Today, we focus on the fulfillment we can experience in Christ. Here's what Isaiah 55:
1
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no
money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and
without price.
2
Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for
what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And
let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3
Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live...
By the way we live our lives, we demonstrate how we believe that true fulfillment comes. In our pursuit of happiness, sort of speak, we can try to fill the inner void with material possessions or our occupation or even the amount of time we spend doing God's work. But, true, lasting fulfillment is not something we pursue and attain, it comes as we rest in the presence of God and allow Him to live His life through us.
Psalm 90 reminds us that in Christ, we can experience true satisfaction:
14
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
15
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, The years in which we have seen evil.
16
Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children.
17
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the
work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Nicolas McCrory and David Boudia (Bo-die-uh) have taken the Men's Synchronised 10m Platform Diving Bronze Medal for Team USA. Boudia is a Christian who has made quite a turnaround in his life since the Beijing Olympics in 2008. His life was literally taking a nosedive, but Christ reached in and pulled him up. On the website, "Beyond the Ultimate", he shares in his own words:
Through the 2008 Olympics, it was all about me, my glory and money.
But all of it was vanity. I left the Olympic Games, which is an
incredible experience, feeling unsatisfied. That glory was very
temporary.
Once I got into college, I got into the party scene and seeking
approval from my friends. I was on a path of total destruction. At the
start of my sophomore year, I found myself flat on my face, wondering
what I was doing and what life was about. My teammates suggested I call
my coach, and we ended up talking at his house on a Sunday night. He
asked me about my “God story” and then he and his wife shared the gospel
of salvation through Jesus Christ with me. I saw then how sinful I was
and how much I needed God to redeem me. I devoted my life right there to
Christ and asked for forgiveness. The Holy Spirit began to move in my
heart then and gave me a desire for what He wanted.
Since then, I continue to see my need for Christ in my life. I go
through so many trials, and I’m thankful that God continues to be
faithful and show His grace through them. I can’t picture my life
without God right now.
So often, we live life at a level far beneath what God has intended, settling for much less than what He wants to give - we think that living our own way will bring satisfaction, but just a David experienced after Beijing, there's a void. The path to destruction is broad, and it is paved with our own selfish desires and ambitions. But, when we let go and allow the Lord Jesus to be in control of our thoughts, our decisions, and the direction of our lives, we find that He will fulfill us.
Now, that doesn't mean David Boudia sits around the house and relaxes - he's practicing, perfecting the craft and the calling with which God has entrusted Him. As the Visa commercial showing him diving off the world's tallest building, he makes 25,000 practice dives in a year, the equivalent of diving off that building 180 times. But, now he does so with a purpose, and a sense of fulfillment in Christ.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Olympic Observations I: Thankfulness (Brady Ellison)
Here are some great words of encouragement from Psalm 105:
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
Thankfulness is a powerful attitude of the heart. It's a great practice to think about what God has done in our lives, even within the past 24 hours, and to thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness. We can give God the glory that He loves us, that He has saved us, that we have a relationship with Jesus, that we have life and breath, and abundant and eternal life. Another Psalm - 103 - says to not forget ALL His benefits...and having that attitude of thankfulness will shape the way we view life and the way we approach and respond to the circumstances of our lives.
Colossians 3 underscores for us the importance of developing and possessing a thankful heart:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The first medal for the United States in the 2012 Olympics in London was in archery. Only appropriate, I guess, since that sport has seen a resurgence, thanks to the portrayal of it in "The Hunger Games". And, one of the team members is someone who does not shy away from discussing how his life is more "on target" now.
His name is Brady Ellison. He's 23 years old, the No. 1-ranked archer in the world for 2011 and 2012, and won gold at both the Pan American Games and the World Archery Indoor Championships. This summer on ESPN's "Sport Science", Brady shot an arrow through the hole of a large, puffy, glazed doughnut 70 meters away -- on his first shot for the cameras, no less.
According to a piece in Yahoo! Sports, Brady is quoted as saying:
"I just step on the field and try to let how I shoot, how I behave and how I act in my life represent myself and God," he said. "If people like that, they do; if they don't, they don't."
Ellison speaks openly about his faith because he doesn't believe he'd be here without it. Not just in the competitive sense — he believes God spared his life two years ago when he was visiting a friend in Vermont. On his way back from a hunting trip, Ellison said his car was climbing over a hill on a road with a double-yellow line when he saw a car moving fast - in his lane.
Ellison believes the collision would have killed him. But the speeding vehicles didn't crash. "Looking back on that, I was already turning the wheel before I saw the car coming. The car pulled off into a ditch. I remember that car, through my blurred vision, missing me by inches," he said. "I know God saved my life."
The Yahoo! piece said:
Brady is a great example for us as someone who is living a life of thankfulness. He recognizes that the Lord spared his life on that Vermont road two years ago. And, possessing an attitude of thanksgiving can shape the way we live our lives and respond to the circumstances of life. If our hearts are full of praise and our eyes are sensitive to the hand of God around us and what He wants to do through us, we can testify to the presence of Almighty God and reflect a refreshing sense of dependence on Him.
Brady's life was literally saved - and when you think about the dangers in this world, we can be thankful that God has chosen to leave us here. But, He has done so for a purpose. He has preserved us physically, and if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, He has saved your real, spiritual life, as well - give Him thanks for that and so much more!
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! 4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
Thankfulness is a powerful attitude of the heart. It's a great practice to think about what God has done in our lives, even within the past 24 hours, and to thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness. We can give God the glory that He loves us, that He has saved us, that we have a relationship with Jesus, that we have life and breath, and abundant and eternal life. Another Psalm - 103 - says to not forget ALL His benefits...and having that attitude of thankfulness will shape the way we view life and the way we approach and respond to the circumstances of our lives.
Colossians 3 underscores for us the importance of developing and possessing a thankful heart:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
The first medal for the United States in the 2012 Olympics in London was in archery. Only appropriate, I guess, since that sport has seen a resurgence, thanks to the portrayal of it in "The Hunger Games". And, one of the team members is someone who does not shy away from discussing how his life is more "on target" now.
His name is Brady Ellison. He's 23 years old, the No. 1-ranked archer in the world for 2011 and 2012, and won gold at both the Pan American Games and the World Archery Indoor Championships. This summer on ESPN's "Sport Science", Brady shot an arrow through the hole of a large, puffy, glazed doughnut 70 meters away -- on his first shot for the cameras, no less.
According to a piece in Yahoo! Sports, Brady is quoted as saying:
"I just step on the field and try to let how I shoot, how I behave and how I act in my life represent myself and God," he said. "If people like that, they do; if they don't, they don't."
