A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels . . . Strength and dignity are her clothing . . . Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised ( Proverbs 31:10, 25 & 30).
It is New Year's Eve. The house is quiet and I have a little time to reflect. Our Iowa children were home for a few days for Christmas. The house was full and we just had a great time being together. I always feel a little empty inside after the celebration is over and everyone goes home--lonely might be a better word than empty to describe my feelings. Still, I have a great wife to keep me company, and I am grateful for that!
To prepare for our Christmas I pretty much cleaned the house, though Helen did a lot of cleaning, her job was stressing her out as she spent a lot of time at work. I scrubbed and waxed the floors by hand. I learned from a woman whom I respect as a cleaner that to clean floors right they must be done by hand. So, I donned a set of knee pads and went to work. Even with the knee pads, my knees hurt as I did the job, and my back hurt too. Though age has something to do with it, even if one is young, cleaning is a taxing job. Then I imagined myself as a young housewife with three children to care for, how hard it must be. Young wives and mothers have to be very disciplined in order to run an orderly household. I think many husbands simply do not appreciated what their women to. Men need to be involved in the cleaning too, so they can appreciate what their wives do.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
JUDGMENT OR NOT?
. . . we make it our aim to pleas him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body (II Corinthians 5:9c-10).
This is one of the more sobering scriptures in the Bible because it was written to Christian people. From my theological perspective it does mean that Christians will stand before Christ in judgement, but because we have trusted in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf, repentance and baptism being our witness, then Jesus counts us as his and does not see our sins. My sins are as great as any man's so the only claim I have on salvation is on the basis of what Jesus has done for me.
One of the great enemies of the gospel is secularism because secularism suggests that when a person dies there is nothing of the person that lives on except for the children he/she has brought into the world and the family teachings and dynamics they live out. They, and those who commit suicide assume that death is the end of it all. Phenomenally, it might seem that they are right because after death the physical body is only so much dead meat, but God says otherwise. Imagine the surprise of those who die without Christ. First they go to sleep. Then, they go through the experience of a dying brain, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, seeing relatives and other loved ones embedded in the memories of their brains. Finally, being escorted by angels to their abode to await final judgment, though this temporary abode is a judgment in its self, being a foretaste of eternity.
The 5th chapter of II Corinthians is one of the great chapters of the Bible, I just finished reading it as a daily Bible reading. It begins with these words of hope with which it is good to close this Bullet: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee (II Corinthians 5:1-5).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
This is one of the more sobering scriptures in the Bible because it was written to Christian people. From my theological perspective it does mean that Christians will stand before Christ in judgement, but because we have trusted in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf, repentance and baptism being our witness, then Jesus counts us as his and does not see our sins. My sins are as great as any man's so the only claim I have on salvation is on the basis of what Jesus has done for me.
One of the great enemies of the gospel is secularism because secularism suggests that when a person dies there is nothing of the person that lives on except for the children he/she has brought into the world and the family teachings and dynamics they live out. They, and those who commit suicide assume that death is the end of it all. Phenomenally, it might seem that they are right because after death the physical body is only so much dead meat, but God says otherwise. Imagine the surprise of those who die without Christ. First they go to sleep. Then, they go through the experience of a dying brain, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, seeing relatives and other loved ones embedded in the memories of their brains. Finally, being escorted by angels to their abode to await final judgment, though this temporary abode is a judgment in its self, being a foretaste of eternity.
The 5th chapter of II Corinthians is one of the great chapters of the Bible, I just finished reading it as a daily Bible reading. It begins with these words of hope with which it is good to close this Bullet: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee (II Corinthians 5:1-5).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, December 17, 2010
CHARACTER AND COMPETENCY, IS THERE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER?
A righteous man turns away from evil, but the way of the wicked leads them astray (Proverbs 12:26 RSV).
What precipitated this bullet was an interview in Christian Counseling Today of Dr. Tim Irwin. The interview simply set me to thinking about the role of character in counseling competency--or any competency for that matter. The subject of the interview was, "Character Trumps Competence." My thoughts are not intended to disagree with what was said in the interview, but merely add my perspective.
Rather than being two different categories, I believe that character is a necessary quality of competency so that one cannot be fully competent without it. A dictionary definition of competency is having the necessary qualities and skills. Is character a necessary quality for competency in any arena? Yes!
Skill development requires a degree of character. Some are so gifted that the development of skill requires little effort so the quality of their character is not revealed until significant stress sets in--it's a tragedy that this often happens when someone is desperately depending on him/her. Those not so gifted might cut corners or cheat in their skill development, and thus do their work with compromised competency.
In my Ethic and Legal Procedures class in seminary we talked of the ethics of sharing our faith in Christ with a client. There are times in counseling when that might be appropriate, but basically the truth is that the counselor's faith and value system cannot help but be revealed indirectly; it just is part of the counselors personality. Though the counselor might not speak of Christ directly, Christ is in the counselor, coming out in empathy, and how we respond and direct. However, a compromised character is revealed in the same way. A Counselor might very well be competent in the art and science of counseling, but if he/she is not a person of character, that will come out in their counseling too, thus short-term existential success can give way to long-term failure.
I hope my thoughts made sense. Though I applied this to counselors, I think it is applicable to all areas where competency and leadership is required--even on the football field. The beloved Iowa Hawkeyes found that out this season.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
What precipitated this bullet was an interview in Christian Counseling Today of Dr. Tim Irwin. The interview simply set me to thinking about the role of character in counseling competency--or any competency for that matter. The subject of the interview was, "Character Trumps Competence." My thoughts are not intended to disagree with what was said in the interview, but merely add my perspective.
Rather than being two different categories, I believe that character is a necessary quality of competency so that one cannot be fully competent without it. A dictionary definition of competency is having the necessary qualities and skills. Is character a necessary quality for competency in any arena? Yes!
Skill development requires a degree of character. Some are so gifted that the development of skill requires little effort so the quality of their character is not revealed until significant stress sets in--it's a tragedy that this often happens when someone is desperately depending on him/her. Those not so gifted might cut corners or cheat in their skill development, and thus do their work with compromised competency.
In my Ethic and Legal Procedures class in seminary we talked of the ethics of sharing our faith in Christ with a client. There are times in counseling when that might be appropriate, but basically the truth is that the counselor's faith and value system cannot help but be revealed indirectly; it just is part of the counselors personality. Though the counselor might not speak of Christ directly, Christ is in the counselor, coming out in empathy, and how we respond and direct. However, a compromised character is revealed in the same way. A Counselor might very well be competent in the art and science of counseling, but if he/she is not a person of character, that will come out in their counseling too, thus short-term existential success can give way to long-term failure.
I hope my thoughts made sense. Though I applied this to counselors, I think it is applicable to all areas where competency and leadership is required--even on the football field. The beloved Iowa Hawkeyes found that out this season.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, December 11, 2010
REFLECTIONS ON PARENTING 101 (part 2)
He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24).
The scripture here is often used as a proof text for spanking. I do believe that spanking is an effective tool of discipline when used appropriately, but can be destructive when used inappropriately. The emphasis of the text is on discipline and spanking is only one of the tools in the effective parent's disciplinary tool box. Rosemond has more thoughts on effective discipline upon which I will reflect.
The parent must be at the center of the child's attention, not the other way around. As a general rule, the more attention you pay a child, the less attention the child will pay to you. It is much easier to discipline a child who is paying attention than one who is not. What has been said should not be interpreted to mean that the child is out of your awareness as a parent--but the child should believe that he/she is not the center of your attention.
Your child must have a meaningful role in your family. That means the child must have responsibilities known as chores. Rosemond says that by the time a child is 4 years old, he/she should be contributing significant time and effort on a daily basis to the maintenance of the household. This means keeping his/her own space clean and orderly as well as the common areas of the home--dusting and vacuuming. Helen and I did not do well at this, but our children have grown to be responsible adults in this regard. I think Helen would wish that her own husband would do much better himself about cleaning up around the house. Having said that, without chores, children are mere consumers who think they are entitled to having the parents serve them. Entitlements do not strengthen people or grow strong children.
"Keep television and other electronic media out of your child's life until your child as learned to read well and is self-entertaining. The research is clear that electronic media shortens attention span, interferes with the development of certain critical thinking skills and develops a dependency that leads to frequent complaints of boredom." This is one thing we did do well during our children's growing up years--we didn't have a television. We read to the kids and the kids did a lot of reading--may be that's why they do so well now.
"From day 1, keep clutter out of your child's life by keeping toys and other 'stuff' at a minimum. Paradoxically, children who entertain themselves well (low-maintenance children) tend to have few toys. These children also are more grateful for and take better care of what they have." Even among poor families, children tend to have too many toys--as did our children. Too many toys make for too much clutter. If children can learn to make their own entertainment, they will not require a lot of toys as adults. They will tend to become more givers than takers.
"Emphasize manners, not skills. Sixty years ago, most children came to overcrowded first grads not knowing their ABCs; yet, at the end of the year were reading at a higher level than today's kids, most of whom already are reading in kindergarten. That happened because parents of 60 years ago taught proper behavior, not skills; therefore, teachers taught skills, not proper behavior. Grow a polite child." My wife is a teacher--I know she, and all of her colleagues, would agree. They have to spend so much time teaching proper behavior that there is little quality time left for teaching skills. Academic scores in the US have declined in direct correlation to the disintegration of the home.
"Love your child enough to grow a happy child." This is the most important--it is in direct agreement with the cited scripture text.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The scripture here is often used as a proof text for spanking. I do believe that spanking is an effective tool of discipline when used appropriately, but can be destructive when used inappropriately. The emphasis of the text is on discipline and spanking is only one of the tools in the effective parent's disciplinary tool box. Rosemond has more thoughts on effective discipline upon which I will reflect.
The parent must be at the center of the child's attention, not the other way around. As a general rule, the more attention you pay a child, the less attention the child will pay to you. It is much easier to discipline a child who is paying attention than one who is not. What has been said should not be interpreted to mean that the child is out of your awareness as a parent--but the child should believe that he/she is not the center of your attention.
Your child must have a meaningful role in your family. That means the child must have responsibilities known as chores. Rosemond says that by the time a child is 4 years old, he/she should be contributing significant time and effort on a daily basis to the maintenance of the household. This means keeping his/her own space clean and orderly as well as the common areas of the home--dusting and vacuuming. Helen and I did not do well at this, but our children have grown to be responsible adults in this regard. I think Helen would wish that her own husband would do much better himself about cleaning up around the house. Having said that, without chores, children are mere consumers who think they are entitled to having the parents serve them. Entitlements do not strengthen people or grow strong children.
"Keep television and other electronic media out of your child's life until your child as learned to read well and is self-entertaining. The research is clear that electronic media shortens attention span, interferes with the development of certain critical thinking skills and develops a dependency that leads to frequent complaints of boredom." This is one thing we did do well during our children's growing up years--we didn't have a television. We read to the kids and the kids did a lot of reading--may be that's why they do so well now.
"From day 1, keep clutter out of your child's life by keeping toys and other 'stuff' at a minimum. Paradoxically, children who entertain themselves well (low-maintenance children) tend to have few toys. These children also are more grateful for and take better care of what they have." Even among poor families, children tend to have too many toys--as did our children. Too many toys make for too much clutter. If children can learn to make their own entertainment, they will not require a lot of toys as adults. They will tend to become more givers than takers.
"Emphasize manners, not skills. Sixty years ago, most children came to overcrowded first grads not knowing their ABCs; yet, at the end of the year were reading at a higher level than today's kids, most of whom already are reading in kindergarten. That happened because parents of 60 years ago taught proper behavior, not skills; therefore, teachers taught skills, not proper behavior. Grow a polite child." My wife is a teacher--I know she, and all of her colleagues, would agree. They have to spend so much time teaching proper behavior that there is little quality time left for teaching skills. Academic scores in the US have declined in direct correlation to the disintegration of the home.
"Love your child enough to grow a happy child." This is the most important--it is in direct agreement with the cited scripture text.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, December 09, 2010
REFLECTIONS ON PARENTING 101
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
In the area of child psychology, John Rosemond is a hero of mine. He does not worship at the alter of contemporary thought, but he does respect the tried and true wisdom the was reflected in the parenting of those who made our country great. Rosemond recently wrote a two-part series called, "Parenting 101." My reflections are in two parts as well.
If you are married with children, put your marriage first. Dr. James Dobson always said the same thing. Helen and I grew our family up on Dobson--he came into prominence just at the time we were growing our family. Though we believed this, we did not do well at it. Money was a big issue. Small-church ministers, it seems like, live on the edge of poverty so the needs of the children come first. Date nights with the spouse were hard to come by. In any case, single parent or married parents, the children have to know that they are not the center of your universe, rather, you are the center of theirs. Your children have a much greater feeling of security when they know that mom and dad are taking care of their marriage and other necessary business first. It must be remembered that workaholism and the romantic flings of a single parent are destructive.
By the time your children are three years old, you should build a boundary between yourself and them, one that limits their access to you. Children need to understand that they are not at your beck and call. I believe that it is impossible to spoil a child under two. If he/she cries they should be picked up, but that third year is critical, they need to begin understanding that you have a life beyond them. One shouldn't pick a child up every time he cries. Differentiation is necessary!
Say "No" more than you say "Yes." Rosemond says that the proportion of No's to Yes's should be about five to one. Helen and I weren't aware of the ratio of no's to yes's, but we tried to say "Yes" as often as we could because we had to say "No" so often. Children who will not take "No" for an answer have parents who do not say "No" often enough and with conviction!
"Put the horse of leadership in front of the cart of relationship." This was probably my greatest failing. During my years as a youth worker at a residential treatment facility I tried to build relationship with the residents first. It is impossible to build a meaningful and therapeutic relationship if the child does not have a clear understanding of who is in charge. If the leader is easily manipulated so that a relationship can continue, then the child becomes the leader. As a result, there is relationship sickness rather than health. The children must understand who makes the decisions and who is in charge.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
In the area of child psychology, John Rosemond is a hero of mine. He does not worship at the alter of contemporary thought, but he does respect the tried and true wisdom the was reflected in the parenting of those who made our country great. Rosemond recently wrote a two-part series called, "Parenting 101." My reflections are in two parts as well.
