Okay, I'm a little different. While most people who blog are posting their "Top 5" or even "Top 10" posts for the year I decided to scale back to my "Top 4". It was a very scientific process to choose my top 3 posts. I first had to open my Chrome browser and then choose "2012" from my blog list. It did get more difficult as I then had to read each post that I had written through the year. Yes, I realize that I was a slacker through the year and didn't have that many to choose from, but it was quickly evident that I had my 4 chosen. How? Uhm, I just liked them. Nothing more than that, no hit counts, no popularity search criteria; just my preference on the posts.
So here they are in reverse order, as to build a little suspense:
#4)God's Amazing Grace - Written on my birthday of this year. I go back through my life and point out the grace of God throughout my life.
#3)Altar-ed Call - After seeing The Rhett Walker Band in concert I had to endure a very extended altar call before being able to purchase a T-Shirt.
#2)A Damaged Testimony - Just some reflections on how a lot of people perceive what a "testimony" is.
#1)The Scope Of your Influence - Yes, I am a huge Duck Dynasty fan. I love that show. The Robertson family uses the platform that God blessed them with to share the Gospel. I just was trying to point out that everyone has a distinct platform as well, or scope of influence, that no one else has and God can and does use that to reach others. Just because we are not millionaires doesn't mean that God can't use you to reach others. Actually that is His most common method, using His body. Plus I linked to clips of Phil and Jase sharing the Gospel before they were famous from their TV show.
Hopefully in 2013 I will be doing a little more writing. Pray for me to be able to do that. Although I am not a "real" writer, I do like to share what God puts in my life and on my heart through my every day circumstances. Hopefully I will be able to share how God is working in the midst of a great trial my family is embroiled in now, but can't at this time due to court proceedings. God has been gracious to me and my family. He continues to extend His yoke and allow us to put our burdens upon Him as He fights for us. He is our Rock and Shelter, He has promised nothing but good to us, even in the face of adversity we know that He is firmly in control and that no attack of the enemy has a chance against His will. We pray for those that seem to be our enemy, even though they do lash out and try to cause pain we still desire peace and to show God's glory through everything. We are not perfect and we have and sometimes still do react out of the flesh, but God still uses that to show us how much we desperately need Him in all aspects of our life - the valleys and the mountain tops. To God Be The Glory! Great Things He Has Done!
Admittedly, I do not listen to a whole
lot of CCM radio. I've outlined the “why” in several blogs
before (Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here and Here). The main reason is that Philips, Craig and Dean are
prominently played and promoted and PC&D being heretics I cannot
support that. A second, and close, reason is that the DJs are really
“squishy” with what they say. Well, “squishy” is putting it
mildly, they are sometimes heretical, and so I don’t listen. If CCM
radio, in general, were to do away with the DJs and cut out the
heretical songs and artists, then I might listen more often.
This past week was different in my
listening of the radio. I basically worked alone in the office, so I
pulled out my trusty boombox and turned on KLOVE. I did have to turn
it down a few times, but being in and out of the office all day the
turning down of the volume knob was few and far between. I was
pleasantly surprised….. Except for one issue that has been being
pushed this whole week; the 30 day music challenge.
On the surface we all say, “Yes,
listen to Christian music exclusively and you’ll ‘feel’ better.
You will ‘be happier’. You will ‘smile more’. You will ……..”.
And therein also lies the issues, the music is being pushed as a cure
to whatever ails you, wherever you have shortcomings in your life
will miraculously be cured. Poof. That also opens up the true issue,
pointing to music to change one’s life instead of pointing to
Christ. Why can’t these DJs and stations (not only KLOVE – AFR
does some of the same things) give a clear representation of the Gospel each
hour instead of pushing their agenda to get people to listen to their
station more? Why can’t a “Christian” station not promote
Christ instead of what could very well be some great side benefits of
an actual relationship with Him?
You see similar issues through the
year, most notably during their pledge drives. This is where they set
aside a few weeks a year to guilt their listeners into donating
money. What happened to God supplying the means in His ministries?
Instead of “God has supplied” it has turned into “our listeners
make this happen”. This is a firm, yet subtle, insistence that “we”
humans make things happen and we are to be praised for it. Wrong.
Hudson Taylor put it greatly when he said, “God’s work done in
God’s time will never lack God’s supply”. Taylor’s words
should ring true to all Christians that instead of a focus on funding
and all of the “what can I do” thoughts, we should place our
focus on God and let Him bring in the support. That would take a huge
burden off of all those involved, that is if you actually believe God
will support His ministries. It probably wouldn't be a stretch to
say there are a lot of “ministries” out there, radio stations,
shelters, food banks and even churches that a long time ago took God
out of the equation and He has decided to stay out. What is sad is
that these ministries keep on chuggin’ along, trying to make ends
meet, doing a lot of “good” but doing it in their own power,
which doesn't glorify God and may actually be sin.
It would be really good if KLOVE were
to say, “Listening to CCM music may make you 'feel' better, but the
only One that can change you is Jesus Christ”, then go into a full
Gospel presentation. That is something that is noticeably absent from
“Christian Radio” - the Gospel. When all that a ministry is is to
share the Gospel, not relaying the Gospel really shows a lot. Of
course “Jesus” is mentioned from time to time, but for the most
part it is a lot of “Do, do, do” and works, like M.A.D. Monday
(Make a difference Monday). M.A.D. Monday is the idea of just being
“good” makes a difference in someone's life AND you don't have to
say anything about Christ in the process. Sure, paying for my lunch
in the drive-thru may make a $5 difference in my checking account,
but how is that impacting the Kingdom? How is doing something for
“goodness sake” letting someone know about Christ? This kind of
thinking goes along with the quote from St. Francis of Assisi, “
Preach the gospel and use words if necessary”. It sounds good , but
it is detrimental to the Kingdom. (See this article)
I really want to like CCM radio, I
really do, but I just can't in its present state. I can't like the
fact that know heretics are promoted, I can't like the fact that
works seem to be a major focus, I can't like that funding is shilled
like carnival barker coaxing patrons in with promises unfounded. Why
oh why can't the focus be on Christ? Why can't the pledge drives talk
about how great Christ is and therefore how great an honor it is to
join in His work, instead of telling people how dependent the station
is on them? Why can't listeners be encouraged to share the Gospel,
with words and in tangible ways that will make a positive impact on
the Kingdom? I guess my listening to CCM radio will continue as
normal, sporadic, with glimpses of hope that one day they will
realize their focus is blurred. Until then, I will continue listening
to my music via my phone's MP3 player 99% of the time, all the time
having hope that God will one day be the focus of radio stations that
claim to follow Him.
