Seasonal Considerations

I use some software (Logos) to help me with my study of God's Holy Word. One of the many features in this application is the daily presentation of a lectionary-based reading plan. For my edification I read according to The Revised Common Lectionary.

Not knowing much about lectionaries, I notice that this particular resource is divided into different 'times' and that the 'time' we are about to begin is called 'advent'; tomorrow is the first Sunday in 'advent.' My dictionary defines 'advent' as "the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting" and secondarily as "the coming of Christ at the Incarnation" or "second coming."

Now I must admit that I am fascinated by the concept that there are 'times' when we are to consider the coming of Christ. The thought of setting aside essentially a month as a "season of prayer and fasting" in anticipation of the return of Christ seems like a rather compartmentalized approach to His imminent return. I'm of the opinion that we should be in a perpetual state of prayer and fasting in anticipation of the coming of the Lord.

Nevertheless, there is some part of me which respects tradition and ritual so I read the lectionary as a means of guiding my study of God's Word through the Christmas season. So it is today that I begin a month-long study based on the directed readings from my lectionary.

As we pause to consider (or perhaps accelerate into) the Christmas season, it's attendent joyful celebrations, intentional feasting and the sacrificial giving of gifts, it is fitting and appropriate that my study begins with Isaiah. The recommended reading is Isaish 64:1-9 but today I will focus on V1-3.

Isaiah 64:1-3 (NIV)
1 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! 2 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

[1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Many people that I speak with are always looking for signs of God's presence and express a desire to experience a 'feeling' of His presence. While I feel it is right that we look for signs of God's presence, it's not as if we aren't surrounded by them. I often think it is more a matter of noticing the signs in front of our face than it is discovering some sort of hidden indication of God's manifest presence in our lives. In V1 of this passage, the prophet cries out for the 'coming of The Lord' even with the understanding that upon His arrival, the very mountains themselves, the foundations of the Earth will tremble.

Now I've experienced a few Earth tremors and by my best recollection they are moments of shear terror. In those times, we realize just how little (none) control we actually have over the ground we walk on and we are confronted with the fact that when that which we stand on gives way, we are utterly lost. As a concept then, calling for The Lord to come down is very much asking for something which will reduce us to scared and quivering creatures huddled on the floor with our eyes tightly shut and our arms wrapped around us for protection. Yet, the 'coming down' of The Lord is exactly what was needed and is needed still. In this passage, the prophet is looking ahead to the coming of The Son of Man and the utter salvation of the faithful. And indeed, in the face of salvation, the mountains of the Earth are as nothing by comparison. Whether you think of mountains as beautiful, big or challenging, on all three counts Salvation exceeds our wildest imaginations.

In V2, the prophet reduces the coming of The Lord metaphorically to something we can grasp. We know that when tender is ignited, it leads to a fire. We know that a fire is a powerful thing that can reduce ice to water and raise water to steam. The prophet likens the coming of The Lord to that fire; a fire which consumes, warms and improves our lives. And in this there is a two-fold purpose to His 'coming down.' There is the immediate benefit to us (the believers, God's chosen people) and also a benefit in that by His coming, His name will be lifted up by His enemies. I find it interesting that even the enemies of God may bring glory to His name. No shock there since 'every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus if Lord.' And lest we forget, Satan himself knows that Jesus is Lord of all. Anyway, at the coming of The Lord, His enemies, those nations which reject Him or repress His people, like the mountains they too shall quake when confronted by His Glory.

Now V3, references the historical fact of how God has manifested His power. This is something that every person reading this should be able to testify; the power of God in their own lives. In my men's group, I encourage each man to have his testimony ready to give upon a moment's notice. Afterall, as a believer we have our own personal story in which we are the sole expert that can be used to edify, encourage or exhort the non-believer to whom it is presented. And one important aspect of these testimonies speaks to V3 or rather V3 speaks to this in us. Namely that God did awesome things in our lives that we did not expect. Can any believer deny that this is true? While I believe that God is faithful, I do not take that to mean that He is predictable!

So as we celebrate the 'coming down' of Jesus during the season of His birth, let our hearts tremble, let us recall the earth-shaking power of God and let us recount the many awesome things He has done in our lives.

I close today by asking your indulgence. This just popped into my head... perhaps you will recognize the tune... "oh, the sin is me is frightful but His blood is so delightful... and since He came down to show... let us go, let us show, that they will know!"

High-er,
Carl

It's Easy to Miss

This morning I found myself read the Book of Mark. At the very end of this book, Mark 16:19 to be precise, I read;

"After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God."

While this seems pretty straight-forward, there is one little concept that I wanted to bring to your attention.

We all know that Christ came down from heaven and was born into the body of a man. The Son of God became the Son of Man. Of course, there is much discussion over the concepts of 'fully God and fully Man' but for our purposes here, we know that he was a man. And we further know that as a man, he died upon the cross, was entombed and on the third day, He rose again. Hallelujah for that!

In this passage though we are reminded that after He had finished His "post resurrection" work, "he was taken up into heaven..." What occurs to me is that He did not give up His human body but instead was completely taken into Heaven 'as is.' And we also know from this verse that 'he sat at the right hand of God.'

Now sitting at the right hand of The King is no small measure of significance. By his being placed at the right hand, a message that was 'loud and clear' was sent to everyone who could grasp it that God approved of the work of His Son, was fully satisfied in the work of His Son and that His Son was being rewarded, exalted to a place of power, honor and glory. But let's not forget that Christ came from this same spot.

The difference however is that originally, Christ sat in the place of power in his spirit state. After his resurrection, he was seated in the place of power in his glorified human state. I believe that means that among all the heavenly host and angelic beings, He is unique in this regard. Thus to see a 'human' seated at the right hand of God must have created quite a stir!

A thought that comes to me is that now, there is 'one of us' in Heaven at the right hand of God. In this manner, he represents all man and can be our effective advocate before God.

I just find it interesting that Christ the Spirit became flesh and that He never shed His flesh to return to His previous state. I had just never thought of that before because my mind keeps playing this trick on me; our spirit separates from our body at death. Some day I'll understand that fully but for now, I accept that Jesus in glorified human form is already in the throne room.

That reminds me of a question that a friend asked me once; "Is there anything man-made in heaven?" My reply "no, nothing." He replied "oh yes my friend, there is... there are the scars."

Thankful,
Carl

If It Were Easy

If it were easy, everyone would do it. Isn't that the very nature of this walk called sanctification that we're on? If being a Christian were easy, people would be lined up at the doors and our churches would be filled to overflowing. But the fact is, being a Christian, more specifically being a disciple is hard work. It is fraught with frustration and teeming with trials. Going to church every Sunday is nothing compared to picking up your cross daily. Saying 'grace' over a meal is child's play compared to having a conversation with God. And then there's that whole love your neighbor thing! Some neighbors are just harder to love than others. And I've heard that if you don't know which of your neighbors are hard to love... it's you!

Anyway, it's hard and I admit that. The Bible does not mislead us in any way with respect to how we are to work at being disciples of Christ. My verse today is Romans 14:19 which states;
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

"Make every effort." Definitely not "try your best" or "if it's possible" but instead, pour everything you've got, put every ounce of energy you have into what leads to peace. It's more than just 'getting along.' It's far more than 'tolerance.'

