Galatians 1: 6 – 12
Ever see the movie, “Time Changer?”
It's the story of a professor at a Bible college who rights a book using the teachings of the word of God, but, does not acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. A friend tells him and the board of directors at the college that it would be a grave mistake to publish this, “false gospel.” To prove his point, the friend sends the professor to the future to find out how much effect his book has in our life time.
8 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.
9 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.
I used to work overnights at a transitional facility. One of the other employees would come in with a different self help book almost every night, and she would proclaim how the book, and its author, had changed her life for the better. But, as soon as she finished one book, she felt empty and bought another.
She still needed more.
I pointed out to her one night, that every self help, new agey, get yourself right movement, used what the Bible taught, only they changed who taught it in the first place. She thought for a moment, agreed with what I had just told her, and the next night brought in another self help book to read.
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
When we make fundamental changes in the word of God, we were taught, “Boy Howdy,” do we make a mess of things. We not only mess up and confuse our life, we also mess up and confuse other lives as well.
11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Knock it off!
Get with the program.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
GO AND DO LIKEWISE.
Luke 10: 30 – 37
Okay.
We all know the story of the good Samaritan.
And, we know that whole love your neighbor as yourself thing.
But, nobody talks about why the other guys in the parable just walked by.
In the early sixties there was a case in New York City. A woman named Kitty Genovese was coming home to her apartment, when she was brutally beaten to death in the court yard of her building.
She screamed for help until the end.
When the police investigated the incident, they interviewed all the residents of the apartments facing the courtyard. They discovered that every resident witnessed the beating. When asked, why they didn't help the woman, the common response was that they didn't want to get involved.
That's it.
Just that simple.
They didn't want to get involved.
All it would have taken was for one person to be involved.
The proof of this was the Samaritan.
He made the difference in whether the man lived or died.
36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
We need to do that likewise thing.
We have to be able to reach out to those in need of our help.
Time to get involved, time to get in the game.
Okay.
We all know the story of the good Samaritan.
And, we know that whole love your neighbor as yourself thing.
But, nobody talks about why the other guys in the parable just walked by.
In the early sixties there was a case in New York City. A woman named Kitty Genovese was coming home to her apartment, when she was brutally beaten to death in the court yard of her building.
She screamed for help until the end.
When the police investigated the incident, they interviewed all the residents of the apartments facing the courtyard. They discovered that every resident witnessed the beating. When asked, why they didn't help the woman, the common response was that they didn't want to get involved.
That's it.
Just that simple.
They didn't want to get involved.
All it would have taken was for one person to be involved.
The proof of this was the Samaritan.
He made the difference in whether the man lived or died.
36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."
We need to do that likewise thing.
We have to be able to reach out to those in need of our help.
Time to get involved, time to get in the game.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
GOIN' HOME
Psalm 73: 21 – 28
I love to travel by car. All I need is my faithful Rand McNally, a good radio, and a tank of gas. I've seen a lot of cool stuff along the roads I traveled. I saw the worlds largest rocking chair, the largest truck stop ever built, Pedro's South of the Border, and in South Dakota, it seems as if every exit off the highway has an attraction that has at least one piece of movie memorabilia from Dances with Wolves.
It doesn't matter how long, or how far I travel, I know when it is time to head home. The way home always seems to be too long. I get an anxious feeling hoping that my exit on the highway is going to be the next one. I can't wait to get there. The closer I get to home, the better I feel. When I finally pull into my driveway, I take a deep breath, relax, and with a smile on my face, walk through the door into my home.
I'm home, and it feels so good.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
I think that Asaph is writing about goin' home here.
He talks about the comfort that he gets from God, and that here on earth, there is nothing for him.
He's having all kinds of experiences and is living life, but Asaph knows where home really is.
When I'm on the road, when ever I am at a coffee counter at some diner or truck stop, some one will hear my accent and say to me, “You're not from around here are you?” There is the opening I have been looking for to start up a conversation. I say, “No, I'm not,” then I tell them of the place I call home and how great and comfortable it is to be there.
I do the same here on earth. When I get the chance, I tell people how great and comfortable it will be to go home, what a wonderful place it is, and how cool it is to be with God.
I love to travel by car. All I need is my faithful Rand McNally, a good radio, and a tank of gas. I've seen a lot of cool stuff along the roads I traveled. I saw the worlds largest rocking chair, the largest truck stop ever built, Pedro's South of the Border, and in South Dakota, it seems as if every exit off the highway has an attraction that has at least one piece of movie memorabilia from Dances with Wolves.
It doesn't matter how long, or how far I travel, I know when it is time to head home. The way home always seems to be too long. I get an anxious feeling hoping that my exit on the highway is going to be the next one. I can't wait to get there. The closer I get to home, the better I feel. When I finally pull into my driveway, I take a deep breath, relax, and with a smile on my face, walk through the door into my home.
I'm home, and it feels so good.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
I think that Asaph is writing about goin' home here.
He talks about the comfort that he gets from God, and that here on earth, there is nothing for him.
He's having all kinds of experiences and is living life, but Asaph knows where home really is.
When I'm on the road, when ever I am at a coffee counter at some diner or truck stop, some one will hear my accent and say to me, “You're not from around here are you?” There is the opening I have been looking for to start up a conversation. I say, “No, I'm not,” then I tell them of the place I call home and how great and comfortable it is to be there.
I do the same here on earth. When I get the chance, I tell people how great and comfortable it will be to go home, what a wonderful place it is, and how cool it is to be with God.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
FRIENDS
1 Samuel 20: 12 – 17
And I am all alone.
There is no one here beside me.
And my problems have all gone.
There is no one to deride me.
But you got to have friends.
The feelings oh so strong.
You got to have friends
To make that day last long.
(B. Midler)
I used to love Bette Midler. I may have been the only straight man, other than her husband, that did.
I never saw a live concert, but I did watch the few that she recorded on film.
Bette would open her show dressed as a bag lady and begin singing the above song.
As the song went on with her singing about friends, she removed her “bag lady” costume to reveal her sparkling dress.
The show then went into overdrive.
Friends can take us from the depths of despair, to the soaring heights of bliss.
There are those in this world, that take the bond of friendship, forming a brotherhood, that they take more seriously than the bonds of marriage.
There are friends, then there are friends. We all have people that we are friendly with, but there are only a select few that we trust with our lives and feelings.
