Give me words...

Men and Marriage

2012-02-15T08:21:00.008-05:00

Yesterday one of the wrestlers was trying to get me to go with them for guys night, on Valentine's Day. He was listing all of the reasons I should go, after I reminded him I have a wife I was spending the evening with. I held up my left hand showing him my ring, and he made a motion with his hands telling me all I had to do was slip it off. Then he made the comment, "Just because you're on a diet, it doesn't mean you can't look at the menu."

That's the thinking in America today. It's ok to look, so long as you don't physically do something. It's ok to think so long as you don't act it out. Jesus said in Matthew 5.27-28, "You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Job 31.1 says, "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?"

On August 20, 2011 at around 6:30 pm I entered into a covenant relationship. I stood with my wife before God, my mentor, our friends and family, and committed myself to her until death. We took vows, "...from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part..." As a sign of our covenant we exchanged rings, a symbol telling the rest of the world that we belong to each other. But the ring is just a symbol. The ring does not make me married when I wear it. If I take it off I'm not unmarried. Even if it's lost or destroyed, I'm still married to my wife.

Before we made our vows I was asked this, "Will you have this woman to be your wedded wife, to live together after God's holy ordinance in the state of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other keep yourself only unto her, so long as you both shall live?" I said "I will." At that moment I was committed, before God, to her. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. At that moment I had told God, my wife, and everyone there, that in every way I belonged to her.

My wife is the only one I desire. She is the only one I want to desire. I love her more than anyone else, and because of that I chose to enter the covenant of marriage with her alone. In the Old Testament covenants were a very serious thing, and were taken much more seriously than they are now. To seal a covenant an animal was killed and cut in two pieces (down the middle, right side and left side). The halves of the animal were laid on the ground and the parties making the covenant would walk between them. It was a statement that if either of them broke the agreement of the covenant that they would be cut in two just as the animal had been. To break a covenant meant death.

The seriousness of a covenant hasn't changed, but our commitment to them has. We live in a society where people have the mindset that I have mentioned at the beginning. The mindset where if I just slip of my wedding ring and no one knows it's ok. As I've been reading The Way of the Wild Heart, it talks a lot about how we are a society full of uninitiated men. We live in a world with men who are men by age, but still boys by maturity. When a society is full of men like that, we have these sort of problems.

We need men to be men. Men who refuse to be selfish and who are committed to the covenants they make. Men who keep their word and live for God, not themselves. Our society isn't going to fix itself. It's going to take real men who are willing to stand up and take it back.

To the men who read this and are willing to be those men, I encourage you to read Wild at Heart and The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. These are two books that examine who we are, how we've gotten to the state we're in, and how God can bring us back to where He created us to be. They are easy reads that will keep your attention. As you do I encourage you to read through the Bible, looking for who God is. Start in Genesis and read through asking God to show you His heart as you study the pages of Scripture. In Jeremiah 29.13 God says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." God wants us to know Him, and if we are willing to seek Him, He will show us who He is. Record your findings (note, there are some chapters where it isn't obvious, but God is there). Pray that God will help you become more like Him.

When you get done with that, read it again, this time looking at the men of Scripture. Look for their strengths and weaknesses. Look for the successes and failures. Again, record what you find. Pray that the good things will be part of who you are, and that the negatives will have no part in your life. This will take time and effort, but it is worth it. Life isn't about God making it easy for us. It's about us becoming the men God created us to be in order that we may give glory to Him. Finally, find a mentor, and be a mentor. Find a man who is a man, and ask him to walk through life with you, to pray for you, and help you understand who God is and who He made you to be. Find someone to mentor when the time is right, be a mentor. Find a younger man and help him become the man God created him to be. Share your story, your journey, and how God is working in your life.

Let us be the men God has called us to be.

Peace be with you

About God

2012-02-14T10:43:00.006-05:00

This morning I read a quote that went along with what I've been thinking about for a few weeks now.

"I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God." -Chuck Swindoll

For the past few weeks, maybe months, there have been some tough situations that I've encountered. Part of me wonders why me? I wonder what the point of this is, and how long I'll have to deal with it. About a month ago I hit a low point due to some circumstances. My mentor was able to take the situation and turn it into an encouragement, but it still has left me wondering why.

I've met with a few other pastors in the past month, and they have been a blessing and support as well. One of them told me something that has really helped, "You're here for God, no one else." It has been that statement that has really helped me. I am here, on this assignment, really in life, for God. It is all about God, not my comfort or preferences, but God's glory.

In 2 Timothy 1.8 Paul says, "Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,". My study of 2 Timothy has been very drawn out, and I've just recently started the third commentary portion of it. But today the commentary on this verse stood out to me. It said that we must be willing to take our share of persecution for the Gospel. We do this not in our power but in God's.

Persecution is part of being a Christ follower. We see this in Romans 5 and James 1. Jesus said it in John 16.33, "In the world you have tribulation,". But they all contain hope. Jesus statement ends with, "but take courage; I have overcome the world." James says "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
And in Romans it says "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

As I write this I think of a quote from the movie Rocky Balboa, "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody!"

Following Jesus isn't easy, and God never said it would be. There will be troubles, there will be hardships, there will be persecution. If we are going to follow Jesus we must be willing to take the hits, the cheap shots, and everything else, because the road Jesus walks leads to a cross. But the cross ends at the Empty Tomb. Jesus told us that there would be hardships in the world, but to take courage, because He had overcome it. Paul said that we must be willing to suffer. In Philippians 3 he says that the suffering, the loss, ends in life as we pursue Christ.

We will face hardships, but we don't have to endure them on our own. We endure in God's strength, in God's power. And in His power we are able to victoriously conquer (Romans 8.37). God has called us into service. It involves hardship and suffering, but He will walk through it with us, and in the end we will enter His presence. This is all about God. Life for His glory.

Peace be with you

Welded

2012-02-13T08:57:00.005-05:00

In a few recent posts I've referred to my wife and I being welded together, or how God wants us to be welded to Him. It's Monday, and I don't have anything else on my mind, so I want to share this insight. I don't remember where I first heard this fact, but I've confirmed it with my father-in-law and he said it's correct.

When two pieces of metal need to be joined they can be welded together. There are many ways to weld metal, I want to focus on heat. Both pieces are heated up to essentially melt the two together. When this happens the two pieces are joined directly to each other, and the bond is stronger (most of the time) than the metal itself. Due to this, the metal will never break at the welded part. Two pieces become one single piece and the point of their union is stronger than each piece individually. You can see now why I've used the reference.

Marriage is a welding of two people. It is a bond, a covenant, unbreakable vows made to each other before God. I don't believe the welding of marriage is fully accomplished at the wedding however. That day you have two people at their absolute best, it's easy to be close an inseparable at that point. The welding comes after that day, when reality sets in, when life happens. The welding takes place when life gets hard and the two become closer together.

I think the tough times function as heat. Our reaction to them determines what happens next. A husband and wife can either come together, and be melted together into an unbreakable bond, or they can pull away from each other, and be two broken pieces of metal.

There has been some rough stuff in the situations my wife and I have found ourselves in recently. I know that I haven't always responded the best to them, but over all we have really begun to get closer. We are learning to support each other through the rough times. We're really learning how to pray for each other. I'm learning how to be there for her, how sometimes she just needs me to come pick her up and hold her on the couch.

I think of what it says in Romans 5 and James 1,"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5.3-5). "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1.2-4).

Testing and tribulations refers to metal being put through fire. It is cleansed, purified, strengthened, and becomes more valuable. The difficulties in life on a marriage are there to do the same thing to a couple. As the world tries to tear a marriage apart, God is there to bring the two together. He is there to weld them together.

Marriage is the closest model we have to the relationship God desires with each of us. During the hard times of life, God wants us to draw closer to Him. He wants us to learn to lean on Him, and through the difficulties to have our faith in Him strengthened. He wants us to be welded to Him, to have an unbreakable bond with Him. The trials of life provide the heat, but our response determines if the welding ever takes place.

Let the trials your marriage will face weld you to your spouse. Let the trials your faith goes through weld you to God. During the hard times draw closer to the ones that love you most. During the tough times unite together and become unbreakable.

Peace be with you

Wrestlers

2012-02-09T08:25:00.008-05:00

This winter I've had the opportunity to work as an assistant wrestling coach with the local high school team. It's been good to lace up my shoes again and step on the mat. I've enjoyed coaching, my wife says that I'm most alive when I'm working with boys and young men, helping them reach their potential. And with wrestling there are different types of young men.

You have some with talent, and some who don't have any. There are some who work hard and some who slack off. There are some that are there to compete, to be the best, and others who are there simply to goof around. Some of them frustrate you and others you love, and coaches have to work with all of them.

There are a few kids that should be state bound this year, they have the talent and know how to use it. There are some who have the potential to be phenomenal wrestlers. They are strong and solid, but have little drive or aggression. There are two that have the talent to be good, but just goof around all of practice, wasting their talent. And there are some with little talent, or little experience, that out work everyone else in the room. It's often that way, the ones with the least talent are the ones that work the hardest.

I was one of them. Most kids today start wrestling at four or five years old. I didn't start until seventh grade. Right away I was a middle weight with guys who had been wrestling most of their lives, I had a lot of ground to make up. I out worked everyone. I worked hard in the room, and did everything I could in the off season, running, lifting, as many open tournaments as I could find, open mats wherever I could get (thank you to my dad for the time and money he put into this). And even when I had gotten to be a good wrestler I kept working hard, I had seen the results of it, and so it continued to drive me.

That's why it frustrates me so much now to see some of these boys. They have more talent then I ever did, but they waste it because the work is hard. It frustrates me that some of the hardest workers don't get to see the victory that their work deserves. There is one kid who has a goal that his work has earned but his talent, barring a miracle, will never achieve. And some have the talent to be the best but their work ethic keeps them from achieving their full potential. It makes me wonder why God didn't bless the hard workers with the talent.

The Bible talks about Spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. These are God given talents to be used by us to serve others, build the Kingdom, and glorify God. Some have several, no one has them all, everyone has at least one. "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly" Romans 12.6; "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" 1 Corinthians 12.7.

God has given each of us at least one skill to use for Him. think about it, the God who spoke the universe into existence has decided to give you and me a talent that we can use to serve Him. The God who holds the universe in the palm of His hand, a universe that we are really, really small in, has given us a gift to serve Him. He has invited us to give Him glory that He must receive, allowing us to take part in the worship of Him. It is a service we are unworthy to give and unfit to offer, but He still invites and desires for us to give it to Him. Not only that, but He enables us, empowers us, to do it!

Why then do we waste our gifts? It is something precious given to us by God, and we ignore it, or treat it like it's nothing at all. One of the most frustrating things to a coach is the talented kid who wastes his talent by not working hard. It's almost heartbreaking, you see a kid that could do so well, who could get so for and do so much, and simply won't work for it. Do you think God feels the same way?

Let us not waste our gifts, let us use them for the glory of God. My mentor says there are six things that show a person where they are gifted; three internal and three external. The internal are joy, ease and losing track of time while you do it. When you serve you are joyful, you aren't drained but energized. When you serve it is easy, you get it done quickly and efficiently, you don't have to work that hard at it. When you serve you lose track of time, you aren't constantly looking at your watch. The external things are, fruitfulness, affirmation, and confirmation. When you serve things happen. When you serve people affirm you, telling you that you do it well. When you serve leaders confirm you, that you have that gift. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CtCYrfGHQw)

Find your place to serve, discover your gift. Use it, don't waste it. Jesus told a story once about a master who went on a journey and gave each of his servants an amount of money. Two of them put it to work and on his return we praised. The third one however did not. He buried his portion, and when the master returned he called him wicked and lazy and said, "'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" But to the ones who had used their portion the master said, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master"(Matthew 25.14-30).

Which one do you want to be? What do you want to hear? Use your gifts for the glory of God.

Peace be with you

1 Corinthians 13.11-12, revisited

2012-02-08T08:35:00.013-05:00

Two years ago today I wrote the blog that has been read the most. At the time I was a single youth pastor in Michigan who thought I knew what love was. The blog post was written in response to something one of the teens had said about these two verses. "When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."

Over the last few months I've been thinking about it a lot. In that two years a lot has changed. I've gotten married, moved twice, dealt with some rough work situations, had a job that I didn't understand why God was having me do (and honestly don't know that I yet understand), been to two new countries, and taken my first senior pastor role. It's been a busy two years.

In two years I'd like to think I've grown up some more. I'd like to say I'm a better man now than I was two years ago. And I'd like to say I know a little more about love than I did then, I know that I do.

Two years ago I thought I knew about love. There was a girl I was infatuated with. From what I could see she was perfect. That didn't work out, and it wasn't supposed to. I remember that April of 2010, I was coming to the realization that whatever that was was over. At that point I thought I would never be able to feel that way about anyone ever again. That was a childish thought. One day I was watching Brave Heart, and there was a line in the movie that God spoke to me through.

At the beginning of the movie William Wallace is a young boy whose father has just been killed in a battle. That night William has a dream, he is laying next to his father's body. In the dream his father turns his head to look at him and says, "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." In that moment God gave me my heart back. He had set it free, and it wasn't just releasing me from the past situation, but freeing me to love again. My heart came with the message, "You can have this back now. Don't be afraid to give it away again."

I am so grateful for that moment. Because that moment enabled me to love my wife. That September I got a facebook message from a girl I had been friends with in college. I had always been attracted to her, but was never able to pursue her, she was dating someone else. So we became friends, honestly I never thought she would go for me. We had lost touch after she graduated, but now she had contacted me. I told her we should catch up, and as soon as she agreed I decided I would ask her out.

We played phone tag for a few days, but finally connected. At the end of our conversation I told her I would be around Mount Vernon the following week and asked if she wanted to get together. When she said yes, I immediately decided I would ask her out again at the end of the first date if it went well. It did. October 12, 2010 I had my first date with my wife, at the end I asked her out again, she obviously said yes. And at the end of the second date she asked me for a third one (at that point I was like, "Got her").

We got engaged May 7, 2011, and married on August 20. For almost six months now we've been adjusting to life as a married couple. It hasn't always been easy, but in the last few weeks things have been incredible. Situations in life has brought us closer together, more welded together as a unit. I never knew you could be like this with someone else. With her I've learned so much about love.

"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."

Love is not infatuation. Love is not just warm fuzzy feelings. Love is much deeper than that, much more than that. "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails;" (1 Corinthians 13.4-8a).

I think for it to be love it has to last forever. It says that love never fails, that it endures all things. I think for it to really be love it has to last forever. Everything I've felt in the past for anyone else wasn't love, because I no longer feel that way. But with my wife, it's real. There is nothing that could ever happen to change the way I feel about her. Rough times that come up just help us grow closer together, it just makes us stronger and more inseparable. It takes patience and kindness. It takes trust and humility. It requires dignity and selflessness. It must be self-controlled and forgiving. It must focus on what is good and right. It must stand firm in everything, and it must look at the future with hope. Love will last.

I love my wife in a way I never knew I could love a human being. She is the only girl I have ever really loved, and I wish I had never said those words until I said them to her for the first time on November 6, 2010. Love is not infatuation because that doesn't last. Love is not warm fuzzy feelings because they won't get you through the hard times. Love is a suit of armor, it protects you and strengthens you to fight for it. As a child, as one immature I didn't understand this, I didn't understand what all love is, and still don't fully understand. In my marriage I am able to see a glimpse of how God loves me.

God will always love me, no matter what I put Him through. He will always fight for me, always protect me. God has sacrificed everything for me. And everything He and I go through together is just there to weld us together more. There is nothing good that God would not do for me. And in the way that God loves me I am to love my wife.

Ephesians 5.25 says, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,". My wedding ring has stripes engraved into it (http://www.kay.com/ProductDisplayEnlargeView?langId=-1&storeId=10101&catalogId=10001&imgDir=2519&partNumber=251982601&imageAttributes=true&main=true). I got this one to remind myself of the stripes on Christ's back; to serve as a constant reminder to myself to love her as Christ loves the church. I still don't fully know what that means, but I believe it starts here in 1 Corinthians 13.

We have a model of how God loves us, a model of how we are to love God, and a model of how we are to love each other. Marriage is the closest model we have of the relationship God desires with each of us. In it we see in part the love of God; a dim reflection of God's love for us. One day we will know fully when we see God face to face. I used to look at love through childish eyes and with childish thoughts. But as I have truly become a man I have put those thoughts away. I am beginning to see love as it is.

Peace be with you

Impact

2012-02-06T14:17:00.002-05:00

On Friday evening my sister called me to tell me one of my favorite teachers from high school had passed away. At first I was in shock. I knew she had been diagnosed, I believe with leukemia, but it just caught me off guard that she was gone.

She was one of the teachers who really poured into people. My junior year I went through several months with major depression. And it was in that time that she really began to have an impact on me. She was there to listen and offer encouragement. When depression was over we had a bond. She had been there for me in the hard times. Even after graduation we'd kept in touch. I'd go back to see her and we'd sit and talk in the English teacher's office.

As my wife and I went to viewing yesterday afternoon the parking lot was full, and there was a man directing parking. We got into the funeral home and it took us more than an hour to get through the line to see her. And as we waited the line just kept getting longer and longer. I don't know that I've ever been to a viewing like that before.

It made me think about my own life. Am I making an impact in the lives of people? Would there be a hours long line at my funeral? I have a hard time thinking of who would be there outside of family and my closest friends.

I want a life like she lived. I want to make an impact. Not so people will line up to pay their final respects to me. Not so people will say how great of a man/pastor I was. I want to make an impact for the Kingdom. I know that might sound cliche, but I think about the people who have impacted my life. The ones that I really remember, that stand out, are the ones that have helped me become more like Christ. The ones that haven't focused on their own glory or advancement, but simply the glory of God. And the more I'm around death, the more I want the glory of God to be my main focus, my only focus.

I want to make an impact for Jesus. I want to leave the world a better place than it was when I got here, and that can be as simple as making a difference in one life. Being there for one person during a season of depression in high school goes a lot farther than just that one person.

Make an impact.

Peace be with you

Romanced by God

2012-02-02T08:30:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I was reading Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. It's a book that focuses on how a boy, and a man, becomes a man. It examines six stages that every man must go through, and then how we can raise our sons to reach them. Its a book that I try to re-read every year or two. I've looked at it, really trying to focus on the stage I'm in, and that's really the part that has stood out to me. In it, he talks about how many of the stages overlap, and while that is true there is a phase that is prominent at each stage of life.

Boyhood, Cowboy, Warrior, Lover, King and Sage. As I look at my life, the stage I am most prominently in right now is the Lover stage. This has so much more to do than my relationship with my wife. Eldredge points out that this relationship needs to come after our primary relationship with God. God is the great romancer, the source of beauty. A woman is simply the messenger, the bearer of beauty, not the source. Our souls must be romanced by God. We must allow God to be the lover of our souls.

As I was reading he talks about how many of us need to look at the things that captured our attention as boys. And in those things we can most likely find God. It is to those things we in some way need to return.

As I thought about the things that captured my attention my mind immediately went to Israel. Quiet mornings by the Sea of Galilee, time of solitude in Gethsemane and at the Garden Tomb, walking on a street that Jesus walked on, seeing where He performed miracles; I honestly don't know that I've ever felt so close to God as I did in the ten days I was there. I know that I can't live in Israel, and honestly I don't think I would want to. If I did the places might become just locations. They would be things I saw everyday, and I might begin to take them for granted.

As I think about the time there I realize that what I loved the most was just that, the time. I was given two weeks with no distractions, no interruptions, just time. That time is what my heart longs for.

I think about the things I desire to do. I want to be in a canoe, going down a river in the early morning as the mist rises off the river in the early morning light. I want to backpack, and just walk along trails in the wilderness. I want to camp and just sit to watch the sunset and the stars come out. It isn't about the adventure of it, it's about the uninterrupted time with no distractions. Time just to be alone in the presence of God. Time just to be with my wife in the presence of God. Time just to be with one of my brothers in the presence of God.

Its time without the worry of any phone calls, without the distractions of any technology. Time that I don't even need to speak, and wouldn't need God to speak; it's just about being in His presence. I look back at my time in college, and I had that. I was able to escape and simply be alone with God. There were places I could go where no one would bother me, where I didn't have to worry about being interrupted, and I could fully focus on my God. When I could open my heart to Him for healing, for encouragement, or simply for Him to love.

My heart longs for that time. My heart longs for a place with no distractions and no interruptions. It isn't a place to live in, but a place to retreat to and rest from battle. It is a place to be romanced by God, the lover of my soul.

Peace be with you

WWJHUD

2012-02-01T08:38:00.006-05:00

I've been re-reading Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. In his books he uses a lot of movie references. This one focuses on how a boy and a man becomes a man, examining the six stages in the life of every man. A lot of it has to do with training and adventure, and so the movies he uses deal with those things. One that has stood out to me a lot with this book is the movie Kingdom of Heaven. I had seen it once years ago and I remembered not really caring for it, but I couldn't remember why. I once felt the same way about Gladiator, so I gave it another shot. Last night my wife and I watched it.

The movie is set during the time of the crusades, when wars between Christans and Muslims were fought over the Holy Land. In the movie, which is based on factual events, a battle is fought over Jerusalem, and in the end the city is surrendered to Saladin, a Muslim general. After the surrender of the city there is a scene with a cross laying on the ground. A Muslim man is walking through the room and after noticing the cross, he gently picks it up and places it on a table.

The scene reminded me of my time in Istanbul, Turkey at the Hagia Sophia Church. Over the last 1500 years it has been a church for several branches of Christianity, a mosque, and currently is a museum. When the current structure was completed by Justinian in 537 AD he claimed that he had out done Solomon. Gold covered everything, today there is gold colored paint to show everything was covered in gold mosaic. If I have my church history right, people came from the west and claimed to have seen a glimpse of heaven when they entered the church.

Much of the gold is gone today but some remains. There are still mosaics portraying Christ that remain there, even after the the church had been converted to a mosque. The Muslims did not destroy the images, they simply covered them with tapestries. Even though they do not see Jesus as divine, they still respect Him as a great prophet. Therefore, they did not destroy the images.

As I stood there looking at the centuries old work that had been preserved, my mind wondered, what would have happened if it had gone the other way? What if it had gone from a mosque to a church? Would Christians have treated the Islamic work and symbols with the same respect? Sadly, I seriously doubt it. Christians led the Crusades, killing Muslims in the name of Christ with the battle cry, "God wills it!" Even today things haven't changed all that much. A few years ago a pastor in Florida planned "Burn a Quran day" as part of a memorial for the September 11 attacks. Is that how the Church and Christianity should behave? I have to ask, What Would Jesus Have Us Do?

As I write this I don't want it to sound like I am promoting Islam. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He came to earth, died on the cross to pay for sin, and then rose from the grave forever conquering sin, death, and hell. I believe that a relationship with Him is the only way that anyone will ever enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I am a Christ follower now and forever. And at the same time my mind keeps going to Gandhi's quote, "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ." Jesus would not have led the Crusades, Jesus would not have burned a Quran; so why would His followers?

The Gospel of Jesus is a message of love, why has it been presented as hostile, violent, and so full of hatred? Jesus had respect for all people and He treated people with dignity no matter what their cultural background was. He said that the world would know we were His disciples by our love (John 13.35). Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16.14, "Let all that you do be done in love." What would happen if we really lived as Jesus did? If we loved as Jesus loved? What if the world saw Christianity as God intended it to be; a faith full of love and hope.

We must stand firm on the truth. I see the bumper stickers all the time that spell out "COEXIST" and "TOLERANCE" with the different faith symbols. The issue is Christianity can't. It says that Jesus is the only way, that is what separates us from everything else. If we say "Yes, let's coexist. Whatever you believe is fine, and it's all the same God" we would cease to be Christian. Our belief that Yahweh alone is God, that Jesus, His Son, came to earth to die for sin, and that Jesus alone is the way to God, is what separates us from everything else.

Let us, the Church, go forth in the name of Jesus with His Gospel of love and hope. That is what God wills. That is what Jesus would have us do.

Peace be with you

Grieve

2012-01-31T08:16:00.002-05:00

As I've talked about a lot this month, today is the five year anniversary of the death of my good friend Linda Russe. Less than a week ago I performed my first funeral, and it impacted me in a way that no other death has. For the first time I was deeply involved in the death of someone that wasn't extremely close to. I had known the man for nine months, and for more than a third of that time he was unable to be at church.

I spent time with him, ministered to him, talked with him about death, dying, and heaven. But I didn't develop the deep relationship that I had with Linda. The family members are now the ones who need the focus. They are in a process of grieving now, and life will not ever be the same. There is pain and sadness, it might be there for a long time, and that's ok, but it can heal. Part of they key to healing is to grieve.

Crying is ok, totally breaking down is ok. Being angry is ok, asking questions is ok. Being alone is ok, but you can't stay isolated. Part of healing comes in sharing the good memories of the person, talking about who they were and what they taught you. Laughing with others about the good times you celebrated with them brings healing, so we must not stay isolated in our grief. Prayer is an important part of grieving and healing. When Linda was diagnosed with cancer countless people were in prayer for her. One of the things I didn't understand was why God didn't answer them. I asked Him why many times, and He finally showed me that there was a lesson for me to learn. I think learning is part of grieving, seeing how God is good, and how all things work for His glory.

Through experiencing the death of someone close to me, I experienced death in a real way, and was able to walk with this family through this time a little better. I don't know what they are feeling, because I haven't experienced the death of a father, or grandfather yet, but I have experienced death. I have experienced grief, and I've come through it and been healed. Life is not the same, and I it never will be, but I am still alive. Because I have grieved, I have been healed, and I am able to continue living. The danger we face in not grieving is being swallowed up by it.

We must grieve, and know that you do not grieve alone. Jesus wept. In John 11, He knew what He was about to do, but He took the time to grieve with the sisters of Lazarus. He knew that Lazarus would live again, but He saw the need of Mary and Martha and met them there. Jesus sees your need, and He will meet you there. He will grieve with you, death is something He knows about. And He will bring healing in time.

Peace be with you

The Attack

2012-01-27T12:14:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I performed my first funeral. Honestly, it went really well thanks to the grace of God and an incredible mentor walking me through it. Funerals are an important time, my mentor said that funerals are when a pastor bonds with his people. They are one of the best opportunities for ministry as well. People are grieving, and it is an opportunity to show the love and compassion of Jesus. All that being said, I can't believe it took me so long to realize what was happening Wednesday night.

My wife and I were getting ready for bed, and suddenly we were really frustrated with each other. Honestly it was out of no where. It was getting late, neither one of us was looking at sleeping very well, we had both left the room on separate occasions not wanting to be around each other. And finally when we were both back in the same room it finally hit me, this is an attack.

