Heavenly Music

What heavenly music steals over the sea!
Entrancing the senses like sweet melody!
'Tis the voice of the angels born soft on the air
For me they are singing; their welcome I hear

On the banks of old Jordan, here gazing I stand
And earnestly longing, I stretch forth my hand
Send a convoy of angels, dear Jesus I pray!
Let me join that sweet music; come, take me away

Though dark are the waters and rough is the wave
If Jesus permit, the wild surges I'll brave
For the heavenly music hath ravished me so
I must join in that chorus! I'll go! let me go!
I must join in that chorus! I'll go! let me go!

A Tough Week

I am so glad that being a Christian and having confidence in God's presence in my life can make life easier. Especially with a week like this one.

As most of you know at this point, this has been that proverbial "week from hell" for the Brownings. Last week the boys went up to East Texas to stay with Cody's mom for a few days. The plan was for them to come back this past Wednesday. Well, early Monday morning Aaron got sick; throwing up, diarrhea, etc. After this happening most of the day, and it not stopping, Cody's parents finally took him to the emergency room and he had a stomach virus of course. But when they took his blood work they also noticed his blood count was a bit high. So they did some chest x-rays as the doctor suspected pneumonia. And sure enough, Aaron has it....apparently it had been developing for a while. He is doing somewhat better now but is still very weak and the stomach virus now at least seems to be a thing of the past.

Meanwhile, Cody went up there on Monday evening and has been there since. We knew it might be a while as Aaron was unfit to travel home obviously. Well, on Wednesday evening Chase started throwing up and having diarrhea. Sigh! They took him to the doctor yesterday morning and he has the same virus Aaron had but thankfully he doesn't have pneumonia like Aaron does.

I am thankful for in-laws like Cody's parents. Obviously this has been a crazy week for Cody at her parents taking care of two sick boys without me there. But Cody's mother is amazing and I am so glad that the boys were around her, someone they feel very safe with, as they got so sick. We are hoping that Kathy and Cody don't get this mess. From the way this week is going however, we're all planning on that happening. Cody's sister, Brooke has been a big help this week also, going to the house to help Cody and Kathy.

The elders here in La Grange where I preach are so gracious. They offered to let me go up there and be with the family. I would have taken them up on the offer but due to circumstances here on the homefront, I was unable.

This has been an incredibly tough week on a lot of levels. And it is all capped off by what I don't want to do this afternoon....bury Hank. I dread it.

On Tuesday, the day after Cody left for East Texas, when I went outside to feed the dogs before work, I noticed Hank, our rottweiller, did not want to get up for his food. He was just laying there by the fence. I finally called him and he did get up and come, but it was more out of loyalty. He clearly did not want to eat. And I could tell he was hurting. I didn't think too much of it at the time. I was extremely busy and needed to get to work. I checked on him again that afternoon and clearly knew something wasn't right. So Wednesday morning, I got him over to the vet. Ironically he has pneumonia. He also has hip dysplasia. Because his blood count is so high, the doctor thinks he could possibly have cancer. There is no hope for him at this point, so we are going to put him to sleep this afternoon after lunch.

Tough! I love this dog. It is amazing that we get these pets, knowing at some point we're going to have to say "goodbye." Yet we still put ourselves through this. Hank is a good dog. I blogged about him recently. You can see the post here. He removed all myths about how "all rottweillers are mean and bad." He was so gentle and had no clue as to what he could do if he wanted. He is about as loyal a dog as one would find. Earlier this morning I went to see him at the clinic. He is in obvious pain and discomfort, and can't get up. Yet when he saw me he was wagging his tail and reaching his paw to me.

I know this is a dog. I certainly don't want to minimize the other things that are more pressing. I love my 2 boys more than life itself and am so thankful that they are on the mend, finally. I hope they soon get their strength back so they and my wife can come home. I miss them. And I am quite sure their illness and absence is adding to my emotions right now; sadness, some grief, guilt and helplesness. I imagine the week has been even tougher on Cody. She is obviously tired from not much sleep and no one likes to see their children sick...especially this sick.

So why did I write all this? Not real sure. Perhaps many will not read it or care too much. But it has been therapeutic for me. I am thankful for the opportunity to vent. Ha! Now you all know why I REALLY blog! :-)

Thank you all for your prayers, e-mails, calls, texts, and cards regarding the boys, especially Aaron. It has been overwhelming actually, and it is good to know we are loved and cared about. All the kids at church made Aaron a card Wednesday night. It was really sweet. Please keep praying for them. Chase will be fine. He just has to ride this virus out like Aaron did. Aaron is obviously still down with his pneumonia, but we think he is pretty safe at this point. He is getting lots of rest, and most importantly, lots of love and support from his mom and grandmother.

I'm sad but I am also upbeat. I think we all have to keep in perspective that we know things like this are going to happen. It's life. And again, I know this is a dog but I can't help but be reminded that everyone of us are going to one day "go to sleep." I am so thankful that because of my relationship with God, I don't have to fear it. In fact, I look quite forward to it. There, I won't have to have weeks like this one, :-)

Have a good weekend!


And Hank, you rest in peace my buddy! Thank you so much for the fun 7 1/2 years we had.