David and Johnathon had that kind of relationship. They had a deep bond where in they loved each other like they loved themselves. Johnathon would do anything for David, and “Visa Versa.”
unfortunately, there are those among us, who read into the love that these two men had for each other, and see a homosexual love story. It sometimes makes me think that people like them have never had a really true friend.
16 keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when GOD finally rids the earth of David’s enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"
17 Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!
We throw the word “love” around so much that it loses its value. I love my bike. I love my flip flops. I love you bro. Ad infinitem.
When the books of Samuel were written, the word love, really meant something more serious than it does today.
We are created for relationship, so we need friends in our lives almost like we need to breathe.
Our soul craves relationship whether it is with other people or with God.
My advice is to love those that you consider friends, more then you love yourselves, and see where it takes you.
And I am all alone.
There is no one here beside me.
And my problems have all gone.
There is no one to deride me.
But you got to have friends.
The feelings oh so strong.
You got to have friends
To make that day last long.
(B. Midler)
I used to love Bette Midler. I may have been the only straight man, other than her husband, that did.
I never saw a live concert, but I did watch the few that she recorded on film.
Bette would open her show dressed as a bag lady and begin singing the above song.
As the song went on with her singing about friends, she removed her “bag lady” costume to reveal her sparkling dress.
The show then went into overdrive.
Friends can take us from the depths of despair, to the soaring heights of bliss.
There are those in this world, that take the bond of friendship, forming a brotherhood, that they take more seriously than the bonds of marriage.
There are friends, then there are friends. We all have people that we are friendly with, but there are only a select few that we trust with our lives and feelings.
David and Johnathon had that kind of relationship. They had a deep bond where in they loved each other like they loved themselves. Johnathon would do anything for David, and “Visa Versa.”
unfortunately, there are those among us, who read into the love that these two men had for each other, and see a homosexual love story. It sometimes makes me think that people like them have never had a really true friend.
16 keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when GOD finally rids the earth of David’s enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"
17 Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!
We throw the word “love” around so much that it loses its value. I love my bike. I love my flip flops. I love you bro. Ad infinitem.
When the books of Samuel were written, the word love, really meant something more serious than it does today.
We are created for relationship, so we need friends in our lives almost like we need to breathe.
Our soul craves relationship whether it is with other people or with God.
My advice is to love those that you consider friends, more then you love yourselves, and see where it takes you.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
ARE YOU SURE?
Acts 26: 12 – 23
Repent, in Greek, is the word “metanoeo” which translates to mean, “Change your mind.”
You can say Amen, Hosanna, and that you have a personal relationship with God all day long, but, if you haven't changed the way you think and act, it means nothing.
One of my favorite Peanuts comic strips features Charlie Brown saying to Snoopy, “I hear you’re writing a book on theology. I hope you have a good title.” Snoopy responds, “I have the perfect title: Has It Ever Occurred To You That You Might Be Wrong?” (ODB)
That's the question isn't it?
At one time or another, I am sure that we all have had our doubts about the course we are on. We wonder if the truth we are being taught is really true. It appears to be in our nature to go through this. And, I'm sure that there are many more doubts and questions about our choice to believe in Jesus.
Paul tell us that when we truly agree with God about what is right, our behavior follows the change.
13 About noon, O King, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 "Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ "‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
22 But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—
23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
Talk about your change of mind.
Paul was once the most ardent of Christian persecutors, then God intervened, and removed any doubt that he might have had.
Paul simply changed his mind about Jesus.
So, are you sure?
Have you truly repented?
Repent, in Greek, is the word “metanoeo” which translates to mean, “Change your mind.”
You can say Amen, Hosanna, and that you have a personal relationship with God all day long, but, if you haven't changed the way you think and act, it means nothing.
One of my favorite Peanuts comic strips features Charlie Brown saying to Snoopy, “I hear you’re writing a book on theology. I hope you have a good title.” Snoopy responds, “I have the perfect title: Has It Ever Occurred To You That You Might Be Wrong?” (ODB)
That's the question isn't it?
At one time or another, I am sure that we all have had our doubts about the course we are on. We wonder if the truth we are being taught is really true. It appears to be in our nature to go through this. And, I'm sure that there are many more doubts and questions about our choice to believe in Jesus.
Paul tell us that when we truly agree with God about what is right, our behavior follows the change.
13 About noon, O King, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 "Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ "‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.
17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
22 But I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen—
23 that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
Talk about your change of mind.
Paul was once the most ardent of Christian persecutors, then God intervened, and removed any doubt that he might have had.
Paul simply changed his mind about Jesus.
So, are you sure?
Have you truly repented?
Friday, July 24, 2009
WALKIN' AND TALKIN'
1 Timothy 4: 6 – 16
I've heard the phrase about walking the walk and talking the talk so many times that I sometimes wish that I would never hear it again. But, then I think about the truth of what we are saying and hope that I can live it out every day.
God calls us to talk about His good news, and to live out changed lives as an example of the redeeming power of Jesus.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
It has been said that a bowler who joins a league at his local lanes practices until he can hit the 7 – 10 split. But, a pro bowler practices until he can hit that split every time without thinking about it.
In the same way, we have to move beyond the changing of our lives so that we reflect that change in everything that we do.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Like I said a year or so ago, “Salvation ain't for wimps.” This means that we have to have the confidence, the ability, and the willingness to really live out a changed life. We are to present to people with our lives the teachings of God's word.
I've heard the phrase about walking the walk and talking the talk so many times that I sometimes wish that I would never hear it again. But, then I think about the truth of what we are saying and hope that I can live it out every day.
God calls us to talk about His good news, and to live out changed lives as an example of the redeeming power of Jesus.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance
10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
It has been said that a bowler who joins a league at his local lanes practices until he can hit the 7 – 10 split. But, a pro bowler practices until he can hit that split every time without thinking about it.
In the same way, we have to move beyond the changing of our lives so that we reflect that change in everything that we do.
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Like I said a year or so ago, “Salvation ain't for wimps.” This means that we have to have the confidence, the ability, and the willingness to really live out a changed life. We are to present to people with our lives the teachings of God's word.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
WHEN GOD BEGINS HIS SAVING WORK IN OUR LIFE
1 Peter 3: 13 – 22
22 Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
I am listening to a podcast from a Messianic synagog in Jacksonville Florida. While I was setting up for this teaching on the 'puter, the Pastor said the words that became the title I decided to use.