I don't remember which book John Eldredge talks about this in, Wild at Heart or Walking with God, I really think it's in both. But he talks about how the enemy attacks us. As I was laying there listening to my wife, and thinking about the events of the following day, it hit me. Satan was trying to put me in a bad mood, to divide my wife and I, and put my heart and mind in a bad attitude for the funeral.

Immediately we stopped and prayed. God gave us a great night sleep, and the funeral went really well. My wife and I have become a stronger couple because of it. Our marriage has received some more welding and that has made it more unbreakable.

The Bible says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5.8). Satan doesn't want anything good to happen, and so he sneaks in at the right moment, and tries to destroy things before they happen. We were both tired, and it didn't take much to push us to fighting. Had we not realized what it was and immediately begun to fight against it as a team who knows what would have happened the next day. The family, and the church, needed their pastor, and I was able to be there.

Satan does prowl like a lion waiting to devour us. If we don't recognize the attack and simply continue to let it happen many things will suffer. My marriage could have been negatively affected because I might have said things that I didn't mean out of anger. Again, I don't know what would have happened at this funeral. I know I would have apologized to my wife the next morning, but there would have been a lot of damage done that wouldn't be able to be fixed by a simple, "I'm sorry."

We must be on the alert at all times, but especially when Kingdom work is near at hand. We must be prepared for battle at all times. This is why prayer and Bible study is crucial, our minds are focused on God and we are able to better recognize things that aren't of God. It's important to read other things as well. John Eldredge is a favorite author of mine, I've found several of his books to be very relevant at this stage of my life. Honestly, I don't know that I would have realized it was an attack and responded as I did without having read his books.

We must be on the alert, waiting for the attacks of the enemy. We must be ready for battle and end them as quickly as possible. God will be with us as we work for His Kingdom. Satan is looking for someone to devour, be on guard so it isn't you.

Peace be with you

Philippians 2.1a

2012-01-24T09:23:00.003-05:00

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,"

The word "Therefore" has been hitting me for a few days now. It's part of a paragraph that begins at 1.27, and ends at 2.11. It's a transitional word. It implies that something has come before it that we need to pay attention to, and our reaction to that thing follows this word, "Therefore".

Philippians 1.27 begins with Paul telling the Church at Philippi to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. He tells them to be united in Spirit, working as a unit to advance the Gospel. He tells them that there will be hardships and opposition. And therefore they must look to Christ.

In Christ there is love, fellowship, affection, and compassion. In Christ the mindset of love, unity, and focus is possible. They are to follow the example of Christ, and humbly and selflessly serve others. Christ did, and to live in a manner worthy of Christ and His Gospel, they must live in the same way that Christ did. Paul tells them how to act and doesn't expect them just to know how, therefore he gives them an example to follow.

Paul wrote to the a group of people nearly two thousand years ago. His instructions were to them, in their culture and time. But the instructions are to act like Christ, and therefore they are applicable to us.

I reflect on the different churches I've been apart of as a laymen, intern, staff, and leader. Some of them have done very well, while some haven't. Some are thriving, while others are barely surviving. Some are impacting the community and building the Kingdom, while some you wonder what they are there for. The big difference between them is the mindset, the unity, the focus on the Gospel of Christ and it's purpose. The ones that are doing well are unified, they are intent on one purpose, striving together for the Gospel of Christ. And the ones that aren't have missed this. There isn't unity or vision, and therefore no impact.

How do we become unified when so many people have an opinion about how to do things? How do we be intent on one purpose when so many people have ideas about what needs to be done? Paul tells us, have the same attitude of Christ. Humbly put others before yourself. Humble yourself to serve others. For some this requires letting go of things we've held onto for years. For others it means letting go of preferences and comforts. What does it mean for you?

As I write, I keep asking myself what does it mean for me? What can I do to be more like Christ; to live and serve as He did? I think that's part of what I've been looking for in Philippians, and now that I see that, I think the study is almost done, for now. The next step I believe is looking at what God has shown me so far, and searching the pages a few more times for anything else, and seeing how it's all related. And then it's moving on to the next section of Scripture, not sure what that is yet, and seeing what God has to show me there, studying those pages over and over until God moves me else where.

Peace be with you

Philippians 2.3-4

2012-01-23T14:29:00.003-05:00

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

The thing that prompted me to read Philippians is the nature of the letter. It is a joyful, encouraging letter written in the mid first century. I had had a rough couple of days, and deiced to turn to some well worn pages in my Bible for comfort and encouragement. As I've been doing this study usually a single verse or small group of verses stands out to me. But today it wasn't the case. I read it expectantly, looking for what God wanted to show me, but the lesson for today wasn't really found in the specific verses I have at the beginning.

I was talking to my mentor, something I've done frequently, but I sometimes feel not frequently enough. At times after we hang up I realize that I didn't even need to call him because I already knew what he was going to say. And other times I have no idea what to do, but I know he does, and so I call him to find out. Recently, I've had several of those situations.

And as we talked last week (remember I am writing these insights a few days later so that I first share my thoughts with my wife) I told him about my study of Philippians. I shared with him the insights I had gotten, and in our conversation I ended up getting the lesson God wanted me to learn from Philippians that day. My mentor pointed out to me something that I had never noticed about this letter before. Philippians is very others focused. It isn't concerned with self at all. Thus the emphasis I have put on the verses used in the title.

Paul wrote this letter from prison. It wasn't his final imprisonment, but he had no way of knowing that. And yet in his letter, his main concern is for the church of Philippi. In chapter two he gives them the example of Christ, who is not focused on Himself in anyway. He denies His right as Lord, and instead comes as a servant to die on the cross. His focus in upon God and others. It clearly in verses 3-4, to do nothing from selfishness, but to consider others more important than ourselves. And then it gives the example of Christ. If anyone had the right to focus on themselves it was Him, but even He, Christ the creator of the universe, was fully focused on others. Paul's concern was not for his needs or well being, but on those of the church in Philippi.

Philippians is a joyful letter. And I think the key to joy in unselfish concern for others. The key to being truly joyful is to be others focused. When our main concern is for the needs of others, we are freed from worry about ourselves, and empowered to be joyful in our lives. Let us do nothing from selfish ambition, but humbly put others above ourselves, just as Christ did.

Peace be with you

Philippians 2.13

2012-01-21T18:29:00.002-05:00

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

God is at work to will and work for His good pleasure. God is at work in me. God is at work in the situations I face. God is at work in all of this for His glory. He is working for His glory both now, in this moment, and for His glory in the future. Everything that takes place ultimately must result in the glory of God. The universe exists to glorify its Creator.

No matter what happens God is at work for His glory. God is at work for His glory in every situation that takes place. Because of this, He will strengthen me. When He strengthens me I can endure all things that I must suffer for His sake. It all leads to the glory of God. Everything must lead to the glory of God.

I really began to think about this a few years ago. The verse that really made me see this was Philippians 2.11, "and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." All of creations declares Christ as Lord, not for the glory of Jesus, but for God the Father. Everything that happens must ultimately end in God's glory. He is the almighty Creator of the Universe. He is the standard of Love, Holiness, Righteousness, Truth and Purity. God must be glorified. Creation exists for that one purpose.

When I think about life and the stuff I deal with in that light, with God being glorified through everything, it makes it all seem worth it. It humbles me, and makes me realize my true place and purpose in the universe. I'm really not too big, or important, but God has decided to let me glorify Him. He works in me for His good pleasure. And not just in me, but in you as well. What an honor to be able to glorify God almighty.

Peace be with you

Philippians 1.29

2012-01-19T08:27:00.005-05:00

"For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,"

It has been granted for Christ's sake, that I will suffer, that all who bear His name will suffer. Jesus said that in this world there would be trouble (John 16.33) for His followers. But then He assured them, "but take courage; I have overcome the world." We will face hardships and persecutions as believers,it is part of following Christ.

Jesus dealt with difficult people. They attacked His teaching, His intelligence, His methods, His friends, and everything else He did. Jesus had people looking for some way to kill Him, and it wasn't a quick death they were seeking, but crucifixion, a long, slow, painful death. Jesus faced hardships and difficulties. Jesus suffered, and because of that I will face the same things. As far as I know, no one is wanting to flog and crucify me, but many of the other things are true.

It has been granted to Christ that His followers would not only believe in Him, but also suffer for Him. He has paid a great price to save us, and if we accept His gift of life, we must be willing to pay an equally high price. Jesus said that there would be trouble in this world. But I must take heart, you must take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world.

Christ endured far worse than most of us ever will have to, and He has overcome. I love Chris Tomlin's song, I Will Rise. "Jesus has overcome, and the grave is overwhelmed. The victory is won, He is risen from the dead. And I will rise when He calls my name; no more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise on eagles' wings, before my God fall on my knees and rise. I will rise"

Jesus has overcome, and He calls my name to join Him in victory. Because He has overcome, I can and must. He lives in me. He strengthens me and carries me. He will never leave me through any of the hardships I face. I am His beloved child, and He will not abandon me. And the promise is not just for me, but for all who accept Him.

There will be troubles in this world, it has been granted to us to suffer for Christ's sake, but take courage, Jesus has overcome; and He calls us to rise and join Him. Rise.

Peace be with you

Philppians 4.11-13

2012-01-18T09:11:00.003-05:00

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

This is a passage I have read so many times over the last few years. I've studied it, preached it, but how do I apply it? Paul is saying that in all things he has Christ. That he is content in all circumstances because he has Christ. In Romans 8 Paul says that nothing can separate him, or us, from the love of God in Christ. No matter what we go through, we will always have the love of Christ, that nothing can separate us from.

Verse 13 is probably the most misquoted verse of Scripture. People use it to mean just about everything but what it really means. The idea Paul is talking about her is enduring anything. Paul says I can endure anything that life brings because Christ is with him, Christ is strengthening him. No matter what life brings there is nothing the Christ cannot and will not carry him through. Because of Christ we can endure, survive, and ultimately victoriously conquer every situation.

My wife has told me many times that I need to learn to be content. Part of my problem is that there is so much I want to do for God, there is so much that I want to do to build the Kingdom and help people. Life is short, I'm already a quarter of a century old, and can't believe that so much time has passed. Many times I feel like I have done nothing that matters. Part of me feels stuck. But then I must remember the different things that my mentor has told me. That God places us in different places for different reasons, and the reason for us being here might not be the reason we think.

But the important thing is realizing that no matter where we are in life is that we always have Christ. Nothing can take Christ away from us, and because of that we can endure every situation we face. Christ is the one who strengthens us, and there is nothing that Christ cannot handle.

Peace be with you

Thoughts on Sexual Sin

2012-01-17T10:38:00.016-05:00

In the last few months I've been asked to give my thoughts on how we deal with homosexuality in a Christian setting twice. As I've investigated the two different scenarios that I've been asked about, part of me is in shock, and the rest of me is calm and confident about my stance on it. This is one of those subjects that some people are afraid to tackle because they don't want to offend anyone, and that some people take too far and condemn those who are involved.

I don't know why people have homosexual feelings. I don't believe that God makes a person gay or lesbian. I've heard different things from chemical imbalances, to neglectful or abusive fathers. I don't know why people are. But I do know that far too often we, as the Church, do not handle the situation correctly.

I think too often we go on the offensive and take things too far, attacking only homosexuality as the only sexual sin. Mark Driscoll, a pastor in Seattle, Washington, once responded with this when asked if homosexuality was a sin, "All sex, now I want to be clear on this because what can sometimes happen is that it seems like Christians are only picking on one group of people, and the Bible says that sexuality is intended to be within marriage. Marriage is between one man and one woman... homosexuality, fornication, which is sex before marriage, adultery which is sex outside of marriage, are all sexual sin. Pornography is a sin... Sex is for marriage, and marriage is for one man and one woman. What that means is that all sex outside of heterosexual marriage is a sin." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGIPqXhofE)

I think Driscoll's approach is the one we need to take. It isn't an attack on sexual sin, but a defense of marriage and what God created sex to be. We don't let it slide, we don't ignore it like it isn't there, we stand in defense of the truth. When Christians go on the attack we end up with the crusades, killing and damage done by the Church in the name of Christ. But when Christians stand firmly in defense of the truth laid down in Scripture, that's when lives can be changed, the Kingdom of God can be expanded, and God can be glorified.

Paul said in 1 Timothy 3.15b, "I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." The Church is a place where are all welcome, regardless of their past or present lifestyle. But at the same time the Church belongs to God, and as such it has the standards of truth that it must proclaim and stand firm upon. We present the truth, not one aspect of it. We love people regardless of who they are, but we don't sugar coat the truth of the Gospel so we don't offend anyone.

The Bible says in Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good" (1.1, 31a). In John's Gospel he tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (1.1-3). Satan does not have the power to create, all he can do is work with what God has made. Everything that God makes is good and perfect, because God is good and perfect. What Satan does is takes what God has made good and perfect, and corrupts it, twists it, makes it work for his purpose. Satan did not create homosexuality, fornication, or adultery; he simply took something beautiful that God created and corrupted it. Anything that Satan corrupts is sin, because it is used in a way God never intended.

The Church must take a stand on sexual sin, but we must respond biblically so that that we glorify God. If we handle this issue incorrectly we do harm, and discredit and dishonor Christ and His Gospel. Ephesians 4.15 says to speak the truth in love so that we can grow up into all aspects of our head, Christ. 1 Timothy 1.5 says, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Our purpose is to build the Kingdom of God and bring glory to Him. God is love, and so we love all people because God first loved us (1 John 4). But we must also live lives of integrity before Him, we must live out the truth, and stand in defense of it.

Any sexual act outside of the God ordained marriage covenant between a man and woman is sin. Paul said at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4.3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." And so he charged Timothy, and I believe all who would take up the name Christian, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction...But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4.1-2,5).

We must stand firm on the truth of Scripture. We must live lives that are molded by God into the image of Christ. We must proclaim the truth in love. Let us stand in defense of what God has made good.

Peace be with you

Joyful Letter

2012-01-16T11:40:00.004-05:00

My favorite book of the Bible is Philippians, Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. Of all of his epistles, Philippians is characterized as a joyful letter, one full of encouragement and affirmation to the church there in the first century. My love for it began as a junior in college.

It was very early New Years day in 2008. I had just gotten home from a friend's house, and wasn't tired at all. As I began to reflect on 2007 my mind kept thinking about how rough it had been. And during my time of reflection my mind kept going to the words of Philippians 3, "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Over the next several months I poured myself into the four short chapters of this wonderful letter. The pages of my Bible are covered in highlights, the margins are filled with notes. If you flip through the other pages you'll see countless references to the verses in Philippians. If you study the words of Paul in it you will see the whole of scripture contained in its 104 verses. In it you find the story of Christ's life on earth. The road to salvation, and the path to holiness and the call to Christlikeness. Paul gives instructions for life and death, for good times and bad, for dealing with people and with yourself. It is an amazing letter.

I've preached from it several times, written papers and Bible studies on it, and I'm working on memorizing it. It is a letter I turn to frequently, and the words of truth that it contains fill me with joy, courage, and hope every time. Recently I've found myself facing a difficult situation, and once again I've turned to the pages of Philippians. Each day I've been reading the entire book, and each day God has drawn my attention to a different part. My wife and I are studying it together, reading it in its entirety each day, and seeing what God reveals to us.

This blog is titled, "Give me words... searching and sharing", and I know in some posts I get away from that. Sometimes I post my thoughts, my words, not things God is showing me. I want to get away from that, I want everything I do to be lead by Him, to be guided by His hand, including the things I write. I don't know how long my wife and I will be in Philippians, but as we study it, I'll be sharing what God is showing me here. I've been studying since Friday, and so I am able to share with my wife first, these postings will be a few days behind our study.

I invite you to join us. Read the book in it's entirety each day. Write down what God has showed you, and focus on how it applies to your life. Share it with someone, if you're married, share it with your spouse, if not share with a friend. Feel free to leave what God has shown you here, leave your comments, and share what God has revealed to you. Search and share.

Peace be with you

December 21, 2012

2012-01-12T13:54:00.004-05:00

Last night at church one of the girls in the Kids group mentioned that her dad said the world will end on December 21, 2012. There are many who feel this way, I even found the official website that has a countdown, and a list of celebrities who believe the world will end this year. Normally I just blow stuff like this off. Last year we had two predictions about the end of the world, and both of those dates came and we're still here. Many people have made comments about the end of the world, but let's look at the authority, and the standard of truth.

Mark 13.31-37, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’"

Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour but God alone. In other places He says that He will come as a thief in the night, and we must be prepared. The world could end this year, it could end in the next hour, or it could be thousands of years from now. No one knows. Jesus simply tells us to be on the alert.

Billy Graham said, "Live everyday as if Jesus will return today. But live everyday like we have to plan for the next thousand years." I've talked about this in other posts, and I truly believe this is the way we live. We live ready to go. If Jesus comes back right now, then I'm going with Him. And if not, I continue to live my life here on earth for Him and the expansion of His Kingdom, ready for Him at any moment, but preparing for a long wait if that is the case.

The world could end this December, and if it does I'll be ready. But I'm planning to wake up on December 22 and call my sister wishing her a happy birthday. If I never get to make the phone call that's fine, because I'll be worshiping God Almighty before His throne. Either way, I'm not worried, and if you have the peace of God in your life that comes from a relationship with Christ, then you don't have to be either.

Live like Jesus is coming back today, but live like we still have to wait for another thousand years.

Peace be with you

Did Jesus lie?

2012-01-11T14:23:00.008-05:00

I'm working through John on Sunday mornings, and this week we are in the beginning of chapter 7. This section contains a verse that could possibly impact the truth of Christianity. In it we have a section of three verses that make it seem like Jesus lied.

John 7.8-10, "'Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.' Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret."

I've heard the argument before that Jesus was a liar based on these three verses. His brothers are telling Him to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths in order to show off His miracles, and prove Himself as the Messiah. But Jesus says you go, I'm not, and then later He does go. It would seem that Jesus lied to His brothers. He said one thing but then did something else. So did Jesus lie?

No, if Jesus had lied He would have been guilty of sin, and therefore, being a sinner, could not have died to pay the price for sin as a perfect sacrifice. So how do we take these verses of the Bible, that seem to indicate a lie from Jesus' mouth, and then hold to the truth that Jesus lived a perfect life? We have to go back to the original language, and look at the words spoken by Jesus.

In this one section of Scripture Jesus uses a word for time that is only spoken by Him here. Usually He uses the word, hora (long o), like when He spoke in John 2.4 to His mother when she told Him that the wine had run out. Hora refers to a destined period or hour. William Barclay talks about how this word means the destined hour of God. It is the time that God has decided part of His plan must be carried out. It is not movable or avoidable. Jesus uses this word many times in reference to revealing Himself as the Messiah, and being glorified as the Christ, but here, for the only time, He uses a different word.

Here in John 7, Jesus uses the word kairos. This word means an opportunity, or an opportune time. It refers to the best time to do something. It is a moment that is waited for, and when it comes, it is seized. Jesus tells His brothers, that it is not yet the opportune time for Him to go to the feast, and so at this moment, He is remaining behind in Galilee.

But as the feast begins and carries into the week, that moment does arrive, and Jesus goes to Jerusalem secretly. The people are looking for Him, there is confusion about who He is. The people are wanting to do the right thing, but they are confused as to what that is. And so Jesus, waiting for the opportune moment, goes to Jerusalem once the crowds have gathered, and the people are ready to listen to what He has to say to them.

Jesus was the perfect, spotless, lamb of God who died for the sin of the world. As such He could not be a liar. He was the Son of God who came for a purpose, and took advantage of every opportunity. He had to because as He said in verse 7, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil." He had an essential message that He had to proclaim, and so He had to wait for the right moments. His message has been handed down to us to proclaim. The world will hate us for it, but it is a message that must be proclaimed. We must wait for the right moment, the most opportune time. Matthew 10.16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Proclaim the message, seize the opportune moment what it comes.

Peace be with you

366 days to go

2012-01-10T09:05:00.004-05:00

2012 is a leap year, so February has an extra day making the total number of days for this year 366. Today, January 10, 2012, marks the beginning of the one year count down until I get to go back to Israel. It's been three years since I was there, and I've wanted to go back since the moment I got home.

It's been a busy three years. I graduated from college,moved to Michigan and back to Ohio; I traveled to Turkey and Greece, I took my first church as a senior pastor, and I got married. It's gone by fast, but I've been waiting for next January for three years.

This time my wife will be going with me, it'll be her first trip out of the country. I'm excited to share this time with her. In the next year we're hoping to learn Hebrew through Rosetta Stone, to be able to enhance the experience by being able to communicate with people in their own language.

I'm so pumped to be going back, even as I talk about it now the excitement is building in me. To be where Jesus was again. To watch the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee, to stand in the Garden of Gethsemane, to walk the Via Dolorosa, to knee at Calvary and praise Him at the empty tomb. I can't wait to smell the scents of Jerusalem again. The memories I have from the last trip are still so fresh in my mind, but in spite of that, I find myself being incredibly open minded.

With the trip to Turkey and Greece I found myself very disappointed. I was expecting it to be like Israel. To have the same feel that the country has, to experience the same revelations as I did. But Turkey and Greece are completely different places. Jesus never walked there, and the feel of the land is different. The mistake I made with that trip was expecting it to be the same as my time in The Holy Land, it wasn't.

But this time, with this trip back, I have once again the simple expectation that I had with the first trip, I'm going to walk where Jesus walked. Honestly, I think that's the point of the trip. Whenever I talk to people about Israel I always tell them if you have the chance to go, go. It will change you, and you will not be the same.

The awe of travel is gone, I've lost the need to take a picture of everything I see, and for that I'm really looking forward to going back. This time I'll be able to soak up so much more, I have background knowledge that allows me to focus on new and different things. And in the coming year I get to review and study as much as possible so that when I get there I can focus on the things that I can't read in a book. I can focus on the land itself.

366 days and counting, I can't wait.

Peace be with you

Crown of Righteousness

2012-01-08T11:57:00.004-05:00

Paul concludes his statement, "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."

Paul had fought the fight, finished the course, and kept the faith, and God gave him a crown. My mentor has shared many insights with me over the years, recently we've been talking about death. He said often times we look at death as a defeat, a loss, and a failure. We say things like, "We lost dad." or "She lost her battle with cancer." but for the Christ follower this isn't the case. Death is not defeat, or loss, but victory and gain.

Paul didn't see death as a defeat, but as a chance to make his final offering to God. He didn't see dying as failure but as great gain as he said in Philippians 1.21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul faced the end with confidence and dignity, knowing that he had faithfully served his Master, and when he passed from this world to the eternal one, he would be greeted by Christ placing the crown of righteousness upon his head and saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And Paul reminds us that this was not just his reward, but everyone who loves Christ and waits for Him to return.

Linda was one of them, and she has received her crown. She died of cancer, but she did not fail and she did not lose anything. We haven't lost believers who have died, they have simply gone ahead of us. They have not been defeated or shamed, and neither will we. Linda has gone on ahead, I miss her, but I will see her again.

In the movie Gladiator there is a line at the end. Juba, a gladiator friend of Maximus', buries two small carvings of Maximus' wife and son in the arena of the Coliseum after Maximus dies having fought his fight, finished his course, and kept the faith of Rome. As he covers the figures he says, "I will see you again, but not yet. Not yet." Linda, I will see you again. But not yet. My fight is not over, my course is not finished, and my faith will not be shaken. One day I will see you again as I receive my crown.

Paul's words can be ours as well. Death is not failure, but victory. There is no shame in it, but honor. Fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith, and you will receive the crown of righteousness from the hands of Christ.

Peace be with you

Kept the Faith

2012-01-07T10:02:00.008-05:00

Paul finishes his statement by proclaiming, "I have kept the faith;" a phrase with a few possible meanings. If we hold with the idea of competition seen in the previous two comments, this phrase could mean that Paul has kept the rules. Athletes at the ancient Olympics would have to take an oath before the gods pledging that they had trained for at least ten months and that they would compete fairly. Paul could be saying that he has competed and lived with honor as he competed in the race of life.

The phrase has other meanings though. In the business world it would have meant that the conditions of a contract had been kept. Paul could be using it to say that he had been commissioned to the service of Christ, and that he had lived it out. He had been faithful to his master.

It could also mean that "I have kept my faith." Paul could be saying that his trust, hope, and confidence in Christ had never been shaken. No matter what he had been through he had never lost faith in Christ. He says in Philippians 4, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul had faced many trials, but he had never lost faith in Christ. He knew that Christ would sustain and provide for him no matter what he faced.

Honestly, I think Paul has all of these meanings in mind as he writes. All of them are true of his life, and all of them can be true of us as well. Linda, at the end of her life was able to say, "I have kept the faith." Cancer never shook her faith in God. As she got worse and the treatments began to work less and less she never doubted the power and goodness of God. God had been there for her all of her life, and she would not deny Him now.

Linda lived with honor and integrity. She was honest and truthful, a trusted friend and confidant. Linda would fulfill her job, and whatever she did was done perfectly. Linda kept the faith. So can we.

Peace be with you

Finsished the Course

2012-01-05T09:57:00.012-05:00

Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, "I have finished the course," Paul says that he has finished. Starting is easy, but finishing is difficult. I think about the things I've started in life. Karate, I made it to orange belt, but things got busy and I lost interest. I tried my hand at wood carving, that lasted a few weeks and just got tedious. I was teaching myself to play guitar, and then life happened. I was so excited about all of these at the beginning. I had thoughts of me in the future successful at each one, and today, I know one chord on the guitar, have some unfinished piece of wood in my dad's garage, and my karate uniform is somewhere in my parent's house.

Finishing things is difficult. Many people quit when things get hard, when they encounter things that they didn't anticipate at the beginning. There is a goal we set out to attain, but something comes up and we never reach it. Paul didn't have that happen. He said finished the course. He had reached the goal. In the book of Philippians, written 5 or 6 years before 2 Timothy, he says that he hasn't attained the goal yet, but that he is striving after it. God had called him into Christlikeness, and Paul said he had not attained it yet, but that he was striving towards it.

Earlier in Philippians 3.10-11 Paul stated, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Paul had died to himself years earlier when he had embraced the call of Christ on his life and accepted the mission to tell the Gentiles about the love of Christ. Here at the end of 2 Timothy he is preparing to physically embrace death. And as he said in Philippians 1, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;"

Paul has finished the course, he has reached the goal, and he can now go to death satisfied because he has fulfilled the call that God has given him. My friend Linda finished her course as well. Linda never quit. As the cancer took it's toll on her, she never quit encouraging, she never quit teaching, she never quit glorifying God. She never quit loving and caring for friends and family. Linda was a dearly loved woman, and she knew how hard her funeral would be for those of us she left behind, so she planned it out for us. The songs that were to be played, how her hands were supposed to be placed in the casket, even the meal that would be served after the grave side service. Had she been able to bake in her last months she would have made the cookies that were served as appetizers. Linda never left anything unfinished. She showed me how to finish the course.

