I am thankful that we serve a merciful God, who has loved us greatly and brought us into fellowship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ:
4
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved ),
6
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
That is a powerful passage of Scripture, and it gives us a glimpse of who we are in Him - He desires to express through us the surpassing, the extravagant, riches of His grace - we have the Spirit of God within us, we are new creations in Him, and while we don't deserve to have a relationship with Him, out of His great love, He has shared His love and His nature with us...we don't have to be bound by the past, we have a new identity in Him, and as we embrace that new identity, we can experience a greater measure of God's presence in our lives.
In 1st Corinthians 6, Paul contrasts our past lives of living in the flesh with the new life we have in the Spirit:
9
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God ? ... He lists some of the types of sinful behavior that are indicative of life in the flesh, according to our old nature.
11
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
A Lancaster, Pennsylvania man named Andrew Campbell landed a job at a local candy factory. He was employed there for 4 days before he was fired - the reason: a background check showed that he had been convicted of several crimes in the state of Louisiana.
Well, Campbell asked in an interview with a local TV station if he was asleep or sleepwalking when he did all this. It turns out that there was an Andrew Campbell who is currently in prison serving a 15-year sentence, but a background check pointed to the Pennsylvania man, who has found another job. Apparently, the background check industry has exploded over the past decade, but there are some companies that are not particularly reliable, and since they don't deal with Social Security numbers (thankfully!), there is a greater margin of error.
So, Andrew is involved in a case of mistaken identity. And, his former employer tried to tell him who he was...but it wasn't him. And, as Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe, pointed out last night at A Montgomery Familiy Christmas, the church, believers in Christ, are suffering from an identity crisis. We become defined by a different set of standards than what the Word of God says about us, and if the God of the universe has declared us to be holy and worthy, then that can be incredibly freeing and empowering.
I found an interview with Bart about the subject, which he is quite passionate about, on the Gospel Music Channel website. He related about what God was doing in his life prior to the release of the CD, "The Hurt and the Healer": “The album was definitely therapeutic. I’ve built a career on being
unworthy and talking about how we’re nothing without Christ, which is
true; but even though our intentions may be good, I sometimes wonder if
Christ isn’t sitting there going, ‘No, you used to not be worthy –
you’re worthy now. You’re righteous. You’re holy as I am holy. It’s OK
to remember what you were, but let’s move on. Your identity is not your
guilt or shame; your identity is in Christ.”
About the song, "You Are I Am", Bart says: “It’s this spirit that’s been throughout the Word and this epic stuff
that chooses to live inside of me, and it’s pretty overwhelming to think
about...The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead
lives inside of [us], and [we’re] already equipped with everything we
need.”
God tells us that we are greatly loved, set free by Christ, declared to be someone special because of what Jesus has done in us, and we can take Him at His word and realize that the God of the universe lives in us. That has tremendous implications for the way we live our lives.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Did You Hear the One About?
In 2nd Corinthians 12, we find the apostle Paul cautioning the people of Corinth to not engage in behavior not pleasing to the Lord, including speaking ill of others:
(19) We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Speaking truth and not spreading rumors are cornerstones of our Christian character. The Word that God has spoken is to guide our lives, and the words that we speak that don't line up with His standards do damage to not only our relationship with Him, but to the relationships we have with others - the enemy would want to tear us apart, and it's so critical that we believe the truth, live the truth, and become tellers of truth, not acting on the impulses of the flesh, but seeking to preserve unity and peace in the Spirit.
2nd Corinthians 10 offers some insight regarding discernment and the importance of rejecting thoughts that may be planted in our minds by the devil, the enemy of our souls:
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
It's been a very active past few days for rumors over the Internet. Earlier, there was a rash of postings on Facebook about the social media giant owning the rights to your information and photos if you posted them on their site. The message told you to put a copyright notice on your news feed, and that would alleviate the problem.
Truth is, as the rumor-debunking website Snopes.com highlighted, Facebook does not own the rights to your information - when you use the site, you do give them permission to distribute that information, but you retain the ownership. Now, privacy is a big concern, and you need to take the necessary steps to protect yourself, but this rumor has been proven to be false. Facebook was even inclined to make a statement, saying as much.
And, that is just a taste of what's been out there recently. There was a fake news story involving Google buying a major wi-fi provider, that was proven to be false. And, this Saturday's SEC Championship has been competing with coaching rumors - with 4, now 3, SEC schools hunting for coaches, I guess it can be expected. One of the most outrageous involves my alma mater, the University of Tennessee - one of its former players, who now owns the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and is the brother of the governor of Tennessee, was rumored to have offered ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl coach Jon Gruden partial ownership of the Browns if he were to agree to come to coach the UT Vols. The rumor - untrue.
As Christian, we have to be devoted to seeking and living the truth. There's plenty of misinformation out there, and the enemy will plant seeds in our minds that can produce fear, anxiety, and distrust. If we dwell on and act on the lies he plants, then we may behave in a manner that is completely out of the will of God - we become reactionary and could really get in some trouble. So, we have to follow 2nd Corinthians 10 and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ - replacing the lies of the enemy with the truth of God's word.
And, we also have to be careful not to spread rumors - the Bible is very clear that gossip and slander are sins of the tongue, and should not be tolerated in our lives. And, even if information we receive is true, or we're fairly sure it's true, that doesn't mean we have the license to share it. It's recommended that if you hear some information, that you keep quiet about it, or go to the person directly to check it out. We must be diligently adherent to the truth and be sure to maintain accuracy, integrity, and in many cases, privacy in the way we relate information.
(19) We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Speaking truth and not spreading rumors are cornerstones of our Christian character. The Word that God has spoken is to guide our lives, and the words that we speak that don't line up with His standards do damage to not only our relationship with Him, but to the relationships we have with others - the enemy would want to tear us apart, and it's so critical that we believe the truth, live the truth, and become tellers of truth, not acting on the impulses of the flesh, but seeking to preserve unity and peace in the Spirit.
2nd Corinthians 10 offers some insight regarding discernment and the importance of rejecting thoughts that may be planted in our minds by the devil, the enemy of our souls:
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
It's been a very active past few days for rumors over the Internet. Earlier, there was a rash of postings on Facebook about the social media giant owning the rights to your information and photos if you posted them on their site. The message told you to put a copyright notice on your news feed, and that would alleviate the problem.
Truth is, as the rumor-debunking website Snopes.com highlighted, Facebook does not own the rights to your information - when you use the site, you do give them permission to distribute that information, but you retain the ownership. Now, privacy is a big concern, and you need to take the necessary steps to protect yourself, but this rumor has been proven to be false. Facebook was even inclined to make a statement, saying as much.
And, that is just a taste of what's been out there recently. There was a fake news story involving Google buying a major wi-fi provider, that was proven to be false. And, this Saturday's SEC Championship has been competing with coaching rumors - with 4, now 3, SEC schools hunting for coaches, I guess it can be expected. One of the most outrageous involves my alma mater, the University of Tennessee - one of its former players, who now owns the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and is the brother of the governor of Tennessee, was rumored to have offered ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl coach Jon Gruden partial ownership of the Browns if he were to agree to come to coach the UT Vols. The rumor - untrue.
As Christian, we have to be devoted to seeking and living the truth. There's plenty of misinformation out there, and the enemy will plant seeds in our minds that can produce fear, anxiety, and distrust. If we dwell on and act on the lies he plants, then we may behave in a manner that is completely out of the will of God - we become reactionary and could really get in some trouble. So, we have to follow 2nd Corinthians 10 and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ - replacing the lies of the enemy with the truth of God's word.
And, we also have to be careful not to spread rumors - the Bible is very clear that gossip and slander are sins of the tongue, and should not be tolerated in our lives. And, even if information we receive is true, or we're fairly sure it's true, that doesn't mean we have the license to share it. It's recommended that if you hear some information, that you keep quiet about it, or go to the person directly to check it out. We must be diligently adherent to the truth and be sure to maintain accuracy, integrity, and in many cases, privacy in the way we relate information.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Judge of the Nations
Psalm 51 relates to us a prayer of repentance from the heart of David...he begins by saying this:
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. So he calls upon the mercy of God - because of our sins and our propensity to commit sins, we don't deserve in and of ourselves to be forgiven. But, because of the love of Christ, which motivated Him to give His life for us, we can experience powerful cleansing from sin. David writes beginning in verse 10 of the Psalm: 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
In the times we live in, when temptation surrounds us, and when we face the possibility each day of being lured to miss the mark in our Christian walk, we need to experience the cleaning agent, the Holy Spirit, who enables us to walk consistent with our new identity in Christ - we have been declared righteous and holy, and when our behavior doesn't measure up, we can come before God, confess our sins, repent in our hearts, and rely on Him to empower us to walk in alignment with His ways.
In Daniel chapter 9, we see a breathtaking prayer of repentance by the prophet, as He called out to God for his nation. Picking up in verse 4, we read:
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. At the conclusion of this prayer, Daniel says:18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." I have been reading in the so-called minor prophets - minor because of the size of the books, but major in the content of the messages. And, prophets such as Joel, Micah, and others point to a collective judgment of God upon nations. I asked myself, even jotted it down in my journal - so what is the criteria for the judgment of God to be upon an entire nation? I think, in part, the issue is alignment - does a nation, its leaders, and its religious leaders follow the principles of God, or are the hearts of the people being turned to another path? And, even in the midst of judgment, we know that those who individually turn to Him can experience His presence, even while collectively a nation or people is facing the consequences of their actions. This is especially relevant in light of comments made by the President of Uganda recently. According to World Net Daily, citing a report from the news source, New Vision, President Yoweri Museveni celebrated Uganda’s 50th anniversary of independence from Britain at the National Jubilee Prayers event by publicly repenting of his personal sin and the sins of the nation.