Sometimes what leads to peace is painful. Consider that you may have insulted someone, hurt their feelings, sinned against them. What leads to peace is confession and asking for forgiveness. It's easy to ask God's forgiveness, you know the answer in advance. But to look your neighbor in the eye, admit to them your weakness, confess to them your sin and then to ask for their forgiveness? That's certainly not easy. If we were to just 'get along' we could just pretend that it never happened. No effort required. Fleshy is easy. But this verse exhorts us to action, to effort, to work even that we may live at peace with one another.

And even more, we are called to mutual edification. This means that we are to help one another to grow and learn. We are to use encouraging words to lift one another up towards greater knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Many times, when someone has a need, it's easier to just do it for them. But again, we're not called to take the easy path. Sure, we are to help them and maybe that means that we sometime do it for them. But while we're doing it, we should be building them up. That means that we have to control our tongue and say "let me show you how to do that" instead of "get out of the way and let me do it." It means that we are to complete on another wherever there is a deficit and to do it with mercy and grace.

That's how God treats us. That's how we're called to treat one another. If it were easy, it would be called nature. But it's not so instead it's called love.

Gripped,
Carl

If You Could See What Jesus Sees

When I pause to consider the things I've seen I am overwhelmed. I've seen galaxies and stars across the vast reaches of space. I've seen my children born. I've seen tears shed over the beauty of a song and I've seen tears shed over the loss of a loved one. I've seen great forests ablaze and I've seen torrential rain and tornadoes. I've seen plants come forth from bare ground. I've seen love in the eyes of man and I've seen hate. I've seen the power of God to change a man's life and I've seen the power of Satan to destroy a man's marriage. All these things and more I've seen, you've seen, we've seen.

Yet all the things that we've seen combined are but as a thimble-full in the ocean when compared to what Christ our Lord has seen. The fact is that He has seen it all, literally all. He was there in the beginning, before time, before matter, before space, before creation. He witnessed the birth of all that is, was or will ever be. He's seen the ignition of stars, the forming of planets, the parting of the seas, the appearance of animal, vegetable and mineral. He's been at the birth of millions of people, witnessed their lives, shared their tears and their joys and been present when their spirits leave their bodies. He has seen God the Father. He has seen The Spirit and He has seen The Spirit change lives. He has seen Satan and He witnessed the fall of man.

But more than this, He has already seen the future. Having done this, He can rejoice at a level that we cannot even imagine! In Luke 10, the story is recounted of the 72 who went forth in the name of Christ. When they returned to Jesus, they were jubilant and remarked that "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." (V17) This, of course, was no surprise to Christ. And Jesus shared with them, in V18, the extent to which demons submit to the name of Christ.

Consider Luke 10:18
He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

In reading this, I do not get the sense that Jesus is referring to the manner in which Satan came to exert his power in the earthly realms. The sense I get is one of both present and future tense. I believe that Jesus is either referring to the manner in which Satan's grip over man is broken by the power of Christ Immanuel's name in the present time or else the final victory that is Christ Jesus' in the age to come.

The difference betwixt these is of no matter to me. What is important to me is that Christ has seen the victory that was, is and ever shall be. Yet His joy is not in the destruction of Satan but rather in the redemption of those Satan would consume. The power of His name to destroy our vilest enemy is of no consequence to Him when He considers you or me or every other individual.

This week in 4th grade Sunday School, I taught on Romans 12:10 which reads;
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Christ exemplifies this love and honors us, honors you above himself. To my mind, that is staggering.

My prayer today comes from a song that is enjoying popularity today by Brandon Heath. He sings and I pray "give me your eyes for just one second, give me your eyes that I can see, everything that I keep missing, give me your love for humanity." Amen.

Seeing Through His Eyes,
Carl

Source of Knowledge

Mankind is constantly seeking to acquire knowledge, for the sake of knowledge. Consider the ever-present ongoing research into the origins of the universe. We peer across vast distances of space using telescopes, optical and electronic. We launch manned and unmanned space-craft into the void. We send robots to the closest planets that we may learn whether or not they have water. To what end? Knowledge of this type seems to serve only curiosity and to unravel the mystery of creation itself.

We search the depths of the ocean to the limits of our ability. We catalog thousands of species of amazing and weird lifeforms. We marvel at how something (not us) can survive at crushing pressures, extreme temperatures and in total darkness. To what end?

We erect radar stations, launch weather balloons, fly airplanes into storms and do crazy little dances to bring the rain. We expend vast resources in an attempt to understand the weather that we may be able to predict the unpredictable with ever-increasing accuracy.

Though we throw ourselves at these tasks, though we consume huge volumes of time, treasure and talent; we still cannot ignite a star. We still cannot control the seas and we remain unable to bring rain to a drough-stricken land.

Factually, there is no amount of knowledge that we can acquire to enable us to do these things. The reason is that these things are reserved for God, they are the exclusive domain of the Creator and no matter how much knowledge we acquire, we will never be God.

Proverbs 3:20 reads "by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew."

God is the source of all knowledge. We cannot discover any knowledge that is not already known by Him. What knowledge we gain is given, revealed to us by God for His purposes, not ours. The Bible begins with the revelation of knowledge that is important to us. God created everything. By the power of His word all things came into being. He spoke and universes formed. He spoke and stars ignited, planets formed and orbits were established. He spoke and the seas were divided to reveal land. He spoke and the atmosphere hospitable for His design came together. He spoke and creatures of all kinds, in the seas below, the skies above and on the land we tread, appeared. It was His knowledge that formulated the plan. It was His knowledge that fueled the process. It is His knowledge that drives the weather systems and produces or withholds the rain.

If we can grasp this knowledge, which He intends for us to grasp, then our inability to grasp the intricacies of creation are moot. I sincerely believe that when all the spaceships have flown to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and returned home, when submarines have mapped every square inch of the ocean floor, when we have cataloged every minute life-form to be found, when we reach the limits of our human mind to predict the weather... then, we will look at one another and say "It can only be explained by God."

So right now, I feel like the smartest person in the world. I can tell you of the origins of the universe. I can explain to you how the seas became divided and how the tides work. I can explain the most inexplicable weather systems and I can tell you how rain comes into being.

It's by God's knowledge. Is there really, truly, anything else you need know about that?

'J' Student,
Carl

Serve and Protect? No, Rescue and Enable!

When I was growing up, the external world was 13" corner to corner and always black and white. Westerns were all the rage and each one followed a formula. Someone wanders into dangerous territory, they get surrounded by unfriendly forces, their situation becomes dire, the calvary shows up, slays the attacker, rides off into the sunset, roll credits.

Sometimes I have a tendency to think of God as the calvary, perhaps you do too. I can see that in many ways, the formula for the old Western seems to mimic our drama with God.

We wander into dangerous territory. No, it isn't the wild, wild west its the realm of sinfulness. Its not out in the desert, its right here in our own hearts, homes and offices.

We get surrounded by unfriendly forces. Its not 'restless natives' or 'roving bands of bandits' instead we face the forces of Satan. Crafty villians that can attack from within OR without, preying upon our self-centeredness and gullibility.

Our situation becomes dire. In fact, we face certain death and unless we are somehow to be rescued, we face an eternity of suffering for our innate sinfulness.

The calvary show up. Only the calvary we need is not in the form of uniformed men on horseback, it is in the form of a cross that stands on Calvary. There were no bugle calls announcing the arrival of the calvary though there were prophets announcing the coming King. There was no call to 'CHARGE!' instead there was a call to 'REPENT!'