There will be tasks in life that we don't finish. There will be things that we lose interest in, or don't have the passion to make time for. But there are things that matter that we must stick to, no matter how difficult life gets. In 2 Corinthians 11.22-28 we find a list form Paul about the hardships he's endured, "Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches." I doubt at the beginning he knew what was ahead of him. But through all of that Paul stayed the course and at the end of his life was able to declare, "I have finished the course."

Stay the course, finish it through the power of Christ.

Peace be with you

Fought the Fight

2012-01-04T09:08:00.003-05:00

Paul continues his final words before death with this, "I have fought the good fight," and with this statement he can face death with peace and contentment. The word he uses for fight is agon (long o). The word refers to a match held in the arena. Fighting the good fight refers to doing the best he can.

Paul says that he has performed well, to the best of his abilities. He has no shame with his performance. An athlete who has truly done the best they can, who has given all they have, can hold their head high. Win or lose there is no disgrace or shame because they have given it all they have. They have poured all of their strength, skill and energy into their event holding nothing back. There is no shame in defeat to a worthy opponent who you have pushed and held your own against.

Paul tells us that he can face death because he has no shame. He has given it his all, performed admirably and held his own to the end. In a life lived to the best of it's ability, lived in a way that refuses to be associated with anything shameful, we can say this at the end.

My friend Linda could say this. Whatever she did was to the best of her abilities. Linda decided once she would make a porcelain horse. She entered it in a contest and it won. She was looking for a painting for her living room. No one could paint good enough for her, so she painted her own, and it looked great. She had the most incredible singing voice and lead the church praise team and choirs. She was an incredible cook. She invited us for lunch one day after church, we were going to have sandwiches. Instead of just laying out the bags of meat, cheese, and bread, she arranged it all on a platter, rolling each slice of meat as a catered platter would look. That was how she did things, to the best of her abilities.

She was able to tell you when you were making a mistake, not because she never made any, but because she lived a righteous life. She lived in such a way where no one could say anything bad about her. Her life was lived to the fullest, giving her best at whatever she did. Living a life focused on the glory of God. She truly fought the good fight.

Live in a way the is without shame. Live above the standards of the world, strive for the standard of righteousness which is attained through the blood of Christ. Fight the good fight.

Peace be with you

Poured Out

2012-01-03T09:14:00.007-05:00

At the end of this month I will celebrate a fifth anniversary. On January 31, 2007 my dear friend Linda Russe went home to receive permanent healing from God in Heaven. At the time I was a sophomore in college, and I didn't understand why God hadn't answered the countless prayers for healing that had been offered for her. She was one of those people that everyone loved, and she's someone I miss dearly.

The day I found out she had cancer I did a lot of crying. That night I had talked to her and she told me not to cry. At the time I didn't understand her, but after a few years of maturing and growing I would. Now as I look back, almost five years later, I can say I understand it better than I ever have. I've understood for a few years, but now I truly get it. I still miss her; I miss not being able to call her just to talk, I wish she had been able to be at my wedding this past summer, but I understand her confidence in a new way.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul, very near to death, writes to his young friend Timothy about his confidence. "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come." At this point, the only thing Paul has left to offer to God is his very life. He has spent years giving time, money, energy, and knowledge to the service of God. He has spent himself and all that he has to proclaim the message of Jesus so that the Kingdom can be advanced. And now here at the end, he is prepared to offer his final sacrifice to God, his life.

At the end of a Roman meal there would be a sacrifice to the gods. A cup of wine would be poured out for them. The word used for the sacrifice at the end of the meal is spendesthai meaning a drink offering to the gods, and it is the same word that Paul uses here. Paul looks at his situation now not as a man waiting to be executed, but as a humble servant going to offer his life to God. Not having his life taken from him, but as willingly giving it to his Master. It is all he has left to offer, and he gladly lays it down.

Linda was the same way. Her life had been spent in service to God. She had taught me, and countless others so much about God and life through living. And as unselfishly as she lived life, she had a final lesson to teach in dying. A life that is lived with God, that has held nothing back, faces death with confidence knowing it is simply offering it's final offering to God.

Peace be with you

Vision 2012

2012-01-01T08:25:00.005-05:00

As the new year begins I'm casting new vision for the church. Vision is one of those things my professors talked about, my mentor has emphasized, and at the same time it's one of those things that no one tells you how to do. That's really because no one can tell you how to do it. I've learned in the past two years that you don't walk into a place with a specific vision for it. If you do, it's most likely your vision for what you want to happen.

Vision is something that comes once you've observed the environment and the people. Its something that you have to know the people and that community before you can begin to cast it. I've been here just over eight months, and in that time I've observed and reflected on a lot. Over the last few months this is where God has lead me, and so today we cast vision 2012.

Love God, Love Others, Love the World.

LOVE GOD:

Jesus said in Matthew that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. In Mark He adds strength to the list. We love God with our heart be spending time with Him in prayer. By communicating with Him and deepening the relationship we have with Him. We love God with our soul by worshiping Him, both individually in every aspect of our lives, and corporately in a worship service. We love God with our mind by learning about Him. We study His word, we memorize it, we share it with others. We love God with our strength by serving Him. He has given all of us a gift, we find a place to use it for His glory.

This year, the goal is for everyone at the church to spend daily time with God in prayer and Bible study, to memorize one Bible verse a week, to be at Sunday service weekly, and to find a place to serve (we'll talk more about this one in the next two). Love God.

LOVE OTHERS:

We weren't created to be alone, God made us to be relational. But studies show that you can only have deep personal relationships with about 5-7 people. You can really only manage a group of about 12 people. You can be acquainted with about 150 people. That being said, you can't have deep relationships with everyone in a church unless the church is a group of up to 12 people. So we have the small group. Hebrews 10.23-25, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

How can you really encourage someone you are only acquainted with? How can you challenge someone to go deeper with God if you don't have that type of relationship with them? How can you really pray for someone if you don't know really what they are going through? How can you know that without a deep relationship with them? There is no way for us to know everyone on the same level. Jesus Himself grabbed 12 men and poured Himself deeply into them. We need those deep personal relationships. We need those people who know us, who are there for us, who we can call at 2 AM if needed.

The goal is for everyone at the church to be involved in a small group environment, right now we only have Sunday School classes, but it's that small group where they can begin to develop these deep relationships.

Secondly, loving others involves service. Jesus said in Matthew that the second greatest commandment is to love others. Loving involves serving. We love others within the church, we serve others in the church. We must find a ministry to be involved with, a place to exercise our God given gifts.

The goal is for everyone at the church to be involved in ministry within the church. Serving in some capacity to build the body of Christ.

LOVE THE WORLD:

Jesus said in Acts 1.8, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Our Jerusalem is the local community. How will we serve the community? What are ways we can reach out and impact it for the Kingdom?

In the fall we did Trunk-or-Treat. This year we're looking at doing that, as well as a "Drive in" movie night this summer, possible three of them. We're exploring different ways to help the elderly, as well as ways to reach out to the poorer families in the community. But it says to serve the remotest parts of the earth. Many people feel that you have to go on an overseas missions trip to do this. If you can great, but many of the people I'm working with are older and physically can't. Many don't have the money to be able to go. What can we do?

This year we are going to be sponsoring children through World Vision. It's only about a dollar a day to feed, educate, and care for the child. But the great thing about World Vision is that they work to transform the entire village where that child lives. They work on bringing lasting change to a group of people.

You can also pray. There is something called "The Joshua Project", you can see a link to it on the right. It provides information on every people group in the world that has not heard the Gospel of Jesus. What you can do is "adopt" a people group. Pick one group, anywhere in the world, maybe somewhere you've always wanted to go. Pray for them. Pray for missionaries that might be there. Eventually look at ways you could possibly go and work with them.

The goal, is for everyone in the church to aid in sponsoring children around the world. To pray for our people group daily. To be involved in serving our community as we fulfill the last command of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Love the World.

Vision is crucial, because vision is the thing that unites us together. So let our vision be to love. Let love be the thing that unites us.

Colossians 3.12-17, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Love God, Love Others, Love the World.

Peace be with you

Affirming

2011-12-31T08:31:00.003-05:00

"Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: 'Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all'." Proverbs 31.28b-29

Women need to be affirmed. They need to be told that they are loved, not because they forget, but because its part of who they are as women. It isn't a needy thing, but part of their make up. Women were created by God to be loved, part of loving them is telling them.

Her husband tells her that he loves her daily. He pours into her words of affection. But more than that, he affirms her. Her tells her that she's beautiful. He builds her up with his words. He tells her that she is the only one he's ever desired, reminds her that she stands out among women.

For a wife to know she truly is the woman of noble character, her husband must tell her how he sees her. It is a husbands job to love and affirm his wife. To show her how beautiful she is, inside and out, not simply to him, but to God as well. A husband must affirm his wife.

I'll be honest, this is one I need to work on. I love my wife. She's the most incredible and beautiful woman in the world. But she needs to be told that. I'm a pastor, I speak publicly for a living, but honestly sometimes with her it's just hard to get words out. So I have to find a way. Today I wrote her a note and put it in her purse for her to find later in the day when she's at work. Men, how do you communicate your feelings to your wife? Words? Music? Poetry? How ever you speak to her, and however she needs to hear it, tell her, and tell her often.

My wife just called me, an the edge of happy tears. She found the card and felt so special. I have affirmed her for the morning, but that doesn't mean I'm done for the day, just like saying I love you on our wedding day doesn't mean I've said if for life. It's a daily thing, like breathing. Affirm your wife, and watch how much more incredible she becomes because of it.

Peace be with you

Respected

2011-12-30T08:22:00.003-05:00

"Her husband is known in the gates,when he sits among the elders of the land." Proverbs 31.23

The man of Proverbs 31 is not only trusting of his wife, but he is trusted by the people of his community. He is known by the public, and he sits with the leaders of the city. He is involved in the business of the community, people know him and respect him. This may seem like a fairly simple description; but as I was reading it I got the impression that this is more than simply being respected by the community.

As we read the last verses of Proverbs 31 we see the description of a noble woman, a wife of noble character, and in this one verse, I think it is telling us that her husband is a noble man, a man of noble character. I think this verse takes all of the characteristics of the woman, and here applies them to the man she is married to.

Men, if you want to marry a woman that is described here in Proverbs, then you have to be a man of noble character. To be worthy of a the woman described here, we must live to the same standards, with the same integrity and work ethic. Our passion for God must dominate our lives, our focus must be on Him and the benefit of others, especially the good of our families. We must be men of noble character.

Peace be with you

Trusting

2011-12-28T15:08:00.003-05:00

"The heart of her husband trusts in her,and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." Proverbs 31.11-12

The first characteristic we see is that he trusts her. It isn't a head knowledge believing that she is capable, but it comes from his heart. He knows that he can trust her. He doesn't have to worry about anything in the home, in her work, or in their marriage. She does him good; not harm or evil, but good.

A husband must trust his wife. He must believe her, and believe in her. He must know that she is capable of incredible things. My wife and I were at a Tim Hawkins performance a few months ago and he was talking about how incredible his wife was. He made the joke, "If she ever leaves me, I'm going with her."

The wife of noble character works hard, and does so much, both in and out of the home. Her husband trusts her. He knows she is faithful to him, and he knows she is able to do whatever she sets her mind to. He trusts her, and therefore supports her. He wants her to do well and succeed in whatever she does. And when that happens he has no lack of gain. The love and respect he has from his wife grows, their marriage and life together is strengthened.

The wife of noble character, must have a husband who trusts her, that is his first characteristic, trust.

Peace be with you

The Proverbs 31...Man?

2011-12-26T10:17:00.002-05:00

For Christmas I bought my wife a new Bible. She told me after opening it and looking through it that she always wanted one like it. It's a woman's devotional Bible. It has information about each book at the beginning, the main verses pulled out in each section, thought starters, reading plans, and the cover was blue and green.

I also bought her a highlighter that is specially designed for Bible pages in that it won't bleed through. And so after she had confirmed that she loved it I highlighted a passage for her, Proverbs 31.10-31. The heading in the NASB is "A Description of a Worthy Woman" while the NIV has it "The Wife of Noble Character". I read through it, and I see my wife. The characteristics of the unnamed woman are the same that I see in my wife; confident, sure, hardworking, respected, and in love with God. The woman is the focus of the chapter, many women desire that those same characteristics be said of them. But she is not the only one listed in these verses.

In order for a woman to be a wife, there has to be a husband. And in Proverbs 31.10-31, that man is seen. I believe that if a woman is going to be the wife described at the end of Proverbs, she must have the husband who is also described here.

The Bible has a lot to say to men, I've thought about starting another blog focused simply on that subject. For now we'll start here, and for the next few days we'll examine the man of Proverbs 31.

Peace be with you

Holiness

2011-12-22T09:21:00.006-05:00

The big thing for the Church of the Nazarene is holiness. We are a holiness denomination. It's called by many different names, sanctification, Christlikeness, Christian perfection, to name a few. But it all comes down to the same thing, growth in grace to become more like Christ and go deeper in our relationship with God. Holiness is about life transformation.

Holiness is essential. Leviticus 11.44a, "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy." God commands us to be holy. We are God's people, we reflect Him, and so we need to be like Him, to look like Him and act like Him. We must be Holy because our Father and Master is holy.

Look at Exodus to Deuteronomy, these books are filled with God telling His people that they, and all they own, build, and work on, is Holy because it is God's and that they are His people. Holiness is essential for those who belong to God. Hebrews 12.14, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." The NIV says, "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." In order to see God we must be holy.

Holiness is not absolute perfection. Sanctification is not the inability to sin. Though there are some who will claim that it is. Sanctification is being set aside for God's use. It is being cleansed from a desire to sin, not the ability, and that desire for sin is replaced by a desire for God. It comes after salvation, where we are cleansed of the stain and guilt of sin. Holiness takes us deeper and makes us more like Christ. It transforms us into the image of Jesus, Romans 8.29-30, "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."

God created us to be holy, and many feel that they can't be. I think part of this is due to a false understanding of holiness. And I think part of it is failing to realize that we don't make ourselves holy. Leviticus 21.8b, says, "for I the LORD, who sanctifies you, am holy." God is the one who sanctifies us. The blood of Christ washes us from sin, and the life that Jesus lived is our example of holiness, He is the model we are to imitate. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to help us become more like Christ.

Holiness is not an option, it is essential, because without it we will not see God. If our lives are not transformed into the image of Christ, we cannot see God because if we don't look like Christ we look like us, a sinful human being. Holiness is life transformation, and that is what Jesus came to accomplish. He talks all through the Gospel of John about giving eternal life. Eternal life is not something that must wait for heaven, it is available now, because it is holiness. It is a life transformation that God has made possible. God is holy. Jesus serves as our example of holiness, He shows us what God is like, and the Holy Spirit works in our lives to make us holy.

That is the point of Christmas. God loved the world that He sent His only Son to save the world as John 3.16 tells us. Jesus came to earth to show us what God is like, and to pay for sin. Jesus came to die and rise again so that we could be cleansed from sin and begin this journey of holiness. And He sent the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, so that we could become a holy people.

This whole post started with me talking to myself about how every sermon needs to be a holiness sermon. And when we see that holiness is about life transformation to mold us into the image of Christ, we see that holiness is the reason we preach. It is all about holiness.

Peace be with you

Christmas Crown

2011-12-21T08:32:00.007-05:00

This is my first Christmas as a senior pastor, and honestly it feels like any other week right now. About a month ago a man in the church was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. There is no known cure, and we know that God is able to work miracles, but in many ways this disease is a death sentence.

As I've sat and visited him, there is this feeling that I really can't describe. I'm not freaking out. I had an incident my second week on the job where I was at the hospital with a family that didn't know if husband/dad/grandpa was going to make it through the night. I'm by no means an expert, and probably never will be, but the overwhelming shock of the situation is gone. It's just a different feeling sitting with a man who knows that unless God does something, he is going to die from this disease. It isn't like cancer where there is a chance of beating it. It really is a final countdown.

As we talked last week he told me that he's a little afraid because he's never been through death before, none of us have, but Jesus has. And Jesus will walk with us every step of the way. I was looking through a catalog a few minutes ago and I saw something I had gotten my mom for Christmas a few years ago. Most people have a star or an angel on top of their Christmas tree, my mom has a crown of thorns from Jerusalem. This Sunday, Christmas day, my sermon text is Philippians 2.1-11. It talks about how Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death. He came, to die; not to wear a crown of gold, but one made of twisted thorn branches.

Before the sermon I'm using a clip from the Skit Guys called "Christmas Connection". In it two guys are discussing what happened to baby Jesus, and one finally realizes that the Jesus born in the manger is the same Jesus that died on the cross. Once he puts it all together he says, "I guess we should just try to view Christmas instead of one isolated event and more of an ongoing story about our salvation." It's important that Jesus came, but more important than that is why He came.

I talked with my mentor yesterday, and he said, "Often times we look at death as a failure, as a loss, 'He lost his battle with cancer.' 'I lost my father.' But with Christians it isn't that way. Death is a gain, not loss and failure." As he was talking my mind went to Paul's words in Philippians 1.21-23, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;" For the Christ follower, death is gain. Death is the gateway to life that never ends, a perfect life with no sadness, sorrow, or pain. Paul said to depart and be with Christ is very much better.

Jesus came to make all of this possible. That is the point of Christmas. Jesus came to die on the cross, to defeat sin death and hell by rising again. He did this so that we can not only experience eternal life with Him in heaven, but so that we would be able to experience it now, and face the journey of death with courage and confidence. That is what Christmas is all about.

Peace be with you

Computer Problems

2011-12-16T09:37:00.004-05:00

For the last two weeks my sermon writing day has began with computer issues. I have adopted my mentor's sermon writing process in part. Monday you read the text, that's it. He writes it out, sometimes I do this recently I haven't been just because the sections have been large. Tuesday I read and take notes on things I observe, questions that I have, and words or phrases that intrigue me and I want to look at in the original language. Wednesday is commentary day, reading what other people have seen and found. My mentor says one of the biggest mistakes you can make with sermon writing is consulting a commentary too soon because at that point you no longer know what your original thoughts are. After working with the text for three days, Thursday is the day I sit down to write, and for the last two weeks, Thursday has begun with computer issues.

I have spent hours in store and on the phone with people who aren't providing the customer service that a company should provide. People say they can't do anything and that I need to call this number. I call the number they give me another number. In store they say there is nothing they can do even though I have a warranty I paid for. It's a very stressful experience that I don't wish upon anyone. And it's the last thing you need when you're trying to write a sermon for Sunday.

But I've come to see in the last few hours that the computer issues have been God trying to get my attention. Last week I sat down Saturday to write the sermon for the next day, and as I'm writing it hits me that the message isn't for this week, God is leading me in another direction. I had to save it for the next week and come up with something new. Fortunately it's God who is guiding all of this and He doesn't drop the ball. He laid the four weapons of the enemy on my heart that past week because that was what He wanted me to preach.

This week is our children's Christmas program at church. There will hopefully be visitors, the parents of the children in the program. The section of John I was going to be using last week is fully focused on salvation, and my thought was God wants it this week so I'll save it, and it's pretty much done. But as I sat down yesterday to finish what I had started five days earlier, I was greeted by more computer issues. More time on the phone, more frustration, and once it's resolved, not motivation to write a sermon.

My wife and I went to lunch, and since she's going to be taking on Wednesday night children's ministry we were able to spend the afternoon together at a Christian book store looking for material and resources for Wednesday night church. While we were there I saw something that I had been meaning to buy but had forgotten about. It's a four dvd pack by Louie Giglio called The Heart of Passion. Last night we watched two of them, Indescribable and How Great is our God.

I have seen both of them before, but last night I was reminded of how awesome God is. In both of these Louie talks about the universe, the wonders that are out there, the size of all of it. Indescribable focuses on the greatness of God, how God is at the heart of everything, and how Jesus came to die on a cross. How Great is our God focuses on the size of the universe and us in it, how small we are compared to how big the universe is, and how small the universe is compared to God. And yet how God, the creator of all of it knows each of us by name, and cares about each of us. God Himself holds us together.

As I listened to him I realized that God wanted me to share that with the people this Sunday. That the God who made the vast universe, a universe full of wonders, billions of galaxies, countless stars, cares about us so much that He came to a speck in the universe to die on a cross in order to save us from sin. It truly is indescribable, God truly is so great.

Christmas is all about the creator showing us how much He loves us. He came to earth, a place you can't even see if you look at a picture of our galaxy, and died on a cross to save us. That is what Christmas is all about, it really makes computer problems seem insignificant.

Peace be with you

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

2011-12-14T08:25:00.004-05:00

John MacArthur has a book called, Twelve Extraordinary Women, one of them is Mary. I haven't read all of it, but the parts I have are very good.

Mary is a woman who was highly favored by God more than any other woman in the Bible. She was chosen by God out of all of the women who have ever been born, to be the instrument that brought that brought the Messiah into the world. But while she is the most highly favored women, MacArthur points out that we must be careful not to elevate her too much. She was simply a woman. She is not the central focus of worship, her Son is.

Mary was a humble woman. She was an average girl, from a common family, in a poor town of Israel. She is pledged to be married to a carpenter. She is a descendant of David, but not from the royal line as Joseph was.

Mary is an example of faith, sincere worship, and trust in God. She was dependent upon Him. When the angle came to her she was probably a young teenager. An angel came to her and told her she would give birth to the Son of God. She asks how this can happen, physically it was impossible because she was a virgin, and the angle told her that nothing is impossible with God. This blessing came with hardships. Mary was an unwed girl, and everyone would have thought she had been unfaithful to Joseph. She could have faced stoning, and she would have been despised by the community. She knew all of this, but her response to the angel was, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word."

Mary humbly submitted to the will of God. She was a young woman, but had a mature faith. In Luke 1.46-55 we have what is known as The Magnificat, and Mary in it rejoices in God. She talks of Him as her Savior, one who has looked upon someone like her, and blessed her. She speaks of how He is mighty and has done great things, and that His name is holy. He gives mercy to those who fear Him, and shows His strength. He humbles the proud and the mighty, but He fills the hungry. He reminds Israel of His mercy. Mary saw God as the giver of every blessing, as the source of grace.

As Jesus grew she was there for Him. She loved Him as only a mother can. And even as their relationship changed from parent/child to Lord/servant, she stayed at His side, even at the cross she was present for her Son in His last hours. Mary is an example of a Godly woman, and a Godly mother. She was fully focused on the worship of God, even when it meant watching her first born take His rightful place and then suffer and die.

John MacArthur closes his chapter on Mary with this, "Mary never claimed to be, or preached to be, anything more than a humble handmaiden of the Lord...The lowly perspective reflected in Mary's Magnificat is the same simple spirit of humility that colored all her life and character. It is truly regrettable that religious superstition has, in effect, turned Mary into an idol. She is certainly a worthy woman to emulate, but Mary herself would undoubtedly be appalled to think anyone would pray to her, venerate images of her, or burn candles in homage to her. Her life and her testimony point us consistently to her Son. He was the object of her worship. He was the one she recognized as Lord. He was the one she trusted for everything. Mary's own example, seen in the pure light of scripture, teaches us to do the same."

Mary, the woman who gave physical life to Jesus through birth, serves as an example to all of us of faith, trust and worship. Let's emulate her life, not deify her and disgrace her memory.

Peace be with you

Joseph, the Carpenter who Raised Jesus

2011-12-13T08:32:00.004-05:00

The last two weeks in our evening service at church we've looked at the people who were given the privilege to raise Jesus. As I was looking at their lives it's evident that they were models of God worshipers, as well as men and women and parents. Their lives and characteristics set them apart, and they were blessed with the privilege of spending years with Jesus.

Joseph is one of the famous characters in the Bible, but he is seen in only four chapters of the Bible, two in Matthew and two in Luke. Later in His ministry people identify Jesus as the son of Joseph, but tradition holds that Joseph died before Jesus began His ministry. We know that Joseph was a carpenter from Nazareth, that his father was named Jacob, and that he is a descendant of David's son Solomon, who followed his father as King.

Scripture tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. We see in scripture that he waited on, and obeyed God. We see compassion in him, and the protectiveness of a husband and father. Joseph did what few men in his position would have done. He could have had Mary stoned for adultery. But instead he risks his own reputation and standing in the community to be obedient to God. He raises a son that isn't his, he sets an example of masculinity to a young boy, and to all of us today.

It wasn't easy, I'm sure it was intimidating. There is a line in The Nativity Story Joseph and Mary are on there way to Bethlehem, they talk about how they will know when Jesus is more then just a child. As they talk Joseph says, "I wonder if I will even be able to teach Him anything."

Joseph was obediant to God. He took on a task that would be socially frowned upon, and a task that no one would feel capable of, but he was blessed greatly. This past week I realized that Joseph had more one on one time with Jesus than anyone else who ever lived. The hours they would have spent together in the carpenters shop, the son learning the skills of the trade from His father. A boy having a man pour time into His life. Jesus was fully human, and as every boy does, needed a man to help Him become a man. Joseph would have talked with Him about God, about the scriptures, about worship and righteousness.

Joseph is a model to all men. We are to be examples of righteousness in our lives. We must be willing to do the difficult thing. And when we have the opportunity, we must pour into the lives of boys. We must teach them the things of God, the things that make a man a man. We must bestow masculinity and initiate boys into manhood. Joseph did this with the human side of Jesus, and Joseph was blessed with time with God. Joseph is a model of a man and of a father.

Peace be with you

Two Men

2011-12-12T09:23:00.004-05:00

As I've talked about the weapons of the enemy we've seen two Biblical examples of their usage. One in the beginning with the first humans, and they failed. With that failure came sin and death. But the second man came to make all things right. He came to pick up the battle where it left off and win the war. He faced the same weapons, and the same enemy, but He was victorious.

Romans 5 says, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Verses 12-21).

Jesus came and faced the same test as Adam and Eve. He faced the same weapons, but He was victorious. As in any fight there are hits that we take. Adam and Eve took them, were knocked down, and defeated. Jesus took the hits as well. His were worse because of Adam's loss. His involved a beating, a crucifixion, and a tomb. But Jesus got back up.

I think of a line for the movie Rocky Balboa, "But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you!"

I think of the line from the movie Robin Hood , "Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions."

