It sits upstairs. In the room that we’ve nicknamed “the blue room” sits our newest addition to the Richard household. It is the exercise bike that my mother-in-law gave to us. It’s big and heavy, and it didn’t get upstairs to the blue storage room easily, but it got up there. It’s a nice bike. It has a nice digital display that estimates calories burnt and the speed one is riding. Plus I like the nice fan effect from the blades on it. It even has the cross-country ski style handles to work the upper body. Finally, I have just what I need to get back into the shape I should be in.
So, why don’t I get up on that thing and exercise like I should? There it sits in the blue room, but I don’t grace its comfortable seat for any workouts. If it weren’t for my wife, it would be a huge dust collector. I have been given the equipment needed to exercise, but I don’t seem to be motivated enough to do it.
We do the same thing spiritually. We have the Spirit of God indwelling us. We have the Bible sitting on our nightstands and bookshelves. We have access to the Father through Jesus Christ. We have our praise and worship CDs, prayer journals, devotional books, online sermons, not to mention our churches. Most of all, we have the freedom to use these, yet they sit as unused as my exercise bike upstairs. I think that there is a spiritual problem at work here. It’s called laziness, and my first finger point is at myself.
Did you know that the Bible tells us that we should exercise spiritually? Really, it does. We’re saved by grace through faith, but to grow in our faith, we have to intentionally work at it. Just listen to Paul:
“But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Tim. 4:7-8
To exercise means to exert yourself, to strive. It means to vigorously work yourself into shape. If you want to lose weight, you have to really exercise. Spiritually speaking, we exercise when we spend time with God in prayer. We exercise when we take the time to have meaningful worship. We exercise when we put into practice the word of God, doing what it says, not just hearing it. We exercise when we get together with other believers and encourage one another.
Another problem is that we are constantly looking for shortcuts and easy ways to get in shape. How many weekend and late-night infomercials have you seen that advertise “quick and easy” ways to shed off the pounds? Ab-rollers and Ab-sliders may have some benefit, but not without the additional discipline necessary. There are no shortcuts to physical fitness, and there are no shortcuts to spiritual fitness, either. If you want to be strong in Christ, you have to get busy and exercise. Look, God uses Joyce Meyer books and CDs, but if that is all you do to strengthen up, you’ll won’t get yourself into the shape you need to be in.
Of course, we have to eat right, too. That is why it is so important to fill ourselves with God’s word. There is so much junk out there that we seek to fill our spirits with. From the shows we watch, to the books we read, to the music we listen to, we fill our hearts with the spiritual equivalent of pork rinds. Remember, garbage in, garbage out. When we take the word of God into our hearts, we are giving our spirits the proper nourishment to strengthen up.
So, do you have an unused exercise bike in your life? Are you sitting on equipment that you can use to get yourself into better shape spiritually? Are you as stationary as that bike? Then it’s time to get on the bike and “lay aside the weight” as it says in Hebrews 12:2.
God bless
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
He Speaks Your Language
Have you ever been faced with having to explain something to a person in a way that they can easily understand? I have, and it isn’t always as easy as some may think. One instance that stands out in my mind was when I was trying to teach the concept of sanctification, or being set apart for God’s holy purposes, to a Junior High Sunday School class. Now, that can be a tricky subject for anyone, let alone an 11 or 12 year old, to grasp firmly. At that age, kids still think in a concrete way. They can’t easily grasp an abstract thought like that. I remember seeing the blank stares of the kids when I brought the subject up. I could tell that I was going to have to really break it down for them to get their brains around it. Then, an idea suddenly appeared in my mind from out of nowhere. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my keys. Grabbing my car key, I held the whole keychain by that one key.
“Does everyone see this key I am holding? Who knows what this key is for? This is the key to my car. It is specifically made to open and start up my car. Try as I might, I can’t shove it into my front door. I can’t use it to start up another car. It is completely set apart to start up my car.”
That did the trick. I realized that to effectively communicate the concept of these kids, I had to bring it down to a level that they could understand. I had to meet them where they were at.
God does the same thing with humankind, too. Throughout scripture, we can see where God used analogy and object lessons to make sure that we understood what it was he was trying to say. From Jeremiah’s lesson of the potter and the clay (Jer. 18) to the day of Pentecost, God has met us where we are at. I am reminded of the ministry of Jesus Christ. He would do this, too. One time, he had a huge crowd of people around him, and they were hungry. Using only the small sack lunch of a little boy, he miraculously multiplied the bread and fish, so that everyone, about 5,000 men, plus uncounted women and children had enough to eat. That was upwards of probably 15,000 folks! The next day, that same crowd came looking for him, and he used the miracle meal to preach the Gospel to them (see John 6).
The Lord did it again on the day of Pentecost. Now, as one who is a Pentecostal Christian, I look at that day 2,000 years ago and think of it as a heritage. I see that this is where we Pentecostals base a good portion of our teaching and beliefs. This is where the teaching of what is called the “initial evidence” comes from. That is, that whenever someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is outwardly shown and heard in that the receiver will speak in a language unknown to them. Every time you read of the Holy Spirit baptism in the book of Acts, you read that they “spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”. On the day of the initial outpouring, there were folks from all over the surrounding region in Jerusalem, celebrating the feast of Pentecost. When the 120 disciples were filled with the Spirit, they went out into the streets of the city and they were speaking in the native languages of those in town for the feast. The Bible says that they heard them “declaring the wonderful works of God” in their own languages. They were flabbergasted! But God “met them where they were at”. He could have had the disciples run out of the room and speak Hebrew. But would that have caught the attention of the people that day? No, they would just have seen 120 crazy people running around and shouting. God used the languages they spoke at home so that they could know without a doubt that God was behind this.
God knows how to “speak our language”. He will get his message across in a way that we can grasp. To a thirsty Samaritan woman at a well, Jesus spoke about living water that quenches thirst forever. To a crowd that was full on miracle bread, Jesus spoke about the True Bread from heaven, that is, himself. And to a weary fisherman-turned Christ-follower, he used a miracle catch to tell him that one day he would catch men like he caught those fish. A promise, by the way, that was realized on that great day of Pentecost, when Peter, the once weary fisherman, preached the first sermon of the infant Church of Christ and saw 3,000 people repent of their sins and trust in Jesus. (Not bad for a rookie preacher!) Interesting to note that Jesus didn’t talk to Peter about living water, or the woman at the well about bread from heaven- he knew what these individuals needed to hear.
Okay, here is the big send-off. Follow the example set by God himself. He reached out to you one day in a way that you could grasp. Now, to borrow a Bible phrase, “go and do thou likewise”. Go meet someone where they are at and make the Gospel real to them. How you do that depends on who you talk with-each person understands differently and has a different view on things. But, you will be following a long line of ministers that reached out to those around them and managed to effectively win them for Christ, such as the Apostle Paul. In fact, I will leave you today with Paul’s inspired words from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:
“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
God bless!
“Does everyone see this key I am holding? Who knows what this key is for? This is the key to my car. It is specifically made to open and start up my car. Try as I might, I can’t shove it into my front door. I can’t use it to start up another car. It is completely set apart to start up my car.”
That did the trick. I realized that to effectively communicate the concept of these kids, I had to bring it down to a level that they could understand. I had to meet them where they were at.
God does the same thing with humankind, too. Throughout scripture, we can see where God used analogy and object lessons to make sure that we understood what it was he was trying to say. From Jeremiah’s lesson of the potter and the clay (Jer. 18) to the day of Pentecost, God has met us where we are at. I am reminded of the ministry of Jesus Christ. He would do this, too. One time, he had a huge crowd of people around him, and they were hungry. Using only the small sack lunch of a little boy, he miraculously multiplied the bread and fish, so that everyone, about 5,000 men, plus uncounted women and children had enough to eat. That was upwards of probably 15,000 folks! The next day, that same crowd came looking for him, and he used the miracle meal to preach the Gospel to them (see John 6).
The Lord did it again on the day of Pentecost. Now, as one who is a Pentecostal Christian, I look at that day 2,000 years ago and think of it as a heritage. I see that this is where we Pentecostals base a good portion of our teaching and beliefs. This is where the teaching of what is called the “initial evidence” comes from. That is, that whenever someone is baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is outwardly shown and heard in that the receiver will speak in a language unknown to them. Every time you read of the Holy Spirit baptism in the book of Acts, you read that they “spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”. On the day of the initial outpouring, there were folks from all over the surrounding region in Jerusalem, celebrating the feast of Pentecost. When the 120 disciples were filled with the Spirit, they went out into the streets of the city and they were speaking in the native languages of those in town for the feast. The Bible says that they heard them “declaring the wonderful works of God” in their own languages. They were flabbergasted! But God “met them where they were at”. He could have had the disciples run out of the room and speak Hebrew. But would that have caught the attention of the people that day? No, they would just have seen 120 crazy people running around and shouting. God used the languages they spoke at home so that they could know without a doubt that God was behind this.
