A couple of years after I heeded God's call to full time ministry, I had the privilege to attend a meeting of the Dallas Baptist Association pastors' conference meeting in 1976 at the First Baptist Church of Dallas. On that particular occasion, the guest speaker was a man of whom I had only heard about and really knew nothing about. His name was Leonard Ravenhill. (You can read about him in the link I have attached at the end.)
Ravenhill was born in England in 1907, so when I heard him he was about 70 years old. He began to speak and his voice and words rang true to my heart and to all who were in attendance (no small number). I will never forget what he told us.
He said that when he was a small boy, the "higher criticism" of the Bible which began in Germany in the late 1800's had permeated Europe. Its main tenet was that the Bible was full of errors and concluded that since "God was dead," he and his word were of little significance. Ravenhill went on to tell us that the church in England had refused to accept that belief and that when World War I occurred, England prevailed because she still held onto God as sovereign.
However, as the years went on and a new generation of ministers were being trained, many followed and accepted the tenets of "higher criticism." They brought this teaching to the churches they pastored in England and by the time World War II ensued, the English people, for the most part, had no trust in the sovereign God of the universe. Had it not been for the American people who did trust in God, he believed that Germany would have prevailed. His challenge for us as pastors was to hold onto the belief in the inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures.
I will never forget that message and to this day, though I don't understand all that the Bible says, I believe that every word contained within its pages is "God-breathed" and that it is without error. The Bible is God's Word and God is alive and still orchestrating His plan for the ages to come and on into eternity.
The following concerning the importance of inerrancy is copied from a web site called: GotQuestions.org and is well worth reading as it reminds us that the Word of God is inerrant ... it is alive and absolutely essential for our lives today.
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Question: "Why is it important to believe in biblical inerrancy?"
Answer: We live in a time that tends to shrug its shoulders when confronted with error. Instead of asking, like Pilate, “What is truth?” postmodern man says, “Nothing is truth” or perhaps “There is truth, but we cannot know it.” We’ve grown accustomed to being lied to, and many people seem comfortable with the false notion that the Bible, too, contains errors.
The doctrine of biblical inerrancy is an extremely important one because the truth does matter. This issue reflects on the character of God and is foundational to our understanding of everything the Bible teaches. Here are some reasons why we should absolutely believe in biblical inerrancy:
1. The Bible itself claims to be perfect. “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6). “The law of the Lord is perfect” (Psalm 19:7). “Every word of God is pure” (Proverbs 30:5 KJV). These claims of purity and perfection are absolute statements. Note that it doesn’t say God’s Word is “mostly” pure or scripture is “nearly” perfect. The Bible argues for complete perfection, leaving no room for “partial perfection” theories.
2. The Bible stands or falls as a whole. If a major newspaper were routinely discovered to contain errors, it would be quickly discredited. It would make no difference to say, “All the errors are confined to page three.” For a paper to be reliable in any of its parts, it must be factual throughout. In the same way, if the Bible is inaccurate when it speaks of geology, why should its theology be trusted? It is either a trustworthy document, or it is not.
3. The Bible is a reflection of its Author. All books are. The Bible was written by God Himself as He worked through human authors in a process called “inspiration.” “All scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). See also 2 Peter 1:21 and Jeremiah 1:2.
We believe that the God who created the universe is capable of writing a book. And the God who is perfect is capable of writing a perfect book. The issue is not simply “Does the Bible have a mistake?” but “Can God make a mistake?” If the Bible contains factual errors, then God is not omniscient and is capable of making errors Himself. If the Bible contains misinformation, then God is not truthful but is instead a liar. If the Bible contains contradictions, then God is the author of confusion. In other words, if biblical inerrancy is not true, then God is not God.
4. The Bible judges us, not vice versa. “For the word of God...judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Notice the relationship between “the heart” and “the Word.” The Word examines; the heart is being examined. To discount parts of the Word for any reason is to reverse this process. We become the examiners, and the Word must submit to our “superior insight.” Yet God says, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?” (Romans 9:20).
5. The Bible’s message must be taken as a whole. It is not a mixture of doctrine that we are free to select from. Many people like the verses that say God loves them, but they dislike the verses that say God will judge sinners. But we simply cannot pick and choose what we like about the Bible and throw the rest away. If the Bible is wrong about hell, for example, then who is to say it is right about heaven—or about anything else? If the Bible cannot get the details right about creation, then maybe the details about salvation cannot be trusted either. If the story of Jonah is a myth, then perhaps so is the story of Jesus. On the contrary, God has said what He has said, and the Bible presents us a full picture of who God is. “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89).
6. The Bible is our only rule for faith and practice. If it is not reliable, then on what do we base our beliefs? Jesus asks for our trust, and that includes trust in what He says in His Word. John 6:67-69 is a beautiful passage. Jesus had just witnessed the departure of many who had claimed to follow Him. Then He turns to the twelve apostles and asks, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” At this, Peter speaks for the rest when he says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” May we have the same trust in the Lord and in His words of life.
None of what we have presented here should be taken as a rejection of true scholarship. Biblical inerrancy does not mean that we are to stop using our minds or accept what the Bible says blindly. We are commanded to study the Word (2 Timothy 2:15), and those who search it out are commended (Acts 17:11). Also, we recognize that there are difficult passages in the Bible, as well as sincere disagreements over interpretation. Our goal is to approach Scripture reverently and prayerfully, and when we find something we do not understand, we pray harder, study more, and—if the answer still eludes us—humbly acknowledge our own limitations in the face of the perfect Word of God.
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Ravenhill
http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-inerrancy.html
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
When God Steps In
This past weekend, Paula and I flew to Dallas to celebrate my 50th high school reunion. We had a great time and Paula fit in perfectly with those who were there (about 150). The one thing that we all said about the group gathered at the Embassy Suites near Love Field airport was that there sure were a lot of old people in the group, that is except for Paula who was the youngest one there. This always brought a good laugh ...
On Monday evening, we boarded our flight back to Denver and, as ususal, we sat with one seat between us so that, just maybe, we would sit by ourselves. Kinda selfish, huh? Lotsa folks walked past us and we were beginning to feel good about our seats when one woman asked if that middle seat was taken. I said that I would move over and she could have the aisle seat. She took it and apologized cause she knew what we were up to. But, she sat down anyhow.
I felt kinda sheepish by this point, and the Holy Spirit began to convict me of my attitude. Diane, whom we quickly met, said that maybe it was just what she needed ... to sit down next to us. She immediately opened up about her "trauma!" Diane's 21 year old daughter, Michelle, who is a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, had been rappelling down a rock face when she broke an ankle and tore some ligaments. Diane obviously was concerned about her and she was flying from Dallas to do what mothers do, make the pain go away. She wanted our advice about how to handle this, so we talked at length with her. Paula shared about how her ankle had been broken and tendons damaged years ago and that she still has problems with it. Our advice was that she needed to carefully convince Michelle that she definitely needs to have a really good orthopedic surgeon take care of her so that she won't suffer in the long run.
Diane was very thankful as we shared life experiences with her and she commented that she just knew that sitting with us was what she needed. Little did she understand that this was a God designed moment. I told her that we would be praying for both her and Michelle.
I had been praying and continued praying as I reached for Anne Graham Lotz' new book, Expecting to see Jesus. Our plane made a stop in Amarillo and many of the passengers got off leaving extra seats. Diane said that she was going to move and give us all more room and at that I knew that the time was right. I said, "May I pray for you and Michelle right now?" ... to which she was quick to say, "Yes!" She reached over and took my hand and I began to pray. Then, I asked her who Jesus was to her. She responded with something like, "a stong spiritual power." I had sensed all along that Diane was not a follower of Jesus and now I knew this for sure.
Knowing that I had just a few moments left with her, I quickly presented her with who Jesus really is ... God who came in human form to die on a cross to pay the price for our sins. Then, I told her what Jesus Himself said about getting to heaven, "No one comes to the Father but through Me." All you need to do is believe and ask Him to come into your life to save you.