The attacking forces are slain. No wait, that doesn't happen AT ALL! We are not rescued through the destruction (killing) of the things that attack us. Nor are we rescued by being carried from the field of battle. Instead, we are made resistent to attack. We are made able to fight back effectively. We are made able to withstand the assault such that the attacker wearies of the fight and withdraws to await a better opportunity.

The calvary rides off into the sunset. Uh, that doesn't happen either! In the Western, the calvary tips their hat, admonishes the attacked to be more careful and turns and rides away. The people line up their wagons and go right back to what they were doing before. But for us, for the redeemed, Calvary never goes away! God, The Spirit, Jesus, they neither leave nor forsake us. Instead, they go with us for the rest of our journey. They teach us to defend ourselves through faith and testing, they teach us to fight back with power and truth. They erect defenses around us and within us and they give us the strength we need to finish the journey intact.

Roll credit. Okay, this part we do. To God be the Glory! This devotional entry brought to you by the power of The Holy Spirit. This was made possible by a most generous contribution of Christ's blood. Thematic elements provided by Luke 1:74 (NIV)
"...to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear..."

Hapless sinner played by Carl Schultz
Evil forces provided by Satan and his minions
Prophets played by numerous historical figures beginning with Abraham and ending with Zechariah [A-Z]
Bugle calls provided by John The Baptist
Calvary provided by The Holy Trinity


Considering the sequel,
Carl

I Will Testify!

I realize that I spend a great deal of energy on this blog contrasting my current life (as a Christian) with my past life (as a pagan). I do find it annoying sometimes and I think it likely you do too. Even with that knowledge I cannot help but to use my experiences (in which I am the sole expert) to give testimony to the truth of The Bible. So even though it seems wearisome, the change that God has worked in my life is the best tool I have to explain how God can work in your life too. Please, don't think that I'm all wrapped up in who I was or who I am because the truth is that I'm all wrapped up in who God is and in who He is causing me to become. That said...

When I finally came to The Lord it was for the purpose of asking Him to remove the crushing weight that I had heaped upon my own shoulders. The weight was and is the result of my own unrighteous choices and the consequences due me. I could bear it no longer and He (God) offered to lighten my load. I took Him at his word and He did what He said He would do.

In that moment began a relationship that defies logical explanation. The more time that I spend with God the more he opens my eyes to the truth of my own heart. The more I understand the truth of my own heart, the more I realize my ever-increasing need for Him. That need manifests itself in my life in one respect as the inability for myself to remove those fleshly desires which my spirit now detests.

I am appalled at how my carnal body clings to unhealthy habits and how my deceitful heart continually tries to get between God and me. I am my own worst enemy and Satan is no less as well. It is there then that diligent and determined discipleship, substituting good habits for bad and bringing every thought under control brings about a conscious pursuit of righteousness. As can be imagined, I alone do not have the power to be successful in this fight.

But I AM NOT ALONE! God has imparted to me His Holy Spirit who quickens my perception of temptation, that fans the flame of loathing even the slightest sin, that gives me the strength and the courage I need to bear up under the trial.

My study today led me to 2 Peter 2 wherein an account is given of how God has preserved the righteous throughout trials, temptations, testings and tribulations, even through horrific destruction. And it was here that I ran into a verse which brings joy to my soul. 2 Peter 2:9 reads...
"if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment." (2 Peter 2:9, NIV)

Though I know not how to rescue myself, God does. In every way that I am weak He is strong. In every way that I fail, He succeeds. It is not necessary or even fitting that I know how this is done. What I need to know is to pursue His holiness, His righteousness in my every-second-life that I may be counted by HIM as a godly man. As this verse states, "the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials..." The Lord knows how to rescue the 'struggling me'.

It has been my experience that God unburdens me of my weaknesses in two distinct ways. By His providence and grace, He has quickly and 'simply' removed certain things from my life; lying lips, cursing tongue, love for money to name but a few. It is as if by his word, in the same way that his word brought about creation, his word has brought about destruction of those things in my life. Other things He has weakened their power over me. Though I am tempted these things no longer have the power over me to draw me into sinful behaviors, into the darkness and into unity with evil.

Make no mistake for I am under no illusion that this work is done. It is a process that will continue till I stand before Him. But as my soul utterly rejects a sin, whether habit, thought or happenstance, God is faithful, in his time, to deliver me from my burden; to dull the temptation, to loose it's power and to pry it's grip from my throat. If, and this is a huge IF, I am done with it (the sin), if I have utterly rejected it as vile and cried out to Him for release from it's crushing weight upon my soul, He hears my cry and in his love, responds. He no more wants to see me (his adopted son) pressed into the dirt under a weight of temptation than He wants to see His Son, Jesus, in the tomb.

I will testify, I do testify to the truth of God and his word, to the power of God's Spirit and to the enabling sacrifice of God's son.

Relieved,
Carl

Whats of My Tribe?

I am studying Deuteronomy 33 today in which Moses is 'blessing' the various tribes of Israel prior to his death. The chapter is divided into stanzas with each stanza representing a tribe. Within these stanzas I note that Moses frequently speaks of each tribe in three tenses; past, present and future.

He speaks of what they have done, what they are doing and then calls down from heaven prophetic insight into their future. As one could imagine not everything is rosy for each of the tribes.

When I got to the tribe of 'Asher' I was particularly drawn to V27. Here it is;
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’" (Deuteronomy 33:27, NIV)

What struck me was the quiet assurance and confidence that is implicit in the statement "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Apparently, 'Asher' had a history of running to the Lord in times of trouble; their faith was strong. They did not rely on the work of their hands or their skills; neither birthright or intellect; neither honor nor money.

The question that looms large in my mind is 'what is my refuge?' Is it truly the Lord God or is it only the Lord God when other things fail me? In this time of economic uncertainty I must constantly remind myself to depend on God and not on my dwindling 401k. The fact that I even have that thought reveals the truth of my weakness. Upon examination I see that I still sometimes run to my intellect in times of trouble, I consider the future in terms of Social Security stability and 401k returns. I've missed the point and I stand convicted.

I want it to be said that 'the eternal God is my refuge' and not that God is my backup plan. I must bring my heart, mind and house into proper order starting right now.

Humbled,
Carl

Waiting For You

I have this vision in my head of what happens when someone cries out to the Lord in their trouble. It's as is a great hand reaches down, extends it's finger and then draws a straight path out in front of the new believer. No matter what obstacles are in front of the redeemed, they are swept aside just as easily as you can bend over and trace out a line in the sand.

This picture comes from my reading of...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

As you can see, from this passage, I derive the 'straight path' that extends out from the believer into the future. Acknowledging that the life of a Christian is a journey and that the journey is the sanctifying process by which the redeemed is refined, what's at the other end of that straight line? What is it we are headed towards? What is waiting for us over the horizon?

Well, let's examine one idea as revealed in...
"He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle." (Psalm 107:7, NIV)

You may quickly realize that this is a follow-on verse to a previous post. Further, you may recall that this is a retelling of the salvation from the wilderness for the Hebrew people. Having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they were then led by a straigh way to the place that God had prepared for them. In this case, a city where they could settle.

Now I don't mean to treat this literally with respect to present day believers but I will not discount that God does often lead people from one city to another for his purposes. What I want to dwell upon is the concept that God prepares a place for us and then leads us to it. Also that for the repentant heart, the path within God's will is straight and free of insurmountable obstacles.

