Paul Revere & Elijah 8-3-21
One night in April of 1775, a 40 year old silversmith named Paul Revere rode his horse to send a warning that the British were coming. Now, imagine that a tornado were heading for a small South Dakota town and that the storms had already knocked out the electricity. That meant that the tornado sirens could not be used. Imagine that a man from that town was out riding his motorcycle when he spotted a tornado and he raced back into town. He then drove his motorcycle up and down the streets shouting through a bullhorn that a tornado was coming. Many people were able to get to their basements before massive destruction hit. No lives were lost.
Now imagine the news reports the next day. The headlines read: “Modern Day Paul Revere Saves Lives in Small Town.” He is interviewed by the local news station and the reporter says, “We are standing here with Paul Revere.” As the interview gets going, the reporter asks the man's name. He replies, “Well, I am not Paul Revere,” before giving his actual name.
For the rest of that man's life, he is referred to as Paul Revere, yet he is not actually Paul Revere. Still it is not a mistake to call him Paul Revere. Everyone in his community and the surrounding area understands why he received that title.
This helps to explain why Jesus would refer to John the Baptist as Elijah, yet John the Baptist himself said in John 1:21 that he was not Elijah. Before John the Baptist was born, his father was told,
“And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) In this passage an angel reveals that John will go in the spirit and power of Elijah. This is not the same as him being Elijah. It is very similar to the man in our example riding his motorcycle and giving a warning in the spirit and power of Paul Revere.
Malachi 4:5 had actually predicted that Elijah would come again some day. "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.” (Malachi 4:5) Some think this is a prediction that Elijah will return again before the end of the Great Tribulation of Revelation, but Elijah has already returned since he was with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. Both Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus as the face and garments of Jesus glowed. Peter, James, and John witnessed this. Luke tells us what they talked about. “And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:30-31).
If the great and terrible day that Malachi spoke of was Jesus death on the cross, then Elijah did appear before that. So did John the Baptist. He too was able to give the message of Elijah (Elias) and to proclaim Jesus and make a way for him. Thus Elijah literally appeared at the Mount of Transfiguration, and another man, John the Baptist, was able to reinforce all that Elijah stood for as he ministered in the spirit and power of the earlier prophet.
Thus we have two men working together for the same purpose of glorifying Jesus and there is no contradiction in the scripture. II Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4 show they even dressed similar. We have a beautiful picture of faithful prophets serving Christ and being compared to each other. May we follow their examples and recognize that the Lord can give us the power to serve Christ as well.
Trust the Evidence 7-27-26
We have teenage boys in our household. The older ones are now driving. Imagine if they arrived home with a broken headlight and a dented fender. Imagine that two of them were in the vehicle and I asked them each separately what had happened. They both had the exact same story and both told it with the same words. They both said, “suddenly a pheasant came out of nowhere and we heard a thump and the car was wreaked.” If they both said it exactly the same I would think something was a bit suspicious.
On the other hand, imagine one said, “I was driving and heard a thump, and then I looked in the rear view mirror and there was the pheasant laying in the road, and the car was a mess, and I didn't see it until it was too late.” Then imagine I separately talked to his brother and he said, “I was listening to the radio, and I saw a tractor out in the field, and just as I was looking at the tractor I saw this pheasant dart from the edge of the road. It jumped up just as we got there and then we smucked it.”
In the first scenario, it looks like they planned ahead of time exactly what they would say. In the second scenario, it sounds like they each noticed different details about the same event and shared those details from their own perspective.
As we read the gospel accounts in scripture, many times a verse will be exactly the same. That makes sense because often they are quoting the words of Jesus and want to preserve his statements as he said them. Still there can be some variation. For example, Matthew may say, “truly,” while Mark says, “verily.” This may not even be a difference but rather a translation variation where the translators chose synonyms in different places with the same underlying Greek word “amen.”
Still, the underlying message of the gospels is remarkably similar. That too should not surprise us when we realize that the Holy Spirit was guiding them to write down the most important parts. He wanted them to write down what he wanted us to learn while still allowing them to maintain their own writing style. 2 Peter 1:21 explains, “for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
But it was God who guided them on what to write. They did not get together with each other and decide what to write. That is why when Matthew shares the account of the Gadarenes, he speaks of two demon-possessed men (Matthew ch8) while Mark keeps his focus on just one of those two men (Mark ch5).
We find something similar in the Old Testament. Haggai, Zechariah, and Ezra are all writing about events that happened in their lifetimes. They were all alive at the same time and they mention the High Priest. Haggai and Zechariah call him Joshua, while Ezra calls him Jeshua. All of those men were Hebrews who had grown up in Babylon, but later move to their homeland of Israel. They likely grew up speaking both Hebrew and the Aramaic language of Babylon. Thus it would not be a surprise that they would not all spell words the same. This makes even more sense when Ezra tells us in ch7 about his arrival back in Israel. Haggai and Zechariah had arrived earlier, so the way of spelling a name in Jerusalem may have been different than how the new comer Ezra spelled it. This is evidence that they just wrote it and did not scheme together about what and how to write it. Both cohesiveness and difference within the scriptures support it's authenticity.
Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” There is evidence for us to trust the Bible. It is authentic. Trust it and trust Jesus.
I Want the Leftovers 7-12-26
When I was a teenager I was just as skinny as I am now but I was a growing boy. I was called a human garbage disposal because I would eat the leftovers from the rest of the family. When we went out to eat, I would clean my plate and then eat what my siblings or parents didn't want. I saw the value in what others set aside. A woman who met Jesus saw the value in what he had leftover as well.
The Gospel of Matthew makes so much more sense when you think of it in the context of Jesus coming as a king for his people. The Sermon on the Mount was essentially an address to the people that showed them his expectations for how they should act as citizens of his kingdom.
So many of the other things he said and did make sense when you think of him as the coming king. For example, in the last half of Matthew 15, we find Jesus going to the areas of Tyre and Sidon. This would have been within the farthest northwest reaches of the Jewish territory of that time. As the King of the Jews, he was essentially visiting their far border.
As he is there, a Canaanite woman from that region asked him to heal her daughter. Because she was not part of his country, he initially ignores her. She remains persistent and the disciples suggested that he send her away. Instead he tells her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (vs 24).
His statement makes sense since he was coming as the king for the people of Israel. When Jesus was crucified, Pontius Pilate wrote above the cross, “King of the Jews.” It was actually a true statement, because Christ was of the house and linage of King David, thus qualifying him for the role as king. Although born poor, he was part of the royal family.
In verse 24, Jesus describes the people of Israel as lost sheep, because they had been waiting for years to have a king from the line of David. The prophets had promised such a king and Jesus came as a fulfillment of that promise. But since he was not yet reigning as king, the people were without the leader they needed and were like lost sheep.
Whis woman from another nation wants help, he tells her that he is there to help the people of his nation. Jesus had been healing many people within his nation and she does not give up. She kneels before him and begs him for help. His answer shows that the people of his nation are his first priority when he says, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”
Dogs in his time were generally feral creatures, not family pets. You would not feed them good food like you would your kids. But the woman is desperate and points out that the dogs still get the crumbs. The word for crumbs in vs 27 is the idea of a bit or a morsel. In other words, if you throw the leftovers to the dogs, why can't she have some leftovers?
Jesus commends her for her faith and then heals her daughter. Because he is God, the leftovers of Jesus are more than enough to meet all our needs. One chapter earlier we were able to read about the feeding of the 5000 and how there were 12 baskets left over. By the end of chapter 15 he will have fed over 4000 with 7 baskets left over.
Jesus is first King of the Jews. But beyond that, he is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is God and has all the resources to meet the needs of the whole world. Further he cares about our needs. I want to serve a king like that. That is a king I can believe in. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Follow the Loving King Jesus 6-29-26
Imagine two different couples getting married. Couple “A” gets married because they really love each other and want to be together. Couple “B” gets married because they realize they can each improve the other's financial status. The groom already has a high paying job, a nice car, and a nice house The bride is set inherit a small fortune one day. The second couple does not even like each other but they want to “get ahead” so they go through with the wedding.
Both couples end up facing hardships during their first years of marriage. For couple “A”, the husband lost his job and had to start his career over. He was able to get through it partly because his loving wife continued to encourage him. They were side by side throughout the hardship.
Couple “B” has their house burn down and they find out they were not insured. Then they find out the wife's father had to file bankruptcy and there will be no inheritance. The husband has health problems and needs to leave his job for a lower paying position. Since there was no love to start with, the couple parts ways.
Too often Christianity is presented like the second couple. People are encouraged to come to Christ for what he can give. Heaven is promised with streets of gold and no tears or sickness. The reality is that we have not yet reached the paradise of heaven. There are still trials in this life and often for the Christian, those trials are quite great. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us what we can expect if we faithfully follow Christ, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
There are many benefits to coming to Christ, but if you only came to Jesus for the benefits then you will not want to stick with him during the times of trial. Christianity is not a promise to take away all problems. “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;” (Romans 5:3-4)
True Christianity is about coming to Jesus and following him- recognizing he is God and has authority over your life. If you simply come for what he can give you, then you have no right to call yourself Christian. John 3:36 warns, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
Before the 10 commandments, the first and greatest command was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might. Jesus is God. Do not come to him for what he can give you, but rather come to him because you love him and want to serve him knowing he died for you.
Too many people think of Jesus like a genie in a bottle who will grant their wishes. Instead we should look at Jesus like a king who we humbly serve. “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)
When we both love Jesus and recognize him as king and God, then we will follow him no matter where he goes. We will want to be with him through any hardship. We will desire his love and protection when times get difficult. We will want to support him no matter what. We will have a relationship with Jesus similar to couple “A”.
Come to Jesus for who he is, not for what he can give you.
Don't Blame God For Evil 6-15-26
How do you make darkness? How do you make light? Actually it is impossible to make darkness. Darkness is not something that is made, instead darkness is the absence of light. Therefore, in order to have darkness, all you have to do is block light. If you close the door, block the windows, and have no internal source of light, a room will naturally become dark. That same room will become light simply by introducing an outside force like fire or electricity to that darkness.
The question has been asked: “If God made everything, did he make evil?” Job compares good and evil to light and darkness. "When I expected good, then evil came; When I waited for light, then darkness came.” ( Job 30:26) But there is something important about the word for “evil” that Job uses. That word has the idea of a calamity or adversity. It is not a word that means to sin. Isaiah 45:7 uses that same word when it says, “The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.” (NASB) Although the New American Standard Bible uses the phrase, “creating calamity,” other versions say, “creating evil.” Part of the confusion comes because our English language continues to evolve. Whereas “evil” once meant “calamity,” today it is more often connected to “sin.”
So in answer to the question about God creating evil, Isaiah makes it clear that God does create situations of calamity. Often calamities are consequences for sin. Other times- like with Job- they are trials to test and grow the faithful. Sometimes God sends bad weather. Other times he sends sickness. It could be an invading army or any list of difficult situations. God uses the situations of life to mold and shape us just like he did with Job.
This does not mean that he created sin. We bring many calamities upon ourselves as a direct result of our own sin, but we cannot blame God for that sin. James 1:13 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (NASB) James uses the word “evil” here, but it is a different word than both Job and Isaiah used. The word James used means “depraved” or “wicked.” Therefore in James usage, it is connected to sin whereas with Job and Isaiah it is connected to calamity. The context of James makes it clear he is talking about sin. “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1:15)
So if we cannot blame God for sin, then we have to blame ourselves, but where did sin come from? Just like darkness comes when light is absent, sin comes when we block out God. Galatians 5 contrasts the works of the flesh (sin) with the fruits of the spirit. When we submit to the spirit of God we have light in our lives that pushes out sin. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Just like we need an outside source of light to break the darkness, we need the outside source of God through his Holy Spirit to break sin in our lives. God gives us his Holy Spirit when we come to Jesus. The level we have victory over sin is directly tied to how much control we let his Spirit have over us. That is why I Thessalonians says, “Do not quench the Spirit;.”
Come to Jesus and do not block the light of God in your life.
Running Into the Fence 6-1-26
In my younger days I raised horses. Horses have a lot of different personalities. I once bought a mare at an action. She was a beautiful creature, but she had not been around people much and she was extremely skittish. My hope was that once she was around the other horses she would settle down.
The rest of the herd was accustomed to the sound corn would make as I shook it in a five gallon pail. They would hear that sound and come running when I called them. I named the skittish mare, “Wild Thing.” Initially my voice and the corn shaking in the bucket was just another scary noise that would spook her to the opposite side of the pen. Although she never tamed down like the other horses, she did eventually come running along with them. She realized that sound meant she would be able to eat corn. If she did not come running the other horses would get it before she did.
Even when the horses were in a pasture with plenty of lush green grass, they still came running for the corn. It was something special that they knew that I would provide for them. It made them look forward to seeing me when I came to visit them. They would also look forward to seeing me in the winter time when the grass was covered by snow, because then I would bring hay.
I am not sure where Wild Thing grew up, but I envision her out on the range far from people. I picture her scraping the snow with her hooves to find the little bit of grass that was left on a cold January day. She had her freedom but she also had her challenges. She felt anxiety around me because I was new and fearful to her, but she also had the good things I provided her.
A lot of people look to God like Wild Thing looked at people. They see him as someone fearful to approach. They expect he will hurt them. They even blame him for the pain they have in their lives even when it is self inflicted. We should fear God's power but we should not be afraid to come to him.
When Wild Thing ran to the far end of the pen and jolted against the fence it must have been painful for her and she likely associated that pain with my presence even though it was her running that caused it. In a similar way many people run from God and engage in sinful practices. That sin often has hurtful consequences. We should not blame God for that.
Instead we should recognize that God cares for us and that he has good things. When he calls we should come running to him rather than running from him.
Many people ask why God even allows pain. Why doesn't he give us lush green pastures year around? Why does it get too hot and too cold? Without discomfort we would not grasp the beauty of pleasure.
Further we would not grasp that God is not just our creator, but he is our savior and our provider. In II Corinthians chapter 1, the Apostle Paul explains how the Lord had comforted him in his afflictions so he could comfort others. He then reminds us that Jesus Christ suffered and we share in those sufferings so we can also share in comfort. He even tells us that things got so bad they thought they would die, but that caused them to rely on God. Look at what God did for them. 2 Corinthians 1:10 says, “who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,”.
God allows trials but he is there to help as well. All the food we eat comes because God allow living things to grow. James 1:17 tells us every good and perfect gift comes from him. Instead of blaming God for our hardships, come to Jesus and let him provide the care and comfort he wants to give you. Do not hurt yourself by running away from him.
Unified While Disagreeing 5-18-26
My wife and I are a team. We became a team almost 20 years ago when we tied a solid knot between our lives as we were married. Although we are a team, we do not always agree. There are some movies that we both like, but during the “Avengers” craze, she liked the comic book movies while I preferred to watch the Hallmark Channel's “When Calls the Heart.”
Rather than letting this difference of opinion strain our marriage, we laugh about it. I must admit that it is a bit humorous that I as a burly construction worker type love Hallmark while my feminine wife loves action and adventure. We are able to laugh because we understand that we can disagree about movies while still being unified as a couple.
My wife and I are not only a married couple, but we are also joint members of the body of Christ. Throughout the world there are many faithful followers of Christ from a variety of backgrounds. We do not all agree on what movies to watch or even on if we should be watching any movies at all. Just because we disagree, does not mean that we cannot still be unified.
Ideally we would all be unified with the mind of Christ. We would all come to the same conclusions on disputed matters that Jesus came to. There are many matters that are clear and straight forward. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. We cannot honestly compromise clear teaching from scripture for the sake of unity. Such compromise would drive a wedge between us and Christ.
There are however many positions of doctrine that I may not have agreement with a fellow Christian over, but I can still have unity in Christ with them. For example, our church believes in elder leadership with congregational rule. In other words, elders make decisions on small matters and do not need to bring every detail before the church, but on larger matters they bring a recommendation and then the church votes on that recommendation. Other faith traditions have the elders making all the decisions. Some have a church hierarchy with a synod sending down decisions from above.
Each of us can disagree with the approach of another while still recognizing that we are unified in following Jesus Christ.
Similar disagreements come up when speculating about future events. We can have unity in believing that Jesus will return and in looking forward to that return while having disagreement about the details of how that return will happen.
In John 17, Jesus prayed that Christians would be one just like God the Father and God the Son are one. He called for unity. ”I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.”
(John 17:23)
Even if we are not unified on all church teaching we as Christians should all be unified on the fact that God the Father sent Jesus, God the Son. We should be unified in the reality that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We should also be unified that God loves us and that we love Jesus Christ who rose from the dead. When we are unified on those things we understand that there can be unity even in disagreement.
Some suggest that we should just compromise our beliefs for the sake of unity. There are many people who love God dearly and want to be faithful to him. They come to different conclusions than I do on some matters. I believe that if I were to compromise and adapt their position I would not be walking as faithfully as I should be. They feel the same about some of my positions. Therefore, some of them worship at a different type of church than I do. If they are putting their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation and striving to live for him, then we are unified on the most important level.
We need to have the conviction to not compromise our beliefs while still not counting fellow Christians as enemies. We can come to different conclusions and still be unified in our mission to glorify Christ.
Evidence From Prophecy 5-4-26
Our oldest son is now an adult. He has decided that it is important for him to put part of his paycheck into investments. He has studied about the return on investment in the stock market and how a small investment early in life can grow into a substantial retirement some day. He has done a lot of research on the subject and talked to a lot of people. He found so much evidence about investing that it would be quite difficult to convince him to alter his course of action.
My son did not make his decision without first checking facts. He wanted to know what to expect before putting his money at risk. He wanted to base his decision on solid evidence.
If we require that much evidence for monetary decisions, shouldn't we require even more evidence when it comes to decisions of our soul? Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Being a Christian is about putting your faith in Jesus Christ. But notice that the Hebrews 11 passage tells us what faith is. First, faith has substance. It is not an invisible belief. Further faith has evidence. Even when we cannot see the object of our faith (things not seen) we can still see the evidence.
I cannot see wind itself, but I can feel it. In addition, I can see the effects of the wind. When the wind blows, there is substance and evidence. The substance and evidence for Jesus is much more substantial than just a feeling though. The evidence for Jesus goes far beyond the historical accounts of his existence.
To be a Christian, you must have faith in more than just Christ's existence, You have to believe that he is the promised king, the promised savior, the Messiah that the Old Testament scriptures predicted. Then you have to submit to him as your king and leader.
The Old Testament prophets wrote of a coming savior and even showed that he would be a king and God. Those fulfilled scriptures are important evidence.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Jeremiah was not the only one to predict the Messiah and to refer to him as a branch. Isaiah and Zechariah did as well. It was predicted that the branch would have the name Joshua (Yashua/Jesus) in Zechariah 6:12. Then in Zechariah 9:9, it was predicted that this promised king would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus did that on Palm Sunday.
The event of Jesus entering Jerusalem as king happened 483 years after the order to rebuild Jerusalem after the captivity. Daniel 9:25 predicted that there would be 69 sevens between the order to rebuild and the Messiah (many versions say weeks, but it literally means sevens). 69X7=483. That brings us right to Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem as king on Palm Sunday.
Further, Micah 5:2 predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Isaiah 9:6 talks about a child who would be born and have the government on his shoulders and he would be called, “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah also said a virgin would give birth (Isaiah 7:14) Then Isaiah 53 graphically describes the crucifixion of Jesus.
These are just a few of the highlights of fulfilled prophecy about Jesus. He is clearly the promised Messiah. The evidence is there. Sadly, a lot of families regularly go to church without even knowing these basic truths. No wonder so many kids grow up and then leave the faith. For many, their faith did not have evidence and was therefore not rooted. Learn the evidence and share it so that faith has substance behind it.
Jesus Is King and More 4-19-26
I like buying auto parts at a local store. Both the boss and his employee are very helpful. If the employee cannot find a part I need, he is able to ask the boss. One time when I was in the store the boss actually made a part for me. In some stores the boss is simply the top employee, but at this store, the boss is also the owner. Instead of the boss and the owner being two different people, one man ends up filling both roles.
John the Baptist had the role of paving the way for the promised Messiah. During the time of his ministry Jewish scholars were speculating concerning numerous points about the Messiah. Some actually thought that there would be two different Messiahs. Based on the prophecies of Isaiah and others there was indication that the Messiah would be a suffering servant in a priest like role (Isaiah 53). But Jeremiah represented him as a powerful king like figure. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” (Jeremiah 23:5).
Zechariah showed that the governor, Zerrubbabel (the king like figure) and the high priest, Joshua (the priestly suffering servant figure) were symbols of the Messiah. Thus, there was not total agreement among Jewish leaders about whether or not the promised savior would be two separate individuals or one individual with multiple roles.
This explains why John the Baptist was able to clearly proclaim that Jesus was the Lamb of God come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29), but still have questions about who Jesus was. John sent this question to Jesus, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" (Matthew 11:3)
For years I was confused about why John would even have to ask that question when God had already so clearly revealed to him the identity of Jesus. When Jesus was baptized John saw the Holy Spirit descend from heaven like a dove. At that moment he knew Jesus was the son of God. John 1:33-34 shows us what John was thinking "And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' "And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
John the Baptist knew Jesus was the Son of God, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) By taking away the sin of the world he would fulfill the priestly suffering servant role found in Isaiah 53. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
So John already understood that Jesus filled the one role. He was simply asking if Jesus was also the king. Jesus answered by pointing them to Isaiah 35:4-6 where he speaks of healing but also of a Savior who comes with the power of a king, not of a suffering priest. Thus, Jesus is making it clear that he is both the powerful king and the suffering servant. John the Baptist then has his answer, because he knows the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world will not lie to him.
Finally, John the Baptist understood what we all must realize, Jesus is both priest and king. He is God. There were not two Messiah's, but one. Submit Jesus Christ as your savior and your king.
Jesus is the Branch 4-6-26
We all have a family tree. I am one of the branches of the Miller/Swan family tree.
The prophet Zechariah speaks of a man whose name is “The Branch.” In chapter 3, he calls The Branch a servant. This is interesting because Jeremiah called the Branch a king. We are first introduced to the idea of a promised king being called a branch in Isaiah 11:1 where it says, “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” Jesse was the father of King David. I Chronicles 17:11-12 says that through the offspring of David, his throne would be established forever. That means that the king for eternity would come through the family tree of Jesse and David.
Jeremiah gives even more detail about this branch of David and Jesse's family tree.
Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "When I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. "In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our righteousness.' (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Notice that Jeremiah also connects The Branch to David. Then he points out that this branch will reign as a wise and righteous king who acts with justice. Further that king will save his people. This is where the idea of a messiah comes from. A messiah is a leadership figure who comes to bring salvation to a people who are in trouble. But something else is told by Jeremiah. This messianic figure will be called the LORD our righteousness.
The word translated LORD here is the word Yahweh. It means the ever existing creator God. That means the Messiah would be God. Let us not forget that the Messiah is called The Branch and Zechariah called The Branch a servant, not just a king.
The idea of a king as a servant actually lines up with what Isiah had said about The Branch in chapter 11.
And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. (Isaiah 11:3-4)
What we see represented is not a king who will rule for selfish power, but rather a king who will serve and care for those he rules over. That means he will be a servant, but he will also hold the wicked accountable. This is exactly what Jesus did when he came to earth and what he will do when he returns. He is truly a righteous king.
But there is much more to the story of The Branch and why multiple prophets use this title for the promised Messiah. Zechariah uses a lot of symbolism as he shares the visions he was given. He is also told to put a crown on the high Priest, Joshua. Joshua cannot be The Branch, because he is not of the family tree of David. As a priest, Joshua was of the family tree of Moses' brother Aaron. David and Aaron were from different tribes within Israel.
The crown was put on Joshua, so we could see who he points us to. Zechariah tells us that his “name” is “Branch.” Zechariah 6:12 says, “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:”
Joshua was not The Branch but his name was. Joshua (Yeshua) is the Hebrew way to say Jesus. That means that Zechariah was telling us that the promised messiah would be named Joshua or Jesus. This explains why people broke off branches and proclaimed that Jesus was their king on Palm Sunday. They knew he was the King and the promised Branch from David's family tree.
Dance Along With Me 3-23-26
Having a toddler in our family is a lot of fun. None of us had to teach her how to dance. She simply heard the music and responded naturally. She also has a natural ability to respond with sadness at the appropriate time. Her responses remind me of Matthew 11:16-17, "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'”
Our little girl is still young enough that she just reacts naturally to situations. However, I think we all have met an ornery kid who is contrary whenever other kids want to play a game. When kids could just be having fun dancing to the flute, that kid will tell the others that dancing is stupid. If they want to play Ring Around the Rosy, he will say that only wimps play that. Soon he has convinced other kids that they should just mope around instead of having fun.
The context of Jesus' statement in Matthew 11 about the kids not joining in a fun game was the context of people rejecting the message that Jesus was the promised king- the promised Messiah/Savior. The people of his time were expecting a Savior and the prophet Daniel had even predicted that he would come around that time.
John the Baptist, the disciples, and Jesus himself had been proclaiming the Messiah. It should have been just as natural for people to accept their message as it was for kids to dance when a flute played. But just like that contrary kid who did not want to play along, the scribes and the Pharisees where discouraging others from dancing.
Most of Jesus' ministry had been in the town of Capernaum. A town whose name meant comfort. He did many miracles there and clearly taught in their synagogue, yet most rejected the comfort he offered them as their king and savior. In a similar way Jerusalem rejected him when he wanted to comfort them like a hen does her chicks.
The ruins of that synagogue in Capernaum have been excavated and the door where they entered faced south toward the temple in Jerusalem. It was customary to build synagogues in such a way so they could look toward Jerusalem as they looked toward God whose presence dwelt above the mercy seat in the temple.
Although the location of the house where Jesus lived in Capernaum cannot be known with as much certainty as the location of the synagogue, tradition tells us it was just outside that temple door. Thus as they looked out the door to look towards God they would have looked right to where Jesus was.
As they witnessed his miracles and teaching, it would have been natural for them to believe he was God sent to save them. That is why Jesus reproves Capernaum after he talks about the children not dancing. Today many are like the kids who refuses to play along with the dancing game. It should come natural to follow Jesus, but instead too many give into the peer pressure to reject him. Others are like the ornery kid who just wants to do his own thing rather than what he was created to do. We are created to worship and glorify God . Jesus is God. Just like little kids were made to dance, we should do what we were created to do and follow Jesus Christ.
Even if others refuse to dance, I will keep on playing the flute. In other words, I will keep telling people about Jesus whether they follow him or not.
Better Than Perry Mason 3-9-26
I John 2:1 shows us that Jesus is like our defense attorney when we are accused of sin. He makes it clear that the fine for our sin has already been paid. We escape punishment simply by following him.
In Matthew 12 we are given an example of how effective of a defense attorney Jesus really is. He brings an argument that would make Perry Mason want to work for his law firm. The accusation unfolds as Jesus and his disciples are on on their way to the synagogue on the Sabbath day- a day when no work was allowed. They pause as they walk through a grain field and take some grain and eat it. First off, according to Deuteronomy 23:24-25 they were legally allowed to pick and eat from that field, but were not allowed to fill a bag or take any home with them. That was not the issue though.
The accusation was that they were working by picking and eating. Jesus could have argued that they were not violating the Sabbath by working since it took less effort to grab grain from a field than to walk to a house, open a cupboard, and get a slice of bread. Instead of giving that simple answer, he lays out evidence to show that the accusers themselves were actually the guilty party, not Jesus and his disciples. Further, the evidence he shares shows that he is claiming that the guilty parties should be viewing him as their king.
His first piece of evidence is that when David was hungry, he had eaten the bread from the temple even though it was not lawful for him to have done so. Jesus makes it clear that David had broken the law. David would later become the king and the people who Jesus is sharing this with understand that David is someone they should respect and reverence in spite of the fact that there could be a legitimate accusation against him.
The next piece of evidence that Jesus brings is that the bread David ate was lawful for the priests to eat. He then points out that although it was not lawful to work on the Sabbath day, the priests do work in the temple on the Sabbath. That piece of evidence is building a case that there are exceptions to the rigid law that the Pharisees where trying to impose. The reason for the priestly exception was a command from God found in Numbers 28:9 where God commanded the priests to do the work required on that day. In other words, God has a right to bring a command that overrides another command.
So we must ask, was there any command that would have allowed the priests who gave David the bread a right to override the command to only let the priests eat that bread? Proverbs 6:30-31 says that although a thief is required to restore seven times what he stole, men do not despise him if he stole out of hunger. Further the greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself. Therefore it would make sense that the priest would share the bread that belonged to him with David even though it was unlawful for those other than the priests to eat it. This was an issue of compassion.
Then Jesus brings his next admission to the proceedings. He himself is even greater than the temple where the priests brought the sacrifices.
Next he points out a truth found in Hosea 6:6, where God makes it clear that he desires mercy/compassion and not sacrifice. The priests worked on the Sabbath to bring sacrifices in the temple, but showing compassion/mercy was far more important than that. Those who were accusing Jesus and his disciples were not showing compassion on the hungry disciples. They were the guilty ones and that offense was far more serious than what the disciples were wrongfully accused of.
Jesus' final piece of evidence was that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. In Daniel 7:13-14 the title “Son of Man” is connected with the savior king and his kingdom. Jesus is pointing out that he is a king like David, with even more authority than David and they should be kneeling before him instead of accusing him. They were the guilty ones, who like all of us, needed mercy and they had walked right into his trap.
Don't be Stagnant 2-23-26
I love drinking water- especially when I am working on a hot day. I love the large gallon water jugs we have. They are metal with plastic lids so they are very durable. Further they are insulated, so if we put some ice in them, they stay cool in the summer. During the below freezing winter months the insulation helps keep the water liquid. Because they are sealed, the water from them tastes good for a long time.
I often go out to work at a farm site. There are a number of 5 gallon pails that are used for water or feed for the livestock. A couple of them were left out last summer and collected rain water. As the rain water sat in the pails it became stagnant and murky. Dust and bugs accumulated in that water and soon it had turned a bit green.
I would not be afraid to drink water from my nice jug, but there is no way I would drink from that stagnant pail. I never added the dust or the bugs to it. They just naturally occurred. I did nothing to turn that water green. That is just what happens to stagnant water.
Last spring, my boys and I were tasked with diverting water from an artesian well. That water was constantly moving. It was not green. But after it came out of the ground it flowed into a pond where it sat without moving. That stagnant water turned to a blackish green color. It was stinky swamp water.
Our lives before God can be a lot like the water in that pail or in that swamp. If our lives are stagnant spiritually we are not in the right place with God. Our lives naturally turn messy without God. Zephaniah 1:12 warns, "And it will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil!'”
Notice the evidence of a spiritually stagnant person. They do not think God will do good or bad to them. God is not evil, but he will send his wrath so people experience a result that feels evil. Zephaniah is writing about the reality that evil/bad things will happen as a judgment from God for evil deeds. The problem was that too many people do not believe that God even cares about what they do. They do not think that God will react with rewards or judgments. They are stagnant/complacent about the things of God.
When people ignore that God cares about what we do or don't do, they become spiritually stagnant and their lives get more messy.
Many people in this world do not care about Jesus, because they do not think he cares about them. He said in Matthew 10:29-31, “"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. "Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Not only does Jesus care about us, but he cares what we think about him. He continues, “"Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33 NASB)
You do not have to declare Jesus as your enemy to deny him. All you have to do is to be stagnant and to live your life apart from him. Such an approach will lead to his wrath rather than his reward. Do not be spiritually stagnant. Do not ignore God. Come to Jesus.
Stagnant water will make you sick if you drink it, but the eternal consequences of a stagnant spiritual life are even more serious- especially when Jesus says, "I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”
That Kind of Marriage 2-9-26
Before I was married, my uncle told me about his friend who had never been married. That friend stated that he would rather want something he didn't have than to have something he did not want. I saw people who were happily married and showed love and kindness toward one another. That was what I wanted. I also saw people who were married and did not treat each other well. I knew I did not want that.
Thankfully, the scriptures give us guidance in this area. When we do what God tells us, it is much easier to get along with each other in a marriage. Ephesians 5:21 says, “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” To submit, means that you are not dominating the other person. It is the idea of setting aside selfishness. You can not be a control freak and still submit. Notice that both spouses are to submit to each other.
But the next verses are quite interesting. After telling both spouses that they are not to dominate each other, the wife is told not to dominate the husband. Ephesians 5:22-24 make it clear, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”
If both spouses are to submit to each other, then why is special attention given to the importance of the wife submitting? If they are both to submit, then why does it suggest that the husband has a bit more authority in the matter? To answer that question, we should go back to what Christ taught his disciples in Matthew 20:27. He clearly challenged them, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.”
Suddenly Ephesians 5 makes perfect sense. Because the husband is like the “chief” in the marriage, he is to be the servant. That means he is not to dominate and act selfish. As a leader, the husband is to be a servant, but verses 22-24 make it clear that the wife should not use that gift in a selfish way. Just because the husband is to lovingly serve her, she should not dominate him- she should also submit. Let us not forget that both are challenged to submit in verse 21.
All of this makes even more sense once we get to verses 25. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Jesus is God. He has complete authority over everything. With all that power, he humbled himself.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)
When Ephesians 5 talks about love and submission between husbands and wives it is teaching both to do what is right. It is teaching husbands to humble themselves and to be servants like Jesus. As a leader, Jesus washed his disciples feet. That leaves no room for a selfish domineering husband in a godly marriage.. But just because the disciples had their feet washed does not mean they got to order Jesus around. That means there is no room for a selfish domineering wife in a godly marriage.
Suddenly Ephesians 5:21 makes perfect sense. “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:21). Let us set aside pride and selfishness and live in love toward each other. Then you can set an example of the kind of marriage that others would want and you can also set an example of how wonderful of a leader Jesus is.
God's Kingdom Song 1-26-26
Grief is natural anytime someone loses a loved one. Grief however is especially strong when the person lost is a child. The sadness that parents go through at such a time can be almost unbearable. In Mark chapter 5, we read about a man named Jairus who heard that his 12 year old daughter had died. He actually came to Jesus for help before he was told she had passed away.
Jairus was the ruler of a synagogue in Capernaum, a city on the western side of the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The synagogue was their place of worship where the Bible was read. As the ruler, Jairus had the job of overseeing activities, maintaining order, and coordinating readings from the scriptures. He was likely very familiar with the Old Testament Bible as well as the traditional Hebrew songs. Many of those songs were actually found right within the scriptures. Examples were each of the Psalms, as well as the song that Moses' sister Miriam sang after they crossed the Red Sea. Other songs are found throughout the Old Testament- including the prophets.
One of those songs is found in Isaiah 26. It is a song about the coming kingdom with the Messiah as the king. The chapter right before it, introduces the song as it talks about God coming to save. Therefore by the time we get to the song, we already know who it is about. Notice what the introduction in chapter 25 says about God. “He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said in that day, "Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:8-9 NASB)
So the savior they were waiting for was God himself. Further they were told that when God came he would overcome death and wipe away tears. Imagine the tears Jairus was holding back as he thought his daughter was about to die. Instead of giving up, he goes to Jesus.
Jesus had also been spending time in the synagogues. Jesus would read about this coming savior from the book of Isaiah and tell people that those prophecies were being fulfilled. Those prophecies were about God himself coming as king. Jesus is that king. He is God. So as Jesus is doing so many miracles and teaching about the expectations for the kingdom on the Sermon on the Mount, people like Jairus are taking notice.
So when Jairus is told that his daughter has died, all hope is not lost. God himself can overcome death. He could have had even more hope if he remembered the words of that song in Isaiah 26. Listen to these lines from that song, “Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.” (Isaiah 26:19 NASB)
As a man who knew the scriptures and their songs, Jairus was not unreasonable in his expectations that Jesus could heal his daughter even if she had died. Jesus had come right at the time that the prophet Daniel had said that the Messiah would come. Jesus did heal the girl and she lived.
Learn the songs about Jesus in the Old Testament and learn that you can trust him like Jairus did. Jesus is God and he is king. Submit to him and know his love, or resist him and face his wrath.
Feasting With Christ 12-29-25
Along with the holidays comes a lot of good food. You could say that it has been a time of feasting. As we look at scriptural history we find that feasting was also common in Bible times. But there is also a less known practice found in Zechariah 8:19. There are a list of four different months given in that verse where it talks about times being set aside for fasting. Although the text itself does not explain these fasts, we know from history that the Hebrew people would observe them to commemorate a number of different devastating events that had occurred. It would be similar to the people of the USA fasting on December 7th to grieve over Pearl Harbor, or September 11th to remember the 911 attacks. For them it was events like the destruction of their temple or the murder of their leader that they were sad about.
The Hebrew people would also fast to show their dedication to God. An example would someone who took a Nazarite vow. They would also fast when faced with an impending crisis. An example would be Esther fasting. Although the Hebrew people would fast for a number of reasons, the fast of Zechariah 8 would be a fast that is connected to grief.
But there is something special about Zechariah 8:19. It says that those 4 fasts would be turned to joy, gladness and cheerful feasts. Feasts are the opposite of fasting. Joy is the opposite of mourning. The following verses in Zechariah show us that they are not feasting because they are celebrating the past that they used to feel sad about. Instead something special has happened that gives them joy to replace their sadness.
Verses 20-22 of Zechariah 8 tells how people are telling others to come and seek the Lord. Those verses tell us that many people do seek the Lord- even people from many nations. I cannot help but think of the wise men traveling a far distance to seek the Lord as they bring Baby Jesus gifts. But the chapter culminates with this verse: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." (Zechariah 8:23)
God is with you. Matthew 1:23 says, "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." Jesus is God with us. Zechariah is saying that they will not need to fast, but will be able to feast because God will be with them.
In Matthew 9, Jesus was asked why his disciples did not fast. His answer makes perfect sense after reading Zechariah 8:19-23. Here is what Jesus says, “And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:15 NASB). God is the bridegroom and Jesus is God with us.
Suddenly the answer Jesus gave makes perfect sense. His disciples do not fast because they are rejoicing. They get to be with God. Thus it also makes sense for us to feast at Christmas as we celebrate God with us. Do not forget who Jesus is. Celebrate him and live for him all year long.
Our King Is Born 12-15-25
In our country we are not as accustomed to royalty as the British are. The world however took notice when Prince Charles and Lady Dianna had a baby who they named William. It was understood that one day he would be heir to the throne.
Another baby was born thousands of year ago. He too would be heir to a throne. Daniel had prophesied that the Messiah the Prince would come and he even gave the date in Daniel 9:25-26. That date ended up being the time when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
In order for the Prince to ride into the capital city as King, he first had to be born. That happened years earlier in Bethlehem. That too was prophesied by the prophet Micah. "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2 NASB)
Micah said he would be a ruler, and Daniel said he would be a prince. A prince hopes to become a king and Daniel said that he would also be a king. "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14 NASB).
Daniel is describing a king that will come out of heaven. Jesus is that king. When he rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he rode in as a king. Pontius Pilate understood that claim and even mockingly wrote, “King of the Jews” over the cross of Jesus.
But in order for all of this to take place, the king first had to be born. He had to get from heaven to earth. The Christmas story tells us that Mary became with child by the Holy Spirit and thus gave birth to the Christ- the promised anointed one. The wise men understood he was to be a king and came to honor him.
Daniel had explained how a man could come to earth from heaven to be an everlasting king. Isaiah explained that when that man was born, he would also be God. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NASB) Isaiah was telling his readers that the government will be on his shoulders- that he would be a king. But he also said he will be called “Mighty God.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace who became the King of Kings.
No doubt, Christmas is about Jesus the Christ. We must understand that Christmas is about the birth of a future king- King Jesus. He is no ordinary king. He is a prince sent from heaven to be King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not just a baby who was born. He is our creator God who came to earth to die for our sins and then rise again.
Our king was born. Our king died for us. Our king is now alive. Our king will return. Yield to our king. He is God. He deserves our honor and our worship. He deserves all our love and dedication.
Do not just honor him at Christmas. Worship him all year long.
Praying God's Will 11-30-25
We have a two year old daughter. She is usually in a pretty good mood, but occasionally she gets crabby. Sometimes she is hungry. Other times she is tired. She has finally reached the age where she can tell us if she wants something, yet her communication skills are still developing. Thus it is not uncommon for her to simply whimper without telling us what is wrong.
There are days I have offered her food, water, toys, hugs, or a nap, but nothing seems to be what she really wants. It would be so much easier if she would just tell me. The reality is that often even she does not know what she wants.
Thankfully God is not like my little girl. He knows exactly what he wants. He shares his most important desires with us in his word. His greatest command is for us to love him with all our heart, soul, and might. The second greatest is to love our neighbor as ourselves. By living these two commandments we are able to do the will of God.
But sometimes I wonder about how to best show love to my neighbor. If they are craving something that will poison their body and mind and they want me to help them get it, then it would not be loving for me to enable that. Other things are not so clear.
Jesus told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” One of the biggest challenges I face as I pray is not knowing how to pray specifically because I do not always have a clear picture about what God's will is.
Recently I had a friend tell me that she was praying for a better work schedule. She applied for the shift she wanted and did not get it. Instead, a few weeks later she was offered an opportunity to work from home. She said that was much better for her. Instead of God giving her what she asked for, he gave her something better.
It is not uncommon for me to be aware of a problem that I need to talk to God about, but I am not sure what to ask for because I do not know what his specific will is in that situation. There have even been times when I have gone to God with a problem that is so overwhelming that I can hardly even find the words to describe what the problem is.
During such times, I still go to God in prayer. In fact, especially during such times, I go to God in prayer. The more overwhelmed I am, the more I need him. I go to him because I know he has the power to make it all good. I also go to him because I know that he understands not just what is good, but what is best for the situation I am facing. I go to him because I trust him no matter what he does.
Because I trust him so much, I am able to pray to him without words. I am able to just cast all my cares upon him knowing he cares for me (see I Peter 5:7). I trust God enough to pray “thy will be done.”
Further, I trust God enough to let him pray the words I do not know to pray. I am thankful that Jesus gave us his Holy Spirit to do just that. Romans 8:26 is such a precious verse in this regard when it says, “And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;” The very next verse clarifies even more what is happening when it says that the Holy Spirit intercedes for Christians according to the will of God.
That means I can pray according to God's will even if I do not know God's will because all I have to do is to let the Holy Spirit pray for me when I do not know what to pray. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
What Do You Thank? 11-17-25
Habakkuk was a minor prophet who told that the Chaldeans would attack the nation of Judah. He was confused that God would allow people as evil as them to defeat his people. In fact, it was the Chaldeans who would later throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace.
These Chaldeans from Babylon were compared to fishermen who gather people into their net like fishermen gather fish into their net. Then once they have captured the people, they praise and worship their net. “Therefore, they offer a sacrifice to their net. And burn incense to their fishing net; Because through these things their catch is large, and their food is plentiful.” (Habakkuk 1:16).
These Chaldeans were so godless that they would throw men into a furnace because they refused to worship a statue. This should not surprise us when Habakkuk represents them as the sort of people who would worship a net.
The behavior of the Chaldeans might seem a bit ridiculous to us. Imagine a man going fishing on the weekend and worshiping his fishing rod to the point that he would burn incense to it. But now imagine that the man spends a lot of time at the lake fishing. Fishing has become his whole world and everything he does revolves around it. He saves up his money and spends thousands of dollars on fishing gear. He has the best rod and a high quality reel. He cares for that rod and real. He wipes it down after every use. He stores it in a safe place. Such steps are simply being a good steward of his investment.
But then he began to obsess over it. He would credit his rod and reel for every fish that he caught. He would become very jealous if anyone else got too close to it. That rod and reel ended up becoming the most important part of his life.
The Thanksgiving holiday came around and he was asked what he was thankful for. He immediately pointed to his rod and reel. When asked if there was anything else he was thankful for, he said he was thankful for the fish he caught, but that he had to give credit to his rod and reel for them too. When asked if he was thankful for his job, he said, “yes, because that allows me the financial security to afford to go to the lake so I can spend time with my rod and reel.”
Although this fisherman may be an extreme example, it shows how easy it would be for us to get our focus off of God and onto some object. The Chaldeans were focused on the fishing net and on a statue that their king had set up. Today it is easy to focus on stuff rather than God.
As Thanksgiving time comes there are many things to be thankful for. We should be thankful for our jobs since they provide a means for us to buy things like food and clothing. But where does that food come from? We should be thankful for the farmers who raised it, the tractors that planted it, and the trucks that hauled it. But none of that would matter if God had not let the seeds grow.
Colossians 1:16-17 tell us of Jesus' role in creation, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Without Jesus, food would not grow. He made the plants and he makes the seeds sprout. He sends the sun and rain so the plants can grow. All our focus of thanksgiving needs to come back to him. So instead of thanking your fishing rod or any other object, thank Jesus as you worship Him.
Don't Eat the Nails 11-3-25
I am thankful that our two year old daughter is not allergic to peanuts. She loves the little treat. I keep a jar of them in my office and she knows right where they are at. She cannot yet open the lid herself, but she will go get it and hold it up to me. She knows that I will give her some.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers: “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus is the King of the kingdom and he is saying that we can approach him with our needs just like my daughter comes to me wanting some peanuts.
So why can't I just pray and ask for a fancy new side by side 4 wheeler? Perhaps he could throw in a snowmobile and a pontoon. We need to remember that this verse is in the context of him telling us to pray for our daily bread and to pray according to the will of God. (see the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13). It is also in the context of him providing the necessities of food and clothes for his people. (Matthew 6:25-33).
The point is that Jesus knows what we need and he wants us to have what is best. He asked, "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?” (Matthew 7:9-10)
When I finish eating my peanuts, the jars work great for storing things. I think I might have some nails in a similar jar.
Imagine that my little daughter comes into my office carrying a peanut jar labeled “nails.” She cannot read yet and cannot open the lid herself. She simply wants a snack as she holds up the jar. As a loving father, I will not open it and give her nails. Instead I would set that jar aside and grab a different jar- one that actually has peanuts. But understanding that she is a two year old, I would not be surprised if she got upset with me for not opening the first jar she brought me.
Often when we pray, we ask for things that are not in our best interest. God loves us enough to give us what we actually need instead of what we think we want. He will not give us a rock when we need bread, just like I will not give my daughter nails when she needs peanuts.
We might question why God gives us something different than we asked for, but understand he is not going to give us a snake when we ask for a fish. He does often give us something better than what we asked for though. My daughter will not complain if I give her peanut MM's instead of regular peanuts. We need to trust no matter what God gives us. Whatever he does is best.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
Jesus is not a genie to make our wishes come true. Instead he is a loving father who makes sure we get what is best in the long run. He is good and we can trust him. He is King and Creator, so he has both the power to give and the power to give what is best.
Hope for the Hated 10-20-25
Philadelphia is supposed to symbolize brotherly love, yet the actions of a woman who claimed a ball did not seem loving. Further, the reactions towards her have shown us how much hate there still is in this world.
A father retrieved the home run ball and gave it to his son. The woman claimed it belonged to her, so the father took the ball from his son and gave it to the woman. Other spectators of the game saw what happened and booed the woman showing that they believed the ball was not hers to claim. Her response was to gesture with her raised middle finger, further showing a lack of grace.
Thus, the woman became one of the most vilified people in recent history.
Each and every one of us has done things we should not have done. Most of us have felt regret afterwords. Sadly, there are psychopaths who feel no regret, but they are not the norm. People have working consciences and most have not yet been seared.
With that truth in mind, I begin to ponder what I would do if I ended up doing something wrong that was so public and so well known. Although I am not going to defend the woman's behavior, I cannot help but ache for how much her life has been turned upside down. No doubt she caused it herself, but that does not change that her life will never be the same again.
She is not the first person to have something like this happen to her. In II Samuel 11, we read that King David decided to have sex with his neighbor's wife while the neighbor was off at war. We are told in vs 4 that the king sent out his deputies to take her and bring her to him. It doesn't look like she had much choice in the matter. Then when she got pregnant, he had her husband killed.
We know about this even though the events happened about 3000 years ago. I doubt the woman who took the ball will be remembered even 30 years from now. But like the woman who was booed and had memes made about her, David was also confronted for his behavior.
David however was not the first king of Israel to be confronted for doing something wrong. King Saul was confronted by the prophet Samuel for how he dealt with the Amalekites and the spoils of war. Rather than taking responsibility for his actions, Saul blamed others. In contrast, David admitted his sin and was ready and willing to take the consequences for his behavior.
Both kings sinned. Saul lost the right to be king after he blamed others for his sinful behavior. Not only did David get to remain king, but he was commended by God, David took responsibility, admitted his sin, and was willing to take whatever consequences God gave him.
I would hope that if any of us were like the woman at the Phillies game, that we would simply admit that we did wrong and then take responsibility for it. We should then say that we deserve whatever consequences come our way. If that woman were to come out publicly and do that, then I hope that people would show grace and forgive her.
The reality is, we all need forgiveness because we have all done wrong. That is why Jesus came to die for our sins. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11)
As the woman held up her middle finger when confronted for her behavior, she acted more like Saul than like David. I pray that her heart softens and that she finds grace. With Jesus we can all find grace. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) If we do not find that forgiveness by trusting him, we will face his wrath.
Don't be a Hypocrite 10-6-25
Imagine you claim to be a Vikings fan. You wear the purple and gold. You drive with their bumper stickers. You tell people that you root for the Vikings.
In the mean time, you are watching the Packers and are hoping the Packer's win the Super Bowl. You actually think the dark green looks better than the purple, but because you live so close to Minnesota, you are afraid that you might get some backlash if people knew you supported the Packers. So when others say how wonderful the Vikings are, you agree.
I feel like a Minnesotan when I talk to people about Christ. Most of them agree that he is wonderful, but when I watch them and how they live their lives, they are like people who claim to be Vikings fans, but they are wearing cheese hats. Jesus says, that by their fruits you shall know them, but they never go to church. They get drunk all the time. They tell lies.
Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29:13 when he said, “THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.” (Matthew 15:8) He makes a point in Matthew 7:16-17, "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that we are saved from hell by the grace of God as we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We are not saved by our works. But then verse 10 shows that we are saved in order to do good works. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
The greatest command of all is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus is God and said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
I wish people would quit pretending they are Christians when they do not even care about Jesus and loving him. A lot of people in the Corinthian church were living far from God while going through the motions of Christianity. In fact, one of them was even sleeping with his father's wife. The apostle Paul told then to stop ignoring such sin. In fact he warns them, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
God's standards are high and we should take them seriously. Paul also warned , “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2) After challenging the Corinthians about their lifestyle he then reminds them, “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11)
We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we come to Jesus we are cleansed, but when we come to Jesus we must desire to keep his commandments and to remember he is God with authority over our lives.
If you nod and agree that Jesus is God and that we should follow him, do not just go through the motions of pretending to be Christian. Love Jesus and obey him. If you ignore his commandments, look at Hebrews 10:29, “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Do not insult God with your actions. Live like a Christian and love Jesus.
Do Not Take Vengeance 9-22-25
It is frustrating when what we say is misrepresented. It is even worse when we are totally lied about. Charlie Kirk had to face that. He would interact with people who disagreed with him. He would listen to them and try to answer their concerns about his positions. Sometimes he would get frustrated, but most of the time he would show grace even when those who disagreed with him did not.
Partly because of the lies and slander that were told, hatred toward him continued to grow. Many of those who hated him most had a distorted view of the man. He was killed without a trial. After his death it was shown that many of the criticisms directed toward him were untrue. Further he was killed simply for words, not for a crime.
This sad situation shows us how dangerous it is for us to take matters into our own hands when it comes to executing justice. Romans 13, tells us that God has appointed governments to bear the sword in order to restrain evil.
Thankfully we live in a country where an accused person is able to present evidence and put up a defense. Although the system is not perfect, there is an opportunity to show that a person is innocent of the charges. A classic western movie called “The Ox-Bow Incident” showed what happened when vigilantes ended up hanging the wrong men.
We are warned in Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.”
God knows who is guilty and who is innocent. By stepping aside and letting him handle it instead of taking matters into our own hands, we are giving him room to pour out his wrath. If a person had been saying evil sinful things that were bad but not illegal, then we should let God deal with vengeance. If the person does not repent and turn to Christ, the vengeance will be poured out in the lake of fire after the final judgment.
There is a place to expose evil behavior. Ephesians 5:11 tells us, “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;”. Some have lost jobs once people realized how evil they were. Thus, by simply exposing evil, you leave room for God to bring consequences into people's lives. But make sure that as you expose evil, you are telling the truth and not slandering a fellow human being by taking things out of context.
Further in situations where the laws are broken, evil must be exposed. This allows for evidence to be shared so that justice can be achieved. “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:3-4)
In the example of Charlie Kirk's killer, a suspect has been arrested. Evidence has been gathered and a case is being built to prove that the the crime was committed by a specific individual. Others are also being investigated, but no one should be charged without evidence. Further, none of us should take matters into our own hands since we do not have all the information.
As sad as the tragedy is, we must not take vengeance and react with violence. Instead we should pray for peace and trust the justice of God and of those who he has allowed to be in power in our government.
Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, set a wonderful example when through tears she forgave the man who killed her husband. By forgiving she is letting go of her power to bring revenge upon him and letting God and government bring about the just consequences for his actions. Let us do the same.
Follow The Good King 9-8-25
Imagine you lived 1000 years ago and two kings were competing for control over the area you lived in. One of them comes to your village and plunders it. He roughs up the people and takes what he wants. Then he gives out an offer. If anyone will join him, he will give them all the free beer and whiskey they can drink. Some take the offer, but you have heard that although his followers get free beer, he treats them cruelly and takes advantage of them just like when he plundered your village. Further, those who drink the beer and whiskey end up sick. So you refuse his offer and stay behind with little left.
Eventually the other king rides into your village with his followers. He sees the devastation and you notice a tear in his eye. He sees a little kid hiding behind a rock and he reaches in his bag and offers the kid some food. The child is too scared to take it, so he leaves it and walks away. The kid quickly runs and takes it. The king then notices an old lady struggling to carry some wood. He quickly runs and helps her. A man limps by with an open wound on his leg. The king sees that and has the man sit down. He carefully cleans the wound and puts medicine on it.
This king sticks around for days helping the people of your village. He shows kindness and compassion. Then one of the men who had joined with the other king comes back. He is mistreating people in your village. The good king sees this, pulls that man aside and punishes him.
The man who had been doing evil is upset. He asks why the good king had been so nice to others but is being mean to him. The good king states that there is nothing mean about bringing justice.
Then the good king asks the people of the village if they will follow him. He wants them to believe in him- to believe that he has the authority and goodness to rule over them. Many quickly agree to follow him- even if it costs them their lives. Others say that they will not follow him because they do not want anyone to rule over them.
Then the evil king returns. The good king defends those who agreed to follow him, but steps back when the evil king comes for those who refused the good king. Those people end up being slaves to that evil king even though that was not what they signed up for. He then gives them free beer realizing that it is just another way for him to control them.
This imaginary scenario is so similar to the choices people make today. Jesus Christ is the good king. Those who follow him are blessed. Those who chose to follow the devil may get many of their lusts satisfied, but they do not have true freedom. Others do not want to follow the devil, but because they refuse Christ, they become the devil's slaves anyway.
Romans 6:16 asks, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Knowing Jesus is the good king, I want to be his servant. If I do not become his faithful follower, I will end up being a slave to sin and used by the devil. No doubt there are opportunities to indulge in all kinds of pleasures when you chose not to follow Jesus, but those pleasures bring misery.
Follow Jesus. He is the good king who holds people accountable for wrongdoing, but who also shows care and compassion.
Leaving the Family Business 8-25-25
Imagine that your dad is a well known businessman. Perhaps one day you could take over the family business. This was likely the situations with James and John who become disciples of Jesus Christ. Their father's name was Zebedee and the gospel accounts refer to him as if he was a well known man in that region. When James and John were called to follow Jesus, they were in a boat with their father mending nets because he was a fisherman. Although we are not told that the boat was his, we are later told in Luke chapter 5, that James and John were in a partnership with another fisherman named Simon Peter who also became a disciple of Jesus. Further, Mark 1:20 tells us that when James and John followed Jesus, they left Zebedee with the servants.
Thus it is not a stretch to believe that James and John would have continued in the family business along with their father and Peter if they had not followed Jesus. Although it was an honor to study under a Rabbi in that day, there was likely an even better reason for them to follow Christ.
Jesus had already taught in the synagogues and had already done the miraculous. Further John the Baptist had been telling people to repent for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He was getting people ready for the coming king. Besides that, hundreds of years earlier, Daniel had prophesied about the timing of when that king would come and they were only 3 years away from that date. Finally, when Jesus was teaching, he had publicly stated that he was the one that they were waiting for.
In Luke 4:16-19, Jesus goes into the synagogue in Nazareth and reads from Isaiah about the coming Messiah. Luke 4:20-21 says, “And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
When Jesus called James and John to follow him, he was more than just a Rabbi. He was the promised king- the savior- the prophesied Messiah. Therefore, James and John were leaving the family business in order to be part of Jesus' kingdom.
By the time we come to Mark 10:37, there is no doubt that they understand Jesus is the king. Notice what they say, “Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” As fishermen entrepreneurs, they were likely quite driven to be successful and they want to be successful in the kingdom of Jesus as well.
But the answer Jesus gives shows them that we should measure success much differently as we serve the king. 'And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. "But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.” ( Mark 10:42-44).
We can find some valuable lessons from James and John. Following Jesus is more important than building a business. Also, following Jesus is about making other people important, not about magnifying ourselves. Jesus is just as much a king today. Make following him your priority as you love him with your all. Then realize that the best way to show your love for him is to serve others.
Fulfilling Righteousness 8-11-25
Imagine being John the Baptist. He was about the same age as Jesus and they were close relatives. John was able to observe Jesus and to know that he was a godly righteous person. As John baptized people, he was telling the people to repent because the king was coming. As the religious Pharisees and Sadducees showed up, he called them a brood of vipers. He knew that they were not living like God expected them to live.
But when Jesus showed up to be baptized, John's reply was, “I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?” Just as John recognized that others were evil, he understood that Jesus was righteous. This was actually before he even knew that Jesus was the King- the promised savior.
When John the Baptist was sent out to minister his job was to call people to repentance, baptize them, and announce the coming king. When he was called to that ministry, he was not told who that king would be. Instead he was told in John 1:33, “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
When Jesus asked John to baptize him, Jesus stated in Matthew 3:15, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill righteousness.” John already recognized that Jesus was more righteous than he was. It was even better than that though- Jesus is God and he never sinned. Thus he had nothing to repent of. Jesus was already righteous, so he was not baptized for his own righteousness but rather as part of the process to fulfill our righteousness as he paid for our sins. II Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
After John understood that Jesus was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, he called him the “Lamb of God.” In the old testament, lambs were sacrificed as an atonement for sin. Jesus became our lamb to take away the sins of the world. Exodus 29:17-18 tells us that when a ram was brought as a burnt offering to the Lord, it was washed before being offered upon the altar. John the Baptist was a of the priestly line of Aaron and just as a priest washed a ram to offer to God, John was able to wash Jesus who would become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
This was all part of the process of fulfilling righteousness. Exodus 29:18 speaks of that washed ram being a sweet smelling offering to God. Yet, Proverbs 21:27 says, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!” If Jesus were like those that John the Baptist called a brood of vipers, then he would not have been accepted. Instead we read in Matthew 3:16-17, “And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
God the Father was pleased with Jesus. He was worthy to fulfill all righteousness and as the Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove, John the Baptist knew that he was the one he had been waiting for. John already understood that Jesus was living a life that was even more righteous than his own and now he knew that Jesus was the one he had been waiting for. If you have not yet trusted Jesus, wait no longer. He is the one who fulfills all righteousness and who paid for your sins when he died on the cross. That payment was acceptable and well pleasing. Accept that payment and have your sins washed as white as snow as your receive his Holy Spirit to comfort you.
Heaven is About Jesus 7-15-25
I recently asked a group of people where they went on their honeymoon. Living in South Dakota, a common destinations has been the Black Hills. One of the couples, however had been to St. John's Island. This sounded like a beautiful place and once I saw the pictures I realized that it really was. White sand beaches framed with luscious vegetation and sunny skies made for a postcard image.
As I asked the question, one of the men had his face light up when he heard about St. John's Island. He quickly acknowledged that he would like to go there if he had the chance. The problem, however, is that he could not take his wife with him because she had already passed away.
Not far away was a set of outdoor school bleachers overlooking a softball field. I asked the man, “If you had a choice between going to St. John's Island by yourself or sitting on those bleachers with your wife, which would you choose?” Without a moment's hesitation he pointed to the bleachers.
As wonderful as an island paradise would be, what really makes a place special is who is there. Revelation 21 describes the paradise that we call heaven. It sounds even more beautiful than St. John's Island. “And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.”
(Revelation 21:18) The next verse gives even more detail and talks of streets of pure gold. Chapter 22 then talks of flowing water bright as crystal flowing down the street. Then it tells of the tree of life with 12 fruits.
As wonderful as this place is, I would not want to live there if I had to live there alone. Thankfully others will be there too, but best of all Jesus will be there. Not only did he create you and me, but he created this new heaven and new earth with all its beauty. He created the tree of life and the streets of gold. He created all that is in our world today including the white sand beaches.
Although he created everything, he decided to become a man and even be born just like any other man. He did that to show his love. He showed his love in spite of the sinfulness of the rest of mankind. Not only was he born to show his love, but he died to show his love. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus died so that our sins could be forgiven. Our sin deserves death, but Jesus died so that he could extend a peace offer to us. All we have to do is surrender to him and he gives us peace as we are reminded that when he died he paid for our sins. Knowing he loved me that much and wants to care for me, I want to be where he is for eternity. Jesus is what makes the heavenly paradise special, not the streets of gold.
In John 14:2 Jesus tells us he is preparing something special for us. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” That place has many rooms so there is a place for you if you will just come to Jesus. But you must come to him in order to be with him. He then says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)
Even better than knowing he is preparing a place for me, is knowing that if I believe in him as King of kings and Lord of lords, then I get to be where he is at. I get to be with him in paradise- with him as my perfect king.
Guilty & Pardoned by God 6-30-25
Imagine that two brothers broke the laws of the state of South Dakota. There were many witnesses who saw them break the law. Not only were the police there to see it, but several people pulled out their phones and recorded the event. The brothers were immediately arrested and taken into custody. They knew that once the trial came, they would be found guilty and sentenced for their crimes.
The older brother showed no remorse. The younger brother however admitted what he did was wrong and wished that he could just start over and redo that day so that the outcome would be different. He did not want to live a life of crime any longer. The governor felt sorry for him and thus granted him a full pardon. That meant he did not even have to face trial and did not have to worry about sentencing. The older brother however had to face both, and it was obvious that he would be found guilty.
This fictitious scenario reminds me of the very real situation that will one day take place at the Great White Throne Judgment. Revelation 20:12 tells us that the dead will stand before God to be judged for the things they had done. Those who had followed Christ will already be alive, so they are not included in this judgment. They are the ones who had been pardoned by Jesus when they followed him. His payment on the cross insured their pardon so they did not have to face the White Throne Judgment.
But those who refused to confess their sins and repent had to face God. The power of God on that throne is shown when Revelation 20:11 says, “And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.” If heaven and earth cannot hide from God and are forced to flee from him, that means no one can escape his judgment.
Further Romans 3:10 says that none are righteous, no not one. And Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That means that whoever stands before the Great White Throne Judgment will be found guilty. Revelation 20:12 tells us, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” There will be books there that have all the evidence in order to get a guilty verdict.
Not only will all be found guilty, but the sentence is serious. “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15).
Anyone who has to stand before that judgment will be found guilty because all of us have sinned. That is why it is so important that we have a pardon from God. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We get our pardon when we believe on Jesus Christ and agree with him about our sin. Then 1 John 2:1 assures us, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”.
Jesus is both the judge at the White Throne and the defense attorney for the Christians. If you have come to Christ, then you do not have to worry about him being overruled when he defends you. In fact, he was the one who pardoned you. If you have not yet come to Jesus, do so now, so you do not have to be found guilty and sentenced at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Follow the King of Kings 6-16-25
Imagine that two countries were at war. One country had all the power, but the other country refused to surrender. The king of the powerful country had the ability to wipe out all the leaders and all the citizens of the weaker country. In fact, all he had to do is just say the word and they would be gone and then he could have all their land and possessions.
For a while, the weaker country had thought that they might be able to get the upper hand. In fact, they had even killed the king of the powerful country. But then they realized what they were up against. The king that they killed did not stay dead. Three days later he was alive and walking among them and they could do nothing to stop him. He even went around their land for 40 days without being harmed.
Eventually he went back to his own land, but kept asking the weaker country to surrender. Many of it's citizens did surrender to him. They decided that it made more sense to follow him than to perish. They had been told that when he walked among them, he had showed kindness and compassion. Their own leaders had shown only selfishness.
Further, those who followed him the most closely found out that although they had to serve the powerful king, his expectations were not unreasonable. In fact, they reminded others that he had promised that his yoke would be easy and his burden would be light. They had found that to be true.
Many joined them and dedicated themselves to the king. Most, however did not. Some of them mocked those who served the great king. Some even killed them. Many just didn't seem to care at all.
Those who served the king got old and passed away. Many others were born and heard about the king and also trusted him. They were reminded that the king had died and had come alive again and that he had the power to give them eternal life as well. They understood that when they died they would get to be with the king.
Meanwhile the king had promised that he would eventually come back. He knew that when he came back, he would have to destroy his enemies. But he wanted to show love and grace. He wanted to keep extending his offer of peace as long as he could. Through those who had already surrendered to him, he kept spreading the word of the peace he had offered. In fact, he was able to show them that the reason he died was so that he could show how serious he was about making peace with them.
The powerful king was more than just a king. He was God in the flesh. His followers were able to relay his promise that whoever comes to him, will not be cast out. They were able to say that he loved them and if they believe on him, he will give them eternal life. They were able to tell people that the King is Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” When you believe in Jesus, you should believe in him like you believe in a powerful king. You should believe that he has the power and authority to rule. You should believe that he is a good king who deserves your allegiance. You should then follow him and trust him as one of his faithful subjects, knowing he will reward you for your faithfulness.
Jesus is the powerful king and it makes no sense to resist him. It does however make perfect sense to follow him. He is good. He is loving. He is all powerful.
Escape God's Wrath 6-2-25
I watched our 2 year old little girl playing with another toddler when suddenly a little 4 year old ran into her with a bike. Kids are clumsy and although the other little girl barely bumped her, our daughter fell down and bumped her head. When we see our children hurt, there is often a desire to be able to take their place so that they do not have to suffer. Thankfully the tears lasted less than a minute and our daughter was fine.
Our heavenly father has a desire to spare us from suffering as well. In fact, he loved us so much, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus willingly went to the cross to bear the punishment for sin that we deserved.
I better grasped what Jesus did for us as I studied the book of Revelation. As we come to chapter 16, we see God's wrath poured out upon the earth. “And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth."
(Revelation 16:1) Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Sin has consequences and if sin is not paid for then the consequence for sin is the wrath of God.
In Revelation we read about the Apocalypse/ The Great Tribulation. During that Apocalypse, God's wrath will be poured out of 7 bowls. Each bowl has a different consequence. Summarized in order we find 1) sores on people, 2) sea water turned to blood, 3) fresh water turned to blood, 4) severe heat from the sun, 5) darkness, 6) a river dried up so kings can gather for the battle of Armageddon , and 7) a great earthquake.
This is the wrath that mankind deserves for sin and this is the wrath that will be poured out in the last days. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, so we all deserve his wrath, yet God loves us. In fact he loves us so much, that he took the wrath upon himself.
As we look at those 7 bowels, we can be reminded of the cross. Jesus took sores upon his own body. He also shed his blood as shown in the second and third bowels of wrath. Although I cannot be dogmatic about Jesus enduring heat as he hung on the cross, John 19:28 tells us that he said he thirsted. The 5th bowel speaks of darkness, and Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell of darkness as Jesus hung on the cross. The 6th bowel speaks of a river drying up and kings coming against God for the battle of Armageddon. Jesus on the cross was definitely the result of human rulers going against God. Finally, the 7th bowel has an earthquake. Matthew 27:54 records an earthquake as Jesus died on the cross.
I Thessalonians 5:9 tells Christians, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Without Jesus people will be appointed to wrath. We are warned, in Matthew 25:41, "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” Without Jesus, we can expect the wrath of God, but if we put our trust in Jesus as we follow him, then we escape God's wrath because Jesus already took it upon himself for us. Romans 6:23 says it so beautifully, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Trust Jesus, knowing that he died on the cross so you would not have to face the wrath of God. Reject Jesus and know you will have to face God's wrath yourself. Without Jesus, God's wrath will last for eternity and you will not escape it.
/
The Witness of The Warning 5-19-20
You never know what you might hit when you dig a hole. It could be a large rock, or it could be something much more dangerous.
I do some excavating work as a side job. We are meticulous about calling before we dig. Each spring, South Dakota 811 holds their damage prevention safety meetings. I recall going to one of those meetings and they showed a picture of a natural gas line that had been hit by heavy equipment. When it was hit, a spark happened and there was a huge explosion. The picture showed the charred remains of tractors and trucks. It was complete devastation. The presenter then solemnly told us that there had been people there and they had all perished.
Throughout the room some earnestly gazed at the picture. Some looked away. Others closed their eyes. Some prayed. We all grasped the importance of the warning. We knew why we should call 811 to locate any utilities before we dig. The representative from South Dakota 811 was witnessing to us about the importance of making that call 48 hours before we dig and of the dangers of digging over the location of the marked spot.
Although the picture showed a disaster of Biblical proportions, it pales in comparison to what we read about in Revelation. Chapter 12 shows us that during a time of great tribulation, two witnesses will be upon the earth. Anyone who tries to harm them will be consumed with fire. In other words, they will receive a similar fate as those who hit the gas line. Each time they do this, they will be a witness to the warning that they bring. They are showing the danger of ignoring the warning.
These witnesses will be on earth during a time when people have rejected God in spite of living through the sorts of trials that should cause them to call on God for help. “And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;” (Revelation 9:20) There are consequences for ignoring danger. There are consequences for ignoring God.
As I witness for Jesus Christ, I like to tell about his love and to quote John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is important that we understand God's love, grace, and care for us, but we must also be aware of his warnings and of what will happen if we do not listen to him. This is also part of the witness concerning Jesus: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41). That everlasting fire will be worse than a natural gas explosion.
As we attended the South Dakota 811 meeting, they made it clear that they cared about us and our safety. They also made it clear that they were giving the warning about potential destruction and death because they cared about us and those around us. In a similar way, we should be witnesses to give God's warnings. Some people will not turn to God to glorify him until such a warning. Once they do turn to him, they are finally prepared to live under the loving rule and authority of Jesus Christ.
Stay Calm and Loving 5-5-25
I was upset when I looked at my bill. Not only was it twice as much as I had expected, but I had been given a late payment service charge. I did not understand how I could have had a late payment since this was a monthly bill that was set up for direct payment from my credit card. The previous month's bill had not been paid, I had been charged a late fee, and then both month's bills had later been charged to the credit card.
I found the phone number to call the company and to let them know how unhappy I was that they had made such a mistake. As I was reflecting on my frustration, I considered how I should approach the conversation. I realized that it would not be fair to the person who answered the phone if I came across with an angry tone. Whoever had made the mistake, it was not that person, so there was no reason to take out my frustration on an innocent individual. Romans 12:18 tells us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Once the lady answered the phone, she kindly asked me for more information about my account. After she figured out which account I was calling about, she very professionally asked what she could help with. I calmly explained that I had a direct deposit account and could not figure out why the previous month had not been paid and why I had a service charge for the late payment.
She was able to find more information on her end and informed me that during the previous month, my credit card had been rejected so the payment had not been made. I have had this credit card for years and I pay it off each month, so it never occurred to me that it might have been rejected.
I was so thankful that I had remained calm, because suddenly I realized what had happened. The previous month we had a large bill come due that maxed out our credit card. The reason I put such a large payments on the card, was so we would get reward points. The bill needed to be paid anyway, and we had the funds in our checking account. Since the card was maxed out, I then made an early payment on the credit card before the monthly billing cycle so that I could keep using the card. Evidently, the direct deposit for the other bill had come during that time and since the credit card was maxed out for just a short period, it got rejected.
I immediately told the customer service representative that I knew what had happened and that it was totally my own fault and thanked her for her time. I then thanked the Lord that I had not gotten angry with her over MY mistake.
As we follow Christ, he tells us in Matthew 11:29 to, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.” Knowing Jesus is meek and lowly, we should set aside our own arrogance and approach those who we think have wronged us with gentleness as well. As we listen to them, we might find out that they really had not done anything wrong.
Ephesians 4:31 tells us, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” I wish I could say that I knew to be calm and gentle as I called because I have always been that way. Instead I have to say that it took time, and through the years I learned from my mistakes.
The more I learn about the grace of Jesus and his love, the more I want to be like him. I know I will not be perfect like he is, but that makes me even more thankful for his payment for my sins and that motivates me to love my neighbor as myself.
No More Accusations 4-21-25
Imagine if when you were a little kid, you stole a pack of gum. Your father saw the pack of gum in your hand and asked where you got it. You told him you took it off the shelf in the gas station while he was paying for the gas. He then immediately took the gum back to the gas station, told the owner what had happened, and paid for it. The owner forgave you and welcomed you back into the store because he understood that your father had taken responsibility and paid for what you had done.