At this she thanked me and got up to move across the aisle. When we got to Denver, she thanked us both again and we again said that we would be praying for a good outcome for Michelle.
I know that the Holy Spirit is the one who takes our words, feeble though they may be, and enlivens them in peoples' hearts. He is the one who convicts of sin. And, when someone confesses his/her sin and believes in Jesus, it is the Spirit who seals them forever into the family of God. I felt so inadequate but I continue to pray that Diane will recognize her fate outside of Christ and that she would come to faith in Him as her Lord and Savior. She is one for whom Jesus died. He desires to save her from a sinner's hell, but the choice is her's.
I trust that you too know who Jesus is and that you have given your life to Him. In Paul's letter to the Romans, he wrote, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) John quoted Jesus who said, "Here I am! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 4:20). He died for you and loves you so much that He is pleading for you to believe. Will you?
I am praying that God will use these words to touch your life and that you too will join us in following Jesus, all the way to eternity.
On Monday evening, we boarded our flight back to Denver and, as ususal, we sat with one seat between us so that, just maybe, we would sit by ourselves. Kinda selfish, huh? Lotsa folks walked past us and we were beginning to feel good about our seats when one woman asked if that middle seat was taken. I said that I would move over and she could have the aisle seat. She took it and apologized cause she knew what we were up to. But, she sat down anyhow.
I felt kinda sheepish by this point, and the Holy Spirit began to convict me of my attitude. Diane, whom we quickly met, said that maybe it was just what she needed ... to sit down next to us. She immediately opened up about her "trauma!" Diane's 21 year old daughter, Michelle, who is a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder, had been rappelling down a rock face when she broke an ankle and tore some ligaments. Diane obviously was concerned about her and she was flying from Dallas to do what mothers do, make the pain go away. She wanted our advice about how to handle this, so we talked at length with her. Paula shared about how her ankle had been broken and tendons damaged years ago and that she still has problems with it. Our advice was that she needed to carefully convince Michelle that she definitely needs to have a really good orthopedic surgeon take care of her so that she won't suffer in the long run.
Diane was very thankful as we shared life experiences with her and she commented that she just knew that sitting with us was what she needed. Little did she understand that this was a God designed moment. I told her that we would be praying for both her and Michelle.
I had been praying and continued praying as I reached for Anne Graham Lotz' new book, Expecting to see Jesus. Our plane made a stop in Amarillo and many of the passengers got off leaving extra seats. Diane said that she was going to move and give us all more room and at that I knew that the time was right. I said, "May I pray for you and Michelle right now?" ... to which she was quick to say, "Yes!" She reached over and took my hand and I began to pray. Then, I asked her who Jesus was to her. She responded with something like, "a stong spiritual power." I had sensed all along that Diane was not a follower of Jesus and now I knew this for sure.
Knowing that I had just a few moments left with her, I quickly presented her with who Jesus really is ... God who came in human form to die on a cross to pay the price for our sins. Then, I told her what Jesus Himself said about getting to heaven, "No one comes to the Father but through Me." All you need to do is believe and ask Him to come into your life to save you.
At this she thanked me and got up to move across the aisle. When we got to Denver, she thanked us both again and we again said that we would be praying for a good outcome for Michelle.
I know that the Holy Spirit is the one who takes our words, feeble though they may be, and enlivens them in peoples' hearts. He is the one who convicts of sin. And, when someone confesses his/her sin and believes in Jesus, it is the Spirit who seals them forever into the family of God. I felt so inadequate but I continue to pray that Diane will recognize her fate outside of Christ and that she would come to faith in Him as her Lord and Savior. She is one for whom Jesus died. He desires to save her from a sinner's hell, but the choice is her's.
I trust that you too know who Jesus is and that you have given your life to Him. In Paul's letter to the Romans, he wrote, "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) John quoted Jesus who said, "Here I am! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 4:20). He died for you and loves you so much that He is pleading for you to believe. Will you?
I am praying that God will use these words to touch your life and that you too will join us in following Jesus, all the way to eternity.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The Armor of God
Something that all believers in Jesus Christ need is a better understanding about the war in which we are involved. In order to fully protect ourselves we must know the enemy, Satan, and God gives us the tools of our warfare against him. God tells us what we are to wear in the battle ... we just need to understand the armor and how we are to wear it. A great website, www.gotquestions.org explains it for us.
Question: "What is the full armor of God?"
Answer: The phrase “full armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:13-17: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:12 clearly indicates that the conflict with Satan is spiritual, and therefore no tangible weapons can be effectively employed against him and his minions. We are not given a list of specific tactics Satan will use. However, the passage is quite clear that when we follow all the instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of Satan’s strategy.
The first element of our armor is truth (verse 14). This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable to Him” (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are therefore exhorted to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness.
Also in verse 14, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.
Verse 15 speaks of the preparation of the feet for spiritual conflict. In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan's territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in the path to halt the propagation of the gospel.
The shield of faith spoken of in verse 16 makes Satan's sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faith—of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2)— is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial.
The helmet of salvation in verse 17 is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved person has no hope of warding off the blows of false doctrine because he is without the helmet of salvation and his mind is incapable of discerning between spiritual truth and spiritual deception.
Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit—it is the Word of God. While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God. A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. In Jesus' temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. What a blessing that the same Word is available to us!
In verse 18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations.
Recommended Resource: The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare (Revised & Updated) by Ed Murphy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question: "What is the full armor of God?"
Answer: The phrase “full armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:13-17: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:12 clearly indicates that the conflict with Satan is spiritual, and therefore no tangible weapons can be effectively employed against him and his minions. We are not given a list of specific tactics Satan will use. However, the passage is quite clear that when we follow all the instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of Satan’s strategy.
The first element of our armor is truth (verse 14). This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable to Him” (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are therefore exhorted to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness.
Also in verse 14, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.
Verse 15 speaks of the preparation of the feet for spiritual conflict. In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan's territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in the path to halt the propagation of the gospel.
The shield of faith spoken of in verse 16 makes Satan's sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faith—of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2)— is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial.
The helmet of salvation in verse 17 is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved person has no hope of warding off the blows of false doctrine because he is without the helmet of salvation and his mind is incapable of discerning between spiritual truth and spiritual deception.
Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit—it is the Word of God. While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God. A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. In Jesus' temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. What a blessing that the same Word is available to us!
In verse 18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations.
Recommended Resource: The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare (Revised & Updated) by Ed Murphy.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Was the Cross Too Small for Jesus?
Yesterday, Sunday, October 2, 2011, was a wonderful day for Paula and me. We visited friends at the New Covenant Community Church which meets in a Rec Center just around the corner from our home. Ryan Gold is the pastor of this small congregation and he, his wife Rachel, and their four children are so very close to our hearts. Over the years, God has given us several younger families to add to our extended family and the Golds are the newest.
As Ryan was preparing us for the Lord's Supper celebration, he mentioned a passage of scripture found in Ephesians 3 which says, "18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God."
Quickly my mind went to the place where God set in place the both the height and depth of his panoply of all eternity ... that place was Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified. That day when Jesus died would seem to many a terrible day, and it was, except for the fact that He overcame death. His victory has given all who will believe on His name the assurance of eternal life in heaven with Him. Romans 5 tells us of that day and of God's love, " 8 But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners."
Go back with me to the Ephesians passage where it talks about "the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is."
Picture those rugged crossed timbers on which Jesus was nailed to die a horrible death. What do you suppose it was ... 6 feet across and 12 feet long? Maybe, but even at that it was way too small to contain the surpassing greatness of the body of our Lord.
