Have you noticed how we seem so intent upon making things more complicated than they really are or how we try to add more and more to simple things until they become very far from simple? Like, for instance, our salvation.
Separated from God by a price we cannot pay. Sin so deeply ingrained within our being that even our thoughts - even the brief ones - are sinful and more than enough to condemn us even if we did not start miles in arrears. The solution? God, being the only One who could pay such a debt, did so on our behalf through Christ Jesus who has paid that debt in full for us. We accept this fact through faith and that faith is given to us by God in the first place (Eph.2:8). So we no longer have to rely upon whatever sick version of righteousness or holiness or sinlessness that we have due to our own efforts as we now have a righteousness that has come directly from God, given to us by His amazing grace.
Seems simple enough.
So why, pray tell, do we seem to think we need to add to it? Why do we nod and agree with "the just shall live by faith" and add on something about our own efforts like that was some kind of implied extra? Why do think we have to earn the grace we have been shown or that if we screw up God is going to change His mind - like the cross of Christ were not enough somehow? How can we think - even in fantasy - that we, by some effort of our own, can rid ourselves of the sin which runs within the very core of our DNA? For if such were true that we could by some great effort of self denial and strictest adherence to the law accomplish such a feat, then Christ died for nothing. And I tell you this: my Lord did not die for nothing, anymore than He rose for nothing.
I remember an acronym from my school days: KISS - Keep It Simple, Stupid. I think perhaps we need to remember that a bit more often.
Monday, November 9, 2015
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Dear Deer...
In case you were not aware, I am not from a major city originally. My hometown is actually around 1100 people right now and that counts outside of town limits, so it is a bit rural. Rural enough that seeing a deer on the front lawn or a bear in the back yard is not something overly unusual. Now, one would think, that these things being somewhat common, that I would notice and just carry on, but I don't. I always stop and watch - watching the deer walk by, the beaver in the pond, etc.
Now then, one place I spent a good portion of my adult life is quite a bit larger at around 20,000+ people. While hardly a mega city like NYC or Toronto, it is still a decent size especially compared to where I came from and, like most larger centers, it does have a more suburban outskirt area. Recently, while I there, I looked out in the backyard of where I was staying and saw not one, but five deer grazing - two adults, one "teen" and two young. And I stood there and watched them for a solid 20 minutes. Funny thing though, the people from there only notice them sometimes and pay no attention whatsoever.
At one place I worked for, years ago, they hired a guy from Newfoundland (or Labrador). He was a nice guy and a good worker and was always on time if not a bit early every day. One day though, he was fairly late getting in. Considering his track record, obviously people were curious as to why. Apparently, on his way in on the highway, standing beside the road were three deer. And he stopped. He stopped and stared and watched until they left, even though he knew he now running late. He explained that while there were moose where he was from, there were no deer. He had never seen a deer in the wild before and he was amazed by them. He bordered on glowing in the face when he finally got in to work.
Isn't that interesting that someone who is around them often and someone who has never seen them take a similar stance. Yet those who see them now and then - even if they are in an area one would not think them to be - could almost care less and rarely even notice.
Welcome to Christianity.
While it is not uncommon to reduce our faith to knowing the correct responses to certain questions of theology or doctrine, that is by far not all there is to it. A quick tour through the New Testament - especially the Gospels and Acts - will show that quite quickly. There is, indeed, a very real power involved as well and that power is beyond merely an increase in "will power" in our daily lives.
To those outside of the Church, seeing the power of God in action brings about a similar response as that of my former coworkers to seeing the deer - awestruck.
To those who see this fairly often and act upon on it, they too react in a similar fashion - even though they have seen and done much, they continue to be in awe.
But then, there are those in the middle. Those who are content with being in the middle - with having a "faith" that is merely intellectual or emotional. These people do see the power of God in action but they're response is all but indifferent. They chock things up to "good luck" rather than God's intervention. They are skeptical and cynical of accounts of the Spirit doing the amazing, especially when done through a another person. And those stories, while they do acknowledge the hearing of them, do not even warrant a change of thought about whatever they were talking about beforehand. While they may be theologically sound and they may be active in seeking to help those less fortunate, their version of Christianity is all but completely stripped of its' power to the point that the early church may well not recognize this version as even being Christian.
This is not to condemn who you find yourself in this middle range. This is to encourage you that there is, indeed, more to your faith. I know you have felt it. You have read the accounts of what the disciples and apostles did - not to mention Jesus Himself - and it has stirred within you. But voices which should never have been listened to overwhelm your mind and you dismiss that stirring as fantasy or something to be forgotten as you go back to focusing upon your list of what to do and what not to do in this life. But it is not fantasy! It is not your imagination which stirs, it is the Spirit of God which stirs within you. Stop dismissing Him. Dare. Dare to have hope and faith in what you read, feel and know to be true. Seek God and, in that, seek also His power - not for arrogant or prideful reasons, but to see the glory of God Almighty played out before your very eyes - to know the extent of this calling He has called you to. Dare to step out and believe in the miraculous. Do not be content with scraps on the floor beneath the table for upon the table is a great feast and it has been laid out for you. The chair you scrounge like a mouse beneath is your own chair!
PS: If you have "formerly" lived within this Christian life that experienced the power and glory of God, but you find yourself not there now - do not believe the lie you are being fed. You are not being punished for something that Christ already paid the price for nor did you screw things up royally - God knew what you were going to just as He knows what you will yet do. He knew when He first called you.
Now then, one place I spent a good portion of my adult life is quite a bit larger at around 20,000+ people. While hardly a mega city like NYC or Toronto, it is still a decent size especially compared to where I came from and, like most larger centers, it does have a more suburban outskirt area. Recently, while I there, I looked out in the backyard of where I was staying and saw not one, but five deer grazing - two adults, one "teen" and two young. And I stood there and watched them for a solid 20 minutes. Funny thing though, the people from there only notice them sometimes and pay no attention whatsoever.
At one place I worked for, years ago, they hired a guy from Newfoundland (or Labrador). He was a nice guy and a good worker and was always on time if not a bit early every day. One day though, he was fairly late getting in. Considering his track record, obviously people were curious as to why. Apparently, on his way in on the highway, standing beside the road were three deer. And he stopped. He stopped and stared and watched until they left, even though he knew he now running late. He explained that while there were moose where he was from, there were no deer. He had never seen a deer in the wild before and he was amazed by them. He bordered on glowing in the face when he finally got in to work.
Isn't that interesting that someone who is around them often and someone who has never seen them take a similar stance. Yet those who see them now and then - even if they are in an area one would not think them to be - could almost care less and rarely even notice.
Welcome to Christianity.
While it is not uncommon to reduce our faith to knowing the correct responses to certain questions of theology or doctrine, that is by far not all there is to it. A quick tour through the New Testament - especially the Gospels and Acts - will show that quite quickly. There is, indeed, a very real power involved as well and that power is beyond merely an increase in "will power" in our daily lives.
To those outside of the Church, seeing the power of God in action brings about a similar response as that of my former coworkers to seeing the deer - awestruck.
To those who see this fairly often and act upon on it, they too react in a similar fashion - even though they have seen and done much, they continue to be in awe.
But then, there are those in the middle. Those who are content with being in the middle - with having a "faith" that is merely intellectual or emotional. These people do see the power of God in action but they're response is all but indifferent. They chock things up to "good luck" rather than God's intervention. They are skeptical and cynical of accounts of the Spirit doing the amazing, especially when done through a another person. And those stories, while they do acknowledge the hearing of them, do not even warrant a change of thought about whatever they were talking about beforehand. While they may be theologically sound and they may be active in seeking to help those less fortunate, their version of Christianity is all but completely stripped of its' power to the point that the early church may well not recognize this version as even being Christian.
This is not to condemn who you find yourself in this middle range. This is to encourage you that there is, indeed, more to your faith. I know you have felt it. You have read the accounts of what the disciples and apostles did - not to mention Jesus Himself - and it has stirred within you. But voices which should never have been listened to overwhelm your mind and you dismiss that stirring as fantasy or something to be forgotten as you go back to focusing upon your list of what to do and what not to do in this life. But it is not fantasy! It is not your imagination which stirs, it is the Spirit of God which stirs within you. Stop dismissing Him. Dare. Dare to have hope and faith in what you read, feel and know to be true. Seek God and, in that, seek also His power - not for arrogant or prideful reasons, but to see the glory of God Almighty played out before your very eyes - to know the extent of this calling He has called you to. Dare to step out and believe in the miraculous. Do not be content with scraps on the floor beneath the table for upon the table is a great feast and it has been laid out for you. The chair you scrounge like a mouse beneath is your own chair!
PS: If you have "formerly" lived within this Christian life that experienced the power and glory of God, but you find yourself not there now - do not believe the lie you are being fed. You are not being punished for something that Christ already paid the price for nor did you screw things up royally - God knew what you were going to just as He knows what you will yet do. He knew when He first called you.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
If you love Me...
There is a passage in Hebrews chapter 3 that speaks about not hardening our hearts - not sinning - else we may not enter into God's rest. And this is one of those passages that gets used by people now and then to point at specific sins in other people - usually sins they believe they are not guilty of themselves. But does this point to something of that nature, or perhaps does it point at something else.
The Hebrews 3 passage speaks about those - Israel - whom Moses was leading through the wilderness after leaving Egypt, a story told in Exodus. This is the example we are given so that we may understand what this sin is, so it is to this place we must go.
Now then, if I were to ask what was the dreadful sin which plagued Israel and, eventually, led to them not being able to enter into the promised land/God's rest, what would you think of? No small number would think of the story of the golden calf and the subsequent orgy (that is how it was done) of worship to this thing. But that is just one event and God did not wipe them all out after this happened, so it really could not be what He is refering to.
If we read through these events in Exodus, we will see something happening repeatedly. One thing we see is that the Israelites seem to complain a fair bit about, well, most everything that comes across their path really. I put it to you that this is an outward symptom of the sin in question. Think about it, over and over God did amazing things to provide and care for them - everything from parting a sea to lead them away from those who wished them harm to water from a rock and food, literally, from out of nowhere provided daily. And yet, yet they complained about everything. Why did they do that? While we could try and analyze possible answers, the most obvious answer is that they did not, in fact, actually trust God. No matter how many times He proved He could be trusted, they still refused to trust Him. Even when they got to the "promised land" they refused to trust Him and, subsequently, got to wander the wilds for a generation.