While your father was paying the restitution, the town gossip saw what was happening. Each time you returned to the gas station, he followed you in and reminded the store owner about what you had done. Whenever he did that, your father explained that it had all been taken care of and the debt had been paid. Further he explained that the payment had been accepted and that the store owner was no longer holding this over your head. The store owner acknowledged that this was true and even gave you a job at the store once you were older. Still, the town gossip would not back down and kept coming with the accusation for years.
Finally the town gossip was kicked out of the store and not allowed to ever come back.
This story is a lot like what happens in the life of a Christian. We have all done wrong. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Whether you have ever stole a pack of gum or not, we have all sinned. Jesus paid for our sin when he died on the cross. When we trust him, we accept that payment. Like the dad in the story who paid for the gum, Jesus paid for our sins when he died on the cross. God the father accepted that payment.
Satan is not happy that the payment was accepted though. He wants there to be tension between God and man. He encouraged man to sin in the Garden of Eden and has been encouraging sin ever since. He knows that sin puts distance between God and man. Jesus however paid the penalty for sin, so that there can be peace instead of distance. Satan does not want us to be reconciled to God so he keeps accusing us of our sin. Revelation 12:9-10 tells us that the devil both deceives and accuses.
Jesus however, defends. “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the appeasement for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (I John 2:1-2)
Not only is Jesus defending us now, but Satan eventually gets kicked out of heaven so he cannot keep accusing us. “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:9-10)
Not only does Jesus love us enough to pay for our sins, he defends us when we are accused of sin. Further, God so loves us that Satan will not have access to accuse us forever, but eventually gets thrown out of heaven so he can no longer bring those accusations.
Knowing God loves us that much, believe in Jesus Christ, so that you can have eternal life without worry about being accused of your sins any longer. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
From Doubt To Trust 4-7-25
Loading an excavator on a high trailer can be scary. As the weight pivots on the tracks it creates a teeter totter effect that makes it feel like the machine in falling. A skilled operator understands the capabilities of the machine and has the confidence to perform the task even though he may have a slight bit of anxiety. He has the evidence that when he has taken the proper care, the machine has never tipped before. He also has the expectation that he can load and unload it safely since he has done it many times before.
The book of Hebrews describes faith, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Evidence in that verse has the idea of proof. Hope in that verse means to expect or to trust. Often faith is about going forward, even when we feel some anxiety. We go forward because we trust just like the excavator driver does.
Thomas is the disciple who is known for doubting. In spite of his doubts, he was willing to go forward and to follow Jesus- even if meant dying. “Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him." (John 11:16 NASB). If our confidence were so great that there was no need for faith, then there would be no need for doubt. Faith is really about trusting Jesus no matter how many doubts you might have.
That is why it takes more faith to load an excavator on a high trailer than it does to drive a car into a parking space. Of course, the first time you drove a car into a parking space, it took a lot of faith. The more we walk with God the easier it is trust him- just like it gets easier to park a car.
In spite of his doubts, Thomas was such a faithful follower of Jesus that he was willing to die for him. Perhaps that explains part of the skepticism that Thomas is famous for. “The other disciples therefore were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:25 NASB)
Thomas was willing to die for Jesus and had even seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. So why was he so skeptical when others told him Jesus was alive? Let us not forget the words that Jesus spoke before he died. "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:23-24 NASB)
Thomas wanted evidence. Once he saw the scars in all the right places he had the proof he needed. He saw what he expected he would see if Jesus had really raised from the dead. Once the evidence was presented, his faith was assured.
Years ago, a man named Lee Strobel was convinced that the story of Jesus could not be true. He set out to provide the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus was a farce. As he examined the evidence he found the proof and ended up trusting that Jesus was the resurrected savior. Not only did he become a Christian, but he wrote a book called “The Case for Christ.” In that book, he shared the evidence that he found. If you have doubts like Thomas and Lee Strobel, do not be afraid to search out the evidence and find real faith. Then go forward knowing you can trust Jesus.
To Get Paid, Build Right 3-24-25
Imagine that you hired a carpenter to build a new garage for you on a new concrete foundation. You were planning to have the old foundation removed because it was uneven and falling apart.
You showed the contractor the new foundation but when his crew came, they built the garage on the old crumbling foundation. Thankfully you had a contract specifying exactly where you wanted the garage built, so you did not have to pay the contractor.
I Corinthians 3 tells us about God rewarding his people at the end of their lives. In order to be rewarded, our work has to be built on the right foundation. The Apostle Paul speaks as if he is the general contractor who told you where to build when he says, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NASB)
In order to be rewarded at the end of our lives, the good works we do, must be built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. If we are simply doing good deeds to make ourselves look good or to get something in return, then we are building on the wrong foundation. We should be doing good because we love our creator, Jesus Christ. That is how we build on the proper foundation.
Not only is it important to build on the right foundation, we must build according to the specifications we are given. If a contractor is hired go build a garage out of brick, he should not expect to get paid if he builds it with wood. We need to do things God's way, not our own way. He is the creator and he has the right to tell us what he expects us to do.
If we trust Jesus as we build on the right foundation we can expect the reward of eternal life. Still, we can miss out on other rewards because we did not follow God like we should have. “Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NASB)
Imagine if the owner of the garage did not want a window on the south side, but the carpenter decided it would be a good idea to have one. The owner then refused to pay for that window, because it was not what he wanted. Some of what we do in life could be like that. We put in effort in life, but if it was not what God required, we will miss out on the reward for it. As God tests our works we can expect both gain and loss for what we did. “If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:14-15 NASB)
All Christians can expect to suffer both reward and loss of reward. But if we have given our lives to Jesus, we will be saved from his wrath. I want to get as many rewards as possible, because that is how I glorify my creator. The more rewards we have, the more gifts we will be able to present to him. I know I will not reach perfection though. That is why he came.
Since Jesus is the foundation we are to build upon, we get to glorify him both as we build and once we are rewarded for our work for him. Let us strive to do the best work we can for our savior. Let us strive to hear him say, well done good and faithful servant.
Amazing Love of Jesus 3-9-25
I was without a beard for about a week this winter. Our little girl looked at me with confusion when I first shaved it off. A friend of ours tells the story of going to pick up her husband at the airport. While he was gone, he had shaved off his beard. His family walked right past him without recognizing him. I once walked up to a man at church, shook his hand and introduced myself. It was only after he laughed as his wife walked up that I realized it was a man who sat in that same spot every week, but had recently shaved off his beard.
John 20 tells the story of Mary Magdalene weeping at the tomb after Jesus rose from the dead. John tells us it was still dark before the sun had risen, and Mary did not recognize Jesus. She thought at first that he was the gardener. As he continued to talk to her, eventually she recognized him. Imagine if she had only seen him with a beard before that and if after the resurrection, he no longer had a beard.
I can understand why Mary wouldn't recognize Jesus in the dark, but what about the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Two of them came in contact with him and even began to tell him about his death. They even told him they had heard reports that he was alive. As they are talking to Jesus about Jesus, they do not recognize him. They still continue to carry on a conversation with him and he even quotes Old Testament scripture about himself. They spend so much time walking with him, that they invite him to stay with them and to eat with them. It is not until he grabs some bread and breaks it that they finally recognize him.
Although Jesus had a resurrected body, that body still had the scars of the crucifixion. Thomas, who was known for doubting, understood this. “The other disciples therefore were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:25 NASB) Jesus replied to Thomas by saying, "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing." (John 20:27b) “Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
Understanding that Jesus had the nail prints in his hand, it makes sense that the two on the road to Emmaus would finally recognize him when he broke bread and they saw his hands at the table. They were able to witness the hands with the nail prints and know that it was indeed Jesus.
So why would I think that he no longer had a beard once he was resurrected? Isaiah had prophesied about what would happen to Christ. He writes, “I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.” (Isaiah 50:6 NASB)
Isaiah told us he would have his beard plucked out. He was in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights before he arose. He then arose with the scars in his hand and his side. It is quite probable that his face was still marred by the beard being pulled out and that he looked much different, with a scarred face.
John 3:16 reminds us that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus knew exactly what he would face before he went to the cross, yet he loved us enough to go anyway. He was so marred by what happened that some of his closest friends did not recognize him right away. Do not ever take his love for granted.
The Payment Was Made 2-17-25
Imagine that you borrowed money from your friend to buy a car with the intention to pay the loan off after a year. You had already been given a huge gift of money that would be available to pay the loan. The money from that gift was already in an account with your name on it. It simply had a stipulation that you could not withdraw it for a year.
You knew your friend was concerned about whether or not you could make the payment, so you sent him a copy of your savings account balance statement. Each month you sent him an updated copy to show him that the money was still available to pay the loan. Finally the day came to make your payment. Instead of sending him your account statement, you sent him a check and the check easily cleared. You paid the loan off in full thanks to the wonderful gift you had received, but you could not have paid it if you had not accepted that gift.
Since the loan was completely paid in full, you then stopped sending your friend the savings account balance statement because he no longer needed proof of your ability to pay. Imagine if someone told you that you should still keep sending the statements to him because that is what you had done before? Imagine if they even suggested that you owed it to him to keep sending the account statement even though the loan had been paid?
The book of Hebrews in the Bible explains to us why we are no longer under the Old Testament Levitical law. First, it explains that Christ is under a different priesthood than the Old Testament priests were. Since we have a new priesthood we also have a new law. “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.” (Hebrews 7:12)
Then in chapter 8, we are told that this change in the law had been foretold in the Old Testament by the prophet Jeremiah. “Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,” (Jeremiah 31:31)
By the time we get to chapter 10, this argument about a new covenant replacing the old law has been well laid out. But then it is explained that the old law was there to foreshadow what was to come. “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.” (Hebrews 10:1)
The Old Testament law was like a shadow. It didn't do anything itself- it only showed what someone else was able to do. Jesus is that someone else. By dying on the cross, he made the payment that we could not make ourselves. The Old Testament sacrifices were like showing the proof of the payment that was to come. Now that Jesus has made that payment there is no need to keep showing the proof that it will happen. It has already happened.
When the Old Testament Hebrew brought his sacrifices and offerings, he was not giving a down payment on his sin debt. He was showing the proof that his sin debt would one day be paid. Jesus paid it, so we no longer need to keep sending in the proof that he will one day pay it. “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
Imagine if the gift for the payment of the car loan had not been accepted and thus you could not pay the loan. When we refuse to trust Christ we are rejecting his payment for our sins. Any offering, sacrifices, or other works would not actually pay for those sins. They would simply be a proof that Jesus could pay for them. If we do not trust Jesus, the payment will never be put on our account even though it is available. That is why Jesus is the only way for salvation and why we are no longer expected to keep the Old Testament Law.
God's Just Judgment 2-3-24
Our little girl loves puppies. She is not alone. Puppies are cute and when the grow up, they often become a man's best friend. Sadly, some puppies grow up to be something different. A few weeks before Christmas last year, a man in California was killed at a park by 3 dogs. Another man who tried to help him was injured. As much as we like dogs, I understood why those dogs had to be euthanized.
Some would argue that those dogs should have been spared and rehabilitated. Most people understand that such an approach would have come with enormous risk. If there were a way we could know for certain that rehabilitation would not work and that those dogs would kill again and would even kill innocent puppies, then it would be much easier for the most dedicated dog lover to understand why they were put down.
None of us can see into the future concerning those dogs, but we can look at the patterns of what was likely to happen. God however can see into the future.
What if instead of 3 dogs, it were 3 people? What if it were a whole world full of people? At the time of Noah, God sent a worldwide flood that destroyed every person other than Noah, his three sons, and their wives. Genesis 6:5 tells us, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Verse 11 tells us that the earth was filled with violence. God saw what was going on and knew what would happen if he did not intervene.
When God sent the flood, he was able to stop the spread of violence and to let Noah and his family start over in peace. God was able to see what would have happened if he had not stepped in with the flood. Of course our world has not been perfect since then, but it has not yet gotten that evil again either.
Before the flood, God knew that things were so bad and that he needed to step in and intervene in order to protect humanity. In a similar way, he stepped in years later when he saw the violence of the Amalekites. God ordered the Israelites to destroy all the Amalekites. We may ask why God would give such a brutal order. We must not forget that God knows the future and he knows hearts. He understood what would happen if they were not stopped. He also knew if they would repent or not. It was merciful for him to restrain the evil of the Amalekites just as he restrained evil with Noah's flood. God was protecting the world, just like animal control was protecting the community from the killer dogs.
Another example is the people of Nineveh. They too were exceedingly evil, but God sent Jonah to them to tell them they needed to repent. They did repent and God spared them. God also knew their hearts and knew they would repent. Thus he sent Jonah and showed them mercy.
Often the same people who are critical of God for destroying the Amalekites are also critical of God for allowing evil. The reality is that God is gracious and he does restrain evil while still allowing man a certain amount of freedom. God is good and he is concerned about what happens to people here on earth, so we should take him seriously and follow him. In the past those who ignored him drowned in a worldwide flood or died as Amelekites. Others like those of Nineveh who listened to Jonah repented and were spared. Trust Jesus and come to God so you do not face his judgment. Instead receive his love and mercy. In Revelation 3:19, Jesus said, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.”
His Plan Not My Plan 1-20-24
Imagine that you and I came up with a business plan for a new venture here in South Dakota. We didn't know if it would work or not, but if we could just get Elon Musk to finance us, we could at least give it a shot. So we come up with a plan to try to convince Elon that he should send a few of his billions our way. Of course he never answers our emails and we do not even know if we are calling the right phone number.
Eventually we start to question the sanity of trying to get Elon to join our team. In the mean time, one of our friends simply invested in Tesla, realizing that Elon is already putting his own money into that venture. While we never get an answer back from Mr. Musk, our friend begins collecting some modest dividends from his investment.
Imagine that all of this started about 5 years ago and we invested $100,000 into our startup realizing our only hope for success was to get Elon Musk on board. In the meantime our friend invested his $100,000 into Tesla, and now his investment is worth about $1.3 million.
I doubt too many of us would make such a foolish decision as to risk all our finances on whether or not Elon Musk would back us, but too often people treat God in a similar way. A lot of people think that if God would just get behind them, then they would be successful. The problem is that they are not even looking at the right definition of success.
As Christians, we should not view our job as trying to recruit God to our plans. Instead we should be focused on molding our lives to his plans.
In Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus taught us how to pray: “"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 NASB)
Our prayer is to be that God's will be done, not that our will be done. True success will be to hear the words from God, “well done good and faithful servant.” We must remember that we are the servants and he is the one in charge. We do not win by getting him to join our team. Instead, we have already won because we chose to join his team.
Too often people think that they will win if they can just recruit the champion. Jesus is the champion. We do not win because we recruit him to our side, we win because we join his side. Those who try to recruit Jesus to their side have not grasped who the master is and who the servant is. Jesus is the master and we must follow him. To try to flip it around is to fall for the sin of the devil who said he would be like the most high.
There may not be as much glory in this life in being a servant, but there is much more success in eternity. By being Christ's servant, not only do we get many blessings of his love, but we get eternal life. Others who are not willing to let him rule will get the lake of fire.
Jesus is the king. He is the champion. He created all the resources that allow Elon Musk to have his wealth. Join Jesus. Follow him. Become his servant. Realize that when you trust Jesus, you will be making the only wise eternal investment out there.
Are You Still Afraid? 12-30-24
Before writing about all the scary things in life, I must admit that I feel safer today than I have ever felt. If I have an emergency, I can simply reach for my cell phone and help will arrive quickly. The model of vehicle I drive has been crash tested and all the vehicles made in the last 25 years are much safer than those I grew up riding in. But most of all, I feel safe, because I know that the creator of the universe, Jesus Christ, loves me.
Still there is a lot to be afraid of. We recently lived through a pandemic that others did not survive. That event showed how quickly things can change and how fragile life is. It was a reminder that life could be turned upside down at any moment.
Thankfully we are not in the middle of war, but the news coverage of the Russia/Ukraine conflict shows how quickly people's lives can be disrupted by war and the death and chaos that comes with it.
Not only have we experienced the pandemic, but we know someone who has had cancer. Will you or I be next? The pandemic also showed how vulnerable our economy can be. Will we have a job and if we do will it be enough to pay our bills?
Thankfully most of us have friends and family who can help us through whatever tough times come along, but what if they are the first victims of the next pandemic? What if they lose their jobs? What if they move far away? What if there is a climate disaster and the whole earth freezes or burns up? What if there is a major earthquake, a tornado, or a volcanic eruption?
The things to worry about are endless, so we need to find a way to overcome our anxiety. Go back to the first paragraph and remember what we have to be thankful for. Thankfulness is the best cure for anxiety. Then we need to remember that no matter how bad things get, God is still in control.
If you do not know God well, then that statement will not be very comforting. You will fear what he will allow- knowing that he has already allowed pandemics, wars, and natural disasters. What you need to grasp, however is his love and goodness in spite of the trials he allows.
The Gospel of John is a great place to begin reading about the love of God. It tells in chapter 1, that Jesus is God and that he is full of grace and truth. In the 3rd chapter we read about how God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. In chapter 5 we see the love of Jesus as he healed a man who could not walk. In chapter 6, he feeds 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. In chapter 8, he shows compassion on a sinful woman. In chapter 9, he gives a blind man sight. In chapter 10, he shows that he is the good shepherd who cares for his sheep. In chapter 11, he raises Lazarus from the dead after he weeps with the family. In chapter 13, he washes other's feet. In chapter 17 he prays for us. Finally we see his love as he died on the cross for our sins, but then we see his power as he rose from the dead. As this world is in chaos, take comfort in knowing both the love and power of God.
If you are feeling anxiety over uncertainty, know that the love of God is certain. Read the gospel of John to learn about that love. You can even find it free online at places like blueletterbible.com. You can then select the version of your choice. The ESV or NKJV are fairly easy to understand. Let God speak to you through his word so you can know him better.
Jesus, The Hope of a Baby 12-16-24
We have 5 children. Our youngest came 11 years after our fourth. Some have speculated that she was a surprise since it appeared like we were done after not having more children for so many years. I have grinned and said that she was the only one who was planned. Our first four came so quickly that when our fourth was born, our oldest had not yet turned four.
For a short time, we had four children under four years old. We understand that having another baby can be very overwhelming- especially when we were not planning for them.
Fortunately my wife and I were married and I had income when each of our children was born. Further, both my wife and I had younger siblings as well as supportive extended family. We both knew how to take care of a baby. For those who do not have those benefits, pregnancy can be even more overwhelming.
Still, we looked forward to each of our babies being born. We got excited when we felt them kick, when we could hear a heart beat, and when we could see the ultrasound. We were amazed at how much more detail was shown on the ultrasound of our fifth child compared to our first.
The Cleveland Clinic has a great website that shows how the baby develops at each stage of pregnancy. By 3 months, facial features and limbs are clearly identifiable.
As expectant parents, each phase was extremely exciting for us. Not every parent gets to see their babies being born though. Sometimes the life ends for reasons beyond our control. Other times the fears and realities of a baby coming into this world overwhelm a mother and she makes a choice that cannot be undone.
Some of these mothers did not even think of the pregnancy being an actual baby. It is not unusual for a mother to later feel regret over what happened. There are so many reasons to feel compassion and to show grace toward such a mother. First of all, we need to have compassion for her because she felt so overwhelmed that she thought she only had one choice. Second we need to show compassion over that fact that she may not have know the full implication of her decision. Finally, we need to show compassion towards those who knew their decision was wrong, did it anyway, and later feel regret.
Unborn babies are the most innocent of human lives and the taking of an innocent human life is wrong. Many actions that we do in life are wrong, but that is why Jesus came to earth. We should not sin so his grace can abound, but, he came to show grace. He was born as a baby himself to a mother who was not planning to get pregnant at that time, but then he grew up to give his life so that others could be forgiven.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, I am not asking anyone to defend or to justify the taking of an innocent human life, but I will ask that we never forget that this is the perfect time of year to remember that Jesus came to forgive, no matter what we have done.
Many people today are carrying the heavy burden of guilt over past decisions that they have made. If you trust the Lord Jesus, you will find both forgiveness and eternal life. Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (NASB).
We cannot get the babies back that have been lost, but we can trust the one who loved us enough to become a baby himself. That one is Jesus. When he grew up he promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
To Believe is To Follow 12-1-24
I am thankful that I never had to go to war. I am however fascinated by the history of events surrounding war. Often battles were won because warriors were willing to follow a leader and to trust him when he told them what to do. Leaders like William Wallace, George Washington, and Sitting Bull come to my mind. In order for the soldiers to follow their commander no matter what happened, they had to have confidence in their leadership abilities. If that confidence were lost, there was a danger of mutiny.
In John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The word “believeth” means to have faith in, to entrust, to commit to, to put your trust in. Too often we think of belief as simply agreeing with facts as presented. For example many people “believe” that Jesus existed and even believe that he died and rose from the dead.
James 2:19 tells us that even the devils believe and tremble. The difference between a devil and a Christian is not the recognition of facts about Jesus, Devils are not putting trust in the authority and command of Jesus. The devils rebelled against Jesus command. Christians, however, submit to Jesus' command because they believe enough to trust him.
In the book of Numbers, we read about God telling the children of Israel to go in to possess the promised land. Hebrews chapter 3 clarifies that they did not go in because they did not “believe” God. The point, was that they did not have the confidence in the Lord's leadership over them even though he had delivered them from Egypt while protecting them from the plagues. He had even led them across the Red Sea, gave them water from a rock, and fed them with manna from heaven. After all of that, they still did not have confidence in God. They did not believe what God told them. Therefore they did not enter the promised land.
Hebrews 3:14-15 says, “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said,“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”” (ESV)
Because of unbelief, the children of Israel held a mutiny against God and had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Joshua and Caleb did not join that mutiny. They believed God and were able to enter the promised land.
We will not have eternal life unless we believe. That means we must have confidence in Christ to such an extent that we will follow his leadership. We may not always know exactly what God wants us to do for each detail of our lives, but we must have the confidence to trust Him even when we do not understand all he is doing. Those who believe Jesus exists, but still live in mutiny towards him will not have eternal life. Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 make it clear that just like the unbelieving Hebrews were kept from the resting place of the promised land, people today who do not have a confidence in Christ, will not enter the eternal rest of heaven. Put your full confidence in Jesus and believe his promise when he said, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
Fear Without Being Afraid 11-18-24
When our son was a toddler, he was afraid of dogs. At that time we had a large German Shepherd named Star. She was quite gentle and protective of kids, but he was still scared of her. He and his brothers would play in the back yard while Star was tied to a tether. Our son knew how far the tether would reach and was very careful not to get too close to her as he played.
One day, the neighbor's young pit bull got loose and came running into our yard. Although the little boy was scared of our German Shepherd, he knew she was safe. Without hesitation he ran to her. Star immediately put herself between the boy and the pit bull, growled at the pit bull, and warned him away. Thankfully the other dog immediately submitted to her aggression and backed off.
Although the little boy was scared of our dog, he still knew she was safe. What happened showed that we can be scared of something while still understanding that we do not have to be afraid.
Christians should understand that same truth about God. Throughout the scripture we are shown the importance of fearing God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Revelation14:7 states, “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”
God is to be feared, and Jesus is God, yet when the apostle John fell at the feet of Jesus, he was told, “do not be afraid.” (Revelation 1:17)
If any book of the Bible should put the fear of God into man, it is the book of Revelation. In this book we are able to see what will happen when the wrath of God is poured out upon mankind during the Great Tribulation. A careful reading however shows that the wrath of God is poured out on God's enemies, while the followers of God are protected by God.
As we understand God's power and justice, we should fear him. Jesus warned in Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” That is why we should fear. But we are also told in II Peter 2:9, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”
The same God who punishes those who reject him, is the God who saves those who come to him. For many the book of Revelation is scary. It shows the judgment of God, but it shows something else. It shows Jesus coming to the rescue when the world is overcome by evil. Imagine a world of Mad Max villains and Jesus coming to destroy them as he saves the righteous. God's power and judgment are scary, but his safety is comforting. Throughout Revelation we see the villains destroyed and the righteous protected by Jesus. Run to Jesus for safety. If you are a Christian, you should fear Jesus, without being afraid of him. If you are not a Christian, you should be afraid.
Plant The Faithful Seed 11-4-24
I recently heard a modern-day parable about a company CEO who wanted to select his successor. He announced he would retire in a year and gave each of the candidates for the new position a seed and a pot of dirt. They were told they could only use that seed and that dirt. It was their job to plant it and then bring it back the next year with the results. One of the men planted his seed and it did not grow even though he did everything right. He kept watering the pot on a sunny shelf while his coworkers were bragging about their beautiful plants.
At the end of the year, they all brought their plants in to show the retiring CEO. Only one pot had no plant in it. The CEO then explained that all the seeds were sterile and that the man with the empty pot was the only one with the integrity to take his place. The other candidates had looked at the seeds, and when they did not get the results they wanted, they simply found a seed that looked like their original seed and grew a plant. The faithful candidate diligently watered his pot and kept it in the sunlight right up until it was time to present it. He got the job because he was faithful and did what he was told to, not because he had the nicest looking plant.
Far too often, ministry is a lot like the seed test. There are a lot of things that can be done to make it look like we are being faithful. What God really wants is diligence. Good results should not always be though of as a sign of disobedience. At the same time good results are not always a sign of faithfulness either. We can have good seed, be faithful, and still not have a beautiful plant:
"Hear then the parable of the sower. "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. "And the one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23 NASB)
The job of sowing the seed of God's word is not just for pastors. It is for all Christians. Some get discouraged because the seed they are sowing is not growing so they try different seed instead. That is really scary when we realize that the seed is the message from God. If we are not faithful with God's word, then we are not to be trusted with more responsibility no matter how good the plant looks.
Our job as servants is to keep sowing the seeds of truth from God's word no matter what the results are. We need to keep pointing people to Jesus whether they want to accept him or not. Consider John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” If we change the message, but do not point people to Jesus, then they will miss out on eternal life. We might make ourselves look good, but it will not meet the most pressing need of the human soul.
Let us minister faithfully as we proclaim the truth of Jesus and trust God with the results.
A Snake on a Stick 10-21-24
Image by Amos Pfenning
One of the reasons that I am glad that I live east river is because rattlesnakes are extremely rare around here. I recently watched a video of a couple guys down in Texas using long rods to catch rattlesnakes. The one guy asked the other if he had ever been bit and he said no. I am glad it was them doing the catching instead of me.
In Numbers 21 we read of people who were bitten by snakes (serpents). While the Israelites were being led by Moses in the wilderness, they started to complain about not having food even though God had been providing them with food. Thus God sent serpents to bite them and many died. They realized that they had sinned and then turned back to God.
It was fitting that God would send serpents to show them that they had sinned. It was through a serpent that Adam and Eve were led into sin at the Garden of Eden. That sin had led to death. In a similar way, the sin of complaining about God led to the death of the Israelites. The Israelites had a lot in common with Adam and Eve. Rather than trusting and obeying what God had said, they questioned God and that questioning of God led to death.
The serpent has come to represent the sin and death that comes through Satan. The Israelites recognized their sin and asked Moses to intercede with God on their behalf. Moses did and God told him to make an image of a serpent and to put it on a rod.
Imagine stabbing a rattlesnake and then holding it up in the air after it was dead. That snake would no longer look as threatening. Do not think of a snake wrapped around a pole, think of the pole piercing the snake.
Just before these snakes had started biting the people, God had shown how powerful he was as he helped the Israelites to defeat a mighty enemy. God was able to show them that he is powerful enough to defeat the serpents too. He illustrates that as Moses shows them a brass snake on a pole. The Israelites were told that if they looked to the image of a brass snake they would not die if they were bitten. God showed them that he is powerful enough to defeat sin and death just like he defeated the snake.
The reason that God had sent the serpents was because the people had forgotten to trust God. That is also what got Adam and Eve in trouble and what gets us into trouble. The sin of not trusting God leads us to death.
That is why Jesus said in John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
The serpent represents sin and death. Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness to deliver the people from sin and death. The brass serpent showed God's power over sin and death. By being lifted up on the cross, Jesus was able to defeat all that the serpent represented as he defeated sin and death. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2)
When Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the people had to believe God enough to look in order to be saved. Jesus tells us that in order to be saved we need to believe in Him. Jesus said that right after he talked about the serpent in John 3:14-15. He said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) If you want to be saved, trust God by looking to Jesus Christ and know that the sin and death of your life will be replaced with eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Worried About Hell? 10-7-24
I enjoy welding. It is amazing how someone can take a cutting torch, a welder, and an old piece of metal and make it into something useful. I have learned however that I need to be careful working with the metal because it gets very hot.
I know all too well, the discomfort and suffering that hot molten metal can produce. I once had a piece fall through a hole in my pant leg. Next it entered my boot and burnt through my sock to cause a painful wound on the top of my foot. As funny as it may have been to watch me quickly kick my boot off, I realize that the pain of extreme heat and fire is no laughing matter.
What happened to me was just a minor inconvenience,. My experience is nothing compared to an eternity in the lake of fire. “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) As careful as I want to be when using the welder and cutting torch, I want to be even more careful not to end up in the lake of fire because I did not listen to God.
John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I want to have eternal life with Jesus rather than an eternity in the lake of fire. When I was younger, I used to wonder about what would happen if my name were not written in the book of life. What if I did end up in the lake of fire?
Before I was 10 years old, I decided to read the Bible every day. As I read it, I found out how wonderful God really is. I realized he was all powerful and had created everything. I also realized how much he loves us. The more I learned about the love of Jesus, the more I wanted to serve him.
Eventually, I concluded that even if he sent me to hell, I would still want to be faithful to him. That is how wonderful God is. Soon I was more focused on Jesus than I was on my fear of hell. At that point I realized that my love for God was an even stronger motivator than my fear of hell.
It is rational for man to fear hell. The eternal punishment for rejecting Christ is not something to be taken lightly. But if our only motivation for our actions is to avoid discomfort for ourselves then we are actually acting in selfishness. If our motivation for our actions is the benefit of someone else, then we are acting in love. The first and greatest command is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
That love is evidence that we really have believed on Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh. No wonder Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37) Knowing that Jesus promised that he would not cast me out, assures me that I do not have to worry about the hell of the lake of fire. My assurance of not having to go to the lake of fire, is not because I always do all the right things, but because I love and serve the perfect master. Because I love and serve him, I do want to do his will. Because he loves me, he made a way for me to be forgiven.
Amazing Love For a Wife 9-30-24
There are a lot of gaps in my family tree. I was however, reading about a couple of my ancestors. “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.” (I Timothy 2:13-14)
You may have noticed that they are your ancestors as well. The first two humans both fell into sin, but Adam did it willingly, while Eve was tricked. I do not want to defend my earliest great great...grandmother, but I often found myself thinking that what Adam did was worse, because he had not been deceived.
Recently I was at a Bible study with another pastor, and as we were discussing the relationship between husbands and wives, he pointed out how much Adam must have loved Eve. He then mentioned that by also falling into sin, Adam was able to stay united with his wife. He was not encouraging husbands to sin in order to be close to their wives, but was rather pointing out how far the two would have been apart if Adam had not sinned while Eve had.
We had already been talking about how Ephesians 5 tells us that the husband and wife relationship is supposed to be a wonderful picture of Christ and the church as the husband loves the wife and the wife submits to the husband. Jesus came to earth with authority, but he did not flaunt that authority. Instead he gave himself in an unselfish way. If husbands live like Christ did and unselfishly love their wives, then submission should not be difficult because then the wives will not be taken advantage of. As the wife also sets her selfishness aside and they submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21) we get a beautiful illustration of how we should relate to Jesus Christ. “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32)
Since marriage is to be a picture of Christ and the church, we can find another beautiful lesson about Jesus in the events of the lives of Adam and Eve. Romans 5:14 tells us that Adam was a figure of Christ. That means Adam was a model to help us better understand Jesus. For years I thought of him more as an opposite since Adam pulled humanity into sin and Jesus delivered us from sin.
Once I thought of Adam as the loving husband to illustrate Christ and the Church, I was more clearly able to see how he could be a model of Jesus. Jesus loved us so much that he gave himself for our sins. II Corinthians 5:21 talks about Christ when it says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Before he ate of the forbidden fruit, Adam also knew no sin, but by partaking of sin, he was able to maintain fellowship with his wife. In a similar way, Jesus took the penalty for our sin upon him so that we could have fellowship with Him.
I do not ever want to excuse the sins of my wife, but I do want to remember to love her the way that Jesus loved. His love covered my sins. With that in mind, I want to be very gracious toward my wife as I remember 1 Peter 4:8. “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
Adam and Eve plunged the world into sin, but Jesus came with love to forgive our sins. In order to receive that forgiveness we have to trust in him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The Folly of Formula 9-16-24
Farmers debate about when to plant a crop each year. If they plant too early, it could be too cold and hurt the yield. If they wait too long, it could start raining so much that they would not be able to even drive their tractor through the field. There is statistical data that shows on average what planting dates produce the highest yields. The problem is that a farmer may intend to plant during those times, but is unable to because of rain. Of coarse if he tried to plant into a muddy field his yield would be much lower on that date.
Best planting dates should be regarded as a general rule, not as an absolute rule without exception. The Proverbs in the Bible provide us with wisdom for living life. They are general principles of life that guide us. If we follow the wisdom of God, our lives will be much better than if we follow folly.
That however does not mean that there are not exceptions to the rule. For example, a wise man may have trials while a foolish man seems to have success. Therefore we should not look at the Word of God as a formula for avoiding problems in life, but rather as an authority to show us how God has told us to live. We should obey God regardless of the results because we recognize his authority, not because we want our lives to be easier. Still, our lives will be easier in the long run if we do obey God.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon makes observations about the behaviors of men. In vs 2 of ch 9 he notices that the same events happen to the righteous and the wicked. It does not seem fair to him, but he grasps that things do not always turn out like we would expect them to.
Then he comes to verse 11 where he says, “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.”
You expect the fast person to win the race, but he could lose if he trips. You expect the soldier to win the battle, but soldiers have been killed in battle by civilians. You expect men with ability to be respected and you expect those with good judgment to be more likely to accumulate wealth. The problem is that situations happen that make for exceptions to the general rule. He says, “time and chance overtake them.”
Think of chance as statistics. The fast person may have a 99% chance of winning the race, but he could trip and lose. The verse also puts bread to the wise in that same category. We should expect that the wise will be more likely to have food, but that doesn't mean that a wise man will never face hunger.
By the time we come to verse 16, we find that wisdom is better than strength. Therefore we know that wisdom is good and valuable. As valuable as wisdom is, we should not think that having wisdom will simply solve all our problems.
Although looking to Jesus and the Bible will make our lives easier, we should not think of them as a formula for avoiding trials. Rather we should view obedience to God as the right thing to do because he said so. We should then realize that more times than not, our lives will be better because we did things his way.
Trust the Creator 9-2-24
Cenex Harvest States just built a new grain facility outside of Worthing. It was fun watching the structure rise up from the ground as they poured concrete around the clock to make a massive tower. As we watched it grow, I could not help but think how a Medieval king would have loved to have had such a structure for his castle.
I then began to imagine what would happen if all our history and technology were lost and thousands of years from now, people were trying to figure out how this structure had been built and what it had been used for.
We have history to tell us what the Colosseum in Rome was used for, but other structures like Stonehenge and the pyramids remain shrouded in mystery. Still, no one assumes that these structures just appeared without some sort of planning.
Plants, animals, and humans are far more complex than a pyramid or a grain elevator. Knowing that, it is hard to take anyone seriously who would suggest that they came about without any intelligent design. Any honest person realizes that life needed a designer. The problem is that people do not want to be accountable to that designer.
Romans 1:18-20 puts the problem of man's rejection of God into a blunt perspective:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
With all the evidence God has given us, there is no excuse to reject him. Not only has he given us the evidence of creation, he has also given us a conscience.
In that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:15-16 NASB)
If you are honest, you can see the evidence of God's existence simply by looking at his creation. God's existence is one thing, but his authority is another. He did not just make you, he also gave you a conscience. Even if you have not figured out all of God's expectations upon your life, you still know that there is a difference between right and wrong. That niggling within you that tells you something is wrong, is also telling you that someone other than you has the right to decide what is right and what is wrong. That someone is the creator of the universe.
The good news is that although the creator will hold you accountable for your sins, he loved you so much that he came to earth and died for your sins. Jesus Christ is the creator who not only died on the cross, but who also rose from the dead to pay for your sins. That is good news, but that good news is only personal for you if you believe in Jesus as your Lord and authority. If you just believe he exists, but are not willing to submit to him, you will be rejecting not just his authority but his payment on the cross for your sins.
The good news of his love and payment is the gospel. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” No matter who you are, the good news is available to you and that good news has the power to save you from the wrath of God. If you trust him, instead of facing his wrath, you will get his love and eternal life with him. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)
Are You Like the Devil? 8-19-24
Many people are not aware that I spent some time in jail. Now that I have your attention, let me clarify that I was not a resident there, but I would regularly go into the jail to minister to the people who did live there.
One of the guys wanted to talk to me privately and he said that he had something to tell me that I would not believe. He then proceeded to tell me that he used to be a devil worshiper. I told him I was not surprised since I knew that the the devil was real. I then said that Christ loved him, but that even when he was serving the devil, the devil hated him. Tears rolled down his face as he said that he knew the devil hated him even when he was worshiping him.
I haven't met very many devil worshipers in my life, but I have met many people who actually adopt the same religious views as the devil. I am not talking about sitting around a pentagram, partaking in human sacrifice, or wearing a goat's head.
Instead of focusing on the images of horror movies, let us instead look at a Bible passage that describes the satanic approach to God. Isaiah 14:12-14 warns,
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
Notice Lucifer's religious approach. He was not going to submit to God. He was going to act like he was God. But he fell from heaven and would be brought to hell.
Most of the people in this world are going through life just like Lucifer. They have decided that they are the ones who are making the rules. They know they have sinned, but are upset that anyone would judge them for their sin. They do not want anyone- especially God- telling them what to do. They want to be the king of their lives and to sit on their own personal throne, without having to submit to God.
Like Lucifer, they will suffer the consequences of such arrogance. Notice how Isaiah 14:15 warns that he will “be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Jesus warned in Matthew 25:41, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:”
If you do not acknowledge that Jesus is the creator- that he is God- and that we must submit to God as we believe on him, then you will have the same fate as the devil. You do not have to worship the devil to go to the lake of fire. You simply have to take the same path as the devil in resisting God.
Thankfully God loves you and we are told by Jesus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
If you have been resisting Jesus, chose a different path than Lucifer did. Submit to God and embrace the promise that Jesus gave us. "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)
Enjoy God's Gifts 8-5-24
It can be hard to accept a gift. Years ago, a friend wanted to give me a gift of money. Since I didn't feel like I “needed” it I refused it.
Another friend witnessed what happened and told me that by accepting the gift, I would have made the giver happy, but by refusing the gift I was making them sad. He explained that if I really did not need the money, I could have graciously accepted the gift and then quietly given it to someone else. He helped me to understand the importance of both giving and accepting gifts. It is a lesson I still struggle to remember. Eventually, I began to understand how both giving and receiving can be a way to show love toward others.
Years later, I better understand the concept he was trying to teach me as I realize that the best gift giver of all is Jesus Christ. Not only did he give his life, as the creator, he also gives us all that we need to live. God cares about us and has given so many wonderful gifts. Ecclesiastes 2:25 asks, “For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?”
The book of Ecclesiastes makes it clear that God wants us to have enjoyment in life- that he wants to give us good things. Of course he wants us to avoid sin as well. He wants what is best for us. He also wants us to accept the gifts he has given and to enjoy them. “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:13)
A quick reading of the Old Testament might convince us that God was more concerned with getting sacrifices from man than he was in giving gifts to man. A more in depth study, however, shows that God wanted people to enjoy the gifts he had given them, even when he was expecting sacrifices. For example in Deuteronomy 14:22-23, the Hebrew people were expected to bring a yearly tithe to give to the Lord, but then God wanted them to use that tithe to have a feast so they could enjoy what he had given them. In fact in vs 24-26 he makes it clear that if the place where they go to worship is too far, then they should sell their tithe and bring money. Look what God wants them to do with the money: "And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. (Deuteronomy 14:26).
The people were being taught that they needed to come to God and then to accept his gift. He was training people to be ready to come to him and to accept the greatest gift he would ever give them. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Trusting Jesus for salvation is about being willing to accept a gift from God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.”
God loves you and wants you to enjoy life. Sin may seem enjoyable for a time, but it leads to misery and death. If we follow God's plan for our lives, we will find much more enjoyment as we find fulfillment in his best gifts. Trust him and receive the best gifts of all- a right relationship with our loving God and eternal life.
Bitter's Bright Side 7-21-24
All the extra rain has been quite challenging for the farmers. We have a small little hobby farm where we grow sweet corn and a little bit of field corn for our pigs, geese, ducks, and chickens. We also grow some green beans that we share with friends and family.
This year however has made crop growing quite difficult. Parts of the field have been planted 3 times because they kept getting drowned out.
Coming from a farm background I have enjoyed “playing” out in my field. Since it is such a small plot, our livelihood is not entirely dependent on what we produce. I was recently talking to my cousin who farms on a much larger scale and also enjoys what he is doing. I told him that I have so much fun going out and planting my little field. Then I said that this was one of the best years ever because I got to plant it three times.
As we face the trials of life, we can focus on the negative or we can focus on the positive. It is not always so easy to focus on the positive though. In the book of Ruth, a woman named Naomi ends up having to move away from home with husband and her two sons because of a famine. While in a foreign land her husband dies and so do both of her sons. Her trials were much more serious than mine.
Naomi is so discouraged that she changes her name from Naomi which means, “pleasant,” to Mara, which means, “bitter.” I do not want to excuse her bitterness- especially when the scripture warns: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31) Hebrews gives even more guidance. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;” (Hebrews 12:15)
Hebrews reminds us of the grace of God as the roots of bitterness cause trouble. Still we understand why Naomi would feel like she did. In the midst of Naomi's bitterness God had graciously given her a special friend. Her daughter-in-law Ruth stayed by her side. Ruth's name literally meant, “friend.”
This part of the book of Ruth is a reminder that when people are going through rough times, they often just need a friend. In the midst of her grief, Naomi had said to Ruth, “May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.” (from Ruth 1:8) Ruth had also lost her husband, but was being kind to Naomi. In the midst of the grief and kindness, Ruth had also spoken these important words: "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
Ruth did something very important as she was being a friend to Naomi. She was there for her. She let her know she would not leave her, but she also made it clear that they were serving the same God. They both served the true God of the Bible- the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They served the creator God who would send his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, because of his love for this world.
In the midst of bitterness and grief, Naomi had a friend who spoke to her about the true God. Often people have immediate needs in the midst of their trials but other times they just need a friend who promises to be there and who reminds them that the true God is also there. Be that kind of friend and do not forget that God has not left us alone. That will allow others have something to look on the bright side about even when they feel like being bitter.
Contending For Faith
Caitlin Clark has been making history as she contends on the basketball court. Although she did not make the women's Olympic team this year, she continues to contend for a spot there 4 years from now. She contends for wins for her team and contends for rankings and records within women's basketball. She is definitely a competitive contender.
The Oxford Language Dictionary tells us that the word contend can mean to “engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve.” That definition definitely describes Clark. But there is another definition for “contend” found in that same dictionary: “to assert something as a position in an argument.”
In the Bible we find this statement: “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
When we as Christians contend for the faith, we are not shooting baskets, but we are asserting our position. We are arguing for our faith. In the very next verse, Jude points out that ungodly people pervert God's grace and instead promote sensuality. In other words, they are using God's grace as an excuse to sin. He then points out that as they are doing this, they are denying that our Lord Jesus Christ is their master.
As Christians, our faith is based on Jesus Christ. We understand that he is God and that he is our authority. We recognize that Jesus is our master. This understanding is key whenever someone tries to convince us that we should just accept sin.
Imagine if someone were encouraging you to steal ice cream. They argue that the ice cream would taste so good. They also argue that although stealing is technically wrong, Jesus is very forgiving. Thus they are distorting his grace to encourage sin.
They might also argue that they took a vote and all their friends think that stealing ice cream is no big deal. Or perhaps they might argue that in some places sealing ice cream is socially acceptable. They might even argue that as long as the strongest or most influential people encourage the stealing of ice cream, then it is okay. They are thus arguing that there should be a different master for right and wrong other than God.
When we contend for the faith we are saying that Jesus is God and Jesus is the master. Therefore we look to him and the Bible for determining what is right or wrong. We are asserting our position and making our argument that God is the authority. We are contending for the faith.
We need more people with the courage to say that God is right and that God has the authority to tell us what to do. If we have really believed in Jesus Christ and we really view him as our master, why wouldn't we say that he has the right to tell us what to do? Of course those who reject Jesus will not care what he tells them. That is understandable, but when someone claims to be a Christian they should welcome God's authority in their life. Sadly too many Christians are not even willing to contend for what God says, let alone listen to it. I have to ask, “are they contenders or pretenders?”
If you have really believed in Jesus, then start to take him seriously. Argue for his position as you live it out in your life. Realize that stealing ice cream is wrong and be bold to say so.
Contending for the faith means that as a Christian you recognize that morality is based on God's authority. If you are a Christian, contend for the faith, and live like you are contending for it.
Prayer Should be Easy 6-24-24
Have you ever wondered how to pray? Jesus gave us a simple prayer to give us a framework for how to pray and what to pray about. “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
Notice that the first thing we are taught is that God's will will happen. Prayer should be about obeying God, not about getting God to obey us. Still prayer should express our understanding that God provides for our needs as we ask for our daily food. Next, prayer should recognize our sinfulness and the importance of grace in forgiveness. That then leads to our desire to avoid sin which should also be expressed in our prayers. Finally, prayer declares that God is king and God is powerful. God is in charge as we pray- not us.
Jesus' lesson on prayer is pretty straight forward and gives us a framework, but it does not give us the exact words to pray. In fact, just before giving us the words to the Lord's prayer, Jesus said, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8).
We do not have to repeat the same words over and over as we pray (vain repetition). Further we do not have to say a lot of words. We can keep our words few and to the point because God already knows what are needs are. Comedian Ray Stevens had a silly song about haircuts and in that song he made a point about how wordy some prayers can become when he said, “Barber walked in, started saying grace, "Oh Lord, for these haircuts we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful. Dominus possum pax probiscus, post mortem, et tu Brute, puella carborundum.”
Sadly too many people have been taught that they need to have long prayers with flashy words. Jesus did not teach that and Jesus is God. The rest of the Bible doesn't teach that either. In fact, Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.” You do not have to rush through your prayers, but you do not need many words either. Remember he already knows what you need.
I am comforted knowing I can pray to God- knowing he is all powerful and that he will do what he deems best. I am also comforted knowing that he already knows what I need and that I do not have to come up with a lot of words.
The scripture says to pray without ceasing, but we do not have to use many words. As we pray we should listen by thinking about the word of God more than we talk. “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1)
The longest prayer recorded in the Bible is found in Nehemiah 9 and it takes less than 7 minutes to read it out loud. Much of the prayer in Nehemiah 9 is a review of Bible history. Before you pray, make sure you have been listening to God through his holy Bible and then think of that while you pray. Then as you pray, be more concerned about avoiding sin in your life than you are about how long you pray or about what words you use. Just talk to God about his greatness, your sin, and your needs- then trust whatever his will is for your situation in life
Why Did You Doubt? 6-10-24
A childhood friend of mine was recently killed in a grain bin accident. Grain bins can be quite dangerous. Many people have lost their lives as they were quickly engulfed by the grain. Such events are a reminder of how fragile life is.
The Apostle Peter had a similar close call. Instead of being engulfed in grain, he nearly drowned in a stormy sea. As I think of both my childhood friend and of Peter, I cannot imagine the terror that they must have faced. Regardless, I have had nightmares about such events.
Peter survived his ordeal and Matthew wrote about it. As the wind was blowing the disciples of Jesus were in a boat and Jesus walked on water to come to them. Once Jesus identified himself, Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “come,” so Peter did. Peter was actually able to walk on the water for a time, but then he saw the waves, got scared, and began to sink.
Peter must have felt completely helpless. He was already afraid while he was still walking on the water and now he finds himself sinking. He cried out, “Lord save me.” Thankfully for Peter, Jesus did save him.
If Peter ever wrote about his experience walking on the water and then sinking, those words never made it into the pages of the Bible. Peter did however write two letters that are part of the New Testament scriptures. In both of those letters he writes about Noah and the flood where people drowned. I cannot help but wonder if what happened to Peter on the sea that night caused him to think a lot more about drowning.
Regardless, Peter learned an important lesson that night that he wanted others to understand. In order to be saved we need Jesus. In his first letter Peter talks about how Noah and his family were brought safely through the water. In his second letter he talks about how God brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.
Both Peter and Noah had found grace from God. Genesis 6:8-9 says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Notice as well that both Noah and Peter walked with God. Peter literally walked on water with Jesus. Jesus is God.
Thankfully God has promised not to ever send another worldwide flood. That does not mean that drowning is not still a danger though. It also does not mean that sin will not still be judged. Romans 6:23a says, “For the wages of sin is death,”. Then the last part of that verse says, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Before your life comes to an end, use the words of Peter and cry out, “Lord save me.” Jesus promised in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” That means that if you believe on him as your Lord and savior, he will save you.
Being saved from sin and hell does not mean that you will never drown or have an accident. What it does mean is that if tragedy strikes you- like it did with my friend- then you will be with Jesus when your life ends.
Look at what happened as Peter cried out to Jesus as he was sinking, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31) As our lives come to an end, we might have some doubts about where we will go, but if we have trusted Christ, then once we breath our last breath, we will be able to look forward to hearing the same answer from the Lord that Peter heard. “Why did you doubt?” www.southtownchurch.com.
God Gets The Vengeance 5-27-24
Not all road rage incidents make the news, but occasionally someone's behavior is so egregious that it actually becomes criminal. Regardless, such incidents go against God's command to love your neighbor as yourself even if they have not broken any other law.
I have heard reports of- and even watched videos of- people who were involved of car accidents and they exited their vehicles screaming and shouting and ready to start a fight.
Recently a friend was involved in a 3 car accident. She was in the vehicle that was damaged the worst. The man in the vehicle ahead of her immediately got out of his car and came to her car. He saw the damage to her car and told her not to move until the ambulance arrived. Instead of yelling at her, he was showing concern for her safety. Then the driver of the third vehicle came and prayed with her as they waited for the ambulance.
Hearing what happened after her accident was so very refreshing after the worst examples of humanity often make the headlines. The first and greatest command is to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength. The second greatest command is to love your neighbor as yourself.
The people involved in the accident with my friend were strangers before the accident, but they treated each other the way Christ would want them to.
Too often people feel wronged and want to take vengeance. There is a reason why accidents are called “accidents.” That does not change the fact that cars are damaged, people are hurt, and schedules are disrupted. Such events can cause frustration. We already have laws that require drivers to have insurance. Thus our laws already provide a way for a level of compensation. That means that any anger and lashing out at the accident scene is not a call for justice but rather a call for vengeance.
In the scriptures, God gives us clear instruction about avoiding vengeance. Romans 12:19 tells us, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.” This does not negate the need for criminal prosecution and Romans 13 shows us that human governments should hold people accountable for criminal behavior.
If we try to bring vengeance ourselves, we might make a mistake. Of course someone who intentionally causes a car collision with the intent of hurting others should be brought to justice. On the other hand, we have all accidentally caused hurt and damage to others. If our courts do not find the person guilty, God knows what true justice would be, therefore it is up to him to bring vengeance, not us. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, "The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”
Knowing God is faithful and without injustice helps us to understand the reality of sending people to hell. He will not send anyone there who does not deserve it. Jonah was sent to Nineveh and they repented and God did not destroy them even though they were evil. God does however bring vengeance upon evil when there is no repentance. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, we all deserve his vengeance. But God is a merciful judge and he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins so that we do not have to face the punishment. Therefore, to escape God's vengeance, we must place our faith in Jesus as we believe in him. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Once we see how merciful God is to us, we should be loving towards others- even when our initial reaction may be to seek vengeance.
God's Will Be Done 5-13-24
A few years ago, my mom passed away. Leading up to her death I was a bit conflicted. She had quit eating a few days before and my brother and I coaxed her into eating because we wanted her to get her strength back. She had however been resisting our coaxing.
We found out later that she had told one of her friends weeks earlier that she was ready to go. That comment was actually made before she even got sick. I have wondered if she had some sort of inclination about her demise. She had trusted Jesus Christ as her savior so she knew that when she left this world, he would be waiting for her. She was looking forward to that.
Thus as my brother and I were trying to get her to eat, she was just content to let the infection overtake her body so that she could go home to heaven. After receiving the medical report, we found out that the extra food would not have made any difference anyway. Mom was ready to die, she knew it, and she was okay with it. Mom was totally at peace as she left this world.
As others prayed for Mom, they prayed for her recovery. Mom's prayer was to be with Jesus. So whose prayer is God supposed to answer?
When Jesus taught us to pray, he told us to say, “thy will be done.” Whenever we pray, we must realize that God's will is what will ultimately be done, not our desires. We cannot expect to get our desires simply by drumming up more faith or by living more godly lives. On the other hand, we must recognize that by living more godly lives, we can know that God will listen to our prayers instead of ignoring them. 1 Peter 3:12 says "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL."
Do what is right so that God listens to your prayers. Jesus gave the illustration of a widow and a judge and explained that the judge finally granted the request because the widow kept asking. He was explaining prayer. Thus we should live righteously and pray consistently. But the judge/widow passage in Luke 18 was an illustration about praying for God to bring about justice. God is righteously just in all he does, so we should always want his will to be done, even if we do not understand his justice. In hind site, it was more just for God to allow my elderly and sick mother to be with him. Often we do not totally understand God's justice and we must then him trust by faith.
In the book of James we are given the example of Elijah's prayer being answered. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:17-18)
So how was Elijah able to get such amazing results in prayer? It was because he already knew the will of God in that situation because God had told him. “Then it came about at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word.” (I Kings 18:36)
The reason those amazing things happened as Elijah prayed was because he was doing what he did according to God's word. In other words, God had told Elijah what his will was so Elijah knew how to pray. If we knew God wanted a mountain moved we could pray and see it moved, but we must not think our prayers are more powerful than his word. We must know his word, do right, and trust his will to be done. www.southtownchurch.com
John Deere to 1st John 4-29-24
Daddy let me drive a John Deere
before my feet could reach the clutch
The two cylinders a poppin
I'd give the throttle just a touch
A fat lip on the steering wheel
cause I stopped a bit too fast
Hoping Mom wouldn't make me quit
I wanted it all to last
I figured I'd be farming
Until I became just dust
Then I realized it wasn't John Deere
But Jesus I must trust
From my first John Deere to 1st John
has been an awesome ride
I'm not going down the road I'd planned
but I got Jesus' Spirit by my side
Now I plant the seeds of God's word
praying they might grow
Helping others water them
so that many just might know
The love of God from John 3
is better than a Deere
But love it ain't the only thing
cause God we need to fear
Sin grows like the weeds of life
and it breaks a father's heart
Jesus paid the whole price
works are not a part
Still I must strive to love him
as I look to do what's right
Loving others and falling short
and trusting in his might
I know that I'm not perfect
but 1st John makes it clear
If we confess he forgives
and that is why I fear
He shows such love and graciousness
why should I neglect?
To return my love and faithfulness
and let him do the rest.
The Fine Glass Bowl 4-8-24
My wife has a fancy glass punch bowl that she uses for special occasions. She recently used it for serving drinks at a baby shower and then a week later she filled it with a desert for a family gathering.
My wife also has a large cast iron pot that is about the same size. I do not have to be nearly as careful with the cast iron. I can put it on the stove or into the oven. I can drop it and not worry about breaking it. I can bang a large serving spoon on the side of it to get some stuck on stew off of it. I cannot do those things with the glass punch bowl.
The contrast between the punch bowl and the cast iron pot reminds me of what Peter wrote about wives. “You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (I Peter 3:7) Notice that the passage does not say that wives are weak, but that husbands are to treat her like a weaker vessel. In other words, I am to treat my wife like the beautiful punch bowl, not like the old cast iron pot. That means I need to treat her as someone valuable who I am very careful with.
Notice that the way to treat her carefully is to understand her. Just like I understand that glass can break and that the punch bowl should not be put on the stove or into the oven, I need to understand what could hurt my wife. I must be careful to avoid doing actions that would hurt her.
A few verses before this, the wives were told to be gentle and of a quiet spirit and the example of Abraham's wife Sarah was given. A quiet spirit is not the idea of never sharing her opinion, it is rather the idea of being easy to get along with.
In order for husbands to know how to avoid hurting their wives so that their wives are easy to get along with, they must be able have an understanding of what their wife is thinking and feeling. That means that a wife must have the freedom to share her opinions. We are able to read in the book of Genesis that Sarah did just that in Genesis 21 when she told Abraham her thoughts about Hagar.
Peter also says that Sarah called Abraham lord. That term is not used there to mean “God”, but rather it means leader. In other words, Sarah was willing to let her husband lead, but she was also able to express her opinions in how he should make leadership decisions. Any good leader will listen to advisors and for the husband, his advisor should be his wife.
As a husband gets advice from his wife he is better able to dwell with her in an understanding way and thus better able to treat her like the valuable glass bowl. This doesn't mean that the wife should always get her way, but it also shows that the husband should not just selfishly make all the decisions without regard for his wife. Sarah honored Abraham and let him lead, but notice that in I Peter 3:7, the husband is also to honor the wife and to treat her carefully.
In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul shows us how the husband wife relationship is to be a picture of Christ and the church. We as Christians are to follow the leadership of Christ, but he loved us so much that he understands us. He even became a human like us. Further, he cares about our needs and our comforts. Therefore, we as husbands should put ourselves in our wife's shoes to understand her.
If we refuse, our prayers will be hindered and that makes sense. Why should God listen to us if we refuse to listen to our wives? “To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;” (I Peter 3:8).
Should Everyone Teach? 3-25-24
This is an election year and as I turn on the news I see a number of different candidates from a number of different political parties facing criticism for what they said or how they said it. These stories make headlines, but how you and I use our tongues is noticed by a much smaller group of people. Having said that, our words have a much more personal effect on our neighbors than the politician's words do. That is why it is important that we are concerned about the words that come out of our mouths.
In the first verse of James 3, we are warned that many of us should not become teachers. The tongue is used to teach and then the next 11 verses warn about how dangerous the tongue can be. Verse 5 says, “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!” Just like the small flame from one match can burn down a forest, just a few words- or even a single word- can set off so much destruction.
James warnings about the tongue continue in verses 9 and 10. “With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”
We understand that only Jesus is perfect and James makes it clear that no man can perfectly tame his tongue. Still we must take responsibility for what we say and how we say it. If a man were constantly yelling at his neighbors- constantly putting them down and cursing at them- he should not be teaching God's word in the church. James was clear in verse 1 that not everyone should be a teacher.
Christians are to love their neighbors and husbands are to love their wives, so a man who made a habit of using his tongue in a hurtful way against his wife should not be teaching in the church either. No doubt a high standard has been set, but James was not the only one to suggest such a high standard.
In 1 Timothy 5:22, the Apostle Paul said, “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.”
If you promote a sinful teacher and he spreads his sinful ideas through his teaching then you have thus promoted his sin. It is like that flame that spreads throughout the forest. No wonder James warned in verse 1, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)
James makes his point very clear in verses 11 and 12 when he says, “Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.” Someone who regularly uses their tongue to mistreat their wife or neighbor should not be trusted to use their tongue right when teaching the word of God.
Romans 16:17-18 warns, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”
Notice how they deceive with their speech. That deception can do a lot of damage. Jesus warns in Matthew 12:34, "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” If a heart is so cruel as to regularly speak evil towards others, we should not have that person teaching in the church.
Both James and Paul were serious about high standards for the teachers of God's word. Let us strive to live up to God's standards.
Celebrities and Worship 3-11-24
Tim McGraw is planning to perform at the Denny Sanford Premier Center this year. Ticket prices range from $71- $102. As expensive as those tickets are, they seem cheap compared to the tickets to see Pink. Those tickets are selling in a range from $230-$635.
There are far cheaper ways to get into the Denny Sanford Premier Center. It only cost me $8 to go to the home show and we got in for free when we attended the farm show. Of course people are not spending $230 to see the event venue, they are spending it to see Pink. Further, a Pink fan would be disappointed if Tim McGraw showed up when they were expecting someone else. Further, the person who was looking forward to hearing McGraw sing “Don't Take the Girl” would be disappointed if Pink showed up instead.
When these concert tickets are sold, they are selling access to the entertainers. The music that these entertainers perform can actually be accessed for free online, and it would likely even sound better on your laptap than it would at the Premier Center. Further the view would likely be better as well. Still, people are willing to spend their money to be close to the entertainer. It is all about the experience of being close to someone who is admired and being able to share that experience with others.
No doubt there will be a number of fans who cross the line into worship of the famous individual. As Christians, our worship ought to be reserved for God only. As much as I do not want to encourage idolatry of famous people, I do long for Christians to have an even greater devotion towards Jesus Christ than fans have towards their favorite celebrity.
We do not have to buy tickets to see Jesus. Instead we need to recognize that he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are to love him and believe in him. Music fans believe that their favorite entertainer is the best. Christians must believe that Jesus is God and that he is the best King that could ever rule. The belief that we as Christians have in Jesus Christ must be worshipful devotion.
The Denny Sanford Premier Center is a nice place, but Pink fans would be just as excited to go to an old warehouse with no paint on the walls to hear their favorite performer- especially if they knew Pink had designed the layout herself. As wonderful as heaven will be, Christians should be focused on Jesus, not so much on the venue.
Still there is a good reason for us to be excited about heaven. Jesus made it and when we get there, he will get to show it off to us. Heaven is like the concert itself. It is a way for Jesus to display his creative talents. Knowing that Jesus is God and that he is far more talented than any performer, I look forward to seeing what he has in store for us- not because I am more excited about heaven than about Jesus- I am excited about heaven because Jesus went there to prepare a place for us- that where he is, we may be there also. We get to see what he has made on full display.
All the wonders of heaven will point us to how wonderful Jesus is. It will direct our worship towards him. Even now, we get to see the wonders of his creation on this earth. Let the creation also remind us to worship our great king and creator Jesus Christ. As we see how great Jesus really is, it will make the worship of famous celebrities seem quite silly.
Working For Jesus 2-26-24
Being self employed can be stressful because I am responsible for everything and if things are not done right, I have to carry all that weight on my shoulders. That motivates me to be very careful in how I do my job.
But what if I were working for a reputable company and I loved my boss and I cared about the reputation of that company? In that situation, I would still want to be just as careful with my work as if I were self employed. I would not want to do anything to harm my boss, his company, or his reputation.
Although my commitment to diligence would not be reduced, I would still feel less pressure to do everything myself. If my boss was also good at his job, I would understand that he would be invested in making sure that I had the resources to do the job well. I would have his help. He would have my back and I would not have to do it all myself.
That explains what my life is like as I serve the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the boss and I am the servant. I do what he asks me to do and I want to do a good job for him because he is a good boss and I love him. Further I do not want to do anything to hurt his reputation.
I also know that he has all the resources to do whatever job he asks me to do. Jesus even promised in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus is a great boss.
As we come to the book of James, James is quick to tell us that he is a servant of Jesus Christ. Then he tells us that the Lord gives him trials so that he is better prepared to serve as a servant. That reminds me of how I was given easier jobs by my dad when I was younger so that I learned to do harder jobs later. As a kid those jobs seemed so hard, but now they are easy. They prepared me to do much more challenging jobs today. That explains why God allows trials into our lives.
But then James tells us that we should ask for wisdom and expect that God will give us what we ask for. James is not telling us that God will guarantee that we will have the wisdom to get rich or popular or whatever else our selfish desires would strive for. Instead he is telling us that we will have the wisdom to be faithful servants.
Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” Our job as faithful servants is to obey him and realize that he gives us all the resources to do that. The wisdom to know what God wants us to do is the wisdom to obey him.
As we serve Christ, we may want wisdom for choosing between two jobs. If neither job is sinful, then we should not fret about those details of our lives but faithfully serve him in whichever job we choose. On the other hand, if in one of the jobs we were expected to cheat customers, then we know that Jesus will give us the wisdom to turn down that job. James warns in 1:8 that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways and should not expect anything from the Lord. If you decide to take the job that would cause you to sin, then you are a double minded man trying to serve two masters. Our job is to serve Jesus and to glorify him.
When Jesus is your master he has your back. Trust him as you obey him. He is the boss. Trust him to take the responsibility when others are upset with you for obeying him.
An Eternity With Jesus 2-12-23
When I first started hiking with my boys they were too small to even climb hills themselves. I would either have to find an easy path or carry them myself. I would also keep my eyes open for danger and make sure they did not fall.
Now when I go hiking with them, I can hardly keep up. They want to climb rocks that I would sooner just look at. They no longer need my help to get to their destination, but they still want me to come along. The reason they want me along is because they enjoy my company. They want to be with their dad and to make more memories. They want me there because they love me. I love that.
The desire that my boys have to be with me is the same reason that I want to go to heaven. Too often when people talk about going to heaven, they are simply focused on avoiding the pitfall of hell. Often Jesus is viewed as a necessary guide to make sure that we take the right path to get to an important destination.
It is true that there is no way to get to heaven without Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” Notice that the destination that Jesus lists is not heaven, but the Father. God is more important than heaven.
I would rather walk through hell with Jesus by my side than to go to a heavenly paradise and not have Jesus there. Too many people are focused on heaven and are not at all concerned about God. The greatest command of all is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Believing in Jesus needs to be more than just believing that he is a guide to help you find a great eternal vacation spot in heaven. Believing in Jesus means believing that he is God and that he is worthy of your love, worship, and devotion. If you believe in Jesus, you will want to be with him. You will want him to be your king and you will want to live in his kingdom where he is at. The fact that Jesus is the king is what makes heaven paradise. Without him, any paradise could turn into a prison.
That helps to explain why I have so much joy while living in this imperfect world. Jesus is not yet here on earth ruling the kingdoms of this world and that is why our world is such a mess. Still I get to serve him and have him as my king and as a part of my life.
When I go hiking with my boys, we really don't care about the destination. We usually do not even have a destination. We just want to explore and spend time together. When I live for Jesus Christ, my focus is not on the streets of gold. I don't care if I ever get to see them or not. What I care about is the great adventure of spending this life and an eternity in the next life serving my Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
The most comforting words I have when I think about death are not that a mansion has been prepared for me, but the realization that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. If you want to be with him too, then remember what Jesus said in Joh 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
We Don't Need a Full Cup 1-29-24
When I was a kid, I thought it would have been fun to have lived before cars were invented and to use horses to get around. But then I started to think about how much work it takes to feed a horse, clean its stall, and to hook a horse to a buggy or to saddle it. Further it would take a lot longer to ride a horse to Sioux Falls than to simply jump in a car and drive up there. In the winter time, it is also nice to have a car with a heater.
Of course cars do break down, and that can be frustrating. But horses have a mind of their own and they can even die. The debate about whether or not we would be better off with a car or a horse has been easily settled in my mind- especially when I realize that today we actually have a choice between the two, and I have obviously chosen the car.
This whole discussion makes me reflect on the glass half full vs half empty. I could complain about my car and list the reasons why it is such a hassle to own a car thus emphasizing the glass half empty. Or I could list all the reasons why having a car is such a benefit thus pointing out why the glass is half full.
Often however, instead of looking at our glasses as half full or half empty, we start to look at our neighbor's glass. Perhaps they have more cars or a newer car. Thus it looks like their glass is running over while our glass hardly has anything in it. Still, when we look at worldwide statistics it is surprising to learn that less than 20% of the world population owns a car. Suddenly we realize that our glass is quite full even if we have a rusty old car.
II Corinthians 10:12 reminds us that comparing ourselves among ourselves is not wise. Covetousness is a common struggle. Too often people are envious because someone else has a fuller glass.
This reminds me of when my children were small. They would have been willing to trade a dollar bill for 3 quarters because 3 is more than one and the quarters weighed more than the dollar. Further, quarters are more fun to play with than a dollar bill. Imagine a child being upset because they had a cup that was only half full of $20 bills while their friend had a cup that was overflowing with quarters.
When we look at how much stuff other people have that we don't have we can end up thinking that their cup is overflowing while ours is almost empty. But what if your cup has something far more valuable in it than their overflowing cup? Matthew 13:44 says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.”
The kingdom of heaven is so valuable, because Jesus is the king and he is there. To be part of that kingdom, you need to believe in him as you submit to him as your king. Once you become part of his kingdom, he promises you eternal life (see John 3:16). That means what you have in your cup is far more valuable than someone who has a cup overflowing with gold or bit coin.
Instead of envying what others have in their cup, realize that the best things in life are free and you can have what is really important simply by trusting Christ. If you want to be part of Jesus' kingdom, remember that he said, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37) When you come to Christ you are given something of infinite value. Be thankful for his gift of eternal life in his kingdom with him. Do not envy what others have. What he gives you is worth so much more.
Israel and the Olive Tree 1-8-24
Trees are amazing plants. In certain circumstances a branch can be taken from one tree and grafted onto another so that it becomes part of that plant. Romans 11 uses the example of trees and grafting of branches to illustrate the relationship between the Lord, the people of Israel, and Christians today.
For years the descendants of Jacob who was also named Israel were God's chosen people. Throughout the Old Testament we see God interacting with the people of Israel. Israel had some faithful kings like David and Solomon. They also had a promise of a deliverer.
Over time the nation of Israel found itself in decline and eventually they were under the rule of the powerful Roman empire. It was during this time that a descendant of King David was born in Bethlehem. He was named Jesus. He was and is the promised deliverer.
Baby Jesus grew up, died on a cross for our sins, and then rose from the dead before ascending back to heaven where he came from. It should not surprise us that he was born into a Jewish family. They are the people chosen by God.
Romans 11, however describes something wonderful as it depicts the people of Israel as an olive tree. The first verse of the chapter makes it clear that God has not rejected his people. His people -Israel- are still precious to him and that is clarified in verses 1 and 2.
Then we are reminded of how Israel did not always do what they were supposed to do, but even in the worst of times there were still those in Israel who were faithful to God. But what about those who are not part of Israel, but are faithful to God? What about Christians who are faithful to God by trusting Christ? The chapter explains that just like a branch can be grafted into an olive tree, those who are not biological descendants of Israel can be grafted into the family of Israel and be part of God's chosen people.
Sadly some have not read this chapter carefully and suggest that God uprooted the tree of Israel or chopped it off completely and replaced it with the church. That is not true. In fact the Apostle Paul makes it clear the root is still there and supporting the branches that have been grafted in.
God made promises to Israel and God keeps those promises. Those who trust Christ get to share in those promises. They do not take those promises away from Israel. Before Christ, non Jews could still become part of Israel. Ruth was an example in the Old Testament. After Christ, those who believe in Jesus are like Ruth and are grafted into the family of Israel. Those who do not believe in Christ are pruned off of that tree whether they are biologically descended from Jacob or not.
Not all Jews are Christians and even today a non ethnic Jew can become a religious Jew, but if they do not trust Christ, they will be like the grafted in branches of Romans 11 that are cut off. At the same time Romans 11 makes it clear that if an ethnic Jew trusts Christ, they can be grafted back in and have the full benefit of all the promises made to Jacob.
Romans 11 is a reminder of God's promises of his love for his chosen people, and of the benefits of trusting Christ. Zachariah 2:8 makes it clear that the nation of Israel is the apple of God's eye. Throughout history God has drawn the people of Israel back to himself when they have gone astray. As a Christian who has been grafted in, I want to be careful not to be arrogant against the root (Jewish people), just as the root should not be arrogant against me. This is especially important in an age with so much antisemitism.
The end of the chapter even shows that the partial hardening of Israel against Jesus is only temporary. Let us pray that a better understanding of the relationship between God, Israel, and that more hearts would soften to trust Christ.
Who is the Most Powerful? 12-26-23
I recently read that T. Denny Sanford has a net worth of over $2 billion. Compared to most of us, his worth makes him seem quite powerful. I also read that Elon Musk has a net worth of over $250 billion. Suddenly Sanford does not seem so powerful.
But the reality is that neither Sanford nor Musk are as powerful as their net worth might make them appear. Sure Sanford is powerful compared to me and Musk is powerful compared to Sanford, but none of us are powerful compared to God.
Proverbs 30:4 states, “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son's name? Surely you know!” His name is Yahweh and his son is Jesus Christ.
The chapter goes on to show how dangerous it can be to slander a slave. Slaves were at the bottom of the economic and social ladder. Still an honest and trusted slave could reveal that a more powerful person was a liar. That powerful person could then quickly be humbled. Verse 10, thus shows that a servant can hold a lot of power. “Do not slander a slave to his master, Lest he curse you and you be found guilty.” (Proverbs 30:10)
Rich men are powerful but so are kings. Kings are so powerful that access to their palaces is quite restricted. But like the liar that is humbled by the powerful truth of a slave, the king's power is limited and he can not keep everything out of his palace. “The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.” (Proverbs 30:28)
Powerful men can be humbled by slaves. Kings can be humbled by lizards. We can all be humbled by God.
Proverbs 30 shows us how God can use slaves, lizards, grasshoppers, and ants to put power into perspective. God is the one with the real power. He created the lizard, the grasshopper, and the ant. He also created the wealthy man, the king, and the slave. Jesus is our savior, but he is also our creator God. He is all powerful and we should be humble enough to realize he is the one who is really in control.