Ellison speaks openly about his faith because he doesn't believe he'd be here without it. Not just in the competitive sense — he believes God spared his life two years ago when he was visiting a friend in Vermont. On his way back from a hunting trip, Ellison said his car was climbing over a hill on a road with a double-yellow line when he saw a car moving fast - in his lane.
Ellison believes the collision would have killed him. But the speeding vehicles didn't crash. "Looking back on that, I was already turning the wheel before I saw the car coming. The car pulled off into a ditch. I remember that car, through my blurred vision, missing me by inches," he said. "I know God saved my life."
The Yahoo! piece said:
It was an epiphany that reordered Ellison's existence: He began living for God, and in turn had faith that his path had been divinely chosen. "I wouldn't say I was the most angelic of a person. I've quit drinkin'. Just tried to be a better person, healthier and live for Him."According to Charisma magazine, we have a young man who, after accepting Christ as young child, has apparently re-dedicated his life to serving God, desiring for God to use him and other Christian Olympians as "vessels for his glory".
Brady is a great example for us as someone who is living a life of thankfulness. He recognizes that the Lord spared his life on that Vermont road two years ago. And, possessing an attitude of thanksgiving can shape the way we live our lives and respond to the circumstances of life. If our hearts are full of praise and our eyes are sensitive to the hand of God around us and what He wants to do through us, we can testify to the presence of Almighty God and reflect a refreshing sense of dependence on Him.
Brady's life was literally saved - and when you think about the dangers in this world, we can be thankful that God has chosen to leave us here. But, He has done so for a purpose. He has preserved us physically, and if you have accepted Christ as your Savior, He has saved your real, spiritual life, as well - give Him thanks for that and so much more!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The Price of a Soul
Psalm 80 says:
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!
Our God is a God of restoration...only He can bring healing for our souls. In our humanity, we medicate our emotional pain through a variety of things - drugs and alcohol are common vices, or more innocuous activities, perhaps diving in to our work, or recreational activities, media consumption, or the pursuit of materialism. More money cannot soothe the deep needs of our souls that only Christ can meet. He promises true and permanent healing, a right relationship with Him can take us on a road to making things right in our hearts and minds. He is the One who will heal and restore!
Proverbs 10 reminds us about the weight of our words and the way that love covers transgression:
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. Proverbs 18:21 says:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
NCAA President Mark Emmert, in announcing sanctions against Penn State said that, "No price the NCAA can levy will repair the grievous damage inflicted by Jerry Sandusky on his victims,", referring to the former Penn State defensive coordinator convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse last month.
The NCAA said the $60 million was equivalent to the average annual revenue of the football program. The NCAA ordered Penn State to pay the penalty funds into an endowment for "external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at the university." The governing body also stripped the school of scholarships, banned it from postseason competition for 4 years, and wins since 1998 under the leadership of former head coach Joe Paterno were vacated.
There has been talk of concern for the victims of the lewd, selfish, and offensive acts of Mr. Sandusky and the coverup of college officials. But, you still have to ask, "what is the price of a soul?" Apparently, the victims themselves will not receive any money directly, and you do have to admire that programs dealing with the horror of abuse will have some new revenue. But, 6 million, 60 million, or 600 million dollars, even if paid directly to each victim will not be able to erase the haunting memories and the emotional trauma that come from these unnatural acts. Sinful actions done to others can have a permanent effect on the way they live their lives. If you have been victimized by an abuser, you know what a struggle it is to overcome those events, one-time or ongoing, that may have dramatically altered your course. Perhaps you have experienced the healing and restoration that is possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ, for it is only through His power that we can experience the freedom that we so desperately seek.
And even short and seemingly insignificant "moments" can alter our lives, as well. I remember my conversation with Wess Stafford of Compassion International, who discussed the importance of "moments" in the lives, especially children who are so vulnerable. Perhaps you can identify some life-changing moments, for good or evil, that have an indelible place in your consciousness. A word spoken in anger or a positive expression of affirmation can penetrate deep into our souls. And, this can be a word of caution or encouragement to all of us - recognize that our words and deeds can have lasting ramifications.
Through it all, God's power is available to us; His love is unconditional, no matter how deeply we have been wounded. Remember 1st Peter 4 says that love, God's love, covers a multitude of sins. If you're hurting today, you can know the healing that can be expressed only by the power of Christ.
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!
Our God is a God of restoration...only He can bring healing for our souls. In our humanity, we medicate our emotional pain through a variety of things - drugs and alcohol are common vices, or more innocuous activities, perhaps diving in to our work, or recreational activities, media consumption, or the pursuit of materialism. More money cannot soothe the deep needs of our souls that only Christ can meet. He promises true and permanent healing, a right relationship with Him can take us on a road to making things right in our hearts and minds. He is the One who will heal and restore!
Proverbs 10 reminds us about the weight of our words and the way that love covers transgression:
11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. Proverbs 18:21 says:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
NCAA President Mark Emmert, in announcing sanctions against Penn State said that, "No price the NCAA can levy will repair the grievous damage inflicted by Jerry Sandusky on his victims,", referring to the former Penn State defensive coordinator convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse last month.
The NCAA said the $60 million was equivalent to the average annual revenue of the football program. The NCAA ordered Penn State to pay the penalty funds into an endowment for "external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at the university." The governing body also stripped the school of scholarships, banned it from postseason competition for 4 years, and wins since 1998 under the leadership of former head coach Joe Paterno were vacated.
There has been talk of concern for the victims of the lewd, selfish, and offensive acts of Mr. Sandusky and the coverup of college officials. But, you still have to ask, "what is the price of a soul?" Apparently, the victims themselves will not receive any money directly, and you do have to admire that programs dealing with the horror of abuse will have some new revenue. But, 6 million, 60 million, or 600 million dollars, even if paid directly to each victim will not be able to erase the haunting memories and the emotional trauma that come from these unnatural acts. Sinful actions done to others can have a permanent effect on the way they live their lives. If you have been victimized by an abuser, you know what a struggle it is to overcome those events, one-time or ongoing, that may have dramatically altered your course. Perhaps you have experienced the healing and restoration that is possible through a relationship with Jesus Christ, for it is only through His power that we can experience the freedom that we so desperately seek.
And even short and seemingly insignificant "moments" can alter our lives, as well. I remember my conversation with Wess Stafford of Compassion International, who discussed the importance of "moments" in the lives, especially children who are so vulnerable. Perhaps you can identify some life-changing moments, for good or evil, that have an indelible place in your consciousness. A word spoken in anger or a positive expression of affirmation can penetrate deep into our souls. And, this can be a word of caution or encouragement to all of us - recognize that our words and deeds can have lasting ramifications.