Two men faced the same weapons wielded by the same deadly enemy. One man fell and didn't get back up, and because of that defeat the world is in the state that it is. Another man came to fight the same battle. It looked like He had been defeated, but what appeared to be a loss was really the ultimate victory. And it's a victory that He offers to us.

Jesus has showed us how to fight the battle against Satan; and it's a battle He has already won. He invites us to share that victory. The whole reason He came to earth was to win this victory, the prize is ultimate glory, and the redemption of the universe. And Jesus calls us to share in the victory, the redemption, and the glory.

We face the same enemy and the same weapons that Jesus faced. We will be knocked down, but we don't have to be defeated. There is a song by Chris Tomlin that I've written about before. It tells us that Jesus has overcome, that through His victory we have peace, and that in Him we can take the hits, rise and move forward victorious.

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

"Rise and rise again, until lambs become lions." The Lamb of God was humbly slain, the Lion of Judah rose in power. He calls us to rise with Him.

Peace be with you

Weapon 4: Division

2011-12-10T21:10:00.004-05:00

Division, "the act or process of dividing; state of being divided."

Satan uses his final weapon in Genesis 3.1, "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Indeed, has God said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden"?'" Did you notice how he divides them? It says he said to the woman. Verse 6 tells us that Adam was there with her, but Satan doesn't address him, just her. He doesn't invite Adam to share what God said. He divides them and Eve is forced to assume a role she was never meant to have.

When this happens, nothing good can occur. Eve takes the fruit and eats it, and then gives some to Adam who also eats. And when they do, sin enters the world. They cover themselves with fig leaves as verse 7 says, and then in verse 8 they hide from God. They are not only divided in the battle, but as a result of the loss they are cut off from God. They are divided from their source of life and as a result all of creation is cursed as well.

Jesus too is tempted with division. Satan tries to get Him to work for His own glory instead of Gods. In verse 3 he tries to get Jesus to selfishly use His power for His own benefit, and not rely upon God to sustain Him He tries to get Him to be separated from His true source of life.

Again in verse 6 Satan invites Jesus to take matters into His own hands. To test and see if the scriptures are true and put God to the test. Jesus again would be doing things His way, not God's. And in verse 9 Satan offers Jesus a way to fulfill His mission in a way that removes the cross. He simply needs to turn His back on God and worship him for a moment, and it can all go away.

Each time Jesus refuses, Jesus stays connected to His Father, His source of life. He brings the promises that scripture tells us of God. He remains faithful and trusts that God's plan is best, and that God will not abandon Him.

Division is the result of the other three. If we buy into the lies of Satan's first three weapons, division is a natural result. We are deceived that God and others don't care, or that we're the problem, and so we take off by ourselves. We are discouraged and embarrassed by results and so we avoid people who could help us. We have doubts that we can succeed, or that God will be faithful, and we run and look for the easy way. And in all of these situations we end up alone.

Division is a death sentence. Jesus said, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." (Mark 3.24) Where there is division nothing can get accomplished. Where people refuse to work together there can be no progress. Jesus beat division and stayed faithful and connected to His Father. We have the tools to do the same.

We surround ourselves with the belt of truth, and we refuse to buy into the lies of Satan. We cover ourselves we the breastplate of righteousness, and firmly stand in our relationship with God. We have sure footing because of the shoes of peace, and we stand our ground assured that God is with us. We take up the shield of faith and we stand in rank with others and fight together to win the battle. We put on the helmet of salvation and embrace the promise that we now belong to God and that nothing can separate us from Him. And we draw on the power of the sword of the spirit, and cut through the lies and barriers of the enemy.

We must stay connected to God and we must have fellowship with others. I think of the line from Gladiator as Maximus and the others prepare for their first battle in the Colosseum. He says to them, "Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together we survive." If we stay together we survive.

Don't allow Satan to separate you from others and from God. Stand firm, pour into the truth of Scripture and spend time in prayer, communicating with God. Stay together, and we not only survive, but through the power of Christ, we kick tail.

Peace be with you

Weapon 3: Doubt

2011-12-09T10:24:00.005-05:00

Doubt, "To be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe. To distrust."

Satan's third weapon is doubt. We see this again in Genesis 3.1, "Did God really say,..." Right at the beginning we see God's word brought into question. If Adam and Eve cannot trust what God has said, how can they trust God. Doubt is a powerful weapon becasue it begins so subtlety.

As soon as Satan can get us to begin to question the truth of God, and what God has really said, our trust in God is shaken. At this point, Eve misquotes God, adding things into God's instructions and boundaries. And at this point Satan is free to twist what God said further, and spin lies causing them to stumble.

It is ok to ask God questions; it's ok to wonder. But there has to be trust that no matter what God is right. God has our best interest at heart, and that no matter what happens it will result in the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom.

Doubt is an attack not only on belief, our faith, but on our identity as well. We see this with Jesus in Matthew 4. "The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God...'" At the very beginning of the temptation, Satan begins by challenging who Jesus is. In Matthew 3, Jesus baptism, verse 17 says, "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'"

Right before His temptation begins, Jesus is given an identity by His Father. Satan challenges that. It's an invitation for Jesus to prove to Himself that He is who the Father says. It's an invitation to use His power for selfish gain, to satisfy a need He has.

Doubt causes us to need to prove ourselves. It causes us to take matters into our own hands and do things in a way that God hasn't prescribed for us to do. But when our trust that God is able, or that He has our best interest at heart, what other option are we left with?

Adam and Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was useful for gaining knowledge they eat. They question God, and doubt that He knows what's best. They take matters into their own hands, and fall into sin; they curse all of creation with their doubt. Jesus responds to Satan's attack by falling back into the arms of His father. Matthew 4.4, "Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."'"

The armor of God is given to us to overcome doubt. Truth surrounds us and reminds us that God has our best interest at heart. Righteousness is the relationship we have with God. Peace is assurance in the path we walk with God. Faith guards us from the lies Satan throws at us, twisting what God has said. Salvation reminds us that God has forgiven us, that we belong to Him, that we are His children. The Spirit is with us daily to remind us, we are to pour ourselves into the Word and find the truth of God there.

Doubt is a powerful weapon, but Jesus has overcome it. In His victory He shows us how to block and counterattack. Don't be overcome with doubt, but live off of the words of the Father.

Peace be with you

Weapon 2: Discouragement

2011-12-08T12:24:00.006-05:00

Discourage, "To deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; dishearten; dispirit. To dissuade (usually followed by from ). To obstruct by opposition or difficulty; hinder. To express or make clear disapproval of;"

Satan uses his second weapon in Genesis 3 also. Discouragement is the act of removing confidence or hope from someone. Satan discourages Eve's trust in God. He begins by misquoting God, and then brings out a lie making God seem like the bad guy. Genesis 3.4-5, "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'"

Satan discourages them from following God by shaking their trust in God. In verse one he says, "Did God really say...?" Eve misquotes what God said by adding limitations to what He gave. It opens the door for Satan to work. He makes his offer seem better than God's and Eve falls into sin.

Discouragement also hits us through difficult circumstances. We look at a task and begin to lose hope in the abilities we have to accomplish it. We can begin to doubt that God will come through for us. We can begin to wonder if God made a mistake in choosing us for the job. Jesus faced this weapon in the desert as well.

Matthew 4.8-9, "Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, 'All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.'" Jesus had come to save the world through His death on the cross. Satan here offers Christ the opportunity to save the world without the cross. If Jesus is given the world He can do what He pleases with it. He can save it without dieing for it. All He has to do is compromise just for a second.

I can imagine as Jesus is on the mountain top and Satan is making his offer, he adds a few other things, possibly along the lines of what Satan says to Jesus in the Garden in The Passion of the Christ. "Do you really believe that one man can bear the full burden of sin? ... No man can carry this burden I tell you. It is far too heavy. Saving their souls is too costly. No one. Ever. No. Never." Satan uses his weapon of discouragement well. He offers Jesus the chance to do what God sent Him to do, but in an easier way; a way that wouldn't involve pain or death, just a small bow, one single act of worship.

It's a tempting offer, an offer that seems hopeful, better and easier. But Jesus knew that He could not save the world by compromising and coming to our level. Instead He must stand firm, knees locked, and be encouraged that God's plan is the best. He defeats Satan's second weapon with the truth of Scripture and hope and trust in God. "Then Jesus said to him, 'Go, Satan! For it is written, "YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY."'"

Jesus overcame discouragement, where Adam and Eve gave in. Jesus knew that God's plan was the best plan, that God's plan was the only way. He wasn't discouraged by the difficulty, but encouraged by the love and presence of the Father.

We too must overcome discouragement, but we don't have to do it alone. God has given us truth, that shows us His plan is best. We have righteousness, the relationship with Him that guards our lives. Peace, which gives us sure footing on difficult ground. Faith, trust in God and what He says. Salvation, to guard our thoughts and help us hear what God is saying to us. And the Spirit, the sword, the word of God. It is a love letter to us, written from God's heart to ours to encourage us through the struggles of life.

With the weapons and armor of God, we can deflect and defeat Satan's second weapon of discouragement.

Peace be with you.

Weapon 1: Deception

2011-12-07T09:08:00.009-05:00

Deceive, "to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude". Delude means, "to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive". Deception is the first weapon we see Satan use. In Genesis 3 he enters the scene of a perfect creation, in the disguise of a serpent. He begins talking to a woman and the first recorded line of Satan is "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

Right away he begins to lead the creation away from God by presenting a question that begins to convince Adam and Eve that God is keeping something from them, that He is holding them back. Eve responds to his question "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'" Eve has now misquoted God. Satan has done his work.

God had given them freedom to eat from any tree in the Garden (Genesis 2.16). God had never told them not to touch the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, simply not to eat of it (Genesis 2.17). Eve said they would die, but God had said that they would surely die (Genesis 2.17). In these statements Eve has taken away from God's generosity, making it seem like their right to eat the fruit of the garden, not as a privilege from God. She adds restrictions to what God has instructed, making God seem restrictive. She has taken away from the severity and surety of God's word; He means what He says, and His authority is absolute. Deception leads us away from the truth of God. It leads us away from the good that God has for us, because we become convinced that it is not the best. That is deception.

Satan works through deception gradually, giving partial truths. We see this same tactic with Jesus temptation in the wilderness. In Matthew 4.6 Satan quotes Scripture to Jesus, trying to get Him to throw Himself off of the Temple, proving Himself to be the Messiah of Israel. It sounds great, Jesus jumps, angles catch Him, the priests realize that He is the Messiah, they make Him King and He never has to go near the cross. But Jesus knows that a ministry based on miracles and wonders is doomed to fail. People's faith only lasts as long as the miracles do, and when it gets hard they are gone. We see throughout Jesus' ministry that He refuses to give Himself to people who only want Him for His miraculous power (John 2, 6). And Jesus responds to Satan's weapon of deception in the same way we are to. Jesus counter attacks with the Truth of Scripture.

God has given us the Belt of Truth to surround ourselves with. It is truth that keeps us from being mislead, and truth that keeps us focused on the true words of God. We battle deception with truth. We have the Breastplate of Righteousness to cover our hearts. Righteousness is protection from the relationship with God. It covers our bodies, front and back, and guards the relationship with have with God so we aren't lead astray. We have the Sandals of Peace. They give us sure footing as we follow God's plan for our life. We have the Shield of Faith, to protect us from all of Satan's deceptive lies. God has given us the Helmet of Salvation to cover our head. Salvation guards our minds and gives us assurance that we belong to God. We are protected from deception by the knowledge of salvation. Finally, we have the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. This is the same weapon Jesus used, and that Eve failed to use. No lie, no deception, can stand against the truth and authority of the Word of God.

Deception is a powerful weapon, and it is only the first one in Satan's arsenal. But God has armed us for battle, and has given us the tools to block, and counter attack this weapon.

Peace be with you

Four Weapons of the Enemy

2011-12-06T09:17:00.004-05:00

I have been blessed with an incredible mentor, and several other Godly men who have guided me during the different chapters of my life so far. They've always been there to pour into me. During times of success they've reminded me of humility. During times where I've made mistakes, or could have done or be doing things better, they've offered correction in love. During times of doubt they have offered encouragement.

The last few weeks of ministry, and life, have been busy, chaotic, unstructured, abnormal, full, and anything else you can think of along those lines. Wrestling practice started the second week of November. We had the community Thanksgiving service. My wife put in her two weeks notice at work and ended up being promoted. A layman in the church was diagnose with Lou Gehrig's disease. And now the Christmas season is here. It's been a trying and draining time.

There have been good moments thrown in there. The job promotion for my wife was us stepping out in faith and God providing showing us that He would take care of us and that we could trust Him. Our new District Superintendents have been a huge blessing in this first month of their service. And I've gotten to throw out a few ideas for ministry and building the Kingdom. And as I've seen and heard many times, when stuff like this happens be ready for an attack.

I don't remember when my mentor and I had this conversation, but over the last few days I've been thinking about it. Today I sorted through the index cards in my man bag until I found it. There are four weapons the enemy uses against us. Deception, Discouragement, Doubt and Division.

Over the last few weeks I've experienced all of them. I was planning on just writing about discouragement and talking about how it affects so many parts of our lives. But then I remembered the conversation and found the card, and now I realize why it affects so much of life. Satan always uses the first person with each attack. He gets us thinking, "There must be something wrong with me." But know what? There isn't anything wrong with me, and there is nothing wrong with you. Jesus told us that Satan is a liar, the father of lies, and when he lies he speaks his native language (John 8.44).

Over the next few days I want to talk about each one of these. I've already talked about the weapons God has given us, and it is those weapons that protect us from and fight back with, against Satan's. I'll show what weapons we use against each of Satan's. Don't believe the lies he throws at you, believe the truth that God lovingly hands to you.

Peace be with you

Holiday Trees Response

2011-12-02T10:17:00.002-05:00

I saw this this morning on a friends facebook and needed to share it. It's a response to the White House calling Christmas tree's Holiday trees.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Why He Came

2011-12-01T09:28:00.007-05:00

This past Sunday I preached out of John 6.1-21, the feeding of the 5,000 and the walking on water. At the end of the service we took communion. I hadn't really planned what I was going to say for it, I found myself in one of those situations where I just trusted God would give me something.He did, but sadly I can only remember bits and pieces of it.

The people wanted Jesus as their King because He had feed them. They saw in Him, someone who could meet their needs. They had no interest in His way or the plan of God, they simply wanted Him because He had filled their bellies with bread. And these same people who now wanted to make Him King, would in a little over a year cry out for His crucifixion. Jesus knew that they only way they could ever really be satisfied was to have His body be broken for their sin. He had to take the punishment that their sin, and ours, deserved. He allowed His body to be broken so the world could freedom from sin.

But it wasn't enough for sin to deal out it's punishment, it had to be paid for. For that His blood had to be shed. Death was the only thing that could pay for sin. Romans 6 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Jesus couldn't simply take the punishment for us, He had to purchase us back.

The cross was the whole reason that He came to earth. On Christmas Eve during college I did something most people probably wouldn't do. I watched The Passion of the Christ. It was during college that I finally began to get it. The cross what why Jesus came. Jesus came to be King, but not one who was elected by popular vote; He came to be crucified that way. He came not to compromise and save the world by becoming like the world; but to life the world up to His level, to call the world to a higher standard, a higher quality of life.

Jesus came so that we could have life abundantly (John 10.10). He came to earth to show us how God would have us to live, to show us what God is like, and to make it possible for us to live in relationship with Him. Jesus came to bring us back to God, and to help us live as God would live life.

As December begins and the countdown to Christmas really starts, let's not forget the real reason we celebrate this time. God came down to save a lost and dieing people. He came to take our punishment, to buy us back, and to transform us into the people He created us to Be. Jesus made it possible for us to be Holy, for us to be Christlike. That is what we celebrate when we take communion. That is what we remember at Christmas.

Peace be with you

What is Green?

2011-11-30T18:20:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I got to sit with my mentor and pick his brain about a ministry situation. I hope that everyone has someone in their lives like my mentor. Whenever I leave His presence I feel uplifted and encouraged, yesterday I almost shed happy tears.

As I listened to his wisdom I the big thing that stuck out to me was him asking, "What do you see that is green?" What is there in this current situation that is alive and growing? Where is the greatest potential? Where is there life?

As he asked me the question I began to think about the different things that are going on. There is a lot of brown, things that aren't going anywhere but we refuse to trim the branches because they've been there for so long. But among the brown, there are a few green buds poking through.

The different things that I'm getting to do in the community. The couple teen boys I'm getting to pour into. There is green there. My wife had some other thoughts, some things she sees. There is green, there is life.

In your life what is green? It may be a single blade of grass in a massive field, but there is green. Pray that God will show it to you. The green is where He's working. As we seek to do ministry, the prayer of our heart needs to be, "God open our eyes to what You're already doing." My mentor said that we have two options, we can do our way and ask God to bless our plans or we can be blessed as we fulfill God's plan.

When God shows you the green, grab a bucket of water and a bag of fertilizer, and pour into it. Watch it grow, and watch the green take over.

As this year draws to a close, and we prepare to begin a new one, begin to ask God to open your eyes to where He is already working. Ask Him to show you His plan for you in 2012. Ask Him to help you find the green.

Peace be with you

Thanksgiving and the Following days

2011-11-28T08:54:00.007-05:00

There is a lot on my mind, this is going to be one of those blogs with a bunch of random thoughts.

My favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving. I love the time with my cousins. Its the one day of the year my paternal grandmother wants her whole family together. My grandma has been an incredible pillar of our family. She is the reason my cousins and I are so close. She's poured time into us. Many of my favorite childhood memories are around her kitchen table, in her backyard, basement, and living room, and all of them take place with the cousins that she made me be friends with. Because of my grandma, we enjoy time together, and soak up every moment we have.

But this year I began to notice a change. Time has passed and we're grown up. Four of us are now married, two have children. One won't come to anything due to family issues. Our conversations have changed from hopes and dreams of the future, to grown up conversations. Instead of playing games and building forts, we fall asleep on the floor watching football. We've changed, we've grown up, and I'm finding myself wanting to move in different directions.

I love my family, especially my cousins. But my wife and I have our own life now, and as we go down this road together it takes me in some ways, away from the traditions of the past. And I'm excited for the future with her. We've talked about traditions we want, about how we'd love to spend holidays in the future with our kids and friends; and I can't wait for them to happen. Time passes, and things change.

I think of Black Friday. A few times I've gone out, simply to get a good deal on what I got my sister for Christmas, or so my mom wouldn't have to go out to get something for my little brother at 4 am. But over the past few years I've grown to hate Black Friday. And this year I asked a question, What does God think of Black Friday?

I've been kicking it around in my mind for the last few days, and I don't know that I have an answer. Many people go out as I have in the past, to get good deals on gifts for others. But over the last year my view of stuff has changed. A year ago I was cleaning out foreclosed homes with my cousin and her husband. You see the stuff that people treasured in life, but had no where to take it when they lost the house. You see the stuff that had mattered, but not enough to keep when they had to leave, it's the stuff that didn't matter as much as the other stuff.

I don't want a bunch of stuff. As I get older I look at things I used to collect, things I used to think were really cool, or that I'd used forever. My in laws brought everything my wife owned to our house a few months ago. My parents have some boxes of my old stuff in their basement. Honestly part of me just wants to throw it all out. If I don't know what's in there, if I haven't needed it for the past seven years, then there is no way I'll miss it if I get rid of it now. I had looked through some of it before I moved because there was something I needed, and I found stuff I had forgotten I had. My wife and I are now looking at things we have and realizing we don't need it, that we don't want all of this stuff just sitting around.

Today I was reading in Genesis 26, and I saw this, "Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him" (vs 12-14). God made Isaac rich; He blessed him and gave him abundantly more than he ever could have needed. God does stuff like that. His blessings are so great that He gives us far more than we ever could need. God is rich, and He loves to bless those who are faithful to Him.

If God provides wealth, then it can't be a bad thing. Wealth and possessions in themselves aren't bad. The love of wealth is what is bad, as it says in 1 Timothy 6. The drive for more wealth, the focus on wealth instead of the giver of it; that is what is evil. And just because someone voluntarily lives in poverty it doesn't mean that they are righteous. Paul says in Philippians 4.19, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." God says in Malachi 3.10, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.'" And as it says in Genesis 26, God blessed Isaac and made him rich.

We are blessed by God to bless others. God has given us wealth, let's be generous with it. If you don't think you're rich, watch the Nooma Video by Rob Bell titled, Rich. Let's look for ways to serve. This Christmas my wife and I are giving away stuffed animals. In college a buddy and I gave away roses to people in a nursing home on Valentines day. The church I am currently serving is going to be looking at child sponsorship. There are so many ways that we can bless others, God has blessed us so that we can be a blessing.

The random thoughts that I've just shared are the things that have been on my heart and in my head for the last few days. I guess these are the things that I've been convicted about, and the questions that I don't have the answers to.

My simple request of all who read this is that we would be a blessing to others. There is a song by a group called Nickelback, it's their only song I've ever heard, and they aren't a group I listen to, but the chorus this one song I think gets the idea.

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

What if everyone cared? What if everyone loved? What if everyone shared? What if all of us were a blessing?

There is one other song by Brandon Heath, and the chorus says this,

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

Ask God to open your eyes to see through His. See how you have been blessed, and be a blessing to others.

Peace be with you

Blessed to be a Blessing

2011-11-21T13:53:00.006-05:00

Last night I had a rare opportunity as a Protestant minister to speak at a Catholic church for a community Thanksgiving service. Here I want to share some of the thoughts I gave last night.

As 2011 ends and we prepare to enter 2012 we, in America, must brace ourselves for the barrage of political campaigning that will take place. As in every American campaign there will be a phrase that we hear a lot because it has become politically correct to say, "God bless America." As I look around I can honestly say that God has blessed America. We enjoy many freedoms that other nations don't, as well as one of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world. God has blessed America. The question we need to ask is not how can God bless us more, but how can we be a blessing to others.

In the Bible when God blessed someone the intention was that they in turn would be a blessing to others. Genesis 12.1-3, "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” I will bless you and you shall be a blessing. In you all the families of the earth will be blessed. That is how God works, through people.

We are blessed to be a blessing. The problem is that humans are selfish by nature. Some of our first words are "No!" and "Mine!" It is our tendency to take things that we are given and hoard them for ourselves, that's human nature. But Christian nature is selfless. It is the nature of a Christ follower to be generous and to bless others.

The secret to generosity is contentment. If we learn to be content, we will have no problem with giving things away. Paul tells us the secret of contentment in Philippians 4.11-13, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

The word Paul uses for contentment is autarkeia and the Greco-Roman audience he wrote to would have understood that word as being entirely self-sufficient. There was a philosophy known as Stoicism, and self-sufficiency was their highest goal. They believed that the will of God could not be stopped, and sometimes His will involved loss of possessions or the death of a loved one, both of these caused pain. TO avoid this pain of loss the Stoics tried to remove desire and emotion from their lives, they tried to be dependant upon nothing and no one. But this existence is one without relationships and love, so it ends up being lonely and in some ways just as painful.

Paul says to his audience that he has attained their highest goal; he has become content in all things. The stoics believe that this was a human achievement attained by self-discipline. Paul says to them, it isn't through anything I have done, it is a divine gift. Christ is the one who gives me strength to endure any circumstances I face. Paul knew that the only thing that mattered was Christ, and that nothing would ever be able to separate him from Christ. Because he had Christ and would always have Christ, Paul was content.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, let us reflect on all of the ways we have been blessed. As we gather with family, or remember family who are no longer with us, let us find strength in the presence of Christ that is available to us. As we prepare to celebrate the Christmas season, let us look for ways to be a blessing to others. We have been richly blessed, let us be a blessing to others.

May Thanksgiving be the Ash Wednesday of Advent. May Advent be to Christmas what Lent is to Easter, a time of preparation and reflection, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. His presence is the greatest blessing we have been given. Let us take it and bless others.

Do you know how a life of being content and blessing others ends? Genesis 25.8, "Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people." Abraham was blessed by God and a blessing to others. He died satisfied with life. 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." Paul was content with the presence of Christ in his life. He knew that he would stand in the very presence of Christ and receive the crown of righteousness.

Their ending can be yours as well. You can die satisfied with life. You can face death with the same words as Paul. Embrace the person of Jesus Christ. We have been greatly blessed, let us be a blessing.

Peace be with you

Fit for Service

2011-11-16T09:11:00.002-05:00

2 Timothy 2.20, "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor."
It's one of those verses I never really understood, and didn't really care to look at to find the meaning. But yesterday my study of 2 Timothy took me there.

The Church is a large house, consisting of a lot of people. And in the church there are people who are the real deal. Christians who truly can claim that title. Those who do everything out of a love for God, and desire nothing but to become more like Christ. Everything they do is done out of love for God and so that they can become more like Christ. These are the gold and silver vessels. They are fit to be used for the service of God, the greatest honor there is.

These people are the fine dishes that you use for the holidays and family gatherings. The best plates that you take care of, because they were handed down to you from your grandmother. These are the plates that you use for the special occasions, and make sure they don't chip or break, because they have history and meaning.

But then there are other dishes. The ones you use everyday that you bought at goodwill or a garage sale. These dishes if they break you notice, but it doesn't hurt you that it's gone. Not all people in the church are genuine. Some people don't live up to the name they claim.

I read somewhere that people don't live up to it because they don't really believe it. If we truly believe something we have to live by it, we can't just proclaim it. What we truly believe transforms us.But in the church there is a mixture of people, and some of them are simply proclaimers.

2 Timothy 2.21, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." This should be the goal for all member of the Church. To be cleansed from impurities to be used by God for service.

Barclay said this, "No Christian should ever think of being fit for honour but always being fit for service." The Church is to serve, the members of the Body of Christ are to serve.

May we become vessels of honor. Let our motivation be an unquenchable love for God and for others. Let us always be fit for service so that we can be used by the Master.

Peace be with you

Sphragis

2011-11-15T08:43:00.008-05:00

My study of 2 Timothy has been slower, more interrupted, and less enjoyable than 1 Timothy due to these circumstances. But yesterday as I was reading through William Barclay on 2 Timothy 2.19 I came across an interesting Greek word.

"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'"

The word for seal is sphragis. Sphragis is a seal that proves ownership of something. A seal placed on a sack would show that the contents were genuine and hadn't been tampered with. It would show who the sack belonged to and where it came from. But the seal also had other uses. It would function as a brand name or trademark. A sphragis would be placed on a bottle of eye ointment to show what kind of ointment it was. A sphragis would also be used in architecture. The mark of the architect would always be placed on what was built, a monument, statue, or building, to show who was responsible for it's design, or the purpose that the structure had been built for.

