Fear is a powerful motivator. It can cause us to run in a panic or freeze in place. It can cause us to do things we never thought we would or could. It can keep us from doing what we know we can and should. Fear can override most other motivators but there is one to which fear must take a back seat: Love!
While a burning building produces more than a sufficient amount of fear to keep us at a safe distance, just watch a mother run directly into that inferno to save a child. The fact that she is running into harm's way is completely displaced by the fact that the child she loves is in mortal danger. Staring down the barrel of a loaded gun is normally motivation enough to do just what one is told but not nearly enough if you believe the gunman is about to do harm to your wife or family.
Just how far will you go for your wife, your kids, your friends, your country? The only limit is the amount of love you have for them. If there is sufficient love, there is no boundary fear can erect that you cannot cross, no threat you cannot face, no outcome you won't risk. Fear cannot take you to a place where love forbids nor keep you from what love demands.
Fear loses its power where love abounds: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 Jn 4:18). Even standing before Almighty God, where fear would be the most natural response for a mere mortal, His love and our love for Him leaves no room for it. Because of love, our fear is displaced and we can "approach God's throne of grace with confidence" (Heb 4:16).
So, here's the deal in facing any and all our fears: God loves us and he "will not leave [us] as orphans" (Jn 4:18 - not 1 Jn 4:18). Therefore, to the degree we believe in God's power to rescue and in his love for us, that is the degree to which we can displace fear of any and everything. Even when we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death, [we] will fear no evil because [He} is with [us]" (Ps 23:4).
Tired of living in fear? Displace it by living in love, knowing and feeling God's love regardless of the fearful circumstances, assured that God's got this and eternal life is the final outcome of our lives. Jus' Say'n.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Purpose
In answer to the age old theological question, "Are we saved by faith or by works?", the answer is, "No." The Bible is very clear in saying, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8).
We are saved "by grace." Notice the specific qualifier that follows, "this is not from yourselves." It is not something you earn or arrange by your power, "it is the gift of God." As the apostle Paul put it, We are "children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (Jn 1:13).
We no more earn or arrange our place in God's family than a baby his/her own birth. Our salvation is His doing from first to last. Our part is to accept or reject His gift just as Joshua called on the ancient Israelites to do: "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve....But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Notice here that the choice is free, there is no earning, only accepting or rejecting. However, that doesn't mean that faith isn't important for who would accept what he doesn't believe? And it doesn't mean there is no working for who wouldn't serve the God who created him and in whom he believes?
The point to get here is one of positioning. It is not whether works or faith have a place but where we place them. They do not come before the offer of God's gift but after. God's gift is freely offered and then we believe in Him, receiving his gift and then, having received it, we begin to live and work in his kingdom as a part of his family: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph 2:10). It is not "do to be created" but "created to do."
What this means is that, in Christ, we all have purpose - work to accomplish that is ours alone. Someone else may have to do it if we are not faithful to do what God purposes, but it was purposes for us nonetheless. God charges the husband to be the spiritual leader in the home but if he will not, the wife may have to take the reins. Your boss my have charged you with getting out a report but if you cannot or will not, he may well assign that task to someone else - but, it was still your responsibility as purposes by your boss.
I don't know what all God has or had purposed for me. I don't know if I fulfill or have fulfilled all that has been purposed. But I daily see things that God wants me to do as expressed in His Word (love, give, help). I may never again be called to preaching or missions or the like, but I and you, as children of God, are charged "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10). Purpose! Jus' Say'n.
We are saved "by grace." Notice the specific qualifier that follows, "this is not from yourselves." It is not something you earn or arrange by your power, "it is the gift of God." As the apostle Paul put it, We are "children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God" (Jn 1:13).
We no more earn or arrange our place in God's family than a baby his/her own birth. Our salvation is His doing from first to last. Our part is to accept or reject His gift just as Joshua called on the ancient Israelites to do: "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve....But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Notice here that the choice is free, there is no earning, only accepting or rejecting. However, that doesn't mean that faith isn't important for who would accept what he doesn't believe? And it doesn't mean there is no working for who wouldn't serve the God who created him and in whom he believes?
The point to get here is one of positioning. It is not whether works or faith have a place but where we place them. They do not come before the offer of God's gift but after. God's gift is freely offered and then we believe in Him, receiving his gift and then, having received it, we begin to live and work in his kingdom as a part of his family: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph 2:10). It is not "do to be created" but "created to do."
What this means is that, in Christ, we all have purpose - work to accomplish that is ours alone. Someone else may have to do it if we are not faithful to do what God purposes, but it was purposes for us nonetheless. God charges the husband to be the spiritual leader in the home but if he will not, the wife may have to take the reins. Your boss my have charged you with getting out a report but if you cannot or will not, he may well assign that task to someone else - but, it was still your responsibility as purposes by your boss.
I don't know what all God has or had purposed for me. I don't know if I fulfill or have fulfilled all that has been purposed. But I daily see things that God wants me to do as expressed in His Word (love, give, help). I may never again be called to preaching or missions or the like, but I and you, as children of God, are charged "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal 6:10). Purpose! Jus' Say'n.
Monday, November 28, 2016
I Am...
If the words "I am" were placed before you and you were being asked to complete the sentence, what would you add? Would you identify yourself with your weight? I am fat, skinny, average... Would you self-identify with your age? I am old, young, middle age... Would you fill in the blank with what others say about you - and, if so, from which others? For instance, Tim Tebow was named a Heisman Trophy winner but was also told by "analysts" that he couldn't throw - from which should he accept his identity?
Some days you feel like a winner, on others you feel like a total loser - which is your identifier? You've received the "Employee of The Month Award" in the past but lately you haven't even received a pat on the back. Which employee would you say your are - the best or just one of the rest? You have a picture of yourself as a beautiful young bride and one as a grey, wrinkled, gravity-challenged great-grandmother? With which do you identify? You received metals for weight-lifting, now your broad shoulders have been replace with rotund middle and the most weight you lift is when you get out of a chair. Which you do you allow to define you?
The problem with most self-identifier, whether we accept them from others or we come up with them ourselves, is that they are opinions based on a reflection in a moment in time. The speak of aspects of self that are changing and will continue to change. Young become old and continues to age. Weight goes up and comes down and goes up or down again. You may out perform, over achieve or flop entirely depending on circumstances beyond your control or on how well you are feeling at a particular moment in time. While God "does not change like the shifting shadows" (Js 1:17), we do.
Are age, weight, looks, earning capacity, mental acuity, physical stamina, etc., will all change. The opinions of other about us will constantly change depending on their perception of what or how we are doing at a particular time in our lives. How you feel about yourself can go up and down like a yo-yo. You are a changing entity in a changing environment. Your identity - the way you would complete the statement, "I am...," necessarily changes too - except when...
...except when you accept the unchanging identity that come from the unchanging God, who "...chose us in him before the creation of the world [and]...In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Eph 1:4-5). The one identifier that never changes is "I am loved by God!" This reflection is timeless and changeless. When someone asks you what you know for sure, you can say, "I am loved by God!" When you are asked to identify your self, regardless of time or circumstance, you can say "I am loved by God!" Jus' Say'n.
Some days you feel like a winner, on others you feel like a total loser - which is your identifier? You've received the "Employee of The Month Award" in the past but lately you haven't even received a pat on the back. Which employee would you say your are - the best or just one of the rest? You have a picture of yourself as a beautiful young bride and one as a grey, wrinkled, gravity-challenged great-grandmother? With which do you identify? You received metals for weight-lifting, now your broad shoulders have been replace with rotund middle and the most weight you lift is when you get out of a chair. Which you do you allow to define you?
The problem with most self-identifier, whether we accept them from others or we come up with them ourselves, is that they are opinions based on a reflection in a moment in time. The speak of aspects of self that are changing and will continue to change. Young become old and continues to age. Weight goes up and comes down and goes up or down again. You may out perform, over achieve or flop entirely depending on circumstances beyond your control or on how well you are feeling at a particular moment in time. While God "does not change like the shifting shadows" (Js 1:17), we do.
Are age, weight, looks, earning capacity, mental acuity, physical stamina, etc., will all change. The opinions of other about us will constantly change depending on their perception of what or how we are doing at a particular time in our lives. How you feel about yourself can go up and down like a yo-yo. You are a changing entity in a changing environment. Your identity - the way you would complete the statement, "I am...," necessarily changes too - except when...
...except when you accept the unchanging identity that come from the unchanging God, who "...chose us in him before the creation of the world [and]...In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Eph 1:4-5). The one identifier that never changes is "I am loved by God!" This reflection is timeless and changeless. When someone asks you what you know for sure, you can say, "I am loved by God!" When you are asked to identify your self, regardless of time or circumstance, you can say "I am loved by God!" Jus' Say'n.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Loving Me
When asked what was the greatest Commandment, Jesus replied: “ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matt 22:37-40).
Jesus' answer to the question meant as a test from a religious scholar schooled the one posing it. His answer was not only correct, it was corrective. To love God with your whole being is our highest calling and the greatest Commandment but in order to do that one must first love others around him: "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen" (1 Jn 4:20).
And, before we can love others, we must first love ourselves. While sounding counterintuitive, self-love is the foundation of godly love. It also seems odd to suggest that one has to be instructed to love him/herself. But it is indeed needed for people are often found to be loathing rather than loving self - the real self.