Let us fast forward to the Gospels. More than once, Jesus Himself said for us to not worry. That God knows what we need and what we want long before we even know we do and He is not hard or cruel, so He does not with hold these things from us. So we do not need to worry - we can trust Him.
Now we come full circle to the book of Hebrews and our passage from chapter 3 and verse 19: "So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief". What was their unbelief? What was this sin? Simply put, they did not trust God.
Of the two commands Jesus tells us we are to follow, loving God is number one - trust and love go together with each other. If we say we love God, then we must trust Him. Even when we are in the wilderness and we cannot fathom how things will work out or how what we need will come, we are to trust Him and He will take care of everything. He knows our limitations after all.
If you are a believer, how much rest do you have in your heart, mind and soul during those times which you refuse to trust God to take care of <whatever>? When you strive and try and scheme to make it work on your own, apart from God? From my own experience, I know the answer to be "not much", not much at all.
He can be trusted, not just because He says He can either. God will prove - over and over - that you can actually, completely and totally, count on Him. Do not base your trust of Him upon your own experiences trusting another person. He is not human, after all - He is God.
*Edit/Addon*
God is not stupid. Things which He says to either do or not to do, He does not do so to try and "make you work for it" or "take away from your fun". He knows what the consequences of our choices - for everyone concerned - can and will be. Trusting Him is no exception to this. He knows how insane we drive ourselves if we do not. He knows about the sleepless nights, the hours spent in therapy sessions, the words said unintentionally in arguments which can never be taken back fully or the addictions which pop up as we try to cope on our own. He knows the ground the enemy gains when he can get us to question and that he (satan) has the absolute worst in mind for us. Taking God at His word with regards to who He says He is, whom He says we are and about the relationship between us - that is, trusting Him - brings a great peace to our hearts, minds and souls in all situations and circumstances, for we know Who is in control and He is most certainly trustworthy. He also knows we do not trust Him near as often as we should and no, He is not about to heave a lightning bolt at us for it - He is far more patient than we are.
The Hebrews 3 passage speaks about those - Israel - whom Moses was leading through the wilderness after leaving Egypt, a story told in Exodus. This is the example we are given so that we may understand what this sin is, so it is to this place we must go.
Now then, if I were to ask what was the dreadful sin which plagued Israel and, eventually, led to them not being able to enter into the promised land/God's rest, what would you think of? No small number would think of the story of the golden calf and the subsequent orgy (that is how it was done) of worship to this thing. But that is just one event and God did not wipe them all out after this happened, so it really could not be what He is refering to.
If we read through these events in Exodus, we will see something happening repeatedly. One thing we see is that the Israelites seem to complain a fair bit about, well, most everything that comes across their path really. I put it to you that this is an outward symptom of the sin in question. Think about it, over and over God did amazing things to provide and care for them - everything from parting a sea to lead them away from those who wished them harm to water from a rock and food, literally, from out of nowhere provided daily. And yet, yet they complained about everything. Why did they do that? While we could try and analyze possible answers, the most obvious answer is that they did not, in fact, actually trust God. No matter how many times He proved He could be trusted, they still refused to trust Him. Even when they got to the "promised land" they refused to trust Him and, subsequently, got to wander the wilds for a generation.
Let us fast forward to the Gospels. More than once, Jesus Himself said for us to not worry. That God knows what we need and what we want long before we even know we do and He is not hard or cruel, so He does not with hold these things from us. So we do not need to worry - we can trust Him.
Now we come full circle to the book of Hebrews and our passage from chapter 3 and verse 19: "So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief". What was their unbelief? What was this sin? Simply put, they did not trust God.
Of the two commands Jesus tells us we are to follow, loving God is number one - trust and love go together with each other. If we say we love God, then we must trust Him. Even when we are in the wilderness and we cannot fathom how things will work out or how what we need will come, we are to trust Him and He will take care of everything. He knows our limitations after all.
If you are a believer, how much rest do you have in your heart, mind and soul during those times which you refuse to trust God to take care of <whatever>? When you strive and try and scheme to make it work on your own, apart from God? From my own experience, I know the answer to be "not much", not much at all.
He can be trusted, not just because He says He can either. God will prove - over and over - that you can actually, completely and totally, count on Him. Do not base your trust of Him upon your own experiences trusting another person. He is not human, after all - He is God.
*Edit/Addon*
God is not stupid. Things which He says to either do or not to do, He does not do so to try and "make you work for it" or "take away from your fun". He knows what the consequences of our choices - for everyone concerned - can and will be. Trusting Him is no exception to this. He knows how insane we drive ourselves if we do not. He knows about the sleepless nights, the hours spent in therapy sessions, the words said unintentionally in arguments which can never be taken back fully or the addictions which pop up as we try to cope on our own. He knows the ground the enemy gains when he can get us to question and that he (satan) has the absolute worst in mind for us. Taking God at His word with regards to who He says He is, whom He says we are and about the relationship between us - that is, trusting Him - brings a great peace to our hearts, minds and souls in all situations and circumstances, for we know Who is in control and He is most certainly trustworthy. He also knows we do not trust Him near as often as we should and no, He is not about to heave a lightning bolt at us for it - He is far more patient than we are.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
One Life, Two Views
There are, generally speaking, two ways of looking at this life of ours.
1. That we are spiritual beings who happen to have a physical form for our temporary use while we are here in this plane of existence.
2. That we are physical beings who happen to have a spiritual component.
These are major differences and, as such, create significant differences in how lives are lived. For example:
Type 1: As spiritual beings, what happens in the spiritual realm as well as what happens after we leave these temporal bodies is of primary concern. Therefore, with this as our starting point, spiritual matters - and any absolutes within - shape how we view the world we live in as well as how we attempt to live our lives within said world. Everything else comes in, at least, second place.
Type 2: Since spirit is only a component of the whole, it is no more important than any other part. Instead, as a primarily physical being, what becomes important are more immediate matters, not the least of which is how things make us feel and feelings have no absolutes. What makes one person laugh may cause another to cry - neither is "right" since they are responding to a myriad of personal factors which influence their emotional response to a given situation. Therefore, feeling (physical, mental, etc) and emotion become the primary focus of this view of the world and influences how lives are lived within it.
Do these two views conflict with each other? They most certainly do and this, obviously, causes some friction between them although not necessarily a warranted friction. If each considers that the other has a whole different starting point for their view of life and events than their own, perhaps some of that tension between the two will ease a bit.
If you are type 1 (which would hold those within the Christian Church), then you cannot demand that those who do not share your view "toe the line", since their "line" is totally different than your own. This is not something new, this has always been the case.
If you are type 2, understand that type 1's response is not due to how they feel about you or an issue but rather, is due to an absolute that they believe in. Also, if you do not believe in absolutes, you really cannot say type 1 is wrong for you have no absolute to base that upon.
Now then, this is hardly comprehensive nor is this to condemn either group - it is simply to explain, perhaps, where some of the tension and friction come from minus the name calling.
1. That we are spiritual beings who happen to have a physical form for our temporary use while we are here in this plane of existence.
2. That we are physical beings who happen to have a spiritual component.
These are major differences and, as such, create significant differences in how lives are lived. For example:
Type 1: As spiritual beings, what happens in the spiritual realm as well as what happens after we leave these temporal bodies is of primary concern. Therefore, with this as our starting point, spiritual matters - and any absolutes within - shape how we view the world we live in as well as how we attempt to live our lives within said world. Everything else comes in, at least, second place.
Type 2: Since spirit is only a component of the whole, it is no more important than any other part. Instead, as a primarily physical being, what becomes important are more immediate matters, not the least of which is how things make us feel and feelings have no absolutes. What makes one person laugh may cause another to cry - neither is "right" since they are responding to a myriad of personal factors which influence their emotional response to a given situation. Therefore, feeling (physical, mental, etc) and emotion become the primary focus of this view of the world and influences how lives are lived within it.
Do these two views conflict with each other? They most certainly do and this, obviously, causes some friction between them although not necessarily a warranted friction. If each considers that the other has a whole different starting point for their view of life and events than their own, perhaps some of that tension between the two will ease a bit.
If you are type 1 (which would hold those within the Christian Church), then you cannot demand that those who do not share your view "toe the line", since their "line" is totally different than your own. This is not something new, this has always been the case.
If you are type 2, understand that type 1's response is not due to how they feel about you or an issue but rather, is due to an absolute that they believe in. Also, if you do not believe in absolutes, you really cannot say type 1 is wrong for you have no absolute to base that upon.
Now then, this is hardly comprehensive nor is this to condemn either group - it is simply to explain, perhaps, where some of the tension and friction come from minus the name calling.
Monday, October 12, 2015
More than talk
So much of what we hear or read about "being the Body of Christ" seems to revolve around our behaviors in regards to "the Law" - that is lying, sexual matters, slander, etc. But is that all there is to "being the Body" - being "well behaved" or "morally upright"?
James 2:15-16 reads: " Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"
I know it is popular to bitch about how the government is not doing enough for those in need within our own country but have you ever stopped to consider that that was never something the government was supposed to be responsible for? For that matter, the notion they are is actually not that old. Who is responsible then? The Church is who was to be responsible to help those in need (consider Lev. 23:22, for example). With that thought in mind, I find myself pondering how we are actually doing in that regard. I know there are many aid organizations affiliated with the Church, but how are we doing on a smaller scale?
Perhaps you read that and think "but our local church is only 20 people, what can we do?" No one says you have to pay someone's rent or clothe a family or buy groceries for a year so do not get caught up in the scale of how many need help. Something as simple as giving away a cup of coffee can make some difference. Think about it: a can of coffee + sugar + whitener (easier to store than milk) + coffee filters runs about $20 and could serve well over a hundred people. I know it seems trivial - a cup of coffee - but to someone who does not have much, even small things matter a great deal. If you ponder perhaps actually feeding people food, again you do not have to serve a full turkey dinner everyday to everyone who has need - even simple "mac n cheese" is food.
