A real wise guy or really wise?

It isn't a compliment to be labeled a 'wise guy.' It means to be arrogant, flippant, and a bit too sure of one's self. 'Wise guys' aren't wise at all. Truthfully, they are usually very much like the adolescent boys in 6th or 7th grade who think they know so much about life, yet who know so little. Their ignorance is apparent to all except their peers. The boasts, bravado, and banter cover up deep insecurities and uncertainties about their identities in this world. It makes me laugh to remember what a little wise guy I was at age 13! God delayed my growth, so I was the little guy in my group. Lacking physical strength, I compensated by developing verbal skills that I used as my 'armor.' I thought I was so witty, so clever... really, I was just obnoxious, a real 'wise guy.'

Hopefully the experience of the passing years has caused me to become less a 'wise guy' and a man possessing true wisdom. Wisdom is a beautiful thing, a grace that creates confidence, that blesses both the one who possesses it and those with whom she walks in life. How I love spending time with a person who is wise, whose words impart life and health. When I am with someone in whom I perceive wisdom, I love to listen and learn.

The Bible lauds wisdom saying:
"Learn to be wise, and develop good judgment. Don’t forget or turn away from my words. Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.
Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And whatever else you do, get good judgment.

If you prize wisdom, she will exalt you. Embrace her and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.” (Proverbs 4:5-9, NLT)

How do we get wisdom?

First, we submit ourselves to the Wisdom of the Ages! There is a worldly wisdom, a knowledge of the ways of the systems that we work with each day, that may help us 'get ahead' of the pack, gain wealth, hold onto position, and exert our influence. But all that cleverness is built on a foundation of sand and will collapse. "Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense?... to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one." (1 Corinthians 1:20, 24, The Message) The true wisdom of God is not temporary, nor is it set aside by the changing times.

Second, we ask for the Spirit to give us wisdom! "If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking." (James 1:5, NLT) If you pray for wisdom, prepare for class! That's right. God seldom just opens up our head and pours in His wisdom. Instead, He sends us to school. With trials and tests, He shows us our limits and teaches us to rely on Him. Job entered God's Wisdom University. He professed -"when he has tested me like gold in a fire, he will pronounce me innocent. “For I have stayed in God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands but have treasured his word in my heart." (Job 23:10-12, NLT)

Third, we learn from the Word! "Your commands give me an edge on my enemies; they never become obsolete. I’ve even become smarter than my teachers since I’ve pondered and absorbed your counsel." (Psalm 119:98-99, The Message) As we learn the Scripture, we are privileged to attend classes taught by Moses, David, Isaiah, Jesus, Luke, and Paul. What professors they are. The wisdom they give to us is not simply their own; they speak the inspired Truth of God.

Wisdom gives us the ability to discern. We have insight and can separate truth from error, mere image from reality. We know what is true food for our soul and what is just mental junk food.

Want to live well? Then, learn to live wisely! Let God take you from being a 'wise guy' to real wisdom. It will make your life a thing of beauty!

"If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll learn this inside and out. God’s paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling. " (Hosea 14:9-12, The Message)

Spirit-led does not preclude using your head

Many years ago, one Summer afternoon, I picked up a copy of Time magazine and read an article about a town in Wyoming that was growing, booming. A sleepy cow town had sprouted overnight to become home to thousands of young workers in the coal mines of that region. As I read the article, I felt an inner compelling - "Jerry, take your wife and baby son to Gillette!" It didn't go away and days later I approached my wife with the idea of tearing ourselves away from family, friends, and job to go to do ministry in that town. Late August, 1977, found us transversing these United States in an old school bus that was packed with our possessions. We had no job waiting, very little money to sustain, and a big dream pulling westward! Our trip was an exercise in hilarity, something I'll write about some other time. The year that followed our decision to to to Wyoming was full of experiences we have never forgotten, lessons that shaped us, and people who influenced us to this very day. What many labeled a fool's errand was God's way of helping us to become more useful in His kingdom. I believe we were led there by the Spirit, but not for the purpose which I thought - establishing a ministry in Gillette, WY- but rather so He could mature us, preparing us for His work!

Part of the lexicon with which I am very familiar includes the line, "I feel led..." People use it to explain their choice to seek out a new church, to justify their purchase of a new car, to explain all kinds of important life choices. Most Believers who claim to 'feel led' by the Lord are quite sincere in their intent and motive. There are plenty of examples in the book of Acts to demonstrate that the Spirit-filled Christian can and should be led by the Spirit. Indeed, Paul says that "those who are led by the Spirit are children of God." (Gal. 6.14) I am not taking issue with that concept. What I am speaking to today is the erroneous idea that being led by the Spirit is just a feeling, a hunch, an intuition!

Rick Nanez writes - "Waves of romanticism, relativism, individualism, and New Age teachings have unleashed a rising emphasis on feelings over thinking, emotions over doctrine, and experience over intellect. Wherever these find an inroad, it comes at the expense of casting away our rational rudders. In turn, this steers many Believers into the currents of waywardness - into the vast sea of subjectivity, where the drizzling clouds of mysticism dictate their spiritual journey. ... the turbulent winds of half-truth blow these helpless castaways into the vicious crags of confusion and mindless spirituality." - Full Gospel, Fractured Minds? Zondervan, 2005

Mature, stable, and effective Believers understand that they are whole people given both mind and heart and that God's Spirit operates through both equally to bring about His purposes and will. The Bible invites us to “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. Isaiah 1:18 (NIV) The word, 'reason' is a word meaning, "argue your case, talk it over, work it out!" God does not expect His Spirit-led people to live with a blind faith. Paul encourages us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1 (NKJV) Note the word, "reasonable." In the original language of the Bible it is the word, logikos, from which we get our word, logical. As we serve God, we do so with reason intact.

Are you objecting, wondering -"Jerry, what of faith? Are we to be locked into rationalism, living only by what can be proven or tested by natural means?" No, friend, a hundred times no. Pure rationalism eliminates the possibility of revelation. We, as individual Believers and as the Church of Jesus Christ must be led by the Spirit, open to truth that is revealed by Him to us, in ways outside of the usual channels of discovery and learning. I fully recognize that claiming to hear from God, to know His voice, is regarded by many as loony, or as some sort of self-deception based in our psychological need to have a god. But, I am convinced - both by my experience and the testimony of the Scripture- that God speaks to His people, individually and collectively. There will be moments when His leading defies our natural reasoning powers, when what we believe God is asking of us flies in the face of the facts that surround us.

We do not offend God in those moments when we take time to evaluate what we believe He is saying to us. Asking God to give us discerning minds, to keep us from impulse or gullibility is not the same as refusing to follow His lead. It is a humble recognition that we are imperfect, that we can get it wrong. John tells us - "do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world." 1 John 4:1 (NLT) The passage goes on to say that the primary test to determine who is a genuine 'prophet' - that is one who is claiming to hear from God and speak for God- is the way he conducts himself day to day. His life must be marked by overt evidence of submission to Jesus Christ as Lord. There is no one so dangerous to your spiritual health as the person who is a rebellious rogue, who submits to no authority but himself, who claims - "God speaks to me and I speak for Him."

Let's be people of the Spirit, led by Him into works of faith, using the wonderful powers of reason that He has given to us. By this God will be glorified and His kingdom built strong.
________________

Lavish love, abundant beauty,
gracious gifts for heart and hand,
Life that fills the soul and senses -
all burst forth at Your command.

Lord, our Lord, eternal Father,
Great Creator, God and Friend,
Boundless power gave full expression,
to Your love which knows no end.