If you are married with children, put your marriage first. Dr. James Dobson always said the same thing. Helen and I grew our family up on Dobson--he came into prominence just at the time we were growing our family. Though we believed this, we did not do well at it. Money was a big issue. Small-church ministers, it seems like, live on the edge of poverty so the needs of the children come first. Date nights with the spouse were hard to come by. In any case, single parent or married parents, the children have to know that they are not the center of your universe, rather, you are the center of theirs. Your children have a much greater feeling of security when they know that mom and dad are taking care of their marriage and other necessary business first. It must be remembered that workaholism and the romantic flings of a single parent are destructive.
By the time your children are three years old, you should build a boundary between yourself and them, one that limits their access to you. Children need to understand that they are not at your beck and call. I believe that it is impossible to spoil a child under two. If he/she cries they should be picked up, but that third year is critical, they need to begin understanding that you have a life beyond them. One shouldn't pick a child up every time he cries. Differentiation is necessary!
Say "No" more than you say "Yes." Rosemond says that the proportion of No's to Yes's should be about five to one. Helen and I weren't aware of the ratio of no's to yes's, but we tried to say "Yes" as often as we could because we had to say "No" so often. Children who will not take "No" for an answer have parents who do not say "No" often enough and with conviction!
"Put the horse of leadership in front of the cart of relationship." This was probably my greatest failing. During my years as a youth worker at a residential treatment facility I tried to build relationship with the residents first. It is impossible to build a meaningful and therapeutic relationship if the child does not have a clear understanding of who is in charge. If the leader is easily manipulated so that a relationship can continue, then the child becomes the leader. As a result, there is relationship sickness rather than health. The children must understand who makes the decisions and who is in charge.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
VICTORY IN JESUS
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ . . . (II Corinthians 2:14).
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
When read in context, these words of Scripture do not mean that Christians will not face adversity, but they do mean that when we are facing adversity we can take courage and hope because of our relationship to Christ. In Christ we have already won! We are in his victory parade! Bring it on! The final celebration is yet to come--be there!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
When read in context, these words of Scripture do not mean that Christians will not face adversity, but they do mean that when we are facing adversity we can take courage and hope because of our relationship to Christ. In Christ we have already won! We are in his victory parade! Bring it on! The final celebration is yet to come--be there!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
DEALING WITH DIFFICULTY
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:3-7).
Presently, the lovely and gracious Helen and I are in Kansas celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with her parents. During the time since we have arrived we have received word of two families who are dear to us who are presently facing crises. Helen's parents are elderly and because of the changing state of health care are dealing in the confusing world of bureaucracy. Helen and I are getting an education as we have spent the last 2 days helping with that.
I'm sharing all this, not because I have any profound insights, theological or otherwise, but just to remind you all that while we live in the flesh we will suffer--we will not get through this life without it! But, we have a reasonable hope because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Our best days are yet ahead of us!
In Christ we are family so let us rally to the support of each other, being the Holy Spirit with skin on as we support each other in this life so that we can be together in the life to come!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Presently, the lovely and gracious Helen and I are in Kansas celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with her parents. During the time since we have arrived we have received word of two families who are dear to us who are presently facing crises. Helen's parents are elderly and because of the changing state of health care are dealing in the confusing world of bureaucracy. Helen and I are getting an education as we have spent the last 2 days helping with that.
I'm sharing all this, not because I have any profound insights, theological or otherwise, but just to remind you all that while we live in the flesh we will suffer--we will not get through this life without it! But, we have a reasonable hope because of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Our best days are yet ahead of us!
In Christ we are family so let us rally to the support of each other, being the Holy Spirit with skin on as we support each other in this life so that we can be together in the life to come!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, November 19, 2010
FOR YOUR COMFORT
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (II Corinthians 1:3-5).
And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter in KJV) to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor know him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you (John 14:16-17).
In my daily Bible reading I just started the book of second Corinthians today. I had underlined verses 3-5 of chapter one from previous readings so they drew my attention again. I stopped and thought of the times when it seemed as if I was all alone--that no one cared enough to even make an attempt to understand. There have been several times in my life when that was the case, BUT, this experience is not unique to me. Further reading in second Corinthians one Paul says that he and his companions were "unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself" (vs 8).
God has sent the Holy Spirit to be the comforter of Christians, the one who walks along side of us. How does he bring us comfort? Sometimes it is just the feeling of reassurance of grace and peace in the middle of trials and tumult. Sometimes it is through the words of hope in the Scripture when all evidence seems to be to the contrary--hope truly is an audacious thing! Sometimes it is the arm of another believer around your shoulder, the Holy Spirit with skin on, one who isn't afraid to come into understanding distance and share his/her faith and life experience. As you receive comfort, share it with someone else.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Comforter in KJV) to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor know him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you (John 14:16-17).
In my daily Bible reading I just started the book of second Corinthians today. I had underlined verses 3-5 of chapter one from previous readings so they drew my attention again. I stopped and thought of the times when it seemed as if I was all alone--that no one cared enough to even make an attempt to understand. There have been several times in my life when that was the case, BUT, this experience is not unique to me. Further reading in second Corinthians one Paul says that he and his companions were "unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself" (vs 8).
God has sent the Holy Spirit to be the comforter of Christians, the one who walks along side of us. How does he bring us comfort? Sometimes it is just the feeling of reassurance of grace and peace in the middle of trials and tumult. Sometimes it is through the words of hope in the Scripture when all evidence seems to be to the contrary--hope truly is an audacious thing! Sometimes it is the arm of another believer around your shoulder, the Holy Spirit with skin on, one who isn't afraid to come into understanding distance and share his/her faith and life experience. As you receive comfort, share it with someone else.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
WHAT DO YOU TREASURE?
For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs (I Timothy 6:10).
Do not love the world or the things of the world (I John 2:15).
Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
All quotations are from the Revised Standard Version.
My daughter posted her offering meditation on her blog, Sleepy Thoughts . . . It shows that the apple does not fall too far from the tree. Though I have expressed similar thoughts I would like to expand/expound on the subject.
Traditional interpretation of Matthew 6:19-21 has assumed that money is the treasure, and if one gives his money, the heart will follow it. As an intervention for those who love money, it is not a bad thing to tell them to give their money away and follow Jesus (Matthew 19:21); sometimes behavioral therapy on adults does work, changing them from the outside in rather than the inside out. But, even in 19:21 the emphasis is on following Jesus; notice what the rich young ruler could not do--be obedient to Jesus. His possessions were his treasure, not Jesus.
God doesn't need our money. God will not go out of business if we stop giving; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He owns the world and everything in it. Often our preaching conveys the idea that God needs our money; He doesn't!!! What God desires is our hearts! What one treasures is where his heart is. Ask any young man who is madly in love; he will gladly spend all his money on the love of his life.
Often the message of the church is: "We will go out of business if you do not give," or "If you would just give more we could do . . ." That message is a message of materialism, that the Church of Christ is more dependent on money that the power of the Spirit for its existence. Preachers have yet to learn the meaning of Zechariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. The church can be just as guilty about loving money and coveting it as any person. I have known several people who have quit a church because the church was all about trusting money rather than the Spirit of God.
If money is our treasure, then almost every time, money will be given with a begrudging heart, not a cheerful heart. A whole lot more money will be given when Jesus is our treasure because it will be given with a cheerful heart and not a begrudging one. The Lord loves a cheerful giver!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Do not love the world or the things of the world (I John 2:15).
Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth (Colossians 3:2).
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21).
All quotations are from the Revised Standard Version.
My daughter posted her offering meditation on her blog, Sleepy Thoughts . . . It shows that the apple does not fall too far from the tree. Though I have expressed similar thoughts I would like to expand/expound on the subject.
Traditional interpretation of Matthew 6:19-21 has assumed that money is the treasure, and if one gives his money, the heart will follow it. As an intervention for those who love money, it is not a bad thing to tell them to give their money away and follow Jesus (Matthew 19:21); sometimes behavioral therapy on adults does work, changing them from the outside in rather than the inside out. But, even in 19:21 the emphasis is on following Jesus; notice what the rich young ruler could not do--be obedient to Jesus. His possessions were his treasure, not Jesus.
God doesn't need our money. God will not go out of business if we stop giving; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He owns the world and everything in it. Often our preaching conveys the idea that God needs our money; He doesn't!!! What God desires is our hearts! What one treasures is where his heart is. Ask any young man who is madly in love; he will gladly spend all his money on the love of his life.
Often the message of the church is: "We will go out of business if you do not give," or "If you would just give more we could do . . ." That message is a message of materialism, that the Church of Christ is more dependent on money that the power of the Spirit for its existence. Preachers have yet to learn the meaning of Zechariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. The church can be just as guilty about loving money and coveting it as any person. I have known several people who have quit a church because the church was all about trusting money rather than the Spirit of God.
If money is our treasure, then almost every time, money will be given with a begrudging heart, not a cheerful heart. A whole lot more money will be given when Jesus is our treasure because it will be given with a cheerful heart and not a begrudging one. The Lord loves a cheerful giver!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, November 11, 2010
GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Chris Peterson is a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. Several years ago Psychology Today had a blurb about an assignment he gives class. He has his class members write a gratitude letter. It's a kind of thank-you note to any one, including God. Peterson says his students feel happier 100% of the time. This exercise provides a long-lasting mood boost to the students.
There are exceptions. If a student is skeptical that the exercise will work, it will still work, but if a student is cynical, it will not work. Cynicism is the attitude that, "I really do not have anything to be thankful for," or "I have to be thankful for this?" If cynicism is the attitude then the gratitude not will not work.
When I was a graduate student in seminary, there was a young secretary who was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. She spoke to our class one day about how she dealt with her disease. She made sure that thankfulness was in her attitude. One of the things she was thankful for was that her "personal plumbing" still worked. If you have ever had to deal with incontinence you would be thankful that your "personal plumbing" still worked.
With disciplined diet and exercise, she is still doing all she can for that to continue. One of the ways to find something for which to be thankful is to make a list of the things you would like to continue. How would you feel if food, clothing, shelter, freedom, love and other relationships, hope for eternity, etc. were taken away?
God's will for His family is that they be a thankful people. When they are thankful they are happy!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Chris Peterson is a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. Several years ago Psychology Today had a blurb about an assignment he gives class. He has his class members write a gratitude letter. It's a kind of thank-you note to any one, including God. Peterson says his students feel happier 100% of the time. This exercise provides a long-lasting mood boost to the students.
There are exceptions. If a student is skeptical that the exercise will work, it will still work, but if a student is cynical, it will not work. Cynicism is the attitude that, "I really do not have anything to be thankful for," or "I have to be thankful for this?" If cynicism is the attitude then the gratitude not will not work.
When I was a graduate student in seminary, there was a young secretary who was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis. She spoke to our class one day about how she dealt with her disease. She made sure that thankfulness was in her attitude. One of the things she was thankful for was that her "personal plumbing" still worked. If you have ever had to deal with incontinence you would be thankful that your "personal plumbing" still worked.
With disciplined diet and exercise, she is still doing all she can for that to continue. One of the ways to find something for which to be thankful is to make a list of the things you would like to continue. How would you feel if food, clothing, shelter, freedom, love and other relationships, hope for eternity, etc. were taken away?
God's will for His family is that they be a thankful people. When they are thankful they are happy!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, November 08, 2010
IT IS BETTER TO BE THOUGHT A FOOL THAN TO SPEAK AND REMOVE ALL DOUBT
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent (Proverbs 17:28).
Sometimes the comments to an article are more profound than the article. I found this gem in the comments section of Town Hall. There is no space so vacant as an actor without a script.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sometimes the comments to an article are more profound than the article. I found this gem in the comments section of Town Hall. There is no space so vacant as an actor without a script.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, November 04, 2010
A SISTER IN CHRIST
I commend to you our sister Phoebe . . . (Romans 16:1).
It was a cold snowy day in Amman, Jordan. Our flight was to be the first flight out that morning. We sat on the plane for nearly two hours while the crew attempted to de-ice the plane to prepare it for flight; the plane had about two inches of snow on it. To me the plane looked the same after their de-icing attempts as before, but the flight crew decided it was time to fly. The plane taxied to the runway and readied for take-off. The big jet engines roared when the pilots throttled up for take off. The big Boeing 747 was lumbering down the runway carrying the weight of the snow as well as spoiling the air flow over the wing; it was taking longer than usual for the plane to lift off. I noticed one of the stewardesses was as anxious as I was as she made the sign of the cross on herself. I immediately felt kinship with her as she, in her sign, expressed faith in the same One in whom I believe.
I thought of this incident as I heard of the massacre of Christians in an Iraqi church. While there are doctrinal differences of faith that are important, these people died for their faith in Christ--that makes them kin of mine. Carl Ketcherside, one of my spiritual heroes when I was a young minister, used to say, 'I would rather be wrong about including a person as a brother or sister is in this life than to arrive in heaven and find that I had wrongly excluded them.' To live as a committed Christian in a muslim nation is difficult!!! The little stewardess was not ashamed of her faith in Christ, so there is a kinship that is meaningful to me to this day.
The family of God is found in every nation and every race and every tongue. What a wonderful day it will be when we are all at home together.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
It was a cold snowy day in Amman, Jordan. Our flight was to be the first flight out that morning. We sat on the plane for nearly two hours while the crew attempted to de-ice the plane to prepare it for flight; the plane had about two inches of snow on it. To me the plane looked the same after their de-icing attempts as before, but the flight crew decided it was time to fly. The plane taxied to the runway and readied for take-off. The big jet engines roared when the pilots throttled up for take off. The big Boeing 747 was lumbering down the runway carrying the weight of the snow as well as spoiling the air flow over the wing; it was taking longer than usual for the plane to lift off. I noticed one of the stewardesses was as anxious as I was as she made the sign of the cross on herself. I immediately felt kinship with her as she, in her sign, expressed faith in the same One in whom I believe.
I thought of this incident as I heard of the massacre of Christians in an Iraqi church. While there are doctrinal differences of faith that are important, these people died for their faith in Christ--that makes them kin of mine. Carl Ketcherside, one of my spiritual heroes when I was a young minister, used to say, 'I would rather be wrong about including a person as a brother or sister is in this life than to arrive in heaven and find that I had wrongly excluded them.' To live as a committed Christian in a muslim nation is difficult!!! The little stewardess was not ashamed of her faith in Christ, so there is a kinship that is meaningful to me to this day.
