Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts Has Moved

2009-07-15T21:26:00.003-05:00

I transferred my domain over to http://theobloggers.com/ and have a whole new look.

You can still find me at http://jasonbrowning.net but wanted to let some of you who were getting to me through Blogger know.

thanks,
Jason

A Preacher's Life

2009-07-13T08:06:00.007-05:00

A happy Monday morning to all! I hope everyone had a good weekend. These were sent to me over the weekend by a member in the congregation here in La Grange. I thought these were pretty funny and wanted to share. Enjoy!

Jason

PREACHER'S LIFE

A preacher said to a farmer, "Do you belong to the Christian family?"

"No," he said, "they live two farms down."

"No, I mean are you lost?"

"No, I've been here thirty years."

"I mean, are you ready for Judgment Day?"

"When is it?"

"Could be today or tomorrow."

"Well, when you find out for sure when it is, you let me know. My wife will probably want to go both days!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call to Another Church

A preacher places his order at the pet store. "I need at least 50 mice, 2,000 ants and as many of those little silverfish you can get."

The clerk replies, "We can probably do that, but it might take some time. Mind if I ask why you are placing such an unusual order?"

The preacher replies, "I've accepted an offer to another church and the men told me to leave the parsonage the way I found it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Farewell Offering

During the last Sunday service that the preacher was to spend at the church he served for some years, his hat was passed around for a goodwill offering.

When it returned to the preacher, it was empty.

The preacher didn't flinch.

He simply raised the hat to Heaven and said, "I thank You, Lord, that I got my hat back from this congregation."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hot-Air Hand Dryers

My preacher friend put sanitary hot air hand dryers in the rest rooms at the church where he preaches and after two weeks, took them out.

I asked him why and he confessed that they worked fine, but when he went in there he saw a sign that read, "For a sample of this week's sermon, push the button.

Ancient Words

2009-07-12T06:43:00.005-05:00

Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world;
They resound with God's own heart, O, let the ancient words impart.
Words of life, words of hope, give us strength, help us cope;
In this world where-'er we roam, Ancient words will guide us home.

Ancient words ever true, changing me, and changing you;
We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our faith, handed down to this age,
came to us through sacrifice, O, heed the faithful words of Christ.
Holy words, long preserved for our walk in this world,
They resound with God's own heart, O, let the ancient words impart.

Ancient words ever true, changing me, and changing you;
We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.

Ancient words ever true, changing me, and changing you;
We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.

We have come with open hearts, O let the ancient words impart.
O let the ancient words impart.

--Writer Unknown

Heart Flaws: Pessimism and Worry

2009-07-07T09:18:00.009-05:00

I have been unable to blog on a consistent basis here of late but hopefully things will slow down for me in just a little over a month from now. Summer time is always the busiest time of the year for me. Maybe some time soon I will be able to share some of what else is making life so hectic for me right now.

Things are going okay here. Cody and the boys left yesterday for their annual trip to Wisconsin. They should be be back around the middle part of next week. It is always nice up there this time of year and I would love to have gone but there is just too much going on here that will not allow me to get away.

This past Sunday, I began a series of lessons on heart flaws; ones that are especially difficult for us as Christians. And Sunday's lesson was specifically on worrying too much and negativity/pessismism. The funny thing is of the 150 or so in our assembly Sunday morning, it was probably me that needed to hear the lesson more than anyone. I hope I was listening.

Of course, not all worrying is bad. I think it is commonly agreed that a little stress keeps us going and can be a good thing, so long as we don't allow our worrying and anxiety to deprive us of the joy that we should have as Christians. But think about some of the things we worry about. We worry about things that have already happened. We can't live in the past though (Luke 9:62). Or we tend to worry about things that will inevitablly happen. Or worry about something that will never happen. Again, yes, some of these are examples of our natural human reaction to life, and to a degree that is just the way we are, but the point is that God does not want us to allow these things to rob us of the overall happiness we should have as kingdom citizens.

Jesus' words in Matthew 6:19-34 provide a great text about this very subject. Notice what we can learn about being overly anxious from this text:

It is unneccesary (v.32)
It is a lack of trust (v.26, 31)
It is prohibited (vv.25, 31, 34)
It is pointless (v.27)
It is what those that do not belong to God do (v.32)

So what can we do to overcome this tendency among us?

Follow Joshua's lead in Joshua 24:15. Determine in our minds that we are going to conquer our penchants for being negative and pessimistic. Make the commitment that we are going to follow God regardless so there is little room for overly worrying about things. Afterall, God is in control.
Follow David's example, and when we fall, get back up. Paul charges us to be steadfast in our labors, knowing they are not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Accentuate the positive (Philippians 4:8).
Trust in God and stop trying to rely on ourselves (Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28-31).
Get busy for the kingdom and do something good for someone else (Matthew 6:33).
Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Peter 5:7; James 5:16).

I hope to write more soon. Peace!

We Shall Assemble

2009-07-05T06:52:00.003-05:00

We shall assemble on the mountain,

we shall assemble at the throne.

With humble hearts into His presence,

we bring an offering of song.

Glory and honor and dominion,

unto the Lamb, unto the King.

Oh hallelujah, hallelujah!

We sing the song of the redeemed.

We shall assemble on the mountain,
we shall assemble at the throne.
With humble hearts into His presence,
we bring an offering of song.
Glory and honor and dominion,
unto the Lamb, unto the King.
Oh hallelujah, hallelujah!
We sing the song of the redeemed.

--Twila Paris

Getting People's Attention

2009-06-29T08:53:00.013-05:00

In Acts 2 we read about the Holy Spirit's descent upon the apostles. This was a special Jewish feast day called Pentecost, which means "50." This celebration occured 50 days after the Passover, which consequently always fell on "the first day of the week," if I understand correctly. In any event, this great feast was a commemoration. And multitudes of Jews and proselytes from all over the world would make the long journey to Jerusalem in order to participate in these festivities. Literally thousands of people would convene at this time of the year. And there were many different languages represented.

Think about it! With so many locations and languages being represented here, what a perfect opportunity for the Holy Spirit to come on this occasion and get the attention of the whole world. What we see transpiring in the first four verses of Acts 2 let all of Jerusalem and the different locations being represented that God was present and actively involved in His kingdom. The apostles, most of which were not highly educated, were now all of a sudden able to speak in other languages (tongues). The Holy Spirit had this impact on them directly so that they would be able to teach the gospel.

Imagine the curiosity this event must have sparked. Concerning the people's reaction to all of this, the text tells us:

"And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?'" (Acts 2:6-7)

"And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, 'What does this mean?'" (Acts 2:12)

God, through the Holy Spirit, got these people's attention. Because of these people's curiosity, they were ready to learn. People are no different today. And this is precisely why it seems to me that there is really a tremendous lesson for us in all of this. The Spirit does not miraculously work in us in the way He does in the apostles in this text. But this does not change the fact that we are who is responsible for seeking to accomplish what the Holy Spirit accomplished here. We are now the arms, legs, hands, and feet of Christ. We are now His ambassadors, seeking to deliver God's saving message to people. And so how can we be successful?

I think it has to start with us understanding that we too, must get the attention of people. Like it or not, we are not in a society that flocks to us begging us to teach them about Jesus and the gospel. We might find this on occasion, but generally speaking and for the most part, it is we who are responsible for seeking out the lost. So how do we get enough of their attention so we can get the gospel in their hands? I'm certainly no expert, and undoubtedly welcome your ideas. But here are a few that come to my mind:

Our examples need to get people's attention (Matthew 5:13-16). Our influence and demeanor as Christians should spark people's curiosity and make them want what we have. There is something about a joyful, peaceful, and secure person that draws others to them. This is how opportunities arise.
Our teaching needs to get people's attention. We need to support the strong preaching of Christ's gospel. We need to realize the urgency of teaching it (2 Timothy 4:2). But we have to find balance. One one hand, we cannot afford to be arrogant and pompous in our presentation of it. We must remember to always do so in love (Ephesians 4:15). On the other hand, neither can we afford to allow our fears of running people away to cause us to minimize the importance of teaching. That is just as lethal. And so the responsibility lies on us to learn how to discern when, when not, where, and how to speak up.
Our involvement in the community--individually and congregationally--should get people's attention. We need to be thinking about effective ways to get out and let people in our communities know that we are an active family of God concerned for the souls and well-being of people. We need to demonstrate through our involvement in the community that we are interested in more than merely being right in arguments. I don't know about anyone else, as I can only speak for myself here, but I don't want to primarily be perceived as being content with sitting in our own circles talking about how we are the ones who have it all figured out.
We need to befriend people in order to get their attention. I remember when I decided that I was going to preach full-time, a friend of mine who was a preacher reminded me that if I was lucky, 1% of my conversions would come from behind the pulpit. He wanted me to understand that I was going to have to get out and meet people and become friends with them. Folks, our conversions, for the most part are going to come in the deer blinds, on the golf courses, on fishing and hunting trips, on shopping trips, over lunch or dinner, in our homes where we are inviting people, etc. We need to be visiting those who are vulnerable, in hospitals, in nursing homes, those who have recently lost loved ones. We must allow ourselves to get involved in the lives of others. And this means that sometimes we might even need to step outside of our comfort zones. I do not think it is a mere coincidence that Jesus spent the majority of His time with those that most in His culture were uncomfortable with--tax collectors, prostitutes, adulteresses, lepers, disease-laden, the poor, the grieved and mournful, etc. Jesus knew that those who were most vulnerable were the ones most likely to respond to His willingness and desire to forgive sins.

Have a great day. Peace!

Every Time

2009-06-28T07:02:00.011-05:00

(1) Every time I kneel to pray, I open up my heart to my Lord.
Every time I close my eyes, I feel the sweet embrace of my Lord.

(Chorus):
I don't know why so many things seem to get in the way of seeing my God's glory.
But I try every day to see Him and to thank Him for all the things He's given me.

(2) Every time I see a child, I see the gentleness of my Lord.
Every time I watch a storm, I know the awesome pow'r of my Lord.

(Chorus):
I don't know why so many things seem to get in the way of seeing my God's glory.
But I try every day to see Him and to thank Him for all the things He's given me.

(3) Every time I see the cross.

--Philip Organ

The Unknown Is Scary

2009-06-26T10:11:00.005-05:00

Trust can be a very difficult thing. Even when we know someone well and can rationally understand that we can trust them, sometimes it is still challenging. For example, at camp last week, to demonstrate this I asked a 7th grade boy to stand with his back facing me and fall back and allow me to catch him. It took him about 4 tries, but he finally did it completely without any hesitation. He admitted that he rationally understood he had no reason to not trust that I would catch him. He was confident I would. But it was still difficult.

The unknown is scary! Trust is something that forces us to let go--to let go of our own will and submit to the will of another. It is part of our human nature to stuggle with this. And this is why it can be such a challenge for us even as God's people to lean back and allow Him to catch and carry us.

What a great example we see in Daniel 3 in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Daniel's friends. The setting is the Jews being held captive to the Babylonians, of whom Nebuchadnezzar is serving as king. Beginning in v.8 we see that King Nebuchadnezzar expected all to bow down and worship not only him but the golden image he had set up. The consequence of not doing so, necessitated being thrown into a fiery furnace. One could easily understand the temptation to do what the king expected, even if they did not particularly care to do so. When word got to Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego would not do as he commanded, he was furious. In a rage he confronted them about it. As he reminded them of the fiery furnace in which he would cast them if they refused to bow to him, notice the response given by these three faithful servants of God:

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 'Oh Nebuchadnezar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliever us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up'" (Daniel 3:16-18).

These three brave friends knew that God would deliver them in one way or another. They trusted in God's presence in their lives. They trusted that God would not forsake them. And they trusted that God's will (to serve Him only and not bow down to other gods) was better and higher than man's will. This was their faith. Their trust in God was the very reason that they were able to confidently submit to God's will. Even if God didn't deliver them from the furnace and decided to let them burn to death (which He did not-Daniel 3:28), that was still okay with them because they trusted that God would have His reasons. They understood that God has a higher will for us and sometimes although we can't see His reasoning, we still have to trust.

Faith is not deciding what I want God to do and then trusting Him to deliver. It means rather, whether He delivers like I want Him to or not, I am still going to bow down and glorify Him regardless. It means that even when I can't see His ways, I will still submit to His will in obedience to the best of my ability. Because I trust Him and what He says. Not that my obedience saves me or obligates God to include my name in the Book of life. But because my trust and faith in Him is required.

May we all always trust that He is an all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful ,and all-present God. He is in charge. If I truly believe that and put my faith in Him, then the whole submission thing takes care of itself. Yes, the unknown is scary. And that is why we often prefer our own will. Sometimes it is a natural tendency on our part. And while the Bible doesn't tell us everything we would like to know about Heaven of the afterlife (the unknown), it certainly reveals enough to us so that I can know that I want to be there. Indeed, I do. And may my trust, faith, and reliance be upon God's ability to get me to that Promised Land rather than on my own abilities (Romans 3:23).

Have a great weekend!

Another Great Conversation With Aaron

2009-06-22T08:26:00.007-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Father's Day. Because I am a preacher, I don't get to spend Father's Days with my dad. This time he came here though, so it was really good to be with him.

Camp went great. There were no "incidences" and that is always good. Brett Gerhardt and the rest of the staff do a good job running a "tight" camp and making sure everything goes smoothly. The kids learned a lot and they, along with us as the staff had a great time. God is good!

Well, I wanted to share an interesting conversation I had with Aaron Saturday. Really, it was quite one-sided, but he taught me something I did not know. It went something like this as I was sitting at the computer.

Aaron: Hey dad, I want to tell you something and it is about God.

Jason: Certainly, I would love for you to tell me something about God. What is it?

Aaron: Well it is about how God created the world and us as people.

Jason: Oh? Let's hear it buddy.

Aaron: Well God made a man and his name was Adam. And he was the very 1st man ever. And God thought everything was good in the world that He made but Adam was very lonely and needed a wife like you dad. So God needed to make a woman and her name was going to be Eve. I don't know if she looked like mommy but she probably would act like a mommy. So to make the woman, He took some ribbon and created her. And then everything was perfect until she messed up and disobeyed God.

Hmmmm! You learn something new every day I suppose. Have I stated lately that I love having children? Thank you God for Aaron and Chase. This home would not be what it is without them.

We Bow Down

2009-06-21T07:42:00.005-05:00

You are Lord of creation and Lord of my life,
Lord of the land and the sea.
You were Lord of the heavens before there was time,
and Lord of all lords You will be!

We bow down and we worship You Lord,
We bow down and we worship You Lord,
We bow down and we worship You Lord.
Lord of all lords You will be!

You are King of creation and King of my life,
King of the land and the sea.
You were King of the heavens before there was time,
and King of all kings You will be!

We bow down and we crown You the King,
We bow down and we crown You the King,
We bow down and we crown You the king.
King of all kings You will be!

--Twila Paris

Off To Camp, We Go.....

2009-06-14T07:18:00.005-05:00

This morning after worship, me and 8 kids from La Grange will be heading out for our annual trip to Camp Hensel. It is always a lot of fun, although the older I get, the more difficult it becomes to get motivated in going. I already miss my bed. :-)

Please pray for us--for our safety and most importantly for our spiritual growth. It is always nice to get out there and leave behind the daily challenges of the world and grow closer to God.

I will pick up posting on my blog again after next week! Have a great one.

Peace!

You Are My All In All

2009-06-13T22:06:00.005-05:00

(1) You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek,
You are my all in all.
Seeking You as a precious jewel,
Lord to give up I'd be a fool,
You are my all in all.

(2) Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,
Rising again I bless Your name,
You are my all in all.
When I fall down You pick me up,
When I am dry You fill my cup,
You are my all in all.

(Refrain) Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name.
Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name.

--Dennis L. Jernigan

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Aaron Mutton Bustin'

2009-06-12T07:52:00.008-05:00

Here is the video of Aaron riding the sheep. Pretty funny stuff. As you will see, Aaron hung on great but the sheep stopped. This apparently was what kept him out of 1st place. That was a bummer because he held on longer than any of the other 8 kids. Oh well! It was fun...(and funny).

He had really been wanting to do this for a while. I am glad he finally got to do it. Maybe we can put him on the bronco next year, :-) Of course, Chase was mad that he couldn't ride. But he will be old enough by next year.

Law vs. Inward As A Means Of Salvation

2009-06-10T09:45:00.007-05:00

In Romans 2:17-29, Paul continues his thoughts on the impartiality of God and how all human beings are in dire need of God’s mercy. In essence, he draws a comparison between resorting to law for salvation (it condemns) and resorting to the inward for salvation (it saves).

Regardless of what one’s relationship to the law of God is, that relationship in and of itself, will not save man. The Gentiles will not be saved by their ignorance of this law and the Jews will not be saved by their possession of this law because the only way to be saved by relationship to law is to keep it perfectly (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). There are no exceptions. God does not show favoritism. He is impartial.

Essentially, what Paul does in vv.17-24 is spoil the Jews’ hope in the law. I don’t think he is saying it is irrelevant in that they shouldn’t even bother to follow it. Of course God wants His people to follow His commands—always! But Paul is trying to get them to understand that their knowledge and possession of it is not the source of salvation. He forces these Jewish Christians to see the hypocrisy of their ways. He exposes their own sinfulness to point out that they are not perfect themselves. So the logic behind what Paul is writing here, and this has tremendous application for us too, is this: if you claim that the law saves you, and you are not obeying it (and none of us are completely), then where does that leave you? According to v.24, law-breaking dishonors God. Our sin not only is an insult to God, but ultimately causes others to sin as well. The Jews’ sin indeed impacted the Gentiles. When we sin in a community filled with non-believers, we make God’s name look bad. We fail in our efforts to enhance the reputation of Him (and His church).

Thank God we are not saved based on our adherence to His law. May God have mercy on us if we don’t try our best (Romans 6:1ff). However, let us also understand that no matter how close we are to doing so perfectly, we still fall short and therefore cannot be saved by our relationship to God’s law.

In this final section of chapter 2 (vv.25-29), it seems that Paul knew that the final straw the Jews would seek to grasp was circumcision. After all, circumcision is what made the Jews God’s special people, right? This was the sign! The token of covenant between God and His people. See Acts 15 for a lesson on what the Jews thought about circumcision and the high regard they had for it, even after Christianity commenced. They wanted to bind this on the Gentiles after they were added to the church. They looked upon their circumcision as concrete evidence that their relationship with God protected them.

And so Paul is not condemning circumcision, but merely doing with circumcision what he already did with the law—showing that it will serve as no basis for special treatment come Judgment Day. We have to understand the lesson here because it is too important for us to miss. The internal is the measure of salvation, not the external. This is where Paul now begins to hint at the need for grace. If not for grace, we are stuck with law as our system of salvation—a system in which of all us would be doomed.

By the way, “letter” as it is used in v.29 means “written code.” True spiritual circumcision is a matter of the heart being right, not about external law-keeping. The spiritual or inner circumcision, according to Paul, is the Holy Spirit working in the heart of the Christian—that is the strengthening of our hearts (John 3:3, 5; Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5-8; Colossians 2:9-14).

Paul’s final words in chapter 2 are “His praise is not from man but from God.” It should be a great source of comfort that God has the ability to discern hearts. 1 John 3:20 reminds us that God is greater than our hearts. He can discern and we can’t. And its high time we quit thinking we can take on that role. When you keep this entire letter in its context, God through Paul is sending a strong message to these Christians: “You cannot see what is on the inside like I can see. So stop being critical and thinking you are better because I’m telling you, you’re not—you all fall short of law and therefore you’re all going to need something greater than law to save you if you are going to be saved.”

I think the application to us is obvious. We need to let God do the judging and worry about our own efforts to live for Him. This does not mean we can’t help each other out and encourage one another. This doesn’t mean we should not go to one another out of love and concern for each other when the need arises. It simply means that when we do so, it needs to be done with a humble disposition that recognizes that we too fall short. Our job is to lovingly reach out to and help others (and even correct, if necessary). God’s job is to pass judgment. And there is a big, big difference between these two roles!

In the first 20 verses of Romans 3, Paul continues to elaborate on the fact that all are deserving of eternal punishment, which is why we cannot be saved by law (v.20). We will pick up with this portion of this great epistle in a couple of weeks after I return from camp.

Peace!