The self we want to be, try to be, hold out as being; that self is fairly easy to love. But our real self, the self we keep hidden, the self we deny, the selfish self we wish didn't exist - that self we find hard to love and so often do not. That self we want and want other to believe isn't really us.
Like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12 who "stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get,'" we too may try to deny that self even before God. But like tht Pharisee, we do not fool God even if indeed we might be fooling ourselves.
The fact is that we all "sin and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23), we all struggle with selfishness in our true self, our unwelcome and unloved self, that self we wish didn't exist and we have so much trouble loving. You know the one I'm talking about, don't you? Yes, of course you do.
Yet, it is exactly that self that God loves - loves enough to have sent His only Son to die for us (cf. Jn 3:16) that we might forever live with Him. God knows our true self and loves him/her to the nth degree. We don't have to hide our true self from God, we don't have to despise our true self. Quite the contrary, we need to love him/her enough to free share that self and accept the love God has for our true self so that we can truly feel His love.
In fact, in order to truly receive anyone's love, we must learn to love ourselves, thinking ourselves worthy of love. Not that we should excuse the selfishness but that we should admit it's reality so that we can allow true self to be transformed by God's love and the love of others, even our own love. Jus' Say'n.
Jesus' answer to the question meant as a test from a religious scholar schooled the one posing it. His answer was not only correct, it was corrective. To love God with your whole being is our highest calling and the greatest Commandment but in order to do that one must first love others around him: "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen" (1 Jn 4:20).
And, before we can love others, we must first love ourselves. While sounding counterintuitive, self-love is the foundation of godly love. It also seems odd to suggest that one has to be instructed to love him/herself. But it is indeed needed for people are often found to be loathing rather than loving self - the real self.
The self we want to be, try to be, hold out as being; that self is fairly easy to love. But our real self, the self we keep hidden, the self we deny, the selfish self we wish didn't exist - that self we find hard to love and so often do not. That self we want and want other to believe isn't really us.
Like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12 who "stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get,'" we too may try to deny that self even before God. But like tht Pharisee, we do not fool God even if indeed we might be fooling ourselves.
The fact is that we all "sin and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23), we all struggle with selfishness in our true self, our unwelcome and unloved self, that self we wish didn't exist and we have so much trouble loving. You know the one I'm talking about, don't you? Yes, of course you do.
Yet, it is exactly that self that God loves - loves enough to have sent His only Son to die for us (cf. Jn 3:16) that we might forever live with Him. God knows our true self and loves him/her to the nth degree. We don't have to hide our true self from God, we don't have to despise our true self. Quite the contrary, we need to love him/her enough to free share that self and accept the love God has for our true self so that we can truly feel His love.
In fact, in order to truly receive anyone's love, we must learn to love ourselves, thinking ourselves worthy of love. Not that we should excuse the selfishness but that we should admit it's reality so that we can allow true self to be transformed by God's love and the love of others, even our own love. Jus' Say'n.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
The Lie
From the time we are very small, we are told, "You can be anything you want to be - you just have to work hard and pursue your goal." And, the idea that everything is within our grasp if we'll just stretch ourselves and reach out for it is both inviting and compelling but it simply isn't true.
Millions of young boys and girls dream of playing professional sports but only a few actually have the raw skill, the physical makeup and the opportunity to even be considered. How many dream of being Olympic Champions but how few have that drive, have the support and have the resources to make that journey. While we say any boy or girl can grow up to be President of the United States, there are actually very few that are ever in the position to have even the slightest chance.
The truth regarding a position like the presidency is that "there is no authority except that which God has established" (Rom 13:1). It is God, not man who determines those positions. With man, there are things that are impossible but not with God (cf. Matt 19:26). And God does not promise us the ability to do anything we want, he promises us the power to do anything within His will for us:
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 Jn 5:14-15).
You can have all that God has desired for you if you will seek and embrace His calling. But what he has in mind for you may look nothing like success as the world counts success. Did the leather-wearing, locust and honey-eating John the Baptist look like a success in the eyes of the world? But was he? Did the apostles, who were virtually all put to death for their preaching, look like typical successes? But were they?
Does a man or woman have to be well educated and well off to be a success? Are all those people, many of whom lost their families and their health in the pursuit of wealth and power, really successful? On this Thanksgiving Day, is it only the rich, the famous, the powerful that have something for which to be thankful? Are all of them thankful - do all of them even think they have reason for which to give thanks?
In contrast to the person dream-reaching, wealth-making, power-grabbing Western concept of success, are the powerful words of the apostle Paul: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:12-13).
That same apostle penned, "Rejoice always...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:16, 18). The truth, this Thanksgiving and always, is that God has gifts for us for which we are to receive and for which we are to be thankful. Living in this county is one of those gifts. Knowing Christ is the greatest of all gifts. If you live in this country and you have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ - give thanks to God!
Getting what you want in order to be happy is a lie. Many people get what they want and are terribly unhappy - just look at the failed marriages, the sour businessmen, the therapy bills of Hollywood elites. Happiness is receiving what God has in store for you, being who God called you to be. Having what God allows is reason for Thanksgiving. Jus' Say'n.
Millions of young boys and girls dream of playing professional sports but only a few actually have the raw skill, the physical makeup and the opportunity to even be considered. How many dream of being Olympic Champions but how few have that drive, have the support and have the resources to make that journey. While we say any boy or girl can grow up to be President of the United States, there are actually very few that are ever in the position to have even the slightest chance.
The truth regarding a position like the presidency is that "there is no authority except that which God has established" (Rom 13:1). It is God, not man who determines those positions. With man, there are things that are impossible but not with God (cf. Matt 19:26). And God does not promise us the ability to do anything we want, he promises us the power to do anything within His will for us:
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 Jn 5:14-15).
You can have all that God has desired for you if you will seek and embrace His calling. But what he has in mind for you may look nothing like success as the world counts success. Did the leather-wearing, locust and honey-eating John the Baptist look like a success in the eyes of the world? But was he? Did the apostles, who were virtually all put to death for their preaching, look like typical successes? But were they?
Does a man or woman have to be well educated and well off to be a success? Are all those people, many of whom lost their families and their health in the pursuit of wealth and power, really successful? On this Thanksgiving Day, is it only the rich, the famous, the powerful that have something for which to be thankful? Are all of them thankful - do all of them even think they have reason for which to give thanks?
In contrast to the person dream-reaching, wealth-making, power-grabbing Western concept of success, are the powerful words of the apostle Paul: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:12-13).
That same apostle penned, "Rejoice always...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:16, 18). The truth, this Thanksgiving and always, is that God has gifts for us for which we are to receive and for which we are to be thankful. Living in this county is one of those gifts. Knowing Christ is the greatest of all gifts. If you live in this country and you have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ - give thanks to God!
Getting what you want in order to be happy is a lie. Many people get what they want and are terribly unhappy - just look at the failed marriages, the sour businessmen, the therapy bills of Hollywood elites. Happiness is receiving what God has in store for you, being who God called you to be. Having what God allows is reason for Thanksgiving. Jus' Say'n.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Who Am I?
In Twelve Step Programs, it is common to introduce oneself using his/her addiction: "Hello, my name is Larry, I'm an alcoholic or drug addict or sexual addict or over eater or liar." The notion is to admit what you are as a first step in overcoming your addiction. I understand and agree with the premise.
However, admitting what one is can often bleed over into who one is. We can begin to see ourselves as primarily as alcoholics or addicts or liars or losers or fill in the blank with whatever bad trait, compulsion or sin you may be struggling with - the problem of self-identification with the deficit can be defeating and is simply to true.
You may have an addiction but you are not, at your core, an addict. You may struggle with telling lies, even when the truth would be just as easy to tell, but you are not, at your core, a liar. You may be able to eat like a pig at a trough full of truffles, but you are not, at your core, an overwater. All these are flaws or weaknesses or sins you may indeed be guilty of but they do not define you.
Would you like to hear who you are at your core? Are you ready for the real you to stand up? Are you ready to look past the mirrors that reflect your flaws, past the fingers that point out your failures, past the memories that reflect your sins and into the eyes of the One who created you, the one One who determined who you really are, the One who made you in His image?
Listen to the One who really knows you, all the way to your core: “In the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'children of the living God'" (Rom 9:26). Are you hearing that, really hearing that you are "a child of the living God!" Regardless of all the things you may be struggling with, given in to, chosen to follow, failed at, etc., you are not any of those things, they are things with which you deal - you are a child of the living God!
I don't know if you've accepted your rightful place, if you've embraced who God made you to be, if you've allowed the grace of God through the blood of Christ to cleanse you from all your sins and fill you with His Holy Spirit, but I know that you are a child of the living God. You may have run away from your roots, you may have denied your true identity, you may have rejected His offer of mercy and forgiveness. But, nonetheless, you are His child.
As a child of God, you are of incredible worth, you have a calling that is above all the world can offer, you have a home waiting for you in your Father's house, you have the power of His Spirit to overcome every sin and flaw and failure you have or have ever been saddled. Don't accept those deficits as the definition of you. Embrace God's design in you - be known as a child of God!
Jesus calls those of us who are heavy burdened, by sin or sickness or saddens or selfishness, to come to him and get in his yolk with him so that he can help us plow through those struggles and enjoy the benefit of a co-heir with him (cf. Mt 11:28-30). He provides the truth to the question, "Who Am I?" - you only need accept your place at the table as a child of God. Jus' Say'n.