John 3:16 tells us, “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life." Notice that God's love was expressed to the whole world! On that cross, Jesus spread out His arms way past the ends of the timbers to extend the circumference of the whole world! When He cried out to the Father “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” recorded in Matthew 27:46, His heart split open the heavens themselves reaching out to the Father who had turned His back on the Son because of the Sin He bore. That cross was no where tall enough for that "sin-laden" body reaching beyond the stars. Then, as His blood began to flow, it filled the hole which had been dug to drop that cross in. The sins of the world were pounded below that timber, shoved to the pit of hell where they belonged and the blood of Christ sealed them there for all eternity.
The length and width and height and depth of the Love of Christ is beyond our comprehension, however it also is so very close ... close enough to grasp when in simple faith the sinner, separated from God, says, "Lord Jesus, I believe in my heart that you died on that horrible cross for me. I believe that you are God come in the flesh to pay the sacrifice for my sin which I could not pay. I accept your gift of life and ask you to come into my heart and save me!"
This prayer of faith will move you into a whole new existence. If you pray this prayer with all your heart, then I will welcome you into God's family for ever and ever. Comment on this below and I will contact you and encourage you in your new walk of life.
As Ryan was preparing us for the Lord's Supper celebration, he mentioned a passage of scripture found in Ephesians 3 which says, "18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God."
Quickly my mind went to the place where God set in place the both the height and depth of his panoply of all eternity ... that place was Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified. That day when Jesus died would seem to many a terrible day, and it was, except for the fact that He overcame death. His victory has given all who will believe on His name the assurance of eternal life in heaven with Him. Romans 5 tells us of that day and of God's love, " 8 But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners."
Go back with me to the Ephesians passage where it talks about "the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is."
Picture those rugged crossed timbers on which Jesus was nailed to die a horrible death. What do you suppose it was ... 6 feet across and 12 feet long? Maybe, but even at that it was way too small to contain the surpassing greatness of the body of our Lord.
John 3:16 tells us, “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life." Notice that God's love was expressed to the whole world! On that cross, Jesus spread out His arms way past the ends of the timbers to extend the circumference of the whole world! When He cried out to the Father “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” recorded in Matthew 27:46, His heart split open the heavens themselves reaching out to the Father who had turned His back on the Son because of the Sin He bore. That cross was no where tall enough for that "sin-laden" body reaching beyond the stars. Then, as His blood began to flow, it filled the hole which had been dug to drop that cross in. The sins of the world were pounded below that timber, shoved to the pit of hell where they belonged and the blood of Christ sealed them there for all eternity.
The length and width and height and depth of the Love of Christ is beyond our comprehension, however it also is so very close ... close enough to grasp when in simple faith the sinner, separated from God, says, "Lord Jesus, I believe in my heart that you died on that horrible cross for me. I believe that you are God come in the flesh to pay the sacrifice for my sin which I could not pay. I accept your gift of life and ask you to come into my heart and save me!"
This prayer of faith will move you into a whole new existence. If you pray this prayer with all your heart, then I will welcome you into God's family for ever and ever. Comment on this below and I will contact you and encourage you in your new walk of life.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
God and God Alone
Today, I received a phone call from Jim Vess who is married to my neice Karen. Jim and Karen are very involved in their church in the Dallas, TX, area and he was talking to me about a mission trip that they will be taking in about a month to Egypt. Jim went there about a year ago with their daughter Amanda Wellman but he had not planned to go again for several reasons ... mainly the cost: about $3,000. Expensive as that is, he had promised Karen that he would not go again without her. Now, its up to $6,000. Still, Jim was challenged to go and he began to pray about it, "God, if you want us to go you will have to provide the funds."
A short time later, he was telling a co-worker about this and the guy asked, "How much will it cost?" Of course Jim told him, but only for himself. This man said that the $3,000 would be there the next day. Wow! Its great how God works ... half the cost without asking anyone but God. Then, at church he was telling someone about what had happened and was asked "why are you still trying to raise the money?' "Its for Karen to go also," he said. "Then, quit trying, the other $3,000 will be in the bank for you tomorrow."
I'm not sure that I got it exactly right, but this I did get ... its all about God and God alone!
Jim and I continued to talk and our talk drifted to politics ... a very hot topic for the day. My thoughts ran to God ... "please dear Lord, intervene in America."
It really doesn't make any difference which side of the aisle you happen to find yourself, whether liberal or conservative, left or right, or somewhere in between. There really is no solution that can be found in any man or woman. Barak Obama is running for president again and Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachman, etc. are opposing him. The radio/tv pundits take sides and cry out "vote for 'so-in-so' in order to save our country."
I am so tired of this talk (and I get caught up in it too). But what we really need is a visit from God. No man or woman will ever lead this country out of its depravity ... it must be God and God alone! Men all want to impose their political philosophies on someone else ... to force change by edict and law. Though I believe that the US Constitution is the greatest founding document ever created by man, it has been perverted by laws that aren't even read and by judicial rulings which are contrary to its intention.
My prayer is that God would come down and shake our foundations, change our collective and individual hearts, and once again glorify Himself. Therefore, it must be God, not man. What we need is a man or woman in office who is so filled with the Spirit of the Living God and not consummed by political correctness that change begins to take place through that leader. You see, this won't happen unless God is in it and in him or her, I don't care which. All I want is God and God alone. He truly is our only hope.
This concept is so beautifully stated in the following song written over 25 years ago. May God once again split the heavens wide open and come down to shake our false foundations.
"God and God Alone"
A short time later, he was telling a co-worker about this and the guy asked, "How much will it cost?" Of course Jim told him, but only for himself. This man said that the $3,000 would be there the next day. Wow! Its great how God works ... half the cost without asking anyone but God. Then, at church he was telling someone about what had happened and was asked "why are you still trying to raise the money?' "Its for Karen to go also," he said. "Then, quit trying, the other $3,000 will be in the bank for you tomorrow."
I'm not sure that I got it exactly right, but this I did get ... its all about God and God alone!
Jim and I continued to talk and our talk drifted to politics ... a very hot topic for the day. My thoughts ran to God ... "please dear Lord, intervene in America."
It really doesn't make any difference which side of the aisle you happen to find yourself, whether liberal or conservative, left or right, or somewhere in between. There really is no solution that can be found in any man or woman. Barak Obama is running for president again and Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachman, etc. are opposing him. The radio/tv pundits take sides and cry out "vote for 'so-in-so' in order to save our country."
I am so tired of this talk (and I get caught up in it too). But what we really need is a visit from God. No man or woman will ever lead this country out of its depravity ... it must be God and God alone! Men all want to impose their political philosophies on someone else ... to force change by edict and law. Though I believe that the US Constitution is the greatest founding document ever created by man, it has been perverted by laws that aren't even read and by judicial rulings which are contrary to its intention.
My prayer is that God would come down and shake our foundations, change our collective and individual hearts, and once again glorify Himself. Therefore, it must be God, not man. What we need is a man or woman in office who is so filled with the Spirit of the Living God and not consummed by political correctness that change begins to take place through that leader. You see, this won't happen unless God is in it and in him or her, I don't care which. All I want is God and God alone. He truly is our only hope.
This concept is so beautifully stated in the following song written over 25 years ago. May God once again split the heavens wide open and come down to shake our false foundations.
"God and God Alone"
written in 1984 by Phil McHugh and recorded by Steve Green
God and God alone created all these things we call our own From the mighty to the small the Glory in them all is God's and God's alone
God and God alone reveals the truth of all we call unknown and the best and worst of man won't change the Master's plan it's God's and God's alone
God and God alone will be the joy of our eternal home He will be our one desire Our hearts will never tire of God's and God's alone.
Chorus:
God and God alone is fit to take the universe's throne
Let everything that lives reserve it's truest praise for God and God alone
God and God alone reveals the truth of all we call unknown and the best and worst of man won't change the Master's plan it's God's and God's alone
God and God alone will be the joy of our eternal home He will be our one desire Our hearts will never tire of God's and God's alone.