The text says that the foundation of God has a seal. It declares who it belongs to, and the function that it exists for. In this it shows the content to be good and focused on what is good. The firm foundation of God is the church, the body of Christ. Scripture tells us that there are many members that make up the body (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12). God has marked the church with His sphragis declaring that we belong to Him.

But the seal also declares our function. We are to abstain from wickedness. We are to turn our back upon sin and face God and His righteousness. As we abstain from evil we move towards God. The church is made up of those who belong to God and strive for righteousness. We are not perfect in the church, but our focus is on God, and we are striving towards Him. Paul says it so well in Philippians 3.12-14,

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Jesus Christ sealed us with His blood. When we accept it we belong to and are sealed as His. With this must come a life transformation. We are to abstain from wickedness and purse the things of God. Holiness, righteousness, Christlikeness. We are sealed as Gods, and must live lives that show who we belong to. The Lord knows those who are His, and those who claim to be His must live out what they claim.

Allow God to place His sphragis on you, live out the function that He created you for, Christlikeness.

Peace be with you

Virus

2011-11-14T11:17:00.006-05:00

I was at a seminar a few weeks ago and was told about a virus. The Luke 10.2b virus. It's a prayer based out of Luke 10.2, "And He was saying to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'"

How it works is you set an alarm on your phone to go off at 10:02 am everyday, and when it does you stop and pray that God will send you out into His harvest as a worker and that He will send other workers into the fields to work. For the last few weeks I've been doing this. For the last month I've been preaching on joining the work, discovering and using our Spiritual gifts, and working together to "re-build the walls". This past Sunday the message was out of John 5, the healing at the Pool of Bethesda.

In this story Jesus commands the man who has been laying there for 38 years to get up and walk. He is healed, stands and walks by God's power, but he still had to stand up and walk. God doesn't call the equipped, they don't see the need to trust Him. Instead God equips those He calls. When God calls you to a task He will empower you to do it. When God tells you stand up and walk for the first time in 38 years, He will strengthen you to do it. When God calls us to do the impossible He will give us the power to do it, but we've got to be willing to take that first step of faith and trust that He will come through.

We are all called to serve. We are all called to be laborers in the great harvest. Catch the virus, set your phone alarm for 10:02, and each day, "beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Spread the virus. When your phone goes off and people ask you what's up, tell them about Luke 10.2. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;" spread the virus.

God has a great work that needs to be done, the workers are few, will you join them? Catch the virus, spread it, join the work.

Peace be with you

Not Home

2011-11-11T08:07:00.005-05:00

Last Friday my wife and I went up to Michigan for the day. It was the first out of state trip we've taken since our honeymoon. We got up at 3:30am and drove five hours to Frankenmuth, MI, the home of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, the world's largest Christmas store.

As we drove I passed things that held memories. I passed Cabela's, our final destination in Michigan, and thought of the time Casey and I got up at 6:30 and drove an hour and a half just to be two of the first 50 people in the store to get a free $20 stainless steel coffee mug. We passed exit 84 on route 23, the exit Casey, Colin and I had to push the car to when we ran out of gas on the high way coming back from another Cabela's trip. Exit 90 was where I used to get off to get to my apartment. Exit 117 was where I would go to meet with a group of youth pastors every Thursday morning, and the exit I took to go to Steve's, my hunting buddy's, house.

We spent a few hours in Frankenmuth, it was great to see my wife like she was, all excited like a five year old on Christmas morning, seeing her face when she saw the countless different ornaments, and the lights. We had a great time.

On the way back we stopped in Flint/Burton/Grand Blanc, where I had lived and ministered for ten months. We drove by the church I used to work at. I don't know what I was expecting to feel when I got there, it was the first time I'd been back since I left last October. Honestly though, I felt nothing. No feeling of being home, it felt kind of foreign, almost as if I'd never been there.

We went and got a pizza from Benito's, and then to Tropical Smoothie (just because they have kiwi and Robeck's doesn't), and then headed to Cabela's and then home. I'd remembered everything, exactly how to get everywhere I used to go, but it all felt strange. Whenever I go back to other places I've served, (Bedford, Mount Vernon etc.) it feels like going home. Even though things have changed, things are added other things are missing, it still feels familiar, warm and inviting. But Flint didn't have that feel.

Flint was never home. I love the teens and the young adults I got to do ministry with. I loved the youth pastors I got to spend time with, but never had Flint become home, never had I really been accepted and welcomed into the family there.

I took many lessons from my time there, and I honestly know that those lessons are the reason God sent me to Michigan. They were things I wouldn't have learned at home in Mount Vernon or at Bedford. Flint was part of my wilderness experience, a time of wondering and learning from God. It was hard, it was draining, and it hurt, but it was only temporary.

Our time in the wilderness is crucial, it's where we learn to depend on God, to rely upon Him for our very survival. He's the only one who got me through my time in Michigan. When I moved there I was alone except for Him, and most of the time I was up there He was all I had. He gave me some people who helped bandage some of the wounds I received, and He'll do that for all us in our time in the wilderness. But a majority of it has to be simply us and Him. I've never felt as alone as I did in Michigan (taking nothing away from the true friends I made there, I love and thank you all), God really was all I had most of that time.

When I sat to write this I didn't really know where it was going. I don't know who needs this, but just know that in your wilderness time, when it feels like you're all alone, God is there. I've started to notice that at stages of life there is a verse I constantly have to go back to. Right now it's 1 Timothy 4.12, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." For Michigan, the verse was Joshua 1.9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Whatever your Wilderness/Michigan experience is, be strong and courageous. Do not tremble and don't be dismayed. The Lord YOUR God is with you wherever you go.

Peace be with you

The Full Armor of God

2011-11-10T14:12:00.004-05:00

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6.10-12.

My favorite book is Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. I just finished it for the third time. In it he talks about the heart of a man. He looks at how God created us and the longings of our heart. Inside the heart of every man there are two questions and three desires.

The questions: "Am I dangerous?" "Do I have what it takes?"

The desires: A battle fight, a beauty to rescue, an adventure to live

The armor of God is crucial for a man to put on. It is only with His armor that our desires are able to be fulfilled, the longings satisfied. Only with the armor of God on me am I ready for battle. Only when I am dressed in my God given armor am I able to storm the castle, slay the dragon, and rescue the princess. Only when I am covered with God's armor am I ready to set out on this adventure of life.

It is only when I am covered with the equipment that God gives me that I am able to not only endure the hardships of life, but victoriously conquer them through His strength and power. I can't have just part of the armor, I need each piece or part of me is left vulnerable. All of the armor is connected, each piece works with the others for the purpose of winning the battle. It is armor that is just for us, fitted to us, so that we can move with ease. It is armor that is ours to train with, to learn how it works and how to use it. It is armor that we must always have on so that we are ready for any attack at any time.

God wants us to be ready. He doesn't want us to be caught off guard, and so He has equipped us for combat. You are dangerous, and you have what it takes. Receive the armor that He offers you. Wear it, train with it, learn how to use it. And then join the battle. Suit up, it's time to march.

Peace be with you

Dressed and Ready for Battle

2011-11-09T08:40:00.010-05:00

We're suited up, covered and armed with the full Armor of God. We are surrounded by truth, protected by righteousness and salvation, ready to move with peace, and armed with faith and the Word. Here is a warrior who is ready to "Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2.3. We are ready to march out and meet the enemy, confident that our armor and weapons are ready to go to work.

But there is one final element that we must add before we charge the front lines of the enemy. Ephesians 6.18, "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," Prayer, our communication with our General. It is no good marching into battle if we have no communication from the one giving the lifesaving orders.

Paul tells us that prayer must be constant, not simply in our moment of greatest need. I think of the story of Elijah on Mt. Horeb. God tells him to go stand on the mountain because He is passing by. There is a wind, an earthquake, and a fire, but the Lord was not in any of those incredible, powerful forces. Instead there is a gentle blowing, a still small voice, a quite whisper that God is in. In the midst of chaos and noise if you haven't heard the voice of God, if you don't know the voice of God, you won't be able to pick it out. But if we are like Elijah, spending constant time alone with God, where we know Him intimately, where we know His voice distinctly from all others, then even in the thickest battle we'll be able to hear His guidance and instruction.

Secondly, our prayer must be intense and focused. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5.8 that we must be self-controlled and alert because our enemy the devil is prowling like a lion, looking to devour us. Our prayers must be intentional, our prayer time must be something we covet and guard. We must be selfish about it, and let nothing distract us from it. Our prayers must be heart felt, not simple half-hearted, repetitive prayers we've been saying since we were five. Our prayers need to be communicating the deepest hurts and needs on our hearts to God. We must be focused on who we're talking with so that we can hear what He says in return.

Lions go for the animal that is off by itself, straggling behind, not paying attention. We must be focused in our lives, intentionally focused on God ready for battle at all times. But we must also make sure we don't get alone. I've talked about Spartans a lot recently, and a single Spartan is a force to be reckoned with. A single Spartan can do more than hold his own in a fight. But a single Spartan is nothing compared to that Spartan standing beside his brothers in the phalanx.

Third, we must pray for and with others. We must pray for those who are fighting beside us. We must pray for those who are fighting on another battlefield. No matter how strong we are, we cannot fight this war, we cannot win this battle on our own. We must have each other’s backs at all times. We must pray for others as they fight this battle with us.

Prayer is part of our preparation for battle; it's how we suit up. Prayer is part of what sustains us in battle; it's our communication with the General for instruction and encouragement. Let us pray, and let us firmly stand our ground, dressed in the full Armor of God, ready for battle.

Peace be with you

Piece 6: Sword

2011-11-08T08:25:00.007-05:00

Ephesians 6.17b, "and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." The sword Paul is talking about is the Roman gladius. It's the sword carried by Maximus in Gladiator, and in this one case I choose the Roman weapon over the Spartan xiphos. The gladius was slightly longer, and very effective in combat. When combined with a shield, it's a great weapon.

The sword is a weapon both for offense and defense. It blocks and deflects incoming attacks, but it also enables the wielder to strike back. The sword is a crucial piece of the armor. It must be cared for, it must be sharpened and polished so it is kept ready for the fight.

The Bible refers to the Word of God as a sword. In Hebrews 4.12 it says, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." The gladius had an edge on each side of the blade, it was sharp, it penetrated whoever got in the way of the blade. It was an effective tool for battle.

We are in a spiritual battle with Satan. And God has not simply given us defensive protection, but He has equipped us to be able to go on the offensive. He's given us a sword to use in combat. The Bible is our weapon.

Jesus showed us how to use it in combat against Satan in Matthew 4. Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tested, and after forty days of fasting Satan brings the assault. He attacks Jesus identity, and tries to get Jesus to stumble. But look at each of Jesus' responses, "Jesus answered, 'It is written:'... Jesus answered him, 'It is also written:'... Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written:'..." (Matthew 4.4a, 7a, 10a). With each attack Jesus wields Scripture. He blocks each attack and then attacks back and puts Satan to flight.

We cannot win a battle without a sword. We cannot win a Spiritual battle that is waged against God, and those who serve Him, without God's sword. Scripture memorization is a Spiritual discipline that seems to have fallen by the wayside in past years. One pastor friend suggested that the reason for this is possibly the number of translations that are in print today. There are so many ways to word each verse that there is no standard translation of memorization. But we must discipline ourselves to memorize scripture.

Here are some suggestions that I have. Find a translation that you like and understand. Note that The Message is not a translation, but a paraphrase. It's great for reading but for memorization use a translation that breaks up the verses. There are many so find one you that you understand. I use the NASB because it's the most literal translation of the text.

Second, take a few verses at a time. Don't set out to memorize an entire book the first week, you'll get overwhelmed and probably give up. But a few verses at a time, and over time you will have the entire book memorized. My suggestion is as you read make notes of the main verses of the chapter. Read and re-read it until you see the theme and can identify the main verse in that section, and memorize that. As you do this, you'll be able to identify the different themes of the different chapters of the Bible.

Third, find a good way to review. One way I've found that helps is writing each verse on a 3x5 index card. Put the reference in the top left and bottom right corners and in the lines of the card break up the verse by punctuation. Put one phase per line, and memorize the verse phrase by phrase.

Here's an example.

In church we're working through John, and each week I pick out the main verse from the text I'm preaching on. This week it was John 4.50

John 4.50

Jesus said to him,

"Go; your son lives."

The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.

John 4.50

The nice thing with index cards is that they are easy to stack and are easy to review with. We need to memorize as many verses as possible. If you remember from Gladiator, Maximus doesn't just have one sword when he goes into battle. The first sword, the one he carries on his belt, gets stuck in a tree after he attacks an opponent. You think, "Dang, what now?" And then he pulls out a second sword that is strapped to his horse and continues the battle. The more vereses we have memorized the more swords we have available for the battle. Jesus had many swords at his disposal, not simply John 3.16 and Genesis 1.1, those wouldn't have done much in His wilderness battle. The more swords we have available, the better equipped we are for combat.

Secondly, we have to keep our swords ready for battle. They need to stay polished and sharp. A dull blade isn't much use in battle. We need to review the verses we have memorized. After a while you'll notice that you spend more time reviewing than memorizing new verses, this is a good thing. It means we've learned the Word of God, that it's "Hidden in our hearts" as the Psalmist says.

I'll admit, this is an area I'm working on, Scripture memorization is something I've slacked at recently. But the steps I've just shared with you are my plan to memorize verses. We cannot march into battle with no sword, God has given us the most powerful weapon ever, lets train with it, learn how to use it, and then take the fight to the enemy.

We are protected by Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, and Salvation. Let's take up our swords, and take the battle to the enemy. Suit up, prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Piece 5: Helmet

2011-11-03T09:16:00.003-04:00

Ephesians 6.17a, "And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION,"

It says "take" that word can also mean "accept". A soldier would accept his helmet from the officer in charge of distributing the armor. We accept salvation from God. It is nothing we do to earn it, but God freely gives it to us. He hands us salvation as we prepare to march into battle.

Salvation is being freed from sin. It is protection from the past, and it is assurance to march forward into the future. The helmet offers protection to the head during combat. Salvation is to guard our minds.

When Christ forgives us, when He sets us free, we receive salvation. John 8.36 says, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." When Christ sets us free, we are free. We can be assured of our salvation, and our minds are to be guarded by that assurance. The assurance gives us protection so we don't give up the fight. We march forward confident of the salvation we have received from God, knowing that nothing can take it away from us. John 10.28, "and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."

Salvation is ours in Christ. It gives us strength to overcome the temptations and sin we face in the future. The assurance of salvation gives us the confidence to fight, knowing that we are in the hands of Christ, and nothing can take us from Him. Salvation is our helmet.

Salvation is forgiveness and freedom, it is assurance that comes from faith in Christ and what He has done for us. Faith is strengthened through the peace God gives us through the message of His Gospel. We receive the peace of God when we have enter into a relationship with Him, and we do that by coming to Him through truth. Put on the armor; receive your helmet, and prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Piece 4: Shield

2011-11-02T12:56:00.004-04:00

Ephesians 6.16, "in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Paul is writing about a Roman solider dressed for battle. In this case the shield he has in mind is a four foot by two and a half foot rectangular shield. I used to watch Deadliest Warrior, and the Roman Centurion representative said that this shield was the greatest shield ever made. I must disagree, when it comes to shields, I'm a Spartans fan all the way. Though it's not accurate to what Paul has in front of him, it's the one I have in my mind when I envision armor and battle.

The purpose of a shield is to defend from attacks. The text says to take it up so we can extinguish the flaming arrows that Satan hurls at us. Satan will through lies, temptations, and discouragements at us in order to get us to stumble. The shield is crucial because it provides another layer of protection. Arrows could pierce the breastplate of the soldier. An ax or sword could cut off an arm or leg; a mace could crush the skull even with a helmet on it. The shield absorbs these blows, it protects the body, and it's crucial for battle.

Our shield is faith. When Satan throws a fiery dart of a lie at us, our faith in who Jesus is and what He taught protects us. When Satan throws another dart of discouragement our faith in Jesus' view of us and His plan for our life covers us from it. When Satan throws the dart of temptation at us, our faith in Jesus keeps us focused on Him and guards our lives from sinning. Faith is crucial, faith protects us.

When people think of a shield they think defense, and in the case of the Roman shield that's what you get. It's big, it's heavy, and it protects the soldiers. But as I said before, I'm a Spartan at heart. The reason is that the Spartan Shield is much more versatile. It's a big shield, a circle that is three feet across. It covers the Spartan from the knee, where his greaves end, to his neck, until his helmet begins. It covers the carrier and the Spartan next to him when standing, and if need be he can crouch behind it and be fully covered from any attack.

But unlike the Roman shield, the Spartan shield is a great weapon as well. It is versatile and can be used to protect and attack an enemy. On Deadliest Warrior they tested the impact of being hit with this shield and it was at the same level as some car accidents, that's power. Faith is not simply a defensive protection; it allows us to go on the offensive. Our faith can be used as a weapon against Satan. We share our faith in Christ, we live out our faith, and lives can be transformed by it.

The shield is crucial. Faith is crucial. Our faith is strengthened through the peace God gives us through the message of His Gospel. We can receive the peace of God once we have entered into a relationship with Him, and we do that by coming to the truth. Put on the armor, take up your shield, and prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Piece 3: Sandals

2011-11-01T09:29:00.002-04:00

Ephesians 6.15, "and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;" This is another piece that was misrepresented in my plastic Armor of God play set. The picture I had in my mind was a pair of greaves, or metal shin guards, which would protect the legs of the soldier that weren't covered by the shield. But that isn't what Paul is talking about.

Roman soldiers wore sandals that were thickly studded with nails. They functioned like cleats do today, providing grip and traction, allowing the solider to cover distances at greater speed. The nails in the sandals also gave the soldier sure footing during combat.

We are told that the sandals we are to put on come from the preparation of the Gospel of peace. There is peace of mind in knowing that you won't slip during battle; that you won't fall during a march. Sure footing gives a soldier piece of mind, and our sure footing comes from the Gospel.

Time spent in the Bible gives us sure footing. We are constantly reminded of God's promises and His provisions. Through time spent in the Word of God we are prepared for the difficulties of life. We can go over the mountains, through the valleys of life because of the peace given through the words of God.

The shoes also allowed for faster travel, and through the study of the Gospel, we are able to take it to those who haven't heard it. We prepare ourselves by studying the Gospel, by putting on the sandals, and then we go, and take the Gospel to others. Satan will try and keep us from this task. He'll try to discourage us, to make us stumble and fall, but the Gospel shoes are firmly fastened to our feet.

The truth of God leads us to a relationship with Him. That righteousness protects us in battle. Our relationship is deepened through study of the Gospel, and the peace of the Gospel fills our lives and gives us sure footing in combat and speed as we move towards the fight. Strap on the Sandals, and prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Piece 2: Breastplate

2011-10-31T09:09:00.007-04:00

Ephesians 6.14b "and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," Righteousness is a right standing relationship with God. It is an essential characteristic of a Christ follower because it is the evidence that we are living for God. Righteousness means that there is nothing separating us from God, nothing is keeping us from going to Him, and nothing is keeping us from hearing Him. Righteousness is essential.

The breastplate is a crucial piece of equipment for a solider. It was made of metal and covered a solider front and back, from neck to thigh. This piece offers protection of most of the vital organs in the body. It allows the solider to attack without fear of injury.

Righteousness gives us protection for battle. A life that is righteous can stand up against any accusation and prove it false. A life lived in a right relationship with God has nothing to hide, and can proudly display all of it's deeds before anyone without fear of something being seen. Satan cannot accuse a solider of God, because that solider is covered in His righteousness.

Even though the breastplate covers the whole torso of the solider, it's main function is to protect the heart. The heart is essential to life, without it blood cannot flow through the body. The heart is also the organ we associate with love and relationships. The breastplate, righteousness, is there to guard our source of life, and to protect our ability to build relationships.

The righteousness of God covers us and clothes us for battle. We come to the righteousness of God through the truth of God. Fasten the belt around your waist, then cover yourself with the breastplate. The truth will not be believed unless it is shared from a righteous life. Righteousness is an essential part of the armor, it allows us to march boldly into battle, unafraid of any attack the enemy may hit us with. Strap on the breastplate and prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Piece 1: Belt

2011-10-29T14:05:00.002-04:00

Warriors don't go into battle unprotected, they wear armor. We are engaged in a war against an evil force, and our armor must be spiritual if we are going to withstand his attacks. God has provided us with armor that that we can stand firm against the devil. Each piece is significant.

The first piece of the armor of God is the Belt of Truth. Ephesians 6.14a "Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,". When we hear the word belt today you probably think of a strait piece of leather that wraps around your waist to hold up your pants. I used to have a plastic play set of the Armor of God when I was little. In it, the belt was a simple thing, very similar to a belt today. But the belt was very inaccurate to what Paul is talking about.

A Roman solider would have a belt, but it wasn't a belt like we think of today. Back then it was heavy leather, and it looked like a skirt. If you've seen the opening seen of the movie Gladiator you've seen this item. The belt was an important piece of the armor. It would wrap around the soldier's tunic and hold it in place giving him freedom to move. Likewise it also would be the place that his sword was hung from. The belt is crucial.

But the belt did more than just free up movement and hold the sword. The belt offered protection. The belt was designed to protect a soldier's reproductive organs. The belt is important.

Our belt is Truth. Truth frees us, and it allows us to move because we are no longer held in the bondage of the lies of sin. Truth is found in the Word of God. John 8.31-32, "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"

Truth sets us free, but more importantly, truth is how we spiritually reproduce. We can only make new believers by passing on the truth of God, found in the Bible, to them. We must guard the truth, we must stand upon it and live by it.

Satan is the father of lies, John 8.43-44, "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." The only way we can hear from Jesus, the only way we can know what He is saying to us, is to be surrounded by truth. We must wrap the truth around us.

Truth is where preparing for battle against Satan starts. We must know the truth before we can stand against falsehood. Pour yourself into the truth which is found in the Word of God, devote yourself to it, and prepare for battle.

Peace be with you

Warrior's Armor

2011-10-27T09:38:00.003-04:00

The Bible is full of war stories and images of soldiers, weapons, and battles. There is a reason for this, we are engaged in a war that has been going on since the beginning. Satan, in his attempt to over throw God, began a war that is still going on. The Earth is the battle field, and there are no civilians. All of us are on a side whether we know it or not.

It's a war where the winner and loser has already been determined, but that isn't over yet. The tide of the war turned and victory was assured by an old rugged cross and an empty tomb cut out of a rock; the D-Day event of history. The death and resurrection of Jesus sealed the victory of good, but the war is still not over.

Those who have joined the side of Jesus have done so willingly and deliberately, no one can do it by accident. But those who have enlisted in the army of God don't go into battle unprotected. No warrior marches onto the battle field unequipped. Some are better equipped than others based on years of service, commitment to the cause, and resources available, but all are equipped.

With God as our general the same equipment is available to all of His soldiers, but it's usage depends on each troop's commitment and discipline to training.

Ephesians 6.10-13, "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."

God has given us armor. And it isn't like the armor Saul gives David in 1 Samuel 17, which doesn't fit and is untested. It's armor that is custom made for each of us. Armor that we are given to train with, to learn how it functions, to learn how to use it in combat. It's armor that will protect us and enable us to be victorious.

God has given us armor, let's put it on, let's train with it and keep it ready for combat.

Peace be with you

Servant Warriors

2011-10-24T11:41:00.012-04:00

Very often I think about weapons and warriors, I'm a guy. If I wasn't a pastor my dream job would be US Navy SEAL, the most elite commandos in the world. That wasn't God's calling on my life, at times I'm grateful, but there are still times my heart longs for the adventure and the battle. I really wish I had served my country after high school, but again that wasn't what God had in mind. My wife constantly reminds me that if I had enlisted I never would have met her, and for that fact alone, I'm glad I didn't.

The Navy SEALs fascinate me, but there are ancient warriors that I love as well, my favorite are the SEALs of the ancient world, the Spartans. These men were some of the toughest human beings ever to walk the planet. They lived and breathed battle. I wasn't able to get to Sparta when I was in Greece (sadly), but talking with a friend I learned that there really is nothing there. There's a statue of Leonidas, the King at the time of the Battle at Thermopylae (a location I did get to go to), but that's really all that is in Sparta as I've been told. There is no art, no architecture; they didn't have time for it because it didn't relate to combat and training for battle.

There are a few material things in life that I really want. One of them is a Spartan shield. I've been looking for over a year now, and I found one on the internet a few weeks ago that is full size and looks authentic. I showed my wife and told her, someday I'd love one. The reason is threefold. One is that it's awesome, I'll be honest there. Second, we're in a war against evil, and all warriors need a shield, so why not have the greatest shield ever made. Third, is the reminder of how no Christ follower is to go it alone.

The strength of the Spartan army was in the phalanx. In this formation the warriors stand side by side, and their massive three foot shields not only protect them, but their brother next to them. One of the greatest shames for a Spartan was to lose his shield because without it there could be no phalanx, one weak spot and the whole thing falls apart. The church is similar.

I'm taking a two week break from John to look at the idea of joining the work in the second half of the story of the woman at the well. God has a work that He has invited us to share in. He's enlisted us as soldiers in the war Satan has waged against Him (2 Timothy 2). He's not only asked us to join Him, but He's also equipped us for battle. He's given us the Bible to prepare us (2 Timothy 3) as well as armor to protect us (Ephesians 6). But He's also given us gifts to serve.

1 Corinthians 12 tells us that there are many different gifts that all come from God. There is one body of Christ that has many different members, each with a unique function. When each part functions properly, the body is strong and healthy, the body is able to grow. But when part of the body doesn't function as it was made to, there is sickness and growth is hindered.

In a church there are many ministries, and there are many people with a passion of different ministries. The pastor isn't passionate about everything that goes on, and the pastor isn't able to do every job that needs to be done, though some try. We need the other people of the church, the other parts of the body, to fulfill their functions and serve others. We need the other warriors for Christ to pick up their shields and stand beside us to fight the battle with us.

Our focus must be on building the Kingdom. If something we do doesn't help it to grow we need to set it aside. The Spartan's focused on war, and they were the best, the SEALs are the same way. The church must focus on building the Kingdom because nothing else matters.

I'm not saying we have to spend all our free time in Church, not by any means. Take vacations with your family, go out with friends, build those relationships, and in them set an example of what a Christ follower is. That is helping to build the Kingdom. In our relationships show love for others, Jesus said that's how people would know we are His (John 13). Let all that you do be for the Glory of God and for the expansion of His Kingdom.

God has given each person at least one Spiritual gift. No one has all of them, and that's why we need each other. But since we have a gift, we must use it.

Romans 12.6-8, "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."

We are servant warriors. Let us use our gifts to serve so that we can build the Kingdom, and join in the victory over Satan.