Attitude Is Everything

2009-06-08T09:00:00.008-05:00

There is a story about a young boy who received a chemistry set for his birthday. One morning he was playing with it and decided he was going to mix a smelly chemical with his dad's aftershave lotion. So that morning as the dad got out of the shower and shaved, and then put his aftershave on, he noticed that something stank. He then walked into the bedroom to get dressed and noticed the stinch was there as well. As he went to the kitchen to eat breakfast he asked his wife why the house stank. Then when he left for work, he still smelled the odor when he got outside and frustratingly said, "the whole world stinks."

What this dad didn't realize, was that the "stink" was on him. Attitude is a lot like that, isn't it? Perhaps we have been this way ourselves, or maybe we have known some to be this way. As Christians we are so much happier when we change our outlook on things. If we look for the negative, we will find it. There is little skill in that. And when it comes to sin, attitude is likely the first place we need to look.

Our attitude for the most part will make or break us as Christians. Paul charged Timothy to set an example in attitude (1 Timothy 4:12) and even exhorted the Philippians to think on good things and accentuate the positive (i.e., Philippians 4:8).

Notice what the psalmist has to say to Israel about attitude:

"and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God" (Psalm 78:8).

This generation of Israel's attitude literally cost them their entrance into the Promised Land. In a lot of ways our faithfulness to God hinges on attitude. Our disposition and demeanor, for the most part, will actually dictate whether or not we submit to God in faith.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of a good attitude in the Bible is Joshua and Caleb. In Numbers 13, Moses sends twelve spies into the land of Canaan, which God had promised Israel. Moses sent them to spy out the land so that they could properly prepare in going in and conquering the land. Ten of the twelve spies came back with a negative report and in essence sent the entire nation into a frenzy. They said there was no way they could take this land because the enemy was too big and too great in number. But Joshua and Caleb knew differently. They had faith in God's presence with them and knew with the Almighty One on their side, they could conquer all things (cf. Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28, 31). And God commended them for it:

"But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it" (Numbers 14:24).

Take note of the correlation between spirit (attitude) and submission. Caleb's attitude is what was different. That is what allowed him to stand out as unique before God. It is what distinguished him from everyone else. Obedience and keeping God's commands has everything to do with attitude. It comes from a disposition that trusts in God's ways more than our own. It is about a humility that realizes that life is not about us and therefore wants to be pleasing to God. Submission to God is about living and applying the Scriptures from the inside out. This why Jesus taught throughtout His ministry that it is the heart that matters (Matthew 5:20).

Attitude is everything!

In Moments Like These

2009-06-07T06:54:00.010-05:00

In moments like these, I sing out a song,
I sing out a love song to Jesus.
In moments like these, I lift up my voice,
I lift up my voice to the Lord.
Singing I love You Lord, singing I love You Lord;
Singing I love You, Lord.
I love You.

In moments like these, I sing out a song,
I sing out a love song to Jesus.
In moments like these, I lift up my hands,
I lift up my hands to the Lord.
Singing I love You Lord, singing I love You Lord;
Singing I love You, Lord.
I love You.

--David Graham

"I love You, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my mountain where I seek refuge,
my stronghold.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I was saved from my enemies" (Psalm 18:1-3).

Judgment and Law

2009-06-03T10:44:00.011-05:00

Here are Paul’s words in Romans 2:12-16:

“For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentitles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”

C.E.B. Cranfield summarizes these words of Paul well when he says, “knowledge of the law does not in itself constitute any defense against the judgment of God.” Two things are accomplished here: (1) The Jews cannot have a sense of false confidence in thinking they are saved just because they have the Law. And (2) this quells any possible complaints that the Gentiles might have about being at a disadvantage because they didn’t have the Law of Moses. Paul is affirming that everyone is equal and deserving of God’s judgment—all are equal in that they fall short. The idea that the Jews were at a clear or distinct advantage for being given the Law is being rejected in this section.

Remember in v.11, Paul had just stated that God does not show favoritism. He is not partial. There are no “favorites.” So in verse 12, Paul clarifies this by reminding them that each of them is susceptible to the judgment of God. Regardless whether you have been given a formal law or special revelation at all, you will still be judged and fall short. This term “perish” here means the complete process of destruction of a person. It is what we deserve. This is part of Paul’s whole point. There is a message for both groups here: (1) To the Jews, they have the law but they must abide by it. Just “possessing” the Law does not relieve them of judgment. And (2) to the Gentiles who did not receive a special law (i.e., Law of Moses) it is not required in order to be subject to God’s judgment. In other words, neither will not having the Law excuse them from judgment. The point to both Jew and Gentile here is that just hearing God’s law is not what is going to justify them anyway. Doing what God says is what matters to God, not merely hearing it. Hearing it is a waste of time if we don’t do what He actually commands.

The term “law” as Paul is using it here, is a direct reference to the Law of Moses. But because of what he says in v.14 however, is why I don’t think the application here is exclusively the Law of Moses. Paul shows that this idea of law, while directly referring to the Law of Moses, is indicative of any law. It seems that vv.14-15 here should be considered in light of Romans 1:19-20. Remember Paul said that God has still given the Gentiles knowledge of law so that they are without excuse. Now he is affirming that they have God’s law in their hearts (v.15). What they have in their hearts is not the "Law of Moses." But rather there is a certain instinctual knowledge of right and wrong possessed by the Gentiles, although they didn’t possess the Law of Moses. The ability to discern right from wrong is something that is woven into the very core of their hearts—therefore they still are without excuse. And just the like the Law of Moses is not able to save, neither is this law of the Gentiles' hearts. These Gentiles to whom Paul is referring are no more able to keep their law perfectly than the Jews were able to keep theirs.

Thus, don’t forget contextually, Paul’s overall point here is that law in general falls short in its ability to justify us, because of man’s inability to keep it perfectly. The alternative to law-keeping as a means of justification will be offered beginning in the latter part of the next chapter (Romans 3:23-24). Paul ends this section with a simple acknowledgment of the Judgment Day. Basically it is a concluding touch on making his point that all are liable to Judgment according to how we have obeyed God’s law or commands; and consequently, all are deserving of perishing (i.e., eternal destruction). Also, once again…..let us take note in v.16 of WHO does the judging. This certainly also implies who does not do the judging.

Ben Witherington III, in his commentary, has some interesting thoughts concerning this section of Romans. This will conclude our study of this section:

“The message is, then, not only about the impartiality of God, though that is emphasized, but also about the fact that all humans are equally in need of mercy in view of their sin, including particularly those Jews who should have been teachers to the blind but in fact proved to be less than good exemplars of what the Law required. Having the Law is no guarantee of doing the Law, and merely having it is no protection against God’s judgment on disobedience, for all human behavior will be judged by God. Even being a Jewish teacher does not exempt one from God’s righteous judgment on sin nor from the need to hear and heed the gospel proclamation.”

Thanksgiving

2009-06-02T15:08:00.006-05:00

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul stated,

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

In a psalm of thanksgiving and praise, David uttered,

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him; bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5).

Because we are merely human beings and therefore fallible, it is likely that all of us at some point in our lives have forgotten how blessed we really are. Consider the following:

• If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed. One third of the world does not have access to even one.

• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

• If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

• If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

• If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof on your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

• If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, even in the United States.

• If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

• If you prayed yesterday and today, you are blessed because you believed in God’s willingness to hear and answer prayer.

• If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two million people in the world who cannot read anything at all.

I do not know where these "statistics" came from. I found them in a "stash" of old articles I have kept over the years. Nevertheless, I thought some of these were interesting as they really put in perspective how even when we are down, we should remember that it can always be worse. I hope that we will take the time each day to count our blessings. God is good to us in more ways than we can imagine. We are certainly blessed beyond what we could ever deserve (Matthew 5:43-48; John 3:16; Romans 5:8-9).

Have a good day!

Heavenly Music

2009-05-31T06:23:00.007-05:00

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

2009-05-29T09:35:00.021-05:00

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?"

2009-05-28T07:25:00.009-05:00

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

2009-05-27T08:54:00.004-05:00

*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

2009-05-26T09:57:00.015-05:00

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

2009-05-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-24T07:11:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-21T08:54:00.008-05:00

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:

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

Quotes On Gratitude

2009-05-20T08:10:00.011-05:00

"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?

2009-05-18T09:20:00.010-05:00

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

2009-05-17T06:59:00.005-05:00

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

2009-05-16T18:03:00.008-05:00

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

2009-05-14T08:00:00.009-05:00

Great Quote On The Beatitudes

2009-05-13T09:03:00.005-05:00

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

2009-05-12T09:32:00.004-05:00

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

2009-05-11T09:32:00.003-05:00

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

2009-05-09T21:49:00.036-05:00

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

2009-05-08T09:26:00.008-05:00

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

2009-05-07T08:55:00.006-05:00

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

2009-05-05T09:12:00.006-05:00

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.....

2009-05-04T14:48:00.005-05:00

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?

2009-05-04T09:23:00.004-05:00

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!

A Renewed Attitude

2009-04-30T08:12:00.007-05:00

Here are some things for us to all strive for:

Give people more than they expect--cheerfully (Philemon 21).
Do not believe everything you hear.
Smile (even when answering the phone). Callers can hear it in your voice.
When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
Spend some time alone (Matthew 14:23).
When you say, "I love you," mean it (1 Peter 1:22).
Don't let a dispute ruin a friendship (Proverbs 27:10).
Do not judge people by their relatives (Matthew 7:1).
Do an anonymous kindness each day (Ephesians 4:32).
When you lose, don't lose the lesson (James 1:2-4).
When you make a mistake, admit it and take the immediate steps to correct it.
In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling, threats, or bringing up history.
Love deeply and passionately. It is the only way to live completely.
Never forget that your identity as a Christian hinges upon your love for others (John 13:35).
Take time during the day to pray (Luke 18:1) and give attention to God's word (1 Timothy 4:3).

Seasoned With Salt

2009-04-29T08:50:00.012-05:00

It is no fun for someone to say unkind things to us or to someone that we deeply care about. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of such a scenario is not listening to it, but rather keeping ourselves in check and making sure we don't bite back. Boy, do I ever struggle with this!

Jesus found Himself in similar situations often throughout His ministry. Sometimes He responded with questions of His own. Sometimes He had a direct answer. And sometimes He chose to say nothing at all. And the only conclusion we can draw is that however He responded, He did it without sinning (Hebrews 4:15) and therefore left for us the perfect example. Obviously God wants us to follow Christ's example (1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus Himself reminds us that part of what characterizes those who belong to His kingdom is serving others as lights and salt in the world (Matthew 5:15).

Paul in his letter to the Colossians gives us a tremendous charge:

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person" (Colossians 4:5-6).

What is the purpose of salt? We have all heard before how it preserves, purifies, and enhances. That is one lesson here about the effect our speech ought to have on others. I remember one day as a child, I was with my step dad feeding our cows and I pointed to a salt block and asked him what that was. After telling me it was a salt block, I then preceded to ask him why it was there. He told me it was to make the cows thirsty so they would drink water. Does our speech, which is supposed to be seasoned with salt, make others thirst for God?

Also, notice, Paul says to let our speech ALWAYS be this way; not just when it is convenient. But even when we are not treated in the same way. This is an example of why I believe that it can be really difficult to be a Christian at times. But in reality, instead of griping about being in fishbowls, we should accept with gladness the fact that we should be held to a higher standard. The reward is great. Not only in that we have a heavenly home to look forward to, but what a great sense of peace and security it can be to walk in this life, knowing we are hand in hand with Jesus, and not allowing the world to negatively affect us!

Please pray for me that I will do a better job with this; accepting the fact that I am held to a higher standard as a child of God.

Friendship

2009-04-27T08:55:00.014-05:00

Friendship is a beautiful thing. I don't know where I would be today without the blessing of friends. I am grateful that my wife is my friend. I am fortunate that my parents are friends. I have been blessed with lots of people in my life that I can call true friends. I believe establishing friendships are very important to Christianity. The fellowship that we are able to enjoy with one another is a tremendous part of what should get us through difficult times.

Friendship is at least in part what helped Peter and John get through what I would perceive as a difficult time. In Acts 4, the church is in its infant state, and as Peter and John were out preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, the Jewish leaders grew quite annoyed with them. They had recently healed a lame man who was a beggar, thus establishing credibility among the people as to what they were teaching. And although the authorities could not find anything inherently wrong with their message, it was still a threat to them. So they arrested Peter and John and "charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:18). Of course, the reaction and response of Peter and John to all of this is quite interesting in that they said they could not help but speak about Jesus (v.19) along with their affirmation that they will place God over man (Acts 5:29). Eventually, due to these leaders' inability to find a reason to punish Peter and John, they let them go. It was what Peter and John did immediately upon their release that catches my attention.

"When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them" (Acts 4:23).

I am certainly grateful for the reality that it is very unlikely that we will ever face this type of persecution in our great country for preaching Jesus. But I do often wonder, if ever this were the case, who would I run to? When I face any challenge in life for that matter, whether it be a sin I am struggling with, persecution of some type, grief over a loss, or in need of Godly counsel and wisdom, do I have the type of friends that I could go to, confide in, and ask to pray with and for me? Notice how Peter and John's friends responded to their immediately going to them.

"And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them....." (Acts 4:24ff).

They prayed together! What a beautiful picture of what friendship is all about. Do I have the type of friends that I have no doubt in my mind I can run to, and know that they would stop what they are doing and pray with me and for me? The ones I am closest to in life, am I comfortable enough around them to pray with them?

You bet!

Thank you Heavenly Father and Creator of life for the friendships I have in my life! And please help me to be such a friend to those who are so dear to me.

I Stand in Awe of You

2009-04-26T06:48:00.002-05:00

You are beautiful beyond description…
Too marvelous for words.
Too wonderful for comprehension.
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depths of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description…
Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God to Whom all praise is due.
I stand in awe of You.

--Mark Atrogge

Jesus Saves

2009-04-24T09:01:00.016-05:00

I have a story to tell before sharing an awesome video.

Some of mine and Cody's best friends, Clay and Joanna Martin, live in Hobbs, New Mexico. He preaches there. While attending college at what is now called Texas State University in San Marcos, Clay was my roommate and he dated Joanna at the same time me and Cody were dating. So we all became quite close. We were very involved with the church there together and with the Bible Chair there. I attribute a lot of my growth as a new Christian to Clay and his encouragement. There is nothing quite like staying up til 3 AM talking bible, knowing you have a 8:00 AM class that same morning. He challenged me. He grew with me. Those are truly some of the greatest years of my life. And I will forever be indebted to him.

In the summer of 1997, we all went our separate ways. We still see each other and talk frequently. But we all got married that summer. First, John and Amber Johanson, then me and Cody, then Clay and Joanna, later that summer Patrick and Melissa Hammack, then Travis and Melissa Herbelin. Well, while we were all engaged, the running joke was undoubtedly, Clay and Joanna would be the first to get pregnant. They didn't disappoint. About 3 months after they were married, they showed up at the door of our apartment to announce their good news. Of course, I laughed at them. But at the same time I was happy for them. We all knew it would happen, accident or not. I remember going to visit them at the hospital on the night of Caleb's birth day. Just a few hours old, he was crying and Joanna held him and sang to him, while saying, "Mommy is here. It's okay." I wept. Then Clay laughed at me. So I guess he actually got the last laugh.

Great memories! Well, this coming July Caleb will be 11 years old. He is growing up. What a great young man he has turned out to be and Cody and I love him as if he were one of our own. Clay and Joanna have obviously done a great job with him, along with their two daughters, Faith and Jenna. And he is as strong as an ox. I found out this past December when we saw them, that I can no longer easily pick him up and manhandle him like I used to do.

Well, I wanted to share with you a video of Caleb preaching his first sermon. I hope all will take the time to watch this. It is incredibly encouraging and refreshing. It is only 3 1/2 minutes long so it won't take up too much of your time. His brevity in and of itself is a great example to us preachers, right? HA! He has us all beat I think, with regard to his age for preaching his first sermon. And what an awesome topic, Jesus is the only One who saves. Great job, Caleb!

Clay and Joanna Martin, we love you. You guys are incredible. Thank you for the encouragement you are for Cody and me. And thank you for your wonderful example of raising a young boy who is learning more and more every day how to love Jesus and walk with Him. And may God's richest blessings continue to shine on your beautiful family!

Will You Help Feed the Dump People?

2009-04-23T09:10:00.025-05:00

It is amazing how truly blessed we are, materially speaking! I remember going to Jamaica for the first time in 1997 on a mission trip and while there, thinking to myself and aloud, "Man, the poor people in the United States are much richer than the rich people of Jamaica." I am not sure if we can really know how blessed we are until we see how unfortunate some circumstances are in which others are forced to live. And this especially lies true with regard to our material wealth.

Can you imagine being so hungry that you would be willing to go to the city dump and find food that was thrown away in order to eat and feed your family?

Are we able to fathom what it must be like to want to move your family to live at the city dump in order to have access all day to food thrown away?

What would it be like to live in shelters put together at the city dump; shelters made of sticks and garbage bags?

How would you feel about living in a place that has an odor so bad that most people would gag when they smell it?

How did Jesus respond when He walked upon such a place?

Here is an article written about such a place in Santa Ana, Honduras. Please take a couple of minutes to read this. It is powerful. For a video with some footage of what life is like here, along with an interesting perspective on this, click here.

Thankfully we have missionaries there to help these people with food and clothing, as well as to teach them about the good news of Jesus Christ. There is always a need for funds to help feed these people. And it doesn't take a lot. There are a lot of hungry souls at this dump, but $20 per day allows the missionaries and workers there to make sandwiches to feed these people. What could you give up for a week to save $20? It wouldn't be much, and think what it would mean to the dump people in Santa Ana, Honduras.

Tuesday, May 5th, in 12 days from today, there will be a very special day and I pray that you will participate. You can read more about "Feed the Dump People Day" right here but what Trey Morgan wants to do for his friend who is a missionary there is help raise $2500 to feed hungry people who live at this dump. This is an opportunity for each and everyone of us to help fulfill what Jesus discusses in Matthew 25:31-46. Here is an opportunity to have the kingdom hearts Jesus promoted throughout His ministry. We make a daily habit of asking, "What will we eat today?" while the dump people are asking, "Will we get to eat today?"

What can you give? Can you give $50? $20? $10? Whatever you can give will be appreciated and it WILL make a difference. Please consider this. More importantly, please pray for these people that the efforts here will not only noursish and strengthen them physically but that spiritually speaking, these precious souls may come in contact with the gospel. I will provide more details soon on where you can send finanical help. But for now, please take note of May 5th and consider making a commitment to help out with "Feed the Dump People Day."

Thanks for reading!

Benefits of Our Belief

2009-04-21T09:54:00.011-05:00

Obviously one benefit of believing in God is to avoid dying in our sins. Jesus states:

“I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).

There is little doubt that our faith must be in Jesus if we are to have any hope of salvation. All of us want to avoid spending an eternity apart from God. But as we mature, I believe our faith lies much deeper. There are also certain positive motivational factors that should serve as an impetus for our belief in God to become stronger and stronger as each day passes.

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

The more we put our trust in Him as our Savior, the more we will seek to please Him, hopefully. That we are rewarded and because our love for Him increases as a result should be more of a motivator for our belief than merely seeking to avoid hell. This should come as we mature spiritually. There are a lot of rewards that come with our faith, as the Hebrews writer suggests. Salvation is certainly something that we look forward to in the next life that has far more to offer than this life. However, let us never forget how much we can enjoy our status as citizens of God’s kingdom in the here and now also. Jesus and His apostles, throughout His ministry, in preaching on the kingdom, promoted it as a citizenship to be gained and enjoyed in this life. Salvation is something we can relish today. And this in turn, should effect how we choose to live.

Obviously there are many passages that suggest that we can lose this status as citizens when we cease to live in such a way that confesses Christ (Matthew 10:32-33). Paul implies that when our heart is not set on serving Him, we no longer make Him our Lord (Romans 10:9-13). We "call on the name of the Lord" by living in such a way that reflects Jesus as our Lord. So, as we become a part of God’s family, when we know we are walking in the light (1 John 1:7), we have every reason to rejoice with confidence that we are in God’s grace. And man cannot take this away (Romans 8:31-39).

Because of God’s grace, in addition to the ultimate reward of an eternity in Heaven, we can enjoy the benefits that come with our belief now. Our faith in God allows us to cope with the evil, pain, and suffering in this world. It allows us to not fear our own death. It gives us the security of rejoicing when a loved one leaves this life and goes on to a much better one. Our belief in God hopefully changes our entire perspective on life. It allows us to look at things differently so as to not be so tied to this world. It gives us every opportunity to put our stock in the “bigger picture,” a much greater citizenship than what this world has to offer. Our belief helps us to see that this world was never intended to be our home.