From this thought I draw comfort and hope. Though my present circumstances may sometimes appear confusing to me, I can rest assured that although the road is unknown, my way is directed by God himself. Though things rise up in the road that I alone cannot overcome, I can rest assured that the hand of God will lift me up and over. Sure, I will develop some spiritual muscles in the endeavor and no I am not waiting for God to push me along. I must place one foot in front of the other by a volitional act of my own will, I must engage in the obstacles and struggle against them. I must reach the end of my own efforts and then with a heart of thankfulness, call out for my Savior to take me where I alone cannot go. He is my mountain guide. Sometimes in my eagerness, I get too far ahead. Sometimes in my laziness, I fall too far behind. In those times, I call His name and my mountain guide comes or returns to me, he belays me and gets me past my obstacles. (Dibbs on the mountain guide!)

In as much as He is leading me FROM a wandering, wayward life of selfish ambition, vain pursuits and patterns of sinful behavior, He is leading me TO a life of service to Him, selfless works and new patterns of righteous behavior. He has taken me from the crooked and circular path and set my feet upon His highway, the straight and narrow Highway of Holiness.

Did I mention that this road is uphill? No, well it is and it is a struggle. Between where I am and the horizon, I see many who have given up the fight and have turned and begun the leisurely walk in the opposite direction. I want to turn them around, to encourage them to keep up the fight and to warn them of the destruction that lies at the bottom of the hill; the destruction that I have left behind. I want them to know that just over the horizon is their destination. A beautiful city where they can settle, one that has been prepared by God since the beginning of time, one where they may have a home and live in the presence of The King.

Well, that's what I think is waiting for me. What's waiting for you?

Walking,
Carl

Reflections of Today (Monday)

Just a quick note to share something that happened today.

I'm in Ft Lauderdale,FL for a 'trucking' trade show. While here I ran into some vendors and they insisted on taking me to dinner. I have to admit it was nice to receive that treatment. We went to a very nice trendy Chinese restaurant where the prices were through the roof. It wasn't anyplace that I'd ever be able to go if I were picking up the check. But... it was their choice and I guess it was their way of letting me know that they appreciated my business. They're nice people, told lot's of great stories and we had a good time.

They offered to buy me 'umbrella drinks' and bottles of wine, after dinner cocktails, the usual routines. I was able to resist their offers and drank tea and water instead. Admittedly it was tempting but I knew that I had to be resolute. All around us were people who were throwing down the drinks and then eating this extravagantly prepared food without any regard for just how good it was. After a couple of hours the dinner came to conclusion. I shook hands all around and headed off into the Florida night for the two-block walk back to my hotel.

As I stepped onto the sidewalk off the property of the hotel restaurant where I was, a guy pulled up next to me in a golf cart and offered me a ride. He couldn't go to my hotel but he could take me about 1/2 to my destination. As soon as I set down he said "I like that fish you've got there." It took me about 5 seconds to realize he was talking about my necklace.

Now for those of you who know me, you know that I wear the ichtus around my neck just about all the time. Today was no exception and there it was outside my shirt proudly displayed. We struck up a conversation as we drove. We got to the end of the line for him and he just pulled over and turned off the golf cart. We sat there for a little while sharing our stories and talking about how good it was to serve God. He was in his mid-30's, married and he and his wife led 'Bible Cells' in their home. As it turned out, we had a lot in common and we really enjoyed the fellowship of one another as we sat there in the warm evening air. We shared a handshake and offered God's blessings to one another and then I stepped out of the cart and headed down the street.

Two things occurred to me within 3 steps. Both were about my testimony. First, with respect to the insistent offers of alcohol with dinner; I was among unbelievers. They had to have seen the fish, they have to know what it means. I mean, who doesn't? What would my testimony have been had I accepted their offer and become drunk just like every other person in that restaurant? Had I accepted their well-intended offer, I would have become just another person who wore a piece of religious jewelry but lived a life of worldliness. I would have testified to them that I was just like them and that Christians are no different than the non-Christians. I'd have been just another goat in their eyes.

Second, had I accepted their offers and then stumbled off into the night and into the golf cart of that new and passionate Christian, what testimony would I have shared with him? I don't need to belabor this point for you to 'catch my drift.' it wouldn't have been good and I certainly could have thrown a stumbling block into his path. But that's NOT what happened.

Instead, by my choices in the world today, God was glorified. I'm not saying that my not drinking in the presence of the unredeemed glorified God, though I suppose it might have. Only God knows what may come of that. What I'm talking about was in the golf cart. Two guys talking about how good and powerful and loving God is. Two guys sharing the stories of where they came from and how far God has carried us. Two guys in a golf cart with tears streaming down their faces because God is SO good. That is giving glory to God.

And I am so happy that I was there, in that moment to share that with this man of God. It was a great evening. Thank you God.

Love You!
Carl

A Matter of Degrees

Nobody starves to death suddenly. Nobody dies of thirst within moments of having their last drink. Both fates (starvation & dehydration) are slow deaths where your life slips away a little at a time. And as such, both can be alleviated by simply consuming food and water. That's not to say it is easy nor do I seek to minimize the plight of people in a barren land. I speak only of the relative ease with which starvation can be relieved with food and dehydration with water.

My passage today speaks to this condition; starvation and dehydration. Consider...
"They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away." (Psalm 107:5, NIV)

Of course, this speaks of the wandering Hebrew people who in their sinfulness were condemned to wander in the desert for 40 years. But it is no less true today for the millions of people who reject the food of God's Word and the living water of Jesus Christ. Though these people may eat three sumptuous meals each day, though they may immerse themselves in water and drink till they are satiated, their souls are starving to death. Their life withers even as they sit at a banquet table.

Many such people recognize their plight but do not recognize the solution. Some resign themselves to this condition and reject any prescription. Still others are so hungry and so thirsty that they deceive themselves into thinking they are healthy and happy and so pass right by the thing that they most need. They are hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebb away.

One of the most important tasks that I have as a Christian is be looking for any such people. To look past their appearance, to look past their circumstances and to see them as God does. Which means that I seek to peer into their very souls to see if there I find hunger and thirst. And in those instances where I am given insight and recognize the signs, I am to offer them an invitation, provide them transportation and accompany them to the banquet table that is prepared by my Master Lord God.

I am charged by Christ Jesus to feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked, heal the sick, give hope to the captives and to share the water of Life that is the Gospel with all men. I want to share the communion table with all that they may no longer be hungry and thirsty but instead be healed.

Shalom,
Carl

Say Shibboleth And Live

When I was growing up, I was a member of numerous clubs and organizations. Some of them had secret signs; winks, finger tricks, handshakes, passwords, challenges and responses. There was something gratifying (to the flesh) to be a member of a group that had secrets and to be in possession of those secrets. It was fun to be in a crowd of people and to 'challenge' someone who would then proffer the appropriate 'response.' In that instant we would recognize each other 'as brothers' and carry on a conversation smug in our knowledge that we, though surrounded by people, were somehow different and connected. I think it is safe to say that I am not unique in this experience for through-out the ages such secret societies have existed and continue to exist to this very day. People are fascinated by the concept and this to some degree might explain the popularity of books like 'The Da Vinci Code." People like to believe that there is some secret knowledge or 'gnosis' to be gained that will unlock the power of the universe.