Does Romans 2 Teach "Justification By Works?"

This is a question that Jack Cottrell raises in his Romans Commentary and I think he does an excellent job in addressing it. I will do my best to convey to you his thoughts on the matter.

Let’s first look at what the Bible says in portions of Romans 2:

“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek…” (Romans 2:6-10).

“...For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified” (Romans 2:13).

“…So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?” (Romans 2:26).

On the surface, this sounds consistent with the general idea of “keep God’s commandments” that we were taught from childhood--that is do good and go to heaven--or-- do bad and go to hell. That’s fair, right? Pretty simple it seems. This is also consistent with what we talked about before. What are the principles of law?

BREAK THE COMMANDMENTS AND SUFFER THE PENALTY
KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS AND ESCAPE THE PENALTY

This is difficult to argue with. And for the record, let me emphasize that I do whole-heartedly believe that we are to submit to God’s ways and obey Him. Please, make no mistake about that. But there lies the problem with taking these scriptures I just quoted at face value without considering them in their proper context. Paul indicates some other things in his theology that on the surface, seem to contradict what he says here in Romans 2. Let’s look at a few examples:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘the righteous shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:16-17).

“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).

“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28).

So we have what looks like two opposing views from the pen of the same inspired apostle. But we know that can’t be the case, right? Surely Paul is not contradicting himself. There has to be an explanation. We have to search for the way that the Bible harmonizes both of these concepts to form what we know as Truth. Once again, keep in mind that Paul is speaking in the overall context of law-keeping in this section of scripture, making the point that it falls short as a means of salvation. Under this type of salvation system, we fall short; all of us do. No one is exempt from this. Therefore Paul is actually speaking here about the conditions or terms of salvation if law-keeping were it—but we know that is not the case. But if it were, Paul is saying, this would be the description. And not one of us meets the terms of this type of salvation. This is the only viable explanation in light of its context; otherwise we have Paul, an inspired apostle, directly contradicting himself and sounding like a hypocrite. I don’t think any of us believe this about Paul or his writings.

Notice Dr. Cottrell’s explanation of this. He does a much better job than what I am able to convey:

“In the texts in question (vv.6-10, 13, 26) Paul is not talking about the judgment of Christians under grace, but about the conditions that prevail within the sphere or system of law, or about how a person is judged for either justification or condemnation under the provisions of God’s law. As already explained, the subject of this whole section is law, and especially its inability to save sinners.

As we also saw earlier, the principles of law are this: ‘Keep the commandments, and therefore escape the penalty; break the commandments, and therefore suffer the penalty.’ Within the context of law, anyone who does not keep its commandments will be condemned. Likewise, anyone who persevered in good works, who is a doer of the law, who keeps its commandments, will be justified. This is a statement of fact. Any Jew or Gentile who completely obeys the law available to him will be justified.

But as a matter of fact—and this is Paul’s whole point in this section—there is no one at all in this category; everyone has sinned. As a formal principle it is true that the doers of the law will be justified. But in view of the universality of sin, it is only theoretically or hypothetically true. Not one single Jew and not one single Gentile will in fact be accepted by God in the final judgment because of his good works or his obedience to law. Thus, vv.7, 10, 13, 26 should not be taken as referring to any actual state of affairs.

The actual state of things is given in (Romans-JB) 3:20, that by works of law no one will be justified, since the law judges everyone to be a sinner.” (Jack Cottrell, Romans, pp.100-101).

Everyone has flaws. In theory, if one is able to keep the law perfectly, then sure that person is justified. But Paul’s point in the context is that this theory (law-keeping as a means of salvation) falls short because none meet this standard. The only way to meet the criteria is to keep the law perfectly (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). In other words, because of the universality of sin, law keeping as the means of salvation can only be in theory (or hypothetical). There really are only two alternatives to being saved: “nonexistent perfect obedience [law] or the gospel reality of righteousness through faith [grace]” (Cottrell, p. 101).

I do think it is important that we seek and make application from all of this. The lesson here is so strong that we can ill-afford to miss it. Its application is actually two-fold: on one hand, when sin enters our lives, we become desperately in need of God’s grace. And we need to rely on that grace. Trust in God and His righteousness more than we do our own. Relying on it means submitting to it—understanding that it is a much better way than our own way, and so we trust that it is powerful enough to save us although we don’t deserve it. This is humility. This will lead to true repentance--hopefully. On the other hand, keeping this in context with the overall Romans letter, if we think this means we can stop serving God and start living immoral lives, and somehow withdraw our responsibility to submit to His will, then that makes a mockery of His grace (Romans 6:1ff). God forbid that anyone define God’s grace as a license to sin.

The Sinfulness of Man Continued: A Study of Romans 2:1-11

*I apologize to those following my study on Romans for the lengthy time period between chapter 1 posts and chapter 2. I have a lot going on. I will try and do better.


As chapter 1 of Romans closes, Paul is discussing the sinfulness of man. He makes the case that the Gentiles are without excuse and are therefore not an exception to the general rule that no one will be or can be accepted by God according to the terms of law. Although most commentators or “experts” seem to agree that Paul was making reference to the Gentile readers (those that were not given a special revelation-i.e., Law of Moses), there is also little doubt that every point he makes is applicable to all man.