God knows how to “speak our language”. He will get his message across in a way that we can grasp. To a thirsty Samaritan woman at a well, Jesus spoke about living water that quenches thirst forever. To a crowd that was full on miracle bread, Jesus spoke about the True Bread from heaven, that is, himself. And to a weary fisherman-turned Christ-follower, he used a miracle catch to tell him that one day he would catch men like he caught those fish. A promise, by the way, that was realized on that great day of Pentecost, when Peter, the once weary fisherman, preached the first sermon of the infant Church of Christ and saw 3,000 people repent of their sins and trust in Jesus. (Not bad for a rookie preacher!) Interesting to note that Jesus didn’t talk to Peter about living water, or the woman at the well about bread from heaven- he knew what these individuals needed to hear.
Okay, here is the big send-off. Follow the example set by God himself. He reached out to you one day in a way that you could grasp. Now, to borrow a Bible phrase, “go and do thou likewise”. Go meet someone where they are at and make the Gospel real to them. How you do that depends on who you talk with-each person understands differently and has a different view on things. But, you will be following a long line of ministers that reached out to those around them and managed to effectively win them for Christ, such as the Apostle Paul. In fact, I will leave you today with Paul’s inspired words from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:
“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
God bless!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Astronomical Love
I remember hearing the story on the radio when it happened. It was in 2004, while President Bush was on the campaign trail. A man from Ohio named Lynn Faulkner had been given an extra ticket to attend the president’s campaign rally by his neighbor. So, he asked his teenage daughter Ashley if she would like to attend with him. The young woman accepted the offer, and the three of them, Ashley, her dad and the neighbor, Linda Prince, made their way to event.
They arrived early, so they could get a good seat near the front. After the president gave his speech, he began to work the line, shaking hands and greeting supporters. Mr. Faulkner got an autograph from President Bush, and as he moved on to the next person, the neighbor, Ms. Prince, said something to the Mr. Bush that changed everything.
“This girl lost her mother on 9/11.”
They said that president’s entire expression changed. In a second, the most powerful man in the free world wasn’t President Bush, he was a loving father. He stopped what he was doing and walked back to young Ashley, and, forgetting everything else, he embraced her.
“I know it’s hard”, Bush said to the young woman. “I’m okay” was her response, as she simply was held by him.
This was no publicity stunt. It wasn’t another photo op. In fact, the only picture taken that moment was taken by the girl’s dad. The press corps had been sent back to the bus to await Bush’s next stop. Of all the concerns that this president had, the war in Iraq, concerns in Afghanistan, an election to win, what mattered at that moment to the most powerful man in America was Ashley Faulkner, a young girl who had lost her mom to sick terrorists on that unforgettable day in 2001.
What a story. The President with all that was on his plate was concerned for a one young girl who had been affected by those perpetrators on September 11. What a fitting analogy for us as Christians. Listen to what the Bible says in Psalm147:3-4:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.”
Think about what these 2 verses are saying. God is the all-powerful creator of the universe. From every star to the minutest molecule on Earth, nothing exists without Him. Look at what the 4th verse again. “He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.” Have you ever looked at the sky on a clear night? How about with no light pollution to hamper your view? They sky is absolutely full of them. Why, in just the Milky Way galaxy alone, there are literally billions of stars! That is billions with a “B”! Not only does God know exactly how many there are, this passage actually says that He has given names to each one! I have a hard enough time getting the names of those in my own home straight! “Machaela, brush your teeth!” “I’m not Machaela, I’m Gabbie!” It is absolutely mind-boggling to think about His greatness and His infinite wisdom and power!
Yet, in all His wonder, in all His power, that very same passage tells us that he cares for us. He cares about our hurts. He understands our pain. He can identify with our struggles. As I said in my last post, he is a faithful High Priest that can sympathize with our struggles. And He not only knows our pains, He said that He would heal them. He binds up our wounds.
Friend, God sees that pain that plagues your heart. From finances to family issues, divorce to death, He sees, He cares, He acts.
What is your struggle? What is your pain? Reader, you have a Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). Sure, He is powerful enough to suspend stars in space, but close enough to wipe the tears running down your cheek right now.
Won’t you come to him today?
God bless!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
It Behooved Him
As I was reading the second chapter of the book of Hebrews, in the Bible this morning, I came across the 17th and 18th verses that say:
"Wherefore, it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (help) them that are tempted." Heb. 2:17,18
So, what does this all mean? The book of Hebrews was written to Christians that were facing very hard trials. They were considering a return to Judaism because of the pain that the name of Jesus was seemingly bring on them. This letter was written to encourage them to stay the course and keep on living for Jesus. The writer wanted them to know that Jesus understood what they were going through. This chapter tells us that Jesus took on a human body, and became a man. What it is saying was that not only did Jesus become a man to die for our sins on the cross, but that he felt compelled to do so. That old word, "behoove", carries the meaning of owing something. And why did Christ feel compelled, that as other translations say, he had to die for us? We are his creation. In fact, the Bible says that he was made like his brothers, referring to us as mankind.
Perhaps an analogy is appropriate here. I have an older brother. He is about 2 years older. Now, he did typical older brother things, like pick on me and stuff. He knew, like an older brother should, how to get under my skin. There were many times that we must have given our mom a migraine from our constant bickering. But, inspite of all that, there was a bond there that remains till this day, and will always be there. As much as he knew how to bug me, he was my biggest defender. I remember one time, when I was little, I threw a GI Joe into the street (don't ask me why!). One of the neighborhood kids saw it and declared the old "finders keepers, losers weepers" claim. My brother knew it was mine, and he promptly set out to get it back. He and the other kid duked it out in the street and he won back my beloved action figure.
Another time, when I was in middle school, he came to my aid again. There was a huge crowd of skateboarders walking and skating through the area around the house. We were playing some hockey with a couple friends out back, when someone in the crowd started messing with a friend. Well, they started to fight right in my yard! I stepped in to break it up, and one of the guys friends raised his skateboard at me as if he was going to hit me with it. My brother ran up behind him when he saw that, grabbed the skateboard out of his hand, throwing it into the street. He then grabbed the kid by the back of his shirt, swung him around and tossed him. The kid sheepishly retrieved his skateboard and rejoined the crowd.
Why did my brother come to my aid like that? Simply put, it behooved him to help his little brother. He felt a sense of responsibility to take up for me. We are family. That is what Hebrews is saying about the Lord Jesus. It behooved him to take up for us, and, as this chapter says, to "destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (vs. 14). You see, God loves us as his creation. Isn't that what John 3:16 says? "For God so loved the world...". Christ loved us too much to just let us go about in sin with no hope. He became a man and died in our place on that cross.
What's more, because he became a human being, he got to taste firsthand what we struggle with, what tempts us. The 18th verse says that he himself has been tempted, and he is able to help us who are tempted. Hebrews 4:15 says it like this:
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin." (NIV)
What this means is that Jesus knows our struggles and temptations. He knows what we go through, and it behooves him to take up for us. He will give us the grace we need to overcome that temptation that seeks to destroy us. That is why we are told to "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb. 4:16).
So, whatever you are going through right now, rememeber that Jesus is your elder brother. He is able to take up for you, and more than that, he will. He did not bring you this far just to leave you. Won't you let him pour his grace into your life today?
God bless!
"Wherefore, it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (help) them that are tempted." Heb. 2:17,18
So, what does this all mean? The book of Hebrews was written to Christians that were facing very hard trials. They were considering a return to Judaism because of the pain that the name of Jesus was seemingly bring on them. This letter was written to encourage them to stay the course and keep on living for Jesus. The writer wanted them to know that Jesus understood what they were going through. This chapter tells us that Jesus took on a human body, and became a man. What it is saying was that not only did Jesus become a man to die for our sins on the cross, but that he felt compelled to do so. That old word, "behoove", carries the meaning of owing something. And why did Christ feel compelled, that as other translations say, he had to die for us? We are his creation. In fact, the Bible says that he was made like his brothers, referring to us as mankind.
Perhaps an analogy is appropriate here. I have an older brother. He is about 2 years older. Now, he did typical older brother things, like pick on me and stuff. He knew, like an older brother should, how to get under my skin. There were many times that we must have given our mom a migraine from our constant bickering. But, inspite of all that, there was a bond there that remains till this day, and will always be there. As much as he knew how to bug me, he was my biggest defender. I remember one time, when I was little, I threw a GI Joe into the street (don't ask me why!). One of the neighborhood kids saw it and declared the old "finders keepers, losers weepers" claim. My brother knew it was mine, and he promptly set out to get it back. He and the other kid duked it out in the street and he won back my beloved action figure.
Another time, when I was in middle school, he came to my aid again. There was a huge crowd of skateboarders walking and skating through the area around the house. We were playing some hockey with a couple friends out back, when someone in the crowd started messing with a friend. Well, they started to fight right in my yard! I stepped in to break it up, and one of the guys friends raised his skateboard at me as if he was going to hit me with it. My brother ran up behind him when he saw that, grabbed the skateboard out of his hand, throwing it into the street. He then grabbed the kid by the back of his shirt, swung him around and tossed him. The kid sheepishly retrieved his skateboard and rejoined the crowd.
Why did my brother come to my aid like that? Simply put, it behooved him to help his little brother. He felt a sense of responsibility to take up for me. We are family. That is what Hebrews is saying about the Lord Jesus. It behooved him to take up for us, and, as this chapter says, to "destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (vs. 14). You see, God loves us as his creation. Isn't that what John 3:16 says? "For God so loved the world...". Christ loved us too much to just let us go about in sin with no hope. He became a man and died in our place on that cross.