I am Yours, eternal Father,
All my body, mind, and heart.
Take and use me to Your glory,
Form Yourself in every part.

Lord, Your love brings joy and gladness,
flowing from within my soul.
May my very breath and being,
rise to You, their source and goal.
Amen.

- Peter Ellis

Don't ignore your mind!

It was an entirely sincere statement, offered up by a devout Believer in Christ - "I don't really need to know church history or the origins of theology. I just know Jesus Christ, living in me." The speaker was referring to a recent series of sermons that I am preaching in response to the questions that the best-seller, The DaVinci Code, has raised in the minds of many Americans. What can a person gain by having a grasp on how the New Testament came into existence, by understanding the why's and wherefore's of the councils held many centuries ago to forge the creeds that shape our faith? Is it all really important? Or can a Believer sustain a vital faith with a personal experience of Jesus' Presence centered in the now?

It is not really a choice an either/or choice. If our Christianity is all about history and theology, about just knowing a set of facts and memorizing a creed, it will quickly become a dead thing, incapable of sustaining us in the present troubles and trials of life. However, if our faith is entirely a subjective experience fueled by fervent worship and personal piety, we will be unable to successfully engage in dialogue with those who claim their own religious experiences apart from Christ Jesus.

I am a Pentecostal by training and experience. The strength of my tradition is the immediacy of it, the warmth of heart that comes with expecting the Holy Spirit to be personally close, leading and guiding, healing, saving, and keeping me. I wouldn't trade that for anything. What a wonderfully powerful experience it is to go to prayer and to have the privilege of praying in the Spirit, beyond the formation of words. The intimacy of such moments is a treasured gift for me in my Christian life. The weakness of my tradition is that, too! Pentecostals are big on 'the heart,' on inspiration that leads to launching out in faith into some endeavor or another. There is a tendency to ignore 'the head,' to treat reason and understanding with suspicion, if not outright hostility. Jesus urges us to love God with 'all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.' It has befallen me many times to find myself in a revival meeting where the speaker urges people to set aside their minds to just 'go with the flow of the Spirit.' Because I am steeped the language and tradition of Pentecost, I understand that he doesn't really intend for the crowd to go into a trance. But, I have seen some strange, silly things happen because of such rhetoric. For some, that exhortation becomes an excuse to set aside common courtesy and even common sense to engage in emotional excesses that have little or nothing to do with a genuine experience of the Spirit's power or Presence.

True worship, whether private and personal, or corporate and public, involves both the mind and the heart, the cognitive functions of reason and the emotive responses that come from deep inside of us. A recent phenomenon in Christianity is something called 'the emergent church.' I still evaluating it, reading the books published by the leaders of the movement, but I am starting to conclude that the movement is a reaction to both 'heart-less' Christianity and 'mind-less' Christianity. The leaders are attempting to be thoughtful, without becoming dogmatic; warmly inspired, without becoming silly in emotional excess. But I'm also concluding that they are, perhaps, too ready to sacrifice the hard sayings of the Scripture in an effort to be 'relevant' to our culture.

Don't ignore your mind, and don't 'worship' your heart! Take Paul's advice to the Corinthian church. Think on this word from the Word today:

So what’s the solution? The answer is simple enough.
Do both. I should be spiritually free and expressive as I pray, but I should also be thoughtful and mindful as I pray. I should sing with my spirit, and sing with my mind.

If you give a blessing using your private prayer language, which no one else understands, how can some outsider who has just shown up and has no idea what’s going on know when to say “Amen”? Your blessing might be beautiful, but you have very effectively cut that person out of it. I’m grateful to God for the gift of praying in tongues that he gives us for praising him, which leads to wonderful intimacies we enjoy with him. I enter into this as much or more than any of you. But when I’m in a church assembled for worship, I’d rather say five words that everyone can understand and learn from than say ten thousand that sound to others like gibberish.

To be perfectly frank, I’m getting exasperated with your infantile thinking.
How long before you grow up and use your head—your adult head? It’s all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with evil; a simple no is all that’s needed there. But there’s far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well-exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility. - 1 Corinthians 14:15-20 (The Message)

Accommodation, Adaptation, Apathy?

While we sat at my Mom's hospital bedside yesterday, my Dad and I talked. Both of us have given our lives to church leadership so naturally we discussed church life and trends. Since he relocated to Pennsylvania this Spring, he has been visiting churches seeking a spiritual home for his family. What he has found has not, by and large, made him thrilled with the state of the church! Much of what he labels as evidence of 'worldliness' and compromise in abundance, I see as expressions of generational differences over what is good and/or acceptable Christian practice. He sees compromise; I see adaptation.

I serve as part of a committee that guides a ministry. It's a good assignment with people who are earnest about their responsibilities. Recently they made a decision that I think weakened the core mission of the ministry, but which the rest of the group believed to be a necessary accommodation of the demands of the ministry at this time. I keep asking myself, "Jerry, are just attached to a tradition? Does your discomfort come from that tradition being violated or does your disagreement arise out of a necessary defense of principle?" Time will tell, as the Spirit leads.

How do we honor God, living as holy people who are distinct from the world of which we are a part, yet continue to be effective in reaching out to those who do not know Him? Ah, that is the question, isn't it? The gray choices of life are the hardest, aren't they? And the older I get in this world, the less black and white I see!

So many choices I make everyday involves many shades of gray and thus, I must lean hard on the guidance of the Spirit, who has promised to create the mind of Christ in me. The safest choice, and often the most comfortable, is to preserve the status quo. But, just doing what we've always done, just because we've always done it that way, will lead to increasing isolation and ineffectiveness. The world continues to spin, change continues, the march of time never slows. The other side of that argument is that constant innovation that is not solidly grounded in truth will lead to disastrous consequences.

So, again, I circle around to ask, how do we choose?

Humility must be a part of the process that guides us. If we really want to know God's leading, we need to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. He speaks to us through the Scripture, through the traditions of the church, and through dialogue with our brothers and sisters that can be intense. It's that last part that I find most difficult! But in Proverbs I am reminded, "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." (Proverbs 27:17, NLT) Wrestling with the truth helps us not only to discover it, but to own it. I am learning that a decision that does not allow for honest, open dialogue is usually not the best, nor wisest, one.

Prayerfulness, too, must always be part of a decision-making process. "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25, NIV) It is the Holy Spirit that gives us true wisdom. We find life when we find His way. We find His way by remaining in a place of intimate communion with Him. When prods our conscience, quickly we respond, "yes, Lord!" When He lifts His peace from us, we stop and wait and listen. When we grieve Him with willfulness, we repent quickly. This walk with the Spirit allows Him to 'guide us into all truth.' (John 16.13)

Don't become apathetic. The response to the complexity of life cannot be - "Oh, whatever." The path of least resistance is always downward!

Got a challenge today?
Not sure what is the right course?

God promises to lead. Let Him. Listen to counsel. Meditate on the Scripture.
Pray! "If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." (James 1:5-7, NLT)

My really mean Mom

I'm writing this while watching my Mom sleep in a hospital bed. Occasionally she sort of rouses to recognize that I'm here, but mostly the morphine has her in a haze of semi-consciousness. It's my privilege to sit here by her bed, but it's oh, so hard to see her in such pain. She was on a stepladder on Saturday evening changing a light bulb or something like that, fell off and broke her shoulder and hip! Mom doesn't like to acknowledge that she's days shy of 70 years of age, hence being on a ladder when she might have been more cautious. I'd scold her, but I'll probably be just like her 20 years from now - resisting every limitation of age with kicking and screaming.