So a quick challenge to those within the Church who read this: do something. Find someone else who shares your thoughts and plan something out. Take it to your local church or go for it merely as fellow believers if the local seems slow to act (churches with boards and whatnot can be as slow anyplace else with same). Make coffee, hand out mittens or gloves, feed a half dozen people or whatever but DO something (preferably more than drop some change in a box on the counter when you buy your own coffee).
Do not merely read this, nod and agree and go on your way. Hear. Listen. Be the Body and change the world.
" For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:35-40
James 2:15-16 reads: " Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?"
I know it is popular to bitch about how the government is not doing enough for those in need within our own country but have you ever stopped to consider that that was never something the government was supposed to be responsible for? For that matter, the notion they are is actually not that old. Who is responsible then? The Church is who was to be responsible to help those in need (consider Lev. 23:22, for example). With that thought in mind, I find myself pondering how we are actually doing in that regard. I know there are many aid organizations affiliated with the Church, but how are we doing on a smaller scale?
Perhaps you read that and think "but our local church is only 20 people, what can we do?" No one says you have to pay someone's rent or clothe a family or buy groceries for a year so do not get caught up in the scale of how many need help. Something as simple as giving away a cup of coffee can make some difference. Think about it: a can of coffee + sugar + whitener (easier to store than milk) + coffee filters runs about $20 and could serve well over a hundred people. I know it seems trivial - a cup of coffee - but to someone who does not have much, even small things matter a great deal. If you ponder perhaps actually feeding people food, again you do not have to serve a full turkey dinner everyday to everyone who has need - even simple "mac n cheese" is food.
So a quick challenge to those within the Church who read this: do something. Find someone else who shares your thoughts and plan something out. Take it to your local church or go for it merely as fellow believers if the local seems slow to act (churches with boards and whatnot can be as slow anyplace else with same). Make coffee, hand out mittens or gloves, feed a half dozen people or whatever but DO something (preferably more than drop some change in a box on the counter when you buy your own coffee).
Do not merely read this, nod and agree and go on your way. Hear. Listen. Be the Body and change the world.
" For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:35-40
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Why Do I?
Why do I say the kinds of things I do? Why do I try and make those within the Church take a look at themselves, as opposed to "blowing smoke up their tail pipe" to make them feel good? Here's one you don't know about me...
Have you ever seen a church die?
I do not mean shrink. I do not mean have to change buildings. I mean DIE. As in "God has left the building" kind of die. I have. A relatively long time ago now, when I was much younger in my faith, I saw a church die. That does something to you.
But it gets worse. You see, I was given a very direct Word and it was a Word about the church in question. But I was young in my faith. And I was afraid. I was afraid to share it. Afraid that they would look at me funny, or not listen, or not like me, or mock me. So I said NOTHING. I kept it to myself. And a church died.
Maybe me saying it would not have changed anything. Maybe they would not have listened. Maybe they would mocked me or whatever. But maybe, maybe they would have heard. Maybe. I'll never know. Because that church died. It was dead and gone by the end of the week - it never made the next Sunday.
So if you take offense or whatever because I seem to continually be trying to make you look at yourself in mirror. If it bothers you that I point out "little things" like the Church acting like the world, or getting defiant about stupid insignificant matters or becoming self centered or holier than thou or just "going through the motions", know this: I AM GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. I will not be silent no matter how many of you hate me for it. No matter how many of you stand in self righteous judgement over me. I will not be silent again. Not because I am better than you, but because I know what it is to fail and how bitter tears flow.
I cannot handle any more blood on my hands. Never again.
And yes, even now I still cry...
Have you ever seen a church die?
I do not mean shrink. I do not mean have to change buildings. I mean DIE. As in "God has left the building" kind of die. I have. A relatively long time ago now, when I was much younger in my faith, I saw a church die. That does something to you.
But it gets worse. You see, I was given a very direct Word and it was a Word about the church in question. But I was young in my faith. And I was afraid. I was afraid to share it. Afraid that they would look at me funny, or not listen, or not like me, or mock me. So I said NOTHING. I kept it to myself. And a church died.
Maybe me saying it would not have changed anything. Maybe they would not have listened. Maybe they would mocked me or whatever. But maybe, maybe they would have heard. Maybe. I'll never know. Because that church died. It was dead and gone by the end of the week - it never made the next Sunday.
So if you take offense or whatever because I seem to continually be trying to make you look at yourself in mirror. If it bothers you that I point out "little things" like the Church acting like the world, or getting defiant about stupid insignificant matters or becoming self centered or holier than thou or just "going through the motions", know this: I AM GOING TO SAY SOMETHING. I will not be silent no matter how many of you hate me for it. No matter how many of you stand in self righteous judgement over me. I will not be silent again. Not because I am better than you, but because I know what it is to fail and how bitter tears flow.
I cannot handle any more blood on my hands. Never again.
And yes, even now I still cry...
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Pant, Wheeze, Gasp.....
The Bible likens our walk with Christ to a race. While this is good way to look at it, I think some of us make the mistake of thinking it is a 100m / 100yd dash and that we are well trained athletes. That we explode off the starting block full speed and maintain that throughout our short distance, crossing the finish line quickly and easily, even if maybe a bit spent.
Perhaps for some, that is true but not for most of us. For most of us, our Christian journey is more of a marathon and we, are at best, "weekend warriors" (or couch warriors for that matter). Our "race" begins and we explode off the starting block, only to find the race continuing - and our persons complaining about that fact - not far down the road. So we find our pace slowing, and we get upset with ourselves for not pacing ourselves better, not being in better shape, or not being as "fast as that other guy". But we continue moving forward even if not the picture of athletic prowess - we hobble here and there as cramps come and go and we stop moving now and then as we gasp in air desperately. But we do continue, even in spite of all this. Going back to the starting line is no option for us and that finish line has to be up there someplace ... maybe around that next turn.
It does not matter if you cross that line running like a graceful deer or stumble across it half alive with tear filled eyes, all that matters is that you finish. This is your race - your walk with Christ - not someone else's. And you can make it.
"..one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:13-14
Perhaps for some, that is true but not for most of us. For most of us, our Christian journey is more of a marathon and we, are at best, "weekend warriors" (or couch warriors for that matter). Our "race" begins and we explode off the starting block, only to find the race continuing - and our persons complaining about that fact - not far down the road. So we find our pace slowing, and we get upset with ourselves for not pacing ourselves better, not being in better shape, or not being as "fast as that other guy". But we continue moving forward even if not the picture of athletic prowess - we hobble here and there as cramps come and go and we stop moving now and then as we gasp in air desperately. But we do continue, even in spite of all this. Going back to the starting line is no option for us and that finish line has to be up there someplace ... maybe around that next turn.
It does not matter if you cross that line running like a graceful deer or stumble across it half alive with tear filled eyes, all that matters is that you finish. This is your race - your walk with Christ - not someone else's. And you can make it.
"..one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 3:13-14
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
A Reminder...
A reminder of interest:
The One who invited children to Himself (Mark 10:14) is the same One who leveled Sodom (Gen.19:24). The One who stepped in on behalf of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:7) is the exact same One who leveled the earth (Gen.6:17) generations past.
They are not different. They are not "new and improved". God was the same in the very beginning and in the days of the early Church, as He is today and in the eternal tomorrow. The One who led His children to freedom from Egypt, is the same One who willingly went to the cross and is the same One who calls out to you today.
He has not changed.
The One who invited children to Himself (Mark 10:14) is the same One who leveled Sodom (Gen.19:24). The One who stepped in on behalf of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:7) is the exact same One who leveled the earth (Gen.6:17) generations past.
They are not different. They are not "new and improved". God was the same in the very beginning and in the days of the early Church, as He is today and in the eternal tomorrow. The One who led His children to freedom from Egypt, is the same One who willingly went to the cross and is the same One who calls out to you today.
He has not changed.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
3 Little Words
Questioning, doubting and unbelief.
Three words that none of us want to admit to having experienced but, in all honesty, we likely all can relate and recall more than one or two moments when each of those existed in our own lives. However, while many may choose to use those terms interchangably, they are not the same thing at all.
For instance, have you ever prayed about your unbelief? If you have - or you find youself there now - I want to share a story told to me by an old friend.
A family member of theirs was struggling with, what they believed, to be unbelief. They found themselves alone one day and began to pray desperately about it when the question was put to them: "If you do not believe, then who are you talking to?". Needless to say, it ended and answered their prayer pretty quickly. The point is obviously they believed so it was not a matter of unbelief to begin with.
Questioning, whether about something Biblical, some matter of faith or understanding, calling or whatever. Let's be honest, we have all done this one. So is questioning the same as unbelief or doubting? Not even close.
If you are questioning, then you are still very much interested in finding the truth. You are digging, seeking, reading, praying, thinking, talking, etc, etc as you attempt to find the solid answer you need. It does not matter if everyone else you know is not questioning, they are not you. And should you find yourself questioning <whatever> do not allow yourself to start thinking that God is mad at you for doing so. After all, Moses argued with Him about God having chosen the wrong guy, and Gideon put Him to the test (wet/dry fleece/floor) not once, but twice in a row. God would rather we question and find the truth than settle on being half heartedly sure.
Now doubts are a different thing altogether. To have doubts does mean you believe but it also means you are not questioning. Doubts are more like massive walls placed in the road in front of us that we cannot go around, get over or dig under - they just stop us dead in our tracks which is at least one reason why the enemy likes to use them against us as often as they do, although we are more than capable of putting them on ourselves as well.
Frequently, doubts are aimed at something which God has said, whether to us, about us or about Himself. Consider the words of the serpent to Eve: "did God really say...". Now if she were questioning that, she would have asked Adam and possibly double checked with God "What was it You said about that tree again and what would happen? And what does that actually mean?", but that is not what happened. Instead, she went with the doubt and the rest is history.