And so this brings us to the beginning of chapter 2, where Paul is continuing to talk about mankind’s sinful ways.


WHO SPECIFICALLY IS PAUL WRITING TO HERE?

This question often comes up at this juncture of studying this epistle. Many agree that here in chapter 2, Paul transitions from the Gentiles as his focus to the Jews as his focus. But the question is at what point? Some believe it is in v.1. Others believe it is in v.9. Either way, Paul’s whole point here is that no one is left out. All are susceptible to God’s wrath and therefore fall short. Every person is in dire need of something greater than law. Personally, it seems to me that v.1 marks the beginning of Paul’s transition from speaking primarily to the Gentile reader to the Jewish reader. See also v.4. By the time he gets to v.17 there is certainly little doubt that he is speaking to the Jew.

I think it is important to mention here also, that it is possible to get so "bogged down" in this that we miss Paul’s point entirely. Regardless of who thinks what as for who Paul is specifically talking to and when, it doesn’t change the overall message, which is summed up quite well in Romans 2:11; for God shows no partiality. Paul states in Romans 3:9, “What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin.” Let’s not miss this overall point of the section.

This first overall section (1:18-3:20) is emphasizing that law as a means of salvation falls short. Because we are less than perfect, we cannot be right with God in terms of a system of law. Therefore because of our inability to keep the law perfectly, law is unable to save us. If our ability to keep law is our means of salvation, then salvation becomes impossible (Mark 10:27; Romans 3:20).


MAN UNDER GOD’S WRATH (vv.1-5)

In reading the first verse, let us remember that the Jews were especially notorious for being arrogant and judgmental. Jesus’ ministry attests to this fact as well. This is one reason why I think Paul seems to be shifting his focus on the Jews at this point, especially when you consider vv.3-4. It is no secret that the Jews took their status as “God’s chosen ones” to an absurd extreme. They thought that because of their status as God’s special people that He would just forgo the standard concerning them—the standard they were so apt and quick to place on everybody else. They assumed that their status as God’s people was an automatic ticket to heaven. Can God’s elect find themselves guilty of this today? I think this is clearly our application. Paul wants them (and us) to realize that God’s grace, mercy, and kindness is never something to be taken advantage of. These wonderful gifts from God are actually designed to lead us to live righteously. God’s goodness is not for the purpose of excusing sin, but rather to stimulate a response of active and submissive faith.

Repentance as it is used here means to change one’s mind about God and especially about one’s own sin. It is when the sinner admits to the awful nature of his/her sin that this person begins to see the fruits of repentance. Like all of us when we become Christians, it must start with our recognition of (1) the seriousness of sin, (2) the fact that we are deep in it, and (3) we unequivocally need help from One greater than ourselves to get us out of it. Paul completes this thought by suggesting that if things don’t change with them, they are going to be just as “condemned” as those they are criticizing (v.5).

A large part of Paul’s message here, and we will see this even more as we continue through the epistle, is that God's bringing judgment really takes a lot of pressure off of us feeling like we have to do it. This letter to the Romans is really quite a liberating message when you think about it. It is God’s judgment that really counts, not ours. Paul will elaborate on this extensively in Romans 14. Also note that “judgment” as it is used in this text does not mean merely discerning right from wrong. Obviously we can’t help but do this (Matthew 7:20; John 7:24). But this term “judgment” carries the idea of “passing off condemnation” or "passing off a sentence." This is not our role and we shouldn’t do it (Matthew 7:1-5). It is one thing to lovingly address sin as it stares us in the face; it is quite another to assign motive when we do not know all the details. We are not detectives. God has not called us to be private investigators. And we certainly should not criticize others for something with which we are guilty ourselves. Paul wants these Christians to understand that if they condemn others while they themselves do what these others are doing, then this necessitates their own condemnation.


GOD DOES NOT SHOW PARTIALITY (vv.6-11)

As we read this, keep in mind the overall context of what Paul is conveying. Law falls short. If we are saved by law, then what Paul is saying here applies to all of law and we therefore have no hope of eternal life because of the truths revealed in Romans 3:23, Galatians 3:10, and James 2:10.

I believe the essence of Paul’s message here, keeping it in its proper context, is that if we are saved by law-keeping, then we are all doomed. None perfectly keep the law so as to be saved by it. No one will stand before God on Judgment Day and be justified due to his/her law keeping. I will elaborate on this more tomorrow, as I will make a separate post on this section. But for now, I will just say that I do not believe Paul is teaching justification by works here in Romans 2.

On the other hand, something else that Paul is demonstrating here is that it does indeed matter what we do. For example, in applying this to us, if we are baptized that is great, but are we living it too? In essence, Paul is confirming to these elitists here, Yes you will be treated like all others. And no, you will not be given special consideration on Judgment Day just because you are “my people. And here’s why…"

Dr. Jack Cottrell states it well when he discusses in his commentary on Romans how these Jews were confusing their “election” with their “salvation.” These are separate entities and the Jews were treating them as if they were synonymous concepts. Just because they were God’s chosen people did not necessitate God not holding them to the same standard of judgment. Likewise for us today, we are God’s elect, but our status as Christians does not mean that we are automatically saved, or that we have a free ride to heaven based on our status as the called out by God. Paul wants these Jews to understand, In the same way the Gentiles fall short in these areas and in the same way they sin, so do you. You too are deserving of eternal punishment.


WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

Verse 11 is a strong statement for a lot of reasons. It is terse but definitely falls under that proverbial “dynamite comes in small packages” category. When you keep what Paul says here under its proper context, this is extremely powerful in teaching us how to deal with others, isn’t it? I am not suggesting that we should not lovingly correct error when the opportunity arises. In fact, often times when we do not want to, we still should. This is reality and it is Biblical. But the point here is that all of us, regardless of what our imperfections are, are still imperfect, nevertheless. We need to realize that we are just as much in need of God’s grace as the person we are often tempted to condemn and criticize. We must approach things in a humble way, realizing that we ourselves are unworthy. We are all doing something wrong. None of us are flawless. Also, don't forget the meaning behind how "judging" is used in this context. When we are harsh and critical of others, we could very well ask ourselves, “Who do we think we are? This is undoubtedly the essence of Paul’s message to these folks here and among other places in this letter (i.e., Romans 14:4, 10-13, 17-19). In fact, isn’t this also precisely the question James raises in James 4:12?

In the next post, we will look at the question, "Does Romans 2 teach justification by works?"

Preparing For The Future

Preparing for the future has become a way of life for us in so many ways. I am not sure how we would survive without planning at least somewhat. We plan for our retirement and our children’s college, among other things by saving money. We plan for our future in the “working” world by going to an institution of higher learning to get an education. We send our kids to school (or homeschool) with the intent of preparing them to be well-rounded and productive citizens for when they become adults. Preparation for what we know is to come in future years is very important. It is vital!

Perhaps an aspect of our future that we do not give enough consideration to is our spiritual future. Currently on Sunday mornings I am going through a series of lessons designed for our youth. This past Sunday morning I talked about some things our younger generation can start doing now that will hopefully help ensure their faithfulness in 10, 20, or 50 years from now. Obviously there is a lot we as adults can take from this also. Interestingly, these are examples of some things we see in a young Timothy as Paul helped to prepare him for a life serving God. There should be little doubt that these qualities helped ensure Timothy’s own faithfulness as he grew older.

Develop your own faith.
As adults, many of us can look back at our childhood and remember so much of what our parents did for us. We lived off of them. They provided for us and we should always be grateful for that. We should do what we can to instill gratitude into the hearts of our young people. It is God’s design that parents provide for their children. Children live off of parents (1 Timothy 5:8). However, with this said, children cannot live off their parents’ faith. We must develop our own faith. Faith must be sincere and genuine, and it cannot achieve this status if it is not our own. I think it is good when children develop the same faith as parents, especially when that faith involves truth. But it needs to be their own. And as parents, hopefully we are instilling this in them. This seems to be the case with how Timothy developed his own faith through the strength of his family’s faith (2 Timothy 1:5). This is Biblical. But a faith that is not genuine will eventually be a weak one that crumbles in the midst of adversity once a child leaves home. As adults we can help by not getting “up in arms” when our young people have questions. We should encourage that. I can’t think of anything worse than Aaron and Chase growing up claiming faith in God only because mommy and daddy say that He exists. We have too many kids leaving home for college without a clue as to why they believe what they believe.

Study your Bible.
All living things, whether plants, animals, or humans, must be nourished properly in order to grow and flourish. God specifically designed food for our nourishment and growth. He also gave us His living word, the bread of life so that we can be nourished spiritually. It is not uncommon that God uses “spiritual food” as a metaphor to indicate our need for growth. See Matthew 4:3-4; John 6:26-27, 32-35; Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2. God’s word is certainly in great part attributed to young Timothy’s steady growth and spiritual strength (2 Timothy 3:14-15). We cannot learn what God wants of us as His people without giving attention to the guide He provided us. See also 1 Timothy 4:13.

Practice what you preach.
In other words, the gospel is not merely to be taught, but it is to be lived. Jesus taught that Christianity is an active faith. He taught and provided an example of how kingdom living entails getting out and making a difference in the lives of others; teaching people things that really and actually matter; helping them; associating with those that the rest of society will not hang out with; assisting the needy, the sick, the poor, the jailed, the widows. Jesus taught it and He lived it, thus providing for us the perfect example. The Bible also gives us the example of Timothy as a young person who actually cared about others. His love and sincerity is what compelled him to live and teach the gospel. He carried out the same message he taught. See Acts 16:1-3 and Philippians 2:19-21. There should be little doubt that his living out the gospel message is what gave him opportunity to effectively teach it.

Christianity is not merely about facts and rules. It is absurd to think that one will stand before God on judgment day, knowing full well that they did not love and serve others, never tried to impact others for good, and never helped others, yet somehow because they were “sound” on all points of their doctrinal positions that they have an automatic ticket to heaven. This is essentially what the religious elite of Jesus’ day thought and Jesus told His followers “…unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). In other words, life in the kingdom is better than that. The Bible mentions nothing of a doctrinal quiz to be taken at judgment. While doing our best to adhere to pure and healthy doctrine, let us remember that Paul says it is the things we do and practice that will actually determine how we are judged (2 Corinthians 5:10). Service to God, that is, practicing what we preach is what matters.

