“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12)
“Closure” is one of the buzz words of our time. It seems that anytime someone has a difficult experience of life that they need some sort of “conclusion” or event to mark the end of their particular adversity so they can get on with their life. That is a very important issue, and often helps a person deal with the difficulty. But in many cases, there really is no true closure. Yes, life must go on, but the loss of a loved one cannot be forgotten. Even if the adversity is not a death in the family, some troubles remain with us for the rest of our lives. We can get a good measure of relief from many sources, but sometimes we “limp” for the rest of our lives like Jacob did in Genesis chapter 32 when he wrestled with the angel of the Lord too long.
Well, here we are at the end of a calendar year (and for those of you who like to get technical, at the end of a decade). Now is when we start looking back at what has happened in the last year, and thinking about the new things we are going to try to accomplish in 2011. We are looking for “closure” on 2010, and in some cases, not a moment too soon. For many people, this has been a difficult year. Some have dealt with medical issues, others have had challenges in their family, and most of us have felt at least some of the effects of the bad economy. Even for those who have had a decent 2010, we are all looking forward to a new slate and a new year.
One of these days very soon, God will give “closure” to the course of this world. I know we have been talking about that for a long time, but it only means we are getting closer. Skeptics scoff at the imminent rapture of the church and return of the Lord Jesus Christ, but Peter already told us about them: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (II Peter 3:3-4) The fulfillment of prophecy in the Bible sets our book apart from every other book in print. The overwhelming legion of fulfilled prophecies guarantees the fulfillment of those which are yet future. God has never missed. His batting average is 1.000, his quarterback rating is a perfect 158.3, he shoots an 18 every time he plays a round of golf, and he has swished every three-pointer he has ever shot.
Jesus promised: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3) Closure to our pilgrimage on this earth is certain. If it were not so, he would have told us. Whether it happens in our lifetime or in a generation to come, if your faith is in the risen Son of God, you can be sure of a glorious end. All tears will be wiped away. All wrongs will be made right. All questions will be answered.
Paul tells us that since these things are certain, we should conduct our lives in the light and not in the darkness. Jesus said that lost men love darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil. So as believers, we need to, “…walk in the light, as he is in the light.” (I John 1:7) When we were young (around 10-12), our parents would leave us at home by ourselves at times. Just as any normal kids, we could get into things we shouldn’t have pretty easily. Then when we heard the wheels of the car across the gravel of the driveway, a perfect panic would ensue. We knew we had no more than 29.3 seconds to hide the evidence. Our Heavenly Father is coming soon to take us home. Let us not be scrambling to hide the evidence of a life lived in the darkness. We will have full closure on our service for him in this life. May he find us in full faith, without reproach and blameless before him as we walk in his light.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
It’s the Most Wonderful #$%&* Time of the Year!!!
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7)
Got your Christmas shopping done yet?
For many of us, now is about the time that we start planning the list. I know we always say that next year we are going to shop earlier, but it just never happens. It seems like there is some sort of invisible force field governed by an unknown Federal law that requires 95% of humanity to cram the major bulk of our annual binge shopping into the shortest time possible. It is sort of like a game – a national pastime that has been woven into the fabric of our culture. I always marvel at the few who somehow manage to finish their list in October. Maybe you know someone like this. They make most of their presents by hand from only recycled materials and prepare their Holiday banquet from only organically grown items. They always look “GQ”. He was the quarterback and captain of the football team, she was the lead cheerleader. They have exactly 2.3 children who never have a hair out of place. Truth is, they really are not from this planet.
For those who work retail, the holidays are a royal pain in the backside. Dealing with a stressed out grumpy public is often a fate worse than death. Then there are the lines and the traffic for the shoppers. Everyone is on edge. You drive through the mall parking lot and all the spots are full. So you find someone coming out of the store and follow them to get their parking spot. Then someone comes in from the other direction and jumps the protocol and steals the spot. The guy in front of you in line always has some oddball issue that shuts down the register. You can find four million items in every size except the one you need. I could go on complaining until Jesus comes, but I think you get the idea.
This is supposed to be a happy time of the year, and it can be if we keep our hearts anchored to the right things. The joy of Christmas is giving, not getting. Sure, it takes a lot of effort to fight the crowds and find those special things for the ones we love, but it is worth it when we watch the eyes of our kids and grandkids light up with that special gift. Paul said we should, “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) This time of the year gives us an opportunity to live those words. When we get a special gift, we get the joy of receiving. There is nothing wrong with that. Jesus said it is more blessed to give, but he also said it was blessed to receive. But the Bible says God loves a cheerful giver. When we give out of a pure heart of love, we also receive the blessing of giving.