Considering how ineffectual doubts can make us, they are one good reason to get a good idea about who God actually is (not necessarily who someone else says He is or who we want Him to be), who we are, and who we are to each to other from each point of view. That does not mean doubts will never appear on the road before us, but it may mean they are not near as effective at keeping us stopped.
Should you find yourself facing doubt(s), there are a couple of things you can do to get moving again. One, ask God to help you with your doubt. Trust me, He knows you are having them so you are not going to shock Him when you tell Him and He has no problem helping one of His own get past a doubt. Another thing you can do is chose to change from doubt to question. Again, do not feel bad or ashamed or less somehow because you are questioning because in the end, all questioning is a search for the truth. Since God is Truth, then He does not mind you seeking at all. Better to question and seek than stay stuck in the mud feeling miserable.
Remember, these things are normal - it does not make you less of a Christian nor does it make God love you less just because you question or have doubts, and if you think you may be dealing with unbelief the mere fact that it concerns you probably means you believe.
Three words that none of us want to admit to having experienced but, in all honesty, we likely all can relate and recall more than one or two moments when each of those existed in our own lives. However, while many may choose to use those terms interchangably, they are not the same thing at all.
For instance, have you ever prayed about your unbelief? If you have - or you find youself there now - I want to share a story told to me by an old friend.
A family member of theirs was struggling with, what they believed, to be unbelief. They found themselves alone one day and began to pray desperately about it when the question was put to them: "If you do not believe, then who are you talking to?". Needless to say, it ended and answered their prayer pretty quickly. The point is obviously they believed so it was not a matter of unbelief to begin with.
Questioning, whether about something Biblical, some matter of faith or understanding, calling or whatever. Let's be honest, we have all done this one. So is questioning the same as unbelief or doubting? Not even close.
If you are questioning, then you are still very much interested in finding the truth. You are digging, seeking, reading, praying, thinking, talking, etc, etc as you attempt to find the solid answer you need. It does not matter if everyone else you know is not questioning, they are not you. And should you find yourself questioning <whatever> do not allow yourself to start thinking that God is mad at you for doing so. After all, Moses argued with Him about God having chosen the wrong guy, and Gideon put Him to the test (wet/dry fleece/floor) not once, but twice in a row. God would rather we question and find the truth than settle on being half heartedly sure.
Now doubts are a different thing altogether. To have doubts does mean you believe but it also means you are not questioning. Doubts are more like massive walls placed in the road in front of us that we cannot go around, get over or dig under - they just stop us dead in our tracks which is at least one reason why the enemy likes to use them against us as often as they do, although we are more than capable of putting them on ourselves as well.
Frequently, doubts are aimed at something which God has said, whether to us, about us or about Himself. Consider the words of the serpent to Eve: "did God really say...". Now if she were questioning that, she would have asked Adam and possibly double checked with God "What was it You said about that tree again and what would happen? And what does that actually mean?", but that is not what happened. Instead, she went with the doubt and the rest is history.
Considering how ineffectual doubts can make us, they are one good reason to get a good idea about who God actually is (not necessarily who someone else says He is or who we want Him to be), who we are, and who we are to each to other from each point of view. That does not mean doubts will never appear on the road before us, but it may mean they are not near as effective at keeping us stopped.
Should you find yourself facing doubt(s), there are a couple of things you can do to get moving again. One, ask God to help you with your doubt. Trust me, He knows you are having them so you are not going to shock Him when you tell Him and He has no problem helping one of His own get past a doubt. Another thing you can do is chose to change from doubt to question. Again, do not feel bad or ashamed or less somehow because you are questioning because in the end, all questioning is a search for the truth. Since God is Truth, then He does not mind you seeking at all. Better to question and seek than stay stuck in the mud feeling miserable.
Remember, these things are normal - it does not make you less of a Christian nor does it make God love you less just because you question or have doubts, and if you think you may be dealing with unbelief the mere fact that it concerns you probably means you believe.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
A question pondered...
So I find myself pondering a bit as of late...
Do I seek to have God give glory to what I do or do I seek to do that which will bring Him glory?
After all, there is a fairly massive difference between the two, is there not?
One may ask, "What does it matter, so long as He is One getting the glory?", but it surely does matter.
For if I merely do <whatever> and attempt to toss God into it somewhere or in some fashion, I could so easily be doing Him a massive disservice. For that matter, I could be totally following my old nature and seeking to justify my decisions, fears, failings, biases, etc by tossing in a quick "to God be the glory" at some point. How often in history have we seen hate filled men attempt to justify themselves, their words and their actions by tossing on a quick "to God be the glory"? If these men could do such things then surely - being merely a man myself - I am capable of such.
I am not getting any younger. Each day which passes is one less day on this world and one more day closer to my going home to Him. So I find myself pondering such things and more and more, needing to know the answer to the question: "what can I do for You, Lord, that will bring You the glory You deserve?" for in my heart I know I was made for so much more than merely surviving life or "living a good life" (for there are many, many people who do not know Him who do such things as well) ...
I was made for His glory, not He for mine.
Do I seek to have God give glory to what I do or do I seek to do that which will bring Him glory?
After all, there is a fairly massive difference between the two, is there not?
One may ask, "What does it matter, so long as He is One getting the glory?", but it surely does matter.
For if I merely do <whatever> and attempt to toss God into it somewhere or in some fashion, I could so easily be doing Him a massive disservice. For that matter, I could be totally following my old nature and seeking to justify my decisions, fears, failings, biases, etc by tossing in a quick "to God be the glory" at some point. How often in history have we seen hate filled men attempt to justify themselves, their words and their actions by tossing on a quick "to God be the glory"? If these men could do such things then surely - being merely a man myself - I am capable of such.
I am not getting any younger. Each day which passes is one less day on this world and one more day closer to my going home to Him. So I find myself pondering such things and more and more, needing to know the answer to the question: "what can I do for You, Lord, that will bring You the glory You deserve?" for in my heart I know I was made for so much more than merely surviving life or "living a good life" (for there are many, many people who do not know Him who do such things as well) ...
I was made for His glory, not He for mine.
Friday, August 21, 2015
Sit and Stay...Good Boy.
A friend recently posted a picture online which included the 23rd Psalm and I found myself revisiting this beautiful psalm inspired by God and penned by David so long ago. So beautiful, in fact, that many who are not even within the Christian Church, know many - if not all - of those lines.
While the picture painted (in the psalm) is pretty much self explanatory, there is actually one part of it I used to misunderstand, mainly because I overlooked a couple of words as I read it.
Verse 2 begins with: "He makes me lie down in green pastures".
For the longest time, I used to read that verse and picture myself flopping down on my back in the middle of green grass - usually beside a calm, lazy river - and just relaxing and staring up at the clouds as I felt the warm sun on my face. Nice thought, but not exactly what it says though.
It does not say "I get to lie" or "He lets me lie down", no, it says "He MAKES ME lie down", which changes the meaning a whole lot actually. It changes it enough that the image in my mind has changed a fair bit.
Now, now I am puppy - yes, I picture myself as a puppy. A hyper, active (cute and cuddly) little puppy. And I want to take off and run, but I am close the road. So my Owner reaches down a hand and gently, yet firmly, pushes me down - making me lie down. You see, I want to go, I want or run but I am not ready to go there yet - I may never be ready to go there for that matter. But I do not understand that, I just want go. As a puppy, my Owner could explain to me how I may get hit by a car if I take off, but I am a puppy - I wouldn't understand. So instead, He makes me lie down. Eventually, He may let me go across the road, but He will be with me with I go - and that is, again, if I ever can go there (there is a big difference between country roads and a 4+ lane highway after all).
You see, He makes me lie down because I am not ready to go there yet. He makes me lie down because I may never be ready to go there. He makes me lie down because I do not understand what lies ahead of me - I cannot see the unseen or the danger it poses. He makes me lie down because He loves me, because He knows what is best for me, because He knows I am not ready right now (no matter what "I" think) and sometimes, sometimes because He knows I just need a rest before moving on.
If you are in a place in life or ministry or whatever right now and it just seems like you cannot get moving, no matter what you do, maybe just maybe, He is making you lie down.
Thank you Lord, for caring enough about me to make me lie down.
While the picture painted (in the psalm) is pretty much self explanatory, there is actually one part of it I used to misunderstand, mainly because I overlooked a couple of words as I read it.
Verse 2 begins with: "He makes me lie down in green pastures".
For the longest time, I used to read that verse and picture myself flopping down on my back in the middle of green grass - usually beside a calm, lazy river - and just relaxing and staring up at the clouds as I felt the warm sun on my face. Nice thought, but not exactly what it says though.
It does not say "I get to lie" or "He lets me lie down", no, it says "He MAKES ME lie down", which changes the meaning a whole lot actually. It changes it enough that the image in my mind has changed a fair bit.
Now, now I am puppy - yes, I picture myself as a puppy. A hyper, active (cute and cuddly) little puppy. And I want to take off and run, but I am close the road. So my Owner reaches down a hand and gently, yet firmly, pushes me down - making me lie down. You see, I want to go, I want or run but I am not ready to go there yet - I may never be ready to go there for that matter. But I do not understand that, I just want go. As a puppy, my Owner could explain to me how I may get hit by a car if I take off, but I am a puppy - I wouldn't understand. So instead, He makes me lie down. Eventually, He may let me go across the road, but He will be with me with I go - and that is, again, if I ever can go there (there is a big difference between country roads and a 4+ lane highway after all).
You see, He makes me lie down because I am not ready to go there yet. He makes me lie down because I may never be ready to go there. He makes me lie down because I do not understand what lies ahead of me - I cannot see the unseen or the danger it poses. He makes me lie down because He loves me, because He knows what is best for me, because He knows I am not ready right now (no matter what "I" think) and sometimes, sometimes because He knows I just need a rest before moving on.
If you are in a place in life or ministry or whatever right now and it just seems like you cannot get moving, no matter what you do, maybe just maybe, He is making you lie down.