It's Mother's Day and while I was leading the worship service at church this morning, I was thinking about my Mom; worrying really. In between worries, I remembered - Somehow thinking back to the way she was when I was 10 or 12, made thinking about the 'now' less frightening. I hated that she was a no-nonsense Mom then, but sure appreciate it now. She believed in making her kids self-reliant, disciplined, and capable of understanding life's choices have consequences. I hated making my bed to her specifications, (lines on the bedspread straight, corners tight!) and I despised that I had to keep my room picked up neatly (no dirty socks on the floor, all clothes on hangars, thank you!) - but from those little daily chores, I learned that IF a person tends to the simple stuff, the harder stuff in life tends to fall into place, too. She didn't let me think of letting school work go. It aggravated me that other kids could blow off assignments and that their Mom would cover for them with written excuses. Mine said, "you deal with it" and let me take the detention or whatever was coming my way for my irresponsibility. It taught me that deadlines mean something and to get my work done, on time!

She modeled the same diligence she expected of me. I can't remember when she didn't have dinner ready, when the laundry was piled up, or when the house was a mess! I didn't her complain too often either. She showed us that life was about doing what needed to be done. Yep, there's a lot of Mom in me.

So, sitting her watching her face, a lot more lined than the face that I remember when I close my eyes, I believe she'll be OK, because she's one tough lady and because she trusts God. I oughta know, cause she raised me to be tough and to trust Him too!

An anonymous author penned this in tribute to his Mom -- "Because of my mother, I missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. I've never been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other’s property, or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault. I didn't get drunk, didn't take up smoking, wasn't allowed to stayed out all night, or a million other things that other kids did. Sundays were reserved for church, and I didn't miss ever, that I can remember unless I was deathly ill. And, I knew better than to ask to spend the night with a friend on Saturdays. Now I'm a God-fearing, educated, honest adult. I am doing my best to be a mean parent just like Mom was. I think that’s what is wrong with the world today. It just doesn’t have enough mean moms anymore."

Forgive me for this little reverie... I'm only thinking about my Mom today!

• "Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." (Proverbs 31:28-31, NLT)
  __________________

I pray that your week is blessed. If you're a Mom, I hope you had a good Mother's Day.
And, please pray for my Mom. She's going to have surgery tomorrow to repair her broken bones. Ask the Lord to bless her with peace and healing. I thank you for that on her behalf!

Confusing facts and fiction

Dan Brown's best-seller, The DaVinci Code, is a subtle piece of indoctrination, anti-Christian at its core. Woven into a compelling story are assertions about the doctrines of Christianity- which if true - would rewrite the Bible. I read the book over the weekend and have to agree that it is a fun to read book that kept me turning the pages with a fast paced storyline. But, the premises on which Brown builds his story will, if believed to be true, destroy the Gospel of Christ! A key character in the story is one Leigh Teabing, an English scholar, knight of the realm, and raconteur par excellence. Teabing claims that the Bible is a construct of a few men under the influence of Constantine to erase nature worship and the 'divine feminine.' Teabing claims that until 325 AD, "Jesus was viewed by his followers as a mortal prophet . . . a great and powerful man, but a man nonetheless. A mortal." "Jesus establishment as the 'Son of God' was officially proposed and voted by the Council of Nicea." "Christ as Messiah was critical to the functioning of Church and state... the early Church literally stole Jesus from his original followers, hijacking his human message...." (all quotes from page 233)

Because the novel is packaged by its author as a fictional story that is written around real historical facts, there are millions who swallow the assertions about the Bible's origins, about the 'real' identity of Jesus, uncritically. But, the scholarship that underlies the story is wrong; a reconstruction of select facts and total fabrications arranged to fit a set of assumptions that ignore the supernatural claims of the New Testament, that dismiss long-standing facts about the authenticity of the Bible, and that want to make Jesus into a great Teacher while taking away His claim to be 'the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' If Jesus is not God come to Earth, a unique God/Man; then he simply takes his place among other spiritual teachers of history and we are free to pick and choose from his words, mixing and matching them with those of the Buddha, of Mohammed, of Confucius, and our Grandpa! If He is not a person unique in history and 'full of grace and truth,' why are we not free to create our own eclectic religion of self-made rules, freely bent and shaped to fit our particular life choices? The troubling issue of "Truth" is gone, replaced by "preference" which allows each one of do whatever is right in our own eyes! How convenient for a society that worships autonomy and choice!

I would be the first to admit that the Truth which Jesus said would set us free has been turned into a cruel set of rules used by various groups down through history to protect their preferred status, to enrich those in power, to enslave, and as an excuse to wage war and kill. The claim to hold the "Truth" has been twisted in our own time by local pastors and congregations to hurt, ostracize, and marginalize people out of favor ! That is tragic, evil, and indefensible. But the answer is not to try to erase the identity of Jesus Christ to make Him more 'people friendly.' Instead, we do well to reclaim the Jesus that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John presented to the world - as witnesses to the Truth- just a few decades after He walked the pathways of Palestine.

They present us with a Man who brought words of life, who demonstrated His uniqueness, His authority, and His love with acts of caring, with incredible wisdom, and with miracles. To me, the majesty of His claim to be the Judge of all the earth lies in His willingness to be the Servant Savior of all. He is the Man of the Cross as well as the Lord of the Universe. I have no qualms about submitting myself to One who would leave Heaven, endure scorn and rejection, who would challenge people intent on using power to oppress, and ultimately die for the very people who rejected His message. Such a Man has demonstrated so great a love that I willingly accept His judgment, willingly bow myself before His Truth - because that which He demands of me is not designed for His good, but rather to give me life! He said, "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63, NLT)

Don't be duped by those who, in the name of truth, would rob you of the Truth. Yes, they may well have confused the religion of men, which is the letter of the law that kills, with the Gospel that liberates and gives life. They may even believe that they are doing you and me a service by freeing us from 'silly superstitions.'

Here's Jesus' prayer for you and me.
Meditate on it today and feel the power of the Spirit and Truth!

"Now I’m returning to you. I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing So my people can experience My joy completed in them. I gave them your word; The godless world hated them because of it, Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways. I’m not asking that you take them out of the world But that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world Than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth." (John 17:13-17, The Message)
_____________

Come and see the beauty of the Lord,
Come and know the wonder of His grace,
Come and seehow much He cares for you,
Gaze at the compassion on His face.

Come and touch the nail prints in His hands,
Find the Friend who truly understands,
Come and stand beneaththe blood-stained Cross,
Proof of His unchanging love for us.

He is worthy,worthy of our praise,
He is worthy,worthy of our praise,
He is glorious,He is wonderful,
He is everything to me!

Apathy - who cares?

Remember that irritating phrase - "whatever?" that was part of the American conversation for a few years? It was a way to casually sidestep commitment or opinion, "whatever, dude." It was the catch phrase of the stereo-typical detached young adult, intent on but one thing - having fun. Anything that asked for engagement, that required thought or effort, that would be costly was met with "Whatever!" I reacted viscerally to the whole thing. I couldn't be blasé in the company of such apathy. Curiously, it aroused something akin to rage in me! The phrase had faded from usage but not the attitude of apathy it represented. For many people, there is a studied indifference to life, to human need; yes, to God Himself.

