2 Corinthians 3 reminds us to whom we belong and to whose image we are daily being transformed. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
I believe that God uses imagery to powerfully communicate His nature and His glory - to the children of Israel, He communicated through the majesty of the temple and the design of the various elements. Jesus used powerful images of healing and deliverance, of water turned to wine and bread and fish turned to a feast - in order to show people who He was.
Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
And, in our culture today, we have opportunities to communicate God's truth in a variety of ways - and I am thankful for those Christians who seek to use the arts to tell the story of Christ. And, a form of artistic - and cosmetic - expression is being used to remind believers in Houston about the death and resurrection of Jesus...
Pastor Chris Seay of Ecclesia Church in Houston encouraged church members to consider being part of an art exhibit during Lent, employing the talents of a local tattoo artist - that's right - tattoo. And, some 50 people responded by having their skin emblazened with a variety of symbols of the Stations of the Cross - it's called "Stations on Skin" and "Cruciformity". By the way, it is well known in my family that I do not care for tattoos, and we do recognize that the tattoo was forbidden under the Old Testament Law. But, in today's culture, tattoos have become quite popular, and if they can be used for the glory of God, then I'm OK with them. Our challenge as the church as a whole is to find creative ways to speak into the culture and communicate effectively - if a tattoo can provide an open door in order to share God's truth, then go for it. You just won't find me anywhere near that instrument!!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
A Night to "Remember"
Isaiah 46 records the words of God to His people:
9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me...
Jesus said to His disciples in John chapter 16:
4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
And in Deuteronomy 8, we see these words:
1 "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
It was a night for remembering as the 2012 Academy Awards were handed out for the last time at the venue known as the Kodak Theater, which is withdrawing its sponsorship of the hall in the wake of its bankruptcy. And, while we can fondly remember the effect that Kodak films and cameras have had on our lives, what transpired on the stage can also give us a cause to remember.
"The Artist" won 5 awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor - and for the first time since 1928, a silent film won an Oscar, hearkening to days gone by. Another "retro" type of film, Martin Scorcese's "Hugo", also picked up 5 golden statues, as the legendary filmmaker paid tribute to some of the techniques of the past. And, how about Meryl Streep's third Oscar, for her portrayal of a major historical figure, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady". 82-year-old Christopher Plummer won the Best Supporting Actor nod, and Montgomery's own Octavia Spencer took home yet another award for her role in "The Help", which was set in the early 60's in Jackson, Mississippi.
For the Christian, the past can be painful, but also instructive. God says that He remembers our sins no more, casting them into the sea of forgetfulness, so it is true that He wants to heal us from the pain of past mistakes. But, He also wants us to remember His goodness, to remember and share what Jesus has done in our lives, and to draw strength from thinking on instances of His faithfulness. Furthermore, I think as a nation we need to remember God and the principles upon which we are founded. So, while we are not called to "live in the past", experience can be a powerful teacher.
9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me...
Jesus said to His disciples in John chapter 16:
4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
And in Deuteronomy 8, we see these words:
1 "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
It was a night for remembering as the 2012 Academy Awards were handed out for the last time at the venue known as the Kodak Theater, which is withdrawing its sponsorship of the hall in the wake of its bankruptcy. And, while we can fondly remember the effect that Kodak films and cameras have had on our lives, what transpired on the stage can also give us a cause to remember.
"The Artist" won 5 awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor - and for the first time since 1928, a silent film won an Oscar, hearkening to days gone by. Another "retro" type of film, Martin Scorcese's "Hugo", also picked up 5 golden statues, as the legendary filmmaker paid tribute to some of the techniques of the past. And, how about Meryl Streep's third Oscar, for her portrayal of a major historical figure, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady". 82-year-old Christopher Plummer won the Best Supporting Actor nod, and Montgomery's own Octavia Spencer took home yet another award for her role in "The Help", which was set in the early 60's in Jackson, Mississippi.
For the Christian, the past can be painful, but also instructive. God says that He remembers our sins no more, casting them into the sea of forgetfulness, so it is true that He wants to heal us from the pain of past mistakes. But, He also wants us to remember His goodness, to remember and share what Jesus has done in our lives, and to draw strength from thinking on instances of His faithfulness. Furthermore, I think as a nation we need to remember God and the principles upon which we are founded. So, while we are not called to "live in the past", experience can be a powerful teacher.
Friday, February 24, 2012
What Do You Treasure?
In the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 6, Jesus addressed the issue of financial priorities:
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Randy Alcorn writes in the book, "The Treasure Principle":
By telling us that our hearts follow our treasure, Jesus is saying, “Show me your checkbook, your VISA statement, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.”...
As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads; hearts follow.
In Mark chapter 4, Jesus teaches us about the wise use of what He has entrusted to us:
24 "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
2nd Corinthians 9 addresses the concept of our resources as a tool to reflect the glory of God:
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. Our priorities are reflected in the way that we use what God has given to us. For instance, He has given us time as a tool, and if we squander away the resource of time with idleness or misplaced priorities, then we miss what He has in store for us. And, he has given us financial resources - the Bible teaches us to bring the firstfruits to Him. You may not have much, but it is still a gift of God to be used. If our hearts are turned toward God, then our spending - and giving - will reflect the condition of our hearts. This is evident in the life of someone who has taken the tools the Lord has given to her and used them for His glory. She once was one of the top supermodels, and now, according to a recent Forbes article, Kathy Ireland. Motivated by her desire to help busy moms, driven by her faith in Christ, her company markets some 15,000 products, doing $2 billion in retail sales last year. And, while she is using her resources to provide practical solutions and home-related products, she has also been involved in charitable work. According to the Christian Post, she has been involved...
In her most recent book from 2009, she used another tool, the written word, to address family finances, health, the dangers of drug abuses and STDs, stress, menopause, and “most importantly finding wisdom and security in the glory of Christian faith."
So, while Kathy Ireland, who has been a top trending topic on Yahoo! for the last 2 days, has plenty of earthly treasure, the use of her treasure is reflective of her relationship with God. So we can ask ourselves - what do we treasure? Recognizing that our spending priorities reflect what's in our hearts, we have an indicator of how well we are fulfilling His purpose for us.
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Randy Alcorn writes in the book, "The Treasure Principle":
By telling us that our hearts follow our treasure, Jesus is saying, “Show me your checkbook, your VISA statement, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.”...
As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads; hearts follow.
In Mark chapter 4, Jesus teaches us about the wise use of what He has entrusted to us:
24 "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."