When you chose to follow him, you are choosing to follow power and you will be on the side of the most powerful. That however does not mean that you will become powerful yourself. In fact, if that is your goal, do not be surprised if a grasshopper humbles you. But if your goal is to worship and glorify Jesus, do not be surprised when he uses his power to protect and defend you just like the slave who was slandered in Proverbs 30.
As we start this new year, chose to follow our powerful God, Jesus Christ. Serve him, not to gain power for yourself, but because you recognize his powerful yet humble love. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Our Humble Lord Was Born 12-11-2023
I love Christmas. Our family hangs stockings and it is fun to place items in them as we wait for Christmas. It is also fun to anticipate what I might find in my own stocking.
I must admit however that it is really easy to become self focused as I look at those stockings. Of course the obvious way that I can become self focused is in wanting a nice gift for myself, but there is a more subtle danger to my own selfishness. I could want the other stocking owners to really like me and to think I am wonderful because of what I gave them. If my desire for praise is greater than my desire to give, I can easily take my focus off of wanting to bless them and end up using them simply as a way to bless myself. This shows how easy it is to lose the battle with selfish pride and to forget the meaning of Christmas.
In order to put things into the proper perspective, we must remember why we are even celebrating Christmas. It is the time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus left heaven to be born as a man. When he left heaven, he left so much behind and as he did so, he taught us the importance of humility- of putting others ahead of ourselves.
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:1-8)
The birth, life, and death of Jesus is really what Christmas is about. We remember that God was born as a baby, that he humbled himself, and that he died for others. We are reminded that we also should humble ourselves and put others first. Gift giving is a great way to do that. To be like Christ we must do more than just give gifts. We need to remember to regard those around us as more important than ourselves. Jesus did that. Let us be thankful for his loving humility as we worship him and give to others.
Be Careful with Words 11-27-23
As I write these articles I have time to think about my words. I will often come up with an idea to write about and then I think about it for a few days. Other times I will just come up with an idea and start writing. Regardless, after I write it, I reread it, modify it, and then let is sit for days before making it public. I am able to put time and thought into these words.
I do not have as much time and thought for all my words though. Often one of my sons will ask me a question and I will not answer right away. Now that they are older, they are much more patient to wait for my answer. When they were little, they became frustrated when I did not answer right away. They have learned that there are times that I like to think before I answer them.
I wish I was better at that though. Too often I give an answer right away when I should have thought about it a bit longer. Other times I open my mouth and speak- even interrupting- when I should have been quiet.
Today we do not just have opportunities to speak and put our foot in our mouths, but we have so many opportunities to type words that we should have been more careful with. It is easy to peck out a quick reply to an online forum or a facebook comment.
Often those replies can be quite helpful. I am so thankful for the many people that contribute to automotive repair forums- even if they only have typed out a quick reply. Much of their advice has been very helpful. I have, however, figured out that even on an auto repair forum, there is contradictory advice. Some people even type without knowing what they are talking about.
As frustrating as bad automotive advice could be, I should feel even worse if I speak or type in a sinful manner. Sticks and stones can break our bones and words do hurt. Proverbs 29:20 warns us: “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12 shows us why it is so easy to give a quick answer when it says, “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Pride causes us to try to be a know it all on an automotive forum or to quickly give an answer to our kids. It also causes us to try to show someone we disagree with online how wrong they are. When such temptations arise we need to remember the example of Jesus. The Apostle Paul told us, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:4-8 NASB)
Jesus is God, yet he humbled himself and put others ahead of himself. Let us swallow a little pride and instead of showing off with our words, hold those words back a bit so that we can make sure that they come out in a loving and kind manner. Instead of just typing or saying the first thing that comes to our minds, let us make sure we say what Jesus would want us to say. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” (James 1:19 NASB)
Jesus Goes to Bat for You 11-13-23
As a kid I was not good at sports. In fact, as an adult I am not good at sports either, but now it doesn't matter. In my school days, I was forced to participate in Phy Ed class. I was expected to do things that were actually impossible for me to do. I was so thankful when during my senior year of High School, I was no longer required to take that class.
Ironically I look like a person who would be good at sports. I am tall and have the right body mass index.
But I was born with reasons beyond my control that made me terrible at sports. I was well into my adult years before I understood those reasons.
My biggest sports disability is my eyesight. I had 20/20 vision for years, but when a ball is thrown towards me, I have never seen the ball where most other people see it. About 97% of the population sees a moving object in a different place than it actually is. In other words, their eyes compensate for the speed of the moving object so that they can anticipate where it will arrive and thus be able to catch it. For the 3% of us without that ability, it is difficult to catch a moving object unless it is moving very slowly. In a typical dodge ball game, balls are coming at varying speeds so it was impossible for me to consistently catch the opponents ball.
Thankfully, I could do a lot of pull ups and I was good at arm wrestling. The only problem is that the gift that I was born with that allowed me to win in those areas held me back when it came to throwing a ball. Because my muscles could lock and hold, I could win in arm wrestling, but that meant my muscles could not release quickly enough to throw a ball very far.
Finally, I had another big strike against me. Although never diagnosed, I likely had exercise induced asthma. I remember running the 600 yard dash in Phy Ed class and having to walk the last bit because I felt like I would pass out. I would then lay on the ground and try to get my breath once I finished. I had no idea how dangerous it was. I just knew I was being told to try harder, so I did. But I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I could not do better than I was doing. I was trying my best and still coming up short. In fact, I was pushing myself so hard it could have been life threatening. No wonder I hated Phy Ed class.
Then when I was 16, I broke my arm after getting thrown off a horse. That was actually a blessing, because finally I wasn't expected to do everything. I was able to sit out of some activities. Best of all, I got to have someone else bat for me. I was able to run the bases because they were not that far. That meant I could be good at something.
Trying to pay for our sins is like me trying to catch a fastball. I can't do it. None of us can pay for our own sins. No matter how hard we try we will still come up short when trying to pay off our sin debt. That is why we need Jesus to come up to bat for us. He did that when he died on the cross and paid what we could not pay. I am thankful that I don't have to do sports anymore. I am even more thankful that my sins have been paid for when I trusted Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Some people do not want to go to church for the same reason I do not want to play sports. No one should have to feel that way. Realize you do not have to be perfect. You just need to be willing to let Jesus go to bat for you.
Learning by Watching Jesus 10-30-23
It has been fun to watch our baby girl began to develop her own personality. Our teenage son has taught her to blow through her lips. She learned this by mimicking his behavior. She has a cousin who is a bit older than her who has already learned to wave. This too was a behavior that was learned by watching others.
We can learn a lot by watching others. When it comes to fixing an appliance or a vehicle I am quite thankful for Youtube. I can watch others and learn what I am supposed to do. I have accomplished quite a bit that I could not have figured out without that help.
As I watch my teenage boys grow into men, I am able to watch them do things that they learned from me. Often I am pleased with their behavior. Sometimes I am reminded of the country song where the little kid does something wrong and his dad scolds him and asks where he learned that. The child replied, “I've been watching you Dad.”
No doubt we all need good role models to learn the proper skills in life. We also need role models to learn to do right in life. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:9 NASB) Paul was reminding them that he was setting an example for them to learn from and to follow.
As Christians, we need good role models to follow, but we also need to strive to be good role models ourselves. King Solomon wrote much of the book of Proverbs in the Bible. He encouraged his son to read it, learn from it, and then apply it. As we read the words of wisdom within those Proverbs we can learn to be better role models as well.
But like Solomon, the Apostle Paul, and the man in the country song, we are not able to be the perfect role model. That does not mean that we shouldn't strive to be better. It means that we need to remember who the perfect role model really is.
Jesus Christ was no ordinary man. He was and is fully God and fully man. When he left heaven to be born as a human, he left so much of his glory behind. There were two things that he did not leave behind at all though. He stayed filled with grace and truth. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NASB)
If grace and truth were so important that Jesus stayed filled with them, then we ought to copy those traits in our lives. We ought to commit to telling the truth, but speaking that truth with grace. We ought to show grace to those who have done wrong, but not compromise the truth about what they did wrong. Grace and truth is a reminder that we ought to be firm about reality yet loving in our conduct.
Jesus treated people with compassion, yet did not excuse their sin. As Christians we should not be afraid to call sin sin and then live in a way that avoids sin so that we are setting the proper example. That is living out truth. But then when we see others come short as they strive to set a proper example in their own lives and are willing to admit when they have done wrong, we need to be quick to show grace. That will lead to heart of forgiveness as well.
Jesus set the example of forgiveness when he died for the sins of the whole world so that forgiveness could be granted from God. No doubt Jesus is the perfect role model. Follow him.
Jesus and The Prepper 10-16-23
I walked into the living room as my boys were watching a TV show about a prepper. The man was wearing a tactical vest loaded with about 30lb of gear that he carried with him at all times in case a disaster struck. He showed his compass and fire starter and I noticed that he also carried a canteen of water. I did not watch the whole show, so I do not know what else he had with him.
I commented to my boys that he may be ready to live off the land, but I wondered if he was ready for the next life. My 13 year old said that if the man did not survive the Apocalypse then he would meet Jesus.
I told him that he had forgotten an important point though. Jesus said in Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Imagine at the end of life, meeting Jesus and having him tell you to leave. Notice why they had to depart. Jesus did not know them. This is an interesting statement considering that he would later say, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:30-31).
Jesus is God and thus knows all about us, but if we choose to be a stranger to him, then he has every right to say that we are not known by him. Some people have never been to church and have not thought much at all about Jesus and are thus strangers to him. Others go to church all the time and are also strangers to him. In fact just before he tells them to depart because he never knew them, he stated: “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'” (Matthew 7:22) He then follows that up with, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
The problem was that they thought they were prepared to meet Jesus because they had done all the right things. They were like the guy with his tactical vest who had checked off all the things he thought he needed. The problem is that getting into heaven is not the same as surviving an earthly disaster scenario.
It is important to do good things- so important that Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) He also reminded us that the most important commandments were to love God and to love our neighbor.
The problem is that we cannot put enough good things into the tactical vest of life to get us into heaven. That is why the Apostle Paul explained to us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
We should walk in good works, but those good words are not what gets us into heaven. We get into heaven by the grace of God as we put our faith in Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). When we believe in Jesus, we make a connection with him and that is how he knows us. We also have this promise from him, “"All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
If you want to be prepared to meet Jesus, then believe in him as your Lord and savior as you understand that he loved you enough to die for your sins. If you do that, then he will not cast you out when you meet him.
Caught by Your
Own Trap 10-2-23
My oldest son has figured out how to make a fun pranking device. He took a mouse trap, covered the spring arm with duct tape so that it can hold some airsoft bb's, and then he extended some fishing line to make a trip wire to trigger it.
Since he likes playing airsoft, he decided that this has potential to be more than just a pranking device. So he began to calculate how he could implement it into game play. One of his concerns however was that he not place it where he or his teammates would end up being the target rather than their opponents.
His concerns remind me of Proverbs 26:27, “He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.”
The Proverbs however, are not talking about a game of airsoft. They are talking about the dangers of acting foolishly and not doing what God expects from us. Just before vs 27, the Proverb warn about stirring up strife. Often when people do that, they end up hurting themselves as much or more than they hurt their opponents.
Rolling a stone or digging a pit for an opponent tends to be more of an offensive rather than defensive action. Of course the mouse trap could be used to defend a strategic point. Still, there is a difference between protecting oneself and going on the attack. This is the difference between justice and vengeance.
When someone has done wrong we must seek justice. Information about the injustice must be shared with the proper authorities with the hope that justice will be served. In an imperfect world justice does not always prevail, but that does not mean that we should resort to vengeance.
It is not uncommon for strife to be stirred up and for people who do not have all the facts to stir things up even further. All we have to do is look at the political landscape in our country to see examples on both the left and the right of this very thing happening. Both of our major parties have experienced some major embarrassment after “rocks that were rolled” rolled back on them. We have even witnessed violent action from those on the extreme edges of both parties as the quest for vengeance over injustices got out of hand. Too often things got out of hand because people were stirred up by false or incomplete information. The flames were fed to make people more angry than they should have been.
For example, the important message of rejecting racism was lost through false claims of racism in the Jessie Smollett case. Then legitimate concerns about making sure our elections are fair got lost by extreme ideas from the “Kracken Lady.” Soon people on both ends of the political spectrum had reason to be embarrassed and the real concerns for injustice got overshadowed. Further people got hurt because strife had been instigated to extremes that should have never been reached.
What we witness on the political landscape makes news headlines, so it is easy to be familiar with it, but the Proverbs are important for helping each of us individually in our day to day lives. Too often when we get upset we end up making things worse for ourselves and our teammates. This is especially true when instead of showing grace, we start to dig pits and roll rocks. Jesus had the power to put people into pits or to crush them with rocks, yet instead he came filled with grace and truth.
When injustice has been done, we should be willing to speak the truth. But we must be careful that we not speak or act in a vengeful way that could do more harm than good. We should be reminded to live like Christ as we show love to our neighbors. We should take a firm stand against injustice while still being gentle toward the world around us.
Lost Legos and Jesus 9-18-23
My boys and I love Legos. Still we get distracted by other fun activities and the Legos might sit for weeks at a time without being used. When we come back to them, they have not built themselves into a new creation. They are still the same as when we left them. Further if we put them into a pail and shake the pail, they do not build themselves. Instead the things that we built actually fall apart.
The Lego example illustrates the Second Law of Thermodynamics (a law of energy decay) that shows that things go from a more ordered state to a less ordered state. The rust on our cars is a great example of this law and so is the rotting garbage in a dumpster.
Another example is the human body. Although I still feel fairly young and healthy, I cannot see as well as I used to and I am not as strong as I used to be. Further my hair is turning gray. My body is going from a more ordered state to a less ordered state.
The Lego illustration showed us that there has to be a creator. The example of my aging body shows that one day I will meet that creator. Hebrews 9:27 warns, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
As a child, I became a Lego creator. Many of my creations were lost or destroyed. Today I do not even know what happened to the Legos that I had as a child. Thankfully my creator is much more loving of his creation than I was of my Legos.
John chapter 1 makes it very clear that Jesus is our creator. By the third chapter of John we are shown how much he loves us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Jesus did not just create us and then forget about us. He knows the details about us. Jesus said in Luke 12:7, "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
As the hairs of my head turn gray and fall out, Jesus knows how many I have left. He also knows about my sin and that because of my sin, I have come short of his glory. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23) This reality presents a problem for all of us because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). In other words our sin is an even bigger problem than the fact that our bodies are going from a more ordered state to a less ordered state.
If I were simply buried in the ground and forgotten once I die- like childhood Legos- then there would not be a lot to worry about. But we are not forgotten by our creator. We are both loved and held accountable for our actions. If we return that love and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as we give our lives to him, then we will live with him forever in a wonderful place he has prepared for us. If however we reject him, he will not just throw us away, he will throw us into the lake of fire where we will be punished forever (see Matthew 25:46).
Some may think it is cruel of God to hold his creation to such a high standard, but he is not expecting much from us. He made us and loves us so much that he died for us. To expect us to simply submit to a creator who made us, loved us, and died for us is not expecting too much. In fact, it is making heaven a better place because it is keeping out those who do not care enough about God and others.
Jesus is our loving creator. Live for him who died for you.
Unity Through Humility 9-7-23
Jacob and Esau were twin brothers. Esau was only a little bit older than Jacob and when they were born, Jacob had a hold of Esau's heel. This was not the only time when there was a hint of tension between these two brothers. As the older of the two, Esau had the birthright. That meant when their father Isaac died, he would get the inheritance. But one day Esau was hungry and traded that birthright for some food that Jacob offered him.
Although the birthright now entitled Jacob to the future inheritance, their father had a right to give away gifts any time before his death. That meant that he could bless Esau with many possessions even before he died. This would have allowed Esau to get what amounted to an early inheritance that could have potentially left Jacob with little after Isaac died. Jacob thus figured out a way to trick his dad into giving him the blessing instead of Esau. Thus Esau was so upset that he had neither the birthright nor the blessing that he wanted to kill his twin brother.
Jacob is convinced that it is best if he just leave and give his brother a chance to calm down. But after 20 years, Jacob decides to come back home. By the time he returns he is married, has children, and has built up huge herds and flocks of animals. He had been quite successful even without his father's wealth. During that same time, his brother Esau had also seen a lot of success. Remember that Jacob had left 20 years earlier because his brother had wanted to kill him.
One of the reasons that Esau had been so upset was that the blessing that Jacob received said that Jacob's brothers had to bow down before him. Further, Esau was told that he would have to serve Jacob. So based on the traditions and rules of that time and within that family, Jacob had authority over Esau. Instead of flaunting that authority, Jacob does something very special. “But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” (Genesis 33:3) Instead of demanding that Esau bow to him, he bows to his brother.
The results of Jacob's humility are very touching. “Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (Genesis 33:4)
As chapter 33 unfolds we see both Jacob and Esau showing love and humility toward each other in spite of past hurts. We see a family reunited and we even see Jacob wanting to come to visit his brother once they get settled (vs 14). Throughout the chapter, we see Jacob calling himself Esau's servant even though legally, it was the other way around.
Jacob is a wonderful example of a man who has been given authority, yet set aside that authority to serve someone else. Jesus did that in an even more dramatic way. He set aside so much of the power and authority he had in heaven to come to earth as a humble man. Once on earth, rather than demanding to be served he served others. He washed feet, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and died for the sins of the whole world.
When Jacob showed humility toward his brother Esau, it paved the way to them being reconciled and setting aside the animosity that had been between them. Jesus did the same thing. By showing humility and becoming a humble servant, he was able to bridge the severed relationship between God and man caused by man's sin.
For those who have a brother like Jacob, it is a huge blessing, but we can all have a Lord and Savior who is even better than Jacob. That Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ. All we have to do is to believe in Jesus as we fall before him in love like Esau did to Jacob. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Wrestling
With Jesus 8-21-23
We have 4 boys in our house, so there has been a lot of wrestling through the years. Our boys are not unusual in this regard. I grew up with 2 brothers and we wrestled a lot as well. We did not wrestle because we were mad at each other. We wrestled because it was fun. It was a bonding experience for us as brothers.
Occasionally someone would get their feelings hurt and tempers would flare, but most of the time we grew closer to each other though the competition. It was a way for us to build camaraderie.
Exercise is also a great way to relieve stress, and our wrestling matches were a great way to unwind.
My mom was an only child and the closest she had to sibling were 2 girl cousins who lived next door. She did not grow up around all the wrestling and did not understand what we were doing. She just thought we were being wild. In reality we were showing love to each other.
The loving bonding that can occur during wrestling between brothers, helps us to better understand the wrestling match between Jacob and God in Genesis 32. At the end of the match we find this conversation taking place: “And he said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved."
(Genesis 32:28-30 NASB)
Jacob understands that during the wrestling match that he had seen God. He was told that he had striven with God and man. Jesus is fully God and fully man. That explains why they were so closely matched. As God, Jesus could have vaporized Jacob at any time in order to win, but he did not come to vaporize him, he came as his friend. He set aside so much of his heavenly power to wrestle with Jacob man to man.
On the night Jacob wrestled, he was facing one of the greatest challenges in his life. Twenty years earlier he had left home because his brother Esau had wanted to kill him. Now he is returning and hoping for peace with Esau, but he has gotten word that his brother is coming with 400 men. Thankfully he is coming looking for peace as well, but Jacob did not yet know that.
During this time of stress, Jacob calls out to God for help and God comes to wrestle with him. This is a beautiful picture of how we should respond to God during a time of stress. We should draw close to Christ in prayer and draw him toward us even if we feel like we are being pushed away. Then as we push away from Christ, we should remember that he is pulling us toward him. This is the picture of a wrestling match. It is also a picture of how our prayer lives can often be during times of great turmoil and stress in our lives.
Jacob
had his thigh put our of joint to remind him that God was the one who
was really in control, but he was also shown that God was right there
with him as he faced his trial. As we wrestle with God in prayer,
let us not forget that he is in control even if the results are not
what we were hoping for. Also realize that he is there with us and
we are not alone. Proverbs 18:24 tells us, “A man that hath
friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.” Let Jesus Christ be that friend
and draw close to him during times of adversity. My brothers are
great and they are there for me, but having the creator of the
universe, Jesus Christ, beside me is even better.
When Ministry is Easy 8-7-23
I have had multiple jobs in my life and I have found that certain aspects of each job are easier than others. That is true in any vocation. Still I had to smile about a statement I heard at a recent conference. The guest speaker stated that as a pastor, programs wearied him. For years, I had felt the same way. Within a church there can be so many programs that they end up distracting from prayer and teaching the word of God. When I would talk to people one on one about Christ, or would prepare and preach a sermon, I would not feel tired . When I tried to keep some program that I wasn't excited about going, I would be exhausted.
Then I reread a passage that changed my life. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." (Matthew 11:29-30) These words were spoken by Jesus. I suddenly realized that if the load was overwhelming, then maybe it was not being given to me by Jesus. Do not misunderstand. We are to take on his yoke. That means that we are expected to work, but he is not giving us a load that is unmanageable. In fact, he is not even giving us a load that is hard.
Often people in ministry (not just pastors, but other church volunteers as well) are overwhelmed- not by the loads that God has given them to bear, but by the loads that other people have expected them to bear. Many church programs that have been in place for decades, were started by someone with the passion and gifting to minister in that particular area. Then once those people were gone, others were pressured into taking their place. If no one could take their place, often the pastor or the pastor's wife were expected to just keep it going. Such an approach could easily lead to burnout and distract people from better ministries. In fact, they could become an excuse not to do some of the most important ministry.
I Corinthians 12 speaks of how God gifts different people in the church in different ways. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, it is the job of the pastor to equip the Christians for the work of the ministry. Verse 13 shows how: “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13). So the pastor's job is to teach the scriptures so we can all understand them and be unified. Then, he is to help us gain a knowledge of Jesus. He is to teach about who Jesus Christ is and what he did. Once we know about Jesus, we can all start to minister to others- helping others as we share with them the knowledge of Jesus.
Ministry shouldn't just be about getting people who don't know Jesus into our buildings. It should be about telling people about Jesus no matter where they are and then inspiring them to come to church to encourage each other after they have trusted Christ.
Not
everyone will minister in the same way. Ministry is going to look
different for each person because we all have different gifting and
different interests. We do not need more programs. Instead we need
more people ministering on a personal level and doing what they
already love while teaching people about Jesus. Some might teach
about Jesus on a hunting trip. Others might share what they have
learned from the Gospel of John while on a bike ride with friends.
Others will go fishing. Others might take a friend to an arts
festival. The point is that some of the best ways to minister to
those around you is to do the things you already love and share the
good news about who Jesus is while you do it. Then it will not be
hard work, and your yoke will be easy. Go to church to learn about
Jesus, and then tell others what you have learned. That is the most
effective way to be in the ministry.
A Trial or A Blessing? 7-24-23
We raise chickens and one of the best benefits of having chickens is having eggs. We had a problem though. In one of our best laying pens, the eggs were being eaten by a chicken. Instead of getting 5 or 6 eggs, we would only find one egg each day and that egg was protected as the hen sat on it until we arrived. We could see evidence of other eggs and determined that one of the chickens must be eating them. We had made sure there was plenty of protein in their ration, but the problem continued.
We were experiencing what often happens in life. We were being blessed and facing a trial all at the same time. We were blessed with hens that laid eggs, but were facing the trial of having a chicken that was eating the eggs.
Suddenly another trial struck. In the pen where the eggs were being eaten, one of the two roosters died. Although we also raise chickens to eat, the unexpected death of one of our birds is not easy to face. But just as blessings often come with trials, this trial came with an unexpected blessing. After that rooster died, we no longer had eggs being eaten. Evidently our egg thief had perished.
Now we have the blessing of a full crop of eggs again, but we have the trial of one less rooster. So often life is like that. It reminds me of the words of a song I heard as a child, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there has to be a little rain sometime.” In order to have beautiful flowers, we have to have both rain and sunshine. There are times that rain is a blessing and times when it is a trial. The same can be said about sunshine.
On the 4th of July, we were disappointed when the parade was canceled due to rain, but we were also glad that it rained because it was good for the crops, gardens, and trees we had planted.
Some people teach that if we just get things right, that we should expect a life filled with health, wealth, and prosperity and free of trials. When we read the Bible, we do not find any people who have lives free of trials. In fact, some of the most faithful people faced extreme trials like prison, beatings, famine, health challenges, and poverty. Yet over and over again, we find people in less than ideal situations trusting God in spite of their trials and then finding blessings.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” In his letters to the Corinthians, he says, “To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;” (I Corinthians 4:11-12), and “as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.” (II Corinthians 6:10)
Paul was faithfully serving Christ, yet he still had many trials in life. But notice what else he had. He had contentment as he endured and recognized that there were also blessings. As we face the trials of life, let us also remember the words of another song, “Count your many blessings every day. Your going to find your way to heaven is a rough and rocky road, if you don't stop and smell the roses along the way.”
When I look back on trials in life, I can often see the blessings in hindsight- like when the rooster died. This helps to remind me that when God allows trials, he knows what is best. It reminds me that I can trust him and that helps me to see that often the blessings he gives are disguised as trials.
We All Must Love Jesus 7-9-23
God's greatest command is found in Deuteronomy 6:5, "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Jesus is God and he said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) It is important that Christians love Jesus.
Sadly there was a church that had lost their first love. We read about it in Revelation 2:1-4, "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
The Ephesian church was commended for not putting up with evil men and those who claimed to be apostles but were not. The apostle Paul had warned in Acts 20:30 that even some of their pastors would end up teaching wrong things and that they needed to be on guard. Later he wrote to Timothy who was a Pastor in Ephesus and warned Timothy of false teachers (I Timothy 1:3). Then in verse 5 he reminded Timothy to promote love. Thus, the church at Ephesus followed some of the instructions, but not all of them.
They had not always been know for messing up in the area of love though. As John writes about them in Revelation, he points out that they had left their first love- implying that they at one time had the love. The Apostle Paul had also written a letter to them where he commends them for their love of Jesus when he says, “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible.” (Ephesians 6:24)
By the time that John is writing Revelation decades had passed, so it is likely that those whose love for Jesus could not be corrupted had already passed away. Thus we had a church that had lost its first and most important love.
John records Jesus' warning to the church at Ephesus, when he warns, “'Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:5)
The lampstand was the place where the light of the lamp was set. Jesus is the light. John 8:12 says, “Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
When a church has lost it's love for Jesus they are no longer setting Jesus up on the lampstand to let his light shine brightly to all who enter the church. A candle on a lampstand gives a lot more light than a candle tipped over and laying burning on the ground. If a candle on the floor starts the floor on fire, then the building will likely be destroyed anyway. The point is that the light of Jesus without a lampstand is quite ineffective. That is why it is so important that the people of a church have a love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you find that you or your church has lost that love, then do like Jesus said and repent. Then let your love for him shine as you strive to obey him. Jesus loved us so much that he died for our sins. Knowing how much he loved us, it should be easy to love him.
Sinners Saved by Grace 6-25-03
I love knowing that Jesus Christ changes lives. A friend of mine appears to be the stereotypical sweet Christian lady. She is faithful at church, kind to others, and you would never expect to hear that she had a sinful past. But she was not always that way. Before she came to Christ, she had visited a church, but had not taken the message seriously. She then went back to the vehicle and smoked a joint with her husband who was also not a Christian at that time. Eventually they both trusted Jesus Christ and their lives changed.
Many of those in our small church have similar stories that they could share. Our sons know that the people that they go to church with have a sinful past. That does not alarm me, because those people are not encouraging that behavior, but instead are warning about it. They are confessing their sins to each other as we study passages in the Bible that talk about those sins. They are not glorifying the sin, but instead admitting that they did wrong, and that change was needed, and that Jesus can and did bring about that change.
A friend of mine recently became a Christian. Before he was a Christian, he tried to excuse his sinful behavior, but once he surrendered to Christ, he was really bothered by his past. I told him that the people I go to church with also had a past and how the Lord had changed them. He told me that he had been worried about them judging him, but now he wondered what they would think about him knowing that they also had a past. I told him that they regularly share about their past because they are rejoicing that Jesus had changed them.
I then asked him to read Romans 5:6-8 which says, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (NASB)
That passage makes it clear that Christianity is not for perfect people who have it all together. Instead, it is for fallen people who need a savior. In Romans 3:23 we are told that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” That includes that sweet lady who seems like the perfect Christian. Jesus died for her, and she believed in him, and then he changed her.
Notice that Jesus did not wait for us to straighten our lives out before he died for us. Instead “He demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, he died for us.” While we were yet sinners! That means that while you are still struggling with your sin, you can come to Jesus Christ. Never forget that he loves you in spite of your sin. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
In verse 20 of Romans 5, we are told, “And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,”, That means that the grace of God is greater than our sin. That should not be an excuse for us to keep sinning. Romans chapter 6 addresses this as we are challenged to avoid sin once we come to Christ and are shown that we no longer have to be slaves to sin after we trust him.
If
you are struggling with sin and are thinking you could never be good
enough for God, then realize that he loves you anyway. Then come to
him and let him change you as your love for him motivates you to live
for his glory as he works through you. Once you come to him, Jesus
will give you his Holy Spirit and you will no longer be fighting sin
on your own. Come to him and let him transform you.
God's Gift of Life 6-12-23
It had been over 11 years since we had a new baby in our family, but after a long wait, our little girl finally arrived. Much had changed over those 11 years. Before she was even born, we were amazed by the detailed pictures we were able to see from the ultrasound. Still with all the advancements in technology, the actual process of a natural birth has not changed much since the beginning of time.
One change for us however was the opportunity to try a water birth. It was a wonderful experience for both mother and baby. It was much more comfortable for Crystal as a mother, but it was really neat to see how comfortable our new baby seemed through the whole process. The nurses carefully monitored the water temperature so that the transition from mother to water would be very comfortable for the baby. I had watched all of our children being born and this baby was especially calm as she was allowed to cuddle with her mother in the warm water right after being born.
The nurses at the birth center were amazing. Their attitude was to make things as comfortable for the mother and baby as possible and to trust the natural process that was taking place unless a medical reason required immediate intervention.
With all our modern technology, we can forget that one of the most complex processes has been taking place since Eve gave birth to her first child. In most cases a birth is able to happen completely naturally and things just fall into place. Because the stakes are so high (human life) it is understandable that care and caution should be taken during the process and any needed medical intervention should happen. Still, most births happen without problems like they have for thousands of years.
God created life and the birth process. In spite of the pain, it is a beautiful event. No one had to tell our baby to breath. She just did. Of course if she had not, they were ready to intervene. No one had to tell our new baby how to eat. She knew what to do.
Further as she latched on to eat, that natural process actually stimulated her mother's body to release the placenta. Before birth, that placenta had been important for providing the nutrients she needed, but once she was nursing, her mother's body got a signal that the placenta was no longer needed. Soon the placenta was also delivered.
God created the human body to know when to give birth. He created babies to know how to eat. He created the body to know when to release the placenta.
Although Jesus is a man, he is also the creator, therefore he understood the birth process better than any man possibly could. He understood both the pain and the joy and he summarized it well when he said, "Whenever a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a child has been born into the world..” (John 16:12)
Psalm 139:14 sums it up quite when when it says, “I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well.” Not only did God make us wonderfully, but he cared enough about us to make sure there was a way for us to have a right relationship with him. He did that by sending his son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Jesus does not only understand a woman's feelings during child birth, he understands all of our needs and struggles. If we believe in him as our Lord and savior, then we can have life far beyond birth. We can have life forever. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
I am thankful for God's gift of life with our new baby daughter. I am also thankful for God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, God's son.
The Laser of The Word 6-5-23
In addition to being a pastor, I also do some farm drainage work. A former roofer once told me to always remember that water runs downhill. His concern was that a good roofer needed to anticipate where the water would end up and prevent it from going where it was not supposed to go. When working on a drainage project we need to make sure that the water does go where we want it to go. In order for that to happen, we need to make a path for it to follow and that path must be downhill.
On a roof, it is usually fairly simple to tell the top from the bottom, but out in a field the elevation change can be so slight that the high and low spots may not be clearly visible. Further the lay of the land can give an optical illusion and be deceptive. A few years ago, a farmer had me fix a problem area in his field. Another person had installed tile in that field that led right to a wet spot, but the tile had not solved the problem. It looked like it should have worked perfectly because the wet spot appeared to be a couple of feet higher than the direction the tile had come from. Looks can be deceiving though and I was able to determine that the wet spot was actually lower than the area the tile was coming from. Likely the tile had been installed with the thought that there was plenty of downhill flow so it could just be put in at a consistent depth. Because of the mistake, the water would have had to run uphill to drain. That will not work.
The optical illusion of that field had fooled me as well until I used modern technology to check the elevations. One of the tools I use is a laser level. A beam of light is sent out on a level plane and that beam is then detected by a receiver on a measuring rod. Measurements are then recorded, and differences are noted in order to determine the high and low areas of a field. A laser is a valuable tool for making sure water runs downhill.
Since the accuracy of the laser is so vital to doing the job properly, I check it's accuracy by checking a benchmark 100' from the laser, turning the laser 180* and them making sure the line is withing 1/8” of the benchmark. When I recently did this check, I found out my laser was out of calibration. Rather than proceeding with the job with an out of line laser, I got a different one.
When doing drainage work, we need something to keep us in line so that we do not mess up the job. A laser is great tool to keep everything literally in line. In life, we need something to keep us in line as well. The word of God is like a laser to keep us on track. It can show us when we have gotten off course and it can show us when we have viewed things the wrong way. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Realize that not only did God send his son Jesus Christ, but he sent us his word in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. Let those words guide us to stay on course. Take the time to read the Bible and let it correct the inaccuracies in your life.
Sinners Saved by Grace 5-22-23
I love knowing that Jesus Christ changes lives. A friend of mine appears to be the stereotypical sweet Christian lady. She is faithful at church, kind to others, and you would never expect to hear that she had a sinful past. But she was not always that way. Before she came to Christ, she had visited a church, but had not taken the message seriously. She then went back to the vehicle and smoked a joint with her husband who was also not a Christian at that time. Eventually they both trusted Jesus Christ and their lives changed.
Many of those in our small church have similar stories that they could share. Our sons know that the people that they go to church with have a sinful past. That does not alarm me, because those people are not encouraging that behavior, but instead are warning about it. They are confessing their sins to each other as we study passages in the Bible that talk about those sins. They are not glorifying the sin, but instead admitting that they did wrong, and that change was needed, and that Jesus can and did bring about that change.
A friend of mine recently became a Christian. Before he was a Christian, he tried to excuse his sinful behavior, but once he surrendered to Christ, he was really bothered by his past. I told him that the people I go to church with also had a past and how the Lord had changed them. He told me that he had been worried about them judging him, but now he wondered what they would think about him knowing that they also had a past. I told him that they regularly share about their past because they are rejoicing that Jesus had changed them.
I then asked him to read Romans 5:6-8 which says, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (NASB)
That passage makes it clear that Christianity is not for perfect people who have it all together. Instead, it is for fallen people who need a savior. In Romans 3:23 we are told that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” That includes that sweet lady who seems like the perfect Christian. Jesus died for her, and she believed in him, and then he changed her.
Notice that Jesus did not wait for us to straighten our lives out before he died for us. Instead “He demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, he died for us.” While we were yet sinners! That means that while you are still struggling with your sin, you can come to Jesus Christ. Never forget that he loves you in spite of your sin. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
In verse 20 of Romans 5, we are told, “And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,”, That means that the grace of God is greater than our sin. That should not be an excuse for us to keep sinning. Romans chapter 6 addresses this as we are challenged to avoid sin once we come to Christ and are shown that we no longer have to be slaves to sin after we trust him.
If you are struggling with sin and are thinking you could never be good enough for God, then realize that he loves you anyway. Then come to him and let him change you as your love for him motivates you to live for his glory as he works through you. Once you come to him, Jesus will give you his Holy Spirit and you will no longer be fighting sin on your own. Come to him and let him transform you.
My Horse Wouldn't Train 5-7-23
I grew up around horses and when I was 16 years old, I decided I wanted to start riding a 2 year old palomino that had been born on our farm. I began to ride him and was able to get him to go where I wanted him to go by pulling on one rein or the other. Eventually he learned to respond to just having the reins laid across the side of his neck. It took time to train him, but the work was quite rewarding.
When I was older I purchased a little sorrel filly. She was very gentle and friendly. She would beg to be pet. If I drove the pickup out to the pasture and rolled down the window she would stick her head inside to get attention. I figured she would be easy to train.
I put a saddle on her and she seemed to love the extra attention. When I climbed on her back she did not protest at all. Instead she crooked her neck around and reached her muzzle forward as if asking to be pet on the face. It all seemed too easy and it was.
She never did buck. In fact, I was barely able to get her to move at all. That was the problem. She was so gentle and laid back that she just wanted to stand there. I was not able to train her because she was not interested in receiving the training I was trying to give her. Instead she just wanted to be pet.
My experience with horses helps us better understand Proverbs 22:6 when it says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” So far our boys have been like the palomino, but other parents have faced the challenges of that little sorrel.
We can give our children all kinds of teaching, but unless they receive and apply what they have been taught, they have not been trained. In the chapters leading up to Proverbs 22, the challenge is given over and over again to be humble enough to be taught and to be disciplined enough to apply the teaching.
When I was 16, I was more interested in farming than in football. Football season was harvest season and I cared more about knowing how to set the sieves on a combine than what the rules of football were. To this day, I still do not know all the rules of football because I did not care about receiving that training. Many people do not know or care about the rules of God and did not receive his training. Those who did care and truly took it to heart have seen their lives changed in a wonderful way. That is what Proverb 22:6 is speaking about.
It is the parents job to provide the training about God, (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) but it is the child's responsibility to be trained. Proverbs 13:1 puts things into proper perspective when it says, “A wise
son accepts his father's discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.”
The point is that training takes the participation of two people- the teacher and the student. If either one does not put in the effort the results will not lead to the desired results of Proverbs 22:6 to, “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Jesus is God and was the best teacher that ever lived, yet not everyone who heard his teaching received it. Others however, did receive his teaching and their lives were transformed in amazing ways as they did not depart from his word. Let God's word transform you instead of being like my sorrel filly.
Buy & Sell with Integrity 4-16-23
We recently purchased a different vehicle from a local auto recycling business. We got a really good deal on it because it had hail damage. We already knew it had the damage when we went to look at it. Once we got there and asked about it, the man in the sales office told us about some other problems that we were not aware of and what we could expect to pay to have those problems fixed. One of those problems was something I may not have noticed if he had not pointed it out. His honesty was refreshing and we bought the vehicle.
Last year I sold a piece of older equipment. When I got a call about it, I told the potential buyer about every problem with it that I could think of so that he knew what to expect. The more I told him, the more anxious he became about wanting to come and see it. By knowing the problems, it took a lot of risk out of his decision. I was able to sell my item to him within 24 hours of listing it.
Years ago I purchased an old trencher to do a job. It was old enough that it was debatable whether it should have gone to the scrap yard or the field. I was able to fix it up just enough to do the job, but then I wanted to sell it. It worked, but had a number of issues that required it to have a bit of help to do what it was supposed to do. I prayed that I could sell it without taking advantage of anyone. I listed it for a reduced price because of the issues it had. I talked the first guy who called out of buying it. I knew he would be disappointed. Then I got a call from an older man, and the problems my machine had were familiar to him because he had one similar to it. He also owned a machine shop and knew how to fix some of the issues. I was able to sell to him and we were both happy. My prayers to not take advantage of anyone and still be able to sell my item had been answered.
This approach to selling an item is really just loving your neighbor as yourself- treating them like you would want to be treated. Sadly too many people would rather lie about what they are selling. The Proverbs in the Bible tell us, “What is desirable in a man is his kindness, And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.” (Proverbs 19:22)
The man who bought my old trencher could have easily pointed out many bad features about my machine and tried to get it for way less than it was worth. Instead he recognized that it was an old machine and priced accordingly. He offered me a fair price and it was sold. Not everyone acts with such integrity though. The Proverbs also talk about that when they say, "Bad, bad," says the buyer; But when he goes his way, then he boasts.” (Proverbs 20:14)
How people conduct themselves in business deals is often reflective of how they treat people in other areas of life. Jesus Christ told us that the greatest commandments were to love God with our all and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus is God and he also said, “If you love me keep my commandments.”
Let us live our lives in a way of integrity that shows love for God and for others.
Sharing Bill's Treasures 4-3-23
My friend Bill was the kind of man who could find a treasure where someone else saw trash. He used to run a scrap yard and he would tell me about a lot of cool things he was able to save from the crusher. He would go to auctions, bid on a box of items that no one else wanted and then find a “gem” buried within the junk.
I met Bill after he moved to a small town where I was attending church. He and his wife bought a small house a few doors down from the church. The house was small, but comfortable. There was an even smaller house across the street and the owners wanted to get rid of it. Bill couldn't stand the idea of a perfectly good structure being torn down. He spoke to another man in town and together they figured out how to move that house right next to his house and it became a new addition to make his house even bigger.
Bill lived out the truth that ones man's trash was another man's treasure. He and his wife ended up with a lot of nice things that they would not have had otherwise. Bill was willing to see potential where others missed it.
Bill did not just see potential in things, he saw potential in people. He lived out the command to love your neighbor as yourself. The man who helped him move the house was known by many as the town drunk, but he was know to Bill as a friend. Bill trusted him to get the job done.
Both possessions and friends were treasures that Bill was able to accumulate. Those possessions and friends were valuable to him even though he got many of them because others did not want them.
Bill got the greatest treasure of all when he found the best friend anyone could ever have. Like so many others, Bill had lived an ungodly life, but then he met Jesus. Others did not want anything to do with Jesus, but Bill did. It was as if it was part of Bill's character to want something that others would throw aside.
He trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior. Not only did Bill want to find treasures for himself, but he wanted to find treasures so he could share them with others. If he found an old washing machine that still worked, it would bring him joy to pass it along to someone who needed it. But it brought Bill even more joy to share Jesus with others.
The drunk who helped him move his house got to hear about Jesus from Bill. Bill would pray for that drunk and others because he loved them and wanted them to find the treasure he had found. Many of them did.
Bill recently passed away, and he was not able to take some of his favorite trinkets with him, but he was able to keep the best treasure of all. He took John 3:16 to heart, so he has both Jesus and eternal life, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Not everyone wants Jesus, but he is available to whoever does want him and like so many of the treasures Bill salvaged, the gift of Jesus is free. Trust Jesus and have God as your friend and savior as you look forward to eternal life with him. Bill found that and you can too.
The Brawling Drinker 3-20-23
Years ago a friend of mine and I were sitting at Hardee's eating hamburgers and talking. He was a high school friend who had moved away before we graduated and had come back for a visit. We were in our late teens or early 20's and were enjoying catching up on what had happened since we had last seen each other. At that time, Hardies was the weekend hangout for people our age.
We were seated by a window and looked up to see a young man about our age with his face pressed against the window. We did not recognize him but just kind of laughed and smiled in his direction. We didn't think much of it until he came inside and confronted us for laughing at him. It was quickly obvious that he had been drinking and wanted to fight.
He had 2 friends with him. Not only did we not want to fight, but we did not want to be outnumbered in such a situation either. Thankfully, his two friends were really nice guys and apologized for his behavior and convinced him to leave.
My teenage nephew and his friend were not quite so fortunate last summer. They were playing basketball near a parking lot when the ball got away from them. It rolled in front of a pickup that was driving through. The friend waved to warn the driver who ended up backing over the ball. As soon as it popped, he got out of his truck and proceeded to hit the 15 year old boy. My nephew immediately ran and got some adults.
The man from the truck then wanted to fight all of them and proceeded to hit a man who showed up and was asking what had happened. The small crowd that gathered was confused about what was going on as the man wanted to fight all of them. Eventually someone arrived who knew the man and was able to convince him to leave.
It was then revealed that the man had a serious alcohol problem and that he got angry and irrational when he drank. He already had multiple convictions for his behavior.
Not everyone who drinks acts like this. Still, alcohol does affect judgment. That is why Proverbs 20:1 warns, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” As sad as the earlier stories were, imagine if someone lived with a person who drank a lot and it caused fights with a spouse or children. If alcohol is causing strain on relationships, it is time to give it up.
Although alcohol use is not strictly forbidden in scripture, warnings are given about its use because there are real risks that come with it. That is why so many have decided to just avoid it. Jesus told us we should love our neighbors as ourselves. Although he turned water into wine, he set the perfect example of love. Let us follow his example and be careful about anything that could cause us to act in a less than loving manner.
What's In a Name? 3-6-22
My wife and I have 4 boys and now we are expecting a baby girl. That meant we had to come up with a name. We finally settled on a name that was reflective of my mother who recently passed away.
Coming up with names can be a bit of a challenge, but there are so many available. The choice is taken seriously because in our culture, once a name is chosen, the person usually has that name for the rest of their life. Sometimes, however, a person is given a nickname that just sticks. I was nearly a teenager before I realized that “Butch” was not my uncles given name.
In some cultures names can change regularly. For example the famous chief, Sitting Bull, was not given that name at birth. That name was given as a description of the man. I like that.
My name is Jerry, but that was given because it was a family name. Although I have some German heritage, and the word “Jerry” often refers to a German soldier, I am definitely not a soldier. Those soldiers did end up having to improvise on the battlefield and thus the term “Jerry rigged” was coined. I am pretty good at fixing things with duct tape and electric fence wire, so perhaps the name does fit me well.
Still I admire those who have a name like “Red Cloud,” or “Crazy Horse.” Those names paint a word picture that extends our imaginations.
Recently we have been studying the book of Genesis at Church. It is one of the oldest works of literature still in existence. It was originally written in Hebrew, but we are studying an English translation. That means that the names are typically transliterated. In other words, the sounds of the Hebrew names are phonetically translated using English letters. Of course if we did the same with the name, “Sitting Bull” we would miss much of the meaning surrounding that famous man.
One of the key figures in Genesis is a man named Abram which literally means “high father.” After God promised him many offspring, his name was changed to Abraham, which means “father of a multitude.” His name was very descriptive. When one of his wives, Hagar, was expecting his son, Ishmael, she was facing a very discouraging time in her life. God was there to comfort her during this difficult period and he told her that her sons name would be Ishmael, which means “God will hear.” Her son's name would remind her she was not alone. God would hear her.
Abraham and his other wife, Sarah, were quite old when their son Isaac was born. Sarah was so old she laughed about giving birth. The name Isaac literally means “laughter.”
These names have great meaning, but there is another Hebrew name that is even more precious. It is the name “Joshua.” In Greek, that name is pronounced “Jesus.” The meaning of his name is “Jehovah saves.” Jehovah means “the self existent eternal God.”
The meaning of these names reminds us that God saves and that Jesus is the way that God saves. “Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6)
Who Gets the Cake? 2-20-2023
If our boys come to me and ask who gets the last piece of cake, the answer is easy- Mom does. Seriously though, there are times when we have to tell them to just cut it into 4 pieces so each boy gets a piece. This can be challenging when there are 3 cookies, one piece of cake, and 4 boys. Who gets the cake and who gets the cookies?
If I always told them that the oldest gets the cake or the youngest gets the cake, then there would soon be resentment. My first question would be, does anyone want the cake. If only one of the 4 wanted it, then there would be no conflict, and he could just have it. If, however, 2 of the 4 wanted the cake and the other 2 wanted a cookie, then it would be easy to please those that already wanted the cookie, so I would just give it to them. But that leaves the other 2. Who gets the cake?
There are a lot of easy ways to settle this. I could put both their names in a hat and draw one of the names. We could flip a quarter, draw straws, roll dice, or draw a card. That way they would know that I was not playing favorites and each boy would feel that he was getting justice. The boy who had to take the cookie instead of the cake might be disappointed, but he would still have the hope that the next time the issue could end up being decided in his favor.
Proverbs 18 gives a lot of advice for helping to settle conflicts between others. The passage warns that we must be aware that it is easier to side with the first person who comes to you or with the person who has given you a gift. That is why vs 15 encourages us to seek knowledge about the situation. But the reality is that sometimes even after getting all the knowledge it is not so easy to settle the dispute. That is why verse 18 gives this great advice: “The lot puts an end to contentions, And decides between the mighty.” (Proverbs 18:18)
We do not know for certain what kind of lots were used in the Bible. Theories about them include that they were rocks, sticks, or some kind of dice. Regardless, of their exact nature,they were a useful tool. Some variation of that same tool is still useful to us today. By settling the dispute, the coin flip or whatever other tool is used can put an end to contentions.
If the lot is so useful, why don't we just use it for every dispute. The Proverbs answer that question as well. In the same chapter we are told, “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15) If all we had to do is roll the dice in order to know what to do, we would not need knowledge.
Further Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.” If all we had to do was draw straws to get our answer, then there would be no need to have counselors give us advice.
Not every decision should be made by the roll of the dice, but it is a great tool to have available once other means have been exhausted. If there is an obvious answer about justice, then do not use the lot, but do not forget that this tool is available and can help to settle disputes. Also be loving enough to be willing to use this tool, even if it means you may not get the piece of cake you wanted.
What is God Doing? 2-6-23
I love my wife and want to learn more about her. The more I learn about her the more I realize how much more I need to keep learning. To add to the challenge, my wife continues to change. Like me, some of her tastes have changed through the years. That means that I cannot just learn her favorite foods and think that I have that figured out for the rest of our lives. Because my wife and I love each other and love being around each other, this challenge of learning is actually enjoyable.
Thankfully when I learn about God, I do not have to worry about him changing. Jesus is God and Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” That means that once I figure something out about God, I do not have to worry about him changing.
Still figuring out God is not so simple. Part of the reason is that he is so beyond all of us. As Job was going through his trial as recorded in the book of Job in the Bible, his friends came to visit him. They all tried to figure out God and what he was doing. So did Job. They come to some pretty close conclusions about God, but could not quite agree. They actually remind me of many people today debating about God.
Finally, God addresses Job and asks him some very pointed questions. One of his first was, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) In other words, God was rebuking Job and his friends for coming to conclusions that had no basis in knowledge. We all must resist the temptation to just “make up” our own ideas about God. God's next question to Job was, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” ( Job 38:4a). In other words, none of us where there when God formed the world. We know what the scripture tells us, but there is so much more that we do not know. Since creation God has been working out his big plan. He has revealed part of that plan to us, but not all of it. God then goes on to ask a series of questions that show how limited Job's knowledge is. It is a rebuke to all of us who think we know so much about God.
The point is not that we do not know anything definite about God, it is just that we cannot figure everything out about him. To think we can is arrogant. What we do know is that he loved us enough to send his son, Jesus Christ, to this earth. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
There is much more we can know about God. As we study the Bible, we will learn more and more. Because I love him and know that he loves me, I want that knowledge. That is one of the reasons I became a pastor. That is why I love teaching and preaching the word of God. I get to learn more and then I get to share what I learned with others. Still I want to be careful not to become like Job and his friends. I want to be careful that what I say about God is based on what he has told us about himself in his Word instead of the ideas that people have come up with about him.
Job and his friends said a lot of right things about God, but they are rebuked because so much of what they said were words without knowledge. God formed this world and sent his son. He deserves our allegiance and our reverence. That reverence should include us being careful not to misrepresent who he is or what he is doing. May we be bold to glorify God, but careful not to misrepresent him or his actions.
The Snow Challenge Game 1-23-23
This winter snow removal has become somewhat of a sport. Grabbing a shovel and moving a mound of snow turns into as much of a workout as a football game. Some of us however would rather approach the snow drift like a NASCAR driver than like a football player.
My brother in law has been mastering his driving skills by navigating the garden tractor and snow blower. It is fun to see the glow on his face and his sense of accomplishment as he succeeds at defeating the mounds of snow that had blocked his path.
My neighbor has a plow on his truck. He looks forward to the snow so that he can navigate around his yard and pretend he is the Dale Earnhardt of snow plowing.
I think I know just how they feel as I was able to move large snow piles with a huge tracked skid loader. I had to plan where to push the piles so they would be out of the way. I had to figure out how to navigate around obstacles and then how to build a snow ramp up the snow pile so that I could pile it even higher. I understand that there is strategy and technique to the snow battle just like there is in playing a sport.
Even when shoveling it helps to have a plan. If we just throw the snow to the side, it may be in the way once the next snow comes.
Still some people have figured out that there is a way to get rid of the snow with simple technology. By burying electric heat elements or heat piping in the ground and then covering it with concrete, a heated driveway or sidewalk can be created. Then the snow can be defeated with the flip of a switch.
God however does not need a shovel, snow blower, snow plow, skid loader, or heated driveway. All he has to do is say to the snow, “be gone” and it will be. Job reminds us that the snow is here because he told it to be. "For to the snow He says, 'Fall on the earth,' And to the downpour and the rain, 'Be strong.'” (Job 37:6). Not only can God send the snow, but he can melt it anytime he chooses. Further he can easily move the snow around simply by sending wind.
There are times that the wind places snow where I would prefer it not be, but other times the wind has been a big help. For example, after a recent snowfall, I drove the skid steer to a friend's place to scoop her driveway simply to discover that the wind had already cleaned it off. God sent the wind to effortlessly do the the task that many of us have made a sport out of.
His power over the snow reminds me that I should trust his power over my life. Not only did God send the snow, but he sent his son. I can trust him and believe in Him. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
God will not leave the snow on the ground forever. Spring will come and the snow will melt. He promised us, "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22) Just as we can trust his promise to bring the spring thaw, we can trust his promise to accept us if we come to him. "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37)
Born for You, Live for Him 1-9-22
Christmas was fun this year. I had a bunch of toy tractors that I had collected throughout the years. Some I had played with as a kid- two of them I had bought as an adult and were still in boxes. I picked out 12 of them and had the boys draw numbers to see who got to go first and then they took turns choosing which ones they would get. They were all happy at the end. Since most of these tractors are old, I wanted to wait to pass them on until the boys were old enough that they would be less likely to break them but still young enough they would enjoy them. It made for a special Christmas. It was so fun to see their faces when they walked into the living room and saw the tractors lined up under the Christmas stockings beside the tree.
As fun as it was to pass on my toy tractors to my sons, there is something far more important that we can give them. We have been studying the book of Proverbs in the Bible. The Proverbs are pieces of general advice that give a lot of information in few words. Giving our boys advice, information, and life skills is far more important than toy tractors. I want them to know how to fix stuff, build stuff, and read and write. I also want them to know the difference between right and wrong and to know the benefits of doing right regardless of what others think about it.
On New Year's day I got a text message from a friend that said, “Have A Blessed New Year!” He then shared Philippians 1:9-11. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
These words from the scripture represent valuable gifts to pass on to the next generation, but they also represent the sort of resolutions I should be making for my own life- not just for the new year but for how to always live my life.
The first part of verse 9 prays that our love would abound more and more. This matches up with Jesus telling us that the greatest command was to love God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and the second greatest command was to love our neighbor as ourselves. But notice that the prayer for love was also connected with the prayer for knowledge and discernment. As we show love we are supposed to love in deed, not just in word. That means helping others.
There will be times that ungodly people will be upset when someone is helped. Jesus faced that but showed love anyway. As the above prayer shows, we need to have the knowledge and discernment to know what to approve so that we can be blameless before God.
As we start the new year, let us live our lives in a way that we strive for the praise of God rather than the praise of people. The key to a God pleasing life is Jesus Christ. We just celebrated his birth. Jesus was born for you, so live for him. Give you life to him and let him mold and shape your life in love, so you can live for his glory.
A Quiet and Peaceful Life 12-26-22
Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved old western movies. Typically, it was clear who the good guys were and who the bad guys were and by the end of the movie the good guys had won. One movie however did not end with the good guys winning. In a 1943 film titled “The Ox-bow Incident” a posse goes after some cattle rustlers that they believe had murdered a local rancher. They end up finding 3 men with a group of cattle and no bill of sale. They decide to take the law into their own hands and hang the men without a trial in spite of the objections of 7 of the posse members. After the hanging, they are met on the trail by the local sheriff who informs them that the rancher has not died and that the thieves have been caught and are in jail. Innocent men had been killed by a posse turned mob.
As I reflect on the actions portrayed in that movie, I think of Romans 12:19 where it says, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.” Romans 13:4 then speaks of our civic rulers when it states, “for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.”
Like the posse in the Ox-bow Incident, our rulers are not always perfect. Sometimes there is injustice and sometimes there is simply the perception of injustice. Like the lynch mob sometimes our media simply incites more injustice. That media may be a local news anchor or your neighbor with their “social” media account.
A few years ago, the lynch mob decided to march and businesses were burned and looted. An innocent little girl named Secoriea Turner was even killed. Other acts of violence were also committed. Some called for calm while others called for more of the same. As time went on some called for answering such violence with violent counter protests. Thankfully most rejected such an irrational approach.
We still live in a politically divided nation. Individuals on both ends of the political spectrum were disappointed in the results of our recent elections. Thankfully my friends and neighbors have reacted rationally with their celebrations and disappointments.
Years ago when someone said something radical few people heard them and most who did either ignored them or told them to stop. Today with widespread social media, someone can say something radical and get an audience. Sometimes others will start to share those ideas and the mob rule has a potential to spread. The scripture actually has a warning about such people. Proverbs 16:29 warns, “A man of violence entices his neighbor, And leads him in a way that is not good.”
If you are frustrated with our country and with politics, instead of calling for radical action, pray for our leaders whether you agree with them or not. “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (I Timothy 2:1-2)
Instead of encouraging or joining those who would disrupt the peace, let us pray that we would be allowed to live a peaceful and quiet life. Let us also pray that Jesus would soon return and that he would bring justice and punish those who do evil and oppress and kill the innocent. May we also pray that our leaders would have the courage to govern in a way were the innocent are not oppressed and killed so that we all can live tranquil and quit lives in all godliness and dignity.
Jesus is More than a Baby 12-12-22
With the passing of Queen Elisabeth, her son Charles became the king of England. The succession of kings has been taking place in England for many years. Similar succession took place in Israel/Judea from the time of King David. After many kings, the kingdom eventually fell and the people were taken into captivity. Eventually the captivity ended and the people returned to their land, but were ruled by governors under other countries rather than having their own nation with their own king.
Still the people remembered stories of a time when they were an independent nation. While they were in captivity, the prophet Daniel had predicted that a new king would eventually come and he even gave the date (Daniel 9:25). The date was 33 years after the birth of Christ. Of course we do not expect a person to become king as soon as they are born, so if the scholars knew that a king would be coming in about 30 years, it would not be a surprise for them to expect that he would be born any time.
As we read the first chapter of Matthew, we find out that Joseph, the step father of Jesus, was a direct descendant of King David and the other kings and that he had the royal blood to be able to be the king if they were an independent nation. So would his son- even an adopted son. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem he became Joseph's adopted son. Further, Jesus' mother Mary was also a descendant of King David (Luke 3:23-31).
So we have baby Jesus being born at just the right time according to Daniel's prophecy and he is born into a family that would qualify him to be their king. Further he ends up being born in the precise place where the prophet Micah had said that the one they were waiting for would be born. "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)
The wise men end up coming from the east to bring gifts to the baby. They are bringing gifts because they know he is a king. Hundreds of years earlier Daniel had been a captive in a land to the east. It is likely that these wise men were aware of his prophecy and of the date. When they arrive in Israel after Jesus' birth, they ask where he is. The chief priests and scribes are asked and they site Micah 5:2 and say that he must be in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:1-6). In other words, those who knew the Scripture the best understood that their king would be born in Bethlehem.
Thus the wise men go and worship Jesus, but they are worship more than a king. Daniel had made it clear that Jesus was not an ordinary leader when he said, "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)
The prophet Isaiah had also made a clear statement about King Jesus when he said, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)
The wise men were not just coming to worship a king, they were coming to worship our Mighty God.
As we remember Jesus birth, let us realize that he was more than a baby, he is a king. But he is also more than a king, he is God. God came to earth as a man because God loved us enough to come and pay for our sins. Our sins are paid for when we believe Jesus has the authority of God and King and we surrender to that authority. Trust him, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
A House Full of Feasting 11-29-22
With the holiday celebrations come a lot of good food. We recently gathered with my in-laws for thanksgiving and my wife's sister hosted us. Instead of having the traditional roasted turkey, she made turkey a la king. It was delicious. My wife loved the idea but her sister wondered if some would be disappointed that we did not have regular turkey. Thankfully the meal was a hit. Furthermore, the deserts were amazing.
One of my favorite dishes that day was a simple cranberry salad that my mother-in-law made. What makes that especially noteworthy is that I tend to be a meat and potatoes man and not a salad lover.
With all the talk of the wonderful food that we enjoyed, that was not the main reason we gathered. The food was an excuse to have family together. There were 3 new babies there that were less than a month old. Some of the family had not yet seen them all. There were other family members that we had not seen for a few months either. It was great to see them again.
The nieces and nephews are growing so fast that we feel like if we do not see them for a few months we are missing out on a big part of their lives. My two year old niece made a game of jumping up on my lap, then running across the house and coming back to jump on my lap again. I also have a few nephews that are getting old enough that instead of wanting to play little kid games, they want to ask questions about how to do things.
It was a wonderful day spent with loving people. Even if the food had not been there it would have been a great day. It reminds me of a Proverb that says, “Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.”
I think back to the school lunch table. I had a lot of meals with classmates in those 13 years from kindergarten to 12th grade. There were a lot of good memories, but there were some days where the meal was not quite so enjoyable. On the days when a bully disrupted our meal or friends were fighting, the food was not very enjoyable. On the days where we were just having fun, we would have enjoyed a butter sandwich and left with smiles on our faces.
The same can be said of the meals we have at home with our families throughout the year. Conflict will inevitably come up, but if we are not willing to confess our wrong and forgive the wrong of others, those meals will not be fun, no matter how good the food is.
The day after Thanksgiving, my boys and I went over to my father and mother-in-laws and helped them shingle a roof on their shed. It was a day of enjoyable work without strife as we enjoyed the sunshine, good weather, and each other's company. When my mother-in-law fed us, she served up leftovers. It was so good and so was the company. Oh, and I got more of her cranberry salad.
When we live our lives in a way that avoids strife, not only will our meals be more enjoyable, but we will be giving one of the greatest gifts we could share with our family. To live such a life, trust Christ and let the Holy Spirit grow fruit in your life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) The fruit of the Spirit is even better than my mother-in-law's salad.
The Messages in Blood 11-14-22
We have 4 boys who are very close in age. Not only are the 3 oldest about the same age, but they are also about the same size. They have reached their early and preteen years and now they are big enough to get some serious work done or to seriously hurt each other. They pick up odd jobs around town and recently they worked for my cousin. They were thrilled because they got to drive his Razor. I was thrilled because he was impressed that they took turns and did not fight over who would drive it.
Our boys are not perfect and like most brothers, they occasionally have a spat, but they are bothered about it when they do and want to get along with each other. Things were not quite so pleasant with Cain and Abel. Cain ended up killing his younger brother.
Cain was a crop farmer and his brother Abel was a livestock man. Cain made his living by working the ground, but when he killed Abel, his brother's blood went into the ground. Thus the Lord said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10) As a punishment Cain was not allowed to have a good harvest anymore. Genesis 4:11-12 "And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. "When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you; you shall be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."
As God said that Abel's blood was crying to him, he was letting Cain know that he know about the sin. Thus the message of Abel's blood was condemnation for sin. Abel's blood was not bringing a comforting message at all. It was crying out that a tragedy had occurred and that Cain deserved punishment. 1John 3:15 warns, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Jesus warned in Matthew 5:22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”
If we have ever been angry enough to have hatred for our brother, then Abel's blood is not just condemning Cain, it is condemning us as well. Is there any hope for someone who has had such hatred? Thankfully there is. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Abel's is not the only blood that has been shed. Jesus shed his blood on the cross to pay for our sin. Abel's blood had a message of condemnation, but Jesus blood has a message of forgiveness and payment for sin. Jesus blood cries out good news. Hebrews 12:24 summarizes that message when it says, “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”
In order to have the blood of Jesus forgive us, we must believe in him. If we really believe in Jesus, then we will want to serve him and follow him. That means we will want to love him and love our brothers. We will no longer want to hate like Cain did. Jesus' blood speaks better things than Abel's blood . It should remind us of forgiveness and of the two greatest commands- to love God with our all and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Abel's blood cried out for help to hold people accountable for sin. Jesus blood cries out for help to bring forgiveness for sin. Both bloods had a just purpose.
God Gives us Knowledge 10-31-22
As I get older, I realize that I have forgotten more than I know. Throughout a lifetime we gather information and if we are wise we apply that information. When I was young, I was taught not to touch a hot pan. As I got older I was taught advanced algebra.
Today I have forgotten much of the advanced algebra because I do not use it. I do however still remember that hot pans are dangerous. Knowing and remembering a truth are not the same as applying it though. As I was making chicken I placed the pan into the oven. I suddenly remembered I had not tied the legs together, I figured that since the chicken had not been in the oven long, the roaster would still be cool enough to remove without a pot holder. It was not.
The burn on two of my fingers was a reminder that there are consequences for not applying knowledge. It was a humbling experience.
In the Bible we find the book of Proverbs. The Proverbs are a compilation of general truths that we are to apply to life. They are part of a grouping that is called wisdom literature. Knowledge is knowing advanced algebra or knowing that we should not touch the hot pan. Wisdom is using a pot holder because the pan is hot.
From a Christian perspective, we have knowledge of right and wrong, but wisdom is to apply that knowledge and do right. That means that we must learn along the way and even be willing to receive correction. Proverbs 15:33 says, “The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.” (NASB) If we are to find honor we must be humble and admit that we need more instruction and more wisdom.
As we serve Christ, we should be growing in godliness as we learn more of his expectations, but we will also find ourselves touching the hot pan of sin far too often. When that happens we should be humble and admit our sin, realizing there may be consequences of the burn of that sin. We must also remember God is gracious. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9 NASB)
God does not want us to touch the hot pan of sin, but he did allow sin to come into this world back in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As sad as that day, was, it did allow man to get more knowledge, but with knowledge comes responsibility. Applying the knowledge about sin and serving Christ is what real wisdom is about.
When God allowed Adam and Eve to eat of that tree, they did sin, but they were also empowered with a knowledge they did not have before. Because of what they did, we too have a knowledge of good and evil. With such knowledge comes power and with that power comes an obligation to do right.
Those who refuse to be humble will use their power for themselves and ignore God's commands. Those who humble themselves before Christ will have the wisdom to serve him. When they do that they will have their eyes opened and get even more knowledge as they realize living for Jesus helps them avoid so many of the burns of life. Jesus said, “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'” (Acts 26:18 NASB)
Just like God allowed me to get burned again so I could learn more, God allowed Adam and Eve to sin so we all could learn more. That doesn't mean we should sin to learn, it just means we have more knowledge and can learn from others misdeeds. God has given us a lot of knowledge. Let us use it for his glory and have the wisdom to avoid sin.
The Friendly Auction 10-17-22
As a young man, I remember going to auctions with my father. It did not take long to learn that some things were overpriced, but other things could be purchased for a fraction of their typical market value.
As an adult, I still enjoy getting a deal at an auction. For example, I recently paid $35 for a portable heater that would have cost over $450 new. I felt I got paid well for my time at the auction that day. Other times have not been quite so profitable. If I spend 5 hours at an auction and only save $15 on an item, I would be better off buying new and saving time.
Auctions however are not just about saving money. They are an opportunity to talk to people in person. With the advent of online auctions, the social aspect of actions is being lost more and more. Still, there are in person auctions and it is fun to see people and even to make new friends.
I have actually gotten to know people by bidding against them. It is fun when I outbid someone and they walk over and congratulate me on my purchase. It is a reminder that we can both be interested in the same thing, but not be overtaken by covetousness.
At a recent auction, I and another man were the last 2 bidders on an item. We were both bidding on a dog kennel and after it was sold we talked about how we both had wanted it for our chickens, not dogs. We ended up having an enjoyable visit and as we were talking I realized he was someone I knew but just had not seen in years. He ended up with the kennel, and although I could have used it, I was more encouraged by the renewal of our friendship than I was about getting what I had been bidding on.
The whole experience was a reminder that people are more important than things. That is what we have to remember when we hear the commandment, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17 NASB) Our neighbors are more important than our neighbor's things.
Proverbs 14:20 talks about how people often view their neighbors through the lens of how much stuff their neighbors have when it says, “The poor is hated even by his neighbor, But those who love the rich are many.” (NASB) Covetousness is often what leads to such a way of looking at our neighbors. The rich neighbor has a lot of stuff that he could either give to you or borrow to you. The poor neighbor has little. God does not want us to view each other that way though. The very next verse says, “He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.” (Proverbs 14:20 NASB).
We need to set aside greed and covetousness and follow the second greatest command- to love our neighbor as ourselves.
My boys also learned this at an auction. They learned the importance of not being greedy and of looking out for others. At that same auction, one of my sons saw some toys that he would like, but some of them were broken. He knew how to fix them, so he did so before they sold, even though it meant they would cost more and he would not be as likely to get a deal on them. A man he did not know had saw what he had done, so that man ended up buying the toys and giving them to my son. It was a wonderful example of being rewarded for doing the right thing and of multiple people putting their neighbor ahead of themselves.
Following Jesus means we should do the right thing. Having neighbors treat us well and making friends is far more valuable than getting more stuff.
The Tupperware Shape Ball 10-5-22
My niece is a toddler and just learning to talk. We have a red and blue Tupperware shape sorter where you can place yellow plastic shapes into the properly sized holes. If you try to place a triangle in a round hole, it will not fit.
Since the game was so new, she had not yet figured out that she had to line up the correct hole with the correct shape, and also had to line the shape up in the correct direction. Her frustration came to light as she expressed the words, “I can't.” The little girl would pick up her next shape and would excitedly attempt to put it in. I would then turn the container until the proper hole matched her shape. If she got the direction right, she would place it and and quickly pick up another. If she could not get it in, she would say, “I can't.”
Since her attention span was as short as you would expect for someone who had not yet turned two, she wanted help. She knew I was able to open the container to dump the pieces on the ground, so she directed me to do so again. She then had me hold it open and began to pick up the pieces and place them in the container through the open space between the red and blue sides. That was something that she could easily do.
Trying to figure out life does not end when we turn two. Whether you are 22 or 72, you will face times in your life where you keep on trying but have to say, “I can't.”
We all understand that sin is bad. Even those who try to justify it, still know it is wrong. But even as we try to avoid it we start to feel like the little girl who cannot get the shapes in the right place. That doesn't mean that there isn't a solution. The shapes do fit in the proper hole- we just have not figured it out yet.
Just like there is a place for the shapes to fit, there is a way for us to avoid sin. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” (NASB)
We cannot use the excuse that we had to sin because there was no other alternative. Just as there was a way to get the shape in the container, there is a way for us to avoid sin. The problem is that without Jesus we are like a baby trying to get the square in the round hole when it comes to resisting sin.
To make it even worse, sin is so serious that we deserve death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NASB)
When we believe in Jesus Christ, we let him open the container and place all our sin into it. He then guides us to show us how to put the right pieces in the right places so that we can avoid future sin. Still, we find that we often miss the right hole and drop our sin on the floor. We know that even after we have trusted him, we still come short. Thankfully we have this promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9 NASB).
Once we trust Christ, we should strive to obey him as we strive to avoid sin, but when we come short, he is there to open the container for us and pick up that sin in forgiveness. But if you do not even care about getting the right pieces in the right places do not pretend that Jesus is holding the container of your life.
A Priceless Friend 9-19-22
On a hot summer day few things are as enjoyable as ice cream. On a Saturday afternoon my son and I decided to stop at the gas station for just that treat. As we walked to the counter my friend Wayne was just ahead of us. He asked what we had there. I showed him that I had the Peanut Butter Cup flavor and my son had the Snickers. He looked at the cashier and told him to put it on his bill. I knew he was a nice guy, but I did not expect that. He then reminded me that I had helped him move some trees.
I had not expected anything in return because that is what friends are for. Still he wanted to buy our ice cream because that is what friends are for. I am glad I have friends.
Most people are not surprised when friends are nice to each other. What is surprising is when a friend is nice even when they have been treated poorly. Those kind of friends are priceless. Jesus is that kind of a friend. I as born into this world as a sinner. Jesus is God, so that means every time I sin, I have done things to Jesus that are not very nice. He loved me anyway and showed that love by dying on the cross for my sins.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God did not wait for us to show love toward him before he showed love toward us. In fact, he showed love toward us when we were acting hatefully toward him. 1 John 4:10 tells us, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (NASB)
Jesus is the best friend we could ever have. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 NASB) No wonder both verses 7 and 8 of I John 4 tell us that God is love.
There are a lot of reasons why I wanted to be a Christian. I realized God made me and thus he had a right to tell me what to do. I realized he was more powerful than anything or anyone else, so it made no sense to resist him. Still, submitting to him is not the same as loving him. The greatest command is to love God. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
As I found out what Jesus did for me and that he loved me, I did not just want to submit to him, I loved him. I believe in him. I call Jesus my friend. He said in John 15:14, "You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” (NASB) Because he is my friend and I love him, and I want to do what he says to do.
Jesus can be your friend too. He promised in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (NASB)
The Slide of Life 9-5-22
While on vacation we stayed in a hotel with a two story water slide. Not only was it high, but it had a lot of unpredictable turns. The older boys found it very exhilarating. Our youngest however was very hesitant. I finally offered to go with him.
