Word for Wednesday

December 9, 2009

Let's clear that slate!

I realize that I cannot speak for anyone but myself; however, that doesn’t mean I can’t write or at the very least use my Constitutional right to speak freely – and that of course with conscience. So today I do have something to say that may also be supported in recent Gallup and Rasmussen polls. 

Just for the offering I believe that the United States with its current economic conditions is fertile ground. I mean we’re talking real level three ground here where when the seed lands on this soil; it settles in and lets those long roots take hold to support the likes of an Elm, Evergreen, or even an Oak tree. And we should be using this for our “inner gardener.”

We have the situation where credit-card debt has gone through the roof and offers of new cards seem to be coming in daily. In fact many people have adopted the risky practice of “rolling-over” or “flipping” from one card to another. And just like everything else in the world it seems like a rather prudent way of debt management – but remember this is the World where everything is basically the opposite of what God intended it to be.

The process of rolling over is taking the debt of one card and when the new one comes, transferring the entire balance to that card where one normally gets the bonus of discount interest rates. Sure it sounds good – as any desperate thing sounds to a desperate person – but in reality how much of the principle amount of the debt has been paid? That’s right…none.

Is it possible to approach our spiritual account in the same way? Could we be lulled into thinking that promising to change for one moment – and we all know that drill – is enough for that moment, like making minimum payments on a maxed-out credit card? What does it take to tackle the enormous debt of our failure and sin?

I believe in my heart of hearts that the USA is just a bit past the “promising” stage; in other words, the USA is failing miserably in immigration reform, health care reform, climatology stewardship, and basically both congress and the current administration are simply increasing the debt.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ, by His death on the cross, has done something we could never do – He paid the debt in full. “In Him we have the redemption though His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Christ paid a debt he didn’t owe to satisfy a debt we couldn’t pay.

December 2, 2009

His love and mercy are new every morning...

Recently two men were being considered for the pastorate of a local congregation. As irony would have it, both men preached on the subject of Hell. One preached in a cold, shivering, and threatening way like someone out of a Tim Burton film. 

The other man preached with love in a caring and compassionate way. The congregation unanimously called the latter as their new pastor. Their collective reasoning was that the first man left the impression that he didn’t mind if people went to Hell. However, the second preached as one who was deeply grieved that anyone should miss the love, warmth, and forgiveness of God.

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul wrote about the judgment seat of Christ. This sobering truth gave the apostle a proper sense of urgency as he sought to “persuade men” (v.11). Paul testified, however, that the compelling force in his ministry of reconciliation was not judgment but Christ’s love. In verse 20, Paul uses the words pleading and implore to convey the intense longing and love.

There is a story that pastors tell from time to time on the preaching of Hell. Here it goes: Andy told Bob that he had just preached from Psalm 9:17, “The wicked shall be turned into Hell.” This prompted Bob to ask a simple question: We you able to preach it with tenderness?

Well friends the same could be asked of us. How do you and I communicate the gospel of Christ to nonbelievers? The great underlying message here is that God longs to soften out hearts and make us into instruments of reconciliation. And lastly – have you ever seen the face of a new believer at the moment they’ve received Jesus Christ as their own personal savior? Or have you seen the face of someone who has been touched by the Holy Spirit? For this reason alone I’ve vowed to give my all – daily – to preach God’s love.

 

 

November 18, 2009

Is God real to you?

It wasn’t too long ago that certain theologians (yep theologians!) proclaimed, “God is dead.” If we allow ourselves to venture back to the decades of pop culture where through music and psychedelic drugs humankind began – literally – to see thoughts of their own minds and their own interpretations of the world. In their opinion, the progress of knowledge had made it impossible for thoughtful people to believe in God. 

The “thinkers” said it was time to bury the idea of an almighty Creator in the graveyard of abandoned myths. However, the ‘God-is-dead’ theology has died out. Again from my pastor-friend, “From the perspective of human spirituality, the extraordinary thing about the 20th century was the failure of God to die.”

We’ve studied and remember John Calvin, albeit good or bad, right? It was Calvin who espoused that we all have an inborn sense of deity. That’s why anthropologists have never discovered a tribe of atheists. To kill of faith in God, it would be necessary to blot out the stars, turn the orderly processes of nature into chaos, and perform a lobotomy on every human being (however, there could be some argument over this last one!).

I subscribe to the notion that a ‘Proverb-a-day’ helps us to fend off the enemy. It is hard to pick any one topic point over and above all others mentioned in the Book of Proverbs; however, suffice it to say that ‘foolishness, fool-hearted, acting as a fool,’ is certainly up there as one of the most mentioned. The consequences are deadly.

How foolish is it to deny God! (Ps. 53:1). Yet if we do not live and learn God’s commandments and His precepts, God is as good as dead. By our thoughtless words and actions we may treat the Creator of the universe as if He doesn’t exist.

It is only through constant commitment to Christ and the discipline of prayer that God becomes as real to us as the things He created for us. Today, let’s try our level best to show that we know God is real!