Through it all, God's power is available to us; His love is unconditional, no matter how deeply we have been wounded. Remember 1st Peter 4 says that love, God's love, covers a multitude of sins. If you're hurting today, you can know the healing that can be expressed only by the power of Christ.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Models and Mentors
Ephesians 5 points us to who we should imitate:
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. So we are called to follow the example of Christ and be imitators of God. Jesus Himself said to His disciples that if they have seen Him, they have seen the Father - indeed, He and the Father were one. If we want to see the heart of God, we look into the character and behavior of Jesus - we see how He responded to various circumstances, how He viewed others - with love and compassion, and how He reflected the Father's glory, just as we are called to do. The apostle Paul was so confident in his walk with Christ that he gave this admonition to the church at Corinth, in 1st Corinthians chapter 11: 1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. James Holmes was in court yesterday, in somewhat of a daze and with his hair dyed red, perhaps confirming the report that he had pretended to be the "Joker", the villian in the Batman series that reach psychotic proportions in the movie, "The Dark Knight", as he was portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. To what degree he was inspired by the series is unclear, but what is clear is that the suspect made a choice to follow evil and to imitate a realm that is outside reality and the scope of acceptable behavior. And, now there are reports of other people across America who have been arrested and made references to either the new Batman movie or the incident in Colorado. (from Yahoo! News) Timothy Courtois from Maine was stopped for speeding, and, when police searched his car, they found an AK-47 assault weapon, four handguns, ammunition and news clippings about the mass shooting that left 12 people dead early Friday, authorities said.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies were called to a cinema complex in Norwalk, California after moviegoers said 52-year-old Clark Tabor shouted: "I should go off like in Colorado." They said he then asked: "Does anybody have a gun?" The reason: the move apparently started late.
And, moviegoers in Sierra Visa, AZ, panicked when a man who appeared intoxicated was confronted during a showing of the movie. The Cochise County Sheriff's office said it caused "mass hysteria" and about 50 people fled the theater.
Now, this is not to denigrate the new Batman movie or the series, or violence in movies generally - although, what we allow into our minds, especially in significant doses, can influence our behavior. Overexposure to violent images, or other images that are contrary to God's word, can have an effect on us, no doubt. So, we have to filter our entertainment choices through the grid of God's truth, the Philippians 4:8 test. These instances do cause me to think about what we imitate. Paul was so confident that his walk with Christ was such that people should follow it - he was a tangible expression of the risen Christ. Jesus is also a model for us. And, there is a chance that we will follow what is modelled for us - this is especially true with children and teens, but even adults can be influenced by the behavior of others. I believe that's why it's important that we surround ourselves with people who will exert a positive, godly influence on us. And, that we expose ourselves to material that will reinforce our faith, such as what is presented 24/7 here on Faith Radio. And, godly mentors can also hold us accountable and point us in the right direction. We see the relationship with Paul and Timothy and recognize that even Timothy, who was a great leader in his own right, needed the direction of an older, wiser man. And, notice that Paul had the benefit of spiritual companionship - Barnabas, then Silas, for example - that gave him a support system. God has given us the tools to live a live that pleases him, and following godly examples can be of great benefit in our pursuit of spiritual maturity.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Nothing Can Separate Us
Romans 8 reminds us of God's presence, even in the midst of evil and tragedy:
5 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's love is greater than tragedy. You hear so many testimonies of how at the lowest point of someone's life, when there was nowhere else to turn, that person turned to Jesus, and He is so faithful to meet us at the point of our need. We are undeserving of His love and His faithfulness, but He chooses to redeem and restore, bringing us into a relationship with Himself. When tragedy comes, when questions arise, we can seek God, we can meet with Him, and we can experience the good that He wants to bring, even in the face of evil. 2 Corinthians 4 gives us a greater view, a "God's-eye" view of what He can accomplish through our suffering:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Over the weekend, I think there were many who were wrestling with the theater tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, as we contemplate the nature of evil and the goodness of God.
A few thoughts I had about some of the issues involved:
- God is not the author of evil. And this shooter was not inspired by the Lord to commit heinous acts. When we begin to think about the nature of evil and the root causes of suffering, we realize that we live in a world where sin reigns, and the world needs the redemption that comes through Christ. But, apart from Almighty God, we are bent on committing evil acts.
- It is interesting how we characterize some acts as being evil - and they are...such as the massacre in Aurora, the 9-11 attacks, mass murders, the Penn State situation. No matter what some people's religious bent, these are viewed as deplorable acts. But, there are other acts that seem to get a pass these days. Humans regard sin in levels, and tend to rank sins, but God regards all sin as contrary to His law and punishable by death. We are all capable, because of our flesh, our sin nature, of unspeakable evil, but because of the redemptive power of Christ, individually and culturally, we can exercise restraint.
- We need one another, and community can bring healing in the aftermath of tragedy. The people in Aurora are beginning to cope with the situation, through memorial services, through opportunities for the community to come together, through ministry that is being carried out. As people move forward, the support of others can be critical.
- Finally, we live in a fallen world, and while sometimes trouble comes as the result of men and women living out their sinfulness, or even because of natural disasters that come because of the imperfection of this world, we can know that God can bring good out of them - so often we ask, "why did this happen?", but the right question is, "what does the Lord want to do in me as I respond to suffering?" and "what can He do in a community or group of people?". So we can move from the "why?" to the "what?" questions.
Lee Strobel said this, quoted in The Christian Post:
"it's important for people to understand that God is not the creator of evil and suffering; that even though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good; that the day is coming when suffering will cease and God will judge evil; that our suffering will pale in comparison to what God has in store in eternity for His followers; and that we need to decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage."
God is SO faithful, and He desires to make Himself known for our good and His glory.
5 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God's love is greater than tragedy. You hear so many testimonies of how at the lowest point of someone's life, when there was nowhere else to turn, that person turned to Jesus, and He is so faithful to meet us at the point of our need. We are undeserving of His love and His faithfulness, but He chooses to redeem and restore, bringing us into a relationship with Himself. When tragedy comes, when questions arise, we can seek God, we can meet with Him, and we can experience the good that He wants to bring, even in the face of evil. 2 Corinthians 4 gives us a greater view, a "God's-eye" view of what He can accomplish through our suffering:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Over the weekend, I think there were many who were wrestling with the theater tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, as we contemplate the nature of evil and the goodness of God.