Thank God I can live a life of rejoicing, with a positive mindset rather than focusing on all the negative in this world. I am so happy that I can enjoy a life where I can optimistically look forward to the next one.

A Few Rules To Live By

2009-04-20T08:20:00.004-05:00

Here is something I ran across over the weekend when cleaning off my desk here at the house. I don’t know who wrote this, but it is excellent. I hope you enjoy:

Return everything you borrow
Stop blaming other people
Live within your means
Be humble
Listen more; talk less
Every day, do something nice and try not to get caught
Strive for excellence, not perfection
Be on time
Don't criticize anyone
Be even kinder to unkind people
Take time to study God's word and pray
Admit it when you make a mistake
Understand and accept that life isn't always fair
Let someone cut ahead of you in line
Don't argue
Know when to say something
Know when to keep your mouth shut
Don't make excuses
Don't sweat the small stuff

--Author Unknown

You're the One

2009-04-19T06:46:00.009-05:00

Lord, the people praise You
Lift You up and raise You
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One
Lord, the people love You
Place nobody above You
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One

(Chorus)
Singin halle, halle, hallelu
All the glory is due You
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One

Bless You’re name Lord Jesus
Only name that frees us
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One
We will praise You right here and now
Lest the hills and rocks cry out
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One

(Chorus)
Singin halle, halle, hallelu
All the glory is due You
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One

If we had ten thousand hands
We would bless You as You command
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One
If we had ten thousand tongues
We would praise You with every one
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One

(Chorus)
Singin halle, halle, hallelu
All the glory is due You
For You are the Holy One
You’re the One, You’re the only One

--Babbie Mason

"Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, 'Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?' And Jesus answered them, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them'" (Matthew 11:2-5)

Happy Marriages

2009-04-17T08:45:00.015-05:00

Here are some things to consider in marriage. Sometimes it is what seems like the "little things" that add up to the big things and make a marriage happy. God has blessed me with almost 12 years of marriage to Cody and as I anticipate the privilege of growing old with her I pray that I will always remember these "little things:"

We are never too old to hold hands with our spouses

Remember to say "I love you" to your spouse at least once every day

Compliment your spouse each day. Make sure they know they are valued and important to you.

Stay romantic

Try not to go to sleep angry at your spouse

Believe the best. Live in the appreciation room rather than the depreciation room

Always stand together with your spouse to face the world as a team

Express gratitude to your spouse

Never go too long without doing a thoughtful deed or act of kindness for your spouse

Develop the capacity to forgive and forget

Live by encouragement rather than by expectations that are too high. Allow your spouse to be human and provide an atmosphere for growth

Always remember the positive qualities that made you fall in love with your spouse

Remember that it is not only about marrying the right partner, but it is also about BEING the right partner

Thank God every day for blessing you with your spouse

I have always admired so much the "older couples" that I have known throughout my life who have set such great examples of what happy marriages mean. I hope my wife and I can do the same for others as we get older.

Have a great weekend!

Want Help Being a Better Husband?

2009-04-15T10:27:00.017-05:00

Don't we all! I certainly do. I came across a blogsite the other day that I am truly excited about. And I definitely wanted to take the opportunity to recommend it to all husbands out there. The website is called iamhusband.com. Here is a link to it. The site is designed to address the reality that as husbands we fail sometimes. We lose our romance, our desire to be better, our motivation, and our sensitivity. And often times we don't even know why. We get wrapped up in our routines, we often forget what we are supposed to do, and we say things that hurt the feelings of the one we love more than anything in this world. We can be self-absorbed. And all of this leaves us with the feeling of being torn. We love our wives so much but often times we lack the abilty to express it. Sometimes we need help. And that is what this blog author has set out to do. He provides a forum for discussion after each of his articles. And he hits on the real life issues in marriage. It is great stuff. It appears that he has had this open for about a year now. I wish I had known about it sooner. I have no idea who it is that is actually doing this blog as he has left his name anonymous. All we know is that he is a husband who loves his wife very much and wants to help other husbands out there improve their marriages too. What a great idea! At the very least, go check it out for yourself and see what you think.

Something else that he addresses quite a bit is the issue of sex and how this is often a topic of struggle for married couples. He actually has a lot to say and recommend with regard to masterbation and pornography. Here is a great article from this blogsite with excellent insight written about pornography. If you want to watch a DVD that is very resourceful with people sharing their stories about pornography addiction, go to this website to order one. This DVD is also designed to help us as dads teach our children about these things and hopefully prevent it. As the website states, "in Christ and through Christ, there is freedom from the crushing grip of porn."

Also, a good book that is recommended for married men who struggle with pornography and masterbation can be found right here. It is called Sex, Men, and God by Douglas Weiss, Ph.D. I have not read it yet but intend to do so soon. I honestly cannot tell you how many people have come to my office (both those in my congregation as well as those outside) and have expressed their need for breaking their pornography addiction. To see a grown man in tears because he wants to be free from this demon but can't seem to get away from it is indeed heart wrenching. So I am going to add it to my loooooong list of books to read. It is a helpful tool for learning why some men have the sexual addictions they do. Dr. Weiss not only helps us understand the underlying problems with this addiction but also provides some practical guidelines for (1) breaking the vicious cycles involved and (2) helping others to do so. In addition, there is guidance in enjoying sexual freedom in your marriage.

In any event, I hope some of you find this information helpful in some way. Please pass it on. Unfortunately this is a problem that is ubiquitous. Some statistics have indicated that over 60% of MARRIED MEN struggle with these things. Many believe the numbers are actually higher.

Hearts of Compassion

2009-04-14T10:37:00.011-05:00

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges we face as Christians is to have compassionate hearts. When we look at the world around us, we see too many haters. There are those who hate Truth. There are those who hate God. There are those that hate the very thought of Christianity. They even hate on each other. Many simply hate the very things that Christianity promotes (i.e., goodness, kindness, relying on God, assembling with the saints, having pure speech, abstaining from ungodly environments and influences).

Because hate is so common outside of the church, it is especially devastating when found in the church. An emotion at the opposite end of this spectrum is compassion. Notice what Paul says in one of his epistles:

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12-14).

These are qualities that go a long way in making us the compassionate Christians God desires us to be. Compassion is the ability to have a tender response to the sufferings of another person. And this includes exercising tender hearts toward those whose actions cause their own hardships. Haven’t we all been there? Compassion allows us to share the suffering or feelings of one another because of our common humanity, but more importantly because of our common faith. Paul said in Romans 12, to rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep.

Jesus gives us the perfect example of compassion and being genuinely concerned about those who needed spiritual and moral direction in their lives:

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest'” (Matthew 9:35-38).

In so many ways, these people were spiritually confused because they didn’t know who to follow. Jesus didn’t get offended. He didn’t take it personal and throw His hands up and say, “Well forget these people then! Just let them get what they deserve!” He sought to reach out to and love them despite their shortcomings. I cannot help but think that if we had the same attitude toward those who reject us or Christianity, maybe we would make a lot more progress in winning them over.

Hating is easy to do. But it takes a great deal of spiritual maturity and wisdom to kindly deal with people in a compassionate way. May we always make the effort to care! People are hurting. And they need a shoulder to lean on. They need to know they are valued and cared for, no matter how deep a hole they may have dug for themselves. People need help in dealing with devastating events in their lives. Our compassion and efforts to reach out to them is our opportunity to walk with Jesus (1 John 1:7), as well as imitate Him (1 Corinthians 11:1).

The Superiority of Jesus

2009-04-13T09:09:00.022-05:00

There are many New Testament passages that establish the superiority of Christ (Matthew 7:28-29; 28:18; John 6:68; John 14:6; Ephesians 1:21-23; Philippians 2:9-10; Colossians 1:18). Here are some reasons why He is superior:

Because of His preeminence. The word "preeminence" as expressed in Colossians 1:18 comes from a Greek term meaning "to be first." Jesus ranks at the top of any "hierarchy." He is first in all things. This makes Him superior.
Because of His peculiarity. Jesus is peculiar in two ways. (1) His nature. He is both God and man. He is deity and He is flesh. See John 1:1-5, 14 and 1 Timothy 2:5. (2) He is the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus fufilled prophecy by way of His birth, His perfect life in an imperfect world, His arrest and trial, His crucifixion, His death, and even in His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. No other being can successfully claim that they are the fulfillment of prophecy as Christ was. Many have tried, but to no avail. His peculiarity makes Him superior.
Because of His pattern. Jesus lived a perfect life. He went through the trials we experience and did it without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He serves us not only in that He died for our sins and gives us the hope of eternal life, but He left for us the perfect pattern of how to live. Take note of how He dealt with sin. He didn't stand for it. But He was not afraid of being associated with sinners as He made the effort to teach them and have an influence on them. Look at how he dealt with man. He was in the presence of those that most would not be seen with. He prayed for His enemies (Luke 23:34). He laid down His life for those who wouldn't even believe in His very name. He is the perfect pattern for us with regard to humility (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus is also the perfect leader (Hebrews 2:9-18). Man fails in their leadership. Man is not perfect. Men as leaders break promises, forget things, make honest and legitimate mistakes, and do not always have the correct answers. But not Jesus. He is the captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10). Because He is the perfect pattern, He is superior to all else.
Because of His power. Jesus reminded His followers that all power had been given to Him in Heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). This power and authority makes Him superior because no man or institution can rightfully claim such. How blessed we are to serve an everlasting and merciful God that places the hope of our salvation on One as powerful as Jesus Christ.

Jesus' superior nature should be a tremendous comfort to us. As we strive to walk in a partnership with Him as citizens in His kingdom, may we take great joy in Who we serve and in what we are accomplishing. And may His presence in our lives provide a sense of peace and security for us. In a world of constant struggle for power, isn't it reassuring to know that God is still and ultimately in control?

Thank God that Jesus reigns supreme!

Easter Song

2009-04-11T19:03:00.008-05:00

This was one of my favorite songs as a child. It was a song that a bunch of us in our youth group enjoyed singing all year around. "The Easter Song" just happens to be what it is called. The words are few, but they say a lot.

Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing that we can be born again!
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing, Christ is risen from the dead!

The angel upon the tombstone said, “He is risen just as He said.
Quickly now, go tell His disciples that Jesus Christ is no longer dead!”

Joy to the world, He is risen, alleluia! He’s risen, alleluia!
He’s risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!

(Acts 2:22-36-HCSB). Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. Though He was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. For David says of Him:

'I saw the Lord ever before me;
because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart was glad,
and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh will rest in hope,
because You will not leave my soul in Hades,
or allow Your Holy One to see decay.
You have revealed the paths of life to me;
You will fill me with gladness in Your presence'
.....God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.'
Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!"

May each and every day of our lives, be a resurrected new life unto Him (Romans 6:3ff). After all, it is His resurrection that makes it all possible.

More on the Sinfulness of Man

2009-04-10T09:24:00.021-05:00

In making the point that the Gentiles were not exempt from deserving God’s wrath, Paul lists some of the specific sins of which man is guilty (Romans 1:24-32). He lists a host of them; about 25 different sins total. While these are certainly sins we want to avoid, they are not listed so much to serve as a “check list” of arbitrary rules to mark off and say “we are okay because we don’t do these” as much as it is Paul’s way of mentioning that these individuals showed no respect for how God designed the human body. They showed a blatant disrespect for what it means to be a human being, created in the very image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). It is apparent from what Paul is saying that their hearts were not right. I also think these are well-representative of sins that take place today in our society—some heinous, while others are so pedestrian that unfortunately we have become callous to them, as if they were “no big deal.”

Let’s take a look at this list. Many of these are self-explanatory enough to where they don’t necessarily warrant a detailed explanation.

Dishonorable passions (vv.24, 26-27)-Obviously there are a lot of things that can fall into this category (fornication, lusting, pornography, etc). Contextually however, Paul seems to be specifically discussing homosexual behavior. I certainly believe as Christians, we need to be willing to compassionately reach out toward and be willing to love those who are caught up in this sin. I believe in more ways than we care to admit, we have been wrong in treating homosexuals as if they were lepers and acting as if this particular sin is so much worse than others. However, I also feel compelled to say that I am not real sure how one can read what Paul has to say here and come away not realizing that the practice of homosexuality is indeed sinful. I realize that some may have “tendencies.” However, “tendencies” do not make a sin okay. As a heterosexual male, I can honestly say that God made me in such a way that recognizes the beauty of women who are not my wife. That does not give me the right to act on it. As a child of God whose heart is set upon Him, I am responsible for controlling my thoughts so as to not lust or act upon any inappropriate “tendencies.”

Not acknowledging God (v.28)-Because sin was so imbedded in their hearts, God gave them up. While it is true that we are saved by grace through faith, we should not be able to walk away from this verse (or the book of Romans) and ignore our responsibility to live holy lives (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 6:1ff).

Unrighteousness (v.29)-A very general term for wickedness

Evil-Another general term that means the opposite of “good.”

Covetousness-Greed

Malice-Depravity. A heart issue; a degeneracy from which all sins grow and flourish. Also indicates leaving oneself open to sin.

Envy-

Murder-

Strife-Contentious; quarrelsome; looking for an argument.

Deceit-

Maliciousness-Malice. Acting out of spite.

Gossips-whispering in the ear of one, behind another’s back.

Slanderers (v.30)-Speaking against others with the intent of hurting or maligning them.

Haters of God-

Insolent-High and arrogant opinion of oneself; treats others as beneath them; attitude of a bully.

Haughty-another term for arrogant

Boastful-literally means using others as a stepping stone to elevate oneself. Speaking ill of others in order to make one self look better.

Inventors of evil-instigators of bad; one who is not satisfied with the ways of sin but actually seeks new ways to engage in it.

Disobedient to parents-I think it is interesting that those whom Paul is addressing are likely predominantly adults. Even the Law seems to indicate that this responsibility, at least to a degree, falls also upon adults and not only children.

Foolish (v.31)-Senseless. Not talking about stupid or unintelligent, but rather failing to utilize our wisdom as God intended.

Faithless-unreliable, untrustworthy, dishonest, not keeping one’s word.

Heartless-Probably not the best translation here. It is a word that signifies lacking natural family affection or lacking love for family members, especially a love that ties children and parents together. When this lacks, the results are things such as abortion, infanticide, child abuse, parental abuse, etc.

Ruthless-merciless, callous, and unfeeling toward others. It is impossible to fulfill our command to be compassionate and tender-hearted (Colossians 3:12; Ephesians 4:32) when we are guilty of this.

Not only do they know it is wrong, they know the penalty of such (v.32)-

They give approval of all others who do these things-

Have you been guilty of any of these? I certainly have. In fact, with some of these, it seems that the harder I try, the more difficult it becomes. We all sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). After studying each of these in detail, hopefully it helps us to not do these things. Obviously, we must strive to the best of our abilities to avoid these sins if we want to be a part of God's glorious and eternal kingdom (Romans 1:24, 26, 28, 32; Galatians 5:21). But I think there is an even more important principle being taught here. Hopefully we are starting to see why law-keeping as a way of salvation is impotent. It falls short because we are not capable as human beings of perfect law-keeping. Hence, there is the need for something far superior to law as a method to our salvation.

The Sinfulness of Man

2009-04-09T09:24:00.014-05:00

What a shocking beginning to the Book of Romans! Paul seemingly shifts from talking about God’s grace to immediately discussing God’s wrath (Romans 1:18-32). What a way to begin a discussion of good news, right? Paul is showing that the Gentile recipients of this letter have no basis for thinking they are exempt from the penalty that is deserved for not following God’s law. Just like the Jews, the Gentiles too fall short and are therefore deserving of eternal damnation. I am not so sure that Paul’s writing is directed exclusively to the Gentiles here, but it certainly includes them. Many might wonder how the Gentiles could be in need of grace if they were never given a special law as were the Jews. This is why Paul, in my opinion, makes a distinction throughout this section between two types of revelation. Special revelation is a law code given by God to His people (i.e., Law of Moses for the Israelites; the New Testament for us today). General revelation constitutes that which God gives to all human beings in general; creation, providence, and a sense of morality in our hearts. So although the Gentiles did not receive special revelation, they have received general revelation (i.e., understanding between right and wrong), and they are therefore without excuse (Romans 1:19-20).

Paul wants the Gentile readers to understand that although they did not have access to the Law of Moses, (God’s special revelation to the Jews) they still knew enough about God and His expectations to be held accountable. His point is that ALL are accountable. The general revelation that God did give them, they broke and so they are therefore susceptible to God’s wrath.

Again, let me emphasize that I think Paul’s message was for all (Jew and Gentile), but the message is that the Gentiles are equally undeserving of justification. In other words, although this is technically a message for all men, this is seen as a reference to the Gentiles because they did not receive special revelation as did the Jews. So just because they didn’t receive the Law of Moses, they were still guilty of breaking God’s law. I think there is an equally important point to be made today in that many might ask the question, “Can those who have not received God’s special revelation today (the New Testament gospel message), still be in need of God’s grace? Yes, because God has given all man general revelation of knowing right from wrong. He has instilled in all man some sense of morality. For example, even before being taught what to do in order to become a Christian, I still recognized that I was not supposed to steal, curse, mistreat people, do drugs, etc… And because all men are less than perfect, this law of the heart is broken. Therefore all are in dire need of God’s grace.

Speaking of grace, I think it is interesting that Paul begins such a grace-filled message as we see here in Romans, with a tirade on God’s wrath. This is significant. Is it possible for us even today, to fully appreciate God’s loving and redeeming grace, without first understanding His wrath? How much would His mercy mean to us if we didn’t first realize that we are deserving of His wrath?

As we will see moving forward, Paul’s main idea from this point all the way to Romans 3:20 is to show that law as a way of salvation lacks. It is impotent. Law is not enough to save man. The rules of a law system states, “Keep the commandments, and escape the penalty; Break the commandments and suffer the penalty.” We will not and cannot be justified by our own righteousness because we all sin. So the only way we can escape the penalty is through something other than law-keeping. Paul will talk more about this alternative, but for now, he wants us to see that law cannot save us because as humans, we are incapable of perfectly keeping it (James 2:10; Galatians 3:10). God had to “bail us out” by giving us something better. And these Christians to whom Paul is writing, including those who did not receive the Law, are getting the message loud and clear, that they too are just as undeserving.

In vv.18-20, Paul discusses that all men are knowledgeable of God and His law. Paul was not going to allow these Gentiles to think that because they were not God’s original chosen ones and not amenable to a special revelation as was given to the Jews, that they were therefore exempt from God’s wrath. Romans 2:14-15 has to be considered here. The point being established is that there is a universal need for salvation from God because there is a universal knowledge of God’s law.

In vv.21-25, Paul continues this same thought by now emphasizing a universal denial or rejection of God. Not only is everyone (including the Gentiles) knowledgeable of God, but they have likewise refused to accept Him. By suppressing the truth, they refused to honor Him, refused to give Him thanks, and refused to have pure hearts. They traded the true God for powerless idols.

In vv.26-32, Paul goes into further detail over Gentile corruption and further demonstrates why they are without excuse.

Paul is not affirming that every Gentile is guilty of every sin he lists here, but is simply pointing out the depths to which sinners sink when having no regard for God’s higher ways. Paul wants us all to understand that sin has the potential to darken the lives of every individual who denies the light God has given us.

Gentiles, like the Jews, are without excuse (Romans 1:20). They are not an exception to the general rule that no one will or can be accepted by God according to the terms of law-keeping. As Christians today who did not receive the Law of Moses, there is still tremendous application for us. We are not supposed to do these things. We are charged with the responsibility of respecting the human nature God has assigned to us. We too are without excuse—especially because we have been given special revelation (the Bible—His word). But because we fall short (Romans 3:23), we cannot be saved by law. We break the commandments and therefore deserve to suffer the penalty. So something is going to have to take the place of law-keeping as a method of salvation.

More discussion of this “alternative” to law-keeping will come later in our study of Romans. But for the time being, the next post will discuss more in detail some of the specific sins Paul lists vv.26-32.

Thank you for reading!

Parable Of The Sower

2009-04-08T08:43:00.010-05:00

I love Jesus' parables. It is hard to pick a favorite but if had to, I am tempted to pick the parable of the sower because I believe it has application to every Christian, regardless of how long we have been Christians, or how strong we think we are, or what it is we are doing in life. This is a particular parable told by Jesus about a sower going forth to sow seed (Matt 13:3-23; Mk 4:13-20; Lk 8:11-15). The seed, which was cast forth by the sower fell on one of four types of ground. The four types described by our Lord were (1) by the way side, (2) stony ground, (3) thorns, and (4) good ground. There are no other types of ground on which the seed could possibly fall.