 

 

 

I was reading a funny story the other day about a pastor who’d preach the same sermon every Sunday; most people in the pews began thinking it wasn’t really the pastor speaking – yet rather a tape recording from the previous Sunday. When the folks started to complain, he told the entire congregation, “I’ll preach a new sermon when you begin to act on this one…”

So what was that particular sermon about? Ah yes, the wonderful words of James: “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22). As followers of Christ, we are to live what we learn.

The pastor continued, “James wants you to have a holy faith – worked out in the world….” Furthermore, he seized the moment to inform those in attendance that there are those who although are involved with church activities, regular giving, yet never care for anybody.

“The world calls this hypocrisy,” with his passions rising and just a bit of louder tone. Empty lip service never fools the world – James said we fool only ourselves. Our faith is “pure and undefiled” when it overflows in service to others (v.27).

How often have we heard something along the lines of this: ‘I don’t believe in god because so many people have to suffer on earth…’ or ‘why does god take people away from us who have never done any harm to anyone’? And how many times have we all wanted to scream back: “Have you ever thought of god suffering? Or, okay you believe he never harmed anyone, but can you tell me if he ever did any good for anyone else? I hear this and I realize I’m speaking to someone who knows very little; especially when they bring up babies! Like humankind’s lifestyle has nothing to do whatsoever with infant death!

Some Christians are little more than “harmless” citizens in the world. Many refer to them as being “lukewarm.” These folks are the hearers of the Word only, and by no means ‘effectual doers.’ Let’s not just learn what god says. Let’s live it!

 

I wouldn’t even think of writing this post if it were not for Jay, my friend and fellow brother in the Lord. I read his WFW late last night and wanting to write it then, I quickly realized that I needed to take some time with god through prayer and meditation (in other words, reflection).

Actually the first things that came to my mind were two-fold: The first was from Proverbs 1: 2-7 and onward. Solomon, known as the wisest man in those parts, perhaps even the world, yet, he starts this beautiful book off with: “To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the saying of understanding, to receive instruction in wise behavior – Righteousness, justice, and equity: to give prudence to the naïve, to the youth knowledge and discretion, a wise man will hear and increase in learning…

And in verse 7 we find the key to how we obtain wisdom, understanding, and knowledge: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; (and opposite of that is) Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Interestingly as Jay alluded to in his writing, so how does one go about acquiring this knowledge? Asking, seeking, knocking, faith, and fear are readily identified in the word. I can hear the scorn now from non-believers…”who could withstand the wrath of god?” Yet perhaps the misunderstood word in The Bible “fear” is really quite a different notion for those of us who believe.

Fear as used in biblical text carries a dual connotation: First, it is the fear of the awesome power of god, when we see the works of his hands and the mighty miracles that shroud us daily, who could stand up to that? Secondly, fear has the passionate connotation of not losing him! Therefore, by fear of god, we are really saying ‘…we are awestruck by the awesome power of god (reverence) and I sure don’t want to lose him!’

One last bit I have to comment on today is how the most knowledgeable, insightful, and understanding person on earth could ask god for discernment. Seriously now, wouldn’t one think that being the wisest person on earth would suffice?

Once there was a pastor in my life who took about two weeks explaining to his congregation what Solomon meant about ‘discernment.’ The pastor started with this: Of all of the things in the world, moreover, the universe, what compels a man to ask for discernment? From the oldest of manuscripts and literally hundreds of linguists the ancient usage of discernment literally meant “seeing through the eyes of god.” Therefore Solomon wasn’t only asking for the knowledge between good and evil and how to appropriately judge god’s creation – this was something he knew he could never be capable of – unless he could see that situation through god’s eyes. Powerful.

I may discern between good and evil for who is able to judge this great people of yours?” And further on we see “I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. (1 Kings 3: 9-14)

 

 

In moments like these...

When I really listen and then critically reflect on the amount of folks in our nation who are unemployed – I literally am moved to tears. The folks I’m addressing here are those who love their work, enjoy getting up and doing whatever it is that they do.  

My heart aches when I think of the down-trodden Mid-West; what’s happened to America’s auto industry, and just about every industry one could endeavor to think about – including medicine. Doctors are getting fed up and who’s to blame them? If one ever wants a visual example of compassion – I suggest watching a nurse work and who could ever figure out the minds of teachers? For what they are paid they have to love their work; moreover, I think its part of their lives.

In Ecclesiastes 5: 9-20 especially verse 18 we are reminded to make sure we enjoy the joy of working; moreover, enjoy in the fruit of our labors. “It is good and fitting for one…to enjoy the good of all his labor.” Make no mistake about it – there are copious amounts of virtue and dignity from really honest and hard work. Yet, somewhere someone got fed a bill of goods that life is work, work, and more work and I don’t believe God intended it to be.

There wouldn’t be mention of the Sabbath if God wanted to create machines. Furthermore, I am so convinced that God loves our companionship more than we’ll ever give him credit for…thank goodness! The word of God teaches us that God expects us to work (2 Th.3-8-12). But he also wants us to enjoy in some of the rewards – without guilt or remorse – that we’ve earned. I can’t help but believe that the entire spirit of Christmas is the notion that God wants us to feast with loved ones and family for his sake and for his love.