Apathy comes to us from Latin roots - 'a' which means without; and "pathos" which means, feeling or emotion. There are multiple causes for the development of detachment. Depression is one common cause. Fatigue is another. Some people go at life or some problem full speed ahead, giving their all, and they burn out! When their expectations are frustrated, others do not respond with similar passion for the 'cause,' or their efforts make little difference, they are spent, disillusioned, and apathy results. I'd suggest that there is an even more common cause of apathy than any of the above - Self-absorption! We fall in love with ourselves, our comfort, our TV's, our diversions and games, and our exercise regimes. Our focus in life shifts from purposeful living in the service of Christ and others to ourselves. Because we are so 'busy' we live with the illusion that our lives are full and rich when, in fact, many of us are accomplishing little or nothing of value - frittering away the precious moments of life on worthless, empty activities that feed our self-centeredness!

The call of God is that we are passionate people, who care deeply. When asked how to please God, Jesus did not say, "Live a balanced life - making sure to get 8 hours of sleep each night, taking your exercise regularly, getting your manicure and massage, and scheduled vacations." The kind of life He requires is wildly passionate, engaged - "...love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” Luke 10:27-29 (The Message) Love of this quality is the very opposite of the apathy that marks the lives of so many people.

Jesus went on in that same passage to tell a story that illustrates the kind of love He is looking for in us. It's a familiar parable and many of you will be tempted to skim it, but I want to urge you to slow down and savor the words of the Master. He said,
“A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
“By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’
“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Luke 10:30-37 (NLT)

Two morally upright, religious, but self-absorbed men saw the bloody, beaten man by the road, but felt that their agenda was more important than loving another. With studied indifference they walked on by. I wonder if they said a quick prayer to soothe their consciences? But another, a person from a group that was felt to be morally and religiously inferior, let his heart be touched by the plight of another human being. He set aside his own plans and, at significant cost to himself, got involved! Jesus command? Go and do the same!

Think you can't make a difference, that your efforts are like a drop in the bucket?
Serve where you have opportunity. Make the difference for one, or two. Leave the rest to God and those He calls to serve alongside of you.

When we appear before Jesus to give an accounting of the way we used our resources and opportunities - He won't ask if we changed the world. He'll ask, "were you faithful?"

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ -- Matthew 25:34-40 (The Message)

Now, patiently wait for Him!

My daughter and I chatted on the phone yesterday about my dislike of 'loose ends' in life, I shared with her some of the ways in which I have recently observed God's plans working out- and I laughed as I said, "He really does love me!" How could I have ever thought otherwise, given my years of walking with the Lord? I haven't doubted His love, but like most people who He puts in His waiting room, leaving them in a situation that to all appearances isn't going well, I had been tempted to conclude that God had forgotten me or shelved me. Then, the knots started to unravel, the pieces started to fall into place, and I realized, anew, how He's been at work all along.

Habakkuk, the prophet, was tempted to conclude that God had stopped working. He went to prayer and heard these words from the Spirit: "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith." (Habakkuk 2:2-4, NLT)

In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul talks about the purposes of God working out in life, differently than he had planned, but ultimately for the greater good. He is under house arrest in Rome, kept from his preaching travels in the Empire. Those who looked at his life's situation could have concluded that God had sidelined the apostle in a dead-end place. But it wasn't true! God was allowing him to multiply his effectiveness by putting him among the 'movers and shakers' of the Roman world. He wrote, "everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ." (Philippians 1:12-14, NLT) He was evangelizing the soldiers of the palace guard, the elite young men of the realm! Everyday they stood in the room where he prayed, wrote, counseled, and taught. They learned about the living Lord. Some were converted and took the message back to their homes and families.

Be patient. Pray for faith. Ask God to steady you until you're able to grasp the 'what, why, and when' of His purposes. That's not an easy assignment. Some will mock you as you profess your trust in God. Like Job's not so wonderful wife who saw his plight, they will advise you to "Curse God and die!" (Job 2.9) But, like Job, hang onto your trust in Him. It's just fine to cry when it hurts. God sees your tears and weeps along with you. It's just fine to pray, "how long, Lord, before this night breaks into day?" He, too, is waiting for the day when His kingdom comes!

But, never doubt His love or His ability to accomplish His purposes!
Take this promise with you today. Meditate on it and let the eternal Word strengthen your faithful resolve to serve the Lord.

"So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed.They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them. “So you’ll go out in joy, you’ll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause." (Isaiah 55:11-12, The Message)

Can you see the Promised Land?

Some of you can probably remember when Bush I, ran for the Presidency of the U.S. against Bill Clinton. Much was made of "the vision thing," as the media dubbed it. It was claimed that President George H. W. Bush was a manager who led the nation without a clear leadership vision. Though he was a good and decent man, he failed to inspire the nation. Did he actually lack vision or was this accusation simply an invention of the press? I don't know, but what I do know is that the Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Proverbs 29:18, KJV) Vision is what causes us to sacrifice, to reach higher, to achieve great things. Without it, people give themselves over to fighting, to selfishness, to indulgence of sensual whims.

Vision is an incredibly important part of reaching God's goals - for our personal life, our family, our church, our local community, or our nation! My life is pulled along by a God-given vision of being a man whose words and actions honors the Lord- as a good and loving husband and father, and as a person who provides solid leadership to the local church that God has called me to shepherd. When that vision is sharp and clear, it makes saying "no" to certain things much easier. For example, when greed creeps up on me and whispers in my ear... if I start to look around and compare my pile of things with what others have... I am tempted by other more lucrative opportunities. But, if I look up and renew the vision, the voice of greed falls silent and I remain faithful to God's calling.

In the organization that I lead, I know that my greatest challenge, my most important work, is to impart vision, to help people see the 'Promised Land.' By that I don't just mean Heaven! God has charged me to help people see who they can be by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He has charged me to help people see the world as God desires it to be, not as it is. Am I always good at that? Nope, 'cause like Bush I, sometimes I fall into management instead of leadership. I get so taken with making sure that the system is running smoothly, that I don't see the 'big picture' as clearly as I should.

Visions are powerful, yet fragile. They motivate people to change, but they die without constant tending. Naturally, we are not visionary. It takes effort and inspiration to lift our eyes to see past our appetites, our comfort, our attachment to the present, to begin to love the vision of a new future! God calls on us to have faith and reminds us that without faith that 'sees' His vision for life, we will never please Him. To understand that, consider the story of the Exodus. When Moses led the Israeli people out of Egypt, they followed him with excitement- for a short while. When things got rough and they grew tired, the vision of the Promised Land faded and they started to whine: “We remember all the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic that we wanted. But now our appetites are gone, and day after day we have nothing to eat but this manna!” (Numbers 11:5-6, NLT) They forgot that those foods came to them at the cost of their freedom, at the cost of the lives of their sons and daughters. They forgot that they were slaves and remembered only the stuff that they put in their bellies!

What vision has God given to you?
Are you keeping it sharp, tending it, renewing it by regular times when you re-connect with the Spirit who gave it to you?

Memory is deceptive and selective! Yesterday's victories and defeats must be left behind as we pursue the calling that God has given to us. If we look back, a rosy glow will come over our vision causing us to long for what we can never have again. We will fall into sin as our vision is clouded with reminisce. If we look forward, God will show us the "Promised Land" of His provision,drawing us to become holy people that honor His Name.

Here's the promise - “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike." (Joel 2:28-29, NLT) _______________________

Father, give me spiritual eyes that see the promise,
the possible, not just the probable.
Renew Your dream in me, causing me to see the Promised Land.
When I start to love my food, my TV, my comfort -
more than I love You, Your callings -
forgive me and send me messengers that renew the vision.
Pour out the Spirit on me, like a refreshing rain that causes
new life to burst out.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

"I know the truth!" Really?