As we approached the top of the slide I understood why he had not wanted to go down. We could see the water flowing into the tube, but within a short distance we saw nothing but a dark tunnel. Once we began our decent it got even darker. We had no idea what lie ahead as we simply had to let ourselves slide and feel the change in direction. Finally we were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but just as we got there we felt our bodies plunge beneath the surface of the water in the pool. Realizing how traumatizing this must have been for my son, I quickly grabbed him and pulled him above the surface of the water in the pool.
He looked at me and said, “I'm never doing that again.” Later he finally agreed to try it again provided I went with him. The tunnel was just as dark as it was the first time and we had no more control over our descent than we had before. We again found ourselves submerged below the surface of the pool at the end of our ride. As we came up he replied, “That was one time too many.”
Imagine however if we had entered that tunnel not knowing where we would end up. What if we had ended up in some dark cavern in an underground cave? I was thankful as we made our decent that we already knew where we would come out.
What about the end of our lives? As we enter the tunnel of death so to speak, where will we end up? Will the slide bring us to the river of life, or to the lake of fire?
I often ask people, “If the Lord were to say to you, 'why should I let you into heaven,' what would you say to him?” Many people have no idea what to say. Many people have no idea where they will be at the end of life. Some however already know they will not be in the river of life. They are already on the slide with no way off and the darkness is all around them. They feel just as helpless as my son and I did on the water slide.
The good news is that although they cannot get off the slide of life, they can change the direction and where they end up. They cannot change it themselves though. They are helpless, just like all of us are. Jesus however is God. He can change the direction of where we end up. If we believe in him- that means putting our faith in him as we have a moral conviction about him being our only hope of salvation- then he will bring us to the river of life as he gives us eternal life. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3;16) “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” (Revelation 22:1)
Death can be very scary even when we know what lies ahead. It can be even more scary when we have no idea what lies ahead. If we trust Christ, we do not have to be afraid. Not only will he be with us, but he has assured us that he will bring us to safety and comfort at the end. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Do not continue down the slide of life without trusting Jesus
Mysterious Life Forms 8-22-22
Is there life in outer space? There are astronauts on the International Space Station, but what about intelligent life on Mars?
The scripture says nothing about the planet Mars, but it does give us hints about other beings in other realms. In Daniel chapter 10, an angel reveals that he was delayed in visiting Daniel because of a spiritual battle that was taking place somewhere else. This battle was taking place between forces faithful to the true God and those who were opposed to him. Michael the archangel was part of that battle.
As we come to the Gospels, we find Jesus confronting demons. These are evil entities from another realm. The reality of their existence can be a bit alarming- so alarming that some pretend that they are not real. The scripture not only affirms their reality, but tells us what to do about it. Ephesians 6:12-13 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (NASB)
Verses 14-18 then tell us how to stand firm. We are to have truth, righteousness, and a preparation to share the gospel of peace. We are also to have faith and salvation as we use the word of God. Finally we are to pray realizing that the Spirit of God is with us as we face opposition from the demonic spirits. That is why we must be alert.
“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness , and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:14-18 NASB)
Once people realize that I will believe them when they talk about their experiences with the spiritual realm, a large percentage of the people I talk to share that they have personally had an interaction with the spiritual realm of evil. Knowing demons are real helps us understand that we need to be on guard. As the above verses show, the way to battle them is not to go hand to hand with them, but rather to draw close to God. Put on God's armor and then let his word battle them. Jesus is the word of God in the flesh. He quoted the Bible when he was tempted and he had absolute power over the demons. He is the one we need to go to for the battle as we put our faith in Him to defend us. That is why it is so important to be a Christian- trusting in Jesus Christ as we face the demons. That is what the helmet of salvation and shield of faith is all about.
We are also to pray knowing the Spirit of God is there for all who trust Christ Jesus. Still, not every Spirit is from God. That is why 1John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
(NASB)
The world can be a scary place- especially when we know that demons are real, but we do not have to live in fear, when we have Jesus.
Sharing The Sugar 8-9-22
Growing up on the farm we had a large pantry filled with food. Because we lived so far from town, it was not convenient to run to the grocery store for just a few items. My mom was very organized and would keep a list of what she needed and then would restock the pantry when she finally did go to town.
The neighbors would say that if they ever needed anything, they would call my mom, before driving all the way to town. It was not uncommon for someone to borrow a cup of sugar to make cookies. Neighbors would look out for each other and share what they had.
Mom was not a prepper, but she was definitely prepared. If a snowstorm had us trapped on the farm for weeks, we would not starve.
We really were not worried about supply shortages, we just wanted to save an extra trip to town. Today many are concerned about supply shortages and some are even talking about hording extra food. The toilet paper shortage of a few years ago was a good lesson in what can happen. If there is just enough supply, but people start to hoard, then there will be shortages. Some supply shortages are real, but it is not uncommon for supplies to be tighter than they should have been simply because of panic buying and hoarding.
The scripture actually addresses this very issue in Proverbs 11. “There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. He who withholds grain, the people will curse him, But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.” (Proverbs 11:24-26 NASB)
It is not a bad thing to have a full pantry. There are many reasons to do so. For Mom it was to save on trips to town. For others they stock up when supplies are high and prices are low. It can make good economic sense to fill the pantry when certain foods are in season and are on sale. My wife loves to buy and can fresh peaches when they come on sale. We also like to make apple sauce in the fall when there are so many apples that they are free.
Strategically stocking a pantry is far different then taking the last few items on the store shelf just so you can hoard it. Further my mom set an example of sharing what she had. When the neighbor returned the cup of sugar along with some fresh cookies we were able to see the benefit of sharing what we had. That is what Proverbs 11:25 was talking about when it said, “ The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.” As we share what we have, we will actually see the benefits ourselves.
Jesus set a wonderful example of caring about others. So should we. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”
Are Your Boots Dirty? 7-10-22
I have regularly worn cowboy boots since I was 12 years old. Growing up on the farm I had a pair of “go to town” boots and another pair of “get em dirty” boots. Today I still have nice boots and work boots. These boots can actually help us understand a bit more about sin and our relationship with God.
I John 1:6-8 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (NASB)
The above passage is making it clear that we have sin in our lives. Even after we become Christians by trusting Christ, we still sin. But the passage also warns that if we walk in darkness we are not in fellowship with God. Scripture uses darkness as a symbol for sin and light to represent righteousness. If any amount of sin meant that we were walking in darkness, then no one could fellowship with God. Thankfully that is not what it means. Although we still struggle with sin, the blood of Jesus cleanses us so we can have fellowship.
Consider my boots. Image that I walk across a pasture with my “go to town” boots. I am very careful where I step because I realize that a pasture that has cows in it will also have cow pies in it. Walking to avoid stepping in cow manure is kind of like walking a life that wants to avoid sin. I have walked across a pasture in my good boots while being very careful and have still gotten manure on them. I have walked through life with a desire to avoid sin and have still come short of the glory of God.
Thankfully when I stepped in the manure while walking through the pasture, I was able to take my boots to the water hydrant and quickly get them clean. When I step into sin, the blood of Jesus has already cleansed me. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When I sin, I do not need a water hydrant- I have Jesus.
Still there is a big difference between stepping in a cow pie and walking in the darkness of sin. Pastures have some messy spots, but the cattle feedlots are often covered with ankle deep manure. There is no way I want to step into such a place with my go to town boots. I know I would not be able to walk in ankle deep manure and keep them clean. In fact, more than my boots would get dirty. Walking in the darkness of sin is like that. It is no longer caring how dirty you get with sin. It can also be like going out in the pasture at night and shutting off the flashlight because you do not care where you step.
A person who walks in the darkness of sin does not care about getting their boots dirty because they no longer care about what God has to say. Such a person is lying if they say they have fellowship with God. On the other hand, if you do care about what God says, but you end up getting your boots dirty, he is there to clean them for you. That is why we can still sin and have fellowship with God. If we don't even care about sinning we are not in fellowship with him.
I do not know if you are going to be walking where the cattle have walked in the days ahead, but I do know you will be walking in places where you have the opportunity to sin. Will you care about what God has to say about sin, or will you just plunge ankle deep into it? If you really love God, the answer to that question will be easy.
Is Debt Always Sinful? 7-3-22
Imagine you have a loan coming due in August. At that time you will owe the bank money. Now imagine the bank gives you the option to renew the loan before August or to pay it off. If the bank agrees to renew the loan, then they will essentially issue a new loan and use the proceeds from that loan to pay off the old loan. That means you will not have defaulted. The loan will be paid on time, and you will not own the bank anything on the old due date. Instead there will be a new due date for a later time.
A similar thing happens each time I get my electric bill. I have already used the electricity by the time I get the bill, but the payment is not due until a couple weeks after the bill arrives in the mail. Essentially the electric company is borrowing me their electricity until I finally pay for it. I do not owe them the payment until the due date on the bill.
Both of these examples help us to better understand Romans 13:8 which says, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Some have suggested that this passage is forbidding Christians from ever borrowing money.
Those who believe it is a sin for Christians to ever borrow face a daunting challenge when dealing with scripture since Jesus said in Matthew 5:42, "Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.” James 1:13 tells us that God does not tempt us with evil. Since Jesus is God he does not tempt us with evil. Therefore, if it were sinful to borrow money, Jesus would not instruct us to lend money to others.
So if it is not wrong to borrow money, why does Romans 13:8 say that we should not owe anyone anything? When I borrow money from someone, I do not owe them anything until the terms of the agreement come due. That does however mean that once the terms do come due, I must pay what I owe. Romans 8:13 does not prohibit borrowing. It is saying that we need to pay our bills when they come due whether it is borrowed debt from a bank or a payment for a car.
Lenders should not take advantage of borrowers and borrowers should not take advantage of lenders. We need to show love by treating each other right.
Years ago I was a farmer. I had grain in my bin that I could sell to pay my bills. I had a bill coming due, but I found out that I could get paid more for my corn if I waited to sell it until about a month after the bill was due. I did not have the money to pay the bill unless I sold the corn. I knew it would be wrong to owe the money and not pay it. I approached the man who I owed the money to and explained the situation. I told him I could sell the corn earlier and pay him, but if I waited to sell it until later I could afford to pay him extra for allowing me to wait and we would both come out ahead. He quickly agreed. Because of the agreement, the date that I owed him the money was pushed back and we both benefited from the arrangement. The person buying the corn also benefited because they did not have to pay for it until later. Because we all showed concern for each other and showed love for our neighbor, we all benefited. No one was taken advantage of. No one owed someone something that should have been paid at a different time because we all agreed to the terms.
Proverbs 22:7 warns, “The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender's slave.” Therefore we should borrow with caution and only when necessary. We should make sure we always have the assets to cover our debts. At the same time it is not necessarily sinful to borrow money.
Others Doubted Jesus 6-13-22
I tend to be fairly optimistic, but even an optimist can have doubts. I know we are supposed to plant potatoes on Good Friday but it was really cold and wet earlier this spring so we planted them a week later than that. The soil conditions were not good and I began to wonder if they would grow. In spite of my optimism, I had doubts about the survival of the potatoes. Eventually they began to grow.
As I think about my Good Friday potato doubts, I think of someone who had doubts thousands of years ago during that same time of year. Mary Magdalene knew that Jesus Christ had died. She went to the tomb with spices thinking he was still dead. When she found the tomb empty, she thought that someone had stolen the body. Even after angels told her that he had risen from the dead, she still did not believe.
Her doubts were so strong she was crying. John 20:11 says, “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;” (NASB). Although she did not believe Jesus was alive, she still loved him enough to cry over his missing body. Further she loved him enough to even show up with the spices.
Mary Magdalene's doubts are real but her doubts do not stop her from loving and serving Jesus Christ. She is a lot like many people today. They love Jesus and want to serve him but still have some lingering doubts about who he is and what he actually did. They are kind of like the man who wanted Jesus to help his son and Jesus told him that all things are possible to him who believes. The man then gave an honest answer, "I do believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24b NASB)
The man was honest in expressing his doubts, yet he had a desire to believe. Jesus then showed grace and mercy and healed the man's son. This is a reminder that we do not have to get rid of every doubt for Jesus to help us.
Mary Magdalene found that out as well. As she is weeping at the tomb, Jesus appears to her and her doubts are able to leave her. “Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher).” (John 20:15-16 NASB)
As Mary loved and served Jesus in spite of her doubts, he is able to take all the doubt away as he reveals himself to her. She then goes and tells others "I have seen the Lord." (from John 20:18).
Mary Magdalene provides a great lesson to all of us. If we have doubts we should not let those doubts keep us from serving and loving Jesus. As a youngster I remember having doubts. I however did not let those doubts keep me from my savior. I continued to love him and serve him. I drew close to him and he drew close to me. He continued to reveal himself to me through his word. As I studied the Bible and saw the consistency of God's message and that there were no real contradictions, my doubts became less and less. As I saw God continuing to provide so much peace and so many blessings in my life- even in the midst of life's challenges- my confidence grew.
I can say that Jesus has revealed himself to me and that I no longer have doubts. If you are like Mary Magdalene outside the tomb- if you are having doubts about who Jesus really is- love him and serve him anyway and let him reveal himself to you like he did to Mary and like he did to me.
What is a Good Investment? 5-30-22
I have been hearing advertisements for purchasing gold on the radio. I have no use for gold, so I did not pay much attention to those adds. When a relative suggested that gold might be a good investment to protect against inflation, I said that I would rather buy welding rods than gold because I could use the welding rods to make something Since I was not a jeweler, gold would be worthless to me. On the other hand, I enjoy welding. Now with all the price increases I am thankful that I did actually buy a large box of welding rods over a year ago.
I did however become curious. What if I had bought gold instead of welding rods last year. I looked it up and I would have actually lost money buying gold. I did however discover that if I had bought gold 15 years ago, it would have increased in value by about 118%.
If I had purchased corn 2 years ago, the increase would have been even better than the return on 15 year gold. The problem is that other than the little bit we use for feeding chickens our family does not have use for a lot of corn either unless it is sweet corn in a can. I want to invest in what we can actually use.
As I was studying the book of Proverbs for our weekly Bible study at church, I realized that I am not the only one that sees limited value in gold. Much of Proverbs was written by King Solomon who chose wisdom over riches. In chapter 8 we are told what wisdom would say if wisdom were to speak and vs 18 & 19 show us how valuable wisdom really is. Wisdom says, "Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my yield than choicest silver.” (Proverbs 8:18-19 NASB)
The fruit of wisdom is better than silver and gold. But notice what else comes with wisdom- honor and righteousness. In verses 10 & 11 wisdom says, "Take my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things can not compare with her.” (NASB)
Wisdom that leads to honor and righteousness is the wisdom from God. This is in contrast to the wisdom of this world. 1Corinthinans 3:19 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
(NASB). Some people think they are smart in getting away with sin, but this is a reminder that God knows what is happening. It is kind of like the warning of Numbers 32:23 which says, “and be sure your sin will find you out.”
When wisdom is rejected and sin is found out, then honor and righteousness are lost. Honor and righteousness are much more valuable than gold and silver. That is why Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be more desired than great riches, Favor is better than silver and gold.” (NASB)
Instead of investing in gold and silver, let us invest in understanding the wisdom of God and in doing what is right and honorable.
The Seasons of the Moon 5-16-22
It has finally warmed up after a cold spring. If you think you are late planting your garden, don't worry. It felt like spring arrived later than normal this year. Actually spring was later. Although our calendar has spring arriving at March 19th or 20th of each year, Easter arrives at different times every year. This is because Easter corresponds to the Hebrew Passover and the timing of the Passover is based on the moon cycles. This means that since Jesus died on the Passover. He also died during a full moon and rose from the dead just after that.
When I was farming I knew that there were times that I should pay attention to the moon. For example, if harvest were getting close, but the crops were not yet mature, I would be worried about an early frost. I soon learned that a fall frost was more likely during a full moon. If a full moon was coming along with a cooler forecast, and the corn was not yet fully mature, I would have to make plans to harvest a poorer quality crop.
Old timers have long advised that potatoes should be planted on Good Friday. That would've meant planting on April 15th this year, and April 2nd of last year. Why the nearly two week difference? The answer comes when we remember that Good Friday happens just as Passover is beginning. Passover corresponds to the full moon. Thus the full moon of Spring happens at a different time each year. In fact, in 2016, potatoes should have been planted as early as March 25th. That is a 3 week difference compared to this year. In other words, based on the Good Friday planting date for potatoes, we do really have a late spring.
Is all of this talk about full moons and potatoes just a wives tale or is it scientific? Science is simply the study of the natural world through observation. Based on my own observations, there seems to be a lot of validity to the moon cycles affecting the seasons. In addition to working as a pastor, I also do some excavating work. That means that I dig a lot of holes in the ground. This year the frost has been slow to leave the soil. I also remember that the frost hung around late into the year in 2014. It was well into May, before I quit hitting frost as I dug holes that year. Easter was late that year as well- occurring on April 20th.
Is all of this information the ramblings of someone who read too many copies of the “Old Farmer's Almanac,” the repeating of goofy wife's tales, studied science, or could it actually be Biblical? Although our modern practice is to change the seasons based on a set date on the calendar, the Bible gives another way to look at the seasons and it involves the moon. Consider Psalm 104:19, “He made the moon for the seasons; The sun knows the place of its setting.”
Notice what Psalm 104:19 is saying. God actually made the moon for seasons. That is one of the reasons why we have the moon. That means that the moon is even more reliable for knowing when spring has arrived than the calendar is. With all our modern technology it is easy to forget about some of the most reliable science that God has given us. The moon is calibrated to our earth much more accurately than the alarm on our cell phone ever could be. The moon is yet another reminder that we should not doubt God. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NASB)
Tolerating Guacamole 5-2-22
When I order one of my favorite dishes at one of my favorite restaurants, it comes with a side of guacamole. I do not particularly like guacamole. I could just ask them to skip it, but that would be added work for the kitchen staff. Further it adds color to the plate and accents its appearance. Thus I tolerate the guacamole, but that does not mean I enjoy it. I just push it aside without even eating it.
Guacamole can provide a great illustration for tolerance. Tolerance is defined as: the ability or willingness to endure something, in particular the existence of opinion or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. I tolerate guacamole on my plate even when I do not agree with the idea of putting it there.
As Christians we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. Even as we love them, they are going to have opinions and behaviors that we do not always agree with. In fact, some of those opinions and behaviors will be contrary to what the scripture teaches. For example, as a Christian, I avoid drunkenness, while I have friends who embrace drunkenness. I can be tolerant of my friends and their behaviors without endorsing what they are doing. I welcome them as a part of my life and am grateful for their friendship, while still believing that getting drunk is harmful to their health and their relationship with God. At the same time they welcome me into their lives even though I do not drink alcohol.
Just like I can accept the guacamole on my plate without eating it, I can accept them as a part of my life without partaking in their behaviors. That is what neighborly love in tolerance should look like.
Sadly there are some people who are not even willing to exist alongside others who do not hold to their beliefs or behaviors. Some of those people even preach tolerance while distorting what tolerance actually means. Although there are some who are unwilling to exist alongside those who do not embrace biblical ideals, there are also those who are unwilling to exist alongside those who refuse to reject biblical ideals. We must be honest enough to admit that neither of these groups are practicing tolerance no matter what words they use.
The very definition of tolerance recognizes that opinions and behaviors will differ. Today many who “preach” tolerance are suggesting that unless there is agreement with their opinion and behavior, then they are obligated to reject those who disagree with them. This is not just a problem within churches- it is often an even greater problem among the “nonreligious”. This is the opposite of what tolerance is supposed to be. Further it goes against the idea of loving one's neighbors as we love ourselves.
As Christians our behaviors and opinions should be rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles that we find written in the New Testament of the Holy Bible. We also find guidance in the Old Testament Jewish scripture of the Holy Bible. Obviously there are disagreements about the interpretation of some of those teachings. Understandably within local church communities there are certain teachings that will not be tolerated. That explains why we have different church bodies and expectations for the members of those churches. Such an approach should be expected. It should not surprise anyone that our church does not tolerate drunkenness among its members. Still, that does not mean we should not still tolerate one another as neighbors and even friends.
It becomes more difficult when people who reject Christian principles altogether began to distort the idea of tolerance and suggest that others do not even have a right to hold to religious conviction. This is the very definition of intolerance.
As Christians let us graciously recognize that there will be differences of opinions and behaviors. We should not depart from the teaching of scripture in our opinions and behaviors even when others are intolerant of us. At the same time, we should continue to show love to those who do not embrace the teachings that we hold so dear.
Not Just Anyone Can Hatch 4-17-22
We have been attempting to hatch some eggs. We have a few old incubators that were either given to us or purchased at garage sales. Hens make the process look so easy, but we are finding out that it is not as easy as I anticipated it might be.
We actually have some pretty neat incubators. The first one we tried has multiple racks with automatic egg turners. The hens regularly turn their own eggs so that the developing chick does not stick to the inside of the shell and die. We decided that an automatic turner would save us the time of manually turning the eggs throughout the day. The problem was that the motors on the machine were not working.
Thankfully we had another one that we could use. On that one, the turner worked perfectly and it came up to the needed temperature quite quickly. We also discovered that the temperature was very important and should be near 100 degrees. If it was too cold the chicks would not develop properly and if it was too hot they would die.
As we double checked the temperature we soon realized that it was warm enough right below the heater on the incubator, but too cool farther away from the heater.
We also found out that there is a process called candling where you can shine a bright light into the egg and see how it is developing. As we candled, we found out that the eggs in the cooler area did not appear to be developing like the others were.
As if all these factors were not challenging enough, we also realize that we need to be concerned with the humidity level within the incubator and that the humidity may need to change just before they hatch. Further we need to stop rotating the eggs shortly before they hatch. That means we need to estimate hatch time based on the ideal temperature. If we had it set right they should hatch in about 21 days. If it is too cool, it may take longer or they may not hatch at all.
As I wait for our results, I think back to the chicks that hatched out for us last year. We did not use an incubator. Instead we let this ugly little banty hen do what God created her to do. She efficiently kept the eggs at the proper temperature and humidity and meticulously turned them just when she was supposed to.
I am reminded of how fragile life is and how dependent we are on our creator. Not only did God create chickens to lay eggs, but he made them to know how to incubate and hatch those eggs. Further he makes seeds to grow and plants to produce food. Our creator is also our savior and sustainer. Notice what Colossians 1:16-17 says about Jesus Christ: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (NASB)
When we believe on Jesus Christ as our risen savior, we are not just believing in a great prophet, we are believing in the creator and sustainer of the universe who even cares about the little chickens and all the details of their lives.
Rhubarb and Lard Riches 4-4-22
Our Rhubarb has started to grow. It will be a while before it can be harvested. Still our boys are looking forward to it. They want to make the breakfast that they used to eat when they were little. At that time, our finances were very tight, but we could buy a 25 lb bag of rice for less than $9. I realized our boys would get tired of rice every day, and we had a lot of rhubarb. We were also able to buy postdated jello. I would cook up the rice in a large bowl, add the rhubarb, jello mix, and a little sugar and then let it cool in the fridge. This made for an inexpensive, yet colorful and tasty breakfast treat. The boys loved it.
They did not realize how poor we were. Instead they look back on those days and want to make their low-budget treat again. Not only was it cheap, but it had a decent amount of nutrition. Come to think of it, we were quite rich.
I like reading a farmer's forum called NewAgtalk. While browsing this forum, I recently found a thread titled, “How We Used to Eat (1953 - 1955 or so)”. One man shared this comment right after another man mentioned being born in 1933, “My Dad, said the 'well off' kids, had lard sandwiches, the poorer ones were lucky to have a 'jammin' sandwich, which was just two slices of bread jammed together. Their folks couldn't afford to waste the lard.”
It is easy to take what we have for granted. We walked through Walmart the other day and noticed the egg shelves were bare. Evidently Walmart's egg suppliers have been hit by the bird flu. Still there was plenty of food in the whole store. Throughout the Covid experience and the following supply shortages, some things have been harder to get. Still we never starved.
The president of the United States recently said that food shortages are going to be real. How severe those shortages will be is definitely not known, but we do know that for Walmart the egg shortage was a reality even though they are plentiful in other stores.
We live in a society where we have gotten used to going to the store and being able to buy so many wonderful items. We have much more to chose from than just lard and rhubarb. Ironically, I would not even know where to buy lard or rhubarb, because there is less demand for those products compared to so many others. Still, we should be reminded of how rich lard and rhubarb can make us feel.
I am glad that we are not as poor as we used to be, but I am also glad that our boys grew up with a bit less than their peers and still learned to appreciate what they had. If we face more shortages ahead they will be much better prepared to adjust to it. As long as there is not a lemon shortage, they will be able to make lemonade. They know that soon they will be able to harvest rhubarb and even make a salad from dandelion leaves. 1Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Then a couple verses later we are told, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
(I Timothy 6:8).
If we end up facing a cereal shortage and our boys are forced to once again eat rice and rhubarb, they will consider it a treat. Still their best security comes not from their food, but from knowing that since they have trusted Christ, he will be with them no matter what they go through. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Are You Scared At Night? 3-21-22
Strange noises can be scary. As a child I lived in an old farmhouse with hot water heating. The old pipes would bang and gurgle. I soon got used to pipe noises and hardly noticed them anymore.
Then one evening my cousins stayed over night. Those same noises were new to them and very scary. So were the unfamiliar sights. Not only were there trees that cast shadows right outside our bedroom window, there were also dark curtains around the window frame. As the pipes clattered one of the boys was convinced he saw Darth Vader looking in the window. Soon there were multiple scared little boys in that room.
Another night my parents were gone and we had a baby sitter. The darkness outside had set in. Soon we heard a deep long moaning sound coming from our thick grove of trees. Our teenage babysitter tried to assure us that we need not worry, but as the sound continued our fear would not subside. Finally she called her dad who lived only a mile away and he assured us that we did not need to worry. He explained that a hoot owl could have made that sound. Later we realized that it was a cow.
As I have gotten older I have realized that a lot of things that I was scared of as a kid were actually quite harmless. On the other hand, I have also realized that there are a lot of scary things in this world that I did not even know about as a kid. I have never heard a missile fly overhead and crash into a neighboring building. As a child, the only gunshots I heard from my yard were friends and neighbors out hunting or target shooting.
I am thankful that I am not living in Ukraine, but I do realize that gunshots in Sioux Falls are not always harmless. I know that it is not irrational to be fearful of some sounds. I also know how stressful it could be to live in fear.
It was very difficult to fall asleep the night I heard the moaning sound out in the trees- and the thought of Darth Vader outside my window did not provide any comfort to my life. Fortunately those fears quickly passed and I was able to sleep in peace.
Today I could let the fears of this world keep me awake at night, but instead I remember that I am friends with the creator of the universe and that he has sent his Holy Spirit to be with me. I also realize that there are still people in this world whose lives are in danger simply because they have put their faith in Jesus Christ. In spite of the real dangers they face, they continue to be bold in their faith. After reminding us in Hebrews 15:5 that our Lord will never leave us or forsake us, Hebrews 13:6 says, “so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME?" (NASB)
I trusted Jesus Christ as my savior when I was still young enough to be scared of a cow mooing out in the trees at night. Today, I still take comfort in knowing he will not leave me nor forsake me. As I watch the news and realize that there are legitimate fearful things happening in this word, I know I do not have to live in fear of what others will do to me. I am not alone. The creator of the universe who died for my sins has not forgotten me. Even if I die, he will be with me as I live with him forever. That makes it easy to sleep at night whether a cow is moowing in the distance or if we hear that missiles could some day be flying overhead.
If you have not yet trusted Christ, take comfort in what he said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (NASB)
How Do I get There from Here? 3-6-22
I like to know where I am going. Before the internet and smartphones I would keep maps from multiple states in my glove box just in case I needed to find out where I was at. I figured if I kept driving in the same direction, eventually I would find a main highway that was on the map and then I could find my way from there.
Now I can go online before my trip and have a map printed of the exact roads I need to take. It will even tell my how far to go and when to turn. Still this approach has now become old fashioned. My wife simply speaks the location into her phone and then the phone will tell her when and where to turn. I like to see the whole map ahead of time and to know where I am going before I get there. Part of the reason that I am hesitant to use my phone is that I do not have enough faith in Siri.
My grandparents died years ago. They did not have smartphones or the internet, but they were able to get many places without maps or even knowing the directions. They would simply book a seat on a tour bus. The tour company would make all the arrangements. The only thing my grandparents had to do was get on the bus and trust the driver to get them where they needed to go.
One of their trips was to Mackinac Island in Michigan. They not only had to trust the bus driver, but also the boat captain to get them there. The island was so isolated that they could not have simply driven there themselves. In fact, when I typed in an address on the island in my favorite mapping site I got the message, “Directions failed: ZERO_RESULTS.” There is no road to the island so they could not fulfill my request.
Getting to heaven is even more complicated than getting to Mackinac Island. There are no maps or driving directions. Still, in John chapter 14, Jesus told his disciples that they knew the way there. Thomas asked, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" ( John 14:5b NASB) Jesus replied that he was the way. “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)
The reason that Jesus was able to tell the disciples that they knew the way even though they did not realize they knew the way was because they knew him. They did not need a map or any other directions. All they had to do was to trust him and trust that he would get them there. He had just finished telling them that he was going to prepare a place for them and that there were many dwelling places (some versions have rooms or mansions). We can trust that if we believe in him, then not only is he getting a place ready for us, but he will make sure we get there.
We also need to understand that Jesus is the only way to get there. We cannot get to heaven without him. It is not just that he “knows” the way- he “is” the way. We must have the faith to- “get in the bus with him” so to speak, and- let him drive us there. No one else can do that for us. Only Jesus can. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”
(1Timothy 2:5 NASB). "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB) Jesus is more than a road map to heaven- he is the only way.
Siri does not always give the right directions, so I do not always trust that app, but I know I can trust Jesus Christ.
Love Like Jesus Loved 2-21-22
I just read the tragic story of a husband who died saving his wife's life. They loved climbing so they took a climbing trip for their one year anniversary. Suddenly they found themselves caught in a rock slide. Although the husband was able to protect his wife by taking the brunt of the rocks, he was not able to survive.
I felt a sense of Shakespearean sorrow as I recognized both the love and the grief of such an event. It also made me further reflect on Ephesians 5:25 where it says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;” (NASB).
Christ did set the perfect example of selfless love. He gave his life on the cross for our sins. Yet the example of love he set went far beyond the cross. Right after he entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday he washed the disciple's feet. We need to remember who Jesus was as he did this. Not only is he God, but he was their leader- their master. They were his followers. He had every right to order one of them to wash feet, yet he did it himself.
Husbands should look to that same example and be willing to humble themselves and help their wives. In other words, we should not just be willing to shield her from falling rocks, we should also be willing to tackle that honey do list and care about her other concerns. Of course I am not suggesting that husbands spend every waking hour doing whatever the wife can think to put on that list, but love is evidenced as we put others ahead of ourselves.
After washing feet, Jesus told his disciples, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 NASB) A loving Christian wife will have reasonable expectations for the honey do list and a loving husband will not ignore it.
As important as all of this advice is for a healthy marriage, it is also important for a spiritually healthy life in all of our relationships. Philippians 2:3-5 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,” (NASB).
The Philippians passage also reminds us that we are to follow the example of Christ. So much conflict in this world could be solved if we were all willing to set aside selfishness and love one another. The problem comes when either one or both parties are too selfish to do that. Romans 12:18 tells us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (NASB) In other words, if there is not peace make sure it is not your fault.
When people reject Christ, they do not have the Christian motivation to set aside selfishness. On the other hand, when people are really committed to obeying Christ, they do care about others. That is why Christians who are doing right will get along with each other and why Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:34-35 NASB) Our selfless love should be so radical that the rest of the world will notice how well we get along.
Let us strive to love as Christ loved because of our love for him. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NASB)
Don't Rob the Train 2-7-22
I recently saw pictures of train tracks littered with cardboard boxes. It looked like trash had been dumped on the tracks. As I read further, I realized that the reason all these boxes were there is because people had broken into the shipping containers on the train and taken the boxes out. Since they did not know what was in most of the boxes, they would rip them open, keep any valuable items and then discard what was left behind.
Customers who had placed orders would not be receiving their items. Many are right to be upset about that. What seems to be missing from so many of the conversations, however, is the issue of the sin that was taking place.
God was very clear when he said “Thou shalt not steal.” Sadly much of the world doesn't really take God all that seriously. They are upset that someone will not get a package, but are not so upset that God was disobeyed.
The problem is that people have created their own moral standards rather than considering God's moral standards. Some think it is okay to steal from a train, because the train is owned by a big company, but that it is not okay to steal from the single mother who is waiting for her Amazon order. Once they realize that stealing from the one leads to the theft from the other- only then are they upset.
We are facing a much bigger problem than late deliveries and littered train tracks. We are facing a society that thinks their stealing is okay but that other's stealing is not. We are facing a world that has lost it's moral compass.
Without God, everyone ends up doing what is right in their own eyes. This should not surprise us, because that is what happened way back in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve decided to listen to the serpent rather than to listen to God. Thus they decided what was right to do instead of obeying God. Long before that, Satan decided that he wanted to be like the most high.
We now have a whole world full of people who act just like the devil- thinking they have the right to be like God and decide what is right and wrong. It is time for each of us to take an honest look at our lives. Unless we care about right and wrong based on God's standards, we are going down the path of selfish arrogance. A path that says we have all the answers to right and wrong and that we do not need to listen to God is not a wise path to take. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” It is time to listen to God.
Stealing is only one of many sins that we must be concerned about. But there is hope. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God made the rules of right and wrong and he will hold us accountable for violating those rules. That is serious for the sinner, but God so loved this sinful world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
That means if we believe Jesus, then our sins are forgiven. Of course that is not an excuse to keep sinning. If we really believe in him, we will want to follow God's ways not our own.
We should stop making our own rules, but if we do sin and repent we have Jesus on our side. 1John 2:1 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” It is time for us to recognize that there is forgiveness in Christ and that God really is in charge.
How Do You Use Your Hands? 1-18-20
When I was in school, gym class was hard. I had an eye condition that I was not aware of at the time. I would see the ball where it actually was at. Most people see a moving ball where they expect it to be. That is what allows people to catch it. For most people, their eyes and minds do all the calculations automatically. For some of us those calculations never occur. It means that we cannot trust our eyes to help us catch the ball.
I admire those who have great athletic abilities. But I have concerns about those who make sports their god. For some of them, if you do not honor their god by playing perfectly they will mock and ridicule you. Those kind of people are still know as jerks decades later, while most have forgotten that some of us were not so good at sports all those years ago. I think most people like sports but are not jerks about it either. Dads, if you are raising kids to be jerks about sports you have a lot bigger issues than can be solved with a ball. I pray Christ can help you to resolve them.
For those of you who are like me- not so good at sports- realize that God has gifted you in other ways. Find what you can use and use it for his glory. Christ isn't like the school yard bully. He loves you no matter how talented you are. I wrote this poem and I hope it gives some encouragement to those who are trying to find out what their talents are.
I didn't catch the ball as he threw that pass
If I had I knew that moment wouldn't last
I was the easy out before 1st base
I was the first one tagged when we played chase
They thought I couldn't use my hands
But I could catch a wrench and fix a car
spin a stuck lid off a mason jar
Plant a tree and cut one down
As I help the neighbor clear across town
I know how to use my hands
I can skin a pig
and drive a Cat
Move that dirt
and put it back
I know how to use my hands
I can drive a nail with just 2 blows
build a house and move it home
Start a tractor that has sat for years
Jump in a semi and shift the gears
I know how to use my hands
These hands can hold a baby
and his momma too
She looks at me and says
I want him to grow up to be like you
Teach him to use his hands
To open God's word and live it out
To show the whole world what its all about
To know how to use your hands
The above poem speaks of using one's hands, but not all hands are usable. Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed in her youth and still went on to become an artist, author, and radio host. She used her talents to speak of Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (NASB) I Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (NASB) No matter who we are, we can bring glory to God. We all have purpose in life. www.southtownchurch.com
God's Winter Mercies 1-3-22
I recently shared a meme with the picture of a farmer chipping ice out of a water tank as the cattle watched him. The words said, “If you 'love winter' there's a 99% chance you don't have livestock.” I had to chuckle. I grew up on a farm with a lot of livestock. I remember saying how much easier winter was once I no longer had livestock to care for. Ironically, now this year, we have chickens and a pig to care for.
As a teenager, I experienced a winter where it stayed multiple digits below zero for weeks. We had the tractor parked inside out of the wind, but still struggled to get it started each day. Then we had to go around and thaw out the water supplies for the livestock before doing the rest of our chores. Often the gates would be froze shut so we could not even drive into the pens. If a water line broke, it would create a massive ice sculpture if it did not freeze shut. The cold was a challenge.
As challenging as the cold was, having to scoop snow provided an additional challenge. Still, snow could be a blessing. We could push snow piles up to block the wind and protect the livestock. The snow could also insulate the ground so that the water lines that were buried would not freeze as easily. The snow also kept the pens colder so that they did not thaw and turn to mud. It also proved a safer surface to walk on than glare ice. This reminds me of Psalm 147:16 where it says, “He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes.” (NASB)
Not only is snow white like some wool, it insulates like wool. Snow can be a blessing and I can be grateful for it. I am also thankful when it melts. A few verses later we can read in Psalm 147:18, “He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.” (NASB) In the middle of winter when the days are short, it is good to know that spring time will come and the snow will melt. I also know that even in the middle of winter, God can send a warm day to give us a break from the cold. These changes in weather are a reminder of his grace and his power.
Although his power can be seen in the winds of a blizzard and the thunderstorms of summer, his power is also seen in the cold. Vs 17 says, “He casts forth His ice as fragments; Who can stand before His cold?” (Psalm 147:17 NASB) Vs 15 tells us that all these things happen at his command. “He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. (Psalm 147:15 NASB)
All of this talk about cold, snow, and the power of God is in the context of another truth found in the same Psalm where it says, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD favors those who fear Him, Those who wait for His lovingkindness.” (Psalm 147:10-11 NASB)
God is powerful, so he is not impressed with our power. Instead he delights in our reverent fear of him as we look to his love and kindness. That is why we need to believe in his son and the love he showed in coming to this earth to die for our sins. John 3:16 sums it up well, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
When you see the power of the cold, remember God's mercy in sending snow and eventually melting that snow. Then remember the mercy of God in sending his son.
Giving is More Than Gifts 12-20-21
Christmas time is a wonderful time of the year to put giving into practice. As we give gifts, we should do so without selfishness. Unfortunately it is easy to get into the rut of tradition rather than the spirit of giving. To further complicate matters, if we were to give an expensive gift at Christmas the recipient would likely want to give us an expensive gift in return. For this reason my siblings and I decided years ago to stop exchanging gifts.
That does not mean, however, that we do not still look out for each other. My little brother recently dropped everything to come and help me when my truck broke down. About a week later, I made time to help my other brother and his family move to a different house. These things mean way more than wrapping and exchanging fruit baskets on Christmas.
Helping others and giving to others comes with a personal cost. It is often easier to just buy a present than to actually put others interests ahead of our own. Setting aside selfishness and realizing that others are more important than we are is what giving should be about. This sort of attitude should not just come out at Christmas. It should be how we live our lives.
We live in a world were selfishness is quite common. Christians however should be characterized by giving rather than selfishness. In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul wrote, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)
It is not always easy to live such an unselfish life. Thankfully Jesus Christ set the perfect example for us. In Paul's letter to the Philippians he continues by reminding us that we need to be like Christ as we set aside selfishness and put others ahead of ourselves. He says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:5-7 NASB)
Jesus did not have to grasp at equality with God. He already had it. Further he did not just leave the comfort of a warm house to help others, he left heaven. Then he emptied himself of so much of his glory in order to become a servant. Jesus humbled himself enough to be born and laid in a manger. Then he grew up and gave his life for our sins. We too should regard the needs of others and help them.
Christmas is a great time to remember how Christ put others ahead of himself as he was born as a baby. It is also a great time for us to follow his example and to do more for others than just giving a trite gift. We should actually spend time and show them we care. Jesus left heaven and spent time here on earth. We can leave our places of comfort and spend time with those who need our help as we view them as more important than ourselves. We definitely ought to view Christ as more important then we are and follow him.
Son of Man at Christmas 12-6-21
It is the holiday season. Toys are on sale, decorations are going up, and there may be a Christmas tree shortage. As exciting as all of these things are, they are not part of the true meaning of Christmas. Christ-mas is about the incarnation of Christ. Incarnation is a fancy word that means that God became a man.
Although Jesus is God, he often referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” This title a reminder that God so loved the world that he came to this earth as a human baby and then grew into a man who would die for our sins- it was also a reference to a very important Old Testament prophesy. About 500 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, Daniel wrote about him. In fact, in chapter 9, Daniel tells the date when the Messiah would appear. That date lines up with the time of Jesus Christ. Yet, two chapters before that, Daniel tells about the power and glory of the one who would come and in so doing, he speaks of the “Son of Man.”
"I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14 NASB)
Notice how Daniel describes Christ here. He is like a Son of Man. He is the son of mankind through Mary, but he is also the son of God through the Holy Spirit. He is fully God and fully man, so he is not just any son of man. But notice as well that this “Son of Man” comes with the clouds from heaven. This is a reminder that Jesus is God come from heaven to become a man- the very definition of the incarnation. Notice as well that he was given the authority to rule as king over all the world and that authority would last forever.
As we read Daniel's prophesy, we understand that when Jesus used the title “Son of Man” he was reminding those who were familiar with the book of Daniel that the time was right for the Messiah to appear and that the Messiah would have the everlasting authority as the king of the world. By using that title, Jesus was laying claim to that authority. Once we understand that he is God become man, that claim should not surprise us.
As we celebrate his birth, let us not forget his authority. Let us also remember that when he set aside so much of his majesty in heaven he stayed filled with grace and truth (John 1:14). That grace led him to die for our sins and to extend his offer of salvation to all who believe in him. That means if we believe he is the one Daniel spoke of and recognize the authority he has, then we can be part of his eternal kingdom. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)
In order to have that everlasting life, we must believe in him. He is the only way. The way in the manger leads to the cross, and the cross leads us to King Jesus. “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)
Showing How Love Looks 11-22-21
I wish you all could meet my brother, Dustin. He can fix almost anything and he can build a lot of stuff. He is the sort of guy you hope to have around if you are having trouble and need a creative solution. My other brother recently brought his four wheeler to him to have it repaired and he had it running great in about 10 minutes.
It is one thing for a man to have that kind of talent. It is another thing for him to use it for others. The brother who had the four wheeler fixed wanted to pay him, but he refused because that is just what he does. When the transfer case went out of my pickup near Beaver Creek and I called him, he dropped what he was doing to come to my rescue and haul my broken pickup back to Worthing. (He lives near Pipestone).
He doesn't just do those sorts of things for his brothers though. His friends and neighbors know they can call on him for help. The same night that my pickup broke down, my wife was also stranded on the side of the road and I was on my way to help her.
I called my brother to rescue me, but first I called my friend Mic to rescue my wife. He is just like my brother. He dropped everything and came to help. He stopped where I was waiting for my brother and picked up the parts that my wife's van needed, brought them to her, installed them, and ended up coming into Worthing right after we did.
Dustin and Mic both love the Lord (the first and greatest commandment of all) but they also love their neighbors (the second greatest commandment). All their talents could not create a good testimony of their Christian faith if they were not putting their love into practice.
James 2:15-16 says, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (NASB)
I have let you know how wonderful I think these two men are, but they are not perfect. I know each of them has their faults. That is why they trusted Christ. He forgives their sins and cleanses them from all unrighteousness. They would both tell you how wonderful Jesus is and that unlike them, Jesus is perfect. He is kind, righteous, sinless, just, compassionate, powerful, loving, merciful, completely honest, and trustworthy. Jesus is also God.
So if we were to tell people how wonderful God was, but yet he didn't do anything for us, would people be likely to listen to us? Let us not forget that Christ holds the creation together (Colossians 1:16-17). Further he provides for our needs.
"Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. "But if God so arrays the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O men of little faith! "And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.(Luke 12:27-31 NASB)
As if that were not enough, He loved us so much that he died for our sins before he rose again. As wonderful as so many of my friends and brothers are, Jesus Christ is even more wonderful. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
The Mount of Resurrection 11-8-21
Long, long ago, my great great grandfather immigrated to this area from Germany. I am told that he was buried in a cemetery south of Lennox. I have not found his grave, and I still do not know if his gravestone has the name “Mueller” or the more Americanized “Miller” that later generations adapted. He was buried there over a hundred years ago, far, far away from the land where he was born.
In the book of Genesis Joseph asks that his bones not remain in Egypt. During the Exodus they are carried back to the promised land. Some people are very concerned about where they are buried. Others don't really care much at all.
Just east of Jerusalem there is a mount where many people wanted to be buried. It is estimated that in this location there are up to 150,000 tombs. This cemetery is located on the Mount of Olives and was started about 1000 years before the time of Christ. Thus during Jesus' ministry there were already people buried there.
Although Jesus would often contend with the Pharisees, they did agree on one very important teaching. They both affirmed the resurrection of the dead. That is why so many wanted to be buried on the Mount of Olives. Jewish tradition suggests that those who are buried on the Mount of Olives would be the first to rise from the dead. The prophet Zechariah's writings may have been where this tradition originated. He wrote:
“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.” (Zech 14:3-4 NASB)
The next verse then speaks of God coming and all the holy ones with him.
Knowing that Jesus is the promised Messiah- God come to save us, it should not surprise us that he spent a lot of time on the Mount of Olives. In fact, it was on that very mount that he was asked by his disciples, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3). It would have been exciting to get to ask Jesus that question while sitting on the mountain that he would one day split in two.
It is just as exciting though, to know that if we believe in him, we do not have to be buried on that mountain. No matter where we are, he will find us, raise us from the dead and give us eternal life. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB)
Jesus is coming again. We must be ready. Regardless of if it is before or after we die, if we trust him, we will be with him for eternity, “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” But those who do not believe will not have that wonderful experience. Jesus warned, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23) The good news is that if we believe in him, we never have to hear those words, because he promised, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB).
Battling In the Word War 10-26-21
Not all wars involve physical weapons and literal death on battlefields. I grew up during the “Cold War” with the USSR. Throughout my life, I have seen many people get hot under the collar over cold wars of opinion. I have even found myself on that battlefield from time to time. Today, we are seeing that the wars of words are becoming more and more heated.
Psalm 140 speaks of evil and violent men who continually sir up wars. The weapons that they use are not guns or swords. They are words. “They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.” (Psalm 140:3 NASB)
The Psalmist asks the Lord for protection from them. It is a reminder that although sicks and stones may break our bones, words DO actually hurt us.
In the battle of words a lot of mean statements are made. People are called names, but worse yet, they are often given labels that they do not deserve. This often comes in the form of slander. Psalm 140 addresses this as well. "May a slanderer not be established in the earth; May evil hunt the violent man speedily." (Psalm 140:11 NASB).
In Psalm 140 the words of others are condemned, but then we come to Psalm 141. In that next Psalm, we find some self reflection. The writer has already pointed out in Psalm 140 that words can be dangerous weapons of war. But now he is concerned about how he uses his own words. In his prayers he asks, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
It is easy to notice when the hurtful words of others damage us. It is not always so easy to know when my words hurt others. That is why it is important to ask for the Lord's help. When Jesus came to this earth he emptied himself of so much of the glory he had in heaven. He stayed filled with grace and truth (John 1:14). We should ask him to guard our words so they too are characterized by grace and truth.
It is very tempting to get caught up in the battle. It is not wrong to share our opinions or to have debates. Wars are often avoided by the exchange of dialog that helps each side understand the other side better. That is what diplomacy is all about. But when words are sharpened and used with violence, diplomacy has been set aside for war. This can even happen online.
My wife has a distant relative who we are online friends with. We often disagree with her on a variety of subjects, but she is consistently polite and respectful as she shares her opinions. We have had some great online conversations as we better understand her perspective and she better understands ours. Never have I felt at war with her.
I have however seen situations where different perspectives have not had such a positive result. We cannot always control how others respond, but we can set a guard over our own responses. We live in a world where opinions are shared openly and that is not all bad. Still, we need to be careful as Christians to ask for God's help in how we share our words so that we speak with grace and truth.
We can expect to fall short from time to time, but when we are reproved and the reproof is deserved, we should own up to it and ask forgiveness. Then we should also be willing to grant forgiveness when someone else breaks the cease fire in the war of words.
No Anger At Sundown 10-11-21
Although I love the beautiful fall colors, I do not love the shorter days. I love the summer when daylight lasts well past 9:00 at night. It allows a lot more time to get things done outside. It also gives more time to be angry. Ephesians 4:26 says, “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” (NASB) I make the comment about more time for anger with my tongue in my cheek because that verse has so often been misapplied.
Many couples have quoted that verse with the thought that they cannot go to bed without unresolved conflict. If we were to apply it in that manner, then we would have to resolve the conflict by 5 p.m. in December, but could wait until after 9 p.m. in June. The point is that if you are unwilling to go to sleep with unresolved conflict you are likely already past sunset.
The problem, however, is that the verse does not say anything about resolving the conflict. Instead it is talking about setting aside the anger. Diplomacy is necessary because of conflict, but anger can often interfere with the diplomatic process. The Ephesians passage reminds us that it is possible to be angry and yet not sin, but that there is a time to set aside the anger.
Consider a married couple that argues late into the night and refuses to go to sleep without resolving the conflict. It is difficult for diplomacy to work well when one or both parties are tired. A resolution will be much more likely in the morning after both are rested.
In order to obey the command not to let the sun go down on our anger, all we have do is to set aside our anger and go to sleep. It is not unusual to wake up the next morning and then be able to see the other person's perspective much more clearly. It is also not uncommon to wake up the next morning and realize that what you were so passionate about in your tired state does not really matter.
There are times however that this issue does still matter and must still be resolved. By setting aside anger and getting some sleep it gives time for contemplation before a renewed attempt at solving the issue. If it still cannot be solved, it may be time to bring in a moderator. It is much easier to recognize the need for such help if anger has been set aside. It will also make it easier to be able to listen to any recommendations that the moderator may make.
The command to “be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” allows for a check and balance upon our anger. It is not always wrong to be angry, but unchecked anger can easily lead to sinful responses. Those sorts of responses are especially likely at night when we are tired. If you find your anger rising after the sun sets, then step away from the conflict and set that anger aside until the issue can be worked on another day.
Sometimes however, just setting aside our anger is all that is needed. For example I may have been justified in my anger about an issue that led to conflict, but still allow that anger to stand in the way of a resolution. My anger may be what is keeping me from letting go and offering forgiveness to the offending party. If the other person is repentant, then I need to let go of that anger and forgive. The end of the day is a time to remind me of what I need to do.
The scriptures have the answers for how to most effectively deal with day to day problems, but we must look at what those scriptures are actually saying, not at how they are often misapplied. Our anger may not even lead to a confrontation. We may simply be stewing about an event that happened earlier in the day. At the end of the day, let it go. Do not fall asleep dwelling on it.
Life With a Solid Foundation 9-26-21
My wife's folks are planning to move a house onto a lot that they recently purchased. It is an older rambler, but it is in good condition and has nice curb appeal. They are looking forward to adding an addition and attached garage onto it. They bought it from a house mover, so it is currently sitting on beams. Thankfully a wind storm has not blown it off its stands.
The house movers are professionals, so they know how to support it during this time, but what they have done is not a long term solution for the house. It needs to be set onto a solid foundation.
My father-in-law hired a local cement contractor to make that new foundation. They poured footings deep into the ground. They had to be deep enough so that the cold winter frost would not move them. They also had to be strong enough to carry the weight of the house.
After the initial footings were poured, they carefully set up forms for the walls. They installed metal reinforcement rod and were careful to make sure the walls were straight. They even installed concrete window wells. These window wells should last over a lifetime. Furthermore, since they are connected to the main wall, they will add structural strength to this basement foundation.
As the house movers bring the house to the site, they will be placing that old house onto a new foundation that will be solid. If the foundation were not solid, the house could sink or even twist. Soon the floors would be uneven and structural wood could break. Walls would crack and doors would not close right. If things got bad enough the house could become unlivable. A solid foundation is very important.
People have understood the importance of a solid foundation for thousands of years. In fact, Jesus used the illustration of building a house on a rock (solid foundation) to show the importance of obeying him. He said:
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV)
Imagine you are sitting in your living room and notice that the floor is sloping downward. Then you go to the basement and find out that the wall is caving in. You quickly realize that you need to do some work on your house's foundation.
On the other hand, if you look at your life and realize it is falling apart, perhaps it is time to see what kind of foundation you have built your world upon. If your foundation is Jesus Christ, then you are on solid ground for eternity. He said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
It was not too late for my in-laws to put a new foundation under an old house. It is not too late for you to put a new foundation under your life and to trust Jesus Christ. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19 NKJV)
Kindness After the Storm 9-13-21
We first found out that a storm had hit Worthing when we got a text from a friend asking if we were alright. It was the last Saturday in August and we were hours away in a different state. The sun was shining. Worthing had just been hit with a deluge of rain, strong winds, and a possible tornado.
Our boys were at home without us. Fortunately, Crystal's sister had been made aware of the approaching storm and called them and told them to go to the basement. She was one more person in a list of people that were looking out for us. We quickly called our closest neighbors and found out that they had not been home either. One of them immediately checked on our boys and called us back to let us know they were okay.
My father-in-law had been visiting and was on his way back to our home when he heard that the storm had hit. He came back and was there hours before we got there. He just happened to have his chain saw with him and began to clean up our yard. Other neighbors stopped by to check on our boys and our house and reported back to us as we were driving home. We knew our boys were not alone. We also knew that when tragedy struck we would not be alone. We had friends and family and friends who are like family. We also had others praying for us. Most of all, we had the comfort that God was watching over our family and home.
It was already dark when we got home. It was raining again, branches were down, and streets were flooded. The electricity was off and the town was mostly dark. We would later find out that the road in front of our house had been blocked by trees. Someone had come along with a truck and pulled them out of the way so that the road was again passable.
By the next morning the electricity had still not come back on. We decided that during a time like this we should still have church, so we held services in the front foyer since there were more windows there to let in more light. We prayed for our community and wrapped up early so that we could work on the clean up.
As we went around town, we quickly realized that our little community was coming together. So many people were hauling branches that there was a long line waiting at the regular dump site. A business owner in town volunteered to let people dump branches on his bare lot. He even helped to unload and pile the branches with his skid loader. Since no one from the city was there to push up branches, others brought their loaders into town and helped push the piles back. Another man used his boom truck to reach dangerous branches and cut them down before they fell on others.
Children and adults gathered at the school grounds and began cleaning up that area. Others cleaned up the cemetery. People helped their neighbors. Trucks were driving around town pulling trailers. People were riding in the back of the pickups to load and unload the branches. It was a wonderful example of people following the second greatest commandment of loving their neighbors as themselves.
In a world of turmoil and division it is wonderful to know that there is still hope and kindness. Sometimes it takes a small tragedy to remind us of such blessings.
I do not always understand why God allows trials in our lives, but after this latest storm, I realized that sometimes the tough times we face reveal to us how blessed we really are. Although I feel bad for those with roof damage, crop damage, vehicles crushed by trees, and water in their basements, I do not look back on this storm with despair. I look back on it with thankfulness for all the blessings of a loving community.
Worship In Spirit and Truth 8-30-21
Oxford defines worship as “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.” From a Christian perspective, that worship is to be reserved for God. As Christians we recognize that Jesus Christ is God become man. Thus as we worship God, we worship Jesus Christ.
Other men are not God and should not be worshiped. Paul and Barnabas had to address this when people wanted to worship them. They said, "Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you in order that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.” (Acts 14:15 NASB)
They were making it clear that only the true God who made heaven and earth should be worshiped. Sadly it is not just men that end up being worshiped. Often it is inanimate objects such as statues. Although statue worship is not as popular in our culture as it is in other cultures, it does have a certain appeal to it. It allows the worshiper to create his own god.
Creating our own gods is still very real in our culture even without statues. Instead many people create an idea of who their god is and worship that idea. They have created a god in their minds rather than upon their mantle. Some may even try to equate their god with the God of the Bible. There is a problem with that. We do not get to decide who the God of the Bible is. Since he created the heaven and the earth, he is real. We must allow him to define himself.
As Jesus talked with the woman at the well, he was talking to someone from Samaria- a region where the people mixed portions of the Old Testament scriptures with worship of idols. In other words they had distorted the reality of who the true God is as they worshiped. Jesus confronted this when he told her, “you worship that which you do not know.” (John 4:22a)
It is not possible to know a statue or a god of our imagination. Although the statue may have a physical element, it does not have a spirit. You can know a lot about a statue but you cannot know the statue. A god of our imagination has neither a physical element or a spirit. That is why Jesus then tells her, "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24 NASB)
The spirit is the part that forms the emotion, intellect, and will. It is the part capable of thought and of love. A statue or an imagination cannot love us back or respond with logic to our prayers. The true God can do all of these. Further he has given us his words in the Bible. That is why we can worship him in both spirit and truth. That is why we can love him and be loved by him.
No Need to Hide in the Dark 8-16-21
When people find out that I am a pastor, it is not unusual for them to clean up their language while they are around me. Still it is easy for someone who is in the habit of using colorful language to let a word slip now and then. Thus I also get to hear a number of people apologize for using those words in front of me. It is almost as if they are concerned that I might tattle to God about their behavior.
I try to politely inform them that I'm not the one they need to be concerned about and that God already knows all they are doing and saying. In fact, God even knows what we are thinking. God knowing our very thoughts should drive fear into each of our hearts. It also drives home the reality of “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
Knowing that God knows, can be frightening until we understand God's love, grace, and mercy. God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He loved us even though he knew we were sinners. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NASB)
Some people act as if they are afraid that God will catch them sinning. Jesus did not come to this earth to catch us sinning. He already knew all men were sinners before he even came here. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:17-18 NASB)
He did not have to catch us sinning to condemn us. We were already condemned before he ever came to die for our sins. But he loved us so much that he came anyway. All we have to do to reverse that condemnation is to believe in him. That means trusting him and recognizing he has the authority to be our Lord.
There is no reason to try to hide in the dark so that he cannot see our sin. Instead we need to come to the light and let our sin out in the open as we confess it and receive his forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB)
Sadly some people would rather have their sin than to have peace with God. That is why they continue to hide in the darkness rather than coming to the light of Christ.
"And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. "For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21 NASB)
Once we understand that Jesus already knows about our sin, there is no reason to hide in the darkness from him. Instead we should come to his light and fall before his mercy knowing he loved us enough to die for the sins that so many want to hide from him. We should desire to live for him instead of for sin. Knowing his mercy should cause us to know he will love us in spite of our sin. He will forgive us and let us be part of his kingdom if we believe. He promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
Full of Grace and Truth 8-1-21
About 30 years ago, a friend of mine had an old brown four door Oldsmobile that he bought from a little old lady. It actually looked like a grandma's car. Looks can be deceiving. Under the hood was a 455 Rocket big block engine. Songs have been written about that engine. It had a lot of power. It was fast.
My friend could have bolted on some fancy rims, covered it in chrome, and replaced the faded brown with a flashy paint job. Then the speed and power of that car would not have been as much of a surprise. But based on how that car looked, no one would have expected it to go fast unless they knew more about it.
I do not want to compare our Lord Jesus Christ to an Oldsmobile, but when he came to this earth, he presented himself as unimpressively as my friend's car. He left his full glory behind in heaven. On the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John were allowed to see that he was far more glorious than they had witnessed before. Still, he did not reveal his full glory.
Philippians 2 describes how humble Christ was and tells us that he set aside so much of his full glory in order to come to earth as a man. He did not look at all the glory he had in heaven as something he had to grasp and hold on to. Instead he let it go and came to us as one of us.
Philippians 2:6-8 says, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (NASB)
Instead of holding on to his full glory- the glory of God- Jesus Christ emptied himself and became ordinary. He did not come looking like a powerful king. Instead he came looking and acting like a humble servant. Still his power was evident. He was able to feed thousands with a few loaves and fish. He was able to heal the sick, raise the dead, and calm the storm. He did not look powerful, but the power was still there. That power could not be denied when he rose from the dead.
If he had not emptied himself of his full glory, mankind could not have looked on him and lived. In Exodus 33:20, Moses was told by God, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!"
(NASB) If Jesus had come in his full glory, no one could have even survived in his presence. But God so loved the world when he came that he set that full glory aside so he could be looked at. He came as an actual human person and died for our sins.
Although Jesus set aside so much of his glory when he came to this earth, there were at least 2 things that he did not set aside. He stayed full of grace and truth. John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NASB) He never compromised truth, but he also knew the truth that we were sinners. He came anyway because he was full of grace.
Staying full of grace allowed him to be gracious enough to forgive our sins and to make the ultimate payment on the cross. That payment applies to us if we believe in him. Knowing our God loved us that much and was that gracious, we should want to come to him.
Ask For the Napkins 7-19-21
Jacky's is our favorite restaurant. They always serve chips and salsa as an appetizer. Because the salsa is so good, I try to get as much of it on my chips as possible without dripping. In the challenge to reach my goal, I often fail. In other words, I end up dripping on the table or myself before that delight reaches my mouth.
That means that I usually need more than the one napkin that is provided. As great as this restaurant is (remember it is our favorite) they do not provide extra napkins at the table. I could complain and murmur about it and leave a mess all over the table. Instead I simply ask for extra napkins when we get there. The result is that the waiter brings plenty of extras and there are more than enough to meet my needs.
I am a bit embarrassed to admit that we had eaten there a number of times before I figured out the best way to deal with this problem. I would drip and then complain to my wife that I only had one napkin, which I wanted to save to use during our main course.
She would smile and shake her head and say that if I were more careful, then I would not make such a mess. Her clean side of the table was proof that such an approach was entirely possible. We would then have a friendly banter back and forth about how good the chips tasted with the extra salsa on them.
The problem was exacerbated by the wonderful service from the waiter. If he noticed our salsa bowl was empty, he would often bring us another one. Realizing they aimed to please, I finally figured out that all I had to do was ask and we had what we wanted.
Still that does not mean that the waiter would give me whatever I asked for. For example, if I had requested 2 dozen roses with our meal, I doubt we would have gotten them.
Our napkin experience makes me think of James 4:2- “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.” (NASB) James is writing about conflict and selfishness, and he points out that often there is conflict because people do not even bother to ask.
Imagine if I complained about our favorite restaurant and told people not to go there because they did not have enough napkins. The reality is that they have plenty of napkins and all I have to do is ask for them.
We should not be so selfish as to expect that everyone will give us all we ask for, but often there are people in our lives who would be more than willing to make small adjustments in their life to make other's lives more pleasant. These are the sort of people who love Jesus and obey his command to love their neighbor as themselves. We should make it a point to never complain about others not giving us what we want if we have not even asked them. At the same time, we should make sure our requests to one another are not unreasonable.
Roses Through Broken Glass 7-5-21
I had a new windshield installed in the pickup. Glass Doctor did a great job and was priced reasonable. They said it should be less than 2 hours so I just waited while they fixed it.
We live almost a half hour from their store. I figured by the time I had my wife come and pick me up, and then bring me back, I would only have about an hour at home. That would also use up an hour of her time. It made more sense to just wait there.
I was actually late to my appointment that day and apologized the the service tech who had to wait for me. He was very polite and assured me that he was able to get some other things done as he waited. The reason I was late was because there had been an accident on I-229 and I got caught in stop and go traffic. Although slowing down and waiting on the interstate was incontinent, it was much better than being in the accident.
Once I got to the waiting room I was able to enjoy my time there. I am reminded as the Mac Davis song says, “There's a whole lot more to life than work and worry. The sweetest things in life are free, and there right before your eyes.”
The waiting room was comfortable and quiet. I actually fell asleep until an old guy came in. He was all upset over how long he would have to wait. He only had a stone chip and they told him it would be 20 minutes. He was upset when he heard I had been there a whole hour. I told him how nice it was that I got some time off to relax in a comfortable chair in a cool quiet place. He kind of hurumphed. I tried to visit with him, but he seemed too upset about how long he had to wait to talk much.
I viewed the time I had to relax as a gift. It had been a busy week and , just sitting and doing nothing was a real treat. I'm guessing the man who was complaining had been stuck sitting around all day every day and it was not so much fun anymore. At his stage in life, he would have likely found joy in again having the strength to put in a hard days work with little rest.
The point is that we can all find things to rejoice in if we just stop to smell the roses along the way. One of the best things to rejoice in is the fact that the sweetest things in life really are free. That includes the free gift of salvation from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (NASB)
The gift of being saved from our sins came when Jesus died for our sins. All we have to do to receive that free gift is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)
If you have been too busy to slow down and see God's free gift, it is time for you to stop and smell the best rose of all. The best thing in life is a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ and it is free.
The Light of God's Glory 6-21-21
It has been hot lately. Years ago I figured out a trick to help deal with the extreme heat. Once the temperature gets into the 90's and the sun is out, our bodies actually stay cooler if we wear a light colored long sleeved shirt. A large wide brimmed hat that shades our head and shoulders is also helpful. The sun is so powerful that we need to be shielded from it.
The bright sun has the power to burn our skin, but it also has the power to burn our eyes. We cannot look directly into it without doing severe damage to our sight. The light of the sun is powerful, but so is the light of God. Jesus told us in John 9:5, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (NKJV).
Jesus is God. He is the creator. In fact, he invented light. “Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3 NKJV) If he had not set aside so much of his glory when he became a man, he would have blinded us with his magnificence. Three of the disciples were able to see a bit more of Christ's glory at the Mount of Transfiguration. “And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.” (Matthew 17:2 NASB)
This amazing event of transfiguration gave them a sample of how much more glorious our Lord was before leaving much of his glory behind in heaven. Philippians chapter 2 explains how Jesus emptied himself of so much of that glory before coming to earth. Verses 6-7 tell us, “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (NASB) Instead of grasping his full glory and holding on to it, Jesus Christ let go of so much of it as he came to this earth as a man. Had he not done so, no man could have stood before his full glory and lived.
Moses was warned: “But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.” (Exodus 33:20-22 NASB)
Moses got to see more of God's glory than we could imagine, but God protected him from the full force of that glory. Had Moses seen all of God's glory he could not have lived through the experience. Jesus is God and it was merciful of him to decide not to grasp all that glory before he came to earth as a man.
Still there was something that Jesus did hold on to when he came into this world from heaven. Although he emptied himself of so much, he stayed filled with grace and truth. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NASB) Not only did he still have grace and truth, but he stayed full of grace and truth. Although he emptied himself of much of his glory so that mankind would not die in his presence, he stayed full of grace and truth.
That grace led him to die for our sins. The truth is that the benefits of that grace are only for those who believe on him. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
Left Out and Lonely 6-10-21
Have you ever felt lonely in a crowded room? I got some great insight into loneliness when I asked the kids during children's church about the subject. One young boy said that loneliness was “feeling left out.” As I began to reflect on what he said, I thought that his description was the most accurate that I had ever heard.
I remember when I was single and lived alone. I had a lot of friends, but really enjoyed my “alone time.” I did not feel lonely. Part of the reason was that I did not feel left out. I could be around other people any time that I chose to.
I also remember my first day of college. I grew up in a small rural school where I knew almost everyone. When I walked into college I had to go to classes where I knew no one. Until I got to know new people, I felt very left out. It was very lonely.
I recently preached through the last chapter of II Timothy. Paul wrote this letter from prison. In such a place we can understand why he would feel alone. As we read what he wrote, however, we realize that he had reason to feel left out as well. In verse 16 of ch 4, he says, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.” (NASB) When no one supports us and deserts us, we can feel very left out.
I have been to numerous burials with family members this spring. As we gathered together and hugged, I did not feel left out at all. Friends and family were a comfort to overcome the loneliness of losing a loved one. But as we left the cemetery, the bodies and ashes of loved ones were left behind. Once family is gone, a cemetery can be a very lonely place.
After Mom's graveside service, we knew her body would be placed in the ground next to the body of Dad. If her future were limited to that casket within a concrete vault next to Dad's concrete vault, then her future would truly be lonely. She has been left out of the rest of our lives.
In many ways, she already felt some of that even before she died. Last year with Covid restrictions she was already left out of so much that the rest of us were able to do. We tried to help her loneliness by calling her and visiting her outside her windows and patio door. Now she is left out of our lives in a more dramatic way.
Although she is left out of our lives, she is not alone. She is not left out of God's presence. Because of her trust in Christ, she could look forward to the promise of II Corinthians 5:8 that says, “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” (NASB) When we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he does not leave us out, so we do not have to worry about eternal loneliness. He promises, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
I Will Weep- I Have Joy 5-24-21
My mom recently passed away. I have been experiencing a variety of emotions that I am not even able to understand. I found great joy as I looked through old photographs of Mom and had wonderful memories flood into my mind. Then I would have sadness as I realized I could not call my mom on the phone or just randomly stop in to see her. I would smile as I saw pictures of her smile, but than I would feel sad as I realized I could no longer see that smile in real life. I would typically spend a great deal of time trying to come up with ideas for a Christmas gift that Mom would enjoy. Suddenly I realized that we will not be spending Christmas with Mom this year. Then I would remember all those wonderful times when we were together and there would be joy mixed with sadness.
I have to admit, that I have not really focused on “dealing” with my emotions. Instead I have just let them come. I understand that they are natural and as long as they are not incapacitating me or interfering with my relationship with others, then there is nothing wrong with having emotion. Even Jesus wept. It is significant to note that his weeping occurred after his friend Lazarus had passed away and he saw his friend's sister and others grieving over that death. Jesus cares about our grief and understands what it is like to lose someone we care about.
A Bible verse that keeps passing through my mind is I Thessalonians 4:13. It says, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” (NKJV) That verse does not say that those with hope do not sorrow. It does however show that our sorrow is different than that of those without hope.
I serve the Lord Jesus Christ- the same one who cared about Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. My mom served him as well. Jesus not only came to comfort Mary and Martha, but he actually rose Lazarus from the dead. He has promised to do the same thing for my mom some day because she believed on him. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 1Thessalonians 4:16 promises, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
I am grieving the loss of my mom, but I am not grieving without hope. I know the promises of God. I know that just as Lazarus rose from the dead- and so did Jesus Christ- my mom and all others who believe on Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior will live again some day.
I have grief because I miss my mom, but I also have joy because I know she no longer suffers. Further I do not fear that she will have eternal suffering. Instead she has the promise of eternal life. Therefore I can have joy mixed with my sorrow.
Digging For Great Treasure 5-9-21
As I looked across the vacant lot across the road from our home, I saw someone digging in the grass with a small garden spade. Since it is spring time, I thought she might be planting something. As I approached she told me she was digging for metal. She had recently purchased a metal detector. The vacant lot was near the the location where a church used to stand, so there was potential for coins or old keys to found in that location.
Soon my boys came over and they were excited about the potential of buried treasure. I was more interested in the metal detector's ability to locate our water shut off valve. Finding that would be worth more to me than old coins. The lady told me she would see if she could find it.
I left but when I came back my wife was talking to our new friend, and our boys had a bunch of holes dug in our yard. The valve had not been located, but our boys were as excited as if they had eaten a whole bag full of candy. The potential of finding something valuable had stimulated their interest.
Of course different people find value in different things. Finding the water valve would have gotten me excited. Fortunately we have not had to use it, but it would be nice to know where it is in case it was ever needed. The boys were excited about finding some old tools buried in our yard. Others would be happy finding jewelry or coins.
Some of the best gems are not buried in the ground. They are found by opening the Word of God. Psalm 119:162 says, “I rejoice at Thy word, As one who finds great spoil.” (NASB) Those who love to read have realized the treasures that can be found within the pages of a good book. The Bible is a book that was given to us by the creator of the universe. He guided the human authors so they could tell us what He wanted us to know. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)
It was exciting for my boys to find the old tools in the yard, but the rusty drill bit and chisel were of little financial value. God's word however is profitable- not for financial worth, but for equipping us to do what is good.
One of the highlights for our family is the Monday night Bible study. We gather at the church with others and dig into God's word. As we do so, we find many treasures of truth that both encourage us and help us to better serve our Lord and savior. Don't just read God's word, dig into it and find great spoils of treasure. “Therefore I love Thy commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold.”
(Psalm 119:127 NASB)
God Gave Much For Peace 4-25-21
When I was a kid my dad advised me to fight back against a bully. I was not afraid of the bully, but I did not want to hurt him, so I did not want to fight back. I just wanted peace. I tried to ignore him. I tried to appease him. Finally there was a small physical altercation and then there was peace. We actually became friends after that.
I am glad that I first gave peace a chance. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (NASB) In other words, if there is a lack of peace make sure it is not your fault. Psalm 120 is a song about wanting peace but the opponent wanting war. Such a situation can be very frustrating.
Psalm 120:1 (A Song of Ascents.) In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, You deceitful tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, With the burning coals of the broom tree.
5 Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech, For I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling With those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war. (NASB)
The Psalmist makes it clear that he wants peace, but they want war. He has tried for peace but they do not want peace. Instead they keep lying. Finally in vs 3, he asks what can be given to them and what more can he do? That is a question we should all ask when seeking peace. Romans 12:18 makes it clear that a lack of peace should not be our fault. We should do what we can for peace without compromising Biblical truth. Finally he realizes that the sharp arrows and burning coals are all that can be given. There are times that justice demands a firm response.