As a Christian I have received the word of God, which is the power of the universe first for salvation (justification) and then for change (sanctification). I have never considered the Word of God to be secret or to be kept secret, indeed, as Christians we are charged with the responsibility of spreading it around to everyone! We are to literally spill it and leave it everywhere we go. Even so, I am fascinated by the fact that when one person hears the Word, they are led to salvation while when another hears it, their heart is hardened. Of course, my hearts goes out to the 'hard of heart' for I was once among their number. What then is the difference? How could I go from being 'hard of heart' to 'man of God?' Perhaps the answer is found within (at least partially) the verse I am studying today.

"He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables" (Mark 4:11, NIV)

This passage takes my breath away! As is my custom, in order that I might keep this text in context, I have read what comes before and after. And as I read these parables, I understand them; I can identify people who illustrate the prophetic truth of this entire passage. And I am humbled to recognize that I am identifiable as well.

How is this? It is because of the truth of Mark 4:11. To the 'poor in spirit', those who are broken to themselves, the Word of God reveals the kingdom of heaven. They are 'blessed' by the revelation of the 'secret of the kingdom of God' as it is given to them. But to those who are still safe in the selfishness, those who are hard of heart, those who are not called to God, the parables are little more than the words of a madman; perhaps a fairytale or simple folklore. The 'seed' that is the Word of God does not penetrate the packed soil of their hardened hearts and so the 'heavenly message' of the 'earthly story' has no meaning to them. In fact, they cannot even discern it to know that it has no meaning. What emptiness and sorrow!

Unlike the secrets of my youth, the 'secret of the kingdom of God' I cannot share. Though I share the Word, though I bear testimony, the 'secret' is given only by God and only to those he chooses. This is a hard truth. Nevertheless I rejoice as one redeemed.

Do you know the secret?

Thunder....
Carl

What's That Up Above?

Growing up I watched some television and one of the things I remember is Superman. At the time it was live-action, black&white and about 13". :) My how some things have changed! Anyway, do you remember that line "What's that up above? A bird? A plane? No, IT'S SUPERMAN!"

While in cartoon land, it's a wonderful sentiment, in the real world if we look for SUPERMAN to bail us out of our troubles, we're going to be sorely disappointed. Extending that concept to our most critical needs, to depend on man, super or otherwise, to redeem us or fulfill us is futile.

My verse today is Psalm 123:1
"I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven." (Psalm 123:1, NIV)

Our hope for salvation, our hope for fulfillment can be found only in the person of God. And it is to Him alone that we need look. So, this day, as you go about your business, look up once in a while and remember Him. Lift your eyes to Him whose throne is in heaven.

Shalom,
Carl

Like a Hungry Man to Baking Bread

When I consider all the years that I 'searched' for God and the moment that I 'discovered' God, I have to just laugh at myself! I mean it's not like I was turning over rocks, mining the mountainside, sifting through river sediment or climbing to the highest peak and scanning the horizon. It was more like I was a blind man, stumbling around, knocking things overs, tripping, falling and hurting myself till I came to my senses and opened my eyes. And when that happened, there He was. He had been there all along but I was too blind to see.

Nevertheless, there is that 'sentiment' of looking for or searching for God. That 'feeling' was very real even though the techniques I employed in response to that feeling were disingenuous and ineffective. How then, as a sinner, can I explain that feeling, deep in me, that compelled me to look for something, to search for God?

As usual, it has nothing to do with me. Oh sure, I could say that "there's a God-shaped hole in my heart" and I was just looking for the "tiny Jesus" that would fill that hole but that's too me-centric. The truth is that God was drawing me to him. He created in me that craving, that dissatisfaction with my current state and he skillfully drew me to him like a hungry man to baking bread.

My verse today is Jeremiah 31:3;
"The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (Jeremiah 31:3, NIV)

Of course contextually this is in reference to Israel but by adoption into that tree, I claim it as my own. This speaks to the church, the body of Christ, that we may understand that it has always been God's intention, HIS PLAN, that we are to be one with Him. And it speaks to me personally that I might understand how it is that a lost and lonely sinner could feel Him above the clamor and clatter of the world.

This verse speaks of the 'eternal' or 'everlasting love' that God has for his creation. It has always existed and in fact, I believe the very act of creation was for the realization of his love for us before we were even created. God's love does not waver, like mine. It is not contingent upon my fulfilling some expectation, like mine. It is patient, kind and enduring. While I was in my sin, God loved me. When I would deny His existence and curse Him, God loved me. It is a degree of love to which I aspire though I cannot completely understand it. It is everlasting.

And God did not draw me to him that he might consume me as a hunter baits and draws in his prey. Nor did he draw me in that he might present me as some sort of trophy on his "God cave" wall. God drew me in, God draws everyone in that He might fulfill them, that he might heal them, that He might love them and give them the very thing they need. He has a perpetual feast prepared and everyone is welcome. It's an open invitation to the world. We're allowed to invite as many people, friend and foe alike, as we can. The best thing that we can do for those who do not yet know Him is to draw them nigh with loving kindness. To live a life that presents a sweet aroma to them that they might desire to come inside. Like a hungry man to baking bread.

Shalom,
Carl

Olive Tree, Very Pretty

Today, I study Psalm 52. A scant nine verses it is a scathing rebuke of Doeg the Edomite. In this psalm, David questions the haughty actions of Doeg and predicts the end result of his treachery and deceitfulness.

A laundry list of some of the charges: boastfulness, plotting, practicing deceit, loving evil and lying. If I didn't know this was about Doeg, I might be inclined to think that it is a description of the man I was before God got hold of me.

David predicts that Doeg will be brought down to ruin, made homeless and then die. He can expect post-mortem mockery and to be used as an example of how not to live your life.

But my focus today is on the last two verses of this psalm. Consider;
"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints." (Psalm 52:8-9, NIV)

In this passage David is contrasting himself to his adversary. David first describes himself as an olive tree and if not read carefully, a tree that grows in the temple. I interpret this more along the lines of 'I flourish in the house of God, like an olive tree.' The olive tree in this instance is a reference to security and prosperity and stands in stark contrast to the one who does not obey God. Indeed, the believer has roots that are firmly attached and cannot be uprooted.

Though not mentioned in this passage, my mind runs ahead to consider the fruit of such a tree. If the fruit of the sinful is lies and evil, then the fruit of the righteous must be truth and goodness. When confronted with the pressure of life, the fruit of the sinful is harsh and bitter. But when the fruit of the righteous is crushed by the pressure of life, it yields oil which is smooth and savory. In this way, the metaphor of the olive tree is presented to describe the life of the righteous.

Nevertheless, the psalmist continues with the revelation that he 'trust(s) in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.' For the sinful, their trust is placed in temporal things which cannot be sustained; consequently, they know no peace and experience the fear of disaster. The righteous trust in God's love and they enjoy a sense of permanence and peace.

The response then of the righteous is praise. David wrote 'I will praise you forever for what you have done.' Not only will he praise in the present time, but ultimately in the hereafter, David reveals how he, and we, shall spend eternity. I can imagine that when we come to the full realization of God's mercy and grace, we will be most compelled to forever praise Him for what He has done.

Again in contrast to the lost, David states that his hope is in the name of God for the name of God is good. It is almost laughable that we should ever place our hope in anything but! Imagine the futility of saying "in money I hope" or "in job security I hope." To be a believer, to trust in God, there is the only hope worth hoping.