Thank you Lord, for caring enough about me to make me lie down.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
East-North by North-East
It bothers me no small amount when I see Christians doing and following these little "harmless" things that I know are not of God. Everything from Astrology and Tarot cards, to Ouija boards (including the homemade versions like the "Charlie" thing) and mystical healing powers of all forms (crystals, incantations over candles, etc). These things are NOT of God and they certainly are NOT harmless. God does talk about such things in the Bible and not in a favorable light. They are all forms and practices of witchcraft. Yes I said witchcraft and I do not mean Harry Potter - I mean powered and empowered via Satan and his cohorts. That 'energy' your sensing is not your own, it is his. That is who you have tapped into. I know no few will counter with "oh no, that is the energy/spirit in the world" but I ask you, "who is the spirit of the world"? (1 Cor.2:12; Gal.4:3; Eph.2:2).
You cannot merely play with these things anymore than you can play with a cobra and then be shocked when you get bitten and poisoned by it. These things are real. They are dangerous.
I am not about to jump in with others who say not to bother with such things because they do not work or are not real. If they did not or were not, why would God bother to warn against them? No, they are very real and sometimes they do work. Look at the Apostle Paul's encounter with a fortune teller in Acts 16 - he did not cast that spirit out because it was not real.
If nothing else, you cannot follow Christ AND follow other religions/beliefs. If Christ is leading you East, and the others are leading you North, the best you can do is go North-East which, in case you have not guessed, means you are not actually following Christ at all. You may be fairly close in the beginning but, in the end, you are going to be pretty far apart from each other.
If you are engaged with any of these things, you have got to break away from them. You are willingly playing with the power of the enemy and inviting him to 'hang out' with you.
As with all that I pen within here, I try to be honest and truthful to you ... and I tend to speak from experience and not from book knowledge. This is no exception.
To God be the glory.
You cannot merely play with these things anymore than you can play with a cobra and then be shocked when you get bitten and poisoned by it. These things are real. They are dangerous.
I am not about to jump in with others who say not to bother with such things because they do not work or are not real. If they did not or were not, why would God bother to warn against them? No, they are very real and sometimes they do work. Look at the Apostle Paul's encounter with a fortune teller in Acts 16 - he did not cast that spirit out because it was not real.
If nothing else, you cannot follow Christ AND follow other religions/beliefs. If Christ is leading you East, and the others are leading you North, the best you can do is go North-East which, in case you have not guessed, means you are not actually following Christ at all. You may be fairly close in the beginning but, in the end, you are going to be pretty far apart from each other.
If you are engaged with any of these things, you have got to break away from them. You are willingly playing with the power of the enemy and inviting him to 'hang out' with you.
As with all that I pen within here, I try to be honest and truthful to you ... and I tend to speak from experience and not from book knowledge. This is no exception.
To God be the glory.
Monday, June 22, 2015
To Drive or to Draw - That is the Question
There has been a bit of "chatter", as of late, about people leaving the Church and there have been strategies galore coming out of the woodwork to stop 'believers' from leaving. But there have been a number of groups and organizations take a real serious look at this and have found, for the most part, that there are very few who are leaving the Church - that is, the Body. Oh sure, there are believers who have left their local church but have not walked away from the Body itself, just as there has always been. However, there are many who are leaving the Church were never actually a part of it in the first place. Since there is no longer any social advantage or expectation to belong to the Church, many who do not actually fully believe are no longer pretending and are walking away.
Okay then, if the Christian Church is not dying, then why are there so many people outside of it versus those inside? What's the problem?
The problem, my dear Church, is you - it's us - we have to change.
It is not our beliefs - in Christ, God, the Bible, right or wrong - we have to change. It is not the style of music we play or the clothes we wear that we must change. It is not where we meet or when that we must change. It is "us".
We who say "come as you are" and then demand that those who come become "like us" as soon as they walk through the doors. The only One we are to become like is Christ (and that even not by our own efforts, but by His) and I put it to you that not one of us is a perfect example of Him. We try to place heavy loads upon the shoulders of people that we, ourselves, could not hope to carry (Acts 15:10). And in this, in this we drive them away from us in droves, for we claim to follow Christ, but we act like a Pharisee - self righteous and full of ourselves (which is pride, by the way) - standing upon our "rule following abilities" (there are oodles of people who can follow rules which have no belief in God) rather than the grace and mercy of Almighty God towards we who are as screwed up and flawed as anyone.
The problem is not how we "do church". The problem is not relevance or God. The problem is not society (the one we live in is not "that" much different than Rome was in Jesus' day) or the culture around us. The problem is "our" hearts and "our" minds - we are not drawing them in, we are pushing them away.
Now then, I cannot tell you what is in your heart any more than you can say what is in mine - only God knows that. I can say though that if any of this has struck a chord with you or has resulted in you becoming a bit defiant, then perhaps you should honestly (and that means willing to listen even if it means hearing something you would rather not) pray as David did and ask God to search your heart and mind for you. To reveal those things which should not be and then, then "allow Him" to make the changes as He sees fit.
I do not know if I shall see the "end of days", but I know I shall see the end of my days, just as you will see the end of yours and none of us has a clue when that will be. We do not have time for this...time is something we do not have...no one does. I am a part of you, and you Church, are a part of me and I love you desperately ... we must change before our time is gone and it is too late.
Okay then, if the Christian Church is not dying, then why are there so many people outside of it versus those inside? What's the problem?
The problem, my dear Church, is you - it's us - we have to change.
It is not our beliefs - in Christ, God, the Bible, right or wrong - we have to change. It is not the style of music we play or the clothes we wear that we must change. It is not where we meet or when that we must change. It is "us".
We who say "come as you are" and then demand that those who come become "like us" as soon as they walk through the doors. The only One we are to become like is Christ (and that even not by our own efforts, but by His) and I put it to you that not one of us is a perfect example of Him. We try to place heavy loads upon the shoulders of people that we, ourselves, could not hope to carry (Acts 15:10). And in this, in this we drive them away from us in droves, for we claim to follow Christ, but we act like a Pharisee - self righteous and full of ourselves (which is pride, by the way) - standing upon our "rule following abilities" (there are oodles of people who can follow rules which have no belief in God) rather than the grace and mercy of Almighty God towards we who are as screwed up and flawed as anyone.
The problem is not how we "do church". The problem is not relevance or God. The problem is not society (the one we live in is not "that" much different than Rome was in Jesus' day) or the culture around us. The problem is "our" hearts and "our" minds - we are not drawing them in, we are pushing them away.
Now then, I cannot tell you what is in your heart any more than you can say what is in mine - only God knows that. I can say though that if any of this has struck a chord with you or has resulted in you becoming a bit defiant, then perhaps you should honestly (and that means willing to listen even if it means hearing something you would rather not) pray as David did and ask God to search your heart and mind for you. To reveal those things which should not be and then, then "allow Him" to make the changes as He sees fit.
I do not know if I shall see the "end of days", but I know I shall see the end of my days, just as you will see the end of yours and none of us has a clue when that will be. We do not have time for this...time is something we do not have...no one does. I am a part of you, and you Church, are a part of me and I love you desperately ... we must change before our time is gone and it is too late.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Undeserved
Once in a while, one may find themselves craving chocolate or candy or other such tidbit but hardly is it a constant thing. Until, that is, you decide it is time to lose a few pounds for then the craving for such things becomes far more frequent. Even the chocolate bars at the supermarket checkout seem to call out your name as you attempt to walk past.
Before my own salvation, I am suspect I committed every sin in the book a time or two and felt the draw to continue in them. After though, after that moment in time the lure and call of such things - and surely even new sins - seemed to become even more noticeable and yes, even frequent. Perhaps it was merely the knowledge that such things were sinful that made them 'appear' to be more frequent or perhaps it was the sin that was within my heart being just that - sin - and in that being utterly sinful (for can sin be anything other than what it is?).
How I would so love to say that since that day, now years ago, I have lived and shown the very epitome of Christ in my behaviors and, more importantly, my dealings with - and reactions to - other people. I would so love to ... but I cannot. Far too often (at all is too often) I have shown the very vileness of humanity to people whom I have cared about instead of the likeness of the One who saw fit to breathe life into me that day. Perhaps such an admission is a bit to "human" for some within the Church, but that does not make it less true.
This is not for any "pat on the back", for any "there there's", for any pity or sympathy any more than it is to serve myself on a platter for those would stand in judgment over me, my words or my actions. This, this is two fold:
1. My honest, deepest apologies to those whom I have wronged and/or shown that side of me which I truly wish did not exist at all. I have no excuses for things done/said.
2. In spite of all of this, my God - my King, my Lord - has never, ever left me. He has never struck me with lightning, stricken me with <whatever>, turned on me or against me. He has always remained true to form and character - proving His compassion for the likes me over and over and over again. Even when I have tried (and I have) to walk (run) away from Him, He never left my side or left me to fend for myself - even though I surely deserved it.
....And He won't leave you either...
Take it from someone who knows.
*Edit/Add-on*
Sometimes I ponder why, exactly, God prompts to me post/share such as my posting. After all, it is not exactly flattering nor easy to bare oneself that way. There are even people who believe it is not right or proper of me or someone pursuing a calling into the 'pastoral charge' to say things such as this - they seem to feel that the "pastor" should be the shiny, polished finished product (unless the heavens should be torn wide and Christ steps down and takes a place behind the pulpit of your church, there is no "finished" or "perfect" one there - just another person, like you). I know because they have said such to me. So why then, if this "revelation of personal humanity" is so wrong, does He have me do it?
If we are spending no small amount of our time trying to keep our mask on, keep up the appearance and keep our skeletons in our closets, then we cannot be following the 2 commands which Christ gave us in Matthew 22:37-39 - at least not near as completely as we want to think we are.
Ponder that for a while.
Before my own salvation, I am suspect I committed every sin in the book a time or two and felt the draw to continue in them. After though, after that moment in time the lure and call of such things - and surely even new sins - seemed to become even more noticeable and yes, even frequent. Perhaps it was merely the knowledge that such things were sinful that made them 'appear' to be more frequent or perhaps it was the sin that was within my heart being just that - sin - and in that being utterly sinful (for can sin be anything other than what it is?).