“I stand here today to close the evil past, and especially in the last 50 years of our national leadership history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the life of this nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my predecessors to repent. We ask for your forgiveness,” Museveni prayed.
“We confess these sins, which have greatly hampered our national cohesion and delayed our political, social and economic transformation. We confess sins of idolatry and witchcraft which are rampant in our land. We confess sins of shedding innocent blood, sins of political hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and betrayal,” Museveni said.
But the President was not done - He went on to confess other national sins; then, he dedicated the nation of Uganda to God:
“We want to dedicate this nation to you so that you will be our God and guide. We want Uganda to be known as a nation that fears God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly rooted in righteousness and justice to fulfill what the Bible says in Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. A people you have chosen as your own."
That's amazing, isn't it? A man of power standing before God in humility and crying out to Him on behalf of His people. It's a stirring reminder for each of us to continue to prayer for our leaders in America, that they would stand with God and His principles in the decisions they have to make, their attitudes toward their positions and the people they serve, and for integrity in their dealings.
And, when's the last time you bowed before God to repent of your own sins - as we confess our sins, specifically, we activate the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and can experience the forgiveness of God. Even in a culture that seems intent on turning away from God, we can stand before Him clean and holy.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. So he calls upon the mercy of God - because of our sins and our propensity to commit sins, we don't deserve in and of ourselves to be forgiven. But, because of the love of Christ, which motivated Him to give His life for us, we can experience powerful cleansing from sin. David writes beginning in verse 10 of the Psalm: 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
In the times we live in, when temptation surrounds us, and when we face the possibility each day of being lured to miss the mark in our Christian walk, we need to experience the cleaning agent, the Holy Spirit, who enables us to walk consistent with our new identity in Christ - we have been declared righteous and holy, and when our behavior doesn't measure up, we can come before God, confess our sins, repent in our hearts, and rely on Him to empower us to walk in alignment with His ways.
In Daniel chapter 9, we see a breathtaking prayer of repentance by the prophet, as He called out to God for his nation. Picking up in verse 4, we read:
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. At the conclusion of this prayer, Daniel says:18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." I have been reading in the so-called minor prophets - minor because of the size of the books, but major in the content of the messages. And, prophets such as Joel, Micah, and others point to a collective judgment of God upon nations. I asked myself, even jotted it down in my journal - so what is the criteria for the judgment of God to be upon an entire nation? I think, in part, the issue is alignment - does a nation, its leaders, and its religious leaders follow the principles of God, or are the hearts of the people being turned to another path? And, even in the midst of judgment, we know that those who individually turn to Him can experience His presence, even while collectively a nation or people is facing the consequences of their actions. This is especially relevant in light of comments made by the President of Uganda recently. According to World Net Daily, citing a report from the news source, New Vision, President Yoweri Museveni celebrated Uganda’s 50th anniversary of independence from Britain at the National Jubilee Prayers event by publicly repenting of his personal sin and the sins of the nation.
“I stand here today to close the evil past, and especially in the last 50 years of our national leadership history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the life of this nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my predecessors to repent. We ask for your forgiveness,” Museveni prayed.
“We confess these sins, which have greatly hampered our national cohesion and delayed our political, social and economic transformation. We confess sins of idolatry and witchcraft which are rampant in our land. We confess sins of shedding innocent blood, sins of political hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and betrayal,” Museveni said.
But the President was not done - He went on to confess other national sins; then, he dedicated the nation of Uganda to God:
“We want to dedicate this nation to you so that you will be our God and guide. We want Uganda to be known as a nation that fears God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly rooted in righteousness and justice to fulfill what the Bible says in Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. A people you have chosen as your own."
That's amazing, isn't it? A man of power standing before God in humility and crying out to Him on behalf of His people. It's a stirring reminder for each of us to continue to prayer for our leaders in America, that they would stand with God and His principles in the decisions they have to make, their attitudes toward their positions and the people they serve, and for integrity in their dealings.
And, when's the last time you bowed before God to repent of your own sins - as we confess our sins, specifically, we activate the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit, and can experience the forgiveness of God. Even in a culture that seems intent on turning away from God, we can stand before Him clean and holy.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday for the Givers
In Christ, we have a new nature - our motivations become transformed, and we begin to respond to God and to other people with hearts that are connected to the love of Christ. Here's what 2nd Corinthians 5 says:
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
God is the giver of all good gifts, the One who sent His one and only Son to die for us, the One who will draw us closer to Himself as we give our lives in surrender to Him. Because He is by nature a giver, we also have a new bent to be givers, as well. Because of who we are in Christ, it becomes natural to be unselfish and to give of ourselves. Selfishness is a product of the old self, it holds us back, but we're called to put that off and live in the power of the new creation - to live to give.
Jesus taught about the giving nature of our Father God in Matthew chapter 7:
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
On the heels of Cyber Monday, which came following Black Friday, and Thanksgiving Day before that, we now have "Giving Tuesday". The topic and activity of giving is a concept that is consistent with the Christian faith, but this commemoration is being embraced by organizations that are not faith-based, and some that are. According to ABCNews.com, the idea came from Henry Timms, deputy executive director of the Jewish community center 92nd Street Y, and Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation. Timms began thinking about the concept during the holidays last year, and the idea gained momentum this past spring.
"When 92Y's Henry Timms called he explained the opportunity this way, 'We have a day for giving thanks, two days for getting deals. Why shouldn't there be a day for giving back?'" Calvin said.
She said the UN Foundation loved the idea.
"There are so many creative ways that people can volunteer and donate in today's world of social media," Calvin said. "A national day of giving back around the holiday shopping season just makes sense. It helps people everywhere make the most of their philanthropic side."
It does make sense - and for believers in Christ, as I highlighted on the blog and on yesterday's program, the day of Thanksgiving, to many, has become such a day, as we release the power of thanksgiving by touching the lives of others and producing more thanksgiving to God. But, I'm OK with a Giving Tuesday - and so are many entities: As of Monday morning, Giving Tuesday had 2,106 partners listed on the movement's website, including corporations, nonprofits, schools and religious groups.
Some examples of faith-based organizations who are making a special emphasis include:
Relief organization World Vision, which is promoting giving to Sandy victims as part of Giving Tuesday.
Devin Hermanson, World Vision's senior marketing director, said he hopes Giving Tuesday fights what the nonprofit industry calls donor or compassion fatigue. "Sometimes people feel overwhelmed and they don't see their dollars at work. We need to do our part to show people the benefit of their donation dollars," he said.
Shoe website Sole Society is donating shoes to Soles4Souls, which donates shoes to people living in over 125 countries, for every pair purchased as part of Cyber Week.
ABC also called attention to Heifer International, which has been working with communities to end hunger and poverty for the last 65 years. Heifer International now works in 42 countries, including China, Nepal, Brazil, Rwanda, Armenia and the U.S.
I really believe that giving is a way of life for the devoted believer in Jesus Christ. It's part of our nature to be a giver - God our Father is described in James as the giver of all good gifts, and Jesus gave His own life so that we might have salvation and know Him. Because we have been reborn in Christ, we have that new nature that is bent on giving. Selfishness, which is a product of our old nature, the flesh, will keep us centered on ourselves, but as we give of ourselves to Christ, then we can be flooded with and motivated by the love of Jesus.
So, on Giving Tuesday, we as Christians can use all this attention as a catalyst for displaying His love and acting according to our nature. And, as your prayerfully consider how and where to give, may I suggest Faith Radio? We are a listener-supported broadcast ministry featuring a lineup of some of the best Bible teachers on the planet, music that creates an atmosphere of worship, and information from a Christian perspective. Please consider a tax-deductible gift at year's end - we have a goal of $315,000 between now and December 31st - please support our broadcast ministry, especially if you never have - and Giving Tuesday is a great day to start.
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
God is the giver of all good gifts, the One who sent His one and only Son to die for us, the One who will draw us closer to Himself as we give our lives in surrender to Him. Because He is by nature a giver, we also have a new bent to be givers, as well. Because of who we are in Christ, it becomes natural to be unselfish and to give of ourselves. Selfishness is a product of the old self, it holds us back, but we're called to put that off and live in the power of the new creation - to live to give.
Jesus taught about the giving nature of our Father God in Matthew chapter 7:
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
On the heels of Cyber Monday, which came following Black Friday, and Thanksgiving Day before that, we now have "Giving Tuesday". The topic and activity of giving is a concept that is consistent with the Christian faith, but this commemoration is being embraced by organizations that are not faith-based, and some that are. According to ABCNews.com, the idea came from Henry Timms, deputy executive director of the Jewish community center 92nd Street Y, and Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation. Timms began thinking about the concept during the holidays last year, and the idea gained momentum this past spring.
"When 92Y's Henry Timms called he explained the opportunity this way, 'We have a day for giving thanks, two days for getting deals. Why shouldn't there be a day for giving back?'" Calvin said.