Lastly, David states that "I will praise you in the presence of your saints." Again to me, this is a statement of a current condition, one that we are familiar with in terms of fellowship and also a portent of things to come. It is with certainty that David states "I will praise you in the presence of the saints."

I look forward to that day when I am gathered with all the saints of all the ages and we may stand before the presence of God and rejoice in song, singing his praise and glorifying his name. And to that day, I will gather with the living saints as often as I can and rejoice in song, singing His praise and glorifying His Holy name.

EVOO,
Carl

What Are You Striving Towards

Whenever I engage in a new endeavor, I always try to envision what the end result will be so that I know what I am trying to achieve. Stephen Covey in his book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" deemed this "Begin with the end in mind" and stressed that it was a critical component to effectiveness.

While secular in origin, this axiom is no less true for the Christian. Consider that the beginning point for a Christian is a keen understanding of the 'end.' And frequently, as it was for me, it was the desire for a change in destination that brought me to a point of brokenness. Scripture tells us to 'keep our eyes on the prize' and to 'await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.' These are the Christian equivalents to 'begin with the end in mind.'

If then our greatest hope, our most vibrant dream is to stand before God and to 'see him' (as we so often proclaim) how do we convert this goal into action in our daily lives? Is it by waiting for the final refinement in the fire of judgment? Or is it by the slow, steady process of sanctification through discipleship carried on in our daily lives?

My focus verse today speaks to this matter. Consider;
" Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." (Hebrews 12:14-15, NIV)

With respect to this teaching, I offer these observations;

First, we are to 'make every effort.' This speaks of a vibrant, dynamic and intentional effort that we are to initiate. Though we are dependent upon the power of The Holy Spirit we are not to passively await it to perform a work in us. No, we are 'get the ball in motion' so to speak by making every effort within our ability. Joel Osteen often says "you do the natural and God will do the supernatural." Joel is not speaking about doing what is natural to our sin nature but rather he exhorts us to do everything within our power within the natural world so that we may facilitate the supernatural efforts of The Holy Spirit in the spiritual world.

But a call to action without purpose is empty and meaningless. This verse calls us to apply every efforts towards two distinct aims.

First we are to 'continually exert ourselves' to 'live in peace with all men.' This is simply (HA!) the manifestation of Godly wisdom in our lives. James wrote in James 3:17 that "...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." Our relationships then are to reflect the God-given, promise-fulfilling, heavenly wisdom that is poured out to us freely from God. We are to mightily labor to live in peace with all men. Can there be anything more difficult in our practical lives than this concept? Yes and that brings us to the second point.

We are to 'make every effort' to 'be holy.' I fear that we often consider holiness as the passive result of purging out sin. But in this context, 'be holy' is active and living. To allow God to purge of us of all that is unclean does not result in holiness, cleanliness perhaps but not holiness. Consider that in this passage "to live in peace with all men" is joined to "be holy" by the word 'and.' Consequently, I would say that though we may be 'clean' if we are not living in peace with all men then we are by no means holy.

Nevertheless, the nuances of a pursuit of holiness is fodder for another discussion. So let me point out that the fruit or result of our 'living in peace with all men' and 'being holy' is that we may see The Lord. The passage states that 'without holiness no one will see the Lord.' I do not think this means that we will not stand before him and face him for judgment. I believe it means that we will miss his greatest blessings not only in the hereafter but in the here now. On this topic, Jesus said;
"Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him." (John 14:21)

What could Jesus be speaking of other than the state of holiness? In possession of the commands and a life of obedience, that is the nature of our holiness. The promise is that through the practical, daily-life application of heavenly wisdom, CHRIST WILL SHOW HIMSELF to us. That is, we will 'see the Lord.'

Returning to the focus verse for today and turning my attention now to v15, again we are called to action. "See to it" (make every effort) "that no one misses the grace of God and no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." In this verse, I see at once the call for us to 'evangelize' that no one may miss the grace of God (The Good News) and also the call for discipleship. With respect to that concept, there are far too many Christians today who sit in the pews, content with their ticket to heaven, and miss out on the daily grace of God in their present-day lives. That is our responsibility; to make certain they do not miss it.

Further, this verse speaks of the vigilance against the division of believers. I suggest that when a church divides it is because someone (or many someones) did not 'make every effort to live in peace' with a fellow believer within the body of Christ. A situation germinated a seed of bitterness. But it is the lack of 'tending the soil' or lack of 'effort' that allows the bitter root to 'grow up to cause trouble and defile many.' I believe the term here is 'apostasy' and this is a grievous condition that cannot be tolerated.

So for having said ALL that, the take-home point for me is that if I want to 'see the Lord' I have to be very intentional about forgiveness and making a living peace between me and everyone with whom I come in contact. I have to know what God says and do it. I have to help others in their own efforts and I have to 'tend the soil of the church' pulling out every bitter root, every tendril of evil that I may find. I'm going to need help, I need The Spirit. So that shall be my prayer today, to be filled with The Spirit that 'He' may complete me in every respect that I am lacking. The 'He' may give me the wisdom, strength and endurance that I need to live as Christ lived, in peace with all men.

Dead-man out,
Carl

All I Need

Sometimes, if I'm not careful, I can get whiny. It's true! If I change the focus of my mind just a little bit, I start to think about me and all the things I want. And before I know it, I'm having a pity party, reminiscing about all the unfulfilled dreams and talking about the "what if's."

The picture in my mind is one of a ship that is leaving from Charleston,SC and headed for Hamburg, GE. If the captain of the ship maintains proper heading through rough seas and ferociouis storms, the ship, crew and cargo will all safely reach the destination. But, if the captain allows the heading of the ship to change by even a few degrees, over the length of the entire trip, the margin of error will be thousands of miles and instead of arriving in Germany, he may arrive in North Africa.

That's what it's like with my mind. If I can hold the course, all is well. But if I fail to hold the course and then allow the error to multiply with distance (time) I find myself in a strange land far from where I desire to be.

Fortunately for me, God is a perfect navigator. (Now don't bombard me with e-mails suggesting I should promote him to Captain! For the purposes of my metaphor it works better with God as the navigator!) You see, he gives me all the instructions and information that I need to make good, sound decisions. If I follow his instructions, I will reach my destination safely. If not, well then I wander off into uncharted territories. If it were me alone, I'd probably wind up making big circles in the ocean of life and never wind up anywhere that is worth going. That was the old me, increasing the engine speed in an ever-decreasing spiral that leads straight to the 'Port of Hell.'

Anyway, like I said, I can get whiny. And sometimes, I whine to the Lord about 'why is this so hard?' or "can't you just take this away from me?" or 'when will this be over?' All of these are me-centric questions that don't even deserve an answer but God, in His grace, answers them nonetheless.

Consider the passage for today;
"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)

This is much more than a platitude, it defines the perfect attitude. God allows me, permits me, commits me, forces me to endure discomfort or distress so that I may glorify His name and also that I may depend on Him. If I were perfect, if life were perfect, I would have no need for God and I would most certainly turn away.

So like Paul, I'll celebrate my weakness, without whining, so that the power of God, the presence of the Spirit and the deliverance of Christ may permeate my life and bring glory to the Father who loves me.