Happy Memorial Day

I just wanted to express my gratitude for the many men and women who have sacrificed their lives on our behalf and in defense of our great country. May this be a day of thanksgiving and reflection. And to all of our living vets as well as those currently serving in the armed forces, "thank you" for your service.

Have a happy holiday!

Farther Along

I have never looked at this song the same since October 2, 2002, the day Aaron was born. Obviously it was an exciting time for us as our first child was born. But it was a rough journey as he was forced to come 5 1/2 weeks early due to Cody's pregnancy induced high blood pressure. Aaron was tiny (3 lbs. 15 oz.). The doctors assured us he would be fine. So we were thankful and we certainly counted our blessings. But it was still difficult because he had to be on a respirator and had wires attached to so many parts of his body. He had to live in the "glass box" for a few days. It was tough to see. Well, I digress!

I remember the next morning, we were with Aaron behind a curtain. Cody had him close by and was rocking and nursing him. And Aaron was crying and having a difficult time. Then she began to sing this song to him and it was so incredible to see him so soothed and at peace. I am not sure if there has been a day that I loved my wife more. I still to this day cannot sing or even hear this song without getting choked up.

Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder Why it should be thus all the day long, While there are others living about us, Never molested tho in the wrong.

(Chorus) Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by.

Faithful til death said our loving Master, A few more days to labor and wait; Toils of the road will then seem as nothing, As we sweep thru the beautiful gate.

(Chorus) Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by.

When we see Jesus coming in glory, When He comes from His home in the sky; Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion, We'll understand it all by and by.

(Chorus) Farther along we'll know all about it, Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by.

Complaints By Women On Their Husbands

According to a poll that came out about 4 years ago (I wish I still had the source---sorry), here are the top 10 complaints by women regarding their husbands:

1. Often selfish and inconsiderate
2. Unsuccessful in business--not bringing in enough money
3. Not always honest
4. Complains too much (focuses more on what is negative)
5. Only showing affection/romance when he wants sex
6. Lack of communication and sharing how he feels
7. Too harsh on the children
8. Overly-sensitive (too thin-skinned)
9. Lack of quality time spent with the children
10. Not doing things to help out around the house (bills, cleaning, cooking, etc)

Quotes On Gratitude

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

--John Fitzgerald Kennedy (35th U.S. President)

"Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind."

--Lionel Hampton

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

--Melanie Beattie

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven."

--Johannes Gaertner

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.

Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness.

Thankfulness may consist merely of words.

Gratitude is shown in acts."

--David O. McKay

"Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

--The Apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."

--Psalm 136:1

May all of us have hearts of thanksgiving and allow this to affect every step of our walk with Christ.

Have a great day!

How Can I Know Right From Wrong?

I have gotten to a point where I do not like arguing about "issues," like I once did. For the most part, I think they are often counter-productive (Titus 3:9). So I don't mind admitting that I avoid them when I can. However, because our young people often ask questions that are so pertinent to their lives, sometimes the subject of moral issues must be addressed. Some of the young people in the congregation where I preach have recently asked me about questions of this nature.

It is not uncommon that we are faced with dilemmas in life, many of which are moral ones in nature. Granted, many are easy for us to decide "no." For the most part, Christians are already resolved (hopefully) to not engage in things that the Bible explicitly forbids. For example, the Bible is clear on how God feels about sex outside of marriage, lusts, drunkenness, violence, theft, sowing discord, etc. But what about some of these "issues," that aren't so clear? Those things where the Bible doesn't explictly give us a "thou shalt..." or a "thou shalt not..." We are left wondering (1) Does the Bible really condemn this? (2) How far is too far? and (3) why? Some examples of this might include things like whether or not to watch a certain movie, whether or not it is really sinful to use tobbacco products, what really constitutes immodest clothing, etc. How really do we know?

Here are a series of things to consider when attempting to answer these questions for ourselves:

If we are asking about it, then we probably shouldn't do it. I think the principle set forth in Romans 14:23 indicates that if I am actually wondering or debating in my mind as to whether or not a certain action is wrong, then that is a pretty good indication that I should avoid it.

Ask ourselves, "Is this helpful?" Remember Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6:12. Just because something, in and of itself, may not be sinful, it doesn't always mean it is a good idea to do it. There are other things to consider also.

Ask ourselves, "Will this help me go to Heaven?" or, "From what the Bible reveals to us about Heaven, do I envision this occuring in Heaven?"

Ask ourselves, "Will this help or hinder my influence for the kingdom?" Matthew 5:13-16. One who truly has a kingdom heart will hopefully base their decisions on whether or not certain things will benefit the kingdom.

Ask ourselves, "If Christ were with me, would I still do it?" Want to hear a secret? He is with you (Matthew 28:20). We are in a partnership with Jesus, walking hand in hand with Him, for the good of His precious kingdom. Let us always remember that He is indeed with us.