15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
We were taught recently in a class on apologetics that we must be ready and able to give a reasonable defense of our faith. The problem with this is that for the mot part, when we hear some folks talking trash about Jesus, we are kinda afraid, or shy. Either way you look at it or define the feeling, we keep our mouths shut not wanting to impose our beliefs on others. Sometimes we think that it would be rude to interrupt their conversation to present our views.
Too bad that the word of God tells us to act differently.
14 Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought.
16 Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath.
17 It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.
So what are we worried about?
If Peter shows us that it better to suffer doing what God wants us to then,
Why do we shy away from presenting the gospel?
Why won't we publicly defend our faith in Jesus?
Dunno. I guess it boils down to fear.
We're afraid. We want to consider ourselves good Christians, being separated and all, supposedly acting out our walk with God.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “When we Christians behave badly or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.”
To me, failing to act is failing to behave well.
C.S. Further wrote, “The war time posters told us that careless talk costs lives.” “It is equally true that careless lives cost talk.” (Mere Christianity)
When we fail to behave well, our careless lives start the outer world talking and we give them the grounds for it in a way that casts doubt on the truth of our faith itself.
18 That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.
Suffered death to Bring us God?
And we're afraid to interrupt a conversation to bring the truth to others.
Boy howdy. There are times when we can be such wimps.
22 Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
I am listening to a podcast from a Messianic synagog in Jacksonville Florida. While I was setting up for this teaching on the 'puter, the Pastor said the words that became the title I decided to use.
15 Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
We were taught recently in a class on apologetics that we must be ready and able to give a reasonable defense of our faith. The problem with this is that for the mot part, when we hear some folks talking trash about Jesus, we are kinda afraid, or shy. Either way you look at it or define the feeling, we keep our mouths shut not wanting to impose our beliefs on others. Sometimes we think that it would be rude to interrupt their conversation to present our views.
Too bad that the word of God tells us to act differently.
14 Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought.
16 Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath.
17 It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad.
So what are we worried about?
If Peter shows us that it better to suffer doing what God wants us to then,
Why do we shy away from presenting the gospel?
Why won't we publicly defend our faith in Jesus?
Dunno. I guess it boils down to fear.
We're afraid. We want to consider ourselves good Christians, being separated and all, supposedly acting out our walk with God.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “When we Christians behave badly or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.”
To me, failing to act is failing to behave well.
C.S. Further wrote, “The war time posters told us that careless talk costs lives.” “It is equally true that careless lives cost talk.” (Mere Christianity)
When we fail to behave well, our careless lives start the outer world talking and we give them the grounds for it in a way that casts doubt on the truth of our faith itself.
18 That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.
Suffered death to Bring us God?
And we're afraid to interrupt a conversation to bring the truth to others.
Boy howdy. There are times when we can be such wimps.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
IT AIN'T EASY BEING A PROPHET.
Isaiah 42
I'm going to steal a little from Our Daily Bread.
A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, “Darling, is dinner ready?” Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, “For the third time, yes!”
Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them.
1 "Take a good look at my servant. I’m backing him to the hilt. He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He’ll set everything right among the nations.
2 He won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades.
3 He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.
4 He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching."
You'd think that after hearing that, the Hebrew people would have listened. But, as I said, being a prophet of God ain't easy.
I've heard it said that the book of Isaiah is the Bible within the Bible. The Bible has 66 books, Isaiah has 66 chapters. The Bible takes from the beginning through the Messiah all the way to the end of time. Isaiah looks back to the beginning and prophesy's the of the Messiah and the end times.
In this chapter we read about the message that God is trying to give to His people, but, it seems like they ain't listenin'.
6 "I am GOD. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
7 To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons.
8 I am GOD. That’s my name. I don’t franchise my glory, don’t endorse the no-god idols.
9 Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled. I’m announcing the new salvation work. Before it bursts on the scene, I’m telling you all about it."
Once again, you'd think the people would have heard that one.
We know that, then as it is today, people turn a deaf ear to the message of God's good news. It's easy to hear, simple to read about, and maybe that's why the word is ignored.
I know that I went through a phase in my foolish days, my B.C. Days as it were, that when looking for inner peace, I drifted towards practices that were very complex with their various gods and rituals, and tree hugging. After a while, all that seemed empty. When I was first told of Jesus and salvation, all I could say to myself was, “It can't be that easy.” There has to be more to it.
I was deaf, dumb, and blind. Just like everyone else I knew.
16 But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going. I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch. These are the things I’ll be doing for them—sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."
17 But those who invested in the no-gods are bankrupt—dead broke.
18 ¶ Pay attention! Are you deaf? Open your eyes! Are you blind?
19 You’re my servant, and you’re not looking! You’re my messenger, and you’re not listening! The very people I depended upon, servants of GOD, blind as a bat—willfully blind!
20 You’ve seen a lot, but looked at nothing. You’ve heard everything, but listened to nothing.
23 But is anyone out there listening? Is anyone paying attention to what’s coming?
25 Isn’t it God’s anger that’s behind all this, God’s punishing power? Their whole world collapsed but they still didn’t get it; their life is in ruins but they don’t take it to heart.
I'm scripture heavy and opinion light on this one, but I felt that the word should take precedent on this subject. And yeah, I probably should just copy and pasted the chapter onto the page and let the word just sink in. that would have been the best course. But I felt compelled to add my own two cents.
I hope you didn't mind.
I'm going to steal a little from Our Daily Bread.
A man told his doctor that he thought his wife was going deaf. The doctor told him to conduct a simple test. When the man reached the front door of his home, he called out, “Darling, is dinner ready?” Hearing no response, he walked inside and repeated himself. Still no reply. On the third try, when he was just behind her, he finally heard her say, “For the third time, yes!”
Similarly, the ancient Israelites thought God was deaf when the problem was actually with them.
1 "Take a good look at my servant. I’m backing him to the hilt. He’s the one I chose, and I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He’ll set everything right among the nations.
2 He won’t call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades.
3 He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant, but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.
4 He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching."
You'd think that after hearing that, the Hebrew people would have listened. But, as I said, being a prophet of God ain't easy.
I've heard it said that the book of Isaiah is the Bible within the Bible. The Bible has 66 books, Isaiah has 66 chapters. The Bible takes from the beginning through the Messiah all the way to the end of time. Isaiah looks back to the beginning and prophesy's the of the Messiah and the end times.
In this chapter we read about the message that God is trying to give to His people, but, it seems like they ain't listenin'.