When I was a younger man, I lived with the illusion that all questions had easy answers, that all problems had simple solutions! I made a fool of myself more than once by suggesting that I understood things that I didn't 'get' at all. I ignored the mysteries of life, preferring 'black and white' to gray. I'm still an action-oriented guy, who pushes for solutions and results. However I've also learned that seldom, if ever, is a situation exactly what it appears to be on the surface because life is multi-faceted with overlapping issues and competing needs; and people are complex- a mix of good and evil, of high and low motives. Thus, I now conclude that the best solutions and answers to the challenges that we encounter in life will emerge from rich dialogue involving diverse perspectives.

These days there are few things get under my skin as much as labels that lead to simplistic, jingoistic jargon and avoidance of real interaction. Sticking a pejorative label on another person makes it easy to ignore everything he has to say.
Why would a 'liberal' listen to a 'conservative?'
What can a "Presbyterian" learn from a "Pentecostal"? (or vice versa!)
Why would a "Bible-believing" Christian engage in dialogue with a "neo-orthodox" Christian?
Can those of "free will" Arminian and "sovereignty of God" Reformed persuasions come together in the cause of the Kingdom?
Is there common ground to be found between those committed to "contemporary" and "traditional" worship styles?
Yes, I know that these labels help us to identify our positions on various issues. I am not suggesting that having convictions or doctrinal persuasions is a terrible thing. What I'm advocating is listening without immediate judgment! It's amazing what we can learn from a person with a very different point of view when we take time to really talk with them, to draw them out from behind their defenses. But, given our human pride, active and engaged listening is a skill that is most difficult to learn well!

Listen to this appeal from the Scripture - "I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. I bring this up because some from Chloe’s family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you’re fighting among yourselves! I’ll tell you exactly what I was told: You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.” I ask you, “Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, The Message)

If you and I hope to reach our world with the Good News about Jesus Christ we must learn to listen! We cannot offer answer until we understand the questions. I know that I've been guilty too often of offering people answers for questions they aren't asking, because I only half-listened to them, only half-understood their situation, and then presented them with a solution that fit my pre-conceived notions about their need. Francis Schaeffer was a prophetic voice whose writings had wide influence on Christianity a generation ago. Though he was a man of keen intellect and sharp insight, a person who had clearly defined theology and strong convictions, he was also very effective in sharing the Christian message with those most resistant to evangelism. He did it by listening! He took time to understand the culture, to learn the language and philosophy of the time, and then to wisely allow the Spirit to form his words into new ways of presenting the unchanging truth of the Gospel. In the late 70's and early 80's Dr. Schaeffer was a leading prophetic voice whose influence is still felt throughout the Church today.

Are you listening? Are building walls around or bridges to other people?

OK, it's 26.2 miles!

Some of you had a little fun with me yesterday, most probably missed the gaff. A marathon run is not 23 miles as I wrote. Since 1924, the length of the run has been fixed at 42195 meters, or 26.22 miles! OK? I told you I wasn't an athlete! A little nagging voice in my head said, "do a fact check before you sent out that TFTD." I didn't. Chalk it up to too much confidence in recall, or whatever. I was mistaken. As each email arrived to tell me of my error, I laughed a little more, wondering how many others caught me but didn't write. What's that line, "to err is human, to forgive is divine?"

Mistakes, failure, and sin creeps into our lives through many doors.

Perhaps we're just over-confident. "It could never happen to me! I'm better than that." are thoughts that are the prelude to disaster. God's wisdom reminds each one of us of the importance of humility: "You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence." 1 Corinthians 10:12 (The Message) Maturity does not show itself in brags and boasts. It is revealed in the realization that each of us is just one slip from disaster. So we pray, with ever greater sincerity, "deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:13 (NIV)

Perhaps we're compromising our once high standards. When things go well for a spell, we tend to relax our guard, don't we? There is nothing like success to create complacency in us. Like Samson of old, as we experience victory upon victory, we are tempted to stop doing the things that brought us to those successes in the first place. He defeated the enemies of Israel and then started to flirt with one of the beautiful women from the Philistine nation. Delilah's fingers ran through his hair and she made the mighty man forget himself. When she had led him to compromise his promises to God, she called in her compatriots. When Samson sensed the danger, he sprang to his feet thinking he would fight them off. What follows is one of the tragic lines in the Bible - "I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." Judges 16:20 (KJV) He compromised, broke his intimate ties to the Spirit of God from whom he got his amazing abilities, and became the slave of those he had once vanquished in battle.

Perhaps we're under attack. Ah, I like that one because it relieves me of responsibility! I know now why I got the marathon length wrong. The Devil made me do it. Seriously, we need to take note of the fact that there is a real conspiracy against God and good, coordinated by the mastermind of evil. I believe in a real Devil who organizes the spiritual forces of darkness against God's work, God's people, and this creation which is the handwork of God. The Bible tells us that he is real, militant, and seeking our destruction. He adopts whatever tactics necessary. In one Bible passage he is said to go about as a 'roaring lion seeking who he may devour.' In another he is said to masquerade as an 'angel of light.' He doesn't fight fair, does not care for whatever pain and suffering he creates. His goal - to discredit, to devalue, to destroy! But, if you and I stand close to God, we are strong to resist him. Thus James teaches us - "let God work his will in you. Yell a loud 'No' to the Devil and watch him scamper." James 4:7 (The Message)

Have you failed recently? Was it something much more significant than getting the length of race wrong?

Make failure your friend! John Maxwell, former pastor, author, and teacher wrote a book he titled, Failing Forward. (Nelson, 2000) Neat line, isn't it?

In it he contrasts allowing failure to ruin us - failing backward;- and using failure to learn - failing forward.
Some, he writes, blame others, repeat the same mistakes, expect that they will never fail again, accept tradition blindly, allow themselves to be defined by their mistakes, and/or quit. They fail backward.
Others take responsibility, learn, understand that failing is part of the process and inevitable in progress, challenge old assumptions, and persevere. That's failing forward!

Here's a word from the Word to think on today -

Stalwart walks in step with God;
his path blazed by God, he’s happy.
If he stumbles, he’s not down for long;
God has a grip on his hand. -- Psalm 37:23-24 (The Message)

Practice makes perfect

I am not an athlete, never been, not likely that I ever will be. I could be but I lack the motivation to train, thus I condemn myself to only being a spectator. Recently I read the story of a middle-aged man, much like myself, who decided that he would run a marathon after seeing his daughter finish one. He was out of shape, had never even jogged, much less done something as rigorous as running a 23 mile race. But he was inspired by his daughter's achievement and wanted to match it. He began with a mile run. He felt like his chest was going to explode, like he was going to die halfway through that first run. Six months later, he finished a marathon! How did he do it? Daily training- running, conditioning, eating healthy foods, getting rest. Practice made perfect! We usually think of the word 'perfect' as meaning flawless, but in that context it means 'complete.' He was able to do what he intended to do because he trained his body in daily disciplined exercise.

The Christian life is a process that is a lot like preparing for a long distance run! We 'ooh' and 'aah' over the stories about great Believers whose lives are well-lived, examples of faith, and productive in terms of making a Kingdom difference in the world. In the same breath, many of us say, "I wish I could do that" but we really don't mean it. Here's how I know that many believers do not really intend to become great Christians. They don't do the daily disciplines, practice the habits that create the maturity of spirit and character, that lead to greatness. Said practically, if a person will not make the choices to get to worship faithfully, to contribute a portion of his income to God, to participate in some kind of unselfish service regularly, to meditate and pray each day - he's as incapable of doing great things for God as I am to run a marathon today! Some small part of me would like to run a marathon, too, but it's not going to happen unless I get off of my behind, pull on those running shoes, and get on the road! God has given us daily disciplines to build endurance and maturity in us. Those disciplines pattern us and enable us to live mature and complete lives, full of the Spirit, that defeat the Evil One, that create loving spaces in a hate filled world, and that cause others to say, "God be praised!"