Sometimes we can't answer this question for someone else, because as humans, we are unable to discern hearts as Jesus was able. Sometimes we just need to take a deep breath, step back and accept that it is not our role or responsibility to be the church police (Romans 14:4; 10-12; James 4:12)

I would like to add one more thought here. When we approach these things as if Christianity was about checking off boxes on a checklist, we are setting people up to fail. Because kingdom living is so much deeper than this (Matthew 5:20). We can fulfill all the external rules and check off every box there might be, but if our heart is not where it should be, it is all in vain. I pray that I am instilling in our young people in the congregation, as well as my own children, that the heart is what matters. I say this, not because there is not a standard; there is. But if our hearts are where they should be, we will do the right thing.

Have a great day!

No Not One

I remember as a child growing up, this was one of my favorite songs. This one will always have a special place in my heart. In fact, it is the first "church song" that I actually remember liking.


There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one!
None else could heal all our soul's diseases, No, not one! No, not one!

(Chorus)
Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide till the day is done;
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one!

No friend like Him is so high and holy, No, not one! No, not one!
And yet no friend is so meek and lowly, No, not one! No, not one!

(Chorus)
Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide till the day is done;
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one!

There's not an hour that He is not near us, No, not one! No, not one!
No night so dark but His love can cheer us, No, not one! No, not one!

(Chorus)
Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide till the day is done;
There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one!

"No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Happy Anniversary To Us

Wow! 12 years of marriage to me is quite an accomplishment. Thanks for hanging in there with me babe. I love you! :-)

I'm A Christ Follower

Great Quote On The Beatitudes

Here is a thought-provoking quote from Dallas Willard, concerning the beatitudes preached by Jesus (Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:20-26):

"They serve to clarify Jesus' fundamental message: the free availability of God's rule and righteousness to all of humanity through reliance upon Jesus Himself... They do this simply by taking those who, from the human point of view, are regarded as most hopeless, most beyond all possibility of God's blessing or even interest, and exhibiting them as enjoying God's touch and abundant provision from the heavens.

This fact of God's care and provision proves to all that no human condition excludes blessedness, that God may come to any person with His care and deliverance. God does sometimes help those who cannot, or perhaps just do not, help themselves. (So much for another well-known generalization!) The religious system of His day left the multitudes out, but Jesus welcomed them all into His kingdom. Anyone could come as well as any other. They still can. That is the gospel of the beatitudes......

Thus by proclaiming blessed those who in the human order are thought hopeless, and by pronouncing woes over those human beings regarded as well off, Jesus opens the kingdom of the heavens to everyone" (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, pp.116-119).

May all of us strive effortlessly and fearlessly in our quest to help others come into contact with the gospel of the kingdom (John 3:3, 5). It is the good news and it is available to all (Acts 11:17-18; Romans 5:18; Colossians 1:13).

Have a good day and God bless!

The Truth Hurts

I was given a dose of the cold, hard truth this morning. Let me relay to you my conversation this morning with my 6 year old, as I walked in the house coming back from the gym.

Aaron: "Good morning Dad."

Jason: "Hey bud, good morning. How did you sleep?"

Aaron: "I slept well. I love you."

Jason: (my head is swelling w/ pride) "Well, I love you too."

I rub his head in a manly kind of way, trying to be affectionate somewhat, as I didn't want to hug him; I was sweaty.

Aaron: "I'm hungry, can you fix me some breakfast. Mom's still in bed with Chase."

Jason: (Chuckling and now realizing why he just told me he loved me). "Sure, buddy. Do you want sausage biscuits?"

Aaron: "Yes"

After a long pause while I am fixing his breakfast and turning my coffee pot on...

Aaron: "I know who in our family is cute."

Jason: (Wondering where in the world this came from) "Oh really! Who here is cute?"

Aaron: "Fritz!" (this is our little mini-schnauzer)

Jason: "You think so? Well, I think I'm cute. What do you think about that?"

Aaron: "Well, sorta I guess. I think the order goes like this: Fritz, me, mommy, Chase, Hank, and then you."

Ouch! Sometimes the truth really hurts.....

Traits Of A Godly Woman

Yesterday morning, I preached about a great Christian woman in the Bible, named Tabitha (Dorcas) from Acts 9:36-43. Interestingly, her name translated in its original language, actually means "female gazelle," which is an antelope-like animal that is well-known for its beauty. Even the term for "Joppa," the city where Tabitha was from, means beauty. I get the idea that the Holy Spirit wants us to gain something from this text about beauty. The text indeed reveals to us some beautiful things about this woman. Hopefully this can be a lesson for all of us, whether a woman, man, child, parent, employee, employer, etc.

"Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, 'Please come to us without delay.' So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, 'Tabitha, arise.' And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner" (Acts 9:36-43).