Chorus:
God and God alone is fit to take the universe's throne
Let everything that lives reserve it's truest praise for God and God alone
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Cleansed Once Again
Psalm 51
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
One of the most devastating experiences in life is for the Christ follower to not only sin, but to retain that sin. It crushes one's spirit and Satan is quick to pounce on it in the hope of keeping you down. But a quick humble and contrite confession of that sin to God brings complete cleansing and restoration.
The sin, that Hebrews 12 talks about, which is that weakest point in each person, is cleansed as well ... Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for ALL our sins and the promise of God is that "if you confess your sins He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Having been cleansed once again, David says that he will have JOY. And, I too have been cleansed and, now clean before God, I have uninterrupted fellowship with Him and my Joy is complete. The sin is all of me and the cleansing is all of God.
There is an old hymn sung for generations which asks "Have you been to Jesus for that cleansing flood and been washed in the blood of the Lamb?" Oh dear saint, do not retain your sin but quickly confess it and allow the love of God, in His Son, to completely and thoroughly cleanse you from the inside out. He promises He will do it and Satan is a liar when he tries to convince you and me that we have sinned one time too many.
Totally forgiven ... cleansed once again!
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
One of the most devastating experiences in life is for the Christ follower to not only sin, but to retain that sin. It crushes one's spirit and Satan is quick to pounce on it in the hope of keeping you down. But a quick humble and contrite confession of that sin to God brings complete cleansing and restoration.
The sin, that Hebrews 12 talks about, which is that weakest point in each person, is cleansed as well ... Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for ALL our sins and the promise of God is that "if you confess your sins He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Having been cleansed once again, David says that he will have JOY. And, I too have been cleansed and, now clean before God, I have uninterrupted fellowship with Him and my Joy is complete. The sin is all of me and the cleansing is all of God.
There is an old hymn sung for generations which asks "Have you been to Jesus for that cleansing flood and been washed in the blood of the Lamb?" Oh dear saint, do not retain your sin but quickly confess it and allow the love of God, in His Son, to completely and thoroughly cleanse you from the inside out. He promises He will do it and Satan is a liar when he tries to convince you and me that we have sinned one time too many.
Totally forgiven ... cleansed once again!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Does Prayer Really Work?
Some time back, I had an interesting conversation with a man who came by to clean our carpet. The train of thought turned to America, “where we have been” and “where we are headed.” He was trying his best to be positive about the future, but it was very difficult. He mentioned that we need to pray for the president. I was feeling kinda down and a bit pessimistic at that prospect, but I agreed that we need to pray. I blamed our leaders for the situation in America and he said, "We the people..." put him there. This guy left and I began to think that we Americans ... Christian Americans ... need to be on our faces before God to confess our sins and to pray for those in authority over us.
In 2 Chronicles 7:13-15, God said, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Do we really believe God ... do we believe that He can change our hearts ... do we believe that He still has a plan for America? Is God really sovereign? Is He still in control? Do I believe?
Recorded in John 16: 23, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.” And, in 24 ” ...Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.” Then, after the disciples stated their faith, He said in 31 “So now you believe?” And finally, in 33 ... “In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world."
In 2007 Chuck Swindoll wrote a prayer for the National Day of Prayer which was printed on book-marks that were sent out all over the country to those who had agreed to join in that day. I still have this in my Bible and it reads:
"Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.
In these unsafe days, You remain all-powerful and able to protect;
In these uncertain times, You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;
In the unprecedented events we're facing, You remain absolutely sovereign. Our times are in Your hands.
Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial ... our need for Your forgiveness is constant ... our gratitude for Your grace is profound ... our love for You is deep.
We ask that You guard and guide our President and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation, under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.
And may that blend of integrity and humility heal our land.
In our Lord's name we pray, Amen.”
In 2 Chronicles 7:13-15, God said, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
Do we really believe God ... do we believe that He can change our hearts ... do we believe that He still has a plan for America? Is God really sovereign? Is He still in control? Do I believe?
Recorded in John 16: 23, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.” And, in 24 ” ...Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.” Then, after the disciples stated their faith, He said in 31 “So now you believe?” And finally, in 33 ... “In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world."
In 2007 Chuck Swindoll wrote a prayer for the National Day of Prayer which was printed on book-marks that were sent out all over the country to those who had agreed to join in that day. I still have this in my Bible and it reads:
"Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.
In these unsafe days, You remain all-powerful and able to protect;
In these uncertain times, You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;
In the unprecedented events we're facing, You remain absolutely sovereign. Our times are in Your hands.
Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial ... our need for Your forgiveness is constant ... our gratitude for Your grace is profound ... our love for You is deep.
We ask that You guard and guide our President and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation, under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.
And may that blend of integrity and humility heal our land.
In our Lord's name we pray, Amen.”
Monday, August 29, 2011
The Crisis of the EU: Is America Headed There Too?
We believe that America was founded by the intention of God so that we might have a place to worship Him in spirit and truth, and that we might be a light to the world that freedom is found in the purpose of God. We are to be a light to the rest of the world as Israel was intended to be when God founded it by promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc. Darkness (evil) wants nothing to do with light and will do anything it can to move America away from her intended purpose. For all her faults and sins, God still wants to bless us. We must stand up against evil, against all forces which would deter America from being in the center of God's will. Hillsdale College has taken this stand and Václav Klaus of the Czech Republic warns us concerning the direction we are taking.
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On Václav Klaus
Larry P. Arnn
President, Hillsdale CollegeVáclav Klaus is the president of the Czech Republic, and has served twice as its prime minister. He was born in Prague in 1941, and holds his doctorate in economics from the University of Economics in Prague, where he still teaches. He also studied in Italy in 1966 and in the United States in 1969.
July/August 2011
Václav Klaus
President,
Czech Republic
“Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. ISSN 0277-8432. Imprimis trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office #1563325.
For the whole Imprimis article click on the following link:
http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp
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On Václav Klaus
Larry P. Arnn
President, Hillsdale CollegeVáclav Klaus is the president of the Czech Republic, and has served twice as its prime minister. He was born in Prague in 1941, and holds his doctorate in economics from the University of Economics in Prague, where he still teaches. He also studied in Italy in 1966 and in the United States in 1969.
July/August 2011
Václav Klaus
President,
Czech Republic
"In Europe, we have witnessed a gradual shift away from liberalizing and removing barriers and towards a massive introduction of regulation from above, an ever-expanding welfare system, new and more sophisticated forms of protectionism, and continuously growing legal and regulatory burdens on business. All of these weaken and restrain freedom, democracy and democratic accountability, not to mention economic efficiency, entrepreneurship and competitiveness.
"Europeans today prefer leisure to performance, security to risk-taking, paternalism to free markets, collectivism and group entitlements to individualism. They have always been more risk-averse than Americans, but the difference continues to grow. Economic freedom has a very low priority here. It seems that Europeans are not interested in capitalism and free markets and do not understand that their current behavior undermines the very institutions that made their past success possible. They are eager to defend their non-economic freedoms—the easiness, looseness, laxity and permissiveness of modern or post-modern European society—but when it comes to their economic freedoms, they are quite indifferent.
"The critical situation in Europe today is visible to everybody. It is not possible to hide it. I had believed that this spectacle would be a help to the cause of political and economic freedom in Europe, but this is not proving to be the case. Of course, with the way your American government has been going, you might be able to catch up with us—in terms of our problems—very soon. But you are not as far along yet. So maybe seeing Europe’s crisis today will at least help you in America turn back toward freedom." “Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College.” SUBSCRIPTION FREE UPON REQUEST. ISSN 0277-8432. Imprimis trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office #1563325.
For the whole Imprimis article click on the following link:
http://www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis.asp
Masterpiece in the Making
Most of the time, I don't see myself in a very good light, but there is something about being in a process. We are told that God sees us through the veil of His Son's sacrifice ... He sees us as "glorified!" (Romans 8:30). What does this mean? Let me tell you something about my wife. Paula, as a very accomplished interior designer (she doesn't see herself as that accomplished, by the way), is a visionary. She gets a picture of the end result of her client's home before she has begun and throughout the process she has that picture in her mind until at the end of the project it comes out just as she had seen it...beautiful!