What's more, because he became a human being, he got to taste firsthand what we struggle with, what tempts us. The 18th verse says that he himself has been tempted, and he is able to help us who are tempted. Hebrews 4:15 says it like this:
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin." (NIV)
What this means is that Jesus knows our struggles and temptations. He knows what we go through, and it behooves him to take up for us. He will give us the grace we need to overcome that temptation that seeks to destroy us. That is why we are told to "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb. 4:16).
So, whatever you are going through right now, rememeber that Jesus is your elder brother. He is able to take up for you, and more than that, he will. He did not bring you this far just to leave you. Won't you let him pour his grace into your life today?
God bless!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Well, today is August 22. That means that it is Pennesha's birthday. For those who don't know, Pennesha is the beautiful woman in the picture next me, at her graduation this past April. She is 31 today. Also, today marks 8 years of marriage for us, as well! Time goes by so fast. It seems like just last week when we stood in front of Pastor Stewart and recited our vows. That was back in 1998.
Hey, Pennesha, sweetie! Here's to many more years! I love you!
Monday, August 21, 2006
Do I Look Like My Father?
I hear often from both my mom and my wife how much my oldest child, Machaela, looks like me. So, to demonstrate of likeness, I put some photos of us on today. The little guy holding the toy screwdriver is a very young me, circa 1978. I was about 3 years old. Machaela is in the other picture holding the newest addition to the Richard family, Jayden Michael. So, you be the judge. Does she look like her father?
I was reading last night in 2 Samuel 6, where David was bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, to set it up in the tabernacle where it belonged. The Ark had been away for years, at first taken by the Philistines, but after God had stricken them with tumors, which in Hebrew means hemorrhoids, they got rid of it. (Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?) Now, years later, King Saul dead, and David installed as the new king of Israel, he decided to bring the Ark back.
It was a festive event. There was rejoicing and praise to God. David began to dance and whirl around as he praised God. But, there always has to be a party-pooper, doesn't there? This was no exception. Her name was Michal, his wife and Saul's daughter. Well, Michal, in all her royal snootiness, took serious issue with the way that David had behaved himself. Here was David, coming home to bless his family, and he is met with a snarl that would make a rottweiler whimper. "How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do!" (2 Sam. 6:20) What could explain Michal's horrible attitude in the face of such a joyful occasion? Simply put, she looked like her father.
Now, I don't mean a physical resemblance like my daughter to me. They shared the same heart. They suffered from the same attitude illness. And why not? This young lady had grown up on knee of one the worst kings in the nation's history.
So, do we look like our Father? As Christians, we have a Father in heaven. So, how do we know if we look like him? God is a Spirit, and we can't look on him. But Jesus could be looked upon. He could be touched, he could be known. One day, one of his disciples, Philip, asked Jesus to show them the heavenly Father. This was his answer:
"Jesus answered: Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" John 14:9
You see, Jesus looked like his Father. He put all the glorious attributes of a holy God into human skin so we could see just what the Father is like. And because Jesus shows us what the Father God is like, we can now, through the work of the Spirit of God in us, look like Him too!
So, do I look like my Father?
Am I merciful?
Am I loving?
Am I gracious?
Do I find joy in what God finds joy in?
Do the things that grieve God grieve me, too?
Does a sin-sick world compel me to lay aside my comfort so I can pull some out of sin's grip?
Do I look like my Father?
So, friends, look to Jesus, and let him make you like your Father! God bless!
Friday, August 11, 2006
3000!
Wow, today I turned 3000 hits on my blog. I am blessed to have so many people that come and read what I have to say. I have met some very good friends though this blog thing, and been able to be a blessing to you all through my little piece of the information superhighway.
So, thank you all for allowing me to minister to you. I truly love and appreciate you, and the friendships that I have made. So, nothing to deep this Friday, just a heartfelt gratitude to the Lord Jesus and to all who faithfully read the Soundingboard.
God bless!
So, thank you all for allowing me to minister to you. I truly love and appreciate you, and the friendships that I have made. So, nothing to deep this Friday, just a heartfelt gratitude to the Lord Jesus and to all who faithfully read the Soundingboard.
God bless!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Ahhh, The Smell of Starbucks!
I am a lover of good coffee. I’ll drink almost any coffee, as long as it doesn’t come out of a vending machine. There is just something gross about getting my coffee out of the same spout that hot chocolate, mocha, cappuccino and tea come from. It can pollute the otherwise wonderful taste of a good cup of coffee.
Last month, I celebrated 31 years of life on this planet. My parents had us over to have a birthday dinner complete with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake (my favorite cake!), and some apple crisp, by special request of my daughter, Machaela (she just loves Grandma’s apple crisp). After the dessert, I got to open my presents. Oh, how I love my birthday! One of the gifts I got from mom and Don was a 40 ounce bag of Starbucks House Blend whole bean coffee, and a very nice coffee grinder. Knowing my love of coffee, they knew just what to get me. That evening, once we got back home, I immediately set up the grinder, and reached for the big bag of heaven we call Starbucks. I remember opening the bag up, and being greeted by a wonderful rush of aroma! There is just something about opening that bag up the first time that is great. All that vacuumed-sealed smell comes rushing out and the smell envelopes the whole kitchen.
You know, it’s kind of an analogy of the Christian life. As I sat here this morning drinking a coffee, I recalled that day, and the fresh aroma of those whole beans. It reminded me of a passage in the Bible, told actually in 3 of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark and John. It was just days before Jesus would be whipped beyond recognition and nailed to a cross. While sitting in a house with his disciples, and his friend Lazarus, who he had just raised from the dead, and Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, something odd happened. Let’s read it:
“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” Mark 14:3 NIV
The Gospel of John tells us that it was Mary who brought this alabaster box and poured it on Jesus. I won’t get into all the discussion that goes on about this passage. I want to focus on one thing only-the box. You see, she had to break it to get the scent of the perfume out. I believe that God wants us to be like that box. He wants us to be broken, not in the sense that we must need to be fixed, but opened up for the aroma of his life in us to flow out to those around.
You see, life has a way of dishing out hard times and struggles. It can deal out painful blows like the loss of an innocent child, or cancer. Yet, the promise of God is that he will somehow work all things out for good to those who love him. You can come through your storm stronger than when you entered it. And when you come out stronger, with a stronger faith, it is like an aroma that others around you can smell. God has used the struggles of this life to “break” you, and his work in your heart is evident. Trials can either make you better or bitter. Let God use them, and you will be better!
You know, for those beans to be of use to us, they had to face the heat. They had to be roasted. So, friends, submit yourselves to the heat that you face, and let God break you. He will use that beautiful scent of Christ in your life to touch those around you. God bless!
Last month, I celebrated 31 years of life on this planet. My parents had us over to have a birthday dinner complete with a Dairy Queen ice cream cake (my favorite cake!), and some apple crisp, by special request of my daughter, Machaela (she just loves Grandma’s apple crisp). After the dessert, I got to open my presents. Oh, how I love my birthday! One of the gifts I got from mom and Don was a 40 ounce bag of Starbucks House Blend whole bean coffee, and a very nice coffee grinder. Knowing my love of coffee, they knew just what to get me. That evening, once we got back home, I immediately set up the grinder, and reached for the big bag of heaven we call Starbucks. I remember opening the bag up, and being greeted by a wonderful rush of aroma! There is just something about opening that bag up the first time that is great. All that vacuumed-sealed smell comes rushing out and the smell envelopes the whole kitchen.
You know, it’s kind of an analogy of the Christian life. As I sat here this morning drinking a coffee, I recalled that day, and the fresh aroma of those whole beans. It reminded me of a passage in the Bible, told actually in 3 of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark and John. It was just days before Jesus would be whipped beyond recognition and nailed to a cross. While sitting in a house with his disciples, and his friend Lazarus, who he had just raised from the dead, and Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, something odd happened. Let’s read it:
“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.” Mark 14:3 NIV
The Gospel of John tells us that it was Mary who brought this alabaster box and poured it on Jesus. I won’t get into all the discussion that goes on about this passage. I want to focus on one thing only-the box. You see, she had to break it to get the scent of the perfume out. I believe that God wants us to be like that box. He wants us to be broken, not in the sense that we must need to be fixed, but opened up for the aroma of his life in us to flow out to those around.
You see, life has a way of dishing out hard times and struggles. It can deal out painful blows like the loss of an innocent child, or cancer. Yet, the promise of God is that he will somehow work all things out for good to those who love him. You can come through your storm stronger than when you entered it. And when you come out stronger, with a stronger faith, it is like an aroma that others around you can smell. God has used the struggles of this life to “break” you, and his work in your heart is evident. Trials can either make you better or bitter. Let God use them, and you will be better!
You know, for those beans to be of use to us, they had to face the heat. They had to be roasted. So, friends, submit yourselves to the heat that you face, and let God break you. He will use that beautiful scent of Christ in your life to touch those around you. God bless!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Catching the Vision
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Prov. 29:18
I started reading the book of 1 Timothy last night in my trip through the Bible. I didn’t make it even halfway through chapter 1 because I sensed that God was speaking something to me from this portion of it. Let me quote the scripture I got stuck on:
“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than {furthering} the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Tim. 1:3-5
There were lots of folks in those days, just as there are now, that were teaching some crazy stuff. I won’t go into speculation on what they were teaching. What was happening was that these teachers were causing people to be led away from the truth of the Gospel. So, Paul told Timothy to stay in Ephesus so he could make sure that the true Word of God was being preached.