Though we should not be hasty in our use of self defense, there are times when it is necessary. But before we jump to defending ourselves, we should look at the example of Jesus Christ.
All of humanity had lost peace with God through sin, yet Christ humbled himself and left heaven to be born as a man. That was a great gesture of peace. He then went even further. He actually gave His life for those who were not at peace with Him as he died on the cross. He then rose from the dead showing His amazing power, but also extending an offer of peace. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Still, many still rejected that offer of peace and continued to lie about Christ. He has done so much to reach out to them and to appease them, but if they do not accept His peace offer, they will have to face worse than sharp arrows and burning coals. They will have to face fire for eternity. Revelation 20:15 warns, “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (NASB)
The good news is that we can all have peace with God. He has done all He can to make peace with us- including sending His son to die for our sins to satisfy His justice. If we have the faith to believe in Him as our Lord and Savior, then we have peace. “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1 NASB). If there is a lack of peace between God and us, it is not His fault. Do all you can to make peace with Him, by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.
Be Gentle With That Calf 2-11-21
When I was a kid, I played with a Chinese finger trap. The finger trap also reminds me of the calf who got its head stuck in the fence. The harder it pulled, the more frustrated it got. Since it got its head in the fence there should be a way to get it out, but simply rushing in and pushing would not accomplish that task. It would only make things worse.
Whether we are dealing with a calf stuck in a fence or any animal stuck in a trap, if we want to free them, things will go much better if the animal becomes calm and is able to trust us. In order for that to happen, we must remain calm and gentle.
The Apostle Paul wrote multiple letters to a young pastor named Timothy. In those letters, Paul made it clear that Timothy would have to confront both false doctrine and sinful behavior. Timothy would need boldness for this task, but he would also need gentleness. Paul writes in 2Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (NASB)
Calves get their heads stuck in fences, but people get their lives trapped in sin. As servants of God, we should want to help them get free. Often as we see them trapped in sin, it will be tempting to ask why they were stupid enough to put their head in the fence. We may even think we should run up to the fence and yell at them to get their head out of there. If we do that to the calf, it won't work out very well. Should we expect any different from a person.
Part of the problem is that when people are caught up in the devil's trap, they need to come to their senses. They are like the frustrated calf who doesn't realize that all he has to do is turn his head to the side and back away from the fence and be free.
Consider again the words to Timothy, “ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil.” Timothy needed to be able to teach, but he needed to teach with patience. He also needed to give them the truth. The truth is they had been deceived by the devil, but that truth had to come in a gentle way.
We live in a culture where the lies of the devil are entrapping so many people. As Christians, we should care about those people and we should want them to follow Christ and be free from the lies of sin. As we guide them to the truth of Christ, we should not back down from what is true, but we should do it in a gentle and patient way. We need to give God time to work in their lives and to grant them repentance. We need to give time for the truth to sink in.
This does not mean that we tell them that the sin is okay. It does however mean that we make sure they understand we are there to help them and so is God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
How Much Power Do You Have? 3-29-21
My neighbor, Dave, loved power. I'm talking about horsepower. He loved displacement. Displacement is a technical term that describes how much volume all the engine cylinders displace.
Dave had a car with a lot of displacement. His 66 Chevelle Super Sport had a 396 cubic inch engine under the hood. It could easily smoke the tires.
He had other ways to get more power though. I found out about turning up the pump on a diesel engine was when I heard him talking about turning up his tractor. This too gave it more power.
He still wanted more. He eventually put a V8 engine in his old Farmall. I learned a lot about engines and power from my friend Dave. He however would have been awed by the worlds largest internal combustion engine. It is a diesel that weighs 2300 tons and produces over 100,000 horsepower.
All that power is nothing compared to the power of God. Not only did God create the whole world and everything in it, He rose from the dead, healed the sick, fed thousands, parted the sea, and parted a river that was at flood stage. A 100,000 hp engine could move a lot of freight on a barge, but it still could not move a mountain all at once. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it shall happen.” (Matthew 21:21 NASB)
Who needs displacement if you have God's power? Faith is not just believing that God can do it, but also having an assurance that it is really God's will to do it. If we have an economy car with limited displacement, we may want the mountain out of our way so we do not have to drive uphill to get over it, but God may want that mountain there for a reason. We do not always understand God's reasoning and how He plans to use His power.
We are however given a glimpse into His purpose and promises of power as we look at the words of Jesus after His resurrection- just before He ascended into heaven. In Acts 1:8, He said, “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (NASB)
The power Jesus promised was power to be witnesses about Him. That power however did not always look powerful. As the Apostle Paul used that power he was actually arrested. Still, God is so powerful that the arrest allowed Paul to witness about Christ to his guards, to the sailors on the ship that transported him to prison, and to the leader of an island where they were shipwrecked. After they were rescued from the island, Paul was taken to jail in Rome and he was even able to be a witness to members of Caesar's household.
God is so powerful that even an arrest could not stop His promises, purposes, or His power. Paul suffered, but God's purposes were accomplished. Once we recognize that our powerful God is in charge of the perfect plans, we can trust His promises and His power to accomplish what needs to be done. He is so powerful that He can use us in our weakness.
We might be like the engine without a lot of displacement, but with God's power behind us, we can be witnesses of the the wonderful good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. God is powerful enough to help us over the mountain so we don't need to move it. Don't be afraid to share the good news of Christ, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7) Let us not forget that the power Jesus promised was the power to be a witness about Him.
God's Power Over Fear 3-12-21
When I was 12 years old, I had to give my first public speech. I was very nervous as I stood in front of my 6th grade class. I was so anxious, that I got the giggles. I was not even able to finish the assignment that day.
My challenge was not over though. I was forced to reface my fears another day as I again stood before my class and was prompted to complete the task. As if that were not enough, I had to give another speech before a different teacher about a year later.
I was a year older and was hopeful that I could be a bit braver. I was still fearful and it showed on my face. Two of my best friends were sitting in the back row and one looked at the other and said, “lets make Jerry laugh.” When I looked at the friends I trusted most for comfort, I discovered that they were not invested in my success. The goofy expressions on their faces prompted a repeat of the previous years embarrassment.
Soon I was laughing again. I struggled to regain my composure and almost held my breath as I spoke in order to stop the nervous laughter. By this time I think the other students, including my best friends, were feeling a bit sorry for me and most were sitting quite respectfully even though it was difficult for them not to laugh too. But then the teacher could not contain himself any longer and he too started to laugh. He quickly apologized and assured me that I would not be penalized for the day and would get another chance to speak.
That other chance meant I would once again have to face my fears. Numerous times throughout high school I would have to give speeches and it got easier, but the fear was still there. I never expected that I would have a job where I had to speak publicly multiple times a week.
I have often said that it is a miracle that God was able to use me as a pastor. In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he writes about the gift of God that Timothy has that came after Paul laid his hands on him. We are not told all the details of that gift, but we are immediately told in verse 7 of the first chapter that “God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”
As I think about God giving us power rather than fear, I cannot help but think what Jesus said after his resurrection, right before he ascended into heaven. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NASB)
God's Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses. Therefore, it should not surprise me that I am able to speak about God in front of people. I can do that because Jesus promised to empower us to do that. That is why it is so common for other Christians to lay their hands on people who are sent out to proclaim the truth of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection and that we can be right with God is we believe on Him.
We should all realize that we can overcome our fear to speak about God. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power. Use the power of God, to tell others about God sending his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Wisdom of the Wise 2-26-21
What is the difference between smarts and wisdom? Smarts is knowing the exact temperature at which your skin will burn and then blister. Wisdom is knowing not to touch anything that is that hot.
Here is the actual dictionary definition of wisdom: the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. I decided to restate that definition by saying, “Doing what is a good idea to do, based on what you have learned makes sense.”
At the most basic level, wisdom is pragmatic. You can be wise and not even know what pragmatic means. Pragmatism is doing something because it works. It is pragmatic to not touch a hot stove because you do not want to burn your hand.
The scripture says, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” (James 3:13 NASB) This is a reminder that wisdom is much more than knowledge. It is putting knowledge into action. Godly wisdom also includes good behavior. The next verse warns against bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance, and dishonesty. Notice what the scripture says about such behavior, “ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.” (James 3:15 NASB).
Being selfish and arrogant can help us get ahead. From a pragmatic standpoint it makes sense. In other words, it works. The problem is that this approach is not godly. It does not come from above. Instead it is evil- even demonic. It is the way that the Devil gets ahead, not the way that God wants his people to get ahead. It goes against the most basic commands to love God and to love our neighbor. Notice the contrast we see in this passage, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” (James 3:16-17 NASB).
Godly wisdom understands that there is something way more important than just getting the best short term results. Godly wisdom understands that God's rules are the best for all members of society. That is why a child who understands and applies the difference between right and wrong is wiser than a powerful business executive who doesn't care about anyone but himself.
Some think it is wise to just ignore God and to do their own thing. Such an approach is the opposite of wisdom. “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1:21-23 NASB)
It is not wise to make other things more important than God. Instead we need to realize God is perfect in His wisdom and then follow Him. We need to trust Him as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and live for Him. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10 NASB)
Don't Covet the Antiques 2-12-21
My wife and I love antiques. I do not like to buy them because then we would have to find a place to put them. Instead we like to visit antique shops and enjoy them for free while others pay to store them. Of course, the problem is that unlike a museum where the items stay there, the antique shops sell them. That is actually a benefit for us, because if we go back a year later, we get to see a new set of goodies on display.
Our antique shop experience is a great lesson on the difference between admiration and covetousness. We admire the antiques that we see, but we do not feel like we have to possess them. The 10th commandment says, “'Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's.” (Deuteronomy 5:21)
Notice that in the previous verse, both the word desire and covet are used. In the Hebrew, they are two separate words, but both have the idea to long after or to lust after. Consider the neighbor's house. A few years ago my wife and I went on a tour of homes around Sioux Falls. We saw some beautiful houses. We were able to appreciate the planning and talent that went into creating them. There is nothing wrong with appreciation or even deciding to buy a new home. The problem comes when obsession turns into a willingness to compromise what is right to get what you want.
Once a person begins to obsess over something, that something becomes the object of their affection. If the obsession were the neighbor's wife, it would soon lead to adultery of the heart even if the physical act never occurred. Jesus Christ warned in Matthew 5:28, “but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (NASB)
It is easy to see how wrong adultery is. That is also one of the 10 commandments. Discontentment is not so easy to see though. Hebrews 13:5 ties discontentment in with the issue of covetousness when it says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (NKJV)
We did purchase a few items from the antique stores and that was not wrong. It would have been wrong if we had wanted them so badly that we were willing to sin in order to get them. Further it would have been wrong if we were not willing to be content without them.
Knowing that Christ will never leave us or forsake us, we need to find our ultimate contentment with Him. Covetousness is really a sinful symptom of dissatisfaction with our circumstances and a willingness to go against God to change those circumstances. God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. There is nothing in this world that is as valuable as the love of God. Return that love as you trust Christ and then find true fulfillment, peace, and contentment with God and with life.
Sin, Snow, Snirt, & Savior 1-31-21
Growing up on a farm near a small town, there was not a lot for kids to do on the weekends, but snowstorms provided for special entertainment. After snowstorms, and before the plows had taken care of all the side roads- it became a tradition for the farm kids to gather in town with their 4wd pickups. They would go out to the side roads and see how much snow they could drive through. Even if the plows had already cleared the township roads, there were always a few minimum maintenance roads that never got plowed. Of coarse we also had the option of driving in our dad's farm fields or pastures.
Recently I drove through some snow with my family and it brought back memories of the good old days. It also brought back the memory that a little fun can bring some consequences. Eventually we would find a big enough drift that we would get stuck. Getting stuck could result in hours of work with an aluminum scoop shovel in order to get out. I also remember a time when so much snow was packed in front of a radiator that the air flow was restricted and the truck started to get hot in spite of the cold. Thankfully the problem was quickly rectified.
One of the things we learned was that soft snow had a lot fewer consequences than the hard snow. The snow that had settled for weeks on the minimum maintenance roads, or the snow that had been piled in hard drifts by the wind, was more of a challenge than the soft fluffy white stuff that had just fallen from the sky. Snirt- or snow mixed with dirt was especially challenging.
With all the wind, snirt was not uncommon in our area. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
When God takes care of our sin through the Lord Jesus Christ, He does not turn our lives into snirt, he makes them as clean as fresh white snow.
When I would scoop through the snow drifts that were mixed with dirt, I might find a layer of clean snow between a few layers of snirt. As my truck drove through the drift, however, all those layers got mixed up until I found myself stuck in a mess. Although I could work to get myself out of the immediate predicament, all my shoveling could not make the pile of snow and snirt I left behind clean snow again.
Our lives are kind of like that. We might be able to get ourselves out of an immediate predicament caused by our sin, but the dirtiness of sin is still there. In fact, our lives started out with dirty snow. That is why we need the payment of Christ to make us clean. Just as God sends fresh clean snow to fall from the heavens, He sent His son to come down from heaven to forgive our sins. In order to receive that forgiveness, we must simply believe on Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Thankful For Daily Bread 1-17-20
Our boys love watching “Modern Marvels” from the History Channel. They love seeing how things work and how these innovations have affected the world as we know it. Recently we have taken a step back and began to look at what life was like before some of these modern innovations.
During Bible times, people did not have refrigerators, freezers, mass canning, or industrial packaging capabilities. In fact, even 150 years ago, food preservation was more similar to Bible times, then to modern methods.
This spring we got chickens and it has been good for our boys to see where eggs actually come from. Even with a refrigerator, these eggs should be used fairly soon. When we started looking at past history, we discovered that before refrigeration, eggs were kept for over a year by immersing them in a water/lime solution.
We then began to look at meat preservation. I have always liked the taste of smoked meat, but knew little about how to do it. We realized that other methods were also available. Salt was used to make brine and meat could be preserved for up to ten years. I'm not sure I would be comfortable eating meat after that long and we also found out the salty taste was not all that pleasant.
We did find out however that pressure canned meat tastes amazing. Meat that was cooked and preserved in lard could last for months if it was kept cool. Reports say that it also tasted great. Our oldest son began to experiment with making jerky, but we have not tried the other methods. We do plan to try some meat canning though
All this study of food preservation reminded me of how easy it is to take food for granted. I think of the Lord's prayer where he tells us to ask God for our daily bread. Even if our cupboards were bare, the grocery store has always had food. When some things were in short supply due to Covid disruptions, there was still other food available.
Even beyond the grocery store, we must also think of the farm fields. A few years ago there was too much rain for many of them to be planted. Now many fields are extremely dry. If God does not send proper proportions of rain, sunshine, and heat units, then the fields will not yield well. Further, if frost comes too soon, the growing season could be cut short before the crop is ready to harvest. All these things remind us of how dependent we are on God for our food.
Just as our chickens remind us that eggs do not grow in cartons, these mild food disruptions should remind us that all our food ultimately comes from God. He allows the plants to grow and the animals to reproduce. Then He gives us the food to harvest, preserve, and use. Even with challenging growing conditions and increasing world population, God has still blessed us with food. We should thank Him for that.
Let us remember that not only has God provided salvation from sin through Jesus Christ, but He also provides our daily bread through the food we grow. We truly have a gracious God and we should not take His grace for granted.
Friends at The Gas Station 1-3-21
There are not that many businesses in our little small town, so we are thankful that we have a gas station with a small convenience store. This summer our boys did some lawn mowing and a few other small odd jobs. That meant that they had a little bit of spending money. Our gas station has candy. Soon they became regulars at the store.
Just as they were becoming regular customers, the gas station had a change of ownership. The new owner is very involved in the day to day operations of the business, and often runs the store by himself. It did not take long for the boys to think of him as a friend. Soon the boys were stopping in just to say hi- even if they were not planning to buy anything.
Both the store owner and the boys had learned the reality of a wonderful biblical truth that says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24a). I realized one of the benefits of the friendship when I walked into the gas station and saw pictures that the boys had made hanging on the wall behind the counter. The owner got to enjoy a gift, and the boys got to see their work displayed.
I do not want to suggest that there is never conflict in a small town, but those pictures on the wall are a great reminder that our little dot on the map is a wonderful place to see the love for our neighbors on display.
Still it is not unusual to walk into the gas station and see a complete stranger and then realize that they live right here in Worthing. Nevertheless, it is nice to have that little store on the corner so that we can have those contact points. In little ways we can reach out to those around us so that they are no longer strangers. We don't have to draw them pictures to hang on their walls, but we can smile and say hi.
For example, I stopped into the gas station one evening and decided to try their cinnamon popcorn. There was a grandmotherly lady standing at the counter and she smiled and said a few words to me as I made my purchase. I had talked to her before, but did not know here well. Soon the lady behind the counter, this other customer, and I, were all sampling the popcorn together (I carefully poured it out of the new bag without touching it to respect Covid considerations). Although I do not know these ladies well, like the gas station owner, they have become my friends.
When we love our neighbors as ourselves, not only do we get to fulfill the biblical command to love, but we also get the added benefit of more friends. Having friends is fun.
As fun as it is to talk to the friends around town, it is even more fun to know that God can be our friend. James 2:23 speaks of Abraham being the friend of God. The problem is that sins makes us God's enemies. The only way around that is to trust Jesus Christ as our savior as we trust His payment for our sins. He died on the cross to forgive our sins and then rose again and is now alive. God loved us enough to send His son and whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Believe on Him and realize that making friends with God is even easier than making friends at the gas station.
2021: A Year To Live For 12-20-20
When I called my cousin it was good to hear his voice. I had texted him before I called to see if he was up to talking. He quickly texted me back and said that he was. Once I called, I was relieved to hear that his voice sounded strong. He has been battling cancer for several years and now he was just getting over Covid.
He is several years older than I am and has always been there for me when I have needed him. When I first went deer hunting, he took me under his wing and watched out for me, making sure I hunted safely. Just recently I was considering a financial purchase and I went to him for advice before making my decision. His advice was good.
He is a reminder of how easy it is to take the ones we love for granted. I am happy that he is doing well, but I also realize that any of our loved ones could be gone so quickly. In Philippians 1:3 the apostle Paul says, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (NASB). That is how I feel about my cousin.
As we talked he said that we should go out for supper. Since he and his wife and myself and my wife have all had Covid, he feels safer going out and about now. I do not want to take for granted the time I have to spend with family and friends.
I also talked with my aunt the same day. Her husband was an uncle to myself and the cousin who is fighting cancer. We had thought he was the healthiest of all the uncles, yet several years ago he suddenly died before he even turned 70.
Hebrews 9:27 says, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (NASB). Although I hope my cousin lives for many more years, I realize that his time is limited. In fact, all our time is limited. He may beat the cancer and outlive me. None of us know for sure how long we have.
With all the uncertainty that 2020 brought us, we know that very little is certain for 2021. Regardless of what the next year brings, we can take comfort in the certainty of God's promises. Although judgment comes after death, Jesus promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB) The meaning of that promise is further clarified by what Jesus said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (NASB)
Although we can all expect death, God has shown us His love through Jesus Christ, so that if we believe in Him, we can have eternal life. That gives us hope for the future. Still our focus should be on living not on dying. We were put here to glorify God as we show our love for Him. We should also live to show our love for others. The apostle Paul stated, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Within just a few verses he then clarified, “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. (Philippians 1:23-23 NASB)
Regardless of how much time we have, let us use our time in the year ahead, and beyond, for God's glory.
Your Life as a Gift 12-6-20
During a recent Children's Church presentation I brought out a box. It was about 8” high, 2 feet long, and about a foot wide. Since Christmas is coming soon, I asked the kids for ideas of what could be placed in the box as a gift for their grandmothers. Ideas ranged from a notebook and pens to candy. Someone suggested a Bible and I mentioned an apple pie.
As the children were brainstorming, one of them suggested a card with something nice written on it. That child had actually ventured where I was hoping to take the conversation. I then put the box behind my back and asked the kids what they could give their grandma that would not have to be put in a box. Suddenly we had ideas like hugs, kisses, and songs. We talked about how we could do some chores for her instead of giving her a wrapped up gift.
Many grandma's already have a lot of “stuff” so doing things for them is often better than giving things to them. We should not just do special things for others at Christmas though. We should show our love all year round. Showing grandmas that they have our love is one of the best gifts of all.
If that is true of grandma, is there also a lesson we can learn about giving to God? God made the whole world, so He does not need more stuff. Psalm 50:10-14 says, "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all it contains. "Shall I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of male goats? "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High;” (NASB)
Instead of giving God stuff we should give Him our thankfulness. One of the ways to show our thankfulness is to give God ourselves. Although it would be fun to wrap one of our boys up in a big box and have grandma unwrap it before she gets her hug, that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about how we as Christians should all be living sacrifices for Christ. That means that we live our lives for Him instead of for ourselves.
Romans 12:1 challenges us, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (NASB) As the chapter of Romans 12 unfolds we see that Christians are encouraged to figure out what God wants them to do and then to do it. We also further understand that doing God's will involves loving Him with our all and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
If we really want to show God how thankful we are, then we should be making sacrifices in our life for Him and for others. In other words, a great gift for God is to put aside selfishness and put God and others ahead of ourselves.
As the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas come together, realize that giving is often the natural result of a sacrificial life of thankfulness. Let us also remember that one of the best ways to give to God is to give to others. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25:37-40 NASB)
Parts From the Creator 11-20-20
I could hear a clanging sound coming from the front of my pickup. I did not notice it as I drove down the road, but I could hear it echoing off the walls as I drove by buildings. It was especially noticeable as I went though a drive through.
I thought it was coming from the front driver's wheel, so I drove home and jacked it up. As I turned that wheel, the front drive shaft for the 4wd also turned. I could tell right away where the problem was. The rear U-joint on the 4wd drive shaft was worn out. Because the needle bearings in the U-joint were gone, there was excess movement in the parts and thus a clanging sound. It was past time for an immediate repair.
I am definitely not a professional mechanic, but I do try to do a lot of my own repairs and I have replaced many U-joints. I figured this would be a typical repair. I stopped at a local auto parts store and picked up the new pieces. I decided to replace all the joints on the shaft and most of them slipped right into place. The rear one, however would not fit. No matter how I tried to place it within the yoke, it was too big to fall into place. I came from many different angles but it just would not go in.
I felt like I was playing with one of those mind puzzles and I was unwilling to give up. Finally I had to admit defeat. It was not going to work. I concluded that I must have gotten the wrong part. I went back to the store where they looked it up and told me they had given the right part. I decided to try a different store. After trying multiple brands of the same part, I could still not make any fit.
I was quite frustrated. I did not want to lose the use of my 4wd, simply because there was no apparent solution to my problem. I called a friend who is a professional mechanic. He suggested that I go to the Dodge dealership and see if the part from the original manufacturer would fit. Sure enough, the Dodge part slipped right into place without any problem. Sadly the cost was $100 higher than the generic part, but I realized that my solution had to come from the creator of the truck.
Our vehicles are not the only things that get messed up though. Our lives are messed up by sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God is our creator and He is the one we have to go to for our sin problem. Unlike Dodge, He does not charge us a huge markup. Instead He gives us His solution to our problem for free. In order to have our sins taken care of, all we have to do is exercise faith as we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
If you are as frustrated over your sin as I was over the U-joint, realize that the creator has the solution. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
Reach Out to Those Alone 11-8-20
A year ago I had not heard of Covid-19. Today it has become a part of our lives. Even the experts cannot agree about how dangerous it is, but they all agree that it has cost lives. I was recently with two men who began to calmly discuss Covid-19. Although they had different views about it, they respected each other. I stated that it should remind us of the reality of death and that we should make sure that we have trusted Christ so that we know where we would go when this life is over.
Covid is not the only thing that should cross our minds as we think of the reality of mortality. My father died of cancer when he was only 57 years old. In the United States over 600,000 people die of cancer each year. This is a far greater number than the deaths from Covid-19 so far this year.
Later that same day, I had a conversation with my wife and another woman about Covid. They pointed out that they did not know anyone personally who had died of Covid but they knew of 3 people who had committed suicide because of the added challenges in their life related to Covid-19.
Suddenly it dawned on me that I needed to encourage people to trust Christ, not just for the next life, but for help in getting through this life.
Part of the reason I do not spend too much time worrying about cancer is because I know that if I get it, I will not have to go through it alone. I find comfort in the words of Hebrews 13:5 where we are reminded that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us.
Still, I take care to live a healthy lifestyle. I eat healthy, drink plenty of water, get exercise and plenty of sleep, avoid too much unhealthy food, get sunshine, and do not intentionally put poison in my body. These steps should help all of us whether the danger is cancer, Covid, or any other ailment. Nevertheless, they do not guarantee that we will remain healthy.
Further, Covid has reminded us that trials come whether we get sick or not. We are not supposed to go through trials alone. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
When we had Covid, so many came and helped us, but what about so many who never caught the virus, but are struggling with the trials of isolation? What about those who we do not even know about? Don't be afraid to reach out to those who are isolated while still respecting their choice to protect themselves. Further we should remind people that even if we are isolated from others we never have to be isolated from Christ. Jesus promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
Basketball and Perfection 10-25-20
My 10 year old is tall and lanky. He looks like a basketball player, but he has not learned very much about the game. Recently our teenage neighbor began to teach him a little bit about basketball shooting techniques. Soon he was having much greater success at making baskets.
His new coach is actually pretty good at it, but he is definitely not a professional player. As we watched them we saw that all of the boys made some baskets and all of the boys missed some. That was not a surprise. Even the professional players do not make every basket.
When I was younger, I watched the Harlem Globe Trotters. Their ability with a basketball was nothing short of amazing. Still they were not perfect. No matter how much the boys practice, they cannot expect to make a basket every time. All it takes is a brief game of HORSE to show that there are some positions where the basket is more difficult to hit than others.
Sometimes people approach Christianity like basketball. They expect that once they come to Christ, then they will be able to deal with sin like the Globe Trotters deal with basketball. No doubt sin should have less of a pull, once we follow Christ, but that does not mean that we will suddenly lose our struggle with sin. The Apostle Paul expressed his own struggle in this area as he wrote Romans 7:19. Notice what he says, “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.” (NASB)
What Paul is saying is that he sins even when he does not want to sin. We must not forget what he also wrote to the Corinthians. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13 NASB) There is a way to avoid sin. The problem is that we come short of the glory of God and do not always see the way until after we have fallen into the evil behavior.
Sometimes we just react without thinking through what we are doing. Hebrews 12:1 gives this encouragement. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1 NASB). The sin so easily entangles us, but we should strive to set it aside. As we strive we will come short, just like the kids came short of the basketball hoop so many times. When we do, our only hope is Jesus Christ. He died for our sins because we were not able to meet God's requirements on our own. Romans 5:20 tells us, “And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” (NASB) In the next chapter the question is asked, “should we sin that grace may abound?” The answer comes back, “God forbid.”
We need to look for the way to escape sin and set aside the sin that so easily entangles us. Still we must realize we will not be perfect. That is why God so loved the world and sent His son. That is why we need to follow Him. When we do come short, we can take comfort in these words, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NASB)
Good Old Doc Cassle 10-11-20
Living near Sioux Falls, it is easy to take state of the art medical care for granted. I have not always lived close to such large hospitals though. Years ago while living on a farm in Southwest Minnesota I needed stitches after cutting my finger.
I quickly realized I would be treated by a country doctor when the nurse said they had contacted him but it would be a bit before he got there since he was finishing up with his farm chores. I wasn't too worried since I knew who he was and that he lived fairly close by. There were no concerns about traffic on his way to the hospital either. Further, although I needed care, it was not a pressing emergency. In the meantime, the bleeding had stopped and my finger was soaked in an antibiotic solution.
Once the doctor arrived, he began to fumble through his tool chest, looking for the supplies he needed. He said he needed to find his grill igniter. I knew things were kind of casual at this small town hospital, but I said that I was there for stitches, not a barbecue.
Once the grill igniter was located, he then asked for a paper clip. I was really confused now. He still needed one more item. It had a technical name that I did not recognize, but once the item was located I reached into the pouch on my belt, pulled out my pliers and said, “if that is all you needed, I could have let you use this.”
The doctor then proceeded to hold the paper clip in his fancy pliers and heat it up with the grill igniter. I needed stitches through my fingernail, so he simply melted holes with the paper clip so he could sew it up like lacing a shoe. I was thankful for the Novocaine.
It did not take long for the finger to heal. I do, however, still have a small scar. Though the hospital was small, the doctor was quite competent and I got the help that I needed.
I needed stitches because of an accident while cutting a piece of wood. I am confident that my doctor had enough down home ingenuity, to stitch the two pieces of board together as efficiently as he stitched my finger. Once he walked away, however, the wood would not heal like my finger did. The wood was not alive. My finger was.
Not only has God breathed life into us, but He has given us the ability to heal. I am reminded of Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
As amazing as it is that my finger healed, it is even more amazing that Jesus came to life again by the power of God. Further, even after I die like the tree that turned into that piece of wood, I will live again if I have trusted Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
It is comforting to know that the God who is powerful enough to create us and to heal our wounds is also powerful enough to raise the dead. It is even more comforting to know that such a powerful God loves us.
A Rider Mower for My Son 9-25-20
My boys have been doing odd jobs around town to earn some extra money. They did not make a lot, but it doesn't take much for an 11 year old to feel rich. My son decided how he wanted to spend his money. He wanted a riding lawn mower. They use a push mower for mowing lawns around town, but he wanted a rider without a deck just to ride around.
He has asthma and when a riding bike with his brothers he has to stop more often to catch his breath. He figured if he had a riding mower, he could go along with them on longer rides without them having to wait for him to rest.
He kept watching auctions and garage sales, but did not find anything in his budget. One evening as my wife and I were diving home after visiting a neighbor, we drove by another neighbor's house and saw a lawn mower sitting in the middle of the driveway. The hood looked lopsided, it had no deck on it, and the seat was missing. I knew the neighbor, so I stopped to ask him about it. He said it ran but the carb needed some work. When he heard that it was for our son, he sold it to us for 20 bucks.
My son was so excited. He dug into his savings and immediately pulled out $20 so that he would be the official owner. He then counted his money and found that he had enough to buy a new battery for it. His brother fixed the hood and I helped him get it running. He was thrilled.
I had multiple boxes of spray paint in the garage that we had picked up at an auction and he asked if he could use some of it. It was cheap, so I said to go ahead. Soon his little Yardman tractor had a new John Deere green and yellow paint job.
The carb is still acting up a bit and does not run as smooth as a new one, but it runs fine at full throttle. It has a hydrostatic transmission so it is easy to drive. By being patient and putting a little effort into his ride, he has something far nicer than he had even planned.
He learned a valuable lesson about both patience and contentment. He was satisfied with a fixer upper and had the foresight to see it's potential. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (NKJV)
Not only was he satisfied with what he got, but he was patient to wait to spend his money on what he could afford. “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4 NKJV)
Although he is enjoying his new purchase, I have no doubt that a day will come when it will not run. Such is typical for anything that has a motor. I pray that his patience and contentment will sustain him on such a day. I hope he remembers the promise of the Lord when he said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
I hope then, he is still thankful for his little tractor and remembers that Christ is with him during those times of challenge. In fact, that is what the context of contentment in James 1:4 was all about. It says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 NKJV)
God's Love & Feral Cats 9-13-20
It was a warm sunny day. We were at the edge of a bean field bordered by grassland and trees. It was a pretty setting with a steep hill dropping to some flat ground to the south. A breeze rustled in the trees and the grass sounded like a straw broom on a wooden floor.
Suddenly there was a sound that did not seem to belong. It was not a bird. It had the sound of the meow of a lonely kitten. Soon we realized where the sound was coming from. The creature making it was in fact a lonely kitten. It was not even wild. It immediately began to follow my son. It seemed to hope for the slightest bit of attention. There was no sign of other cats or humans around. We had a little a jerky in the truck so we fed this fragile beast. We also fashioned a makeshift dish and poured it some water.
We returned a week later and sure enough our little friend emerged from the bean field. It seemed more interested in our attention than in our food. The kitten had taken a risk in approaching us. What if we had been a predator? What if we had disliked cats and harmed the little animal? Still the kitten took a chance and was rewarded as it received our grace. We again gave it food and water.
Some people approach God as naturally as the kitten approached us. There was no hesitation. Other people are like the feral tom cat I once attempted to coax from hiding. He did not trust me. He watched me closely and was quite eager to be on his way. That feral cat was hardened by battle scars and did not want to get hurt. Not everyone likes feral cats. They eat pheasants so they have a reputation of being evil enemies of the innocent bird. Like Sylvester from the old cartoon, the tom cat was not unwise in his caution.
Even if we have never tried to eat a tweety bird, we have all done more evil than that old tom cat. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Adam and Eve did not hide in a bean field after sinning, but they did cover themselves in leaves. They were fearful to approach God.
Today, some people are still afraid, but they do not need to be. Jesus died for our sins and He is now alive again so that He can defend us before the Father if we first repent. Because God loved us so much, He sent his son so we could have eternal life if we believe on Him. That means that in spite of our sin, we can have both peace with God and access to Him once we have faith to come to Him. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV)
Knowing you are a sinner, it can be scary to come to God in faith, but notice what we are told just a few verses later in Romans 5: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Romans 5:8-9 NKJV)
God loved us even though He knows about our sin. We can come as confidently as that little kitten did. Consider the promise that Jesus made when He said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37 NKJV)
Ice Cream & a Good Deal 8-30-20
I love ice cream. It was a hot day and I was thinking of stopping at the gas station and getting a cup of ice cream. I hesitated because a couple of scoops would cost over $2. I walked into the grocery store and I saw a gallon and a quarter for $5. A package of plastic spoons cost 89 cents. I did not have to be a math genius to know that it was a better deal to buy a large quantity.
Of course I understood that during the half hour drive home, the ice cream would start to melt. I had a plan though. I would eat around the edges as it melted and still have a cold center to place in the freezer once I got home. Everything went according to plan except for one thing. Instead of eating 2 scoops if ice cream I ate at least twice that amount. I was not complaining though. Further I had most of the container left for many more treats in the future. I also had a bunch of extra plastic spoons.
Knowing God is good should be a great encouragement to all of us. If you had never tasted ice cream you would not know why I was so happy to dig in with my plastic spoon. If you do not like ice cream you will not fully grasp my pleasure either. Some do not understand why I get so excited about God either. Psalm 34:8 challenges us, “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (NASB) The ice cream was a blessing on a hot day, but God is a blessing everyday. Some days we will be challenged by heat. Other days it will be cold. Other days the trials of life will have nothing to do with the weather. Regardless we have a good God that we can turn to.
As good as God is, He is even better than we could have expected. He loved us so much that He sent His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That is a really good deal, but it gets even better. “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9 NKJV)
God is good and He is much more than the best deal we could ever find. He is our only hope for eternity. He is not just a refuge for the troubles we face now, He is our refuge for the next life as well. Trust Him and realize that you get more than just a couple of scoop fulls of ice cream- you get a good God that is there for you for forever into the future.
Saddle Pass & A Narrow Gate-8-16-20
We have four boys and they love to climb and hike, so when we found Saddle Pass Trail we were excited. The trail is located in the Badlands of South Dakota near the town of Interior. The modern road that most tourists take goes past a parking area that is just below the pass.
We saw the beautiful scenery and decided to stop, not knowing that the trail headed up this pass. As we set out on the trail, we saw a sign that explained the history of the pass. Before the modern roads were built, this trail was used as a shortcut to get to the town of interior. The early settlers would have to dismount and lead their horses down this steep path.
As we climbed we questioned whether just any horse could navigate this trail. Although it was only moderately difficult for our two legs, we often had to use our arms as well. Once at the top, we felt a sense of accomplishment. We had reached our destination without falling and without meeting any rattle snakes. We had proceeded with caution after seeing a warning sign about the danger of the snakes.
We were not the only ones to take our chances though. Others had set out on this trail as well. We met a number of people as we hiked and a friendly family had even taken a picture for us so we could have a photo of our whole family from the astounding heights we had conquered.
As we sat on our perch above the town of Interior, we could see our vehicle far below us. It was a reminder that our journey was not yet complete. We still had to get back.
The descent was nearly as difficult as the climb. Even on the smooth parts we had to be careful not to go too fast or we would gain too much momentum and would fall. At other times we had to carefully navigate slight drop offs.
We were thankful to get back to our vehicle with its air conditioning and comfortable seats. We were soon driving down a paved two lane road in comfort. There was definitely a contrast between our trip and that of the earlier settlers.
As I think of that narrow trail I think of the words of Jesus Christ where he says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB)
Saddle pass is such a small trail that had it not been for the parking lot and the signs, we would have missed it. It was not really that difficult to navigate though. We just had to know the way. The same is true about the path to eternity with our Lord. Jesus said the gate is narrow, but He also told us the way. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)
The gate of Jesus is small, but anyone can go through if they believe on Him. He promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
The difficult part is not that you have to crawl through a small gate. The difficult part is that you have to trust Jesus and His authority over your life enough to follow Him through that gate. Still, He is the only way. Follow Him.
There is a Lot of Good News 8-3-20
I looked over the headlines on a past issue of our local paper. One of the headlines read, “Experts Express Optimism On Future of Small Towns During Virtual Town Hall Discussion.” Another stated, “Canton Helping Canton, We Are In This Together.” The front page had an article about a new business that was opening in Canton.” The back page had pictures of locals enjoying an open air market. It was encouraging to look at the Sioux Valley News because it was filled with good news.
This small town paper stood out because good news is so rare lately. I looked at some online news sources and I had to look hard to find good news. Bad news was easy to find.
When we are discouraged it is good to have a paper like the Sioux Valley News around. It is also good to have my Bible near by. I love reading through the pages of scripture and seeing the happy endings in spite of the tragedy. Joseph is sold into slavery by his own brothers, but then rises to a high position and is able to rescue those same brothers and their families from a famine. Job loses nearly everything but in the end has more than he started with. Jesus dies for our sins, but then comes to life again.
No doubt there is some bad news in the Bible. Romans 6:23 warns us that the wages of sin is death. That is only part of the story though. The rest of the verse tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
At the beginning of the book of Romans, we are told that the letter of Romans is about the gospel. The Greek word translated “gospel” literally means the good message or the good news. Often when people hear the word, “gospel,” they think of truth or even the plan of salvation from God. Although God's salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is good news for the sinner, there is even more good news in the scriptures. The good news includes the truth that God loves us so much that He sent His son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The good news includes the fact that God is not just our all powerful creator, but He also knows the very hairs of our head and is loving, patient, and merciful.
The scriptures are full of good news and that good news leads people who are far from God to God. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (NASB) The good news (gospel) is the power of God to bring people to salvation as they believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
As Christians we have a lot of good news about God. Let us share that good news with others so that they might have hope. As others become assured of the good news about God then faith is developed. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (NASB) In order to develop faith with conviction we need to grasp the good news of God. For others to have that faith they must hear the good news about God. Our God is good and that is good news. There is a lot of good news about God. Let us share that good news as we let our lights shine.
Let That Cat Cross My Path 7-16-20
As I sat visiting with my aunt and her husband, my son played with their cat. It was a friendly cat and it was black. It was a hot day, but the cat did not seem to mind the sun. Instead it rolled on its back and waited to be pet.
As we got up to leave there was a light hearted comment about making sure that the cat did not cross our path. I kind of chuckled as someone made a comment about not believing in such superstitions. I assured them that I did not believe that the black cat crossing my path would be problem. I then went on to say that even if it were true I was not worried.
As a believer in the sovereignty of God, I am not a promoter of luck. I did however relay how what some may regard as bad luck had recently turned out good.
A few years ago I was driving down the interstate pulling a trailer with my mini-excavator. Working as a pastor is not my only job. As I looked in the mirror I could see a cloud of oil vapor. I quickly pulled to an off ramp and realized that an o-ring on the pickup was leaking oil. Thankfully I had stopped before the oil level had dropped below the safe level. That was good, not bad. Further, I was close to home and my wife was able to bring the part and we fixed it right there.
If that were the end of the story we could still say that things worked out in the end, but the story gets even better. A farmer who lived near by stopped to see if we needed help. He saw the excavator and realized that I did farm drainage work. He got my number and ended up calling me to do some work for him. A year later he had me do more work. Next year he wants me to do even more. In addition his hired man and his neighbor also want me to do some work for them.
Now not only do I have new customers, I have new friends. The profit I made from the jobs I have done so far is far greater than the repair expense and time lost on my pickup. The perceived “bad luck” of the pickup breakdown turned out to be good.
I recently wrote about having flat tires and meeting a new friend. I told my aunt that I was not worried about the black cat because it seems like even when bad things happen to me it ends up working out eventually. Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (NASB)
It is fun when we can look back on our trials and see how God was actually pouring his love on us even though we did not see it at the time.
I do not know what trial will challenge us next, but I hope I can approach it with faith, knowing that I will not be alone. I pray that it will help me persevere and build my character realizing that I have hope (the idea of full assurance) that God will not forget His love for me. I know that even when I am disappointed with my circumstances, I should not be disappointed with God or His love for me.
I do not have to worry about black cats or bad stuff happening to me. I understand that bad things will happen, but that is okay. I can just pet the cat as I pray.
Power In the Clouds 7-3-20
When I was a little kid, I thought it would be fun to sit on a cloud. I could enjoy the soft perch and look down on the beautiful scenery below. Of course I would have to be careful not to fall off. As I got older, not only did my respect for heights put a damper on that fantasy, but I also learned that fog was simply a cloud on the ground and that the cloud would not hold me.
Looking back at my early childhood I have to wonder how much my 4 year old mind had been influenced by cartoons. In these make believe worlds, people would come in contact with angles upon clouds and may even meet a godlike figure. As I got older I realized that when God became a man he did actually walk on water. We do not have a record of Jesus ever walking on a cloud but we do have a record of God in a cloud. Exodus 13:21 tells us, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.” In Exodus 16:10 we are told that the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
Then in Exodus 34 we actually see God coming in the cloud and standing before Moses. “And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;” (Exodus 34:5-6 NASB)
Although God's love and kindness is expressed in the verse, he also warns of the consequences of sin later in the same passage This should not surprise us because right after the world wide flood that was a global consequence for sin, God sent a symbol of mercy in the clouds as He gave us the rainbow- a promise that a flood would never again cover the whole earth.
Sadly the cartoon versions of God on the clouds have too easily distracted us from the true relationship of God with the clouds. Notice that the verses in Exodus show God's power in the clouds. After witnessing some powerful thunderstorms, I can understand the connection between clouds and power. Psalm 104:3 tells us that God makes the clouds His chariot. Rather than the cartoon version of the cloud being a fluffy couch, the scriptures show that the cloud is a powerful vehicle for God's power.
As I hear the thunder and watch the lightning, it is easy for me to tremble. If I look to the clouds and see their power and then the weather radio gives out a warning I tremble even more. The clouds are a reminder that we should tremble before the power of God. The clouds remind me of something else though. God is merciful. He sent a rainbow and in the Old Testament we read that the cloud where He dwelt was above the mercy seat. That reminds me that God is a God of mercy.
Finally, clouds remind us of His future judgment and mercy as Christ returns. "And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:27-28 NASB)
As we see the storms this summer, let the clouds remind us of God's power. Rather than resisting His power, look to Him for mercy.
A Slow Drive To Blessings 6-19-20
I love the interstate. At South Dakota speeds we can travel 20 miles in 15 minutes. There are no stop signs to slow us down. It is a quick and efficient way to get from point “A” to point “B”. There are times however that it is nice to slow down a bit.
Recently my son and I took a drive with a farm tractor. Twenty miles took about an hour. It was a much slower pace. We were able to watch a farmer digging a waterway by hand. We didn't just see him out in the field, we had time to watch what he was doing. On one such drive we watched a raccoon run across a field but also had the vantage point and time to see that it crawled into a culvert as we came closer.
Our slower pace allowed us to see so much that we otherwise would have missed. Sometimes it is good to slow down and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Sometimes we are forced to slow down even more. As we drove, the trailer we were pulling had 2 flat tires. We were going so slow we did not even notice. We did however notice another farmer working on a sprayer in the farmyard we were approaching. He noticed our flat tires. We smiled and waved as we went by- oblivious to problem following us.
Rather than returning our smile and wave, his hand made a quick pointing motion as he observed our problem. Once I looked back I realized what had happened and quickly pulled to the side of the road. He allowed us to park in the farmyard until we could get the tires fixed.
It was the next day before we were able to return with replacement wheels and tires. An hour drive had turned into a whole day delay. Our plans had been changed. The day before we were not expecting to be replacing tires on that day. I had planned my schedule for that week, but the schedule had been altered. I cannot help but think of James 4:13-14, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (NASB)
No matter how slow we drive, our lives go by quickly. The next verse says, “Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.'" (James 4:15 NASB) Sometimes God has other plans for us.
That week His plans included flat tires. They also included a farmer who was fixing his sprayer. As we replaced the tires he came over and talked with us. I found out that we were close to the same age and that we were both Christians. Although we had grown up hours from each other, we had both taken the same Bible Instruction Course as kids. Not only did we share a common faith, but we were now able to share a new friendship.
Through the years I have learned that friends are more valuable than tires or time. If God's plans slow us down to bring new friends into our lives, we should view that as a great blessing.
Praying For Our Enemies 6-7-20
My 12 year old son said, "I realize I really need God's help to pray for that police officer." As upset as he was at that man, he still wanted to pray for him, but needed God's help to do it. What a reminder of how much we need God's mercy and His help to be merciful ourselves.
About a week earlier this son had been asking me a lot of questions about prayer. He had been spending a lot of time praying, and was explaining how he came up with subjects to pray about. He even talked about singing songs in prayer. We talked about how many of the Psalms are prayer songs. I felt like I was learning as much as he was as I listened to him.
Then he told me about praying for the officer. I could understand how hard it would be to pray that prayer. I have had to pray similar prayers throughout my life.
When I was in high school, there was another student in the school that was a real jerk- actually there were a number of them, but one in particular that I had trouble getting along with. He had trouble getting along with others as well.
After he graduated, I do not remember seeing him again, but I heard that he had gotten involved with drugs. I have to admit that I do not remember any pleasant memories of this person, but he does come to my mind from time to time. As he does, I usually pray for him. At first, it was not easy. As time has gone by however, it has become a habit. I pray that after all these years he has become a changed person and has blessed many lives.
As I think of the drug use, I cannot help but wonder if he was struggling with things that the rest of us had no idea about. Was his bullying because of his own insecurities? Was he an abuse victim himself? Decades later I find myself having compassion for him even though I would never condone his behavior and his hateful actions toward others.
We do not have to excuse evil in order to pray for others. Jesus told us, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)
There is another passage that applies even more specifically to my son's prayer. The police officer did what he did while exercising his authority. Accountability must come with authority and I pray justice is served, but we are also reminded to pray for those in authority. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV)
As hard as it is to pray for some people, I am reminded that Jesus did not just pray for His enemies, He died for them.
Like a Frustrated Horse 5-22-20
When I was a teenager, I rode a beautiful dun mare along the edge of the road. She had never bucked, but was still not a seasoned riding horse. Not only was she just getting used to having a saddle and a person on her back, she was getting used to being ridden in unfamiliar surroundings. Looking back, it must have been both exciting and a bit stressful for her to go on these adventures.
On one such day, as we rode along the edge of the road, she would turn her head and twitch her ears as a car would go past. She had seen cars before, but these were new surroundings. Soon a motorcycle was coming down the road. She raised her head and picked up her step as this two wheeled machine came towards her with a rider on its back. Just as it came even with her, the rider shifted down and laid into the throttle. The machine made a threatening noise that caused the horse to shudder from top to bottom.
I could tell that she wanted to run, but I held her back. She did not run or buck, but I could feel the tension inside her as I sat upon her back. The feeling came though the saddle and up each of the reins. She was feeling panic and wanted to do what her instincts told her to do. She wanted to run. There was a problem though. I had come between her and her instincts and would not allow her to do what she wanted to do in order to relive her stress.
We continued on the same direction at a slow pace until we met another car. The tension was still there. Before the motorcycle incident, she had noticed the cars but was not panicked by them. That had changed. Her stress had not been relieved and she exploded. Suddenly I was not able to keep her under control. Soon I was on the ground and she was headed back to the barn.
If I had simply taken her out in the field and let her run after the motorcycle incident, she could have burned off her tension. She would have known that I would allow her to get away from danger. As time passed I could have then trained her that she does not have to run every time a noise happens. She was not ready for that yet. She and I both had a lot to learn.
As a pastor, I sometimes notice something similar happening in the pews. Instead of trying to wrangle a young horse, parents are trying to corral their toddlers. Like the horse, toddlers quickly feel the pent up frustration as they feel restricted. They are much less likely to explode if they are given a little room to run. I noticed that when we had wider aisles between the rows of chairs. The littlest kids seemed so much calmer. They were able to walk around in the isle in front of their parents and even get down on the ground and move.
I told an older pastor about this and he went on to inform me that in the 1700's (he is not quite that old, but he had heard about it) some of the churches had the pews facing each other and then had a door on the end. This allowed the children to essentially have a supervised play pen within the pews.
Colossians 3:21 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.” (NASB) I learned how easy it was to exasperate a young horse and how doing so actually caused me to lose control of the situation. As I learn from the Christians from 300 years ago, I understand as well that exasperating our children and expecting them to sit perfectly still at all times can also backfire. Let us expect that our kids eventually learn to sit still, but let us not cause unnecessary frustration for them until they are old enough to understand and and have the maturity to follow through. Usually that doesn't happen until they are about 5 years old.
Signals that Shape Virtue 5-8-20
When I was a child I had a very talented phy ed teacher. He came up with a lot of really neat games. One of my favorite games was “steal the bacon.” Hockey sticks were used as “bacon” and were placed in a marked off area under the basket ball hoops on each end of the court. Once the half court line was crossed you were on the opposing team's side and if you were tagged you had to go to jail. The jail was the out of bounds line behind the “bacon.” You could get out of jail if a teammate tagged you without getting tagged themselves. The object of the game was to steal all the other team's “bacon” before they stole yours.
As these games were developed by our teacher, he would often tweak the rules as he went. Since our teacher was the one making the game, he had the right to make the rules.
We did not always like his rules and sometimes we even resented them. Still those rules brought stability and were much better than the games at recess that were largely unsupervised. During those times it was not unusual for one of the children to want to change the rules. The problem was that others did not agree with those rule changes. Further the rule changes were often for selfish reasons.
I am no longer a child playing during recess, but as I interact with other adults on social media, I sometimes feel a sense of deja vu. Rather than trying to change the rules about stealing the bacon, it seems that some want to make their own rules about what is right and what is wrong. In fact the term “virtue signaling” has developed as way to share frustration with this phenomena.
As a Christian, I am all in favor of reminding people to live lives of virtue. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.” (NKJV)
The problem is not in reminding people of the importance of virtue. The problem is that we as a society are not able to agree about what positions are virtuous and which ones are not. I feel like we need the teacher to step in and to tell us which rules to follow.
Fortunately we have such a teacher. He cares about us even more than any teacher we have ever had. He cares about us so much that he went to the cross and died for our sins. That teacher is Jesus Christ. As God, he has the authority to set the rules and to tell us what they are. Some do not want to accept his authority or his rules, but if we reject his rules, why should we accept theirs?
An ordered society needs to have someone setting some basic rules. I want that somebody to be God. If someone other than God makes all the rules, it will be too easy for the rules to be made for selfish purposes.
Jesus warned about getting our rules from man rather than God. “'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." (Mark 7:7-8 NASB)
For years we have warned about legalism from within the church, but we are also seeing legalism from outside the church. Although we should have rules and virtue within an ordered society, let us make sure that those standards are coming from God and not from some condescending signals apart from God.
Donuts With Dad's Truck 4-25-20
It will be a few years before my son is old enough to drive on South Dakota roads, but I want him to have some driving experience before that time comes. While working in the field, I had him move the pickup. I looked up from my work to see the pickup driving much too fast in a tight circle with dirt flying up from the wheels. I quickly grabbed my walkie talkie and and said, “knock it off or you won't be driving that truck again.”
It was a beautiful spring day. The wind was blowing, the sun was out, and the temperature was in the low 70's. I was glad to be outside. As a bi-vocational pastor, I get to work on drainage challenges in farm fields. My son came out to help me. I joked with my wife that I thought he was auditioning to take over the business since he was being so helpful. That was before he started doing donuts.
Then I saw the 4wd pickup flying through the field and I needed to use the radio to reign him in. As soon I gave my rebuke, the truck slowed down and he drove like he was supposed to drive. Once he parked the truck he got out and stood beside it with a sheepish look on his face.
I informed him that his wild driving was unacceptable behavior and he was not to do it again. I warned of the dangers to his safety as well as the unneeded abuse to the truck. No punishment was given. None was needed. I needed to give him the warning not to do it again, but I realized I had not told him he was not allowed to do what he had done.
In other words, he had not disobeyed me. In fact, as soon as he heard my warning over his walkie talkie, he instantly did obey. That deserved a commendation rather than a punishment. Fortunately this time I recognized that. I do not always see those things however.
There have been times when I have not been so reasonable with my children. The next day my older son was helping me. I rebuked him for going and sitting in the vehicle when he was supposed to be helping me. I laid into him pretty hard. He was crushed and explained that he went to the vehicle because usually the next step in the process of the job we were doing was to move the trailer with that truck and he did not want me to have to wait for him. He was correct and I had to apologize.
Parenting is not always easy. Ephesians 6:4 warns, “And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (NASB) I want my boys to understand my expectations for them, but more importantly I want them to understand and obey God's expectations for them.
I have not been a perfect father and they have not been perfect sons. I had to apologize to my oldest son and I am thankful that he forgave me. I have also had to forgive them when they have done wrong. We have all had to apply Ephesians 4:32, “Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (NASB)
When I consider how much grace God as shown us as we sort out his expectations for our lives, I realize how much grace we must show to one another. I also realize that God does have expectations for our lives and that He makes them clear in His word. Just like I do not want my boys to ignore me, we should not ignore God either. God has not told us not to do donuts out in the field, but we should not neglect what He has told us either.
The Restaurant of Love 4-10-20
We found a new restaurant last week. It was literally in our back yard- literally. Our 9 year old son, decided it would be a good idea to grill some pork chops. His brothers, ages 8-12, had joined in the effort. One of the boys came into my office and said that they were ready for their mother and I to come to the back yard, but we had to come out at the same time.
I realized that something was afoot since he seemed to have a bit of a twinkle in his eye. We looked out our back window. We could see the boys hovered around a card table that they had set up near the grill. Farther away in the back yard, they had set up a couple of saw horses with a sheet of wood over the top held in place by a C clamp. Two chairs were available for seating at the saw horse table.
As we stepped onto the back step, we were greeted into our backyard and escorted to our special table. Although the seating arrangement was a bit primitive, it was just the two of us. That was quite special. Still, we could see that much was abuzz on the other side of the backyard fence where the grill was set up.
Our oldest son approached us with a clipboard and two handmade menus. A list of available food options with pictures drawn were listed. We could have pork chops, carrots, onions, and either a sweet potato or regular potato. We each selected everything offered other than I chose the potato and Crystal chose the sweet potato.
We could see our 9 year old manning the grill as the 8 and 11 year old boys delivered the food to our table. We had each been provided a glass of water as well. I had put on a coat since it was a bit cool out. One of our servers noticed that my wife was a bit cold and quickly retrieved a blanket for her.
As we enjoyed our wonderful date, we realized that the food was actually magnificent. They had done an excellent job. They had gotten pointers on grilling from our next door neighbor across the other fence. It was one of the best dates we have had In a long time.
Not every day has gone that smoothly at the Miller household though. The boys have sometimes gotten frustrated at being cooped up and not being able to see many of their friends. Crystal and I have as well. Still our boys taught us a valuable lesson during these challenging times. Sometimes we need to take the focus off our ourselves and instead look to serving others.
Philippians 2:4 says, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” NASB) Our boys did that. The Philippians passage however continues. It gives an example of someone who did put others ahead of himself. His name is Jesus Christ. Consider the next verses,
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV)
Even though Jesus is God, he put our interests ahead of his own and humbled himself. He set a wonderful example and died for us. He is not dead though. He is alive and I want to serve Him.
As we put others ahead of ourselves, lest us make sure we put Christ first.
The Gifted Blessings 3-27-20
Our phone rang. We were told there was a box of candy on our deck. As my wife went to retrieve it the people on the other end of the phone line were sitting in their vehicle at the end of our driveway waving at us. Earlier another couple had dropped an ice cream pail with soup in it on our driveway and waved as our boys went out to retrieve it. Soon a pie and more soup were dropped off. We also received ice cream, pop, and groceries- including some homemade applesauce. We already had plenty of toilet paper.
Our family had been sick and we decided to self quarantine. Our family and friends quickly learned about it and poured their love upon us. 1 John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (NASB)
We got to witness the love of others and it helped us out a lot. For years I have heard people say things like, “if you need anything just let us know.” Of course that is the polite thing to say and usually saying such things holds little risk since many of the people around here don’t often ask for help. Many of our friends however stepped up before we even asked them. Those who we did ask actually went over and above what we asked for.
Years before I became a pastor I was spending a lot of time volunteering at church. I was single at the time, so I could afford to do it, but for a time, I was putting in as much time there as if it were a full time job. I wanted to give and felt it was a blessing to do it. One day a man met me outside of church and wanted to hand me some money for the time I had put in. I refused it. I did not need it. He looked sad as I did so. Another friend saw what was happening and told me that I was depriving our friend of a blessing by not accepting his gift. I realized I had been wrong in not taking it.
Much of my refusal to take the gift had been rooted not just in my lack of need, but also in my pride. Even if I did not need it I could graciously take the gift and then pass it on to someone else. A doctor named Luke wrote the book of Acts. He reminds us in, Ac 20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (NASB)
Knowing that it is more blessed to give than to receive, I can understand all the smiles we saw from the vehicles in our driveway. Their joy was an uplift to us, but we could tell that their joy was not fake. They really were feeling blessed.
It is fun watching people open packages at Christmas time, but the people in our driveway looked way more excited and happy about helping us than what most people do as they unwrap their gifts.
In the days ahead I expect a number of us will be facing new challenges. I understand that there are some who are always taking advantage of others, and many fear becoming like them. Let us be careful that we not overcompensate in the other direction and not take the help that many really desire to give. Not everyone has lost their jobs. Many will have the ability to share and will want to do so. Let us not be too proud to let others have a blessing by graciously accepting their help.
We are so thankful for God’s provision to us through these wonderful people. We are also thankful for the joy they got in helping us.
It’s Not Over Yet 3-13-20
As I drove into my hometown on a beautiful March morning I could see a fire truck sitting on the side of the road with it’s flashers on. Before long, every intersection along that road would be blocked by fire trucks from across multiple counties.
As I drove by my old High School, I saw a large firefighting ladder truck with the ladder extended over main street. From that ladder hung a huge American Flag with the stars and stripes blowing in the wind. Any car that traveled on that street had to pass under that flag.
We crossed main street and proceeded to our destination- a church that was much too small to hold all the people that would be arriving. As we looked up the hill from the church, we could see firetrucks taking up multiple lanes. The church was filled with firefighters in uniform, but they were not wearing their firefighting gear. There was no fire to fight. Instead there were tears.
There was another truck parked outside the church as well. A white semi that had been driven by a man that so many in the community were remembering.
The man was more than someone who had driven a white truck and had worn a fireman’s uniform. He was someone who had spent time with people. He was part of a community. He had not yet reached 50 years of age when his life ended, but in that short time he had touched many lives. He was more than a volunteer fireman, he was a volunteer at heart. He was willing to help others,
Matthew 22:37-40 has these words, “Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
During the eulogy we heard of his love for others. During the message we heard of his salvation through Christ. What really matters in a life are not the firetrucks and flags, but the love for God and others and a trust in Christ.
The man we were remembering had been to the doctor, but so have so many of us. It was hard knowing that he had eventually taken his last breath.
As we left the church we joined a procession of firetrucks and vehicles filled with mourners. The highway that went past the cemetery had been shut down just for this occasion. As we proceeded to the graveside a different firetruck had been placed at each intersection reminding us of over 2 decades of service as a volunteer fireman by a man who would be missed.
Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” The man who was remembered that sad March day, was not perfect. But the testimony of his community showed that he left this world with something precious- a good name that will not be forgotten.
It is even more important that we not forget that we must not leave this world without the salvation of the one who is perfect. He loved us so much that He gave His life for the whole world. Let us love Christ and others as we trust His loving payment for our sins. Then we can know that if we do trust Christ it will not be all over at the end of a magnificent funeral processional. Eternal life with the Lord will await us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Hope For the Scrap Lumber 2-16-20
My wife asked me to build her a shelf. She did not want anything fancy and she even had a scrap piece of wood that she suggested I use. I informed her that I had some even nicer scrap wood. The piece of wood I chose did not look all that nice at first glance. It had some dings and scratches and was stained with dust and dirt. At first glance her piece of scrap looked much nicer than mine.
Her board was a re purposed portion of chip board that had been painted. Mine was an unused cedar board that had been in storage far too long. An extra coat of paint would have made her board look even nicer. I took a different approach with mine. Rather than covering up the blemishes, I decided to literally remove them. I ran it through my surface planer-removing a small layer of wood along with the blemishes and stains.
After I resurfaced the wood, I built the shelf. My wife was very happy with the results.
I got to thinking that sometimes the best approach is to cover a blemish and other times the best approach is to remove it. There are however some blemishes that cannot be hidden or removed. Even with the added layers of paint, the defects of the chip board would still show through. Running it through the planer would only reveal more layers of defection. Some of my boards have knots that go all the way through them. Some of those knots are lose and planing would cause an ever greater defect to be revealed. Some boards just have to be thrown away or are not fit for anything nice.
Sometimes we can end up feeling like a scrap piece of wood that no one would ever want. Our lives are so marred by sin that we cannot cover it up and there is no way to remove the scars left behind. Who would ever want something so worthless?
I recently watched an artist take a chunk of wood that I would have only used for a campfire and he made an amazing bowl out of it. He saw the beauty in God's creation and used the knotted up portion to create an artistic accomplishment that could not be duplicated.
Let us not forget, that we are all part of God's creation. Some of us are like the tree that has been twisted in the wind and then grows that way. Just because we have been twisted in the wind does not mean God does not have a purpose for us.
Our Lord is like that artist who sees the defect but loves us enough to work with us in spite of that. In fact, He loves us so much that He gave His life to redeem us from the curse of sin. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Christ did not just paint over our sin. He did not plane it off of us. Instead He covered our sin with His blood and washed it away. Like the the board with the deep knot, the scars of the sin still remain, but when we trust Christ He is still able to use us. Often He uses us for a special purpose that the “typical board” wouldn't be suited for.
Because of the love of Christ, we are able to be like the twisted up branch that is made into the special bowl. We should never glory in our sin, but we should also realize that once we die to self and live for God, we can be like the knurled tree that gave up its life to be used in a special way.
Light in Grandma's Afghan 2-29-2020
My Grandma Miller spent a lot of time with her yarn and crochet hook. She made my folks a beautiful afghan that they draped over their couch. After a few years, they got a new couch. It was the 1970's and the flower pattern of the new couch was no longer complimented by the the striped afghan the way the plain brown couch had been.
Soon the afghan was packed away and I forgot that my folks even had it. Grandma had made another afghan a few years later. That one did not match any of our couches, but it was just the right size for us kids while we were small. It soon became a favorite to cover up with on a cool day as we watched TV. That afghan was well used and well worn. It had been washed and stretched so often that it barely resembled its original condition. Still it somehow survived decades of use and storage.
Recently Mom took the two afghans and another 2 quilts of of storage and divided them up between myself and my 3 siblings. I ended up with the afghan that was like new. I was thrilled. My sister wanted one of the quilts. One of my brothers was happy to get the other quilt. My youngest brother requested the worn out afghan.
I understood why he wanted that stretched out jumble of yarn. Not only had it been made by the loving hands of our grandmother, but it held countless hours of memories. I remember Dad sitting in the recliner covered with that afghan that his own mother had made. I remember finding comfort in being covered by that familiar blanket as I was suffering from a childhood flu. I remember outgrowing the afghan and wishing it was long enough to cover me like it had been when I was smaller and hooking my big toe in one of the loose loops while stretching the rest around my shoulders. My brother had many of those same wonderful memories and now he has the afghan as well.
My afghan is still in pristine condition. It is tempting to store it away in some trunk so that it is not abused like the other afghan was. The sad truth, however is that my afghan has few memories. It is not nearly as precious as the one my brother has. We decided not to pack it away and to instead let it be used and let it make new memories for our family. Grandma would have liked that.
Jesus says in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)
In Luke 8:16 Jesus says, "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.” (NKJV) He repeats the same message in Luke 11:33.
From time to time, Menards has an unadvertised clearance sale. Recently they had a sale on Queen Anne cordial cherries. I am not certain what the regular price was, but they were selling them for a dollar a box. With 10 chocolate covered cherries in sweet sauce, that meant that each once only cost a dime plus tax. I bought a whole stack of them.
As I savored the taste of milk chocolate with a fruity center, I quickly realized that they would not last nearly as long as I had hoped. The box was quite large, but upon opening it I was reminded that most of the container was filled with extravagant plastic packaging and little was filled with the dainties I so desired. Still, upon eating my treat, I was not disappointed.
Sadly the pleasure did not last long and soon the joy had left my mouth and had settled within my stomach leaving me with but a fleeting memory of the goodness. Fortunately there were still 9 more left in the box. The first 5 were quickly eaten before I instituted a measure of restraint.
I quickly realized that if I wanted the enjoyment from these treats to last longer, I would need to limit myself to 1 or 2 per day. Of course, even with that, they would soon be gone.
I had another option available. Since I had purchased so many of them, I could eat to my hearts desire and have a lot of immediate pleasure. The thought of placing another cordial cherry in my mouth just as the last was entering my stomach was exhilarating. After eating 5 of them, however, my stomach was feeling a sensation that had not been present after the first one. I understood the importance of self control and restrained myself.
The scripture actually speaks about a temptation similar to mine. Proverbs 25:16 warns, “Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit.” (NKJV) I remember my Dad talking about liking sweet corn so much as a kid that he ate it until he was so sick of it that he couldn't eat it for years. I did not want that to happen with my chocolate covered cherries.
I also realized that it would not be a bad idea to share them with others. Of course my wife and children got to enjoy some as well. I also decided to give a box to my aunt when we went to visit her. Upon receiving them she went on and on about how much she loved them. Of course I got a big hug from her that day as well.
Suddenly it occurred to me that the joy on my aunt's face was just as sweet as the chocolate on my lips. Further the memory of her joy was much sweeter than the memory of eating the treat. "And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." ( Acts 20:35 NKJV) Further by giving to others, I was able to show love for God and to fulfill a high purpose of fulfilling the royal law of God. James 2:8 says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;” (NKJV)
Eating cordial cherries is definitely fulfilling, but living out the high purpose of loving God and others has a much more lasting joy.
Ice Cream and Bad Drivers 1-20-20
I love ice cream. My boys love ice cream. My mom loves ice cream. We were recently able to get together for ice cream. As we went up to the counter we were given a variety of selections and the server patiently waited for us to make our choice. She was very nice as she dished up our treat.
As I sat down to eat my delicious bowl of cold goodness, I glanced back up at the counter. The server did not look quite as friendly as she had before. In fact, there was no smile on her face. Suddenly someone approached the counter. As she interacted with them, she again was quite pleasant.
I began to pay more attention to the surroundings. I noticed that a knee cart was parked behind the counter near where she was working. Although I did not get all the details, I found out that she was recovering from a physical condition. That explained why the knee cart was there.
I did not press her for any personal information, but the thought crossed my mind that she could have easily been in pain. That could have explained the strained expression on her face.
That same day I read a meme about a person who was following a car that had a sign in the back window that said, “please be patent with me, I'm learning to drive a stick.” The author went on to explain that the person in the car ahead of them seemed to be doing quite well for someone who was just learning to drive a manual transmission. He also shared that had he not seen the sign, he would have easily become upset by the erratic driving. The meme went on to challenge us to remember that we do not know what others are going through.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (NASB)
As I observed the ice cream server, I was not trying to be nosy, but my observation made it much easier to understand that her interests were much more serious than ice cream. It reminded me that we need to get out of our own bubble of life and realize that the people around us are also facing challenges. We are commanded by God to love others, but often we do not pay enough attention to their struggles- their interests- to even know how to act in a loving way.
It is also a reminder that sometimes it is okay to let others know what we are going through so that they can display the love that they desire to display. I love how the person put the sign in their car window. It allowed other drivers to give a thumbs up rather than a scowl.
I am not suggesting that we should be scowling at other drivers, but often we have no idea what is really going on around us. As Christians, let us be humble enough to not think the worst of other people, but let us also be humble enough to share our struggles so that others can share their love.
The Philippians passage continues with these words: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (NASB)
Let us follow God's example of love, humility, and care for others.
Don't Face the Fog Alone 1-6-20
We spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws. They only live about 3 hours away, but we had to drive through the fog to get there. The trip over was not that bad. It was daylight and there were a few breaks in the haze. On the way back, the blanket had descended much more thickly and we did not have the daylight to cut through it.
Fortunately it was not as thick as it has been at other times, but we still drove with caution. We realized that even on a familiar road, we could easily miss our turnoff. The landmarks we were used to seeing could not be identified. It gave me a bit of a feeling of helplessness and a huge feeling of uncertainty.
I am thankful that we were on a familiar road. Imagine how troubling it would have been to have to take a detour on a road we had never driven on in a thick fog. Imagine if we missed a turn because we could not see the signs.
Sometimes life is like that. We end up facing situations that we never had to face before. We have no idea what lies ahead and we cannot see the next turn coming. Even if your life is fairly predictable and is like driving on a familiar road on a cloudless day, there are the times of fog and detour that come upon us.
Must of us are able to handle the bumps along the road without too much trouble. Even a detour or a bit of fog is not that big of a deal. But from time to time there are circumstances in life where the fog detours and bumpy roads all come at the same time. Imagine being on such a road and you are already behind schedule. Driving fast is too dangerous, but being late will also mess up your life. There is no good option, but slowing down and being safe and considering the safety of others is the best option.
In life we often have to chose the best option by asking what would best show my love for God and others and then realize that we cannot go through the fog alone.
As I was driving on Christmas Eve, I was thankful that my wife was there to help me watch for our exit from the interstate. As I go through life I am thankful for those who I can look to for guidance. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
One of the huge advantages of a church family is the ability to get together with other people who love God and get their advice as we travel through the fog. Still there are times when none of us can see where to go. That is when we must all call out to God in prayer. We plan out our route, but God puts us where He wants us and is there to guide us along even when we cannot see the way. “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NASB)
As we face the new year, we have no idea what fog or detour lies ahead. Let's not face it alone. Face it with Christ and other Christians.
A King is Born and He Reigns 12-23-19
Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Although he was laid in a manger, he was born into a royal family. Both his mother Mary and his step father Joseph were descendants of royalty. They were both from the lineage of King David. In fact, that was the reason that Joseph went back to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. Luke 2:4 tells us, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”
Things had changed though. The kingdom had been lost. The royal family no longer had power, but there was hope that an heir would ascend to the throne and bring justice back to the nation. In fact such had been prophesied. Zechariah 9:9 foretold, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NASB)
The baby in the manger would grow up, to ride the donkey into the capital city as their king and savior, but he was not just king of the Jews. He was something more. As the son of Mary and the stepson of Joseph, he had a special place in the royal family, but as the son of God, he had an even higher position.
In the Jewish tradition, a young man would start an apprenticeship after his 12th birthday. Joseph was a carpenter, and Jesus would be involved in that occupation as well, but he followed in his heavenly father's footsteps. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On their way home, they realized he was not with them. Notice where they found him. “And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” (Luke 2:46-47 NASB)
Rather than just working on carpentry, he took his apprenticeship working on spiritual matters. He was working on his heavenly father's business, not his step father's business. “And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49 NKJV)
Saving Gum For a Month 12-5-19
I became a bit concerned as I listened to my boys talking. My 10 year old was saying that he had the same gum for over a month. His brother asked how he had it for so long and he replied that he just saved it. I was imagining him sticking it on his bed frame at night and then retrieving it the next morning. I was just getting ready to give him a lecture about hygiene and sanitation and the problem of germs, when I suddenly realized that I might be jumping to the wrong conclusion.
I asked him if he was talking about gum that had already been chewed or if he meant that he had been saving gum that was new in the package. He gave me the wrinkled up face “oh gross” look and said that he had been saving it new in the package.
His face made it clear that there was no need for any lecture. He could have given a more passionate lecture on that subject than I could have. It was a reminder that I need to be careful not to create unnecessary conflict by jumping to conclusions. The scripture reminds us in James 1:19, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” (NASB) We as Christians ought to be careful how we act and that includes being quick to hear and slow to speak.
The gum incident and the words from the book of James remind me to listen before jumping to conclusions. The book of Proverbs actually gives the example of a person who took hasty action and ended up with egg on their face. Proverbs 25:8 says, “Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor puts you to shame?” (NASB) The next verses tell us that instead we are to go and talk to our neighbor directly. “Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, Lest he who hears it reproach you, And the evil report about you not pass away.” (Proverbs 25:9-10 NASB)
If you jump to a wrong conclusion and you act accordingly and start to spread wrong information, you will end up hurting your own reputation. Talking to your neighbor and listening can resolve a lot of misunderstanding. Imagine how silly I would have looked if I started to tell others how gross my son was for saving his gum. Once the truth came out and everyone could see how disciplined he was in not just using up the gum, I would have been the one who looked ridiculous, not him.