The greatest example of this principle is embodied in the one who we celebrate at this time of the year. The next time we complain about the long lines at the mall, think of the long trek he made up the hill to Calvary. When we encounter the grumpy customer or sales clerk, remember the beating he took from those whom he created. When we get frustrated by the shopping mob, think of the angry mob who cried, “Away with him! Crucify him!” When we see an item we want and then see the “sticker shock” of the price tag, think of the price he paid to redeem us from our sins. He did all of that cheerfully. He did it because he loved you more than anyone ever could. He gave his life – not just a gift card – when he did not have to do it, and when he could have easily gotten out of it. When you received him as your Saviour, he received the greatest joy anyone could ever imagine; a new soul for his kingdom. He gave first, knowing he would receive later. As someone said, God did not wrap his present and place it under a tree, he unwrapped it and nailed it on a tree. Keep your heart directed to that gift every day.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15)
Got your Christmas shopping done yet?
For many of us, now is about the time that we start planning the list. I know we always say that next year we are going to shop earlier, but it just never happens. It seems like there is some sort of invisible force field governed by an unknown Federal law that requires 95% of humanity to cram the major bulk of our annual binge shopping into the shortest time possible. It is sort of like a game – a national pastime that has been woven into the fabric of our culture. I always marvel at the few who somehow manage to finish their list in October. Maybe you know someone like this. They make most of their presents by hand from only recycled materials and prepare their Holiday banquet from only organically grown items. They always look “GQ”. He was the quarterback and captain of the football team, she was the lead cheerleader. They have exactly 2.3 children who never have a hair out of place. Truth is, they really are not from this planet.
For those who work retail, the holidays are a royal pain in the backside. Dealing with a stressed out grumpy public is often a fate worse than death. Then there are the lines and the traffic for the shoppers. Everyone is on edge. You drive through the mall parking lot and all the spots are full. So you find someone coming out of the store and follow them to get their parking spot. Then someone comes in from the other direction and jumps the protocol and steals the spot. The guy in front of you in line always has some oddball issue that shuts down the register. You can find four million items in every size except the one you need. I could go on complaining until Jesus comes, but I think you get the idea.
This is supposed to be a happy time of the year, and it can be if we keep our hearts anchored to the right things. The joy of Christmas is giving, not getting. Sure, it takes a lot of effort to fight the crowds and find those special things for the ones we love, but it is worth it when we watch the eyes of our kids and grandkids light up with that special gift. Paul said we should, “…remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) This time of the year gives us an opportunity to live those words. When we get a special gift, we get the joy of receiving. There is nothing wrong with that. Jesus said it is more blessed to give, but he also said it was blessed to receive. But the Bible says God loves a cheerful giver. When we give out of a pure heart of love, we also receive the blessing of giving.
The greatest example of this principle is embodied in the one who we celebrate at this time of the year. The next time we complain about the long lines at the mall, think of the long trek he made up the hill to Calvary. When we encounter the grumpy customer or sales clerk, remember the beating he took from those whom he created. When we get frustrated by the shopping mob, think of the angry mob who cried, “Away with him! Crucify him!” When we see an item we want and then see the “sticker shock” of the price tag, think of the price he paid to redeem us from our sins. He did all of that cheerfully. He did it because he loved you more than anyone ever could. He gave his life – not just a gift card – when he did not have to do it, and when he could have easily gotten out of it. When you received him as your Saviour, he received the greatest joy anyone could ever imagine; a new soul for his kingdom. He gave first, knowing he would receive later. As someone said, God did not wrap his present and place it under a tree, he unwrapped it and nailed it on a tree. Keep your heart directed to that gift every day.
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (II Corinthians 9:15)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Mission Accomplished
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (II Timothy 4:7-8)
Crest Bible Church is actively involved in the support of missionaries who take the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to other lands and cultures. We take an annual trip to Belize every year, and we have 21 missionaries who receive regular financial support from our church. This missions emphasis was established by our founding pastor Dwight Johnson, and has continued unbroken since he started the church in 1950. In fact, some of the missionaries sent out and supported by Crest Bible Church in the 1950’s are still “on the payroll” even today. It is testimony and legacy, and an aspect of our ministry that we feel is vital to the health of any local assembly.