In much the same way, God is a visionary as well, though in a perfect sense. He sees us for what we will become and considers us beautiful now. Wow! What an overwhelming thought. If we stop looking in the mirror and start looking at ourselves through the eyes of God, it will revolutionize our understanding of self. As Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Its not I but Christ living in me..." (Galatians 2:20). God really does see us this way and we need to accept that He is in us, and has a perfect plan for us.
Gwen Smith writes about this in her "Girlfriends in God" devotional where she says, "Real beauty isn’t about a finished or flawless product. It can’t be. It’s not possible on this side of eternity to have completed beauty. Our restoration will be complete in the presence of God when we see Him face to face."
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Remaining Polution Free
Dr. David Jeremiah reminds us that in order to keep ourselves free from the polution of this world, we must take some specific steps that will help.
I recall driving through a dirty little town in eastern Colorado several years ago. This town was covered in dust from the wind blowing across the dry, stripped farmland surrounding it. I had to roll up my windows, close off the vents of my A/C and turn the fan off. It helped, somewhat, but there still was a layer of dust on the dash and all inside the car. It smelled bad and I knew that I had inhaled some of that dust. The best I could do was to hurry through that town and surrounding area and look forward to home where it was dust free.
Living the Christian life does not keep the dust from flying around us. However, the steps Dr. Jeremiah writes about are like rolling up the windows, closing the vents, putting a scarf over our noses, and looking forward to getting Home.
Keep your "personal space" free from pollutants. Just as America's Environmental Protection Agency is concerned about land, water and air pollution, our spiritual EPA should be concerned about toxins in three areas of life -- people, places and practices.
I recall driving through a dirty little town in eastern Colorado several years ago. This town was covered in dust from the wind blowing across the dry, stripped farmland surrounding it. I had to roll up my windows, close off the vents of my A/C and turn the fan off. It helped, somewhat, but there still was a layer of dust on the dash and all inside the car. It smelled bad and I knew that I had inhaled some of that dust. The best I could do was to hurry through that town and surrounding area and look forward to home where it was dust free.
Living the Christian life does not keep the dust from flying around us. However, the steps Dr. Jeremiah writes about are like rolling up the windows, closing the vents, putting a scarf over our noses, and looking forward to getting Home.
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Is your life 'Pollution Free'? by David Jeremiah
Keep your "personal space" free from pollutants. Just as America's Environmental Protection Agency is concerned about land, water and air pollution, our spiritual EPA should be concerned about toxins in three areas of life -- people, places and practices.
PEOPLE
It begins with the people we're with. When baseball great Lou Gehrig was starting his career, the Yankees sent him to Hartford to get some practice in the minor leagues. Until then, Lou had lived at home. Now for the first time in his life, he was living with a rough crowd of minor league ballplayers who cursed, drank heavily and spent their time in bars and speakeasies. Gehrig began experimenting with alcohol and consorting with the wilder men on the team. Consequently his game went into a slump.
The manager of the Hartford Senators, a small, wiry man named Paddy O'Connor, took Gehrig under his wing and mentored him like a father. One night, O'Conner invited the player to his home for dinner. "Lou," he said, "you have a great career ahead of you. Nothing can stop you, except Lou Gehrig. That gang you're traveling with is poison...."
O'Conner talked to the young man about choosing friends and working hard, and he ended by saying, "Think it over." Gehrig did think it over. He quit the gang and went on to become one of the greatest figures in the history of baseball.
Perhaps we need to think it over, too. Think of the people you most enjoy seeing. The ones you relax with after work or on weekends. The people you call if you have exciting news or feel depressed. Do they build you up spiritually? Is your walk with the Lord stronger after you've been with them, or weaker? One of the Bible's "EPA" regulations for the soul says, "Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
PLACES
We must avoid toxic places, too. There's always a corner of the magazine shop at the airport that isn't healthy. If you use your Internet, there are thousands of noxious sites to avoid. If you join your friends for a movie, there are some films that can contaminate the milieu of your mind.
The Bible says, "Ponder the path of your feet" (Proverbs 4:26) and "Make straight paths for your feet ..." (Hebrews 12:13). Think of these commands as God's EPA regulations for your life.
PRACTICES
We also need to guard against toxic practices -- habits in our lives that defile us. Too often we allow our culture to infringe upon our lives, creating the opportunity for Satan to influence our choices whether it is in our language, our reading material or the television shows we watch. The radios in our cars, turned to the wrong stations, can pollute the air with profanities and obscenities. Toxicity is everywhere, but we can avoid it.
Wherever we are, it is important to remain committed to pursuing righteousness, since we know that God has called us to "Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). We can remain "uncontaminated" by our environment if we remain diligent and alert.
It's vital to maintain vigilance and discipline to avoid the many temptations and snares that are available in our culture. The pollutant could be anything from pornography to pessimism, but the Christian must work to preserve an environment where our Holy God can dwell. Someone said that first we make our habits, and then our habits make us.
Backsliding begins with small steps, but improving the environmental quality of our lives begins the same way. Let's ask ourselves: What one thing can we do to provide a cleaner, healthier environment for our souls? How can we develop a quality system of living? What little change can yield lifelong results? Perhaps it's as simple as changing what we do on Friday nights, or meeting a Christian friend for coffee and forming a new friendship. Maybe it's installing a filter on the home computer or cancelling some of the cable services.
Keep the landscape of your life, the waters of your mind, and the atmosphere of your home healthy and holy. Give a hoot -- don't pollute.
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Jeremiah is the founder and host of "Turning Point for God" radio and TV, and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. For more information on Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Things We Think On
It is amazing to me how God works; how He uses others to impress upon me what is so important to Himself. Let me tell you about a short trip and a visit yesterday.Only 90 miles from my home in the south Denver metro area I have a cousin who is a widow, a few years older than myself, and who either has Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Since finding out about her illness, I have made the trip up the mountain several times to check in on her ... though she has some people from her church who are caregivers, Carolyn lives at home by herself. She is progressing in the disease to where it may be necessary to have someone there with her daily instead of just someone checking in on her.
Anyhow, just yesterday I drove up and met her and a friend at a restaurant for lunch. We had a great visit and Carolyn seemed upbeat. Her friend told me that she had come by to pick up Carolyn for church on Sunday and that Carolyn was very weepy and sad ... it took several hours of talking and care to get her beyond this. I asked Carolyn what seems to make her sad and as best that she could remember, she tried to tell me about some things that, to me, seemed trivial. However, they were not trivial to her at the time.
I shared with her how God wants us to think on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)
Carolyn smiled and said, "Ok."
Now, realistically, unless God opens her mind to these good things (for which He is more than able to do for her) she likely will fall into the trap of what some have called "stinkin thinkin" again.
Then I began to think about my own mind. I don't have any excuse for getting depressed; for falling into the trap of "stinkin thinkin." But, I still do it, more than I would like to admit. How do I stop this incessant attitude failure? I mean, my goodness, look at what I have (much more than I need), I have a beautiful and godly wife, a lovely family, and look at where I am bound (heaven). So, why do I get caught up in the things that bring me down into the pit of dispair.
Like Carolyn, I need to simply say "Ok" and then trust God to take care of what lies ahead, "forgetting what lies behind, and press on toward the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ" as the Apostle Paul tells us.
Carolyn, for most of the time is a sweet and happy person, and I pray that she will live out her days, if nothing else, with joy. And so must I.
What about you?