6 "I am GOD. I have called you to live right and well. I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
7 To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons.
8 I am GOD. That’s my name. I don’t franchise my glory, don’t endorse the no-god idols.
9 Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled. I’m announcing the new salvation work. Before it bursts on the scene, I’m telling you all about it."
Once again, you'd think the people would have heard that one.
We know that, then as it is today, people turn a deaf ear to the message of God's good news. It's easy to hear, simple to read about, and maybe that's why the word is ignored.
I know that I went through a phase in my foolish days, my B.C. Days as it were, that when looking for inner peace, I drifted towards practices that were very complex with their various gods and rituals, and tree hugging. After a while, all that seemed empty. When I was first told of Jesus and salvation, all I could say to myself was, “It can't be that easy.” There has to be more to it.
I was deaf, dumb, and blind. Just like everyone else I knew.
16 But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way, who can’t see where they’re going. I’ll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don’t fall into the ditch. These are the things I’ll be doing for them—sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."
17 But those who invested in the no-gods are bankrupt—dead broke.
18 ¶ Pay attention! Are you deaf? Open your eyes! Are you blind?
19 You’re my servant, and you’re not looking! You’re my messenger, and you’re not listening! The very people I depended upon, servants of GOD, blind as a bat—willfully blind!
20 You’ve seen a lot, but looked at nothing. You’ve heard everything, but listened to nothing.
23 But is anyone out there listening? Is anyone paying attention to what’s coming?
25 Isn’t it God’s anger that’s behind all this, God’s punishing power? Their whole world collapsed but they still didn’t get it; their life is in ruins but they don’t take it to heart.
I'm scripture heavy and opinion light on this one, but I felt that the word should take precedent on this subject. And yeah, I probably should just copy and pasted the chapter onto the page and let the word just sink in. that would have been the best course. But I felt compelled to add my own two cents.
I hope you didn't mind.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
HEY BUDDY. WHAT TIME IS IT?
Ecclesiastes 3: 9 – 17
There is an old German saying, “God's time is the best time.”
I don't think that there is anyone among us that would argue that philosophy, we all accept it as truth. If we think that highly of God and His timing, Why do we ignore what He has for us, only to follow what we think is best?
Solomon has kind of an attitude in this book. He has been living a life of carnality and appears to care less for the spiritual aspects of life.
10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice— wickedness was there.
Doesn't seem to be a happy camper does he.
If we are honest with ourselves, I think that we would admit to having the same feelings that Solomon had. We get into seasons of our lives when we can see only desperation. Oh yeah, we will cry out to God in prayer for help, but we really don't mean it. We are just going to take back what we have given God and try to do it our way and in our time. That never really works out well. We now have feelings of regret and guilt then we sincerely pray to God for forgiveness.
But Solomon also shows us the other side of life.
14 I know that everything God does will endure for ever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
17 I thought in my heart, "God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed."
I'm not sure if I got this one right, but I'm trying here people.
As I said, Solomon has an attitude, throughout the entire book of Ecclesiastes. Even though he shows his feelings of the world, he also gives us glimpses of the spiritual life.
The worldly life is easy to live, and, truth be told, it can seem to be a happy life, but, it yields us nothing.
Following God is not an easy life, yet it offers us everything.
We have the opportunity see both sides of the coin, and we get to choose. Forgetting that there is a season for every purpose we will go through, we wimp out and take what appears to be the easy way.
We have to be vigilant in our beliefs and make the right choice.
There is an old German saying, “God's time is the best time.”
I don't think that there is anyone among us that would argue that philosophy, we all accept it as truth. If we think that highly of God and His timing, Why do we ignore what He has for us, only to follow what we think is best?
Solomon has kind of an attitude in this book. He has been living a life of carnality and appears to care less for the spiritual aspects of life.
10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice— wickedness was there.
Doesn't seem to be a happy camper does he.
If we are honest with ourselves, I think that we would admit to having the same feelings that Solomon had. We get into seasons of our lives when we can see only desperation. Oh yeah, we will cry out to God in prayer for help, but we really don't mean it. We are just going to take back what we have given God and try to do it our way and in our time. That never really works out well. We now have feelings of regret and guilt then we sincerely pray to God for forgiveness.
But Solomon also shows us the other side of life.
14 I know that everything God does will endure for ever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
17 I thought in my heart, "God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed."
I'm not sure if I got this one right, but I'm trying here people.
As I said, Solomon has an attitude, throughout the entire book of Ecclesiastes. Even though he shows his feelings of the world, he also gives us glimpses of the spiritual life.
The worldly life is easy to live, and, truth be told, it can seem to be a happy life, but, it yields us nothing.
Following God is not an easy life, yet it offers us everything.
We have the opportunity see both sides of the coin, and we get to choose. Forgetting that there is a season for every purpose we will go through, we wimp out and take what appears to be the easy way.
We have to be vigilant in our beliefs and make the right choice.
Monday, July 20, 2009
FOCUS
Ephesians 4: 17 – 24
When somebody decides to join an outlaw motorcycle club, they go through a series of levels of commitment. The first stage is called hang around. They will literally hand around with the club members so that they get to know each other. When this period is done and the guy decides that they want to join, they enter a period of time where they become a “prospective” member. When this phase begins, a “prospect” will sign the ownership of his motorcycle over to the club. This is done to make sure that the person will keep their focus on the club business, if they fail at this stage, the club keeps the bike. The prospect has decided to leave the old life that he once knew to begin a new life in the club.
The shift in focus is profound.
Paul tells us, in the book of Ephesians, that we are to have a profound shift in focus as we contemplate our new life in Jesus.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
I do truly dislike being reminded of how hard my heart is. It is something that I do not want to look at. I'm not that old guy any more, living in darkness and calling it light.
I've changed!
Haven't I?
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Yeah. I had heard of Jesus. I even told people that I believed in him while I remained in my old lifestyle. Not only was my heart hard, it was as black as black can be, not only telling lies to everybody I saw, but to myself as well.
I knew I needed to change my focus to where it should belong.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
When I decided to follow Christ for real.
When I stopped hanging around in a church.
When I got serious about changing my life, I not only signed over my bike to God, I gave Him my entire life.
By doing this, it has helped me to keep my eyes on the Lord. And, it has caused me to soften my hard heart, and , even clean it up a little.
When somebody decides to join an outlaw motorcycle club, they go through a series of levels of commitment. The first stage is called hang around. They will literally hand around with the club members so that they get to know each other. When this period is done and the guy decides that they want to join, they enter a period of time where they become a “prospective” member. When this phase begins, a “prospect” will sign the ownership of his motorcycle over to the club. This is done to make sure that the person will keep their focus on the club business, if they fail at this stage, the club keeps the bike. The prospect has decided to leave the old life that he once knew to begin a new life in the club.