2nd Corinthians 9 addresses the concept of our resources as a tool to reflect the glory of God:
10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. Our priorities are reflected in the way that we use what God has given to us. For instance, He has given us time as a tool, and if we squander away the resource of time with idleness or misplaced priorities, then we miss what He has in store for us. And, he has given us financial resources - the Bible teaches us to bring the firstfruits to Him. You may not have much, but it is still a gift of God to be used. If our hearts are turned toward God, then our spending - and giving - will reflect the condition of our hearts. This is evident in the life of someone who has taken the tools the Lord has given to her and used them for His glory. She once was one of the top supermodels, and now, according to a recent Forbes article, Kathy Ireland. Motivated by her desire to help busy moms, driven by her faith in Christ, her company markets some 15,000 products, doing $2 billion in retail sales last year. And, while she is using her resources to provide practical solutions and home-related products, she has also been involved in charitable work. According to the Christian Post, she has been involved...
...in a lot of charitable work, promoting awareness of family issues such as hunger, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, and breast cancer. UCLA named Ireland as one of America's top 10 women's health advocates, recognizing her for her involvement in the March of Dimes and frequent public advocacy for timely and adequate prenatal care.
Ireland is also an outspoken Christian and pro-lifer who believes life begins at conception and that her “best friend is my Rock, Anchor, Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ."
"All things are possible with God,” she says.
In her most recent book from 2009, she used another tool, the written word, to address family finances, health, the dangers of drug abuses and STDs, stress, menopause, and “most importantly finding wisdom and security in the glory of Christian faith."
So, while Kathy Ireland, who has been a top trending topic on Yahoo! for the last 2 days, has plenty of earthly treasure, the use of her treasure is reflective of her relationship with God. So we can ask ourselves - what do we treasure? Recognizing that our spending priorities reflect what's in our hearts, we have an indicator of how well we are fulfilling His purpose for us.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Blue People and New People
Here are the words of Hebrews 12:
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...
Warren Wiersbie has said, "We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory."
Romans 7 says this:
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death ? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord ! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Some news has emerged recently about a group of people from Kentucky known as the "Blue People of Troublesome Creek". Seems that members of the Fugate family for generations have had this rare blood disorder that results in the skin being blue. The disorder can be inherited, as with the Fugate family, or caused by exposure to certain drugs and chemicals such as anesthetic drugs like benzocaine and xylocaine and certain meat additives or antibiotics.
Apparently, the family has basically scattered, but it is an interesting study. And, it can be instructive about the nature of sin and redemption. You see, we are all born with a certain condition, a spiritual disorder - we are born into sin, and only through a relationship with Christ in salvation can we find an antidote, a treatment for sin. Apparently the Fugate family possessed these characteristics throughout their lives, and we can be reminded that we face the constant struggle with sin and the power of the flesh.
But, while you do have the propensity to sin in general and even to commit certain specific sins are passed down from generation to generations, we can still choose to surrender to Christ and release His power to enable us to overcome, to resist the urges and temptations of the flesh and to experience life transformation in Him. Just because your father or grandmother might have had life-controlling patterns that seem to "run in the family", through the power of the Lord and His Word, you can discover His strength.
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...
Warren Wiersbie has said, "We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory."
Romans 7 says this:
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death ? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord ! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Some news has emerged recently about a group of people from Kentucky known as the "Blue People of Troublesome Creek". Seems that members of the Fugate family for generations have had this rare blood disorder that results in the skin being blue. The disorder can be inherited, as with the Fugate family, or caused by exposure to certain drugs and chemicals such as anesthetic drugs like benzocaine and xylocaine and certain meat additives or antibiotics.
Apparently, the family has basically scattered, but it is an interesting study. And, it can be instructive about the nature of sin and redemption. You see, we are all born with a certain condition, a spiritual disorder - we are born into sin, and only through a relationship with Christ in salvation can we find an antidote, a treatment for sin. Apparently the Fugate family possessed these characteristics throughout their lives, and we can be reminded that we face the constant struggle with sin and the power of the flesh.
But, while you do have the propensity to sin in general and even to commit certain specific sins are passed down from generation to generations, we can still choose to surrender to Christ and release His power to enable us to overcome, to resist the urges and temptations of the flesh and to experience life transformation in Him. Just because your father or grandmother might have had life-controlling patterns that seem to "run in the family", through the power of the Lord and His Word, you can discover His strength.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Matters of the Heart
Proverbs 4 says, beginning in verse 20:
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
We must be careful to filter what we place into our hearts through the Word of God - our hearts have been redeemed and renewed by the Holy Spirit, but if we are feeding input to our hearts that is not consistent with God's Word and nature, then our spiritual health is adversely affected.
Paul wrote in Romans chapter 10 that 9 ...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Have your heard about the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas? Yes, it has such scrumptous menu items as the Triple Bypass Burger and the Quadruple Bypass Burger. Well, according to Fox 5 Vegas and amateur video (which seems to always be showing up these days, an unidentified man dining at the establishment suffered from a heart attack at the Heart Attack Grill while feasting on one of those Triple Bypass Burgers. He is reported to be alive and recuperating.
The restaurant's slogan is "Taste Worth Dying For", and this incident comes just a year after the Grill's 575-pound, 29-year-old spokesman died.
The Vegas owner of Heart Attack Grill, "Doctor" Jon Basso -- who is not actually a doctor -- first thought the man's cardiac arrest was a joke, but soon phoned 911. Basso told Fox 5, "I actually felt horrible for the gentleman because the tourists were taking photos of him as if it were some type of stunt. Even with our own morbid sense of humor, we would never pull a stunt like that," he said.
As health and nutrition expert Pam Smith reminded us on Tuesday's program, this is American Heart Month, and while people are focused on a plethora of hearts for Valentine's Day, it can serve as a reminder to take care of our hearts - no laughing matter here! And, we must be careful to take care of not only our physical hearts, but our spiritual hearts, the human spirit, the core of our being. Proverbs says to guard our hearts, because our spirit, our heart, is the wellspring of life. How we behave and respond to God and others is governed by what is in our hearts - at our core. If we are allowing Christ to energize our hearts, then our spiritual life will be healthy, but if we place thoughts and ideas into our hearts that are contrary to God's ways, then we live at a level less than what God intended.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
We must be careful to filter what we place into our hearts through the Word of God - our hearts have been redeemed and renewed by the Holy Spirit, but if we are feeding input to our hearts that is not consistent with God's Word and nature, then our spiritual health is adversely affected.
Paul wrote in Romans chapter 10 that 9 ...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Have your heard about the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas? Yes, it has such scrumptous menu items as the Triple Bypass Burger and the Quadruple Bypass Burger. Well, according to Fox 5 Vegas and amateur video (which seems to always be showing up these days, an unidentified man dining at the establishment suffered from a heart attack at the Heart Attack Grill while feasting on one of those Triple Bypass Burgers. He is reported to be alive and recuperating.
The restaurant's slogan is "Taste Worth Dying For", and this incident comes just a year after the Grill's 575-pound, 29-year-old spokesman died.