One of our missionaries is returning from the field. Most of the time, this happens for the wrong reasons (doctrinal problems, character issues, cultural or ministry ineffectiveness, etc.), but there are times when a missionary has successfully done what God asked of them and it is time to move on. Such is the case with Greg and Sue Kedrovsky. Fifteen years ago, God moved in their hearts to take the gospel to the people of Latin America. After a couple of years in Columbia learning the language, culture, and Latino ministry, God moved them to Costa Rica. Greg and Sue planted a church “from scratch” on the East side of the capital city of San Jose. Implementing Biblical discipleship and leadership training, they were able to raise a generation of spiritual leaders to take charge of the church, and now they are “coming home”. I put that in quotes, because I am sure that Greg and Sue consider Costa Rica their home by now. Their three children were born on the mission field, and know nothing of the United States other than where Grandma lives. The next phase of their ministry and lives is before them, and they are trusting God for direction and blessings just as they did fifteen years ago when they left home on this adventure. Coming back to the US will be just as difficult as moving to Latin America was, and in some cases even more so. Teenage children will have to adjust to a life and culture they have never known. The cost of living is far greater. Snow shovels and winter coats will have to be welcomed as new members of the family. The list is longer than we would imagine. Pray for the Kedrovskys that this new phase of their lives would bear fruit as the last one has.
We will welcome Greg and Sue home with a celebration and party this Sunday from 11am-3pm at the Kansas City Baptist Temple, their sending and home church. While we congratulate them on a job well done, we also want to be reminded of certain lessons in this for all of us.
First, no one is indispensible in the mission of God. Sometimes we wonder why a founding senior pastor of a mission work like Eastside Baptist Church of San Jose Costa Rica would be directed by the Lord to leave that work. I am sure the emotions are difficult to deal with on both sides. We tend to think that this church and work would suffer hardship with the departure of its pastor. But we must remember that we need God. He doesn’t need us. We are laborers with him (I Cor 3:9), but it is his mission, and he is quite capable of carrying it on with or without us.
Secondly, all of us are “missionaries” in this life. As a believer, you are already on foreign soil because this world is not your home. Run your race looking unto Jesus (Heb 12:1-2). Some day he will call all of us home. The party and welcome for Greg and Sue Kedrovsky this Sunday will be awesome, but it will be nothing like the celebration around the throne of God on that day.
Crest Bible Church is actively involved in the support of missionaries who take the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to other lands and cultures. We take an annual trip to Belize every year, and we have 21 missionaries who receive regular financial support from our church. This missions emphasis was established by our founding pastor Dwight Johnson, and has continued unbroken since he started the church in 1950. In fact, some of the missionaries sent out and supported by Crest Bible Church in the 1950’s are still “on the payroll” even today. It is testimony and legacy, and an aspect of our ministry that we feel is vital to the health of any local assembly.
One of our missionaries is returning from the field. Most of the time, this happens for the wrong reasons (doctrinal problems, character issues, cultural or ministry ineffectiveness, etc.), but there are times when a missionary has successfully done what God asked of them and it is time to move on. Such is the case with Greg and Sue Kedrovsky. Fifteen years ago, God moved in their hearts to take the gospel to the people of Latin America. After a couple of years in Columbia learning the language, culture, and Latino ministry, God moved them to Costa Rica. Greg and Sue planted a church “from scratch” on the East side of the capital city of San Jose. Implementing Biblical discipleship and leadership training, they were able to raise a generation of spiritual leaders to take charge of the church, and now they are “coming home”. I put that in quotes, because I am sure that Greg and Sue consider Costa Rica their home by now. Their three children were born on the mission field, and know nothing of the United States other than where Grandma lives. The next phase of their ministry and lives is before them, and they are trusting God for direction and blessings just as they did fifteen years ago when they left home on this adventure. Coming back to the US will be just as difficult as moving to Latin America was, and in some cases even more so. Teenage children will have to adjust to a life and culture they have never known. The cost of living is far greater. Snow shovels and winter coats will have to be welcomed as new members of the family. The list is longer than we would imagine. Pray for the Kedrovskys that this new phase of their lives would bear fruit as the last one has.
We will welcome Greg and Sue home with a celebration and party this Sunday from 11am-3pm at the Kansas City Baptist Temple, their sending and home church. While we congratulate them on a job well done, we also want to be reminded of certain lessons in this for all of us.
First, no one is indispensible in the mission of God. Sometimes we wonder why a founding senior pastor of a mission work like Eastside Baptist Church of San Jose Costa Rica would be directed by the Lord to leave that work. I am sure the emotions are difficult to deal with on both sides. We tend to think that this church and work would suffer hardship with the departure of its pastor. But we must remember that we need God. He doesn’t need us. We are laborers with him (I Cor 3:9), but it is his mission, and he is quite capable of carrying it on with or without us.