However, admitting what one is can often bleed over into who one is. We can begin to see ourselves as primarily as alcoholics or addicts or liars or losers or fill in the blank with whatever bad trait, compulsion or sin you may be struggling with - the problem of self-identification with the deficit can be defeating and is simply to true.
You may have an addiction but you are not, at your core, an addict. You may struggle with telling lies, even when the truth would be just as easy to tell, but you are not, at your core, a liar. You may be able to eat like a pig at a trough full of truffles, but you are not, at your core, an overwater. All these are flaws or weaknesses or sins you may indeed be guilty of but they do not define you.
Would you like to hear who you are at your core? Are you ready for the real you to stand up? Are you ready to look past the mirrors that reflect your flaws, past the fingers that point out your failures, past the memories that reflect your sins and into the eyes of the One who created you, the one One who determined who you really are, the One who made you in His image?
Listen to the One who really knows you, all the way to your core: “In the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'children of the living God'" (Rom 9:26). Are you hearing that, really hearing that you are "a child of the living God!" Regardless of all the things you may be struggling with, given in to, chosen to follow, failed at, etc., you are not any of those things, they are things with which you deal - you are a child of the living God!
I don't know if you've accepted your rightful place, if you've embraced who God made you to be, if you've allowed the grace of God through the blood of Christ to cleanse you from all your sins and fill you with His Holy Spirit, but I know that you are a child of the living God. You may have run away from your roots, you may have denied your true identity, you may have rejected His offer of mercy and forgiveness. But, nonetheless, you are His child.
As a child of God, you are of incredible worth, you have a calling that is above all the world can offer, you have a home waiting for you in your Father's house, you have the power of His Spirit to overcome every sin and flaw and failure you have or have ever been saddled. Don't accept those deficits as the definition of you. Embrace God's design in you - be known as a child of God!
Jesus calls those of us who are heavy burdened, by sin or sickness or saddens or selfishness, to come to him and get in his yolk with him so that he can help us plow through those struggles and enjoy the benefit of a co-heir with him (cf. Mt 11:28-30). He provides the truth to the question, "Who Am I?" - you only need accept your place at the table as a child of God. Jus' Say'n.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
A New Song
As rich and powerful and famous as King David became, he did not live what one would call a "charmed life." His ups were counterbalanced with downs. His advances were returned in retreats. His gains were emptied in losses. He was anointed king only to be exiled by a jealous king he was to replace. His own son started a resurrection against him and put him on the run again. No, his life was not one of continual ease, but it was one blessed by God in, throughout and beyond his struggles.
Listen to the words of David as he describes the depth to which he would sink and what God would do: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him" (Ps 40:1-3).
In those times when David would sink into the pit and begin swimming in mud, he would turn to God and God would overturn his despair, setting his feet on rock-solid ground once again. And then, he would give him a new song. This is an important point to get: When God pulls you out of the mire, he sets you on new ground and gives you a new song.
It is up to you, however, to stand on this new ground and sing this new song. It is not a time to start looking back like Lot's wife when they were being freed from the pit known as Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt (cf. Gen 19:26). Recovering drug addicts often are sunk back in the pit when they hook up with old friends in familiar places. Formerly abused wives are known to return to the man who beat them and does so once again.
Perhaps the saddest is the one who loses a spouse or a child and sinks into the mire of depression, tearfully lamenting that life can never be the same, which it cannot, but life can be. And God can give them a new song, a new beginning standing on a rock-solid new way of living that embraces the joy and the beauty and the wonder that God can provide - even after unthinkable loss.
By accepting His new song, we not only find joy again but we give hope to others who suffer loss, allowing them to see the glory of God who breathes new life into a life that has ended and gives new hope when all hope is gone. Living in the pain of your loss will not be of benefit to anyone, least of all you. But embracing the new life, singing the new song God has written for you will! It will allow you to experience the joy of the Lord and allow others to see it in you and be drawn to the Father. Jus' Say'n.
Listen to the words of David as he describes the depth to which he would sink and what God would do: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him" (Ps 40:1-3).
In those times when David would sink into the pit and begin swimming in mud, he would turn to God and God would overturn his despair, setting his feet on rock-solid ground once again. And then, he would give him a new song. This is an important point to get: When God pulls you out of the mire, he sets you on new ground and gives you a new song.
It is up to you, however, to stand on this new ground and sing this new song. It is not a time to start looking back like Lot's wife when they were being freed from the pit known as Sodom and was turned into a pillar of salt (cf. Gen 19:26). Recovering drug addicts often are sunk back in the pit when they hook up with old friends in familiar places. Formerly abused wives are known to return to the man who beat them and does so once again.
Perhaps the saddest is the one who loses a spouse or a child and sinks into the mire of depression, tearfully lamenting that life can never be the same, which it cannot, but life can be. And God can give them a new song, a new beginning standing on a rock-solid new way of living that embraces the joy and the beauty and the wonder that God can provide - even after unthinkable loss.
By accepting His new song, we not only find joy again but we give hope to others who suffer loss, allowing them to see the glory of God who breathes new life into a life that has ended and gives new hope when all hope is gone. Living in the pain of your loss will not be of benefit to anyone, least of all you. But embracing the new life, singing the new song God has written for you will! It will allow you to experience the joy of the Lord and allow others to see it in you and be drawn to the Father. Jus' Say'n.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Maps
We live in a world of GPS (Global Position Satellite) that can track where we are and take us to where we want to go - most of the time. One of the problems I've found with GPS is that you don't necessarily know where you're actually going or where you actually are because you tend to rely on the little voice in the box to direct you one turn after the other, which works great - when it works.
I asked Siri on my iPhone, the other day, to take me to an address on a street named Black Jack. Siri promptly took me to a street named Blackjack in an entirely different town, in the opposite direction from the place I actually wanted to go. My driving experience was doubled on a day when my time was already compressed.
As cumbersome as maps can be, the thing that makes them more dependable is that you can actually see where you are, where you're going and everything in between; as well as everything all around. You get to see, from the start to the finish, the totality of you journey. The problem with that, as comforting as it may be to be sure of where you are going and what lies in between is that the mapping out of a journey depends on your skill, which may not be adequate for the journey.
In the journey of life, most would prefer a map over a GPS so we can see what's up ahead at every turn, what we can expect, how things are going and how they we'll be developing along the way. Unfortunately, life doesn't come with such a map. We are not privy to everything that's up ahead: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow..." (Js 4:14).
We know death is up ahead somewhere for "...people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb 9:27), but we don't know what's in between and it's only in Christ we know what comes up afterward as the apostle assures, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 Jn 5:13).
We can have eternal security, we can know where we are going in Christ, but even in Christ, we are not privy to what may be along the road for he does not lay out a map to detail the journey. Jesus simply says, "Come, follow me" (Mt 4:19). We know heaven is at the journey's end but not what may be in between - for that, we must trust in Him.
I use GPS because, as imperfect as it may be, it is measurably better than my mapping skills. It gets me there faster and easier and more accurately than I would with a map spread out on the car seat beside me. In life, I follow Jesus because he is always faithful, always true, always dependable. I know that I can trust him to get me to my final destination regardless of the road conditions or the challenges of the journey.
I don't need a map to plot out a course when I can simply follow the Master. Jus' Say'n.
I asked Siri on my iPhone, the other day, to take me to an address on a street named Black Jack. Siri promptly took me to a street named Blackjack in an entirely different town, in the opposite direction from the place I actually wanted to go. My driving experience was doubled on a day when my time was already compressed.
As cumbersome as maps can be, the thing that makes them more dependable is that you can actually see where you are, where you're going and everything in between; as well as everything all around. You get to see, from the start to the finish, the totality of you journey. The problem with that, as comforting as it may be to be sure of where you are going and what lies in between is that the mapping out of a journey depends on your skill, which may not be adequate for the journey.
In the journey of life, most would prefer a map over a GPS so we can see what's up ahead at every turn, what we can expect, how things are going and how they we'll be developing along the way. Unfortunately, life doesn't come with such a map. We are not privy to everything that's up ahead: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow..." (Js 4:14).
We know death is up ahead somewhere for "...people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb 9:27), but we don't know what's in between and it's only in Christ we know what comes up afterward as the apostle assures, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 Jn 5:13).
We can have eternal security, we can know where we are going in Christ, but even in Christ, we are not privy to what may be along the road for he does not lay out a map to detail the journey. Jesus simply says, "Come, follow me" (Mt 4:19). We know heaven is at the journey's end but not what may be in between - for that, we must trust in Him.
I use GPS because, as imperfect as it may be, it is measurably better than my mapping skills. It gets me there faster and easier and more accurately than I would with a map spread out on the car seat beside me. In life, I follow Jesus because he is always faithful, always true, always dependable. I know that I can trust him to get me to my final destination regardless of the road conditions or the challenges of the journey.
I don't need a map to plot out a course when I can simply follow the Master. Jus' Say'n.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Milk or Meat
When I hear of safe spaces, free speech zones (as opposed to free speech period), mid-terms being postponed because election results weren't favorable, counsellors being made available for the same reason, and a general sense of mollycoddling of college students who are preparing to enter into the adult world as leaders and captains of industry, I want to send them a blankie, a bottle of milk and a ticket back to their parents' home for a little more incubation time.
Comparing these young adults to the young men and women of our armed forces, who live in the harshest of conditions, face bullets and IEDs, return to the States with wounds and injuries that have altered their lives forever, is like comparing rising stars and Moon Pies - there is no comparison, only contrast.