I've seen it firsthand. Actually I am seeing it more readily now. The bending of morality to the point of breaking. Once a person's morals are weakened then it makes it easier for them to bend and break in other areas. So, what is the reason for this? Let's explore it together.
Any number of "bendings" may start the slide down the slippery slope, which is then followed by any other "bending". All are rooted in either personal gratification or an skewed view of humanity and the Aleister Crowley view of "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law". In other words, "If it feels good to you then no one else can say anything about it". You may also have heard this, seemingly harmless, put as "Live and let live". It does sound quite cushy and respective of others, but it can and is very damaging. Of course, this way of thinking is built around the post-modern thinks of "all truths are valid", which is self-contradictory and refutes itself in those 4 words.
Truth is a "static" thing; it doesn't move, it doesn't waver and it is fixed. Nothing can change a truth, nothing can prove a truth incorrect or invalid. Some people today would have you believe that "truth" is whatever you perceive as reality. This could go as far as saying 2+2=5 can be correct to you. Of course, anyone with a 1st grade education knows that 2+2=4 and that there is no wavering and no other correct answer. In that same vein, we know that reproduction of life is by one male and one female, that is a law of nature. Some would have you believe that it is perfectly "natural" for those of the same sex to have "relations" and to have the same relationship that heterosexuals do. In scripture it is called sin and an abomination to God, since He created man and woman to be one, not a perversion for sexual desires between same sex people. But some, even some that call themselves Christians, would say that the Word of God is incorrect, even try to make a mockery of God's Word by pulling in archaic verses out of context while saying, "If you think being gay is a sin, then so is eating shrimp or cutting your hair". Of course this is proof that this person doesn't know the Word of God and that they hold human desires above scripture. This is a very dangerous place to be for a person. It would be better if that person would just deny being a Christian, as their portrayal of being a follower of Jesus is actually blasphemous when they try to speak contrary to the Word of God.
So, the perception that lying is normal is one of the things that some people bend on. Others may be drunkenness, drugs, theft, hatred, gambling, sex outside of marriage, speeding, slothfulness, abortion and any number of other things that go against the Truths of God. Once you have bent and broken one, it is not hard to bend and break another, then another, then another and then end up in the mind state of "Live and let live. To each his own. Who am I to say something is wrong?" That is exactly why we, as the human race, need a solid foundation in which to put our trust - Jesus Christ.
God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6, James 1:17, Hebrews 13:8), very unlike our human existence. Look at the rise and fall of societies, look at the short life of the U.S.A. for example. See how morality has declined in just the past 40 years. This may be due to the lack of reverence for God or the lack of reverence may just be an evidence of the human quest for independence from God, the view that "we" are god and "we" choose our path. Thing is that "path" is a path to destruction without God. Wavering on just one single fact that is plainly laid out in scripture will always lead to other errors. Laying aside known Truth will always end in destruction, which is where our country and our world is headed.
In 1973 Roe V Wade set the path for infanticide, which has now led to a President and government that wants to force Christians to pay for this murdering of babies. This one court case, set into motion a series of events, a decline over 40 years that has culminated in 1.5 million baby murders per year, in the U.S.A alone. Our government not only allows these murders, but they promote and provide these murders. Show me in scripture where killing babies is a "good thing". Show me where telling a lie is acceptable or there is room given to make excuses for telling a lie to try and change the outcome of something. Where in the Bible does it say that "all truths are valid"? None of that is in there and Scripture condemns all of that. So we can only conclude that anyone who promotes the things that God condemns cannot be a Christian at all, they are trying to make a mockery of God and His Word.
The breaking point is always within our reach. This is why we must always rely on and go to God's Word for EVERYTHING. While it may not lay out, in detail, the particular issues you may be facing, the principles are there. Do not try to bend God's Word to fit your stinkin' thinkin'. Turn your heart to the Word and allow your mind to be transformed by the Word
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Over the past 3 weeks I did a short study with my Sunday School class on the 3 gifts listed that were brought by the Magi (Wise Men) to Jesus in Bethlehem. Admittedly I had thought, "Gold? Yes, I can see that. Frankincense? Uhm....... whatever. Myrrh? What is myrrh anyway? In our culture we lose what these last two gifts actually are. To the audience that the Gospels were originally written there would have been no denying what these other two, seemingly lesser to us, gifts actually were. I just wanted to briefly highlight the significance of each of these gifts. This is in no way exhaustive, but I would encourage you to do a deeper study to open the deeper meanings within these three "gifts". Gold, as we know in our culture, is very valuable. I have seen, in my lifetime, gold increase in value from $39/ ounce to nearly $2,000/ ounce in 2011. That is a large range, but it shows how much value we place on material things. Of course, even in the days of Christ gold had great value, probably more than today as it was much harder to come by. Today we have heavy excavating equipment removing tons of dirt to filter out mere ounces of gold. There are even reality shows, such as Gold Rush, that chronicle the elusive search for the riches contained in the Earth. Just watch an episode or two of this series and you will see just how difficult it is to mine gold. It is not easy. So, I look at how valuable and scarce gold must have been 2,000 years ago and understand that you couldn't walk to your corner Zales and purchase a gold ring or necklace.
Gold in the days of Christ was, for the most part, owned by the elite, wealthy and royalty. So, the gift of gold was to signify that Jesus was royalty, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16). Frankincense is one that we lose out on, because it has no perceived "value" in our society. We think, "Oh great, they brought Jesus incense." But when you realize what frankincense was to the audience of Matthew 2:11 it begins to open up a bit and reveal much more. Frankincense was used in temple ceremonies as part of the worship to God. This was prevalent in the Old Testament, but was also mentioned in the New Testament, Jesus' time, as well. Our understanding of O.T. worship ceremonies is not really good, but the N.T. also uses this same type of worship ceremony (Matthew 2:11). We also know that the name frankincense in the Hebrew language meant "white", which we can also assume stood for purity. Putting all that together allows us to see that the gift of frankincense was an act of worship to Jesus the Messiah. The last gift on the list was myrrh. This one was always a mystery to me. Even the name sounds odd and the spelling is quite odd in our English spelling. Myrrh is mentioned 16 times in the KJV version of the bible and as many as 19 in other versions (ESV). We know the myrrh was a spice and that it's most common use was as a perfume. Also, it was used during the burial rituals after the bodies were wrapped, the myrrh was applied. This was more than likely done to help mask the odors that would emanate from the body as it decomposed in the tombs. We also know that it was a very valuable commodity in the days the bible was being written. If you read Matthew 26:6-13 you see the story of a lady that did something that some of the disciples got a little upset about. This lady, in the house of Simon the leper, came to Jesus and poured, what is believed to be, myrrh on the head of Jesus. They began to rebuke this lady for "wasting" the oil that she had poured upon Jesus' head and that it should have instead been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus stopped their rebuke and said; "“Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” We can then start to see that the gift of myrrh was to signify that Jesus would die, that He would be our Sacrifice. The myrrh was somewhat of a prophetic gift to the babe in Bethlehem. The obscure view that we have in the 21st Century would have meant very much to the readers of Matthew 2:11. Our view in this, as a side note to the gifts, means we must always look at the context of whom the bible was written. We cannot try to force into scripture our 21st Century lifestyles and instead should first look at the original audience and their understanding. So, we now see a whole different and wonderful meaning to the gifts of the Magi. Instead of just simply being gold and a couple other expensive things we can see that each gift pointed to something wonderful about Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He was royalty, He was being worshiped and He was our sacrifice. No longer will I look upon the gifts as I have my entire life, I will see their beauty in proclaiming to the world that "God is with us!" (As a side note: nowhere in scripture are there "3 wise men" listed. This is an assumption made because there were 3 gifts listed. The gifts would also be used by Mary and Joseph as they fled to Egypt to finance their journey and life in Egypt.)