The family of God is found in every nation and every race and every tongue. What a wonderful day it will be when we are all at home together.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
MEDIOCRITY
. . . are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men? (I Corinthians 3:3).
It has been a busy harvest season, and we in the upper Midwest have to get ready for winter. Other responsibilities, as well, have left me with a huge writing block, so I apologize for writing with much less frequency than I should. The way one breaks through a writing block is to write, so that is what I am doing.
This is a little desperate, but I saw this quote by Joseph Heller in the Jewish World Review this morning that made me laugh--and it is true. I thought it to be worthy of sharing with you: Some men are born mediocre. Some men achieve mediocrity. And some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. How has it come to you?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
It has been a busy harvest season, and we in the upper Midwest have to get ready for winter. Other responsibilities, as well, have left me with a huge writing block, so I apologize for writing with much less frequency than I should. The way one breaks through a writing block is to write, so that is what I am doing.
This is a little desperate, but I saw this quote by Joseph Heller in the Jewish World Review this morning that made me laugh--and it is true. I thought it to be worthy of sharing with you: Some men are born mediocre. Some men achieve mediocrity. And some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. How has it come to you?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, October 17, 2010
NOTES ON HOW THE GOSPEL CHANGED THE WORLD
.How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news! (Romans 10:15).
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sigh to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:15-18).
For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).
My thoughts have not been refined on this topic so they might sound a little awkward when you read them--feel free to comment, though I'm sure that Husker Red will comment in any case.
Literally, the word "gospel" means, "Good message." Now what is a good message to some is not a good message to others. Those who have a vested interest in keeping things as they are do not welcome a message that can be life-changing! When a member of a dysfunctional family begins to act positively and bring about change in the family, one other member of the family will always undermine and sabotage the functioning family member so that nothing will really change.
It is important to understand that concept as I talk about how the gospel changed the world. Significant positive change will never happen without opposition, so it is understandable that the first Christians faced great opposition and persecution as they began to live their lives for Christ.
But the gospel about Jesus Christ really did change the world! I have been perusing a book my son Paul gave me called, The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark. Having been through a Bible College church history class and a seminary church history class, I thought I knew a lot about church history, but Dr. Stark gave me a few things to think about. My thoughts written here are reflections from reading his book.
The first Christian missionaries first went to the Greco-Roman cities. Because city walls were expensive to build, they limited expansion. Thus, the population behind them became very dense with densities approaching modern-day Calcutta and Bombay. Add to that the animals that were required for transportation and business and crowding was intense. The streets were less than 10 feet wide. Roman law limited the upward limit of housing to about 60 feet--these houses frequently collapsed. There was no privacy. A family might have only one room. Though sewers were built, they were for the wealthy, otherwise they were open pits. Those who found the stairs to steep and the journey too long to the pit simply emptied the contents of the chamber pot on to the street. Good water was very scarce as well, so a bath seldom, if ever, occurred for the poor. Crime rates were extremely high so venturing out after dark was extremely dangerous. All of this needed to be said so that it is understood that disease was rampant and life was hellish behind the city walls. The average life expectancy was less than thirty. Adding to this was the different ethnicities in the city. In Antioch, the fourth largest city in the empire, there were 18 different ethnic divisions. It was into this environment that Christians brought the gospel. The result of the gospel was a culture that made life in the city more stable and tolerable because the gospel is about God and the life to come!
First, the good message says that God loves people. The simplicity of John 3:16 was astounding to those of the first centuries of the Christian era. The gods only demanded service, then they might do something good for the worshipper, but they did not care for the worshipper. OTOH, the basis for human behavior is the love of our Father in Heaven. The worship and the moral behavior He demands is for our good and our welfare. The change in behavior resulting from the preaching of the gospel was the birth of a counter culture which brought a better life here as well as ensuring a life to come.
The gospel was good news to the children. Both Plato and Aristotle taught that infanticide was legitimate state policy. As a result, unwanted children were routinely exposed, left to die. Of course, it was Christian teaching that the killing of innocent life is murder. There were two kinds of people who picked up exposed infants to care for them, those from the pagan temples who reared them to be prostitutes and the Christians who took their faith seriously.
The gospel was good news for women. It might seem strange that the life expectancy for a woman was shorter in those times than for men, but there were reasons for this. In the Roman world there were about 135 men for every 100 women. Reasons for a higher female mortality rate were infanticide, females were not as highly valued as men, sexually transmitted diseases and abortion. Only the women of Sparta in the ancient world enjoyed much higher esteem and thus lived longer as well. Christianity demanded sexual fidelity of men in marriage, condemned infanticide and abortion and entitled women with the same inheritance as men (Galatians 3:27-29).
The gospel was good news to the poor and the sick. Because of the gospel, they were seen as objects of God's love. In 165 during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, what is thought to be the first smallpox epidemic swept the Roman empire. During the 15 year duration of the epidemic, between a quarter and a third of the population died of the disease. Then in 251 a new and equally devastating epidemic that is thought to have been the measles swept over the empire again. These mortality rates are of the book-of-Revelation proportions! Depopulation was severe not only because of death, but because people of means could flee the plagues, but Christians did not flee. They practiced their Christian faith, giving a drink of water in the name of Jesus, not fearing death because of the heavenly life to come. Generally, the pagans left the sick to die, but Christians nursed the sick. The gospel gave meaning to their work because they viewed heaven as their destination and the epidemic was merely schooling for the life to come. The gospel says that God demonstrates his love through sacrifice and that Christians must demonstrate love in the same way. The plagues did not "passover" the Christians, but their mortality was much less, about 20% less, due to simple nursing, food and water. The pagans noticed this and many were converted as a result.
CONCLUSIONS: A culture is what it believes. The more I study history the more I believe that had Christ not come into the world, it would be a vastly different place than it is now; not advancing beyond the "Greco-Roman" level of advancement because a sufficient foundation for advancement could not be built. Without commenting on Islam, which is another study that verifies my conclusion, the pagan cultures could not explain or give reason why one should be charitable to the sick and the dying. The emperor, Julian, who hated Christians, nevertheless admired their charity, tried to mobilize the pagans to charity, but could not because they had no reason to.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sigh to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (Luke 4:15-18).
For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17).
My thoughts have not been refined on this topic so they might sound a little awkward when you read them--feel free to comment, though I'm sure that Husker Red will comment in any case.
Literally, the word "gospel" means, "Good message." Now what is a good message to some is not a good message to others. Those who have a vested interest in keeping things as they are do not welcome a message that can be life-changing! When a member of a dysfunctional family begins to act positively and bring about change in the family, one other member of the family will always undermine and sabotage the functioning family member so that nothing will really change.
It is important to understand that concept as I talk about how the gospel changed the world. Significant positive change will never happen without opposition, so it is understandable that the first Christians faced great opposition and persecution as they began to live their lives for Christ.
But the gospel about Jesus Christ really did change the world! I have been perusing a book my son Paul gave me called, The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark. Having been through a Bible College church history class and a seminary church history class, I thought I knew a lot about church history, but Dr. Stark gave me a few things to think about. My thoughts written here are reflections from reading his book.
The first Christian missionaries first went to the Greco-Roman cities. Because city walls were expensive to build, they limited expansion. Thus, the population behind them became very dense with densities approaching modern-day Calcutta and Bombay. Add to that the animals that were required for transportation and business and crowding was intense. The streets were less than 10 feet wide. Roman law limited the upward limit of housing to about 60 feet--these houses frequently collapsed. There was no privacy. A family might have only one room. Though sewers were built, they were for the wealthy, otherwise they were open pits. Those who found the stairs to steep and the journey too long to the pit simply emptied the contents of the chamber pot on to the street. Good water was very scarce as well, so a bath seldom, if ever, occurred for the poor. Crime rates were extremely high so venturing out after dark was extremely dangerous. All of this needed to be said so that it is understood that disease was rampant and life was hellish behind the city walls. The average life expectancy was less than thirty. Adding to this was the different ethnicities in the city. In Antioch, the fourth largest city in the empire, there were 18 different ethnic divisions. It was into this environment that Christians brought the gospel. The result of the gospel was a culture that made life in the city more stable and tolerable because the gospel is about God and the life to come!
First, the good message says that God loves people. The simplicity of John 3:16 was astounding to those of the first centuries of the Christian era. The gods only demanded service, then they might do something good for the worshipper, but they did not care for the worshipper. OTOH, the basis for human behavior is the love of our Father in Heaven. The worship and the moral behavior He demands is for our good and our welfare. The change in behavior resulting from the preaching of the gospel was the birth of a counter culture which brought a better life here as well as ensuring a life to come.
The gospel was good news to the children. Both Plato and Aristotle taught that infanticide was legitimate state policy. As a result, unwanted children were routinely exposed, left to die. Of course, it was Christian teaching that the killing of innocent life is murder. There were two kinds of people who picked up exposed infants to care for them, those from the pagan temples who reared them to be prostitutes and the Christians who took their faith seriously.
The gospel was good news for women. It might seem strange that the life expectancy for a woman was shorter in those times than for men, but there were reasons for this. In the Roman world there were about 135 men for every 100 women. Reasons for a higher female mortality rate were infanticide, females were not as highly valued as men, sexually transmitted diseases and abortion. Only the women of Sparta in the ancient world enjoyed much higher esteem and thus lived longer as well. Christianity demanded sexual fidelity of men in marriage, condemned infanticide and abortion and entitled women with the same inheritance as men (Galatians 3:27-29).
The gospel was good news to the poor and the sick. Because of the gospel, they were seen as objects of God's love. In 165 during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, what is thought to be the first smallpox epidemic swept the Roman empire. During the 15 year duration of the epidemic, between a quarter and a third of the population died of the disease. Then in 251 a new and equally devastating epidemic that is thought to have been the measles swept over the empire again. These mortality rates are of the book-of-Revelation proportions! Depopulation was severe not only because of death, but because people of means could flee the plagues, but Christians did not flee. They practiced their Christian faith, giving a drink of water in the name of Jesus, not fearing death because of the heavenly life to come. Generally, the pagans left the sick to die, but Christians nursed the sick. The gospel gave meaning to their work because they viewed heaven as their destination and the epidemic was merely schooling for the life to come. The gospel says that God demonstrates his love through sacrifice and that Christians must demonstrate love in the same way. The plagues did not "passover" the Christians, but their mortality was much less, about 20% less, due to simple nursing, food and water. The pagans noticed this and many were converted as a result.
CONCLUSIONS: A culture is what it believes. The more I study history the more I believe that had Christ not come into the world, it would be a vastly different place than it is now; not advancing beyond the "Greco-Roman" level of advancement because a sufficient foundation for advancement could not be built. Without commenting on Islam, which is another study that verifies my conclusion, the pagan cultures could not explain or give reason why one should be charitable to the sick and the dying. The emperor, Julian, who hated Christians, nevertheless admired their charity, tried to mobilize the pagans to charity, but could not because they had no reason to.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, October 08, 2010
DOES PSALMS 51:5 SUPPORT THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN?
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalms 51:5).
Short answer, no. As is often the case in the Psalms and Proverbs, this is a Hebrew parallelism. The second half of the sentence defines the first. The circumstances of the conception do not mean that the results of the conception are tainted with sin. Actually, David understood the systemic nature of sin, sin is my family history. David could have said, "Ten generations ago (see Ruth 4:12-22; Matt. 1:2-6; Genesis 38:12-30; Deuteronomy 23:2) my family was conceived in sin and I did what my family has always done." A sinful family system has an immediate influence on a conceived, innocent baby, unborn and newborn. A pregnant woman who smokes, drinks, over eats, is unmarried has negatively influenced the little one immediately after conception. At birth, anger, lack of self discipline, over work and under involvement, dysfunctional relationship with dad, etc. all are part of a sinful family system and exert a huge amount of sinful influence on the baby. When I counsel, on the second session, I have the counselee do a genogram, a 3 or 4 generation family history that helps me to understand both the negative and positive dynamics that have influenced my client.
Truth be told, we are all in sinful family systems, but that does not mean that the new-born is a sinner at birth! It only means that he/she was born into a sinful family and as a result, will become a sinner.
In short, the new-born will experience some of the consequences of the parent's sin, but none of the guilt of the parent's sin.
Regardless of what I have said above, the genre is poetry and thus highly emotional. That's hardly the basis on which to build Christian doctrine.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Short answer, no. As is often the case in the Psalms and Proverbs, this is a Hebrew parallelism. The second half of the sentence defines the first. The circumstances of the conception do not mean that the results of the conception are tainted with sin. Actually, David understood the systemic nature of sin, sin is my family history. David could have said, "Ten generations ago (see Ruth 4:12-22; Matt. 1:2-6; Genesis 38:12-30; Deuteronomy 23:2) my family was conceived in sin and I did what my family has always done." A sinful family system has an immediate influence on a conceived, innocent baby, unborn and newborn. A pregnant woman who smokes, drinks, over eats, is unmarried has negatively influenced the little one immediately after conception. At birth, anger, lack of self discipline, over work and under involvement, dysfunctional relationship with dad, etc. all are part of a sinful family system and exert a huge amount of sinful influence on the baby. When I counsel, on the second session, I have the counselee do a genogram, a 3 or 4 generation family history that helps me to understand both the negative and positive dynamics that have influenced my client.
Truth be told, we are all in sinful family systems, but that does not mean that the new-born is a sinner at birth! It only means that he/she was born into a sinful family and as a result, will become a sinner.
In short, the new-born will experience some of the consequences of the parent's sin, but none of the guilt of the parent's sin.
Regardless of what I have said above, the genre is poetry and thus highly emotional. That's hardly the basis on which to build Christian doctrine.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, September 25, 2010
FOR WHOM TO VOTE?
. . . choose this day whom you will serve . . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
The Bible does not speak about what form of civil government is superior to another, but in God's dealing with human kind, He gives human beings the freedom to choose who they will follow. The freedom to choose our civil leaders in one of those God-given, inalienable rights with which human beings have been endowed.