Some people miss the point entirely of spiritual disciplines. They begin to worship the disciplines, rather than the Lord. Instead of understanding that the disciplines are just the means of opening up clear channels through which the Holy Spirit works to create maturity and power, they think that the disciplines themselves are the power! These misguided ones become like the guy who keeps training, but never enters the competition. Why train if you're not going to compete?

Ask God to give you a goal that's bigger than your present abilities, an 'impossible' vision. Then pray for the wisdom and courage to start small, to practice until you're matured, completed, enabled to do what that thing that you could only dream about before your training began. At the end of that race, there is a reward that is eternal, that does not tarnish, that no one can eclipse, or take away.

How are you living your life - for today, or for eternity?
Have you set your sights on God's home, on finishing well;
or are you seeking to be comfortable today, to satisfy the demands and desires that arise in you right now?

Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion.
Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please!
Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so,
making you fit both today and forever.
You can count on this. Take it to heart. 1 Timothy 4:7-9 (The Message)

Pressure produces diamonds!

Anyone can smile, be loving, and appear stable when life's ship is sailing on smooth seas, under sunny skies! Heroes are made in times of crisis, when, from the crowded ranks of the ordinary, she takes the lead, points the way, and rallies others to success. The theory is that ordinary carbon atoms - one of the most common elements on earth - are transformed by extreme heat and pressure into the crystalline gems, diamonds, that are both industrially useful and beautifully decorative. Of course, there are carbon atoms compressed into beds of coal, too!

Paul, a man whose life was fairly safe and routine within the mainstream of his community, heard God's call and responded with obedience. If you've read the book of the Acts of the Apostles, you know that from that day on the road to Damascus where he first made a commitment to the Lord, his life was filled with difficulty as he took up the challenge to take the message about Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, to the Empire. At one point, it got so tough, Paul thought it was 'game over.' He reflected on that experience in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians: "We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." - 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)

He is describing the stress and pressure of his calling. And what was that? In addition to being repeatedly arrested, tossed out of cities, even beaten; he was often criticized by people in the very churches he formed, under attack spiritually, and simply exhausted by the rigors of travel. He says, "we were under great pressure," and in from that pressure- a diamond, useful and beautiful, emerged from the life of the former Pharisee. I just love his wry commentary - "we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!" (The Message)

When we are subjected to pressure, how we respond results from a combination of factors; personality, training, past experience, and spiritual depth. Of those, only one is beyond our control- personality. We can prepare to emerge from life's pressures as a gem for Christ; if we will allow ourselves to be schooled and patterned by the disciplines of the Spirit, if we will use the experiences of life to grow, and if we will let God develop real spiritual character and depth in us. In reality, most of us live carefully and safely, avoiding situations that might subject us to pressure whenever possible. Some don't respond affirmatively to God's call and offer of spiritual gifts because they know that they will be held to account, that He demands the best and highest, and that they will have to say, 'no,' to Self interests. Some avoid conflict instead of confronting wrong and/or evil. For some, should life become difficult, their response is to complain, whine, and wait for someone to ride to rescue. But others rise to the occasion, seeking God's powerful Presence, and they emerge as heroes of the Kingdom!

Are you courageously embracing God's callings? Is the result that you find yourself under pressure, criticized, stressed by multiple responsibilities, pushed past what you thought were your limits of endurance? Trust God!

Do what people who become heroes do.
Prepare for challenge with discipline. Don't whine!
Build a team that gives support. God doesn't build His work on Lone Rangers.
Know when to take a strategic retreat for restoration. Even Jesus allowed for 'down time.'
Focus on the goal.
And, most importantly, let God be God and trust Him who 'raises the dead!'

Patiently?

Yesterday, I tore into the pile of mulch in my driveway at warp speed, delivering it to the flowerbeds around the house as fast as my friends could spread it. Why the need for speed? I don't know! I just wanted to 'get it done!' Then, I tried to start the leaf blower to clean up the dust left on the drive. It wouldn't fire... even after a couple of dozens of pulls. I could feel my level of irritation rising. I was tempted to toss the blower across the yard. Of course, that would have been doubly dumb, wouldn't it? I've lived long enough to know that I have to work at giving things time to work out. This is one of those months when, in my life, there is a whole lot of unfinished business. As a result, I have to commit and re-commit my way to the Lord, asking Him to work on me, and in me, so that I will not rush ahead into folly!

Truthfully, I do not know many people who enjoy waiting - especially the kind of waiting that involves big challenges, lots of pain, or apparently intractable problems. Be it war, cancer, or raising teenagers- waiting for an answer, some resolution, or an end; is not easy. God operates on a different schedule than you and me, doesn't He? I must admit that there are times when I want Him to act NOW. I tire of waiting and waiting for His will and work to be done. The Psalmist shared that impatience.

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying,
“We have defeated him!”Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.- Psalm 13:1-4 (NLT)

Desperation fills that song, doesn't it? Is it anguish or impatience that fuels that refrain, "how long, how long, how long?" No matter. Read on for the Psalmist's conclusion.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he has been so good to me. -Psalm 13:5-6 (NLT)

God's unfailing love is the hope of the harried, the rest for the weary, the source of serenity for those strained by life!Take charge of your restless mind, your turbulent soul, and wait for the Lord.This morning, precisely because I know the pressures to which I will be subjected today, I carved out a time alone with God. I sat quietly in His Presence and waited!I prayed for eyes to see the long view, the willingness to wait for Him without complaint. I know that in time not very distant my song will change. He will act, just as He has done in the past.
My new song will be:

I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust!- Psalm 40:1-4 (NIV)

Wait on Him. He has not forsaken you. He knows your need and He will meet it - in His time, in His way.

"Well, at least I believe in God."

A parent of a young adult whose life lacked any real evidence of loving God despite being raised in a Believer's home told me that her daughter's retort to encouragement to return to God was generally, "Well, at least I believe in God!" There are many people, it seems, who take refuge from a guilty conscience and from a gnawing sense of the judgment of Heaven by making that declaration. They apparently think that how they conduct their lives is unimportant so long as they mentally acknowledge the existence of a living God and profess their belief in Him.

Are you one of those whose professed beliefs are disconnected from life's choices? Christianity is not simply a matter of 'knowing;' it is faithfilled living in submission to Jesus Christ.

IF we really believe that God exists and that He had made His will known through the Word and by the Spirit, our daily behaviors will be altered. How can we really know that He is the Lord, the One who sees our hearts, the Judge to who we will give an account for our thoughts, words, and actions - and not conform our lives to His will?

"Jerry, are you saying that we can make ourselves holy, that we can please God through our own efforts alone?" No, friend, no! However, if we really believe in the God of the Word, the Awesome and Holy Lord of Life, we will not simply 'sin and grin,' excusing our self-indulgence as being merely 'human.' The Proverbs teaches us that the "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding." (Proverbs 9:10, NLT) A vision of the living God, high and exalted, drives us to humility before Him. In that humility, we receive the life of the Spirit, and we are changed - inside out!