Do you put a blindfold over your eyes when driving down the road? Do you tie your hands behind your back when having dinner? Do you bind your feet when going swimming? I didn't think so. Then why can't we allow the Body of Christ to work as God designed it to?
So many times we (and by "we" I mean "me") want to handicap the Body. I make excuses and have false reasonings but what it comes down to is sin. God has been gracious to us, His children, to place us into the universal Body of Christ, but it actually goes further than that. He has placed us within local bodies, that must be given the opportunity to function.
I am learning this through a trial that is in my life at this moment. I have no control over anything, which is scary for me. I am a "fixer", I like to know what's going on and I try to figure out all the tangents that my puny mind can think of. Know what? Most of the time I am wrong and things work out differently, so my worries have been for naught. Of course scripture has a lot to say about this and I "know" these things, but only on the occasions that things are out of my control do I learn the lesson all over again. Why can't I seem to remember this in my daily life? Why can't Matthew 6:20-34 sink in without a trial?
Why can't I share my burdens with the rest of the body so they can come along side me in prayer? Why do I feel the need to deprive the plan of God to allow His body to function in the way that He designed? The short answer is, of course, sin. The long answer includes pride, our stubbornness or maybe even just not wanting to burden someone else with what we see as "our issues". I think it is the latter for me as I hear others who are striving and asking for prayer I "feel" that it wouldn't be "fair" to encumber them any more than they already are. Know what I'm finding out? That the saying "Misery loves company" should actually be "Needs need company".
This is wonderfully summed up in Galatians 5:13-14:
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Then Paul goes on to tell us in Galatians 6:2:
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
It really doesn't get much plainer than that. We are to actually take the burdens of others as our own and "bear" them along side. No prerequisite that we are to not have any burdens when someone else does, nothing about not wanting to impose on anyone else, just the admonition to "bear one another's burdens". What does that look like? I can speak from experience that it looks just like it sounds. We all have our "problems" and we all come along side one another and pray, seek God, comfort, hold up, lend a shoulder, cry together, whatever it takes to "bear one another's".
God has been so good to His children. Even in what looks to be a challenging time He has shown His grace and mercies. He is teaching me some things through a current trial, actually re-teaching my stubborn self. I will be sharing in the near future the trials that are before me and my family and ask for you, others in the Body of Christ, to bear our burdens and to function as He designed. He works through His people and He loves to lavish Himself on us. What may seem daunting is nothing for the One who created the Universe. Even if we can't see the end, you can believe that is a sure sign that you should immediately turn it over to Him.
Still learning and still asking for prayer.
Matthew 6:34:
Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I continue to mourn the lives lost of so many many children. What a horrific thing to lose so many children so brutally. My heart weeps each time I hear of their young lives snuffed out so quickly. No hope of defense. No hope of safety.
With the events this past week in Connecticut my heart is very heavy. My eyes well with tears thinking of this each time I hear a news report, each time a person mentions it. I can't imagine the horrors these children faced. I've fought myself on drawing a contrast to abortion and up until now have been successful. I've not said anything because these families, in grief, lost their dear children in a very different way than abortion.
These families got to know their children. They saw that these lives are viable and that the embryo that grew within the mother's womb was a life. A living person was conceived and was born, lived, and was taken, brutally. Abortion is the same, except the mother, father and the rest of the family never got a chance to know that dear child. They never had the opportunity to kiss their cheek, they never got to hear them cry because their diaper was full, they never got the chance to watch them play soccer, they never got the chance to hear them sing or to even see them smile. Their precious lives were snuffed before any opportunity of life.
How great the horrors of Sandy Hook and how great the horrors of the abortion clinics across the United States. 20 children were heartlessly gunned down Friday and the nation cried together. Our President gave, what I believe to be, a heartfelt speech on the atrocities of that day. For once, since President Obama was elected, I saw a commonality with him. We cried together.
/>Thinking of that day and the days since, the memorials, the tears, the news stories, I hear wounded people searching. What I don't see is the same wounds for those that never even got the chance to attend school. Since Roe v. Wade America has grown callous toward human life. In the name of convenience or any other false rationale we murder children by the millions. The difference? That killing children by a medical procedure is "legal". I do not want to discount or even remotely lessen the crimes at Sandy Hook, but want to use that to emphasize how depraved our society has become. It is so hard to not see the hypocrisy of our President, of the media and of the others that rightfully condemn the actions of the gunman, but turn around and say killing other children is a choice. It's just doesn't make sense. A few years earlier the media that condemns this shooting would have championed the "healthcare choice" of the mother to kill this same child in the womb. Can they not see the irony in that?
What it comes down to is a need for the Gospel. Just as everything else in this world does. Christians need to stand up for life, they need to proclaim the Gospel and they need to be the voice for the voiceless. In a place in time that humanity has so collectively turned their backs on God there still is Hope. God is longsuffering with us. He knows how black our hearts are and He waits for us. But, He will not wait forever, He is returning one day (soon hopefully) and Christians need to be diligent in proclaiming His Name to all they come into contact with. God can and will use people to make a difference, that is His mode of operation that He chooses more than any other. He has commanded Christians to be the salt and light in this dying world and we must do that.... daily.... every minute.
Rise up followers of Christ and proclaim His Name. Shower this dark world with His light that He shines through you, the Light, the Christ.