The shift in focus is profound.
Paul tells us, in the book of Ephesians, that we are to have a profound shift in focus as we contemplate our new life in Jesus.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
I do truly dislike being reminded of how hard my heart is. It is something that I do not want to look at. I'm not that old guy any more, living in darkness and calling it light.
I've changed!
Haven't I?
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Yeah. I had heard of Jesus. I even told people that I believed in him while I remained in my old lifestyle. Not only was my heart hard, it was as black as black can be, not only telling lies to everybody I saw, but to myself as well.
I knew I needed to change my focus to where it should belong.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
When I decided to follow Christ for real.
When I stopped hanging around in a church.
When I got serious about changing my life, I not only signed over my bike to God, I gave Him my entire life.
By doing this, it has helped me to keep my eyes on the Lord. And, it has caused me to soften my hard heart, and , even clean it up a little.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
THE BIG LIE THEORY
Mathew 7: 15 – 23
The theory has been around for millenia. It states,
“If you tell a lie long enough and loud enough, sooner or later it becomes the truth.”
This is the basic outline that every tyrant and despot has used to gain and keep control of the people they try to rule. Satan has used it from the beginning telling lies to Adam and Eve.
When Jesus began His ministry, while fasting in the desert, Satan tried his lies there too.
And, as the theory says, he has used this tactic for so long, that unfortunately there are many of us today who have come to believe it. I have even heard it say that the biggest lie the devil has told is to convince the people that he doesn't exist. In doing this, people who have believed this falsehood, go blissfully through the gates of hell before they realize what has happened.
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Thankfully Jesus came to open our eyes and warn us of these things. He broke through the lies for those of us who choose to listen giving us the ability to fight for the truth against the lies of Satan, in hopes of warning others of his lies as well.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Don't fall victim to the big lie theory. It is said that the only weapon that can succeed against it is the truth. Remember that Jesus said that He was the truth. He has been defeating the lies of Satan from the beginning. Fight on the side of the truth.
The truth will set you free.
The theory has been around for millenia. It states,
“If you tell a lie long enough and loud enough, sooner or later it becomes the truth.”
This is the basic outline that every tyrant and despot has used to gain and keep control of the people they try to rule. Satan has used it from the beginning telling lies to Adam and Eve.
When Jesus began His ministry, while fasting in the desert, Satan tried his lies there too.
And, as the theory says, he has used this tactic for so long, that unfortunately there are many of us today who have come to believe it. I have even heard it say that the biggest lie the devil has told is to convince the people that he doesn't exist. In doing this, people who have believed this falsehood, go blissfully through the gates of hell before they realize what has happened.
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Thankfully Jesus came to open our eyes and warn us of these things. He broke through the lies for those of us who choose to listen giving us the ability to fight for the truth against the lies of Satan, in hopes of warning others of his lies as well.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Don't fall victim to the big lie theory. It is said that the only weapon that can succeed against it is the truth. Remember that Jesus said that He was the truth. He has been defeating the lies of Satan from the beginning. Fight on the side of the truth.
The truth will set you free.
Friday, July 17, 2009
STABILIZERS
Psalm 18: 1 – 6
On an airplane, there are movable surfaces on the wings and tail called stabilizers. These surfaces help to keep the plane flying level and under control. Even though I hate to fly, and wouldn't do it again unless I was under the influence of medication, I am relieved to hear that there is actually something there to keep the plane under control. I mean who ever thought up the idea of putting a hundred people on a bus, giving it wings and hope that it will fly. Remember it is called the “theory” of flight and we know where the theory of evolution has done.
David knew of the need for a stabilizer, and gave an example that we all need one.
It was like David was suffering from PTSD. He was at his lowest. Saul was trying to kill him, and he felt as if death was around every corner, he was living in fear of what may happen next, so he did what he always did when he was in trouble. He cried out to God.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
David knew that he could rely on God to bring stability to his life.
He also understood that God is in control of our lives.
And, we have to understand the same thing.
God is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, and our stabilizer.
If we let Him, God will bring stability to our lives.
I
On an airplane, there are movable surfaces on the wings and tail called stabilizers. These surfaces help to keep the plane flying level and under control. Even though I hate to fly, and wouldn't do it again unless I was under the influence of medication, I am relieved to hear that there is actually something there to keep the plane under control. I mean who ever thought up the idea of putting a hundred people on a bus, giving it wings and hope that it will fly. Remember it is called the “theory” of flight and we know where the theory of evolution has done.
David knew of the need for a stabilizer, and gave an example that we all need one.
It was like David was suffering from PTSD. He was at his lowest. Saul was trying to kill him, and he felt as if death was around every corner, he was living in fear of what may happen next, so he did what he always did when he was in trouble. He cried out to God.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
David knew that he could rely on God to bring stability to his life.
He also understood that God is in control of our lives.
And, we have to understand the same thing.
God is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, and our stabilizer.
If we let Him, God will bring stability to our lives.
I
Thursday, July 16, 2009
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
1 Peter 4: 8 – 11
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Sorta puts the pressure on. Don't it?
I don't know about you but to me, the verse above says, “good enough ain't good enough.”
Huh?
Suppose we are at work, and it's getting late. We have just one more job to do. We're cleaning up the workplace and we can go home as soon as it's done. Trying to cut time and corners, we lift the corner of the rug up ans sweep the dirt under it, put the rug back into place and go home. After all, nobody was going to know. Nobody will ever see the short cut we took.
Now ask yourself, “How does taking this short cut give praise and glory to God?”
Good enough ain't good enough.
Nobody will know except God.
Nobody will see except God.
It seems to me that once again the Bible is telling us to be who we say we are. To act as a Christian should act. It's been said before, “It's a tough job.” “But somebody has to do it.”
That somebody is us. And, no matter how good we are at deception, there will bee some people who will know it, and think us to be hypocrites, and not listen to what we have to say about God.
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
That says it even more clearly, faithfully administer God's grace in it's various forms.
Gulp!
Time to take another brick out of the wall that I built up, another time that I have to get out of the old La-Z-Boy, and leave the “Comfort zone.” Once again the word of God has exposed my black heart and left it bare for all to see.
Even though the lesson is tough and doing the job is hard, it is worth doing things the right way.