The key to this parable is Luke 8:11 where Jesus says, “the seed is the Word of God.” The seed is representative of God’s Word. And in the same way it is described in the parable, the Word of God is going to land on one of four types of people. It is our responsibility to receive the word as the good ground received the seed. Notice our Lord’s explanation of the types of people each ground represents (Matt 13:18-23):

The way side represents one who hears God’s Word, but does not adhere to it. These are those with hard hearts. This is what happens when we allow Satan to steal our hearts from God. The stony ground represents those who receive the Word, understand it, and adhere to it until trials and tribulations discourage them. This would be those who are weak in faith. The thorny ground is representative of one who receives the word but adheres to it only when convenient. As soon as some appealing form of worldliness manifests itself, such becomes more important, thus placing worldliness over the spiritual. Finally, the good ground represents the good hearts who not only receive the Word and apply it to their lives, but want to share it with everyone with whom they come in contact.

What a tremendous challenge this parable presents to us all! As the seed (the Word of God) is cast forth and falls on us, which type of ground is most representative of how we receive it? As citizens of His kingdom, doing our best to follow His revealed Word to us is essential.

Thank you for reading!

A Story about Kindness

2009-04-07T09:18:00.008-05:00

Ruth is a great narrative about how kindness is played out in the lives of three individuals; Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Ruth is a Moabite (Gentile or non Jew) who had married a Hebrew. The setting is during the days of the Judges and it was a time when there was a famine in the land. Resources, including food, were scarce. As the beginning of the book of Ruth reveals, her husband dies and leaves her as a widow. But she remained close to her mother-in-law (Naomi), her late husband’s mother. It is time for Naomi to return from Moab to go back to her own country. Ruth wants to return with her, although she is not a Hebrew. She does this out of friendship to her mother-in-law. Of course, Naomi tries to talk her out of it but Ruth’s loyalty would not bend. So they end up going back to Bethlehem. They were poor. Once there, Ruth goes to gather barley and grain from the fields, as it was harvest time. She happens upon the fields of a rich Hebrew man named Boaz. Boaz was a distant relative of Naomi and Ruth’s late husband. And what we see take place at this point of the story is a beautiful picture of God’s providence come into play. There are a lot more details that could be conveyed here, but in short, Boaz ends up marrying Ruth, and she bears him a son, who ultimately turns out to be the grandfather of King David.

There are some great lessons to learn from this story:

Loyalty and commitment to God as well as toward those we love
Faith and trust in God
Rest from hardship. God is indeed our refuge
The value of doing our best to stay true to God’s commands

Another lesson that I think is important in this story is the value of kindness. First, we learn it from Ruth in how she wanted to be there with her mother-in-law. In fact, Ruth’s very name is a Hebrew term that means “friend.” Kindness is a desire to be there for someone else, genuinely because their best interest is at heart, and not our own selfish motives. Once in Bethlehem, she even went to the fields to gather the grain so her mother-in-law wouldn’t have to do it. Throughout all of this, it is clear that Naomi not only recognized Ruth’s kindness, but was prayerful that God would deal with Ruth (and her other daughter-in-law) kindly also:

“But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go, return each of you to her mother’s house, May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.’"(Ruth 1:8)

We also learn about kindness from Boaz, in how he dealt with Ruth. He didn’t keep her from taking from his fields. In fact, he encouraged it by instructing his workers to allow it. Ruth thanked him for his kindness. In celebration, Naomi gave all glory to God by acknowledging His kindness for the good deeds of Boaz:

“And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, ‘May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!’” (Ruth 2:20).

In a lot of ways, the lesson teaches us that our kindness can only lead to kindness being demonstrated toward us. Notice the words of Boaz to Ruth:

“And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich’” (Ruth 3:10).

Boaz goes on to tell her that as a near kinsmen (or redeemer) he will look into marrying her so long as a nearer kinsman does not claim her first. This is an example of how putting God first allows for good things to happen in our lives (Matthew 6:33).

I doubt there is much arguing as to how kindly God has dealt with us when we are so undeserving. But the challenge for us now is how kind have we dealt with others? Even toward the ones with whom we are associated that may not deserve it. The New Testament is replete with exhortations for us to be a kind people.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive” (Colossians 3:12-13).

The term for kindness that we see here means not only doing serviceable and good things for others, but also denotes graciousness and pleasantness on the part of the one doing the good deed. Are we a pleasant people to be around due to our kindness? Have we made this a priority? Is this a way that those who are not Christians are able to identify us as God’s family?

In talking about the kindness of the Father, Jesus gives us a good working definition of it:

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35).

If we are expected to demonstrate such kindness toward our enemy, then surely we must be able to see the charge for us to exercise this toward one another as brethren.

Thank you for reading!

The Opinion That Really Counts

2009-04-06T09:07:00.006-05:00

This is undoubtedly one of my favorite days of the year. Opening Day in Major League Baseball. It is just something about hearing the sound made by the ball off a bat, and the beautiful music played on ESPN when “Baseball Tonight” comes on. This is the time of season when predictions are made. Everybody on this day has realistic hopes of their team winning a pennant. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a deep passion for this game. Baseball is not the only sport I love, but of all the sports, there is none quite like opening day of the baseball season. Many consider it a National Holiday. So in light of it being the first day of baseball season, I wanted to share an interesting story.

“Babe” Pinelli died in 1984. He did have a short major league career with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox, but was most known as a National League umpire. He called games for 21 years, getting the call for 6 world series, two of which he was crew chief. He also umpired for four all-star games. Quite a resume for a 21-year umpire. To cap his career off, he called Don Larson’s perfect game in game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

“Babe” had the reputation of being “hard–nosed” but fair. In fact, rarely did he argue back with managers and of all the umpires, he was considered by most managers the least likely to throw someone out of a game. But he also always stood his ground and rarely changed his mind about anything. Managers said that he carried himself in such a way that you knew you were wasting your time by arguing with him because he was always right. Well, one event that helped him earn this status was his rookie season as an umpire in 1935. He had been told by the more experienced umpires, to never call a strike on Babe Ruth, who was on the downside of his playing career by this time, but was by far still one of the most popular players among the fans. Well Pinelli didn’t see it that way and had already decided that it didn’t matter who anyone was. If it was a strike, he was going to call it, and that is just the way it was going to be. Well, one day as he was calling a Boston Braves game, where Babe Ruth was playing as his career winded down, Pinelli and Ruth had a confrontation. When Ruth came to the plate, a close pitch hit the inside corner that he didn’t swing at. “Strike one,” yelled Pinelli. To which Ruth said, “There is forty thousand people in this park that know that was a ball, tomato-head.” Pinelli never lost his cool. He remained calm and simply stated, “Perhaps you’re right Babe—but mine is the only opinion that counts.” As the story goes, Ruth had no reply, which was a rare occasion indeed.

I think this is a great story on a lot of levels. One lesson that obviously jumps out at me is that when it comes to how we live in this world as citizens in God’s kingdom, God’s opinion is really the only one that counts. Peter says we ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Paul was clearly prayerful that his desire and commitment would always be upon pleasing God and not man (Galatians 1:10). God’s opinion is the one that counts. Personally, I have always enjoyed the favor of people. It is part of my nature. I like to be accepted. And I think to a certain degree, our reputations ought to be important to us (Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1 Acts 2:47). But may my priority always be set on pleasing God first and foremost. As opposed to man, God will never let us down. He makes good on His promises. And He is faithful beyond what we could ever deserve. His opinions are what we should trust.

Happy “Opening Day!” I hope you have a great one!

Break My Heart

2009-04-05T06:50:00.005-05:00

Break my heart
Dear Lord
Tear the barriers down
Show me in convicting tears
The glories of your crown

(Chorus)
My heart is hard; My soul so weak
The ways of evil cut so deep
I need you Lord to come inside
And gently break my heart

My sin is great
And I can’t see
The glories set for me
Show me Father where to start
and gently break my heart

(Chorus)
My heart is hard; My soul so weak
The ways of evil cut so deep
I need you Lord to come inside
And gently break my heart

Clint Rhodes

Quote from Jack Cottrell Regardling Law and Grace

2009-04-04T09:59:00.003-05:00

What has been stated regarding grace in my previous posts in no way, shape, or form minimizes the fact that I must make every effort to submit to God’s will (Matthew 7:21-23) and do my best to walk in the light with Jesus (1 John 1:7). Acknowledging God’s grace as the source of my salvation does not give me license to continue in sin (Romans 6:1ff). Nevertheless, my submission is not the source of my salvation. Anything I do that is “good” is what I “owe” anyway. If I were to succeed in perfect obedience (which I cannot do-Romans 3:23), it would only be the very least I could do to thank God anyway. I can never get ahead. I will always be behind on the “payment.” That is why Jesus had to make the payment. I can never do enough to warrant God’s saving me. I do not deserve it. And may I be eternally grateful to God for His grace and mercy.

“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).

“Just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works” (Romans 4:6).

Today I want to provide another quote from Dr. Jack Cottrell's Commentary on Romans. It is somewhat lengthy, but after reading through some of his material again, I realize that he explains it far better than what I am capable. In fact, I think he lays it out quite beautifully that the Apostle Paul, in at least portions of Romans, is contrasting God’s grace as the source of our salvation with the general idea of law and works as the source of salvation.

“Here I want to call attention to one of the most serious errors committed by many Christians in their attempt to understand the gospel of grace. They correctly see that the gospel can be understood only as contrasted with law. The problem is that they limit “law” to the Law of Moses, and thus see the gospel as standing in contrast only with the Law of Moses. As I see it, there is no greater hindrance to a proper understanding of the gospel of grace than this. The actual contrast is not just between the gospel of Jesus Christ and some particular law code, especially the Law of Moses, but between grace as a method or system of salvation (on the one hand) and law as a method or system of salvation (on the other hand). The law system is not limited to depending on the Law of Moses for salvation; it is something that may be (futilely) pursued wherever human beings have any awareness at all of God’s moral law, whether this be through a special revelation such as the Law of Moses or the Pauline epistles, or whether it be only through the general revelation written on the heart (Romans 2:14-15).

This contrast between grace and law as ways of salvation has been present ever since God began presenting the good news of forgiveness of sins, as far back as Eden (Genesis 3:15). Everyone who has had access to God’s special revelation has had the choice between law and grace. Those who lived under the Law of Moses knew the grace of God (3:21), though certainly not as fully as those who know Jesus Himself. Anyone under the Law of Moses who was saved—indeed, any sinner anywhere, anytime who has been saved—was saved by grace through faith in God’s promises, not by law-keeping of any sort.

…..many of those who do have special revelation and its message of grace (many Christians!) do not really understand it, and they still labor under the misconception that their ability to obey God’s commandments is the determiner of their salvation or damnation. But Paul makes it very clear that “no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law” in any form (3:20). This is why the good news is so good! It tells us, even those of us who want to be saved and are already struggling to be saved by our works, that the one true, effective, conscience-clearing, peace-giving, fear-banishing way of salvation is grace, which means putting your complete trust in the work of Jesus Christ rather than in your own works as the way of being accepted as righteous by God.

No wonder it is the gospel (good news), and no wonder Paul was so excited about it! No wonder it is dynamite! God has given us an alternative to law as a way of salvation—an alternative to law, which is a way of human power, or rather, human weakness; a way in which it is theoretically possible to be right with God, but which in fact will never work because it is nullified by the presence of even a single sin; a way which in fact leads only to despair or else to self-deception and false confidence.

But the gospel gives us an alternative to this, a way of salvation that depends not on man’s weakness but on God’s power, a way that depends not on human righteousness but on God’s righteousness, a way that depends not on our ability to keep God’s commandments but on Christ’s ability to pay our penalty for us, a way that will lead to salvation for everyone who believes. Is this not good news?”(pp.71-72)

Is Paul Contrasting God's Grace with the Law of Moses?

2009-04-03T11:23:00.007-05:00

I have spent a significant part of the last few months considering this connection between grace, faith and works. One reason is because studying Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome has forced me to delve deeper into the subject. Another reason I have spent so much time looking at this is because of how disturbing it is that I missed the mark on this for a number of years. I have to admit that what Paul says throughout Romans with regard to the process of our salvation doesn’t seem to fit well with what I have believed in the past. Let me say with strong emphasis (and conviction) that nothing has changed as far as whether or not I believe we should submit to God in order to be saved. I have always believed and taught this, and I still do. What has changed however is that I can longer ignore Paul’s greater emphasis on God’s grace and His righteousness as opposed to our own.

The Romans epistle (along with others), emphasizes acceptance of salvation by God’s grace through our faith (i.e., Romans 3:28; 4:6; Romans 5:1-11; Ephesians 2:8-9). In other words, I do not see some precise “perfect 50/50 balance” between our works and God's grace expressed in the Bible as for what constitutes our being justified. I don’t see where God says, “meet me half way” or “you do your part and I will do my part.” That would not make sense because the Bible teaches that Jesus already paid it all (Romans 5:6-11). What I do see, is where God has lovingly and mercifully sacrificed in order to provide us with a salvation that we could not provide for ourselves. I see where we are given the charge to believe, accept, and trust in His wonderful power to save as opposed to thinking that our own righteousness somehow saves us. And I don’t believe that this compromises or diminishes from the fact that conditions were indeed met by the early Christians when they became a part of the church (Acts 2:37-47).

I think a lot of the “hang up” that prevented me from focusing more on grace in the past, was my insistence that Paul, throughout Romans, was comparing this new system of grace to the Law of Moses, as if grace were not substantial in the Law of Moses too. We have always taught that God’s character does not change. And I believe the Old Covenant, albeit to a lesser degree perhaps, was a system of grace as the New Covenant is today. The Law of Moses came as a tremendous blessing to God’s people as they had been stuck in Egyptian bondage for years. The Law was a beautiful gift from God that taught them how to live and function as a community of His followers, while striving to inherit the Promised Land of Canaan. They did not inherit this land by their own doing. It was a gift from God. And it was their faith in Him and their trust in His righteousness, as opposed to their own, that allowed them to follow His lead that got them there.

Thus, it is difficult for me to imagine Paul solely talking about the Law of Moses when contrasting law and grace as competing sources of salvation. The gospel does not stand in contrast with only the Law of Moses. The contrast is not between the gospel of Jesus and a particular law code, but rather between grace as a system of salvation and law as a system of salvation. When Paul states that we are not saved by a system of law, he is not intending to limit this to the Law of Moses, but is including any system of law—the idea of law. If “law” every time it is used, is limited exclusively to the Law of Moses, then why would Paul write what he does in Romans 2:14-15? The concept of “law” applied to more people than just those under the Law of Moses. The overall context shows that Paul is contrasting grace as a method of being saved with the idea of law or works as a method of being saved.

I don't feel real comfortable suggesting that God's justifying us is really a “both” scenario either. Paul seems to be setting forth this law/grace contrast as a “either/or” concept. It cannot be both. If law saves, why did Jesus die on the cross? And just because one meets the conditions of God’s grace (which are required, yes), does not mean that their obedience saves them. To suggest such would completely miss the point of God’s provision of what we could not supply for ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Without God’s grace providing these conditions, there are no conditions to be met. Meeting God’s conditions gives us no right to take the credit. God is the source of salvation. His righteousness makes it possible, not ours (Romans 7:18).

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’”(Luke 17:7-10).

“Thank You Heavenly Father for your sweet and redeeming Grace!”

The Power of the Gospel to Save

2009-04-02T09:34:00.008-05:00

The Apostle Paul has just greeted the Christians in Rome and offered some very personal comments about both his desire to see them and preach the gospel to them. Now, before he begins what I believe to be the heart of this letter, he states the following:

“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).

Paul is expressing confidence in God’s saving message. He is saying that it is everything it claims to be. He wants these Christians to know, not only that he is proud to proclaim this gospel, but that this powerful plan of God’s can save all who put their trust in Him. This saving message of faith has been confirmed by Scripture all along; and its message is that the person who puts his or her faith in God REALLY lives as God desires His people to live. In other words, for God’s righteousness to be bestowed upon us, it begins and ends with our faith.

I stated in a previous post that Romans 1:16-17 is somewhat of a transitional statement because it seems that Paul is introducing a concept—righteous living by faith—which will eventually lead us to the actual theme of this letter—justification by faith, apart from law. One can also refer to this as a transition statement because Paul makes a drastic shift from talking about the goodness of God’s gospel and grace at the beginning of this letter to suddenly talking about God’s wrath, beginning in Romans 1:18. This section appears to serve as that proverbial “spring board” utilized by Paul to make this shift.

I really like Paul’s description of the gospel here as being the “power” of God. The Greek word for “power” is dunamos. This is actually where we get our English word for “dynamite.” The gospel is powerful in its ability to accomplish something so tremendous as salvation, which is so far from what we actually deserve. I like to harmonize this principle with Jesus’ words in Mark 10:27, which in the very context of being saved, reminds us that what is impossible for us, is indeed possible with God. We cannot save ourselves. Only God can do this. Notice here also in Romans 1:16-17, nothing is said of my power or righteousness, but rather God’s power and His righteousness. For so long, I thought I was a false teacher bound for hell if I did not give credit to myself. Now, I cannot in good conscience give credit to myself. My salvation is through the righteousness of God; not my own. Trusting in God’s righteousness as opposed to our own is the only way (John 14:6).

Jack Cottrell, in his commentary on Romans offers what I think is an excellent 6-point sermon on Romans 1:16-17:

1.) The glory of the gospel---God
2.) The power of the gospel---It saves
3.) The scope of the gospel----For everyone
4.) Faith and the gospel---faith is the means of salvation
5.) The heart of the gospel---God’s righteousness, not our own
6.) The golden text of the gospel---Habakkuk 2:4. The gospel of God’s righteousness is able to save all who believe and put their trust in it.

There is one other thing I wanted to mention here. There is going to be a lot of opportunity throughout this study for us to talk about the faith vs. law/works distinction. And we will. I still want to at some point address what some think is a contradiction between Romans 3:28 and James 2:24. In the past, I have argued that Paul is referring to the Law of Moses when talking about this law vs. grace contrast. I no longer believe that this is exclusively what Paul is talking about, however. I think Paul’s point is that God’s grace overshadows law in general—the idea of law in and of itself. Is he making reference to the Law of Moses in some sense throughout Romans and Galatians? Yes, because of who he is speaking to. But it doesn’t matter what law exists, whether the patriarchal law, Law of Moses, or law of the heart (Romans 2:14-15), no law trumps God’s grace. This is Paul's point. I will provide some more thoughts on this next time.

Tragedy

2009-04-01T10:30:00.008-05:00

It was about 11:30 late Sunday night and I just laid there in bed. I tossed. I turned. Sleep is what I wanted and badly needed, but my efforts were to no avail. I just could not get out of my mind what I had seen and heard on the news a few hours earlier.

I needed sleep because I was sick. Very, very sick. I was doped up on medicine and because I hurt, I was already an emotional basketcase as it was. So to see and hear what I saw on the news earlier was about more than I could handle.

Last Thursday, March 26th, at about 12:30 PM, a lady from Luling, Texas, apparently a single mother, woke up to find her 18-month old son missing. Shortly after, her son was found outside. Dead! Attacked by a pitbull. The story with the details, along with a video containing an interview with the mother, can be found here. I was devastated. Immediately, as is the case for us all I'm sure, I began to think, what if this happened to one of my sweet boys? How would I deal with it? How would I ever live with myself? Would Cody and I blame each other? What was the most disturbing portion of this story on the news however, was when they played the 911 call from the mother. I still can't get it out of mind; the terror, fear, guilt, screaming, prayers, sobbing, panic, all expressed in the 81 second 911 call. I cannot imagine what this poor woman is going to have to deal with over the course of her life. My heart goes out to her.

All of us are aware of other tragic incidences that have occured in life. And much comes to mind, just like in the case of this story: Are pitbulls the problem? Is it a parenting problem? Was she irresponsible? Should she be charged with negligience? Does there really have to be someone found at fault here? These and a lot more questions have a propensity to race through the minds of many at these moments. But you know what? What does it really accomplish? It doesn't change the fact that things like this just happen. They always have, and unfortunately, they always will. Tragedy is a part of life that reminds us how life on this earth was never meant to be our permanent home. And how I long to one day be in a place where things of this nature will no longer occur.