She said the UN Foundation loved the idea.
"There are so many creative ways that people can volunteer and donate in today's world of social media," Calvin said. "A national day of giving back around the holiday shopping season just makes sense. It helps people everywhere make the most of their philanthropic side."
It does make sense - and for believers in Christ, as I highlighted on the blog and on yesterday's program, the day of Thanksgiving, to many, has become such a day, as we release the power of thanksgiving by touching the lives of others and producing more thanksgiving to God. But, I'm OK with a Giving Tuesday - and so are many entities: As of Monday morning, Giving Tuesday had 2,106 partners listed on the movement's website, including corporations, nonprofits, schools and religious groups.
Some examples of faith-based organizations who are making a special emphasis include:
Relief organization World Vision, which is promoting giving to Sandy victims as part of Giving Tuesday.
Devin Hermanson, World Vision's senior marketing director, said he hopes Giving Tuesday fights what the nonprofit industry calls donor or compassion fatigue. "Sometimes people feel overwhelmed and they don't see their dollars at work. We need to do our part to show people the benefit of their donation dollars," he said.
Shoe website Sole Society is donating shoes to Soles4Souls, which donates shoes to people living in over 125 countries, for every pair purchased as part of Cyber Week.
ABC also called attention to Heifer International, which has been working with communities to end hunger and poverty for the last 65 years. Heifer International now works in 42 countries, including China, Nepal, Brazil, Rwanda, Armenia and the U.S.
I really believe that giving is a way of life for the devoted believer in Jesus Christ. It's part of our nature to be a giver - God our Father is described in James as the giver of all good gifts, and Jesus gave His own life so that we might have salvation and know Him. Because we have been reborn in Christ, we have that new nature that is bent on giving. Selfishness, which is a product of our old nature, the flesh, will keep us centered on ourselves, but as we give of ourselves to Christ, then we can be flooded with and motivated by the love of Jesus.
So, on Giving Tuesday, we as Christians can use all this attention as a catalyst for displaying His love and acting according to our nature. And, as your prayerfully consider how and where to give, may I suggest Faith Radio? We are a listener-supported broadcast ministry featuring a lineup of some of the best Bible teachers on the planet, music that creates an atmosphere of worship, and information from a Christian perspective. Please consider a tax-deductible gift at year's end - we have a goal of $315,000 between now and December 31st - please support our broadcast ministry, especially if you never have - and Giving Tuesday is a great day to start.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Charity and Christ's Character
James 2 challenges us to show charity toward others, and by so doing, we demonstrate the character of Christ.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. So, if we say we believe in Christ, we demonstrate our love for Him and His indwelling presence by the works in which we engage. We reflect the character of our God as we allow Him to work through us and meet the needs of others. Selfishness will act as a barrier to releasing the power of Christ, the spirit of thanksgiving - but, out of a heart of gratitude to God, we allow a spirit of Christ's love to motivate us to take our eyes off ourselves and place them on our Savior, so that others can see Him.
2nd Corinthians 9 illustrates for us how our generosity will produce thanksgiving to God:
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
I talked last week about releasing the power of thanksgiving. And, I searched through the pages of a Google search to see all sorts of ways that people were engaging in charity over the Thanksgiving weekend. It occurred to me that when Christians receive press coverage as a voting bloc, that we see all sorts of negative characterizations, but the coverage for our charity is generally positive. I think we become an effective, visible demonstration of the character of Christ when we are serving others, and in that personal ministry to people in need, God can use us to prepare the way for people to receive His love, and perhaps even to accept Jesus as their Savior.
And, while the government is struggling to try to fulfill its obligations to people who have fallen on tough times, the church has the people, the resources, and the clear instruction from Scripture to go out and meet needs. Maybe during this holiday season we can be more sensitized to reaching out to the people around us on a regular basis - and going beyond just sharing resources, but also teaching them how to use the skills that God has given them to become, as we might say, self-sufficient.
We reflect the character of Christ as we are givers. The Dallas Morning News is telling stories of people, not necessarily Christians, who have become more sensitive to the needs around them. There's the story of
Stephanie King, whose family fell on hard times and she became more aware of other people’s struggles. The experience stirred her compassion. When she got back on her feet, she felt a calling to make a difference in small, random ways. The Frisco woman began by sending a check or a gift card in the mail to someone who needed it.
About a month ago, King started the Be a Blessing (B2) Challenge. Participants buy a B2 Challenge bracelet and a card that says “God wanted me to remind you that he loves you.” Once a month for one year, participants are asked to bless someone with a random act of kindness and give the person the bracelet and card.
King’s goal is to bless a million people. So far, she’s at about 500 — but the challenge has spread to 23 cities in 11 states and two countries.
As part of the challenge, King joined up with two other families to help the homeless on Thanksgiving Day. She took her three children downtown this afternoon to give a blanket, coat and a home-cooked meal to homeless families they ran into. She also included a bracelet and card.
I believe the Bible teaches us that the things we think we possess ultimately belong to God. If we are devoted to acquiring stuff, then we become prone to a selfish mindset, but if we desire to acquire the things that last - blessings from God, eternal rewards, and the peace that comes from obeying God - then we will respond to the needs of the people around us. We can become the visible manifestation of the presence of Almighty God. What does God look like? I do believe that He is reflected in our charity.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. So, if we say we believe in Christ, we demonstrate our love for Him and His indwelling presence by the works in which we engage. We reflect the character of our God as we allow Him to work through us and meet the needs of others. Selfishness will act as a barrier to releasing the power of Christ, the spirit of thanksgiving - but, out of a heart of gratitude to God, we allow a spirit of Christ's love to motivate us to take our eyes off ourselves and place them on our Savior, so that others can see Him.
2nd Corinthians 9 illustrates for us how our generosity will produce thanksgiving to God:
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
I talked last week about releasing the power of thanksgiving. And, I searched through the pages of a Google search to see all sorts of ways that people were engaging in charity over the Thanksgiving weekend. It occurred to me that when Christians receive press coverage as a voting bloc, that we see all sorts of negative characterizations, but the coverage for our charity is generally positive. I think we become an effective, visible demonstration of the character of Christ when we are serving others, and in that personal ministry to people in need, God can use us to prepare the way for people to receive His love, and perhaps even to accept Jesus as their Savior.
And, while the government is struggling to try to fulfill its obligations to people who have fallen on tough times, the church has the people, the resources, and the clear instruction from Scripture to go out and meet needs. Maybe during this holiday season we can be more sensitized to reaching out to the people around us on a regular basis - and going beyond just sharing resources, but also teaching them how to use the skills that God has given them to become, as we might say, self-sufficient.
We reflect the character of Christ as we are givers. The Dallas Morning News is telling stories of people, not necessarily Christians, who have become more sensitive to the needs around them. There's the story of
Stephanie King, whose family fell on hard times and she became more aware of other people’s struggles. The experience stirred her compassion. When she got back on her feet, she felt a calling to make a difference in small, random ways. The Frisco woman began by sending a check or a gift card in the mail to someone who needed it.
About a month ago, King started the Be a Blessing (B2) Challenge. Participants buy a B2 Challenge bracelet and a card that says “God wanted me to remind you that he loves you.” Once a month for one year, participants are asked to bless someone with a random act of kindness and give the person the bracelet and card.
King’s goal is to bless a million people. So far, she’s at about 500 — but the challenge has spread to 23 cities in 11 states and two countries.
As part of the challenge, King joined up with two other families to help the homeless on Thanksgiving Day. She took her three children downtown this afternoon to give a blanket, coat and a home-cooked meal to homeless families they ran into. She also included a bracelet and card.
I believe the Bible teaches us that the things we think we possess ultimately belong to God. If we are devoted to acquiring stuff, then we become prone to a selfish mindset, but if we desire to acquire the things that last - blessings from God, eternal rewards, and the peace that comes from obeying God - then we will respond to the needs of the people around us. We can become the visible manifestation of the presence of Almighty God. What does God look like? I do believe that He is reflected in our charity.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Green Guilt and the Theology of Waste
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5 to: 15
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
16
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. In God's economy, there is no waste - we are told that He works all things for our good, and He can use even the small stuff to produce great fruit. But, in man's economy, in the ways of this world - there is plenty of waste - using resources that God has given us for activities that don't please Him, using our time in ways that do not bring Him glory, and misusing opportunities so that we do not do the will of the Lord, perhaps even neglecting the people that He has placed around us to minister to and failing to follow His call. The good news is that God will provide opportunities for us to be blessed, opportunities to do good, and the open invitation to draw closer to Him. We can train ourselves to be sensitive to the leadership of His Spirit, Who will show us how to make the most of every day! We have been given resources, time, and opportunity in order to bring honor to God - as we sow to the Spirit, pursuing the things of God, then we will see His hand at work, bringing a blessing to others...and to ourselves. Here's what 2nd Corinthians 9 says in outlining the sowing-reaping principle:
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
A survey came out several months ago about care of the environment and a phenomenon called "green guilt". A research firm called the Shelton Group asked people what wasteful activities caused the most guilt in their lives. The winning answer? 39% of Americans felt the most green guilt for wasting food.