When we are genuine in whatever it is we do, people will be attracted to it, listen to what we have to say about God, and a seed will be planted.
And glory will be given to God.
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Sorta puts the pressure on. Don't it?
I don't know about you but to me, the verse above says, “good enough ain't good enough.”
Huh?
Suppose we are at work, and it's getting late. We have just one more job to do. We're cleaning up the workplace and we can go home as soon as it's done. Trying to cut time and corners, we lift the corner of the rug up ans sweep the dirt under it, put the rug back into place and go home. After all, nobody was going to know. Nobody will ever see the short cut we took.
Now ask yourself, “How does taking this short cut give praise and glory to God?”
Good enough ain't good enough.
Nobody will know except God.
Nobody will see except God.
It seems to me that once again the Bible is telling us to be who we say we are. To act as a Christian should act. It's been said before, “It's a tough job.” “But somebody has to do it.”
That somebody is us. And, no matter how good we are at deception, there will bee some people who will know it, and think us to be hypocrites, and not listen to what we have to say about God.
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
That says it even more clearly, faithfully administer God's grace in it's various forms.
Gulp!
Time to take another brick out of the wall that I built up, another time that I have to get out of the old La-Z-Boy, and leave the “Comfort zone.” Once again the word of God has exposed my black heart and left it bare for all to see.
Even though the lesson is tough and doing the job is hard, it is worth doing things the right way.
When we are genuine in whatever it is we do, people will be attracted to it, listen to what we have to say about God, and a seed will be planted.
And glory will be given to God.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
THE COMMITMENTS
Luke 14: 25 – 35
The duty or pledge to someone or something, is what Jesus was asking those who followed Him.
The Bible tells us of large crowds that were following Him from town to town listening to what He said, and probably they believed what Jesus spoke of with, what they considered to be, all their heart.
They were kinda like the dead heads that followed Jerry Garcia and his bands, and I'm willing to wager that the large crowds felt as if they were the true believers and disciples of Jesus.
But, we humans are a funny lot. We claim to dedicate our lives to a cause, but, when the rubber meets the road, there are many who bail out to return to the safety of their former lives and homes.
I don't know why we delude ourselves about our willingness to be dedicated to a cause when we know deep down we are just doing this to feel wanted.
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:
26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
With a bold statement like that I'm sure that a goodly number of the crowd walked away. They may even have grumbled about, “He talks of love, yet He wants us to hate our families?”
“What up wit dat?”
Jesus was calling for true love and commitment to Him and God. Many folks just didn't get it.
33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
I will tell anyone who asks what my priorities are.
1, God.
2, Family
3, Friends.
4, Work.
Followed by everything else.
I truly try to follow those priorities to the best of my ability. But, being a fallen man, I mess it up from time to time.
I also know that it is hard work to be a follower of Jesus, but, it is worth it.
Make the commitment. It will be worth it!
The duty or pledge to someone or something, is what Jesus was asking those who followed Him.
The Bible tells us of large crowds that were following Him from town to town listening to what He said, and probably they believed what Jesus spoke of with, what they considered to be, all their heart.
They were kinda like the dead heads that followed Jerry Garcia and his bands, and I'm willing to wager that the large crowds felt as if they were the true believers and disciples of Jesus.
But, we humans are a funny lot. We claim to dedicate our lives to a cause, but, when the rubber meets the road, there are many who bail out to return to the safety of their former lives and homes.
I don't know why we delude ourselves about our willingness to be dedicated to a cause when we know deep down we are just doing this to feel wanted.
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:
26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.
27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
With a bold statement like that I'm sure that a goodly number of the crowd walked away. They may even have grumbled about, “He talks of love, yet He wants us to hate our families?”
“What up wit dat?”
Jesus was calling for true love and commitment to Him and God. Many folks just didn't get it.
33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?
35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
I will tell anyone who asks what my priorities are.
1, God.
2, Family
3, Friends.
4, Work.
Followed by everything else.
I truly try to follow those priorities to the best of my ability. But, being a fallen man, I mess it up from time to time.
I also know that it is hard work to be a follower of Jesus, but, it is worth it.
Make the commitment. It will be worth it!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
CAN THIS BE LOVE?
1 Corinthians 13
When I was first becoming familiar with my Christianity, and was mostly living in the flesh, I read this chapter for the first time. I was surprised by the words I read and I thought to myself, “I can use this.”
And, I did. For all the wrong reasons. I used the chapter to fulfill my worldly desires.
As my faith grew, and I became less and less the old me, I would hang out on Friday and Saturday nights at the coffee counter at the old Bickford's in Kingston. There was a group of regulars that showed up and we would spend the evening talking about one thing or another.
For reasons I cannot remember, the topic of the Bible came up in conversation. I then vocalized the first three verses of chapter 13 as best I could.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
I know that I didn't get it right, but I conveyed the idea, which really got the chit chat rolling.
We all wanted to know what it meant to love like that, and I was determined to quote the word right, so I went out to my bike for my Bible.
As I read the whole chapter, I saw faces soften, people who were not in our little group began to listen. Heck, even the waitress stopped pouring coffee so that she could hear what God had to say.
Peace and love erupted that night at a coffee counter in a cheap diner.
That was the first experience in using the word of God.
At first I just used it, but as I said, when my faith deepened I used the word for a Godly purpose.
I am sure that we all have an experience with the first time we read these particular verses.
Remember back to that feeling. Let the love, that God wants us all to have, come to full bloom.
Read this chapter to your spouse during a quiet moment.
Love each other with a wild abandon.
Enjoy reading the word of God.
When I was first becoming familiar with my Christianity, and was mostly living in the flesh, I read this chapter for the first time. I was surprised by the words I read and I thought to myself, “I can use this.”
And, I did. For all the wrong reasons. I used the chapter to fulfill my worldly desires.
As my faith grew, and I became less and less the old me, I would hang out on Friday and Saturday nights at the coffee counter at the old Bickford's in Kingston. There was a group of regulars that showed up and we would spend the evening talking about one thing or another.
For reasons I cannot remember, the topic of the Bible came up in conversation. I then vocalized the first three verses of chapter 13 as best I could.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
I know that I didn't get it right, but I conveyed the idea, which really got the chit chat rolling.
We all wanted to know what it meant to love like that, and I was determined to quote the word right, so I went out to my bike for my Bible.
As I read the whole chapter, I saw faces soften, people who were not in our little group began to listen. Heck, even the waitress stopped pouring coffee so that she could hear what God had to say.