 

 

The Guidebook and Map

One of the issues I have with humankind – especially in America – is the notion of living in a convenience oriented society. So much of what has been worked for, so much of what we take so readily for granted, albeit, transportation, food, clothing, and especially our relationships that we have with others become so convenient that hardly a day goes by that I just want to Stop! And say to the Lord, “…Thanks Lord, for that breath…”

Interestingly no where in God’s word are we ever assured that we will receive our next breath! Therefore, this causes me to ask, why do we take so much for granted in our convenience oriented society? This question alone always brings me back to some very special verses that I’d love to share today.

I truly believe that this is a written fact that non-believers do not know of; “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard; And which have not entered the heart of man, what no human mind has conceived, All that God has prepared for those who love Him”; therefore, they are unable to experience the fullness and joy of His love. (1Cor. 2:9)

Moreover, this is perhaps the easiest part about it: That anyone who believes in Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior – who took upon our sin – and literally died a criminals death because of his undaunted love for us and believes this in their hearts, is entitled to those items the eye has not seen, the ear not heard, and will be able to understand what the mind has not conceived…yet, the best part (for me) is that we get to experience the love that the Creator of all things has for us. Whew!

Furthermore, I firmly believe that God wants this for all of his people — meaning us — humankind. However, there are those who will remain clueless to the fact that we are all “wholly chosen and selected” by God just for being us. 

 

 

 

Every answer to every problem

So many times when I or my friends start struggling — albeit in the hospital, relationships, or even in the world — I like to look to Psalm 27 and try and encourage them to read it with me.

In particular Ps. 27:13 where we get our first clues to what the psalmist is describing. It is obvious that he was in a very difficult time and quite openly goes on to state: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Many people would be looking to our ultimate hope — that is the unseen world, or our future in Heaven* – and it is amazing how in our humble Christian minds we decide to think of where we are going – rather than deal with the reality of the mess here and now. I know that I speak for a lot of folks when I say that when people come to us for real spiritual guidance more often than not we simply suggest a Bible verse or book, and that’s it. That’s exactly like going to the doctor with him saying: take to tablets with water and call me in the morning. *(2 Cor.4:18; 5:1-8).

Now here’s where we come full-circle: It’s important for all of us to remember that we are currently in the ‘land of the living’ here on Earth. Our expectation should not be instant deliverance from bad circumstances; we should be looking toward the hope of seeing “the goodness of the Lord” and at times it is the only thing we can see during our times of trouble.

No matter what our situation is, or how hopeless it may look, we know with the full assurance of faith that we will find evidence of God’s goodness in every situation. Faith in God’s goodness keeps hope alive.

  

  

One of my favorite – as if there ever could be just one – words of Scripture that is really on my heart today is: from Proverbs 30 and in particular verses 24-28. “Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: The ants are not a strong folk, but they prepare their food in the summer; The badgers are not a mighty folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no King, yet all of them go out in ranks; The lizard you may grasp with the hands, yet it is in king’s palaces.”

Breaking these words down for me, goes something like this: Four things humankind needs on earth: Wisdom, diligence, foresight, and leadership; moreover, one could take these much further such as: We need knowledge and wisdom; preparedness and due-diligence; planning ahead, and with good parents one doesn’t need a king or dictator, and least I forget the parody of the writer – lizards are very lowly reptiles, yet through being unheard or unseen are even in palaces!

So all during today I’m thinking what’s up with a person who openly denies the Holocaust? Or a different person stating that it was the Jews who killed JFK, you know Ben-Oswald, and Ben-Ruby? Ironically, the individuals spewing this rubbish are supposed to be discussing ‘climate change’ of all things. Please, puleez, where does the Holocaust or JFK factor in with global climate change? There is far worse…humankind is the only animal that creates problems for itself – to the point of annihilation! Think about it…Oh yes…one last thing before I go – thank you all who have welcomed me to Word for Wednesday…it’s so cool of you! Blessings!

 

 

Let your light so shine....

 

Something wonderful happened this week on MTV’s Video Music Awards (WMA’s) that just about leveled me flat. We all know the drill with Kanye West and his inappropriate behavior during Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech. Nuf’ said for that.

However, the real beauty…the sparkle of a diamond came as Beyonce demonstrated the compassion of God’s word. Specifically I refer to Beyonce’s ability to: “…make my joy complete by being of the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than themselves…” (Phil. 2:2-3)

Hearing Beyonce reflect on how she remembered her very first award, how she felt, she didn’t know what to say although it was ‘her moment,’ even after garnering some 8 more VMA’s, she had the class and dignity to remember that someone else was hurt and literally robbed of ‘their moment.’

“Do not merely look after for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” is what I said in my wedding vows to my wife and our Lord as I got married. Therefore, when Beyonce called Taylor Swift back to center stage during Beyonce’s own time, to give Taylor ‘her moment’ was one of those acts of kindness that we all need more of…thank you Beyonce, thank you Lord. (Additional verse: Phil.2:4)