God has graced me with, what I think
is, a good job with a good benefits package that includes vacation
time. This week is vacation time with the first 2 days were spent
watching our sick grandson instead of sending him to daycare which
was a great time. Yesterday and today have been chore days, which
makes me think this is not really a vacation after all, but it is
good to not be bogged down with “work”.
This morning, before venturing into
chore mode, I came across a video of Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty/
Duck Commander fame. I was first introduced to Phil and his family
via the Duck Dynasty TV series and first heard of the show in my
Sunday School class. One of the teens in there said they were
watching it and said that they were Christians, so I had to check it
out. Now, let me be upfront, I have never been duck hunting in my
life and only been any kind of hunting one time, for rabbit, which I
felt bad afterward and never went again. I have the luxury of not
having the need to hunt, but would and will if the need ever arises,
so I do not think hunting is “wrong” and is actually quite
“right”. If you watch the video series I post at the end of this
posting you will hear just how God designed us as hunters.
During the video I heard a little about
hunting, which is to be expected, but then heard a LOT about God. It
was awesome and I soon began to realize that God had given these men
favor, through hunting, to preach the Gospel. Their scope of
influence is broad now, thanks to a love for hunting and God's
working in their lives to put them in the a large scope of influence.
This got me thinking about my scope of influence.
While my “world' is not as broad as
the Robertson family has been given, my task is the same – Preach
the Gospel to everyone I come into contact with. This means my job,
when I go shopping, to my neighbor, to the mailman, the UPS man, the
counter person at McDonalds and in my own home. Just because these
men have been given a larger “audience” doesn't mean that we are
to have a large audience to proclaim the Gospel. Everyone's audience
is given by God for specific reasons. My audience could never be the
same as Phil or Jase Robertson as I know nothing about hunting, but
not a single Robertson can have my audience or your audience. And
please don't misunderstand my use of the word “audience”, which
is not meant in an entertainment since, but in a “who God puts in
my life who hears my voice and who I can tell about Him”.
So I ask anyone who may happen across
this posting, who God has put in my scope of influence, to look
around you. Look at the opportunities that God places in your life
everyday to tell of His glory. You don't have to keep asking “God
please give me the opportunity to....” because He already does,
they are already there. Turn that prayer into “God please allow me
eyes to see the opportunities you have already given to me, to share
your Gospel, to share your love”. I guarantee you He will and while
you may never get a reality TV show you will be partaking in the
Great Commission of making disciples.
I encourage each of you to watch these
videos and see how God has placed hunting in their lives in order to
share the Gospel. If you are a Christian you will be greatly
encouraged. As you watch pray and ask God to show you the
opportunities that you may have to do this same thing, in the scope
of influence He has placed before you.
Ahhhhh. It's that time of the year. The time that the leaves are falling from the trees, signaling the arrival of fall, quickly followed by winter and Christmas. But hark, who goes there? Christians celebrating the coming of the Messiah? What? That cannot be! Who dares to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ; the greatest Miracle ever?
The chiding actually started on Facebook around Halloween time. I saw a scattering of posts deriding believers (in name only or actually true Christians) for joining in the celebration and festivities of Halloween, then quickly followed with "Yeah, they are the same ones that celebrate the pagan holiday of Christmas too". I admit, I never heard of the "pagan holiday of Christmas" until I joined Facebook a few years ago and had the privilege of coming across those that thought this way. Never did I know that I was bowing down to a idol when I set up a tree, put decorations around the house or gave gifts to people that I love. I was ignorant of such things being "pagan" and quickly learned that I may not actually be a Christian if I did, indeed, celebrate Christmas.
Wow! I was actually in shock and started doing some research. It seems that the celebration of Christ's birth was celebrated before moving the date to December 25th and was moved to that date to try and dissuade pagans from celebrating a false idol and instead show them who the true God is. So, the argument became "You celebrate a pagan ritual/ celebration of a sun god" and anyone who celebrates Christmas was indeed taking part in worshiping that god and there was no way that they could celebrate the coming of the Savior on that day. I wrote on some of this last year and just recently found out that I was incorrect in something, the celebrations by Christians was not an "alternative" to the sun-god worship. The celebration of Christ's birth was already taking place, only the date was changed to coincide with December 25th's pagan celebration.
I am still in the mindset I was last year: Christmas has been commercialized to a very high degree by the fallen culture we live in. Now, what do Christians do with that? Do they not celebrate Christmas because the lost society has "paganized" it? Or do Christians continue to celebrate the coming of the Savior? I'd say the latter, but with the assumption that everything situated around the holiday is Christ focused and honoring. So, pretty much the same as any other day of the year for a follower of Christ, but with one small bonus- We get the chance to actually tell others and show others what Christmas really is. We get a "free ticket" to be able to interject the story of Christmas and therefor tell why Jesus came to this Earth in the first place - to save sinners like us. We get a chance to tell the Gospel to folks that would normally not give you the time or day to do so.
Now, what about those that want to tell me that I am "participating in pagan sun-god worship"? I say: "Really?" These folks are under some very bad misunderstandings. I would like to know the process that leads someone to this viewpoint. I would like to know why they use pagan ways (Windows/ Bill Gates product or Mac OS/ Steve Jobs product) daily in bible study, work or entertainment and see nothing wrong with that. How can you shop at stores that have pagan owners, have pagan workers and buy pagan products and yet condemn a Christian (true or not) for celebrating Christ's birth? How can you call today Saturday when it is named after Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture? Or even venture out of your house on Sunday since that day was named after the Sun? I am not trying to throw a red-herring or straw-man in the mix, but simply show that many things around us may be "pagan" but that doesn't mean that we are pagan.
Take the Christmas season to show the love of Christ. If you choose not to celebrate Christmas, for whatever reason, then don't. Don't call someone a pagan because they do and I won't call you a Pharisee for trying to impose laws that are not there. Christ came to save us from sin. He lived a sinless and perfect life to atone for our sins. He died and shed His blood to wash us clean and I will tell that in any way I can, as much as I can, to whoever I can....... Even on December 25th.
It's official. This country has gone to hell in a hand-basket. Why is that? Because Obama was just called as the winner of his second term? No, because if Romney were to have won I would be saying the same thing.
The fact that these two men were the ones chosen by their party was a judgment of God. One is a professing Christian that sides more with Islam than his professed religion, promotes greatly the murder of babies, blasphemes God and mocks His Word and has sent this country into a tailspin. The other is a professing Christian but is a Mormon, which means he cannot be a Christian since that religion believes in a different god, Jesus, atonement, salvation, gospel, scriptures and so much more that has already caused Mormonism to appear more viable. Sure, each candidate has other issues, but those mentioned are enough to show that God has turned this country over to it's evil desires.