How I would so love to say that since that day, now years ago, I have lived and shown the very epitome of Christ in my behaviors and, more importantly, my dealings with - and reactions to - other people. I would so love to ... but I cannot. Far too often (at all is too often) I have shown the very vileness of humanity to people whom I have cared about instead of the likeness of the One who saw fit to breathe life into me that day. Perhaps such an admission is a bit to "human" for some within the Church, but that does not make it less true.
This is not for any "pat on the back", for any "there there's", for any pity or sympathy any more than it is to serve myself on a platter for those would stand in judgment over me, my words or my actions. This, this is two fold:
1. My honest, deepest apologies to those whom I have wronged and/or shown that side of me which I truly wish did not exist at all. I have no excuses for things done/said.
2. In spite of all of this, my God - my King, my Lord - has never, ever left me. He has never struck me with lightning, stricken me with <whatever>, turned on me or against me. He has always remained true to form and character - proving His compassion for the likes me over and over and over again. Even when I have tried (and I have) to walk (run) away from Him, He never left my side or left me to fend for myself - even though I surely deserved it.
....And He won't leave you either...
Take it from someone who knows.
*Edit/Add-on*
Sometimes I ponder why, exactly, God prompts to me post/share such as my posting. After all, it is not exactly flattering nor easy to bare oneself that way. There are even people who believe it is not right or proper of me or someone pursuing a calling into the 'pastoral charge' to say things such as this - they seem to feel that the "pastor" should be the shiny, polished finished product (unless the heavens should be torn wide and Christ steps down and takes a place behind the pulpit of your church, there is no "finished" or "perfect" one there - just another person, like you). I know because they have said such to me. So why then, if this "revelation of personal humanity" is so wrong, does He have me do it?
If we are spending no small amount of our time trying to keep our mask on, keep up the appearance and keep our skeletons in our closets, then we cannot be following the 2 commands which Christ gave us in Matthew 22:37-39 - at least not near as completely as we want to think we are.
Ponder that for a while.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Prosperous Social Share
A lot of "chatter" about what has become known as the "prosperity gospel" prompted me to try and figure it out - even partially so. Below is a post from my social media page (Facebook) about that. It is hardly complete and there are many other questions and answers, but it is a start.
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I have been trying to figure out the "prosperity gospel" - you know the "version" which we see around us that seems aimed at health, wealth and happiness and includes phrases like "God wants you to have that new car/boat/house/big promotion/etc" and "you were made for greatness/popularity/power/etc, just declare that and it will become reality" and other of the like. And it seems insane to me.
I mean, what about all those passionate, on fire believers in places like Asia and Africa who are so madly in love with Christ that they are willing to die (and many have) rather than deny Him who live in, well, poverty - that is poverty even by their cultures standards. Does that mean they do not have enough faith??
What about the "heroes" of the Christian faith over the years who have passed on owning all but nothing to their names and having never owned much of anything (people like Mother Teresa, John Wesley, etc) - did they just not have enough faith?
What about the Apostles in the Bible? All but one of them were executed and the one who was not was exiled after they tried to but failed. I cannot recall seeing where they lived in huge estates with dozens of servants. Maybe they just did not know enough to "name it and claim it". Obviously, Jesus did not know enough to do so either since He was (for all intensive purposes) homeless during His earthly ministry.
Then it hits me: perhaps, perhaps there has been a grievous misunderstanding. What misunderstanding, you may ask?
The very wrong idea that God exists for the happiness of humanity. For if one were to take that stance (as insane as it sounds), then the "prosperity gospel" would make complete sense. However, if one were to take the stance that humanity exists for God, then that "version of the gospel" makes no sense at all.
==
==
I have been trying to figure out the "prosperity gospel" - you know the "version" which we see around us that seems aimed at health, wealth and happiness and includes phrases like "God wants you to have that new car/boat/house/big promotion/etc" and "you were made for greatness/popularity/power/etc, just declare that and it will become reality" and other of the like. And it seems insane to me.
I mean, what about all those passionate, on fire believers in places like Asia and Africa who are so madly in love with Christ that they are willing to die (and many have) rather than deny Him who live in, well, poverty - that is poverty even by their cultures standards. Does that mean they do not have enough faith??
What about the "heroes" of the Christian faith over the years who have passed on owning all but nothing to their names and having never owned much of anything (people like Mother Teresa, John Wesley, etc) - did they just not have enough faith?
What about the Apostles in the Bible? All but one of them were executed and the one who was not was exiled after they tried to but failed. I cannot recall seeing where they lived in huge estates with dozens of servants. Maybe they just did not know enough to "name it and claim it". Obviously, Jesus did not know enough to do so either since He was (for all intensive purposes) homeless during His earthly ministry.
Then it hits me: perhaps, perhaps there has been a grievous misunderstanding. What misunderstanding, you may ask?
The very wrong idea that God exists for the happiness of humanity. For if one were to take that stance (as insane as it sounds), then the "prosperity gospel" would make complete sense. However, if one were to take the stance that humanity exists for God, then that "version of the gospel" makes no sense at all.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015
For Him
(Taken from three recent separate posts I made to my social media page - definitely a running theme)
You have befriended the toughest kid in school. But did you befriend them because of the "protection" you will enjoy as their friend or have you befriended them for who they are? There is a difference, after all. The former is all about you - what you are going to get out of it, your happiness. The latter is about them - that they, as a person, is worth pursuing as a friend whether one gets any benefit from that or not.
I am not speaking of school yard matters but of God, Christ and His Church. Do you pursue Christ for you or for Him?
Do you seek Him to escape the fires of hell? Or to live a better life? Or to be happy or "feel good" about yourself? Do you not realize these reasons as "all about you" and not about Him at all? Are we not to pursue Christ for who He is and not for what we can get out of it?
But are there not benefits to following Him? Of course! But these are a side effect of that closeness with Him, not the purpose or reason for it. The reason is simply this: He is worthy.
God did not send Jesus to this world for me
Jesus did not die for me
Jesus did not rise for me
Jesus came
Jesus took the cross
Jesus died
Jesus rose
For GOD
I am God's creation
But I am vile
Wicked and sinful to my very core
All the things which He cannot abide
But God desired me
God desired His creation
So Jesus came to redeem me
Not for me
But for God.
"May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!" ~ J. Dober
You have befriended the toughest kid in school. But did you befriend them because of the "protection" you will enjoy as their friend or have you befriended them for who they are? There is a difference, after all. The former is all about you - what you are going to get out of it, your happiness. The latter is about them - that they, as a person, is worth pursuing as a friend whether one gets any benefit from that or not.
I am not speaking of school yard matters but of God, Christ and His Church. Do you pursue Christ for you or for Him?
Do you seek Him to escape the fires of hell? Or to live a better life? Or to be happy or "feel good" about yourself? Do you not realize these reasons as "all about you" and not about Him at all? Are we not to pursue Christ for who He is and not for what we can get out of it?
But are there not benefits to following Him? Of course! But these are a side effect of that closeness with Him, not the purpose or reason for it. The reason is simply this: He is worthy.
God did not send Jesus to this world for me
Jesus did not die for me
Jesus did not rise for me
Jesus came
Jesus took the cross
Jesus died
Jesus rose
For GOD
I am God's creation
But I am vile
Wicked and sinful to my very core
All the things which He cannot abide
But God desired me
God desired His creation
So Jesus came to redeem me
Not for me
But for God.
"May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!" ~ J. Dober
WWJG?
We've heard it asked, WWJD - What would Jesus Do? - but what about, WWJG - Where Would Jesus Go?
Some time back, I saw a post online that basically said that Jesus would rather hang out in a bar than in a church and there were oodles of people arguing for each side commenting on it - each side as unwavering as the other in their "yea" or "nay" opinions and I am certain there are both sides reading this now. Well, you're both wrong.
To say that Jesus 'would rather' or would prefer to hang out <wherever> would be to say He was "playing favorites"...did you know that is a sin (James 2:9)? And that taking that stance is to accuse God of sin? Does that "really" sound like a great plan to you?
Would Jesus go to the bar? Yes, He certainly would and He would not be there shooting dirty looks at all the "sinners" either. Would He go to the church? Yes again and He would not be there acting all pious or "self righteous" (although He is the only One who could really).
WWJG? Everywhere where there are people, that's where. He would go the local church and the local pub. He would go down that ally where the addicts go and He would hang out at Walmart. He would hang out on "both sides of the tracks". He would go to coffee shops, fast food joints, expensive restaurants, theatres, concerts and playgrounds. And at none of these would He show up to stand in righteous condemnation over anyone - we're the ones who do that crap - which is one of the very reasons He would go where He had to in order to find "us".
Some time back, I saw a post online that basically said that Jesus would rather hang out in a bar than in a church and there were oodles of people arguing for each side commenting on it - each side as unwavering as the other in their "yea" or "nay" opinions and I am certain there are both sides reading this now. Well, you're both wrong.
To say that Jesus 'would rather' or would prefer to hang out <wherever> would be to say He was "playing favorites"...did you know that is a sin (James 2:9)? And that taking that stance is to accuse God of sin? Does that "really" sound like a great plan to you?
Would Jesus go to the bar? Yes, He certainly would and He would not be there shooting dirty looks at all the "sinners" either. Would He go to the church? Yes again and He would not be there acting all pious or "self righteous" (although He is the only One who could really).
WWJG? Everywhere where there are people, that's where. He would go the local church and the local pub. He would go down that ally where the addicts go and He would hang out at Walmart. He would hang out on "both sides of the tracks". He would go to coffee shops, fast food joints, expensive restaurants, theatres, concerts and playgrounds. And at none of these would He show up to stand in righteous condemnation over anyone - we're the ones who do that crap - which is one of the very reasons He would go where He had to in order to find "us".
Friday, March 6, 2015
Q & A Quickie
I have a few questions to ask and, although the answers may seem obvious, they may require a bit more thinking than your instinctive reaction would indicate. I should note that this is being addressed to those who profess to follow Jesus and not those outside of the Church.