Peace and love erupted that night at a coffee counter in a cheap diner.
That was the first experience in using the word of God.
At first I just used it, but as I said, when my faith deepened I used the word for a Godly purpose.
I am sure that we all have an experience with the first time we read these particular verses.
Remember back to that feeling. Let the love, that God wants us all to have, come to full bloom.
Read this chapter to your spouse during a quiet moment.
Love each other with a wild abandon.
Enjoy reading the word of God.
Monday, July 13, 2009
KEEP STRONG
Deuteronomy 31: 6 – 9
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
God spoke it.
Be courageous and strong.
How do we get there?
Why do we go there?
The Israelites were confronted with that same choice. Once again they were brought to the border of the promised land by God and told that all they had to do was to cross over and take the land that has been given to them.
We also have been brought to that point by God. He has given us the keys to the kingdom of heaven and all we have to do is to obey His commands and be strong enough to follow his direction.
Not only are we to read the word, we are to live it in our everyday lives. It takes boldness and strength to do this in front of friends and family, it's much easier to be Christian for people we don't know. But it takes true strength to give God everything that you have so that others see a difference.
Where we get the boldness to change our lives is key. It's always easy to be a tough guy when you have someone at your back. One that you can count on to walk with you and protect your six.
Jesus is the key.
He offers us the boldness to do as he instructs.
He is the leader that we can believe will never leave us nor will he forsake us.
He will go before into battle and all we have to do is follow so that we may become
“Hyper nikeo” or more than conquerors.
Victory will be assured when we call on Him.
Grace will be given when we follow Him.
Heaven will be gained when we live for Him.
Keep strong and remain strong in God's word!
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
God spoke it.
Be courageous and strong.
How do we get there?
Why do we go there?
The Israelites were confronted with that same choice. Once again they were brought to the border of the promised land by God and told that all they had to do was to cross over and take the land that has been given to them.
We also have been brought to that point by God. He has given us the keys to the kingdom of heaven and all we have to do is to obey His commands and be strong enough to follow his direction.
Not only are we to read the word, we are to live it in our everyday lives. It takes boldness and strength to do this in front of friends and family, it's much easier to be Christian for people we don't know. But it takes true strength to give God everything that you have so that others see a difference.
Where we get the boldness to change our lives is key. It's always easy to be a tough guy when you have someone at your back. One that you can count on to walk with you and protect your six.
Jesus is the key.
He offers us the boldness to do as he instructs.
He is the leader that we can believe will never leave us nor will he forsake us.
He will go before into battle and all we have to do is follow so that we may become
“Hyper nikeo” or more than conquerors.
Victory will be assured when we call on Him.
Grace will be given when we follow Him.
Heaven will be gained when we live for Him.
Keep strong and remain strong in God's word!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Where no man has gone before.
2 Corinthians 5: 12 – 21
I love the old Star Trek show. The one with Captain Kirk not Jean luc. As a kid, I really dug the speech at the beginning of the show, “Space, the final frontier.......” ending with the epic statement,
“To boldly go where no man has gone before.”
Watching the show, I began to get the idea that I was the only one to go where no one else had. The crew of the Enterprise seemed to go to very familiar places interacting with alien races they had great knowledge of. At least most of the time.
Paul really lived up to that statement. He truly went ahead of everybody bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to people whom had never heard it.
14 Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.
15 He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
God had set it up that way. Paul brought the word to the gentiles then, after walking in the steps that God had led him. Paul would keep in touch with the community with the “Sub space” communication of his day, snail mail. And, when he talked to the people, he did so not to brag of his own actions, but those of God.
12 ¶ We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are.
13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.
Now, because of Paul's leadership, we are able to experience that same pioneering spirit. When we bring the word to those whom have yet to hear it, like in Paul's time, we are breaking new ground in their lives.
That's kind of exciting. We can all be like Captain Kirk, without the casual sex and fighting, exploring the darkest regions of space bring the light of Jesus instead of “Star Fleet,”
bringing the message that Jesus paid for our sins once, and for all of us.
17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
18 All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
19 God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing.
20 We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
21 How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Warp 5 Mr. Sulu. Set phasers to stun.
I love the old Star Trek show. The one with Captain Kirk not Jean luc. As a kid, I really dug the speech at the beginning of the show, “Space, the final frontier.......” ending with the epic statement,
“To boldly go where no man has gone before.”
Watching the show, I began to get the idea that I was the only one to go where no one else had. The crew of the Enterprise seemed to go to very familiar places interacting with alien races they had great knowledge of. At least most of the time.
Paul really lived up to that statement. He truly went ahead of everybody bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to people whom had never heard it.
14 Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.
15 He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
God had set it up that way. Paul brought the word to the gentiles then, after walking in the steps that God had led him. Paul would keep in touch with the community with the “Sub space” communication of his day, snail mail. And, when he talked to the people, he did so not to brag of his own actions, but those of God.
12 ¶ We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are.
13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.
Now, because of Paul's leadership, we are able to experience that same pioneering spirit. When we bring the word to those whom have yet to hear it, like in Paul's time, we are breaking new ground in their lives.
That's kind of exciting. We can all be like Captain Kirk, without the casual sex and fighting, exploring the darkest regions of space bring the light of Jesus instead of “Star Fleet,”
bringing the message that Jesus paid for our sins once, and for all of us.
17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
18 All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
19 God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing.
20 We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
21 How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Warp 5 Mr. Sulu. Set phasers to stun.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
1 John 3: 16 – 23
Love is a many splendor thing. All you need is love. Love, love me do. Love makes the world go round.
Love is what we sing about. Love is what we write about. We look for love. We long for love.
But what is it?
The dictionary states that love is a series of emotions leading to a sense of strong affection and attachment.
I just love those clean, crisp, and emotionless definitions. Don't you?
Anyway, that is how the learned people in our society would explain it.
God says it another way.
16 This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.
I think I like this definition rather than the clinical one that we come up with.
Once we know what love is, we have a choice to either express love or not, or accept it or not. The decision really is ours to make. And, it ain't easy bro, it can be hard work sometimes.
17 If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
18 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.
19 This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.
Ya see, it's a lot easier to talk about love than to show it, and the consequences of our actions can be a bitter pill to swallow.
With me, before I came to Christ, I would mess up the love I felt for the people in my life, thereby driving them away and prematurely ending any relationship we may have developed. And I'll bet that we have all had similar experiences.
Thankfully, God was waiting for me at the end of my rope to teach me what love is and how to feel it as well as show it.