Peace be with you

The Church is to Serve

2011-10-20T09:17:00.005-04:00

Last week my wife and I went door to door to promote a community outreach event the church is putting on next Friday. I was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a bunch of colorful fliers. People would answer the door, barley open it, or open it, step outside, then close it again. I’d tell them my name, introduce my wife, and then tell them I was a pastor. Their faces showed discomfort and honestly a little anger and skepticism.

I wasn’t there to evangelize by telling them that if they didn’t repent they’d burn in Hell, but I think that’s the idea people have when you tell them you’re from a church. I had one guy tell me he wasn’t interested as soon as I said the word "church", and closed the door before I could say “Have a nice day.” A lot of people probably had the same thought but were kind enough to listen.

People seemed very hesitant, and then we told them why we had come, to invite them to a free community event. Immediately their faces changed. There was relief. They were open and receptive to the invitation. People were excited that that was why we were there. We weren’t looking for anything from them, we didn’t have any words of anger or condemnation, we simply had an invitation to an event for the family.

People are open to that. My mentor has said more times than I can remember, “Separation of Church and State is never an issue when the church gets down on its knees with a basin and a towel and says, ‘How can we serve you?’” That statement is normally preceded with, “No one ever became a follower of Christ because they lost an argument; people become followers of Christ because they are loved. People are loved into the Kingdom.”

We have been blessed with an incredible message of hope and love. Why have we turned it into a message of fear and anger? We are to show love; Jesus said that is how people would know we were His followers (John 13.35). We are to serve; Jesus said that if He, our Lord and teacher, washed the feet of His disciples then we ought to wash the feet of others (John 13.14).

If Christians would live up to the name they carry then the church would be able to be the church it was called to be. If the church would be the body of Christ filled disciples who lived with love flowing out of them, the response from people when you told them you were with a church would be different. We’re here to love, we’re here to serve. Why have we missed that? Why are we refusing to do that?

One of the biggest failures in this area happened in the Late 1890's in South Africa. A young man from India had been studying the Bible and was very seriously considering becoming a follower of Christ. He found a church in the area and went on Sunday morning. When he arrived he was refused entrance because of his race, and was threatened that if he didn't leave he would be thrown down the steps. After this incident Gandhi never again considered becoming a Christian. What would have happened to India if that church had been the church it was called to be?

Who knows when someone who will have an impact like Gandhi will come into our path. Will they see Jesus in us, or will they respond as Gandhi did, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

Peace be with you

Removing the Footholds

2011-10-19T09:20:00.014-04:00

Over the last two months I've thought a lot about the different ways Satan gets a grip on our lives. And as I've looked at each one my thought has been turning it into a sermon at some point in the future. For that to happen you have to be able to tell people how to prevent Satan from getting these footholds.

It's not easy, it requires intentional effort, but honestly that shouldn't surprise us. This is a war we're involved in, with a real enemy who prowls like a roaring lion. My wife and I recently watched The Ghost and the Darkness. It's based on a true story about two lions in Tsavo that killed railroad works for the pleasure of killing. Satan is like that. He prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5.8) simply because he enjoys it. There is a line in the movie that says, "The devil has come to Tsavo."

In the movie they were intentional about guarding against the lions. They took every measure possible to keep the workers safe and kill the lions, and eventually they do kill them both, but along the way many are killed. Some ignore the instructions, and some just get caught in the path of a deadly enemy who attacks as they sleep. That's how Satan works, he attacks when our guard is dropped; he comes when we are asleep, that's why Peter says to be of sober spirit and on the alert.

As I've been working through these I've tried to see ways to overcome them. Many of them can be overcome by intentional actions. For greed, selfishness and pride, give things away, serve others. Ignorance and apathy can be over come by intentional study, by intentionally looking for opportunities to put your beliefs into action. Anger we can work on overcoming by simply forcing ourselves not to give a reply when our emotions are high, it's difficult but doable.

But then there are ones like fear, doubt, and anxiety which are more difficult to do something to overcome them. These ones I think lead to the rest of them, we use the other footholds as defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from these ones. We build on a bad foundation, and the whole thing comes crashing down on us. Some of these can't be fixed, and honestly none of them can be removed from our lives without the grace of God.

Over the summer I read a book that I've wanted to blog about. I started writing about it two or three times, but each time God wouldn't let me finish it, He wouldn't give me the words to write. But now He's giving me the green light. The book was Walking with God by John Eldredge. In it he talks about the journey he took with God throughout the different seasons of a year. His point in writing is that we can really hear from God, we can really talk with Him. And in it he talks about things that keep us from being as close to God as we could be.

At one point he talks about praying against specific things, and I think that's where removing the footholds of the devil begins. Pray against them. Pray specifically against Anger, Anxiety, Fear, Pride, Greed, Selfishness, Ignorance, Doubt, and Apathy. As you pray tell them that they have no place in your life, that they aren't welcome. And as you pray against them pray that God will fill the space. In place of Anger, pray for Love. In place of Anxiety pray for Peace. In place of Fear, pray for Boldness. In place of Pride, pray for Humility. In place of Greed, pray for Generosity. In place of Selfishness, pray for Selflessness. In place of Ignorance, pray for Wisdom. In place of Doubt, pray for Faith. In place of Apathy, pray for Passion.

The Bible says that if a space vacated by a demon isn't filled with God, it comes back with seven friends who are worse that it is (Luke 11.24-26). It isn't enough just to get rid of the foothold for Satan, we have to replace it with a platform for God. God isn't just going to put the platform in place for us, that would be too easy and it wouldn't last. Instead He gives us the building materials, and He works along side with us to build the platform. We'll have the opportunity and the choice of which characteristic we exhibit. And the more we exercise something, the more instinctual it becomes.

We have two choices in our lives, be ruled by Satan, or submitting to God. Satan will come in and take over, God will lovingly lead us. God will never force Himself on anyone, that isn't how He works. If you want Him, you must choose Him, He's already chosen you.

John 10.10a, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;" Don't let Satan have control of your life, he'll destroy it. He is the thief. If you let him get a foothold, then he will kill you. Instead, let Jesus fill you with life. John 10.10b, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Peace be with you.

Part 9: Apathy

2011-10-18T08:41:00.010-04:00

"So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3.16

The word apathy does not occur in the Bible. It didn't show up in the English language until the 1600's. But it is an attitude that is seen here in the New Testament with the Church of Laodicea, as well as with a well known prophet in the Old Testament.

The word for lukewarm is chliaros, and it is found only here in the Bible. It is used metaphorically for the church in Laodicea, which is located in present day Turkey. Six miles to the North of Laodicea are the ruins of the city of Hierapolis, a place still famous today for it's natural hot springs. The mineral water has medicinal use. The cliff faces, that are visible from Laodicea, are covered with white calcium deposits. I have a small bottle of water from hot springs that is now lukewarm as it would have been when it got to Laodicea.

Eleven miles to the south is the city of Colosse, a place with many springs that provided cold, refreshing, pure drinking water. But by the time it got to Laodicea and mixed with the calcium rich mineral water from Hierapolis, it too was lukewarm and useless. It was no longer refreshing and because of the calcium would make you want to vomit.

Lukewarm water is no good. The attitude of the Laodiceans toward the Gospel was lukewarm, it was indifferent. They had no interest in spreading the Gospel or living by it's standards. They were a wealthy city, famous for wool which made inexpensive textiles, and eye salve that was shipped around the world. But because of their indifference Jesus calls them poor, blind, and naked in Revelation 3.17. Indifference in a synonym for apathy.

In English apathy is defined, "absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement; lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting." It is indifference, neutrality, and it has no function in the use of Christ. People have taken the hot or cold from verse 16 to mean spiritually on fire or spiritually dead, but that isn't the case. Hot and cold water both have their functions and their uses. One is good for healing, the other for refreshing, both are good, but lukewarm water is useless. Jesus uses us in different ways based on our calling and giftedness.

Apathy hurts us, it causes God to find someone else to do the task we have been called for, but it also hurts others and puts them in danger.

This morning I was reading an article from Rabbi Melanie Aron on apathy in the Bible. She said that the best example of apathy in the Bible is Jonah as he boards the ship headed to Tarshish. As the ship leaves port and heads out to sea, Jonah goes below deck and falls asleep. As he sleeps God sends a storm. The sailors are terrified. They begin to pray to their gods and to throw the cargo overboard in an attempt to save themselves. The captain finds Jonah and wakes him up telling him to pray, Jonah knows that he is the cause of this, he knows he can stop this storm, but remains silent.

Jonah 1.7-10, "Each man said to his mate, 'Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.' So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, 'Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?' He said to them, 'I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.' Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, 'How could you do this?' For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them."

Jonah was a prophet, his job was to proclaim the word of God to the people. God told him to go to Nineveh, and Jonah refuses. He doesn't care about them being saved, he is indifferent about the mission God has given him to do, and his apathy not only gets him thrown into the sea and eaten by a giant fish, but it puts the lives of others in danger.

Apathy is a strong foothold of the devil. With apathy we have no desire to do anything, we approach situations with the attitude of someone else will do it. "I don't need to pray for them, someone else will." "I don't need to do that, someone else will take care of it." Apathy is a firm foothold for Satan because it pushes off responsibility, it takes no action, and leaves a task to someone else. Apathy has no place in the life of the Christ follower.

Jesus told us in Matthew 28.19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The command is to be active, to go, to make, to baptize, to teach. It is not to sit around waiting for heaven letting everyone else get their hands dirty for Jesus. We are all called to get off the bench and into the game, out of the barracks and into the war.

Refuse to useless to the Kingdom, take away the foothold of apathy, and join the battle.

Peace be with you

Part 8: Doubt

2011-10-17T09:21:00.007-04:00

"Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ' You of little faith, why did you doubt?'" Matthew 14.31

For the past week and a half I haven't been able to stop thinking about doubt, as much as I've tried. I'm ready to be done with the Footholds series, but I have to add this one.

Doubt in English is defined, "to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe." The Greek word used in Matthew 14.31 is edistasas which comes from distazo and means, "to doubt, waver, or hesitate" It is uncertainty as to which way to take. There are two options, but it can't decide which way to go. It is uncertain when the choice should be obvious.

In Matthew 21.21 we see doubt again, "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and cast into the sea," it will happen.'"

The word for doubt used here is diakrithete which is from the word diakrivo and in this context means "to hesitate, be in doubt, doubt." It refers to a lack of faith, not a weakness of it. It says faith, trust, belief, is absent and instead there is doubt. Nothing can be accomplished when there is no trust in the power you are calling out to.

Doubt is a foothold of Satan because it is the opposite of faith. It is hesitant instead of decisive. It wavers instead of being certain. It is blurred instead of focused. When doubt enters, faith is absent. When there is no trust in God, when there is no belief that God has the power to do all things, Satan has a firm grasp on us.

Satan wants us to be filled with doubt. Doubt in our selves, and doubt in God. That was the tactic he used in the beginning. In Genesis 3 he said, "has God said,..." trying to get Eve to question the word of God. He focused on the negative and the prohibition, not on God's generosity and love. When we start to question what God has said, we start to question God. When that happens doubt enters our mind, Satan gets a grip.

To combat doubt we must strengthen our faith and fill our minds with the truth of God. God has given us His word through the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived life as God would, setting a model for us to imitate. God has given us the incredible gift of the Bible, His written word. In it He shares His heart with us. We must fill our hearts, souls, and minds with the truth that fills the pages of Scripture.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 119.105-112, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances. I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your ordinances. My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, even to the end."

Joshua 1.7-9 says, "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

God has told us how to stand firm in faith and have no doubt, we are to meditate on His word, it is to be our guide. It will show us the right path to take. It will remind us constantly of God's love and power. Fill your mind with the truth of Scripture, and remove the foothold of doubt from Satan.

Peace be with you

Part 7: Ignorance

2011-10-11T15:42:00.009-04:00

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance," 1 Peter 1.14

The word for ignorance in Greek is agnoian. No matter how it's used it refers to a lack of knowledge, training, or information, but depending on the context it can be either willful or unavoidable.

Ignorant is defined, "lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned; lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact; uninformed,unaware; due to or showing lack of knowledge or training." Ignorance results from a Christless life.

The Gentile world was haunted by the unknowability of God. The people believed that there was a God, but that He was unknowable and had no interest in humans. Philosophers felt that He couldn't be found, and even if you did happen to discover Him, you wouldn't be able to explain Him. Without Christ there is no help or hope to know God.

But Christ has come. Paul talks about this in Acts 17.23 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." The days of feeling our way our of ignorance are over. We no longer have an excuse not to know God because Christ has come and has revealed God to the world.

Knowledge is available now. We live in day where we have a new website every few seconds, back then it took months to get a copy of something Paul would have written. But as soon as I finish this post, it will be available to people on the other side of the world. Never has the Gospel been more accessible than it is today. It has never been easier to share Jesus with people than it is today. And yet there are people who don't know about Jesus.

Many people feel that they don't know enough about the Bible to share. Something I have found is part of it is that Christians are some of the most ignorant people in the world. We always pull the faith card, thinking I don't have to have an answer because I just believe it. That isn't good enough, and it isn't an excuse.

2 Timothy 3.16-4.2, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."

1 Peter 3.15 says, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"

Faith isn't an excuse to be ignorant. We have been given the Word of God, more today than at any other time in history. We have the opportunity to read the most brilliant minds that have ever tried to interpret the Bible and understand God, and yet so many of us remain ignorant to the knowledge we have at our finger tips. There are atheists who study constantly for something that is a lie. They have no respect for the answer, "I just have faith." We as Christ followers must refuse to be ignorant. We have Christ, and therefore have no excuse for ignorance.

(This has gotten so far off of where I originally intended it to go)

Satan uses ignorance for his purpose. If the people of God are ignorant then our message isn't respected because we don't know why we believe, we just do. We can't be ignorant because there is no excuse for it. Knowledge is ours for the taking. Anything we want to know we can find in five seconds. Ignorance is a foothold of Satan because it is a refusal to learn, it is a refusal to be informed, and I think it's far more common than we realize.

Don't let Satan have this foothold in your life. Refuse to be ignorant. Jesus came to show us what God is like. He came to end the mystery of the character and nature of God. He came to show us how God would live life and how God intends for us to live. Jesus wasn't ignorant, and if we claim His name, then we have no excuse to be either.

Peace be with you

Part 6: Selfishness

2011-10-06T17:40:00.012-04:00

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing." James 3.16

I have to add this one in to the list. As I was studying 2 Timothy this word kept jumping out at me. It's closely related to greed, and therefore a perfect foothold for Satan. Selfishness is similar to greed, but where greed is the unquenchable thirst for wealth and possessions, selfishness seeks personal prestige, admiration and respect. And in many cases, selfishness is a greater temptation than greed.

Selfish in English is, "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others: characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself"

The Greek word is eritheia and is translated at rivalry. It carries the idea of gathering a following to promote and support your views and ambitions. I think many times we use the word selfish incorrectly in place of greed today.

Where greed is focused on financial gain, selfishness is focused on popularity and self-advancement. It's the desire for influence and recognition. Selfishness does whatever it has to do in order to take care of itself. It spares no relationship, no dignity, it drives people apart, and Satan thrives in it, because Satan is selfish.

Philippians 2.3-4 says, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." We are to do nothing selfishly, we are not to look out simply for ourselves, but for others. James told us that were selfish ambition is there is no unity and evil. Those are the things Satan strives for. Jesus said a kingdom divided cannot stand (Matthew 12.25), Satan is trying to divide the Kingdom of God by dividing His people. Satan tries to get us to look out for ourselves so that we're too busy to unite and advance God's Kingdom. But God's Kingdom cannot fall, and He wants His children to advance it, so He told us how to be unselfish.

Philippians 2.5-8, "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."

Jesus came to earth to show us how God would live life as a human. He came to set an example for us to follow, to imitate. Jesus is the model of unselfishness. He gave up Heaven, and came to live on earth so that He could die a horrible death in our place. God, perfection, became sin and a curse for us to be free. Our response should be humility and gratitude, advancing the Kingdom out of love and thankfulness.

Satan wants us to be selfish, because in selfishness we isolate ourselves and advance ourselves over God. Selfishness is a foothold that Satan was the first one to take a hold of. He is the first selfish being that existed. Do we want to follow his example or the example of Christ?

Peace be with you

Part 5: Greed

2011-10-03T11:42:00.010-04:00

"Then He said to them, 'Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed;'..." Luke 12.15a.

Greed, "excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions." It's a desire that is never satisfied and always needs more. It never gives but hoards everything. It is the exact opposite of the Christian life style.

The word used in Luke 12 is pleonexias and it's translated as covetousness. This word means, "inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy." It's a desire for more, and it has no place in the life of a Christ follower.

In Luke 12 Jesus warns us to be on our guard against every from of greed, and then tells the parable of the rich fool. Ephesians 5.3 says, "But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;" We're told in the first two verses of the chapter to imitate God, and to walk in love as Christ did. Greed is in no way to be associated with us because it cannot be associated with God.

Greed has no place in our lives because it causes us to focus on wealth and possessions rather than on God. It ruins our lives. I think of Gehazi in 2 Kings 5. He's the servant of Elisha, probably in a role similar to what Elisha had with Elijah. In 2 Kings 5 Naaman comes to Elisha with leprosy, and Elisha tells him how to be healed. After the healing takes place Naaman returns and offers Elisha a reward, but he refuses to take it. Gehazi goes after Naaman and lies to receive part of the reward. He had a bright future, possibly as Elisha's successor, but greed cost him not only that, but also his health and the health of all of his descendants. 2 Kings 5.27, "'Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.' So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow."

Greed has no place in the life of those who seek to serve God. 1 Timothy 6.10 says, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Earlier in 1 Timothy 3 Paul gives a list of the characteristics of Church leaders. In this list it says, "free from the love of money." Hebrews 13.5 says, "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “ I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

Colossians 3:5 states, "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry." Greed amounts to idolatry. Jesus said in Matthew 6.24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." If we aren't serving God we're serving an idol.

There is nothing wrong with wealth or having nice things. I think Christians miss this point. Wealth is not evil, money is not evil. The love of money is evil, devotion to wealth is evil. The issue is not having wealth and possessions, but when that wealth and those possessions take the place of God and our desires are not for God but instead for more wealth. If our thirst is for God then it will be satisfied, Jesus talks about this in John 4. But if our thirst is for wealth it's like drinking salt water, the more you drink the thirstier you get. Wealth is never satisfied, greed is never satisfied. It's the perfect foothold of the devil because it keeps demanding more.

We cannot serve God and money, we cannot love both of them, Jesus said so. So which is it God or money? Generosity or greed? It's ok to have wealth, just use it humbly for the glory of God and for building His Kingdom.

If greed is a foothold that Satan has in your life, then I want to turn to the solution Jesus gives to a rich young man seeking eternal life. He's seeking God's quality of life, a life that is lived for the glory of God. Jesus says to Him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." In the parable of Luke 12, we are told to be rich towards God, and that we don't have to worry because God will take care of us.

I close with Psalm 37.25, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."

Be generous, refuse to love and serve wealth and give the devil the foothold of greed in your life.

Peace be with you

Part 4: Pride

2011-09-27T09:12:00.008-04:00

1 John 2.16, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world."

Pride is the first and oldest sin. We read in Isaiah 14.12-14, "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’"

Satan, or Lucifer as he was called before his fall, wanted to be God. He was not humble enough to take his place as an angel and joyfully serve God. Instead he tried to take the place of God. His pride caused him to lose his place in heaven, and his opportunity to serve and worship God.

Pride caused the fall of man. Genesis 3.4-6, "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate."

Adam and Eve, saw the opportunity to become more than what God had designed them for. They were deceived and lead into the same sin that Satan fell with, pride, and the desire of wanting to be like God. Wanting to advance themselves over God.

Pride in English is defined as, "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." The Greek word is alazonia and directly translated it means "vainglory". This is excessive elation or pride over one's own achievements, abilities, etc;"

It is pride, boastfulness, arrogance. It is seeing yourself as worth more or deserving more and better than everyone else. You see yourself above everyone else. You look down on others. I don't remember where I read this, "when you're looking down on everyone else, it's impossible to look up at God." Pride is taking the place of God.

We see this word several times in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is ga'on and it's used as an antonym for humility. We see it several times in Proverbs.

Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate."

Proverbs 11:2, "When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom."

Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling."

Proverbs 29:23, "A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor."

Each time it talks about how God hates pride, how pride leads to dishonor, destruction, and humbling.

Pride opens the door for Satan because it removes the need for God. Anything that removes the need for God is going to give Satan a foothold. We only have two options, serve and exalt God, or don't. If we choose not to, we, by default, choose to serve Satan. Anything that is not of God is Satan's.

In pride we take God's place from Him in our lives. We see no need for Him, because we can't see Him as we look down on everything else. Instead our intelligence, our abilities, our past achievements take His place. Our lives are not lived to the glory of God, but to the glory of self. We just live, we don't live fully alive. I've quoted this many times, "The glory of God is man fully alive." If we aren't living for the glory of God, then we live for the glory of Satan.

Pride leads to destruction as we read about in Proverbs. God hates pride because it takes the place that only He can occupy. As I've been writing this I've been thinking about Psalm 46.8-10, "Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'"

I think of Job 38.3-5, "Now gird up your loins like a man,and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?"

God calls for humility, Jeremiah 9.23-24, "Thus says the LORD, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD."

Humility is how we serve God and others, Philippians 2.3-8, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 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."

We are to be humble, not proud in ourselves. We are to look at ourselves modestly and not arrogantly. We are to be proud of God, to boast about the greatness of God. Pride in God will keep us from pride in ourselves. Jesus set this example. Satan tried to get the foothold of pride in the life of Jesus, look at the temptation in the wilderness. But Jesus refused to allow Satan to have any access into His life. Jesus removed the foothold of pride, and so must we.

Jesus set the example, let's imitate Him.

Peace be with you

Part 3: Fear

2011-09-20T11:01:00.013-04:00

"I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid" Luke 12.4a.

I'm sure many of us have heard that the Bible says 365 times don't be afraid, one for each day of the year. I was curious so I did several searches, and I can say with some confidence, that that is a made up statistic. After playing around with different wordings I have only been able to find 118 places in the Bible telling us not to fear. Regardless, it's a lot. God tells us over and over again not to fear, not to be afraid, not to tremble, not to let our hearts be troubled, not to be dismayed or fainthearted. I think He tells us over and over because this is the foot hold that most controls us. I think this is the foothold that leads to all the other footholds. I think fear is at the root of everything bad.

In English, fear is defined "a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid." Fear controls us. Fear leads to worry and anxiety. Fear can lead to anger. Fear can cause ignorance and apathy. Fear could lead to pride as a defense mechanism, and fear could lead to greed. Fear is at the heart of so much, I would say that it's the strongest and largest foot hold that Satan can have. And I believe that is why God tells us so many times not to fear.

The word for fear is Greek is phobos, it means fear, terror, trembling or concern. It is fear caused by intimidation of an adversary. It's a negative emotion that controls our lives. Fear keeps people from so many things. How many things have you not done because of a fear? Fear keeps us from living our lives to the fullest, St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." God created us not to be in fear, but to live lives of adventure to His glory. We were created for life not fear.

When we talk about fear however, you can't simply address the negative side. As many times as we are told not to fear, we are given instructions about fear we need to have.

Luke 12.4-7, “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

God is able to destroy our souls. If our physical lives are ended that is the worst that any physical force can do to us. We have no need to fear men, animals, or natural disasters, because the only thing we can lose is physical life. And according to Paul in Philippians 1.21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Instead, we are told to fear God, because after this life is over, God has the authority to cast our souls into Hell.

This aspect of fear is different though. This is not fear out of terror, but fear out of reverence. It is respect not simply of God's power, but for His holiness. God has the authority to cast us into Hell not simply because He has the power to do so, but because He is so Holy. He is the Judge who has committed no crime, the only one worthy to judge. He is perfect, and no imperfection can stand before Him. That is what we fear in God. And again, it is not out of terror. God is not waiting for us to mess up so that He can punish us. God does not desire for any to perish, 2 Peter 3.9. God cares for us.

Luke tells us that five sparrows are sold for two pennies. Matthew said that two sparrows are sold for one penny. If you spent an extra cent you got not only the four you had paid for, but an extra one thrown in that wasn't given any value. This fifth sparrow wasn't forgotten by God, and we are worth more than many sparrows. God has numbered the hairs on your head. God knows you, you're never just a face lost in a crowd to God. He knows your name and everything about you, and He cares for you.

Joshua 1.9, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 46.10-11, "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold."

Psalm 56.3-4, "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?"

God cares for me, so what can man do to me? God cares for you, what can man do to you? What do we have to fear? Satan will use fear to control us. I believe that this is his firmest foothold because it is so deeply rooted.

Wesley said, "Give me 300 people who fear nothing but God and hate nothing but sin and I will set this world on fire." Fear nothing but God, He is Holy so we fear Him out of respect for His holiness and power. He is the only one we need to fear. Respect God, trust Him, and fear nothing but Him, and pull Satan's firmest foothold our from underneath him.

Peace be with you

Part 2: Anxiety

2011-09-13T11:33:00.007-04:00

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4.6, the second foothold of the devil is anxiety.

The word used here is merimnate and it means to be anxious or solicitous. Anxious in English is, "full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear, danger, or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous." Solicitous is a word I had never heard before. it means anxious or concerned.

As I looked at both of these words in the Greek we see that the word functions both as a noun and a verb. As a noun it means "to draw in different directions; distract." As a verb it means, "to be anxious about, to have a distracting care." In this we can begin to see how this is a foothold of the devil.

Anxiety, or worry, leads to distractions. We aren't fully focused when there is something distracting us. When we're worried, or anxious, our attention isn't fully present on what we are doing. English says that this is mental distress because of fear, danger, or misfortune. It is being greatly worried. All of these things are negative, showing that I'm not fully focused on God, that I'm not trusting God.

God says in Philippians 4, "Be anxious for nothing" He says don't worry, don't be anxious, don't be distracted, don't fear anything. Instead of those things focus on Me. Praise me with thanksgiving. Pray to Me, talk with Me. And He gives us a promise when we do those things. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4.7-9.

God says that when we aren't distracted and are focused fully on Him, His peace will guard our hearts and minds. Verse 8 is a list of characteristics that are true of God and only God, our focus is to be on those things, and when we dwell on them, and live them out, the God of peace is with us. When the God of peace is with us, the Peace of God is with us.