Different ideologies carry with them different ideals as to what is as to what is right and what is wrong. From a major religion like Islam and the Muslim belief in Jihad, or Holy War and the destroying of those who refuse to accept that faith, to the “anything goes” beliefs of Scientology made popular by many in Hollywood, each faith has it’s set of ideals. The reason is that people have tossed aside God’s Word, or have diluted it to make it more palatable, into a kind of “custom Christianity”. And this is exactly what the Bible says will happen when God’s Word is ignored.
That brings me to the verse I quoted from Proverbs. “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. What exactly does this verse mean? You have probably heard this verse quoted as a preacher casts the vision he has for his congregation, or is starting a building program. Maybe you’ve heard it at the launching of a new ministry, and the leader wants to stress the importance of people catching the vision. While it is important for us to latch onto the vision God has given our leaders, Proverbs 29:18 isn't about vision-casting, it's about preventing dirty lives. Really, that word vision more accurately means a divine communication of some kind. From the context of the entire verse, it seems to me to be talking about the Word of God. Here’s how I reach that conclusion: God gave the Law to Moses, and Moses made it known to the Israelites. He was God’s prophet, his mouthpiece of divine revelation.
When the Proverb says that they people will perish, it really means that they cast off restraint and run wild. We saw that as Moses came down Sinai with the two tablets with the Law written on them, only to find these lawless people in a drunken orgy, worshipping a golden calf. That’s what happens when God’s word is ignored-we begin to live as if our own happiness is our standard for living. That’s why there are so many unplanned pregnancies, abortions and STD’s. That’s why drugs are so rampant and people are so rebellious. They think they are their own standard.
Friends, that is why it is so important to get God’s Word in our hearts. It will help us to live right. Just look at what Psalm 119 says:
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” vs. 9, 11
I am reminded of what I read recently on a church sign. It said, “Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives”. That is a very simple way to state such an urgent truth. When we toss the Bible out, we will inevitably begin to wander into weird theology and dirty lives. And this is something I have personally witnessed happen to people who once were strong Christians. Friends, don’t neglect the importance of God’s word!
But we need to remember that God’s word just doesn’t help us keep from sinning, it makes us grow in our faith. The scripture above says that the goal of sound teaching is a selfless, giving love from a pure heart. It is to give us a clean conscience toward God as we live our lives according to holiness. It will build us up in a sincere faith. As we allow God's Word to change us, we will find that really, God is making us more like him. When we neglect the Bible, we forfeit being transformed into Christ's image.
Anyway, I thought I’d share just a little from this study. God bless you all this weekend!
I started reading the book of 1 Timothy last night in my trip through the Bible. I didn’t make it even halfway through chapter 1 because I sensed that God was speaking something to me from this portion of it. Let me quote the scripture I got stuck on:
“As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than {furthering} the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Tim. 1:3-5
There were lots of folks in those days, just as there are now, that were teaching some crazy stuff. I won’t go into speculation on what they were teaching. What was happening was that these teachers were causing people to be led away from the truth of the Gospel. So, Paul told Timothy to stay in Ephesus so he could make sure that the true Word of God was being preached.
Different ideologies carry with them different ideals as to what is as to what is right and what is wrong. From a major religion like Islam and the Muslim belief in Jihad, or Holy War and the destroying of those who refuse to accept that faith, to the “anything goes” beliefs of Scientology made popular by many in Hollywood, each faith has it’s set of ideals. The reason is that people have tossed aside God’s Word, or have diluted it to make it more palatable, into a kind of “custom Christianity”. And this is exactly what the Bible says will happen when God’s Word is ignored.
That brings me to the verse I quoted from Proverbs. “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. What exactly does this verse mean? You have probably heard this verse quoted as a preacher casts the vision he has for his congregation, or is starting a building program. Maybe you’ve heard it at the launching of a new ministry, and the leader wants to stress the importance of people catching the vision. While it is important for us to latch onto the vision God has given our leaders, Proverbs 29:18 isn't about vision-casting, it's about preventing dirty lives. Really, that word vision more accurately means a divine communication of some kind. From the context of the entire verse, it seems to me to be talking about the Word of God. Here’s how I reach that conclusion: God gave the Law to Moses, and Moses made it known to the Israelites. He was God’s prophet, his mouthpiece of divine revelation.
When the Proverb says that they people will perish, it really means that they cast off restraint and run wild. We saw that as Moses came down Sinai with the two tablets with the Law written on them, only to find these lawless people in a drunken orgy, worshipping a golden calf. That’s what happens when God’s word is ignored-we begin to live as if our own happiness is our standard for living. That’s why there are so many unplanned pregnancies, abortions and STD’s. That’s why drugs are so rampant and people are so rebellious. They think they are their own standard.
Friends, that is why it is so important to get God’s Word in our hearts. It will help us to live right. Just look at what Psalm 119 says:
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.”
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” vs. 9, 11
I am reminded of what I read recently on a church sign. It said, “Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives”. That is a very simple way to state such an urgent truth. When we toss the Bible out, we will inevitably begin to wander into weird theology and dirty lives. And this is something I have personally witnessed happen to people who once were strong Christians. Friends, don’t neglect the importance of God’s word!
But we need to remember that God’s word just doesn’t help us keep from sinning, it makes us grow in our faith. The scripture above says that the goal of sound teaching is a selfless, giving love from a pure heart. It is to give us a clean conscience toward God as we live our lives according to holiness. It will build us up in a sincere faith. As we allow God's Word to change us, we will find that really, God is making us more like him. When we neglect the Bible, we forfeit being transformed into Christ's image.
Anyway, I thought I’d share just a little from this study. God bless you all this weekend!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Who Dropped the Ball?
“The people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the LORD which He had done for Israel. Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.” Judges 2:7-10
I was thinking back to a “sport” we used to play in high school, which I recently found out was still popular today. In this game, several people gather in a circle and, using only their feet, knees, and even chests, they try to keep a small, bean-stuffed ball in the air without it falling to the ground. It could be a challenge to say the least. I think that is why work boots were popular footwear back then, it was easier to kick that little beanbag around with the wide, flat parts of the boot. I even got pretty good at it, as we would gather in a certain spot daily and spend lunch in a hacky-circle. One thing was definite, though. No one wanted to be the one who dropped the sack.
Well, what does this have to do with the passage in Judges that I began with? Perhaps in the hacky-circle of life, someone dropped the sack. We all know that Joshua, who took over the job of leading an entire nation of people when Moses died, was a man of God. It was Joshua who gave us the hugely popular Bible statement, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh, 24:15). This was a man who not only lived for God on a daily basis, but made sure that his house, his family, lived for God, too. He strongly influenced the nation. So did the elders that outlived him. Yet, after these people died, something happened. I don’t know who, perhaps the children of those who saw the death of Joshua and the elders, but someone didn’t obey God’s word. Let’s recall what God had years earlier spoken through Moses:
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deut. 6:4-9
The purpose of this command was to make sure that the up and coming generations knew the Lord. A love for God and his word was to be in their hearts. They were to teach their children of Him. God was to be central in the Hebrew home! But for some reason, God lost that central place in the heart of His people, and an entire generation was lost.
You see, the book of Judges is a sad book. It’s a revolving door of serving God, serving idols, bondage. They would end up subject to cruel nations, and eventually the Israelites would come to their senses, remember the Lord and cry out to him. And the cycle started all over again. It was all because one generation dropped the ball. One generation was the weak link in the chain of the nation of Israel, and the chain broke.
There’s a lesson in this for us today. After all, Paul in the New Testament told us that those Old Testament people serve as an example to us. Friends, we have a spiritual responsibility before God Almighty to make sure that our children know the Lord Jesus. It is our main ministry in life to make sure that we tell them what God has done for them in sending his Son to hang on that rough cross and die for our sins. I remember the joy I felt when my daughter finally realized that the bad things she does not only hurts us, but it hurts God. Then she knew why Jesus died for her, and she decided to ask His forgiveness! My daughter loves Jesus, and we are doing what we can to keep her growing in the things of God. Our other children in time will come to that point in life that they too must ask Christ for forgiveness and live for him. But it is my job to make sure that they understand that.
Friends, it isn’t simply through the words I say and church attendance. These have their place, but nothing speaks louder than a person living what they believe. Our lives must match our words. How can I show my kids that Jesus can change their lives if I can’t treat my wife right? How can we show them that Christ brings peace and unity between us when we are constantly fighting? How can I model a consistent prayer life if they never see me pray? And by prayer, I don’t mean an occasional bowing of the head at meal time, but a life of prayer. How can I impart into them the importance of the Word of God if I never read the Bible to them? How can I show them how to honor God in every area of life if I don’t aim to honor him myself? Friends, I become just another hypocritical Pharisee to them when I talk a good game, but show them a life void of a true faith in God. Remember, it was James that said “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). If our faith is real and alive, friends, it should have vital signs. Those signs are seen in how we live our lives.