Something very wrong happened on their way to growing up to face a world of challenges and disappointments. In the real world of winning and losing, acceptance and rejection, first and last, top and bottom - they have been conditioned to believe that effort equals outcome, that showing up equals measuring up, that participation equals performance, that everyone is a winner regardless of the numbers on the scoreboard.
For them, to face the fact that their voice wasn't heard over everyone else's is shocking. For these "not ready for prime time," not quite grown up adults, chewing on the gristle of defeat or rejection or loss or disagreement or challenges to their world view - anything that doesn't result in stroking of their fragile self-images is simply too much.
The simple fact is that at a time in life when they should be sharpening the sword of readiness to enter into a world of in-you-face competition and demands that can be daunting, these young people are being held over in a nursery, suckling on bottles of milk instead. Their state of being reminds me of the words found in the Book of Hebrews:
"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (vss. 12-14).
At some point, we have to grow up and accept the fact that things won't always go our way, that we really don't get a trophy just for participation, that we won't always be treated fairly, that others will say and do things we find objectionable, that our ideas will sometime be shot down, that being offended is a part of having sensibilities not a reason to seek out counseling or court action. At some point, everyone needs to retire the milk bottles and reach for a piece of meat with the bone and chew on the realities of adulthood along with the challenges of life.
Being an adult does come with some heartaches and disappointment, but it also comes with a sene of accomplishment and the development of the mind, body and soul as you face the challenges. And, the really Good News is that regardless of the battles we may face in this world, Jesus has already overcome this world (cf. Jn 16:33) and offers each one of us the victory over life and death. Jus' Say'n.
Comparing these young adults to the young men and women of our armed forces, who live in the harshest of conditions, face bullets and IEDs, return to the States with wounds and injuries that have altered their lives forever, is like comparing rising stars and Moon Pies - there is no comparison, only contrast.
Something very wrong happened on their way to growing up to face a world of challenges and disappointments. In the real world of winning and losing, acceptance and rejection, first and last, top and bottom - they have been conditioned to believe that effort equals outcome, that showing up equals measuring up, that participation equals performance, that everyone is a winner regardless of the numbers on the scoreboard.
For them, to face the fact that their voice wasn't heard over everyone else's is shocking. For these "not ready for prime time," not quite grown up adults, chewing on the gristle of defeat or rejection or loss or disagreement or challenges to their world view - anything that doesn't result in stroking of their fragile self-images is simply too much.
The simple fact is that at a time in life when they should be sharpening the sword of readiness to enter into a world of in-you-face competition and demands that can be daunting, these young people are being held over in a nursery, suckling on bottles of milk instead. Their state of being reminds me of the words found in the Book of Hebrews:
"In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (vss. 12-14).
At some point, we have to grow up and accept the fact that things won't always go our way, that we really don't get a trophy just for participation, that we won't always be treated fairly, that others will say and do things we find objectionable, that our ideas will sometime be shot down, that being offended is a part of having sensibilities not a reason to seek out counseling or court action. At some point, everyone needs to retire the milk bottles and reach for a piece of meat with the bone and chew on the realities of adulthood along with the challenges of life.
Being an adult does come with some heartaches and disappointment, but it also comes with a sene of accomplishment and the development of the mind, body and soul as you face the challenges. And, the really Good News is that regardless of the battles we may face in this world, Jesus has already overcome this world (cf. Jn 16:33) and offers each one of us the victory over life and death. Jus' Say'n.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Good News, Bad News
We've all heard some good news, bad news jokes like the one where the doctor who called his patient to tell him that he had some good news and bad news so which did he want to hear first. The patient said, "Well, tell me the good new first." The doctor replied, "Our tests show that you only have 24 hours to live." The patient shockingly replies, "That's the good news? What then can the bad news be?" The doctor then says, "I meant to call you yesterday."
Well, bad jokes aside, good news and bad news is a real part of our lives. The good news may be that you've just got a raise but the bad news is that it throws you into a higher tax bracket. For young adults the good news of graduating college is met with the bad news of student debt becoming real. Perhaps you remember Senator Pelosi's good news of many having more time to be with family now that they were cut from full time to part time due to the burden of health care reform on small businesses.
Even the Bible warns of the reality of good and bad news coming together except that with Jesus, the bad news is over-weighted with the good news. Sooo, what do I mean by that? Well, listen to the words of the Master:
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:32-33)
Well, bad jokes aside, good news and bad news is a real part of our lives. The good news may be that you've just got a raise but the bad news is that it throws you into a higher tax bracket. For young adults the good news of graduating college is met with the bad news of student debt becoming real. Perhaps you remember Senator Pelosi's good news of many having more time to be with family now that they were cut from full time to part time due to the burden of health care reform on small businesses.
Even the Bible warns of the reality of good and bad news coming together except that with Jesus, the bad news is over-weighted with the good news. Sooo, what do I mean by that? Well, listen to the words of the Master:
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:32-33)
Jesus warns his disciples that the time was near when he would be arrested and they would all run like rats fleeing a sinking ship - not very good news. The reality of the cross and somber fact of their lack of faith and courage would soon become evident. But, there was no need to lose heart because, despite their human frailty, he would carry the day for them, he would snatch victory out of the jaws of their defeat in their behalf - as they were being overcome by the evil of men, he was overcoming that world of evil.
Yes, sadly they could not and would not measure up when push came to shove, but happily Jesus was pushing back against the Evil One with a power that Satan could not resist, and the disciples (including us today) would not become statistics of a fallen world, rather they/we would become, as Paul proclaimed, "hupernikomen" ("more than conquerors" Rom 8:37). If you sound out the Greek word "hupernikomen," by the way, it sounds like a bit like "Supermen," which is precisely what it means to say. We are, by the power of the Spirit of Christ, Supermen!
We are supreme overcomers of everything the world has to throw at us - not by our own power but by our grit but by His Grace. What we may be called to face in this life may be more than difficult but what Jesus calls us to is more than can be described. So, don't be dismayed, don't be defeated, don't be downcast - instead, knowing the victory you have in Christ, "Rejoice always and again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil 4:4). Jus' Say'n.
We are supreme overcomers of everything the world has to throw at us - not by our own power but by our grit but by His Grace. What we may be called to face in this life may be more than difficult but what Jesus calls us to is more than can be described. So, don't be dismayed, don't be defeated, don't be downcast - instead, knowing the victory you have in Christ, "Rejoice always and again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil 4:4). Jus' Say'n.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Grace on The Run
Do you remember when you first accepted God's grace, when you professed your faith in Him and were buried with Christ in baptism? Do you remember that feeling of God's amazing grace pouring over you as you received it's chain-breaking, way-making freedom from sin and death? Where is that feeling of grace now?
Do you sense that the grace of God is pursuing you daily or are you running after it, trying to recapture that moment of being set free; free from sin, free from worry, free from condemnation, free from the striving to do and be what is beyond your ability? Are you looking back to that day, longing for that moment to return or are you looking forward to another grace-filled day?
What I mean to say is, do you live free knowing grace is always running toward you or are you fearfully chasing after a grace on the run? Are you resting in God's grace or wresting with a self-constructed grace, which causes you to be constantly on the run, pursuing what is always just out of reach? Am I making any sense here?
In the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), he was determined to return to the Father, confess his sins and then work to repay and continue paying for them so that his Father would be able to forgive him and continue to accept him as a repentant, sin-paying worker.
His Father, however, filled with love for his son that "was dead and now is alive," was not interested in him working off his debt or continually working to earn his favor. His father ran to him and covered him with grace. He gave him a new cloak, a new ring and a welcome home party. There was no discussion of earning what the Father wished to give freely.
Did you know that He feels the same way about you? Did you know that His grace is on the run, running toward you not away from you. He is not waiting for you to become perfect so that you can receive His grace, he is wanting you to receive His grace so that you can be made perfect.
So, if you want to catch to with this grace on the run, stop running and it will catch up to you. You need to "be still and know that [He is] God (Psa 46:10) instead of trying to do what only God can do. Only God can save.
Jesus' disciples, hearing about the camel going through the eye of a needle statement asked, "Who then can be saved" (Matt 19:25) to which Jesus replied, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (v. 26). Stop running. Your effort will never be enough. And, you can't catch what is chasing you. You have to allow it to catch you. Jus' Say'n.
Do you sense that the grace of God is pursuing you daily or are you running after it, trying to recapture that moment of being set free; free from sin, free from worry, free from condemnation, free from the striving to do and be what is beyond your ability? Are you looking back to that day, longing for that moment to return or are you looking forward to another grace-filled day?
What I mean to say is, do you live free knowing grace is always running toward you or are you fearfully chasing after a grace on the run? Are you resting in God's grace or wresting with a self-constructed grace, which causes you to be constantly on the run, pursuing what is always just out of reach? Am I making any sense here?
In the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), he was determined to return to the Father, confess his sins and then work to repay and continue paying for them so that his Father would be able to forgive him and continue to accept him as a repentant, sin-paying worker.
His Father, however, filled with love for his son that "was dead and now is alive," was not interested in him working off his debt or continually working to earn his favor. His father ran to him and covered him with grace. He gave him a new cloak, a new ring and a welcome home party. There was no discussion of earning what the Father wished to give freely.
Did you know that He feels the same way about you? Did you know that His grace is on the run, running toward you not away from you. He is not waiting for you to become perfect so that you can receive His grace, he is wanting you to receive His grace so that you can be made perfect.