No Whiners!
Carl

Thinking of My Missionary Friends

I've got some friends who are in the field in Guatemala doing mission work. They're part of a team that has traveled to a distant land to teach 'vacation Bible school' to a few thousand children. I admire them for answering God's call in such a tangible way. And I rejoice with them for by their efforts someone, a foreigner, may come to know God as the Savior.

The passage for today is;
"“As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name." (1 Kings 8:41-43, NIV)

Contextually, this is Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple he has built to glorify the name of God. But to me, forgive my personal interpretation, this is talking about why my friends have gone on mission.

They have gone on mission so that 'men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm' and so that they will 'come and pray.' And God, who reigns in heaven above will hear their prayers and he will do what they ask. When they pray "forgive me" He will be faithful and just to forgive. When they pray "cleanse me" He will cleanse them from every stain, all of them! When they pray "live in me", no matter the language, He will come and dwell within them and they too will become God's temple and they too will bear the name of God in the form of "Christian."

God is cool. His word is awesome and the way he teaches me, so loving. Now if I could just get out of this chair.

Praising Him,
Carl

I'll Take the Lamb Please

This post is actually from my devotional yesterday, 11/06/08. My day got backwards on me and I couldn't find time to post. No excuse, just an explanation that sometimes my discipline fails. Nevertheless, here it is;

When I am planning a vacation trip, I act accordingly. I make lists, accumulate possessions, document reference numbers and timetables and generally plan to the best of my ability so that the trip may go as smoothly as possible. The whole while, I am anticipating the trip, looking forward to the destination and my every action builds toward the full realization of what has been planned. I'm pretty certain that's the way it is with God and I'm confident that is the way it should be for me with respect to my final destination.

Consider the passage for 11/06/08;
" “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:31-40, NIV)

Yeah, it's big and there's a bunch in there but stay with me, we're not going to mine everything out of this right now. :)

God has plans for everyone. Part of his plans include Jesus Christ returning to earth and being enthroned as the King that he is. He's not traveling alone, he'll be bringing all the angels with him and his best raiments as well. Everyone, (the nations is interpreted as 'The Gentiles') will come before him and be separated according to their actions towards their fellow man. Those who 'love their neighbor as themselves' and prove that out with actions will stand right. Those who 'love themselves' and who prove that out with actions will stand left. I'll point out that this is all according to plan.

Then the King Jesus will usher those on the right into 'the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' Do you see that? God has prepared a place for this people since the beginning of creation. He has been planning and preparing for this moment and all his actions have been leading to this moment and to the full realization of his plan. I note that in this passage, those who are destined for this place can scarcely understand what they have done to deserve such treatment. They are humble servants of Christ Jesus. They are the righteous ones destined for eternal life.

Then the King Jesus will usher those on the left into the 'eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' Whoops! The place they are going was never intended for them in the first place. It's a place that is fit for the devil and the people who go there will wail and lament in anguish and despair for all eternity. In their pride and arrogance they will not comprehend their own shortcomings. They are prideful servants of themselves. They are the unrighteous and they are destined for eternal punishment.

Based on this text, we should understand that God has a plan that includes taking his faithful followers to a place that is prepared for them. All we have to do is follow God's plan and the portion of God's plan that is plainly revealed in this passage is that we are to serve one another. We are to serve one another with the spirit of serving Christ. When we serve one another, we are in essence and in practice, serving Christ the coming King.

I for one, do not want to be one to disrupt God's plans. This passage convicts me in several respects as to how I treat my fellow man. For instance, I turn away from strangers who want to enter my house, I recoil from the sick and afflicted, I have a policy against visiting people in prison. In light of this passage, I must re-examine my actions and especially the thoughts behind them. I must align myself more rightly with the mind of Christ and act as though everyone is Christ.

That is a beautiful thought and I will pray that I may live that out each day. In so doing, having accepted the shepherd, having conformed to his image, having acted as he would act, I may be counted among the sheep. I'll take the lamb, the lamb of God, please.

Humbly,
Carl

Our Dteo

The title is intentionally obscure for if I wrote out what this acronym means it is likely you would not have begun to read. But if the 'greek like' word DTEO got you this far, then I trust you will bear with me and read the remainder. Please accept my apology if you feel I have tricked you, I pray that by the end of this posting you will freely forgive my manipulation.

'Our Dteo' represents 'our duty to each other.' Of course, it is the word 'duty' to which so many people object yet in it's right context, it is a helpful description of the sum of God's word with respect to our relationship with each other. The other word that sum's it all up is love and the phrase that comes immediately to mind is Christ's admonition to 'love one another.' And thus, as followers of Christ we have a solemn duty to love each other. Love is our duty to each other.

There are as many expressions of our love for each other as there are 'each other.' And since I am not about to post a novel today, I shall focus on but a single aspect of such expression. That is guided by my reading today which is found in Hebrews 10:24-25 as follows;

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV)

My tendency towards wringing all the good out of this verse is a sermon but again, my obligation to you is brevity. Nevertheless, an outline and the use of 'points' is helpful. To that extent, in this passage I see four points which cry out to me.

The first point hinges on the phrase "Let us consider..." Here I see an instruction that we are to 'fix our thoughts on each other' and not on our selves. Thus, it is a call to selflessness. The extension or focus of this 'setting the needs of others ahead of our own needs' is that we are to ponder, perceive, consider, meditate on, dwell upon and think of new ways that we may encourage or 'spur' one another on toward love and good deeds. We are to rouse the sleeping, upset the complacent, lift up the weary and give renewed strength to the fellow believer in ways that are expressed through love (agape, love chosen by intentional decision) and good deeds (ministry to fellow believers). We are, for the sake of others, to address the need for motivation in the context of mutual support and improvement; the lack of which results in a selfish isolation resulting in the death of the church assembly.

Secondly, the phrase that begins "Let us not give up..." This is a call to diligence, perseverance, the intentional mindfulness of our duty (not neglecting) and the mentality of contribution to the assembly instead of the consumption of what is presented. The focus of this exhortation is to continue coming together in Christian fellowship for the purposes of edification, exhortation and encouragement. We are reminded 'as some are in the habit of doing' of the selfish nature of our sinful selves which results in withdrawal from the church body and isolation which removes the impediments for 'evil works' and 'self love.'

Third, the phrase that begins 'Let us encourage one another...' here is the core exhortation of this passage. The focus is clearly upon our fellow believer or on the one who seeks in our presence. We are not to present 'roadblocks' in the form of judgment or religiousity. Rather we are to meet those in our local assembly 'where they are', we are to 'love them where they are' and through the application of sincere interest for their well-being and our own selflessness, find ways to guide them to the truth, to bring the cup to their lips so to speak that they may partake of the very water of life that is Immanuel Jesus. Where there is sadness, we are to offer solace. Where there is despair, we are to offer hope. Where there is fear, we are to offer protection. And where there is desperation, we are to offer faith. In this passage, in the full context of scripture, we find the three core virtues that keep us going in a world that lacks virtues; namely faith, hope and love.

Fourth, and last, is the phrase "and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This speaks of an explicit understanding on our part that the judgment day of Christ is coming. With this in mind, we should have a sense of urgency with respect to the preparation of His bride, the church. In this picture, I see a whirlwind of activity around the bride as the hour of the wedding draws near. An intentional focusing and refinement with the explicit understanding that at the appointed hour the wedding will occur, ready or not. I do not know the hour of His coming but it is one day closer today than yesterday. That realization at once scares me and inspires me to immediate and unrelenting action. And that is how this verse speaks to me, calling me to immediate and unrelenting action.