So remember that you have a responsibility. I close in the words of Jesus Christ Himself:
“Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5:16
God bless!
I was thinking back to a “sport” we used to play in high school, which I recently found out was still popular today. In this game, several people gather in a circle and, using only their feet, knees, and even chests, they try to keep a small, bean-stuffed ball in the air without it falling to the ground. It could be a challenge to say the least. I think that is why work boots were popular footwear back then, it was easier to kick that little beanbag around with the wide, flat parts of the boot. I even got pretty good at it, as we would gather in a certain spot daily and spend lunch in a hacky-circle. One thing was definite, though. No one wanted to be the one who dropped the sack.
Well, what does this have to do with the passage in Judges that I began with? Perhaps in the hacky-circle of life, someone dropped the sack. We all know that Joshua, who took over the job of leading an entire nation of people when Moses died, was a man of God. It was Joshua who gave us the hugely popular Bible statement, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh, 24:15). This was a man who not only lived for God on a daily basis, but made sure that his house, his family, lived for God, too. He strongly influenced the nation. So did the elders that outlived him. Yet, after these people died, something happened. I don’t know who, perhaps the children of those who saw the death of Joshua and the elders, but someone didn’t obey God’s word. Let’s recall what God had years earlier spoken through Moses:
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deut. 6:4-9
The purpose of this command was to make sure that the up and coming generations knew the Lord. A love for God and his word was to be in their hearts. They were to teach their children of Him. God was to be central in the Hebrew home! But for some reason, God lost that central place in the heart of His people, and an entire generation was lost.
You see, the book of Judges is a sad book. It’s a revolving door of serving God, serving idols, bondage. They would end up subject to cruel nations, and eventually the Israelites would come to their senses, remember the Lord and cry out to him. And the cycle started all over again. It was all because one generation dropped the ball. One generation was the weak link in the chain of the nation of Israel, and the chain broke.
There’s a lesson in this for us today. After all, Paul in the New Testament told us that those Old Testament people serve as an example to us. Friends, we have a spiritual responsibility before God Almighty to make sure that our children know the Lord Jesus. It is our main ministry in life to make sure that we tell them what God has done for them in sending his Son to hang on that rough cross and die for our sins. I remember the joy I felt when my daughter finally realized that the bad things she does not only hurts us, but it hurts God. Then she knew why Jesus died for her, and she decided to ask His forgiveness! My daughter loves Jesus, and we are doing what we can to keep her growing in the things of God. Our other children in time will come to that point in life that they too must ask Christ for forgiveness and live for him. But it is my job to make sure that they understand that.
Friends, it isn’t simply through the words I say and church attendance. These have their place, but nothing speaks louder than a person living what they believe. Our lives must match our words. How can I show my kids that Jesus can change their lives if I can’t treat my wife right? How can we show them that Christ brings peace and unity between us when we are constantly fighting? How can I model a consistent prayer life if they never see me pray? And by prayer, I don’t mean an occasional bowing of the head at meal time, but a life of prayer. How can I impart into them the importance of the Word of God if I never read the Bible to them? How can I show them how to honor God in every area of life if I don’t aim to honor him myself? Friends, I become just another hypocritical Pharisee to them when I talk a good game, but show them a life void of a true faith in God. Remember, it was James that said “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). If our faith is real and alive, friends, it should have vital signs. Those signs are seen in how we live our lives.
So remember that you have a responsibility. I close in the words of Jesus Christ Himself:
“Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5:16
God bless!
Monday, July 10, 2006
The Master's Touch
I know that I've posted a picture of my guitar before. But today, I got to thinking about it. This is a '65 Gibson LG-1. It was my dad's. I have some very fond memories of this instrument, of my brother and I putting on "shows" for mom and dad. I would "play" the guitar, and he would sing. I didn't actually know how to play yet, but it was all in good fun. Then, as a teenager, I decided to take some lessons. I remember that this guitar sounded absolutely awful. It was pretty beat up, scratched up and even in tune, it was still out of tune! But I learned the basics, and moved up to an electric guitar.
Then, last October, as I was on the phone with my uncle Mike, who is a master with all things guitar, he asked me if I wanted the old Gibson. My dad had given it to him some time earlier, and he did some fix-up work on it.
He brought to my house one Saturday and I've had ever since. I took that guitar out of the case, and it still looked the same as I had always remembered. But as I strummed the strings, I heard something from that instrument that I had never heard before-a beautiful sound. To look at the thing, it didn't look much different. It still had the same scratches that I remembered as a kid. It still had the same knicks in the body. But it had been in the care of a master, and it was evident with the first strum on it in over 16 years.
What's my point in writing all this? We aren't that dissimilar from the old guitar. Like that guitar, we came into the hands of our Master with our warped necks, deep gouges and unsightly scratches. We came with a bitter, out-of-tune sound that made others want to plug their ears and run. But, in the hands of the Lord, he has taken our broken lives and made something beautiful out of them. He has healed our hearts and hurts. He's taken our bitter attitudes and tuned them up. Like a warped, bent neck, he has used life's trials to force change to straighten us up. And when he is done with us, we sing with the most beautiful sound, because we have been touched by the hand of God, our Master Craftsman.
You know, that guitar still may be scratched up, with those same gouges that I surely helped put in it so many years ago. But there is no mistaking the sound- the master has been there. I may still have some scratches and gouges that show when people see me, but do they look past what they see, to hear what God has done?
Paul was a man who had endured much hardship in his lifetime. But I love what he shows us at the end of his life. He shows us a sweetness of spirit. He was gouged and scratched, but he rang out in beautiful praise to God. Just listen to the sweet words he says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
So, submit your life to hands of your Master in heaven, and let him bring that beautiful sound out of your life! God bless!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The Cost of Freedom
Well, today is the Fourth of July. I always look forward to this time of year. The annual parades, the fireworks displays, people proudly displaying their American flags. We in America here celebrate our independence from Great Britain on this day.
We must remember, however, that this freedom that we have and celebrate didn't come without cost. Many people paid the ultimate cost for the freedom that we enjoy. From the Revolutionary War to desert sands of Iraq and Afganistan, our soliders have fought for the cause of freedom, and many have given their lives for that cause.
It is a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ. He came from the glory of Heaven to stench of a sin-ridden earth to save us and set us free from cruel tyranny of sin. Let's hear what the Word of God has to say:
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
We have been freed by Christ from sin. Our freedom cost Him His life. The Bible says that Christ left the glory of Heaven, and took on a human body to die on the cross for our forgiveness. Friends, our deliverance came through Christ's sacrifice.
So, today as we remember the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom, let us all the more remember the Lord Jesus' sacrifice that washed away our sins and has freed us from sin. God bless!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Psalm 73
Hey, everyone! I know it's been a while since I last blogged, but as you can imagine, things with a new baby and work and all have be bogged down. I do have one little nugget I can leave you with!
Sometime today, sit down and read Psalm 73. I did this morning. I did because I recently heard a sermon out of this chapter, and I will give the gist of it here. The Psalmist Asaph was writing here in a lament of how the wicked of this world seem to have it all going for them. They seem to have no problems. He talks about how it seems that they don't have the same troubles that we do. Maybe their kids don't get sick like ours do. Maybe they are in smooth financial waters. They don't seem to deal with illness. Perhaps you've felt that way. I know I have.
Then, something happened to the man of God who penned these words. He got into the presence of God and got His perspective. He realized that though things may seem to be smooth for these ungodly people, God is watching, and He will be just in dealings. Those who are ungodly and wicked will answer one day the the Great Judge of all mankind.
In the end, Asaph praised God. He looked and realized that even though his heart and flesh would fail, God would give his heart the strength he needed.
So, friends, in this short piece this afternoon, be encouraged in your storm. When you have questions as to whether God is really there, then do what Asaph finished his psalm with:
"It is good for me to draw near to God; I hav eput my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works" -vs.28
God bless!
Sometime today, sit down and read Psalm 73. I did this morning. I did because I recently heard a sermon out of this chapter, and I will give the gist of it here. The Psalmist Asaph was writing here in a lament of how the wicked of this world seem to have it all going for them. They seem to have no problems. He talks about how it seems that they don't have the same troubles that we do. Maybe their kids don't get sick like ours do. Maybe they are in smooth financial waters. They don't seem to deal with illness. Perhaps you've felt that way. I know I have.
Then, something happened to the man of God who penned these words. He got into the presence of God and got His perspective. He realized that though things may seem to be smooth for these ungodly people, God is watching, and He will be just in dealings. Those who are ungodly and wicked will answer one day the the Great Judge of all mankind.
In the end, Asaph praised God. He looked and realized that even though his heart and flesh would fail, God would give his heart the strength he needed.
So, friends, in this short piece this afternoon, be encouraged in your storm. When you have questions as to whether God is really there, then do what Asaph finished his psalm with:
"It is good for me to draw near to God; I hav eput my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works" -vs.28
God bless!
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Welcome to Jayden!
Well, he has arrived! May I introduce to to everyone Jayden Michael Richard! Less than a week early, and he weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz., and 19.7 inches long. He was born at 5:36 Tuesday morning. After a day in the Neonatal ICU, he is doing great and came home this afternoon. Pray for us as we try to get our home back to the normal flow.