So, if you want to catch to with this grace on the run, stop running and it will catch up to you. You need to "be still and know that [He is] God (Psa 46:10) instead of trying to do what only God can do. Only God can save.
Jesus' disciples, hearing about the camel going through the eye of a needle statement asked, "Who then can be saved" (Matt 19:25) to which Jesus replied, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (v. 26). Stop running. Your effort will never be enough. And, you can't catch what is chasing you. You have to allow it to catch you. Jus' Say'n.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Through The Roof
Most everyone has had a "through the roof" moment. Sometimes our emotions are through the roof, sometimes our workload is through the roof, sometimes it's our expenses, our taxes, our.... Whatever it is, it is generally heading up through the roof not the other way.
However there was one time recorded in the Bible when coming through the roof meant coming down, literally down through the roof of someone's house because the possibility of one someone's physical healing was barred by the crowd at the door. It has been said that when the door is shut, go through the window - these folks took it a bit farther:
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on" (Mk 2:3-4).
To say they got radical is an understatement. They pulled out the stops of conventionality and did what normal folks would deed unthinkable. But this was not a time for normal, it was a time for through the roof action. Their friend had one chance of being healed and they were willing to take one very big chance to get him to the Healer, Jesus Christ.
While the ran the risk of being criticized by all, by being charged with destruction of property, being dismissed by the Healer and thrown out by the crowd, they were determined to do whatever they could for this man. It tells me two things: 1) They loved this guy and 2) they had great faith in Jesus.
Their act of faith, driven by their love, was received and rewarded by the Lord: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mk 2:5). If there are two things that warm the heart of God, they are love and faith - especially when they are through the roof.
So, go ahead and be extravagant in your display of love and faith. Give the shirt off your back and turn the other cheek (cf. Luke 6:27-31), do what only great love and faith will compel you to do. You may appear a little out there, others may say you are off your rocker but you will know that you are only going through the roof and straight into the heart of God. Jus' Say'n.
However there was one time recorded in the Bible when coming through the roof meant coming down, literally down through the roof of someone's house because the possibility of one someone's physical healing was barred by the crowd at the door. It has been said that when the door is shut, go through the window - these folks took it a bit farther:
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on" (Mk 2:3-4).
To say they got radical is an understatement. They pulled out the stops of conventionality and did what normal folks would deed unthinkable. But this was not a time for normal, it was a time for through the roof action. Their friend had one chance of being healed and they were willing to take one very big chance to get him to the Healer, Jesus Christ.
While the ran the risk of being criticized by all, by being charged with destruction of property, being dismissed by the Healer and thrown out by the crowd, they were determined to do whatever they could for this man. It tells me two things: 1) They loved this guy and 2) they had great faith in Jesus.
Their act of faith, driven by their love, was received and rewarded by the Lord: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'" (Mk 2:5). If there are two things that warm the heart of God, they are love and faith - especially when they are through the roof.
So, go ahead and be extravagant in your display of love and faith. Give the shirt off your back and turn the other cheek (cf. Luke 6:27-31), do what only great love and faith will compel you to do. You may appear a little out there, others may say you are off your rocker but you will know that you are only going through the roof and straight into the heart of God. Jus' Say'n.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Certain in Uncertain Times
Although I believe partially fueled by an agenda-driven media, partially by special interest groups and partially by progressive ideology that believes anything but it's way is dangerous and evil; to say that we live in uncertain times is to state the obvious.
We don't know "what on earth" is going to happen in our world. In particular, we don't know what a President Donald Trump will actually do, we don't know what ISIS' next moves will be and we don't know how different the climate may become (of course, since climate has always been in flux; i.e. Ice Ages, we shouldn't be surprised or think we can stop it). Basically, we can't see around the corner into the future. Uhmm, is that actually a change in status quo?
The fact that we live in uncertain times is not exactly new. The Great Depression wasn't exactly a planned even, WWII did to have a certain outcome, Viet Nam did not tun out at all the way we thought and the first African American Presidency did not bring the races together nor could Americans keep their doctor and their insurance plans while enjoying lower premiums. When have we been able to predict the future with certainty?
This, by the way, is not unique to America or to this era. When has any civilization been able to live with certainty. Even during the era of Pax Romona (Peace of Rome), there were uprisings and challenges not planned on and eventual demise that wasn't part of their plan. This world has always and always will be marked by uncertainty. As the Bible puts it, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow?" (Js 4:14). This is Monday, I'm not at all certain where today may take me.
But, I am certain of one thing in the world of uncertainty: God, who is good, is in control of my future and therefore I can rest easy moving forward regardless. There is nothing in my future that God has not already seen and nothing for which he is not prepared a way for me. It may not be the way I would have chosen, it may even be more than a little challenging, but I will not be left alone and good will win the day.
Listen to God's promise as recorded by the apostle Paul, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28). God has always been and always will be faithful to keep his promises - on that you can be certain for "Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." (Josh 21:45). And, we can be certain that He "will never leave us as orphans" (Jn 14:18).
Yes, the world in which we live is uncertain but we can be certain of God who promises, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer 29:11). Jus' Say'n.
We don't know "what on earth" is going to happen in our world. In particular, we don't know what a President Donald Trump will actually do, we don't know what ISIS' next moves will be and we don't know how different the climate may become (of course, since climate has always been in flux; i.e. Ice Ages, we shouldn't be surprised or think we can stop it). Basically, we can't see around the corner into the future. Uhmm, is that actually a change in status quo?
The fact that we live in uncertain times is not exactly new. The Great Depression wasn't exactly a planned even, WWII did to have a certain outcome, Viet Nam did not tun out at all the way we thought and the first African American Presidency did not bring the races together nor could Americans keep their doctor and their insurance plans while enjoying lower premiums. When have we been able to predict the future with certainty?
This, by the way, is not unique to America or to this era. When has any civilization been able to live with certainty. Even during the era of Pax Romona (Peace of Rome), there were uprisings and challenges not planned on and eventual demise that wasn't part of their plan. This world has always and always will be marked by uncertainty. As the Bible puts it, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow?" (Js 4:14). This is Monday, I'm not at all certain where today may take me.
But, I am certain of one thing in the world of uncertainty: God, who is good, is in control of my future and therefore I can rest easy moving forward regardless. There is nothing in my future that God has not already seen and nothing for which he is not prepared a way for me. It may not be the way I would have chosen, it may even be more than a little challenging, but I will not be left alone and good will win the day.
Listen to God's promise as recorded by the apostle Paul, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28). God has always been and always will be faithful to keep his promises - on that you can be certain for "Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled." (Josh 21:45). And, we can be certain that He "will never leave us as orphans" (Jn 14:18).
Yes, the world in which we live is uncertain but we can be certain of God who promises, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer 29:11). Jus' Say'n.
Friday, November 11, 2016
The Center
Levi, our little Carin Terrier, was at my bedside at 3am this morning, ready for the day to begin - I was not and made him lie back down. When I got up at 4am, he was ready for playtime and promptly jumped up on my chair and attacked my left hand, trying to draw me into a faux battle. I wasn't biting and he gave up biting shortly.
At least, it appeared he had given up. He walked across the room and exited through his doggie door, but he was not through, he was selecting a weapon for battle. He found his plastic bottle, came racing back into the house and flying up on the chair dropping it in my lap so I could throw it. I still wasn't biting as I was reading from my Bible, preparing to write this blog and trying to enjoy some quiet time with God.
Unphased by my unwillingness to toss the bottle, he dropped the bottle off the edge of the chair and jumped down on it, pushing it with his nose, grabbing it in his teeth and flinging it into the air to continue the chase. Levi was not accepting the notion that it was not playtime because, in Levi's world, the axis of the universe travels through him. His time, his way, his wants - those are the things that matter. My being asleep or being tired or being busy was not the point and was no excuse.
He has a clear understanding of life, however misguided and often ignored by my wife and myself: What he wants, when he wants it is what must happen for the world to be right. He simply has not grasped the reality that the world his lives in belongs to my wife and me, that what he gets is what we give or allow, that while we may provide what he wants, when he wants it, we have plans and purposes that will override his desires, however strongly he may feel about them.
He asks for things in various ways including a nip on the hand, a whimper, a scratch on the leg or a long, silent stare as he sits directly in front of us, waiting for us to attend to his wishes. In a somewhat similar fashion as we come before God, expressing our wishes in prayer, Levi comes before us, fully expecting to receive what he is asking for as his desires are paramount, at least, in his mind they are.
Sadly, as Christians, we act too much like this 7 month old pup. We too think the axis of the universe is us and our wants, desires and needs are of utmost importance, that not to get what we ask for signifies a need for a realignment of the galaxy. We pray, God is to listen and then we are to get what we want - that is the proper world order to ore than a few.
The televangelist are there, backing up this world-view with their "name it and claim it" teaching in which we get what we ask for if we just have enough faith (often requiring some monetary faith-seed giving on our part to their ministry). They quote the Scripture "ask and you will receive" (Matt 7. ) but fail to apply the larger context, which clarifies saying, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 Jn 5:14-15).
Did you notice the "according to his will" part? That clarifies where the center of the universe actually is, not in us but in Him. We are not the reason, our purpose is not what it's all about, our life is not the center - God's purpose is. In his purpose, he has room and desire for us. He wants our best, he wants to give but according to his purpose not ours. God's Sovereignty, not our desires, is The Center. Jus' Say'n.