The Vegas owner of Heart Attack Grill, "Doctor" Jon Basso -- who is not actually a doctor -- first thought the man's cardiac arrest was a joke, but soon phoned 911. Basso told Fox 5, "I actually felt horrible for the gentleman because the tourists were taking photos of him as if it were some type of stunt. Even with our own morbid sense of humor, we would never pull a stunt like that," he said.
As health and nutrition expert Pam Smith reminded us on Tuesday's program, this is American Heart Month, and while people are focused on a plethora of hearts for Valentine's Day, it can serve as a reminder to take care of our hearts - no laughing matter here! And, we must be careful to take care of not only our physical hearts, but our spiritual hearts, the human spirit, the core of our being. Proverbs says to guard our hearts, because our spirit, our heart, is the wellspring of life. How we behave and respond to God and others is governed by what is in our hearts - at our core. If we are allowing Christ to energize our hearts, then our spiritual life will be healthy, but if we place thoughts and ideas into our hearts that are contrary to God's ways, then we live at a level less than what God intended.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Identity Crisis
The apostle Paul relates a prayer for the people of God in Ephesians chapter 1, saying that he prays:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe... We have a new identity in Jesus Christ, recognizing that in Him we are new creations - the old has come, the new has come, and we can open our eyes to the truth of who God is, the relationship He wants to have with us, and the truth about who we are, as redeemed, blood-bought children of God, brought into fellowship with the Father through Christ. In Colossians chapter 1, Paul writes: 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight...
A new report from the Pew Center on the States says that one of every eight voter registrations in the United States is either invalid or inaccurate. That represents some 24 million records. And, there are voters registered in multiple states, approximately 1.8 million dead people are still listed as active voters, and one in four people eligible to vote — some 51 million people — are not registered at all.
This makes the case for stronger voter identification and registration laws, and can serve to encourage us as believers in Christ who want to impact the culture to get involved by registering to vote and casting a ballot, representing a prayerful, informed choice.
But, I think there is also a lesson we can learn from this massive number of inaccurate records - I believe that, as Christians, we have inaccurate information about our identity. We have been called children of God, purchased by the blood of Jesus, but rather than act like people belonging to God, we operate as if we belong to this world. We have been set free from the power of sin, but we so often allow ourselves to be in bondage to habits and activities that keep us from walking in God's best. And, while the Bible tells us we have been forgiven for our past sins, we allow the guilt and shame of our past to cloud our hope for the future. So, we need to feed accurate information to be processed in our minds, and since our true identity is found in Christ, we can discover who were are in Him by reading, studying, and meditating on God's Word.
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe... We have a new identity in Jesus Christ, recognizing that in Him we are new creations - the old has come, the new has come, and we can open our eyes to the truth of who God is, the relationship He wants to have with us, and the truth about who we are, as redeemed, blood-bought children of God, brought into fellowship with the Father through Christ. In Colossians chapter 1, Paul writes: 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight...
A new report from the Pew Center on the States says that one of every eight voter registrations in the United States is either invalid or inaccurate. That represents some 24 million records. And, there are voters registered in multiple states, approximately 1.8 million dead people are still listed as active voters, and one in four people eligible to vote — some 51 million people — are not registered at all.
This makes the case for stronger voter identification and registration laws, and can serve to encourage us as believers in Christ who want to impact the culture to get involved by registering to vote and casting a ballot, representing a prayerful, informed choice.
But, I think there is also a lesson we can learn from this massive number of inaccurate records - I believe that, as Christians, we have inaccurate information about our identity. We have been called children of God, purchased by the blood of Jesus, but rather than act like people belonging to God, we operate as if we belong to this world. We have been set free from the power of sin, but we so often allow ourselves to be in bondage to habits and activities that keep us from walking in God's best. And, while the Bible tells us we have been forgiven for our past sins, we allow the guilt and shame of our past to cloud our hope for the future. So, we need to feed accurate information to be processed in our minds, and since our true identity is found in Christ, we can discover who were are in Him by reading, studying, and meditating on God's Word.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"Til Death Do Us Part"
1st John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
On this V's Day, when we express our love toward that special person in our lives, we can explore the depths of God's love for us - Jesus gave His life so that we could come to know and love Him, and as we humble ourselves before Him and before one another, we can gain a glimpse into what it really means to love.
In Ephesians 5, husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and God's pronouncement on the institution of marriage from Genesis 2 are restated:
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. When someone makes a vow to God or to another person, as in our marriage vows, this a strong promise, a declaration that you intend to keep. In a culture where marriage has become increasingly expendable, this is a countercultural notion, but marriage represents the best God has to offer and the best that we can offer to one another.
From Deuteronomy 12:
10 But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety, 11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord. The concept of a vow is found throughout the Old Testament and I find that there is an element of sacrifice that is associated. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life, and when we enter into a marriage relationship, or even a relationship that could lead to marriage, we place the needs of the other person above our own, and seek to serve and please that other person! And, no matter what the circumstances, we recognize that marriage is intended to be a lasting relationship, to the glory of God. Kim and Krickett Carpenter had been married for 10 weeks when they experienced a violent car accident, and Krickett lost a portion of her memory, including her relationship with Kim...but because he had taken a vow to stay with her, and because she realized she had taken a vow, as well, he proceeded to woo her, they dated, rediscovered each other, fell in love again, and had another marriage ceremony. Their story is the basis for this past weekend's box office champion, "The Vow", which shares the name with a book containing their story. The plot admittedly had some Hollywood liberties, but the story and the presence of faith found in the book can be inspiring to us today.
This past weekend, almost 500 people attended FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember in Montgomery. 130 people recommitted their lives to Christ and over 100 experienced a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. Almost 3 dozen accepted Christ as Savior, so that they could experience His love and prepare to love their mate as he loved the church.
Here are some of the comments:This weekend opened our eyes and reiterated the need for us to be God-centered and value each other as the “ultimate gift from the ultimate gift giver”!! How dare I not appreciate or pick apart and complain about such a gift! This was my “Ah ha!” moment!
Reminded us to keep our priorities focused on God first, each other, then children.
Helped us relax and refocus. This was a “Lord help us have an excellent marriage” experience. Our first one was just a “Lord help us” experience. Both hit the mark.
Profound. I never thought of my husband as my perfect gift from God. It rocked my world in regard to how I look at him
We were very distant for months. We had decided almost to be “roommates” because we had committed that divorce is not an option. We leave reconnected with a sense of oneness for God’s plan for our lives and a legacy for our children.
I was reminded “oneness” is the goal and we have accomplished it.
Marriage is God's best, and our spouse is God's gift to us. I rejoice in my marriage, to Beth, 21-1/2 years and growing stronger - in fact, 22 years ago on Valentine's Day, our friends thought we'd get engaged, but I decided to wait 3 days to ask her. I'm so thankful she said "yes!"
On this V's Day, when we express our love toward that special person in our lives, we can explore the depths of God's love for us - Jesus gave His life so that we could come to know and love Him, and as we humble ourselves before Him and before one another, we can gain a glimpse into what it really means to love.