I believe the 'sloppy Agape' that characterizes too many 'Christian' lives is the result of a low view of God. When He is tamed, when we steal His majesty - our commitment wanes and we become careless about holy living. Jesus talks about the importance of choosing to base our lives on His words. Take a look at this-

“You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds. “Why are you so polite with me, always saying ‘Yes, sir,’ and ‘That’s right, sir,’ but never doing a thing I tell you?"
"These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on." (Luke 6:43-47, The Message)

Are you torn between loving God and doing your own thing?
Do you find it a grind to obey Him, to serve Him with anything approaching real joy?

Here's a thought from Tony Campolo. Take it with you today, as you ask God to change BELIEF into GENUINE FAITH that inspires a life of devotion.

“Joy in Christ requires a commitment to working at the Christian lifestyle. Salvation comes as a gift, but the joy of salvation demands disciplined action. Most Christians I know have just enough of the Gospel to make them miserable, but not enough to make them joyful. They know enough about the biblical message to keep them form doing the things which the world tempts them to do; but they do not have enough of a commitment to God to do those things through which they might experience the fullness of his joy.” (Seven Deadly Sins)

Deal with it, NOW!

A New England fishing boat captain explained the dangers of icing to a young sailor. Ice can sink a boat in the Atlantic. Well, sure it can, if you run into an iceberg, except that the fishing captain wasn't talking about big chunks of floating ice. He was talking about another kind of ice that forms slowly and almost unnoticed. The continual spray of the ocean in the cold of winter causes ice to build up on the boat, weighing her down so that she sits lower in the water. If she is too weighted by the ice, when a wave sweeps up to the bow, she may dip into the sea and take on so much water, that she'll sink. The young crewman's job was to take a bat and hit the ice, knocking it off- again and again.

Pilots know the dangers of icing, too. Ice build up on the wings causes extra weight and reduces the aerodynamic effect of 'lift' creating a very real danger. It doesn't take much ice, either. This is something my own family experienced several years ago when my uncle Dean, who piloted a corporate jet, died after flying into icing conditions that took his plane down!

Believer, there is a danger to our spiritual well-being that is similar to those accounts. Just a little 'willfulness,' a small deviation from what we know to be right, good, and the will of God, creates a weight. The drag created by that disobedience allows other sins to stick more easily and we sink lower... and lower. We don't turn away from God in one dramatic moment. We drift away from Him, one tiny step after another. Scripture warns, "It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off." (Hebrews 2:1, The Message) In His parable about seeds and soils, which is about the Word of God and our hearts, Jesus says - "the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19, NIV)

It is so much easier to deal with things earlier, rather than later. Not allowing a bad habit to start is much simpler than breaking one after that pattern gets engrained in us. James creates a colorful illustration to help us understand the way that temptation turns into death! "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers." (James 1:14-16, NIV) Making love to desires of disobedience creates the possibility of getting pregnant with sin! Could he be clearer?

This TFTD is not written to imply that you and I can save ourselves from God's judgment through scrupulous attention to self-righteousness! You can keep all the rules in the world and drive everybody around you crazy with your nit-picking at human failures and foibles and still be far from God. The Pharisees who show up frequently in the Gospels were great at writing and keeping rules, but they didn't really love God, nor did they have the life of the Spirit in them. If you have not met Christ as Savior, received His forgiveness, and been made alive in a conversion brought by the Holy Spirit - that is what you need to start. That said, the importance of daily holiness, of walking 'in the Spirit,' cannot be under-stated. Yes, it's dramatic but it's Biblical. "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NLT) Even more insidious to our spiritual vitality is - dangerous drift!

Do a spiritual check-up today. Invite the Holy Spirit to shine the Light into the corners of your heart and mind.
Are you holding onto unforgiveness, giving bitterness a toe-hold?
Are you careless about your prayers, your attendance to worship, or the daily disciplines of the soul?
Are you flirting with temptation, giving thoughts of disobedience to God a place to rest in your mind?

Turn to Him! Make a clean break with that thing with the help of the Spirit, your Advocate, the Helper.
Call that behavior what God calls it! Don't go easy, don't 'pretty it up!'
Enlist the help of another Believer to break the ice that is weighing your down from your life.

Practice the disciplines of spiritual formation which allow the seed of Gospel of Christ to grow, producing a bountiful harvest of goodness in you, which is for the glory of God, the Father. Amen!

Fresh, but not new!

Seems to me that a fad to discover some 'new' truth about Jesus has really gained momentum in the last year or two. Even authors I really respect are caught up in this pursuit of "re-discovery of Jesus' true message and identity. Everything that I've been taught about Him is being questioned by somebody, somewhere - at least that how it seems to me. It leads to a lot of speculative nonsense finding its way onto paper, into blogs, and being published in books. Most of it will be forgotten in a year or two. Does anybody really remember the controversies raised by "The Last Temptation of Christ," or "The Passover Plot"? Huh? Exactly!

The stories recorded in the inspired texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have stood the test of time, telling us about a Man who is also God, who lived - and died - and rose again - in a dusty out of the way place called Palestine, during a time when the Romans ruled. His timeless story has inspired people from primitive cultures in the Amazonian jungles and in luxury Manhattan apartments. The not so bright and the intellectual are moved by His sacrificial love displayed in His willingness to die on the Cross. The young and the old are thrilled by the miracles that attest to His uniqueness.

I am not saying that applying the ancient Gospel to our lives and times in fresh ways is wrong! That is the most wonderful and amazing thing about Him. He doesn't fall 'out of style' or become irrelevant. Nor I am saying that it is a terrible thing to re-examine our understanding of the Gospel texts from time to time for it is true that ideas not found in the text get attached to it that corrupt it. So make it fresh! But don't re-write the Bible. Find Him, but don't try to do a "Jesus make over" that robs Him of His majesty and message.

Jesus is a controversial and shocking Individual. He said outrageous things, made claims that are stupendous! He provokes and prods, demanding our attention and devotion. We don't do Him or the Gospel a service by trying to round off the edges. He meant to challenge the status quo. He meant to call us to change, to tell us that there was a new Way back to God opening up through Him. In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says it best:

• "I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.
  Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse .... You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to.”

Here's a word from the Word. Believer, it may be familiar to you and therefore you'll be tempted to let your eyes quickly run through it... but don't!

Ponder it, meditate on it, believe it - and the testimony it makes about Him.

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, 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. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:10-14, NKJV)
_____________________

Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Jesus! What a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted tried and sometimes failing,
He, my strength my victory wins.

Jesus! I do now receive Him;
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness;
I am His and He is mine.


Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.


Our Great Savior- Chapman, J. Wilbur / Prichard, Rowland H.- Copyright: Public Domain

A Mind of Faith!

Last night before I went to bed, I watched House. It's a drama centered on an egotistical, rude, and brilliant physician, Dr. House, played by Hugh Laurie. The series stretches credibility in that a person with the ill manners of House would not survive the flood of lawsuits provoked by his meanness, but the writing is good, and the medical mysteries are engaging. In last night's episode, House vs. God, the doctor, who is committed to the principle that all developments have rational explanations, is faced with events he cannot explain. A boy healer, who prays for the sick in the name of Jesus, supposedly heals a woman with cancer while he is hospitalized. In the end, Dr. House figures out the 'healing' has a natural explanation, although it happens through an amazing convergence of factors. The choice that the program sets up is irrational faith or rational science.

Is that really the either/or that we must choose?
Does it all really come down to a choice between believing God irrationally or trusting 'science' and keeping our intellectual integrity?