Secondly, all of us are “missionaries” in this life. As a believer, you are already on foreign soil because this world is not your home. Run your race looking unto Jesus (Heb 12:1-2). Some day he will call all of us home. The party and welcome for Greg and Sue Kedrovsky this Sunday will be awesome, but it will be nothing like the celebration around the throne of God on that day.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Throw It Away!!!
“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (I Corinthians 5:7-8)
Last week I mentioned the “pack rat” mentality I have concerning papers and notes, and how I am in the beginning of the process of trying to “weed out” the mountainous pile of things I have accumulated over the years. It is very painful for me, and a slow process. If you were to look in my office today as opposed to last week, you would see very little progress. But there is a little. Believe it or not, there are actually less papers in my office than there were a week ago. At the rate I am going, I will be down to a manageable level about 20 years into the Millennium. I need to pick up the pace!
Many believers accumulate things in their personal lives that are not always sinful and bad, but often don’t fit into the grand scheme of things. Especially here in the good ol’ US of A, we have learned how to gather the most incredible amount of non-essential junk of any people in the history of the world. Jesus said, “…a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). My, how we ignore that truth! But it is not only the physical stuff we hoard that is the subject of this blog post, but the accumulation of other interests that can entangle our lives and rob us of our spiritual vitality. The verses above tell us that Jesus was our passover sacrifice. He “uncluttered” his life to focus on giving it for our sins. He left the glories and provisions of the Father’s throne to dwell on this dirt ball because he knew we needed his sacrifice to gain a home in heaven. If you have trusted him as your Saviour, he now asks you to devote your life to his service and his kingdom. Some things can get in the way of that. I am not suggesting we live in a cardboard box and eat roots and berries. But too many entanglements will get in the way of our service. Paul said those who serve Christ should not be “entangled with the affairs of this life” (II Timothy 2:4). How many hundreds of times we hear, “I would like to get involved, but…” Activities, bills, relationships, and other interests get in the way. Sometimes we need to do a thorough “spring cleaning” of our lives to be the best we can be for our Lord.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:1-2) A fruit tree bears the biggest and sweetest fruit when it is regularly cleaned out and purged of its dead branches. God expects us to do a little purging at times so we can be more fruitful for him. If we don’t, sometimes he does the purging for us. A few years ago, we had a fall snowstorm that dumped about 8 inches of wet, heavy snow on trees that had not yet lost their leaves. The weight of the snow snapped most of the weaker branches and stripped many of the trees pretty bare. Clean up was a difficult and painstaking time. But a couple of years later, the trees that had solid roots and a sure foundation blossomed even more beautiful than before the storm. The next time a “storm” appears in your life, stop to consider the possibility that God may be trying to prosper your life and make it even sweeter with him. In the meantime, look at the commitments and involvements we have and see if there are some things that just don’t fill the same need and purpose they once did. Clearly, God wants us to purge sin from our lives. But often, there are other things that are not sinful in and of themselves, but that could be laid aside for the greater good of your service to Jesus Christ. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” (II Timothy 2:21) Are you the best you can be for your Lord?
Last week I mentioned the “pack rat” mentality I have concerning papers and notes, and how I am in the beginning of the process of trying to “weed out” the mountainous pile of things I have accumulated over the years. It is very painful for me, and a slow process. If you were to look in my office today as opposed to last week, you would see very little progress. But there is a little. Believe it or not, there are actually less papers in my office than there were a week ago. At the rate I am going, I will be down to a manageable level about 20 years into the Millennium. I need to pick up the pace!