It is probable that a lot of people are "beating her up." None of it, half as bad as what she is doing to herself, I'm sure. Personally, my heart bleeds for her. I have no idea who this woman is but I wish there was something I could do for her to ease the pain she is feeling. I know I have done a lot of irresponsible things as a parent myself that could have turned into tragedy. Something like this could happen to anyone. May things like this teach us to:

Be responsible and demonstrate good stewardsip with what God has given us. James 1:17 reminds us that every perfect gift is a gift from the Father. And stewardship is obviously the Jesus way, as He reminds us that such is a component of kingdom living (e.g., Luke 16:1ff). This is apparently, according to the newstory, the message the mother wants to get across to the whole world.

Hold on to those we love and never let go. May we never let a day pass where we don't express and show our love (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7) for the ones who are most important to us, because they can be taken from us at anytime (James 4:13-14).

Remember that life on earth as we know it was never intended to be our permanant place of abode. If not for hardships and trials in this life, including tragedies, there would be nothing special about that heavenly place we anticipate. That is what makes being with God one day so perfect. There will no longer be tragedy. Let us always keep in perspective that nothing here on earth; no person nor thing, no event nor circumstance, and no tragedy nor hardship, can take away from what we have to look forward to in Heaven.

I think it would be a great idea to take a moment today to pray for the mother and entire family of this child that was attacked and killed.

Peace and love!

I Am Alive but...

2009-03-30T11:35:00.005-05:00

I just wanted to let every one know that I am alive. It has been almost a week since I have blogged. I went out of town for the weekend and then got sick late Saturday evening/Sunday morning and was even unable to assemble with my brethren for worship yesterday. Thankfully I have elders who are talented and are able to pick up my slack. I have so much to do on top of having so much that I want to do. I just can't make myself do anything. I feel rotten. I have had about a 102 temperature and can't seem to break it. Cody made me promise her I would go the doctor if I am not better by tomorrow. To make matters worse, our hot water heater is out so I can't even sit in the bath tub or take a hot shower.

So anyway, I just wanted to let everyone know who has stopped by the site why there hasn't been anything here of late. I will get back on it soon, hopefully within the next couple of days.

God bless!

Listen to Our Hearts

2009-03-25T07:48:00.004-05:00

How do you explain,
how do you describe a love that goes from east to west,
and runs as deep as it is wide.
You know all our hopes,
Lord, you know all our fears.
And words cannot express the love we feel
but we long for you to hear.

So listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing
a song of praise that flows from those you have redeemed.
We will use the words we know to tell you what an awesome God you are.
But words are not enough to tell you of our love,
so listen to our hearts.

If words can fall like rain
from these lips of mine, and if I had a thousand years,
Lord, I would still run out of time.
If you listen to my heart, every beat will say
thank you for the life,
thank you for the truth,
thank you for the way.

So listen to our hearts, hear our spirits sing
a song of praise that flows from those you have redeemed.
We will use the words we know to tell you what an awesome God you are.
But words are not enough to tell you of our love,
so listen to our hearts.

by Jeff Moore & Steven Curtis Chapman

Something I Pray My Wife Never Does To Me

2009-03-24T17:50:00.007-05:00

Here is something that was emailed to me by a friend of mine. Thanks Elayne. I am scared to show this to Cody though, ;-)

Some Personal Comments by Paul to the Saints at Rome

2009-03-24T09:23:00.013-05:00

Our men’s study on the book of Romans is continuing to go well and all of us are learning a lot. Last time we covered Paul’s greeting in Romans 1:1-7 and this week we plan to cover what many view as an extended greeting to the brethren in Rome in vv.8-17. Paul makes some very personal comments to these brethren at this point:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (Romans 1:8-15).

The essence of what Paul is conveying here is “before I go any further and get into the ‘meat’ of what I have to say to you, I want you to know that I am grateful for you and for your faith; I continue to pray for you; I long to visit with you; I am looking forward to teaching you in person.” To me it is amazing when you think about the problems these brethren had, which we will begin to see shortly as we progress through this letter, that Paul actually encourages these folks in the way that he does. He actually commends them for their faith here. He is able to tell them these things without ever taking the emphasis off of faith. Paul gives us an example of tact and positive edification. But I also think he provides us with an excellent example here of how powerful prayer really is and how we ought to urgently pray for each other. From a personal standpoint, I need your prayers, undoubtedly.

Think about how much stronger the church could be as a whole, and how much more unified we might be, if we actually loved each other enough to pray for one another like Paul displays here. Paul is not encouraging them to divide into certain camps (i.e., conservative vs. liberal, traditional vs. progressive, etc.). After studying this epistle in its entirety, hopefully we will see that Paul is actually charging them to avoid this (i.e., Romans 14). All are influenced and saved by the grace of God. It is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection that unites us when when we die and resurrect with Him (Romans 6:3-4). In any event, Paul’s heart is clearly set on the gospel (vv.9, 16-17).

Obviously we know from Paul’s words here that he had not visited these brethren personally. The 11th verse here also gives us at least somewhat of an indication that neither Peter, nor any other apostle, had visited them up to this point, as only the apostles had the ability to impart these gifts to which Paul refers. I am not sure if we can speak with certainty as to the exact nature of this gift, but it is probably along the lines of what Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 12. Perhaps Paul wanted to impart this gift to them for the purpose of aiding in the ministry of the church there or in strengthening their personal lives as Christians.

Again, I am intrigued by the humility of Paul from verse 12. Not only does he want to teach them the deeper points of the gospel, but he expresses his anticipation of gaining something from them as well. He says “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Why have we historically been so afraid of the concept of “testimony” in the church? I understand that in and of itself, it is not necessarily a Biblical term, but what does it mean? It means to go tell people about what God has done for us. Folks, this is employed throughout scripture as a way of strengthening the church. Jesus even told people to do it during His ministry (e.g., Mark 5:18-20). Testimony is beneficial on two levels: (1) we have much to gain from one another. Some of my most memorable growth experiences have been through conversation with brethren. It encourages and strengthens me greatly to hear where some of my brethren have come from and the journeys from worldliness which they have overcome. And (2), as for "sharing our faith" with those outside the church, what better opportunity for opening the doors to evangelism and teaching them the gospel? In any event, Paul was just as much looking forward to being edified by the faith of these same Christians, whom he is going to use a significant portion of this letter rebuking.

There is very little doubt that the demands of preaching to the “unchurched” in the Eastern Mediterranean area had hindered Paul's intentions of spending time with these brethren up to this point. He anticipated bearing fruit and doing wonderful things for their benefit just as he had so many others (v.13). This is what the gospel does for people today. This is the power of the gospel (v.16), including its deeper implications. A study of faith and grace, and a deeper understanding of these things will help us never be the same. This is what Paul intended for these brethren. And let us remember….Romans is for everyone, including us.

Paul reminds them that he was literally “bound by obligation” here to preach the gospel to everyone, and this includes them, of course. He is saying that he is forever indebted to God to do what God has called him to do. He implies that it is the very least he can do. Paul considered his teaching to be a moral obligation. Likewise, I feel personally “indebted” to the congregation here in La Grange as well as to the people in this community to teach the fundamentals of the gospel as well as its deeper points. I hope and pray that I can at least maintain half the dedication I learn from the apostle Paul here.

As we continue to see it indicated that Paul’s calling was to the Gentiles; the non-Jews (vv.13-14), he says he is obligated to preach “both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.” These are categories or classes of the Gentile peoples. Barbarians were among the less sophisticated and educated in the Greek culture. This does not suggest that Paul did not deal with Jews at all, but without a doubt, his primary focus was on the non-Jews. His point is that not only is he obligated to preach to all mankind, but that all men and women are blessed so as to be affected by the gospel if they will adhere to its teachings. I think another implication here is that obviously all men and women are indeed subject to the gospel.

In my next post, I want to take a closer look at the transitional statement we see in vv.16-17, where Paul begins to introduce the subject of justification by faith, which will eventually lead to what I believe is the theme of this letter in Romans 3:28—justification by faith, apart from law.

Have a blessed day!

I Drew My Circle Again

2009-03-23T10:09:00.003-05:00

When I first became a member of the church, my circle was very big...for it included all who, like myself, had believed and been baptized. I was happy in the thought that my brethren were many...but--having a keen and observant mind--I soon learned that many of my brethren were erring. I could not tolerate any people within my circle but those who, like myself, were right on all points of doctrine and practice. Too, some made mistakes and sinned. What could I do? I had to do something! I drew my circle, placed myself and a few as righteous as I within, and the others without. I soon observed that some within my circle were self-righteous, unforgiving, jealous, and proud, so in righteous indignation, my circle I drew again, leaving the Publicans and sinner outside, excluding the Pharisees in all their pride, with myself and the righteous and humble within. I heard ugly rumors about some brethren. I saw then that some of them were worldly minded; their thoughts were constantly on things of a worldly nature, they drank coffee, when, like me, they should drink tea. So duty bound, to save my reputation, I drew my circle again, leaving those reputable, spiritually-minded within. I soon realized in time that only my family and I remained in that circle. I had a good family, but to my surprise, my family finally disagreed with me. I was always right. A man must be steadfast. I have never been a factious man! So in strong determination I drew my circle again, leaving me quite alone.

--Author Unknown

Here I Am To Worship

2009-03-22T07:35:00.016-05:00

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this
Heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came
To the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
(Repeat)

Written by Tim Hughes

Two Little Boys

2009-03-21T08:58:00.012-05:00

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. The two were always getting into trouble and their parents could be assured that if any mischief occurred in their town their two young sons were in some way involved.

The parents were at their wits end as to what to do about their sons' behavior. The mother had heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children in the past, so she asked her husband if he thought they should send the boys to speak with the clergyman.

The husband said, 'We might as well. We need to do something before I really lose my temper!' The clergyman agreed to speak with the boys, but asked to see them individually. The 8 year old went to meet with him first. The clergyman sat the boy down and asked him sternly,'Where is God?'

The boy made no response, so the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, 'Where is God?' Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face, 'WHERE IS GOD?'

At that the boy bolted from the room and ran directly home, slamming himself in the closet. His older brother followed him into the closet and asked what had happened. The younger brother replied, 'We are in BIG trouble this time. God is missing and they think we did it.'

The Joy of the Christian Lifestyle

2009-03-20T09:55:00.012-05:00

An obviously popular passage among us, and in my opinion one of the key texts in all of the New Testament is found in Acts 2:42-47. Peter has just preached the gospel to those in Jerusalem, and as a result, the listeners were pricked in their hearts (v.37). This conviction led them to ask what they needed to do to be saved by this gospel. Peter responded by telling them to repent and be baptized in order for their sins to be remissed. This is very consistent of course, with Ananias' words to Saul in Acts 22:16, when he said "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name." Acts 2:41 tells us that those who received Peter's word were indeed baptized and that they were added by the Lord to the church as a result (cf. v.47).

It is what we see taking place after this that now becomes so important for us as God's children today.

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).

We understand that these are not precise commands that involve crossing "t's" and dotting "i's." Rather it is an example of how the early Christians lived. And therefore, we understand that these are some principles laid forth that are nevertheless expected of us because we are Christians:

Devotion to teachings of God's word
Devotion to fellowshp
Devotion to prayer
Devotion to unity
Devotion to being there for one another and helping each other out
Devotion to worshipping together
Devotion to being joyful and excited about Christianity
Devotion to being generous and having a benevolent spirit
Devotion to good reputations with God and man (even among those in our communities)

And we see throughout the book of Acts that they consistently lived this way. Obviously, some had their shortcomings, as evidenced by the letters to various churches and individuals that comprise the New Testament. But by and large, there is no denying that this is a good model as to how we should carry ourselves as citizens in God's kingdom; that is to live joyfully seeking to introduce to others God's kingdom and His way of righteousness. We do this by way of teaching of course, but also by way of example (Matthew 5:13-16). And in that process, it seems that in addition to the fact that God loves us and is with us (Mark 10:27; Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28-31), the love that we actually have for each other (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13; Ephesians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Peter 4:8) is what is supposed to carry us through and keep us going, even in difficult times.

I don't know where I would be without brethren and the relationships with which God has so blessed me.

Also, one of the more intriguing aspects of Acts 2:47 in my opinion, is the favor they had with man. Our reputations as Christians individually, and as the church collectively, are so important to our cause. We will never enjoy the success of adding to the kingdom if our respective communities do not see us actually living the gospel in love and unity. May each of us have as our priority maintaining good and positive reputations!

Chick-Fil-A

2009-03-19T07:49:00.005-05:00

This is a funny video that I felt compelled to post on here. My wife loves this place so I wanted to do it for her....

Staying in the Boat

2009-03-18T14:53:00.021-05:00

Jesus had just received the news about John the Baptist’s death. He wanted to be alone so he withdrew to a solitary place. Perhaps on some levels there was sadness. Obviously John meant a lot to Jesus. There is little doubt however, that Jesus likely realized an even more significant meaning behind John’s death that had to do with His own ministry. Whatever the case, He felt that He needed some time alone. But crowds of people followed Him and because of His compassion, instead of enjoying any sense of “alone” time, He healed many of their sicknesses. Also, in that same evening, He fed the five thousand.

What happens over the course of this same evening and on into the next morning has always intrigued me. Apparently after the feeding of the five thousand, still needing some time alone, He sent His apostles on a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee from where they were. They were planning to continue His ministry there the next day. Meanwhile, Jesus planned to send the crowds of people back to their own cities. This allowed Him to have the time He needed to be alone and pray to the Father before later catching back up with His disciples. Obviously, this in and of itself, is a tremendous lesson to us in that sometimes we need to allow our busy and hectic lifestyles to stop and spend time alone with our great God (i.e, Psalm 46:10). But I think there is another lesson (actually many more) to learn here.

There was a storm that night and His disciples, whom He had sent on the boat, were in the midst of it. Consequently, they were being tossed by the strong winds and waves of the sea. There is no doubt that they were quite afraid, and understandably so. Shortly after 3 AM, Jesus came to them walking on the water. This sight startled the disciples even more as the text reveals to us that they thought He was a ghost. It is at this point that Jesus assures them it was He and that because of this, they need not be afraid.

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

“To be of good cheer” as expressed here means to lighten the spirit or mood; be full of cheer and joy; and comfort. It seems to me that more Christians today should be this way. In any event, based on what Jesus is telling them here, Jesus’ mere presence in their lives was enough to give them joy, comfort, and peace despite the storm. And us today? We are all faced with storms in life. In fact, “storms” are likely one of the most predictable aspects of our lives. In some facets, life itself can be a storm (1 Peter 5:8). And in this passage, Jesus gives us all the confidence in the world that we will indeed get through our storms. He also gives us security when He states:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Paul also seems to have understood this quite well during his time in prison (Philippians 4:13). Again, there are many lessons to be gained from this text, as we are all familiar with what happens next with Peter attempting to walk on the water with Jesus. There are some great lessons on faith here. Maybe Peter should have had more faith; maybe he shouldn’t have taken his eyes off Jesus; maybe his mistake was allowing the “stormy winds” of life to distract Him from Jesus. After all, it was when he noticed the winds that he sank. But I have to admit also; I actually wonder if Peter’s biggest mistake was getting out of the boat to begin with. Can’t we all think of times when we get ourselves into trouble by thinking we can get out of the boat and walk on water when it just isn’t possible? There is only one Jesus, and maybe the lesson here is for us to stay in the boat and allow Jesus to come to us. It seems to me that when we start thinking we can do what only Jesus can, we get ourselves in trouble. And as a result we set ourselves up for failure through our own inabilities, inconsistencies, and imperfections. Perhaps this is where Peter’s faith lacked. He thought he could do what only Jesus could when he should have just stayed in the boat.

Certainly, Jesus does tell us to "come" to Him (Matthew 11:28), follow Him (Luke 9:23), and seek Him (Matthew 6:33). And indeed, we must. These same disciples did. But when we come upon life's storms, especially those that are beyond our control, perhaps there is some wisdom behind staying in the boat and allowing God to take care of it.

Have a great day!

Paul's Greetings to the Saints at Rome

2009-03-17T16:11:00.010-05:00

Paul begins his letter to the Christians in Rome by writing:

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David, according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1-7).

It is not so much that Paul’s introduction to the Romans is different than his greetings to other churches or individuals. It is that the Romans introduction is much more extensive and elaborate. The format is the same: Paul introduces himself, gives credit to God, and then states who he is addressing, before following that with some personal comments. But he goes into more detail than usual in Romans. We do not know precisely why he does this, though most seem to believe that it has to do with the fact that Paul had never been to Rome before. He has not seen them in person nor spent time with the brethren in Rome like he did with the others to whom he had written (e.g. Corinth and Ephesus). And because they did not know him on a personal level, perhaps Paul wanted to make sure they knew what he was about and that his apostleship was established.

I think something that makes this especially interesting though, is when you consider the Gentile side of those to whom this letter is addressed. Paul's words here regarding authority coming from God, through the gospel of Christ, along with Christ's Lordship were obviously not going to set well with many in the Gentile world whose loyalty was to the Caesar, who for all intents and purposes was the most powerful man in the world at this time. N.T. Wright states that such a claim here by Paul would put the Caesar's claim resting "in the shade" (Paul for everyone: Romans part 1, p.4).

Often times today, when we think of the term “slave,” perhaps negative images come to mind. Slavery during this day was not necessarily the same as what we might think of as slavery in our recent times or that our culture recently experienced. Under the Law of Moses when slavery was first established (Exodus 21) and even further into the Law, slaves were actually protected by laws forbidding slave owners from mistreating the slave. For the most part, slavery was voluntary. In fact, after six years, the owner was even required to let them go, unless the slave decided to stay, which had to be through his own free will. In any event, a slave still truly labored. It was hard work. And this slave was regarded as the property of his owner and had no say-so in a lot of matters with regard to his circumstances. This makes it interesting that Paul would describe himself as a slave (or servant) of Jesus Christ. This word in its original language describes what was during this day, a slave or a bondservant. In fact, Paul makes this statement in several of his other letters also (i.e., Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1, Titus 1:1). He wants his readers to understand that he thinks of himself as one who truly labors for and belongs to Christ. By claiming himself as a bondservant of Jesus, he is affirming that he is the very property of the one through whom God’s grace shines.

It is also interesting that he makes it a point later in the book to remind us that we too are bondservants of Christ.

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

Paul wants us to remember that when we left sin (to which we were servants) we voluntarily committed ourselves to Christ’s ownership. He owns us. And everything we do is to be done in such a way that keeps in perspective that we are His property. It is interesting what Paul teaches us just by way of his introduction. I will say more on this later when we get to chapter 6.

Of course, Paul also introduces himself as an apostle and one that is set apart for the gospel. Obviously his apostleship was unique in that he did not have the relationship with Christ during His earthly ministry that the other apostles did, and as v.5 indicates, he was called to preach among all nations (i.e., the Gentiles) and not to the Jews only. Paul seems to be affirming that God singled him out for a very distinct or special role—to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.

C.E.B. Cranfield has an interesting take on the first four verses that I had never considered before. In his book, Romans: a shorter commentary, he discusses how Paul mentions three aspects of the gospel: (1) it is from God, (2) it was prophesied in the Old Testament, and (3) this gospel concerns and surrounds Jesus Christ. Now, this will preach! Cranfield suggests that part of Paul’s point of emphasis here is that the substance of the gospel is indeed Jesus Christ (pp.3-4). What a powerful message Paul establishes right off the bat, especially when you consider the whole essence of this letter is that we are saved by God through Jesus and not of our own righteousness. Paul establishes Jesus’ natures, both human and divine, along with His incarnation, His Messiahship, His resurrection, and His Lordship (i.e., ownership and authority).

Also in v.5, Paul in these few words really reveals a lot about his apostleship. The origin is from God, and Paul never loses perspective of this. He always gives God the glory and what a tremendous lesson this teaches us about the attitude we should have in all of our accomplishments. He considers his role as an apostle as a gift of grace. Do we consider our role as Christians as mere responsibilities or also as gifts from God? Perhaps the former could be a significant reason as to why Christians don’t do more. In any event, after mentioning his purpose of bringing the “the obedience of faith” to the Gentiles, Paul gives us a hint as to what his ultimate goal really is—to bring honor and glory to Christ. He states that he does what he does “for the sake of his name” (v.5).

And finally, in vv.6-7, Paul mentions the recipients of the letter. He wants to teach these Christians in Rome the deeper issues of the gospel (vv.7, 15). Jews and Gentiles were part of the church here in Rome. Paul says they are called by God to be saints. This should remind us of how significant and meaningful it really is to be a Christian.

More next time on the personal comments Paul makes to these Christians in vv.8-17.