Here are a few traits for which we can all strive as people seeking to belong to God:

• HER SACRIFICE: We are told that she was full of good works and acts of charity. The term for "acts of charity" here is translated as "almsgiving" in the KJV. The meaning of this word in its original language means merciful in giving or pity; thus signifying the giving of oneself to another who is less fortunate. Undoubtedly, Jesus taught us to be this way and described life in the kingdom as possessing this selfless quality.
• HER REPUTATION: A few things here speak volumes about what others thought of her: (1) the fact that they were seemingly so desperate to get her back. The pleaded with Peter to hurry. Have you ever known someone that you just couldn't bear the thought of losing? Apparently this was the impact Tabitha had on these folks. (2) That Peter complied with this urgent request is a great testament to her also. And (3) The scene of the widows crying and holding these items Tabitha had made while she was with them. I think this also says a lot about how she was likely very influential in the lives of these other women.
• HER RESILIENCE: Peter performs one of the greatest miracles recorded in the Bible here. Tabitha's submission and desire to obey is seen even in her death and resurrection. Obviously something like this does not happen today but the lesson here is that her reputation and sacrificial service to others is what allowed her to be resilient and overcome death. Likewise our service to others and ultimately God, is what allows us to overcome sin and spiritual death. Is our life a resurrected one? Does our life demonstrate walking with Jesus? Tabitha's did.
• HER INFLUENCE: Tabitha was an icon. Her life was a reflection of what Jesus came to do (Luke 19:10). We can hardly deny the strength of her influence. The reaction of the people to her death tells us all we need to know. But what is especially revealing is that we are told in this text that as a result of all that transpired here, people believed. Can we say that our sacrifices and love for others culminate in others coming to Christ?

Thank God for texts in the Bible such as this that gives us a sense of application for all that Jesus said that He wants from us. May there be more Tabithas in the world. And may it begin with those of us who claim followership to our precious Savior.

Have a great day!

Four Meaningful Women In My Life

Here are four people I am thankful to have in my life:


Nelwyn Metting (My Mother)-I don't think I can express in words how incredible my mom is. Something that sticks out in my mind is that although we had our "spats" when I was a child, and boy did we, not one time did I ever doubt her love for me. Her patience was thin with me at times......okay, many times. But she never allowed me to lose sight of the big picture of how much I meant to her. Mom, something I appreciate so much about you is when I look back at my childhood and even into my early adulthood, sometimes you would tell me what I needed to hear, and sometimes you knew it was best to say nothing and allow me to learn life's lessons the hard way. I got into a lot of trouble and despite being so far removed from God for a period of time, I knew where to come back. I attribute that to you and the fact that you never gave up on me....even when I had about given up on myself. And it is a lot of fun watching you be "Grammy" to our boys. You are so good with them. The fun times we had when I was a child, as well as the ones we share now are what I think make our "mother-son" relationship so unique. Mom, you are one of my best friends and I feel pretty special because of it. Not too many men can say that. I am proud to be a "mama's boy." I love you!


Cody Browning (My Wife)-Next Saturday, I will have been blessed with 12 years of marriage to a wonderful woman. I remember asking her the day before our wedding, "What are you doing?" and I still often wonder how I could be so fortunate. Cody, I love you so much! For so many years, I have struggled to find myself. I still to this day have yet to learn how to truly love myself as I should. But I have made so many strides because of you. And while I still have a long way to go, you continue to be patient with me. Thank you! It is so amazing to me how some of your unconventional ways can drive me crazy, yet at the same time make me fall more and more in love with you as each day passes. You are so comfortable with who you are and I adore and admire that about you. And it would take an incredibly large book to express in words how proud I am that our boys have such a loving, caring mother who sacrifices so much for the happiness of others. It is an honor to cherish you. I have fun being your husband. And I am glad we are friends. Thank you for all that you are. I love you!



Carol Browning (My StepMother)-Carol is one of most compassionate, loving, and thoughtful people I have ever known. Carol, I couldn't be more proud to have you in this role in my life. Your kind heart is such an example to me. And I thank you for loving my dad as much as you do. You are an incredible person. Thank you for all you do for me and Cody as well as for the boys. They love you. I am so amazed how when you married dad, your family took me in and treated me as if I were their own. Not one time did I ever feel like the "step-grandson" to Grandma and Grandpa. I love and miss them and will always be so grateful to them and to you for treating me the same. I love you!



Kathy Overbeck (My Mother-in-Law)-You can tell I haven't spent a lot of time with her lately, because I am writing something kind about her. Ha! I couldn't resist. My mother-in-law is truly, hands down, no questions asked, the most selfless person I have ever known in my life. In the almost 15 years that I have known her, I don't remember ever being around her when she is not giving and sacrificing for someone other than herself. Kathy, I am so grateful for the wonderful job you and Papa Charlie did in raising your daughter. The boys and I are the benificiary of that...big time! And I thank you for your unconditional love you have for your family. Your ability to not be judgmental is admirable. You truly are an example to me. And I don't think I will ever be able to express to you enough how grateful I am to you for putting up with and overlooking my arrogance, all for the sake of peace and unity. You are a true depiction of what servanthood is all about. And it gives both me and Cody such a secure feeling that the boys get to see and experience first hand your love, ethic, values, and example. I love you and admire you more than you will ever know.


The happiest of Mother's Days to each of you. Thank you for everything! I love you all!