As I set watching the results through the night I was shaking my head at every state that was "called" for either candidate. I did start to realize that I am not a fan of the Electoral College system. It is not a true consensus of the true vote. It is what it is, but that doesn't mean it is a good thing. Is it really "fair" that a handful of states be able to elect a President for the other, larger portion of the country? I think not, especially if the popular vote for the "losing" candidate is higher than the "winning" candidate. It's a very faulty system.
What also is faulty is the "evangelical church", small c. It is also called the visible church, or the perceived church because it is what the majority of people see as the Christian church. Sadly the visible church is not the true Church of God, not that some of the visible church are not part of the true Church. Most of the public look at Osteen, TBN, Obama, Romney and Oprah as Christians, which shows that the public do not know what true Christianity is. Oh, they may have seen it, but they label it as "extreme" or fundamentalism, trying to discredit those that actually adhere to the bible.
Most professing Christians have jumped aboard the Romney wagon and are now left dejected and feel duped. I do not disparage anyone that voted for Romney, but still can't understand why so many professing Christians back(ed) Romney at the level they did. Because I cast my vote for candidate other than the "main 2" I was seen as weird. Not that my vote mattered anyway, as Kentucky was the first state called for Romney but I voted my convictions and my vote went to a man that holds biblical values and professes to know the True God, been changed by the true Christ of scripture. Of course my candidate had no real chance to win, but why was that? I say it is a shame, since a lot of what I heard was "The 3rd party candidates had no chance of winning. Oh, it would be nice if they did, but it won't happen". I would say that it is because of that mindset and those that said that could have voted for the "better" candidate and could have campaigned and promoted a 3rd party. A huge chunk of the USA professes to be Christian, so if they pulled a "Chick-Fil-A" and stood up for something there could have been a much different outcome.
So, what is the answer? Reform, of course. Reformation of the Church, making the visible church into the true Church of Christ. Not that we would make a theocracy, but that God fearing men would be put into leadership positions and actually turn this country around. That's the only way this country will survive. Right now God has shown His disdain for "us". His judgments are many and most folks just brush it off or try to explain it away somehow. Not me, I see God's hand of judgment against us. I am not scared, for I know whom is really in charge. God. My faith is in the Lord, not men, not elections, not our President or the Electoral College.
(This is my latest post at the Treasuring Christ website. Please take a moment to look over the website. There are many great resources available there.)
If you take a look at my avatar you will see E 5:25. Not that you may have noticed it before, or if you have you may have just thought it was the number on the back of my favorite sports player’s jersey or something similar. The fact is that means Ephesians 5:25, a verse that gripped me a few years ago and refuses to relinquish its grasp.
Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her........
Today I found myself doing some yard work on my last "official" day of vacation. I still have the weekend and the Labor Day holiday, but today is my last "paid" day off.
During the process of moving a brush pile out of my yard, the thoughts of last-night's Republican National Convention were running through my head. I started to truly seek God on how I should vote. I have, recently, been anti-Romney and have always been anti-Obama. I've wanted to do the God pleasing thing and vote for a candidate that has the moral convictions that I do, based on Biblical standards. The thing is, although there are candidates out there that do match my personal beliefs, they, in all actuality, stand no practical chance of winning this years election.
Here are my (perceived) choices:
1) Vote for Obama
2) Vote for Romney
(For many it ends there, but that's not reality)
3) Vote for a 3rd party candidate that may/ may not stand the chance in winning the election.
4) Don't vote
So there is the dilemma facing all Americans. Laid out in 4 choices. For the political liberal it is a no-brainer, vote Obama and keep heading toward full blown Socialism, keeping a man in power that sidesteps the Constitution, who spends Trillions more than we have as a nation, record unemployment, record (extended high) gas prices and so on. For the political conservative it is clear, vote for Romney who promises a lot of things in opposition to the current administration. But, what about the conservative Christian vote? Or should I say Christian vote, because liberal and Christian should not really go together unless you're talking about love, forgiveness and helping others (all of which shouldn't be a mandate, but done freely).
I find myself perplexed. I had 100% committed myself early on to vote whoever the Republican nominee would be. I was in the "anybody but Obama" camp, firmly. I still am, but now with Romney being the GOP Nominee things change. My perspective has been changing of late anyway, leading up until last-night's nomination. I have been searching out 3rd party candidates that more closely match my belief structure than Romney. I guess it boils down to the following statement:
"Can I, being an Evangelical, Bible believing, conservative Christian place my vote on a Mormon who drags the Name of Christ through the mud with his false god, trying to fulfill the LDS's White Horse Prophecy, while giving credence to his false religion as millions of other professing Christians clamor to support him."
It's really a decision that needs to be weighed in light of the Word of God, not that there are not any decisions that shouldn't be.
This decision should be a tough one for any Christian. It baffles me to see that a lot of Christians are gung-ho behind Romney. True, I do not want Obama back in the White House, un-tethered by that pesky term limit thing, free to further destroy the fiber of this country. I can't stand that thought, at all. Which is my true dilemma. Do I vote for the "other" party, the one with the only foreseeable chance of dethroning Obama? Or do I vote for a 3rd party candidate, such as Virgil Goode, who actually would make the best choice to lead this country going forward?
Ah, but Goode doesn't stand a chance. Why? Because the bulk of people in this country think we must conform to the strict guidelines of D's and R's. I've always fancied myself and Independent. I have voted for Republicans and I have voted for Democrats. Actually, since I turned 18 in 1986 my vote was for every elected President until Obama. I did not vote for Obama. That means I voted for Bush Sr. (R), Clinton (D) twice and Bush Jr (R) twice. I had a fairly strong voting record until Obama came along, but then again after voting for Bush Jr the second time and the following election which featured Obama I was radically saved by God. I saw things differently and knew that Obama was not the one for the job. I defaulted to McCain in that election, since he was, what I saw it, the only viable alternative. I was playing the game and was trapped in the 2 party mentality, but was rapidly being changed by God and thus developing a different view of the world. I no longer saw red and blue, I saw God and thus started seeing that even my vote should be done in accordance with God's Word and to honor Him. If I was no longer living my life, but Christ was living in me, then shouldn't I be voting to typify that?
So, here I stand (actually I am sitting). I can do no other, but try to seek God, use His Word, seek godly council, pray and ask for a clear understanding of whom I shall cast my single vote. I do know that I will not vote for Obama, since he believes in the slaughter of babies and actually promotes the idea of doing so and wants to use my tax money to do so. Then there is the fact that he tramples the Constitution under foot, doing as he pleases, by any means possible, executive orders, czars, blatant disregard to the Constitution.