In Ephesians 5, husbands are told to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and God's pronouncement on the institution of marriage from Genesis 2 are restated:
31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. When someone makes a vow to God or to another person, as in our marriage vows, this a strong promise, a declaration that you intend to keep. In a culture where marriage has become increasingly expendable, this is a countercultural notion, but marriage represents the best God has to offer and the best that we can offer to one another.
From Deuteronomy 12:
10 But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety, 11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord. The concept of a vow is found throughout the Old Testament and I find that there is an element of sacrifice that is associated. Jesus loved us so much that He gave His life, and when we enter into a marriage relationship, or even a relationship that could lead to marriage, we place the needs of the other person above our own, and seek to serve and please that other person! And, no matter what the circumstances, we recognize that marriage is intended to be a lasting relationship, to the glory of God. Kim and Krickett Carpenter had been married for 10 weeks when they experienced a violent car accident, and Krickett lost a portion of her memory, including her relationship with Kim...but because he had taken a vow to stay with her, and because she realized she had taken a vow, as well, he proceeded to woo her, they dated, rediscovered each other, fell in love again, and had another marriage ceremony. Their story is the basis for this past weekend's box office champion, "The Vow", which shares the name with a book containing their story. The plot admittedly had some Hollywood liberties, but the story and the presence of faith found in the book can be inspiring to us today.
This past weekend, almost 500 people attended FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember in Montgomery. 130 people recommitted their lives to Christ and over 100 experienced a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit. Almost 3 dozen accepted Christ as Savior, so that they could experience His love and prepare to love their mate as he loved the church.
Here are some of the comments:This weekend opened our eyes and reiterated the need for us to be God-centered and value each other as the “ultimate gift from the ultimate gift giver”!! How dare I not appreciate or pick apart and complain about such a gift! This was my “Ah ha!” moment!
Reminded us to keep our priorities focused on God first, each other, then children.
Helped us relax and refocus. This was a “Lord help us have an excellent marriage” experience. Our first one was just a “Lord help us” experience. Both hit the mark.
Profound. I never thought of my husband as my perfect gift from God. It rocked my world in regard to how I look at him
We were very distant for months. We had decided almost to be “roommates” because we had committed that divorce is not an option. We leave reconnected with a sense of oneness for God’s plan for our lives and a legacy for our children.
I was reminded “oneness” is the goal and we have accomplished it.
Marriage is God's best, and our spouse is God's gift to us. I rejoice in my marriage, to Beth, 21-1/2 years and growing stronger - in fact, 22 years ago on Valentine's Day, our friends thought we'd get engaged, but I decided to wait 3 days to ask her. I'm so thankful she said "yes!"
Monday, February 13, 2012
Fighting and Finishing
The apostle Paul referred to the Christian life as a race, and in 2nd Timothy 4, as he neared the end of that race, he reflected, writing these words:
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Many make what seems to be a good start, growing up in the church, maybe even appearing live a godly life, but never experience the life-transforming power of God through salvation in Christ, and their lives do not reflect the dedication and obedience to Him. Galatians 5:7-9 says: 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Her life has been described as a cautionary tale, and on the eve of the Grammys, just hours after she had publicly sang "Jesus Loves Me" with a friend at a pre-Grammy party, pop superstar Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room. How tragic! The silence of a voice that moved a generation. Whitney grew up in the church - her mom, Cissy Houston, was a famous gospel singer, and indeed the threads of her childhood faith appeared at various times in her career. But, she developed a reputation for too much partying, substance abuse, and a turbulent marriage to someone who had a wild reputation himself. And, while we don't know exactly what happened during those final few moments, we know that her death called attention to how she lived her life. Some random principles we can take away from the life - and death - of Whitney:1 - "except for the grace of God go I." We should never be so proud as to think that our lives are immune from sin and rebellion...except for the power of Christ released in us, because we are born into sin, we have a propensity to displease God. And we don't have the right to judge whether or not someone is saved. 2 - We have to possess our own faith. Whitney grew up in church and her family life had a strong spiritual thread...but just because we have a church background and a believing mom, dad, or grandparents, doesn't mean that their faith will carry us. Each of us has to make that childhood teaching our own...my kids can't ride my faith into heaven.3 - Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The apostle Paul spoke of finishing well. And, we see people who may have attended church regularly years ago who do not sustain that relationship and never capture a passion for living for Christ. And, we have to evaluate our walk with Christ - are we growing in Him, moving forward in Christ, standing still, or even drifting backward? In fact, if we're marking time or treading water, the currents of the culture and the propensity of our flesh will cause us to move backward. So, our challenge today - are we positioning ourselves to finish well?
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. Many make what seems to be a good start, growing up in the church, maybe even appearing live a godly life, but never experience the life-transforming power of God through salvation in Christ, and their lives do not reflect the dedication and obedience to Him. Galatians 5:7-9 says: 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Her life has been described as a cautionary tale, and on the eve of the Grammys, just hours after she had publicly sang "Jesus Loves Me" with a friend at a pre-Grammy party, pop superstar Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room. How tragic! The silence of a voice that moved a generation. Whitney grew up in the church - her mom, Cissy Houston, was a famous gospel singer, and indeed the threads of her childhood faith appeared at various times in her career. But, she developed a reputation for too much partying, substance abuse, and a turbulent marriage to someone who had a wild reputation himself. And, while we don't know exactly what happened during those final few moments, we know that her death called attention to how she lived her life. Some random principles we can take away from the life - and death - of Whitney:1 - "except for the grace of God go I." We should never be so proud as to think that our lives are immune from sin and rebellion...except for the power of Christ released in us, because we are born into sin, we have a propensity to displease God. And we don't have the right to judge whether or not someone is saved. 2 - We have to possess our own faith. Whitney grew up in church and her family life had a strong spiritual thread...but just because we have a church background and a believing mom, dad, or grandparents, doesn't mean that their faith will carry us. Each of us has to make that childhood teaching our own...my kids can't ride my faith into heaven.3 - Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The apostle Paul spoke of finishing well. And, we see people who may have attended church regularly years ago who do not sustain that relationship and never capture a passion for living for Christ. And, we have to evaluate our walk with Christ - are we growing in Him, moving forward in Christ, standing still, or even drifting backward? In fact, if we're marking time or treading water, the currents of the culture and the propensity of our flesh will cause us to move backward. So, our challenge today - are we positioning ourselves to finish well?
Friday, February 10, 2012
It's Halftime
From Romans chapter 5:
(We) rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
As believers in Christ, we may be facing tough times, but through the fuel of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship of our Christian brothers and sisters that can help us make it through, we can experience God's endurance and His joy.