This was the fifth annual such survey, polling over 1000 Americans. The study also found that just over a quarter of the consumers felt guilty about leaving the lights on when leaving a room and wasting water (27%). Failing to unplug chargers for electronics (22%), not recycling (21%) and forgetting to bring reusable bags to the store (20%) were also popular answers. Energy-efficient light bulbs or thermostat settings? Not so much (less than 10%). Being careful about watering the lawn or not using chemical lawn or plant fertilizers - not such big concerns.
I believe that Christians need to be concerned about the environment, but we have to be careful not to worship the creation more than the Creator. But, stewardship of the earth is a Biblical concept, and we should take that seriously.
And, our stewardship is also applicable to the financial realm. Merely by being more careful to not waste food, the average family could save some $600 a year - that's significant. We can be challenged to recognize areas of waste in our lives - regarding food...and a host of other areas.
Take, for instance, time - how much time to we waste each day, perhaps watching a screen or engaging in other non-productive activities? Then, we say we don't have the time to spend 15-to-30 minutes in God's Word or in prayer to Him. Entertainment is great, but the lure of media can pull us away from our devotion to God.
Or, what about wasted opportunities? Maybe there's a relationship that God has ordained for us, in order for us to minister in some way, and we don't think about how God would use us in that person's life. Maybe there's a service project or position that God is calling us to accept, but we decline because of our perceived insufficiencies or some other rationalized reasons. We have to be intentionally about being good stewards of our time and our talents.
It's been said that our God wastes nothing - in His sovereignty, He will use instances in our lives to draw us closer to Him; He will help us grow in our lives as He teaches us. We just have to look for His hand and follow His Spirit as He walks with us and we walk with Him.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
A survey came out several months ago about care of the environment and a phenomenon called "green guilt". A research firm called the Shelton Group asked people what wasteful activities caused the most guilt in their lives. The winning answer? 39% of Americans felt the most green guilt for wasting food.
This was the fifth annual such survey, polling over 1000 Americans. The study also found that just over a quarter of the consumers felt guilty about leaving the lights on when leaving a room and wasting water (27%). Failing to unplug chargers for electronics (22%), not recycling (21%) and forgetting to bring reusable bags to the store (20%) were also popular answers. Energy-efficient light bulbs or thermostat settings? Not so much (less than 10%). Being careful about watering the lawn or not using chemical lawn or plant fertilizers - not such big concerns.
I believe that Christians need to be concerned about the environment, but we have to be careful not to worship the creation more than the Creator. But, stewardship of the earth is a Biblical concept, and we should take that seriously.
And, our stewardship is also applicable to the financial realm. Merely by being more careful to not waste food, the average family could save some $600 a year - that's significant. We can be challenged to recognize areas of waste in our lives - regarding food...and a host of other areas.
Take, for instance, time - how much time to we waste each day, perhaps watching a screen or engaging in other non-productive activities? Then, we say we don't have the time to spend 15-to-30 minutes in God's Word or in prayer to Him. Entertainment is great, but the lure of media can pull us away from our devotion to God.
Or, what about wasted opportunities? Maybe there's a relationship that God has ordained for us, in order for us to minister in some way, and we don't think about how God would use us in that person's life. Maybe there's a service project or position that God is calling us to accept, but we decline because of our perceived insufficiencies or some other rationalized reasons. We have to be intentionally about being good stewards of our time and our talents.
It's been said that our God wastes nothing - in His sovereignty, He will use instances in our lives to draw us closer to Him; He will help us grow in our lives as He teaches us. We just have to look for His hand and follow His Spirit as He walks with us and we walk with Him.
Praise and Perseverance
In Colossians 3, we see the teachings of Scripture, showing us ways through which we can show our appreciation to God:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
For Thanksgiving Day, Colossians 2 shows us to Whom we should show gratitude:
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
In this season of Thanksgiving, we can allow our zeal for God and love and appreciation for Him consume us. Here are the words of Hebrews 12:
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." We have a powerful reminder in Psalm 105 about giving thanks God:Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced...
Thanksgiving Day is upon us, and while we think about feasts, turkeys, Pilgrims, Native Americans, and preparing for shopping, I think there are a few points to ponder regarding the establishment of a Thanksgiving holiday. An actual national day of Thanksgiving can actually be traced to 1863, with a proclamation by President Lincoln. But, there was one woman whose diligence is actually said to have influenced the President to make that declaration - her name is Sarah Josepha Hale.
There is a nice summary I found in the LA Times...it says that:
We can also be reminded to release the power of thanksgiving - Sarah believed so strongly in the concept that she was willing to devote countless hours to have a national holiday declared. She recognized the power of thanksgiving in our nation. And, we as believers, more than a mere observance, can help point people to God by verbalizing our appreciation to Him for our blessings, and perhaps even to tangibly demonstrate it by loving others, so that they may give praise to God.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
For Thanksgiving Day, Colossians 2 shows us to Whom we should show gratitude:
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
In this season of Thanksgiving, we can allow our zeal for God and love and appreciation for Him consume us. Here are the words of Hebrews 12:
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire." We have a powerful reminder in Psalm 105 about giving thanks God:Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced...
Thanksgiving Day is upon us, and while we think about feasts, turkeys, Pilgrims, Native Americans, and preparing for shopping, I think there are a few points to ponder regarding the establishment of a Thanksgiving holiday. An actual national day of Thanksgiving can actually be traced to 1863, with a proclamation by President Lincoln. But, there was one woman whose diligence is actually said to have influenced the President to make that declaration - her name is Sarah Josepha Hale.
There is a nice summary I found in the LA Times...it says that:
by 1850, the country was very busy growing, with fifteen new states being added to the union between 1800 and 1850. Over 200 years had passed since 1621, and the famous feast shared by the early pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe...Thanksgiving festivities were fading fast from the American scene.
Americans ignoring Thanksgiving really bugged Sarah Josepha Hale, and she was stubborn enough and determined enough to make a difference.
When something bothered Sarah Hale, she used the power of her pen. Sarah was the editor of a prominent women's magazine and she used this platform to express her opinions about why it was so important to keep the tradition of Thanksgiving alive in the American family. "If every state would join in Union Thanksgiving on the 24th of this month, would it not be a renewed pledge of love and loyalty to the Constitution of the United States?"For thirty-eight years she used the magazine and thousands of hand-written letters, pleading to five consecutive presidents to encourage Americans to observe Thanksgiving and have it declared as a national holiday. Lincoln proclaimed in 1863 that the last Thursday of November would be a national holiday, Thanksgiving. The Times says:
The timing was critical. America was divided; the Civil War was in full force, and President Lincoln needed something like Thanksgiving to help put the United States back together again.
It seems Sarah never put her pen down. In addition to her campaign for Thanksgiving, Sarah wrote articles and letters advocating higher education for women. She wrote about manners, fashion, and health. She wrote stories for women, for men, and for children. Sarah also loved writing poetry. In 1830, she wrote one of our favorite childhood poems, "Mary Had a Little Lamb."So, here we have an instance of perseverance for a cause. Sarah Hale didn't let up - for 38 years - and her persistence paid off. And, can't that be an encouragement for us to be diligent in speaking up for what we believe in?
We can also be reminded to release the power of thanksgiving - Sarah believed so strongly in the concept that she was willing to devote countless hours to have a national holiday declared. She recognized the power of thanksgiving in our nation. And, we as believers, more than a mere observance, can help point people to God by verbalizing our appreciation to Him for our blessings, and perhaps even to tangibly demonstrate it by loving others, so that they may give praise to God.
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Perils of Permanence
The Lord wants to adjust our perspective, recognizing that life here on earth is not permanent, neither are the possessions and the positions of this world. Here are the words of Isaiah 43:
18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
We have been formed by God, and called by God, and He is constantly calling us to grow in Him, to move forward, to recognize that He is taking us on a spiritual journey that will be full of change, but He gives us the spiritual resources that are necessary to walk through those fluid situations of life. If we trust in our possessions and our positions, then we lessen our degree of surrender to the Lord - He wants us to place our value in Him, and not in the things of this world, so that we might, as verse 21, says, declare His praise.
God holds our future, and as we look into eternity with Jesus, it can give us a new perspective on the changing possessions and positions on the earth. Here's what Isaiah 65 says:
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.
There were plenty of news headlines over the weekend - the testimony of General Petraeus on Capitol Hill, the tension between Israel and Hamas, the impending "fiscal cliff", the SEC back in the national championship picture - but one of those stories that was notable in that it provided a change of pace is the announcement that Hostess Brands would be closing its doors - at first, it appeared that there would be no more Twinkies, Ho-Hos, Ding Dongs, or Wonder Bread, but now there is speculation that once the company emerges from bankruptcy, those brands would survive under another company, but the over 18,000 jobs lost will still be lost. And, there is plenty of finger-pointing to go around: many blame the unions for placing impossible demands on a struggling company, and the unions claim the company was being mismanaged. But, no matter what the cause, this series of events can teach us about the perils of permanence.
First of all, about permanant possessions. We are not to place our hope in the stuff of earth. We have seen numerous brands disappear over the years, and while most of us don't place a whole lot of value on a cream-filled roll, there are resources on earth that we do put undue trust in. Many may be hoarding these sweet treats over the next few days, and indeed, there may be multiple items that we own that we hoard and begin to attach a greater value to that what God would intend. Stuff can take our minds off the Savior, and the amount of stuff we own can even run proportionately opposite to our spiritual growth.