Anyhow, just yesterday I drove up and met her and a friend at a restaurant for lunch. We had a great visit and Carolyn seemed upbeat. Her friend told me that she had come by to pick up Carolyn for church on Sunday and that Carolyn was very weepy and sad ... it took several hours of talking and care to get her beyond this. I asked Carolyn what seems to make her sad and as best that she could remember, she tried to tell me about some things that, to me, seemed trivial. However, they were not trivial to her at the time.
I shared with her how God wants us to think on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)
Carolyn smiled and said, "Ok."
Now, realistically, unless God opens her mind to these good things (for which He is more than able to do for her) she likely will fall into the trap of what some have called "stinkin thinkin" again.
Then I began to think about my own mind. I don't have any excuse for getting depressed; for falling into the trap of "stinkin thinkin." But, I still do it, more than I would like to admit. How do I stop this incessant attitude failure? I mean, my goodness, look at what I have (much more than I need), I have a beautiful and godly wife, a lovely family, and look at where I am bound (heaven). So, why do I get caught up in the things that bring me down into the pit of dispair.
Like Carolyn, I need to simply say "Ok" and then trust God to take care of what lies ahead, "forgetting what lies behind, and press on toward the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ" as the Apostle Paul tells us.
Carolyn, for most of the time is a sweet and happy person, and I pray that she will live out her days, if nothing else, with joy. And so must I.
What about you?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Glory of Pastors
Proverbs 25:2-3
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable."
When the pastor of a congregation of God's people stands before them, he stands as a king, ordained by God to reveal the Lord's purpose. The intent of the Lord is that there be a man of God who has searched the concealed things of God in His Word so that the people may understand and reply, "Yes, we see and now know what God has for us."
But, since Peter says that we are all kings and priests unto God, then why has God chosen this method of revealing His will to us. Couldn't we all just search out the Scriptures and find out for ourselves what He has hidden? Yes, and often this is the case, but it is also the case that God has given us a godly man who is committed to serving the Lord ... who daily searches the hidden things of God ... and, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests; this is the one who will stand before the whole congregation and declare, "thus says the Lord!" In so doing, the whole congregation can say with one voice, "Amen! As the Lord has shown us, so will we do."
For this reason, the congregation of God is called "a body of believers." There is first the Head, who is Jesus Christ and then there is the pastor who is under the Lord; there are men of God who are elders; and, then, there is the rest of the body which functions for the glory of God.
Therefore, it is the glory of the pastor (king or elder) to search out the unsearchable riches of the Word of God; to find the hidden things of God; and to declare these hidden things. Just as John the revelator was shown the hidden things and wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ (this was his glory), so the pastor's glory is to be shown and to show. And, for this reason, he is worth his weight in gold ... the one in whom God has chosen for this day and hour to show us all that our God reigns and is sovereign.
And, all the people said, "Amen!?
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable."
When the pastor of a congregation of God's people stands before them, he stands as a king, ordained by God to reveal the Lord's purpose. The intent of the Lord is that there be a man of God who has searched the concealed things of God in His Word so that the people may understand and reply, "Yes, we see and now know what God has for us."
But, since Peter says that we are all kings and priests unto God, then why has God chosen this method of revealing His will to us. Couldn't we all just search out the Scriptures and find out for ourselves what He has hidden? Yes, and often this is the case, but it is also the case that God has given us a godly man who is committed to serving the Lord ... who daily searches the hidden things of God ... and, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests; this is the one who will stand before the whole congregation and declare, "thus says the Lord!" In so doing, the whole congregation can say with one voice, "Amen! As the Lord has shown us, so will we do."
For this reason, the congregation of God is called "a body of believers." There is first the Head, who is Jesus Christ and then there is the pastor who is under the Lord; there are men of God who are elders; and, then, there is the rest of the body which functions for the glory of God.
Therefore, it is the glory of the pastor (king or elder) to search out the unsearchable riches of the Word of God; to find the hidden things of God; and to declare these hidden things. Just as John the revelator was shown the hidden things and wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ (this was his glory), so the pastor's glory is to be shown and to show. And, for this reason, he is worth his weight in gold ... the one in whom God has chosen for this day and hour to show us all that our God reigns and is sovereign.
And, all the people said, "Amen!?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The Heart of the President
The Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) I take comfort in this passage because it is my desire to be a “man of God” – and since, when I read God’s Word, I am taught, rebuked, corrected and encouraged to live a righteous life, then I understand that I am a child of God and that the process of being godly is still ongoing.
This morning, as I was reading in the Bible, I was again chastised by God for my attitude toward the President. Mr. Obama and I are so diametrically at opposite ends of the spectrum of what America should look like that I often take positions against him which are anti-godly. It is one thing to speak against his actions and beliefs, but to speak against the man is very ungodly. In this process, I am often like a stubborn jack-ass with the bit in my mouth. (For those of you who might not understand this, the bit is meant to direct the animal, but when the animal gets hold of the bit, it takes control.) When God is trying to get my attention and I get hold of the bit myself, He will use every tool at his disposal to regain control. So, just last Sunday evening, He did this with Paula when through her He chastised me. In Proverbs 19:14b, “… a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
We had just finished a wonderful Mother’s Day dinner with our family and were on our way home when the subject of emails came up. She asked me “when was the last time you prayed for the president?” I had to admit that it had been a while, but I wasn’t in a mood of listening to her or God. I just changed the subject.
But, God was not through with me yet. His patience is amazing. I can just see Him shaking His head and saying, “Will this boy ever get it right?” However, Father Knows Best, as the old TV series was titled, and this is where my reading in Proverbs 21:1 took me: “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” So, once again, I have to confess that my heart is hard and I don’t want to pray for the president. However, in doing so, I have to agree with God that often I don’t really believe in His absolute power as God.
If we are all in God’s hand and His Word says that “He works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose,” and, if we believe that “the king’s (or president’s) heart” is subject to God, then we must be about praying for that to happen. We have the privilege to participate with God in changing the direction of our country by praying that God will change the heart of our president. If you will read in the story of Daniel, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar stiffened his neck against God and God literally put him out to pasture for about a year eating grass like the cattle. Not until he looked up and acknowledged the “God of heaven” was he restored to his role as king. So, if God can change that pagan king’s heart and if He can change my heart, then He can surely change Obama’s heart and your heart, too.
Once again, I recommit myself to praying that through the president God will be glorified … that America again will be known as a godly nation … and, that, if this president or any other leader gets the bit in his mouth and refuses to honor God, then he (or she) will be removed from any position of leadership (put out to pasture).
This morning, as I was reading in the Bible, I was again chastised by God for my attitude toward the President. Mr. Obama and I are so diametrically at opposite ends of the spectrum of what America should look like that I often take positions against him which are anti-godly. It is one thing to speak against his actions and beliefs, but to speak against the man is very ungodly. In this process, I am often like a stubborn jack-ass with the bit in my mouth. (For those of you who might not understand this, the bit is meant to direct the animal, but when the animal gets hold of the bit, it takes control.) When God is trying to get my attention and I get hold of the bit myself, He will use every tool at his disposal to regain control. So, just last Sunday evening, He did this with Paula when through her He chastised me. In Proverbs 19:14b, “… a prudent wife is from the Lord.”
We had just finished a wonderful Mother’s Day dinner with our family and were on our way home when the subject of emails came up. She asked me “when was the last time you prayed for the president?” I had to admit that it had been a while, but I wasn’t in a mood of listening to her or God. I just changed the subject.
But, God was not through with me yet. His patience is amazing. I can just see Him shaking His head and saying, “Will this boy ever get it right?” However, Father Knows Best, as the old TV series was titled, and this is where my reading in Proverbs 21:1 took me: “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” So, once again, I have to confess that my heart is hard and I don’t want to pray for the president. However, in doing so, I have to agree with God that often I don’t really believe in His absolute power as God.