In Colossians 1, the apostle Paul, referring to the saints of God, says:
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The results are in, and the Doritos baby commercial is the winner! That's the one depicting a baby in a seat, held by bungee cords, sent into the air to retrieve the Doritos from the boy in the treehouse. Perhaps the commercial that has received the most attention is the Clint Eastwood monologue for Chrysler - I say monologue because Eastwood reportedly doesn't do commercial endorsements.
It was aired at halftime, and says that its..."It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.
The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together, now Motor City is fighting again.
But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Because that’s what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can’t find a way, then we’ll make one.
This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin."
Some have regarded this ad as an endorsement for the taxpayer-funded bailout of Chrysler and GM. Eastwood denies that, but I think the critics have a point. But, another message to us can be about the power of HOPE. Just as Jesus, even though crucified on a cross, was raised from the dead, we can have hope that He is with us and that He will be exalted. But, we have to trust Him - we can choose to possess a sense of despair and disappointment, or we can face our future with hope because we serve a risen Lord.
In Independence Hall in Philadelphia, there was a chair used by George Washington during the Constitutional Convention. James Madison reported that Benjamin Franklin had said, "I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I... know that it is a rising...sun." For the believer today, we can face tomorrow with the assurance that God has a hope and future for us...a rising sun, if you will.
The resurrection is a tangible reminder that in Christ, we can have hope. When we encounter disappointment, we look to a living Lord and can be lifted up in our spirits, knowing that He is in control of the future. He is faithful, and we can face the future with hope because of Jesus.
(We) rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
As believers in Christ, we may be facing tough times, but through the fuel of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship of our Christian brothers and sisters that can help us make it through, we can experience God's endurance and His joy.
In Colossians 1, the apostle Paul, referring to the saints of God, says:
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The results are in, and the Doritos baby commercial is the winner! That's the one depicting a baby in a seat, held by bungee cords, sent into the air to retrieve the Doritos from the boy in the treehouse. Perhaps the commercial that has received the most attention is the Clint Eastwood monologue for Chrysler - I say monologue because Eastwood reportedly doesn't do commercial endorsements.
It was aired at halftime, and says that its..."It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.
The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together, now Motor City is fighting again.
But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Because that’s what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can’t find a way, then we’ll make one.
This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin."
Some have regarded this ad as an endorsement for the taxpayer-funded bailout of Chrysler and GM. Eastwood denies that, but I think the critics have a point. But, another message to us can be about the power of HOPE. Just as Jesus, even though crucified on a cross, was raised from the dead, we can have hope that He is with us and that He will be exalted. But, we have to trust Him - we can choose to possess a sense of despair and disappointment, or we can face our future with hope because we serve a risen Lord.
In Independence Hall in Philadelphia, there was a chair used by George Washington during the Constitutional Convention. James Madison reported that Benjamin Franklin had said, "I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I... know that it is a rising...sun." For the believer today, we can face tomorrow with the assurance that God has a hope and future for us...a rising sun, if you will.
The resurrection is a tangible reminder that in Christ, we can have hope. When we encounter disappointment, we look to a living Lord and can be lifted up in our spirits, knowing that He is in control of the future. He is faithful, and we can face the future with hope because of Jesus.
All Scripture Is Inspired...
2nd Timothy 3:16 reminds us of the integrity of God's Word:
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness...
In this culture, when there are policies and philosophies that motivate the decisions of people in power, we as believers in Christ need to have a working knowledge of God's Word, hidden in our hearts, governing our behavior, and expressed with our mouths. He is the one who is our anchor, who provides us a firm foundation, in absolute truth.
In Psalm 1, we see this:
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers ! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither ; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Blogger Tim Challies has developed a chart on the "Books of the Bible" - at first glance, it really looks like the Periodic Table of the Elements - on the left side, the Old Testament books are broken down by type, each one with its own square on the table. Likewise, on the right side, the New Testament books are laid out. Not only do we need to read God's Word, but as God instructed Joshua, it's helpful, really critical to meditate on His truth and to apply His principles. So finding the verses and passages that pertain to issues we are facing can be very instructive and inspiring. The elements comprise our physical environment and God's Word possesses the building blocks for our spiritual growth...His Word will teach us, reprove and correct us, and teach us how to live a life pleasing to Him.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness...
In this culture, when there are policies and philosophies that motivate the decisions of people in power, we as believers in Christ need to have a working knowledge of God's Word, hidden in our hearts, governing our behavior, and expressed with our mouths. He is the one who is our anchor, who provides us a firm foundation, in absolute truth.
In Psalm 1, we see this:
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers ! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither ; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Blogger Tim Challies has developed a chart on the "Books of the Bible" - at first glance, it really looks like the Periodic Table of the Elements - on the left side, the Old Testament books are broken down by type, each one with its own square on the table. Likewise, on the right side, the New Testament books are laid out. Not only do we need to read God's Word, but as God instructed Joshua, it's helpful, really critical to meditate on His truth and to apply His principles. So finding the verses and passages that pertain to issues we are facing can be very instructive and inspiring. The elements comprise our physical environment and God's Word possesses the building blocks for our spiritual growth...His Word will teach us, reprove and correct us, and teach us how to live a life pleasing to Him.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Forgotten Man & Remembered God
Psalm 24 says this:
7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 8 Who is the King of glory ? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10 Who is this King of glory ? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. What we see through our eyes becomes imprinted upon our minds, and those images can propel us to draw closer to God or pull us away from Him. We have to be careful to guard the gateways to our minds, and allow the King of Glory to permeate our thinking, so that we can reflect His glory!
The painting is called, "The Forgotten Man", and it pictures a man sitting on a park bench in front of the White House, surrounded by 43 U.S. Presidents. The current President, Barack Obama, is standing on the Constitution, while James Madison is trying to persuade him not to. The painting features discarded dollar bills and scraps of paper with constitutional amendments written on them.
Artist Jon McNaughton has uploaded a video of him painting the canvas, and according to the International Business Times, he says: "For a long time I didn't know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried it might be too controversial. This man on the park bench represents every man, woman, and child who is an American... he hopes to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity...But now because of unconstitutional acts imposed by the American people by our government we stand on the precipice of disasters." He went on to say: "I don't place all the blame on Obama. On my website I try to explain what each president has done...The thing I like about the painting is that it does get people talking."
McNaughton is also known for a painting called, "One Nation Under God", depicts Jesus surrounded by characters from American history plus Satan. Some of the characters are actual people (such as Ronald Reagan, James Madison) and some represent types of people, such as a handicapped child, a news reporter, a professor clutching Darwin's Origin Of Species, and a judge weeping over Roe vs. Wade.