Then, there's permanent position. Where you are right now regarding your place in the family or your position at your job, or in your church, may not be the position you will hold in the future. Husbands and wives become moms and dads, who become grandparents, and even caregivers for our parents. You may have lost a job that would have seemed to last a long time, just like those Hostess workers. Or, a strong church 10 years ago may be less effective now because it failed to respond to some of the ministry challenges of a changing culture, and where you're serving today may look very different that your role a few years back.
Truth is, the temporal things of earth are changing, and one day, the Lord declares, there will be a new heavens and a new earth - change can provide us with an opportunity to evaluate our lives and our priorities, and to renew our trust in God, recognizing that He is at work, and will give us fresh perspective to deal with altered positions and possessions. Brands and products will come and go, but the Word of God and the presence of God do not change.
18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
We have been formed by God, and called by God, and He is constantly calling us to grow in Him, to move forward, to recognize that He is taking us on a spiritual journey that will be full of change, but He gives us the spiritual resources that are necessary to walk through those fluid situations of life. If we trust in our possessions and our positions, then we lessen our degree of surrender to the Lord - He wants us to place our value in Him, and not in the things of this world, so that we might, as verse 21, says, declare His praise.
God holds our future, and as we look into eternity with Jesus, it can give us a new perspective on the changing possessions and positions on the earth. Here's what Isaiah 65 says:
17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.
There were plenty of news headlines over the weekend - the testimony of General Petraeus on Capitol Hill, the tension between Israel and Hamas, the impending "fiscal cliff", the SEC back in the national championship picture - but one of those stories that was notable in that it provided a change of pace is the announcement that Hostess Brands would be closing its doors - at first, it appeared that there would be no more Twinkies, Ho-Hos, Ding Dongs, or Wonder Bread, but now there is speculation that once the company emerges from bankruptcy, those brands would survive under another company, but the over 18,000 jobs lost will still be lost. And, there is plenty of finger-pointing to go around: many blame the unions for placing impossible demands on a struggling company, and the unions claim the company was being mismanaged. But, no matter what the cause, this series of events can teach us about the perils of permanence.
First of all, about permanant possessions. We are not to place our hope in the stuff of earth. We have seen numerous brands disappear over the years, and while most of us don't place a whole lot of value on a cream-filled roll, there are resources on earth that we do put undue trust in. Many may be hoarding these sweet treats over the next few days, and indeed, there may be multiple items that we own that we hoard and begin to attach a greater value to that what God would intend. Stuff can take our minds off the Savior, and the amount of stuff we own can even run proportionately opposite to our spiritual growth.
Then, there's permanent position. Where you are right now regarding your place in the family or your position at your job, or in your church, may not be the position you will hold in the future. Husbands and wives become moms and dads, who become grandparents, and even caregivers for our parents. You may have lost a job that would have seemed to last a long time, just like those Hostess workers. Or, a strong church 10 years ago may be less effective now because it failed to respond to some of the ministry challenges of a changing culture, and where you're serving today may look very different that your role a few years back.
Truth is, the temporal things of earth are changing, and one day, the Lord declares, there will be a new heavens and a new earth - change can provide us with an opportunity to evaluate our lives and our priorities, and to renew our trust in God, recognizing that He is at work, and will give us fresh perspective to deal with altered positions and possessions. Brands and products will come and go, but the Word of God and the presence of God do not change.
Friday, November 16, 2012
2493
We see a powerful example of exercising discernment from the journeys of Paul, from Acts 17:
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
They searched the Scriptures...these were truth-seeking people, and it's a great example for us. We are to know what is true about God's Word, to filter what we hear according to the Word of Truth, and to make reasoned determination about what is true and what is false. Misinformation can be damaging to our spirits, if we regard what is not true or what is hyped or sensationalized as absolutely true. And, if we accept and spread misinformation, then our credibility can be damaged and trust is eroded. We have to be careful to be truth-tellers AND truth-seekers.
2nd Timothy 1:7 says:
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
There is a letter or e-mail that seems to be making the rounds again, and it says something like this:
This has actually been in circulation since about 2008, but it is really a reconstitution of an e-mail that went out in the 1990's actually citing Madalyn Murray O'Hair as the one responsible for this petition - the same one, number 2493.
There was actually a petition numbered 2493, and here is what the actual FCC website says about it:
According to Snopes.com, from 1975 to 1995, there were more than 30 million pieces of mail opposing this petition sent to the FCC.
The rumor does involve Christmas programs and carols, so it's not surprising you will find this e-mail or a variation thereof circulating this time of year - to respond, hit "Reply", and politely say that the rumor is not true, maybe even referring them to the FCC website or Snopes.com. I agree, we must be vigilant in matters of religious freedom. But, we also must be able to separate truth from fiction.
Misinformation can be a powerful deterrant in the Christian life - we can encounter it in what we see or hear, or in what we allow into our minds. The enemy will create fear in our consciousness through the misinformation that we accept. That is why discernment is an important element, as we choose to embrace or reject the straightforward or the suggestive challenges that can enter our lives and affect our faith.
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
They searched the Scriptures...these were truth-seeking people, and it's a great example for us. We are to know what is true about God's Word, to filter what we hear according to the Word of Truth, and to make reasoned determination about what is true and what is false. Misinformation can be damaging to our spirits, if we regard what is not true or what is hyped or sensationalized as absolutely true. And, if we accept and spread misinformation, then our credibility can be damaged and trust is eroded. We have to be careful to be truth-tellers AND truth-seekers.
2nd Timothy 1:7 says:
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
There is a letter or e-mail that seems to be making the rounds again, and it says something like this:
An organization has been granted a Federal Hearing on the same subject by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington , D.C. Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, on the airwaves of America . They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand! If this attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being broadcast on the radio or by television will be stopped.
This group is also campaigning to remove all Christmas programs and Christmas carols from public schools! You, as a Christian, can help!
We are praying for at least 1 million signatures. This would defeat their effort and show that there are many Christians alive, well and concerned about our country.. As Christians, we must unite on this.
Please don't take this lightly. We ignored one lady once and lost prayer in our schools and in offices across the nation. Please stand up for your religious freedom and let your voice be heard. Together we can make a difference in our country while creating an opportunity for the lost to know the Lord.
Dr. Dobson is going on CNBC to urge every Christian to get involved.
This has actually been in circulation since about 2008, but it is really a reconstitution of an e-mail that went out in the 1990's actually citing Madalyn Murray O'Hair as the one responsible for this petition - the same one, number 2493.
There was actually a petition numbered 2493, and here is what the actual FCC website says about it:
These rumors are untrue. In December 1974, Jeremy D. Lansman and Lorenzo W. Milam filed a petition (RM-2493) asking the FCC to inquire into the operating practices of stations licensed to religious organizations, and not to grant any new licenses for new noncommercial educational broadcast stations until the inquiry had been completed. The FCC denied this petition on August 1, 1975. Ms. O'Hair was not a sponsor of this petition.
Since that time, the FCC has received mail and telephone calls claiming that Ms. O’Hair started the petition and that the petition asked for an end to religious programs on radio and television. Such rumors are false. The FCC has responded to numerous inquiries about these rumors and advised the public of their falsehood. There is no federal law that gives the FCC the authority to prohibit radio and television stations from broadcasting religious programs.
According to Snopes.com, from 1975 to 1995, there were more than 30 million pieces of mail opposing this petition sent to the FCC.
The rumor does involve Christmas programs and carols, so it's not surprising you will find this e-mail or a variation thereof circulating this time of year - to respond, hit "Reply", and politely say that the rumor is not true, maybe even referring them to the FCC website or Snopes.com. I agree, we must be vigilant in matters of religious freedom. But, we also must be able to separate truth from fiction.
Misinformation can be a powerful deterrant in the Christian life - we can encounter it in what we see or hear, or in what we allow into our minds. The enemy will create fear in our consciousness through the misinformation that we accept. That is why discernment is an important element, as we choose to embrace or reject the straightforward or the suggestive challenges that can enter our lives and affect our faith.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
To Tell the Truth
Ephesians chapter 4 gives us a picture of what a Christian living the devoted Christian life looks like:
(22b) put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.25Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
If we are walking in the power of the new man, energized by the power of the indwelling Christ and led by the presence of the Spirit within us, it will have implications for the words we speak, and that includes telling the truth. In a world that is committed to shades of gray, where we can be tempted to embellish accounts of our activities or to report something different that what we've witnessed, it can be challenging to live the Christian life, but I believe that God blesses the life of integrity, committed to accuracy in the way that we speak - we are to be truth-tellers. In Colossians chapter 3, we see a great admonition to us in upholding the truth - Christians are to be honest in dealing with others: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... I believe that Christians are called to a high standard of integrity in a society that is seemingly less committed to upholding truthfulness. I came across a survey from this past spring from SELF magazine and TODAY.com about what is termed, "financial infidelity", which has enormous consequences in a marital relationship. According to a report about the survey on Forbes.com, 46 percent of respondents said they have lied to their partners about money, including lying about purchases, hiding them in the back of the closet and clandestinely withdrawing money from joint accounts.
The poll of 23,000 online users also found that more than 60 percent of both men and women think cheating is cheating, whether it’s financial or sexual. Two-thirds said that honesty about money is as important as remaining monogamous. About one-third said financial infidelity can sometimes lead to sexual infidelity.
About 13 percent of respondents said they’d broken up or gotten divorced over secretive spending habits.
