love is, but I'm afraid that I've quickly put some behaviors, or people, in the "that's going too far" box. Am I patient with the adulterer and judgmental of the gay? Do I show leniency to the thief and then condemn (internally, of course, I'm way too spiritual to do these things openly) the liar?
The authors suggest that people are asking for respect even if we disagree with their behavior. That doesn't seem unreasonable. These are the things that make for respect:
1. Listen to me.
2. Don't label me.
3. Don't be so smart. (An easy one for me!)
4. Put yourself in my place.
5. Be genuine.
6. Be my friend with no other motives.
I trust that I will be sensitive when judgmentalism rears its ugly head inside of me. If it does, will you judge me for it?
Unfortunately I'm afraid that is way too true. As a member of the Christian community for thirty years, I have found many "believers" intolerant, judgmental, bigoted, and closed-minded. I know that they struggle with the same things that all people do, it's just that somehow when they get victory over something it seems they become intolerant of others who struggle in the thing they now no longer do. Sometimes they just don't understand the struggles of others, having never been there themselves.
My fear is that is true of me, too. I'd like to think that I'm patient, kind, tolerant, and all the other things that the Bible says love is, but I'm afraid that I've quickly put some behaviors, or people, in the "that's going too far" box. Am I patient with the adulterer and judgmental of the gay? Do I show leniency to the thief and then condemn (internally, of course, I'm way too spiritual to do these things openly) the liar?
The authors suggest that people are asking for respect even if we disagree with their behavior. That doesn't seem unreasonable. These are the things that make for respect:
1. Listen to me.
2. Don't label me.
3. Don't be so smart. (An easy one for me!)
4. Put yourself in my place.
5. Be genuine.
6. Be my friend with no other motives.
I trust that I will be sensitive when judgmentalism rears its ugly head inside of me. If it does, will you judge me for it?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Culturally Relevant
I'm at school discussing what it means to be culturally relevant. As a pastor, one of the accusations that many people make is that the church is not culturally relevant. We appear to many to be an archaic people group that sing archaic songs and read an archaic book. In reality, there are many churches that are on the cutting edge as far as music taste, and ministry style. As far as the archaic book, all one has to do is read the newspaper to see how up to date the Bible is. The Bible has already told us that Israel would be re-formed (1948) That the European community would unite into one. (EU) That Russia would make an alliance with Iran. (Putin)That China would resurge as a world power. That oil would be the touchpoint of the world's conflict.
On a lighter note, today is my 30th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary, my love!
On a lighter note, today is my 30th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary, my love!
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Preacher's Ponderings
Hello, I'm entirely new to this whole "blog" concept so be patient with me, please.
It is my joy to discuss those things that pertain to the "deeper" questions..."Why am I here? What is my purpose? If I don't know my purpose, how do I find it? What is it that will bring me that sense of fulfillment in my home, at my job, etc.
I would be very interested to hear your comments and views.
It is my joy to discuss those things that pertain to the "deeper" questions..."Why am I here? What is my purpose? If I don't know my purpose, how do I find it? What is it that will bring me that sense of fulfillment in my home, at my job, etc.
I would be very interested to hear your comments and views.
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