1. Do you believe that God - in the form of the Holy Spirit - dwells within you?
2. Do you believe that God is omnipresent - that is, He is everywhere all at once; seeing and hearing everything?
3. Is God at the top of the ladder in your life - is God "God" or is someone/something else for you?
Now the obvious, instinctive answer to all three of those questions would be a resounding "yes, of course", but is that the true answer? Consider the following:
Jim is a believer and when those questions are posed to him, the answer to each one is "yes, of course". Jim has a small problem though. You see, Jim has a real issue with pornography - not just pictures either, but chat rooms, erotic stories, videos...a bit of everything.
So, in the morning, Jim waits as his children head off to school and then his wife goes out to run some errands. He then waits about five minutes, just to be sure the "coast is clear", then runs to his computer where he spends a fair bit of time watching, listening and reading. The sound of his wife's car door closing stops him quickly and he closes out of everything, does a quick clearing of his browser's history, straightens himself up and is in the kitchen making a coffee when she comes through the door.
Now then, going by the above story, is the actual, true answer to our three questions a "Yes" for Jim? You may wonder, how would you know but take a look and it becomes obvious.
IF Jim truly believed that 1) God was omnipresent and 2)that He was fully within Jim's person in the form of the Spirit, then why does he find it okay to indulge after his wife and kids leave for the day? After all, God did not go anywhere - He is still right there with Jim for the entire event.
And if Jim actually does believe that "yes" is the answer to questions 1 and 2, then the answer to 3 must be a resounding "no", since the opinion of his family of his obsession obviously matters to him far more than God seeing - up close and personal - him do it each chance he gets.
Now this may seem a bit overly simplified and surely there are absolute hoards of different directions one could take in discussion from here, but it does help to get the point across. Just because we know what the answers "should" be and we know what to say when we are asked, do we show the reality of those answers in our lives?
This is not meant to shake your faith or make you paranoid or anything else of that nature. However, it should cause us to take a quick glance at what we say we believe and whether or not we merely say it because we have been taught or conditioned to do so or if we actually believe what we are saying. After all, what we actually believe will show itself in our actions.
"But, but what if I check and find that the answer to all three questions is actually a no? What do I do? What does it mean?"
One, it means you cared enough about your relationship with God to take a real stock of yourself - that would be love in action, my friend - so it means you do love God, but you have some unbelief in some areas which, I am afraid to say, makes you completely normal; most people do. And you cannot force yourself to believe anything but God on the other hand, He can show you things in a level of reality that removes any and all doubt for you - all you have to do is ask.
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ~ Mark 9:24
1. Do you believe that God - in the form of the Holy Spirit - dwells within you?
2. Do you believe that God is omnipresent - that is, He is everywhere all at once; seeing and hearing everything?
3. Is God at the top of the ladder in your life - is God "God" or is someone/something else for you?
Now the obvious, instinctive answer to all three of those questions would be a resounding "yes, of course", but is that the true answer? Consider the following:
Jim is a believer and when those questions are posed to him, the answer to each one is "yes, of course". Jim has a small problem though. You see, Jim has a real issue with pornography - not just pictures either, but chat rooms, erotic stories, videos...a bit of everything.
So, in the morning, Jim waits as his children head off to school and then his wife goes out to run some errands. He then waits about five minutes, just to be sure the "coast is clear", then runs to his computer where he spends a fair bit of time watching, listening and reading. The sound of his wife's car door closing stops him quickly and he closes out of everything, does a quick clearing of his browser's history, straightens himself up and is in the kitchen making a coffee when she comes through the door.
Now then, going by the above story, is the actual, true answer to our three questions a "Yes" for Jim? You may wonder, how would you know but take a look and it becomes obvious.
IF Jim truly believed that 1) God was omnipresent and 2)that He was fully within Jim's person in the form of the Spirit, then why does he find it okay to indulge after his wife and kids leave for the day? After all, God did not go anywhere - He is still right there with Jim for the entire event.
And if Jim actually does believe that "yes" is the answer to questions 1 and 2, then the answer to 3 must be a resounding "no", since the opinion of his family of his obsession obviously matters to him far more than God seeing - up close and personal - him do it each chance he gets.
Now this may seem a bit overly simplified and surely there are absolute hoards of different directions one could take in discussion from here, but it does help to get the point across. Just because we know what the answers "should" be and we know what to say when we are asked, do we show the reality of those answers in our lives?
This is not meant to shake your faith or make you paranoid or anything else of that nature. However, it should cause us to take a quick glance at what we say we believe and whether or not we merely say it because we have been taught or conditioned to do so or if we actually believe what we are saying. After all, what we actually believe will show itself in our actions.
"But, but what if I check and find that the answer to all three questions is actually a no? What do I do? What does it mean?"
One, it means you cared enough about your relationship with God to take a real stock of yourself - that would be love in action, my friend - so it means you do love God, but you have some unbelief in some areas which, I am afraid to say, makes you completely normal; most people do. And you cannot force yourself to believe anything but God on the other hand, He can show you things in a level of reality that removes any and all doubt for you - all you have to do is ask.
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” ~ Mark 9:24
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Ties That Bind
Perchance as you read those things which I feel to put down upon the page you ask yourself "who does he think he is" saying <such and such>? Perhaps you think "how wonderful it must be to be so perfect" or "to have it all together" or "to have such a wonderful life". Well, to answer the first question - who does he think is he - allow me...
"I have a wonderful, picture perfect family life?"
I can honestly say I hope yours is not as wonderful as mine is.
My wife and I have been apart for quite some time now - years to be exact - and I played a pretty significant role in that initial separation. No details since, obviously, more than myself involved but trust me when I say a "significant role". I have two incredible daughters and my relationship with them is far less than perfect even on the best of days. Honestly, most of the time, I feel like an utter failure as a father to them.
My relationship with my other immediate family is far less than stellar as well due in no small part to my own actions. Granted, it is better now than perhaps it had been once but is not even close to the loving 1980's sitcom family.
So yeah, I honestly hope yours is not the same kind of wonderful that mine is.
"Had an easy life with few, if any, major issues?"
The list of major mistakes that I have made in this life thus far is a pretty long one. I mentioned the marriage situation already. The list of medium - by comparison to the major - mistakes I have made...I am not sure there is an end to that list. The smaller ones do not even make the cut for this. And when I say major, I mean major mistakes. I know what selfishness and betrayal feel like - from both the receiver and giver's side.
"Yeah, but that was all before you were saved - now you're all perfect and stuff..."
How I so wish it were all before I was saved - I have been saved for quite some time now - but that is not the case. I dare say I cannot go a full week without making some serious error in judgement in some area or another of life and, when talking in longer terms like a year, trust me, that list is terrifying to say the least.
I have had no perfect life and no small part of that is due to my own role within it. Sure there have been others who have contributed but in the end, it was mostly (if not entirely) my own fault and doing. And it still continues today even though I am saved.
So should you think, even for a moment, that whatever you have done or been through disqualifies you from the forgiveness of God, you are dead wrong. If He can forgive one such as I, He surely can and will forgive you.
And should you feel like you are failing at your walk with Christ - like you are not near perfect enough for Him - you too, are dead wrong. I am very, very familiar with the grace of God - I know - and I mean I know - I deserve to be obliterated off the face of the earth before I do something else that results in someone getting hurt somehow....but that is not what I get. What I get is forgiveness, acceptance and more chances than I could ever hope to count. So if you feel less than perfect, that is okay...you are not alone...you never were.
"I have a wonderful, picture perfect family life?"
I can honestly say I hope yours is not as wonderful as mine is.
My wife and I have been apart for quite some time now - years to be exact - and I played a pretty significant role in that initial separation. No details since, obviously, more than myself involved but trust me when I say a "significant role". I have two incredible daughters and my relationship with them is far less than perfect even on the best of days. Honestly, most of the time, I feel like an utter failure as a father to them.
My relationship with my other immediate family is far less than stellar as well due in no small part to my own actions. Granted, it is better now than perhaps it had been once but is not even close to the loving 1980's sitcom family.
So yeah, I honestly hope yours is not the same kind of wonderful that mine is.
"Had an easy life with few, if any, major issues?"
The list of major mistakes that I have made in this life thus far is a pretty long one. I mentioned the marriage situation already. The list of medium - by comparison to the major - mistakes I have made...I am not sure there is an end to that list. The smaller ones do not even make the cut for this. And when I say major, I mean major mistakes. I know what selfishness and betrayal feel like - from both the receiver and giver's side.
"Yeah, but that was all before you were saved - now you're all perfect and stuff..."
How I so wish it were all before I was saved - I have been saved for quite some time now - but that is not the case. I dare say I cannot go a full week without making some serious error in judgement in some area or another of life and, when talking in longer terms like a year, trust me, that list is terrifying to say the least.
I have had no perfect life and no small part of that is due to my own role within it. Sure there have been others who have contributed but in the end, it was mostly (if not entirely) my own fault and doing. And it still continues today even though I am saved.
So should you think, even for a moment, that whatever you have done or been through disqualifies you from the forgiveness of God, you are dead wrong. If He can forgive one such as I, He surely can and will forgive you.
And should you feel like you are failing at your walk with Christ - like you are not near perfect enough for Him - you too, are dead wrong. I am very, very familiar with the grace of God - I know - and I mean I know - I deserve to be obliterated off the face of the earth before I do something else that results in someone getting hurt somehow....but that is not what I get. What I get is forgiveness, acceptance and more chances than I could ever hope to count. So if you feel less than perfect, that is okay...you are not alone...you never were.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
A Glance Inward
If you follow my writing at all, by now your are aware that, from time to time, God decides He is going to begin addressing <something> with me and I feel prompted to share that with you - the reader. Sometimes, it is afterwards, sometimes during and sometimes, like now, it is in the very early stages.
Have you ever noticed how, when God is trying to get your attention about something, whatever it is seems to pop up everywhere you look even when you are not trying to look for it? Well, that is what has been going on with me as of late. First it was just a thought, here and there, and then it started popping up from outside sources a bit. What, pray tell, is it this time you may ask? Basically, self examination.