A few thoughts I had about some of the issues involved:
- God is not the author of evil. And this shooter was not inspired by the Lord to commit heinous acts. When we begin to think about the nature of evil and the root causes of suffering, we realize that we live in a world where sin reigns, and the world needs the redemption that comes through Christ. But, apart from Almighty God, we are bent on committing evil acts.
- It is interesting how we characterize some acts as being evil - and they are...such as the massacre in Aurora, the 9-11 attacks, mass murders, the Penn State situation. No matter what some people's religious bent, these are viewed as deplorable acts. But, there are other acts that seem to get a pass these days. Humans regard sin in levels, and tend to rank sins, but God regards all sin as contrary to His law and punishable by death. We are all capable, because of our flesh, our sin nature, of unspeakable evil, but because of the redemptive power of Christ, individually and culturally, we can exercise restraint.
- We need one another, and community can bring healing in the aftermath of tragedy. The people in Aurora are beginning to cope with the situation, through memorial services, through opportunities for the community to come together, through ministry that is being carried out. As people move forward, the support of others can be critical.
- Finally, we live in a fallen world, and while sometimes trouble comes as the result of men and women living out their sinfulness, or even because of natural disasters that come because of the imperfection of this world, we can know that God can bring good out of them - so often we ask, "why did this happen?", but the right question is, "what does the Lord want to do in me as I respond to suffering?" and "what can He do in a community or group of people?". So we can move from the "why?" to the "what?" questions.
Lee Strobel said this, quoted in The Christian Post:
"it's important for people to understand that God is not the creator of evil and suffering; that even though suffering isn't good, God can use it to accomplish good; that the day is coming when suffering will cease and God will judge evil; that our suffering will pale in comparison to what God has in store in eternity for His followers; and that we need to decide whether to turn bitter or turn to God for peace and courage."
God is SO faithful, and He desires to make Himself known for our good and His glory.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Lights in LA
An admonition in 1st Peter 3 really lays out some of the characteristic of the Christian who is really trying to allow the light of Christ to shine through him or her:
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; I was reading in Ecclesiastes this morning, which is summed up by one of the closing phrases, "fear God and keep His commandments". Jesus echoed that when He said to love God and love people. If we're loving God, we are attempting to live according to His standards and bringing glory to His name. As we allow the presence of the indwelling Christ to permeate all that we are, we create an atmosphere around us so that Jesus in us is noticed. May God be glorified through what we think, what comes out of our mouth, and how we act, under His leadership.
Matthew 5:16 says: 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
ESPN's awards, the ESPY's, were handed out in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, and there was certainly a faith-related subplot going on. Seems that happens regularly when Tim Tebow is involved. He and his former Denver Broncos teammate, Demaryius Thomas, received the award for Best Moment of the Year, given for the game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass during the playoffs last season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to the Christian Post, Tebow said in his acceptance speech: "First of all, I just want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." He also thanked his former teammates, and encouraged Denver's new starting quarterback, Peyton Manning, to "take care of them."
Tebow also was a co-presenter, with Jessica Biel, of the Best Breakthrough Athlete award, given to New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, who said during his speech, "I just want to first of all thank God for this opportunity to be here. It's been an unbelievable year." Lin thanked his family, Knicks fans and his teammates.
Now, here's where the plot gets a bit interesting and instructive for us: Jessica Biel tweeted a prayer about curbing her own profanity. "Dear God, please don't let me swear in front of @timtebow at the #espys tonight when we present," the actress tweeted. This comes in the aftermath of an incident at a Los Angeles hair salon prior to the ESPY's, in which Tebow requested a stylist who did not use profanity.
It's hard to detect an attitude in a tweet sometimes, but you figure at least Biel recognized Tebow's conviction. And, I think it's a real testimony to the presence of Christ within us when people refrain from using bad language around us or when they apologize when they do swear. Hopefully, people will see our light shine, that our countenance and our behavior creates an atmosphere around us that radiates the presence of Christ.
And, we have to watch our own words - I think it's unfortunate that there are words today that used to be considered inappropriate or profane that have become rather acceptable. And, there are words that are "substitutes" for so-called "curse words" that perhaps we are too quick to throw around. I believe that we can hold ourselves to a higher standard regarding words and expressions, including a variety of forms of less-than-edifying language, such as slander, gossip, and complaining. We can ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of words and ways that do not please God, and always seek to draw a distinction between us and the world around us. Good for Tebow - and Lin - for desiring to walk the walk!
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; I was reading in Ecclesiastes this morning, which is summed up by one of the closing phrases, "fear God and keep His commandments". Jesus echoed that when He said to love God and love people. If we're loving God, we are attempting to live according to His standards and bringing glory to His name. As we allow the presence of the indwelling Christ to permeate all that we are, we create an atmosphere around us so that Jesus in us is noticed. May God be glorified through what we think, what comes out of our mouth, and how we act, under His leadership.
Matthew 5:16 says: 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
ESPN's awards, the ESPY's, were handed out in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, and there was certainly a faith-related subplot going on. Seems that happens regularly when Tim Tebow is involved. He and his former Denver Broncos teammate, Demaryius Thomas, received the award for Best Moment of the Year, given for the game-winning 80-yard touchdown pass during the playoffs last season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to the Christian Post, Tebow said in his acceptance speech: "First of all, I just want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." He also thanked his former teammates, and encouraged Denver's new starting quarterback, Peyton Manning, to "take care of them."
Tebow also was a co-presenter, with Jessica Biel, of the Best Breakthrough Athlete award, given to New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, who said during his speech, "I just want to first of all thank God for this opportunity to be here. It's been an unbelievable year." Lin thanked his family, Knicks fans and his teammates.
Now, here's where the plot gets a bit interesting and instructive for us: Jessica Biel tweeted a prayer about curbing her own profanity. "Dear God, please don't let me swear in front of @timtebow at the #espys tonight when we present," the actress tweeted. This comes in the aftermath of an incident at a Los Angeles hair salon prior to the ESPY's, in which Tebow requested a stylist who did not use profanity.
It's hard to detect an attitude in a tweet sometimes, but you figure at least Biel recognized Tebow's conviction. And, I think it's a real testimony to the presence of Christ within us when people refrain from using bad language around us or when they apologize when they do swear. Hopefully, people will see our light shine, that our countenance and our behavior creates an atmosphere around us that radiates the presence of Christ.