For whom, then, should we vote? For me, the litmus test is life; where does the candidate stand on protecting the most innocent and vulnerable life, the unborn? I do not consider myself a single issue voter, but it seems to me that a candidate's stand on the "life" issue is a window into their soul; is the life in the womb nothing but an unviable tissue mass good only for infant stem cell research or is it a unique human being with its own DNA? First, being pro life means that the candidate will likely be a person of faith, one who is sensitive to God's perspective. Thus the judge up for retention will not legislate matters of faith from the bench; civil unions are for the state, marriage is for the institutions of faith.
Second, if a candidate will stand for the unalienable rights of the unborn, he/she will most likely stand for my rights and freedom. One who is pro abortion will likely think I am not worth the money when I am elderly. Notice that Medicaid is already being defunded.
Third, the candidate who is pro life is more likely to understand the economics of freedom. When people are most free to pursue their vision, working at what interests them, and doing the jobs that step up to their dreams, a great economic dynamo is produced, making more and more prosperity. Government does not produce jobs and money, but government sure can destroy them! While understanding, because of human nature, that government cannot be completely lazze' fare, the pro life candidate understands the sanctity of the fruits of one's risk and labor, knowing that it is not the government's money!
I like my tea hot. I like my tea iced. But know this, no "Bart Stupac" will get my vote! Stupac was not willing to stand against his party for life. That kind of luke-warm stand for life will not get my vote.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The Bible does not speak about what form of civil government is superior to another, but in God's dealing with human kind, He gives human beings the freedom to choose who they will follow. The freedom to choose our civil leaders in one of those God-given, inalienable rights with which human beings have been endowed.
For whom, then, should we vote? For me, the litmus test is life; where does the candidate stand on protecting the most innocent and vulnerable life, the unborn? I do not consider myself a single issue voter, but it seems to me that a candidate's stand on the "life" issue is a window into their soul; is the life in the womb nothing but an unviable tissue mass good only for infant stem cell research or is it a unique human being with its own DNA? First, being pro life means that the candidate will likely be a person of faith, one who is sensitive to God's perspective. Thus the judge up for retention will not legislate matters of faith from the bench; civil unions are for the state, marriage is for the institutions of faith.
Second, if a candidate will stand for the unalienable rights of the unborn, he/she will most likely stand for my rights and freedom. One who is pro abortion will likely think I am not worth the money when I am elderly. Notice that Medicaid is already being defunded.
Third, the candidate who is pro life is more likely to understand the economics of freedom. When people are most free to pursue their vision, working at what interests them, and doing the jobs that step up to their dreams, a great economic dynamo is produced, making more and more prosperity. Government does not produce jobs and money, but government sure can destroy them! While understanding, because of human nature, that government cannot be completely lazze' fare, the pro life candidate understands the sanctity of the fruits of one's risk and labor, knowing that it is not the government's money!
I like my tea hot. I like my tea iced. But know this, no "Bart Stupac" will get my vote! Stupac was not willing to stand against his party for life. That kind of luke-warm stand for life will not get my vote.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
WATER BAPTISM OR SPIRIT BAPTISM: A FALSE CHOICE (Part 5 in a series).
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." . . . Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus, And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?" (Acts 8:29,35-36).
The anti water baptists would have you believe that every reference to baptism in the New Testament is Spirit baptism; they would have you believe that I Peter 3:21 is Spirit baptism if the context didn't prevent it, so then they try to tell you why it doesn't mean what it says. As I have taught earlier, water and Spirit baptism are two facets of the one baptism (See part 4). From the text above, the providence of the Spirit moves people to be baptized as well as being the baptizer (I Corinthians 12:13).
Preaching the gospel also demanded teaching a response to the gospel, and baptism was taught as part of the response to the gospel. In the conversion stories of Acts, faith isn't always mentioned because it is obvious that it exists when a person asks in response to hearing the gospel, "Men and brethren, what should we do?" It is interesting that in the conversion accounts, not once is a person instructed to pray the sinners prayer, or bow his head and raise his hand, or some equivalent. Baptism in water with the acaccompanying Holy Spirit was the normal response to the gospel. That was the understanding at the writing of the New Testament and is how it should be understood when one encounters baptism when studying the New Testament, unless it is an obvious metaphor.
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Whole books have been written on this subject, but I have decided to end the series with this post. I have painted with some very long and broad strokes, but I can back them up with credible scholarship. I understand why there is disagreement on this subject, but as teachers and preachers of the gospel we have the responsibility to rise above the creeds and systematic theologies and teach truthfully from the Bible.
The anti water baptists would have you believe that every reference to baptism in the New Testament is Spirit baptism; they would have you believe that I Peter 3:21 is Spirit baptism if the context didn't prevent it, so then they try to tell you why it doesn't mean what it says. As I have taught earlier, water and Spirit baptism are two facets of the one baptism (See part 4). From the text above, the providence of the Spirit moves people to be baptized as well as being the baptizer (I Corinthians 12:13).
Preaching the gospel also demanded teaching a response to the gospel, and baptism was taught as part of the response to the gospel. In the conversion stories of Acts, faith isn't always mentioned because it is obvious that it exists when a person asks in response to hearing the gospel, "Men and brethren, what should we do?" It is interesting that in the conversion accounts, not once is a person instructed to pray the sinners prayer, or bow his head and raise his hand, or some equivalent. Baptism in water with the acaccompanying Holy Spirit was the normal response to the gospel. That was the understanding at the writing of the New Testament and is how it should be understood when one encounters baptism when studying the New Testament, unless it is an obvious metaphor.
for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28).
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Whole books have been written on this subject, but I have decided to end the series with this post. I have painted with some very long and broad strokes, but I can back them up with credible scholarship. I understand why there is disagreement on this subject, but as teachers and preachers of the gospel we have the responsibility to rise above the creeds and systematic theologies and teach truthfully from the Bible.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
BAPTISM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT (4th in a series)
. . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all . . . (Ephesians 4:5-6a RSV).
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the othe apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38 NIV).
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13 RSV).
One of the characteristics of Christian baptism that is different from John's baptism is the Holy Spirit. John's was, like Christian baptism, an immersion in water on condition of repentence for the forgiveness of sin. The Holy Spirit was not a part of the promise of John's baptism (Note: Acts 19:1-3. Rebaptism was necessary in this case.). If the Holy Spirit is not involved in the baptism, it is not Christian baptism.
So how is it that there is but one Christian baptism, yet it appears that there are two baptisms that are a part of conversion, one in water and one in the Spirit? John 3:5 gives us a clue: . . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (RSV). There is one baptism with two facets, the outward baptism in water which dramatizes ones faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the inward baptism of the Spirit, which is the surrender our our spirit to the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:6 indicates the baptism of the Spirit when it says, For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Roman 6:6-7).
Have you received the one baptism?
Our Father's Blessings
Tom
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the othe apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:37-38 NIV).
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit (I Corinthians 12:13 RSV).
One of the characteristics of Christian baptism that is different from John's baptism is the Holy Spirit. John's was, like Christian baptism, an immersion in water on condition of repentence for the forgiveness of sin. The Holy Spirit was not a part of the promise of John's baptism (Note: Acts 19:1-3. Rebaptism was necessary in this case.). If the Holy Spirit is not involved in the baptism, it is not Christian baptism.
So how is it that there is but one Christian baptism, yet it appears that there are two baptisms that are a part of conversion, one in water and one in the Spirit? John 3:5 gives us a clue: . . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (RSV). There is one baptism with two facets, the outward baptism in water which dramatizes ones faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the inward baptism of the Spirit, which is the surrender our our spirit to the renewing of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:6 indicates the baptism of the Spirit when it says, For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Roman 6:6-7).
Have you received the one baptism?
Our Father's Blessings
Tom
Thursday, September 16, 2010
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS BAPTISMA NOT BAPTISMOS (Third in a series)
Baptism is not the washing away of bodily pollution, but the appeal made to God by a good conscience; and it brings salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . (I Peter 3:21).
The image of baptism is one of being overwhelmed, whether it is by water, fire or Spirit. Baptisma is the word used 22 times by the inspired writers of the New Testament to describe whole Christian baptism. It is interesting that baptisma is never found outside of the New Testament in ancient literature. Baptismos is a word used both in the New Testament and in ancient literature to describe washings, ceremonial and otherwise, but it is not used to describe Christian baptism because it only focuses on the act. The ma suffix of baptisma indicates the state of mind that accompanies the act of baptism.
What baptisma describes is the surrender of our bodies to the engulfing, overwhelming water as a visual dramatization of our personal trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also descriptive of our personal surrender of our spirit to the Holy Spirit that we might be led of the Spirit from that point on in newness of life.
Some call Christian baptism only an external rite that can easily be faked, but prayers to receive Christ, something never commanded in the New Testament, can be easily faked as well. Pledges to defend and protect the Constitution are easily faked by elected officials. Marriage vows are easily faked too. The fruit of the Spirit is easily faked during low-stress situations. That something can be easily faked does not mean that it is less valid. The qualities essential to true Christian baptism are faith in Christ and a repentant heart.
When a believing and repentant person is baptized he/she is appealing to God (I Peter 3:21), calling on the name of the Lord, to be saved. Baptism is calling on the name of the Lord, and thus Acts 22:16 makes sense: Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name (NIV). The participle explains the action. Baptism is the appeal to the character and promises of God in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The image of baptism is one of being overwhelmed, whether it is by water, fire or Spirit. Baptisma is the word used 22 times by the inspired writers of the New Testament to describe whole Christian baptism. It is interesting that baptisma is never found outside of the New Testament in ancient literature. Baptismos is a word used both in the New Testament and in ancient literature to describe washings, ceremonial and otherwise, but it is not used to describe Christian baptism because it only focuses on the act. The ma suffix of baptisma indicates the state of mind that accompanies the act of baptism.
What baptisma describes is the surrender of our bodies to the engulfing, overwhelming water as a visual dramatization of our personal trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also descriptive of our personal surrender of our spirit to the Holy Spirit that we might be led of the Spirit from that point on in newness of life.
Some call Christian baptism only an external rite that can easily be faked, but prayers to receive Christ, something never commanded in the New Testament, can be easily faked as well. Pledges to defend and protect the Constitution are easily faked by elected officials. Marriage vows are easily faked too. The fruit of the Spirit is easily faked during low-stress situations. That something can be easily faked does not mean that it is less valid. The qualities essential to true Christian baptism are faith in Christ and a repentant heart.
When a believing and repentant person is baptized he/she is appealing to God (I Peter 3:21), calling on the name of the Lord, to be saved. Baptism is calling on the name of the Lord, and thus Acts 22:16 makes sense: Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name (NIV). The participle explains the action. Baptism is the appeal to the character and promises of God in Jesus Christ for salvation.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
DOES CHRISTIAN BAPTISM HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH SALVATION? (Second in a series)
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . (I Peter 3:21 RSV).
It should be noted that other translations translate this differently "pledge of a good conscience" or "answer of a good conscience." Read several different versions.
First, I believe that whatever side of the debate, Christians understand that without the gracious incarnation of Christ, his sacrificial and redemptive death, burial and resurrection, there would be no hope of salvation!!! There is not one who is a Christian who thinks otherwise!!!
Having said that, the question remains, does baptism have anything to do with salvation? I Peter 3: 21 should be sufficient to answer the question, but there are numerous Dr's. of divinity and theology who say otherwise because I Peter 3:21 does not fit their systematic theology and creed. Having no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible and no name but the Divine, I only need to preach, teach and defend what God has said in His Word.
Most popular expositors of I Peter 3:21 are embarrassed by it and teach why it doesn't say what it says, "Baptism . . . now saves you . . ." The question about baptism is this, if Jesus saves, what does baptism have to do with that? Understanding the grammar of I Peter 3:21, the answer is self evident. The Greek word that is translated, appeal, answer or pledge, is a legal word. It was used in interrogations, How do you answer? It was used in making a pledge, Do you take this woman to be your wife? I do! It was used in making a profession, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Baptism is covenant making. A reading of Romans 6:1-6 bears it out. First, baptism is into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; baptism connects us with Jesus who is the only Savior. Second, baptism is our own crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection so that we might not any longer be enslaved to sin. In Christian baptism, the new covenant is signed in the blood of Jesus and our own blood.
One of the characteristics of the new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:11, is that upon entrance into the covenant relationship with God, all would know Him. No longer were people physically born into a covenant relationship with God, as in Israel and had to be taught to know the Lord. Knowing the Lord was requisite to entering the new covenant relationship. In Christian baptism, one is answering God's question, one is professing faith, pledging allegiance
Can one be saved without baptism? Can a couple be married without a ceremony? A lot of folks would rather try to have a common-law relationship with the Lord than to humbly submit to Him in Christian baptism. What kind of relationship with Him do you have?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Some say that since baptism is the answer of a good conscience then the person is already saved since one cannot have a good conscience without salvation. But, that is not true, and it is dangerous to believe that a good conscience is indicative of salvation. There are many people who do evil and wrong things in good conscience, the apostle Paul being one of them. One thing that could never be said of Paul is that he went against his conscience. In Acts 23:1 and 24:16 Paul said that is was the practice of his life to live in good conscience--even when he was persecuting to the death believers in Christ! He believed he was doing God's will, but he was not saved.
Baptism is the answer, profession and pledge of one's sincere faith in Christ. Many substitute the sinners prayer for Christian baptism rather than humbly submit to the request of God to meet us in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It should be noted that other translations translate this differently "pledge of a good conscience" or "answer of a good conscience." Read several different versions.
First, I believe that whatever side of the debate, Christians understand that without the gracious incarnation of Christ, his sacrificial and redemptive death, burial and resurrection, there would be no hope of salvation!!! There is not one who is a Christian who thinks otherwise!!!
Having said that, the question remains, does baptism have anything to do with salvation? I Peter 3: 21 should be sufficient to answer the question, but there are numerous Dr's. of divinity and theology who say otherwise because I Peter 3:21 does not fit their systematic theology and creed. Having no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible and no name but the Divine, I only need to preach, teach and defend what God has said in His Word.
Most popular expositors of I Peter 3:21 are embarrassed by it and teach why it doesn't say what it says, "Baptism . . . now saves you . . ." The question about baptism is this, if Jesus saves, what does baptism have to do with that? Understanding the grammar of I Peter 3:21, the answer is self evident. The Greek word that is translated, appeal, answer or pledge, is a legal word. It was used in interrogations, How do you answer? It was used in making a pledge, Do you take this woman to be your wife? I do! It was used in making a profession, I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Baptism is covenant making. A reading of Romans 6:1-6 bears it out. First, baptism is into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ; baptism connects us with Jesus who is the only Savior. Second, baptism is our own crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection so that we might not any longer be enslaved to sin. In Christian baptism, the new covenant is signed in the blood of Jesus and our own blood.