If we are all in God’s hand and His Word says that “He works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose,” and, if we believe that “the king’s (or president’s) heart” is subject to God, then we must be about praying for that to happen. We have the privilege to participate with God in changing the direction of our country by praying that God will change the heart of our president. If you will read in the story of Daniel, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar stiffened his neck against God and God literally put him out to pasture for about a year eating grass like the cattle. Not until he looked up and acknowledged the “God of heaven” was he restored to his role as king. So, if God can change that pagan king’s heart and if He can change my heart, then He can surely change Obama’s heart and your heart, too.
Once again, I recommit myself to praying that through the president God will be glorified … that America again will be known as a godly nation … and, that, if this president or any other leader gets the bit in his mouth and refuses to honor God, then he (or she) will be removed from any position of leadership (put out to pasture).
Friday, April 29, 2011
Incomprehensible!
Just a few weeks ago, the world watched as a huge tsunami wave, the result of a 9.0 earthquake, moved at the speed of a jet aircraft toward the shore of Japan. From the vantage point of news helicopters overhead, TV viewers around the world looked on in awe at the approaching wave of destruction. We saw unsuspecting residents in the east coast town of Sendai and the surrounding area go about their business, in cars and trucks, or walking and riding bicycles … people who were beginning their day as usual. They had little or no warning of their impending death. Yet, it came with such an incomprehensible force, and there was nothing that could be done to stop it from reaching its devastating destination.
“Can’t someone warn them to flee?” I gazed pleadingly at the TV screen … “Look out! Run! Go the other way! Don’t you know that you are about to die?” My prayers went unheeded … they just couldn’t hear me. I gasped as once living, breathing human beings were swept away to their certain deaths.
In the days following, heroic Japanese men sacrificed their lives … facing sure and certain suffering and eventual death as they desperately sought to seal off the Fukushima nuclear power plant facilities which had been damaged by the tsunami, but to no avail. One man was quoted as saying that he would willingly give his life because that was the right thing to do. Wow! What devotion, what a great attitude … yet they either died or will die from radioactive poisoning.
And, that tsunami … no one could have even thought that they might have stood on the beach and absorbed the full power of that wave with any effect. Death would be certain. Whether to be overcome with radioactive poisoning or the devastation of the tsunami, there is no one who can stop that kind of power.
We have all heard of young men and women who have willingly given their lives for their friends or for their country. They have been honored and held in highest esteem; some of those have been awarded, in the United States, with the Purple Heart or the highest medal of appreciation … the Congressional Medal of Honor. They too have died or will die and we can only say “thank you” for the sacrifice.
There was another who had this kind of attitude. There was one who looked down and saw people who were wandering around hopelessly and who were bound for certain death. That person is Jesus Christ! The scripture tells us that “while we were yet sinners (facing certain death) Christ gave His life for us!” Romans 5:8.
Incomprehensible! Think about this, that someone, anyone, would take on the uncontrollable power of sin and effectively push it back … defeat it, completely and totally! Wow! Incomprehensible!
This past week I heard Pastor Mike Romberger speak of this attitude that was Christ’s. He willingly stood in the gap for us between condemnation … certain death and separation from God for eternity. Thoughts began to permeate my mind as I contemplated this story, this event from my own personal study and from my personal relationship with eternal God through this one who sacrificed for me … for all of us. I tried to picture this sacrifice in a way that I understood, some way to help me and others better comprehend this horrible set of circumstances of perfect God transcending sinless heaven to become a perfect sacrifice or payment for the sins of the whole world. What could suffice, in our limited minds, as an understandable vision of this attitude and sacrifice? Then, God revealed to me that Jesus, in like fashion, stood on the beach of time and absorbed the full impact of the tsunami of sin and stopped it then and there. He came down into the power plant of sin and capped the fission that promised certain death. He took it all upon Himself.
There is no man alive who could have taken on that task with success except the Son of God who became a man in order to fulfill that tall order. It took the very Son of God, the perfect and acceptable sacrifice to stand in the gap for us all. John 3:16-17 tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever would believe on His name should have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” There was no one on earth who could meet the qualifications for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
The prophet Isaiah, speaking of Jesus centuries before wrote, “We're all, like sheep, who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on Him.” (53:6)NCV
So it was inevitable that Jesus alone would be able to take the brunt of God’s judgment … He alone could take the weight of punishment which each of us deserves. He died for us by taking the tsunami of sin on His shoulders. But, it does not end there!
On Easter, we celebrate His resurrection from the dead which the Apostle Paul writes, “Christ has truly risen. Death has come because of what one man did, but the rising from death also comes because of one man. In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again. But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life … Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your pain? Death’s power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 55-57) NCV
If you have never personally accepted this payment for your sins and you want to experience this victory … if you want to live forever with God, the Bible says: “all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) And, “to all who accept Him (as Lord and Savior) and believe in Him He gave the right to be the children of God.” (John 1:12)
Just pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died on a cruel cross to pay for my sins. Also, I believe that you were raised from the dead, just as you said, and that you are back in heaven with God the Father. I want to live with you forever so I confess my sins and believe that you are making me to be a child of God. Thank you for saving me from death … thank you for giving me the victory. Amen!
“Can’t someone warn them to flee?” I gazed pleadingly at the TV screen … “Look out! Run! Go the other way! Don’t you know that you are about to die?” My prayers went unheeded … they just couldn’t hear me. I gasped as once living, breathing human beings were swept away to their certain deaths.
In the days following, heroic Japanese men sacrificed their lives … facing sure and certain suffering and eventual death as they desperately sought to seal off the Fukushima nuclear power plant facilities which had been damaged by the tsunami, but to no avail. One man was quoted as saying that he would willingly give his life because that was the right thing to do. Wow! What devotion, what a great attitude … yet they either died or will die from radioactive poisoning.
And, that tsunami … no one could have even thought that they might have stood on the beach and absorbed the full power of that wave with any effect. Death would be certain. Whether to be overcome with radioactive poisoning or the devastation of the tsunami, there is no one who can stop that kind of power.
We have all heard of young men and women who have willingly given their lives for their friends or for their country. They have been honored and held in highest esteem; some of those have been awarded, in the United States, with the Purple Heart or the highest medal of appreciation … the Congressional Medal of Honor. They too have died or will die and we can only say “thank you” for the sacrifice.
There was another who had this kind of attitude. There was one who looked down and saw people who were wandering around hopelessly and who were bound for certain death. That person is Jesus Christ! The scripture tells us that “while we were yet sinners (facing certain death) Christ gave His life for us!” Romans 5:8.
Incomprehensible! Think about this, that someone, anyone, would take on the uncontrollable power of sin and effectively push it back … defeat it, completely and totally! Wow! Incomprehensible!
This past week I heard Pastor Mike Romberger speak of this attitude that was Christ’s. He willingly stood in the gap for us between condemnation … certain death and separation from God for eternity. Thoughts began to permeate my mind as I contemplated this story, this event from my own personal study and from my personal relationship with eternal God through this one who sacrificed for me … for all of us. I tried to picture this sacrifice in a way that I understood, some way to help me and others better comprehend this horrible set of circumstances of perfect God transcending sinless heaven to become a perfect sacrifice or payment for the sins of the whole world. What could suffice, in our limited minds, as an understandable vision of this attitude and sacrifice? Then, God revealed to me that Jesus, in like fashion, stood on the beach of time and absorbed the full impact of the tsunami of sin and stopped it then and there. He came down into the power plant of sin and capped the fission that promised certain death. He took it all upon Himself.
There is no man alive who could have taken on that task with success except the Son of God who became a man in order to fulfill that tall order. It took the very Son of God, the perfect and acceptable sacrifice to stand in the gap for us all. John 3:16-17 tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever would believe on His name should have eternal life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” There was no one on earth who could meet the qualifications for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
The prophet Isaiah, speaking of Jesus centuries before wrote, “We're all, like sheep, who've wandered off and gotten lost. We've all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong, on Him.” (53:6)NCV
So it was inevitable that Jesus alone would be able to take the brunt of God’s judgment … He alone could take the weight of punishment which each of us deserves. He died for us by taking the tsunami of sin on His shoulders. But, it does not end there!