There is a lot of arrogance in the assertion that we can understand everything and that we can explain all of life by scientific means. Of course, there is a kind of proud ignorance that hides from the mysteries of life behind superficial 'faith' phrases and proof texts from the Bible, too. Genuine humility allows us to think rationally yet to admit that there are things happening around us that defy our explanations. For example, scientific inquiry leads some to the "Big Bang" theory as an explanation for the origin of our universe. Great! Now tell me, what/who was the First Cause for that event? We have detailed knowledge of the life process, the insemination of the egg by the sperm, and the wonder of development of an embryo that emerges from the womb 9 months later as a baby, but what causes that 'spark' of life?

I am ever so thankful for those whose study and science have given us aspirin, electricity, and the Internet. I will use those technologies to make my life better and more productive, but I will also retain my faith in God that gives my life meaning and purpose! How about you? I won't let myself be forced into what I think is a false choice between rational thought and genuine faith. To set up up a choice between the 'head' and the 'heart' is a terrible mistake and it ignores Jesus challenge to us. He said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37, NLT)

Rick Nanez, in a book titled Full Gospel, Fractured Minds, writes this - "Christianity with zeal and emotion, yet without knowledge and intellectual prowess, fits ideally into a society such as ours, where a nonrational, feelings-oriented, subjective way of life is customary. Yet as children of the Kingdom, God urges us to be radically distinct ... Reason and logic are gifts from God; the mind and the intellect are, in large measure, His image in us; and science, education, and the arts are at their best when under the dominion of those who are called out from the blinding clutches of those with a fallen world-view."

Let's not be lazy about using the mind that God gave us, nor so arrogant that we are unwilling to trust the Word and the Spirit when He leads us to faith. Rather with holy hearts and minds, let's serve the Lord God.

"In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But do this with gentleness and respect," (1 Peter 3:15, NIV)

Between now and then

My son heard me say something about abandoning a project and said, "Come on, Dad, you know you won't do that. You're a finisher!" And so I am. I like to complete tasks and measure life's successes mostly by forward movement. At this time, however, the 'to be completed' list in my life is longer than I'd like it to be. Last night I was awake at several times, staring into the darkness, trying to figure out a way to move the ball down the field on a couple of them. Then I remembered several friends of mine that are living with situations that apparently have no resolution - chronic and severe illness,a family member that is struggling with mental illness, an addiction that is just waiting for an 'invitation' to take over their life again. That that light, my issues with mortgages, yet to be found associates, and some unfinished projects were not all that important! Isn't the way the Holy Spirit gives us perspective a wonderful thing?

The fact is - we all live with the tension of anticipation versus realization! That is what faith is all about. Faith bridges the gap, according the Bible, between what is and what we hope for, between God's promises and our current struggles. Faith lifts us up to see over the horizon of time into eternity. It's great to talk about faith and to hear faith stories, but living in faith is usually hard. When everything is going our way - when we've won a victory, realized a dream - we are not all that 'faith aware' because we're absorbed by the present, living in the moment. But then come those times when God says, "Let's go." He points us to a distant goal, planting a vision in us. Most of the time we don't know just how long the journey will be or what the obstacles will be along the way; thank God! If we did, we might not start to follow Him! God wisely lets faith grow in us to meet the challenges as they arise.

Jesus walked along Galilee's shores inviting some fishermen to follow Him. He said, "Come, follow me, and I'll make you fishers of men." He didn't say, "If you follow me, in a few years your lives will become incredibly difficult, full of sorrows, and you will die an early death as a martyr!" If He had, I wonder if Simon, James, or John would have ever left Capernaum? He let them glimpse the goal, set a vision in their hearts, and then walked with them in through the process of realizing the dream!

God spoke to Abram, “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you. I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram left just as God said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." (Genesis 12:1-4, The Message) What God left unsaid, for the time, was that Abram would be a pilgrim, a wanderer, for much his life; that he would live only hoping for the promised son for decades.

Are you presently living in one of those 'between' times of life? Did you hear the call, receive the promise, and now you're on the journey?

When we set out to possess the promised land, we descend from the heights where the vision is given, down into the valley where we encounter the challenges. That is where faith grows stronger. That is when we pray, "Lord, remind me of Your promise. Lift me up, now and then, to catch a glimpse of the goal again." And He does, and He will!

Here's a word on which to meditate today -- "Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God’s throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." (Hebrews 12:1-4, NLT)
______________________________

I'm pressing on the upward way,
new heights I'm gaining everyday.
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
'Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!'

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand,
by faith on Heaven's table land;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

I want to live above the world,
where Satan's darts at me are hurled.
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
the songs of saints on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay,
where doubts arise and fears dismay.
Though some may dwell where these abound,
my prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand,
by faith on Heaven's table land;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
- Johnson Oatman

"Me, Myself, and I"

Our grandsons, ages 2 and 4, are at that stage in life when they are possessive - "It's my toy," but not yet mature enough to understand the concept of sharing. My son tells me that they fight, raising a racket in the house. Ah, I remember the days so well! Seems that some of us never really do grow up. I know adults that approach life like a 2 year old - "It's mine!" - insisting on holding onto things, positions, titles, ministries, etc. for no other reason than than their own ego needs.

Sometimes it's just about control. A friend was describing his unpleasant encounter with his neighbor over the erection of a fence. He got a survey map and determined where the property line was. Then he put up a fence. The neighbor went ballistic, over a whole 3 feet of land. Despite the map, he wanted to exercise control over that little strip of property. Then, too, I've watched my grandsons hold onto one toy while trying to play with another. Why? Just so the other can't have it!

Sometimes it's about making a statement. A few years ago I discovered that an employee of an organization that I headed was using false credentials, claiming to hold an advanced degree. I was familiar with the institution from which he said he had earned the doctorate and knew that they didn't offer a degree in that field. So, I asked him to produce a transcript to substantiate his claim. He walked out the door and never returned! I later learned he was still claiming to be Dr. ________! He needed to be somebody more than he needed his integrity.

Sometimes it's about affirmation. "Please notice me, tell me I'm important." Over the years I've more than a few people who did all the right things for all the wrong reasons. They put in hundreds of hours in their ministry. They gave 'til it hurt. They built up 'ministries' - but not for the Lord, not to serve others. Their true motive? Recognition! The tragic thing about that is that ego always spoils the work, casts a shadow over all the good that is done. The agenda gets twisted into being about the person's needs rather than about the needs of those being 'served.' Often everybody knows it, except the person who is so desperate to be needed and affirmed.

Jesus knew how powerful the pull of selfishness is and so He taught about it. Read the following passage carefully, thoughtfully, prayerfully. And, hey, don't start to think, "I sure hope ______ is reading this." Invite the Spirit to shine the light on your own motives.

“Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." (Matthew 5:48-6:4, The Message)

Practice the discipline of humility. Serve somebody anonymously!
Do something like cleaning up the bathroom without telling anybody. That's not pleasant, is it? Find a way to serve, in your set of circumstances, where there is no possibility of being recognized. Thank God for the opportunity to learn humility. When we practice that kind of discipline regularly, it breaks the very nature "me, myself, and I" orientation of our sinful nature. It patterns our mind and heart to be like Jesus. As we struggle with our pride, we become desperate and that causes us to rely on the Spirit for change.

Here's a word from the Word for today.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name." (Philippians 2:5-9, NKJV)
______________

Father, I'm proud, but not proud of it.
I love applause, eat up affirmation, and like to be first.
Holy Spirit, restrain those impulses from shaping the way I 'serve' others.
Put them to death in me so that Your work through me is never stained with pride's ugliness.
Make me a servant, thoughtless of the reward, content in obedience.
Let me live in harmony with others,
seeking only the praise and glory of my Savior, Jesus,
in whose Name I make this prayer. Amen."