Many believers accumulate things in their personal lives that are not always sinful and bad, but often don’t fit into the grand scheme of things. Especially here in the good ol’ US of A, we have learned how to gather the most incredible amount of non-essential junk of any people in the history of the world. Jesus said, “…a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). My, how we ignore that truth! But it is not only the physical stuff we hoard that is the subject of this blog post, but the accumulation of other interests that can entangle our lives and rob us of our spiritual vitality. The verses above tell us that Jesus was our passover sacrifice. He “uncluttered” his life to focus on giving it for our sins. He left the glories and provisions of the Father’s throne to dwell on this dirt ball because he knew we needed his sacrifice to gain a home in heaven. If you have trusted him as your Saviour, he now asks you to devote your life to his service and his kingdom. Some things can get in the way of that. I am not suggesting we live in a cardboard box and eat roots and berries. But too many entanglements will get in the way of our service. Paul said those who serve Christ should not be “entangled with the affairs of this life” (II Timothy 2:4). How many hundreds of times we hear, “I would like to get involved, but…” Activities, bills, relationships, and other interests get in the way. Sometimes we need to do a thorough “spring cleaning” of our lives to be the best we can be for our Lord.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:1-2) A fruit tree bears the biggest and sweetest fruit when it is regularly cleaned out and purged of its dead branches. God expects us to do a little purging at times so we can be more fruitful for him. If we don’t, sometimes he does the purging for us. A few years ago, we had a fall snowstorm that dumped about 8 inches of wet, heavy snow on trees that had not yet lost their leaves. The weight of the snow snapped most of the weaker branches and stripped many of the trees pretty bare. Clean up was a difficult and painstaking time. But a couple of years later, the trees that had solid roots and a sure foundation blossomed even more beautiful than before the storm. The next time a “storm” appears in your life, stop to consider the possibility that God may be trying to prosper your life and make it even sweeter with him. In the meantime, look at the commitments and involvements we have and see if there are some things that just don’t fill the same need and purpose they once did. Clearly, God wants us to purge sin from our lives. But often, there are other things that are not sinful in and of themselves, but that could be laid aside for the greater good of your service to Jesus Christ. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” (II Timothy 2:21) Are you the best you can be for your Lord?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Incurable Pack Rat
“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)
Now that we are “firmly ensconced” in our new digs, one of the daunting tasks in front of me is unpacking. You know how it is when you move. You end up with box after box of stuff you didn’t know you had. You know all this stuff was vitally critical to the survival of the human race at the time you put it into the box, but now as you go through it, you wonder what in the world it really is, and why anyone in their right mind would not have thrown it away. The boxes now take on a life of their own and multiply in the middle of the night when you aren’t looking. My area of weakness is with papers. I tend to save every receipt, every note to myself, every article on topics of interest, and of course, every Bible study note I have ever taken since I was saved 32 years ago. In my office right now are 16 Banker’s Boxes filled with God only knows what. There are two four-drawer filing cabinets in one of the classrooms I have yet to tackle. I have stuff at home to go through, and my desk is piled nice and full of more “important” stuff. Yet the one thing I really need right now I can’t find. Typical.
I know I am really bad with this. I am sure many of you have seen the reality TV shows on the “hoarders”. These people are way more extreme than I am. There was even a news report recently about an elderly couple of hoarders. The lady was reported missing by the husband, and after several months, she was found in the home dead under a pile of stuff. Hopefully as I sort through the mountain of boxes in my office, I won’t find a dead body.
Many people are just as bad in the opposite direction. They can’t hang on to anything. They blow all their money from paycheck to paycheck, they get in all sorts of trouble because they can’t learn a lesson and build on anything in their lives, and they begin every day as if God just spoke the Universe into existence at 6:00 that morning. It is not the issue of stuff, but the idea of keeping the word of God that causes many people such problems. Proverbs 4:4 says, “Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Jesus said, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears…” (Luke 9:44) I believe that with some Christians, their pastor could preach the same message every week and they would never realize it. Most of them forget the entire message before they get to the end of the parking lot. The joke is told of a man who kept coming forward to the altar every Sunday with the same prayer: “Lord, fill me with your Spirit.” Week after week, he would come and cry out audibly, “Lord, fill me!” Finally the pastor knelt down next to him and prayed, “Lord, don’t worry about filling him, just fix the leak!”
Certainly, we understand that the filling of the Spirit is an ongoing venture in life that we will never totally master. Also, we cannot expect to have such a photographic memory as to recall every word of every message we hear. But the growth of the believer cannot take place if we do not retain as much as we legitimately can. A child does not begin each school year with his colors and ABC’s. A graduate student in economics must remember that 2+2=4. (Would to God our elected officials knew that!) You don’t have to be a pack rat like me. But learn how to make the truths of the Bible build upon each other in your life. I encourage you to set up some form of system that works for you so you can refer back to notes and lessons you have learned. But keeping notes is only a very small part of building a life in Christ. To keep the word of God means to observe it and do it. The more you put into practice the truths of the Bible, the easier it becomes to remember them. When it is all over (or all beginning, depending on your viewpoint), the entire physical creation will “go up in smoke” (II Pet 3:10-12). Yet God will still have his Bible! He will “pack rat” his words longer than the current Universe will exist. When you stand before him, how much of it will you recall?
