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.
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
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.
==
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.
==
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
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