One of the characteristics of the new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:11, is that upon entrance into the covenant relationship with God, all would know Him. No longer were people physically born into a covenant relationship with God, as in Israel and had to be taught to know the Lord. Knowing the Lord was requisite to entering the new covenant relationship. In Christian baptism, one is answering God's question, one is professing faith, pledging allegiance
Can one be saved without baptism? Can a couple be married without a ceremony? A lot of folks would rather try to have a common-law relationship with the Lord than to humbly submit to Him in Christian baptism. What kind of relationship with Him do you have?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Note: Some say that since baptism is the answer of a good conscience then the person is already saved since one cannot have a good conscience without salvation. But, that is not true, and it is dangerous to believe that a good conscience is indicative of salvation. There are many people who do evil and wrong things in good conscience, the apostle Paul being one of them. One thing that could never be said of Paul is that he went against his conscience. In Acts 23:1 and 24:16 Paul said that is was the practice of his life to live in good conscience--even when he was persecuting to the death believers in Christ! He believed he was doing God's will, but he was not saved.
Baptism is the answer, profession and pledge of one's sincere faith in Christ. Many substitute the sinners prayer for Christian baptism rather than humbly submit to the request of God to meet us in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Monday, September 13, 2010
CHRISTIAN BAPTISM
The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men? (Matthew 21:25)
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John . . . Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).
I just finished reading a blog by a Dr. of ministry or theology or divinity, it was never made clear, on why baptism had nothing to do with salvation. Now who am I to argue with a Dr.? Many are the doctors out there who are able preachers of the gospel that stumble over the response to the gospel of Christ because they are more in love with their systems of theology and creeds than the word of God. For them baptism is something that needs to be explained away rather than accurately taught. They need to answer about Christian baptism the same question that Jesus posed to the religious leaders of his day on earth about John's baptism, is it from Heaven or is it of men? If Christian baptism is of men then it is not important, but if it is of God, then it must be understood and taught accurately!
Apollos was a great gospel preacher, but he taught the baptism of John. What was the matter with that? The difference is only a triviality--nothing to get excited about. But any preacher and/or teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ must teach it accurately. Prisilla and Aquilla, in a spirit of love, took the time to explain the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism so that Apollos could preach the good news of Christ, and the response to it, more accurately.
Because my time for writing is limited, over the next 2 or 3 "silver bullets" I attempt to teach more accurately about Christian baptism than is generally taught from the pulpits of our churches. Almost every church preaches the gospel, the good news that we can have salvation; it is found only in Jesus Christ who is the Lord and Savior. But when it comes to how one is to respond to the gospel, the answers are different. How important is Christian baptism in the response to the gospel? That is the question I will attempt to answer over the next 2 or 3 postings.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John . . . Priscilla and Aquilla heard him, they took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).
I just finished reading a blog by a Dr. of ministry or theology or divinity, it was never made clear, on why baptism had nothing to do with salvation. Now who am I to argue with a Dr.? Many are the doctors out there who are able preachers of the gospel that stumble over the response to the gospel of Christ because they are more in love with their systems of theology and creeds than the word of God. For them baptism is something that needs to be explained away rather than accurately taught. They need to answer about Christian baptism the same question that Jesus posed to the religious leaders of his day on earth about John's baptism, is it from Heaven or is it of men? If Christian baptism is of men then it is not important, but if it is of God, then it must be understood and taught accurately!
Apollos was a great gospel preacher, but he taught the baptism of John. What was the matter with that? The difference is only a triviality--nothing to get excited about. But any preacher and/or teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ must teach it accurately. Prisilla and Aquilla, in a spirit of love, took the time to explain the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism so that Apollos could preach the good news of Christ, and the response to it, more accurately.
Because my time for writing is limited, over the next 2 or 3 "silver bullets" I attempt to teach more accurately about Christian baptism than is generally taught from the pulpits of our churches. Almost every church preaches the gospel, the good news that we can have salvation; it is found only in Jesus Christ who is the Lord and Savior. But when it comes to how one is to respond to the gospel, the answers are different. How important is Christian baptism in the response to the gospel? That is the question I will attempt to answer over the next 2 or 3 postings.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, September 09, 2010
TRY FORGIVENESS
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses ( Mark 11:25 RSV).
Some of the goals of marriage counseling are to improve communication, to increase understanding in each spouse and to build conflict resolution skills. While being successful in accomplishing these goals in marriage counseling is a good thing, and is exceedingly helpful, nevertheless, healing will never be complete unless there is forgiveness.
When Jesus taught about forgiveness he tended to frame it in financial terms; "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." People are familiar with finance so it makes forgiveness a little more easy to understand when he pictures forgiveness this way. When a debt is forgiven, the note is put through the paper shredder; there is no longer a legal basis to hold the debtor accountable for his debt. Though the debt might not be forgotten, it cannot be brought up again.
That two sinful people can be united in marriage and not hurt one another is nearly impossible and that is why forgiveness is so necessary. Most of the time the hurts are minor, sometimes they are major, but always they will be sources of anger and conflict unless they are forgiven. Forgiveness is a core value of being a Christian; to forgive is to love like God loves in Jesus Christ.
One of the hindrances to effective prayer is when forgiveness is withheld even when it is asked for by the spouse. God will not hear our prayers if we do not forgive the one who has hurt us.
My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that it is not unconditional; there must be a change of mind which is repentance. Sometimes there are pathological abusers out there who take advantage of forgiveness as a means to continue the abuse, but to ask for forgiveness implies a desire to change. According to first John 1:9 forgiveness is conditioned on the offender recognizing his behavior as sinful and thus asking for forgiveness.
God loves each person; Jesus died for all. The sins of every person are paid for in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ--while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God stands willing to forgive anyone who recognizes their sin and embraces Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. Apart from that they stand unforgiven. Likewise, we must be so ready to forgive that forgiveness is a foregone conclusion if one asks us for forgiveness!!!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Some of the goals of marriage counseling are to improve communication, to increase understanding in each spouse and to build conflict resolution skills. While being successful in accomplishing these goals in marriage counseling is a good thing, and is exceedingly helpful, nevertheless, healing will never be complete unless there is forgiveness.
When Jesus taught about forgiveness he tended to frame it in financial terms; "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." People are familiar with finance so it makes forgiveness a little more easy to understand when he pictures forgiveness this way. When a debt is forgiven, the note is put through the paper shredder; there is no longer a legal basis to hold the debtor accountable for his debt. Though the debt might not be forgotten, it cannot be brought up again.
That two sinful people can be united in marriage and not hurt one another is nearly impossible and that is why forgiveness is so necessary. Most of the time the hurts are minor, sometimes they are major, but always they will be sources of anger and conflict unless they are forgiven. Forgiveness is a core value of being a Christian; to forgive is to love like God loves in Jesus Christ.
One of the hindrances to effective prayer is when forgiveness is withheld even when it is asked for by the spouse. God will not hear our prayers if we do not forgive the one who has hurt us.
My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that it is not unconditional; there must be a change of mind which is repentance. Sometimes there are pathological abusers out there who take advantage of forgiveness as a means to continue the abuse, but to ask for forgiveness implies a desire to change. According to first John 1:9 forgiveness is conditioned on the offender recognizing his behavior as sinful and thus asking for forgiveness.
God loves each person; Jesus died for all. The sins of every person are paid for in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ--while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God stands willing to forgive anyone who recognizes their sin and embraces Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. Apart from that they stand unforgiven. Likewise, we must be so ready to forgive that forgiveness is a foregone conclusion if one asks us for forgiveness!!!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, August 29, 2010
DANGERS INHERENT IN WALKING THE HIGH STEEL
He who digs a pit may fall into it . . . He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success (Ecclesiastes 10:8-10).
This post is more of a personal note than anything, but, in case that posting suddenly stops, you, my gentle readers, will know why--I have fallen. I have 400 feet of hog barn to put a new roof on. I have worked about 5 days and have completed about 75 feet. What takes most of the time is tearing off the old roof so that the new steel roof can be installed. I will have to say that this hard and demanding physical work is good for this 62 year old body. I have a lot of aches and pains but I feel like I am getting a little stronger and am able to work with much greater agility 10 feet off the ground. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and my skills will increase so that I can complete this task before winter. There is nothing worse than trying to drive screws with numb fingers.
There are blessings that come with hard work and there are dangers; it is good for us to rise to the challenge!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
This post is more of a personal note than anything, but, in case that posting suddenly stops, you, my gentle readers, will know why--I have fallen. I have 400 feet of hog barn to put a new roof on. I have worked about 5 days and have completed about 75 feet. What takes most of the time is tearing off the old roof so that the new steel roof can be installed. I will have to say that this hard and demanding physical work is good for this 62 year old body. I have a lot of aches and pains but I feel like I am getting a little stronger and am able to work with much greater agility 10 feet off the ground. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and my skills will increase so that I can complete this task before winter. There is nothing worse than trying to drive screws with numb fingers.
There are blessings that come with hard work and there are dangers; it is good for us to rise to the challenge!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
GETTING TO KNOW GOD
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made (Romans 1:19-20 RSV).
They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thought accuse or perhaps excuse them . . . (Romans 2:15 RSV).
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son . . . (Hebrews 1:1-2 RSV).
There are many in the scientific community who see God's fingerprints on the universe. That is what God intended, he wanted people to become aware of his presence through the things he has made; nature speaks of nature's God. Nature cannot call itself into existence; nothing cannot become something on its own. Only God can create something out of nothing and it is he whom we must worship. Those who deny the reality of a creator God worship the creation rather than the Creator.
There are those who reduce human beings to being nothing more than animals and only products of evolution out of nothing; only products of heredity and environment. Thus, the value of a human being is not more than that of an animal and that is why abortion is not troubling to a naturalistic evolutionist.
There are religionists who emphasize the doctrine of original sin so much that they reduce a human to being so totally depraved that he cannot do anything right, everything he does is wrong. Again the reductionism is so thorough that a human being is completely incapable of being aware that there is right and wrong, and thus is not responsible. Original sin has been so emphasized that original righteousness has been forgotten. Human beings are created in the image of God and, as a result, though the image has been dimmed by sin, it still exists! Humans do have a conscience, meaning that there is a little bit of God in every person's heart. Human beings are depraved, but they are not totally depraved; they have enough of God in them to seek him and to do some good and beautiful things.
It is God's will that we know him, so the ultimate expression of his communication to us is Jesus Christ. Jesus "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature," according to Hebrews 1:3. To know Jesus is to know God. To know Jesus first means to know about him. Is it possible to have a deep, fulfilling and enduring relationship without knowing about another? No. So it must be with Jesus. He is revealed in the Bible. Study about him, relate to those who know him and then you will surrender to him in a relationship that will last for eternity.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thought accuse or perhaps excuse them . . . (Romans 2:15 RSV).
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son . . . (Hebrews 1:1-2 RSV).
There are many in the scientific community who see God's fingerprints on the universe. That is what God intended, he wanted people to become aware of his presence through the things he has made; nature speaks of nature's God. Nature cannot call itself into existence; nothing cannot become something on its own. Only God can create something out of nothing and it is he whom we must worship. Those who deny the reality of a creator God worship the creation rather than the Creator.
There are those who reduce human beings to being nothing more than animals and only products of evolution out of nothing; only products of heredity and environment. Thus, the value of a human being is not more than that of an animal and that is why abortion is not troubling to a naturalistic evolutionist.
There are religionists who emphasize the doctrine of original sin so much that they reduce a human to being so totally depraved that he cannot do anything right, everything he does is wrong. Again the reductionism is so thorough that a human being is completely incapable of being aware that there is right and wrong, and thus is not responsible. Original sin has been so emphasized that original righteousness has been forgotten. Human beings are created in the image of God and, as a result, though the image has been dimmed by sin, it still exists! Humans do have a conscience, meaning that there is a little bit of God in every person's heart. Human beings are depraved, but they are not totally depraved; they have enough of God in them to seek him and to do some good and beautiful things.
It is God's will that we know him, so the ultimate expression of his communication to us is Jesus Christ. Jesus "reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature," according to Hebrews 1:3. To know Jesus is to know God. To know Jesus first means to know about him. Is it possible to have a deep, fulfilling and enduring relationship without knowing about another? No. So it must be with Jesus. He is revealed in the Bible. Study about him, relate to those who know him and then you will surrender to him in a relationship that will last for eternity.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, August 22, 2010
FORTY YEARS
Forty years ago today, the lovely and gracious Helen and I were married. When John Wooden dedicated his book, They Call Me Coach, he said: "This book is gratefully dedicated to my wife, Nellie. Her love, faith and loyalty through the years are primarily responsible for what I am--be that good or be it bad." What an influence wives have on their husbands! Wooden's thoughts ring true for most men in long-term marriages, at least they are for me. Thank you, Helen!!!
Your Blessed Husband,
Tom
Your Blessed Husband,
Tom
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
CONFLICT AND EMOTIONAL MATURITY
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds . . . (Hebrews 12:24).
It is often said that the "causes" of marital conflict are disagreements over such things as children, sex, and money. If no issues surfaces in any of these ares, people would probably get along better. However, people do not have trouble getting along because of issues in these areas. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict (Family Evaluation, Kerr/Bowen, 188).
One of the symptoms of low levels of emotional maturity is chronic conflict. In a marriage where there is low emotional maturity, each of the spouses believes that it is the other that needs to change to bring about a change in the relationship. Even though opposites attract, one of the laws of attraction is that people with similar levels of emotional maturity are attracted to each other so, for example, when one of the spouses is aggressive, most often, the other will be passive-aggressive; each will contribute equally to the conflict.
Except for extreme situations, divorce is not a solution, finding someone else is not a solution because the "someone else" will be a person of similar emotional maturity so the conflict will begin all over again. Learning to deal with conflict is not easy, but learning to do these four things will help:
1. Recognize that you are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Learn to listen so that you understand. Often, we react emotionally before we understand and, as a result, there is conflict.
3. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactivity on yourself and your spouse. To do this, try to be an observer of your own interactions, noting what actually occurs in your conflicted interactions.
4. Be thankful for the good things that are brought to the relationship. On this earth, there are no perfect human relationships. Look for the positive contributions that the other brings to the relationship and be thankful for them. Attempts to coerce a desired behavior in a relationship might appear to be successful, but feed resentments that will eventually manifest themselves in destructive ways. Teach, for the most part, by example and pray that each of you are sensitive to the Spirit's prompting and become the spouses that they need to be.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
It is often said that the "causes" of marital conflict are disagreements over such things as children, sex, and money. If no issues surfaces in any of these ares, people would probably get along better. However, people do not have trouble getting along because of issues in these areas. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict (Family Evaluation, Kerr/Bowen, 188).
One of the symptoms of low levels of emotional maturity is chronic conflict. In a marriage where there is low emotional maturity, each of the spouses believes that it is the other that needs to change to bring about a change in the relationship. Even though opposites attract, one of the laws of attraction is that people with similar levels of emotional maturity are attracted to each other so, for example, when one of the spouses is aggressive, most often, the other will be passive-aggressive; each will contribute equally to the conflict.
Except for extreme situations, divorce is not a solution, finding someone else is not a solution because the "someone else" will be a person of similar emotional maturity so the conflict will begin all over again. Learning to deal with conflict is not easy, but learning to do these four things will help:
1. Recognize that you are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Learn to listen so that you understand. Often, we react emotionally before we understand and, as a result, there is conflict.
3. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactivity on yourself and your spouse. To do this, try to be an observer of your own interactions, noting what actually occurs in your conflicted interactions.
4. Be thankful for the good things that are brought to the relationship. On this earth, there are no perfect human relationships. Look for the positive contributions that the other brings to the relationship and be thankful for them. Attempts to coerce a desired behavior in a relationship might appear to be successful, but feed resentments that will eventually manifest themselves in destructive ways. Teach, for the most part, by example and pray that each of you are sensitive to the Spirit's prompting and become the spouses that they need to be.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
AVOIDING THE MARK OF THE BEAST
Now the weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty six talents of gold . . . (I Kings 10:14 RSV).
. . . no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six (Revelation 13:17-18 RSV, Emphasis mine).
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:31-33 RSV).
Solomon was the wealthiest king in the history of Israel. Just the income of gold was 666 talents, or very roughly, 59,940 pounds. They had so much gold they didn't count the silver. Did all of Solomon's wealth make him into a more devout man of God? Absolutely not! He became more a man of the world. The wealth of the world falls short of the true wealth God wants us to possess. Understanding that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the new, I do not believe that is was any accident that Solomon's annual income in gold was 666 talents, it is an important lesson to us all of what happens when one devotes all the labors of his mind and the labors of his hands to the accumulation of wealth.
Those who see money as the solution to every problem are the one's who wear the mark of the beast. The "beast" is an "it" as the Revised Standard Version correctly translates it, not "his" as every other translation glosses it. The beast is materialism and when materialism becomes becomes the dominant focus of a person's, family's, nation's or church's life, things can get ugly! Church's? Yes, Church's!!! To listen to many pastors talk about giving, one would swear that God was going to go out of business if the people didn't "pony up" the required amount of money. The church can be just as guilty of materialism as anyone--watch for the church with the mark of the beast on it! Giving is a matter of worship, it is not a matter of fundraising!
When people join with God, in the obedience of faith, in his enterprise of sharing the gospel and helping people, giving comes freely, joyfully as a matter of worship.
The "Gentiles" are materialistic, God's family is not. I fully understand that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are in desperate situations, needing food, clean water, clothing to wear. We who have been blessed can be answers to their prayers, but God does not want any of his children to view money as the solution to his or her problems. As the Lord has said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
. . . no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six (Revelation 13:17-18 RSV, Emphasis mine).
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Matthew 6:31-33 RSV).
Solomon was the wealthiest king in the history of Israel. Just the income of gold was 666 talents, or very roughly, 59,940 pounds. They had so much gold they didn't count the silver. Did all of Solomon's wealth make him into a more devout man of God? Absolutely not! He became more a man of the world. The wealth of the world falls short of the true wealth God wants us to possess. Understanding that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the new, I do not believe that is was any accident that Solomon's annual income in gold was 666 talents, it is an important lesson to us all of what happens when one devotes all the labors of his mind and the labors of his hands to the accumulation of wealth.
Those who see money as the solution to every problem are the one's who wear the mark of the beast. The "beast" is an "it" as the Revised Standard Version correctly translates it, not "his" as every other translation glosses it. The beast is materialism and when materialism becomes becomes the dominant focus of a person's, family's, nation's or church's life, things can get ugly! Church's? Yes, Church's!!! To listen to many pastors talk about giving, one would swear that God was going to go out of business if the people didn't "pony up" the required amount of money. The church can be just as guilty of materialism as anyone--watch for the church with the mark of the beast on it! Giving is a matter of worship, it is not a matter of fundraising!
When people join with God, in the obedience of faith, in his enterprise of sharing the gospel and helping people, giving comes freely, joyfully as a matter of worship.
The "Gentiles" are materialistic, God's family is not. I fully understand that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are in desperate situations, needing food, clean water, clothing to wear. We who have been blessed can be answers to their prayers, but God does not want any of his children to view money as the solution to his or her problems. As the Lord has said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, August 07, 2010
PRESERVING MARRIAGE
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them (emphasis mine, Colossians 3:18-19).
Way back in1987, Olin Hicks wrote a book called, What the Bible Says About Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. His book was instructive to me and I have used it as a reference many times. In his book he affirmed some thoughts that I was already thinking; it is always good to be affirmed by a real scholar. I'm sharing a quote from his book.
A marriage that is serving the purposes God intended marriage to serve will indeed be unbreakable, not for legal reasons but for emotional reasons. The partners in that marriage simply will not separate. A marriage that is failing to serve those purposes cannot be held together by the edicts of pope, priest, elder or preacher. For too long church leaders have been treating the symptom and not the illness itself. In most cases the "medicine" prescribed seems more harmful to the patient than to the disease.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Way back in1987, Olin Hicks wrote a book called, What the Bible Says About Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. His book was instructive to me and I have used it as a reference many times. In his book he affirmed some thoughts that I was already thinking; it is always good to be affirmed by a real scholar. I'm sharing a quote from his book.
A marriage that is serving the purposes God intended marriage to serve will indeed be unbreakable, not for legal reasons but for emotional reasons. The partners in that marriage simply will not separate. A marriage that is failing to serve those purposes cannot be held together by the edicts of pope, priest, elder or preacher. For too long church leaders have been treating the symptom and not the illness itself. In most cases the "medicine" prescribed seems more harmful to the patient than to the disease.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, July 29, 2010
LORD OF THE DEAD AND THE LIVING
For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living (Romans 14:7-9 NKJV).
My schedule for the summer has made it difficult to write so I have tried to share some thoughts from some other thoughtful people. Here is another quote from Elton Trueblood:
If this is really God's world, then we are really under His care, whether we live or whether we die. If God is, and if He is like Christ, then the problem of evil, instead of being principally a barrier to faith, becomes one of the chief reasons for believing in the conscious survival of personality after the death of the body. Since many are unfairly treated here, then it is evident that God's goodness is frustrated and defeated unless there is a beyond. But we cannot believe that His goodness is permanently frustrated and defeated. Therefore there must be a future life, beyond our human ability to visualize or even imagine, in which God preserves and purifies that which here He only begins.
What a wonderful, reasonable hope we have in Jesus Christ!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
My schedule for the summer has made it difficult to write so I have tried to share some thoughts from some other thoughtful people. Here is another quote from Elton Trueblood:
If this is really God's world, then we are really under His care, whether we live or whether we die. If God is, and if He is like Christ, then the problem of evil, instead of being principally a barrier to faith, becomes one of the chief reasons for believing in the conscious survival of personality after the death of the body. Since many are unfairly treated here, then it is evident that God's goodness is frustrated and defeated unless there is a beyond. But we cannot believe that His goodness is permanently frustrated and defeated. Therefore there must be a future life, beyond our human ability to visualize or even imagine, in which God preserves and purifies that which here He only begins.
What a wonderful, reasonable hope we have in Jesus Christ!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, July 25, 2010
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14b NKJV).
Not many people play such a pivotal role in history as queen Esther---and yet maybe we do. What would it mean to your children if you acted courageously to save your marriage? What would it mean to your country if you acted courageously to defend the Constitution? What would it mean to one unborn if you acted courageously to protect life? What would it mean to the hopeless if you courageously shared legitimate hope in Christ? What would it mean to the average to be an example commitment and excellence?
Often we do not see ourselves as playing a pivotal role in history but . . . for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. For such a time as this, you are the nail! You do play a pivotal role in history!
I have said all this to introduce another quote from Elton Trueblood's The Life We Prize:
The owners of nightclubs and motion picture houses profit greatly by the failure of men and women to find meaning in their lives, since, as is generally known, a people who have a sense of meaning feel no conscious need of constantly being entertained or amused.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Not many people play such a pivotal role in history as queen Esther---and yet maybe we do. What would it mean to your children if you acted courageously to save your marriage? What would it mean to your country if you acted courageously to defend the Constitution? What would it mean to one unborn if you acted courageously to protect life? What would it mean to the hopeless if you courageously shared legitimate hope in Christ? What would it mean to the average to be an example commitment and excellence?
Often we do not see ourselves as playing a pivotal role in history but . . . for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. For such a time as this, you are the nail! You do play a pivotal role in history!
I have said all this to introduce another quote from Elton Trueblood's The Life We Prize:
The owners of nightclubs and motion picture houses profit greatly by the failure of men and women to find meaning in their lives, since, as is generally known, a people who have a sense of meaning feel no conscious need of constantly being entertained or amused.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, July 17, 2010
THE DANGER OF MODERATION
I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spew you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15,16).
While rereading and old book of mine, THE LIFE WE PRIZE, by Elton Trueblood, I came upon a few lines that I had underlined many years ago. It is still good enough to share with my devoted readers:
The dangers of moderation are, paradoxically, greater than are the dangers of excess, because the wholly moderate person is so likely to become balanced on dead center, and consequently to accomplish nothing.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
While rereading and old book of mine, THE LIFE WE PRIZE, by Elton Trueblood, I came upon a few lines that I had underlined many years ago. It is still good enough to share with my devoted readers:
The dangers of moderation are, paradoxically, greater than are the dangers of excess, because the wholly moderate person is so likely to become balanced on dead center, and consequently to accomplish nothing.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, July 05, 2010
LIBERTARIANISM--AN UNREFINED THOUGHT
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; but through love be servants of one another (Galations 5:13).
Often I think about things as I write. This is one of those times when what I write is unrefined and is sort of "raw meat" that needs a little cooking.
The 5th of July is the official 4th of July holiday this year. Today I have a little time to think about liberty and what it means to Americans.
Liberty is a gift to all, yet it must be defended because it can be lost; laziness in its defense leads to learned helplessness which leads to dependence which leads to bondage. That is the slippery slope we are on.
According to the Declaration of Independence each person is equal under God and has been given by Him the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No matter what station of life a person is in--the poorest, most handicapped person or unborn person is entitled to the same protection of the law as the richest, most educated, and powerful person in the land, or vice versa. Every one's freedom is diminished when that is not true.
True liberty can only be established under law. If there were no law then law of "might makes right" would rule; the weak would be the victim and/or slave of the powerful. God's character is the basis of all true law; any law that is ungodly is not Law.
Love is God's character, law and liberty are expressions of his love. God has never forced people to obey his law. We are free to make our choice of obeying him or not and then living with the logical and legal consequences of that choice. To allow a person to be free means that he is free to be stupid, and make bad choices.
Many of our drug, alcohol, tobacco and coming food laws, are based on the assumption that people are too stupid to make the right decisions for themselves so there needs to be a government "nanny" to restrict them. This restriction amounts to a very real loss of freedom. If there is not a freedom to be stupid, there will be no freedom.
Real freedom is in Jesus the Christ. He has established the worth of each human being and has paid the price of each one's liberation from sin and its penalty. Even in Christ there is the freedom to be stupid, and there are many Christians who do stupid things. In Christ there are those whose decisions are based on the desires of the flesh rather than upon the leading of the Spirit.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Often I think about things as I write. This is one of those times when what I write is unrefined and is sort of "raw meat" that needs a little cooking.
The 5th of July is the official 4th of July holiday this year. Today I have a little time to think about liberty and what it means to Americans.
Liberty is a gift to all, yet it must be defended because it can be lost; laziness in its defense leads to learned helplessness which leads to dependence which leads to bondage. That is the slippery slope we are on.
According to the Declaration of Independence each person is equal under God and has been given by Him the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No matter what station of life a person is in--the poorest, most handicapped person or unborn person is entitled to the same protection of the law as the richest, most educated, and powerful person in the land, or vice versa. Every one's freedom is diminished when that is not true.
True liberty can only be established under law. If there were no law then law of "might makes right" would rule; the weak would be the victim and/or slave of the powerful. God's character is the basis of all true law; any law that is ungodly is not Law.
Love is God's character, law and liberty are expressions of his love. God has never forced people to obey his law. We are free to make our choice of obeying him or not and then living with the logical and legal consequences of that choice. To allow a person to be free means that he is free to be stupid, and make bad choices.
Many of our drug, alcohol, tobacco and coming food laws, are based on the assumption that people are too stupid to make the right decisions for themselves so there needs to be a government "nanny" to restrict them. This restriction amounts to a very real loss of freedom. If there is not a freedom to be stupid, there will be no freedom.
Real freedom is in Jesus the Christ. He has established the worth of each human being and has paid the price of each one's liberation from sin and its penalty. Even in Christ there is the freedom to be stupid, and there are many Christians who do stupid things. In Christ there are those whose decisions are based on the desires of the flesh rather than upon the leading of the Spirit.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, July 03, 2010
COMMUNION MEDITATION
It follows that anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of desecrating the body and blood of the Lord. A man must test himself before eating his sare of the bread and drinking from the cup. For he who eats and drinks eats and drinks judgement on himself if he does not discern the Body. That is why many of you are feeble and sick, and a number have died (I Corinthians 11:27-31).