Now that we are “firmly ensconced” in our new digs, one of the daunting tasks in front of me is unpacking. You know how it is when you move. You end up with box after box of stuff you didn’t know you had. You know all this stuff was vitally critical to the survival of the human race at the time you put it into the box, but now as you go through it, you wonder what in the world it really is, and why anyone in their right mind would not have thrown it away. The boxes now take on a life of their own and multiply in the middle of the night when you aren’t looking. My area of weakness is with papers. I tend to save every receipt, every note to myself, every article on topics of interest, and of course, every Bible study note I have ever taken since I was saved 32 years ago. In my office right now are 16 Banker’s Boxes filled with God only knows what. There are two four-drawer filing cabinets in one of the classrooms I have yet to tackle. I have stuff at home to go through, and my desk is piled nice and full of more “important” stuff. Yet the one thing I really need right now I can’t find. Typical.
I know I am really bad with this. I am sure many of you have seen the reality TV shows on the “hoarders”. These people are way more extreme than I am. There was even a news report recently about an elderly couple of hoarders. The lady was reported missing by the husband, and after several months, she was found in the home dead under a pile of stuff. Hopefully as I sort through the mountain of boxes in my office, I won’t find a dead body.
Many people are just as bad in the opposite direction. They can’t hang on to anything. They blow all their money from paycheck to paycheck, they get in all sorts of trouble because they can’t learn a lesson and build on anything in their lives, and they begin every day as if God just spoke the Universe into existence at 6:00 that morning. It is not the issue of stuff, but the idea of keeping the word of God that causes many people such problems. Proverbs 4:4 says, “Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Jesus said, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears…” (Luke 9:44) I believe that with some Christians, their pastor could preach the same message every week and they would never realize it. Most of them forget the entire message before they get to the end of the parking lot. The joke is told of a man who kept coming forward to the altar every Sunday with the same prayer: “Lord, fill me with your Spirit.” Week after week, he would come and cry out audibly, “Lord, fill me!” Finally the pastor knelt down next to him and prayed, “Lord, don’t worry about filling him, just fix the leak!”
Certainly, we understand that the filling of the Spirit is an ongoing venture in life that we will never totally master. Also, we cannot expect to have such a photographic memory as to recall every word of every message we hear. But the growth of the believer cannot take place if we do not retain as much as we legitimately can. A child does not begin each school year with his colors and ABC’s. A graduate student in economics must remember that 2+2=4. (Would to God our elected officials knew that!) You don’t have to be a pack rat like me. But learn how to make the truths of the Bible build upon each other in your life. I encourage you to set up some form of system that works for you so you can refer back to notes and lessons you have learned. But keeping notes is only a very small part of building a life in Christ. To keep the word of God means to observe it and do it. The more you put into practice the truths of the Bible, the easier it becomes to remember them. When it is all over (or all beginning, depending on your viewpoint), the entire physical creation will “go up in smoke” (II Pet 3:10-12). Yet God will still have his Bible! He will “pack rat” his words longer than the current Universe will exist. When you stand before him, how much of it will you recall?
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Welcome Home!?
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Proverbs 22:15)
We just returned from another trip to our “home away from home” in Belize. There are a lot of things I could share with you in this blog, and maybe over the next few weeks I will, but one story seems to stand out as an object lesson of life in these United States. One of the lessons we all learn when we take a trip to another culture is just how different things are in many other parts of the world. We get de-sensitized to life here because we live in it all the time. Sometimes it takes a trip like this to get out of the country and see things from a different perspective. It is like being in a room with a foul odor. After a while, you don’t notice it any more.
Children in Belize are full of energy and life – and mischief – just like they are here. But there is a stark difference. There is a respect for authority and a courteous demeanor to the children we see in Belize that was once part of our society. Unfortunately, that respect now only resides in a small minority of children in the US. After living in Belizean culture for 10 days and getting used to it, our team arrived back last Monday. As we sat at the gate awaiting our connecting flight in the Houston airport, we observed the “family from hell”. There were two children about ages 3 and 5, who displayed some of the most rebellious and undisciplined behaviour I have seen in a long time. They were running around the gate area screaming and giggling, which in and of itself is not unusual for children of that age. They have boundless energy that if bottled, could solve the world’s energy problems. It was the parent’s attempt to corral the children that got my attention. It was, “Now, Johnny, stop that… come here, please… I’m not going to tell you again…”, and a bunch of other toothless threats that were not only ignored by the children, but responded to in a most disrespectful manner. They cried and pulled away whenever one parent finally was able to catch up with one of them. Requests to settle down were met with, “NO! You can’t make me!” The little girl actually slapped her mother once. I saw the father one time just sit in a chair and bury his face in his hands as if to say, “I give up!” I came real close to saying to him, “Sir, if you don’t know how to spank those children, I do.” I didn’t; but I wanted to. As the four of us on the team sat there and observed all that, I said to them, “Welcome home…”
God made a place on the backside of our anatomy that stings enough to get our attention, and you can’t break it. Proverbs says: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (13:24) Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. (19:18) Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. (23:13) The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (29:15). Some might object. Certainly there is such a thing as child abuse, and it is a heinous evil. But I submit (and the Bible agrees), that no discipline is child abuse also. The object lesson is this: Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us that God disciplines his children, and as our Heavenly Father, he will discharge his duties fully, completely, and in perfect truth and righteousness. God would never think of abusing his children by being too harsh on them. His grace knows no limits, and he knows we are just children, subject to the natural things that befall us. Some parents discipline their children out of their frustration and inconvenience, instead of for their rebellion. Let kids be kids. But God also does not abuse his children by letting them run wild as holy terrors like the brats in the Houston airport. When we step out of line in our hearts in rebellion and evil, God will deal with it according to the exact measure of the “crime”. I am glad he does. Our Father loves us enough to pull out the “board of education” when it is necessary. We should discipline our children in the same manner. As Hebrews says, when proper godly discipline is employed, it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness and makes us partakers of his holiness. May we continue to strive for the goal of his holiness.