So today, I exhort you to join me in the fellowship of local believers at your church. Come, share your joys with me that they may be multiplied. Come, share your burdens with me that they may be halved. Come share with me your ideas of what we can do to reach the lost and build up the believers. Come and walk beside me as we both follow Jesus, our nets in hand.

Gone Fishing,
Carl

From Rags to Riches

When I survey my life as well as the lives of others who have been born again (saved from sinfulness), I cannot help but note the power of God at work in the lives of mankind. Though I am unable to comprehend the love of God that he should be concerned with me, I accept that he is and the changes in my life are proof positive. There is a great crowd, spread across the ages, who sing the same song of joy as I and offer testimony of God's faithfulness.

Today, I read the prayer of a mother (Hannah) whose song of praise is added to such a list of witnesses. Consider 1 Samuel 2:8

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; upon them he has set the world." (1 Samuel 2:8, NIV)

As I read the prayer of Hannah, I could not help but to reflect upon my own experiences and observations for they are quite similar. But verse 8 really stood out to me this morning.

I consider that the 'dust' and the 'ash heap' speak of the abject worthlessness of position. Both (dush and ash) are cast upon the ground to be walked upon and of themselves have no intrinsic value. To me this represents the sinful life in which I indulged for the greater part of my life, though becoming a distant past it is still substantial.

But the fact that God 'raises the poor' and 'lifts the needy' from this dreadful place speaks of God's absolute power over all; his omnipotence. In fact, Hannah's prayer speaks of God's ability to both humble the proud and to exalt the meek. This in fact describes what God did for Jesus and what Jesus did for us!

It pleases God to destroy every power which will be something in itself and to transform into power every weakness which despairs of itself. This is why God chose to take away every earthly stronghold that 'I' had built and to replace them with the 'hallowed halls' of His making.

He raised me, a poor sinner from the ash heap of a sinful and unproductive life and seated me among His righteous people that I may live a life of obedience and service. The princes and princesses I now sit among form a circle around me in Children's Sunday School. They occupy the seat next to me as we sit in rounds in Adult Sunday School. There they are in the 'pew' alongside me as we worship, praise and receive the Word of God in Sunday Service. They are in the bunk next to me at camp and in the beanbag across the room in Live Wire (children discipleship training). And they sit on the couch across the table from me in The Workshop (Accountability Group). Yes, God has surrounded me with His people and I count it as an honor to inherit the throne of Christianity. Truly, I serve the remarkable God.

And all this He does, He does easily by His Word. For everything in this world, the very foundations themselves are His alone. So this day, I pray the prayer of Hannah as my very own as one who has been lifted up from the depths of despair to be seated at the banquet table of Christian fellowship.

May God be glorified by my every breath.

In His 'Kung-Fu' Grip,
Carl

Lasting Faithfulness

It's easy for us to make a commitment that requires a new routine and an accompanying life-change. Many of us enter into various diets (or should), pledge to ourselves that we'll exercise more or promise our spouses that we'll 'try harder' to be more available. Just think New Year's Resolutions and you'll have the right mindset for what's coming. When we make these commitments or promises, we have the best intentions and often we come blazing out of the gate at full speed with the false expectation that once we've built up some momentum, we'll just keep on going. But invariably, we fall away, indulge in those Oreo cookies, skip a few nights at the gym, slip back into habits of solitude and selfishness. Ultimately, the diet becomes but a passing fad and the monthly payment to the gym a grim reminder of unrealistic expectations and false hopes.

This pattern is natural and it certainly is not new. It is, in fact, right before us in God's Word this morning as found in;

Hosea 6:4
"What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Juday? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears."

God wants us to love him, to serve him, to seek his righteousness, to obey him with a lasting commitment. Anyone can love God for a season. Anyone can serve God for a weekend. That's not the requirement. That's the love "like the morning mist" or the 'early dew that disappears.' It is pretty for a time but ultimately when heat is applied, it is gone with the wind. Many who 'come out of the gate blazing' are like a meteor in the night-sky; it burns bright, makes a beautiful sight and then fades away.

A life of loving service to God is not like a diet or an exercise plan. It's certainly not a sprint but is instead much more of a marathon. And like a marathon, you must train for it with patience, endurance and commitment; one step at a time.

The countries of Ephraim and Judah had once again fallen away and once again God lamented their failure. His words strike me as a lover who cries over the loss of the beloved. "What can I do, what can I do?"

I don't want to be like Ephraim, I don't want you to be like Judah. I want US to serve God with a lasting faithfulness. I want US to run the marathon together with the clear understanding that we don't have to finish in first place, we just have to finish. I've got a plan for that to run by you; how about when you're feeling faint and want to quit, I'll hold you up and we can limp along together. And when I'm feeling faint and want to quit, you hold me up. That's fellowship and it's a key component to lasting faithfulness.

Shalom,
Carl

Why He did What He did

Last night we presented our monthly production 'Kidz Central' before a huge audience. We had prepared hard in a short amount of time to present the virtue of determination on Halloween in conjunction with our church's "harvest festival." We faced many challenges in our task not the least of which was having a bunch of sick people trying to perform on stage. But we were a determined bunch, having listened to our own message, and we persevered. The production quality was good, the lines were delivered with energy and enthusiasm and it was arguably one of the best 'performances' we've put on. But something was not right. The audience which is normally attentive and encouraging was unruly and distracted. If you can imagine a play where the actors have to speak over the audience then you'll have an idea of what it was like. We were obstacles between the children and the candy and we just can't compete with chocolate. I was very disappointed and felt like our best efforts to present God's word, to a bunch of non-church-goers no less, fell far short of the mark.

But you know, there's nothing new in that. Whereas we are a bunch of people trying to do our best to honor God, we must contrast ourselves with a similar drama played out over the ages. You see, God sent His very best to deliver His word to a big bunch of unruly, unrepentant pretenders who wanted the 'candy' of eternal life. That drama didn't end with the stars going out to their cars and driving away, that drama ended with Jesus dying on a cross. And while we may have been disappointed that people didn't appreciate the production, I cannot imagine the disappointment that the disciples felt as they watched the Messiah's life ebb away in front of their eyes. I cannot fathom the disappointment that God experiences every time a person chooses to reject His Son.

Had I known yesterday that the crowd would respond the way they did, I surely would have stayed home and nursed my fever. So, it's good that God kept that from me for in my weakness, I would have failed.

But Christ knew how it was going to play out, he knew the pain that was coming yet he not only showed up, but he 'performed' (in the sense of his duties) to his very utmost. Why did he do this? We know from scripture that it was for the joy to come. But there was more and if we read the words of Jesus, we will get a glimpse. Consider;

John 17:24

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."

Jesus, wanted those given him (that would be ALL of us) to be with Him where He is. And where Jesus was, where He is and where He ever will be is in the perfect center of God's will. He wants us to be living out a life of obedience and service to God so that we may know the glory of a loving God.

So, I'm not going to be concerned ever again with how my performance may be received by men. I will redouble my efforts, refocus my mind and train my body to perform for the glory of God alone. Because I want them to be with me where I am, a broken man who has repented of his sins and received the substituionary sacrifice of Christ Jesus; a man who is on the narrow road to heaven and is reaching out his hand to help others find the gate that leads to the path of righteousness. I want them to know that in the same way that God has loved me since before I existed, He loves them. I am determined.

Carl