This morning I was reading I Samuel 6 about the return of the Ark of the Covenant from the possession of the Philistines. When the Philistines took the Ark as a prize of war it brought plagues and calamities on them so after a few months they decided the return it to the Israelites. They put the Ark in an ox cart drawn by two cows with unweaned calves. The calves were penned up. The Philistines reasoned that if the cows were released on their own and they found their way back to Israel then it must truly be Divine providence, but if the cows only wanted to stay with their calves they were simply the victims of bad luck. The cows did leave their calves and found their way back to Israel. When the people of Beth-shemesh saw the ark they rejoiced at the sight of it. It is important to note that verse 19 says this: But the sons of Jeconiah did not rejoice with the rest of the men of Beth-shemesh when they welcomed the Ark of the Lord, and he struck down seventy of them (I Samuel 6:19 NEB).
It is my belief that the entire Old Testament is a type, or forshadowing of the New Testament, so every story is significant. The Ark of the Covenant was symbolic of God's redemptive work on behalf of his people. To not rejoice in its return--to not care whether it came back or not--was a slap in God's face; an insult to him. Could it be that our take-it-or-leave-it attitudes about the celebration of the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, the feast of thanksgiving is an insult to God? Like the Ark, it speaks of God's work of love and redemption on our behalf. Could it be that some of our illnesses and deaths have come as a result? Without a word from the Lord on specific cases it is impossible to know, but the principle is established in his word. Each observance of communion, no matter how often, should be with joy, gratitude and wonder that he should love one such as I.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
This morning I was reading I Samuel 6 about the return of the Ark of the Covenant from the possession of the Philistines. When the Philistines took the Ark as a prize of war it brought plagues and calamities on them so after a few months they decided the return it to the Israelites. They put the Ark in an ox cart drawn by two cows with unweaned calves. The calves were penned up. The Philistines reasoned that if the cows were released on their own and they found their way back to Israel then it must truly be Divine providence, but if the cows only wanted to stay with their calves they were simply the victims of bad luck. The cows did leave their calves and found their way back to Israel. When the people of Beth-shemesh saw the ark they rejoiced at the sight of it. It is important to note that verse 19 says this: But the sons of Jeconiah did not rejoice with the rest of the men of Beth-shemesh when they welcomed the Ark of the Lord, and he struck down seventy of them (I Samuel 6:19 NEB).
It is my belief that the entire Old Testament is a type, or forshadowing of the New Testament, so every story is significant. The Ark of the Covenant was symbolic of God's redemptive work on behalf of his people. To not rejoice in its return--to not care whether it came back or not--was a slap in God's face; an insult to him. Could it be that our take-it-or-leave-it attitudes about the celebration of the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, the feast of thanksgiving is an insult to God? Like the Ark, it speaks of God's work of love and redemption on our behalf. Could it be that some of our illnesses and deaths have come as a result? Without a word from the Lord on specific cases it is impossible to know, but the principle is established in his word. Each observance of communion, no matter how often, should be with joy, gratitude and wonder that he should love one such as I.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
ONE MORE FOR JOHN
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust (Psalms 103:13-14).
John Wooden's passing reminds us that though life on this earth is temporary, our lives can speak long after we are gone. His coaching philosophy has stood the test of time. As I have said before, I admire the coaches of athletes because their coaching philosophy is tested in the arena of competition before a "great cloud of witnesses" each time his team takes the floor. Ministers of the gospel should also take note because after we have served at a church for a number of years, how the church "plays" is the result of our "coaching."
A man may make mistakes, but he is not a failure until he starts blaming someone else.
It is what you learn after you know it all that counts.
Dare to be a Daniel!
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known! --Philip Bliss
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
I will get ready and then, perhaps my chance will come.
Talent is God-given, be humble;
Fame is man-given, be thankful;
Conceit is self-given, be careful.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
John Wooden's passing reminds us that though life on this earth is temporary, our lives can speak long after we are gone. His coaching philosophy has stood the test of time. As I have said before, I admire the coaches of athletes because their coaching philosophy is tested in the arena of competition before a "great cloud of witnesses" each time his team takes the floor. Ministers of the gospel should also take note because after we have served at a church for a number of years, how the church "plays" is the result of our "coaching."
A man may make mistakes, but he is not a failure until he starts blaming someone else.
It is what you learn after you know it all that counts.
Dare to be a Daniel!
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known! --Philip Bliss
Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.
I will get ready and then, perhaps my chance will come.
Talent is God-given, be humble;
Fame is man-given, be thankful;
Conceit is self-given, be careful.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, June 24, 2010
MORE OF JOHN WOODEN
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on our own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths (Proverbs 3:5,6).
John Wooden was a committed Christian so I know that these two short verses from Proverbs were a significant part of his world view. The quotes that follow also shed light on his philosophy of life and coaching.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.
Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of
Self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the
Best you are capable of becoming.
Be a gentleman at all times.
Never criticize, nag, or razz a team-mate.
Be a team player always.
Never be selfish, jealous, envious or egotistical.
Earn the right to be proud and confident.
Never expect favors, alibi or make excuses.
Never lose faith or patience.
Courtesy and politeness are a small price to pay for the good will and affection of others.
Acquire peace of mind by becoming the best that you are capable of becoming.
It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.
Success is never final.
Failure is never fatal.
It's courage that counts. --Winston Churchill
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*The summer months are the most difficult times for me to blog. Be patient with me. I will try to do one posting a week.
John Wooden was a committed Christian so I know that these two short verses from Proverbs were a significant part of his world view. The quotes that follow also shed light on his philosophy of life and coaching.
Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.
Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of
Self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the
Best you are capable of becoming.
Be a gentleman at all times.
Never criticize, nag, or razz a team-mate.
Be a team player always.
Never be selfish, jealous, envious or egotistical.
Earn the right to be proud and confident.
Never expect favors, alibi or make excuses.
Never lose faith or patience.
Courtesy and politeness are a small price to pay for the good will and affection of others.
Acquire peace of mind by becoming the best that you are capable of becoming.
It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.
Success is never final.
Failure is never fatal.
It's courage that counts. --Winston Churchill
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*The summer months are the most difficult times for me to blog. Be patient with me. I will try to do one posting a week.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
IN HONOR OF JOHN WOODEN
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity (Proverbs 3:1-2).
This month we lost the greatest coach to have coached the game of basketball, John Wooden. He was 99. What a legacy he left behind as an inspiration to us all. Back in 1972 I bought his book, They Call Me Coach. Over the next few posts I am going to share a few of the chapter headers and quotes from that book that inspired me. These are some of his sayings born of his philosophy of life. The book was published in 1972 by Word, Waco, Texas.
Learn as if you were going to live forever;
Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
Do not let what you cannot do
interfere with what you can do.
Who can ask more of a man than giving all within his span?
Giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from victory. --George Moriarty
You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone
Who will never be able to repay you.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation,
because your character is what you really are
While your reputation is merely what others think you are.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
This month we lost the greatest coach to have coached the game of basketball, John Wooden. He was 99. What a legacy he left behind as an inspiration to us all. Back in 1972 I bought his book, They Call Me Coach. Over the next few posts I am going to share a few of the chapter headers and quotes from that book that inspired me. These are some of his sayings born of his philosophy of life. The book was published in 1972 by Word, Waco, Texas.
Learn as if you were going to live forever;
Live as if you were going to die tomorrow.
Do not let what you cannot do
interfere with what you can do.
Who can ask more of a man than giving all within his span?
Giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from victory. --George Moriarty
You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone
Who will never be able to repay you.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation,
because your character is what you really are
While your reputation is merely what others think you are.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, June 05, 2010
RANDOM SHOTS; SILVER BULLETS
But a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breast plate . . . (I Kings 22:34).
One might say it was a lucky shot, but God was guiding the arrow. Completely at random, one soldier drew his bow and shot an arrow into the air; it struck king Ahab in the chink of his armor so that he died just as the prophet Micaiah said. Though Ahab hated Micaiah and didn't believe his prophecy, just to be on the safe side, he went to the battle in disguise because an undisguised king was sure to be a target. In disguise and in full armor he thought he would surely be safe; he was not because what God says is true!
When I write these "Silver Bullets" they are like that random shot of a Syrian soldier. I write them in no specific order, but only as I am moved to write them. My prayer is that God would guide them to the chinks in deceitful, defensive armor that people put on so that they do not have to deal with inconvenient truth.
These "Silver Bullets" are only intended to be thought-starters, beginning points for meditation and prayer. No topic is discussed so thoroughly that every point is addressed, but hopefully, discussed enough to precipitate thought, meditation and prayer. What makes each bullet silver is that, to the best of my ability, each one is true to God's word.
I have used the Revised Standard Version as the translation for the scripture texts that are cited. I do not believe the RSV to be superior to other translations; indeed it does have deficiencies, nevertheless, I have emotional attachment to it because it is the translation of the Harper's Study Bible I have had since my Bible College days, forty years ago. Now tattered and so worn that it cannot just fall open to the right places, Silver Bullets are a kind of memorial to it.
It's dangerous to read Silver Bullets because one of them might find a chink in your armor--if God guides it.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
One might say it was a lucky shot, but God was guiding the arrow. Completely at random, one soldier drew his bow and shot an arrow into the air; it struck king Ahab in the chink of his armor so that he died just as the prophet Micaiah said. Though Ahab hated Micaiah and didn't believe his prophecy, just to be on the safe side, he went to the battle in disguise because an undisguised king was sure to be a target. In disguise and in full armor he thought he would surely be safe; he was not because what God says is true!
When I write these "Silver Bullets" they are like that random shot of a Syrian soldier. I write them in no specific order, but only as I am moved to write them. My prayer is that God would guide them to the chinks in deceitful, defensive armor that people put on so that they do not have to deal with inconvenient truth.
These "Silver Bullets" are only intended to be thought-starters, beginning points for meditation and prayer. No topic is discussed so thoroughly that every point is addressed, but hopefully, discussed enough to precipitate thought, meditation and prayer. What makes each bullet silver is that, to the best of my ability, each one is true to God's word.
I have used the Revised Standard Version as the translation for the scripture texts that are cited. I do not believe the RSV to be superior to other translations; indeed it does have deficiencies, nevertheless, I have emotional attachment to it because it is the translation of the Harper's Study Bible I have had since my Bible College days, forty years ago. Now tattered and so worn that it cannot just fall open to the right places, Silver Bullets are a kind of memorial to it.
It's dangerous to read Silver Bullets because one of them might find a chink in your armor--if God guides it.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
A HEART FOR PRAYER
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26).
When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen . . . (Isaiah 1:15).
Each New Year's Eve my church has a prayer vigil from noon to midnight; there is not a better way to watch the new year come in, asking our Father in Heaven for his provision in it. Each participant commits to pray for the duration of a specific thirty-minute segment. I always choose the final segment, eleven thirty to midnight, and I go to the church building to pray because that is where the Church gathers for worship. The building is old so there are some creaks and groans that heighten the prayer experience, reminding me of some of the very dear saints, and perhaps, not so dear saints who have gone on before.
Often the prayer-vigil participants will worry how they will pray for thirty minutes. When they express their anxiety I am reminded of a quote said to be by John Bunyon, "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." Though one might not have the words, one must have a heart for prayer. It is reassuring to know that our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, prays for us when we do not have the words. Prayers filled with cliches are evidence of words without a heart. God will not listen to prayers from insincere and/or unrepentant hearts!
There are times when the last thing one feels like doing is praying, but that is the time when it is most important to pray. My son, Paul, says that during those times he begins by reciting the Lord's Prayer, or some other inspirational scripture. Beginning a prayer time in this way centers the thoughts, "primes the pump," and touches the heart, directing it to God. Prayer beginning in the depths of despair can end in the heights of glory if one simply has the faith to be obedient in prayer. Read the whole of Psalms 22. Even when you do not feel like praying you can have a heart for prayer if it is begun in obedient faith.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen . . . (Isaiah 1:15).
Each New Year's Eve my church has a prayer vigil from noon to midnight; there is not a better way to watch the new year come in, asking our Father in Heaven for his provision in it. Each participant commits to pray for the duration of a specific thirty-minute segment. I always choose the final segment, eleven thirty to midnight, and I go to the church building to pray because that is where the Church gathers for worship. The building is old so there are some creaks and groans that heighten the prayer experience, reminding me of some of the very dear saints, and perhaps, not so dear saints who have gone on before.
Often the prayer-vigil participants will worry how they will pray for thirty minutes. When they express their anxiety I am reminded of a quote said to be by John Bunyon, "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." Though one might not have the words, one must have a heart for prayer. It is reassuring to know that our Advocate, the Holy Spirit, prays for us when we do not have the words. Prayers filled with cliches are evidence of words without a heart. God will not listen to prayers from insincere and/or unrepentant hearts!
There are times when the last thing one feels like doing is praying, but that is the time when it is most important to pray. My son, Paul, says that during those times he begins by reciting the Lord's Prayer, or some other inspirational scripture. Beginning a prayer time in this way centers the thoughts, "primes the pump," and touches the heart, directing it to God. Prayer beginning in the depths of despair can end in the heights of glory if one simply has the faith to be obedient in prayer. Read the whole of Psalms 22. Even when you do not feel like praying you can have a heart for prayer if it is begun in obedient faith.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Monday, May 24, 2010
TIME-TRAVEL LEADERSHIP
You are the salt of the earth . . . (Matthew 5:13). You are the light of the world . . . (Matthew 5:14).
Among counselors there is a saying: 'Things work out as they should.' In other words, when all things are considered, it is not surprising that one is in the mess that he is in. However, a good leader can change a future that otherwise would have been a failure into a success and can also help to redeem a negative past into a positive present. Is that time-travel or what?
Leadership is about influence. Though there are various styles of leadership, there is no leadership if there is no positive influence. At some time in each person's life there will be an opportunity to lead as a peer, a parent, a Sunday school teacher, a coach, and so on. Through their positive influence many of these leaders have inspired others to reframe or discard a negative past and change on otherwise certain future into something good.
Leadership begins with the kind of person one is. Some leaders are all about themselves, leading for the purpose of personal prestige, power and fortune. A real leader can create and maintain trust because he is a person of integrity, not just speaking the truth, but doing the truth and keeping his word. Politicians do not rank very high on the trust scale because so many of them are in it for themselves, using the power of government for their own purposes, taxing and legislating restrictions on the "little people" while they, themselves, do not live by their own rules.