This isn't just any peace, it's God's peace. It's peace that passes all comprehension. Comprehension is the capacity of the mind to perceive and understand. It's the power to grasp ideas, the ability to know. God says that His peace is beyond comprehension. It's beyond the power of the human mind to grasp and also to produce. It is peace that is only possible from focusing on God. His peace is so great, so incredible, and so overwhelming, that the only way to receive it is to focus fully on Him. It is peace that doesn't make sense because it comes at times in our lives when there shouldn't be peace. It is the peace that God gives us when we hear the word cancer. It is the peace that God gives us when September 11th happens. It is peace that is unexplainable apart from God.

God says don't focus on anything but Me, because that takes your focus off of Me. If your focus isn't on Me Satan can get into your life. Don't take your focus off of God, because when we do that, even for a second, we drop our guard. 1 Peter 5.8-9, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world." My mind goes back to the Spartan phalanx, one weak spot in the wall of shields, and the entire thing falls apart. We have a real enemy, the devil, and he is searching for someone to devour, we can not afford a single distraction because he is a hungry lion looking for a straggler to pick off, looking for a weak spot in the phalanx.

God warns us and says "Be anxious for nothing" instead pray. When we pray we are in a conversation with God. If you are actively engages in a conversation with someone you have to be focused on them. In prayer we are to be engaged in a conversation with God, sharing our requests, praising Him and thanking Him, and letting Him talk, letting Him speak to us. When we are focused on God we aren't distracted by anything because we know that God is with us and that He can and will handle any situation that comes. I don't have to worry because I know that as the poem Footprints in the Sand says, "My precious, precious child, I Love you and I would never leave you! During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

When we are focused on God, trusting God, our anxiety is gone. When I am fully focused on God and I am surrounded by His peace, through the blood of Jesus Christ, guarding my heart and mind, my emotions and my thoughts, I have no distractions, no worry, and Satan has lost this foothold.

Peace be with you

Part 1: Anger

2011-09-06T10:28:00.012-04:00

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." Ephesians 4.26-27 (NASB).

I want to begin this study of the footholds of the devil with the verse people immediately think about when they hear that phrase. The first foothold I want to look at is anger.

We have this verse in Ephesians 4. It tells us first to be angry, but in our anger not to sin. It then says that our anger needs to be dealt with, and that we must deal with it before the sun sets. Be angry, but don't sin, and don't be angry for long, deal with it.

In this verse the word anger appears twice. In English it's the same word, anger, meaning "strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong." But the New Testament wasn't written in English. In Greek there are two different words used here. The first word is orgizesthe. This word is any natural impulse, desire or disposition. It was originally the strongest passion or emotion that people had. It later came to signify anger specifically.

Anger is a strong emotion, it can do both good or harm depending on it's source and guidance.

In this case we are told to be angry. We are told to feel this strong emotion. Jesus did in John 2.13-22 when the Temple had been turned into a marketplace. He makes a whip out of cords and drives out the sellers and over turns the money changers tables. This is righteous anger, anger that is good, anger that is angry about the right things. Jesus is not taking revenge for some wrong that has been done against Him, He never does, not even for the cross. Anger is good when it is motivated by righteousness, when it is used to protect the things of God. We have to be careful with taking this too far though, or we could end up with something like the Crusades, and the killing of people in the name of God.

Orgizesthe an active emotion, and it can easily lead to revenge. But in revenge we sin. God says "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." (Romans 12.19b). Revenge is never good when it is taken by humans. Revenge is never justified for humans. I know this is hard to accept, there are people that I would love to hand out vengeance to for things they have done. I am allowed to be angry about the things that they have done, but it is not my place to take vengeance, that belongs to God. It is my role to hand them over to God, and to trust that He will deal with it in a way that glorifies Him. I must not desire for them to suffer, but for the will of God to be done in their lives. This is difficult at times.

God doesn't say don't be angry, He created us with a wide range of emotions, anger being one of them, but anger for the right reasons, angry at the right things. And in my anger I am not to sin. I am not give in to the desire for vengeance, because it is not mine to take. That belongs to God. Anger that leads to vengeance destroys relationships. It destroys our relationship with God. When I am focused on taking revenge, on getting even, my focus isn't on God. When my anger is focused on righting a wrong through building the Kingdom, for example, being angry about millions of children dieing each year from hunger and preventable diseases, and therefore I sponsor a child to help end the problem, then my anger is righteous. When my anger causes me to stand up for the Kingdom in a way that is Bionically grounded and leads to the Glory of God, like Jesus in the Temple, then my emotion is righteous.

"Be angry, and yet do not sin;" there's the first part. Secondly, "do not let the sun go down on your anger," here we have another word, parorgismoi (long o at the end). In the King James version this word is translated as wrath, which in English is "violent anger; strong, stern or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation." The Greek word is a stronger form of our first word, it is anger that is provoked to wrath. It is provoked to violence, to vengeance, if it isn't dealt with.

The Bible say, don't let the sun set on anger that is being provoked into something bigger. If it isn't dealt with right way it becomes out of control. The longer we wait to deal with it, the harder it becomes to deal with. If we allow it to take root and grow it begins to rule our lives. It guides the things we say, the way we act, the way we think. It destroys relationships because walls begin to be built and bullets begin to be fired.

Both of these words for anger are emotions that we must be in control of. We must never take revenge for a wrong, we must not allow our anger to be able to take root and fester. Either of these situations gives the devil his foothold. Taking revenge takes my focus off of God, it allows Satan to have an opportunity to damage a relationship, or several relationships for a long time, if not forever. If anger is allowed to stew unchecked, he can move in and begin to build walls. Relationships are destroyed because a situation is not dealt with.

Anger that is not controlled is never good, so how do we control it? Romans 12.9-21,

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We control our anger by building relationships. If our relationship with God is strong and healthy, He will be our focus. Our desires will be for Him and His Kingdom. My anger will not be over trivial things that do not matter but over things that have eternal significance. When I am wronged, as difficult as it may be, I will be able to hand the situation over to Him. I will be able to receive healing and to offer forgiveness, desiring that the will of God will be done.

I build and strengthen my relationships with others, I love people. I let my love be genuine, I bless those who persecute me, I wish them well, not harm, and this can be difficult, but we are told to live at peace with all men as much as it depends on us. I don't take revenge, I don't focus on evil, but on good. I serve my enemy and take care of him if he has a need. I overcome evil with good. I show love, I live for the glory of God.

We overcome anger through relationships. Satan wants us to be alone, alone we are weak, alone we are defeateable. But together we can not be overcome. Together we form an impenetrable wall, my mind thinks of a Spartan phalanx, all the warriors stand side by side with their shields overlapping, protecting everyone. Relationships protect they don't destroy. Relationships are crucial, and anger destroys them.

Don't allow the devil to destroy your relationship with God or with those closest to you by giving him the foothold of anger.

Peace be with you.

Footholds of the Devil

2011-08-31T09:59:00.008-04:00

"and do not give the devil an opportunity." Ephesians 4.27 in the New American Standard Bible. The New International Version says, "and do not give the devil a foothold." While the King James Version says, "Neither give place to the devil." To really get at the meaning of this word, to get the correct translation, we have to go back to the original text.

The word in Greek is topon which is a form of the word topos meaning, "place, opportunity, position, room, space, dwelling, or seat." Every translation of the Bible has this word correctly translated, we are told not to allow Satan into our lives. We can't give him an opportunity to enter our lives, we can't give him a chance to get a grip.

As I look at the different translations of this word I think about what they mean. Place, room, space, and dwelling are very similar. At my parent's house I had a room. It was my space to unpack, to live. At college I had a dorm room, a dwelling place where I could set up and work on projects. We aren't supposed to let Satan have this space in our lives. When we let the devil have a place in our hearts he is able to unpack his equipment, he can work on projects and begin his work at destroying our relationships.

When I think of the word position, my mind immediately goes to a battle, and a place of strategic advantage, like a hill top, or a cliff face looking over a beach as enemy troops attack. Position is a strong hold that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. When we let the devil in, he immediately goes to the hill top and sets up his base. Once he's there it is difficult to get him out because he has a well defended position. From there he can pick his targets and take them out at will.

Seat is a word that is close to my heart. A seat is at a table, you occupy one as you have a meal. The best times to build relationships are at meals, because everyone has to eat. Everyone will come into the kitchen, not everyone will get to your living room. A seat requires an invitation, you invite someone to join you at the table for a meal. At the table you sit and talk as you enjoy a meal. You share stories and deepen relationships. If we allow Satan into our lives we've invited him to the table. He's a dinner guest who monopolizes the conversation and ruins the evening.

Don't allow Satan to have an opportunity to unpack in a room. Don't allow him to have the opportunity to climb the hill and set up his base. Don't allow him to have the opportunity to ruin relationships by taking over a meal. When we allow him into our lives we've given him all of these opportunities, and once he's there he begins his work of destroying our relationships.

As I look at this I think about the different ways we give Satan a foothold. In Ephesians it says that Anger can become a foothold. It's the only place the word is used, but it's not the only foothold. Philippians tells us not to be anxious, Anxiety or worry, is another foothold. There is Fear, the Bible tells us to "Fear not" dozens of times, because fear is a foothold of the devil. Pride is another one, along with Greed. In talking to my wife she mentioned Ignorance, and I thought of Apathy. All of these give Satan on invitation to the table, and all of them lead to broken relationships with others and with God.

Over the next few weeks I want to look at each one, and the scriptures that talk about how they destroy our relationships and therefore our lives. As we look at these, it is my hope that we can remove them form our lives. Some of them have positive qualities that we need, but Satan tries to corrupt them so that he can work. Others are fully negative and have no place in our lives and we need to do away with them.

God created us for relationships, and if we allow Satan to have a foothold he will begin to destroy them. So let's look at these so that we can remove the footholds, and keep Satan out.

Peace be with you

Theme of the Year

2011-08-30T18:29:00.007-04:00

Today I was sitting at the local coffee house going over some stuff for Sunday night. I'm doing a brief look at 1 Timothy before we start Mere Christianity. This week is chapter 5 and 6. As I began to look at the blog I wrote a few weeks ago a word hit me, relationships. As I thought about it, that word has been hitting me a lot recently. I wrote it at the top of the page next to 2011.

I began to think about last year, the word for 2010 was "Christlikeness". Everything I studied, preached, read, focused on that. This year I've realized that the word is "relationships". It's a fitting topic really seeing as how I just got married.

I'm seeing the importance of relationships more and more. I'm seeing how so much of the Bible's teachings are about relationships. I shared some of this in my 1 Timothy findings. Now as I begin my next study this word has come to the forefront again.

Right now I'm at the beginning of a study on the different "footholds" of the devil. If you've read Ephesians you're familiar with 4.26-27, "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." (NASB) The NIV has the word "foothold" in place of opportunity, but I'll get into that more in the near future. Anger that leads to sin or that is allowed to stew is not the only foothold of Satan, and again my current study is looking at several of them.

The thing that I've noticed this year is that relationships are what life is all about. God said in the beginning, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;" God exists in relationship, He always has. We are made in the image of a relational God. He created us to exist in relationship with Him, but also with each other. "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.'" Genesis 2.18.

Satan hates God and everything He has done. His sole purpose is to attack God in a vain attempt to defeat Him. If everything is based on relationships, then that is the thing sin attacks the most. The first result of sin is death. Death is separation from God, it is a broken relationship with God. Secondly we see that sin attacks the relationships of humans, predominately the marriage relationship.

The foundation of society is the family, and the foundation of the family is the marriage. If a foundation is weak, then the entire structure is unstable. If the relationship between God and man is broken, then every human relationship is unstable because there is no foundation. If a marriage is weak, then the family is unstable, and if the family is unstable, society cannot function.

Look at America today and you'll see exactly what I'm saying. Our society is full of divorced parents, single mothers, pregnant teenagers, and broken families. Our society is full of corruption, filth, financial trouble and tolerance. We are waiting to fall apart because we have no foundation. Sin has done it's job, and it's been able to because we've given Satan an opportunity.

Jesus came to restore relationships. He came to die to pay the price for sin so that our relationship with God could be healed. He came to lay a new foundation for us to build on. He showed us that God is approachable and that He desires this relationship with us. He showed us how to live in relationship with others. Jesus came to model life to us in every way.

Life is about relationships. We weren't made to live in isolation, but in fellowship with our Creator and our fellow creatures. When we live in relationship with God and each other the foundation of our world is strengthened. A strong foundation will not give the devil a foothold.

Peace be with you

Desires of your Heart

2011-08-29T10:08:00.008-04:00

My wife and I got back from Branson, Missouri very early this morning. We spent the first week of our marriage in the "Christan Vegas". It's funny how we ended up in Branson. My aunt and uncle let us use their time share and the only thing available last week was Florida or Branson. Neither of us are big on Florida, so we opted for Missouri.

Over the last week I've learned a lot of things. I learned that sales tax is really high in Missouri, 9.6%. I learned that Indiana has really high gas prices, close to $0.20 more per gallon than Ohio. I learned that 5 hour energy really does work. I learned that every country radio station between Canton, Ohio, and Branson, Missouri plays the same 12 songs over and over. And I was also reminded that God provides.

Janette and I got to Branson planning just to do some inexpensive things, and a lot of free hiking. On Monday, our first full day in Branson, we got invited to a sit in on a time share pitch, the company knowing we weren't going to buy, and they gave us very inexpensive passes to two of the attractions there. Later in the week we had another invitation to another time share company that gave us free passes to another attraction. It was stuff we had been interested in, but couldn't have afforded.

One of the things we got cheap tickets to had a pre-show with a juggler. Part way through the show he had a kid come up on stage and was trying to teach him how to juggle. It ended up being part of the act. The kid was a world famous juggler, and the guys step son. It was really neat to see. But as the juggler was introducing his step son and talking about how he had started juggling it hit me. God gave this kid a talent to throw several objects in the air and catch them, and then He gave him a step dad to help him develop that talent.

I look at how Janette and I ended up in Branson. My aunt had given us a book with over 2,000 resorts to choose from, and said "Pick". Our first choice had been Williamsburg, Virginia, followed by either of the Carolinas, Branson was no where on our list. Early last week I had the news on looking for the local weather, and I saw hurricane Irene moving towards Florida, Janette and I both were really glad we both had no desire to go there. As the week progressed and Irene moved up the east coast, into the Carolinas and Virginia, it hit me, God sent us to Branson so we could have a full week together, away from everything.

Planning a wedding is stressful, and I didn't even do much. We had been looking forward to this past week for months. Getting away from everything, having our phones turned off, just being together. We would have hated for that to have been cut short. We wanted last week together, it was a desire of our hearts, and God gave it to us. We didn't get it at first, but now we see, God provided.

I look back over the past year, August 2010 to August 2011, and it's been an unbelievable twelve months. Last year at this time I had no idea that I would be married to my best friend and the senior pastor of a church in just twelve months. Both of those things have been the desires of my heart for years, and God gave them to me.

Psalm 37.4 says, "Delight yourself in the LORD;and He will give you the desires of your heart." Janette and I have really made that our verse, because it's the only reason for our story. That same Psalm says in verse 25, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread." As I look on the desires of my heart that God has given me, and I begin to look at the uncertainties of the future I simply need to remember verse 25, the righteous will not be forsaken. Anyone with a right standing relationship with God will not be forsaken. God will provide.

One thing I forgot to mention when I first posted this is somthing I didn't realize until I was leaving the office yesterday. When we walked out of the second time share pitch we were told that one of the things that we were being given for our time was a free two night stay at one of eight other resorts owned by the company. One of them was Williamsburg, Virginia, the place we had originally wanted to go. God provided a week in Branson, and trip to Williamsburg. "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Peace be with you

The Cross at the Beginning

2011-08-18T10:47:00.001-04:00

As I've been reading and studying about the first miracle, I've found that this is so much more than Jesus simply saving a young couple from the embarrassment of running out of wine.

The water into wine is an incredible miracle. Initially I thought it was simple gesture of grace to save a young couple from the embarrassment of failing to plan for a wedding celebration. But this is Jesus we are talking about, when does His life ever stop at a simple gesture of grace? This miracle goes so much deeper, and it points to Him as the Lord and Savior of mankind.

The six ceremonial jars were there for cleansing, according to Jewish law. The water in them was to fulfill the Old Covenant. The Jews had to wash their hands before eating, and to be really clean, in between each course of the meal. The water was there to keep the law. Jesus takes that water that would be used in repetitive washing for continuous cleansing, and He transforms it into the wine that satisfies and allows the celebration to continue.

"Old covenant water became new covenant wine. Jesus came to exchange the Mosaic law for the higher law of love. He takes the ceremonial water that enslaved the people to the legalism of the law, and turns it to wine allowing them to celebrate the grace and power of God. Jesus’ cleansing blood is the wine that satisfies forever. Christ fulfills the requirements of the law, He shed His blood to free us from the law, so that we may live lives not concerned with following the rules, but lives focused on glorifying God. 'Christ transformed temple-cleansing water into eternal-saving wine.'” (Holman New Testament Commentary)

This miracle, this simple act of grace, points to the greatest act of grace that has ever been demonstrated. As Jesus stood in the corner watching the trusting servant hand a glass of water, (remember the text tells us the servant drew out some of the water and handed it to the head waiter, and then it became the wine) He probably reflected on the purpose of His presence on earth. There at the very beginning of His ministry He is confronted with His mission. Here at the beginning He is reminded of the death that He will die in three years. He has come not go abolish the law, but to fulfill it so that the people could be freed from the condemnation of the law. The only way to do this was the cross. There at the very beginning, He saw it, and He continues knowing that this path lead to Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem, to Calvary. The cross was there at the beginning.

This is the mindset He goes into His earthly ministry with, knowing that He would face death. But at the same time He sees the joy of the celebration that the wine has provided by allowing the celebration to continue. And in this I think there was encouragement, His death, His shed blood, the wine of the New Covenant, would bring about the greatest celebration that the universe has ever known.

Peace be with you

To the Brim

2011-08-17T13:01:00.001-04:00

We're working through the Gospel of John, this week I'm not preaching due to getting married, so I'm trying to take advantage of the time and get a week ahead on sermon prep. Each week the sermon writing process begins with repetitive reading of the text, and writing down things I notice, questions I have, insights that God gives me. My mentor told me, "Don't make the mistake of consulting commentaries too soon. Once you look at one, you don't know what is you and what is someone else."

The next text I'm working with is John 2.1-12, the first miracle of water into wine. It takes place at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, fitting for my current life situation. Reading the text several times I noticed the three words at the end of verse 7.

"Jesus said to them, 'Fill the water pots with water.' So they filled them up to the brim."

Mary, it's thought that she was possibly the wedding coordinator since she is handling the issue of no more wine, tells Jesus of the issue. She then tells the servants to do whatever He says. There are six stone water pots that each hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. And then Jesus says, fill them with water. They do, they fill them to the brim. They put as much water into these jars as they can. They give Jesus as much as they can for Him to work with.

They had no idea what Jesus would do, John 2.11 tells us that this is the first miracle Jesus has ever performed. Three years later they would have expected something like this, but not now. Now He is just a simple carpenter from Nazareth. He hasn't fed the 5,000 yet; He hasn't healed a leper or restored the sight of a blind man. He hasn't driven out a demon or given a dead man back his life, right now He is just a man who said, "Fill these with water."

The servants didn't hold back, they filled them to the brim. Getting water wouldn't have been easy, they would have had to either take the water pots to a well, or get water from the well in a smaller jar and carry it back several times to fill these pots. Regardless, it's a lot of work. But they don't slack off, they don't hold back. They put as much water as these pots will hold in them.

How often do we go to the brim? With our time, how often do we make God a priority and truly focus on Him during our prayer and devotional time? With our money, do we give exactly what God requires to the cent,($231.73 an example), or do we fill it to the brim?

God always does His best. We read that the wine Jesus makes is the best wine. We see this with every miracle. Jesus always does the best. People who receive healing and healed fully. When Jesus makes food to feed the multitude, there is extra left over to provide for His followers. Jesus went to the cross and died there. He took the beating, carried the cross, and hung on it for hours. Jesus always fills the water pot to the brim. Why don't we? Why do we hold back form the one who has given us so much?

When Jesus says "Fill this pot" fill it to the brim. Give Him your best, He deserves it because He always gives us His best.

Peace be with you

Broken Glass

2011-08-15T10:39:00.001-04:00

One of my hobbies I discovered by accident. In Mount Vernon where I went to college there is a river that flows past the edge of campus. At the beginning of my senior year I asked one of my brothers if he wanted to go wading with me on Saturday morning. It became an event we would do every couple weekends just to escape for a while.

On one trip we got to a small island in the middle of the river and I noticed a large chunk of green glass. I don't know how it forms or what it comes from, but I refer to it as kryptonite. I found a few pieces like it, and then began to notice other pieces of glass, most of them green and brown from old beer bottles, but there are clear pieces and different shades of blue as well. Some are old bleach bottles, others are old medicine and tonic bottles. Sometimes you find an intact bottle, other times, pieces that have some how been compressed and shaped into incredible shapes. Other times it's just fragments with no special shape at all.

Over the years I've gotten good at finding the pieces. Sometimes you can be fooled by leaves on the bottom of the river or algae growing on rocks. I still get fooled on the occasion, but it happens a lot less then when I first began. I love wading for glass. The pieces have been carried by the river and the edges are now smooth so you don't have to worry about cutting yourself. I never realized I'd still be doing this two years later, I thought I'd collect some, and put it in a jar. I've now got five jars.

Two weeks ago I took Janette. It was nice to get away and just have some time completely away from everything. She got pretty good at finding the pieces. And I noticed that she picks up the pieces I intentionally leave behind. The old dishes that are solid white or solid blueish green. I don't want them because the light doesn't shine through them, but she loves them, so they get placed in the jar. I love that I have a girl who loves wading with me.

On this last trip I took I began to really think about the glass. Though the edges aren't sharp they are at times rough and jagged. Sometimes they are half buried and covered in dirt and mud. Occasionally you find the mouth piece of a bottle and it has a crayfish living in it, or a few rocks that have gotten wedged in. The pieces of glass are just like us.

There are different colors, different shapes, different sizes, each one is unique. But all of them have something in common. They are all pieces of broken glass that have ended up in a river. Glass doesn't belong in the river. It shouldn't be dirty and buried in the dirt. It should be clear so that light can shine through it. It should be collected and displayed.

Our lives have been broken by sin. The river of sin has dragged us far from where we should be. It has covered us and buried us in the mud so that we can't escape. That's not how we were made to live. God comes, and he picks us up out of the river. He cleans us up, and then He displays us so that His light can shine through us into the darkness of the world.

When I first started collecting glass I had thoughts of polishing each piece until it shined. That proved to be a harder task than I imagined, so each piece gets cleaned of the dirt, but a lot of the time there is stuff on there that won't come off. There is evidence that it's been in the river. Sin scars us. I've written about scars. They tell where we've come from, they tell where God has rescued us from. Scars are important, and scars are beautiful.

We are all like broken glass buried in the river of sin. But God is wading through the river pulling out the pieces that call out to Him. He takes them, and cleans them up, and then they display Him to the world. They display His love, His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy. Each of us is a piece of broken glass. But each one of us is beautiful and desirable to God. He wants every piece in the river.

Peace be with you

Let Me Handle it

2011-08-11T15:24:00.000-04:00

"Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold." Psalm 46.8-11

This is a verse I've been reading a lot over the last few years. It's my go to verse when I visit people in the hospital. It focuses on the power of God. It tells us not to worry, and that we don't have to fight the battle because God has taken away all of our weapons. He tells us that we simply need to know that He is God, that He will be exalted. We simply need to let Him be God and lay humbly at His feet.

Why do we struggle with this? The God who spoke the universe into existence, and maintains it says, "Let me handle your problems." He says, "I want your problems. I want them so badly that I'll list my resume to you, then I'll take away all of your tools, and then at that point I'll tell you to stop and simply sit and watch me work. Just let me handle it." And we don't let Him why?

There has been an issue in my life for a few months that I've been trying to deal with. It's caused trouble in so many ways. Over the past few months I've thought of ways to deal with it, some of them would be appropriate and some probably wouldn't be. But to all of them I keep hearing God say, "Let me handle it." Why don't I let Him?

I think there's something about being a guy that makes giving up a situation difficult. It gets even harder if you're a human guy. We like control, even when we only think we have it. We as men, love to fix things, we even try to when we know that we have no idea what we're doing and have no clue where to start. We insist that we can fix it, and most of the time we end up making it worse. That's what happened with me. Right from the beginning, God said, "Don't do it, let me take care of things." I failed to listen, and I made it worse.

It wouldn't have ever become a problem if I had simply listened right at the beginning. If I had simply been obedient. Now here it is months later and I feel that I'm just now beginning to get back to the point of peace that I had before it began. The chaos, stress, and anger that has been caused could all have been avoided had I simply remembered what God said, "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

When God says, "Let me handle it" let Him handle it. Before any issue ever comes He's seen it coming for thousands of years. He's been waiting for it and is ready to deal with it. The way He'll handle it is for His glory, and if it's for His glory that means it's ultimately the best possible solution for us. Having been there and disobeying, I can tell you it isn't worth it. When God says, "Let me handle it" trust that He will, then sit back and just watch Him work.

Peace be with you

1 Timothy 6

2011-08-10T08:34:00.000-04:00

Paul begins this final chapter by talking about another relationship, that of slaves and masters. He says that slaves who are believers should honor their masters so that God and the Gospel are not discredited. If slaves were to rebel Christianity would have been despised as a source for uprisings, Paul works to stop this problem before it begins. Paul wants nothing to be taken away from the Gospel.

He then moves into the centrality of the message of Jesus. If anyone proclaims a different gospel in the church, they are said to be conceited and know nothing. The Gospel of Jesus is the foundation of the church. If that is not what is held on to, we have nothing. Those who proclaim a different gospel are trying to create disunity in the church, they are trying to crack the foundation by bringing falsehood against it. If there is no foundation there can be no unity, with no unity the church can't survive. Paul says, Jesus and His Gospel are the truth, and they are central to the church.

The message of the Gospel brings us to Godliness. As we live out the teachings of Jesus, as we follow the example His life set for us, we become more Christlike. In this there is great gain. It isn't necessarily in financial abundance, but in contentment. Christlikeness comes with the satisfaction of being content in who we are to Christ, knowing that we will be taken care of. Paul said it in his letter to the Philippians, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (4.11-13) That is the gain of Godliness, contentment, peace, freedom from worry, it is great gain.

Paul then moves into his closing words for Timothy. His focus here is on encouragement. He calls Timothy a man of God, and he tells Him to flee from unrighteousness and to pursue the things of God. He is calling his focus back to the foundational relationship with God. He is telling him to focus fully on this relationship, to fight for it, to live it out for the glory of God. Paul tells him to guard what has been entrusted to him. Timothy is to guard the Gospel and his ministry. He is to guard the relationships he has been given.