And, we have to watch our own words - I think it's unfortunate that there are words today that used to be considered inappropriate or profane that have become rather acceptable. And, there are words that are "substitutes" for so-called "curse words" that perhaps we are too quick to throw around. I believe that we can hold ourselves to a higher standard regarding words and expressions, including a variety of forms of less-than-edifying language, such as slander, gossip, and complaining. We can ask the Holy Spirit to convict us of words and ways that do not please God, and always seek to draw a distinction between us and the world around us. Good for Tebow - and Lin - for desiring to walk the walk!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Comic-Con and Telling Redemptive Stories
Romans 5 reminds us that we have a Redeemer who has come to rescue us from this fallen world and from the power of sin:
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. With the fascination these days with super heroes, as well as some of the other-worldly themes present in popular culture, I do think that people are searching for something or someone beyond themselves - call it escapism, or just a longing to be free, or to be united with their Creator. If Jesus is your Savior, it means that you have discovered the truth about God and have experienced true redemption - He is the One who can bring true, lasting peace to your soul, the One who can truly satisfy the longing of our hearts, the One who has intervened in order to rescue us from the hand of forces who would seek to keep us separated from God and to destroy our lives.
Galatians 1 points to our Redeemer, the ultimate rescuer, who has brought freedom to our souls:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore.
I have to admit, I am fascinated by the cultural phenomenon that is known as Comic-Con. It pulls together some 120,000 fans of comic books, graphic novels, movies, video games, and other forms of entertainment for 4 days of exploring different aspects of these genres. One of the entertaining things about the event is, no doubt, the costumes - people will dress as characters from different spheres of the entertainment media, and I can imagine, it will be quite a sight.
You'll have people dressed up as characters from Star Wars to Star Trek, from steampunk to superheroes. Ah, yes, superheroes - that genre will be big, don't you think? And, it really causes us to think about why as a culture, we've seen a resurgence in the areas of superhero movies - the new Spider-Man is doing better than expected, and there's quite a fascination with the Avengers from Marvel, and we're just around the corner from a new Batman movie.
Bob Smithouser, writing for PluggedIn.com, offers some perspective as to why we find superheroes so appealing. He writes:
He goes on to say:
This week at Comic-Con, there will be a number of Christian storytellers who will be able to call attention to this Savior - they're using their gifts and talents in the realm of comics, graphic novels, films, and more to bring a redemptive element in these popular art forms. The Christian Comic Arts Society will be conducting special panels on spiritual themes in pop culture, especially concentrated on graphic novels, which are long-form comic books. There will be booths throughout the event, and CCAS will distribute a "Passport to Christians In Comics" map of the Comic-Con floor designed to help attendees navigate to, explore, and support industry professionals who pursue excellence of comics craft in the context of their Christian faith through various adult, family, faith-friendly or faith-based projects.
These storytellers are passionate about integrating the faith element into their creative works. And, in a sense, isn't that what we're all called to do? To tell our story, to share our testimony of how Christ has redeemed us, and to bring the story of the Savior, our Messiah, who has come to rescue us, to a culture that is looking for something - or someone - greater?
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. With the fascination these days with super heroes, as well as some of the other-worldly themes present in popular culture, I do think that people are searching for something or someone beyond themselves - call it escapism, or just a longing to be free, or to be united with their Creator. If Jesus is your Savior, it means that you have discovered the truth about God and have experienced true redemption - He is the One who can bring true, lasting peace to your soul, the One who can truly satisfy the longing of our hearts, the One who has intervened in order to rescue us from the hand of forces who would seek to keep us separated from God and to destroy our lives.
Galatians 1 points to our Redeemer, the ultimate rescuer, who has brought freedom to our souls:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore.
I have to admit, I am fascinated by the cultural phenomenon that is known as Comic-Con. It pulls together some 120,000 fans of comic books, graphic novels, movies, video games, and other forms of entertainment for 4 days of exploring different aspects of these genres. One of the entertaining things about the event is, no doubt, the costumes - people will dress as characters from different spheres of the entertainment media, and I can imagine, it will be quite a sight.
You'll have people dressed up as characters from Star Wars to Star Trek, from steampunk to superheroes. Ah, yes, superheroes - that genre will be big, don't you think? And, it really causes us to think about why as a culture, we've seen a resurgence in the areas of superhero movies - the new Spider-Man is doing better than expected, and there's quite a fascination with the Avengers from Marvel, and we're just around the corner from a new Batman movie.
Bob Smithouser, writing for PluggedIn.com, offers some perspective as to why we find superheroes so appealing. He writes:
...how about Superman? While not a native of Earth (he was sent here as a baby from another galaxy), he's mortal, speaks perfect English and looks like a GQ cover boy. Yet mild-mannered Clark Kent also possesses amazing strength, plus the ability to fly and see through things. Like Spidey, Hulk, Flash, The X-Men and countless other beloved characters, he is simultaneously human and superhuman—a person who can intimately relate to mankind, yet is uniquely empowered to save humanity from its current malaise.
Sound like anyone you know?
He goes on to say:
I believe we are wired by our Creator to resonate with that kind of hero. Jesus Christ arrived on this cosmic dirt clod as a baby, fully divine, yet fully man. He got hungry, thirsty and tired, just as we do. He was a blue-collar laborer. He laughed, loved and cried. He knew betrayal and pain. Hebrews 5:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet without sin."This was written around the time of the release of Iron Man 2, but the message still rings true: "Hollywood has handed us a golden opportunity to help fans of all ages see the power of redemption and how modern heroes can point to mankind's inner longing for rescue by the real Savior."
At the appointed time, Jesus shed his secret identity—a carpenter whose time had "not yet come" (John 2:4)—and began working miracles, displaying amazing spiritual strength and yes, even seeing through things (including a Samaritan woman in John 4:16-19). He came to rescue us. Not by soaring through town in a flashy red cape, but by humbly enlisting us into his own heavenly Justice League before heroically laying down his life. He is the one uniquely empowered to save humanity from its eternal malaise.
This week at Comic-Con, there will be a number of Christian storytellers who will be able to call attention to this Savior - they're using their gifts and talents in the realm of comics, graphic novels, films, and more to bring a redemptive element in these popular art forms. The Christian Comic Arts Society will be conducting special panels on spiritual themes in pop culture, especially concentrated on graphic novels, which are long-form comic books. There will be booths throughout the event, and CCAS will distribute a "Passport to Christians In Comics" map of the Comic-Con floor designed to help attendees navigate to, explore, and support industry professionals who pursue excellence of comics craft in the context of their Christian faith through various adult, family, faith-friendly or faith-based projects.