A Lesson on Loyalty

Hank, my 7-year old rotweiller, is actually a pretty laid back dog. Cody and I have kept him socialized with kids ever since he was a puppy, and as a result, he has no clue as to his potential. I realize I am at least somewhat biased but he is one of the sweetest and most gentle dogs I have known. Another wonderful trait about Hank that I absolutely love is his loyalty. I will give you an example. As is the case with most dogs I suppose, Hank loves to eat. I usually feed him in the mornings before I go to work. If I am running late, he slides his pan on the patio concrete to remind me that he wants to eat. And when I do get out there with his food, he goes nuts. It is one of the most exciting times of the day for him.

Well, last Friday morning morning I was outside working on my lawn mower, trying to get it to start (another completely different story altogether). Usually when I am outside Hank is right there with me. But before I went to my lawn mower, I fed him. He was his usual excited self, of course. And then I got curious. As I was by my lawn mower, I called for him while he was eating. And he immediately came. His food no longer mattered. I petted him and played with him a little. And of course, he was enjoying my attention. He would periodically look back at his food he left behind, but there was absolutely no way he was going back to his food pan. When I started back to working on my lawn mower, he sat there by me. As much as he loves to eat, Hank was much more interested in what I was able to give him emotionally. That makes him much happier.

Now, I don’t want to necessarily compare us to dogs, but what a tremendous lesson on commitment and loyalty. We too have a Master. He gives us spiritual food, which is much more important than physical nourishment (Matthew 4:4). Jesus tells us that when our loyalty is to Him and His kingdom, then our needs will be met (Matthew 6:33). Do we live in such a way that demonstrates this kind of faith? Hank trusted that he would eat. He knew I was going to take care of Him. He has faith in me as his master that his needs are going to be taken care of. And that is exactly why he would much rather spend his time with me. He is committed to me. And it makes me feel good, just as it pleases God when He comes first in our lives. Hank is not perfect. But he is loyal and faithful. Do we see the connection? There is no doubt in my mind that I take priority over anything else in his life. Can God claim the same of us?

I think the words of the psalmist are appropriate here:

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act” (Psalm 37:3-5).

Have a good weekend and for all of the mothers out there, I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

A Practical Joke

This soooooo reminds me of something me and my friends would have done in high school. Of course, the guy in the middle would probably be me...





Have a good day today!

Feed The Dump People Day--An Opportunity

Recently, I posted a message about today, May 5th, being "Feed the Dump People Day." This is an opportunity to feed the people who are living at a dump in Santa Ana, Honduras who wake up each morning wondering whether or not they will eat. You can find what I wrote here. Also you can go to this link or this link to read even more about this special day and effort.

I am grateful for people like Trey Morgan, who have such kingdom hearts. Trey has put forth this effort to raise money in response to a friend of his that does missionary work there. As little as $20 can feed these people for a day. It is our hope that you will consider giving to this cause. You can read more about where to send what you can at Trey's page. I will also post the information here as to where to send the money.

Torch

ATTN: DUMP FUND

P.O. Box 9222

Columbus, MS 39705

*Please add "dump fund" somewhere on the check

*Your check is tax deductible

Any amount will be appreciated. Whether you can help or not, please pray for this effort.

Thank you!

More on Romans Coming.....

For those of you following my study in Romans, yes it has been a couple of weeks since I have blogged on it. I will be beginning chapter 2 later on in the week. Meanwhile, here is a look at what I have written thus far by way of introduction and Chapter 1.

Are My Words Helpful or Hurtful?

Studies have indicated that on average, the human being speaks well over 450,000,000 words over the course of a lifetime. This is an especially alarming statistic when we couple this with something that Jesus told those following Him:

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

How sobering is that? Jesus makes it very clear that a large part of what identifies us as citizens of God's kingdom is the way we use our words. Paul states:

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt..." (Colossians 4:6).

James calls the tongue a fire because of its destructive force and ability to spread quickly and damage.

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell" (James 3:6).

Often times, once the words we use causes its damage, it is difficult, if not impossible, to put out. This is why it is always advisable to ask ourselves, "what is my motivation?" before speaking. We should always strive to discern whether or not our words are going to be an encouragment or discouragment. Are my words beneficial or detrimental to others?

Here are some ways, hopefully, that we can make sure our words are more on the "helpful" side:

• Speak in such a way that carries the potential to win souls.
• Intend to be an enouragment to others........even in those times when you might not like what they are doing. Remember we can still encourage someone without condoning what they might be doing.
• If our intentions are sincere, that will usually show itself by the way we choose our words.
• Try to speak in a way that is consistent with Christian principles. If we speak in a manner that is unbecoming (cursing, taking the Lord's name in vain, lying, etc...), then we lose our influence altogether.
• Avoid gossip at all costs. In fact, don't even listen to it. Too often, all it does is facilitate our natural tendencies to be critical.
• Avoid being overly critical and judgmental. It is one thing to point out sin when it is staring us in the face. It is quite another to spend our time and energy on a role that God never gave us to begin with.

According to Paul, part of the defintion of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is that it makes every effort to believe the best about others. Perhaps if we can learn to accentuate the positive more than the negative, it will help our words to be more helpful than hurtful. Looking for what is wrong in others is not hard to do. There is no skill in that. It is easy because we all fall short; which is actually why we need to be more of an encourgment to each other in the first place.

Have a great day today!