Lying, which can mean hiding the truth or embellishing the truth - if you're not forthright on the facts, it can imperil you and your relationships - leading to mistrust in the home, in friendships, in your work, and a variety of other areas. We are seeing play out on the national stage political and military situations where trust has eroded. Hearings begin today in earnest in Congress to get to the truth about what happened in Libya, and Federal investigators have taken steps to get to the truth about a lapse in trust and propriety that has taken down a high-ranking official.
As believers in Christ, we are called to a high standard of integrity - if our lives are built on God's Word, then we recognize the importance of telling the truth, the whole truth - not shading the facts or hiding information, but being transparent with our words and authentic in our lives.
(22b) put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,23and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.25Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
If we are walking in the power of the new man, energized by the power of the indwelling Christ and led by the presence of the Spirit within us, it will have implications for the words we speak, and that includes telling the truth. In a world that is committed to shades of gray, where we can be tempted to embellish accounts of our activities or to report something different that what we've witnessed, it can be challenging to live the Christian life, but I believe that God blesses the life of integrity, committed to accuracy in the way that we speak - we are to be truth-tellers. In Colossians chapter 3, we see a great admonition to us in upholding the truth - Christians are to be honest in dealing with others: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... I believe that Christians are called to a high standard of integrity in a society that is seemingly less committed to upholding truthfulness. I came across a survey from this past spring from SELF magazine and TODAY.com about what is termed, "financial infidelity", which has enormous consequences in a marital relationship. According to a report about the survey on Forbes.com, 46 percent of respondents said they have lied to their partners about money, including lying about purchases, hiding them in the back of the closet and clandestinely withdrawing money from joint accounts.
The poll of 23,000 online users also found that more than 60 percent of both men and women think cheating is cheating, whether it’s financial or sexual. Two-thirds said that honesty about money is as important as remaining monogamous. About one-third said financial infidelity can sometimes lead to sexual infidelity.
About 13 percent of respondents said they’d broken up or gotten divorced over secretive spending habits.
Lying, which can mean hiding the truth or embellishing the truth - if you're not forthright on the facts, it can imperil you and your relationships - leading to mistrust in the home, in friendships, in your work, and a variety of other areas. We are seeing play out on the national stage political and military situations where trust has eroded. Hearings begin today in earnest in Congress to get to the truth about what happened in Libya, and Federal investigators have taken steps to get to the truth about a lapse in trust and propriety that has taken down a high-ranking official.
As believers in Christ, we are called to a high standard of integrity - if our lives are built on God's Word, then we recognize the importance of telling the truth, the whole truth - not shading the facts or hiding information, but being transparent with our words and authentic in our lives.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Secession vs. Sticking With It
I believe that God calls us to be faithful in what He has called us to do - and even though we may grow weary or be tempted to give up, He will give us strength and direction, and develop perseverance, in the midst of our challenges:
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Don't grow weary, verse 9 says - and we can know that barriers will arise in situations to which God has called us. And, if He desires for us to accomplish a work for Him, then He will give us the resources we need in order to see it through. We reap a harvest as we continue to sow - but, if we cease sowing and even withdraw from a situation, then we will not see God's work accomplished in the way He intends. When times get tough, there is a temptation to run, to give up, or to become complacent. But, it is in the times of adversity where we can experience God's hand in a particularly powerful way, and He will do His work in our lives, producing fruit to His glory.
In Philippians 4, the apostle Paul talks about the attitude of contentment, which is not to be confused with complacency:
11b ...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Alabama and Georgia are now #4 and 5 in the college football BCS standings, and people are looking toward that SEC championship, where both teams are headed if Alabama defeats Auburn next week. There's another ranking out there now where Alabama and Georgia are 4 and 5, even though the positions are reversed, at last check - the listing of states that have had residents file secession petitions on a website, We the People, that is operated by WhiteHouse.gov. If a petition is submitted and gains 25,000 signatures, or more, it elicits an official response by the Administration.
Hey, I can appreciate the sentiment of signing a petition to express frustration, or even to show support for a particular cause. But, the emergence of the online petition can give an outlet, but it remains to be seen if this activity can really result in social or policy change by and large. These petitions can give news sources something to cover, though, and these secession petitions, now running for all 50 states, have generated plenty of virtual ink.
(Update from The Daily Caller)
Honestly, though, if you consider the practicalities of a state actually following through on secession, the challenges can be enormous. That can explain why, since the Civil War, we haven't seen any states actually withdraw from the Union and form their own individual governments. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, who had actually made some secession comments a few years back, rejected any support for consideration of pulling out. He is quoted as saying:
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Don't grow weary, verse 9 says - and we can know that barriers will arise in situations to which God has called us. And, if He desires for us to accomplish a work for Him, then He will give us the resources we need in order to see it through. We reap a harvest as we continue to sow - but, if we cease sowing and even withdraw from a situation, then we will not see God's work accomplished in the way He intends. When times get tough, there is a temptation to run, to give up, or to become complacent. But, it is in the times of adversity where we can experience God's hand in a particularly powerful way, and He will do His work in our lives, producing fruit to His glory.
In Philippians 4, the apostle Paul talks about the attitude of contentment, which is not to be confused with complacency:
11b ...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Alabama and Georgia are now #4 and 5 in the college football BCS standings, and people are looking toward that SEC championship, where both teams are headed if Alabama defeats Auburn next week. There's another ranking out there now where Alabama and Georgia are 4 and 5, even though the positions are reversed, at last check - the listing of states that have had residents file secession petitions on a website, We the People, that is operated by WhiteHouse.gov. If a petition is submitted and gains 25,000 signatures, or more, it elicits an official response by the Administration.
Hey, I can appreciate the sentiment of signing a petition to express frustration, or even to show support for a particular cause. But, the emergence of the online petition can give an outlet, but it remains to be seen if this activity can really result in social or policy change by and large. These petitions can give news sources something to cover, though, and these secession petitions, now running for all 50 states, have generated plenty of virtual ink.
(Update from The Daily Caller)
Honestly, though, if you consider the practicalities of a state actually following through on secession, the challenges can be enormous. That can explain why, since the Civil War, we haven't seen any states actually withdraw from the Union and form their own individual governments. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, who had actually made some secession comments a few years back, rejected any support for consideration of pulling out. He is quoted as saying:
“Gov. Perry believes in the greatness of our Union and nothing should be done to change it. But he also shares the frustrations many Americans have with our federal government...Alabama governor Robert Bentley, the same day he resisted a Federal request to set up a health care exchange for the state, sent word through his press secretary,
“Governor Bentley believes in one nation under God. While there is frustration with the federal government, Governor Bentley believes that states can be great laboratories of change...As our leaders in Washington look for strategies to address America's financial challenges, Alabama is working hard toward saving a billion dollars annually by right-sizing government. We can disagree on philosophy, but we should work together to make this country the best it can be..."But, I began to think about the human tendency to "secede" when things don't go the way we like, and we start operating in discontentment and we could even end up engaging in sinful behavior...if we are facing challenges on the job, go find a new one, which is especially difficult in this economy. You've been offended by someone at church, or the preacher said something you disagreed with, or the music's too loud - go find another church. Not satisfied with your current spouse? Go find a new one, or get involved in a romantic entanglement with someone to whom you're not married. If we become consumed with a "grass is greener on the other side" philosophy, we operate contrary to Scripture, that teaches contentment, perseverance, and faithfulness. Instead of working at making things better, we devote our energy to bailing out, and that can be counterproductive. So are you in a difficult situation or relationship? Perhaps God is desiring to do a deeper work in your life and in the lives of others - instead of running, perhaps He wants you to double down.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Living Outside Ourselves
In Matthew 4, we see the call of 4 of Jesus' disciples:
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Simon, Andrew, James, and John heard the call of Jesus. And, we are told in all the instances that immediately they followed Him - they left their fishing nets and walked into a new and adventurous life with Jesus. They didn't delay, didn't tell the Savior they'd get back with Him, or even say they needed to set some things in order. They went immediately, without rationalizing. I think that sometimes we can talk or think ourselves out of following Christ in what He has called us to do. That's not to say we should be impulsive or presumptive. But, if the Holy Spirit is dealing with our hearts and has shown us an area of need that He wants to address through us, then we can be confident that He will provide the way to fulfill what He has called us to do.
Jesus gave a hard teaching, but it's so relevant to our lives as we contemplate living outside ourselves:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
After 700,000 votes cast, the 2012 Woman of the Year Reader's Choice Award from the website Glamour.com is - Katie Davis. Do you know who Katie is? Well, I must say that this is not the type of story that I would find on this website, which doesn't necessarily offer all-wholesome far. But, Katie's story does offer a ray of light. When she was 19, Katie was so inspired by a trip to an orphanage in Uganda that she returned to her home in Brentwood, Tennessee, and told her family that she was moving there.
Her ministry, Amazima Ministries International, connects 600 vulnerable children with sponsor families worldwide and feeds 1,500 kids a week. Katie herself is adopting 13 daughters, ages 4 to 16. She has chronicled some of her endeavors in the book, Kisses From Katie. She is quoted as saying, “I never intend anyone to think, Wow, I want to do what she does...Service is just about saying yes to the people around you who need your help.”
Quite an amazing story of a young lady who looked outside herself, saw children in need, and followed the call of God to do something.