These storytellers are passionate about integrating the faith element into their creative works. And, in a sense, isn't that what we're all called to do? To tell our story, to share our testimony of how Christ has redeemed us, and to bring the story of the Savior, our Messiah, who has come to rescue us, to a culture that is looking for something - or someone - greater?
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Speaking the Right Language
Isaiah 43 shows us God's heart for the entire earth:
4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth-- 7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
God calls us to be fishers of men, communicating the gospel effectively through our words - and our actions! God loves us and has empowered us to display His truth. Because we love Him, we develop a love for people and desire to see them come into a love relationship with Jesus Christ. I am thankful that God has chosen to use you and me for His purposes, as His ambassadors.
In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus gives some insight into his method of communication - and His motive:
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" 11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Researchers at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., said they have invented a language named for one of the school's more well-known alumni, Stephen Colbert.
Viorica Marian, associate professor of communication sciences, said her team needed to invent a new language to conduct research into whether knowing multiple languages makes learning a new language easier, and they chose Colbert as the language's inspiration due to his tendency to invent new words as part of his political satire.
"Stephen Colbert has brought new words like 'truthiness' and 'Lincolnish' into the lexicon," Marian said. "We had to invent a new language to do our research, and no one invents words as readily as Stephen Colbert. Naming our new language after Colbert was a no-brainer."
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Virus Threat - In Our Souls
We give the Lord thanks, because He has enabled us to walk in triumph and joy! 1st Corinthians 15 says:
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Victory means that we can walk in a manner where we successfully resist temptation, where we exercise dominion over habitual sin, and we experience the peace and joy of Christ. As the thief, the devil, comes to steal, kill, and destroy, the Bible teaches that Jesus comes to give us abundant life. If we are living in less than what Christ promises, then we have to examine if there is some pattern or area of sin that has developed that holds us back...we have the tools - including the weapons of spiritual warfare and the full armor of God - that release the power of God to experience His victory!
2nd Corinthians 10 highlights a key to victory in Christ:
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Yesterday represented yet another Doomsday scenario, the threat of an Internet virus that, left unaddressed, would isolate computer users from the Internet. USA Today reported, "no significant outages". So, I had to wonder, was this another Y2K-type incident where the fears were overblown? Or, did people take the necessary precautions to cleanse their computers from the potentially harmful entity?
I have a conclusion, but first, allow me to give some background. Yesterday, the FBI removed a safety net of protective servers erected last November to protect some 577,000 Windows PCs. The DNS Changer malware had possibly been loaded on computers by Estonian hackers who were arrested last fall.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Victory means that we can walk in a manner where we successfully resist temptation, where we exercise dominion over habitual sin, and we experience the peace and joy of Christ. As the thief, the devil, comes to steal, kill, and destroy, the Bible teaches that Jesus comes to give us abundant life. If we are living in less than what Christ promises, then we have to examine if there is some pattern or area of sin that has developed that holds us back...we have the tools - including the weapons of spiritual warfare and the full armor of God - that release the power of God to experience His victory!
2nd Corinthians 10 highlights a key to victory in Christ:
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
Yesterday represented yet another Doomsday scenario, the threat of an Internet virus that, left unaddressed, would isolate computer users from the Internet. USA Today reported, "no significant outages". So, I had to wonder, was this another Y2K-type incident where the fears were overblown? Or, did people take the necessary precautions to cleanse their computers from the potentially harmful entity?
I have a conclusion, but first, allow me to give some background. Yesterday, the FBI removed a safety net of protective servers erected last November to protect some 577,000 Windows PCs. The DNS Changer malware had possibly been loaded on computers by Estonian hackers who were arrested last fall.
Without
the FBI's safety net, those PCs would have been cut off from accessing
the Web, as authorities moved to dismantle the rogue servers that
criminals were using to control DNS Changer-infected machines.
USA Today reports that a minute after midnight on Monday, some 277,000 PCs, including 64,000 in the United States,
remained infected and at risk as the FBI took down its safety net.
That's a tiny fraction of the billions of Internet-connected computers
and mobile devices.
I believe the reason the percentage was so small was that people took the threat seriously - anti-virus software had become attuned to the virus, Internet Service Providers were working with their customers, and a website was set up so that people could access it and see if their computer was infected. I do think this was a very real situation, and diligence saved the day.
I thought about the importance of detection and remedy in our spiritual life. The enemy will attempt to lure us with particularly harmful thought patterns, that could develop into desires, and actions that cause untold harm to our relationship with God and with others. Sometimes Satan will plant a thought or series of thoughts - mental viruses, if you will - in our minds. If we dwell on those thoughts, they can grow and become more firmly implanted in our consciousness. Without the necessary identification and extraction, we lose our access - to the very throne of God - and we lose our fellowship with Him. Small thoughts and ideas can lead to big consequences and can wreak havoc in our spiritual life.
So, we replace thoughts not pleasing to the Lord with His Word, with godly thoughts, with meditation on developing godly character. We must take sinful desires seriously, resist temptation, and use our spiritual tools and the armor of God to walk in victory with Christ.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
San Diego Fireworks and Strong Faith
Psalm 46 reminds us about the nature and presence of God:
(1b) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. When we encounter trouble, we can recognize that God is with us - when we face adversity, we can experience His peace as we rely on His presence. And, He will teach us through our times of trial, so that we can become more reliant on Christ and demonstrate more of His character. Life is full of malfunctions and mistakes, and we can choose to become frustrated and irritable in the face of those interruptions, or place our trust in a sovereign God, who's at work even when we don't necessarily think so.
James 1 gives us this word of encouragement:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
A malfunctioning fireworks display on the 4th of July in San Diego has become somewhat of a YouTube sensation, receiving over 4 million views since last Wednesday's debacle - you've probably seen it, or at least heard about it -
For more than a decade, the Fourth of July there has ended with the Big Bay Boom, a glittering fireworks display with dazzling fireworks set off from multiple barges. The Los Angeles Times reports that this year's show, advertised for weeks in advance, promised to be even bigger, splashier and louder: synchronized to patriotic music on the radio and a live broadcast on a cable channel. A crowd estimated to be several hundred thousand lined the bay to await the 9 p.m. start.
The show, set to last for 17 minutes, ended in less than 30 seconds when the pyrotechnics, which had been carefully arranged on four barges and a pier, launched simultaneously. The producers of the spectacle attributed the error to a computer glitch.
Thursday morning, the Big Bay Boom producer and the New Jersey-based fireworks company were promising to make amends. The company offered to do next year's show for free.
"We take 100% responsibility," said August Santore, co-owner of New Jersey-based Garden State Fireworks, which puts on dozens of shows annually. All the systems had tested out perfectly in the hours before the show, he said.