Revelations 3:1, is kind of interesting if you stop to take a look at it. In it, Jesus is addressing a Church that is known by other people as being one that is vibrant and alive - thriving. However, He is quick to point out that while they may have built up a reputation for being alive, He can see the truth that they are actually dead inside. Apparently, even though those within it and those outside of it were seeing it as thriving, the truth of the matter was totally different. And that is actually kind of scary in a way. I mean really, no doubt the people included within it did not think they were dead - they likely believed that they were thriving as well...but they were not. And it makes one stop to ponder, even if briefly, if we are as alive as we think we are or are we merely believing our own lie.
Recently, I found myself reading AW Tozer's "That Incredible Christian" and he mentioned something along the very same lines. In it, he mentions that most people live their entire lives without another person actually knowing who they really are and that they are so good at keeping up their camouflage, that they themselves rarely know either.
Tozer goes on to suggest a few starting points for checking into who we truly are at our very core (I do not mean who we are in Christ, but rather, with regards to the actual desires of our hearts). The first he gives is "what do we want the most" and that we should reject any kind of conventional answer, but rather, get alone with out thoughts and take a real look within. If you are like me, then your gut reaction is going to be to say something about knowing God more or something of the like, but is that really the honest, core answer? Is that the answer that Christ would give you if you asked Him what it is that you really want?
He gives others as well, including "what do we think about the most" - the stuff that fills our thoughts when we do not feel we must be thinking of something else; "how do we spend out leisure time" and "what do we spend our money on" (outside of that which we must spend it upon) both give clues as to where our heart truly is much of the time and reveal a bit about who we actually are as opposed to who other people see us as, who we pretend to be or who we want to think we are.
I cannot speak for you but I know that as I start to ponder these things a bit, to be honest, I start to see things I would so much rather not see there.
But what if we honestly simply cannot seem to see them ourselves? After all, the Church in Rev. 3:1 did not see their our issues - it took Jesus to point it out to them. With that in mind, perhaps a quick glance at Psalm 139 may be in order - specifically, verses 23-24: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
That really is a bold prayer that David made. Oh sure, it is easy enough to say, but to mean it from start to finish. Not only asking God to search out his heart but to be willingly be led away from <whatever>. That last part may make you lift an eyebrow but let's be honest with each other for a moment. That sin, habit, mindset or whatever that we have that we know we should not have is not some powerhouse temptation that just railroads over top of Christ every chance it gets. It is there because - for whatever reason and in whatever way - we like it. We may hate what it does to us, but for some reason we allow it to remain because we like it. So being willing to actually be led away from it, yeah, that takes a bit conviction.
Now I want to make it clear that I am not saying we are to judge or condemn ourselves and this is definitely something personal - not something you read and say <so and so> needs this. But I want you to consider this: if you do not think you are sick, why would you go to the doctor? You wouldn't, would you. The church in Rev 3:1 thought they were well, thought they were healthy...they were wrong. Let us learn from that while we still can.
**A quick Add-On**
So what is the point of this "self examination"? Think of it like checking your own body for lumps, bumps, moles, etc - something that doctors recommend doing in order that any cancerous growth may be detected early. If you check and find something, it may be nothing but that checking may have just saved your life. If you do not check, and there is something there, you may not find out until it is far, far too late for you.
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven ... Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me.." ~ Matthew 7:21, 23
("That Incredible Christian" was written by AW Tozer, published in 1964)
Have you ever noticed how, when God is trying to get your attention about something, whatever it is seems to pop up everywhere you look even when you are not trying to look for it? Well, that is what has been going on with me as of late. First it was just a thought, here and there, and then it started popping up from outside sources a bit. What, pray tell, is it this time you may ask? Basically, self examination.
Revelations 3:1, is kind of interesting if you stop to take a look at it. In it, Jesus is addressing a Church that is known by other people as being one that is vibrant and alive - thriving. However, He is quick to point out that while they may have built up a reputation for being alive, He can see the truth that they are actually dead inside. Apparently, even though those within it and those outside of it were seeing it as thriving, the truth of the matter was totally different. And that is actually kind of scary in a way. I mean really, no doubt the people included within it did not think they were dead - they likely believed that they were thriving as well...but they were not. And it makes one stop to ponder, even if briefly, if we are as alive as we think we are or are we merely believing our own lie.
Recently, I found myself reading AW Tozer's "That Incredible Christian" and he mentioned something along the very same lines. In it, he mentions that most people live their entire lives without another person actually knowing who they really are and that they are so good at keeping up their camouflage, that they themselves rarely know either.
Tozer goes on to suggest a few starting points for checking into who we truly are at our very core (I do not mean who we are in Christ, but rather, with regards to the actual desires of our hearts). The first he gives is "what do we want the most" and that we should reject any kind of conventional answer, but rather, get alone with out thoughts and take a real look within. If you are like me, then your gut reaction is going to be to say something about knowing God more or something of the like, but is that really the honest, core answer? Is that the answer that Christ would give you if you asked Him what it is that you really want?
He gives others as well, including "what do we think about the most" - the stuff that fills our thoughts when we do not feel we must be thinking of something else; "how do we spend out leisure time" and "what do we spend our money on" (outside of that which we must spend it upon) both give clues as to where our heart truly is much of the time and reveal a bit about who we actually are as opposed to who other people see us as, who we pretend to be or who we want to think we are.
I cannot speak for you but I know that as I start to ponder these things a bit, to be honest, I start to see things I would so much rather not see there.
But what if we honestly simply cannot seem to see them ourselves? After all, the Church in Rev. 3:1 did not see their our issues - it took Jesus to point it out to them. With that in mind, perhaps a quick glance at Psalm 139 may be in order - specifically, verses 23-24: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
That really is a bold prayer that David made. Oh sure, it is easy enough to say, but to mean it from start to finish. Not only asking God to search out his heart but to be willingly be led away from <whatever>. That last part may make you lift an eyebrow but let's be honest with each other for a moment. That sin, habit, mindset or whatever that we have that we know we should not have is not some powerhouse temptation that just railroads over top of Christ every chance it gets. It is there because - for whatever reason and in whatever way - we like it. We may hate what it does to us, but for some reason we allow it to remain because we like it. So being willing to actually be led away from it, yeah, that takes a bit conviction.
Now I want to make it clear that I am not saying we are to judge or condemn ourselves and this is definitely something personal - not something you read and say <so and so> needs this. But I want you to consider this: if you do not think you are sick, why would you go to the doctor? You wouldn't, would you. The church in Rev 3:1 thought they were well, thought they were healthy...they were wrong. Let us learn from that while we still can.
**A quick Add-On**
So what is the point of this "self examination"? Think of it like checking your own body for lumps, bumps, moles, etc - something that doctors recommend doing in order that any cancerous growth may be detected early. If you check and find something, it may be nothing but that checking may have just saved your life. If you do not check, and there is something there, you may not find out until it is far, far too late for you.
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven ... Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me.." ~ Matthew 7:21, 23
("That Incredible Christian" was written by AW Tozer, published in 1964)
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Recent Social Shares
No shortage of followers of Jesus, hold back from "going all in" in their pursuit of Him, choosing instead to follow Him in a more "off and on" or "here and there" kind of a way more often than not as they fear the cost of truly following Him wholeheartedly. After all, Jesus did say that we would see trouble if we followed Him. However, I would like to point out that while following Christ may, indeed, mean we would see trouble, not following does not mean we would not see it. This world, and our lives, are full of trouble even if we choose not to follow after Him with all we have to offer and give. The difference is, if we make the choice to not go "all in", when the end comes for us, how many regrets will we have over things done or undone. Just something to ponder, if you are a believer.
==
It is not the self control you think you may have, or how often you read your Bible, or what church you go to, or how charismatic, attentive or well educated your pastor is that keeps you strong and gives you strength to truly follow Christ. It is the Spirit of the living God who strengthens you and Him alone who does so. No man or woman, not even yourself, can do this ... only the Spirit can do so...everything, and everyone, else is merely a poor substitute for the real thing.
==
Finally, two quick quotes:
"It's not what you advertise that counts, it's what you are really made of." ~ Francis Chan (Crazy Love)
"..circumstances do not make men; it is their reaction to circumstances that determines what kind of men they will be" ~ AW Tozer
==
It is not the self control you think you may have, or how often you read your Bible, or what church you go to, or how charismatic, attentive or well educated your pastor is that keeps you strong and gives you strength to truly follow Christ. It is the Spirit of the living God who strengthens you and Him alone who does so. No man or woman, not even yourself, can do this ... only the Spirit can do so...everything, and everyone, else is merely a poor substitute for the real thing.
==
Finally, two quick quotes:
"It's not what you advertise that counts, it's what you are really made of." ~ Francis Chan (Crazy Love)
"..circumstances do not make men; it is their reaction to circumstances that determines what kind of men they will be" ~ AW Tozer
Friday, January 9, 2015
More Than Just a Stray
You find the stray dog sitting, half frozen - shaggy and starving - on your back step. You are filled with compassion and take them in. But you do more than just open the door, you feed them, clean them up and take them in as part of your own family. As such, house train them, wash them and train them - removing bad behaviors and habits. You are not content to just have them in your home, no, you seek to make them more than they were and to give them a life they may have never known possible before.
Jesus will accept you were you are - shaggy, half starved, frozen - it does not matter where you are in your life or what you may have done or why you did any of it. He does more than just 'open the door' for you; He welcomes you into His family. But like the stray, He is not content to leave you as you are - He desires you to be more than you ever fathomed possible.
So if you think God would never accept you, you are dead wrong my friend.
And if you already have found salvation through Christ remember this: He accepted you where you were but He is not content that you should stay there.
"Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" ~ Romans 6:1-2
Jesus will accept you were you are - shaggy, half starved, frozen - it does not matter where you are in your life or what you may have done or why you did any of it. He does more than just 'open the door' for you; He welcomes you into His family. But like the stray, He is not content to leave you as you are - He desires you to be more than you ever fathomed possible.
So if you think God would never accept you, you are dead wrong my friend.
And if you already have found salvation through Christ remember this: He accepted you where you were but He is not content that you should stay there.
"Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" ~ Romans 6:1-2
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