The first letter from Paul to Timothy.

Peace be with you

1 Timothy 5

2011-08-09T08:19:00.000-04:00

This chapter begins with instructions about our relationships with others. "Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity." Remember, relationships are how we accomplish the goal of our message, love. Paul tells us how we are to relate to people of all ages and both genders so that we can accomplish the goal of love.

Paul then moves on to a section that can be confusing. He talks about widows and how to go about deciding which ones the church has a responsibility to help. I honestly believe that this is a good way to determine how to help anyone in need. The emphasis really isn't put on the church, but on the family. There is an obligation for family to help its own members. If the family who are believers fail to take care of the other members of their family, their own blood relatives, Paul says that they are worse than unbelievers. How can a so called Christian family neglect the care of a grandparent?

When there is no one to help, when there is no family to step up and do what they are called to do, that is when the church needs to step in. Primarily we must take care of our own, the members who are part of the Family of God. But as the body of Christ, and since we need to have good standing in the community, we should strive to help with any need we are able to. The reason the family is called to take care of it's own relatives, aside from being the right thing to do that God has commanded, is so that the church can focus fully on giving help to those who have no family to take care of them.

The passage then moves on and talks about how the church is to care for, and protect, it's pastors. I have been blessed with an incredible church board that has my back. I don't have to worry about an attack because I know that they are standing beside me ready to take it on with me. They are a true blessing, and I thank God for them. Along with this, Paul warns Timothy not to put people in church leadership too quickly. I know what it is like to have needs in ministry, there aren't enough people to do everything that needs to be done, and I don't possess the time, energy, or skills to pour into each ministry. But that doesn't mean we grab the first willing person. In chapter 3 it says that an overseer isn't to be a new convert. Just because a person is in living for Jesus, doesn't mean that they are ready for church leadership. People need to grow and mature before they lead the flock. People need to be trained and tested, before they are given leadership roles. We share some of the responsibility for those we place in leadership, so we need to do this carefully with discernment.

Paul then takes a moment, in a side note, like a thought he just had, and it shows his heart for Timothy. He tells him to drink a little wine for his stomach. This shows that Paul isn't just interested in Timothy the pastor, but in Timothy the person. He cares about Timothy's health. We've seen, and will see in chapter 6 that he is concerned with Timothy's own walk with Christ. He takes the time to invest in his life and show that Timothy isn't just filling a pulpit, but that he wants to make sure Timothy is doing well in all areas. I remember a conversation with my own mentor when I was a youth pastor in Michigan. He asked me about my sleep, my diet, my exercise, and my prayer and devotional life. He wanted to make sure that I was taking care of myself, that I wasn't neglecting my own health, both physical and spiritual, for ministry. We must take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.

Paul ends the chapter by going back to his previous thought before his side note to Timothy. He says that no deed will be concealed. Some sins are seen others aren't. But sin will all be seen as sin, and in the same way every good deed will be seen as a good deed. Things that are not good deeds cannot be concealed. That's chapter 5.

Peace be with you

1 Timothy 4

2011-08-08T08:21:00.000-04:00

Chapter 4 begins by telling us that people will reject their relationship with God. People who have it will walk away from it. People will listen to lies, they will be lead away by demons. This chapter is Paul telling Timothy to guard himself, and to guard his flock. In chapter 1 Paul tells us to fight for the relationship with God, here he gives us some instructions as to how.

Everything made by God is good. In John 1 we read "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." (verse 3) Everything is good. We see here the ugliness and the evil of sin. It can take something so good and beautiful that God has made, and twist it for its own purpose. The guy who has made billions off of pornography saw that women were beautiful. He, being guided by the will of sin, took something God made good, and turned it into an object of lust. That's what sin does, that's what it has to do. But sin does not have the ultimate final say. God will redeem His creation, He already has begun to. We read this also in John 1, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (Verses 12-13)

We must, as ministers, but more as Christ followers, teach these things. We must be focused on God and filled with God so that we are not lead astray, so that we are not enticed by sin to miss use God's creation. We must be nourished by truth so that we are able to see sin as sin. Through prayer we will see God's intention for His creation, when we know how He intended it to be used, we are able to use it properly.

In truth we will be focused on godliness, we must discipline ourselves in truth for godliness. We can do this not because it's easy, but because we are focused on God who is our hope and or savior. He is the one that shows us truth and empowers us for godliness.

And now comes the part that I have to read over and over for encouragement. "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." Let no one look down on me because I am young. I must remember Paul's words in chapter 1, Christ has put me into His service. Because of that I must set an example in what I say, how I live, and in my relationships both with God and with others.

My focus must be on the scriptures, on encouraging and building others up, and on teaching the truth. I must guard myself, but also my flock that I have been in trusted with. To do this I must give them encouragement and solid Biblical teaching.

But as I'm doing this, as I'm ministering to the flock, I cannot neglect my Spiritual gifts. I can't get spread so thin that I neglect my call and the things God has given me the ability to do well. For fruitfulness in ministry prayer is the most essential part, but a close second, I believe, is having a team. You need a t am of people who's strengths are your weaknesses. Focus on your strengths, strengthen your strengths. One of my professors told me many times, "You don't strengthen your weaknesses, you strengthen your strengths." I had trouble with this statement for a while, but after spending some time in ministry I fully agree. I must focus on what God has graced me with the ability to do well. I am not good at everything. For the church to be all it can be, I must surround myself with people whose strengths are my weaknesses. When we have a group of people who have different strengths, things are able to get done because all the bases are covered.

But above all, I must constantly guard myself. I must constantly be growing closer to God. I must make sure every sermon is grounded in scripture because by doing that salvation will come. I must make sure that I model a relationship with God to my flock. I must be sure that I am constantly learning and growing, because you can only lead people as far as you've been.

Peace be with you

1 Timohty 3

2011-08-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

In this chapter we see titles. Up to this point it has been general instruction for believers, and to men and women. Here we see instructions given to church leaders. In one sense it is specific to pastors, but these descriptions are ones that all believers should live with.

1 Peter 2.9-10, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

We all have the responsibility to share God and to live lives that demonstrate we are His, but those who aspire to be church leaders desire to do a fine work. And because of this fine work there is a high standard we are held to. James 3.1, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment."

Here Paul lays out the requirements for overseers and deacons. These are instructions for church leaders. In this list of requirements we really see the need to model, the need to set an example. If we aspire to lead a group of people, we need to go into it with the words of the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." (11.1)

An overseer must set an example in his personal life; he must set an example of how a Christ follower lives. He must set an example of being a family man; he must show what a Christian husband and father looks like. He must be an example of what it is to walk with God. A new convert is not supposed to be given this office, but someone who has walked with God through trials and stood firm in Him. An overseer, a pastor, must set an example of how to be in relationship with God. Finally, an overseer must have a good reputation outside of the church; he must set an example for the community of what a Christ follower is.

The requirements for a deacon are similar. They are not spelled out to the same extent, but they carry the same ideas of setting an example in life, the home, and the community.

All of these qualities are given for the leaders of the church. Those who aspire to leadership are to do so in order to lead the church into what it is supposed to be. It is a family, therefore the leaders must be able to manage their own families before they can manage the family of God. The church is a gathering where all people are welcome, we saw in chapter 2 that God is the God of all people, and the one mediartor, Christ, died to save all people. The leader is to set an example in the community so that people will feel both welcome and will see that the Church is different. Finally, the church is to be a display and support of the truth. It is to show what truth is, and stand firm beneath it. The leaders of the church must live the same way. Their lives must demonstrate truth for all to see, and the way they live must support the truth, never giving any reason for it to be questioned or accused.

If the church is going to be the Church it is called to be, it must begin with the leaders being the leaders they are called to be. Pastors, let us model Christ for our flocks to follow.

Peace be with you

1 Timothy 2

2011-08-03T08:57:00.000-04:00

I think the climax of 1 Timothy 2 is verses 5-6, "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." There is only one God, and He is for all people. There is one mediator between all people and this one God. The mediator died so that all might be saved. He gave Himself in our place so that we wouldn't need to die the death that we deserved.

Because there is only one God, one mediator who paid the price for all men, we must pray for all men. We must pray that the truth will be seen and known by all. God is the God of all, and He desires all His children to be saved. But we must pray that they come to the knowledge of the truth. We must show love so that they desire a relationship with Jesus based on the one they see in us. Let us pray for that.

Most importantly is verse 8, "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." (verse 12) Men must lead the way in prayer. It is the role of a man to lead, "For it was Adam who was created first, and ten Eve." The world is in the state it is because men failed to lead and therefore women had to. "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." (Verse 13) Men, we must lead the way, most importantly in prayer.

If men are to lead, then woman are to follow the Godly leadership that men provide. Woman aren't supposed to draw attention to their material possessions, but to God who is working through, and living in them. The attention that your good works get must be directed to God. Women must pass this on to their children. They must influence the children that God has blessed you with, either your own, or those you have the opportunity to love and help raise. Pass on Christ in you.

In the same way, men must pass on Godly leadership. Show boys how men lead. Show your children, or again, those you have the opportunity to help grow, how to pray, teach them why we do it.

The theme of love and relationships continues here. We pray for others because we love God and we love those made in His image. We desire that they come to a knowledge of the truth because they are His image just like us. Men must lead, and lead through relationships. Your primary responsibility is to lead your family. Let us not fail again as Adam did, and we have continued to do for thousands of years. Woman, follow and influence through relationship. Show others how to focus on God and not you. Show your children who God is, and through passing this on, you will influence the future of the world.

Peace be with you

1 Timothy 1

2011-08-02T15:16:00.000-04:00

Life has been hectic, today I began my final overview reading of 1 Timothy. The commentaries have been read and put away, notes have been taken; now it is simply me, the Bible, and whatever God decides to show me after all of that.

Today I'm amazed by the simplicity of this. Paul begins his letter with the point, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1.5). The goal is love, and it comes from a pure heart, from a heart that has been cleansed from sin. We show love in relationships with others and those relationships come with a good conscience, a life that has nothing to hide and is in good standing with people. Love, the source of love is God, and we receive love with a sincere faith. Through a relationship with God we know what love is and we are able to share love. Love is the point, and it's through relationships that we achieve the goal.

We had the law, but the law isn't the point. The law is there for those who are not in relationship with God. The law is for people who live in broken relationships with others, as the list of verses 9-10 shows. The law is there to show them what sin is, it is there to show them their need for God. When we enter into a relationship with Jesus we are set free from the law and empowered to live by love. In love relationships are healed and restored.

And then there is the best part, verse 12, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service". Christ is the one who has put me into His service. He has strengthened me to do it, and He considers me faithful for His work. It's all about Him, it's all dependant upon Him. I'm just a tool He decided to pick up and use for this part of the project, His weapon of choice for this phase of the battle. What is His work? Love and love in relationships.

This is so important that Paul says to Timothy, "fight the good fight , keeping the faith and a good conscience," He says fight for the relationships. First fight for the relationship you have with God. Get it, and don't ever let it go, because in that you have love. Fight for the relationships with others. Show love to them, even those who are unlovable. Fight for love, fight for relationships. That is the good fight. The work of Christ is to spread the Gospel, and we can only share it with those we know.

The goal is relationships, first with God then with others. In relationships there is love. Love is the message of the Gospel.

Peace be with you

Scars

2011-07-30T12:12:00.000-04:00

Thursday I got a phone call from one of the ladies at church. She was asking me about a situation that someone had been talking to her about. She had been asked why we remember the past events of our life even after we've prayed to God about them.

This has been something I've been working through recently. As humans we haven't been gifted with the ability to erase our memories of past failures and hurts. God can, and does, Hebrews 8.12, "For I will be merciful to their iniquities,and I will remember their sins no more.", and Hebrews 10.17, "And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” God forgets our sins when He forgives us. He doesn't remember them and never holds them against us. If we have confessed to Him we need to accept His forgiveness, and we need to in turn forgive ourselves.

But why can't we forget? I don't think we should. If we forget the things of the past, how do we keep from doing them again? The issue isn't in the forgetting, but in the failure to receive forgiveness, in the failure to realize that God has forgiven us.

Think of it as a wound. Every time we sin it's as if we get a cut. We can try to cover it with a band aid as we try to just pretend it's not there, but it isn't until we go to God for some stitches that the wound is really to the point where it can heal.

I need to say this to avoid confusion and heresy, the moment we ask for forgiveness, God instantaneously gives it, in His mind it is taken care of and dealt with, He forgets about it. A doctor stitches up a wound and then moves on to the next patient. The issue comes when we keep staring at the stitches, we keep playing with them and the wound never heals, it never becomes a scar.

When a wound heals it leaves a scar, and we carry the scars for the rest of our lives. Some people think they are ugly, but honestly, scars are an incredibly beautiful thing. Scars are a sign of healing. It shows where a wound was, it's a reminder of that wound, but it is a wound no more. The wound used to hurt, but a scar doesn't. It serves as a reminder of pain, but the pain is gone.

The scar means the wound is healed, it means the pain is gone, but the scar is still there. Here's the point, scars come with a story. Find any seven year old boy and look at his arms and legs, I guarantee there are some scars. I can almost promise, that if you point to one and say, "How'd you get that?" you'll hear the story. Sometimes you don't even have to ask, you'll just get it. My eight year old cousin loves to tell me about his bike accidents. Scars have a story.

We remember the wound and the pain, that should make us wiser so we don't do that thing again, or we learn how to do it properly. This is why we don't forget for our benefit. But again, scars come with a story, and the story is what God uses to help others.

In church we're working through the Gospel of John, I've been reading about John the Baptist and am hoping to do some in depth study this week. But I said last week how God has a job for each of us, and that our lives are preparation for that job. There are no wasted experiences in life. Some of them are horrible, and God doesn't desire some of them to happen, but because we live in a fallen world they do. But none of them are wasted if God has stitched up the wound. Once it scars there is a story, we call it a testimony, and a testimony needs to be shared.

This is a side note, I think we put too much emphasis on the guy who God saved from drugs. It seems we all want that testimony. We all seem to wish we had been crack addicts who God rescued from that destructive lifestyle. God is incredible and He saves them all the time. Their stories tell of how great the grace and mercy of God are, but what about the person who never went through that? What about the person who gave their life to Jesus as a five year old, and faithfully served Him for seventy years? Why don't we say, "I wish that was my testimony!" That's the testimony God wants for all of us. He doesn't love you less if you were the crack addict, and His grace yearns to be given to you, God loves you.

Scars remind us of the wound, but they are a sign that it has been healed. Scars remind us of the pain, but they don't hurt anymore. Scars have a story, tell it. Don't be ashamed, and don't be afraid to show off your beautiful scars. The healing has occurred. Glorify God who brought the healing, and tell others that healing is possible. God will stitch it up and leave you the reminder. Don't forget, and don't hide it. Show it off, they are beautiful.

Peace be with you.

Church

2011-07-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

I heard a quote from Francis Chan a while ago where he said, "As I studied the Scriptures I realized that God doesn't want me to do this by myself, that's why He created church, the Church." Yesterday I met with my mentor for breakfast and as we talked I told him about how I was feeling alone.

He challenged me to get out of the office and out into the community. This has been something that I've been planning to do, I just haven't yet, not sure why. But he reminded me, "You can't save people you don't know. Matthew 9, 'Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.' He went where the people where." You know when a mentor is good because he can correct you without making you feel like you've failed.

Then we began to talk about prayer. He said that probably every believer prays individually, but the big thing missing is corporate prayer. He told me the different things he's been doing to make sure he's doing this.

We weren't created to do this alone. In the very beginning, when the world was perfect, God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Back before the fall it was not good for us to exist in isolation, how much more crucial is it now for us to have community?

We must pray in community. My mentor said "Prayer most of the time isn't us impressing upon God, that is part of it, but a lot of it needs to be God impressing upon us. It needs to be us asking God to open our eyes to what He is already doing." When we as a church can ask God to show us what He is already doing, to open our eyes to how He is already working, then we can get on board with it. It might start with an individual. As the leader of a church, it must start with me, I have to be inviting God to work in me, to open my eyes to what He is doing before I can lead the people in that.

The people of the church must gather to pray. The early church believed that in prayer we had to be an army that would pray to God. Will we be that army? One man can do something, a group of men can do something more, a church can do more still, The Church could do something incredible. We simply need to ask God to open our eyes to what He is already doing, and then we need to get on board with Him.

Peace be with you

Prayer

2011-07-26T15:28:00.001-04:00

For a few weeks now I've been thinking about something I realized during a conversation with God. Sunday I shared that prayer is the most important part of our relationship with God. Prayer is how we communicate with God. Above everything else, Satan wants to keep us from prayer. I blogged a few weeks ago, Satan will fill your prayer time with Bible reading if that is what he has to do to keep you from praying, because it doesn't matter that we know a lot about God through reading His word. What matters is that we know God through conversing with Him.

I know prayer is crucial, and I know Satan will do whatever he can to keep me from prayer. And I know it is my job to pray. Acts 6.4, "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." See the order, prayer is first, they will devote themselves to prayer before they focus on the Bible. I must be the same way.

I've been thinking about this so much since Sunday, and I know that I need to spend more time in prayer. I need to fight for that time. I remember back in college, when life was simple, how easy it was to pray. We would meet every Sunday night as a group. We had a prayer room set up on campus and we did sessions of 24 hour prayer. There was the Chapel on campus, an absolutely beautiful room where I could escape and be alone before God. It was so easy then.

For almost two years now I've been involved in professional ministry. And for those two years I've spent a lot of time on my own. In Michigan I spent a majority of time by myself. There weren't many people I felt safe enough around to share my heart with. Those I did know I could trust were involved in their own ministries and we had little time to pray together. Now, once again I'm alone a lot. I'm at the church by myself and then I go home to an empty house. It sounds like the perfect situation for someone longing for more prayer, but honestly I find it harder than ever, and now I need prayer more than ever.

I find the need to fill the silence more and more. It never used to be like that. I never needed noise in the background, I loved and longed for the silence. But I think having so much time alone leaves you needing to hear something besides your own voice and your thoughts. I've been longing for the prayer life I had back in college for over a year now, and I haven't been able to get it back.

I really had no idea that this post would go in this direction, I was simply planning on sharing the verse from Acts to help us all be aware that we must fight for our prayer time, and that we must not replace the best option with a good option. I am in no way saying to stop reading the Bible, it tells us about God and through studying it we learn about His heart and are able to pray better. What I am saying is that we must guard our communication with God as we would guard our communication with a spouse.

That was my intention, but instead I've shared part of my heart.

Peace be with you

Do we want it?

2011-07-25T10:37:00.000-04:00

"A Christian society is not going to arrive until most of us really want it: and we are not going to want it until we become fully Christian. I may repeat 'Do as you would be done by' til I am black in the face, but I cannot really carry it out til I love my neighbour as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbor as myself til I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him."
-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book three Christian Behaviour, Chapter 3 Social Morality

I'm reading this book with one of my brothers, and I've been thinking about this chapter, particularly this quote, a lot since last week. He sent me a text message yesterday saying how awesome the chapter was. I actually ended up using the chapter, and again mainly this quote, for discussion last night at church. The chapter on Social Morality is absolutely incredible, and Lewis ends the chapter with this quote.

Until most of us want a Christian society is won't come. But we can't want it until we understand it. Lewis talks about how we all want bits of it, we're attracted to bits of it. The parts that are easy, that make us feel good, that don't require much, those are the parts we like.

"Most of us are not really approaching the subject in order to find out what Christianity says: we are approaching it in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party. We are looking for an ally where we are offered either a Master or -a Judge."

Christianity is not my idea of how I relate to God, it is the relationship God offers with Him to me. It is on God's terms not on mine. In order to have a Christian society we, as a group of people, must understand what Christianity says. Once we know what it says we can learn to obey the one who offers us the relationship. As Lewis says once I learn to obey Him I can begin to love Him. Once I learn to love Him, and I can take the love I have for Him and from Him, and give that same love to others. Once I love others I will do to them as I would have them do to me.

Jesus said, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22.37b-40)

That's really what it's all about. In a Christian society there would be no need for laws, because love would guide us. That is how God created it to be. The question is, do we want it? Are we willing to sacrifice and accept God's terms? Are we willing to find out what Christianity really says, and are we willing to follow it? Until we are, a Christian society will remain a dream.

Peace be with you

A Root of All Evil

2011-07-20T09:43:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was day 51 in my 1 Timothy study. Due to how busy life has been my study has been limited to the days I'm in the office, so it's taking a little longer than I had initially thought. But yesterday the section was 1 Timothy 6.3-10. While I was reading William Hendriksen's thoughts I noticed something for the first time.

I've heard a quote many times, I've said it several times, and yesterday I found out that I've heard and said the wrong thing. The quote is actually a misquotation of 1 Timothy 6.10. "The love of money is the root of all evil." If you're using the King James Bible or the New Living Translation, that would be the correct quotation. But if we look at the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, the English Standard Version, several other translations, and most importantly, the original text we see the correct translation, "For a root of all evils is the love of money" (directly from the Greek text). "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil," (NASB).

I have been wanting to blog about this verse for a while now, but every time God wouldn't give me peace about it, so I held off. I now see why, I hadn't noticed "a root" in the text. Honestly, I think it's because I was so used to hearing "the root" that my mind put a "the" in there instead of the "a". I don't know how many times I have read this passage, but I never caught it until I went to the commentary.

So what do we do with this? We now see that loving money is not the only source of evil, but simply one of them. However it is crucial to note that money in itself is not evil, the love of money is. C.S. Lewis talks about this in Mere Christianity.

"But in real life people are cruel for one of two reasons - either because they are sadists, that is because they have a sexual perversion which makes cruelty a cause of sensual pleasure to them, or else for the sake of something they are going to get out of it - money, or power, or safety. But pleasure, money, power, and safety are all, as far as they go, good things. The badness consists in pursuing them by the wrong method, or in the wrong way, or too much... I do mean that wickedness, when you examine it, turns out to be the pursuit of some good in the wrong way." (Book Two, What Christians Believe; Chapter 2, The Invasion

Money in itself is not evil, it is the love of money, the drive to have more, the yearning that is never satisfied, which is evil. We must learn to be content in what God has given us. We must learn generosity with what we have been given. By serving we stay humble, by giving we stay generous. Generosity will keep us from the love of money, which will keep us, in that aspect, away from evil.

In the words of John Wesley, "Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."

Peace be with you

Don't Debate, Discuss

2011-07-19T09:21:00.000-04:00

In his book, Mere Christianity, author C.S. Lewis says, "If you are a Christian you do not have to believe that all the other religions are simply wrong all through... If you are a Christian, you are free to think that all those religions, even the queerest ones, contain at least some hint of the truth... when I became a Christian I was able to take a more liberal view. But, of course, being a Christian does mean thinking that where Christianity differs from other religions, Christianity is right and they are wrong."

Liberal here does not have anything to do with a political stand point, but simply means being open minded. Christianity frees us to be open minded. One of my professors said once, "If you are firm in your faith, don't be afraid to read the Book of Mormon, don't be afraid to read the Koran." He's right. I know the truth, I am rooted in the truth that I have found in Christianity. Because of this, that which is not truth will not shake me.

I am able to take a more open minded view, not looking for how the differences in belief between Christianity and Islam, or Buddhism, or Hinduism are ok and all have the same end result, but I can look at each religion and see the elements of truth in each one. I have not yet read the Koran, and I have been meaning to begin my study of the religions of the world. All of it is academic. I am not searching for proof that my belief is correct, I am not exploring to see if these other religions are the Truth, but I am searching for the elements of truth, showing that really everything comes back to Jehovah. All truth is God's truth, and so any truth anywhere points back to God.

1 Timothy 1.5, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

As a Christ follower, my motivation is love, 1 Corinthians 16.14, "Let all that you do be done in love." The goal is love. Jesus said, “Love God, love your neighbor.” The whole purpose of Christianity is to produce love. Love will always save us. It saves us from destructive thinking and speaking. It saves us from arrogant and condescending thoughts. It saves us from condemning things we don’t agree with or understand. It saves us from expressing our views in a way that hurts others. We are motivated by love, not legalism.

1 Peter 3.15, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" I must know what I believe and why I believe it. When I am asked, I must be ready to share it. But I am to do it with gentleness and reverence. I am to give my reasons for my faith in love.

The goal is a pure heart. The word pure means without any contaminating impurity. My motives are pure and unmixed. There is no need to prove myself; the only desire is to lead others nearer to God by sharing the truth in love. This is why I hate debating; this is why I refuse to debate. In a debate it’s two people trying to prove their intelligence to win an argument. I won’t do that. I’ll discuss a topic with people, discussion is a good thing, debating isn’t. Through calm rational discussion we can show the truth of God.

A good conscience comes from living a life without shame. It gives us the right to say what we say, because it is backed up by a life that lives out what its saying.

Sincere faith is faith with no hypocrisy. We simply desire to know truth and to share it. This is the simple life that Christ has freed us to have. It isn’t a life worried about keeping the rules, because it isn’t under the law. It’s freed from the law; it’s freed from worry and anxiety, and is able to focus fully on living for God.

Debating does nothing, it accomplishes nothing, and therefore it is a dangerous tool. In a debate people are close minded, they have fixed themselves to a belief, and they refuse to even listen to anything contrary, except to be able to refute it with an argument supporting their thought process. Nothing is accomplished through this type of stubbornness except building walls and creating chasms. Instead of debating, let's discuss.

As Christians let us know what we believe, let us know why, let us make our faith our own. Let's be motivated by love. May our hearts be pure and our motives unmixed. May our lives be lived above reproach, may we show what true Christians are, and may we not be the group that Gandhi mentions in his quote, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." Let us have a sincere faith that simply desires truth. A faith that seeks the goal of Christlikenss in our own lives and strives to fulfill the purpose of helping others become Christlike.

Let's be willing to discuss, to listen. We cannot and will not compromise on our beliefs, but that doesn't mean we cannot talk with people whose beliefs are different. We must earn the right to talk, we must earn the right to share. Look again at the verse from 1 Peter, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" When we are asked, earn the right to talk. We must live lives of love and when people ask, "Where does this come from? Why are you different?" we have done what Jesus has told us to do. We have earned the right to talk by living like Christ.

When the time comes to share, don't do it in a way that says you're right and everyone else is wrong, that completely goes against and destroys everything you've built up to this point. Share the truth in love, do it with gentleness, meeting them where they are, that's how Lewis wrote Mere Christianity. Do it with respect.

My mentor has told me countless times, "No one ever become a follower of Christ because they lost an argument. People become followers of Christ because they are shown love." That is the goal of our instruction, love.

Peace be with you