Garden State Fireworks was established in 1890 and has done explosives for some of New York and world’s biggest bashes, according to its Web site.
The company said it has provided fireworks, in past years, for the Macy’s and Washington D.C. Fourth of July shows, the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, the Statue of Liberty Bicentennial Celebration and New Year's Eve in Central Park.
And, here is a company that has seen its over 100-year reputation go literally up in smoke. But, apparently, they are intent on carrying on. And, it's a great lesson for us.
Life is full of malfunctions - things will go wrong, circumstances will go awry, and we will make mistakes, which sometimes compound. Our errors in life may even cause an explosion, or an implosion, and we decide to give up - we lose our motivation, our joy for life, and our confidence in ourselves - or God.
When the malfunctions come, we can choose to allow them to consume and defeat us, or we can keep carrying on. Because, in our adversity, we can see the sovereign hand of God - James says the trying of our faith brings patience. And, when we mess up and miss the mark, we also know we can come before our Advocate, confess our sins, and receive His forgiveness.
Life's explosions, implosions, or malfunctions don't have to defeat us or derail our lives - we can turn to our God of second chances, who is at work in and through us and will give us strength and confidence as we trust in Him.
(1b) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. When we encounter trouble, we can recognize that God is with us - when we face adversity, we can experience His peace as we rely on His presence. And, He will teach us through our times of trial, so that we can become more reliant on Christ and demonstrate more of His character. Life is full of malfunctions and mistakes, and we can choose to become frustrated and irritable in the face of those interruptions, or place our trust in a sovereign God, who's at work even when we don't necessarily think so.
James 1 gives us this word of encouragement:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
A malfunctioning fireworks display on the 4th of July in San Diego has become somewhat of a YouTube sensation, receiving over 4 million views since last Wednesday's debacle - you've probably seen it, or at least heard about it -
For more than a decade, the Fourth of July there has ended with the Big Bay Boom, a glittering fireworks display with dazzling fireworks set off from multiple barges. The Los Angeles Times reports that this year's show, advertised for weeks in advance, promised to be even bigger, splashier and louder: synchronized to patriotic music on the radio and a live broadcast on a cable channel. A crowd estimated to be several hundred thousand lined the bay to await the 9 p.m. start.
The show, set to last for 17 minutes, ended in less than 30 seconds when the pyrotechnics, which had been carefully arranged on four barges and a pier, launched simultaneously. The producers of the spectacle attributed the error to a computer glitch.
Thursday morning, the Big Bay Boom producer and the New Jersey-based fireworks company were promising to make amends. The company offered to do next year's show for free.
"We take 100% responsibility," said August Santore, co-owner of New Jersey-based Garden State Fireworks, which puts on dozens of shows annually. All the systems had tested out perfectly in the hours before the show, he said.
Garden State Fireworks was established in 1890 and has done explosives for some of New York and world’s biggest bashes, according to its Web site.
The company said it has provided fireworks, in past years, for the Macy’s and Washington D.C. Fourth of July shows, the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary, the Statue of Liberty Bicentennial Celebration and New Year's Eve in Central Park.
And, here is a company that has seen its over 100-year reputation go literally up in smoke. But, apparently, they are intent on carrying on. And, it's a great lesson for us.
Life is full of malfunctions - things will go wrong, circumstances will go awry, and we will make mistakes, which sometimes compound. Our errors in life may even cause an explosion, or an implosion, and we decide to give up - we lose our motivation, our joy for life, and our confidence in ourselves - or God.
When the malfunctions come, we can choose to allow them to consume and defeat us, or we can keep carrying on. Because, in our adversity, we can see the sovereign hand of God - James says the trying of our faith brings patience. And, when we mess up and miss the mark, we also know we can come before our Advocate, confess our sins, and receive His forgiveness.
Life's explosions, implosions, or malfunctions don't have to defeat us or derail our lives - we can turn to our God of second chances, who is at work in and through us and will give us strength and confidence as we trust in Him.
Friday, July 6, 2012
The Price of a Soul
1st John 2 offers a passage of hope for someone who is struggling:(1b) if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
5
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
Jesus was our worthy substitute, the sacrifice for our sins. He is the One who can offer peace for the human heart and the promise of redemption and eternal life. If we are attempting to do good so that our good will outweigh our bad, we are missing the point of the cross - Jesus offers the free gift of salvation to all, and He will forgive our sins and give us a new heart so that can walk in His power and victory. When our soul is troubled, He will provide us with His presence and His peace.
Mark 8 reminds us of the true value of a soul and the hope for redemption that we all can experience:
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
eBay has long been an excellent marketplace through which you can buy some items that are in good shape for a pretty good price, and sell some of your items. There are vendors that re-sell new items, as well, and you can really get some good deals.
Here's one of the more interesting items currently available on eBay: a soul. No, not a sole from a shoe or a package of filet of sole, but an actual, human soul. And, it's billed as a slightly used soul! I'm not sure what I would get for the asking price of $2000, but here's the bizarre, and really sad, story:
Lori N. is the seller - she was in a car that was hit by a drunk driver five years ago and was left in a coma for three weeks, suffered several broken bones and a stroke. She can no longer work as a freelance writer.
Lori is quoted by ClickOnDetroit.com as saying, “What I’m going to deliver is the opportunity for someone to save my soul. They can save it through prayer, they can save it through conversion...And I’m also going to give them a certificate detailing the white and black marks on my soul.”
Lori said she is at the end of her rope and the ad might help her connect with somebody.
Here are some thoughts I had:
For one thing, it is impossible to put a price on the soul of a person - I believe that we are all created by God, and therefore we have infinite worth.
I don't think that you can actually sell your soul, literally, but the Bible teaches that you can give it away - by placing a higher priority on other things besides God, material possessions, sinful pleasures, even a reckless pursuit of evil. We give our souls away to corruption by not surrendering to the lordship of Christ, and the eternal state of our soul is endangered by our own rebellion.
I think it's interesting that the "certificate" you receive with this $2000 investment details white and black marks. So many people believe that there is some sort of moral ledger - some think that if their good works outweigh their bad that they will somehow go to heaven. Some believe that God has some sort of grading system regarding salvation, but the Bible teaches that His system is pass-fail - and ultimately, our eternal destiny will be determined by one thing - what have we done with His Son?
The really, really good news is that God offers redemption to all who would receive it - the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. You can know peace, and the moral ledger can be wiped clean because of the blood of God's Son. Do you know Him - have you accepted this free gift, the cleansing of a soul, the promise of a right relationship with Almighty God? It's possible today!