Well, that's it for today! God bless!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Praying for the Saints
“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” Col. 1:3
This morning, as I made my way to work, I was thinking specifically about what I had read the previous night in my Bible study time. I read parts of chapter 1 of Ephesians, specifically verses 15-23, where the Apostle Paul prays for these believers.
This got me thinking today of the importance of praying for each other as believers. In several places in his letters to various congregations, Paul begins to not only pray for them, but to write out those prayers. Most of those prayers ring of a father lifting up his children in prayer. But in the book of Colossians, it is a little different.
The church in Colosse was not a church that Paul had planted. Rather, it seems that a convert to Christ, who came to the Lord through Paul’s ministry, had started this church. His name was Epaphras. He seems to have been the pastor of this church. Yet, the apostle found it necessary to write to this group of Christians, not only to encourage them in their relationship with the Lord, but to warn them of the threat of an infantile cult called Gnosticism, which seemed to claim that Christ was not divine as He Himself claimed to be. I won’t get into what Gnostics believed, but I will say that I have found it quite similar to Scientology, a cult heavily pushed by certain stars in Hollywood.
But, my focus today is that Paul prayed for them. He didn’t just write letters of instruction to the churches he ministered in and started. He got down to business in the secret place of prayer and lifted them up to God. He prayed for these Colossian believers, not as one who came and saw folks in the city saved because of his work there, but because he had a heart to practice what he preached, namely lifting up the saints of Christ in prayer (Eph. 6:18). He was driven to pray for the saints.
How much more should we? We live in a time where things seem to be going from bad to worse. Times are getting tough. Stress is mounting up. People are getting fearful of what might be coming down the road for them. If ever there was a time to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is now. I thank God for those that God has praying for me. I was blessed recently to find out from my good friend Pastor Henry, a fellow blogger, which he and his church are praying for me, as well as other ministers. They are praying for me all around, for my family, and my ministry. For others out there that are praying for me, thank you. You may never know just how your prayers have affected me until you make it home to Heaven. I am blessed!
Friends, isn’t this exactly what Jesus did? He prayed not just for his disciples, but for those who believe through their message. Look, that means Jesus prayed for me and you (John 17)! So, friends, let’s follow Paul’s, and really, Jesus’ example of prayer. Lift up those fellow believers that are all around you. While you are at it, toss one up for me, too! God bless!
This morning, as I made my way to work, I was thinking specifically about what I had read the previous night in my Bible study time. I read parts of chapter 1 of Ephesians, specifically verses 15-23, where the Apostle Paul prays for these believers.
This got me thinking today of the importance of praying for each other as believers. In several places in his letters to various congregations, Paul begins to not only pray for them, but to write out those prayers. Most of those prayers ring of a father lifting up his children in prayer. But in the book of Colossians, it is a little different.
The church in Colosse was not a church that Paul had planted. Rather, it seems that a convert to Christ, who came to the Lord through Paul’s ministry, had started this church. His name was Epaphras. He seems to have been the pastor of this church. Yet, the apostle found it necessary to write to this group of Christians, not only to encourage them in their relationship with the Lord, but to warn them of the threat of an infantile cult called Gnosticism, which seemed to claim that Christ was not divine as He Himself claimed to be. I won’t get into what Gnostics believed, but I will say that I have found it quite similar to Scientology, a cult heavily pushed by certain stars in Hollywood.
But, my focus today is that Paul prayed for them. He didn’t just write letters of instruction to the churches he ministered in and started. He got down to business in the secret place of prayer and lifted them up to God. He prayed for these Colossian believers, not as one who came and saw folks in the city saved because of his work there, but because he had a heart to practice what he preached, namely lifting up the saints of Christ in prayer (Eph. 6:18). He was driven to pray for the saints.
How much more should we? We live in a time where things seem to be going from bad to worse. Times are getting tough. Stress is mounting up. People are getting fearful of what might be coming down the road for them. If ever there was a time to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is now. I thank God for those that God has praying for me. I was blessed recently to find out from my good friend Pastor Henry, a fellow blogger, which he and his church are praying for me, as well as other ministers. They are praying for me all around, for my family, and my ministry. For others out there that are praying for me, thank you. You may never know just how your prayers have affected me until you make it home to Heaven. I am blessed!
Friends, isn’t this exactly what Jesus did? He prayed not just for his disciples, but for those who believe through their message. Look, that means Jesus prayed for me and you (John 17)! So, friends, let’s follow Paul’s, and really, Jesus’ example of prayer. Lift up those fellow believers that are all around you. While you are at it, toss one up for me, too! God bless!
Friday, June 09, 2006
Dressed for the Occasion
Well, it's been more than a week since my last blog. Sorry, but I haven't had too much to say lately. That changes today. Read on!
Maybe you are a sports fan. Right now, it is baseball season, and we are about a month away from the All-Star game on July 11th. Wow! Time flys, doesn't it? It's hard to believe that the season is almost half-over.
Imagine Barry Bonds, or another ball player, showing up to the game to play in a 3-piece suit. I know, it sounds silly, but just think about it for a minute. As a player and representive of San Fransico, he needs to wear the official uniform of his team. He can't show up however he wants, and simply decide that he will do his own thing.
It's the same thing with us as followers of Jesus Christ. We, in a kind of crude analogy, are on Christ's team. We are representatives of Christ, actually called his ambassadors in Scripture (2 Cor. 5:20). Hear what the Bible says in Philippians 1:27:
"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel"
Also, Romans 13:13-14:
"Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts"
If you think about it, our conduct reveals what our character is. Jesus said it this way: "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks". What our inside character is will be revealed by what we do outwardly. In a sense, our visible behaviors are kind of like our uniform: it's how people can see and recognize where our allegiance lies. That is why it is important to live a life that glorifies Christ. We may only have one chance to shine our light to someone, showing them our good works we do for Christ, so that they may see that there is substance to our profession of faith. I, for one, do not want to let some bad behavior be the thing that turns someone off to Jesus, because I was hypocritical and my claim to follow Christ didn't match my life. Both passages of scripture are saying the same thing, and the latter passgage in Romans literally uses the the Greek word for clothing oneself when it says to "put on" the Lord Jesus.
In the 3rd Commandment, we are told not to take God's name in vain. What is really interesting is that in Hebrew, the language Moses wrote in, that word "take" is a deep word. There are many ways that word translates into english. One that I noticed from Strong's Bible Dictionary is that it can be translated as the word "wear". How about that? Perhaps in a sense, when we apply God's name to our lives, it's a little like getting dressed? When we claim to follow Christ, others will look at us, and they will look to see if our walk matches our talk.
A good example of this is King David, at a time when he should have been leading his army in battle. Instead, he stayed back, and got into some real trouble. He noticed a woman bathing on her roof (I guess they washed in the supposed privacy of a roof so no one on the ground could see them). But Davids roof was higher, and as he was out for a walk up there, he caught a sight of a beautiful woman named Bathsheba, and he began to lust after her. So he found out about her. She was married to Uriah the Hittite, one of David's warriors. That should have been enough to stop David in his tracks, but his lust was driving him now. He had her brought to his palace, and they committed adultery. He then found that she was pregnant from their fling, and he needed to cover his tracks. He had her husband called in from battle, to get him to go be with his wife, so everyone would think that they are expanding their family. It didn't work, as Uriah was too loyal to his fellow soldiers to enjoy a night at home with the Mrs. while they slept in foxholes.
David then tried getting him drunk, but that didn't work, either. Finally, David wrote a note to the commander, and told him to put Uriah at the front of the battle so that he would certainly be killed. He gave the note to Uriah to deliver to the commander. Look how low David's sin made him sink. Resorting to murder for hire, and sending the message by the victim's own hand! It worked. He got away with it, or so he thought.
One Person saw everything. That was God. he sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David about this. God said this to him:
"because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme..." (2 Sam. 12:14)
Eveyone knew that David loved God. Certainly, even his enemies, and the kings of surrounding countries knew of David's deovotion to God. But his actions not only brought a bad name to himself, but to God. He took, or "wore" God's name in vain. And he paid dearly for his sin.
Friends, I don't mean to lay such a heavy word on a Friday, but this is what is in my heart. Other people are watching us, and we may only have one chance to shine the light of the Gospel to them. Let's not turn them off by bad conduct.
God bless!
Maybe you are a sports fan. Right now, it is baseball season, and we are about a month away from the All-Star game on July 11th. Wow! Time flys, doesn't it? It's hard to believe that the season is almost half-over.
Imagine Barry Bonds, or another ball player, showing up to the game to play in a 3-piece suit. I know, it sounds silly, but just think about it for a minute. As a player and representive of San Fransico, he needs to wear the official uniform of his team. He can't show up however he wants, and simply decide that he will do his own thing.