One Common Denominator

2009-03-16T09:17:00.006-05:00

Bracketology! This is always a fun time of year for me. I know nothing about College Basketball but every year about this time, me and some friends fill out our brackets and participate together in a NCAA Tournament challenge here. One of the nice things about it all, is that most of the friends that I play with don't know much about college basketball either, although they won't admit it. So we are all on at least somewhat of an even playing field. So, this is about the only time of year, while filling out my brackets, that I actually watch SportsCenter on ESPN to find who is going to beat who in college basketball.

But something dawned on me last night as I was watching it and then again this morning while listening to the radio in my truck. There is always something to argue about with sports, isn't there? If we have half an interest in a particular sport, that automatically qualifies us to argue in favor of what we want or think. And then I started thinking how this phenomenon even transcends sports. We argue over politics, sports, whether or not we should homeschool, how to raise children, who should stay or go on American Idol, what our favorite TV programs are, where the best places to eat are, and even religion, along with everything else under the sun.

This seems to indicate a couple of things: (1) most people are passionate about the things they enjoy in life, which is great. And (2) God made us to be different. Can you imagine a world where everyone thought exactly alike? It is not feasible and it would completely take away the whole Biblical concept of free moral agency. I can't even fathom how boring life would be if the people I am closest with, including my wife even, thought exactly as I do or I like them. That is not how God made us. And I think this is especially important to remember for us as Christians.

The fact that God calls us to strive for peace and unity, as opposed to confusion demonstrates the fact that He knows how differences are part of what characterizes our human nature. I am not convinced that Jesus' prayer for unity (John 17) and Paul's and James' charge for peace and unity (1 Corinthians 1:10; James 3:18; 4:1-12) are so much a command for everyone "to agree on everything" as much as it is to "learn how to get along despite the fact that you have your differences." Now certainly, we all want to strive to abide by what God's word says and that is undoubtedly the Biblical way to stand on common ground. But it seems that the commands to think alike are actually telling us to remember that we are united through Christ and that we must understand ultimately, it is God that serves as the Judge. This is a role we cannot fill. At least I believe Paul is clearly teaching this principle throughout Romans 14 (i.e., vv.4, 10, 12-13, 17, etc.).

Well, I say all of this in order to say this; thank God He has given us His word so that we have a means by which we can stand united! God is not the author of confusion but instead calls us to peace (1 Corinthians 14:34). God tells us in His word that it is through the bond of His Son Jesus Christ that we are all one. In fact, it is this particular bond into which we are all baptized (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:27) that unites us. It is Jesus that reconciles us to God (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) and therefore to each other also (1 John 1:7). Seek Jesus first (Matthew 6:33) and we find unity (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Because God made us different, Jesus must be our one common denominator. It is enough to drive us insane when we try to change or control one another. It is not possible. I have spent almost 12 years trying to change my wife and am just now starting to accept that it is not happening. That is not what love is. We have to step back and allow Jesus and His standard to be what unites us. Jesus' standard is our one and only common denominator. We have to trust this!

Have a good day!

Christianity Demonstrated

2009-03-11T11:17:00.007-05:00

Wanna read a great story that is bound to encourage you? Check this one out!

It is amazing to me how easy it is to forget about the things we should be doing as God's church. Instead of trying to combat what everyone else is doing, I often wonder if things like this story here will faciliate more success? I think it is worth considering, at least. It is undoubtedly what Jesus spent His time doing. In fact, the only ones I see Jesus ever criticizing are the ones who focused on being so critical of others.

Thanks to Trey Morgan for sharing this great story! This is good, practical, and meaningful stuff that actually matters.

While there is certainly no doubt that as Christians, we should stand up for what is right and oppose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), Jesus also gives us a pretty good indication as to what is supposed to actually characterize us as His distinct and unique disciples (John 13:35). What should define us more than anything is our love, which is far above any other gift (1 Corinthians 13). I think most would agree with this statement. But what I fear is too often forgotten here (myself included at times) is the responsibility to actually demonstrate this.

Let us remember how Jesus really defines serving Him, as well as things that will condemn us:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked or clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:31-46).

Perhaps this is a good example of what Jesus was referring to when sharply rebuking the religious elite throughout Matthew 23:2-36.

I was humbled about a month ago by a sweet elderly lady in the congregation where I am so blessed to preach. I did not particularly like what she said to me, but all I needed was the three minutes it took for me to swallow my big ol' pride to realize how much I actually needed to hear what she had to say. Here in La Grange, I go with the Ladies Bible class to two nursing homes; one on the 2nd Wednesday morning of the month, and an assisted living home on the 4th Wednesday of the month. At one of these places, we don't get a lot of support. The staff seems to not want us there. Often times they forget we are coming and they don't have a room for us, so they have to go put something together, which usually holds us up for about 20 minutes. They do not announce it. Often times we notice that we are not even on the calendar.

Afterwards, one day, I was doing my usual griping about it and throwing a pity party for us and suggested that maybe we should just drop this act, shake the dust off our feet and go somewhere else where we will be appreciated. Well this sweet lady, smiled and put her sweet hand on my shoulder and asked me to try and remember that how we are treated by the staff at the nursing home is not the residents' fault; and that it would be a shame to take away what they look so forward to each month. She reminded me that Jesus and the apostles, like us, grew discouraged from time to time but that never stopped them from doing what they could do to make a difference.

I was humbled to say the least. But am I ever thankful for the wisdom and guidance of older brothers and sisters, who have such a delicate, yet forceful way of sharing their wisdom with us; a wisdom that their own life experiences have taught them. Had I stopped thinking about myself and my own personal likes, maybe I would have remembered why I was actually there to begin with; to encourage the elderly in hopes of showing people the joys of Christianity.

May God be with us all, in our efforts to be His citizens in His glorious kingdom! And may each and every one of us strive daily to follow Jesus' example of kingdom living.

Have a great day!

Peace and Unity

2009-03-09T09:51:00.008-05:00

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Jesus is telling us that peace is a vital characteristic of kingdom living. Never are we justified in not making peace a priority. In fact, it is as valuable as any other principle or command taught in the New Testament. It is supposed to actually characterize who we are as the Lord’s body (John 13:35; Romans 12:18). Jesus did not say, “strive for peace unless others don’t.” Nor did He say “Do your best to be at peace until someone disagrees with you on a religious matter.” He didn’t say, “Sometimes we have to sacrifice peace for the sake of something higher.” He simply said that the peacemakers are called children of God.

Unfortunately peace does not exist in our world today. This is reality. We live in a society that has been unable to avoid conflicts, war, strife, violence, and even murder. Although it could always be worse, lack of peace and unity is inevitable in ours and many other countries today. This is why it becomes so essential for citizens living in God’s kingdom, those of us who have been called out by the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), to fulfill our role as being the peculiar people God calls us to be (1 Peter 2:9).

There seems to be too many passages that instruct us to get along (despite differences) that just cannot be ignored. To name just a few, Romans is filled with this exhortation. James 4 addresses it. Paul calls for it in 1 Corinthians 1. Ironically, of all the problems the church in Corinth had, Paul still saw fit to acknowledge them as his brethren when he refers to them as “the church of God,” “sanctified,” and “saints.” Of course, I am not suggesting that problems and error are to be ignored, but what I am indicating is that Paul did not write them off and consider them no longer in a relationship with God either. Jesus even prayed for unity among us, adamantly (John 17).

I am not so naïve, as to think that 100% unity is going to exist at all times; even Jesus recognized this reality (Matthew 10:34-39). But could we do better? May peace and unity always prevail over division and dissension!

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore (Psalm 133:1-3).

Romans--Introductory Thoughts (part 3)

2009-03-06T14:13:00.011-06:00

There are actually several circumstances that brought out the need for Paul to write this letter. However, it is a common belief that Romans was merely written to serve as a general document that affirms the whole of Christian doctrine. And therefore there were no inherent or pressing problems with the Christians in Rome that would necessitate Paul writing this letter, as was the case for his other letters. For example, the late Brother Burton Coffman in his commentary on Romans states:

“Paul had never been to Rome; and, it would seem, neither had any other apostle; accordingly, therefore, the letter to the Romans was not designed for the purpose of dealing with church problems, nor for giving instructions relative to church government, but was primarily a magnificent treatise on Christian doctrine, somewhat in the abstract, and yet pertinent to that generation and all subsequent ages” (Coffman Commentaries: Romans, Vol. 6, p.xi).

Thus it is held that Paul’s intent behind this letter was to focus on the general doctrine of salvation. While I will admit that this view holds some credence, if not for any other reason, there are many brilliant scholars, including those of like-minded faith that I respect dearly who maintain this thought. However, there are also many brilliant scholars, including those of like-minded faith, who would disagree somewhat and suggest that perhaps there were some pressing needs and circumstances going on with the Christians in Rome, that necessitated Paul’s writing to them. Interestingly, what one believes in regard to this, could actually play a large role in how this book as a whole is even interpreted.

Paul undoubtedly wanted to express to them his eagerness to preach to them the gospel (1:15). No one disagrees with this. One of the purposes of this letter is also seen toward the latter part; to convey to them his travel plans, including his plan to stop and spend some time with them and teach them on his way to Spain, as well as to request prayers of them, and seek their support in his work in Spain (15:15-32). Thus, at the time of this writing, Paul’s plan was to go to Jerusalem and then after this he intended to make his way to Spain. On the way to Spain, he would stop in Rome. See also Acts 19:21 and 23:11. Of course, we know from the history recorded for us in the book of Acts, that his plans changed however, once in Jerusalem and taken into custody. And Paul therefore never went to Rome under the terms which he had planned.

So how then, is Romans to be understood; as a general doctrinal essay or as an address of a specific need? I believe both. Paul undoubtedly lays down a very clear message with regard to the deeper issues of the gospel that are applicable to all Christians. He sets forth a treatise that leaves no doubt as to how we are to carry ourselves and maintain our standing in God’s loving grace. It is also a writing that should leave no doubt in the readers’ minds that it is God’s righteousness and not our own that saves us. It is undeniable that Paul is defending the gospel message here also; that Jesus indeed came to die for our sins and resurrected for the benefit of all man; and all of this was based on God’s love for us as unworthy and fallible human beings. Paul wanted these brethren to know that the saving gospel is for all man.

But we also cannot ignore the fact that this letter is obviously responding to certain circumstances that were occurring between these Christian brethren. It seems apparent that there was a dire need for unity between the Jew and Gentile Christian communities (Romans 12:16; 14:1-15:13). I actually wonder if what Paul addresses here in chapter 14 is at least somewhat similar to what instigated the Jerusalem conference (see Acts 15:1-35); the difference being that this should especially not happen among more mature Christians. Paul seems to have addressed a similar problem in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 8), at least in the sense of teaching them that the true spirit of Christianity will necessitate getting along and figuring out a way to make peace and unity work, even when there are serious disagreements. And make no mistake about it that Paul's charge for unity was something that was to be taken seriously (Romans 16:17-18). The specific details of what was being argued might be up for debate. Obviously we will explore this further when we get to this point of our study. But one thing is for certain; they were arguing about something and it was causing a lot of dissension. And Paul is basically saying, “stop it.” He makes it very clear that there is no room in the kingdom for such mindless bickering that has nothing to do with what Christianity is supposed to be about.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

Paul no doubt explains throughout this book that our submission to God’s will and holiness is not a matter that can be compromised (e.g., Romans 12:1-2). We cannot minimize this. But he also makes it quite clear that neither is legalism acceptable; and that unity is essential among God’s people. Thus, I believe, at least in part, that it was out of a motivation of love and concern for his brethren that Paul penned this letter. It was a concern for him that these brethren were not getting along. Such behavior among saints goes against everything Christianity is supposed to stand for. I believe there is just too much throughout the entire letter, where Paul is talking about how all are unworthy, and that all have been extended God’s love and grace, for this not to be something specifically Paul was addressing. At the very least, he saw the potential for lack of harmony because of the Jew/Gentile controversy as a whole; kind of a "don't bring this into the church" exhortation. But it is quite apparent that such controversy already existed (14:4, 10). Further, if all of Paul's other letters addressed specific problems, there is nothing to indicate why Romans would be any different. In the context of the New Testament, any letter written seems to imply that there was a need. With this all said though, I am not sure we can deny that this is a systematic presentation of the gospel message for mature Christians either. This is why I say “both.” This is a letter that is intended for all Christians in all ages; then, now, and into the future. It is relevant for all of us since it deals with salvation from sin through God’s grace.

There are a plethora of themes talked about for Romans. I think that justification by faith (Romans 1:16-17); God’s righteousness and fairness (Romans 9-11); and the equality of Jew and Gentiles are all relevant messages to the recipients of this letter. However, I like what Jack Cottrell says with regard to the theme; in summary: our salvation comes by way of God’s grace, not by law.

“Rather than seeing 1:16-17 as the thesis statement for Paul’s treatise, I see it more or less as the starting point leading up to the thesis, which is 3:28: ‘for we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.’

In the most general sense Paul’s thesis relates to the gospel, since his desire to preach the gospel in Rome (1:15) is what led him to compose the epistle as a written version of his gospel. But since the gospel is the good news about salvation, also in a general sense the theme of Romans is salvation. And the manner in which sinners are saved, whether Jews or Gentiles, is the same: justification by faith.

…..Yes, sinners are justified by faith, but this means they are not justified by works of law, which is the only alternative. It is just as important to include the negative statement in the theme as the positive one.

In actuality, then, the basic theme of Romans is the contrast between law and grace as a way of salvation. This contrast is seen especially in 3:28, which (literally translated) says, ‘for we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.’ The contrast is stated succinctly in 6:14, ‘you are not under law but under grace.’ This is the gospel, the good news of salvation. Certainly it is good news to know that God justifies us by faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. But in a real sense it is also good news to know that we are not justified by law-keeping: a way of salvation which is not only futile but which sinners in their hearts know is futile, and which leads only to self-deception or to despair (pp.29-30).”

Cottrell's point here seems, in large part, to be that it is not possible and therefore self-deceptive to think that we have the ability to earn salvation by way of our own righteousness. Of course, it should also be affirmed that God’s saving gospel message, extended by His grace, is indeed something to be obeyed or responded to (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-4). But what is necessary is that we understand that this does not serve as our source of salvation. Perhaps, I should let Paul’s explanation speak for itself:

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:1-10).

After having much more to say here in Romans 5 about Christ’s shed blood that reconciles us to God through His grace, Paul then begins the next chapter by conveying how we contact that saving blood and thus, enjoy the full benefits of God's grace:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Romans 6:1-5).

Next time, we will actually get into the text; beginning with chapter 1. In addition to a chapter-by-chapter, section-by-section study of Romans, I anticipate we will embark upon more in depth, this distinction between law vs. grace and faith that Paul seems to emphasize throughout this letter. It will undoubtedly come up several times, actually. This is especially interesting when you consider that James 2:24 seemingly and at face value, states the opposite of Romans 3:28. I believe the bible harmonizes both of these truths and that it is impossible that God’s inspired, infallible ,and inerrant Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) could contradict itself.

Paul wants all of us as Christians to understand that God’s grace, and nothing else is the source of our salvation. If we were to be 100% obedient from here on out, then all we would be doing is giving what we already owe to God for what He has already done for us. And so, when you keep in perspective that we cannot be 100% obedient (Romans 3:23), it really puts in perspective how much we owe our salvation to the wonderful grace of God. Romans always has and always will be applicable to everyone. And may our study of this great book enrich our lives abundantly and enable us to praise God from the mountaintops, literally and represented through our pure lifestyles. It is the natural way to respond after truly understanding God’s grace.

I will leave you with one more quote from Jack Cottrell:

“This contrast between law and grace as competing ways of salvation is not a matter of OT versus NT nor Old Covenant versus New Covenant, as if law were the way to be saved prior to Christ and grace is the way to be saved now that Christ has come. Also, the contrast between law and grace—THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT—is not simply the Law of Moses versus the grace of Jesus Christ. No sinner has ever been saved nor can be saved by the law that applies to him, whether it be the Law of Moses for Jews under the Old Covenant, or some other comparable set of God’s commandments for anyone else in any other time. Every sinner who has been saved since the time of Adam has been saved by grace and not by law, and this will always be the case” (p. 30).

Powerful Quotes on Love

2009-03-06T07:59:00.010-06:00

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Love chooses to believe the best about people. It gives them the beneift of the doubt. It refuses to fill in the unknowns with negative assumptions. And when our worst hopes are proven to be true, loves makes every effort to deal with them and move forward. As much as possible, love focuses on the positive (The Love Dare, p.33).

Romans--Introductory Thoughts (part 2)

2009-03-05T13:01:00.008-06:00

I am going to assume if you are reading this with any interest whatsoever, then chances are, you do not challenge the fact that Paul wrote this epistle, so we will not get too deep into trying to prove that Paul wrote Romans, other than to say, “Paul wrote Romans.” :-)

What is significant about Paul’s authorship however, is his background, which was extremely Jewish in nature. This is important to keep in mind as we study Romans. In some aspects, it even contributes to understanding why he was so qualified to write this letter. Notice what Paul has to say about his own Jewish background:

“I ask then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1).

“Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5).

“Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I” (2 Corinthians 11:22).

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel, according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day” (Acts 22:3).

Notice some of the labels that Paul’s gives himself in describing how strong his Jewish background really was: “Israelite,” “descendant of Abraham,” “a member of the tribe of Benjamin,” “Circumcised,” “of the people of Israel,” “a Hebrew of Hebrews,” “as to the law, a Pharisee,” “a Jew,” “educated at the feet of Gamaliel,” and “according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers.”

Understanding Paul’s background is vital because as he so masterfully makes his case for the contrast between law vs. grace, he speaks as one who has been on both sides of the Jew vs. Gentile controversy that was apparently taking place. Also, when he conveys that we are justified by grace through faith, apart from law (Romans 3:28; Romans 6:14, etc.), he speaks as one, who at one time in his past, was likely a legalist, according to how the word is generally defined:

“But in general the term is made use of to denote one who seeks salvation by works of law (not of the law, but of “law” generally, whether moral or ceremonial instead of by the merits of Christ” (Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, McClintock and Strong, Volume V, p. 325).

By being converted, Paul did not start believing and teaching that God’s grace means we can continue in sin (Romans 6:4). What his conversion meant, at least in part, was that he no longer sought acceptance by God on the mere basis of his strict adherence to the law. This is especially seen in the comparison he draws between his mindsets before and after his conversion in Philippians 3:6-9. Notice the difference between vv. 6 and 9 here:

“as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—"

As one who had a tremendous, and in many ways even admirable commitment and zeal to the Law (Acts 22:3; Galatians 1:14; Acts 26:4-5), the Apostle Paul by his conversion, forsook everything he had for so many years stood for, including his efforts to move up in rank. In and of itself, Paul’s life and conversion account is a strong testament to the fact that when we become Christians, it is indeed a sacrifice and service. We had to give up the world and the ways of our past by putting our trust in God. This faith was a commitment to live and think differently as a unique people of God (1 Peter 2:9). And it continues to be a complete reliance on His way as opposed to our own righteousness. So keep this in mind as you read the book of Romans. Paul, by becoming a Christian, set himself in complete opposition to everything he had once stood for as a Pharisee with such a strong Jewish background. He now understands that the way of law is futile and empty (Romans 10:1-4). And this is precisely what he wants to teach these brethren. And when you consider the conflict that likely existed between these Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians here in Rome, this was undoubtedly a message they needed to hear and take to heart; that neither were worthy, but both because of God’s grace had hope. None were more worthy of salvation than the other. Is this not a message for which we need to earnestly contend in the church today? Who among us would claim based on their righteousness that they are deserving of justification? I certainly won’t make such a bold claim. For, Paul says if I do, I have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).

Another aspect to consider here is the recipients of this epistle to the Romans. To whom exactly did Paul write this letter? Jewish Christians? Gentile Christians? Both? If both, which was the majority? Or does it even matter, really? There are arguments for several views with regard to the specifics of who this letter went to. In fact, there are so many, it kind of proves to me that there is no way we can be dogmatic in what we speak to these things. Jack Cottrell in his commentary on Romans however, seems to put in perspective what we can be certain about:

“The epistle to the Romans is addressed 'to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints (1:7).' These saints in Rome were almost certainly a mixture of Jewish and Gentile Christians, though there is no way to tell which group had the larger number. There appears to have been tension if not conflict among the two groups. What is obvious is that in the epistle Paul addresses both groups with some passages being specifically directed toward the Jewish Christians and some toward the Gentile Christians…..this whole question is really irrelevant, since it applies equally to both groups. All are sinners (3:9, 23), no one will be saved by law (3:19-20), and all are equal recipients of the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (3:24; 4:11-12). [p. 21].