Often when we jump to conclusions the damage is much more serious than looking silly over gum. We run the danger of hurting the reputations of others and of ourselves. Further we might end up causing strife between others when it could have been avoided by simply listening after sharing our concerns.
I
shared my concern about gum with my son and then listened. His
response cleared up the matter immediately. A lot of tension between
people could be avoided if we applied this principle on a regular
basis.
Thankful For God's Provision 11-22-19
I like getting a good deal at auctions. Recently a pickup came up for sale on an online auction and it was not too far away. It was newer than any of our current vehicles, but it had a dent in the drivers door and a few other minor issues. I noticed that the bidding was not going very high so my wife and I talked about it and decided that if it went cheap enough that it would be a good investment. Of course it would have to be a really good deal for us to make that investment.
Once the final auction day arrived, the pickup was still priced within our budget, but I realized that all it would take is one other bidder for the price to be beyond our reach. I also knew that God has a way of supplying for our needs. I do not demand that God give me what I want, but I do bring my cares before Him knowing of His love and unlimited power.
I prayed about the truck and asked for wisdom about how high of a bid I should make. I settled on a price that would make it easy for me to be outbid if God did not want us to have the pickup. I put in my maximum bid a few minutes before the auction was to expire and waited. If another bidder upped their bid, the auction would go into overtime. With 40 seconds left, we were still the high bidder. My boys were excited as they sat next to me waiting for the result. Another bidder upped their bid, but it was not over our high bid.
Finally the auction expired and and we got the truck for about $455 less than my top bid. We ended up getting the truck for about half of what other comparable trucks were selling for. My boys were very excited. We would be getting a newer truck and they did not have to worry about paying for it. I was excited as well. I was also thankful and shared my thankfulness in prayer, but I was the one who had to write the check.
I began to worry a bit. Although God had provided for us in an amazing way- a way that was so reasonable that we actually had the cash on hand to pay for it- that meant that our emergency fund was nearly depleted.
The next day I began to read Matthew ch 6 because I was interested in the first part of the chapter, but then I came to last few verses where it said,
"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34 NASB)
Not only had God provided an inexpensive vehicle, but He had also provided the reassurance that I needed from His word. He reminded me not to worry about tomorrows unknown emergencies and instead trust in His provision.
These reassurances are not an
excuse to be careless with our finances, but we had made a very
conservative financial decision where God had provided in an amazing
way. There was no need to worry. It is encouraging to know that God
cares for us and is concerned with our daily needs of food and
clothing. He even cares about our vehicle needs. Best of all, He
knows what we need for daily encouragement from His word. We have
much to thank God for.
Thankfully Jingling the Bells 11-7-19
We are entering the holiday season. Soon we will celebrate Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and finally the new year. Recently one of our boys wanted to sing Away in the Manger and his older brother said that since it was almost Thanksgiving, we could start to sing Christmas songs. Another friend chimed in and said that she had been listening to Christmas songs since July.
My oldest son who has become somewhat of a walking encyclopedia, then went on to explain that although “Jingle Bells” is often thought of as a Christmas song, it was actually written in reference to Thanksgiving.
“Jingle Bells” does not reference God or religion, but the song is about rejoicing as it glorifies the fun of riding and singing. Rejoicing in prayer and thanksgiving is really what the November holiday should be all about.
The song about the one horse open sleigh reminds us that singing and giving of thanks should go hand in hand. The Bible reminds us of that as well.
In the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant reminded the people of God's covenant. It also reminded them of His presence with them. Since the ark was covered with the mercy seat, it also reminded them of God's mercy. Inside the ark was Aaron's rod and manna from heaven, which reminded them of God's deliverance and provision. The ark of the covenant was a reminder that they had a lot to be thankful for.
God called King David “a man after mine own heart.” As the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem David gave the nation's choir leader a song to sing for that special occasion. It begins with these words: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.” (I Chronicles 16:8-10 NASB)
The context of that song was the ark of the covenant coming to Jerusalem. The ark was a reminder of God's promises, presence, mercy, deliverance, and provision. It was also a reminder of God's power. It reminds us that there is so much to thank God for and that the thankfulness should lead to rejoicing. That rejoicing took place as Asaph, the choir director, used the song we find in I Chronicles so that he could lead the people in singing a song of praise.
As I heard about our friend who
has been listening to Christmas songs since July, I thought about the
reason we as Christians celebrate Christmas. It is about God coming
to earth as a baby to bring His promises, presence, mercy,
deliverance, provision, and power to the world as He showed His love
by dying on the cross for our sins. We get to rejoice with
thanksgiving because our God is not dead, He is alive. He rose again
and lives and reigns with power and mercy. We have a lot to be
thankful for.
God is Greater than Determination 10-27-19
Our boys are getting taller. My wife informed me that our 9 year old is wearing size 10 jeans but they are about 8 inches too short for him. Our 11 year old told me the other day that he keeps bumping his head. He is growing so fast that places he used to walk under are now too low for him.
They like getting taller and look forward to being taller than their mom. They might even end up being taller than I am. I have no idea which one of my boys will end up being the tallest. Although good nutrition may help them gain some stature, pure determination will not. I am thankful for that, because my sons are very determined and I cannot imagine how tall they would end up being if they waged a contest over who would be the tallest.
There are certain things that we can accomplish by sheer determination. I have watched my sons build some amazing forts. Still those forts pale in comparison to some of the amazing cathedrals around the world.
In Genesis 11, we read about how after the world wide flood, the people of the world got together to build a huge city and tower. “And they said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4 NASB)
God saw what they were doing and realized that man's determination would cause him to set even higher goals and that they would achieve those goals. God wanted to slow things down, so He made different languages and thus the tower was called The Tower of Babel. It is a reminder that as determined as man is, he is not more powerful than God.
Some determined men have build great structures. The pyramids in Egypt and the Great Wall in China are examples. Legends tell of other's determination leading them to search for the fountain of youth. Advances in medicine have allowed us to feel more youthful for a time. Hip and knee replacements are examples. Stints and surgery can even extend the effectiveness of the heart. Still there are limits. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (NASB)
Although we have not found the fountain of youth or even a medical technique or exercise program to stop all aging, there is a way to find eternal life. It is not found through determination though. It is found by recognizing that God is greater than we are and that He is our only hope for eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (NASB)
Eternal life is a gift from God when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what John 3:16 is about. It is not something we get through achievement or determination. Rather it is something we get when we realize we cannot get it on our own and that we need God. As we realize He is all powerful and believe on Him and His payment on the cross, we are given a wonderful gift. It is not about determination. It is all about a loving merciful God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
What Does it Mean to Believe? 10-11-19
I am not a big sports fan, but because I am a Christian I have heard of Tim Tebow. I am just familiar enough with him to realize that like so many other athletes, there are continued debates about his talents. Some believe in him others do not.
The same could be said about Tom Brady. Although his talents are not as debated as Tebow's the controversy over his support among football fans is even greater. Many avid Patriot fans believe in Brady, others hate him.
When I talk about belief in these athletes, I am not talking about a belief in their existence. All we have to do is watch replays of their games to know they are real. When I speak of belief in Brady or Tebow, I am talking about belief in their abilities and their worthiness to be on the field playing the game.
Belief also has the idea of an alliance. If you believe in the New England Patriots, that means you are on their side- rooting for them to win. Throughout history people have taken sides and it was often more serious than wearing the colors of their favorite sports team. Often it meant taking sides in a military conflict or even choosing which king to form an alliance with.
For example after the famous king Solomon passed away, his son Rehaboam dealt harshly with his people. That caused many of them to no longer want to follow him. When they found someone else that they could believe in, many of them followed a man named Jeroboam instead. Soon the kingdom was divided with some people believing in Rehaboam and following him while others believed in Jeroboam, making him a king and following him instead.
I am not a sports fan, so I have not found an athlete to follow and believe in. I have however found a king. The king I have found is a king worth believing in. Not only does he have the abilities and the right to be my king, he is the sort of king that I want to be faithful to. He is concerned about justice and cannot be bribed. He cares about those under his care. In fact he cared so much that he gave his life for his people.
Some may be disappointed to learn that such a great king has died. I too would be disappointed if it were not for the fact that he is now alive again. The Apostle Paul wrote of the good news about my king: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (I Corinthians 15:3-4 NASB)
My king is alive and I believe in Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) A Christian belief in Jesus is more than a belief that He exists. It is an alliance with a king. I am following my Lord and savior as His humble servant. He as my King and master. I believe in Jesus Christ.
Family History of the Heart 9-27-19
Grandpa Miller died when I was 6 years old. I remember coming home with Mom and seeing Dad's John Deere tractor with its front wheels up on the silage pile. The plow was still hooked to the back of the tractor. Grandpa Miller had been plowing with that tractor earlier in the day.
We found out that Grandpa had a heart attack and had died in the tractor trying to make it back from the field. He was only 68 years old. Years later, my dad had a heart attack in his 50's. His brothers also had heart problems. I had a cousin on the Miller side, who died in his 30's after multiple heart attacks.
When my dad went to the doctor for his heart attack they told him that his heart was already damaged from an earlier attack. Friends have warned through the years not to ignore symptoms and that something as simple as a feeling of heartburn might actually be the heart, not the stomach.
I recently had some strange symptoms. I had a heartburn type feeling that radiated into the jaw. I also had some chest tightness along with it. It soon passed. Days later, I went to move some sandbags and I lost my breath much quicker than I normally do. This was followed by pain between and behind the shoulder blades. I decided to go to the Avera Heart Hospital.
They hooked me to a bunch of wires and did an EKG. The EKG was normal, so was the blood test. Because of the symptoms and the family history, they decided to do a stress test- especially since the chest pain was continuing. They did another EKG while I ran on a treadmill. They also did 2 different nuclear die tests- one before and one after the treadmill. The tests were inconclusive, so they followed up with an angiogram. That test showed that there were no blockages, but if there had been they would have fixed them with a stint while they were there.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (NASB) Although this passage is not talking about the physical aspect of the heart, I thought of this verse. The symptoms can be deceptive and the tests inconclusive, but the staff at Avera was doing all they could to know the heart. They even did an ultrasound to see if there was inflammation.
I was both surprised and relieved to discover that I did not have any blockages in my heart. The EKG was good and the blood test showed there had been no damage. They told me to take medication for heartburn and to follow up with a general practitioner.
I am glad I did not ignore the symptoms. I wonder what would have happened if Grandpa had responded to his symptoms earlier or if he had even had a cell phone to call for help.
I hope that others do not ignore their hearts. I also pray that we all respond to the spiritual aspect of the heart. Christ warns in Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." (NASB)
All of us have a family history of the heart problem of sin. That is why we need Jesus Christ. Our sin has separated us from God, but Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. He died there, but then rose again. If we believe on Him as our Lord and savior, He heals our sin problem and makes us right with God. He is able to deal with the parts of the heart the hospital does even test for.
I'm Not In the Hurricane 9-13-19
One of the advantages to living in Worthing is that we do not have to fight traffic. The other day I found myself on Cliff Avenue in Sioux Falls between 5 and 5:30. It took way longer to get from Avera to 229 than it did to get from 229 to Worthing. We found ourselves in stop and go traffic. Further the air conditioning was not working.
Because the air was not working I had to roll down the windows- well actually I had to push a button so that an electric motor would roll down the windows. It was such an inconvenience. I had to spend some extra time sitting on a cushioned seat as I listened to the radio while waiting for the traffic to progress.
Of course you can see how trivial my concerns were. While I sat in comfort, many had recently lost their homes to a hurricane. Others had recently lost their lives. Still I am not used to so much traffic, so it was hard for me to find the contentment that I needed. It reminds me of I Timothy 6:6-9 which says, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (NASB)
By historical standards we in the USA are quite rich. Even some of the worst cars on the road today would be luxury compared to transportation in Bible times. Notice verse 9 again. “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
After the Bahamas were hit by Hurricane Dorian, it was understandable that people would be concerned about having food and clothing. But the more we have, the more we want and the more trivial our concerns become. The evidence of how prosperous we have become is that instead of worrying about if we will have enough to eat we are worried about if our car gets a scratch on it.
I am not suggesting that we be careless with our possessions nor that we should not respect what belongs to other people. Still it is so easy to let the trivial things of life cause needless conflict.
If you are a parent or grandparent you have likely had a couch cushion damaged by a child. If the child was naughty or careless, then that issue must be addressed, but often these things happen without sin or malice of any sort.
Throughout history and even throughout the world today, most people did not have fancy enough furniture to even worry about stains. So many of the things we worry about are quite trivial.
Instead of worrying about getting a nicer couch or car, let us focus on being more godly. If we can learn to be content with what we have, then we will be able to see that godliness is much more important to gain than any riches. “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.” (I Timothy 6:6)
As followers of Christ, it may be tempting to just live on the streets and be content to get free clothes and food at the shelters. But as we are content with what we have and as we grow in godliness, we should want to help others. That is why we should have jobs if we are able. Ephesians 4:28 challenges, “Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.”
Our godliness and contentment should be evidenced as we show love for God and others.
We Found the Old Mill 8-30-19
Our boys like hiking trails. On a recent visit to a state park, I decided to look at a map and ignore the trails. The map showed a trail leading to the site of a long abandoned grain mill that had been built along a river in the early 1800's. All that was left was a number of rocks that made up the original foundation. Still, once we reached it, we were able to see the remnants of the mill.
Reaching it was not as easy as we expected though. We looked at the map and the trail that led to the mill seemed to take a longer route than necessary. We concluded that if we took a shortcut and left the trail and headed west instead of south, we would soon reach the river and then we could follow the river to the mill and save a lot of time.
We crested a small hill as we took our shortcut and found that the ground abruptly turned downward in steep grade that led to the river. It was too steep to even walk down. We followed this embankment to point where a ravine diverted runoff into the river. The 25 foot descent was much gentler at this point. As we neared the river, the drop became much steeper. We could see the river flowing at a brisk rate below and watched the rapids spew water giving evidence of dangerous currents. As we approached, we saw that it would be very difficult to walk along the edge of the river, since the banks of the river were extremely steep. There were so many trees that in order to get close enough to follow the river we would have to cling to the trees themselves so that we did not fall in.
After assessing the situation we decided that it was too dangerous to take our shortcut and that it would actually take much longer than the trail that was shown on the map. In order to get back to the trail we took yet another route back up the hill. The climb was so steep we had to hold onto trees to make the trek. Once we reached the top, we found ourselves on a narrow ridge with another steep drop off on the other side. We were able to follow that ridge back to safer ground and soon found the trail.
The trail was marked well and had signs to show us where to go. Soon we found the mill site. We read a sign that said the mill likely failed because it was so difficult to get to. We agreed. The well marked trail we followed was steep and narrow. The way we attempted without the trail was quite wide in the sense that as we headed out, we had not limited ourselves other than heading west and staying on our side of the river. Had we fallen into the river, our way could have easily led to destruction.
The way to God is narrow as well. We cannot just choose our own path. We need to go the way He tells us to go. "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-4 NASB)
The path to God must go through Jesus Christ as we trust Him as our Lord and savior. “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)
I am glad we finally found the
site of the old mill. I am even more glad that I found God.
A Good God Allowed Evil? 8-16-19
As I neared my driveway I saw my son riding his bike through the ditch, pedaling hard in my direction. I watched him veer slightly as his front tire lined up with the culvert that went under the driveway. Quickly his body continued forward as the bike came to a complete stop. I wondered what I would find as I got there. I found a smiling son rubbing his arm and simply stating, “that hurt.” He was fine and I was relieved.
He learned something through that experience. He learned that riding a bike and taking risks can be both fun and dangerous. He learned the reality of life. Life in general can be both fun and dangerous. It has both pleasures and regrets. It has times of joy and times of sorrow.
Not only did my son gain some excitement, he gained some knowledge. His ancestors have gained knowledge and experience through the generations as well. Those experiences began with Adam and Eve. The first people were created by God and so was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God told them not to eat of that tree, but He also allowed them to do it and the world has been plagued by evil ever since. Many have asked why God even allowed such a thing to happen. Why did He even create the tree? Why didn't He destroy it or put a wall around it so that Adam and Eve could not reach it?
As I allow my children to ride their bikes, I tell them to be careful. I give them warnings about what not to do. Still I know that they will do a lot of stupid things and that they will learn from those events. For example a few years ago another one of my sons rode a tricycle off the deck and onto a ramp and broke his arm. No matter how many warnings I give about not doing things like that, I also realize that such events are part of growing up and learning.
When God allowed Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, He also allowed them to learn. He allowed a very significant event to take place that gave humanity much more knowledge than what mankind had possessed previously. Although Adam and Eve were innocent before eating the forbidden fruit, they were also much less knowledgeable.
Genesis 2:9 & 17 calls the tree with the forbidden fruit, the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Although eating of the tree led to sin, it also led to more understanding. Before eating of that tree, they did not even know or care that they were naked.
Sin has brought a lot of trouble into the world, but it also gives mankind much more understanding. Without sin and evil- without pain and suffering- we would not be able to understand love and mercy the way we now do. God could have created a world where everyone's needs were always met and where no one ever hurt anyone else. In such a world, there would then be no need to help others because without any troubles, no one would ever need help. Without a need for help, there would be no way to show love by giving up ones own comfort. In such a world there would be comfort no matter what happened.
Instead God gave us a world where we understand the difference
between good and evil and where we also get to understand the
difference between love and hate. We get to show love for one
another. We also get to understand what it means to love God and for
Him to love us. Because of a sin cursed world we get to understand
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” Although I do not want to glory in the
fact that we are sinners, I am thankful for the knowledge of good and
evil, because with that understanding, comes the knowledge of God's
love.
Fury and Forgiveness 8-6-19
We once visited the zoo and saw a warning sign by the wolf pen. It warned that the wolf was territorial and that visitors should not put their hands in the cages. Rather than wanting to be pet, the wolf could become very angry that his territory had been invaded. We felt quite safe on our side of the fence, but I would not want to run into a wolf in the wild and I would definitely not want to do anything to make it angry.
Angry wolves can be so dangerous that the scriptures even use them to illustrate the dangers of the enemies of God. I am glad that my God is not like the wolf. Still, God does get angry and does defend His commands. Remember that He created the whole universe so everything belongs to Him.
God does not bite simply because we put our hand through a fence, but He does hold us accountable for sin and unbelief. John 3:36 warns, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (NASB)
During the time of Danial, the nation of Israel was taken into captivity by the nation of Babylon. This was a result of their sin. It was during that time that Daniel was thrown into the lion's den. Lions are a lot like wolves, yet God protected Daniel. Incidentally, Daniel was thrown in with the lions, not because of his sin, but because of his faithfulness to God. Although Daniel was in Babylon because God was chastening the people for their sin, God was still showing mercy to those who were faithful to Him.
God showed grace and mercy to many others during that time as well. For example, Daniel had three friends who survived being thrown into a fiery furnace by the power of our almighty God. Years later, God showed mercy on the whole nation of Israel by allowing them to return home after more than a generation of captivity. Psalm 85 is actually a song about how God's anger over their sin did not last forever and neither did their captivity in Babylon. Psalm 85:2-3 says, “Thou didst forgive the iniquity of Thy people; Thou didst cover all their sin. Selah. Thou didst withdraw all Thy fury; Thou didst turn away from Thy burning anger.” (NASB)
God does get angry over sin. Jesus demonstrated that when He overthrew the tables of those who were cheating people in the temple. His anger at sin was also shown in the world wide flood, but then His grace and mercy was shown as He gave us the rainbow promising never to send such a flood again.
God does get angry over sin and there are consequences for our actions, but God also forgives. We see that clearly in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB) As John 3:36 above explained, eternal life comes through Jesus Christ, but the wrath of God abides on us without Him. That is why we must humble ourselves before God as we believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. Then we must recognize that our risen savior has authority over our lives.
Both God's wrath over
sin and God's forgiveness help us to understand His goodness. Sin is
bad, so God has to deal with it, but God forgives, and His wrath
does not have to continue. He is not like a wolf that will not back
off from the attack. 1 John 1:9 explains, “ If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB) Confess your sins
before God. He does not stay mad, but instead forgives.
Don't Brag When Doing Right 7-19-19
I have a neighbor who has a very good reputation around town. When I first met him, I found him to be a very friendly man. During that first conversation we had, I talked about Christ and this neighbor assured me that he too was a Christian. His behavior since that time has supported his testimony. In fact, others who know him have also said that he is the real deal when it comes to his faith. He reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” (NASB)
I understand that my neighbor is not perfect, but it is encouraging to have someone who sets a good example for others to follow.
I know of another man who talks a lot about Christ, but does not have the same reputation that my neighbor has. Like my neighbor I have heard multiple times how godly this other man is, but there is a difference. Instead of hearing from other people how godly this other man is, I keep hearing it from that man saying it about himself. Proverbs 27:2 warns, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” (NASB) I remember going to a memorial service and during the eulogy, this man bragged about how much he had helped the deceased .
My godly neighbor does not have to praise himself. Others do it for him. The other man seems to have missed the importance of verses like II Corinthians 10:18 , “For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” (NASB) "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:2 NASB) "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5 NASB) "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:16 NASB)
Though Paul encouraged others to follow his example in Philippians 3:17, just before that he stressed how although there was a lot he could brag about, his true boast was in Christ. Philippians 3:9-10 says, “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;” (NASB)
As Christians if we are ever asked about what we are most proud of spiritually, our answer should always be that Christ is our savior. Let us brag on Him, not on ourselves. Bragging on ourselves can actually confuse the gospel message of Jesus dying for our sins and raising from the dead and how it is about Him saving us rather than us saving ourselves. Titus 3:5-6 summarizes it very well when it says, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” (NASB)
We ought to live godly lives. My neighbor is a good example. Christ is an even better example. As we follow good examples, don't brag about it- just do it.
God & the Sinkhole Mystery 7-6-19
This spring a large sink hole opened up in Rapid city. According to reports, it was nearly 30 feet across and up to 40 feet deep. A road and sidewalk were closed and a large amount of material was hauled in to fill the hole. Officials stated that they expect that the material will not continue to sink, but they still do not know the cause of the sink hole. It remains a mystery.
There is a lot in this world that still remains a mystery. Some of those things- like sinkholes- can become dangerous. With all the unknowns in the world and with all the potential dangers, it is comforting to know that God understands what is happening and that we can trust Him.
Just as we cannot see what is going on under the ground, we cannot see all that God is doing behind the scenes. Events of life and even God's plans for them are some of the greatest mysteries that we face.
A man named Job faced a lot of trials in his life. Some of his friends thought they had solved the mystery about why he was facing so much hardship. They however were wrong. Job himself tried to figure things out and also came to many wrong conclusions.
Job actually had the advantage of hearing from God himself. What he heard, however, was quite humbling. God begins by saying, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2 NASB) In other words, God tell Job that Job does not know what he is talking about. God then asks Job a series of questions beginning with, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it?” (Job 38:4-5 NASB) God is making it clear to Job that man does not know more than his creator and really is not in a place to question the creator's decisions.
God says something very similar in Isiah 45:9, "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?” (NASB)
As God speaks to Job, He talks of so many of the mysteries of creation including the stars, the seas, the clouds, the behavior and strength of animals, wind, rain, thunderbolts, water turning to ice, death, and birth. God set up all these things. He understands them, we do not. God then asks Job another very direct question when He says, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." (Job 40:2NASB) As we read the Psalms we find many of the writers questioning what God is doing and trying to understand the trials they are facing. Of course it is good to go to God with our concerns, but it is quite another thing to accuse God of fault for what He is doing. God is also quite direct with Job in vs 8-9, "Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?” (Job 40:8 NASB)
After hearing all of this and the rest of what we read in chapters 38-41, Job repents and his answer is quite humble as he says, "I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Job 42:2-3 NASB)
Job is a reminder that even when what God is doing is a mystery that baffles us, we can still trust Him. He is the creator who is powerful enough to do what is right even when it is a mystery to the rest of us.
What Do You Look Like? 6-21-19
As I drove down the road I saw flashing lights and a trailer in the ditch. Once I got closer I saw a man in a uniform. The protective vest, radio, and firearm, in addition to the rest of what he was wearing, quickly identified him as a police officer.
When I walk into Walmart and see someone with a blue vest with yellow on the back of it, I recognize them as a Walmart employee.
In a similar manner if I see someone with a yellow reflective vest and a hardhat, I figure that they are a construction worker.
Although farmers do not have a specific uniform, if I see someone wearing a pliers, a Pioneer seed corn hat, and cowboy boots, I have a pretty good inkling about their profession.
Although appearances can be misleading, we can often get some clues about people simply by how they appear. If that is the case, then what should a Christian look like? If that Christian is a Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputy, then he or she should look just like the officer that I saw the other day. If the Christian works at Walmart, then the answer is obvious.
Of course not all farmers wear pliers and cowboy boots nor do they all plant Pioneer seed. Furthermore, all Christians are not going to wear the same kinds of clothes or even cut their hair the same- nor should they.
Still there are things that we should all be able to see as we look at Christians that should make them stand out just as much as a construction worker with a hardhat. These are the sorts of things that should transcend time and culture.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (NASB) These are the sorts of things that should stand out in the lives of Christians so that they will be set apart in any country or any point in history.
Romans 12:2 reminds us that as Christians we are not to be worldly. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (NASB) Notice that in order to avoid being worldly there is nothing said about a “Christian uniform.” Instead the focus is on the renewing the mind to God's will. As we trust Christ, His Spirit comes to dwell within us and the fruits of our doing His will are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” (NASB)
Notice that by doing things without complaining and arguing, Christians stand out from the rest of the world and shine as lights. Godly behavior is a far better way to identify a Christian than any outward uniform could ever be. Our behavior is not what rescues us from the wages of sin. Trusting Jesus and His death and resurrection for our sins is what saves us. Still, once we are saved, He will transform us and we should stand out.
Therefore, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
We Don't Have to Fight 6-9-19
We were able to attend the grand opening of Mill's Fleet Farm in Sioux Falls. I had been in their stores in the past, so I had an idea of what to expect. Still I was pleased with the large selection of items in the store.
I already have a friend who prefers Home Depot over Menard's and now we have yet another store in the mix. Now the debate will not just be between Home Depot, Menard's, and Fleet Farm, but also between what is better, Fleet Farm or Walmart.
Knowing human nature, it would not surprise me if the debate became quite heated, but my prayer and request is that no one use this article to begin that debate. Instead let it be a reminder of how easy it is to find something to argue about.
I recently watched an episode of “When Calls the Heart” where two of the students were given an assignment to debate about whether the car or horse was a better mode of transportation. Rather than having calm debate, two girls ended up getting really mad at each other. It ended up being an opportunity for the teacher to give further instruction- not just on debate, but on character.
As I think about those two child actresses playing the part of the contentious debaters, I realize how closely they were portraying what can happen in real life. I remember my dad talking about 2 of my uncles getting into a fight as teenagers about whether or not to use the tractor or the horses to haul manure. I also think of my childhood and the ridiculous fights I had with my own brothers about Fords and Chevys.
As I think about fighting with my brothers about vehicles, what really motivated me was the desire to win the debate. Not everyone fights for such selfish reason, but my pride kept me in the conflict.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi where two Christians where having a conflict. Both these people had been faithful to the gospel but were not getting along with each other. In chapter 4, Paul encourages the rest of the people in the church to help them to get along.
Before that he had challenged them all to, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB). In other words, they were to apply the second greatest command and love their neighbor like themselves. That is the essence of the golden rule of treating others like you would like to be treated.
We are to set aside our own self interest and be more concerned for others. If we did that each time we had a conflict, then most arguments would end quickly.
God's word then goes on to show the Philippians- and us- that Jesus is the great example of putting others ahead of oneself. Philippians 2:5-8 shows us that He was and is God, yet He became a servant and died on the cross for others. We ought to follow Christ's example and be humble enough to put others ahead of ourselves instead of wanting to always win every argument.
Of course many of us are hoping the one we are arguing with will read an apply this, but remember that Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to think of others. In other words, consider the one you are arguing with as more important than you are and put yourself in their shoes. If that becomes hard to do, then remember what Christ did for you as He humbled Himself and became a man who was a servant who died for your sins. Also remember that He is now alive, so live for His glory, not your own.
Singing Life's Lessons 5-24-19
Music is all around us. Early in the morning I can hear the birds singing. I walk into stores and can hear music playing in the background. Each of our vehicles has a radio with multiple music stations to choose from.
Much of the music that we hear is quite entertaining. I even enjoy hearing the birds, but music also has value in helping us to learn. For example, if not for the ABC song, I would have struggled much more with my letters. I still find myself singing it in my mind as I go through the alphabet.
As I grew older, music continued to be a great teaching tool. I remember learning about how a bill became a law as I watched “Schoolhouse Rock.” Throughout life music has taught me about history and culture. I became aware of a terrible shipwreck on one of our Great Lakes as I listed to Gordon Lightfoot sing about “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” As I listen to the words of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” I get a glimpse of a culture looking for optimism in the aftermath of the devastation of war.
Even listening to the birds can be instructive. It can tell us morning is coming and can even give us some indications about the weather.
Music can also be very instructive in helping us to learn more about God. The song, “Jesus Loves Me,” teaches an important basic truth that we also find in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The song, “Amazing Grace,” is a somewhat autobiographical song about John Newton. The author, had been a slave trader, but had found Christ and the grace of God that comes with trusting Jesus Christ as savior. The words were originally written as a sermon illustration. In other words, they were a teaching tool. Consider these words from his song;
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd
a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was
blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to
fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How
precious did that grace appear
The hour I first
believ'd!
Before trusting Christ, Newton was lost and blind in his sin, but after coming to Christ, he found the grace of God as he believed.
Music as a teaching tool is not new. The Psalms in the Bible were actually songs. Although we only have the words and not the music, they are still instructive. In fact, in verse one of Psalm 78, we are told why this song was written. “(A Maskil of Asaph.) Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 78:1 NASB) Asaph (the song leader) asks that his instruction be listened to. In other words this song will teach something. The song then goes on to speak of the history of the Children of Israel, but more importantly it speaks of their interaction with God. It teaches that God holds people accountable for their sins, but it also teaches that He extends mercy.
Psalm 78 is a great summary of the
gospel message that John Newton also wrote about. Psalm 78 teaches
that although God must judge sin, His compassion of grace and mercy
is still available. This is what John 3:16 is all about. God loved
the word so much that He sent His only begotten son to pay the
penalty for sin as Jesus died on the cross and then rose again. In
order to receive the grace from God we must believe on Jesus Christ
as our Lord and risen savior. These songs teach us about God and His
love and how we ought to respond to His love. As I read Psalm 78, I
learn from a song that was written thousands of years ago, but more
important, I am learning from God's word.
Exciting New Discoveries 5-12-19
I recently helped a homeowner dig down near his house to install some drainage to get the water away from his basement. As we dug we found a large amount of rock about 20 feet from his house. Soon we discovered that they were not just random rocks, but that the rocks had been arranged in a specific order. Further we noticed that there was some white powdery substance between the rocks and that the rocks and powdery substance were arranged in a consistent width. It appeared to be an old foundation of some sort.
I asked him if he knew of anther house that had been on the property before the current house was built. He was not aware of any, but knew that the current house had been built in 1912. There was also a barn on the property that had been built well before that. He knew the date the barn was built based on the fact that it had been carved into the wood on the inside. Combining clues from observation and history we were able to come up with some theories about what we had found as we dug. Still, without further information, we could not come up with any definite conclusions. Was the old rock wall part of a basement of an old house? Was it an old root cellar? Had it been a cistern for holding water?
Without further details, we were simply left guessing. If however we found some historical writing or some real old pictures, then we could come to some further details. Even verbal testimony from someone who had talked to someone who lived back then would help us to fill in the details.
Our little archaeological dig was interesting, but there are many more digs going on across the world. For example I recently watched a PBS program where archaeologists were looking for evidence for an old school that used to be in a town that is no longer in existence. They found the decayed remnants of what looked to be posts in the ground and at first assumed they were part of the foundation. After further investigation they decided that the holes were too round for that era and were probably the remnants of fence posts since the area had long been a farm field.
Since there was such limited written history on the area, they were trying to fill in the gaps with their archaeological discoveries.
There are ,however, regions of the world where there is much more historical writing to aid in archaeological investigation. The Bible provides a written history that focuses a lot on the region of the Middle East. Not only is the nation of Israel at the center of the Biblical account, there is a lot of history about the region of Babylon. For example the city of Mosul in Iraq, is at the same location as the Biblical city of Nineveh where the prophet Jonah ministered.
Digging in that city had been limited until world events changed things. About 5 years ago ISIS forces took control of Mosul. In order to finance their efforts, they wanted to find artifacts that they could sell, so they dug tunnels. A few years later, ISIS was defeated and driven out of Mosul. Within the tunnels they had left were ancient inscriptions with the names of ancient kings. They matched the names of the kings of that region that were listed in the Bible. By combining archaeology with the historical account of the Bible we are able to put the clues together in a way that gives us a lot of information.
It is exciting to see that modern day observation shows us that we can trust what the Bible says. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”(NKJV)
Our faith is based on solid evidence/proof of what we believe. Faith in Christ and His word is not blind. There is a lot of evidence to support our Bible.
When Prayer Disappoints 4-25-19
What if prayer doesn't work? Imagine that you are facing a time of discouragement, so you lie awake at night and pray, but it doesn't help. You still feel discouraged. You may began to wish that you were more like the great spiritual leaders of the past, so that you did not have that problem.
What if I told you that one of the great spiritual leaders in the Bible faced that problem. His name was Asaph and he was the choirmaster in Jerusalem. He was one of the great ministers leading the worship of God in music. Not only did he lead the music but he wrote songs. Some of those songs became part or our Bible. One of them is recorded as Psalm 77.
He starts this Psalm by saying that he cried aloud to God. He is praying out loud, and talks of stretching his hands out at night as he seeks the Lord. Then at the end of verse 2, he makes this revealing statement, “my soul refuses to be comforted.”
Even though he is crying out to God in prayer and even though he acknowledges that God hears him, he is not able to find comfort. Verse 3 is especially revealing, “When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah.” (NASB)
The word “Selah” is a word that means to pause. It is worth pausing to think about what Asaph was saying. He was saying that he was disturbed and discouraged when he remembered God. That may sound strange coming from a great worship leader who wrote part of the Bible, but it is also a reminder of the reality of our human emotions. It should not surprise us if we end up feeling the same way when we face times of trial.
Verses 5-9 explain why he is discouraged as he thinks about God. Asaph remembers what God has done in the past but recognizes that what he wants to happen is not happening now. He quite bluntly asks in vs 9, “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah.” (NASB)
Imagine trying to encourage a farmer who has not yet gotten into his fields because it is so wet out. Talking about the years that everything was planted before the first of May will not likely be a comfort. In a similar way, when you feel like your back is against the wall, reading about the parting of the Red Sea may not bring you comfort, since you are not seeing any way opening before you now.
Asaph knew how that felt, but he also understood God as he was praying to Him. As discouraged as he had become he continued to think about God and the more he thought, the better he understood. Notice what he says, “I will meditate on all Thy work, And muse on Thy deeds. Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? Thou art the God who workest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:12-14 NASB)
He even reflects on God opening up the way through the Red Sea as he says, “Thy way was in the sea, And Thy paths in the mighty waters, And Thy footprints may not be known. Thou didst lead Thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77:19-20 NASB)
When praying doesn't seem to help, do not stop reflecting on how great God is. Asaph did not forget that he could trust God, even when he did not “feel” comforted. In our humanity we are not always going to feel like we wished we felt, but we should always remember that our God is not only powerful enough to help, but He loved us enough to die on the cross for our sins and then He showed His power in raising from the dead. We can trust Him. Trust Christ even when you do not feel like it.
Handle the Worst Stain 4-12-19
With 4 boys in the house we end up with a lot of spills. To be honest, not all the spills are caused by them. I spill too. We are happy that the main living areas of our house (kitchen, dining and living room) do not have carpet. It is much easier to clean up spills on a solid floor.
The church, however does have carpet. Not only do we have spills, but this time of year we also have mud. At church, food and fellowship go hand in hand and like at home, it is not only the kids that spill.
We recently found a refurbished Rug Doctor online that was purchased to be used to keep the church carpet clean. It quickly conquered a couple of stains in the hallway from the foyer to the main meeting room.
The first Sunday we had it, I announced our new purchase and said that spills would be easy to clean up now. Since we have snacks and juice right after the service, there is always a potential for a spill. We were not disappointed. Had the person who spilled not been so young, I would have wondered if it was planned just so we could see the new tool in action.
The Rug Doctor efficiently tackled the juice spill as one of the mothers got to try it out. Although the Rug Doctor did not reverse the incident, it did take care of a big problem -the messy carpet. Stained carpets are a concern, but they are not nearly as serious as stained lives.
Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, all our lives have been stained by sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) A Rug Doctor will not work for every kind of carpet stain, and it definitely can not get rid of the stain of sin.
God however can. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin and He planned how to deal with sin so that we could be washed and cleansed from our sin stains. God said in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” (NASB)
When we trust Christ as Lord and savior, our sins are washed away just like the juice was washed out of the carpet. There may still be some affects on our lives because of our sin. In our carpet example, there was less juice to drink even though the carpet was clean. In a similar way, our lives are still affected by past sin even when we are forgiven.
The most important consideration, however, is about the next life. If we trust Christ, the stain of sin does not follow us. Instead we are given forgiveness and eternal cleansing along with eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
You may not have had any juice spilled on your lap today, but your life has been stained by sin. The only way to take care of that sin is through Christ. Trust Him and then strive to not spill anymore sin into your life. Realize however that it will still happen. 1John 1:8 reminds us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And then we are told in the next chapter, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” (I John 2:1 NASB)
Flooded With Complaints 3-29-19
We have had some flooding in our immediate area, but my sister lives in Nebraska. Many there have faced very serious challenges. My brother in-law was not even able to make it into Columbus to work for multiple days because some of the main roads were either under water or washed out. They were more fortunate than others. Whole towns were under water. Not only were homes lost but so were businesses. Many who lost homes also lost jobs. Some lost their lives.
Quite a few people had a lot to complain and feel bad about. Many of them were too busy figuring out what to do next to even process all of their feelings. As the flood waters receded they had time to realize the fuller impact of what had happened. For some, discouragement began to set in.
It is easy to feel guilty for being discouraged when you look at others that have it a lot worse. If you have lost your house, but still have a job, you may be thinking of others that have lost both. Perhaps you lost both, but have insurance, while others have nothing. Making such comparisons can remind us that we have much to be thankful for, but they do not negate the reality of our own loss.
As Christians we understand that we can loose all material possessions and even lose our health, but we still have God. We may even reflect on Job and his trials and realize we do not have it as bad as he had it after losing all his children, his wealth, and then becoming sick. Compared to Job, we may feel that we have no right to complain. Still, those thoughts do not always take away the despair.
This brings us to a more pointed question: Should we as Christians ever complain? Consider the introduction to Psalm 102 along with the first verse which reads, “(A Prayer of the Afflicted, when he is faint, and pours out his complaint) (before the LORD.) Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry for help come to Thee.” (NASB)
Notice that the introduction to this Psalm shows us that it was to be a prayer for those in trouble when they are weary and needed to complain. When we are discouraged, the best place to bring our complaints is to God. Notice that the introduction even shows that these complaints were to be brought to HIM.
When we are overwhelmed we should pray and let our cries for help come to God. We should never feel guilty about talking to Him about our heartaches and fears- even if those talks include complaining about our circumstances. Who better to complain to than the one who can actually help in the most hopeless of situations.
“I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to Thee, O LORD; I said, "Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.” (Ps 142:2-5 NASB)
David did just that in Psalm 142 as he states that he brings his complaints to God because God is his refuge.
In both these Psalms, the writer is complaining about his circumstances, not about his God. He is complaining to God because he trusts God, not because he hates God.
Realize that God is powerful
enough to create the whole world and that He loves us enough to send
His son. With that realization, who better to bring our complaints
to than God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Should We Bring Bacon? 3-15-19
I like bacon. Bacon is an amazing addition to a cheeseburger. Without bacon a filet mignon is just another chunk of beef. I did not realize how obsessed some people were with bacon until I realized that you could buy bacon scented cologne, sunscreen, pillow cases, and even envelopes. You can even get bacon flavored coffee, soda, jelly beans, toothpaste, chocolate, and lollipops. No doubt, bacon has become a marketing bonanza.
In the Bible, Leviticus 11:1-8, tells what animals may be eaten and it also makes it clear that pigs are not to be eaten. Still most Christians eat pork- including bacon. In fact, ham is one of the most popular meats eaten during Christian fellowship meals. So why are Christians doing this when so many of them claim to be following God and living their lives to please Him?
We often hear statements like Leviticus is Old Testament and we follow the New Testament. The problem is that we should follow the whole Bible and only disregard specific commandments if there is a good reason to do so. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:18 that the smallest letter or stroke of the law would not pass away until all was accomplished. In order to decide if we are released from the law that Moses gave, we need to find out if all was accomplished.
John 19:30 tells us that when Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” The Apostle Paul helps us better understand what that meant in Romans 7 as he explains how law works. He uses the example of a married couple and how the marriage bond is dissolved when one of them dies and then they are free to marry someone else. He then explains how that relates to the law for the Christian.
“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:4-6 NASB)
Because of Jesus death and resurrection we are now under a new law. Galatians 3:23-25 shows how the law was an instructor to bring us to Christ and how once faith comes, we are no longer under the law since we are no longer under the instructor. Further, Colossians 2:14-17 shows how since the cross, no one should judge us in what we eat.
Christians are able to eat pork because the law that Moses gave was replaced when Jesus died. Some argue that God has always wanted people to avoid unclean animals and that we should still avoid pork. The problem is that when we go back to the Old Testament, we find what God's position actually is. In Genesis 9, God gave specific instructions to Noah right after the ark landed when He says, "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.” (Genesis 9:3 NASB)
Other religions do still impose
dietary restrictions on certain animals. Christians traditionally do
not. The reason they do not is because of what the New Testament
scriptures have taught and how they explain why we have been released
from certain portions of the Old Testament law through Christ.
A Reminder From A Faucet 3-1-19
Our 11 year old son wants to be a plumber, so when it was time to replace our kitchen faucet, we asked him to do it. He was happy to take on the challenge. I was happy that I did not have to crawl into the the tight space under the kitchen sink.
He said that the hardest part was taking out the old faucet. Once the new faucet was installed and the valves were turned on, the water began to flow. Our ancestors also had running water, but instead of having their 11 year old's do a minor plumbing job, they had them run to the creek to fetch it.
Water is quite important. It is used for washing, cooking, and drinking. We could not live long without water. As we consider how important water is, it is not surprising that Christ would use water as an object lesson to talk about other important matters. As He spoke with the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10 NASB)
As we consider the historic events recorded in the Bible, it is not surprising that Jesus would make that statement. When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness is was God who provided water from a rock so they could drink. Jesus is God, so the point He was making is that if the woman at the water well really understood who He was, then she would understand that He could supply all her needs.
All my son had to do was replace a faucet, turn on the correct valves, and we had water. All Jesus has to do is to decide that water can come out of a rock.
Not only did God provide water in the wilderness, but He also provided food. After the fall harvest the Hebrews observe the Feast of Booths. They dwell in tents for a week as they thank God for the harvest and for His provision as the children of Israel left slavery in Egypt and journeyed to the promised land.
It was during this feast, that Jesus again talked about water. John 7:37 tells us that on the last day of the feast Jesus stood up and cried out, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38 NASB)
While the people of Israel were celebrating God's provision- a provision that included water from the rock- Jesus showed that He can supply water from within. The next verse clarifies that He was talking about the Spirit which those who believe in Him would receive.
The next time you turn on a faucet and water comes out, remember that there is something more important than water. Remember that we need Christ Himself and that just as we need water to live, we need Jesus so we can have eternal life. "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB) Trust Christ for the living water and eternal life.
Not Too Cold for Christ 2-15-19
A friend of ours recently took a trip to Florida. Their family chose the perfect time to go. While it was below zero here in South Dakota, they enjoyed the warm southern temperatures. Still, it was colder than usual there as well. She noticed that the “tourists” from the north were in shorts and T shirts while those from the south were in heavy coats and hats.
I have often thought that the idea of cold was quite relative. When I have worked outside on a 95 degree summer day and then come into a 70 degree building, I feel cold. Still that is nothing like the negative 40 degree temperatures I heard about in Alaska.
I recently attended an outdoor farm auction on a 10 degree day. I was dressed in 8 layers of clothing: T shirt, insulated shirt, sweat shirt, 2 flannel shirts, hooded Carhart, bib coveralls, and parka. Had the wind not been blowing, I could have stayed warm, but I got very cold and so did many others who were there. After I got home the temp had dropped even more and my son came in from outside and said, “It's too cold out there to play, I already tried.”
As I reflected on the cold, I looked up Psalm 147:17 where it says, “He casts forth His ice as fragments; Who can stand before His cold?” (NASB). A few weeks ago we had below zero temps with dangerous wind chills. Warnings were issued and I remember one that said that a person could only last for about 4 minutes out in the open in those conditions. I assumed that they meant that they could only last that long if they were not dressed in multiple layers. Still it was a reminder of the reality of the question, “who can stand before His cold?”
When I think of the fear of God, I often think of hell and the lake of fire and all the heat that is there. But on these cold days, I start to think of how scary it would be if hell really did freeze over. If it were that cold, no one could stand before that cold.
As frightening as the cold can be, the next verse of Psalm 147 gives us some wonderful encouragement. “He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.” (Psalm 147:18 NASB) The same God who sends the cold is the same God who sends the blessings of thawing temperatures. This should help to remind us that the same God who sends punishment for sin is the same God who sends deliverance from the wages of sin. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB) That free gift was provided as Jesus went to the cross. In order to accept that gift, you must believe on Him as your lord and savior. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:13 NASB)
The night before Jesus died on the cross, He was arrested. It was also cold on that night. “Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. (John 18:18-19 NASB)
As you stand before the cold,
remember God's power and judgment, but then also remember that on a
cold night, Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross to pay for
your sins.
As a kid I used to joke that I was the only one who was allowed to fight with my brothers. What I meant by that statement was that in spite of the fact that my brothers and I would have an occasional conflict, we still had each others backs. After all these years, we still do. Because of my love for my brothers, I will quickly come to their defense. I am reminded of Proverbs 10:12 which says, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.” (NASB)
When we don't like someone, it is not natural to come to their defense- even if they have done nothing wrong. Hate stirs up strife. When we love someone- like I do my brothers- it is easy to overlook something they did wrong and come to their defense even when we should not.
How we feel about others can affect how much slack we give them. Not only are we more likely to give the benefit of the doubt to those we love, but we are often too ready to condemn those we hate. Often our reaction to an offense is based more on who committed the offense than on what the offense actually was.
When our love covers transgressions in a way where we are merciful rather than condemning that is a good thing. We should remember the mercy God showed toward us in sending His son to die for us when we deserved the punishment. His love covered the sins of the world. Still love should not cause us to ignore sinful behavior. God did not ignore our sin when He sent His son. He understood that our sin was so serious that it had to be dealt with on the cross. Further God's word challenges us in asking, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2 NASB)
So when we are tempted to give those we love a pass on sinful behavior we should consider the context of 1Peter 4:8 where it says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (NASB) In the verses leading up to this statement the apostle warns of that an account must be given to God for sinful actions. He then shows that the gospel is given so that we can live in the spirit according to God's will. Love should not be an excuse to sin, but love provides both mercy and accountability when we do sin.
As much as I love my brothers, if they ever do wrong, I need to love them enough to tell them to repent. Further, I am not to just love my brothers, but others as well. Love should not show partiality.
In Luke chapter 10, a lawyer is asking Jesus questions. When they agree that God expects us to love Him and our neighbor, the lawyer asks who our neighbor is. Verse 29 tells us he asked that question in order to justify himself. The implication was that there were some people he did not love as much as others. During that time in history the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along very well. There was not much love between them. Jesus uses this tension to make a point. He gives the parable of the good Samaritan stopping to help a man when others would not. The Jewish lawyer got the point that the one who showed mercy was his neighbor. Even though the Samaritan was not the one who the lawyer would have naturally loved, he needed to get past his bias and judge the actions, not his predetermined feelings.
Often the level of outrage we see
towards others is not based so much on what was done, but on who did
it. I fear we are too much like the lawyer. We have missed the
point if we have forgotten that the Samaritans are also worthy of our
love. Let us remember to love God and our neighbor even when it
doesn't come naturally.
The Holy 5 Gallon Pail 1-17-19
I love five gallon pails. I have a lot of them in the garage. They are handy for putting things into. I also use them for a work stool to sit on as I tinker in the shed. I have even used one for a short ladder to stand on, although I do not recommend that others try this.
Most of my pails are quite dirty though. Some have had mud in them. Others have been filled with used oil or even garbage. Some were used for paint.
We also have some of these containers in the house. In fact, one of them has a screw on lid that we fill with Cheerios. For the food, we did not use the ones from the garage. Instead we buy new food grade buckets that were clean and not contaminated by dangerous chemicals.
The buckets from the house are not taken to the garage. These food containers are set apart for special use. The ones in the garage are for common use. If we were to use theological terms, we could say the food grade buckets are holy and the garage buckets are profane.
At Southtown, we have been studying the book of Exodus and we have been looking at the furnishings in the Tabernacle. Each of the furnishings had a special use. They were set aside for that use and were not to be used for other things. Thus they were holy. Since their use was religious in nature, it is not surprising that a word like “holy” would be used to describe them.
One of the reasons that “holy” is so connected to religion is that religion sets both its followers and its objects apart from others.
Although Judaism (where Christianity has its roots) set apart objects to be used in the worship of God, their worship was directed toward God, not the objects. Ultimately that meant that God was the one who was truly set apart. No wonder the angel in Isaiah 6:3 called out, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory."
Although there are tools used for ministry within the Christian church today, there are not specific items like they had in Old Testament times. We do not set apart a lamp stand, an altar for sacrifices, or a table for show bread. Still, there is something that every Christian should set apart. They should set apart themselves. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (NKJV) This command was a quote from Leviticus 19:2 which states, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”(NKJV)
This makes it clear that we are to be set apart for a special purpose, but what does that mean? Are we to only carry food and not garbage or used oil? Man has often distorted religion to come up with a lot of strange ways to set people apart. Jesus gave a very direct sermon on the Mount of Olives that showed how we should be different from the rest of the world, but He summed things up in a much shorter statement in Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'” (NKJV)
If we are truly holy, we need to
love God and others. Christians are to be set apart as servants of
the Lord Jesus Christ. That means loving Christ enough to obey Him
and loving our neighbors in a way that applies the golden rule.
Appreciating the
Dishwasher 1-6-19
Our dishwasher has been giving us trouble. It is the same problem over and over. The inlet valve keeps failing. It is a fairly easy fix. It only takes about 10 minutes for a do-it-yourselfer to put in the new valve. The valve costs less than $30. The problem is that each valve lasts less than a year. I went online to try to figure out why these valves were failing or if I could find a better valve. I found out that it is common for them to fail if the dishwasher is used every day or if there is a change in water pressure. With 4 boys in the house, we have multiple loads of dishes each day. Further our water pressure changes and is often low.
I have come to accept that unless we get a different dishwasher, this will just become a part of our lives. As I considered another dishwasher, I realized that there is no guarantee that one would not have a valve failure also. It might even have a more expensive repair. Thus I ordered 2 new valves so that I have an extra on hand with the expectation that it will eventually be needed.
I must admit that this has caused some frustration in our family. The boys are responsible for taking turns loading and unloading the dishwasher. Now they have to hand wash a lot more. I wish I could say that this has really made us appreciate our dishwasher, but instead it has caused us to despise it. I even priced a new one.
As I reflect on how silly this is, I remember that my mother-in-law just got her first dishwasher in the last couple of years. She has 11 kids, and they got along fine without one. Further, a large number of people in this world do not even have a set of dishes, let alone a dishwasher. I need to appreciate what we have even though it lets me down now and then.
I do not like comparing God to my dishwasher, because God does not fail. Still, there are times in life where it feels like He has let us down. It may even feel like He has turned his back on us. I think of David's words in Psalm 22 when he says, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.” (Ps 22:1 NASB)
David's words show us how easy it is forget to appreciate God. When it seems like He has let us down we can end up despising Him just like I was despising the dishwasher. At those times we need to remember that God has not failed. We should also use those times to remind us how dependent we are on Him. Another Psalm expresses this. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2 NASB)
Rather than letting our times of trouble turn into times of despising God, let them remind us of how much we appreciate Him. “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NASB)
As God uses trials to build character in our lives, He is not failing us. He is actually showing His love for us. We should remember to appreciate that.
Exposing the Porch Pirates 12-21-18
This week I learned about “porch pirates.” I had never heard of them before, but after realizing what they were doing, I realized that it was a very appropriate label. A “porch pirate” is a person who sees a package on someone else's doorstep that has been dropped off by the mailman or a delivery service and then simply steals the package. Imagine how many children had fewer gifts under the tree this year because their Amazon order was absconded with. Porch pirate, Scrooge, or Grinch are all terms that come to mind.
I recently watched an online video from one man's surveillance camera where the “pirates” could be seen stealing the package. They did not look like pirates though. They looked like a typical middle class couple out for a stroll with backpacks over their shoulders. The package was taken and placed into the backpack and they went on their way as if no one would ever know. Many people know now since the video is on the world wide web. Even if they had not been caught on surveillance, God would still know. There is another term other than Scrooge, or Grinch that could be used to describe the porch pirate. That term is “sinner.” Psalm 69:5 says, “O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.” (NKJV)
The man who caught the people on surveillance, happened to be an engineer. He decided to take things to another level. He built a device that looked like a delivered package. Looks can be deceiving. It had a tracking device and numerous hidden cameras that would be triggered as soon as the package was taken. Not only would the cameras record and store what had happened, but they would send the video to a cloud storage so he could watch it even if he was not able to recover the device. He also rigged it so that as soon as it was opened it would spray glitter all over. Still, that was not enough to satisfy his desire to put the porch pirates in their place. He also wired in a mechanism to spray fart odor every 30 seconds after the package was opened. This engineer got sweet revenge as he recovered his device and posted the videos of the thieves opening it.
As much as I enjoyed the measure of justice he was able to execute, I understand that our God will bring even greater justice to sin. Romans 6:23a tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” A glitter bomb and fart spray are hilarious. The lake of fire for eternity is not. Even if you are not a porch pirate, if you have ever stole anything- ever lied, coveted, or idolized anything other than God- realize that God knows it. Realize that you deserve the penalty for your sin.
That means that we are all guilty because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). The reality is we have all been caught by God's surveillance. That is the bad news for us, but the good news is found in Proverbs 28:13, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (NKJV)
That mercy from God comes when we confess our sins and trust Christ as our savior. Romans 6:23 warned about the wages of sin, but listen to the rest of the verse. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NKJV)
Whether you're a porch pirate or
just another sinner, your only hope for redemption is Jesus Christ.
God knows all you have done. “So then each of us shall give
account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12 NKJV) When we give that
account our only hope is to admit we have come short, but that we
have trusted Christ and now desire to live for Him. If you have not
yet done that, pray and talk to God about it.
Mary Did You Know? 7-7-18
As I work in my office, my 8 eight year old is down the hall listening to Christmas carols on the radio. Not only is he listening, he is singing along at the top of his lungs. I also heard his younger brother say, “Re-doice, Re-doice, e-man you well.” The songs they sing have a common theme- a baby was born and we are celebrating.
My sons are now old enough to sing, but I think back to when they were born. Those too were days of celebration. For months, we had anticipated an arrival and finally I was able to hold my sons in my arms. I also got to to see joy fill my wife's face each time she held her newborn baby boys.
I cannot help but imagine the joy that filled Mary as she held the newborn baby Jesus in her arms. One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary Did You Know.” The last line of the first verse has this play on words, “This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.”
As parents age, sometimes the children that they used to care for end up taking care of them. My wife is currently recovering from ankle surgery, and the boys have been helping her a lot, but that is not what the song is singing about as it talks of baby Jesus growing up to deliver Mary. The last line of the second verse says, “When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God.”
Baby Jesus was not just another baby who would grow up to help his mom. Jesus was and is and always has been God. The prophet Micah told of His coming and wrote, "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2 NASB) That scripture not only told that the savior would be born in Bethlehem, but that He would be a ruler and that He has been going forth from eternity. In other words, He has always existed.
No wonder Jesus stated in Revelation 1:8, "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8 NASB) Jesus is no longer a baby. In that same Revelation passage, John describes Him as having white hair. Notice what John describes, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18 NASB).
The baby Jesus grew up to die for our sins, but He is no longer dead. He is alive. He did not grow up just to assist Mary- in fact before He died, he asked John the author of Revelation to take care of his earthly mother (John 19:26-27). Still He provided something far more important for her than earthly care. He provided eternal life for her just like He offered it to the rest of us. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NASB)
In order to receive that eternal life, one must believe. Did Mary know and did she believe? Before Jesus was even born she said, “And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:47 NASB) She understood that even though she had been blessed by God in such a special way, she too needed a savior. That savior is Christ our Lord. He chose to enter this world through Mary as she gave birth in Bethlehem. We sing songs about that today, but we must remember, Jesus was more than a baby, He was and is God. Trust Him for who He is- the savior of the world.
The Frightening Fires 11-22-18
A friend of mine recently burned a small area that had some tall grass. By burning off the dead grass, he was able to see the topography better to know how to best improve the use of the land. Further, once the old dry grass was removed, the new grass could come in better in the spring. Managed fires can have a positive effect on the environment. He did not burn the whole area, so there was still plenty of old grass for the wildlife over the winter. The earlier thicker new growth would also benefit them in the spring.
Not all fires have the positive impact that my friend's small fire had. For example, the wildfires in California have cost many human lives. Further, homes and businesses have been lost as the landscape was transformed. Even those who were not in the immediate path of the fire were suffering it's effects. Many had to wear breathing masks to protect their lungs from the smoke that hung in the air.
One of the more frightening articles I read, told about what to do if trapped in a vehicle during a forest or brush fire. They recommended staying in the vehicle, but then exiting the vehicle after the fire passed if the vehicle had caught on fire. In other words, don't get out too soon or the forest fire will kill you, but do not say in too long or your burning car will get you.
As frightening as that article was, at least it left hope for survival. In the Bible, Luke chapter 16, we are told of a man who is trapped in the fire of hell with no way of escape. "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.'” (Luke 16:23-24 NASB)
As I read the article about being trapped in a car during a fire, the writer emphasized the importance of heeding the warning and evacuating before it was too late. For the man in hell, it was too late, but he wanted his family to heed the warnings. "And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'” (Luke 16:27-28 NASB)
Abraham then tells the man in hell that his brothers have already been warned. He explains that if they will not listen to the warning they were already given, they will not listen to the warning from Lazarus either. Just like some people do not listen to the warning to evacuate as a forest fire is approaching, many people do not listen to the warning to trust Christ. John 3:36 warns, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (NASB)
It was too late for the man in hell, but it is not too late for the rest of us. Jesus promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
If you were trapped in a wildfire and were told how to escape, I hope you would listen. We have a way to escape an even worse fire. That way is Jesus Christ. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NASB)
Jesus came to save us, but in order to be saved, we have to trust Him. Then just like the new grass and the fresh new tree growth that comes after the fire, we are able to have a new life in Christ.
Refining the Stuck Combine 11-9-18
There has been a lot of rain this year. It has been really really wet. The area farmers have especially been impacted by the weather. My cousin and his wife recently shared a picture of their stuck combine on facebook. One of the pictures showed the front wheel of the combine about 2/3 of the way below the surface of the mud. Another showed water in the tracks and the back wheel also sunk in the mud.
They had a long list of comments from friends with most of them saying “oh no” or “sorry.” This showed that their friends cared about their struggles, but there was little that they could do to help get 20 tons of green and yellow out of the mud. I understood that an expensive piece of equipment was in a place where it could be easily damaged. I also grasped that while it was there, valuable crops were not being harvested from the fields. My heart aches thinking of the stress my cousin must have been under as he faced this trying challenge.
Fortunately my concern for them did not last long because within a minute of posting the first pictures they also posted a video of a dozer slowly and gently pulling the combine from the mud. It did not look like the dozer even struggled and the driver skillfully eased the large harvester from its pit of doom. The headline above the video had these words, “One of the struggles and obstacles of the 2018 Harvest! All is in one piece and all humans are safe!”
That comment showed that although they were thankful that no serious damage had been done to the machine, they also recognized that it was important that no one got hurt. Although they had faced a gut punching trial, they still understood that there was much to be thankful for.
Their difficulty and their response reminds me of Psalm 66. Consider verses 10 & 11: “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.” (NKJV) Instead of being trapped in a net, the combine was trapped in the mud. What makes this especially sobering is that God was still in control even as this was happening. Why would He allow or even cause this? The answer is in verse 10. To refine us like you would refine a precious metal.
The very next verse says, “You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” (NKJV Psalm 66:12) The same God who allowed that combine to get stuck in the mud allowed it to easily come up out of the mud and water. He then gave my cousin and his family reason to rejoice as no one was hurt and they were then able to look forward to continuing to reap the rewards of harvest.
As bad as the trial was, the pictures and videos on facebook were a reminder that we can trust God even when things look hopeless. A combine can be replaced and getting stuck can be undone, but what about our sin problem. We cannot undo our past sins, but we can have them forgiven by trusting in Jesus Christ alone. Sin is more hopeless than a stuck combine, but Jesus is more powerful than a big bulldozer. My cousin called on the dozer to solve his combine problem. All of us need to call on Jesus to solve our sin problem. I am thankful that my cousin has both Jesus and a bulldozer to save him.
If we can trust God to refine us
through a challenge like a stuck combine, then we can trust God to
refine us through the challenges of a sinful past. 1 John 1:9 tells
us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJV) I am
so thankful for both God's refining and His forgiveness in my life.
Hypocrites and Halloween 10-25-18
As a child I never thought of trick or treating as extortion. In fact, I didn't even think about the words. Instead I remember the adults being excited to see how creative we were with our costumes. It was not until I was older that I realized that the words “trick or treat” were actually a threat of a trick if a treat were not given. I didn't consider myself a mafia thug who was extorting protection money and neither did the people whose houses we visited.
As a child I was also unaware of the Satanic connections to Halloween. The origins of the celebration are debated, but even today the connections are real. That does not mean that everyone who exchanges candy or dresses up is promoting the Satanic aspect of this time of year, but we should not be ignorant of the connections either.
As a child I usually dressed up like a cowboy, but as I got older I noticed that some people dressed up like demons or witches. Essentially they were wearing the costumes of the servants of Satan. As a Christian, that seemed strange to me and it still does.
It is concerning that some want to emulate demonic forces. Still, I have an even greater concern. As servants of Christ, how should we as Christians look? I am not talking about dressing up with a halo and angel wings. In fact, that should not be our focus at all. Consider what the scripture says in I Peter 3:3-4, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (NKJV)
Although the I Peter passage was addressing wives specifically, Jesus gave a similar challenge when He addressed the scribes and Pharisees.
"You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:24-28 NASB)
Notice that they were called hypocrites. That means that they were pretenders- deceivers- they were being phony. When I was a kid and I put on a hat and my cap gun with the toy holster, it was obvious that I was pretending to be a cowboy. These adults that Jesus was rebuking were using their deception to try to gain power. They were more like the mob than the trick or treaters of today are.
As Christians we need to be careful that we are not just pretending. Are we more concerned with being viewed with halos and angel wings so that we can look good in others eyes, or are we more concerned with being obedient to God and thus filled with the Holy Spirit so that we are seen as true servants of Christ?
Ga 5:19-23 says,
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (NASB)
This time of year, many Halloween celebrations give opportunities to indulge in the works of the flesh. Instead let us focus on living for God as we walk in His Spirit.
I Wanted Sunny and 75 10-12-18
This last week I was disappointed. I wanted every day to be sunny and 75 with no rain. I did not get what I wanted and I became discouraged. The overcast skies and the lack of sun contributed to a bit of a gloomy mood on my part.
As often happens, that darkness within led me to the ultimate source of light as I poured my heart out to God in prayer. I reflected on the Psalms and David's times of discouragement and his trust in almighty God. I was reminded that my source of sunshine for my soul was not behind the clouds, but rather right there with me. I understood that once I believed on Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, God's spirit came to live within me. “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (I Corinthians 3:16 NASB)
The challenge is that our circumstances affect our delights. It is easier to be joyful and optimistic when the sun is shining. In fact, some people actually sit under artificial sunlight during the winter months to escape the doldrums. I remind myself that joy is one of the fruits of God's Spirit that lives within me. That means that I can be joyful even when my world seems gloomy.
Because God's Spirit is within us as believers, we are encouraged to avoid the use of our bodies for ungodly purposes. We are also encouraged to glorify God with our bodies. Consider I Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (NASB)
Because I had to be outside quite a bit, not only did I notice the overcast sky, I also had to bear the bone chilling cold. My body did not feel very confortable. I had to remember that no matter what I was doing, my main job was to glorify God. 1Corinthians 10:31 states, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (NASB) That meant that even if I had to dress in layers to stay warm, I still needed to get my joy from living for God's glory.
Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” (NASB) As I put my focus on God and found my delight in Him, I was able to have joy. I did not get a week of sunny and 75 though. So what happened? It was not that God broke His promise about giving me what I wanted. Instead, God changed what I wanted. Instead of delighting myself in a sunny day, I was delighting myself in God Himself.
I got what I desired as He was right
there with me. Jesus promised, in John 6:37 "All that the
Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will
certainly not cast out.” (NASB) Delight yourself in Christ, and
you will have Him there with you for eternity. “For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
(John 3:16)
The Greed of the Gold Mine 9-14-18
We recently toured an abandoned gold mine on a trip to the Black Hills. The mine was a speculative venture by a couple of demolition experts. They had been working for other miners by blowing holes in the rock to speed the mining prospects. As they did so, they were able to find out where other miners had found gold. This prompted them to purchase a small claim after calculating where to dig to reach the same vein of gold that the neighboring miners had found.
Since they already had a day job of blowing things up, their time in their own mine was somewhat limited. It ended up taking them about 14 years to actually reach the vein that extended into their claim. Once reaching that vein, they found gold. The only problem was that it was only about $20 worth. Not only had they spent a lot of time, but they had invested a lot in tools and equipment to reach this small amount. Still they continued to dig into the rock.
Their claim only allowed them to go so far. They had invested so much with little to show for their years of labor, so they trespassed into government land (underground) in the hopes of finding more gold. After about 35 years of digging, they found more gold (which they stole since it was not even on their land). Ironically it was such a small amount that it did not even cover their expenses.
The tour guide went on to explain that while they were trespassing underground they came dangerously close to another mine. Their actions could have jeopardized the structural integrity of both mine shafts, endangering both their lives and the lives of the other miners.
The tales of greed did not end once we left the mine shaft. We next toured a replica of the gold mill. This was where the ore from the area mines was crushed and the gold extracted. The millers would go through this process for a percentage of the gold.
They would use mercury to separate the gold from the other material. The problem was that the mercury would poison the workers and many either died or went mad due to the mercury's effects on the brain.
Not only did the milling company get a share of the gold, but many of the workers would steal bits of gold as they worked. The problem was so bad that they would use portable toilets and then sift through the dung to find any gold that thieves had swallowed to smuggle away.
The tour was fascinating since it provided an insight into a part of our American history. In fact, the tour guide pointed out how after the discovery of gold, the native Americans had the land taken from them.
There was a lot of evil going on because of the gold. As we stood in the far end of the gold mine, the tour guide lit a couple of candles and shut off the other lights to show us how dark it was as the miners worked. As he turned the lights back on I quoted from John 3:19, "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.” (NASB)
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, but many would rather live in darkness because they are pursing their self interest instead of loving God and their neighbor. As discouraging as it would be to work your whole life in a gold mine and not even recapture your initial investment, it would be even more discouraging to live you whole life apart from Christ and spend eternity in the darkness of hell. Several verses after John 3:19 we are warned: "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB) Come to the light of Jesus Christ and have eternal life with Him.
Sin's Dirty Muddy Mess 9-9-18
Our boys love playing in the mud and with all the rain we have had this summer, their opportunities have been plentiful. The other day, our six year old was playing in a puddle. He was not content to just walk through it and splash. He was not even content to simply jump up and down in the water. Soon he was sitting in the puddle as his older brother proceeded to cover his entire body with mud. From their perspective the filth was fun.
The older brother (a 9 year old) who was assisting in this filthy amusement, had covered himself in mud a few days earlier. After doing so, he came into the house, took a shower, and then proceeded to go back outside and get covered in mud again the same day.
As I watched a video my wife had taken of them on her phone, I could not help but think of the Bible verse that says, “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire." (II Peter 2:22 NKJV).
No doubt, our boys were acting like pigs in a mud hole, but that is not a serious concern. As long as they don't drag the mud into the house or get dirty just as we are getting ready to leave for someplace where we need to be cleaned up, then I can simply laugh and remember my own childhood.
The II Peter passage, however, is not talking about kids playing in the mud. Instead it is talking about realizing Christ's expectations, following them for a while, and then ignoring God's expectations for righteousness and going back to living a sinful life without caring about it.
It is not uncommon for people to act kind of like my 9 year old. They realize that their lives are dirtied by sin. They then try to clean up their lives and might even have some success at it. Soon however, they go right back to the sinful behavior just like our boys go back to the mud hole.
We all struggle with sin, but there is a big difference between slipping in the mud or getting mud splashed on us and actually diving into the puddle and smearing the mud all over us. In other words, there is a difference between a person who gives into temptation from time to time, but feels filthy about it and wants to avoid it and the person who doesn't even care whether or not they sin.
Romans 5:20 says, “And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” (NASB). By disobeying God we get mud on us, but God's grace is there for those times. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB) In other words, God can get rid of the filth and purify us as He forgives our sins. These verses should not become excuses to head for the mud hole though. Just a few verses after Romans 5:20 where grace is spoken of, we are warned, in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (NASB)
Let us be thankful that by trusting Christ as savior, we are cleansed of our sin, but let us also be careful that once we have trusted Him that we not intentionally return to the mud hole of sinful behavior.
Losing Your Identity 8-18-18
We recently booked a hotel room on Priceline. We went online, typed in the area where we needed lodging, and waited for offers on hotel rooms. We found a room with 2 queen beds, a free breakfast, and kids stay free. It was just what we needed and the price was right. Further, the hotel had a good rating.
Once I selected the hotel, I had to select a payment method. I was planning to use a credit card, but then I noticed the special offer. If I were to get a new Priceline credit card, then I would get a $100 credit. That would mean that the hotel room would be free.
Had we not used Priceline before and known it was credible, I would have been very very suspicious. When you see something on the internet that seems too good to be true, it probably is. For example, years ago I got an email about inheriting a diamond mine. I deleted it.
Often these internet scams are ways for the scammer to steal your identity. They make a grand offer, get your information, and soon they have stolen who you are.
Identity theft has become so common that companies like Lifelock have stepped up to help consumers protect themselves. We have a similar service through our local bank as a fringe benefit to having a checking account there.
We are careful not to willingly give up our identity. Still, there are places that we share our information. Our bank is one of those places since we trust them to not steal what we have shared.
The thought of losing one's identity is unsettling, but what if the offer sounds really really good. What if you really could have that diamond mine and all it cost you was your identity? Of course, I am not encouraging reckless behavior online, but I do want to suggest that there is an amazing offer available and all it will cost you is your identity.
The offer is not diamonds. Instead, it is eternal life. In order to have eternal life in the next life, you have to give your identity to Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB) We do not just give up our identity when we identify with Christ, we give up our very souls. I Corinthians 6:19-20 describes it like this: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (NASB)
If you have a good credit rating, you may want to protect your identity from scammers, but what if you have a bad credit rating and just want to start over? What if you have a decent rating, but your new identity gives you an even better reputation? What if that new identity helps you to magnify the one who gave you eternal life instead of magnifying yourself? That is what you can expect when you identify with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
He Ain't Rude, He Can't
Hear 7-21-18
I have a friend who is a bit elderly. When I first met Aldie I tried to carry on a conversation with him, but he seemed a bit distant- even aloof. Suddenly that all changed. Not only was he very friendly, but he had a quick sense of humor that he was eager to share. Not only was he friendly to me, but I saw how friendly he was to others. Although he has white hairs on his head, he loves spending time with noisy kids that some his age would be impatient with.
I spent years wondering why I had gotten off to a bad start with him. I didn't say anything to him about it, since I didn't want to make him feel bad. I recently discovered an answer. My family and I were attending a conference with Aldie and his wife. We were gathered in a dining hall for breakfast and as we were sitting around talking, my friend was barely contributing to the conversation. Someone said something to him and he did not respond. His wife then rolled her eyes and said, “He didn't put his hearing aids in.”
We chuckled at her response, but I was smiling for another reason as well. Now I understood how one of the most friendly guys I have ever met could sometimes seem so distant.
Leviticus 19:18 says, “'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.” (NASB) God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. As I have gotten to know Aldie, I have seem him living out that commandment in his life. When he was not wearing his hearing aids, his love for others did not cease, he just couldn't hear what they were saying very well and thus could not participate fully in the conversations. Had I bore a grudge over my misunderstanding, I would have not only missed an opportunity to extend love toward him, but I would have also missed out on a great friendship.