At least, it appeared he had given up. He walked across the room and exited through his doggie door, but he was not through, he was selecting a weapon for battle. He found his plastic bottle, came racing back into the house and flying up on the chair dropping it in my lap so I could throw it. I still wasn't biting as I was reading from my Bible, preparing to write this blog and trying to enjoy some quiet time with God.
Unphased by my unwillingness to toss the bottle, he dropped the bottle off the edge of the chair and jumped down on it, pushing it with his nose, grabbing it in his teeth and flinging it into the air to continue the chase. Levi was not accepting the notion that it was not playtime because, in Levi's world, the axis of the universe travels through him. His time, his way, his wants - those are the things that matter. My being asleep or being tired or being busy was not the point and was no excuse.
He has a clear understanding of life, however misguided and often ignored by my wife and myself: What he wants, when he wants it is what must happen for the world to be right. He simply has not grasped the reality that the world his lives in belongs to my wife and me, that what he gets is what we give or allow, that while we may provide what he wants, when he wants it, we have plans and purposes that will override his desires, however strongly he may feel about them.
He asks for things in various ways including a nip on the hand, a whimper, a scratch on the leg or a long, silent stare as he sits directly in front of us, waiting for us to attend to his wishes. In a somewhat similar fashion as we come before God, expressing our wishes in prayer, Levi comes before us, fully expecting to receive what he is asking for as his desires are paramount, at least, in his mind they are.
Sadly, as Christians, we act too much like this 7 month old pup. We too think the axis of the universe is us and our wants, desires and needs are of utmost importance, that not to get what we ask for signifies a need for a realignment of the galaxy. We pray, God is to listen and then we are to get what we want - that is the proper world order to ore than a few.
The televangelist are there, backing up this world-view with their "name it and claim it" teaching in which we get what we ask for if we just have enough faith (often requiring some monetary faith-seed giving on our part to their ministry). They quote the Scripture "ask and you will receive" (Matt 7. ) but fail to apply the larger context, which clarifies saying, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 Jn 5:14-15).
Did you notice the "according to his will" part? That clarifies where the center of the universe actually is, not in us but in Him. We are not the reason, our purpose is not what it's all about, our life is not the center - God's purpose is. In his purpose, he has room and desire for us. He wants our best, he wants to give but according to his purpose not ours. God's Sovereignty, not our desires, is The Center. Jus' Say'n.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Faith, Fish and Loaves
Jesus and his disciples were on a distant shore of the Sea of Galilee. Great crowds of people had followed them to this far off place. It was an impromptu following on the part of the crowd and no one had thought about how long they would be there or how they planned to eat that day - none that is but two.
"When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, 'It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!'Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?'"(Jn 6:5-9).
Of the thousands there that day only Jesus and a little boy had thought about the need for food in advance. At some point, everyone there would begin o think about it as their stomachs reminded them that it was empty. Before that, they were content to feast on His words, not thinking about how they would feed their bodies.
The little boy thought about it before he left for he day and was prepared to eat but not prepared to feed a crowd of thousands - or so he thought. The disciples hadn't given it any thought until now and now they didn't think much of the idea of feeding the multitude. The people were simply following Jesus and gave no thought to how they would eat. Jesus, however, thought about their need and he was prepared to feed a crowd of thousands, despite the limited provisions and the distance from everyone's homes (McDonald's hadn't put a franchise there just yet).
"Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish" (v. 11). There was enough because God's ability to work through us is not limited to our limitations but fortified by our faith. He can take what little we have to offer and meet great needs with it if only we are willing to offer and others are willing to receive.
You may not think you have enough time or resources or talent to even begin to address the needs of the people around you. You may have only a few loaves and a couple of fish. But God is unlimited in his capacity to multiply what you have as you begin to address those needs.
Stop focusing on how little you have to give and start believing in how much God can do with what you've got. While you may not be able to see how you small amount of whatever can possibly meet the demand, God does see and he is able to do through you what otherwise might be impossible: "What is impossible with man is possible with God" (Lk 18:27). Jus' Say'n.
"When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, 'It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!'Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?'"(Jn 6:5-9).
Of the thousands there that day only Jesus and a little boy had thought about the need for food in advance. At some point, everyone there would begin o think about it as their stomachs reminded them that it was empty. Before that, they were content to feast on His words, not thinking about how they would feed their bodies.
The little boy thought about it before he left for he day and was prepared to eat but not prepared to feed a crowd of thousands - or so he thought. The disciples hadn't given it any thought until now and now they didn't think much of the idea of feeding the multitude. The people were simply following Jesus and gave no thought to how they would eat. Jesus, however, thought about their need and he was prepared to feed a crowd of thousands, despite the limited provisions and the distance from everyone's homes (McDonald's hadn't put a franchise there just yet).
"Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish" (v. 11). There was enough because God's ability to work through us is not limited to our limitations but fortified by our faith. He can take what little we have to offer and meet great needs with it if only we are willing to offer and others are willing to receive.
You may not think you have enough time or resources or talent to even begin to address the needs of the people around you. You may have only a few loaves and a couple of fish. But God is unlimited in his capacity to multiply what you have as you begin to address those needs.
Stop focusing on how little you have to give and start believing in how much God can do with what you've got. While you may not be able to see how you small amount of whatever can possibly meet the demand, God does see and he is able to do through you what otherwise might be impossible: "What is impossible with man is possible with God" (Lk 18:27). Jus' Say'n.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Healing The Nation
I can't believe I sat through the election night coverage until the end, which was about 90 minutes ago. I knew I should head to bed but I knew I was watching history in the making and I was determined not to miss it. What some said would be a greater upset than upset than the 1948 Truman victory over Dewey, where the Chicago Daily Tribune's banner headline erroneously read "Dewey Defeats Truman," actually happend: Trump won.
And, I was pleased to see president-elect Trump come out on the stag speaking in humble tones, stating his need for the help of those who were opposed to him, using gracious words regarding Hillary and especially stating the importance of healing a divided nation. I agree with his sentiment and I hope that he works to bring that about but it will not happen unless we, as a nation, turn to God for that healing.
I hope Trump will direct all the power at his disposal to bring people together and that he will make every effort to bind the wounds of a battered nation and set the fracture of a broken union. But while I believe that "there is no authority except that which God has established" (Rom 13:1), I do not believe that it necessarily follows that God will bless the nation in which he establishes a leader. Judgment could come just as easily.
While God may use Trump to bring about healing, it won't happen unless we the people seek the Lord's blessing, looking not unto a political power but rather unto the providence of God to what no man can do without God's blessing: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron 7:14).
It is not up to one man but up to a nation, who accepting God's Sovereign power, turn to the Lord, asking Him to use the authority He has put in place to lead them to a place unity and healing. Will God use Trump to heal our nation? I don't know, that depends on us. Are we ready to be healed, are we ready to turn to the Lord? Jus' Ask'n.
And, I was pleased to see president-elect Trump come out on the stag speaking in humble tones, stating his need for the help of those who were opposed to him, using gracious words regarding Hillary and especially stating the importance of healing a divided nation. I agree with his sentiment and I hope that he works to bring that about but it will not happen unless we, as a nation, turn to God for that healing.
I hope Trump will direct all the power at his disposal to bring people together and that he will make every effort to bind the wounds of a battered nation and set the fracture of a broken union. But while I believe that "there is no authority except that which God has established" (Rom 13:1), I do not believe that it necessarily follows that God will bless the nation in which he establishes a leader. Judgment could come just as easily.
While God may use Trump to bring about healing, it won't happen unless we the people seek the Lord's blessing, looking not unto a political power but rather unto the providence of God to what no man can do without God's blessing: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron 7:14).
It is not up to one man but up to a nation, who accepting God's Sovereign power, turn to the Lord, asking Him to use the authority He has put in place to lead them to a place unity and healing. Will God use Trump to heal our nation? I don't know, that depends on us. Are we ready to be healed, are we ready to turn to the Lord? Jus' Ask'n.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
After The Vote
So, Election Day is here. For me it was actually yesterday during early voting, knowing today has more in store for me than I can say grace over already. But, the votes haven't started being counted, that will be after close of polls today.
Then what? Well, I'm not sure altogether but I hope that there can be an end of some of the foolishness we've had to suffer during this campaign season. I pray we can lay aside some of the rhetoric of nonsense generated by both sides. I am looking forward to some level of sanity to replace the polarization each side blames on the other.
I encourage you to vote, if you haven't already. I hope that you will choose based on your conviction of which direction this country ought to go rather than on con-artistry of either camp. Both advance a narrative about the other that is one-sided and both highlight only the best about themselves. The media has not worked to actually uncover the differences between them but only to sensationalize and advance their own agendas. The moment has come and we need to clear the air and vote.
What I mean is that we need to close our eyes and cover our ears for a moment before we decide and think about what we want to see happen in this country, not whether we believe that Trump is more deplorable or Hillary is more dishonest. We need to decide if we want the direction to continue in the way that it has been going or take a different route - that is the real choice.
Trump, by the way, will probably move a little to the left and Hillary will probably move a little to the right when the dust is settled but she will be more left and he will be more right, she will be more socialist and he will be more capitalist - neither will be more or less godly than they've been for the last several decades. We have to decide whether more centralized government is better or more states' rights is preferred. We have to decide whether the status quo or a new turn is desired.