Jon McNaughton uses the power of imagery to communicate his views, and whether you agree with him completely, he has people talking. Images can be powerful tools, and God desires for us to implant images in our minds that can serve to remind us of His truth and His glory. If we are viewing images that are not pleasing to Him, then there are negative implications in our walk. When I read the book of Exodus, and how God gave His people tangible reminders of His presence, such as the tabernacle and its decor, the adornments of the priests, and the powerful symbolism of the sacrifices that were established, it shows me how important that it is to keep reminders of God in the forefront of our minds, so we can remember to praise Him and live for Him - each day.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 8 Who is the King of glory ? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10 Who is this King of glory ? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. What we see through our eyes becomes imprinted upon our minds, and those images can propel us to draw closer to God or pull us away from Him. We have to be careful to guard the gateways to our minds, and allow the King of Glory to permeate our thinking, so that we can reflect His glory!
The painting is called, "The Forgotten Man", and it pictures a man sitting on a park bench in front of the White House, surrounded by 43 U.S. Presidents. The current President, Barack Obama, is standing on the Constitution, while James Madison is trying to persuade him not to. The painting features discarded dollar bills and scraps of paper with constitutional amendments written on them.
Artist Jon McNaughton has uploaded a video of him painting the canvas, and according to the International Business Times, he says: "For a long time I didn't know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried it might be too controversial. This man on the park bench represents every man, woman, and child who is an American... he hopes to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity...But now because of unconstitutional acts imposed by the American people by our government we stand on the precipice of disasters." He went on to say: "I don't place all the blame on Obama. On my website I try to explain what each president has done...The thing I like about the painting is that it does get people talking."
McNaughton is also known for a painting called, "One Nation Under God", depicts Jesus surrounded by characters from American history plus Satan. Some of the characters are actual people (such as Ronald Reagan, James Madison) and some represent types of people, such as a handicapped child, a news reporter, a professor clutching Darwin's Origin Of Species, and a judge weeping over Roe vs. Wade.
Jon McNaughton uses the power of imagery to communicate his views, and whether you agree with him completely, he has people talking. Images can be powerful tools, and God desires for us to implant images in our minds that can serve to remind us of His truth and His glory. If we are viewing images that are not pleasing to Him, then there are negative implications in our walk. When I read the book of Exodus, and how God gave His people tangible reminders of His presence, such as the tabernacle and its decor, the adornments of the priests, and the powerful symbolism of the sacrifices that were established, it shows me how important that it is to keep reminders of God in the forefront of our minds, so we can remember to praise Him and live for Him - each day.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Dickens at 200
1st Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
We can examine each of our actions with the question: does it glorify God? We were created to bear fruit, so that we might call attention to the presence of Jesus in us.
Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
He was not considered to be a devout or orthodox Christian - he was outspoken against what he perceived as the excesses of religious people and even embraced Unitarianism for a time. But, he also wrote one of the greatest expressions of spiritual truth found in literature - A Christmas Carol. Yes, today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. According to Stephen Rost in Christianity Today:
Dickens was an artist with a gift - and you know, God has entrusted some who don't know Him with the ability to demonstrate to us spiritual truth. And, as we recognize how God has gifted each of us, He will call us to use those gifts for His glory. You may have the ability to write or speak, to paint or sing, or even to construct or sew. All of those, and so many more, are intended to be used for His glory. So don't doubt that somehow God has given you a talent...He is a God of unlimited creativity, and He desires for it to flow through us, His children.
We can examine each of our actions with the question: does it glorify God? We were created to bear fruit, so that we might call attention to the presence of Jesus in us.
Colossians 3:17 - Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
He was not considered to be a devout or orthodox Christian - he was outspoken against what he perceived as the excesses of religious people and even embraced Unitarianism for a time. But, he also wrote one of the greatest expressions of spiritual truth found in literature - A Christmas Carol. Yes, today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. According to Stephen Rost in Christianity Today:
Dickens respected the Bible and Christ and sought to instill in his children the same reverence. Near the end of his life he wrote to a reader: “I have always striven in my writings to express veneration for the life and lessons of Our Saviour; because I feel it; and because I re-wrote that history for my children—every one of whom knew it from having it repeated to them—long before they could read, and almost as soon as they could speak. But I have never made proclamation of this from the house tops.”In fact, in 1934, Dickens' last published work was released: The Life of Our Lord. Rost writes:
The Life of Our Lord most clearly expresses Dickens’s religious disposition. He respected Christianity’s founder, Jesus Christ, who practiced what Dickens so desperately wanted to find in humanity.A Christmas Carol is a remarkable tale of redemption, and while it is not specifically a Christian story, there are many spiritual principles that are woven through it. Dickens had a fascination with the moral and spiritual elements of society, but it's hard to tell whether or not he actually embraced Christ.
Dickens was an artist with a gift - and you know, God has entrusted some who don't know Him with the ability to demonstrate to us spiritual truth. And, as we recognize how God has gifted each of us, He will call us to use those gifts for His glory. You may have the ability to write or speak, to paint or sing, or even to construct or sew. All of those, and so many more, are intended to be used for His glory. So don't doubt that somehow God has given you a talent...He is a God of unlimited creativity, and He desires for it to flow through us, His children.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Vying for Your Attention
Psalm 101 says this:
1 I will sing of lovingkindness and ajustice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises. 2 I will bgive heed to the cblameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the dintegrity of my heart. 3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes... Thousands of influences compete for your attention each day & we can choose to think on God or on the multiple impressions that distract. It was a spirited contest last night - talented artisans were engaged in a titanic struggle - a high-stakes fight to the top. And the football game wasn't bad, either. Yes, the ad wars sometimes seem to get more attention than the players on the field - and with a star-studded lineup and some glimpses of creativity...along with plenty of money - this became a larger-than-life storyline. Celebrities included Clint Eastwood, Matthew Broderick, and Jerry Seinfeld, along with dogs, polar bears, and babies. And, there was an unfortunate emphasis on the risque, such as the ads from a certain Internet company whose ads rank near the bottom of USA Today's AdMeter. Oh, and by the way, according to that publication:
1 I will sing of lovingkindness and ajustice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises. 2 I will bgive heed to the cblameless way. When will You come to me? I will walk within my house in the dintegrity of my heart. 3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes... Thousands of influences compete for your attention each day & we can choose to think on God or on the multiple impressions that distract. It was a spirited contest last night - talented artisans were engaged in a titanic struggle - a high-stakes fight to the top. And the football game wasn't bad, either. Yes, the ad wars sometimes seem to get more attention than the players on the field - and with a star-studded lineup and some glimpses of creativity...along with plenty of money - this became a larger-than-life storyline. Celebrities included Clint Eastwood, Matthew Broderick, and Jerry Seinfeld, along with dogs, polar bears, and babies. And, there was an unfortunate emphasis on the risque, such as the ads from a certain Internet company whose ads rank near the bottom of USA Today's AdMeter. Oh, and by the way, according to that publication:
...the research gurus at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire...have been analyzing Super Bowl ads for more than two decades. They've found that spots with sexual imagery take a 10% hit in "likability" vs. ads without racy images.
"As a basis of comparison, imagine if you were a comedian and you knew your audience felt sexy jokes were 10% less funny than regular jokes," says Chuck Tomkovick, the marketing professor who oversees the study. "You'd tell them very judiciously."