It's the same thing with us as followers of Jesus Christ. We, in a kind of crude analogy, are on Christ's team. We are representatives of Christ, actually called his ambassadors in Scripture (2 Cor. 5:20). Hear what the Bible says in Philippians 1:27:
"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel"
Also, Romans 13:13-14:
"Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts"
If you think about it, our conduct reveals what our character is. Jesus said it this way: "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks". What our inside character is will be revealed by what we do outwardly. In a sense, our visible behaviors are kind of like our uniform: it's how people can see and recognize where our allegiance lies. That is why it is important to live a life that glorifies Christ. We may only have one chance to shine our light to someone, showing them our good works we do for Christ, so that they may see that there is substance to our profession of faith. I, for one, do not want to let some bad behavior be the thing that turns someone off to Jesus, because I was hypocritical and my claim to follow Christ didn't match my life. Both passages of scripture are saying the same thing, and the latter passgage in Romans literally uses the the Greek word for clothing oneself when it says to "put on" the Lord Jesus.
In the 3rd Commandment, we are told not to take God's name in vain. What is really interesting is that in Hebrew, the language Moses wrote in, that word "take" is a deep word. There are many ways that word translates into english. One that I noticed from Strong's Bible Dictionary is that it can be translated as the word "wear". How about that? Perhaps in a sense, when we apply God's name to our lives, it's a little like getting dressed? When we claim to follow Christ, others will look at us, and they will look to see if our walk matches our talk.
A good example of this is King David, at a time when he should have been leading his army in battle. Instead, he stayed back, and got into some real trouble. He noticed a woman bathing on her roof (I guess they washed in the supposed privacy of a roof so no one on the ground could see them). But Davids roof was higher, and as he was out for a walk up there, he caught a sight of a beautiful woman named Bathsheba, and he began to lust after her. So he found out about her. She was married to Uriah the Hittite, one of David's warriors. That should have been enough to stop David in his tracks, but his lust was driving him now. He had her brought to his palace, and they committed adultery. He then found that she was pregnant from their fling, and he needed to cover his tracks. He had her husband called in from battle, to get him to go be with his wife, so everyone would think that they are expanding their family. It didn't work, as Uriah was too loyal to his fellow soldiers to enjoy a night at home with the Mrs. while they slept in foxholes.
David then tried getting him drunk, but that didn't work, either. Finally, David wrote a note to the commander, and told him to put Uriah at the front of the battle so that he would certainly be killed. He gave the note to Uriah to deliver to the commander. Look how low David's sin made him sink. Resorting to murder for hire, and sending the message by the victim's own hand! It worked. He got away with it, or so he thought.
One Person saw everything. That was God. he sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David about this. God said this to him:
"because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme..." (2 Sam. 12:14)
Eveyone knew that David loved God. Certainly, even his enemies, and the kings of surrounding countries knew of David's deovotion to God. But his actions not only brought a bad name to himself, but to God. He took, or "wore" God's name in vain. And he paid dearly for his sin.
Friends, I don't mean to lay such a heavy word on a Friday, but this is what is in my heart. Other people are watching us, and we may only have one chance to shine the light of the Gospel to them. Let's not turn them off by bad conduct.
God bless!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
A Spiritual Meme
What's a spiritual meme? I have no idea, but I've been tagged by Pastor Henry to do one, so here goes.
1. What is your life verse?
I guess my life verse would be Psalm 27:4, "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple." I picked this verse because I believe that as followers of Christ, we just aren't adherants to a religion, but part of a life-giving relationship with our our Creator. If you want to cultivate any relationship, whether it's a marriage, or simply a good friendship, you must spend time together. To me, there is nothing greater than to spend time in God's presence, in prayer with just his Word and his Spirit.
2. Give a bit of your testimony
I grew up in a traditional Lutheran Church. That is where I heard the Gospel first preached, and I believed. I believe that I was called initially to ministry on the pews of that church. Then I ran from God. I don't know why, youthful rebellion, maybe. But I ran until I was almost 22 years old. I did some stuff I am not proud of during that time, which included a lot of alcohol. The funny thing is, even though I was far from God, I almost could hear his voice calling me back to him. Even when I was drunk, I knew that God had so much more for me. Finally, after being jolted by the loss of my grandmother that made sure I was in church as a kid (she often took me to church), I came back to the Lord Jesus. I also answered that call on my life as a minister of the Gospel of Christ.
3. Do you have a favorite preacher?
I'd have to say that first of all, I have a great pastor. He has poured into me personally, and I don't just mean from the pulpit. He has mentored me. He is a great preacher, as well. Another favorite of mine is an Assembly of God pastor from the Detroit area, Pastor Tim Dilena, founder and Senior Pastor of Revival Tabernacle Church. I don't know him personally,but he has a wonderful inner-city church and great ministries that operate within the church. He is a great preacher, too.
4. What is the best bible study you have ever done?
Recently, I did a study in John 12, the account of some Greek worshippers of God coming to Jesus to see him. They would have heard of his powerful miracles, which most recently was raising Lazarus from the dead. What I studied out was the phrase in the passage, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit" (vs.24). In this study, it is clear that only the person that dies to themselves, their desires, their ambitions and their comforts, and lives for God, will be most fruitful. I want to die to myself so I can make the biggest impact possible for the Kindom of God.
5. What do you feel God's calling is on your life?
I feel that God has called me to reach those unwanted by society at large, and even by many churches. I have a heart for the homeless, the addict, those in poverty. I feel that God has called me to the inner-city to be a shepherd to those who have no one. I believe that the Gospel of Christ changes lives. Through Christ, those in hopeless situations like I mentioned can find the hope and strength they need to make it. God has given me a big vision, and I believe that he will bring it to pass as I step out and get busy.
Well, that is my spiritual meme. I will now tag another blogger. I'd tag more, but Henry tagged them all first. I will tag Pastor Neil, who is in Kenya right now.
Well, I hope eveyone enjoyed my little story. God bless!
1. What is your life verse?
I guess my life verse would be Psalm 27:4, "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple." I picked this verse because I believe that as followers of Christ, we just aren't adherants to a religion, but part of a life-giving relationship with our our Creator. If you want to cultivate any relationship, whether it's a marriage, or simply a good friendship, you must spend time together. To me, there is nothing greater than to spend time in God's presence, in prayer with just his Word and his Spirit.
2. Give a bit of your testimony
I grew up in a traditional Lutheran Church. That is where I heard the Gospel first preached, and I believed. I believe that I was called initially to ministry on the pews of that church. Then I ran from God. I don't know why, youthful rebellion, maybe. But I ran until I was almost 22 years old. I did some stuff I am not proud of during that time, which included a lot of alcohol. The funny thing is, even though I was far from God, I almost could hear his voice calling me back to him. Even when I was drunk, I knew that God had so much more for me. Finally, after being jolted by the loss of my grandmother that made sure I was in church as a kid (she often took me to church), I came back to the Lord Jesus. I also answered that call on my life as a minister of the Gospel of Christ.
3. Do you have a favorite preacher?
I'd have to say that first of all, I have a great pastor. He has poured into me personally, and I don't just mean from the pulpit. He has mentored me. He is a great preacher, as well. Another favorite of mine is an Assembly of God pastor from the Detroit area, Pastor Tim Dilena, founder and Senior Pastor of Revival Tabernacle Church. I don't know him personally,but he has a wonderful inner-city church and great ministries that operate within the church. He is a great preacher, too.
4. What is the best bible study you have ever done?
Recently, I did a study in John 12, the account of some Greek worshippers of God coming to Jesus to see him. They would have heard of his powerful miracles, which most recently was raising Lazarus from the dead. What I studied out was the phrase in the passage, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit" (vs.24). In this study, it is clear that only the person that dies to themselves, their desires, their ambitions and their comforts, and lives for God, will be most fruitful. I want to die to myself so I can make the biggest impact possible for the Kindom of God.
5. What do you feel God's calling is on your life?
I feel that God has called me to reach those unwanted by society at large, and even by many churches. I have a heart for the homeless, the addict, those in poverty. I feel that God has called me to the inner-city to be a shepherd to those who have no one. I believe that the Gospel of Christ changes lives. Through Christ, those in hopeless situations like I mentioned can find the hope and strength they need to make it. God has given me a big vision, and I believe that he will bring it to pass as I step out and get busy.
Well, that is my spiritual meme. I will now tag another blogger. I'd tag more, but Henry tagged them all first. I will tag Pastor Neil, who is in Kenya right now.
Well, I hope eveyone enjoyed my little story. God bless!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
A Trip to the Zoo...
This weekend, we took the kids on a little trip to the Toledo Zoo. Knowing that in just a few short weeks or less, our new baby boy will be arriving on the scene, we thought it best to go now, since we will not be able to after his birth for some time. So, Sunday morning, we packed up some lunch, juice pouches and water in the cooler, and headed to the Zoo. We arrived shortly after noon and ate a quick lunch, and then we started our very hot journey through this very nice zoo.
The kids were enthralled by what they saw. They happily screeched when the saw their favorite animals, like the young elephant my daughter Machaela had been wanting to see all day. The saw the polar bears, which I thought would have been cooling off from the near 90 degree heat in the water, but paced back and forth in an intimidating manner, as if to say, “If you even try to cross that fence, you’re mine!”
Then, as I was headed into work this morning, I was hit upside the head with a thought. Of all God’s creation, animals are the ones that are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Think about that for a minute. Birds were created to fly, not to sit in some cage like the bald eagles on display at the zoo. Elephants were created to live in family groups, and that they do. There is a purpose for that huge trunk, from grabbing hard to reach leaves to sucking up water to drink and cool itself down. Animals do what they were made to do. We can even look beyond the animal world. The sun rises and sets at the appointed times. It has always risen in the east, and set in the west as God made it too. The seasons change when they are supposed to. God’s world functions the way that it’s supposed to.