The command from Leviticus 19:18 is so important that Jesus emphasized it during His ministry. “And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'”
(Matthew 22:37-39 NASB)
Matthew 5:43-44 makes it clear that we are even to love our enemies. Christ set the perfect example of that when He died for us. Romans 5:10 tells us, “For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (NASB)
Sometimes people look at what God is doing and do not see the big picture and they start to think that He does not love them. God is not hard of hearing like Aldie, but we do not know all that He is doing behind the scenes. As sad it it would have been for me to miss out on a friendship with Aldie because I did not understand his hearing aids, it would be even worse for someone to miss out on following Christ because they did not take time to get to know God and to see His love.
“But God demonstrates His own
love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us.” (Romans 5:8 NASB) As loving as my friend Aldie is, God is
even more loving. Make friends with Him by following Jesus Christ as
your Lord, savior, and friend.
My Speedy
Consequences 7-7-18
I got my first speeding ticket when I was about 19 years old. Not long after that, a second speeding ticket followed. The action of speeding had an effect on my auto insurance. I was warned that if I got another ticket, then I would have to go on risk insurance and the cost would be much much higher than it already was.
These consequences had a result. I began to use the cruise control and to carefully watch my speed. I slowed down and became a much safer driver. I was being held accountable for my actions and although I had been a law breaker, I responded to the accountability.
I must admit that back then I did not want to slow down. I liked driving fast and getting where I was going quicker. I would have preferred to just pay the fine and go right back to speeding, but the additional cost of the insurance was my motivator to change.
I was not truly repentant. I was simply being conditioned to change. The problem was that I should have been obeying the law to start with. That is often how sin works. When we justify our behavior and excuse the sin, we are not admitting that we did wrong. At those times, only the consequences will get our attention. The problem with the consequences is that even if they change the behavior they do not necessarily change the heart. Still, if the behavior is changed, then others are protected. Even though my heart attitude about speeding did not change until years later, both other drivers and myself were protected by the fact that my behavior was modified.
What happened when my heart attitude changed? Eventually I decided that I needed to slow down because it was the right thing to do. I became thankful for the police officers who would pull me over if I began to speed because they were there to make sure the roads stayed safe. I now understand that this was a real safety issue. As a teenager I would sometimes drive over 100 mph. I could have hurt myself or others.
Once we realize that our behavior is wrong, we should be thankful for accountability. Rather than simply functioning as behavior modification, consequences can even protect the repentant sinner. Consider what happened to King David after his sin. “Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. "However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die."” (II Samuel 12:13-14 NASB)
One of the concerns was what the enemies of the Lord would do if there were no consequences. Imagine that a man were convicted of embezzlement, and then repented and never stole again. Would it be more merciful to leave his embezzlement in the past and allow him to become the church treasurer or would it be more merciful to implement a consequence and not allow him to be the treasurer?
He has been forgiven and there does not appear to be any more need to change his behavior. Still, because of his past, he would be under suspicion if there were ever an innocent accounting error. Therefore in that case, the consequence is a protection for him from an accusation that he would not deserve. At the same time, if he were not actually repentant, the consequence would be a protection for the rest of the church.
Consequences have multiple benefits. They can protect others and the person who was forgiven. Further, they do not negate forgiveness. The Lord had taken away David's sin, but there were still consequences. www.southtownchurch.com
Cover Up Worse than
Scandal 6-22-18
From time to time there is a scandal within the Christian community. This past year has been no exception. In fact, as the “me too” movement has drawn attention to a number of injustices, people in positions of Christian leadership have also been implicated.
The “me too” movement has shown how widespread these injustices have been, so it should not surprise us that sin has affected Christian ministries as well. As Christians we turn to Christ because we understand that sin is such a huge problem and that Christ is our only solution. First, He provides forgiveness. Next, as we follow Him, we should be motivated to do right and to live as He lived. That does not mean we will be sinless, but it should mean that we will sin less. In other words, even though we do not expect Christians to be perfect, we should expect that there would be less sin among the followers of Christ than there is within a statistical cross section of society.
Although it is true that even godly men like David in the Bible would have been implicated in a “me too” scandal (he abused his position of power as a king when he pursued Bathsheba and then had her husband killed), we should not use this as a reason to excuse others. God had Nathan confront David about his sin and there were serious consequences (II Samuel 11-12).
Today some people think that Christians should cover up the sins of their leaders because they are afraid that if people who have not yet trusted Christ find out about it, then they will not want to be Christians. That is a sad approach. First, it is counterproductive because often these scandals come to light anyway and then non Christians are even more upset about the cover up than they are about the sin. This is understandable.
Furthermore, the scripture tells us that we are not to cover up the sins of our leaders, but that we are to address them so that others may fear and not follow the same path. I Timothy 5:20-21 says, “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.” (NASB)
The hope is that the sinning Christian leader will repent and turn from their sin, but that does not mean that the warning should not be given. Consider King David. He repented once confronted by Nathan, yet his sin was not hidden. It was recorded in scripture and has been used as a warning for thousands of years.
Recently we received a letter from a missionary that we had helped several years ago. We were excited about the ministry of this missionary couple, but sadly we found out in the letter that the husband had been embezzling money that had been given to him and had been caught up in immorality. Rather than hiding what had happened, his wife sent out letters to those who had given to them and confessed what had happened. That took great courage. It showed that she takes her faith in Christ so seriously that she is willing to confess the truth even if is embarrassing. It also gives others a opportunity to pray for her husband with the hope that he will admit his sin and repent. Next, it sends a warning to others that would consider doing something similar that they could get caught. Finally, it shows non Christians that Christians are willing to admit that there are scandals in our lives as well, but that we should not excuse them or cover them up, even when it is embarrassing.
My hope is that others will learn and
be encouraged by this missionary wife's example, and that Christians
will have the courage to admit that we have scandals too. When we do
face scandal, we must turn to Christ and His grace and accept the
consequences rather than encouraging the cover up.
Was the Sphinx in the Flood? 6-9-18
I love Google Earth. Not only can I use it as a map, I can also measure the length and width of my house while sitting at my desk. I also love the history feature. I can scroll back over several years and see how our yard has changed. We see cars parked in different places and can see what our yard looked like before the garage was built.
I recently found another online site called vintageaerial.com. They have archives of aerial pictures of farm sites. I found the farm I grew up on in Minnesota as well as relative's farms. These photos were much older than Google Earth.
I wish that I had pictures of this area back when Lewis and Clark traveled through. So much has changed just during my lifetime. Imagine how much has changed over thousands of years.
My boys and I watched some documentaries on ancient history this last week. We learned some more about the pyramids in Egypt. We also learned something new about the Sphinx. The Sphinx is a huge carving more than 60 ft tall and about 240 ft long. It has the feet of a lion and the head of a man. Much of the main part of the body seems to have eroded away over time.
At the beginning of the documentary, a researcher asked a geologist if he could tell the difference between wind and water erosion on rock. The geologist assured him that he could, so he was shown a picture of the body of the Spinx with the head, feet, and tail covered so that it looked like a natural rock formation. Conclusion was that without doubt, the picture showed water erosion.
The covering was then removed to reveal the head and feet of the Spinx. This was such a surprising revelation because the Spinx is located in a desert area without water around to erode it. Genesis 7:18-19 describes Noah's flood, “And the water prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark floated on the surface of the water. And the water prevailed more and more upon the earth, so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered.” (NASB)
According to the Bible, the area where the Sphinx is located was once covered with water. Although we do not know the exact date of its construction or all the details of the environment around it, a world wide flood would explain the erosion. If the feet had quickly been covered with sediment, they would have been more protected from that erosion. Another theory is that the Sphinx orignally had the head of a lion or some other animal, but that it was so eroded that it was replaced by the face of a Pharaoh. Since no world wide flood happened since that time, the man's face was not eroded by water like the body was.
Although we cannot go back thousands of years on Google Earth to see the pictures, we can look to the scriptures to find clues about the past to come up with possible explanations for the present. If you would like to see the Sphinx on Google Earth, type in “The Great Sphinx of Giza.”
What Are You Creating? 6-9-18
-
Rather than creating a fort or a piece of art, this person creates an idol- a false god. Not only does he worship it, he begins to ask it to do things for him. Essentially he creates it so it can serve him. Of course a piece of wood cannot answer his prayers or do anything he asks it to do. Still, it is not completely irrational for the creator to expect his creation to serve him.
-
Let us not forget that the true God, Jesus Christ, is our creator and we are the creation. Unlike the leftover piece of the tree, we have knowledge, intellect, and will. Therefore, Christ can expect us to do what He asks us to do. Unlike the man in Isaiah, though, God does not worship us. Instead he expects us to worship Him.
-
Today it is not that popular for people to make wooden gods, but they do try to create their own ideas of what God is like. As they do that, they often expect God to serve them, rather than they worshiping Him.
-
Essentially, man in his creativity, has gotten it backwards. If man can come up with an idea about God in his own mind, then man is the creator and man is in charge. Thus man becomes the god and God becomes the servant. As creative as this idea is, it is wrong. The true God will not be mocked. We must submit to Him.
-
No wonder God commands us: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” (I John 5:21 NASB) As bad as it is to worship a statue, it is just as bad to worship yourself. Notice what the scripture says about Lucifer: "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'” (Isaiah 14:13-14 NASB) Lucifer did not get away with it, and neither will anyone else. Verse 15 says, "Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. (NASB) Romans 6:23 warns us all that the wages of sin is death. Instead let us embrace the gift of God, which is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord as we worship only Him. Remember He is in charge, not us.
Christ and the Root Beer 4-28-18
Most of life's trials are fairly small. In fact, many of the most aggravating trials are practically trivial. For example, I opened a bottle of Root Beer while I was driving and it had been shook up more than I expected. Since my eyes were on the road, I did not notice the problem until just before the bottle reached my lips. Thankfully very little fizz had run out- it had not even reached my hands yet- but it was coming fast and I had to think fast.
I opened my mouth and placed the bottle there and quickly realized that my mouth was not big enough to hold 20 ounces of fizz. More important, I had to keep the vehicle on the road. Fortunately no one was there to encourage me to laugh. That would have likely resulted in a windshield covered with a mixture of carbonated corn syrup.
There were a number of ways to escape this trial. Spraying the foamy Root Beer on the window, would NOT have been the best. A less dramatic option would have been to let the pop spill all over the seat or even down the front of my shirt and onto my lap. That is actually what I expected to happen, but then, just in time, I had an idea. I closed my mouth while holding the bottle to my face and let my lips firmly seal the opening.
TRAGEDY AVERTED, but now a new crisis developed. I was holding a Root Beer bottle that would explode with force if I pulled it away from my face. Still, this gave me some time to plan and to think. I calculated that once the pressure was released, that the pop bottle would once again be safe. After swallowing the fizz that had already entered my mouth, I very carefully allowed a little more to seep in. I repeated the process until all the danger was past.
I Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” (NASB) The word translated “temptation” in this verse, is the idea of a trial. Sometimes the trial may involve the temptation to sin, other times the trial may involve a pop bottle. Notice that the verse does not say that God will always make the problem go away. Instead He gives us a way to get through it as He enables us to bear it.
Too often this verse is taken out of context and is focused on us and our getting what we want, instead of focusing on Christ and how we need to depend on AND obey Him. It really has little to do with my being delivered from a pop mess other than that it reminded me to pray as it was happening.
The context of the promise in I Corinthians 10, helps us to further understand it. The chapter starts out with the children of Israel in the wilderness. It shows that even during the time of Moses, Christ was with them (see vs 4). Still they decided to follow their selfish desires instead of following Christ. Then when they did not get what they wanted, they complained about it. Thus God sent punishment. Finally right before the promise of vs 13, a warning is given in vs 12., “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (NASB)
If we think we can go it alone without Christ, then expect to fall- do not count on the way of escape promised in vs 13. In fact, the very next verse brings an important command, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1Co 10:14 NASB) Idolatry is worshiping something other than the true God. Therefore, if you are putting your own desires above Christ, you need to stop.
As I prayed about the pop bottle, I applied the promise of vs 13, by asking God for help, expressing my trust, asking forgiveness for cursing, and thanking Him.
Accountable to Christ or
Karma? 4-14-18
Living in a house with four boys age 10 and under we get to answer a lot of questions. They are constantly learning, and that leads to even more questions. I have had many more years to ask questions than my sons have had, yet I have not yet exhausted my questions. No doubt, there are a lot of questions I would like to ask God, but for now, I am thankful that I have the Bible to go to in order to find most of the answers I am looking for.
As much as I trust the Bible, it may surprise some of my readers to realize that I do not find all the answers to my questions there. For example, when I needed to fix the car, I go to Youtube for the answer instead of the Bible.
Recently I was able to ask a question about another religion. The Bible is the book for Judaeo/Christian beliefs, but there are many other religions in the world. There are so many spiritual beliefs that it is impossible to keep up with all of them- especially when many people form their own religious beliefs.
Thus, I had the chance to learn something new as I asked a non-Christian about what established her moral boundaries. I already knew she had boundaries because of comments she had made about what anther person had done wrong. She responded that her boundary was to do no harm. She also explained that if she did harm, she could expect karma to come back with three times as much harm done to her.
I appreciated her response, but I was still unclear about what actually constituted harm, so asked if harm only included causing physical pain or if emotional pain would also be included? She said that harm included physical, emotional, and mental harm but did not give any more parameters about what would qualify as harm.
This conversation was very interesting to me, since this woman and another woman had had some conflict over some things that were said. Each felt offended by the other person and I wanted to know how to address the concerns within some sort of moral framework. Since I am a Christian, the Bible was the framework that I go to, but I understood that the person I was talking with did not regard the Bible at all, so I wanted to know if there was anywhere that she would go to discuss right and wrong in order to see why she felt what the other person had done was wrong.
The conversation ended and I still did not have her definition of harm. I was thankful that the Bible has given clear boundaries about right and wrong. I understand that everyone does not accept those boundaries, but for those of us who do, it makes life much easier. Although Christians do not agree on everything, we still have some basic limits of right and wrong that we all recognize. What I love about that is that another Christian cannot just make up their own rules to use against me, nor can I do that to them. We go to the Bible to let God be our arbitrator. I was hoping this woman would see the contrast.
I had one final question for her.
Since
karma brings harm back, does that mean that humans are actually
accountable to karma and that karma has authority over them? I then
let her know that the point I wanted to make is that we all
understand that we are accountable to some outside force. As a
Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe I am accountable
to Him. Although I could not measure up to His expectations for me,
He loved me so much that He died for my sins and then rose again. If
I am going to be accountable to someone, I want it to be someone like
Jesus. He is much more merciful than karma.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Our King Lives Forever 4-1-18
Imagine that it were the beginning of July. You go to buy charcoal for the grill and the kids are begging you to buy fireworks. Of course you are preparing for the the 4thof July- Independence Day. We recently celebrated the Resurrection, but the celebration began much earlier. Palm Sunday happened a week earlier. As Jesus rode into the capital city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Israelites were getting ready to celebrate the Passover. That was essentially their independence from Egypt that had happened about 1500 years earlier.
The Passover was the event where Moses had them put the blood of the lamb on their door frame and then their firstborn would be spared from death. After this event and the death of the firstborn among the Egyptians, Pharaoh finally let the people go. Thus the Passover was a celebration of God's saving from death and His deliverance from slavery as the blood of the lamb was used to mark the doors of God's followers.
As Jesus rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Israelites are now under a new oppressor- Rome. Caesar is the main leader, but he has appointed a puppet king over Israel named Herod. He also has a military governor over the region named Pontius Pilate. Pilate did not stay in Jerusalem, but often went on military campaigns with his soldiers. However, history tells us that he came back to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday because he knew the people were getting ready to celebrate their independence day- the Passover.
Thus you have the oppressive governor entering Jerusalem from the west and Jesus entering from the east the same day. It seemed impossible to defeat a powerful nation like Rome, but remember Jesus could feed 5000 men plus the women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish and still have 12 baskets left over. That means he could feed an army. Further he had raised Lazarus from the dead. Imagine if he did that with his soldiers on the battle field. No wonder the people are excited.
But instead of going straight to Pilate and challenging him, Jesus enters the temple. There He turns over the tables of the money changers who had been using religion to cheat the people. The religious leaders who had already rejected Jesus because they had long ago rejected the ways of God, were upset that He had disrupted their profit margin. Soon they are scheming even more diligently to have Him taken out of the way.
They try to convince Pilate that Jesus wants to take on Caesar and overthrow Rome. Pilate is so arrogant he doesn't even view Jesus as a serious threat and declares Him innocent. Still he wants to appease the Hebrew people and prevent any sort of uprising, so he lets them chose between Jesus and Barabbas.
Jesus is killed on the cross. His blood saves all those who believe on Him as their Lord and savior from eternal death, just like the blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelites. He died on the same day the Passover lamb was to be killed as they celebrated their independence day.
Then 3 days later, He rose from the dead. He did not go on with a military attack against Pilate, but let us remember that today Caesar, Herod, and Pilate are all dead, but Jesus is alive.
We have celebrated Resurrection Sunday, but let us not forget what we celebrated. Our King is alive. He will live forever because He is God. Do you believe in that King- King Jesus?
He is powerful enough to defeat Rome. Rome is no longer an empire. All is under God's control. But so is your very soul. Do not fight the King. Join Him and have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Hope For Dyslexic
Hopelessness 3-16-18
Our son is reading and understanding what he reads. The sentences are simple and he is not yet up to grade level, but we are excited at his progress. Our son has dyslexia. This is more than just getting his d's and b's mixed up. This is a severe challenge that hindered his ability to read no matter how hard he tried.
I remember taking him through the Mcguffey primer hoping to give him the basics of reading. He worked hard and struggled through it. Even though he could sound out words with much effort, he did not comprehend what he read.
I finally told a friend about it and he said that, they had a similar problem with one of his sons. The teachers and special education programs at school had tried to help, but it seemed nothing could be done. Finally they hired a tutor who used a program especially designed for dyslexia. After using the Barton program, he began to read and catch up with the other students.
We are now using that same program and it is giving us hope. The word “hope” means to expect with confidence- to trust. Because of the progress our son has already made, we now have the confidence to expect that his reading will continue to improve.
Not all such stories have a happy ending. My wife was to a dyslexia conference put on by the state of South Dakota last fall. Educators were frustrated that they did not have the knowledge or the resources to help so many students who were facing such struggles. Often it was assumed that the students were not even trying. In reality, some of the students had given up after trying for so long and not being given any hope.
As positive as the word “hope” is, the word “hopeless” is the the opposite. The word “hopeless” has the idea of despair and inadequacy. Our son definitely felt inadequate when his friends could read and he could not. It is exciting to see him now have hope.
The truth is that we all face times of despair and inadequacy in our lives. We are especially inadequate when it comes to righteousness. Romans 3:10 tells us, “as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;” (NASB). A few verses later, Romans 3:23 underscores the point, as it states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (NASB). As hopeless as all of this sounds, it gets even worse because the first part of Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death,” (NASB)
As hopeless as all this sounds, God gives us hope. A hope even better than our son's hope of reading. A hope that lasts into the next life. The whole verse of Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB)
The sin problem is hopeless and none of our good works can take care of it (read Ephesians 2:8-9). No matter how hard we work, we cannot overcome sin. The cure for sin is not a tutoring program. Instead is is a great teacher who is God in the flesh. That teacher is Jesus Christ who came to earth and died on the cross. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NASB)
We may face hopeless situations from
time to time, but the big picture does not have to be hopeless. Find
your hope in Christ Jesus.
Fear God or Fear Guns? 3-4-18
February 14th is supposed to be a day to celebrate love. Instead it turned into a day when someone went on a murderous rampage killing other people in a school shooting. Not only is our country grieving, but it is looking for answers. Why did this happen? What can be done to make sure it does not happen again?
It has been interesting how people on opposite sides of the political spectrum think that the answer to both these questions has to do with guns. For example those on the left believe that this happened because there are not enough restrictions on guns and that the solution is to implement more restrictions. Their solution is less guns. Those on the right think this happened because there are too many restrictions on guns. They believe that if more people had guns, then the shooter would not have dared do what he did or would have been stopped sooner if others had guns as well. Of course their solution is more guns.
Although there is a lot of controversy over who should have a gun, one of the least controversial suggestions is to have more armed police presence at our schools. This approach actually reminds me of Romans 13:3-4, “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.” (NASB)
During Roman times the soldiers carried swords instead of guns, but the principle was the same. The fear of the sword in the hands of a government authority was a deterrent to evil. No doubt private individuals in the Roman empire could have swords as well and Jesus even encouraged the purchase of one (Luke 22:36). Still the threat from a trained soldier who could bring additional consequences for a crime was a greater deterrent.
Let me suggest that the best solution to our nations problems does not lie in the fear of guns or swords (either as a deterrent or as an item to be banned), but rather in the fear of someone far more powerful than a Roman soldier. Our nation needs to fear God. "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 NASB)
I want everyone to love and trust Jesus as they come to God, but even if they don't if they still fear Him and the consequences of sin, there will be more restraint on evil. Sadly, even some Christians today are suggesting that we should not fear God. That is wrong and goes contrary to scripture. We are not to dread God, but we must fear Him. If Christians are saying we should not fear God, why are we surprised when the rest of the nation doesn't fear Him either. Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” (NASB)
A soldier with a gun may deter someone from committing murder, but that soldier cannot be all places at all times. We cannot even depend on having a concealed carry holder around to deter evil at every critical moment, but God is always there. If people fear Him, He is able to deter other social ills in addition to murder. Fear God and avoid immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (list from Galatians 5:19-21).
Are You a Fan of Christ? 2/16/18
I am not a football fan. Normally I would rather watch heavy equipment on a construction site than to watch guys run around with a ball. Thus it was surprising when I recently wanted to watch a football play. I even enjoyed it once I watched it.
So many people were talking about the end of the Vikings vs Saints game that even my wife was telling me about it. I went online to read the news and I saw headlines and articles everywhere about the end of that game. What had happened was so exciting that a lot of people were talking about it. Time was running out and a long pass was made by a Viking, and his teammate caught it and made a touchdown. The only Saint's player that was close enough to tackle the receiver was afraid that if he rushed in too fast he would be fouled. His hesitation allowed the Viking to score.
My description does not do justice to the excitement of that play. Listening to football fans describe it, there was no doubt that this was something special. So many people were excited about what had happened that I wanted to watch it myself.
Many of you are probably not interested in watching big machinery on a construction site. Did you realize that there is a video online of an excavator rescuing a young deer from a mud hole? Imagine someone told you about that video. Imagine that they were really excited about it. Now imagine that almost everyone you ran into was talking about it. The more you heard about it and the more excited people were about it, the more likely you would be to want to see it for yourself.
Now imagine that you heard about an Air force pilot that gave his life to intercept a nuclear weapon and everyone was talking about it. Then imagine that you found out that if he had not intercepted the missile, that it would have hit right on top of where you were at. That would make you even more interested in learning more about him.
So what does football, a deer stuck in the mud, and an imaginary story about a heroic pilot have to do with Christ? As Christians, we understand that we should be witnesses for Christ, yet, many are discouraged because others do not want to hear about Him. Remember, many people are about as interested in Christ as I am in football.
If we want people to be interested in what Christ did, then we need to let them know how passionate we are about Him. What He did is even more exciting than the Viking/Saints game. He did not just rescue a deer, He gave His life for the whole world after He created the whole world.
Most people do not keep talking to me about football once they see I am not that interested. Still, I am not offended if people talk about things I am not interested in. Many are that way about Christ. As Christians we need to be sensitive to wait until people are ready to talk. That does not mean that we should never bring up the subject that we should be the most passionate about.
What Christ did is an exciting message. Some will not be interested in hearing it. Still, if they hear more and more people talking about Him, perhaps they will start to pay attention. That is what happened to me when I finally went and watched a Vikings play.
The more we know about Jesus the more
we should love Him and the more good news we will have to share about
Him. Let us continue to learn about Christ so we can share the
exciting message that eternal life comes only through believing in
Him as Lord and Savior. “For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Not Feeling the Power of
Prayer? 2-3-18
I often see Christian articles promoting the keys to having a powerful prayer life. I do not “feel” like I have a real powerful prayer life. What I mean by that is that I do not get some amazing feeling of power as I go to God in prayer. I do not feel some kind of tingle, touch, or movement within me each time I pray.
I must admit that there have been times where I have felt deep emotion as I prayed. There have also been other times where I have felt little or no emotion as I prayed. I have come to realize that I need to stop focusing on how I “feel” as I pray and instead just pray. 1Thessalonians 5:17 simply commands us to “pray without ceasing.” The full sentence where that verse is located reads, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB)
Notice that the command regarding prayer is that we pray. Further the command regards what we are to do along with our prayer rather than how we are to feel. First we are to rejoice. That means we are to be glad. No doubt there is an element of “feeling” in gladness, but it is more of a choice or call to action than just how we feel. In order to really understand how it can be a choice we should look at the last part of the sentence which tells us to give thanks in everything.
I find myself praying a lot when I have trouble. I bring my cares to God as I realize He can handle what I cannot handle. Often I am feeling discouraged as I come to Him with my problems. As I come to God, I am able to rejoice knowing that He loves me enough that He became a man and died for my sins. I rejoice knowing that Jesus rose from the dead and that He wants me to call out in prayer. I rejoice knowing that He has the power to deal with the problems that are out of my control. These are all things to be thankful for.
I have come to realize that I am not thankful for the power of my prayers, but instead I am thankful for the power of my God. Thus it is okay that I do not “feel” like I have a powerful prayer as long I rejoice that I have a powerful God. The point is that my dependence is on my God, not on my prayer. That means that my focus is His power, not mine.
One of the reasons I go to Him is because I realize how powerless I am. That means it is okay if my prayers are not powerful, because my God is powerful.
As I look back on the prayers I have prayed over the years, I could share many examples of how seemingly impossible situations have been resolved after prayer. These are not testimonies to how good I pray. As I said, my prayers do not “feel” powerful at all. Instead these answers to prayer are a testimony to the power of my almighty God.
We are commanded to pray without ceasing. There are some prayers that I continue to pray even as I do not see the results I had hoped for. I pray them with thanksgiving as well. I rejoice knowing that God may have a better plan than what I requested and that I can trust Him no matter what.
My goal is not to “feel” power as I pray. Further, my goal is not a powerful prayer life in the sense of using the power of prayer to get what I want. My goal is to talk with God constantly throughout the day and to rejoice and to be thankful as I do. My goal is to put His will ahead of my own and trust Him no matter how He answers my prayers.What Happens When God is Angry? 1-20-18
Imagine if you found out that someone had taken a baseball bat to your car and had let the air out of all the tires. You would likely be angry about it. The scripture warns about the dangers of anger, but it also makes it clear that anger itself is not sinful. Ephesians 4:26 says, “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” (NASB).
Anger is not always wrong. In fact, it would not be wrong to be angry that your car was vandalized. Still, if that anger is not kept in check, it could lead you to react in a sinful manner. Further, the anger should not be carried around for a long time and allowed to ferment.
Because anger can lead to so many sinful actions, we sometimes start to think that the anger itself is wrong rather than our ungodly reactions to our anger. It may even surprise some to realize that God gets angry. Because God is perfect, He is able to control His anger and never sin.
When I was a kid, I watched the Incredible Hulk. I remember David Banner saying, “you won't like me when I'm angry.” When he let his anger get out of control he turned into a super strong green monster. God is much more powerful than the Incredible Hulk, but He keeps His anger under control.
As fearful as it would be to have the Hulk mad at me, it should be even more scary to have God mad at us. Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (NASB) Consider as well the words of Jesus, "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:5 NASB)
There is reason to fear a holy God who gets angry at sin. In fact, He is so angry at sin that He makes it clear that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a).
Knowing that God has power over everything- including our eternal soul- it is a comfort that although the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). No doubt, God gets mad at sin, yet He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
As we read in Ephesians 4:26, the sun should not go down on our anger. In Psalm 30:5 we read about God's anger and how it does not last long. Psalm 30:5 says, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (NASB)
Knowing how powerful God is, I am glad that His anger does not last long and that He has provided forgiveness for my sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the same time a realization of His anger is sobering, because I know that not everyone has put a trusting belief in Christ. For then the results of God's anger will be eternal judgment. John 3:36 gives comfort to believers but warns those who reject Christ's authority in their lives when Jesus says, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (NASB)
Putting Up With Each Other 1-7-18
I saw a really cool picture on the internet. A father had built dividers between his children's car seats. Having traveled with kids, I understand why. Putting up with each other in tight confined spaces is not easy. Add the immaturity of childhood to the mix and soon you have someone yelling, “he touched me!”
As we grow into adulthood, that annoyance with others does not instantly go away. In fact, the scriptures tell us to bear with each other. That means we should put up with each other even when it is not easy. Colossians 3:12-15 says,
And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. (NASB)
Notice the call for compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience as we put up with each other and love each other. Imagine if the kids in the back seat could just do this. Sadly, many grown adults struggle with these basic principles of the Christian life. Notice though that the key is to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ set the example. As we apply these standards to our lives, we must let his peace rule in our hearts. In other words, Christ is the key to putting up with each other.
As we continue to read the passage we find out that this applies to the people that we live the closest to. Colossians 3:18-21 tells us, “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.” (NASB)
Verse 18 is a bit controversial because it tells the wives to submit to their husbands. Although this is true, the passage also holds a rebuke for the overbearing husband. First, notice that the wives are to be subject “as is fitting in the Lord.” This means that God sees this as fitting, but it also is a reminder that as Peter said, we ought to obey God rather than men. In other words, wives are not required to submit in areas that would cause them to sin.
Further, husbands are to love their wives. A husband that puts excessive demands on his wife is not being loving. If a husband loves his wife like Christ loves the church, it will be much easier for his wife to let him make some of the important decisions- especially if he loves her enough to consult with her first and gets her perspective.
Along those lines, verse 21 shows that the fathers are not to provoke their children to wrath or exasperate them. This is right after the children are told to obey their parents. Even though there is an order of authority in the household, if we are to put up with each other and live with the peace of Christ as our guide, then the leader in the house must step up and do right. That means that the father/husband, must be humble, compassionate, kind, meek, patient, forgiving, and loving just like Jesus is (see verse 12).
That does not mean that the wife and children do not have to be like Christ, it just means that verse 21 makes a specific point of making sure that the leader of the house understands that he has a special duty in this area.
The point is that if we are to get along and not quarrel like little kids in the back seat, then all of us must focus on being Christlike. As we start this new year, let us all live for Christ by being more like Him.
Scripture and Sexual Harassment
12-28-17
As I read the headlines lately, the word “scandal” comes to my mind. There have been so many scandals of sexual harassment, that we almost expect a new one daily. At Southtown, we have been preaching through the book of Colossians. As we came to chapter 3, we found out that even though this letter was written almost 2000 years ago, it is still able to address the issue we are having to deal with today.
Let us look at Colossians 3:5-6, “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come,” (NASB)
The letter to the Colossians is a letter to Christians where they are told to live in a way that they are dead to immorality. Many of the men who have been accused of sexual harassment have used the defense that the relationship was consensual. If they can prove that is was consensual, that may get them off the hook legally, but it does not get them off the hook with God. Sexual immorality is wrong, whether consensual or not. If not consensual, then there is additional sin, but even consensual sex outside of marriage is wrong.
Notice as well that greed and evil desires are wrong. As we read the headlines we find out that evil men in positions of power used their influence to manipulate women into doing sinful things. Many of the women were fearful of losing their jobs. As Christians, we must realize that we must say no to sin even if it has major financial implications. My brother was faced with a similar situation in a non sexual way. His boss wanted him to lie to customers in order to make more profit. He quit instead and had to take a lower paying job for a while. The point is that he was more concerned about obeying God than he was about his job. Notice that Colossians 3:5 addresses both immorality and greed. Any man who puts a woman in a place where she must chose between immorality and her job must be held accountable (take comfort in the wrath of God in vs 6). At the same time, Christian men and women must trust God enough to say no even if it means losing a job or a promotion.
The letter to the Colossians continues, “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,” (Colossians 3:8-9 NASB)
The sexual acts are obviously wrong, but notice that the scripture also addresses the issue of abusive speech. Regardless of what the law says or what sort of sexual harassment policy your company has in place, as Christians, we have an even higher standard. We are to set aside our old way of behavior (the way we acted before following Christ) and that includes being careful that our speech is not abusive. That means we should not be rude, but it also means we should not be crude.
I am thankful that our culture has begun to realize how bad the sexual harassment issue has become, but simply passing laws without changing hearts is not a lasting fix. What is really needed is a recognition of the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and that His standards of right and wrong need to be followed. My hope is that these scandals will make it clear that people should not be demanding the right to do whatever they feel like doing. I hope they will help us to see that we should be doing what God says we should be doing.What to Give Jesus For Christmas 12-7-17
At Christmas time we think about giving and receiving gifts. Little kids are easy to shop for, but it can be more of a challenge to find the perfect gift for some adults. What if we were to go Christmas shopping for God? What would you give HIM?
This time of year we remember the greatest gift of all as God gave us Himself as He became a man and was born into this world as a little baby. He then grew up and ministered to many people as He healed the sick, raised the dead, and reached out to sinners. Finally He paid the ultimate price as He gave His life for our sins when He died on the cross.
Knowing all that Jesus has done for us, we should want to give what we can to Him. But what do you give to someone who created the whole world? What do you give to someone who is so powerful that He even made and sustains you? “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17 NASB) Knowing that Jesus is the creator and that He existed before all things shows us that He existed before He took on the body of a baby and was born in Bethlehem. It also tells me that He made the gold that was given to Him when He was a baby.
As we think about what Jesus would want, we should not just think about giving it to Him at Christmas time. We should be giving Him what He asks for our whole lives. When Jesus came to this earth as a baby and then grew up, He said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15 NASB)
So we find out that Jesus wants us to obey Him. If we are to obey Him, we should know what the most important commands are. He even told us what the 2 most important commandments where when asked about them in Matthew 22:37-38. “And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' "This is the great and foremost commandment. "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'” (NASB)
So if we really love Jesus enough that we want to give a gift to Him, then we should do what He says. As we do what He says, we must remember that His most important command is to love Him and to love others. He then goes on to say that all the laws and what the prophets said were based on these 2 commands.
So what do we give to God when He already has everything and needs nothing from us? We give Him our love and obedience.
God gave us Himself as He was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. He became one of us as He entered this world, but His love did not stop there. He wanted to make sure that our sin did not stand between us and Him. He had so much love for us, that He provided a way for us to have a clean slate with Him. He did not stay a baby. He grew up and died on the cross to pay for our sins and then rose from the dead as our victorious King and savior and all He asks of us is that we believe in Him as our authority and love Him with our all as we strive to obey Him.
This Christmas, if you are wondering what to give to Jesus, give Him yourself. Give Him your trust and allegiance. Give Him your love.
Are You Caught in a Net? 11-24-17
Life is not always easy. Sometimes it is so hard that it feels like we are trapped in a net with no way to escape. David talked about that in Psalm 25:15 when he said, “My eyes are continually toward the LORD, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.” (NASB) Notice that although David felt trapped in the net, he looked to the Lord for help and hope.
Consider the analogy of being trapped in a net. Unless you suffer from claustrophobia, it is not that big of a deal to have your feet trapped in a net for a short period of time. In fact, as kids we would tie each other up by the feet and make a game out of seeing how fast we could get free. Today, people pay money to be locked into an escape room with clues for how to get out.
The anxiety of being trapped is not nearly as severe as the anxiety of worrying about not ever being able to be free. In the examples of the escape room and of our childhood game there was always a certainty of being free eventually. If my brother tied me up good enough that I could not get free, all I had to do was call for Mom's help. I could even just tell my brother that I gave up and he won, so he would untie me or cut the rope.
When we face the trials of life, the trials themselves are often not as severe as wondering where the trials will lead. For example, I think of loved ones who have been caught in the net of a cancer diagnosis but still feel fairly healthy. The challenge comes not from the current situation, but from the fear of what the future will bring.
During those times we should remember to be thankful for our current situation and to be thankful that the net around us has not yet begun to choke us. That is hard to do until we, like David, remember that God is still there regardless of the trials around us. God does not promise to keep our feet out the nets of life. Instead we are told that Christ's godly followers shall suffer persecution. (II Timothy 3:12).
As we face the trials of life, let us not forget the words of Jesus, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB)
A while back as I was reflecting on the Psalms and trusting God, I wrote this song:
In this moment of time, my world is crashing down.
In this moment of time, hope cannot be found.
In this moment of time, I don't know what to do.
In this moment of time, I simply look to you.
I know that when my moments struggle you are still there.
I know that when my heart is heavy you are the one who cares.
If I could just hold this moment in time, as the world is passing by.
Then I could have a moment without the need to cry.
With your everlasting kindness, your mercy is on me. (Is 54:8)
My God my Redeemer, to you alone I plead.
In this moment of time, the problems are at bay.
What the morrow brings, is what the morrow may. (Matt 6:34)
But in this moment of time, I am still alive
In this moment of time, my God is by my side.
I have another moment in time. One that is new.
In this moment of time, hope shines anew.
As we face the trials of life, let us take them one moment at a time with a realization that we have an all powerful God who cared so much about us that He sent His son to die for our sins. That is something to be thankful for.
Belief for Everlasting Life 11-11-2017
Writing about politics can be quite risky. The statistics suggest that on a wide range of issues you can end up offending nearly half the population regardless of which position you take. For example about a year ago we had a very close Presidential election and emotions on both sides ran very high. Some people believed in Donald Trump. Others believed in Hilary Clinton. Each side voted accordingly. Others did not believe in either but voted for one of them anyway. Some believed in another candidate and voted accordingly. Some did not believe in any and did not vote at all.
As I reflect back on that political contest, I realize that the candidates had true believers behind them. They also had supporters behind them, and then they just had people who went through the motions of voting for them.
I believe that there are also similar responses to Jesus Christ. Some really believe in Him, others give a level of support to Him, and others just go through the motions of following Him.
Jesus said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” What kind of following was Christ talking about when He made that promise to those who believe? In order to answer that question let us consider James 2:19, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” (NASB) Along with this passage realize what Christ said about the demons. "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” (Matthew 25:41 NASB).
Rather than everlasting life, the devil and his followers will have everlasting punishment even though they believe in one true God and realize that Jesus Christ is that one true God. Thus, a belief in Christ for eternal life must be more than just a belief in His existence. In fact, it has to be even more than a belief that Jesus is God. Notice what happened when a demon possessed man encounters Jesus: “And seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, 'What do I have to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.'" (Luke 8:28 NASB)
The devil and his followers know exactly who Jesus is. They believe the facts.
Consider that today Donald Trump is the President of the United States of America. Some people fully support him. Others do not believe that he should be the President nor do they believe that he has the authority to rule. Some even argue that because of the popular vote, Hilary should be the President. Thus we have many shades of belief about the current occupant of the Oval Office.
In Mark 1:15, Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (NASB) Notice He said to repent and believe. Repenting is the idea of changing mind and direction. A belief in Jesus for eternal life is a change in direction to follow Jesus as your God and your authority. It is a belief in Him that totally supports Him as your leader.
Consider the interaction between Martha and Jesus in John 11:26-27, “and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." (NASB) Martha was a first century Jew. For her, a belief in the Christ was a belief in a savior who came to rule. It was a belief that meant she was a committed follower, not just someone who acknowledged His existence. Is your belief in Jesus Christ a committed following? That is the kind of belief you must have for eternal life.
So Much Death at Halloween 10-27-17
Summer has passed and fall has arrived. With fall comes harvest and Halloween decorations. Now I like pumpkins- especially pumpkin pie, but I am not a fan of the creepy Halloween decorations that pop up this time of year.
Much of Halloween centers on the theme of death. Ghosts represent the spirits of the dead. Zombies are essentially animated corpses. Sculls, skeletons, coffins, graveyards, mummies, and murderers, contribute to the Halloween scene. Even witches and wizards have a connection to death. In I Samuel 28 King Saul consults with the witch of Endor in order to try and contact a dead man.
Satan also has a connection to Halloween. Some people dress up like him. Some even call it his holy day. He even has a special connection to this holiday because of the theme of death.
There are reasons why the devil would be fascinated with death. First of all, man is put here to glorify God, and once we die, we can no longer glorify Him in life. Further, it seems that God has given Satan a certain amount of power in the area of death. Hebrews 2:14 tells us, “Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (NASB)
This intriguing passage suggests that the devil had some sort of power relating to death. It also shows that by dying, Christ was able to destroy that power. Consider Christ’s words in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Although the devil has been given some sort of power relating to death, Christ holds the keys- the real power.
I do not want to encourage the devil by promoting death at Halloween. Instead, I want to use the themes of death as a way to remind others that life does not have to end with eternal death, but rather with eternal life. That life can only come through Jesus Christ. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 NASB)
There Is A Lot of Evil Here 10-14-17
Both local and national headlines have been shocking lately. A mass shooting took place in Las Vegas, NV. A murder suicide took place in Lennox, SD. Hollywood is filled with scandal.
As these events were being reported on in the news, I had to preach through a passage in the book of Judges. It was also a shocking event. In Judges 19, a woman is raped and killed. Her husband is upset and divides her dead body into parts and sends them to the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel in order to raise awareness of the terrible crime. Once the awareness is raised, a civil war takes place.
This is one of the most shocking passages in scripture. It shows how gross sin really is. It may even cause us to ask why such an event is even recorded in scripture when it is the sort of literature we might expect to be censored. It would definitely not get a G rating.
Part of the explanation comes when we consider the context of the passage. Just 2 chapters earlier in Judges 17:6 we read, “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (NASB)
Today, more and more people are doing what is right in their own eyes rather than looking to what God says about right and wrong. In fact, many people are literally attacking the idea of looking to God for our moral values. These same people want to force their morality on the rest of us, but hate the idea of having God as the ultimate authority. When men get to decide what is right and wrong instead of looking to God, it is no wonder that we have so much evil running rampant in our world.
The scriptures describe in detail a society that pushes God aside and this is what it looks like:
“For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:25-32 NASB)
A society without God is a mess. In fact, it is characterized by the works of the flesh that we read of in Galatians 5:19-21:
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NASB)
When a person really follows God and is reconciled to God through trusting Jesus payment on the cross, God's spirit transforms them and if enough of them are transformed it brings amazing stability to a society. Consider the results of the Spirits transformation: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NASB)
Let us pray that our society comes back to God as more and more people trust Jesus Christ as their Lord (ultimate authority) and Savior.Consequences After Repentance 10-7-17
We have taught our boys that when they are not nice to each other, that they should say that they are sorry. The problem is that the words, “I'm sorry,” can become little more than a ritual that is expected rather than a real sorrow over sin. In fact, the words can even become a way to avoid the consequences of their actions. The scripture addresses this problem in II Corinthians 7:10, “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (NASB)
True repentance should not be about saying that I am sorry that you were offended. True repentance should be about saying that I am sorry that I sinned. Still, even as adults it is so easy to treat repentance like we did when we were kids. Many of us learned that if we said we were sorry, then our parents were less severe with the punishment.
As Christians, we also learned that we are to forgive one another because God forgave us. Consider Christ's answer to Peter considering a question about forgiveness. “Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22 NASB)
Some use this verse to teach that as long as someone says that they are sorry, then all consequences should be removed. Notice that the command to forgiven in Matthew 18 says nothing about the offender saying that they are sorry or even about confessing. It simply talks about forgiveness. Therefore, we must be careful not to tie confession and apology to a removal of consequence for sin.
For example, imagine that a church greeter started punching everyone in the face as they entered the church, but each time he did it he admitted he was wrong and asked for forgiveness. Of course this person should be removed from his position and there should be consequences- in our society there would even have to be criminal charges brought against him because he had broken the law by assaulting innocent people.
We understand in a practical sense that forgiveness does not negate consequences, yet many Christians become confused on the issue once it becomes much more personal. In fact, Christianity has recently been plagued by scandals of pedophilia because once caught the offender apologized and then was allowed to return to work with children without any warnings to those around. First of all, that is illegal, because of mandatory reporting laws. Further it is unChristlike because it is failing to protect the innocent.
We must be willing to forgive and we must be gracious because God is gracious. We must also be willing to warn and to hold people accountable for their actions even when there is repentance.
If a person is really repentant (godly sorrow) then they should welcome the consequence and the warning. True repentance should recognize the two greatest commands of scripture- love God and love your neighbor. Thus the offender should be more concerned about God's glory and about the person they sinned against than they are about their own reputation. The truth about their sin and the warning to others should be viewed as a help for them and for others rather than a lack of forgiveness.
Consider the pedophile who has served his time and then returns to the church. Forgiveness should be granted but it will help him to have the truth out in the open so that others can help him to not fail in that same area again. Further, having everyone aware of the past and having others watching and helping him to not ever be alone with a child can protect him from false allegations.
Let us realize that consequences and truth are not a lack of love or a lack of forgiveness. Rather they are loving accountability that helps us all to serve Christ better.
Man Making His Own God 9-15-17
Have you ever thought of making a statue and having that statue be your god? I believe most of us realize how ridiculous it would be to carve a statue and expect it to function as a god.
Isa 44:14-17 says, “Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak, and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire." But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for thou art my god." (NASB)
Our culture is sophisticated enough to understand that a piece of wood can be used to warm us when burned but that it has no power to help us as a god. Still that process of making a god out of a piece of wood has a certain allure. If you get to make your own god, it can look however you want it to look. Further, if you planted the tree that you make the god out of, then you can claim that the god's very existence is because of you. Essentially you have created a god that you are in total control of.
If you make a god out of wood and burned the scraps, what is to keep you from burning the statue? You have the power to get rid of the god you made if it ever displeases you. Essentially by making your own god, you are god of the god.
What if you carved a statue and then named it Jesus Christ? Would that statue actually be Jesus? Of course we understand that it would not. What if you claimed to worship the Jesus Christ of the Bible, but you reshaped and remolded him into something other than who He really is?
Carving gods out of wood is not very common in our society, but reshaping the true God into whatever we want Him to be has become very popular. Redefining the true God is not only idolatry, it is blasphemy. When man reshapes a piece of wood, that wood has no power to be upset about how it is represented. On the other hand, when man tries to reshape God, man must remember that God created him, not that he created God. Further man is accountable to the true God, not the other way around.
Whether man is making a statue to worship or redefining the true God, man is trying to be in control rather than letting God be in control.
We need to study the Bible to find out who our God really is, rather than just deciding how we want to shape our god. We have no right to make our own god. If you are defining Jesus by who you want Him to be rather than by who He declares Himself to be in the Bible, then you have no right to call yourself a Christian. Such a person has formed a new god and is simply calling that god, Jesus. Jesus Christ is the creator God come to earth to pay for our sins. Read the Bible and learn more about who He is instead of trying form Him into who you want Him to be.
Do you Need to Love God? 9-2-17
Garth Brooks is coming to Sioux Falls. You can see videos of him performing with screaming fans dancing and extending their arms out to him. It is obvious that they love him and his music. They like what he is doing and are showing their love with enthusiasm. I would even describe the scene as worshipful.
Although worship should be reserved for the true God, I actually want to address a bit of a different subject. How many people who call themselves Christians actually adore God as much as a Garth Brooks fan adores the country singer?
Matthew 22:37-38 says, “Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.'” (NKJV) This command was listed way back in Deuteronomy 6:5 and is repeated throughout both the Old and New Testaments of scripture.
We understand that a person becomes a Christian by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) For the Christian, belief in Jesus Christ must be much more than just an intellectual agreement with facts. For example, a classical music professor could analyze a Garth Brooks song and agree that he sung the notes correctly and still not be a fan. He could agree that Garth had a level of talent and still not “believe” that he should be selling a lot of records. This music professor would thus not be a follower of Garth Brooks and you would not expect to see him cheering in the front row of a Garth concert unless his best friends who were Garth fans drug him along. Then suddenly the professor pretends to be a fan because of the peer pressure. If he still hated country music, his belief about Garth would not change simply because his behavior had changed.
What if people are doing the same thing with Jesus? What if they are simply going through the motions of changed behavior because of pressure from other people? What if that change of behavior has nothing to do with a love for Christ? Can they really say that they believe in all that Christ stands for if they do not have a love for Him?
Jesus actually rebuked the pharisees for this very thing in Luke 11:42, "But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.” (NASB)
I love studying about God. The more I learn about Him the more I love Him. As I read the Old Testament I see many times when people face trials and God comes to their rescue. I see a God of justice, but I also see a God of mercy. If it were not for God's justice and His punishment of sinners, then the innocent would have no hope of God punishing their oppressors. Thus even in His judgment we see His mercy.
The reason it is so easy to love Him is because He first loved us. Even before we loved Him, He showed His love by dying for us. 1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (NASB)
Perhaps you intellectually understand what Jesus did when He died on the cross to pay for your sins, but you still do not love God. If that describes you, then ask God to help you to see why you should love Him. If you truly believe in Christ as your savior, the love you have for Him should be far beyond any love that a Garth fan has for the singer because they believe in his music. I believe in my God, Jesus Christ, because I love and believe in all He stands for.Is Your Temptation Common? 8-19-17
My brother and his wife have been married for over 20 years. They recently had another anniversary and are still deeply in love. My wife and my sister in law thus began to talk about love songs that they both liked. Crystal found one of her favorites on Youtube, but as she watched it, she realized that the video that went with the song was quite racy. Actually it was soft porn.
I
do not know how that music video ended because I stopped watching it. I
do not intend to see it again. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “but I say
to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed
adultery with her already in his heart.” (NASB)
There are times that temptation will come across our paths and we will have to make a choice to embrace that temptation or to flee from it. It is possible that some men could watch that music video without the temptation to lust after the woman in it. For others the temptation is automatic.
At first blush, we may think that this is just an issue for heterosexual males to struggle with. But what about a man who watches that same video and may be tempted to lust after the man in the scenes? What about a woman who may see it and is tempted by either the man or the woman?
Most men do not lust after other men, but that does not mean it is uncommon. Consider I Corinthians 10:13-14, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (NASB)
It should not be “normal” for a man to commit adultery in his heart, just as it should not be “normal” for a man to lust after another man. Still, sinful temptations are common. I Corinthians 10:13-14 makes it clear that the commonness of temptation does not excuse the exercise of sin. Of course it is expected that a man will lust after the woman in the racy music video- that is why they filmed it that way. Still, that does not make it okay. To give in to the temptation would be giving into idolatry because it would mean your sin is more important to you than God is. Instead we should look for a way to escape sin. Regardless of how strong the temptation is, we can escape sin as we put God first.
Many do not know what it is like to have a same sex temptation to lust. Although I do not totally grasp that temptation, I do understand other temptations. Even though a small percentage of people struggle with that temptation compared to others, that does not mean it is totally uncommon.
Does the popularity of a temptation make a sin less serious? The obvious answer is no. Further, Christians must be careful not to shun people that have less common temptations.
Notice the distinction between the terms “temptation” and “sin.” It is possible to be tempted to lust and stop before it actually turns into sin. It is possible to have a homosexual or a heterosexual temptation and never act on that temptation and thus never sin in that area.
For the Christian, the issue should not be about how common our temptations are, but instead it should be about how we flee from sin regardless of how we are tempted. Adultery, premarital sex, and sodomy are all sins. Matthew 5:28 shows how is wrong to even fantasize about them. Let us put God first and find our escape from sin in Him.
Who Gets to Break The Tie? 8-4-17
Last year we got a different van. Buying a different vehicle was one of the bigger decisions that we made during the year. Of course in making such a decision, I wanted to get some advice, so I researched a number of vehicles on the internet. I also talked to real people to get their advice. The first person that I talked to was my wife. As my best friend, I value her input. Further, she would be the one most affected by our decision. Therefore, it made sense that we made the decision together.
As we began to talk about updating vehicles, she also did some internet research. I was researching gas mileage, reliability, and price. She was looking at safety, room for kids, and storage. Although we initially had different priorities, the insight we were both gaining helped us to narrow down our search to a vehicle that would be best for our family.
By the time we found the Grand Caravan that we bought, we were in full agreement that it would really work well for us.
Our van story has a happy ending, but we do not always come to an agreement on every subject that comes up. Sometimes a decision has to be made and there is no time to to wait for agreement. Sometimes there are differences of opinion, that no amount of time will change.
So how do we navigate these challenges? Some would suggest that the man is the head of the household and therefore he should just make the decision without even consulting his wife. I am glad I did not do that, since I would have missed out on many important insights. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they succeed.” (NASB)
Others would suggest that in order to balance out the patriarchal excesses, the husband should just let his wife make the decisions. That may sound like a compassionate approach, until we realize that there is often a lot of stress and pressure that comes with having to make important decisions. That is why we make these decisions together. Ephesians 5:21 tells us, “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” (NASB)
Still there are times when a decision must be make and there is not yet agreement. Essentially my wife gets a vote and I get a vote and we are at a stalemate. At this point someone has to cast the tie breaking vote. Right after Ephesians 5:21 comes verse 22. It says, “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (NASB). That means I get the tie breaking vote.
Before I ever cast that vote, I must remember another verse from the same chapter. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;” (Ephesians 5:25 NASB) A loving husband should set aside selfish motives and cast the tie breaking vote in a way that puts God and others ahead of himself. Sometimes that means changing his vote after he hears his wife's reasons for her vote being different than his. He must also guard against his own selfish interests in making his decision. He may even be tempted to vote in her favor for his selfish interests- thinking he will get something in return from her.
As the husband casts the tie breaking vote, he must do so with care, knowing that the final responsibility for the decision rests on his shoulders. He should do so in a way that takes the stress of the decision off of his wife, thus showing love for her. His love for her should also motive him to carefully consider her position. Once he makes the decision, he cannot blame her for the outcome. This allows for a decision to be made at times of deadlock. It also allows a chance to display love during a time when both husband and wife must be reminded of the importance of submitting to each other.
A Lego Lesson on Sharing 7-22-17
Our boys love Legos. We like to buy used Legos in bulk, thus we have a large plastic tote with about 40 pounds of Legos in it that the boys share. Even with that large stash of Legos, our 7 year old used some of his birthday money to buy a special Lego set. He keeps this separate from the other Legos. It is his, not his brothers'.
He understands that if he lets his set get mixed in with all the others, then some of the special pieces may get lost. I recently heard him scolding his brothers for taking his Legos as they played with the rest of their stash. This brings up a question: as
Christians, should we allow our sons to have their own possessions,
or should we teach them to share everything they have?
We read in
the book of Acts how the early Christians shared their possessions so
that they could help each other meet any need that came up. We have
no record of these Christians being commanded to do this, but we do
have verses like Hebrews 13:16 which says, “And do not neglect
doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
(NASB) This same idea is also taught in 1Timothy 6:17-18, “Instruct
those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to
fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly
supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to
be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,” (NASB).
By giving all 4 of our boys a big bulk supply of Legos for Christmas, we are teaching them to share with each other, but now the 7 year old has his own Lego set. Is that fair?
Although the scripture teaches the importance of sharing and the problems of greed, it also teaches that individuals have a right to own certain things. In fact, the problem with greed is wanting to get what someone else owns. There is even a command against covetousness within the 10 commandments. There is also a command against stealing. Both these commands are found in the Old Testament and clearly repeated in the New Testament. If there were no personal property rights, then we would not have to worry about stealing, because everything would already belong to everyone.
Ephesians 4:28 should guide the Christian in this area. “Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NASB)
In other words, instead of taking what does not belong to us, we should work to earn our own private possessions. Then we should use those private possessions to help others.
As I was writing this article my 3 oldest boys walked into my office and I asked them if they should share all their toys, or if they had to a right to have some of their toys as just their own. One said share, one said own, then they thought for a moment and they all agreed that they should do both. They understood that they had a right to their own property, but that as Christians they should be willing to share what they had with each other.
Their Legos have helped them to
understand a basic concept of Christianity. Respect other people's
property, realize that all we have really belongs to God, and then be
willing to share what we have with others while being careful not let
people just steal what we have by taking advantage of us.
Amazing Random Creations 7-8-17
I heard the sound of sirens and other noises coming from our backyard. The fire station is near our house, but this sounded much different. It sounded like it was coming from the mouth of a little boy. Sure enough, I looked out our back door to see our boys sitting on the top landing playing with their toy cars and making the sounds to go along with their play.
Not only had they made up sounds, they had also made a whole play area. They had found an old piece of cement block, a small metal frame from a toy wagon, a scrap piece of wood, a metal screen, an empty flower pot, and other random toy parts that they had used to make some sort of building that they were driving their cars through.
I must admit that their creativity was inspiring. I got to thinking, “they had made their little garage out of existing materials, but God created the whole world without any physical material.” “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3 NASB)
The toy garage that my boys had cobbled together still took some design. It was obvious that the wind had not just blown a bunch of junk around to make their small structure. Still it was a very simple creation. A few years ago the boys had helped to build our garage. That was even more complex. It was not built out of random pieces of wood. Instead each stud was of a consistent length and spacing as were the trusses and other structural components. Still the garage is a very simple building. The tallest building in the world is over a half a mile high and required much planning. None of these structures happened by chance.
Even the most basic life form is much more complex than the tallest building. The human body is extremely complex. The more we study science the more complex we realize our world is. So is it scientific to believe that man evolved from nothing to an extremely complex being, simply by chance or even by some big bang?
Consider that half mile tall building. If totally left alone without a designer, what would happen to it over the course of millions or even billions of years? It would not get taller and more complex. It would become less ordered and may even cease to stand- especially if there were some sort of large bang. I therefore find it quite strange that some think that it is scientific to believe that with enough time, things will go from less order to more order without the aid of a designer.
Isaiah 44:24 reminds us that the same God who created the whole world also made us. “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone,” (Isaiah 44:24 NASB) This verse tells us something else important. Our creator is also our redeemer. God did not make us and then just forget about us. The Bible describes Jesus Christ as both redeemer and creator in Colossians where it says,
“in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:14-17 NASB)
The random creations that my boys made, can remind us that Jesus Christ is our creator and redeemer. Therefore we are accountable to Him. That means we should believe in Him and His authority over our lives.
Should We all Be
Ministers? 6-23-17
I wear many different hats. I have more than one hat from Menards because they are free with a mail in rebate. My favorite hat is the one I bought from Sheels. It is a camouflage hat with their store name on it and I like how it looks. I also have a gray work hat with another company logo on it that I often wear. My friend Phil gave it to me. If it is real hot and I am out in the sun, I have a ventilated wide brimmed hat that covers my ears, eyes, and back of my neck. If it is real cold I wear a stocking hat.
A Catastrophe of Crayons 6-9-17
Our youngest son is autistic. Back in the late 1980's the only thing many people knew about autism is what they had seen in the 1988 movie, Rain Man. Today, most people know someone with autism. We do not know if autism is more common than it used to be, or if we are just more aware of it. Growing up one of my friends was diagnosed with autism and I knew him before even watched the movie Rain Man. Looking back I knew other people growing up who to this day have not been diagnosed as autism but share some of the same characteristics.
Jesus Our Almighty King 5-27-17
Our boys like to role play. They will pretend to be soldiers, cowboys, or dinosaur hunters. Seldom do they pretend to be kings. In our society, the idea of being a dinosaur hunter is easier to grasp than the idea of having a king.
Don't Manipulate the Bible 5-12-17
Imagine that you walk into a French hospital and you see a man
dressed in white and he says he has the cockroach. Your first thought
may be that he is an exterminator, but then you are informed that
when the French talk of having the cockroach, they mean they are
depressed. With this added information, you then understand that this
person is likely a patient rather than an exterminator.
-
It is
amazing how a little additional information can change ones
perspective. Often as I talk about the Bible, others will point out
how there are so many different interpretations. I must agree that
this is true. Since I preach through the Bible verse by verse there
are occasions when I must admit that there are a number of views on a
particular verse. Still, most of the Bible is quite straight forward.
For example there is little room for variations of interpretation
when declaring that lying, stealing and murder are sins.
-
But
what do we do with the areas that we are not quite so sure about?
Like the illustration about the French cockroach, we must strive for
as much information as possible and grasp for the original meaning
and intent of words that are used in scripture, realizing that they
were not originally written in English. Further, we need to get as
much information as possible from the text. In other words we should
not just isolate a passage, but we should look both at the immediate
context as well as the rest of scripture.
-
Imagine if you
started to read the story of The Three Little Pigs but only read the
first two thirds of it. You could easily come to the conclusion that
any house that a pig built, a wolf could destroy. You would actually
miss the whole moral of the story and end up replacing that moral
with one that the story never intended. Sadly the same thing often
happens with Biblical interpretation.
-
I once listened to an
online sermon and I was exposed to such careless interpretation. The
pastor pointed out that each of the 5 times the word “breeches”
was used in the Bible, that it referred to men wearing them. His
conclusion, based upon that information, was that women should never
wear pants because only men had worn breeches in those verses. What
he neglected to point out is that each of those 5 verses also
referred to the priests. Based on his logic, only priests should wear
pants. Further, he also missed another important piece of
information. Every time the word “skirt” is found (10 verses), it
always refers to men. Based on that preachers logic, only men should
wear skirts.
-
It has often been said that a person can make
the Bible say anything they want it to say. The truth is, people try
to convince others that the Bible is saying something different than
what it says, but that does not change the actual text. The problem
with some Biblical interpretation is that people try to manipulate
the truth rather than just looking at what it says.
-
2 Timothy
2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The
person who missed the moral of the Three Little Pigs, and the pastor
who drew an unreasonable conclusion from the word “breeches,” had
reason to be ashamed. I fear that often such foolishness is not the
result of ignorance, but rather of manipulation. That is why all
Christians, not just pastors, need to study God’s Word. It really
can be understood.
The
Kids Lived Me a Lesson 4-28-17
We live in a small town, but that does not mean that there is nothing to do. A few weeks ago we went to the Easter egg hunt, and recently the Worthing elementary school hosted a carnival for the kids. At that carnival my young boys reminded me of a valuable lesson about contentment.
The boys had fun even though we were only there for about 20 minutes. It was advertised as lasting until 8 p.m. and we got there at 7:10 (we did not get back to town until then) so I figured they would have close to an hour to play. We were disappointed when they started taking down the bouncy houses 5 minutes after we got there.This happened as the boys were standing in line for the shooting gallery. Our oldest stated that he would have been real disappointed if he had not know that they would get to go to the free bouncy houses the next day at the ACE Hardware open house in Lennox. He was looking at the bright side rather than complaining.
I was so happy that rather than complaining about not being able to play in the bouncy houses, they were enjoying what they could do right then. Further they were looking forward to what they would get to do in the future. In the short time we were at the carnival, the boys got to do the shooting gallery and go on a train ride.
The shooting gallery was simply some paper plates and Nurf guns. The train ride was a bunch of barrel trailers pulled behind a lawn mower made to look like a train engine. I actually started to have a bad attitude in my heart as I realized I had spent $10 to get the boys in, only to have them take down the inflatables right after we got there. But then, I realized that the boys did not even care and were having a great time. Not having the bouncy houses did not ruin their night at all, but my bad attitude could have easily ruined it if I had not kept it in check.
The boys also got a gift bag and cotton candy at the carnival. Inside the bag was more candy and a token to a free kids meal at the Texas Road House. Since we had come late, we were given a discount on our admission price and those tokens alone were worth more than what we had paid. It was not until we got back home that the boys found the tokens and told me about them and I realized that instead of complaining inside, I needed to be rejoicing.
Seeing the good attitude that my kids had that night reminds me of Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)
There
are so many things that we could complain about in life when instead
we should be thanking God and letting the peace of Christ work in our
lives. So often we as parents are trying to train and teach our
children to do right, but recently my boys were the ones who reminded
me of a valuable lesson- a lesson that I have so often taught myself,
but had started to forget. “But godliness with contentment is
great gain.” (I Timothy 6:6)
Easter Eggs, Bunnies, and
Jesus 4-14-17
Our boys had a lot of fun at Worthing's annual Easter egg hunt. The organizers divided the activity by age groups so that the younger kids did not have to compete with the older ones in order to find eggs. The 0-4 year old's got to go first and for some of them it was a challenge just to figure out what was expected. Once those little kids figured out that those brightly colored eggs contained candy, suddenly they found motivation to find the next prize.
-
Our youngest son is 5, so he and his 6 year old brother got to go with the second group. They already knew just what to do. Still our youngest had just as much fun picking up the empty eggs as he did finding the ones with candy. He is at the age where the fun of the game is more important than the quest for the prize. Ironically, he was rewarded when he won the drawing and got a rubber ball AND a basketball. They were in an Easter basket and the package was almost as tall as he was, but he insisted on carrying it home himself.
-
Our biggest boys were in the oldest group. They were the largest and fastest and had to compete with the other big and fast kids to be the first to get their eggs. Realizing the challenge, our 9 year old ran as fast as he could from egg to egg. Our 8 year old, however, took his time and noticed that there were a lot of eggs in one area that no one else was picking up. He simply went from egg to egg without hurry and ended up with more than his big brother had.
-
Worthing's Easter egg hunt actually occurred the weekend before Easter. I am not sure why it was planned that way, but I am glad it was for a variety of reasons. First, it allowed kids that may be traveling for the holiday to participate. Still, from a spiritual perspective, I can see an even more important reason to like the timing. By having this event a week before Resurrection Sunday it allows for more of a disconnect between the secular holiday and the religious aspect of an important event for Christians.
-
Eggs and bunnies can become a huge distraction from a very important event that is celebrated this time of year. Technically Easter is not even a Christian term and has nothing to do with Christianity at all, however this ancient religious holiday occurred around the same time as the Resurrection celebration and thus through the years the term has been redefined to represent the Resurrection.
-
Regardless of the origins of the original Easter holiday, today our society promotes eggs and bunnies as a way to sell products and entertain children, not as a way to promote any ancient religion. For the Christian, I do not see a great danger of the Easter egg leading our families into paganism. Rather Easter is a reminder of how there are so many things in society that can end up distracting us from God. In Matthew 6:33 Christ reminds us to first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. He also warns, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)
-
Like the Easter egg hunt, there are a lot of things we can do with our time. Many of those things are not bad in themselves, but they can easily distract us from our savior. May this special time of year remind us that God loved us enough that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. May that motivate us to not forget nor neglect Him in our lives.
Get R Done South Dakotans 2-2-17
Our 6 year old is a true South Dakotan. He recently told us that his feet hurt while he was standing barefoot on a crate, but that he just “cowboyed up” until he was done. I grew up in Southwest Minnesota- just across the South Dakota border- so we had much of the same culture as this area.
-
For me, the independent, tough it out, pull yourself up by your boot strap approach to life is normal. For example, one evening as I parked the vehicle to go into the house, I looked across the road and saw my neighbor unloading a very large upright air compressor from his trailer. Of course he was doing it by himself. It was on a pallet so he was able to anchor a winch in his garage and slowly pull the heavy tool off of his trailer.
-
A few years earlier another neighbor was moving and had to get a large container out of his basement. He anchored his ATV to a tree and was using the ATV winch to pull the container up the steps. Both these neighbors were doing exactly what I would do- figuring out how to do it yourself instead of asking for help.
-
Of course I did just what either of them would have done as well- I went straight over and helped them. The help was appreciated, but they had not asked for it. They were just living out the rural Dakota attitude of “git r done.”
-
For many a rural South Dakotan, it is much more comfortable to help someone else than it is to ask for help. In many ways I admire such an attitude. In fact, I have that same attitude myself. Still there can be a problem with this attitude from a Christian perspective.
-
Although I cannot speak for my neighbors, I realize that my independent attitude is rooted to a certain extent in pride. I am often too proud to ask for help. I want to prove that I do not need help and that I can get it done on my own. Such an attitude becomes a huge problem when we have that attitude with God.
-
Too often we are too proud to ask God for help. The very issue of coming to God to save our souls is all about admitting that we cannot do it ourselves and that we need Him to do it for us. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (NASB) In other words, God does the saving of our souls so we cannot brag about it. The very next verse however, may be encouraging to the “git r done” South Dakotan. It says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (NASB) In other words, once you trust Christ, you need to realize that you were created to get to work for Him. That means you can apply that independent work ethic you have learned for the glory of God.
-
But as we work for God, we need to be careful that we not be too independent about it. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” (NASB) For many of us that verse is not such a challenge until we realize that if Christians are to bear each other's burdens, than that means we need to let others help us with our burdens. That is not an excuse to let us mooch off of others (I think we have all met such people and I am not defending them). This is however a challenge to be humble enough to admit that we sometimes need help and that we can be a blessing to others by letting them help us.
-
Most of all, we need to realize that we need God- not just to help us, but to sustain our very lives.
-
Savior His coming means rescue, not doom and gloom.
He will lovingly rule with justice and will punish evil so that
we can truly live in peace. As we celebrate Jesus Christ's
birth, let us also celebrate Him as the perfect King who
will bring peace on earth.
-
My Mom's Love and Justice 9-16-16
One of my childhood memories involves sugar cubes. I remember mom storing them on the top shelf of the kitchen cupboard. I remember them as a treat for the horses, but I think that my mom had them on hand so Grandpa could add them to his coffee.
I suspect that they were kept on the top shelf so that children could not easily get to them. Grandpa and the horses were not the only ones who liked them. I enjoyed letting them melt in my mouth as I enjoyed the sweet savor that seemed to increase as the cube crumbled.
Since Mom knew how much I liked them, why didn't she just put them within my reach? The reason was because Mom loved me even more than I loved sugar cubes. As a loving mother, she wanted to protect her son. She understood that too much sugar would not be good for me. She also understood that climbing to that top shelf as a 3 year old would not be good for me either. That meant that Mom's love was often demonstrated through her punishment. Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” (NASB)
Mom did not spank often, but we knew there would be consequences for disobedience. We also knew it was because she loved us.
Love and discipline are not contradictory. Not only did my mother punish wrongdoing, but she was also concerned about justice. To this day, she tries to treat all her children fairly. As a child, that meant that if I wronged my brothers or my sister, I could expect consequences from Mom. That did not negate her love, since I also knew that my siblings would be treated the same if they wronged me.
I believe that my mother's example helped me to better understand how God's love and justice can coexist. I also realize that not all parents are as consistent as my mother was. My dad was not. I am not suggesting we compare our parents to God, but rather that we learn more about God's love and justice.
John 3:16 shows us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Just 20 verses later we also read, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB).
God's wrath is serious. It is even more strict than my mom's spanking. Matthew 25:41 says, "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” (NASB). God's justice is so severe that if we do not repent and follow Christ, then we end up punished along with the devil.
God's justice may seem severe until we remember how my mom would hold us accountable if we wronged our siblings. We have all been the victims of the sinful actions of others. God's justice will not overlook their sin, but since He is just, He will not overlook yours either.
We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Even my mom has sinned. We all deserve God's wrath, but His love is so strong that He provided a way to have that wrath appeased (propitiated). 1 John 2:1-2 says, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (NASB)
God loves me even more than my mom
loves me. Knowing of His love and also realizing His justice, I
cannot imagine ignoring His call for repentance. I cannot image life
without Him as my Lord and Savior.
The Bible and Church
History 9-5-16
I have been having a Bible study with a
friend. He is a new believer in Jesus Christ, and so much of the
Bible is totally new to him. He has been excited as we have studied
the book of Acts.
Acts is a book of church history. It tells about key events in the church just shortly after Christ ascended into heaven. This young man commented about how exciting the account was. We read about people getting stoned. We also saw innocent people thrown in jail and then released. We read about mobs getting upset and riots ensuing. We will soon read about a storm and a shipwreck. We also read about the conversion of many people as they trusted Christ and their lives were changed.
The Bible book of Acts is really exciting. Still the history of Christianity did not end with the book of Acts. In fact, there have been about 2000 years of history since that time. The historical events of the church after about 90 AD have not been recorded in scripture, but there are other records that outline many key events.
Our fellowship is sponsoring a church history series to look at a number of key events that happened after the book of Acts. The first 13 lesson series covers the years AD 100- AD 600. Because it covers such a wide time span, the series will cover some key issues that ended up shaping so much of church history.
The historical events that we will focus on are not part of the Bible, however they do give us valuable insight into what is considered orthodox Christianity. “Orthodox” means what is established and approved. Even thought there is wide variation of belief among Christians today and many of those differences are quite important, there are still a number of core beliefs that for years were held in common by the vast majority of Christians. This is what we would refer to as orthodox beliefs.
Today, many of those beliefs are being challenged. This is nothing new. History shows us that they have been challenged for thousands of years. History also shows us that Christians have been going back to the Bible to determine what we should believe. Although the Church history series that we will be studying deals with events that occurred after the Bible was written, that does not mean we will not be looking at the Bible. Instead we will be looking at history and seeing how the Bible shaped events in our world. We will also be challenged to continue to study the Bible and to make sure that we are acting faithfully in our place in history.
We should be reminded that the Bible is a relevant book. It is so relevant that its pages have impacted the whole world. We can see that in history and we can still see it today. We should also see it in our own lives.
September 11th is a historical day. It is also the day Southtown Baptist Fellowship will start our church history series in Worthing. Join us at 116 Main St. (just across from the Old Town Dinner Theater) in downtown Worthing, SD. We will continue to meet at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoons to study church history and look into the scriptures.