And, Hollywood movies skew strongly toward less family-friendly fare:While some of the biggest Super Bowl advertisers have spent millions on ads that exude sexual imagery, most viewers actually prefer to see ads with kids or animals. "The more you put sex in an ad, the less it is liked," Tomkovick says. "It's like using Botox but not having it work out."
According to The Numbers, a box office website, Hollywood released 205 R rated movies in 2011 but only 184 in 2009, and 193 in 2010. Yet, the average R-rated movie in 2011 made only $10.8 million in 2011, compared to $12.6 million in 2010, and $14.9 million in 2009.As Christians, we have to be aware that material that violates our values and contradicts the character of Christ is prevalent in our culture. And, the enemy of our souls wants to use those and a host of other messages to distract us, to draw our attention away from the things that are most important - such as God and His Word, His presence, His love for us, and how He desires to be glorified in us, just to name a few. And, we see that as an important mission for Faith Radio, to provide a media alternative that can help strengthen you in your walk with Christ.
In comparison, G-rated movies averaged $34.6 million in 2011 when 18 G movies were released, $56.6 million in 2010 when nine G movies were released, and $19.9 million in 2009 when 15 G movies were released.
"That means G-rated movies can make up to three or five times as much money as R-rated movies," Dr. Ted Baehr of Movieguide pointed out. "They also far outperform R-rated movies on DVD and Blu–Ray."
Friday, February 3, 2012
Life in the Fishbowl
Romans 13 states: 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Tomorrow morning in Indianapolis, the Bart Starr Award will be presented by Athletes in Action, voted on by NFL players, recognizing one of their own for outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. This year, Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher will be the recipient.
Other finalists were Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
Fletcher started the London's Bridge Foundation in 2003 to help underprivileged children in his hometown of Cleveland and other cities, including Washington. He is also involved in other charitable projects.
On the Campus Crusade website, you can read London's testimony. Having accepted Christ in 2004, he says:
Or take, for instance, Josh Hamilton, who's scheduled to speak in Houston at a men's event tonight. His name was trending on Twitter and Google because of a non-specific "relapse" involving alcohol. You see, Josh was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol - he's turned his life over to Christ, had a high-profile relapse a couple of years ago, and this past week, had 3 or 4 drinks in a local bar due to a family situation. If you or someone you know has been addicted to substance abuse, you realize the difficulty in staying clean and realize how potentially devastating this series of events is. In a press conference earlier today, Josh said:
Tomorrow morning in Indianapolis, the Bart Starr Award will be presented by Athletes in Action, voted on by NFL players, recognizing one of their own for outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. This year, Washington Redskins linebacker London Fletcher will be the recipient.
Other finalists were Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.
Fletcher started the London's Bridge Foundation in 2003 to help underprivileged children in his hometown of Cleveland and other cities, including Washington. He is also involved in other charitable projects.
On the Campus Crusade website, you can read London's testimony. Having accepted Christ in 2004, he says:
I was tired of living the life that I was living. I knew I couldn’t do this on my own. I felt a fulfillment inside that I had been searching for.
I was very nervous of how my new faith would actually affect me on the football field. I had always played the game with a hate. I felt I had to go out and play with this anger to be successful.London's testimony and the presentation of the Bart Starr Award can serve to remind us of the enormous pressure that athletes are under. We can pray that he and other Christians stay strong. With the overactive media and the blogosphere these days, there are people who would be overzealous to find certain athletes in compromising positions. I'm sure someone would love to find something on somebody like Tim Tebow.
As a Christian, I am thinking, I can’t really play with hate, anger and rage and still be successful. I’m the middle linebacker of the Buffalo Bills and I am known for [being] rough, tumble and physical. How am I going to do this and serve Christ in a manner that is pleasing to Him?
It’s amazing -- not only did my life improve, but also my game improved. Training camp is the toughest part for a football player. But I never got tired and I was staying up until 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. reading the Bible. I was gaining more knowledge and growing in my relationship with Christ.
I spent years chasing things I thought would bring me everlasting joy and happiness: chasing Super Bowl rings [I was fortunate to be a part of a Super Bowl with St. Louis in my 2nd year] or a multi-million dollar contract; or a new house, cars and jewelry.
None of those things did for me what Christ did in an instant.
I grew up in a home where my grandmother had us in church. It was more of a routine to go.
I would hear people talk about how Christ changes you, but I was skeptical. Then I felt that on the inside, it was a tremendous thing. I was living in the darkness for so long.
When I accepted Christ, my eyes were open; I wanted to shout and tell the world. I called and told my best friend -- all the friends that I knew -- that I had received Christ. I wanted them to really experience the joy that I felt.
Or take, for instance, Josh Hamilton, who's scheduled to speak in Houston at a men's event tonight. His name was trending on Twitter and Google because of a non-specific "relapse" involving alcohol. You see, Josh was heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol - he's turned his life over to Christ, had a high-profile relapse a couple of years ago, and this past week, had 3 or 4 drinks in a local bar due to a family situation. If you or someone you know has been addicted to substance abuse, you realize the difficulty in staying clean and realize how potentially devastating this series of events is. In a press conference earlier today, Josh said:
I needed to be in a different place. I need to be responsible, period. And I was not responsible. Those actions of mine hurt a lot of people who are very close to me.Amazing how many Christians were tweeting out calls for prayer and support for Josh Hamilton today - this doesn't signify that he has had a dramatic departure from his walk - he sinned, he has repented, and God has forgiven him; hopefully, he has learned. And, I'm glad the cameras aren't on and the bloggers aren't blogging when I have my sinful moments - we all need the Lord, and while He watches, and while others watch us to see if we're truly who we claim to be, it's only by His grace and strength that we can walk the walk. So, you go, Josh Hamilton - people are praying for you!
"As far as baseball and the Rangers, they've shown nothing but support to me and tell me they'll continue to support me. ... I can not take a break from my recovery, my recovery is Christ, my recovery is an everyday process. When I take that one day off it leaves me open for a moment of weakness, it's always been that way.
"For everybody I have hurt ... fans, kids, people who have addictions who look up to me, I apologize to you. When you're doing this you don't mean to hurt anybody. As I know, it hurts a lot of people. I have a lot to look at as far as things going on, inside, they aren't bad things, not things that are worrisome as far as me running back out going to drink. It's about getting to the point where I understand, I can't take a break. Again, how hard I play on the field is how hard I need to take a relationship with my Lord.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Groundhog Effect
Romans chapter 6 gives us some great encouragement: 11b. ...reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Yes, it is Groundhog Day, no doubt one of the most quirky observances on earth - a day when millions of Americans have their eyes fixed on a town in Pennsylvania, where a small furry animal comes out of his hole and is regarded as some sort of prognosticator. Yes, it's an endearing little tradition, complete with an Inner Circle for Punxsutawney Phil that cares for him and his bride, Phyllis, in the town library. According to Groundhog.org, President Bill Deeley of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club summoned the creature to come forth - it was a bright sunshiny day in Pennsylvania, therefore Phil saw his shadow and there will now be 6 more weeks of winter - case closed!!