Jesus was our worthy substitute, the sacrifice for our sins. He is the One who can offer peace for the human heart and the promise of redemption and eternal life. If we are attempting to do good so that our good will outweigh our bad, we are missing the point of the cross - Jesus offers the free gift of salvation to all, and He will forgive our sins and give us a new heart so that can walk in His power and victory. When our soul is troubled, He will provide us with His presence and His peace.
Mark 8 reminds us of the true value of a soul and the hope for redemption that we all can experience:
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
eBay has long been an excellent marketplace through which you can buy some items that are in good shape for a pretty good price, and sell some of your items. There are vendors that re-sell new items, as well, and you can really get some good deals.
Here's one of the more interesting items currently available on eBay: a soul. No, not a sole from a shoe or a package of filet of sole, but an actual, human soul. And, it's billed as a slightly used soul! I'm not sure what I would get for the asking price of $2000, but here's the bizarre, and really sad, story:
Lori N. is the seller - she was in a car that was hit by a drunk driver five years ago and was left in a coma for three weeks, suffered several broken bones and a stroke. She can no longer work as a freelance writer.
Lori is quoted by ClickOnDetroit.com as saying, “What I’m going to deliver is the opportunity for someone to save my soul. They can save it through prayer, they can save it through conversion...And I’m also going to give them a certificate detailing the white and black marks on my soul.”
Lori said she is at the end of her rope and the ad might help her connect with somebody.
Here are some thoughts I had:
For one thing, it is impossible to put a price on the soul of a person - I believe that we are all created by God, and therefore we have infinite worth.
I don't think that you can actually sell your soul, literally, but the Bible teaches that you can give it away - by placing a higher priority on other things besides God, material possessions, sinful pleasures, even a reckless pursuit of evil. We give our souls away to corruption by not surrendering to the lordship of Christ, and the eternal state of our soul is endangered by our own rebellion.
I think it's interesting that the "certificate" you receive with this $2000 investment details white and black marks. So many people believe that there is some sort of moral ledger - some think that if their good works outweigh their bad that they will somehow go to heaven. Some believe that God has some sort of grading system regarding salvation, but the Bible teaches that His system is pass-fail - and ultimately, our eternal destiny will be determined by one thing - what have we done with His Son?
The really, really good news is that God offers redemption to all who would receive it - the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. You can know peace, and the moral ledger can be wiped clean because of the blood of God's Son. Do you know Him - have you accepted this free gift, the cleansing of a soul, the promise of a right relationship with Almighty God? It's possible today!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
An American Icon Passes
John 16 reminds us that the Holy Spirit is guiding us, leading us and instructing us - consistent with God's truth...13
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you
into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever
He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14
He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
I do believe that God's Spirit is showing us things - He is teaching us truth, according to God's word. He is instructing us, teaching us lessons and principles that we can apply in order to walk in a manner that is pleasing to Christ. And, He is speaking in many ways - through our study of the Scriptures, through our experiences, through other people, and even in our surroundings. As you know, I like to identify cultural elements that will help point us to God's truth. We can ask ourselves if we are sensitive to God's truth - which is absolute and reliable!!
Let's look into God's Word in Psalm 25:
4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. 8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
This past Tuesday, we received word that Andy Griffith had passed away at the age of 86. With his success with the TV show bearing his name, which was on for 8 seasons, and "Matlock", which was on for 9, this man gave us some pleasantly entertaining, wholesome family entertainment.
And, according to a CBN profile, his wife said that Andy was "prepared to meet the Lord".
I do believe that God's Spirit is showing us things - He is teaching us truth, according to God's word. He is instructing us, teaching us lessons and principles that we can apply in order to walk in a manner that is pleasing to Christ. And, He is speaking in many ways - through our study of the Scriptures, through our experiences, through other people, and even in our surroundings. As you know, I like to identify cultural elements that will help point us to God's truth. We can ask ourselves if we are sensitive to God's truth - which is absolute and reliable!!
Let's look into God's Word in Psalm 25:
4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. 8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
This past Tuesday, we received word that Andy Griffith had passed away at the age of 86. With his success with the TV show bearing his name, which was on for 8 seasons, and "Matlock", which was on for 9, this man gave us some pleasantly entertaining, wholesome family entertainment.
And, according to a CBN profile, his wife said that Andy was "prepared to meet the Lord".
In a statement, Cindy Griffith said: "He is the love of my life, my constant companion,
my partner, and my best friend. I cannot imagine life without Andy, but I
take comfort and strength in God's grace and in the knowledge that Andy
is at peace and with God."
Andy Griffith was a native of North Carolina, and the city of Mayberry was actually based on his hometown. He grew up in church and first aspired to be an opera singer. He served as choir director at First Baptist Church
of Goldsboro and pursued pre-ministerial studies at UNC Chapel Hill, but
later changed his major and decided to go into acting.
At the age of 69, he revisited his dream of singing and recorded the CD, "I Love To
Tell The Story - 25 Favorite Hymns." He once said that, "I have had 44 good years so far as an actor and
entertainer in show business ... and now I get the opportunity to record
... as a singer for heaven's sake." He won a Grammy for the 1996 hymns project and was nominated for the "Just As I Am" album. He was also nominated for a Dove Award for his project, "The Christmas Guest".
And, not only was there a connection to the Christian music industry, but "The Andy Griffith Show" was the inspiration for Bible study. There was a series released 10 or so years ago that featured 4 classic episodes hosted by Dennis Swanberg.
And, according to BeliefNet, software engineer Joey Fann of Huntsville, AL, came up with the
idea and wrote
the Bible study curriculum for his own church. He then put it on a website he created (BarneyFife.com) for others
to use. The site currently gets 200-300 hits a day. Fann knows of at
least 100 churches in 23 states that are currently running some form of
his class. Fann even wrote a book with the late George Lindsey, who played Goober in the Andy Griffith Show, called "The Way Back to Mayberry: Lessons from a Simpler Time".
What a great connection - Andy Griffith's TV shows offer us some life lessons, and his legacy showed us that professionalism, integrity, and a wholesome persona can still be appealing these days. Why do you think that the show is still in syndication and quite popular? Maybe we appreciate the moral tales of the show, or maybe we're just yearning for a simpler time, where people trusted one another, were civil, and lived by a series of principles that are not too unlike what we find in God's Word.
One further contribution of the "Andy Griffith Show" - Hal Smith, who played Otis, was the original voice of one John Avery Whitaker of "Adventures in Odyssey"!
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