There are so many real issues for which to cast your vote, moral high ground is not one of them. Both of them have plenty of immoral and a-moral attributes to eclipse any semblance of that. Conservative vs liberal and capitalist vs socialist are the real dividing lines. Vote based on which direction you want us to go but lay your vote before God and rely on His Sovereignty not on your personal decision as to who ought to be President of the United States at this point in history.
While you may be convinced you know which candidate ought to be elected (I certainly do), it is God's choice ultimately "...for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Rom 13:1) and therefore after the election we are called to accept His Sovereign choice and then pray for "...all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Tim 2:2).
Regardless of who wins the election, Jesus is still King and there is kingdom work yet to be done. That work is not nearly fulfilled at the ballot box. The new administration will not address all of the local needs, the church will, as always, have to set about filling the gaps and pointing to the real Source of our hope: Jesus Christ alone! Jus' Say'n.
Then what? Well, I'm not sure altogether but I hope that there can be an end of some of the foolishness we've had to suffer during this campaign season. I pray we can lay aside some of the rhetoric of nonsense generated by both sides. I am looking forward to some level of sanity to replace the polarization each side blames on the other.
I encourage you to vote, if you haven't already. I hope that you will choose based on your conviction of which direction this country ought to go rather than on con-artistry of either camp. Both advance a narrative about the other that is one-sided and both highlight only the best about themselves. The media has not worked to actually uncover the differences between them but only to sensationalize and advance their own agendas. The moment has come and we need to clear the air and vote.
What I mean is that we need to close our eyes and cover our ears for a moment before we decide and think about what we want to see happen in this country, not whether we believe that Trump is more deplorable or Hillary is more dishonest. We need to decide if we want the direction to continue in the way that it has been going or take a different route - that is the real choice.
Trump, by the way, will probably move a little to the left and Hillary will probably move a little to the right when the dust is settled but she will be more left and he will be more right, she will be more socialist and he will be more capitalist - neither will be more or less godly than they've been for the last several decades. We have to decide whether more centralized government is better or more states' rights is preferred. We have to decide whether the status quo or a new turn is desired.
There are so many real issues for which to cast your vote, moral high ground is not one of them. Both of them have plenty of immoral and a-moral attributes to eclipse any semblance of that. Conservative vs liberal and capitalist vs socialist are the real dividing lines. Vote based on which direction you want us to go but lay your vote before God and rely on His Sovereignty not on your personal decision as to who ought to be President of the United States at this point in history.
While you may be convinced you know which candidate ought to be elected (I certainly do), it is God's choice ultimately "...for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Rom 13:1) and therefore after the election we are called to accept His Sovereign choice and then pray for "...all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Tim 2:2).
Regardless of who wins the election, Jesus is still King and there is kingdom work yet to be done. That work is not nearly fulfilled at the ballot box. The new administration will not address all of the local needs, the church will, as always, have to set about filling the gaps and pointing to the real Source of our hope: Jesus Christ alone! Jus' Say'n.
Monday, November 7, 2016
Burdens
In the old spiritual, "Down By The Riverside," the author speaks of the time he will pick up his robe and crown, of a day when he will study war no more - a distance place and time when he will lay down his burdens. He speaks of Heaven, where our yoke is broken and our struggles are left far behind.
But why not now? Shouldn't we lay them down now and live burden free? Isn't the call of Jesus for us to come to him so that he can lift our burdens, so we can experience "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..."(Phil 4:7)? Yeah, no!
We are called to experience the peace of God but not in the absence of burdens, rather in the middle of them. Far from suggesting that we should be looking for a burden-free life, the apostle Paul says, "each one should carry his own load" (Gal 6:5), unless the load is too much for one, in which case we are to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (v. 2).
The will of God is not that we live a life free of challenges but that we freely face the challenges of life, trusting in Him and leaning on each other. He calls us to a victorious life of overcomers as opposed to a life of overcome victims. The burdens we face ought not inspire pause as we consider how awful they are but to inspire peace as we consider how awesome God is!
Jesus doesn't call us to peace by casting off our yokes and walking away from the burdens of the day, but to "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:29). Our rest, our peace, our victory is found as we squarely face our burdens trusting God will provide, knowing that he is always near, that he "will never leave [us] as orphans" (Jn 14:18). Jus' Say'n.
But why not now? Shouldn't we lay them down now and live burden free? Isn't the call of Jesus for us to come to him so that he can lift our burdens, so we can experience "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding..."(Phil 4:7)? Yeah, no!
We are called to experience the peace of God but not in the absence of burdens, rather in the middle of them. Far from suggesting that we should be looking for a burden-free life, the apostle Paul says, "each one should carry his own load" (Gal 6:5), unless the load is too much for one, in which case we are to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (v. 2).
The will of God is not that we live a life free of challenges but that we freely face the challenges of life, trusting in Him and leaning on each other. He calls us to a victorious life of overcomers as opposed to a life of overcome victims. The burdens we face ought not inspire pause as we consider how awful they are but to inspire peace as we consider how awesome God is!
Jesus doesn't call us to peace by casting off our yokes and walking away from the burdens of the day, but to "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me...and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:29). Our rest, our peace, our victory is found as we squarely face our burdens trusting God will provide, knowing that he is always near, that he "will never leave [us] as orphans" (Jn 14:18). Jus' Say'n.
Friday, November 4, 2016
What God Allows
I don't remember just who I was talking to the other day when the topic of the election came up but this individual said, "Whomever becomes President is the one God allows." I couldn't disagree, I believe deeply and take great security in God's sovereignty. But that doesn't mean I believe in personal passivity as I know that one of the things God allows is the consequence of our choices: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Gal 6:7).
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
What God Allows
I don't remember just who I was talking to the other day when the topic of the election came up but this individual said, "Whomever becomes President is the one God allows." I couldn't disagree, I believe deeply and take great security in God's sovereignty. But that doesn't mean I believe in personal passivity as I know that one of the things God allows is the consequence of our choices: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Gal 6:7).
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
What God Allows
I don't remember just who I was talking to the other day when the topic of the election came up but this individual said, "Whomever becomes President is the one God allows." I couldn't disagree, I believe deeply and take great security in God's sovereignty. But that doesn't mean I believe in personal passivity as I know that one of the things God allows is the consequence of our choices: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Gal 6:7).
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
What God Allows
I don't remember just who I was talking to the other day when the topic of the election came up but this individual said, "Whomever becomes President is the one God allows." I couldn't disagree, I believe deeply and take great security in God's sovereignty. But that doesn't mean I believe in personal passivity as I know that one of the things God allows is the consequence of our choices: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Gal 6:7).
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
Just how God's sovereign choice is exercised concurrently with my selecting consequence, I don't entirely understand nor can I adequately explain it. There are some things, like the make up of the Trinity, that leave me scratching my head just a bit. In those matters, I concern myself less with clarity and more with faith.
Nonetheless, I believe in God's sovereignty and I believe in consequences directly connected with our personal choices. So, while I trust God completely with my future, I make plans and take steps to address it, but I don't worry about it knowing that despite my choice and my consequence, God is in control.
Notice what God tells Joshua as he is called to stand in the place of Moses: "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates---all the Hittite country---to the Great Sea on the west" (Josh 1:3-4). God tells Joshua that he was going to give him the territory where Joshua chose to set his foot and then goes on to tell him "Here's the boundaries of the territory I will be giving you.
Joshua was one who trusted greatly in the Soverignty of God but also took seriously mankind's personal need to choose: "
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Josh 24:15).
Solomon seemed to agree: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps" (Prov 16:9). We have the right of choice and the expectations of consequence but God's will remains and we do not have the power to circumvent his Soverignty. So, how does this all work out? I don't truly know except to say that God is faithful and just, and we can trust in his goodness even when we cannot trust in our good choices. Understand? Me neither! But I trust God! I also make choices. Jus' Say'n.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Not Fair!
Do you remember stomping your feet and indignantly decrying, "Not fair!", when you were a child. You probably haven't done that lately. As adults we tend to control our foot stomping, at least on the outside. But inside, that little boy or girl in us is stomping away as our adult outside is trying to make a cogent argument for equality. Although, truth be told, some haven't gotten all that far away from outward foot stomping.
Nonetheless, the fact remains that we often feel that life, our parents, our spouse, our boss, God...is not fair. Mostly we tend to feel that way when the tables are tipped against us and things aren't going our way. Sometimes we have to admit that things have been unfairly or unexplainable tipped in our favor. Generally we're OK with that and don't complain.
But, make no mistake, this little child, fairness barometer is actively checking the equality index moment by moment. And when it begins to rise, we begin to feel the inward change of equanimity being registered in our childish spirit.
The biblical story of what we call the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, while teaching the principle of God's love, forgiveness and grace, has a sub-plot of "not fair" from both sides of the spectrum. The Prodigal, realizing how he has foolishly wasted his early inheritance, knows it would be unfair to except his father to restore his position and instead dreams of returning fairly as a "hired hand" (v. 19) in order to pay back what he squandered.
The older brother, having faithfully but apparently not graciously stayed behind and worked while the younger prodigal went on an extended spending binge, agreed thinking "not fair" at the prospect of the other son returning to his original position. He would likely have agreed to have him return to work under his control and at his bidding - that would have been fair.
But the Father, dismissing the Prodigal's notion of returning as a second or third class member of the household, who would earn his position; and imploring the older son to set aside his jealousy and rejoice with the return of his brother who "was dead and now is alive again (v. 24), sets fairness on its ear has he very unfairly but very lovingly and graciously restores the Prodigal to his original position.