A large part of Paul’s message is to convey that we are all equal; regardless of our differences in race, socioeconomic status, gender, and level or degree of righteousness or sin. As for our ability to justify ourselves before God, we are all in the same boat.

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).

The city of Rome was predominantly a Gentile city. In fact, the population did heavily favor that of the Gentiles, probably in large part due to Claudius’ charge for the Jews to leave Rome (Acts 18:2) just under 10 years earlier from the time of this writing, which was around A.D. 58, most believe. But as those of Jewish descent had begun to filter back into Rome after Claudius’ death, and because of the content of Romans, we cannot deny that there were Jewish Christians here. Perhaps the majority of the Christians in Rome were indeed Gentile, and that is at least in part what threatened the Jews. But either way, most commentators agree in that even if this were the case, it was probably not by an overwhelming amount. The important thing to remember here is that they apparently were not getting along and both parties were guilty of thinking they were better than the other. In our culture, on so many levels, this should sound quite familiar, and therefore indicates to us once again that Romans is indeed for everyone.

As for how the church in Rome started, the most logical explanation (and it makes the most sense to me, personally) is that there were people from Rome at Pentecost when the church was established (Acts 2:5, 10). These people, shortly after having been converted to Christianity on this day, likely went back to Rome and started the church there.

There does not seem to be any Biblical or historical support for Peter ever having gone to Rome, much less having started the church there.

Also, Matt Dabbs, at his website, is doing a study on Romans himself. It is excellent, in my opinion and thorough. You can find his specific content on Romans (along with other studies of Bible series') here. Be sure and check out his post entitled, “Studying Romans--historical background and occasion.” Matt discusses some things here that I did not consider or go into very deeply in this post. Another interesting post that is relative to this introductory discussion can be found here where Matt, in a thought-provoking way, challenges the traditional belief that God's plan was to save His own but only because of the Jews' rejection of His way, He then extended the opportunity of salvation to the Gentiles (non Jews); as if God had never originally planned to extend hope to the Gentiles. This is good stuff by Matt and if you are interested in a deeper study of these issues, I highly recommend going there. I have enjoyed the brief conversations I have had with Matt about the scope of Romans. And I look forward to continuing to read and study his thoughts......as well as pick his brain. :-)

More introductory thoughts to come soon regarding the purpose and occasion of the Romans letter, as well as the theme.

Romans--Introductory Thoughts (part 1)

2009-03-04T14:36:00.009-06:00

The Book of Romans, for a lot of reasons, is a work of genius. If there were ever a picture of Hebrews 4:12, which tells us “for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart,” it is Paul’s letter to the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome. Jack Cottrell says it well when he states, “God’s word is sharp and piercing like a sword and no blade penetrates more deeply into our hearts than Romans.”

One of the exciting features of Romans is that there is so much Christian doctrine covered in this book. It brings a plethora of topics into one line of thought; the deeper issues of the gospel. I like the way Martin Luther once said it:

In Romans we find most abundantly the things that a Christian ought to know, namely, what is law, gospel, sin, punishment, grace, faith, righteousness, Christ, God, good works, love, hope, and the cross; and also how we are to conduct ourselves toward everyone.

Something else of value here however, is that Romans is not about us. It is not about our ability to be righteous. This letter is for everyone yes, but make no mistake about it; it is about God and His saving power through the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16). Paul reveals through this letter God’s power and grace through the good news of Jesus. And thank God that this power and grace is made available to all man today.

Paul demonstrates throughout this letter, the reality of Peter’s promise in Acts 2:39:

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.

This Romans letter and all of its content is for everyone, just as Peter's promise is for everyone. That is, every person has the opportunity to respond to the gospel, which is God’s saving message, and receive the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:37-38) by contacting the blood (Romans 6:3-4). But it is important to understand also, that there is more to the gospel than the first principles (1 Corinthians 15:3). Paul says at the beginning of his letter to the Christians in Rome, those who had already obeyed the gospel, that he was eager to preach to them the gospel (1:15). So much of the message behind Romans that we will be studying, entails how we are to lead pure and holy lives before God, and especially in a unified way. In other words, how God's grace allows us to maintain our walk with Christ in His kingdom, and stay away from sin is in great part what Paul is intending; i.e., the deeper implications of the gospel.

Romans is a very liberating book. It reminds us that under Christ’s reign, we really are under a law of liberty (James 1:25). It frees us from thinking we are saved by our own doing; such is an impossible task for us (Romans 3:23; c.f., James 2:10; Galatians 3:10). There are many passages in Romans alone that clearly portray the truth that salvation comes by faith in God’s ability; not our own ability; through the righteousness of God, not our own righteousness:

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:27-28).

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14).

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trubulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'for your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39).

Yes this is very liberating! At least, it should be.

This is not to suggest that grace has freed or allowed us to continue in sin or claim that we don’t need to strive for growth. Paul clearly states “God forbid!” in this regard (Romans 6:1). In fact, God's grace actually suggests that we should grow. Our responsibility to adhere to the word of God and transform our lives from worldliness to holiness certainly cannot be minimized (Romans 6:1-4; Romans 12:1-2).

More to come soon on Paul’s background as the writer of this letter as well as its recipients….

One more night with the frogs

2009-03-02T11:22:00.006-06:00

One of the more interesting responses in all of holy writ in my estimation, is found in Exodus 8:10. It is an often overlooked one, yet a very powerful one that has much application to man today. The setting entails God sending a series of ten plagues upon the land of Egypt because Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go. The Hebrew children had been under Egyptian bondage for hundreds of years. They had cried out for God's help and He was ready to deliver them from this horrible bondage. So God called Moses through a burning bush and informed him that he would be the one, along with his brother Aaron to lead this eventual nation of people out of Egypt. Moses then preceded, through God’s guidance, to warn Pharaoh that if he did not let the people go so they could serve God, God would continue to send plagues. The first half of Exodus 8 consists of the second of these ten plagues. Moses warned Pharaoh that if he did not let God’s people go so they can serve Him (v.1), then a plague of frogs would come into the land of Egypt in such an abundance that they would cover the land border to border (vv.2-4). When Pharaoh refused, the plague took place. Frogs came in and covered the entire land of Egypt (v.6). In obvious disgust, Pharaoh was now willing (or so he said) to let the people go if God would remove this plague (v.8).

What takes place next is not often discussed when talking about this incident of Pharaoh and the plagues. But I find it rather appealing. In fact, one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard preached was by a dear friend of mine on this very subject many years ago. It has had an everlasting impression on me. In v.9 Moses told Pharaoh that he would intreat the Lord, that He may remove this plague of frogs. But he needed to know when. In other words, “Pharaoh when are you willing to do what God has commanded, so that He will remove this plague?” And v.10 gives us one of the saddest responses one could ever make regarding the question “when?” Pharaoh’s response was “tomorrow.” Pharaoh shows an obvious lack of priority and urgency in submitting to God's will. He had an opportunity to do what God wanted, and have a horrible plague removed from his life. Yet he chose to spend one more night with the frogs.

I often wonder how many of us like Pharaoh, willingly choose to spend "one more night with the frogs?" Here we are in the 21st century, some 2000 years from the time Christ ascended to Heaven. We are well aware that sin plagues the lives of all men (Romans 3:23). And until one submits to God's will, one much higher than our own, and puts that old man of sin to death (Romans 6:3-4), sin will continue to plague the life of mankind. In essence, God has left man a choice as Moses did Pharaoh by asking when. When will you do God’s will so that the plague of sin will be removed from your life? And when man responds by saying “tomorrow” or at another time that is more convenient, as did Felix (Acts 24:25) or a mere “almost” as did Agrippa (Acts 26:28) he/she is no less guilty than the Pharaoh of Exodus.

But I think there is something here to be learned by all of us. None of us are perfect. Even one who has been a part of God's family for years has something to learn. We all have our struggles. How often, when considering daily Bible study, have we said “I will start doing that later when I have more time?” How often, when pondering the value of assembling with brothers and sisters and getting involved with the work of the church, do we reason to ourselves, “I will do that more regularly when it is more convenient?” or “when I grow up and have kids of my own, I will be more responsible?” (This was a big one for me in my younger years as a teenager). How many times when evangelism is brought up, have we thought, “when I get back from vacation I will start?” or “I will be more consistent with these things once I retire.” How often, when thinking about visiting the sick, encouraging the lost, comforting those in the hospitals have we figured, “tomorrow?” What are we waiting on? Do we realize that when we do this, in a lot of ways, we are choosing to spend one more night with the frogs?

Let us move forward with urgency to serve in God's kingdom, with commitment and eagerness. Also, I wonder if one thing that hinders us greatly might be our lack of commitment to one another? For example, if we spent half the time we do bickering and arguing with each other, and instead put that time toward trying to reach out to those who really need the gospel, how much more successful could we be? Sometimes it seems that we are too busy tearing each other down, rather than seeking to build up. It is hard to look out on the fields that are ready for harvest when our eyes are glued to each other.

Each and every day of our lives we have a choice. We can choose to play or labor. We can choose to absorb all of our time in material things or balance it out so we can involve ourselves in spiritual matters as well. And we can choose to put focus on what Jesus told us (Matthew 6:33) or we can put our focus on what He said not to do (John 5:39-40). It must start now! James reminds us that we are not guaranteed to be here “tomorrow” (James 4:13-14). Individually, we must all answer by our choices in life. Which do we choose? Is it fulfilling our responsibility as citizens of God's kingdom today, or do we want to spend one more night with frogs?

More Thoughts About Grace, Justification, and Salvation To Come.....

2009-02-27T22:54:00.017-06:00

It has been an interesting couple of days since I posted my last blog. I want to say that I appreciate so much the many people who have called, e-mailed me, and reached out to me. Your positive responses and affirmation that you agree with what I said meant a lot to me.

I am going to have a lot more to say on my blog about works, justification, sanctification, and salvation in the future because I am going to talk about Romans quite a bit in the coming weeks. I discussed grace Wednesday and will have more to say about it as well. So "the whole" of what I teach will be clarified in the future. In the meantime, because the book of Romans has a lot to say about grace, and I plan to cover that, perhaps it is important to lay some groundwork as we go forward:

I oppose Calvinism. I do not agree with the overall whole of it, nor do I espouse any facet of it.

I do not believe that all we have to do in order to be saved is just receive God's grace and then "sit there and do nothing." I unequivocally believe and teach that God expects us to live holy lives. Of course we must obey Him. I maintain that God's grace saves us, and that this grace is indeed apart from law-keeping. And I stand by this statement. But undoubtedly, to enjoy the full benefits of God's grace (including salvation) there are conditions to be met.

As for faith, I believe Ephesians 2:8-9, along with John 6:28-29 demonstrate that our obedience is implied.

I believe that the Scriptures teach that we must be baptized for the remission of sins.

My blog posted Wednesday was not designed to be my declaration of the "end all/say all" with regard to salvation. My intent was to discuss our unworthiness of God's grace, especially mine.

I know for some who read this blog, this law vs. works thing is difficult to grasp because of the seeming contradiction between Romans 3:28 and James 2:24. There is no contradiction and I will offer in the coming weeks how I believe the Bible harmonizes these truths.

I believe God is fair and just. My thoughts are that "grace isn't fair." And I meant that in the sense that in our finite minds, how we understand "fair," it can't be. I deserve hell because I sin (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-9). Yet, because of God's grace, I can walk with Christ today justified, with the hope of eternal life.

Something that might be helpful in the future if you want an overall view of what I believe on something, feel free to go to the topics and click on them. The list of topics is on the right hand side of the screen as you scroll down. I assign labels for each post that allows you to read my articles by subject matter. Six weeks ago, I wrote an article entitled, "Free Salvation." That was an article designed to address the subject of salvation. I believe I covered it at least somewhat thoroughly and in a way that is consistent with Scripture. If you haven't, I hope you will take the time to read it. I doubt you will have any question as to what I believe is involved in our salvation after you read that.

It is a very broad audience that reads this blog, and therefore my efforts are not to solely appease my brethren. I hope this is understood. My first priority is to please God first and foremost (Acts 5:29). Second, I want to reach out to those of you who are not part of the kingdom of God and try to convince you that it is the greatest way to live, including how to become a part of it. And third, in this process I hope to provide encouragement to my loved ones who are of like-minded faith.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me and let's talk. Odds are, if you read my blog, I know you. And that means I love, appreciate, and value your friendship. Dialogue with me. This encourages growth and I think it exudes the Christian spirit in which we ought to handle things.

Love to all!

Do we really want fair?

2009-02-25T11:18:00.015-06:00

Last night we began our men's study in the book of Romans. I have been looking forward to this for a while now and the others seem to be excited about the study also. Something came up in our discussion that really impacted me. Someone mentioned how in discussing grace and how it relates with law, works, etc. that some people can't make sense of it because it seems to go against God's "fairness." It hit me because I can remember being one of those who would have said something like this at one time. My rationale would have been something to this effect, "Well 'grace only' salvation doesn't seem to make sense because that means God allows those to be saved who don't deserve it or who have not been righteous followers." Well of course! Isn't that the whole point of grace? I have to admit that I am somewhat embarrassed that I spent a number of years ignoring or shying away from this reality, thinking it was the only way to protect my belief that we must obey God.

Here is a profound thought: Grace is not fair! Grace completely stands against everything that "fairness" is supposed to mean. I think it all makes sense when we understand that Paul's whole point of this law-grace distinction in Romans was to reveal the means or process by which we are saved. His point was not that we don't have to set out to be a holy and righteous people before God who seek to obey Him, but rather it was to inform us that grace sets us free from the necessity of trying to get to Heaven by and through our own means. Our adherence to a law is not the source of our salvation.

Dr. Jack Cottrell, writer of a great book entitled, The Faith Once for All does a superb job in explaining this:

Do I really want God to be fair with me on the day of judgment? Before answering we should remind ourselves that the only fair (just, deserved) treatment for sinners of any kind is hell!
Does this mean that grace is not fair? Of course it does! That is the very point of grace, i.e., that under grace God does not treat us in terms of fairness or justice: he does not pay us the wages our works have earned or deserved. For those who break the commandments, hell is fair. But grace is entirely different; it has nothing to do with fairness.......It is in fact the exact opposite of fairness; it is antifair. It is grace. Such grace is not just "unmerited favor"; it is "favor bestowed when wrath is owed" (pp. 312-313).

The truth of the matter is that if I am saved by law, then that means I must obey all the commandments for my entire life, and I must keep every element of that law perfectly. In other words, I must be totally sinless if it is law that saves me.

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by ALL things written in the Book of the Law, and do them (Galatians 3:10).

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it (James 2:10).

There was only one person who was able to accomplish this. That was Jesus Christ.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

And so while theoretically, one can be saved by keeping law only in that it was possible for Jesus, the feasibility of us doing it is 0%. We cannot do it.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God (Romans 5:8-9).

We all sin. Not one of us are perfect. Hence, our need for God's saving grace:

For we maintain that one was justified by faith apart from the works of the law (Romans 3:28).

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14).

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose (Galatians 2:21).

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Paul also seems to suggest in his letter to Titus that it is God's grace to begin with, that even gives us a means to be righteous servants.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11-12).

And finally, may we never forget that this saving grace comes to us through none other than the One who was designated from the beginning to be our Savior. Jesus lived a perfect life and set for us the perfect example of how to live in the kingdom. And then He died so that those who belong to Him might have the full benefit of life in the kingdom here on earth and in Heaven. Regardless of how great our citizenship in His kingdom is, it is not because of our doing. We will forever be in debt to God. It is only through Christ and the grace He brought to us, that we even stand a chance, with any hope at all.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Thank you Father God for your grace! I know I am undeserving of it. Through your Son Jesus, I bow before your throne recognizing my unworthiness. May I never take advantage of it and make a mockery of your loving grace. But may I never nullify it either. And may my actions toward others continuously reflect your love and grace that you have so extended to the world. Thank you for loving me in spite of my shortcomings. Help me to love others in spite of their shortcomings. Your grace extends to my neighbor as much as it does me. And please, help me to love you, who has no shortcomings, more and more as each day passes. Thank you, Father. Thank you! Amen!

An Interesting Prayer, Indeed

2009-02-22T21:43:00.010-06:00

I think we have all read articles, heard sermons, or have seen bulletins that discuss the prayers of children. Well, tonight Cody and I had our first true experience of being torn between laughing and scratching our heads. We knew it would eventually happen. We have heard too many stories from others to not realize it was coming.

Ponder upon Aaron's prayer tonight: "Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for our family. And thank you for hospitals. And for the post office. And for the fire station. And for the circus. In Jesus name, Amen!"

Hmmm! It was tough to feel that I had to fake a cough attack so as to not give it away that I was laughing.

But here is what I find so amazing about this whole moment. And when you think about it, this really teaches us so much. As funny as it might be, our precious boy actually prayed for some things that I don't. The innocent and thoughtful mind of a 6-year old prayed for important things in this life that are just as much in need of prayers as anything or anyone else. Often times, we find ourselves so busy in life, we don't even think of some things like this.

"Father and Creator in Heaven, you are indeed an awesome God. I cannot thank you enough for blessing me with 2 beautiful boys that teach me so much about life. Thank you for a 6-year old who is able to teach me that all people and all things are important and worthy of prayer. And thank you for the heart of a sweet little boy that wants to pray and tries to see the good in others. Help me to be more like Him."

A Father's Love

2009-02-20T09:11:00.007-06:00

This is not anything new. I am sure many have already heard of Dick and Rick Hoyt. It seems like it was about a year and a half ago, when a friend of mine first sent me a video. I thought it was very inspiring and touching. For any who have not yet seen or heard of them, rather than try to explain any of it, I will just let you watch a couple of videos that say it all concerning a father's love for his son. This is very powerful.

Here is another video that my friend e-mailed me last night, kind of an updated version retelling at least the beginning of how it all began.

Have a great weekend all!

God's light to the world

2009-02-19T11:08:00.012-06:00

On several occasions I have heard this story that carries great application in our lives today. I wish I could remember who I heard it from so I could give proper credit. But the story is about how a young boy, when he was 9 years old, was sitting in his father’s workshop one day, watching his dad make and repair leather harnesses. Little Louis said to his dad, “One of these days I want to be a harness-maker, just like you.” Suggesting he start now, Louis’ dad took a piece of leather and drew a design on it. He stated, “Now, take this hole-punch and hammer out this design, but be careful that you do not hit your hand.” What was about to happen would forever change the life of Louis and his family. Louis was excited and began to work, but when he hit the hole-punch it flew out of his hand and pierced his eye. He immediately lost his sight in that eye. Later, and as predicted, sight in his other eye would eventually fail. So, by age 11, Louis was totally blind.

A few years later, Louis was sitting in the family garden when he found a pinecone. As he ran his sensitive fingers over the cone, an idea came to him. He became enthusiastic and began to create an alphabet of raised dots on paper so that the blind could feel and interpret. Thus Louis Braille in 1818 opened up a whole new world for the blind.

Likewise, our wonderful Creator has opened a whole new world for those who are spiritually blind---those who are in darkness. God has provided the world with the perfect light in Jesus Christ.

John's gospel account tells us:

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it--John 1:5.

In v.9, we read:

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

The Apostle Paul stated it like this:

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins--Colossians 1:12-14.

In discussing the same concept, Peter stated:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light--1 Peter 2:9.

Also, 1 John 1:7 encourages us to remain in that light so that our sins will be cleansed by Christ's blood.

The glorious and wonderful news of the gospel is that we do not have to live in darkness. A light is made available to us through God’s grace. And we have the privilege of responding to this good news through our faith and obedience to the gospel (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Let us also not only tell others in a tactful and loving manner about this wonderful new world of light, but let us actually live it and demonstrate it through our example (Matthew 5:16).

Have a great day!

Most

2009-02-17T08:07:00.006-06:00

Here is a foreign short film entitled, "Most." This is quite powerful. I recently heard a devotional given by a friend of mine that talked about this video as part of his lesson. He told me about this short film. It is a story about a bridge operator who obviously loves his son tremendously. He takes him to work one day and something tragic occurs. He is left to make a choice that I don't think I could bare.... choose between his son's life and the lives of many on a train, several of whom are atheists, drug dealers, prosititutes, etc... I don't suppose it is too difficult to figure out the lesson from the film. It is indeed worth the 6 1/2 minutes it takes to watch.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him--John 3:16-17.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus--Romans 3:23-26.

He is the propitiation of our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments--1 John 2:2-3.

Have a great day!