We just returned from another trip to our “home away from home” in Belize. There are a lot of things I could share with you in this blog, and maybe over the next few weeks I will, but one story seems to stand out as an object lesson of life in these United States. One of the lessons we all learn when we take a trip to another culture is just how different things are in many other parts of the world. We get de-sensitized to life here because we live in it all the time. Sometimes it takes a trip like this to get out of the country and see things from a different perspective. It is like being in a room with a foul odor. After a while, you don’t notice it any more.
Children in Belize are full of energy and life – and mischief – just like they are here. But there is a stark difference. There is a respect for authority and a courteous demeanor to the children we see in Belize that was once part of our society. Unfortunately, that respect now only resides in a small minority of children in the US. After living in Belizean culture for 10 days and getting used to it, our team arrived back last Monday. As we sat at the gate awaiting our connecting flight in the Houston airport, we observed the “family from hell”. There were two children about ages 3 and 5, who displayed some of the most rebellious and undisciplined behaviour I have seen in a long time. They were running around the gate area screaming and giggling, which in and of itself is not unusual for children of that age. They have boundless energy that if bottled, could solve the world’s energy problems. It was the parent’s attempt to corral the children that got my attention. It was, “Now, Johnny, stop that… come here, please… I’m not going to tell you again…”, and a bunch of other toothless threats that were not only ignored by the children, but responded to in a most disrespectful manner. They cried and pulled away whenever one parent finally was able to catch up with one of them. Requests to settle down were met with, “NO! You can’t make me!” The little girl actually slapped her mother once. I saw the father one time just sit in a chair and bury his face in his hands as if to say, “I give up!” I came real close to saying to him, “Sir, if you don’t know how to spank those children, I do.” I didn’t; but I wanted to. As the four of us on the team sat there and observed all that, I said to them, “Welcome home…”
God made a place on the backside of our anatomy that stings enough to get our attention, and you can’t break it. Proverbs says: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. (13:24) Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. (19:18) Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. (23:13) The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (29:15). Some might object. Certainly there is such a thing as child abuse, and it is a heinous evil. But I submit (and the Bible agrees), that no discipline is child abuse also. The object lesson is this: Hebrews 12:5-11 tells us that God disciplines his children, and as our Heavenly Father, he will discharge his duties fully, completely, and in perfect truth and righteousness. God would never think of abusing his children by being too harsh on them. His grace knows no limits, and he knows we are just children, subject to the natural things that befall us. Some parents discipline their children out of their frustration and inconvenience, instead of for their rebellion. Let kids be kids. But God also does not abuse his children by letting them run wild as holy terrors like the brats in the Houston airport. When we step out of line in our hearts in rebellion and evil, God will deal with it according to the exact measure of the “crime”. I am glad he does. Our Father loves us enough to pull out the “board of education” when it is necessary. We should discipline our children in the same manner. As Hebrews says, when proper godly discipline is employed, it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness and makes us partakers of his holiness. May we continue to strive for the goal of his holiness.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Keep Walking
Just about every Christian I know has a favorite verse in the Bible. Some site John 3:16 as their favorite, as it proclaims God’s love for all of us. Still others love the stories of the Lord’s ministry found in the four gospels of the New Testament. Many have found solace in the Book of Psalms, and wisdom from the Proverbs. Many history lovers enjoy the Old Testament, and others spend most of their time retracing Paul’s journeys through Asia. My pastor says that his favorite verse is whatever verse he happens to be reading at the time.