There's another young lady who was profiled at CitizenLink.com this past week: her name is Vivienne Harr, and she's 8 years old! She had seen a picture of two boys in Nepal with rocks strapped to their heads, and she told her parents, “We should do something”. She started a lemonade stand near their house in Fairfax, California, and over the last four months, Vivienne has used it to raise more than $50,000 for a nonprofit group dedicated to ending modern-day slavery and human trafficking around the globe.
The “Make-A-Stand! Lemonade: The Sweet Taste of Freedom” project includes donations taken in person at the lemonade stand, as well as online, which go to an organization called Not For Sale. This third-grader says, "I want to be making a difference for the rest of my life. Everyone can make a difference. My lemonade stand is where everyone can make a difference. If people like me can, I say everyone can."
These 2 young ladies can really inspire us! I really do think that the Holy Spirit will point out needs to us on a consistent basis - our choice is whether or not we'll A) pay attention and recognize there may be a nudge from God's Spirit here and B) follow that prompting. It does involve sensitivity, compassion, and a real dedication to see with spiritual eyes and then follow Christ, not matter what the cost.
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Simon, Andrew, James, and John heard the call of Jesus. And, we are told in all the instances that immediately they followed Him - they left their fishing nets and walked into a new and adventurous life with Jesus. They didn't delay, didn't tell the Savior they'd get back with Him, or even say they needed to set some things in order. They went immediately, without rationalizing. I think that sometimes we can talk or think ourselves out of following Christ in what He has called us to do. That's not to say we should be impulsive or presumptive. But, if the Holy Spirit is dealing with our hearts and has shown us an area of need that He wants to address through us, then we can be confident that He will provide the way to fulfill what He has called us to do.
Jesus gave a hard teaching, but it's so relevant to our lives as we contemplate living outside ourselves:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
After 700,000 votes cast, the 2012 Woman of the Year Reader's Choice Award from the website Glamour.com is - Katie Davis. Do you know who Katie is? Well, I must say that this is not the type of story that I would find on this website, which doesn't necessarily offer all-wholesome far. But, Katie's story does offer a ray of light. When she was 19, Katie was so inspired by a trip to an orphanage in Uganda that she returned to her home in Brentwood, Tennessee, and told her family that she was moving there.
Her ministry, Amazima Ministries International, connects 600 vulnerable children with sponsor families worldwide and feeds 1,500 kids a week. Katie herself is adopting 13 daughters, ages 4 to 16. She has chronicled some of her endeavors in the book, Kisses From Katie. She is quoted as saying, “I never intend anyone to think, Wow, I want to do what she does...Service is just about saying yes to the people around you who need your help.”
Quite an amazing story of a young lady who looked outside herself, saw children in need, and followed the call of God to do something.
There's another young lady who was profiled at CitizenLink.com this past week: her name is Vivienne Harr, and she's 8 years old! She had seen a picture of two boys in Nepal with rocks strapped to their heads, and she told her parents, “We should do something”. She started a lemonade stand near their house in Fairfax, California, and over the last four months, Vivienne has used it to raise more than $50,000 for a nonprofit group dedicated to ending modern-day slavery and human trafficking around the globe.
The “Make-A-Stand! Lemonade: The Sweet Taste of Freedom” project includes donations taken in person at the lemonade stand, as well as online, which go to an organization called Not For Sale. This third-grader says, "I want to be making a difference for the rest of my life. Everyone can make a difference. My lemonade stand is where everyone can make a difference. If people like me can, I say everyone can."
These 2 young ladies can really inspire us! I really do think that the Holy Spirit will point out needs to us on a consistent basis - our choice is whether or not we'll A) pay attention and recognize there may be a nudge from God's Spirit here and B) follow that prompting. It does involve sensitivity, compassion, and a real dedication to see with spiritual eyes and then follow Christ, not matter what the cost.
Monday, November 12, 2012
A Cross in the Desert
On this Federal and state holiday for Veteran's Day, we can take time to reflect on God's provision for our nation, and those He has used to preserve our civic freedoms. Psalm 136 says:
1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever... There are so many instances of God's hand expressed in the life of our nation. Our brave men and women of the armed forces have been used to gain our freedom, to promote it, and to further the cause of freedom around the world. As those who came to these shores desired to build a "city on a hill", where God's truth would be in evidence, we recognize that our veterans have been incredible instruments in God's plan to bless a nation that was founded, I believe, to exalt Him. And, the symbol of the cross and the remembrance of their sacrifices have been so intertwined, and this is no accident - this can serve as a reminder that this nation was built on an acknowledgement of God, which can be a powerful force in our nation's challenges, and in the challenges we face individually. Psalm 33 acknowledges the hand of God in nations:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
A story for Veteran's Day this year begins in 1934, when World War I veterans placed a 7-foot-tall white cross made of pipe on Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave desert to honor their comrades. Years later, one of the dying veterans asked a man named Henry Sandoz to watch over the cross. For years, Henry kept his promise and successfully maintained the memorial, including the replacement of damaged crosses with new versions — until 2002, when the ACLU sued the federal government for violating the First Amendment, saying that the cross was an establishment of religion.
2 Federal courts sided with the ACLU, and one court ruling resulted in a wooden box being placed over the top of the cross. The case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in 2010, it overturned the lower court rulings and paved the way for a land swap between the National Park Service and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Just after that ruling, the cross that had been standing at the site was stolen.
It was planned that yesterday, as a result of the transfer of land, a service would be held to commemorate a new cross on the historic site. And, indeed, about 100 people gathered at the site for that occasion. In an interesting twist, the cross that was stolen turned up last week - according to the San Francisco Examiner, San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies were called about a “famous cross” found on state Highway 35, about three miles south of state Highway 92.
“Upon arrival, deputies observed a cross standing upright and attached to a fence post with zip ties,” Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt said.
The cross was in good condition, Rosenblatt said, and had a note attached to it proclaiming its authenticity. No arrests have been made.
Meanwhile, the Sandozes had really already moved on, making preparations for the Sunday ceremony and the brand new cross. The site will be upgraded, too, with a fence, visitors' entrances, and a plaque stating that the cross is a memorial for war veterans.
Isn't it interesting that across our land, crosses are commonly used to symbolize the sacrifices of veterans? The picturesque setting at Arlington National Cemetery and other hallowed grounds across America are replete with crosses to mark the graves of those who have given their lives in service to our country.
Despite the efforts of secularist organizations, you cannot separate the cross from the history of our country. The sacrifices of brave men and women in uniform have resulted in the furtherance of our rich Judeo-Christian heritage and our ability to practice our faith. And, while yesterday we thought about not only our veterans, but also Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith, today, even though we see the erosion of our religious liberties in some instances, nevertheless we enjoy a tremendous amount of freedom to practice our faith. We publicly attended church at thousands of worship centers across the land, and we can give thanks to God for that, as we are thankful for His mercies upon our nation, and thankful for those who have died to preserve that ability to be free, and to worship freely.
While there are those that don't acknowledge the significance of the cross and Christian principles in our land, we still recognize that His ways have provided the basis for our laws and the motivation for so many to fight for our country. And, we remember the ultimate sacrifice made on a cross by our Savior, as well.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Taking the Edge Off
Zechariah 8 lays out a template for speech and behavior that are pleasing to God:
16 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; 17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' Says the Lord."
There is much to be learned and applied, just from these 2 verses. We are called to "speak truth" - I believe that means that we should not lie, but that we are also to communicate God's Word and His principles, living our lives according to truth, justice, and peace. And, the kicker is found in verse 17, which can be tough for us, especially as we come out of a season where there has been much polarization - we are not to think evil in our hearts against our neighbors. This is the high standard to which believers are held...I believe we are to pursue a path of peace, "taking the edge off" in relationships with people with whom we disagree - holding unwaveringly to our deeply held beliefs, but finding ways to communicate in a manner that draws people to the presence of Christ within us and that doesn't repel people as we miscommunicate the principles of Christ.
Ephesians 4 talks about communicating with civility, without compromise, but with compassion - I call it "taking the edge off":
(14) we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
I came across a rather interesting story from the world of corporate marketing and advertising which really gave me a chance to think about how we regard people with whom we disagree. You see, in a very real sense, Christians are "competing" in the marketplace of ideas, and we have the ability to denigrate, sometimes in a very off-putting way, the people that hold to different opinions than our own.
So, here's the deal - in Cincinnati, there are two companies that have engaged in a rather unique way to sell pumpkin pies - according to the Wall Street Journal, the pie wars began in the fall of 2010 when Frisch's, a chain of restaurants that uses the famous Big Boy as its mascot, launched a new billboard campaign for its pumpkin pies. One sign, with the slogan, "Hello, Pumpkin," was inadvertently located directly over the flagship store of Busken Bakery, a smaller, local chain. Busken bought an adjacent billboard that read, "That's 'Mr. Pumpkin' to you, Big Boy." And, so it began...
The playful jabs continued throughout 2011. The initial sign was a simple picture of a pumpkin pie with the words: "You had me at hello." The Busken brothers, shot back: "Sorry Big Boy, this pumpkin's taken."
The dialogue continued on Facebook.
"Oh, sorry for being so fresh," came the response from the restaurant chain.
Busken: "Let's just be friends."
Frisch's: "Sure, nothing hurts my fillings."