Impacting others as Jesus did

2009-02-16T10:09:00.004-06:00

How do we teach people to love God? What methods should be considered in hopes of getting people to see the value of Godliness? In what ways are we supposed to help motivate our loved ones to serve? Where are we to begin in our efforts to help those with real life problems? These are questions with which I have struggled since beginning my work as a full-time preacher of the Gospel some eight years ago. For so long, I would harp and harp on how people just didn’t seem to “get it!” And so, my solution was to merely quote 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:3-4, both of which are reminders to us that the Scriptures are all-sufficient and teach us all that we need to know in life. Certainly these are great passages that ought to be a tremendous source of comfort and encouragement to us in many ways. But I have come to realize that it is not that simple. In fact, I am beginning to realize that for a great length of time, the one who actually “didn’t get it,” was me. Talk about eye-opening! And humbling!

There is little doubt among believers that the most brilliant teacher in the history of mankind would be Jesus. As a man who lived physically among us just a little over 2,000 years ago, He was the most spiritually-minded, wisest, most genuine, and most intelligent person to ever walk the face of this earth. We know this in part, because of the reaction of the people after He taught them (Matthew 7:28-29). Jesus knew exactly which direction to go in turning people’s lives around. Interestingly, a study of His life reveals this. Jesus recognized that the only way the commonly unaccepted people of His day that so desperately needed guidance (Matthew 4:23-25) would be truly happy was to be a part of His kingdom (Matthew 5:3-12). Jesus is the way! John’s gospel account reminds us that Christ’s way is superior to any other (John 14:6). There is no better technique or method by which to pattern ourselves and emulate when it comes to our responsibility to reach out to people and help them see the kingdom.

We can make such a difference in the lives of others by treating people like Jesus did while He was on earth, which included love (John 21:15-17), respect (John 8:11), compassion (Matthew 9:36), and with a genuine desire to help them see God (Luke 19:10; John 3:17; 4:34). When we consider how He dealt with people, His followers as well as those who had not yet taken up their cross to follow Him, we see that He was kind and caring (Matthew 4:23), humble (Philippians 2:5-9), meek and gentle (John 4:1-26), and forgiving (Luke 23:34). His human life was a true depiction of servanthood (Matthew 20:28). He was also longsuffering with people. And so importantly, He was approachable. He was the type of leader so that His followers knew they could ask Him questions and seek His counsel (Luke 11:1; Matthew 24:3) without the fear of being maligned, ridiculed, condemned, "marked," or "withdrawn from." Instead of immediately expecting them to be where He wanted them to be, He accepted people for where they were and started from there a process whereby they could grow. Again, His dealing with Peter in John 21:15-17 is a perfect example of this.

A while back in one of our Sunday morning Bible classes, as we were studying the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, the question came up as to how we are to develop these beautiful traits. How can we just “turn on” these things when it seems as if it is not our nature to be this way at times? I think this is a very legitimate and valid question. And the more I study and learn about the life that Jesus led while on earth, the more I am convinced that He is the answer. We develop these traits (i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) through our search for Jesus. When we seek and find Him, we will know how to demonstrate these fruits. The more we get to know Him through study, prayer, and meditation, the more our inward character can become like Him as Paul reminds us in 1 Corintians 11:1.

I do not think it is by accident, as I evaluate my own life currently, that as I have begun to look at the life of Jesus more deeply and how He interacted with people, I am as excited about being a Christian today as I have ever been. The love He demonstrated for His brethren and those in sin alike, is an impetus for me to do the work of my Savior and do it with a tremendous amount of joy and excitement. Thanks be to God for His Son! Not only for His death, burial, and resurrection, which gives me the hope of eternal life with Him, but for His provision of that perfect example so that I may learn how to obtain that eternal life.

Please pray for me. Pray for me as a Christian. Pray for me in my work as a preacher. I want to grow more and more in the image of Christ. I hope that I will learn more and more as each day passes, to have a Christ-like spirit in everything that I do.

McCarty Retreat

2009-02-13T08:27:00.009-06:00

One of the fondest memories of my college days in San Marcos was hanging out at the student center, playing pool, wiffle ball, sitting around and just laughing, and sleeping on one of the couches. McCarty Student Center, the Church of Christ Bible Chair and its activities have helped so many be brought to Christ. Even more important to me, was the many hours we spent having Bible studies and various discussions (sometimes heated) that helped me learn so much. I am forever indebted for the memories and friendships that will be ingrained in my mind forever. John Moore and Ben Moseley took me under their wings and taught me so much. Friends like Clay Martin, Travis Herbelin, John Johanson, and Patrick Hammack challenged me and encouraged me like no one else. They helped sharpen me. I love them so much. I also have such fond memories of so many others like Jenny Becker, Cathy Anderson Springer, (little) Jon Moore, Carla Moore, Janet Moseley, Corinne Kettler Patterson, Wendy Scott Gibson, Loralee Ford, Jennifer Brooks O'Banon, Melissa Lamirand Hammack, Leslie Poenisch Spier, Ernie Lawrence, Jennifer Lengefield, Joanna Belton Martin, Cody Peavy, Jeremy Thompson, Joel and Michelle Guajardo, David and Heather Underwood, and Amber Weid Johanson (I'm sure I have left some out; there are just so many who have had an influence on me). It was just an all-around tremendous experience for me and many others.

And of course, meeting my wife Cody and dating her throughout my college years is the highlight. If not for any other reason, that it brought me and my wife together (in and of itself) is enough to know that McCarty has blessed me beyond what I deserve.

One of the most fun times we had was twice per year, going on retreats. In the Fall we would usually go to Hensel and in the Spring we would go to Leakey. Such is still the tradition there, even after the 11 years that have gone by since me and Cody graduated and left San Marcos.

In any event, this will be a very special weekend for me. I have been invited to speak at this Spring's retreat in Leakey. I can't even begin to say how much of a privilege and honor it is to be asked to do this but even more important than that, is simply the fact that I get to go and be a part of this environment again. McCarty means so much to me.... more than I can express in words and anything I can ever do for that cause, I will. It has brought so many people to Christ, created so many Godly families in bringing couples together, and has strengthened so many people's faith in God.

This weekend we will be studying the subject of prayer. Please pray for all of us this weekend that we may grow in our faith, knowledge, and wisdom, in our relationships with one another, and more importantly, in our relationship with our Creator.

To find out more about McCarty Student Center and the great things they are doing at Texas State University in San Marcos, you can go to http://www.mccartystudentcenter.com/

Laugh or Cry?

2009-02-09T09:29:00.011-06:00

Here are a few things that I have come across lately, which leave me not knowing whether I should laugh or cry:

Obama's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq is interesting to me. On one hand, I am all for it. On the other hand, how realistic is it? As a side note, I don't even want to think about how much unemployment will probably increase. You think unemployment is bad now?

Here is an example of the unfortunate mindsets of many churches today. Wow! In any event, I think it should give us all some things to think about as for where our priorities are.

This video was tough for me to watch. Brutal honesty sometimes hurts. In many ways, this was designed to be funny, and yes, I did find some humor in it, but could this be more indicative of us than we care to admit?

A friend of mine posted this on facebook a while back, so many of you may have already seen this but this was pretty hilarious.

I especially don't know whether to laugh or cry over this one. It is an example of how an atheist can teach us more about our Christian duty than we might want to admit.

Have a great week all!

Helping with Humility

2009-02-05T11:23:00.009-06:00

The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All of us make mistakes in life. It is safe to say that none of us are exempt from looking back at some facet of our lives and wishing we had done things differently. This is common. And while we certainly never want to excuse sin, it is important that we always remember that all of us struggle from time to time. And this is why it becomes so essential for us to remain humble in everything that we do (Philippians 2:5; James 4:10). It is always wise to put ourselves in the shoes of those we care about as they are struggling with the various trials that Satan continually throws our way. When given the opportunity to help someone in need, we should ask, “When I am hurting, how would I want my friends to deal with me?” “What could my loved ones do for me that would help me most?” Perhaps if we could do this more often, we would be in a better position to genuinely help one another out.

This idea of looking at things from another’s perspective is indeed Biblical. Paul stated, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any sin, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2). In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus Himself stated that we should always be willing to examine our own weaknesses before pointing out those weaknesses of others. He stated, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Something worth considering here, is that maybe a judgmental attitude is the actual log that is in our eye. We must always be careful as to not overlook our own “demons.” This is a great part of being humble as God desires us to be. And may God grant us the courage, strength, and wisdom we need to do such. Truly helping others in this way is part of life in the kingdom as God intended it.

Monday Mornings

2009-02-02T09:37:00.008-06:00

What a great morning! I recall a time in my life when I used to hate Monday mornings with a passion. It really made for long, miserable days when I would wake up already dreading a day just because of its mere name. Now I see it as the beginning of a new work week and another opportunity to serve God. I don't have a whole lot to share today; I have a full plate right now. But I woke up this morning and thought about how cool it is to not hate Mondays anymore so I wanted to share it with every one. For me, it was a profound thought, :-)

By the way, who watched the Super Bowl last night? I was not thrilled with the outcome, but I have to admit it was one of the most exciting Super Bowls I have watched. I am somewhat saddened though, that there is now a team with more Super Bowl rings than my beloved Cowboys. It will be fine though. In the big picture, none of us can deny that the Cowboys are still God's favorite team, no matter how you spin it. So its all good, :-)

I hope all are doing well. God bless!

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.
--Psalm 91:1-2

A story of forgiveness

2009-01-29T11:47:00.013-06:00

A friend of mine recently told me a story about how he got through college. It took him a while to finish because he had to work and couldn’t take too many hours at a time. He has never met his mother, and his dad had been in and out of prison for years, so he was practically raised by his uncle. Ironically, this uncle is only 13 years older than my friend. And fortunately for him, this uncle is wealthy and was willing to loan him the money he needed for tuition and books, provided that he was willing to work and pay for his own living arrangements. The stipulation was that he had to do his part and work in order for his uncle to continue supporting him. This was especially convenient since his uncle told him he would charge no interest; this way he could take his time and not have to go through student loan companies that charge interest. After seven years of school (including 2 years of graduate school), he had accumulated a little over $30,000 debt that he owed his uncle. At the age of 25, he had his master’s degree now and was going to make enough money to pay it off fairly quickly.

He was very thankful and had planned to pay back everything. When he drew up a payment plan that would pay his uncle back in three years, he took the sheet to his uncle to see if the payment plan would work for him. As his uncle looked at it, he tore it up and told him how proud he was of him for getting his degree and that he wanted to forgive the debt completely. His uncle told him the reason he gave him the money under the façade of a “loan” was because he wanted him to work hard and appreciate his degree for the rest of his life. After spending an hour convincing him that he does not expect one penny in return, my friend was in utter shock; not knowing what to feel first, surprise, humility or gratitude. He told me the most amazing thing to him is that since this happened, 6 years ago, he and his uncle have gotten into several heated arguments and not one time has he ever brought up his generous deed. Although they continue to argue from time to time, as they are like brothers, the closeness they have shared from the time he was a little boy is second to none. He told me his gratitude toward his uncle forces him to honor and respect him dearly to the point that there is nothing he would not do for him too.

We too, have been given a form of forgiveness for which we are forever indebted. Jeremiah, in prophesying of the New Testament covenant made possible through Christ, stated, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). The Hebrews writer also reminds us of this in Hebrews 8. Jesus, after living a sinless life, became our sin so that we would not have to die (2 Corinthians 5:20-21; Romans 6:23). His blood serves as our justification (Romans 5:8-9; Revelation 1:5). And so, this forgiveness that we obtain after contacting this blood (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:1-4), allows us to be in a covenant relationship with Him. It is a debt that is completely erased, never having to be paid again.

For me, this speaks volumes to the gratitude I need to have, as well as for the motivation that this forgiveness hopefully provides me in wanting to do all I can to live for Jesus. I love Him dearly and feel the least I can do is give my life to Him. But I also think this challenges us in our relationships with one another. The Bible is replete with lessons about forgiving others. If we are committed to imitating Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1) and portraying a Christ-like spirit in all that we do, then should we not be willing and able to forgive those who have wronged us? Remember, forgiveness means wiping the slate clean; to completely erase the debt in such a way so that it is never brought up again. In addition to expressing our gratitude for God’s forgiveness to us, let us also pray that He will help us to forgive those who need it. Does that seem too difficult? Remember, Jesus died for them too.

A life without God

2009-01-26T10:43:00.010-06:00

Have you ever stopped to think how your life might have turned out if you had made different decisions? What if you had married someone other than the person that you did marry, or what if you had studied and prepared yourself for a different type of occupation than what you are doing now? There are so many “ifs” in life that it is likely not profitable or wise to constantly think on these things because they are in the past. Likewise, it is equally unprofitable to make plans in life without including God. There is actually an exhortation in James 4:13-17 that deals with this very issue. We would do well to ponder upon it in light of our journey through this life:

Come now, you who say, 'today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' -- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James’ message here is quite profound and applicable. What good is our life without God? The problem was that there were those making plans without including God. Somehow they had forgotten that it is God who is in control of all things, including what they might be able to do or not do in the future. There were many who had made plans to be in certain places for a certain period of time, doing business in a certain city, and even making a profit. But they had forgotten God; and by doing this, they had become arrogant, James declares.

When we stop to think for a moment, we should realize that no one knows what the future holds. People who often travel in cars, trains, or planes could be involved in accidents that will bring their lives to a sudden end. Bankruptcy comes even to the wealthiest of the land. The loss of health could cancel our plans indefinitely. Tomorrow someone will suffer a heart attack, or stroke, or learn that they have a malignancy, and only a few months to live. Even life, James avers, is but a vapor, meaning the shortness of it when you compare it to eternity. Let us not be guilty of ever thinking we are in control, but rather always remember what we shall do and be, if the Lord wills.

Reunited

2009-01-21T15:26:00.005-06:00

In the past week, two people from my past, who at one time were very close to me, found me. One of them found my blog, while the other found me via Facebook. Both of them were people I met during my days in the army. One of them in particular, one of the nicest people I have ever known, single-handedly helped me make it through a difficult 8 months overseas during Desert Storm. Without necessarily trying, this person taught me more about respecting others than they will ever know. The other friend is someone I spent about every day with during the most difficult year of my life, about a year later. I thought it was an interesting coincidence that these two friends found me at such a close interval. They are still very important to me and always will be. I have honestly thought about them often over the years and wished good things for them but was resolved to the fact that I may never see or hear from them again. Then they found me. I am thankful for that. And maybe I will never "see" them again, but I am happy to be back in contact with them, nevertheless. It is good to be only a phone call away or an e-mail away from being able to communicate and "catch up." It certainly has brought back a lot of memories from my army days; some wonderful, some good, some not so good. Regardless they are all memories I wouldn't change for anything. My wife has had the privilege of hearing me reminisce a lot this past week, ha! Bless her heart. I am so glad that she likes to listen to me (well….sometimes).

So as these exciting events have been racing through my mind these past 8 days or so, this led to me thinking about something else, lately. Won't it be nice to one day be reunited with loved ones in Heaven? I suppose neither I, nor anyone, can make a judgment with 100% certainty as to who all will be there and who all won't, but I like to think that it will be a time that not only will I meet God, but will likewise be a time when I will get to see many loved ones whom I have been so privileged to know while here on this earth. I don't know all of what Heaven will be. I only know what the Bible reveals about it. It is enough to make me certain that I want to be there. I don’t believe that I will share the same relationships with fellow citizens that I enjoyed while here on earth, but I will enjoy being reunited with brethren and loved ones, nonetheless.

Is Heaven something you think about often? Do you ever wonder what it will be like? Does being reunited with loved ones serve as an impetus in striving toward our promised land? What will relationships be like with those who were our spouses, parents, children, and friends, if these relationships won’t be the same? I even wonder if God has only revealed a small portion of what Heaven is really like, in order to keep us excited about it. I suppose if everything about that place of rest were revealed to us, there wouldn’t be much mystery to it.

I thank God for the hope I have as a Christian. I thank so many of my friends and brethren who have taught me what is important in life and have helped instill in me a desire to be with God and live my life serving Christ and others.

And may my actions, attitude, and service to others demonstrate this pining! Please continue praying for me, as I so desperately need them. I will continue to pray for you.

Fishing for the Kingdom

2009-01-20T07:21:00.004-06:00

I enjoy fishing. I am by no means a pro at it. I don’t know a whole lot about what it takes to be successful but I know enough to know that I enjoy it. I did not go much as a child but after being blessed with 2 boys, I figured I needed to start doing it so I can take them. And it has been a hit with them. The boys love it. I enjoy being outside, feeling the wind hit my face, or feeling the sunshine come down on me. It is fun to bait the boys’ hook and watch them try to cast. It is a great feeling for the boys to get me a worm or live minnow to put on the hook. I enjoy the sound of the line flying through the air as the hook and bait hit the water and make that "circle" in the water. I enjoy watching the boys jump up and down when we reel a fish in. I even enjoy that “rush” when I get a bite and get to reel one in. It makes me chuckle how every time we catch a fish, the first question that comes out of Aaron’s mouth is, “do we get to keep it or do we have to throw it back?” It is just an all-around fun time for us. There have been a few times when I have been without the boys, whether with my dad or brother-in-law who have or at one time had, boats of their own. It is just something about being out on the water that is peaceful and enjoyable.

Well, I digress. Let’s just say that fishing is fun. I am at a stage in my life where I cherish opportunities to spend time with the boys like this. And what a great opportunity fishing provides in this regard! But I have to say this also; while I enjoy fishing, I am not as “fired up” about cleaning the fish. Oh, I enjoy eating it. But the gutting and cleaning is just nasty, tedious, and inconvenient. I would rather someone else do that part. Doesn’t that sound selfish? The last time the boys and I went fishing, we had several bass and a huge catfish. I was pumped! In my mind, the boys and I had caught them and we were going to make it home just in time for a big football game coming on that night. We were going to watch the game, while my wife cleaned the fish and cooked it. Yep, I had it all planned out beautifully. It was a Saturday, so I had even gone over my Bible class and sermon material for the next morning before we went fishing so I wouldn’t have to fool with it that night. What a day! Go fishing, catch a bunch, come home and watch football while my wife labors in the kitchen cleaning and cooking the fish.

Well, there was a slight problem. I forgot to communicate my brilliant plan to Cody. And she was busy doing some things on her own and was unable to fulfill my unimpressive effort of prophecy. So the 1st half of the ballgame, I cleaned fish. And did it with much less enthusiasm and excitement than I had when catching the fish. In fact, it was with bitterness, resentment, and irritation. The football game was much more important to me. I did not want to make the time to clean these fish. I wanted someone else to do it.

Sometimes I wonder if this is similar to what happens in our efforts to catch people for Jesus. That is, we study with them, do our best to show them from the scriptures what they must do to become a Christian, we get them in the water and baptize them, and….then what? Leave them out to hang and dry? To fend for themselves….with no spiritual cleaning or guidance in how to maintain discipleship?

Friends, that evening was a tremendous lesson to me. But I think spiritually speaking, it can be a great lesson for all of us. We cannot afford to lose focus on what is most important AFTER catching souls. If we catch them, great! That is what we are supposed to do. But we have to clean them too.

All of us have seen the scenario played out, where a new brother or sister is added to the Lord’s body (Acts 2:37-47), and now we don’t even see them. They have stopped coming and now they have not been seen in weeks, months, perhaps even years. What did we do? Or what about those times when we have witnessed someone becoming a Christian, and they have not grown at all. I am convinced that if our focus is on converting, rather than merely convincing, we might have better results. In other words, Christianity is much more appealing when it is demonstrated rather than merely debated. If we want to bring people to Jesus, we must demonstrate our willingness to live it so that what we teach will match our actions. Our teaching the gospel cannot be effective if our hearts are not set on actually living the gospel too.

Perhaps it is beneficial for all of us to remember the scene in Luke 5:1-11, when Jesus taught His disciples that their focus was now to be on fishing for men, rather than for fish. We are told that they brought their boats to land, left everything, and followed Him. Truly following Him; that is His Word, His example, and His love for mankind is how we will gain opportunities to teach others about salvation. When Jesus “caught” these disciples, He spent a lot of time with them, continuing to guide and teach them about the kingdom. He knew they were unable to learn without His teaching and example. Let us remember that fishing for men involves so much more than merely verbally teaching people about the kingdom. While such is necessary, we must also convert them through our actions and examples so they will be convicted that kingdom living is the greatest lifestyle in the world. Otherwise, we just get them wet. I pray daily that I will be willing to bring my worldly and materialistic boat to land, leave everything, and follow Him.