Then there's the newly appointed GOP nominee, Mitt Romney. Third generation Mormon. Tightly ingrained in his false religion. Very moralistic, an upstanding and successful business man, believes in one man and one woman as marriage, doesn't believe in homosexual marriage, mostly pro-life (except for rape and incest, which is still murdering innocent babies), just a "good" man in the eyes of the world. But he is a Mormon. Electing him, with the support of evangelical Christians sends a very dangerous message to the world that Mormons have a viable religion that is Christian, just being a different denomination. I know the differences. I know how heretical the LDS message is. Sadly, most others do not and hence do not see this as anything to even be debating. The mindset is:
"Romney upholds the same values as I do, Obama doesn't. Therefore I will vote for Romney because he is not Obama."
That would be all well and good if there weren't more choices than the two.
If the only choices were Obama and Romney I probably wouldn't even cast a vote. As many have said; "The lesser of two evils is still evil". So, my faith would trump my Constitutional right to vote and I would vote for neither. But we have more choices than Obama or Romney. That is what's great about this country and the system that God has put into place here. We can vote for other candidates, with clear conscience before God, knowing that He directs the placing of kings and rulers (Daniel 2:20-23, John 19:10-11), He is sovereign and He is still in control, whether it's with Obama, Romney or another President in place. God is still God and that President is still under His reign.
Are we to separate our faith from our vote? That is the million dollar question. Do we leave God at the curtain when we draw it shut and cast our vote? Do we take into account that we should do everything to His glory (1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17&23)? Or do we look at circumstance and what ifs? Do we think that casting our vote for a 3rd party candidate is a vote for Obama? Or is that a vote that honors God? Do we try to rally others FOR Romney, hence joining league with an anti-Christ that could ultimately send millions to Hell because of the thought that Mormonism is a true religion?
The most common argument I have heard is:
"If Daniel the Prophet could serve the pagan Nebuchadnezzar, and Joseph could serve Pharoah, you could vote for Romney."
I say to that, "Really? And just how did Daniel condone or help put into place Nebuchadnezzar and Jospeh condone or help pu into place Pharaoh?"
Daniel and Jospeh just did as God commanded and respected those that God did put into place (Romans 13:1-5, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17).
I want to do what will honor God in my vote. I do not really enjoy the thought of Obama sinking this country further. I do not like the thought that I may lose comfort if Obama is re-elected. I do not like it that he has potential to run unhindered over this country and set in motion destruction to us as a nation. But I must and will not let my comfort, nor my situation, nor public opinion, nor "don't throw your vote away" take precedence over honoring God through my vote. I must stand blameless before Him in my vote, without the blood of millions on my hands for casting a vote for either of the two main parties anti-Christ figures, who come in the spirit of anti-Christ to deceive and set in motion what could possibly be the emergence of The Anti-Christ (1 John 2:18,22-23, 1 John 4:2-3, Jude :4)
I know where my vote is swaying, it is, at this point, for Virgil Goode. As far as my research has shown Goode is a believer in God, he fears the Lord and he upholds biblical convictions, even further than Romney's false morality. So, my vote is FOR a person (Goode) and not AGAINST another (Obama). That is my convictions, this is the understanding that God has given me to this point. It would make it a lot easier if all of the evangelicals were to turn out in force, voting for Goode. Kind of like when everyone turned out to support Chick-Fil-A when the Dan Cathy came out in favor of Biblical marriage that sent liberals in a whirlwind. I know that it could be done. Plus shucking the two party system might, just might, bring a modern day revolution upon us.
Where do you stand? Why do you stand there? Is it in opposition against someone or is it in affirmation for someone? What has lead you to that decision? I assume that if you are reading this that you are a professing Christian, so how does your decision attest to God? These are not just rhetorical questions, I really want to know. I really need insight, other than my own, to Christ centered decisions in the area of voting. This will be me second election out of 7 that I have been a follower of Christ. My first as a Christian was on habit and worldly advice, but this time I need it to be out of Christ centered advice. Please leave a comment here and share where you stand and why. It will help me to understand better and may help impact others as they seek who they should vote for.
I've set through a lot of altar calls
in my life. Some of these altar calls were bad, in the baddest sense,
others were worse, but none worse than the one I set through last
night. It was actually three altar calls strung together over about
an hour and a half.
Being raised in a typical “American
church” I grew up with altar calls after every service. It was just
how the service progressed: Singing, prayer, preaching, altar call
with soft music, proclamations of salvation, leave. Of course, I use
the “preaching” and the “prayer” in loose terms as they were
both usually man-centered. But hey, it's all I knew as a child and I
was a fine product of the “modern gospel” for 30 years, believing
I was saved because of an altar call. I was “held over hell on a
corn stalk” being told how terrible hell was, literally having the
hell scared out of me and driving me right to the altar to say the
prayer. It was just “how it was” and that's all I knew.
Thirty years later, when I actually had
an encounter with God He began to show me things. I had returned to
the church of my youth and had heard the same messages, seen the same
methods, witnessed the same results. People flocked to the altars to
“get saved” or “rededicate” their lives to Christ. The altar
call trip when I was 8 was my only one, but I would say 50% of the
other altar calls I set through I was praying that prayer all over
again. As a mater of fact my prayer before going to bed each night
usually had some form of, “God, if I'm not really saved, please
forgive me and don't send me to hell”.
The extended altar call last night
really struck bad to me. I had just enjoyed a great concert from a
Christian band that I really like. I made my way to the merch table
to pick up a t-shirt and have the band sign my CD cover before I
left. The guest “evangelist” began to speak and they shut down
everything, no sales, everyone stop and pay attention. I was told
that, “We can't sell anything now, this is why we put this on
tonight, right here”, with a head nod to the stage area. The
“evangelist” started out making fun of how a few girls had
laughed at other events that he had been a part of. I would say that
if any of those girls had been there they would not have been very
flattered by the words he was saying. He was after laughs and he
received laughs. I guess this was his ice breaker routine to grab
attention of everyone. It worked, because my attention was fixed on
him, wondering why he would be squandering this opportunity to share
Christ with the crowd before him. He did speak a little about the
bible, told how God's sheep hear His voice and then the altar call
commenced.
“Do you want to hear God's voice?”
“Do you want to go to heaven when you
die?”