It really does come down to the bottom line and the one question we always ask ourselves,
Watcha' gonna do 'bout it?
Love or not. It's up to you.
Love is a many splendor thing. All you need is love. Love, love me do. Love makes the world go round.
Love is what we sing about. Love is what we write about. We look for love. We long for love.
But what is it?
The dictionary states that love is a series of emotions leading to a sense of strong affection and attachment.
I just love those clean, crisp, and emotionless definitions. Don't you?
Anyway, that is how the learned people in our society would explain it.
God says it another way.
16 This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.
I think I like this definition rather than the clinical one that we come up with.
Once we know what love is, we have a choice to either express love or not, or accept it or not. The decision really is ours to make. And, it ain't easy bro, it can be hard work sometimes.
17 If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.
18 My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.
19 This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.
Ya see, it's a lot easier to talk about love than to show it, and the consequences of our actions can be a bitter pill to swallow.
With me, before I came to Christ, I would mess up the love I felt for the people in my life, thereby driving them away and prematurely ending any relationship we may have developed. And I'll bet that we have all had similar experiences.
Thankfully, God was waiting for me at the end of my rope to teach me what love is and how to feel it as well as show it.
It really does come down to the bottom line and the one question we always ask ourselves,
Watcha' gonna do 'bout it?
Love or not. It's up to you.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
OXYMORONS
Mathew 16: 21 - 28
Oxymorons are things that are opposites that are put together in phases such as; Jumbo Shrimp, Girly Man, etc… the Bible tells us something like that when it tells us that to live we have to die. It just doesn’t seem to make sense. It’s like wetting something down in order to make it dry.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Save something to lose it, lose something to find it. No matter what we think, it’s true.
Imagine how frustrating it would be to have a group of people that you were training for a job. Every day these people were shown, by you, what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Now, when it gets to be near the time that you are going to leave them to do what you instructed, they seem not to get it. It's like they have no clue.
Jesus knew how to deal with this situation,
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
We all go through times when we just don 't get it too. Try as we may, words won't sink into our thick heads. That's why Jesus teaches us to learn it by living it.
So, yeah. It doesn't make sense sometimes. We hear what is said and don't get it, then we live it and can't see any other way.
We end one life to begin another.
We change directions to move ahead.
We look at Oxymorons and say, “Yep. Now that I understand, it makes sense.”
Oxymorons are things that are opposites that are put together in phases such as; Jumbo Shrimp, Girly Man, etc… the Bible tells us something like that when it tells us that to live we have to die. It just doesn’t seem to make sense. It’s like wetting something down in order to make it dry.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Save something to lose it, lose something to find it. No matter what we think, it’s true.
Imagine how frustrating it would be to have a group of people that you were training for a job. Every day these people were shown, by you, what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. Now, when it gets to be near the time that you are going to leave them to do what you instructed, they seem not to get it. It's like they have no clue.
Jesus knew how to deal with this situation,
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
We all go through times when we just don 't get it too. Try as we may, words won't sink into our thick heads. That's why Jesus teaches us to learn it by living it.
So, yeah. It doesn't make sense sometimes. We hear what is said and don't get it, then we live it and can't see any other way.
We end one life to begin another.
We change directions to move ahead.
We look at Oxymorons and say, “Yep. Now that I understand, it makes sense.”
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
GOD'S WORK
John 6: 25 – 33
We are an arrogant bunch.
Our egos can give us delusions of grandeur.
Just as the disciples thought that they were able to do the work of God, and after so many centuries, so do we.
28 ¶ Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
We go about thinking that there has to be more too it than that.
God uses people to do his work doesn't he?
If that's true, then how can God get His work get done without us?
After all we are so busy keeping all things together, that we need something to show others that we are in control here.
30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’"
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
We really have no clue. Only God can do the works of God!
We can't see the forest for the trees.
Jesus stands right there. Right in front of us. And yet, we still want signs so that we may believe.
Where is that bread from heaven that the disciples asked for?
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
(DOPE SLAP)
Our job is to follow God faithfully wherever he has us, then get out of the way so that God will show his works plainly.
Time to go to work.
We are an arrogant bunch.
Our egos can give us delusions of grandeur.
Just as the disciples thought that they were able to do the work of God, and after so many centuries, so do we.
28 ¶ Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
We go about thinking that there has to be more too it than that.
God uses people to do his work doesn't he?
If that's true, then how can God get His work get done without us?
After all we are so busy keeping all things together, that we need something to show others that we are in control here.
30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?
31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’"
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
We really have no clue. Only God can do the works of God!
We can't see the forest for the trees.
Jesus stands right there. Right in front of us. And yet, we still want signs so that we may believe.
Where is that bread from heaven that the disciples asked for?
35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
(DOPE SLAP)
Our job is to follow God faithfully wherever he has us, then get out of the way so that God will show his works plainly.
Time to go to work.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY
Luke 2: 25 – 35
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
I've pretty much liked the above verse since I first read it. How many people named Simeon lived in Jerusalem at that time? Simeon was after all a sorta common name, but there was only one Simeon that merited a mention in the book of Luke.
That in it's self is pretty cool, getting singled out and all, but why he was there to be mentioned was cooler still.
How would you feel if God told you that you would not die until the return of Jesus?
Whoa.
Why would God call me to witness this wonderful event?
Would I be happy, excited, honored, or scared out of my mind by the prospect?
29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
That about sums it up.
That is how we should react, to feel honored and at peace, to be joy filled with the unfolding of the event.
I think that we should all be opened minded and willing to listen to what God says to us, and accept the Holy Spirit into our lives.
That's about it.
So listen up people.
Then, strap on your party hats, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
(It always is)
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
I've pretty much liked the above verse since I first read it. How many people named Simeon lived in Jerusalem at that time? Simeon was after all a sorta common name, but there was only one Simeon that merited a mention in the book of Luke.
That in it's self is pretty cool, getting singled out and all, but why he was there to be mentioned was cooler still.
How would you feel if God told you that you would not die until the return of Jesus?
Whoa.
Why would God call me to witness this wonderful event?
Would I be happy, excited, honored, or scared out of my mind by the prospect?
29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
That about sums it up.
That is how we should react, to feel honored and at peace, to be joy filled with the unfolding of the event.
I think that we should all be opened minded and willing to listen to what God says to us, and accept the Holy Spirit into our lives.
That's about it.
So listen up people.
Then, strap on your party hats, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
(It always is)
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