God's Awe-inspiring Power 8-5-16
A few weeks ago we got to see the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels are a group of United States Navy fighter planes that put on an airshow as a means of public outreach from the US military. They are able to show the power of our military to protect this nation as we see the amazing capability of both our aircraft and our pilots.
As powerful as these Blue Angels and the rest of our fighting force is, God is even more powerful. Thousands of years ago, countries would look to horses and chariots for military supremacy rather than fighter planes, yet king David recognized an important truth. He wrote, “Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” (Psalm 20:7 NASB)
I am not suggesting that we disband our military. King David kept a fighting force, but he understood that his forces would only be successful if God permitted it.
As the air show in Sioux Falls was going on, a plane flew right over our yard. I could hear the sound and I could even feel the vibration. About a week later I was shaken awake in my bed. I felt the house moving and I heard loud banging sounds. Soon I heard the sound of water running as well. I had been awakened by a thunderstorm. The thunder was so powerful that the house shook. It was much louder than the plane had been.
As I lay in bed I felt comfort from those sounds, since they reminded me how powerful my God is. If He can send such power in a simple rainstorm, He can take care of me. Romans 8:31 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NKJV) Military historians are well aware that many battles were won and lost simply because of the weather. What a reminder that God is in control and that we must trust in Him.
But what about those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ? "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB) The same power that shook my house during the thunderstorm is the power that will judge man.
And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 NASB)
The book of life is the book of everlasting life. The only way to be in that book is to have a believing trust in Jesus Christ- a life changing belief. Jesus called this change “born again” at the beginning of John chapter 3. In the middle of that chapter He said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Knowing how
powerful God is, why would we even consider resisting Him when we
know that He loves us so much?
Christian Love and
Forgiveness 7-23-16
Imagine that your cup holder is broken so you set your 52 oz drink on the dash of your car. Now imagine that you hit a small bump in the road and it lands on your lap. You look down startled and then look up just in time to see that the the stop light has turned red. You hit the brakes but it is too late. You end up just barely hitting the car in front of you. Further, you stopped so quickly that the car behind you also hits you. Both of the other drivers are very upset and you are forced to endure their yelling- knowing that you are the cause of the whole fiasco.
I recently read about a similar situation, but with a different reaction. A man received a phone call from his wife saying that she had been rear ended. His immediate response was similar to the drivers in the example above. He became upset and to speculate about whether texting had been involved. His wife calmly assured him that everything was fine (other than the vehicle) and that he needed to hear the rest of the story instead of getting upset.
She relayed that the first thing she did when she got out of her vehicle was to go to the other vehicle and ask if the driver was okay. The other driver, who had caused the accident, then told her that she had just received a chemotherapy treatment for her cancer. She was very apologetic. The cause was not a carelessly placed Pepsi, but rather the side effects of a medical treatment along with the stress of having a life threatening disease.
Upon realizing that they were both okay, the two drivers then stood in the street and hugged each other. They were both Christians and although strangers before this point, realized that their love for each other was far more important than the damage to their cars.
Once the police officer arrived he was shocked to see these two drivers showing such love for each other. Christian love should not shock people. Such behavior should be the norm among the followers of Christ. In fact, Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 NASB)
Notice that both the ladies acted the way that Christians should act. The first lady was concerned about the other lady before even knowing the circumstances. The second lady did not hide her responsibility for causing the accident, but rather immediately apologized. Then the first lady showed love and helped the second lady bear her burdens with a hug.
There is a small single chapter book in the Bible called Philemon. It is written to a Christian man named Philemon who was wronged by a man named Onesimus. These two men have not seen each other for some time, and Onesimus has since become a Christian and is returning to Philemon. As he does, the Apostle Paul writes this letter encouraging Philemon to show love and forgiveness. In the letter Paul says to Philemon, “I hear of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;” (vs 5). Because Paul knows that Philemon is a loving Christian, he is confident that he will show love toward Onesimus and forgive him (vs 21).
May we as Christians be like Philemon and the lady who gave the hug and show our love by our actions.
Are You God's
Frenemy? 7-8-16
Do you have any frenemies? A frenemy is defined as a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry (google). Frenemies are not strangers, they are people that we personally know- people we actually have a relationship with. Thus you could say that you have a personal relationship with your frenemy even though you do not like him.
For years I have heard about the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and I agree that it is important. The problem is that in some cases the phrase “personal relationship” has been equated with the gospel itself. Man has a sin problem and must be reconciled to God, but simply having a personal relationship does not reconcile someone.
A
criminal can have a personal relationship with their probation
officer. In most small businesses the employees have a personal
relationship with their boss. The problem is that sin has caused
humans to be enemies of God and a personal relationship does not take
care of sin.
Colossians 1:21-22 actually describes the frenemy relationship between man and God and how that relationship can change through Jesus Christ. “ And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--”(NASB)
Notice how the word of God describes us apart from Christ- alienated, hostile, evil. If a person claims to have a personal relationship with Jesus, yet their mind is still hostile toward Him and alienated from God, then that person has not been reconciled to God. Instead, they are thinking of Him more as a frenemy than as Lord and master
So how serious is it to be God's frenemy? “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (Romans 1:18 NASB) If we do not agree with God and if we maintain a rivalry with Him, we are promised His wrath. I for one do not want to mess around with the creator of the universe. Instead I want to agree with whatever He says and not argue with Him. That is really the essence of repentance. It is the idea of changing my mind to agree with God and then changing my direction to align with what He says I should do.
The personal relationship that I have with Jesus Christ must be the personal relationship of me being His servant and He being not just my master, but also my savior. Jesus
died so that we might be reconciled to God. That means that Jesus
died in order that we would no longer have to be enemies of God. He
died to pay for our sins and then rose again. If we simply think
that some sort of superficial relationship is all that we need, then
we have not grasped the fact that sin is so serious that the son of
God had to die so that God's wrath could be appeased.
When the greatest command of all is to love God with all we have, then how could we think that we could be frenemies of God and still be saved? “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NASB)
Orlando Shooting Response 6-24-16
Many Christians have been trying to sort out what sort of response they should have had to the recent Orlando shooting incident. A Muslim man walked into a gay nightclub and shot about a hundred people. Around half of them were killed and others were injured.
God tells us to love our neighbors. God also makes it clear that homosexual behavior is sinful. These are not contradictions. Christians must show love and compassion to those who were injured in this terrible event. That same love and compassion should go out to those who lost people that they dearly cared about.
The challenge is that there are some people who would suggest that love and compassion toward a homosexual would imply an acceptance of their behavior. Some of these people actually pour out hate rather than love. There are also people on the opposite extreme that would suggest that if the behavior of a person is not accepted, then there is no love. Neither position is correct. Consider John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. He did that without ever accepting sin as okay. In fact, it was just the opposite. Sin is so serious that God would not overlook it unless Jesus paid for it with His death. Even though God would not overlook sin, He showed love.
God's example should help us to respond to this situation as well. We can and must show love, without accepting sin as okay. As Christians, we must take a stand against those like Westboro Baptist Church who are showing hate rather than love.
At the same time, we must also take a stand against the idea that in order to show love, we must tolerate sin. Sadly, the idea of tolerance has practically become its own religion. The preachers of this movement have replaced God's morality with their own. For many of them, it is not enough to care about the victims of the shooting, we must also support their homosexual lifestyle. Some of these preachers of tolerance are quite tolerant of sin, but are very intolerant of what God says about sin.
The Bible tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves. A homosexual is just as much our neighbor as the Samaritan was. In Jesus' day it was taboo to show love for the Samaritans yet He made it clear that they were neighbors to be loved (see Luke 10:27-37). Sadly, some Christians today think it is taboo to show love for homosexuals. Christians must do what is right regardless of what others think.
Next, the Christian must not endorse sin, but that stand can also anger some. Once we grasp the truth that love and condemnation of actions can go hand in hand we also understand that such an approach will set us apart from those around us. It can also challenge us to be holy like God is holy, realizing that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
Is Covetousness Wrong? 6-9-16
We like going to garage sales. Not only do we enjoy finding bargains, but it is also fun to meet new people. With 4 boys ages 4-8, we like to watch for clothes that are not worn out- especially jeans that still have the knees intact.
Not only do we try to find bargains for the boys, but we also use the rummage sales to educate them on economics and budgeting. As we set out on our search for the best deals, I gave each of the 3 older boys $2 and told them they could spend it however they wanted. (The youngest did not yet get the concept, so I simply purchased a toy that he liked). I instructed them that once their money was gone, that they could not get anything else. Further they had to stay within their $2 budget.
My 7 year old had brought some of his own money, so he added his two quarters to the $2 and purchased a real nice toy John Deere tractor and disk set. Next the 6 year old bought a wallet and toy binoculars. The 8 year old bought a tool for 50 cents and then saved his money until near the end of the day when he finally found a whole bag of toys for another 50 cents and still had enough money left over for another toy.
When his brothers saw how much more he had gotten, they wanted more money. I told them no. They had gotten the same amount and if they had been as patient as their older brother, they could have gotten better deals as well.
This then led to a lesson about covetousness, since one of the brothers had become very resentful about that large bag of toys. If the older brother had not gotten so many toys the other boys would have been very happy with the things they had gotten. In fact, the toy tractor and the wallet were actually worth a lot more than the bag of junk the 8 year old got.
Sadly the behavior that my boys displayed is not contained to little kids. Adults display just as bad of behavior. If you want what your neighbor has and you resent him for having it, that is called covetousness.
Is coveting really that bad? Don't political parties even promote it in order to motivate voters? When God is left out of the picture, covetousness is not only accepted, it is often encouraged, but that does not make it right.
The 10th commandment is very clear, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” (Exodus 20:17) In fact, covetousness is ranked with thievery and extortion. 1 Corinthians 6:10 says, “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
I Corinthians 6:10 suggests that covetousness is such a serious sin that if it actually characterizes your life, you should not even call yourself a Christian. I am not suggesting that if you have ever begun to covet that you are not a child of God, but if you continue in that sin and do not feel any remorse over it, then how can you claim that you really care about God and His standards of right and wrong?
For those who are caught up in covetousness or any other sin, there is hope. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The wages of all sin- including covetousness- is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us realize that our God is a holy God who must punish all sin. Let us take our sin seriously and realize that our only hope for eternal life is to agree with God about our sin and trust Christ's payment and His righteousness applied to our account.
What Do Christians Obey? 5-30-16
There are other Old Testament commands that I do not follow either. Does this mean that I think it is okay for Christians to just pick and chose which of God's commands that we want to follow? Not at all! Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
To better understand this issue, let us look at the human history of God's interaction with mankind. First, God gave a simple command to Adam and Eve about not eating from a tree. They could not keep that one simple command. As time went on men ignored God so much that He sent a worldwide flood and only Noah and his family were saved. After the flood God told them that they could eat any animal (Genesis 9:3), but that they could not eat the blood from the animals. Further they were not to murder other humans. The commands to Noah were given in the context of a covenant with him and all his descendants. All humans have descended from Noah, so this applies to all of us.
As we continue reading the history of the Bible, we come to Genesis 17 and a man named Abraham. God makes a covenant with him and his descendants. With that covenant there was a promise of a land. God then gives a special command that only applies to Abraham's descendants- they are to be circumcised as a token of God's promise to them. The Israelites (Hebrews/Jews) were descendants of Abraham, so this command was important to them.
God ended up setting the Israelites apart from other nations and dealing with them in a very special way. As we read the Old Testament of the Bible we see the History of God's interaction with them. Moses ends up leading them out of slavery in Egypt and as he does so, he gives them the 10 commandments as well as other ordinances including the restriction about eating pork. This was a new restriction- remember that Noah had not been given this command. Further this command only applied to the Israelites.
The strict rules that the Israelites were given were important because Jesus Christ- the savior of all mankind- would come from that nation and these rules showed that just like Adam and Eve, all of mankind could not perfectly obey God's rules and therefore needed someone who could pay for their sins. Jesus was the first sinless person to walk this earth because He is God in the flesh. Therefore the rules that God gave the Israelites showed them they needed a savior. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:24-25)
In other words, after we have trusted Christ there is no more need for the Hebrew law. Other passages such as Romans 10:4; Galatians 2:16; Colossians 2:13-17; and Ephesians 2:15 also show that the Hebrew law is no longer in effect for the Christian. This issue actually came up in the early Christian church and we can read how it was dealt with in Acts 15:1-20. At the end of that passage the Christians are told to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. This shows that although the Christian is not under the Hebrew law given by Moses, there are still expectations for the Christian. In fact the Old Testament law given to Noah still applies as we see the continued restriction on blood. Further as we read the New Testament is clear that Christians are not to lie, steal, covet, murder, or commit adultery. Further there is condemnation for gossip, drunkenness and extortion. We are not picking and choosing what we obey, we simply obey the commands of God that apply to us today.
Doing The Father's Work 5-14-16
He is the son of the man I was working for and he had learned to hand screws while helping his daddy. His older sister wanted to help me as well, so I had her pile up the little scrap pieces of board. Since I was working by the hour on this particular job I told her that her help would save her dad some money. She grinned and told me that her dad would be smiling when he got home because he likes saving money.
It is a joy to see kids learning a work ethic at a young age. In the Hebrew culture children would usually began an apprenticeship at the age of 12 in order to learn a trade. We know very little about the childhood of Jesus. The only Bible passage we have about that subject is at the end of Luke 2 where it talks about what happened when Jesus was 12- the age when a Hebrew young man would start to be an apprentice. “And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.” (Luke 2:42-44 NASB)
Notice that Jesus was 12 when this happened. He was the age where He was expected to start learning a trade. His step father Joseph was a carpenter like I am, so it would not have been unusual for Him to learn to do that job. In the temple, we find Him doing the work of His heavenly father instead of the work of his step father. “And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” (Luke 2:46-47 NASB)
I am not aware of any carpenters in my ancestry, but I am guessing there was probably someone who ground grain (a Miller). As we look at the ancestry of Jesus on His father's side, the line goes directly to God in Heaven. In Mark 6:3, Jesus is called a carpenter, so it is likely that His step father, Joseph, did teach Him that trade. Jesus was more than a carpenter though. The last 3 years of His life, we find Jesus teaching, healing the sick and even bringing justice as He chases thieves out to the temple. This is truly the work of His heavenly father.
Jesus Christ was completely faithful in His heavenly father's work. He went to the cross to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. God's justice demands that sin must be dealt with. That is why it is no surprise that He would chase the money changers out of the temple. That is also why Jesus would say, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB)
Illustrating for
Understanding 5-2-16
I love to watch old westerns. I like to sit and watch “Gunsmoke” with my boys. Festus is Marshall Dillon's sidekick and is one of my favorite western characters. He is actually smarter than he first appears and has a caring side behind his rough exterior. My boys just think he is funny.
I read the Bible to my boys more often than I watch “Gunsmoke” with them. Recently we have been reading in the book of Acts, and actually came across a man named “Festus.” He wasn't a sidekick, instead he was a ruler. When the Apostle Paul got in trouble with the authorities, he had to appear before this man named Festus. After reading about him, our boys were told that it was a different Festus than they had seen on the cowboy show.
We actually got a bit of chuckle out of it since these two men seemed so different. One of the biggest differences is that the man we read about in Acts chapters 24-26 was a real man. The one we watch on TV is actually a make believe character played by a real man named Ken Curtis. Still it got me to thinking. My boys actually understand more about the culture and expectations of the make believe world of the old west as portrayed by these movies, then they do about the culture of the Bible times.
Although we have seen many episodes of “Gunsmoke” we do not actually have a true understanding of what life was like in Kansas during the 1800's. Instead we have a sensationalized Hollywood version of that setting. When we read the Bible account, we are separated by much more time and geography than we are from 1800's Kansas. Still we have an advantage. The Biblical account is real. Still there are large advantages to gaining insight into the culture of that time period and location. Many of the illustrations that Christ used (we call them parables) are better understood once we realize the significance of what He was saying in the day to day lives of those He was speaking to.
Although we should hold scripture in such high regard that we not change it, we like Christ can use illustrations to help others better understand it. For example I was recently teaching about the encounter that David had with a foolish man named Nabal (I Samuel chapter 25). I was explaining it to a man who watched westerns, so I said that what happened would have been similar to some guys on a cattle drive. David would have been like a cavalry colonel who came across the cattle drive with his men and protected them from being raided by Indians. Since no cattle were lost, at the end of the drive he asked that a steer be given to his men to feed them since they were out of food. Imagine how upset the colonel would have been if the man were rude to him and would not even give him any food. Nabal in the Biblical story was like the rude cattleman.
A bit later, we were talking about David trying to avoid King Saul who wanted to kill him. David did not want to fight Saul so he went and lived with the Philistines even though they had been his enemies. The young man I was talking to then said, “It would be like him going to live with the Apaches.” Exactly! This new Christian had figured out how to use illustrations to make a connection to real life events. He took something that he understood and used it to help him relate to a culture and time that he was far removed from. The Bible text was not changed, it was simply explained in a way that he could relate to.
Although our parables cannot compare to Christ's mastery of the illustration, we should not overlook this powerful tool for gaining better insight into the scriptures. At the same time we must be cautious not to carry our illustrations too far so that they distort the original narrative.
How Serious Is God's
Wrath? 4-16-16
A political candidate has made headlines for claiming that he has never asked God for forgiveness. He also said, “I fully think apologizing’s a great thing, but you have to be wrong.” Of course it does not make sense to apologize if we have done no wrong, but the truth is that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Further the Bible tells us that there is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10).
We live in a society that blushes less and less over sin. In fact, sin is being redefined. Fewer people are looking to God and the Bible to determine what is sinful and are instead looking to the media and their peers on Facebook to decide what is right and wrong.
Suddenly we have people arguing that it is wrong to burn fossil fuel, but it is not wrong to commit adultery. Once we leave God out of the equation, then no one has the right to tell another person that they have sinned. I have not asked forgiveness for burning fossil fuel because I do not believe that it is wrong. Perhaps others have not asked forgiveness for adultery because they do not believe that it is wrong.
What we need to realize is that regardless of our own opinions about right and wrong, God is still in control. God is a God of love, but He is also a God of judgment and He warns: ”But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.” (Jeremiah 10:10) Romans 1:18 also says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (NASB). Heed this warning as well: “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:5-6 NASB) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8 NASB)
We are all sinners and God has warned us that the consequences of sin are serious. That is why we are warned to repent. Repent means to literally change direction. In other words instead of resisting God we need to submit to Him. "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent,” (Acts 17:30 NASB).
Although God must punish sin, He is also gracious, but in order to receive His grace, we must humble ourselves before Him. “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (James 4:6 NASB)
God's grace is provided through His son the Lord Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to pay for our sins. In order to have that payment applied to our lives- in order to appease the wrath of God- we must humble ourselves before God as we believe on Jesus and His payment. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We can be too proud to humble ourselves before God and therefore face His wrath and end up in the lake of fire for eternity, or we can humble ourselves before God and live with Him forever. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
We Have Been Fighting the
Flu 4-4-16
We have been fighting colds and fevers in the Miller house. We started out with the coughs and runny noses and then the first boy got a fever. A day or two later another of our boys woke up saying that he dreamed that he was dizzy and and after he woke up, he was still dizzy. He too had a fever. Each boy would end up with a fever and so did I. We would get over the fever and then about a day later we would have another, but the cough and runny nose would continue for another week. Crystal got sick too, but not quite as bad.
-It is not fun being sick for multiple weeks, but it does help me to appreciate the times when I am healthy. God allows the trials of sickness even to those who are faithful. For example Job (Jobe) was a man who faced terrible trials, yet God said of him, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause." (Job 2:3 NASB)
-
As Job faced the trials he and his friends tried to figure out the reason. When we face trials we often ask “why?” as well. At the end of the book of Job, God essentially tells them that in all their reasoning about why, they are missing the fact that they are not able to grasp why God does everything that He does. He reminds them that they were not there when He created the world.-
In trying to answer “why?” Job's friends even accuse him of facing trials because of his sinfulness. Job defends himself, but the reality is that Job was not without sin. Still as we saw in Job 2:3, God himself showed that Job was the most blameless and upright man there was. As people face trials in life, it is not always the result of specific sin.-
The Bible actually shows why even righteous people like Job would face trials. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5) Having a fever and feeling sick is not fun, but it can build character as we look to God for our strength. As we do so, we develop patience through our experience. Then as we survive our trying experience we are reminded that we now have hope to face the next trial. “Knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.”-
Job was an example of a righteous man who suffered, but the Bible also warns in Hebrews 12:4-11 that God disciplines Christians when they do wrong. In other words, there are times that we might get sick so that God can get our attention. The passage in Romans showed how trials can build character even in a righteous man, but Hebrews shows that trials can also build character in a Christian is who not living so righteously. “Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:9-11 NASB)
-
Whether a rough time we are facing is a trial or discipline, if we draw close to God during those times, both should result in fruits of righteousness as we become more like Him through the character building experience of the hardship.Trusting God in Our
Elections 3-18-2016
Our 7 year old son was disappointed when he heard that Marco Rubio was no longer running for President. His mother and I were actually supporting a different candidate, but when our son heard Marco Rubio's name on the radio he asked me if he would be a good President. I told him that I thought he would. From that point on, he was rooting for Marco.
Not everyone agreed with his choice, just as not everyone agrees with mine. The fact that my choice is not the front runner proves that point. I actually heard a discussion on the radio concerning this topic and one of the people began to speculate about who Jesus would vote for. I turned to my wife and said, “well I guess we will find out. He voted for President Obama last time.”
I, however, did not vote for President Obama in either of the last 2 elections, so why would I not vote for a man that I believed Jesus had voted for? When I say that Jesus voted for our current President, I mean that God ultimately decided to allow or stop every President or potential President our country has ever had. “Daniel answered and said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. "And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.” (Daniel 2:20-21 NASB) Daniel shows that God has the power to remove and set up kings. He continues, "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes, And sets over it the lowliest of men." (Daniel 4:17 NASB)
God is in control of who rules over nations, but notice that He does not always chose the best men to rule. “He sets over it the lowliest of men.” Every candidate running for President has sinned and come short of the glory of God. In fact every past President- even George Washington- has sinned. As I go to the ballot box, I must make a judgment call based on the information that I have, realizing that God is ultimately in charge of who actually becomes our next President and that He does not promise to give us the most righteous or smartest ruler.
Still there are benefits to having a righteous ruler. Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.” (NASB) We understand that God is ultimately in control, but He also gives man a certain amount of freedom to make decisions. How all that balances out is decided by God Himself. Thus with an understanding of God's sovereignty over our elections, I also understand our responsibility to do what is right. With that in mind, I vote for those who I believe would be a righteous leader. For example, I look at their view of the unborn in making a determination.
I also realize that God allows evil men to rule. In I Kings 11:31 we read of His selection of Jeroboam who was an evil king over Israel. Though they did not have an electoral college like we do, Jeroboam rose to power as the people rallied around him. This is a reminder that an all powerful God is able to use even sinful men to accomplish His ultimate purposes.
Romans 13 reminds us that the governmental powers are ordained by God. As Christians we should prayerfully consider our voting choices and should realize the benefits of voting for a righteous ruler. At the same time, we need to trust God even if we are given an evil ruler that may end up causing much grief for our country.
Conforming vs
Transformation 3-4-16
When I was a child, my little brother asked who would win if a mountain lion attacked a horse. Well, about a month ago we found out that the Broncos defeated the Panthers in the Super Bowl. Imagine that you were a Broncos' fan, but you had been invited to go to the super bowl by a group of friends who were die hard Panthers fans. They agreed to give you a ticket and to pay your way to the game as long as you wore a Panthers jersey to the game.
You still wanted the Broncos to win, but you did not want to pass up the chance to go to the Super Bowl, so you conformed to their request. Wearing the jersey did not turn you into a Panthers fan, but it got you into the game.
You were not actually transformed into a Panthers fan, you simply conformed to your friends request. How does this fit into the issue of faith? Christianity should not be about being conformed to some outward appearance or even conformed to some set of ideas, but rather to being transformed by Christ. Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (NASB)
Obviously Christians should not be conformed to the sinful behaviors of the world, but what if we are simply conformed to the idea of presenting ourselves as Christians without actually having an inward transformation? Christ had to address this very issue when He says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25 NASB) The scribes and Pharisees were conforming on the outside, but inside there was no transformation. They were conforming both to an external appearance to be seen of other men, and also to a set of rules and standards drawn up by man. The problem was not with their zeal to obey God, but rather a zeal to follow man's standards while rejecting God's. Sadly that is still what happens today when religious people focus on conforming to religious expectations rather than being transformed by God.
True transformation should have an affect on our lives. In the Matthew passage Jesus next says, Mt 23:26 "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.” (NASB) True transformation should cause the Christian to conform to God's standards, but simply conforming gets men stuck in ritual rather than renewal.
If you really become a Panthers fan, you will want to promote that team. It will be transformation rather than conformation. If you think that Christianity is simply going through the motions of religious expectation, you do not understand transformation. Christianity is about realizing you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. It is about changing direction in your life to follow Jesus Christ. It is realizing that He is your only hope for forgiveness. At that point old things are become new and you are completely transformed from a lost sinner on his way to the lake of fire, to a Christian saint who is now following the risen Savior.
Conforming is about following people.
Christian transformation is about following and obeying Christ no
matter what people think.
Finding the Right Way 2-18-16
I then drove to St. John's and found the street that I was told that he lived on, but I still could not find his apartment. I did find another apartment. I called my wife to see if this was the right building. As I described it to her, we realized I was again in the wrong place. After more confusion, we discovered that I had also been given the wrong street. No wonder I could not find my destination.
Fortunately, I was very close by this time. In fact I was only about a block and a half away, but I needed to turn down another street from the street that I had been told to go on. Once I found the correct street, I quickly found the apartment.
What if you were searching for eternal life with God, rather than your brother-in-law? What if you missed out because you had been given the wrong directions? This issue is so serious that the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9 NASB)
The word “gospel” means good news. In the Bible, it refers to the good news of eternal life through Jesus Christ. So how does a person apply the gospel to their lives in order to have eternal life? John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
A jailer asked the Apostle Paul and his fellow minister Silas how to be saved. The answer was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.” (Acts 16:30-31). That same offer was extended not just to the jailer, but to his whole household.
Notice that belief must be in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (NASB)
I am often asked about those who have never heard about Jesus. For them to try to find eternal life would be like me trying to find the apartment with the wrong directions. Let us not forget that the same God who is powerful enough to create heaven and earth knows the very thoughts of men's minds. He can know who would and would not believe if they heard. That means He is able to get the right directions to those who are truly seeking Him. In Acts chapter 10, Cornelius prayed and God sent Peter to tell him about Jesus. As hearts are moved and the truth is shared, people all over the world are able to hear the gospel and realize that the only directions to an eternity with God are by believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior who died for your sins and rose again. www.southtownchurch.com
Faith Like a Mustard Seed 2-5-16
My little boys are still at the age where they think that their daddy can do almost anything he sets his mind to. Part of me enjoys that they have such confidence in me, but I also want them to understand reality- even if I become less of a hero to them. I would rather they understand the truth now than to have them face a major letdown later.
As Christians, we need to be cautious how we teach on faith, otherwise both children and adults can end up facing a similar letdown. Are there dangers in teaching that if we have enough faith, then we can do whatever we set our minds to do? Does the Bible support such teaching? What about Luke 17:6 which says, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.” (NASB)?
In order to understand Christ's statement in Luke 17, we must look at the context of what He was talking about. He had just finished teaching about how Christians should not be a stumbling block to others and how we should forgive a brother even if they repent 7 times in one day. It is difficult- seemingly impossible- to consistently obey these expectations, thus in Luke 17:5 the disciples ask the Lord to “increase our faith.” The reason they are requesting faith is so that they can obey what Christ has commanded them to do. Upon hearing that request, Jesus gives the mustard seed illustration.
James shows in 4:3, that prayer requests are not granted because they are asked for out of selfish motives. In other words, they are man's requests rather than God's will. The point is that if we pray according to God's will rather than our own, then all it takes is faith like a mustard seed for what we prayed about to happen.
The challenge is to know God's will. In Luke 17, Jesus had just shown the will of God when He taught on forgiveness and not being a stumbling block. In other words, the context shows us that all it takes to obey God is faith like a mustard seed. This is supported further as we continue to read the next verses. In Luke 17:7-8, Jesus talks about a servant who worked hard all day, but then still had to work more to prepare a meal for his master at the end of the day instead of expecting his master to make the meal for him. The point is that in a servant master relationship, the servant does not get to order the master around even if the servant has been working hard.
Christians must remember that our Lord is our master and even if we have been working hard, we do not have the right to order Him around. We do not have the right to make demands of God in our prayers. Instead we should focus on obeying Him.
To suggest that an increase in faith gives us a right to make demands of God totally contradicts the teaching of Luke 17:1-10. The faith of a mustard seed is the power to obey God, not the power to order God around. Realizing that God is all powerful, loving, merciful, and must judge sin, we should be thankful that He restrains us from doing whatever we decide while showing us that it only takes faith like a mustard seed to obey Him.
Is There a Key To Heaven? 1-22-16
Have you ever lost your keys? Imagine being outside your own house and not being able to get in because you do not have the key.
What if you do not have a key to heaven? Can you simply slide the locks on the pearly gates? How about just climbing over the gates? It is not that simple. Without Christ, you cannot even get close to heaven. Consider the account from Luke 16, where Jesus tells of two men who died. "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'” (Luke 16:23-26 NKJV)
In this parable Jesus tells us that there is a great gulf between the place of torments and the place of comfort. Even if you think of hell simply as the grave, Jesus shows us in Luke 16 that the place of the departed dead has a place of comfort and a place of torments and that there is no way to get from the one place to the other. Notice as well that the place of torments had flames.
As bad as this place of torments is, things will get even worse. “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15 NKJV)
Right before this we are told of the dead standing before God. This is referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment. Those who are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire along with the place called Hades/Hell.
Some are not worried about this place because they figure that they can just hold out until the fire burns out. Christ makes it clear in the Gospel of Matthew that this is a foolish idea when He says, "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41 NKJV) Notice that the fire is everlasting. Still some suggest that even if the fire is everlasting that those being punished will soon be burned up. This too is false for Jesus says, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46 NKJV) Notice that the punishment is everlasting. Remember the man in Luke 16 who was in the place of torments. That torment will not end. God is a merciful God but He is also a just God who must punish sin. We are all sinners and deserving of the lake of fire (see Romans 3:23 and 6:23)-There is some good news. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Though sin must be punished, God loved us enough to send His son Jesus Christ to take the punishment for us when He died on the cross. If we confess our sinfulness and trust in Jesus alone as we believe in Him, then we are given eternal life and written in the book of life. That means we do not have to keep track of a key to heaven. Jesus will let us in. He promised, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) It also means if we do not believe on Him that we will face eternal damnation.
Is
the Bible Too Hard? 1-8-16
Our oldest son just turned 8. We were excited when he finished his math worksheet and said, "Tomorrow I want to do more like this. I like them." That wasn't always his response to schoolwork. In fact, when he first started school he struggled with grasping concepts and did not like it very well. Now that he "gets it," his schoolwork has become fun.
I did fairly well in school- except for gym class. I later found out that when most people look at a moving ball, they literally see where it is going to be in a few seconds, allowing them to catch it easier. When I look at a moving ball, I actually see where it is really at, thus making it much more difficult for me to catch it. The gym teacher kept telling me to keep my eye on the ball, but had he known my condition, he should have told me to keep my eye in front of the ball. I was well into adulthood before I actually figured that out. Although I am still not that good at sports, they are much more enjoyable now that I understand the challenges and have the tools to help overcome them.
Although it can be fun and exhilarating to face a challenge, it is not as much fun if there is little to no hope of success. I recently heard a New Year's challenge to read the Bible. The pastor making the challenge to his congregation recognized that there were parts of the Bible that were more difficult to read than others.
Too many people get discouraged and give up too soon. Please don't give up. It may appear that the Bible is too hard to read, but it is kind of like math homework. If you get a few basic concepts down, the rest of it will make much more sense.
First, we must recognize that the Bible is a compilation of 66 different books that are divided into two sections- the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament was written before Jesus was born, died on the cross and rose from the dead. The New Testament was written after these significant events. With that in mind, we must realize that God's expectations for the Hebrew people before the cross were laid out in the law of Moses. Old Testament books like Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy record these laws in detail.
These laws were important in showing man that he could not do all that God expected. The Apostle Paul called them a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Galatians 3:24-25 says, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Christians therefore are not under the law of Moses, because of their faith is in Jesus Christ. That is why Christians do not have to obey all the rules laid out in the Old Testament.
This does not mean that the Old Testament isn't still important. By studying it we are able to learn a lot about God and His interactions with man. In addition to the law, the Old Testament has beautiful poetry, history, as well as prophecy. Much of the prophecy concerns the coming of Jesus Christ.
The New Testament is made up of 27 books. These books can be divided into the Gospels (they tell of the life and ministry of Jesus), early church history (the book of Acts), letters to churches and individuals, and prophecy.
The individual books of the Bible are divided into chapter and verse simply to make them easier to study. These were not part of the original Bible. Realizing that the Bible can be kind of intimidating, I like to start out with a Bible study just in the book of John. This allows the “student” to get used to the chapter and verse divisions without having to find a number of different books. If you are interested in a 4 lesson study in the Gospel of John, please contact me at jdpastor@yahoo.com.
New Babies & Christmas Grace 12-27-15
As we traveled to spend Christmas with my in-laws, Crystal's brother's wife was in labor. We were blessed with a new niece at about 11 p.m. Christmas Eve. They named her Jana Grace. What a wonderful Christmas gift.
When I heard this new baby's middle name, my mind went to the birth of a couple of other babies. Of course, on Christmas day, we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ- the baby who came into this word to demonstrate the grace of God to mankind. Shortly before Jesus was born the scripture records the birth of another famous baby, John the Baptist. His parents did not name him "John the Baptist," but simply named him, "John." The title Baptist would come later.
The selection of the name "John" was quite significant. That name had not been used by that family and many even questioned the choice, but John's parents were insistent. (see Luke 1:59-63) There was a reason why they wanted that name for their son. In Luke 1:13, we are told that an angel had told told John's father to use this name.
We must not build our theology on the the names of all Biblical characters, but this particular name was chosen by God, and thus I believe we should take notice. The name John means, "God is gracious." Just as our niece who was born at Christmas time is able to remind us of God's grace, John was able to remind the people of God's grace as well.
John had a very specific purpose in life. He was the forerunner to announce the coming of the King of the kingdom as he prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. As he prepared the way for the King, he spoke of the kingdom, but he also told people that they needed to repent. Matthew 3:1-2 says, "Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (NASB)
To repent is to think differently. It is actually more than just a change of mind though. It is a change of direction. John was preaching that men were sinners and needed to change their direction to follow God. He is known today for baptizing as well as for preaching, thus he is known as John the Baptist. His baptism was not able to cleanse his followers of their sins. It did however remind them of their sins, and they were being baptized for/because of their sins.
John's ministry told his followers that the King was coming and that they needed to repent because they were sinners. Let us not forget that the man bringing that message had a name that meant, "God is gracious." The man whose name reminds us of God's grace, brings us the message that we are sinners who need to change our direction. The baptism of John was a public admission of sin.
The King who John prepared the way for is Jesus Christ. He was born into this world so that He could grow up to die on the cross in order to pour out His grace for our sins. That is why the gospel is called good news. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
As we share this good news, we like John, must remind people that they are sinners who need to repent. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) At the same time we must share the good news of God's grace. There is eternal life for sinners who repent and change their direction to believe in Jesus Christ. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).
-
Yes, we are sinners who need to repent. Yes, God is gracious
and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)
Christians
& Christmas Giving 12-12-15
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about our wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Recently we sat down to another meal, but at the end of it, or boys said that they were still hungry. Crystal told them that they could have more chicken, but they wanted more potatoes. The potatoes were gone but they did not want more chicken. The truth was that they were not THAT hungry.
We had a similar issue happen when I was a pastor in small town Iowa. We got a phone call asking for food. The person said that their food stamp payment would be late and that they needed food. We were being very careful with our budget and ate a lot of rice. We could get a 25 lb bag for less than $9. We offered to share our rice and a few other basics, but the response I got was similar to when my wife offered more chicken to our boys.
I then looked up the Iowa food stamp payment. It was about double what our food budget was at that time. I did not think it was right that we were expected to give up our hamburger for someone who could afford to buy steak if they ate more rice like we did.
The scripture is clear that we are to help others. Jesus said in Luke 3:11, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” The Apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Consider as well 1John 3:17, “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (NKJV)
The scripture teaches us that we are to help others. That does not mean that we are always expected to help everyone who has less than we have.
During the time of the Apostle Paul, the widows were among the most needy people in society. In First Timothy 5:3-10, he gives a list of requirements that widows must meet before the church would take care of all their needs. First, if she has children or grandchildren, they are to take care of her. Further, she is to be faithful in prayer and not just living her life for pleasure. She is to be blameless (not sinless, but not scandalous either). She is to be at least 60 years old and is to have a good reputation which includes having helped others.
These standards do not mean that we should not help others if they do not meet all these requirements. These are simply standards for whether or not to help these widows for the rest of their lives. There are some individuals in our society that expect to be helped for the rest of their lives regardless of whether they meet any standard. The Christians is not obligated to help all these people.
At the same time there are many people who find themselves in temporary circumstances of need. Things come up that there was no way to plan for. As Christians we must be willing to help those with needs without allowing them to have an expectation that they will no longer have a responsibility to work themselves. “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (II Thessalonians 3”11-12 NKJV)
We
can and should have compassion for those in need. That compassion
should translate into action (James 2:16). Christmas time is a
wonderful time to give to those who could really use a gift. At the
same time, Christians are not required to become slaves to those who
would take advantage of them.
Be
Thankful, not Covetous 11-27-15
We had another wonderful Thanksgiving. We were able to go to Crystal's parents where our boys got to see cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandma, and Grandpa. I enjoyed visiting and playing a game of Scrabble. I also enjoyed the meal. There was turkey, ham, potatoes, gravy, string beans, corn, cranberries, numerous kinds of pickles, bread, crackers, pickled herring, jello, punkin pie, apple pie, other desserts, etc, etc. There was much to be thankful for as we sat down to eat. In fact there was so much good food that I did not even notice until later that there was no stuffing. I was so appreciative of the abundance we had. There was no thought of what we lacked.
-
If we end up focusing on what we do not have instead of what we do have, it is easy to become a complainer rather than a thankful person. We actually witnessed that when we sat down to eat the evening meal. Our boys were given leftovers from the noon meal and one of them responded by asking, “didn't we just have this?”
-
As we drove home, I turned on the radio and we heard about some orphans from Ukraine who were brought to a McDonald's for the first time in their life. A little six year old girl was unaware that they could get free refills, yet she still shared her drink with her little sister. Another little girl only ate half of her hamburger, because she wanted to share the other half with a friend back at the orphanage. They all saved their empty happy meal boxes.
-
As I listed to this, I realized how much we have to be thankful for. No doubt there are poor people in our own country who have slipped through the cracks, but those who are crying the loudest for more assistance already have so much more than those poor orphans do.
-
I Timothy 6:6-8 says, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (NKJV) Notice we are to be content with food and clothing- or basic needs. Few people are content with such things. In fact, political movements have been formed to demand that if anyone has more than another, then they should share it. Too few involved in these movements are thinking of the little girls in Ukraine, but instead many are thinking about what they can get for themselves. In the very next verse of Paul's letter to Timothy he writes, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (I Timothy 6:9 NKJV)
-
You can be in the lower class socially and still have a preoccupation with being rich. Paul is warning us to be content with food and clothing and not to get distracted by wanting riches. Why would he give such a warning about foolish and harmful lusts? If we go back to the 10 commandments we are warned not to covet what other people have. Many of the “demands” being made today are not “requests” for food and clothing, but rather a call to have covetous desires satisfied.
-
Though we as Christians must have compassion on those who are truly in need, we must not encourage sinful behavior. In fact, we should call it what it is. Exodus 20:17 says not to covet anything that is thy neighbors. Romans 13:9 repeats the command not to covet. To covet is to disobey God. To disobey God is sinful.
-
Instead of demanding a share of the worlds riches, let us work hard so we can share what we have when we see a true need. “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NKJV)
Will His Love Make us Obedient? 11-12-15
I love it when one of my little boys crawls onto my lap, looks up at me, and says, “Daddy I love you.” I quickly reply that I love him too. I hope that my wife and all four of our boys know that I love them. I also hope that they all understand how much God loves them. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Is my love for my boys enough to make them do what I want them to do? For example, we often tell our oldest son to bring the garbage can back to the house after the garbage truck has come. If he would rather play with Lego's than to get the garbage can, would I be able to get the result I want from him by simply reminding him of how much I love him?
Let us take this a step further. If I consistently show my son how much I love him, would he always do whatever I wanted him to do without me even telling him what I expected?
I am sure that most readers will understand that human nature just doesn't work that way. Further, how would my son know what I wanted without clear instructions? Sadly, there are Christians who are teaching some really bad theology that is just as ridiculous as my illustration.
I recently heard of a pastor who suggested that it was simply his job to let people know how much God loves them and that realization alone would transform their lives. No doubt, an understanding of John 3:16 should be transforming, but what if we understand God's love for us, without actually loving Him? When my wife and I first met and I found out that she liked me, I wanted to please her because I liked her too. On the other hand, when I was a kid there was a girl that liked me and I still thought girls were icky. I had no desire at all to please her. Even as a teenager, I had no interest in pleasing a girl that liked me when I had no interest in her. In fact, I was careful not to do anything special for her because I did not want to lead her on.
Thinking that people will obey God simply because of His love for them is not the way to make faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The great commission tells us, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB) Notice that we are to teach them to do all that Jesus commanded. How will people even know what to do unless they are taught?
The Apostle Paul spoke to pastors in Acts 20:27, “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” I fear that too many pastors are not willing teach all that God has taught. Consider what Paul says next, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. (Acts 20:28-30 NKJV)
Many pastors are showing why Paul had to make such a warning. I pray that they repent and actually teach the whole Bible without adding their own rules and ideas to it.
Excuses for Disobedience? 10-30-15
Many of our readers already know that our youngest son is autistic. His talking is delayed and he has a few other habits that are unique to him. For example, when I ask him to do something, he wants to be able to finish what he is currently doing before moving on to the next task. We expect our boys to obey their parents and to obey right away, but we also recognize that autism causes people to look at tasks differently.
We were recently asked how much we let our son “get away” with because he is autistic. The person was asking because he knew of parents who had children diagnosed with certain conditions and those children were allowed to behave terribly.
My answer was that sin is never acceptable and that as a parent I had to punish sinful behavior. At the same time, I recognize that because he has autism, there will be situations where immediate obedience will be more difficult for him than it will be for his brothers. With that in mind, we try to give him advanced notice when we tell him to do something so that he has more time to follow through. In other words, we do not want to put him in a place where we are hoping he fails at obeying his parents, but we also want him to understand that obedience is not an option to be ignored.
Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (NASB) Colossians 3:20 states, “Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.” (NASB) But then the next verse says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” (NASB)
As parents, we must enforce standards, but we must also realize that God has shown grace to us and we must show grace to our children. In many ways, God is like a strict parent who will not tolerate any misbehavior. In fact, He is so strict that he tells us in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death. Yet God is so loving, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That payment only benefits us if we believe on Him as we trust Christ as our savior. Once we have done that, we become children of God, but that does not mean that we can do whatever we want. God is still a strict Father. Hebrews 12:5-11 says,
“and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. ” (NASB)
God is loving and merciful, yet He still disciplines us for our sins in order to make us more like Him. That should motivate us as parents to be consistent in disciplining our children when they sin. As long as we do not do it in a way that exasperates them, they will be better off because of the discipline.
We have a Suburban with the powerful 5.7/350 motor. These motors have a reputation for both power and reliability. I love having that extra power to merge with traffic as I pull onto the interstate. As I step on the throttle, the engine roars and pulls the big SUV forward.
-
Our minivan does not have the same potential, so when I utilize that V8 muscle, our boys take notice. Though they are not usually back seat divers, they occasionally scold me for speeding as they hear that “Chevy” roar. I explain is that I am not speeding and am not driving in a reckless manner. It is just that there is such a contrast in power that they take notice.
-
God has even more power than the most aggressive big block motor. How often do we act like my little boys and try to hold back His power for fear that something bad will happen if His full force is released? In other words, do we really trust His power.
-
Although God may chose to grant our requests as we pray, we do not have the authority nor the power to order Him around. My boys can appeal to the authority of the traffic laws as they speak to me about my driving, but God is the ultimate authority over all matters.
-
When Jesus was asked about how to pray, He told His disciples to address God as our Father in heaven and to set apart His name. Then He spoke of God’s kingdom coming and told us to ask that God’s will be done. As we appeal to God in prayer, HIS will should be what we pray for. Let us not forget that He is so powerful that we cannot make Him do anything. In fact, we are reminded how powerful He is as Jesus teaches on prayer in Matthew 6:8 and says at the end of the verse, “for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Imagine if my Suburban knew when to accelerate before I even touched the pedal and knew when that time would occur before I had even decided what road to drive on.
-
God is so powerful He knows what we need before we even ask for it. Still He wants us to ask. In the next chapter of Matthew Jesus says, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 NASB).
-
So why don’t Christians get whatever they ask for? God is powerful enough to know our needs before we even ask. That means He is also powerful enough to know what is best for us. Perhaps I want a new Suburban, but God knows that it is better that I keep my old one. Consider the very next verse in Matthew 7, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9)
-
Further, if I asked for a new Suburban, it would be because I was greedy, not because I wanted God’s will to be done. James clarifies this, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3 NASB) My wife really likes our Suburban. Imagine if she was praying that we keep the old one and I was praying that we get a new one and we both believed our prayers would be answered and both of us were praying that we would only have one Suburban. This is not a problem, because our faith is not more powerful than God’s will. God knows what is best and we can trust whatever He decides.
-
Think of it this way, if you ask for something in Jesus’ name and it is not God’s will, it is like forging His name without authority. God is far too powerful for us to always get our way instead of His. Trust His power and His will.
Aside from casino robberies, we don’t expect to hear about much crime in southeast South Dakota. Yet, a school shooting took place in Harrisburg. Praise God there were no serious injuries. Less than a year earlier Lennox was the scene of a workplace shooting with tragic results.
-
The citizens of our communities are right to be concerned. Some think the solution is fewer guns. Others recognize that it is impossible to get rid of all guns and are suggesting that more guns is the solution so that victims can protect themselves.
-
The problem is that when we start talking about guns, we end up being distracted from the real issue: SIN. Neither the event in Harrisburg, nor the incident in Lenox would have occurred had it not been for sin the hearts of the shooters.
-
The sin problem is actually more widespread than just these shootings. Without sin, there would be no murder or stealing. Further there would no longer be broken marriages caused by adultery. In fact, there would not even be arguments between husbands and wives caused by selfishness. There would be no lying, no cheating, no greed, no parents being dishonored by children. Without sin, people would put God first and not worship anyone or anything else. They would honor His name and not use it as a swear word. They would love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. They would also love their neighbor as themselves.
-
We obviously do not live in such a world. Since Adam disobeyed God, all people have continued to sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23 NASB). “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--” (Romans 5:12 NASB). Eve disobeyed God before Adam did, but once Adam disobeyed as well, then all humans on the earth at that time were sinners and sin thus passed to all their offspring.
-
God knew this would happen. It was serious, because God is holy and sin separates man from God. But God still loved the people He created and He provided a way to deal with sin. Before Jesus died on the cross, people offered animals for their sins, but that offering was only a temporary covering until something final could be done.
-
Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Romans 5:12 told us that death is the consequence of sin. Because we have all sinned, we all deserve death- not just physical death which is separation of body and spirit, but eternal death which is separation from God for eternity in the lake of fire (see Matthew 25:41 & 46; Revelation 20:15).
-
In order to deal with the sin problem, God sent His son to pay for our sins on the cross. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
-
Jesus was able to pay for our sins, because He never sinned Himself. Sin did not pass on to Him from His father, because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by man. “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:17-19 NKJV).
-
Sin is the problem with our world. Jesus is the solution. Once we believe on Him as our savior, our sins are forgiven. We do not stop all sin at that point, but He does give us power to say no to sin. (see I Corinthians 10:13). Getting rid of guns is not the way to stop sin. Jesus is.
While eating breakfast the other day, my 6 year old said, “I thought it was supposed to rain today.” I asked why he thought that and he told me that he had heard it on the radio. I told him that sometimes the radio is wrong. He looked at me with complete surprise and replied, “really?”
-
The innocence if youth is refreshing, but it also reminds us that we should not believe everything we hear. As school starts, many teachers and playground supervisors are going to be drug into conflicts between students. They will have to try to figure out what the truth is as they hear two different stories about what happened. The rest of us face the same challenges as we turn on the radio or the television. Fox news and MSNBC can report and the same story, yet have different “facts” about what actually happened. If you do a quick internet search on the conflicting reporting, you will soon find that there are a number of different versions of what actually happened.
-
Of course we know that the weatherman will be wrong sometimes because he is trying to guess about things that have not even happened yet. It would be nice if we could go to a place where reports of events that have already happened and predictions about the future were always accurate.
-
There actually is such a place. You can even find it online. All you have to do is type in www.bible,com and hit a link to start reading the word of God. The Bible, whether in electronic or printed version is trustworthy and accurate.
-
The reason that the Bible is trustworthy and accurate is not because it had great editors and fact checkers. The Bible is accurate because it came from God. “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” (II Peter 1:21 NASB) When you watch Fox or MSNBC the reporting is filtered through humans with wills and agendas. The Bible, however came about as God moved men to write what He wanted them to write. He allowed them to use their own writing style, while still ensuring that what they wrote was completely accurate. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;” (II Timothy 3:16 NASB).
-
When the Apostle Paul came to a city called Berea, he told them about Jesus Christ. The Old Testament scriptures speak of Jesus in many places. Just a few examples are Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 7:14, and Isaiah 53. The Bereans listened to Paul, but they realized that he may not be any more reliable than some biased reporter. Instead of just accepting whatever he said, they went and checked it out with the Bible. “And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea; and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:10-11 NASB)
-
Notice that these Bereans did not just look up a verse or two and then agree with what Paul had said. Instead they examined (the Greek word here actually means scrutinized) the scriptures. We know that the Bible is true and accurate, but just like a biased reporter, many people take it out of context and misuse it. Since the Bible is true, we should study it carefully. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB) Men are often wrong, but God is never wrong and the Bible is God’s Word.
Who is Jesus? Is he simply a great prophet sent to help the world, or is he actually God with a capital “G”? Some would suggest that he is the son of God, but not actually God. Others suggest that followers of God are sons of God in the same way that Jesus is. Though true Christians are God’s children, we are not deity (God).
-
The deity (Godness) of Christ is an important doctrine to consider. John 1:3 tells us Jesus made all things. Micah 5:2 tells us that he has been going forth from everlasting (existed forever). I Corinthians 10:4 speaks of Christ being with the Israelites during the time of Moses. This was nearly 1500 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16, and Hebrews 1:2 all show that Jesus is the creator. Consider Isaiah 44:24, “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself”. This shows that God created all things alone. Jesus is the Son of the Father. Each member of the trinity has a distinct role, yet they are all God. For example the shell of an egg is not the yoke. But the yoke, white and shell are all egg.
-
In Revelation 22:8-9, the Apostle John is reprimanded for worshipping an angel who connects himself with the prophets. Jesus Christ, however, did not rebuke people for worshipping him. Remembering that Jesus is the creator, consider Revelation 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
-
Not only do the elders worship Jesus, but they make it clear that he is worthy to receive glory. This is significant considering that God will not share his glory with anyone else. Consider Isaiah 48:11, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” See also Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” In John 17:22, Jesus speaks of giving glory to his followers, that the Father had given to him. There is, however, a difference between glory given to us by Christ and God sharing his full personal glory as deity.
-
Jesus prayed in John 17:5, “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” Hebrews 1:3 speaks of Christ, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”. This is not just glory like Christ shares with us mere humans, but the actual glory of God in heaven. How could the Father share his personal glory with Jesus Christ, if God will not share his glory with another? The answer comes from Jesus’ own statements when he says in John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” Also consider his response to Philip in John 14:9, “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”
-
Jesus Christ is not a separate God from the Father. There is perfect unity between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three are as distinct from each other as a yoke, white, and shell are, yet as unified as a complete egg. All can claim deity- the right to be called God with a capital “G”.
My friend Brian has autism. We are about the same age and I got to know him in my early teens when I bailed straw for his dad. Before meeting Brian, I did not really understand what autism was.
-
A few years later the movie “Rainman” was released. Though there were similarities between Dustin Hoffman’s character and my friend Brian, there were also differences. Each autistic person is an individual and they do not all hate K-Mart.
-
As we stacked bales I discovered something that is quite common among those with autism. Many, though not all, of those with autism like to follow a standard routine. For example, as we stacked straw, every other bale was mine and the other bales were Brian’s. I decided to help him out and take two bales in a row. I soon realized that if I did that, I had to take 3, because the next one was mine, not his. I also had to learn to stack the straw better. I would sometimes switch which side I started the stack on, but Brian’s dad had taught him to start on a particular side, so that is how we did it.
-
My friendship with Brian prepared me to relate to 2 of my nephews. My sister’s sons Josh and Matthew were also diagnosed with autism. Though there are similarities between these three people and even with Rainman, each of them is distinct and may not have the same characteristics as others.
-
My nephew Matthew cannot count cards like Rainman, but he has memorized many roads and railroads, by observing Google Earth. His brother Josh passed away this year in a car accident at the age of 18, but before he died he was elected a student ambassador for an online home school group. Rainman did not have the best social skills, and often this is characteristic of autism, yet Josh had such good online social skills that he became a mentor to other non autistic students.
-
Recently our youngest son was also diagnosed with autism. He is almost 4 and is not yet talking. Once he gets to know someone, he is quite social and he does not have to stick to a routine, yet he has other autistic characteristics.
-
Some people would describe autistic individuals as somewhat peculiar. 1 Peter 2:9 describes God‘s people, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Hundreds of years ago, peculiar meant something different than it does today. It actually meant a possession of great value. Instead of “peculiar,” the NASB says, “A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION.” The NKJV says, “His own special people.”
-
My son has autism and is not yet able to talk. If peculiar means that he is of great value, then I would agree. In fact, people with autism have been of great value to the world. It is believed that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton may have had autism.
-
We are all unique, whether we have autism or not. We are of value to God. In fact He loved the world and the people in it so much that He sent His son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
About 150 years ago there lived a wealthy businessman named Horatio Spafford. He had invested in Chicago real estate, and then lost most of it in the infamous Chicago fire of 1871. A few years later, he scheduled a vacation for his family, but had to send them ahead to Europe while he took care of some last minute business, hoping to join them later. The ship that was carrying his wife and daughters sank. His wife survived but his daughters did not.
-
Imagine the heartache he must have felt. Within just a couple of years, he had lost wealth and family. Would you be able to trust God if such an event had happened in your life? Horatio Spafford then got on another ship to go and comfort his grieving wife. While on that trip he wrote these words, “When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.”
-
The words were set to music and became the well known hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.” Another verse of the song poetically describes Christ shedding His blood for our sins and that not just part of our sins but all of them were taken care of on the cross. In this song, we hear of a man trusting God in the midst of heartache.
-
This spring after two of my nephews were killed in a car accident, our family was sad, but we did not fall apart. Our trust in God sustained us in the midst of our sorrow. My sister and brother-in-law were a great testimony to a trust in our almighty God- so was my mother.
-
Mom called me this week and told about a friend of hers who had lost her adult son. This lady was understandably devastated, yet Mom commented on how she seemed to be taking it harder than my sister did when she lost her 8 and 18 year old sons. Mom was not being critical of her friend for her devastation, but was rather showing thankfulness that our family had such a confidence in God that we were able to face a tragedy and still say that it is well with our soul.
-
Mom’s phone call reminded me that not everyone- not even every Christian- has such a confidence in God. The book of Job tells about a man who lost his possessions, his family, and his health, yet refused to curse God. Throughout the book, Job and his friends try to figure what God is doing and why. They all speak some truth, but they also say a lot of things that are totally wrong. Finally at the end, God speaks and reminds Job that he was not there when God made the earth. God then goes on to explain so many things that God does, that man does not understand. The point is that God is stronger and wiser than we are, and we should therefore trust Him no matter what.
-
As we realize who God is- as we understand both His justice and His mercy- as we understand His chastening and His love- it becomes easy to trust Him no matter what happens. That does not mean we always enjoy the testing that we experience, but it does mean that we trust Him when it comes.
-
I cannot help but think of a couple of my Mom’s favorite Bible verses. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
-
Trust God and realize that the only way to be right with Him is to have your sin paid for. Then realize that the only one who can pay for your sins is Jesus Christ. Therefore, believe on Him as your Lord and Savior.
Is Planned Parenthood good or bad? That debate has been raging in America for decades. Recently another scandal has erupted with video showing that Planned Parenthood has been selling body parts from aborted fetuses.
-
How outraged a person becomes over this scandal often depends on whether they regard the fetus as a human baby or as a clump of cells.
-
If the fetus is not human, why is there a market for their body parts? If they are simply a cluster of tissue then a cluster of animal tissue would be just as valuable. If they are really human, then they are valuable for human research.
-
Do the mothers who have the abortion know what is happening to the remains of their babies? Many who defend abortion suggest that the baby is part of the woman’s body so it is her choice. If that were true, then it would be wrong to sell these babies without her consent. Women’s rights advocates should be very concerned by this.
-
Many expectant mothers have been excited to see the first ultrasound pictures of their baby. These pictures make it very clear that this is not just a clump of tissue. It has been suggested that a mother see an ultrasound before making the choice for an abortion. Others have suggested that such a step would place undue guilt on the mother. Would it have been wrong to personalize the Jewish prisoners and thus placed guilt on those conducting medical research in the Nazi concentration camps?
-
The answers to these questions will likely generate anger from those on both sides of the debate. If these babies are really human, then that is understandable. Still the debate is not as simple as whether or not the baby is human- it is also a debate about when the baby becomes a human.
-
It is not up to me to decide when the baby is human. Instead we should look at what God’s word says on the subject. Isaiah 44:24 says, “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone” (NASB). No doubt God formed us in the womb, but beyond that, He knew us personally even before that. Read what He told Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5 NASB)
-
A baby in the womb is clearly a human. The whole Planned Parenthood and abortion debate should thus center around this one question: “When is it okay to kill an innocent human?” Some would answer, “when the mother’s life is at stake, or when many others can be saved by sacrificing this one life for research.” Those are often difficult debates if your goal is to preserve as many lives as possible, but if someone answers that it is okay to kill an innocent person simply because they are an inconvenience, then we should all be appalled.
The United States of America is known as the most powerful nation on earth. It has been said that our military is able to fight two wars at the same time. Further, in spite of a recent recession, our nation is still one of the most stable countries economically. Still doomsayers are making a lot of money selling reports about the impending economic collapse of America. I do not know if they are right or wrong, but I do know that as powerful as our nation is, God is more powerful.
-
As patriotic as I am, it is comforting to know that my ultimate security is not in my nation but in my God. That brings comfort in a couple of ways. First, if our nation were to fall apart, my God would still be just as powerful as He is now. Further, if our nation continues to gain power and influence and uses that power and influence for evil instead of good, it still will not be more powerful than God.
-
Many of us were saddened over the recent Supreme court decision that essentially reversed the Defense of Marriage act. Some of the sadness centered around the idea that the definition of marriage has been changed. From a strictly legal standpoint, that may be true, but we as Christians need to look a the broader perspective. No manmade law can change God.
-
I fear that too many Christians have reacted as if a simple court decision changed an all powerful God. No court- no nation- is that powerful. Regardless of how the state defines marriage, God’s word has not changed. This message is important to both those who are celebrating the Court’s decision and to those who are discouraged by it. God has not changed and no human law can change God’s standard of morality.
-
Let us be reminded of God’s power: “O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?” (II Chronicles 20:6).
-
The apostle Paul ministered during a time when another superpower controlled the world. The Roman Empire was not Christian and it did not get its morality from the Bible, yet he told the early Christians to pray for their leaders and to submit to their authority (see Romans 13 and I Timothy 2). Even though we are to pray for our government leaders and submit to their authority, there is another authority that is even more important- God’s authority. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
-
Our Christianity should not be used as an excuse to rebel against an ungodly government, but we must also realize that right and wrong are determined by God, not secular laws. For example, it has been legal to tell lies, commit adultery, and to get drunk long before our latest supreme court decision, yet we as Christians should never condone those activities even though they are legal. At the same time, it is not our job to stop every non-Christian from doing those sins. Instead it is our job to point out that sin is a reality in all our lives and that God will judge sin. In fact, all sin- including homosexual behavior- is so serious that it separates us from a holy God, yet God loved us so much that He sent His son to pay for our sins. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
-
Not everyone will agree that homosexual behavior, getting drunk, or committing adultery are wrong, but as Christians we must remember that it is God who decides what is right or wrong, not society or any powerful government.
Rachel Dolezal recently made headlines as a white person who identifies as black. Bruce Jenner now identifies as a woman, though he was born a man. These examples make headlines, but there is another identity crisis that is not being talked about- those who identify as Christian, but who really are not.
-
Just calling oneself a Christian does not mean someone is really a follower of Christ. Acts 11:26 tells us that the disciples were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. Often when we hear the word “disciple,” we think of the 12 men who closely followed Jesus Christ, but as we look at the Gospels, we see that there were many disciples. These were people who followed Christ in order to learn from Him.
-
Christ taught much moral truth. Truth that showed that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but Jesus also proclaimed the message of the kingdom. Jesus Christ shines as a bright light in a dark world of sin. Matthew 4:16-17 says, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."“ (NKJV)
-
The darkness of sin shows a need for repentance. After calling for repentance (a turning from sin) Jesus tells of the kingdom. In fact that kingdom message was a message that He told His disciples to share. In Luke 9:2 Jesus sends the 12 disciples to preach the kingdom and then in vs. 60 He tells another man to do the same. So why is the message of the kingdom so important? Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. Thus a true Christian is someone who recognizes that Christ is the King and thus has the authority of a king.
-
As we understand that Jesus Christ is the king, we also need to understand that without Him there is no real Christianity. The very word “Christianity” has the word “Christ” in it and that is no accident. Christianity must be all about Christ. In fact the very way of salvation from sin- the way to eternal life is centered in Christ. Consider John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The word “belief” in John 3:16, means to have faith in, to entrust, to commit. When a Christian believes in Jesus Christ, they are trusting and committing to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
-
They are also understanding that Christ is their only hope. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB) The apostle Peter when speaking of Jesus Christ said, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NASB) In order to be a real Christian, you must be trusting in Jesus Christ and no one else. That means you cannot be trusting in your pastor, your priest, your parents, or even yourself.
-
That last on is probably the hardest. As Christians we understand our behavior should be different because we are following the King of kings. We must also realize it the King who makes us Christians, not our behavior. Ephesians 2:8-10 explains it best, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (NASB)
-
Our works do not save us, the King does, but once we follow the King, we should be doing what He says to do. Are you just calling yourself a Christian, or are you trusting and following the King?
A recent news headline suggested that jerks often get ahead by being jerks. I skimmed the article and it showed that people who mistreated others actually advanced in life. As I reflected on that article, I could not help but think of some of the famous mobsters who stole and killed and ended up rich. Sadly, I also thought of some preachers who mistreated others in order to grow their congregations and to leverage positions of power. I also thought of the schoolyard bullies who manipulated their own popularity by putting others down.
-
No doubt, many have learned to get ahead at the expense of someone else, but there are also those who have gotten ahead by doing right. The point of life, however, should not be to see how far we can get ahead without regard for who gets hurt along the way. The point of life should be to glorify God. In Isaiah 43:7 God speaks about those who are called by His name and how He created them for His glory. If you are really a Christian you should understand that your real purpose in life is to glorify God. Hurting others in order to selfishly advance yourself should not be part of your purpose.
-
The Bible is filled with commands and ordinances. There are 10 well known commandments, but a lawyer ends up testing Jesus Christ to see if he can trip Him up. It kind of reminds me of an interviewer on FOX or CNN. The question he asks is which is the great commandment in the law? Of course the first of the 10 commandments says that we are not to have any other god’s before God. In other words, God is to be our supreme ruler.
-
Jesus answers the question, but does not directly quote the first commandment. Instead, He shows what a person who has God as their ruler should be doing. Listen to His answer, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'“ (Matthew 22:37-39 NASB).
-
Jesus had a very insightful reason for giving this answer and He explains, "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:40 NASB) The reason we are to obey God is to show our love for Him and others.
-
If we disobey God and mistreat others in order to get ahead, how can we say that we love God and our neighbor? In other words, if we are being jerks to get ahead, we are disobeying the most important commands of all.
-
In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul speaks of loving your neighbor and warns about biting and devouring one another and then he follows that warning with a list of the works of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:10-21).
-
These works of the flesh are sins against God and man. Notice that selfish ambition is included. That sin is serious enough to keep man out of the kingdom of God, but all sin is serious enough to do that. That is why we need Jesus. Still once we have believed on Jesus and thus become a real Christian, our lives are to be characterized by the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, & temperance.) These things may not make us the top dog on the block, but they do show that we are more concerned with loving God and others than with selfish ambition.
Many people are killed each year in traffic accidents. My nephews recently became part of those statistics. To us, they are more than just numbers. Caleb was an 8 year old with a quick smile and a cheerful disposition. He was about the same age as our oldest son. Jared cried when he heard what had happened to his cousin. Josh was 18. He was ready to graduate and face the next exciting stage in his life. He was a polite young man and a joy to be around. Their lives came to a tragic end after a 2 vehicle accident that occurred on May 3rd.
-
In our minds, it was a tragedy, but we also know that God is good all the time. As we grieve the loss of loved ones, we have not become angry at God. Instead we continue to trust Him- realizing we need His strength more now than ever.
-
For us, such loss is tragic, because we will miss these wonderful boys, but death does not always have to be viewed as a tragedy. For the believer, there is comfort even beyond death. The Apostle Paul spoke of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and told how our Lord’s resurrection gives us hope for a resurrection as well. Consider I Corinthians 15:19-22, “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.” (NASB)
-
Jesus died and rose from the dead showing us His power over death. The Apostle Paul pointed out that death came through Adam. In other words, men have been dying ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. Not only have men been cursed with death since then, but they have also been cursed with sin, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). But notice the hope in I Corinthians 15:22 where it says that, “in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
-
Christ overcame death and rose from the tomb the 3rd day. Those who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior will one day be raised from the dead as well. If we jump ahead to verse 26 of I Corinthians 15, we read that, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”
-
Life may end at death, but Christians look forward to a new life after death. For those who have believed in Christ, that new life will be a life of joy with God. For the unbeliever it will be an existence in the reality of torment. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 NASB)
-
These verses provide both comfort and warning. As we grieve our loss this week, we find comfort knowing that God is good all the time and that He loves us so much that He provided a way for our sins to be forgiven. If anyone believes on Him as their Lord and Savior, then God will give them eternal life. Those who do not believe will be condemned.
-
For the believer in Christ, death is sad, but it is like someone moving to a far away country that does not have any mail service, internet, or telephone. We will miss them, but we know that it is not all over. We look forward to the next life and rejoice for those believers who are already there.
Do you pick your nose? Of course it is necessary pick it from time to time, but most of us do not do it when other people are around. Too often Christians approach sin in a similar manner. But when you are alone, ask yourself, “would I do this if Jesus were in the room with me?”
-
When I first met my wife, I would not have considered picking my nose in front of her. She was so beautiful that I wanted to make a good impression. Today Crystal is even more beautiful than when we first met, but I have become so comfortable around her that I find myself picking my nose in her presence.
-
How many of us have become too comfortable around Christ? He loved us enough to die for us, and we are saved by His grace rather than by our works, thus it is tempting to become careless with sin- even when we remember that God is in our midst.
-
The disciples spent a lot of time with Jesus. John was so comfortable around Jesus that he even leaned against Him as they crowded around the table for a meal. As comfortable as John was around Jesus, he was given a powerful reminder that Jesus was not just one of the guys.
-
About a week after Jesus said that His followers should take up their cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23), Peter James and John went up a mountain to pray with Jesus. While there, something amazing happened. Jesus’ appearance changed. His face and clothes glowed (Luke 9:29). Further, He met with Moses and Elijah- men who had long ago left this world. This was an amazing reminder that Jesus was not just one of the guys.
-
These three disciples had hung around with Jesus a lot, but look at their reaction on the mount of transfiguration. “And while he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.” (Luke 9:34 NASB) They were afraid. This is a reminder that the power of God should make us fear. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (NASB). In the Bible, the fear of God is represented as a good thing. We should desire to be as close to Jesus as Peter, James, and John were, but we must never forget who Jesus is and we should have a reverent fear for Him.
-
God then speaks from the cloud, reminding the disciples who Jesus really is. “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!’" (Luke 9:35 NASB) Jesus is the Son of God. That makes Him equal to God. As God, Jesus has the authority to tell us what to do. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. We ought not to become so comfortable around Him that we forget who He really is.
-
Jesus no longer walks on this earth like He did 2000 years ago. He has ascended into heaven. Still He has given us His Holy Spirit. As we ask the question, “would you do that if Jesus were in the room?”- remember that if you are really a Christian, not only is the Holy Spirit in the room, He is in you. Imagine how much differently we would act and think if suddenly the Holy Spirit within us revealed His glory like Jesus did on the mount of transfiguration.
It is frustrating when we run into rude people. Some of the rude people that we run into are simply having a bad day and are normally pleasant to be around. Others just have interesting personalities. I once met a man who I thought was rude. Later I got to know him, and I realized that he just had an “interesting” sense of humor and was making an awkward attempt to be friendly. Unfortunately, there are some people who really are jerks.
-
As you read that last sentence, you will probably have a name come to your mind. It may even be tempting to let your mind wander and to become bitter toward that person. You may even hope that that person would get what they deserve and that everyone would know how terrible they are.
-
So what should our attitude be toward such people. First, we must realize that there is such a thing as evil and that God will judge evil. Further, we must realize that if the person is a fellow Christian, then we have a duty to lovingly confront that person and challenge them to do right and avoid wrong (see Galatians 6:1 and Matthew 18: 15-17).
If on the other hand, the person is an unbeliever and does not care about Christian love, then what can do to confront their rudeness.
-
Today we have Facebook and Twitter. We can go online and tell everyone what a rude terrible person he or she is. You “could” do this, but that doesn’t mean you “should.” You will likely feel real good when you see all the people who “like” your comments. You will feel good because you have gotten your vengeance, but should you feel good? Romans 12:19 says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.” (NKJV)
-
There is a difference between justice and vengeance. Vengeance is the idea of getting even just for our own pleasure rather than dealing fairly with a wrong that has been committed. A Facebook post to shame someone sounds more like vengeance than justice. Further if the person is such a jerk that everyone would agree with your post, then others know that already without you posting it. Finally consider Matthew 5:44, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (NKJV).
-
Does that mean that evil jerks can just get away with whatever they want to do? Vengeance is not ours, it is God’s (remember Romans 12:19). What God will do to them is far worse than a Facebook post. Consider Psalm 11:6, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” In other words, God will give them what they deserve. Psalm 9:16 says, “The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.” (NKJV)
-
Not only will God hold them accountable, but their very actions will snare them. It is not uncommon for people to be rewarded with bad consequences for their bad behavior. Others may seem to get away with their rudeness or other evil, but we do not know what God is doing with them behind the scenes. Finally we know that ultimately we must all stand before God. That should humble us all and cause us all to be careful what we say or do. It should also cause us all to realize that Christ is our only hope. "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36 NKJV)
Racism, Bias, & Christianity 1-9-2015
On August 9th of 2014 in Ferguson, MO, a young man named Michael Brown was shot by another young man- a police officer named Darren Wilson. Michael died as a result of the encounter. This incident was more than just a passing news story though. Another component was involved. The two young men, Michael and Darren, were of different ethnic backgrounds. Soon racial tensions across the United States were heightened even more than they had been before.
-
The incident at Ferguson and the surrounding controversies were not the beginnings of racial tension in our country, they were just further evidence of its existence.
-
Racism is not a new problem. As we read the New Testament, we see much racial tension. Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well is the encounter of a Jewish man with a Samaritan woman. As we look at the encounter we find that much of the tension has more to do with ideology than it has to do with race. She says, "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." (John 4:20 NASB).
-
The “you people” comment is often used by racist people today as well. One of the difficulties with the whole discussion is that racism is not limited to one particular ethnic or ideological group.
-
Racism can come in so many forms. Often there is a cultural, ideological, religious, or even political component. It is not uncommon for people to excuse racism as long as the racist has similar religious or political views. This brings in another component- bias. Bias is an unfair preference or dislike for something. It is very similar to racism.
-
Racism is basically bias directed at ethnic heritage. Such bias is wrong whether it comes from the majority or minority of the population.
-
Even when dealing with the leaders in the church, Paul warned Timothy, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.” (I Timothy 5:21 NASB)
-
James also deals with the issue when he talks about wisdom from God. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) In the verses right before this statement, James warns about the wisdom that does not come from God and the damaging results. “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (James 3:14-16)
-
Much of today’s racism is rooted in bitterness, envy and strife. All races ought to judge others by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Christians need to remember that we are all created in the image of God no matter what race we are; therefore, there should be no racial preferences. Consider Colossians 3:9-11 NASB) “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”