That's about it in several different
forms. By this time a brief shower had started falling, so he was
rushing to get to the altar call and rushing, somewhat to get to “the
prayer”. He asked everyone to bow their heads, raise their hand if
they wanted to be able to hear God's voice an commenced the text book
“sinner's prayer”. He then did the next thing in the “Altar
Calls 101” play book and asked those that said the prayer to stand
up, “nobody's looking” after all. Then after a few had made it to
their feet began to tell them, “OK, now don't be ashamed, come on
forward.” Typical psychological manipulation. I would guess that
about 35 kids went forward and were passed off to the events
counselors at the side of the stage.
The rain had stopped, so the second
altar call commenced. This time it was geared at those that “have
heard God's voice, but now listen to the voice of the world instead”.
He was giving the altar call for people to rededicate their lives.
This was filled with a story about scaring girls when he was younger
and was played into “don't be scared to live for God”. Not much
of a reaction to this part of his extended altar call. He ended it
with “prayer” and handed the mic to the promoter.
I was ready to buy my t-shirt and hit
the road for the hour drive back home. But, alas, the promoter must
not have thought that the second altar call was good enough. He began
with the same “don't be scared” ploy. This was followed by “we
have to do....”, “why aren't you.....” and “If you
don't.....”. This man was filling these people's heads with works
and trying to lay guilt trips on everyone. At one point he said, “If
you are not out evangelizing then you are sending people to hell”.
My head was about to explode because I had yet to hear anything, in
the three altar calls, about God's holiness, God's requirements,
man's sinfulness and rebellion, Christ's perfect atonement, the blood
of Christ that takes away all of our sins, the grace of God in even
allowing us to have a breath because of our rebellion. Nothing. Nada.
Zilch. No Gospel. No call to repentance. Nothing of the true Gospel
whatsoever. Only a emotional call and guilt trip to garner decisions.
I prayed during all of this that God would save despite the false
message. He saved me despite the false teachings I was sitting
under, so I know He does it.
If I were a confrontational person I
would have been in a serious discussion with the promoter and staff
last night. If there ever was a time I wanted to confront someone it
was last night. It was probably for the best that I did, at that
time, not say anything. But, I will probably say something if I ever
happen to be at another event that this guy puts on. I know that this
false gospel is sending millions to hell. I also think that most of
these people mean well, but also that the “road to hell is paved
with good intentions”. Unless someone repents and is born again
they will not see the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus made it clear that you
must follow Him, lay everything aside, even the love for your family
is to seem like hate in comparison for your love for Him. The easy
believism that permeates most “churches” and “Christian”
events must be addressed and must be stopped. Then again, this may
just be part of the judgment of God, giving man over to their own
self centered desires and works mentality, trusting in themselves for
salvation and not on Christ.
We must stand on the Word of God alone.
We must not water down the Message of Christ. We must not tickle the
ears of others and tell them what they want to hear in order to get
them to commit to a decision. We must not play people's emotions and
instead preach the full council of God and allow the Holy Spirit to
work in convicting them, God made it simple enough to trust in Him.
Sell it all and follow Him. Do not give regard for the things of this
life, but instead have the mind of a pilgrim, just passing through,
making disciples, pointing to Christ in all that we do, exalting His
Name, preaching the Gospel in season and out of season. Proclaiming
The good News to this lost and dying world. Are you ready? Then Go!
Last year, here on my blog, I chronicled my journey on my way to losing 60+ pounds. Over a 10 month (+/-) time frame I had many people telling me how good I looked, asking me how I was losing the weight and just over all being a cheerleader for me. I appreciated those comments, but when my new “look” had become old news the support dwindled.
It was October or so of last year, while on a business trip, that I decided that I was going to “splurge” for the trip. That set off a chain reaction that had me gaining back a lot of the weight I lost. How much? I have no idea, because I refuse to weigh myself. I’m disgusted that I allowed the weight to come back and I’m disgusted that I lost the will to jump back on the wagon and keep the weight dropping. I succumbed to food again and had dove full force into the old eating habits that I once had.
What was different during the time that I had begun to gain the weight back was that others never mentioned my weight gain, as they had my weight loss. I’m sure it was because they thought I would be embarrassed by the comments or didn’t want to hurt my feelings, so I don’t fault anyone, but I do wonder why I only had a couple of people ever mention my weight gaining.
I do think that it may have made some difference in my perceptions. If I had known that others were noticing, then I may have stepped back and reevaluated what I was doing. During the time I have gained the weight back I was not being held accountable by anyone. I depended on myself to “saddle up” and muster up the will power to stop eating the food that held me captive, but always put it off. “What’s another Swiss Roll going to do?” or “What is one more trip to the Pizza Inn buffet going to add?” Which I determined wouldn’t be a lot. And that is probably true, a single Swiss Roll or a single dinner at Pizza Inn would not have made much of an impact, but it was deeper than that. It was sin.
Reflecting on the roller coaster of weight loss (this time), I have seen how it does parallel sin. I see that I need support, both while I am doing “good” and winning the battle. But, more importantly I need the support when the battle is beating me. I need to be held accountable for the sins in my life. I need people to point out that I treat my wife lousy some times, that I raise my voice to often at the kids, that lust runs rampant, food becomes an idol and laziness just breeds more laziness and excuses. I believe this is part of bearing our brothers sins/ burdens (Galatians 6:1-2, Romans 15:1, Proverbs 27:17, James 5:13-20, Ephesians 4:25)
We are weak creatures. We often times act from the flesh rather than from the spirit. We forget that these bodies are dying and that we are just passing through this world, en route to our true home. We tend to think “now” is time to feed this flesh of our selfish desires, to sin and sin big. We push God to the side and say, “Let me take it from here, I’ve got it under control now”. This is why we need each other. We need to lovingly come beside our brothers and sisters in Christ, our wives and husbands, or children and parents and help carry them, help them see points of sin that they may not even realize is there or may be saying as I did about eating, “I’ll do better tomorrow”. Sad thing is that tomorrow usually does not come and sin is not dealt with and things get worse. The weight piles on and the sin kills.
I just ask that we each look at our motives. Look inward and ask yourself why we do not lovingly tell someone that you have noticed sin in their life. It is actually one of the most loving things you can do for a Christian. I am not saying to become a fruit checker and try to be someone’s Holy Spirit, but allow God to use you and work through you for the sanctification of others and also for yourself. Confess to one another, become accountable to one another, be open for rebuke and be open to give rebuke. I do not hold anyone other than myself at fault for my sins or my weight gain, but I do know that if someone would have lovingly told me that they noticed the pounds coming back, or the snack cakes in my lunch or the PB&J’s that I ate on a regular basis, I probably would have heeded their words and snapped out of my self deception. The same goes for my sin. If someone confronts me and says, “ I have noticed ……., let’s pray together about this and allow me to help carry this load with you” it would make me step back and actually see things I have allowed to blind me.