Both sons are stunned by the Father's decision. Both were operating under the banner of fairness but the Father operates under the banner of love and "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud...it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...It always protects..." (1 Cor 13:4-7). Love does not insist on giving what one deserves but rather offers what is best.
God is not fair. But aren't you glad he isn't? Aren't you glad that he offers us what we need instead of what we earned? Aren't you glad he offers grace from a father's heart instead of justice from a judge's bench? Aren't you glad God's not fair? Jus' Ask'n.
Nonetheless, the fact remains that we often feel that life, our parents, our spouse, our boss, God...is not fair. Mostly we tend to feel that way when the tables are tipped against us and things aren't going our way. Sometimes we have to admit that things have been unfairly or unexplainable tipped in our favor. Generally we're OK with that and don't complain.
But, make no mistake, this little child, fairness barometer is actively checking the equality index moment by moment. And when it begins to rise, we begin to feel the inward change of equanimity being registered in our childish spirit.
The biblical story of what we call the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32, while teaching the principle of God's love, forgiveness and grace, has a sub-plot of "not fair" from both sides of the spectrum. The Prodigal, realizing how he has foolishly wasted his early inheritance, knows it would be unfair to except his father to restore his position and instead dreams of returning fairly as a "hired hand" (v. 19) in order to pay back what he squandered.
The older brother, having faithfully but apparently not graciously stayed behind and worked while the younger prodigal went on an extended spending binge, agreed thinking "not fair" at the prospect of the other son returning to his original position. He would likely have agreed to have him return to work under his control and at his bidding - that would have been fair.
But the Father, dismissing the Prodigal's notion of returning as a second or third class member of the household, who would earn his position; and imploring the older son to set aside his jealousy and rejoice with the return of his brother who "was dead and now is alive again (v. 24), sets fairness on its ear has he very unfairly but very lovingly and graciously restores the Prodigal to his original position.
Both sons are stunned by the Father's decision. Both were operating under the banner of fairness but the Father operates under the banner of love and "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud...it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...It always protects..." (1 Cor 13:4-7). Love does not insist on giving what one deserves but rather offers what is best.
God is not fair. But aren't you glad he isn't? Aren't you glad that he offers us what we need instead of what we earned? Aren't you glad he offers grace from a father's heart instead of justice from a judge's bench? Aren't you glad God's not fair? Jus' Ask'n.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
The Winning Plan
In the 1998 classic business allegory, "Who Moved My Cheese?", two mice, Sniff and Scurry along with two little people, Hem and Haw, live in a maze in which they find a corridor filled with cheese. While they become dependent on the cheese in a particular corridor of the maze in which they live, the cheese isn't there one day. They no longer can rely on what they have come to rely.
The book was a tremendous success. It was on the top of the charts for four years, selling 25 million copies and still remains a widely used book in business training because it deals with a reality all of us encounter: "The best laid plans of mice and men..." You know the rest. Our plans just don't always work out and they never can be trusted to endure forever.
We can, and I think should, make plans - plans for college, plans for employment, plans for family and plans for retirement; plans of all kinds. But we need to humbly accept the fact that our plans are not guaranteed to succeed. In fact, life is more often about a well executed plan B than holding on to plan A. And even plan B can be reduced to ashes in a moment.
The simple truth is that despite our well intentioned, well founded and well executed plans, life just doesn't always play ball. Sometimes life takes its ball and goes home, leaving you holding the bag instead of advancing to the next base.
Suddenly, you realize that you are not in control, that your plan is not going to pan out. You can get bogged down in that reality either continuing too double down on your plan, try to devise a new plan or you could yield to the fact that you are not in control and turn to the One who is. For, while we lack the power to control circumstances, there is One who does not. As the Scripture says: "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Prov 19:21).
This realization and the willingness to trust in God over self is the winning plan. You can make all the plans you want, realizing that when they do not succeed, you are not undone but simply redirected. As plan A or B or C gets set to the side, you can trust that God is still in control and that he will indeed "Work all things to the good of those that love the Lord" (Rom 8:28). Jus' Say'n.
The book was a tremendous success. It was on the top of the charts for four years, selling 25 million copies and still remains a widely used book in business training because it deals with a reality all of us encounter: "The best laid plans of mice and men..." You know the rest. Our plans just don't always work out and they never can be trusted to endure forever.
We can, and I think should, make plans - plans for college, plans for employment, plans for family and plans for retirement; plans of all kinds. But we need to humbly accept the fact that our plans are not guaranteed to succeed. In fact, life is more often about a well executed plan B than holding on to plan A. And even plan B can be reduced to ashes in a moment.
The simple truth is that despite our well intentioned, well founded and well executed plans, life just doesn't always play ball. Sometimes life takes its ball and goes home, leaving you holding the bag instead of advancing to the next base.
Suddenly, you realize that you are not in control, that your plan is not going to pan out. You can get bogged down in that reality either continuing too double down on your plan, try to devise a new plan or you could yield to the fact that you are not in control and turn to the One who is. For, while we lack the power to control circumstances, there is One who does not. As the Scripture says: "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (Prov 19:21).
This realization and the willingness to trust in God over self is the winning plan. You can make all the plans you want, realizing that when they do not succeed, you are not undone but simply redirected. As plan A or B or C gets set to the side, you can trust that God is still in control and that he will indeed "Work all things to the good of those that love the Lord" (Rom 8:28). Jus' Say'n.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Audience of One
Hold on to your hat, someone from Arkansas is about to quote Shakespeare, and no, I don't mean a Shakespeare fishing gear representative, the actual William Shakespeare: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages."
Willie, as we like to call him here in Arkansas, is quite right. Our lives are played out in front of others. People are always watching, gaining insight and forming an opinion from how we act and react to the scenes of life as they unfold.
We are not unaware of this fact. Rather, we choose our words, our next steps, our reactions in view of who we believe our audience might be at the moment. When we are young, we tend to act one way if our parents are in the audience another way if it our friends. As adults, how we act around our co-workers and how we act around our boss is often vastly different. What one would see of in at home getting ready for church and what they see when we arrive there can be world's apart.
Is any of this sounding familiar? Have I crossed the line from teaching to meddling? I hope so. I want you to take this personally, I want you to do more than just listen and nod, I want you to shake your head and think, "Yeah, been there done that and haven't quite got all the way past it." That would be thee truth as we all wear the masks of the stage from time to time, depending on who is in the audience.
But here's a reality that is so much more important than who all might be in the audience - so much more important is Who is always in the audience. There is One who is watching every moment, listening to every word, seeing every act and every reaction - the same One that pays attention to even the sparrows (cf. Lk 12:6), it is the One from which "nothing is hidden in all creation" (Heb 4:13): God!
Regardless of who might be watching at any particular moment in time, God is always watching, every moment in time. Your audience may contain many or few, but it always has One. What you say and do never goes unnoticed by God. And, with all the many that watch your life, there is only One that ultimately matters and only One to whom you must give an answer: that same God.
While I think it important how we conduct ourselves before everyone as it impacts them and can have an impact on us, it is vitally and eternally important that we concern ourselves with our Audience of One who is always there, pulling for us, encouraging us, but one day must judge us. He watches with the loving eyes of a Father, wanting the best for his child but also of the God of the Universe upon whom justice rests.
I pray that all who read these words choose to focus on the Audience of One and not allow the many others to distract you. And I pray that you will accept the grace of the One who makes up this Audience of One offered in Christ Jesus alone. Jus' Say'n.
Willie, as we like to call him here in Arkansas, is quite right. Our lives are played out in front of others. People are always watching, gaining insight and forming an opinion from how we act and react to the scenes of life as they unfold.
We are not unaware of this fact. Rather, we choose our words, our next steps, our reactions in view of who we believe our audience might be at the moment. When we are young, we tend to act one way if our parents are in the audience another way if it our friends. As adults, how we act around our co-workers and how we act around our boss is often vastly different. What one would see of in at home getting ready for church and what they see when we arrive there can be world's apart.
Is any of this sounding familiar? Have I crossed the line from teaching to meddling? I hope so. I want you to take this personally, I want you to do more than just listen and nod, I want you to shake your head and think, "Yeah, been there done that and haven't quite got all the way past it." That would be thee truth as we all wear the masks of the stage from time to time, depending on who is in the audience.
But here's a reality that is so much more important than who all might be in the audience - so much more important is Who is always in the audience. There is One who is watching every moment, listening to every word, seeing every act and every reaction - the same One that pays attention to even the sparrows (cf. Lk 12:6), it is the One from which "nothing is hidden in all creation" (Heb 4:13): God!
Regardless of who might be watching at any particular moment in time, God is always watching, every moment in time. Your audience may contain many or few, but it always has One. What you say and do never goes unnoticed by God. And, with all the many that watch your life, there is only One that ultimately matters and only One to whom you must give an answer: that same God.
While I think it important how we conduct ourselves before everyone as it impacts them and can have an impact on us, it is vitally and eternally important that we concern ourselves with our Audience of One who is always there, pulling for us, encouraging us, but one day must judge us. He watches with the loving eyes of a Father, wanting the best for his child but also of the God of the Universe upon whom justice rests.
I pray that all who read these words choose to focus on the Audience of One and not allow the many others to distract you. And I pray that you will accept the grace of the One who makes up this Audience of One offered in Christ Jesus alone. Jus' Say'n.
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