I too share his love for the entire word of God, yet there is a verse that has stood out from the rest, many times in my life. Most of us have had our ups and downs in life. In fact I would say that our journey through life has a “topography” similar to that of the surface of the earth. Just as God has made His creation with contrast and has given us plenty of mountains and valleys to travel, likewise life also deals us a contrast with the same highs and lows.
The verse that has guided me through many lows in my life is Psalm 23:4:
Psalm 23:4
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The author of this verse acknowledges that he will have problems in life when he says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley…” It is a given that life will not always be care free. Some folks are shocked at the prospect of life not always being “smooth sailing.” If you realize that for every mountain top experience, there also has to be an accompanying valley, then you will not be taken by surprise when you find yourself in a valley. Since the size of the mountain top is smaller than most valleys, it stands to reason that if you are to continue in your journey, then your valley experience may last longer than the mountain top.
My favorite parts of this verse are, “…I walk through…” and, “for thou art with me;” I am able to walk through the problems of life, because God is with me every step of the way. Of course this is true for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, some believers fail to take hold of God’s hand while they are in the valley. It kind of reminds me of when I was a child. My parents would always insist on holding my hand while they escorted me across the street. There were times when I would try to pull my hand away from them so I could do it on my own. Sometimes our pride causes us to want to do everything for ourselves, which can become a deadly enterprise.
One of the parts of this verse that stands out for me is the phrase, “I walk through…” What I find interesting about this part of the verse is as David writes these words, “Yea, though I walk through the valley…,” there seems to be a temporal sense to his words. David appears to think that he is walking through this particular valley, and not camping out in it. He has a “walk through” mentality about this valley. Perhaps David is focusing on what lies ahead, just over the horizon, instead of where he presently finds himself. David looks to his future state to quell the fears of his current state.
Likewise the apostle Peter found himself in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. When he seen the Lord, he stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on the Lord he was able to walk above “his” storm. Remember the first step in Peter’s journey across the water, was stepping out of the boat. He didn’t stay in the boat, instead he started walking.
When you find yourself in a valley, remember not to camp out there. David concludes this psalm with, “…I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” All Christians share this same promise. Grab hold of His hand, keep your eyes on your destination, and “keep walking.” - Ross Weibling
I too share his love for the entire word of God, yet there is a verse that has stood out from the rest, many times in my life. Most of us have had our ups and downs in life. In fact I would say that our journey through life has a “topography” similar to that of the surface of the earth. Just as God has made His creation with contrast and has given us plenty of mountains and valleys to travel, likewise life also deals us a contrast with the same highs and lows.
The verse that has guided me through many lows in my life is Psalm 23:4:
Psalm 23:4
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The author of this verse acknowledges that he will have problems in life when he says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley…” It is a given that life will not always be care free. Some folks are shocked at the prospect of life not always being “smooth sailing.” If you realize that for every mountain top experience, there also has to be an accompanying valley, then you will not be taken by surprise when you find yourself in a valley. Since the size of the mountain top is smaller than most valleys, it stands to reason that if you are to continue in your journey, then your valley experience may last longer than the mountain top.
My favorite parts of this verse are, “…I walk through…” and, “for thou art with me;” I am able to walk through the problems of life, because God is with me every step of the way. Of course this is true for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, some believers fail to take hold of God’s hand while they are in the valley. It kind of reminds me of when I was a child. My parents would always insist on holding my hand while they escorted me across the street. There were times when I would try to pull my hand away from them so I could do it on my own. Sometimes our pride causes us to want to do everything for ourselves, which can become a deadly enterprise.
One of the parts of this verse that stands out for me is the phrase, “I walk through…” What I find interesting about this part of the verse is as David writes these words, “Yea, though I walk through the valley…,” there seems to be a temporal sense to his words. David appears to think that he is walking through this particular valley, and not camping out in it. He has a “walk through” mentality about this valley. Perhaps David is focusing on what lies ahead, just over the horizon, instead of where he presently finds himself. David looks to his future state to quell the fears of his current state.
Likewise the apostle Peter found himself in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. When he seen the Lord, he stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on the Lord he was able to walk above “his” storm. Remember the first step in Peter’s journey across the water, was stepping out of the boat. He didn’t stay in the boat, instead he started walking.
When you find yourself in a valley, remember not to camp out there. David concludes this psalm with, “…I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” All Christians share this same promise. Grab hold of His hand, keep your eyes on your destination, and “keep walking.” - Ross Weibling
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