This is a first for me. My good friend Whitt from Treasuring Christ asked if I would like to be a monthly contributor to the TC website. Apparently he has read my posts here before, but that didn't stop him from asking anyway. I was honored to have been asked and this week my first endeaver there was posted. Below is the first part of it, so please visit the Treasuring Christ website to read the rest of it. WHile there please sign up for the many and valuable resources there, including men's and women's ministry pages, the Emergency study that I have recommended here before and several other studies. There are just too many for me to list here, so please bookmark the site and dive in.
The Heart Of Your Treasures: Posted on the Treasuring Christ website
What you are reading is the 3rd
incarnation of this article. The first two? Well, let’s just say
they got a little wordy and I tried to get all “expositional” on
the whole chapter of Matthew 13. And I realized; “Jeff, this is not
about breaking down each verse word by word. This is about Christ and
the Treasure He is to you”.
So, here I am, after sleeping another
night with the verse on my mind and weighing on my heart. Waking with
it being the first thing on my mind: “Again, the kingdom of heaven
is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and
for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that
field.”
I cannot read this verse without it
bringing to mind, Luke 12:34 (and Matthew 6:21) “For where your
treasure is, there will be your heart also”. These verses have
caused me to really look inward to where exactly is my heart. What is
my treasure? Is my treasure Christ? Am I willing to sell everything I
have to pursue Him?
If I were to have started this blog
today, instead of years ago I would probably have titled it “That
Grace May Abound”. Not that I wasn't aware of God's grace(s) at
that time, but He was showing me so much truth from His Word and
about what I had been living for the bulk of my life. Today, my 44th
Birthday, as I reflect back over the past years of my life I see the
signs and evidences of God's grace throughout. Yes, even when I was
lost and in rebellion to my Lord, He was still pouring His grace and
His love out in my life. Grace is often attributed as "unmerited favor" or a reprieve of guilt and with those I totally agree with, but it is also the natural extension of God's love to His children.
I think about my childhood, about how
He put me in a church, to learn the bible stories that showed His
power and how He worked in people's lives like David, Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego, Noah, Moses and many others in the Bible. I
never really learned, though, why these stories were in the bible,
that they all actually pointed to Christ, but nonetheless, they were
laying groundwork in my life to point me to Him later in life. I
think of my “rebellious” years, which were actually all my years
until He saved me. But the ones that stick out are when I openly
flung my fist in the air and said, “I'm doing this my way, I'll do
what I want – when I want”. All the time thinking that I was
saved because of a profession as an 8 year old in that same church's
youth group.
The years passed and I can honestly
only think of only a single night that, as I lay down to sleep, I did
not pray to the god I had created in my own mind. The reason? I dozed
off drunk. I would always pray for forgiveness, for the same sins,
for the life that I lived and for the multitude of sins I committed
each day. God was still graceful to me, He kept me safe, He kept
those around me safe, He still allowed me the days until I would
finally and truly know Him.
I see the signs of God working my life
through the years. Even though, at the time, I didn't realize it was
Him. The things I prayed for that never came to pass, the things I
did pray for that actually did. The staying of His wrath against me
as I defiled His Name by professing to know Him, all the while living
in open sin to and with those I was making the profession to. I know
first hand the deception of a false convert, which is again by His
grace. I attribute this to my “zeal” for truth. I just so greatly
want others that live in deception to be awakened from their slumber
and meet the One True God.
I have in my recent past, since God
saved me, seen His grace in many ways. Today He has shown me that a
lot of times His grace is shown through people He has put in my life.
I think about people that for many different reasons should have had
their anger heightened toward me, in my zeal (misdirected zeal) said
and did things that I should have actually stopped to think about
beforehand. But God in His richness of Grace allowed these people to
react with the grace that I lacked. These occurrences have made a
huge impact on me and I now see that these, too, were an act of God's
grace in my life. God has used these people in many ways and without
that grace shown I would not be where I am today. I still have the
“zeal” for His truth, but also have a fresh zeal for His Grace.
It is through His grace that I have a better understanding of how to
interact with others better. Not perfectly by a long shot, but
better.
In 2010, on my birthday, I set out on a
year long journey on this blog titled “A Year In MY Life ThroughPictures”. It seemed like a good idea at first, but soon became
somewhat tedious. I do not regret doing the series, but it did leave
a sense of antipathy ($2 word alert) to me, I just didn't want to
write any longer. I was burned out and I was spent. I needed a break.
So, since finishing the year long series in 2011, on my birthday, I
have been sporadic, at best, with my postings. A few things here and
there have sparked me to bang something out, but no real inspiration.
Until now. Why? I have no idea, but I feel the need to start posting
again.
Let me say something again that I have
said from the get-go on this blog. I AM NOT A WRITER. I hated English
class in high school. I hated diagramming sentences. I can't spell. I
do not properly punctuate. I make up words. I ramble on and on. I
lack sentence structure. I lack any sense of writing ability that
would characterize someone that anyone else would want to read. But I
think of Moses, who had a speech impediment, whom God used anyway. I
think of Jeremiah who tried to talk God into not using him:
Jeremiah 1:4-9
4 The word of the
Lord came to me: 5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I
appointed you a prophet to the nations. 6 But I protested, “Oh no,
Lord, God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a
youth.”
7 Then the Lord said to me:
Do not say, “I am only a youth,”
for you will go to everyone I send you
to
and speak whatever I tell you.
8 Do not be afraid of anyone,
for I will be with you to deliver you.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
9 Then the Lord reached out His hand,
touched my mouth, and told me:
I have now filled your mouth with My
words.
Not that I should be compared to Moses
or Jeremiah, but God is still God and I am still feeble. Moses and
Jeremiah tried to talk God out of using them and I have done that
too. But I see that God can use whoever He pleases, however He
pleases, whenever He pleases and I don't want to miss that. I want to
be aware when He is using me and actually, willingly and openly be
used of Him in whatever capacity that is. I don't want to miss God
like I did 38 years of my life.
So I ask anyone who ventures upon this
blog site to be graceful of my mistakes, I make them often. Please do
not hesitate to correct me grammatically or if I have something wrong
spiritually. I would actually prefer that you correct me, so I do not
continue in error. But some things you may be in error in as well and
I ask that you seek correction too. God is still graceful to the
humble, but not the prideful. I have learned that the hard way,
through my stubbornness and through my lack of grace to others. God
has been very good to me and has corrected me through His grace and
through His grace through others.
What better way to describe grace than
this:
Ephesians 2:4-9
4 But God, who is rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were
dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you
have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit
together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages
to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His
kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