The back-and-forth has continued, and the latest involves the Busken brothers donning ski masks with fake mustaches attached and cloaking a Big Boy in a Busken apron. They encased the statue's trademark burger in a Busken pie box. They then posted the maneuver on YouTube and Facebook in a video complete with fake explosions and flashes of lightning. And, guess what - Frisch's has posted coverage in its Facebook page.
Both companies have clearly benefited from the spat. Frisch's, which typically sells 90,000 pumpkin pies during its 16-week selling window, saw a 5% uptick the first year. The bakery, with an average of 2,500 pumpkin pies during the Thanksgiving season, saw a 20% jump in sales.
So, what do we take away? I think, Dan Haseltine, of the band Jars of Clay, says it well, according to The Christian Post, "How does it happen, that we should be in such unfulfilling work as that of perceiving neighbors as enemies?" Sure, the pie places are competitors, but they have apparently found a way to take the edge off, it's a delight to see, frankly, and customers are responding.
But, when we as Christians, in our fervor to uphold the truth, denigrate and even demonize the people that we are trying to win over, we are counterproductive in our mission of communicating what we regard as a compelling and superior set of ideas, rooted in Biblical truth, given by the Ruler and Creator of the Universe. As Greg Koukl says, we must pursue, "diplomacy, not D-Day". So, we hold fast to our worldview, without compromise, but we depend on God to show us ways to take the edge off, disagreeing agreeably, and affirming the worth of every individual, no matter how much we may dispute their views.
As Dan says, relative to politics but applicable to engagement on many fronts, I think:
16 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; 17 Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' Says the Lord."
There is much to be learned and applied, just from these 2 verses. We are called to "speak truth" - I believe that means that we should not lie, but that we are also to communicate God's Word and His principles, living our lives according to truth, justice, and peace. And, the kicker is found in verse 17, which can be tough for us, especially as we come out of a season where there has been much polarization - we are not to think evil in our hearts against our neighbors. This is the high standard to which believers are held...I believe we are to pursue a path of peace, "taking the edge off" in relationships with people with whom we disagree - holding unwaveringly to our deeply held beliefs, but finding ways to communicate in a manner that draws people to the presence of Christ within us and that doesn't repel people as we miscommunicate the principles of Christ.
Ephesians 4 talks about communicating with civility, without compromise, but with compassion - I call it "taking the edge off":
(14) we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
I came across a rather interesting story from the world of corporate marketing and advertising which really gave me a chance to think about how we regard people with whom we disagree. You see, in a very real sense, Christians are "competing" in the marketplace of ideas, and we have the ability to denigrate, sometimes in a very off-putting way, the people that hold to different opinions than our own.
So, here's the deal - in Cincinnati, there are two companies that have engaged in a rather unique way to sell pumpkin pies - according to the Wall Street Journal, the pie wars began in the fall of 2010 when Frisch's, a chain of restaurants that uses the famous Big Boy as its mascot, launched a new billboard campaign for its pumpkin pies. One sign, with the slogan, "Hello, Pumpkin," was inadvertently located directly over the flagship store of Busken Bakery, a smaller, local chain. Busken bought an adjacent billboard that read, "That's 'Mr. Pumpkin' to you, Big Boy." And, so it began...
The playful jabs continued throughout 2011. The initial sign was a simple picture of a pumpkin pie with the words: "You had me at hello." The Busken brothers, shot back: "Sorry Big Boy, this pumpkin's taken."
The dialogue continued on Facebook.
"Oh, sorry for being so fresh," came the response from the restaurant chain.
Busken: "Let's just be friends."
Frisch's: "Sure, nothing hurts my fillings."
The back-and-forth has continued, and the latest involves the Busken brothers donning ski masks with fake mustaches attached and cloaking a Big Boy in a Busken apron. They encased the statue's trademark burger in a Busken pie box. They then posted the maneuver on YouTube and Facebook in a video complete with fake explosions and flashes of lightning. And, guess what - Frisch's has posted coverage in its Facebook page.
Both companies have clearly benefited from the spat. Frisch's, which typically sells 90,000 pumpkin pies during its 16-week selling window, saw a 5% uptick the first year. The bakery, with an average of 2,500 pumpkin pies during the Thanksgiving season, saw a 20% jump in sales.
So, what do we take away? I think, Dan Haseltine, of the band Jars of Clay, says it well, according to The Christian Post, "How does it happen, that we should be in such unfulfilling work as that of perceiving neighbors as enemies?" Sure, the pie places are competitors, but they have apparently found a way to take the edge off, it's a delight to see, frankly, and customers are responding.
But, when we as Christians, in our fervor to uphold the truth, denigrate and even demonize the people that we are trying to win over, we are counterproductive in our mission of communicating what we regard as a compelling and superior set of ideas, rooted in Biblical truth, given by the Ruler and Creator of the Universe. As Greg Koukl says, we must pursue, "diplomacy, not D-Day". So, we hold fast to our worldview, without compromise, but we depend on God to show us ways to take the edge off, disagreeing agreeably, and affirming the worth of every individual, no matter how much we may dispute their views.
As Dan says, relative to politics but applicable to engagement on many fronts, I think:
"There is an art to civilized engagement about politics. It is the kind of art that is born out of severe disciplined love. Only love can remove the defensive posture of apposing opinions. Only love can settle a person in their own skin deeply enough to allow them to lift their heels and be teachable all the while standing in the trenches of a significant political discussion."
Thursday, November 8, 2012
More Than a Voting Bloc
In Matthew 16, Jesus describes the church and foundation upon which it is built:
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Do you ever get the feeling that the perception of the church has been diminished - some of that is self-inflicted, but I do think that there is a lessened regard for Christians in our culture today, and we have to really regain a sense of the church the way that Jesus saw it - following the living God, transmitting the knowledge of Christ, walking in victory over the very "gates of Hell", and aligning our lives with the purposes of the Kingdom of God. As we do this, we experience and radiate the power and presence of God - a powerful force in our world today.
Colossians 1 describes the church and the head of the church, the body of Christ:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
When I do election analysis and have guests on the program, one of the areas I like to cover is the significance of the so-called "evangelical" vote - you know, you and me. And, not surprisingly, the exit polls and survey data are showing that about 1 in 4 voters were evangelicals. Romney won about 3/4 of the vote, maybe a little more in that so-called voting "bloc". It wasn't enough to offset some significant blocs of voters, especially among young people and minorities, who went for Obama.
Warren Smith of WORLD Magazine had some excellent analysis on my radio show on Wednesday about the evangelical vote and how there are people who are hired, yes "hired", to deliver that vote. In the world of the political consultant, that is a palatable proposition, but I came away feeling like a statistic. It's a harsh reality in the world of politics, but I began to think - in our culture, has the church of the living God been reduced to a voting bloc?
Dr. Thomas Kidd from Baylor University reminded us that our ultimate hope is not in politics - that doesn't mean we withdraw from participation, but it does mean that we can have an impact on culture in a way that transcends politics. I believe that involves the power of prayer, the power of love, and the power of influence.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ can work in numerous realms to testify to the truth of Christ and the glory of God. Consider what God's Word says about the Church:
1st Timothy chapter 3 says:
(15)...I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: Godwas manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. I mentioned Colossians 1 earlier - Jesus has been given the word of reconciliation. He is the head of the church and He is working through us to fulfill His purpose - to reconcile all things to Himself. So we have that message, calling on people everywhere to turn to God, and bringing an awareness of His power and presence.
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Do you ever get the feeling that the perception of the church has been diminished - some of that is self-inflicted, but I do think that there is a lessened regard for Christians in our culture today, and we have to really regain a sense of the church the way that Jesus saw it - following the living God, transmitting the knowledge of Christ, walking in victory over the very "gates of Hell", and aligning our lives with the purposes of the Kingdom of God. As we do this, we experience and radiate the power and presence of God - a powerful force in our world today.
Colossians 1 describes the church and the head of the church, the body of Christ:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
When I do election analysis and have guests on the program, one of the areas I like to cover is the significance of the so-called "evangelical" vote - you know, you and me. And, not surprisingly, the exit polls and survey data are showing that about 1 in 4 voters were evangelicals. Romney won about 3/4 of the vote, maybe a little more in that so-called voting "bloc". It wasn't enough to offset some significant blocs of voters, especially among young people and minorities, who went for Obama.
Warren Smith of WORLD Magazine had some excellent analysis on my radio show on Wednesday about the evangelical vote and how there are people who are hired, yes "hired", to deliver that vote. In the world of the political consultant, that is a palatable proposition, but I came away feeling like a statistic. It's a harsh reality in the world of politics, but I began to think - in our culture, has the church of the living God been reduced to a voting bloc?
Dr. Thomas Kidd from Baylor University reminded us that our ultimate hope is not in politics - that doesn't mean we withdraw from participation, but it does mean that we can have an impact on culture in a way that transcends politics. I believe that involves the power of prayer, the power of love, and the power of influence.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ can work in numerous realms to testify to the truth of Christ and the glory of God. Consider what God's Word says about the Church:
1st Timothy chapter 3 says:
(15)...I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: Godwas manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. I mentioned Colossians 1 earlier - Jesus has been given the word of reconciliation. He is the head of the church and He is working through us to fulfill His purpose - to reconcile all things to Himself. So we have that message, calling on people everywhere to turn to God, and bringing an awareness of His power and presence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)