Because of a movie starring Bill Murray back in 1993 called "Groundhog Day", where Murray plays a weatherman sent to cover this event and enters some sort of time trap, reliving the day over and over again, with some humorous and even dark effects, the phrase "Groundhog Day" has entered common use as a reference to an unpleasant situation that continually repeats, or seems to.
\
In the military, referring to unpleasant, unchanging, repetitive situations as “Groundhog Day” was widespread very soon after the movie’s release in February 1993. A speech by then-President Clinton in 1996 specifically referred to the movie and the use of the phrase by military personnel in Bosnia. It's also reportedly been used by military members to describe any day of a tour of duty in Iraq.
In some ways, perhaps our lives can take on that appearance of a "Groundhog Day" - same old routine day to day, and maybe even the same practices that we can't quite seem to shake or overcome. We enter into a repetitive cycle of sin, guilt, confession, and a mental attitude to maybe not do it again - but we do it again, and again. We are trapped in our own shame, and need to break free, but we don't know how.
There is good news for those trapped in a cycle of sin and guilt - through the power of God's word and His Holy Spirit, He can give us hope and equip us with the tools we need in order to live an overcoming life. When we feel stuck in our spiritual walk, God's truth will set us free. When we encounter the same old struggles, He gives us the ability to do something different! There is hope in the battles we face.
Yes, it is Groundhog Day, no doubt one of the most quirky observances on earth - a day when millions of Americans have their eyes fixed on a town in Pennsylvania, where a small furry animal comes out of his hole and is regarded as some sort of prognosticator. Yes, it's an endearing little tradition, complete with an Inner Circle for Punxsutawney Phil that cares for him and his bride, Phyllis, in the town library. According to Groundhog.org, President Bill Deeley of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club summoned the creature to come forth - it was a bright sunshiny day in Pennsylvania, therefore Phil saw his shadow and there will now be 6 more weeks of winter - case closed!!
Because of a movie starring Bill Murray back in 1993 called "Groundhog Day", where Murray plays a weatherman sent to cover this event and enters some sort of time trap, reliving the day over and over again, with some humorous and even dark effects, the phrase "Groundhog Day" has entered common use as a reference to an unpleasant situation that continually repeats, or seems to.
\
In the military, referring to unpleasant, unchanging, repetitive situations as “Groundhog Day” was widespread very soon after the movie’s release in February 1993. A speech by then-President Clinton in 1996 specifically referred to the movie and the use of the phrase by military personnel in Bosnia. It's also reportedly been used by military members to describe any day of a tour of duty in Iraq.
In some ways, perhaps our lives can take on that appearance of a "Groundhog Day" - same old routine day to day, and maybe even the same practices that we can't quite seem to shake or overcome. We enter into a repetitive cycle of sin, guilt, confession, and a mental attitude to maybe not do it again - but we do it again, and again. We are trapped in our own shame, and need to break free, but we don't know how.
There is good news for those trapped in a cycle of sin and guilt - through the power of God's word and His Holy Spirit, He can give us hope and equip us with the tools we need in order to live an overcoming life. When we feel stuck in our spiritual walk, God's truth will set us free. When we encounter the same old struggles, He gives us the ability to do something different! There is hope in the battles we face.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Friends, Romans, Countrymen...
In Ephesians 6, Paul asks for prayer, and in verse 19, we read that he's asking the people of Ephesus to...
for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
With the anticipation building toward Super Bowl 46, that's XLVI - the use of Roman numerals to designate each game has drawn some attention. Mike Tanier of the New York Times has written:
Roman numerals are definitely a throwback - you can see them inscribed on various historical buildings and monuments in the U.S., and they are a reminder of a massive empire that ruled when Jesus Christ was born. The New Testament was written against the backdrop of the grandeur and brutality of the Roman Empire. And, we acknowledge the the Bible shows us how to interact with God, with people, and with the culture at large.
We can choose to allow the culture to unduly influence us, or we can seek to make a mark on the culture, as Paul did in the tug-of-war that he had with citizens and with authorities. He saw himself as an "ambassador in chains" - he was called to challenge and impact the culture as an ambassador, but he was subservient to the authority of the state, and imprisoned, which by no means diminished his effectiveness, since he wrote a significant portion of the New Testament from prison. Rather than allowing culture and authority to crush him, he used the opportunities that God gave him to effectively communicate truth.
Recognizing the cultural context of God's Word can help us to identify with and understand some of the challenges facing the writers of the Bible, and can by a tool the Holy Spirit uses to enable us to more effectively apply His truth. To me, the attention given to Roman numerals has caused me to think about how Paul dealt with the culture, and can provide direction for us.
for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
With the anticipation building toward Super Bowl 46, that's XLVI - the use of Roman numerals to designate each game has drawn some attention. Mike Tanier of the New York Times has written:
Indianapolis has not just been invaded, but annexed...In Monument Circle, the center of downtown, 20-foot-high Roman numerals on a 7-foot riser dwarf the passing cars and obscure the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument from street view. The N.F.L.’s fascination with Roman numerals is one of the league’s most bombastic traits, but the commitment to classical pretense pays off when the league builds on an epic scale. Park a giant “46” in the middle of a city, and passers-by scratch their heads. Erect a hulking “XLVI” into town central, and watch everyone stop to take pictures in front of it.The fascination with these numerals actually resulted in a story with the headline, "Roman numerals are Greek to kids", pointing out that today's students might know LOL or OMG, but XLVI would be a stretch.
Roman numerals are definitely a throwback - you can see them inscribed on various historical buildings and monuments in the U.S., and they are a reminder of a massive empire that ruled when Jesus Christ was born. The New Testament was written against the backdrop of the grandeur and brutality of the Roman Empire. And, we acknowledge the the Bible shows us how to interact with God, with people, and with the culture at large.
We can choose to allow the culture to unduly influence us, or we can seek to make a mark on the culture, as Paul did in the tug-of-war that he had with citizens and with authorities. He saw himself as an "ambassador in chains" - he was called to challenge and impact the culture as an ambassador, but he was subservient to the authority of the state, and imprisoned, which by no means diminished his effectiveness, since he wrote a significant portion of the New Testament from prison. Rather than allowing culture and authority to crush him, he used the opportunities that God gave him to effectively communicate truth.
Recognizing the cultural context of God's Word can help us to identify with and understand some of the challenges facing the writers of the Bible, and can by a tool the Holy Spirit uses to enable us to more effectively apply His truth. To me, the attention given to Roman numerals has caused me to think about how Paul dealt with the culture, and can provide direction for us.
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