On Easter, we celebrate His resurrection from the dead which the Apostle Paul writes, “Christ has truly risen. Death has come because of what one man did, but the rising from death also comes because of one man. In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again. But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life … Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your pain? Death’s power to hurt is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 55-57) NCV
If you have never personally accepted this payment for your sins and you want to experience this victory … if you want to live forever with God, the Bible says: “all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) And, “to all who accept Him (as Lord and Savior) and believe in Him He gave the right to be the children of God.” (John 1:12)
Just pray this prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died on a cruel cross to pay for my sins. Also, I believe that you were raised from the dead, just as you said, and that you are back in heaven with God the Father. I want to live with you forever so I confess my sins and believe that you are making me to be a child of God. Thank you for saving me from death … thank you for giving me the victory. Amen!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Oprah's New Age Message
I was searching for something else and came across this information about Oprah ... I knew something about her beliefs but this was a shocker.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oprah has amassed a business estate worth $1 billion. People flock to her show as devotees like little children hoping to get an ice cream cone or the newest toy. True, she says and does some good things, and gives expensive gifts and trips to her audiences but her message that adversely affects so many people is right out of the New Age manefesto ... "Jesus didn't come to die on a cross but to show us how to live the Christ conscious life." Theologically speaking, this is nothing but Hogwash! Listen for yourself to the you tube video and then read the article from the blog.
As for me, I will have trouble ever again listening to the voice of this woman who claims to be christian (emphasis a little 'c'). You see, to Oprah, Jesus is not the only way to the Father ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM5ILOsHLnw&NR=1
http://www.shatteredparadigm.blogspot.com/
Christ followers, we need to pray for Oprah ... one day she will die and leave it all behind. People will mourn her passing and praise her accomplishments, but unless she repents and believes on the name of Jesus as "the Way, the Truth and the Life" the One who is the "ONLY way to the Father" (John 14:6) she will find out just how wrong she was when she meets Him as judge at the Great White Throne to be condemned for eternity. God forbid, but this is reality, and this is reality for all who deny Jesus, the eternal God who became a man for the express purpose to be our sacrifice ... to literally die and rise again for our sins that we might live forever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oprah has amassed a business estate worth $1 billion. People flock to her show as devotees like little children hoping to get an ice cream cone or the newest toy. True, she says and does some good things, and gives expensive gifts and trips to her audiences but her message that adversely affects so many people is right out of the New Age manefesto ... "Jesus didn't come to die on a cross but to show us how to live the Christ conscious life." Theologically speaking, this is nothing but Hogwash! Listen for yourself to the you tube video and then read the article from the blog.
As for me, I will have trouble ever again listening to the voice of this woman who claims to be christian (emphasis a little 'c'). You see, to Oprah, Jesus is not the only way to the Father ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM5ILOsHLnw&NR=1
http://www.shatteredparadigm.blogspot.com/
Christ followers, we need to pray for Oprah ... one day she will die and leave it all behind. People will mourn her passing and praise her accomplishments, but unless she repents and believes on the name of Jesus as "the Way, the Truth and the Life" the One who is the "ONLY way to the Father" (John 14:6) she will find out just how wrong she was when she meets Him as judge at the Great White Throne to be condemned for eternity. God forbid, but this is reality, and this is reality for all who deny Jesus, the eternal God who became a man for the express purpose to be our sacrifice ... to literally die and rise again for our sins that we might live forever.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
What, me worry?
What a troublesome set of events that are taking place and we are watching on our TVs as they are unfolding half a world away in Egypt. Newscasters are asking, "what if this and what about that?" There seems to be a great uneasiness in peoples' minds. Yet, I say, "What, me worry? Absolutely not!
Something impressed me this morning as I was reading in God's Word, in the book of Exodus, that the story portrayed was not about Moses and/or the children of Israel. In fact, the whole story as it unfolds is all about God, the great I AM! To say that Exodus is about Moses would be like saying that building a house is about a "hammer." Rather, it is about the one holding the hammer and in this case, its all about God!
Now, with the events unfolding in Egypt right now, I also thought how God is orchestrating all that is taking place for His glory. The hammer is in His hand. Just as God placed the Egyptians in the time of Moses in a state of turmoil, so I can see the hand of God working again. However, we must remember that there is "nothing" that takes place in all the world - especially the Middle East - for which God is not in control.
For all those who are called Christian and who indeed are followers of Jesus Christ, there is NO need to worry! In fact, the Bible tells us that we are loved by God with an everlasting love and no matter what might occur in the world around us, we are told by the Apostle Paul, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
If I am so loved by the God of the universe, then again, I say, "I'm not worried ... in fact I'm anticipating God's next move!" WOW!
Keep looking up,
Gene
PS - Another thought: I also was thinking about the power of God and began to sing a song fashioned after Jeremiah 32:17. It reads: "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!" Our God indeed is a great and mighty God.
Something impressed me this morning as I was reading in God's Word, in the book of Exodus, that the story portrayed was not about Moses and/or the children of Israel. In fact, the whole story as it unfolds is all about God, the great I AM! To say that Exodus is about Moses would be like saying that building a house is about a "hammer." Rather, it is about the one holding the hammer and in this case, its all about God!
Now, with the events unfolding in Egypt right now, I also thought how God is orchestrating all that is taking place for His glory. The hammer is in His hand. Just as God placed the Egyptians in the time of Moses in a state of turmoil, so I can see the hand of God working again. However, we must remember that there is "nothing" that takes place in all the world - especially the Middle East - for which God is not in control.
For all those who are called Christian and who indeed are followers of Jesus Christ, there is NO need to worry! In fact, the Bible tells us that we are loved by God with an everlasting love and no matter what might occur in the world around us, we are told by the Apostle Paul, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
If I am so loved by the God of the universe, then again, I say, "I'm not worried ... in fact I'm anticipating God's next move!" WOW!
Keep looking up,
Gene
PS - Another thought: I also was thinking about the power of God and began to sing a song fashioned after Jeremiah 32:17. It reads: "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You!" Our God indeed is a great and mighty God.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year Resolutions
Oops! Too many calories over the holidays ... gotta go back on my diet. Lets see, is that #1 or #101. If you are like me you have made 10's or 100's or probably 1000's of resolutions around the first day of each new year for years and years. And, where has that gotten us ... no where for the most part.
Well, one thing that I have decided to do is to make an update to our wills. Lets see, the old wills asked my sister Joyce to raise our two little daughters if we were to die. They are both over 40 now so I guess its about time to update the wills. Done! I can't believe it. Should have been done several times over the past 25 or so years.
I wonder just what God would have us do about these flimsy resolutions. I just read a good answer to this question in Got Questions.com (see link above right). So, here it is:
The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Well, I know what I'm going to do and I know who will be helping me to make it happen. "Seek the Lord ... Lay up treasure in heaven ... do all that you do for the glory of God ... first, love the Lord your God and second love your neighbor as yourself"
Praying that this year will be successful for all the right reasons ... that God will receive the glory and honor and power for He alone is deserving.
Well, one thing that I have decided to do is to make an update to our wills. Lets see, the old wills asked my sister Joyce to raise our two little daughters if we were to die. They are both over 40 now so I guess its about time to update the wills. Done! I can't believe it. Should have been done several times over the past 25 or so years.
I wonder just what God would have us do about these flimsy resolutions. I just read a good answer to this question in Got Questions.com (see link above right). So, here it is:
The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Common New Year’s resolutions are: to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money better, and spend more time with family. By far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
Well, I know what I'm going to do and I know who will be helping me to make it happen. "Seek the Lord ... Lay up treasure in heaven ... do all that you do for the glory of God ... first, love the Lord your God and second love your neighbor as yourself"
Praying that this year will be successful for all the right reasons ... that God will receive the glory and honor and power for He alone is deserving.
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