We people, however, are a different story, aren’t we? Out of all of God’s creation, we are the only ones who don’t do what we were created to do. I know that we have something that the rest of the world doesn’t have, which is a free will, ability to reason. Animals simply exist, being animals. Yet there is something weird about seeing something that was created for a specific purpose not functioning in that purpose. I mentioned the bald eagles on display at the zoo. Such a majestic bird that soars to incredible heights, confined to a display that gives them 20 feet. Those eyes that can spot a field mouse from high altitudes are simply watching the people that stop by to look at them. I think about us people, created to praise and worship God, to honor him with our lives, simply sitting in our own little existence, oblivious to the greater calling and purpose given us as the crown of God’s creation.
God created this world, called it good, and commanded it to be fruitful. And it is. Yet all over the Bible, we are called on to praise and honor God. Here is one such command:
“O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard” Ps. 66:8
In the New Testament, Jesus told us that we are to “love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength” (see Mark 12:33). In fact, by doing what we are commanded, we are actually showing our love for the Lord (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).
I got to thinking about this as I was reflecting on my weekend this morning. I did stuff that I was supposed to do, like cutting the grass, doing yard work, and taking out the garbage. But I got to thinking about the stuff I didn’t do. Mainly, I didn’t spend the time with God that I needed to. I neglected the time I need to spend one-on-one in God’s presence. I didn’t really read the Bible much. I didn’t take the time to get into prayer. I could have, but I was ashamedly too busy. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to paint a picture of someone slavishly trying to please God through daily religious ritual. But the call to worship and honor God is one in which we will answer to the Lord for. I want to live a life of obedience to him. I want to live a life that is pleasing to him.
Friends, just be encouraged today to get that time in with the Lord. Don’t let life keep you from doing what you were truly made for. God bless!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
The True Light
Recently, my wife and I have been talking about a particular verse in John 1. It is the 9th verse. Here it is with verses 10 and 11:
"There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."
Perhaps we've wondered about how such an awesome God, full of mercy, grace and love can put on human skin and come to this world and be so rejected and despised. Aside from the Biblical knowledge that Christ has to be rejected by the world, it seems strange to me that we as humankind could treat our Creator so cruely. Yet we did. Simply reading verse 9, it seems like such a nice thought. Jesus, the True Light, shining his light into our hearts. Well, to those of us who love him, we want that light to shine. But he came to a world that did not accept him. He came even to his own people, Israel, and found rejection. Think about that. These were the people called out by God and separated for his purposes. They saw God's miracle power. The Word of God came through them. They had the prophecies. Yet, when Jesus the Messiah did appear, the Bible says the rejected him. One would wonder why.
Here's my take on it. Let's read a passage from John 3:18-20:
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
The people of Israel were a very religious people. As I said already, these were the people God chose as his people. And beyond the common man, there were the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priests and teachers of the Law of Moses. In short, these people thought they were the real picture of righteousness. Think of a comfortable, old pair of white shoes. You may love those shoes, and think that they are great. Then you compare them to a brand new pair. What a contrast. That is kind of what happened when Jesus interrupted the religious folks idea of righteousness. Some "whiter" than them showed up, to use the white shoe terminology. Simply, as the True Light, Jesus shined into the dark hearts of these people, and they hated the light. Their "deeds were evil", as the above quoted verse says.
It is said that cockroaches will scatter when the light is turned on. I haven't experienced that, I don't let my house get so dirty that roaches would be comfortable. Those bugs hate the light. But those who love Christ will always come to him. Even if it means that dark areas, hidden from the view of others, but unhidden from the Light of Christ. Friends, let's not be like those that ran from the light that was meant to expose their darkness, so that they could be made truly righteous. Come to Jesus. Read his word. Let his Spirit mold you into his likeness. He wants to make us all like him. May God bless you all today!
"There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."
Perhaps we've wondered about how such an awesome God, full of mercy, grace and love can put on human skin and come to this world and be so rejected and despised. Aside from the Biblical knowledge that Christ has to be rejected by the world, it seems strange to me that we as humankind could treat our Creator so cruely. Yet we did. Simply reading verse 9, it seems like such a nice thought. Jesus, the True Light, shining his light into our hearts. Well, to those of us who love him, we want that light to shine. But he came to a world that did not accept him. He came even to his own people, Israel, and found rejection. Think about that. These were the people called out by God and separated for his purposes. They saw God's miracle power. The Word of God came through them. They had the prophecies. Yet, when Jesus the Messiah did appear, the Bible says the rejected him. One would wonder why.
Here's my take on it. Let's read a passage from John 3:18-20:
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."
The people of Israel were a very religious people. As I said already, these were the people God chose as his people. And beyond the common man, there were the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priests and teachers of the Law of Moses. In short, these people thought they were the real picture of righteousness. Think of a comfortable, old pair of white shoes. You may love those shoes, and think that they are great. Then you compare them to a brand new pair. What a contrast. That is kind of what happened when Jesus interrupted the religious folks idea of righteousness. Some "whiter" than them showed up, to use the white shoe terminology. Simply, as the True Light, Jesus shined into the dark hearts of these people, and they hated the light. Their "deeds were evil", as the above quoted verse says.
It is said that cockroaches will scatter when the light is turned on. I haven't experienced that, I don't let my house get so dirty that roaches would be comfortable. Those bugs hate the light. But those who love Christ will always come to him. Even if it means that dark areas, hidden from the view of others, but unhidden from the Light of Christ. Friends, let's not be like those that ran from the light that was meant to expose their darkness, so that they could be made truly righteous. Come to Jesus. Read his word. Let his Spirit mold you into his likeness. He wants to make us all like him. May God bless you all today!
Friday, May 19, 2006
Just Like Him
Hey, all, it has been a few days since my last post. I don't have too much to talk about this morning. I was scheduled for an appointment this morning that had to be rescheduled for this afternoon. So, me and the Mrs. decided to hit the local library. Kind of boring.
I have been thinking today about the Lord Jesus. You know, not only did he come to this earth to die for the sins of mankind, but while he was walking this planet for 3 1/2 years, he was also giving us an example of true ministry. Jesus displayed a selfless, giving love for us. The Bible tells us in Philippians 2 that Jesus didn't look out for his own interests, but for ours, for the worlds. Let's read:
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, {and} being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." -Philippians 2:5-8
In other words, the Apostle Paul is telling us that Christ is our example. I mentioned in Monday's blog that Christ came from the Glories of Heaven to a poor existence on this earth. Let me speak on that. Paul told us in 1 Timothy 3:16 that "God was manifest (revealed) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." You see, the Lord Jesus wasn't just some good teacher and prophet, and he never claimed to be simply some good teacher. He claimed that he was God, and proved it by the miracles he performed. Jesus was divine, he was and is God. I say that to kind of combat what the popular book, and now today just released as a film, The Davinci Code, says, but I digress. Jesus left the Glorious Heavens and was born into a smelly, filthy stable. He was surrounded by dirty animals. He was raised in poverty. He learned a trade from his earthly guardian, Joseph, namely, carpentry. Think about this, folks. All the glory, all the splendor, the angels constantly praising him, and he left it to come to this little planet! He endured a hard life, worked with his own two hands, and hung on a cruel cross for us. The Bible tells us that he endured that torturous death for the joy of bringing us to a right relationship with him.
And so he is our example. The next time you pick up your Bible, and you read the Gospels, and the rest of the New Testament, study the example of Christ. Ask him to help you be more like him. That's all, folks. God bless!
I have been thinking today about the Lord Jesus. You know, not only did he come to this earth to die for the sins of mankind, but while he was walking this planet for 3 1/2 years, he was also giving us an example of true ministry. Jesus displayed a selfless, giving love for us. The Bible tells us in Philippians 2 that Jesus didn't look out for his own interests, but for ours, for the worlds. Let's read:
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, {and} being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." -Philippians 2:5-8
In other words, the Apostle Paul is telling us that Christ is our example. I mentioned in Monday's blog that Christ came from the Glories of Heaven to a poor existence on this earth. Let me speak on that. Paul told us in 1 Timothy 3:16 that "God was manifest (revealed) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." You see, the Lord Jesus wasn't just some good teacher and prophet, and he never claimed to be simply some good teacher. He claimed that he was God, and proved it by the miracles he performed. Jesus was divine, he was and is God. I say that to kind of combat what the popular book, and now today just released as a film, The Davinci Code, says, but I digress. Jesus left the Glorious Heavens and was born into a smelly, filthy stable. He was surrounded by dirty animals. He was raised in poverty. He learned a trade from his earthly guardian, Joseph, namely, carpentry. Think about this, folks. All the glory, all the splendor, the angels constantly praising him, and he left it to come to this little planet! He endured a hard life, worked with his own two hands, and hung on a cruel cross for us. The Bible tells us that he endured that torturous death for the joy of bringing us to a right relationship with him.
And so he is our example. The next time you pick up your Bible, and you read the Gospels, and the rest of the New Testament, study the example of Christ. Ask him to help you be more like him. That's all, folks. God bless!
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