Leadership is intentional. What I mean by that is that good leaders have intentionally taken the time to learn leadership skills. They know that leadership is not bossiness, but rather, inspires others. They know that leadership is having a vision and can communicate that vision in such a way that others will follow. Though some seem to be born with the ability to take charge, that ability by itself will build resentment unless one also knows his or her people, how to network and build alliances. Power alone does not make a leader; wisdom does.
Your time for leadership will come! What kind of leader will you be?
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Among counselors there is a saying: 'Things work out as they should.' In other words, when all things are considered, it is not surprising that one is in the mess that he is in. However, a good leader can change a future that otherwise would have been a failure into a success and can also help to redeem a negative past into a positive present. Is that time-travel or what?
Leadership is about influence. Though there are various styles of leadership, there is no leadership if there is no positive influence. At some time in each person's life there will be an opportunity to lead as a peer, a parent, a Sunday school teacher, a coach, and so on. Through their positive influence many of these leaders have inspired others to reframe or discard a negative past and change on otherwise certain future into something good.
Leadership begins with the kind of person one is. Some leaders are all about themselves, leading for the purpose of personal prestige, power and fortune. A real leader can create and maintain trust because he is a person of integrity, not just speaking the truth, but doing the truth and keeping his word. Politicians do not rank very high on the trust scale because so many of them are in it for themselves, using the power of government for their own purposes, taxing and legislating restrictions on the "little people" while they, themselves, do not live by their own rules.
Leadership is intentional. What I mean by that is that good leaders have intentionally taken the time to learn leadership skills. They know that leadership is not bossiness, but rather, inspires others. They know that leadership is having a vision and can communicate that vision in such a way that others will follow. Though some seem to be born with the ability to take charge, that ability by itself will build resentment unless one also knows his or her people, how to network and build alliances. Power alone does not make a leader; wisdom does.
Your time for leadership will come! What kind of leader will you be?
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
. . . above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16).
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil . . . (Isaiah 5:20).
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13).
What is evil? Evil is more than the absence of good; maliciousness is a characteristic of it as well. Webster includes these descriptions: arising from real or supposed wickedness, what is morally wrong, what hinders the realization of good. When Peter, with good intentions, told our Lord that his death on the cross should never happen, Jesus recognized the true source of those words and replied, Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men (Matthew 16:23). In this satan was attempting to sabotage God's plan of redemption. Peter's words arose from a malicious, wicked personality who desperately wanted to destroy God's plan of redemption for humanity. It should be noted too that Peter's words simply reflected common Jewish thought about the Messiah. This means that the source of human philosophy which conflicts with the word of God is the devil.
At least since Darwin, modern thinkers have attempted to minimize evil by reducing it to mythology. They insist that the bad things that happen in the world are explained by ignorance and natural causes but: Evil is much more than the absence of good--it is not explained by the absence of education, "enlightenment," good nutrition, clean air, and nurturing love for every child--for evil is present when all of the above grace human culture. The most evil acts in history occurred in recent times in the twentieth century, with humankind presumably in its most advanced stage when technology, medicine, psychology and philosophy had reached never before dreamed of sophistication (Dr. Bruce Parmenter, Hiller Lectureship, North American Baptist Seminary, 2001). Evil exists, it is everywhere and it is malignant, seeking to destroy everything that is good. It is necessary to recognize the pervasiveness of evil so that it can be understood that even in the best of times one must always be on guard, ready for the devil's schemes.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil . . . (Isaiah 5:20).
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13).
What is evil? Evil is more than the absence of good; maliciousness is a characteristic of it as well. Webster includes these descriptions: arising from real or supposed wickedness, what is morally wrong, what hinders the realization of good. When Peter, with good intentions, told our Lord that his death on the cross should never happen, Jesus recognized the true source of those words and replied, Get behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men (Matthew 16:23). In this satan was attempting to sabotage God's plan of redemption. Peter's words arose from a malicious, wicked personality who desperately wanted to destroy God's plan of redemption for humanity. It should be noted too that Peter's words simply reflected common Jewish thought about the Messiah. This means that the source of human philosophy which conflicts with the word of God is the devil.
At least since Darwin, modern thinkers have attempted to minimize evil by reducing it to mythology. They insist that the bad things that happen in the world are explained by ignorance and natural causes but: Evil is much more than the absence of good--it is not explained by the absence of education, "enlightenment," good nutrition, clean air, and nurturing love for every child--for evil is present when all of the above grace human culture. The most evil acts in history occurred in recent times in the twentieth century, with humankind presumably in its most advanced stage when technology, medicine, psychology and philosophy had reached never before dreamed of sophistication (Dr. Bruce Parmenter, Hiller Lectureship, North American Baptist Seminary, 2001). Evil exists, it is everywhere and it is malignant, seeking to destroy everything that is good. It is necessary to recognize the pervasiveness of evil so that it can be understood that even in the best of times one must always be on guard, ready for the devil's schemes.
Grace&Peace,
Tom
Friday, May 07, 2010
YOUR GIFT: USE IT OR LOSE IT
I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away (Luke 19:26).
. . . nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each of us, for 'in him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:25-28).
During my tenure at Midwest Christian Services, an adolescent residential treatment facility, I noticed that one of the common features of the residents was that they were gifted; the reason for their admittance to MCS was not due to a deficient mental capacity. Generally, the residents came from dysfunctional family environments so that they were negatively influenced and undisciplined, and, as a result, made bad choices. Poor academic performance at school resulted from deficient self-discipline and life-skills rather than low intellectual capacity. Out in the general population the same phenomena is also true. Most people are more gifted than they think, but because of negative thinking habits and attitudes, never make the most of what they have.
Though there is a difference between natural gifts and Spiritual gifts, there is not as much distinction as one might assume because even natural gifts have a Spiritual purpose. God has not left his creation without supervision to exist on its own; he is deeply involved in it so that humanity would seek him. He has graced humanity with a vast array of natural gifts so that we can bless each other, for example, the Holy Spirit can use a competent secular counselor to help a person with their problems.
The Bible teaches that if your gift goes unused, it will be lost, but if your gift is used, more gifts will be given. One sure way to lose your gift, natural or Spiritual, is to let it go unused. One sure way to become more gifted is to use more the gift that you have for the Lord. Those who avoid any opportunities for service will lose everything.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
. . . nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything. And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each of us, for 'in him we live and move and have our being' (Acts 17:25-28).
During my tenure at Midwest Christian Services, an adolescent residential treatment facility, I noticed that one of the common features of the residents was that they were gifted; the reason for their admittance to MCS was not due to a deficient mental capacity. Generally, the residents came from dysfunctional family environments so that they were negatively influenced and undisciplined, and, as a result, made bad choices. Poor academic performance at school resulted from deficient self-discipline and life-skills rather than low intellectual capacity. Out in the general population the same phenomena is also true. Most people are more gifted than they think, but because of negative thinking habits and attitudes, never make the most of what they have.
Though there is a difference between natural gifts and Spiritual gifts, there is not as much distinction as one might assume because even natural gifts have a Spiritual purpose. God has not left his creation without supervision to exist on its own; he is deeply involved in it so that humanity would seek him. He has graced humanity with a vast array of natural gifts so that we can bless each other, for example, the Holy Spirit can use a competent secular counselor to help a person with their problems.
The Bible teaches that if your gift goes unused, it will be lost, but if your gift is used, more gifts will be given. One sure way to lose your gift, natural or Spiritual, is to let it go unused. One sure way to become more gifted is to use more the gift that you have for the Lord. Those who avoid any opportunities for service will lose everything.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
USING YOUR GIFT?
The Lord said to Moses, "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic design . . . (Exodus 31:1-3).
I had just filled the fuel tank on my farm tractor and started the engine to let it warm up for the hard day of work that lay ahead when I noticed hydraulic oil begin to "gush" forth from deep inside the tractor; a hydraulic line had burst. Having done a fair amount of mechanic work in my life, my first thought was to attempt to fix it myself. I removed a heavy access plate to gain entry to the internals of the tractor. Once removed I found that the access was not much of an access at all and after studying and working at the problem for a couple of hours I decided to talk to my mechanic about it. He said, "Give me a few minutes to gather some tools and I will come and see what I can do." When he arrived I showed him exactly what the problem was. He laid himself up on the tractor near the access point, it is a big tractor, with tools in hand and within two hours the tractor was repaired.
I told myself as I handed him wrenches and watched him work, "This guy is made for what he does." I have "wrenched" enough over the course of my life to have experienced the down and dirty of intimacy with machines, reading the manuals, getting sweaty and greasy, laying in the dirt, snow and on cold concrete, but I am not a mechanic. I am not efficient when I do the work, the desire to do it day after day is not in me because it is a frustrating job for me. On the day my mechanic worked on my tractor I did not hear him swear once, but my Christian vocabulary is severely tested when I am doing that kind of work--perhaps the Lord is teaching patience.
The counselor in me understands that life generally works out as it should, meaning that when hereditary and environmental factors and the Spirit of God are considered, it is no surprise that a person ends up doing what they do. I believe that the Spirit of God has led each person who is doing honorable work to his or her task. One need not worry about what their gift is, just get on with the tasks at hand and the gift will become evident. Do not worry about finding the gift, you will find it as you serve our Lord and Savior each day.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
I had just filled the fuel tank on my farm tractor and started the engine to let it warm up for the hard day of work that lay ahead when I noticed hydraulic oil begin to "gush" forth from deep inside the tractor; a hydraulic line had burst. Having done a fair amount of mechanic work in my life, my first thought was to attempt to fix it myself. I removed a heavy access plate to gain entry to the internals of the tractor. Once removed I found that the access was not much of an access at all and after studying and working at the problem for a couple of hours I decided to talk to my mechanic about it. He said, "Give me a few minutes to gather some tools and I will come and see what I can do." When he arrived I showed him exactly what the problem was. He laid himself up on the tractor near the access point, it is a big tractor, with tools in hand and within two hours the tractor was repaired.
I told myself as I handed him wrenches and watched him work, "This guy is made for what he does." I have "wrenched" enough over the course of my life to have experienced the down and dirty of intimacy with machines, reading the manuals, getting sweaty and greasy, laying in the dirt, snow and on cold concrete, but I am not a mechanic. I am not efficient when I do the work, the desire to do it day after day is not in me because it is a frustrating job for me. On the day my mechanic worked on my tractor I did not hear him swear once, but my Christian vocabulary is severely tested when I am doing that kind of work--perhaps the Lord is teaching patience.
The counselor in me understands that life generally works out as it should, meaning that when hereditary and environmental factors and the Spirit of God are considered, it is no surprise that a person ends up doing what they do. I believe that the Spirit of God has led each person who is doing honorable work to his or her task. One need not worry about what their gift is, just get on with the tasks at hand and the gift will become evident. Do not worry about finding the gift, you will find it as you serve our Lord and Savior each day.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
THE GOD WHO MADE HIMSELF VULNERABLE
My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest (Psalm 22:1-2).
He who does not love does not know God; for God is love (I John 4:8).
Can a sovereign God be vulnerable? An almighty and all knowing God has no vulnerabilities except that he is also love. Love requires vulnerability because love requires relationship. How can one have a true relationship with one who does not allow another to think or act for him or her self? Real love is the free response, the free choice, of the ones involved in a relationship. The moment God made the decision to create beings in his own image, he made a decision to become vulnerable to be hurt and rejected by those whom he loves.
Not only in creation did God make himself vulnerable, in redemption he made himself more vulnerable by becoming flesh, meaning that he became human. It is extremely difficult to wrap our minds around the incarnation of God, and we will probably never fully understand it this side of heaven. Nevertheless, God subjected himself to the same frailties of humanity to which you and I are subject--yet without sin. God says that the just shall live by faith and so Jesus Christ, our model, lived by trust and obedience to the Father. It might be assumed that because Jesus was God in the flesh then faith was not necessary for him, or that his temptations were not real because it is against the nature of God to sin. None of us completely understands how much of himself Jesus emptied (Philippians 2:7) in the process of becoming human, but I do know that it was enough so that he had to live by faith and deal with the temptations and struggles of life much as we do.
If Jesus' life in the flesh is an example for us, we should not expect that life will be without pain and difficulty. On the cross Jesus felt completely abandoned by his Father (Matthew 27:46) fulfilling the prophecy of the 22nd Psalm. I can guarantee that you, dear reader, will have times when you will feel the same. But, we know that because God made himself vulnerable we have pardon and forgiveness of sin, adoption into his family, the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit and hope for eternity by faith in Christ.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
He who does not love does not know God; for God is love (I John 4:8).
Can a sovereign God be vulnerable? An almighty and all knowing God has no vulnerabilities except that he is also love. Love requires vulnerability because love requires relationship. How can one have a true relationship with one who does not allow another to think or act for him or her self? Real love is the free response, the free choice, of the ones involved in a relationship. The moment God made the decision to create beings in his own image, he made a decision to become vulnerable to be hurt and rejected by those whom he loves.
Not only in creation did God make himself vulnerable, in redemption he made himself more vulnerable by becoming flesh, meaning that he became human. It is extremely difficult to wrap our minds around the incarnation of God, and we will probably never fully understand it this side of heaven. Nevertheless, God subjected himself to the same frailties of humanity to which you and I are subject--yet without sin. God says that the just shall live by faith and so Jesus Christ, our model, lived by trust and obedience to the Father. It might be assumed that because Jesus was God in the flesh then faith was not necessary for him, or that his temptations were not real because it is against the nature of God to sin. None of us completely understands how much of himself Jesus emptied (Philippians 2:7) in the process of becoming human, but I do know that it was enough so that he had to live by faith and deal with the temptations and struggles of life much as we do.
If Jesus' life in the flesh is an example for us, we should not expect that life will be without pain and difficulty. On the cross Jesus felt completely abandoned by his Father (Matthew 27:46) fulfilling the prophecy of the 22nd Psalm. I can guarantee that you, dear reader, will have times when you will feel the same. But, we know that because God made himself vulnerable we have pardon and forgiveness of sin, adoption into his family, the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit and hope for eternity by faith in Christ.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Thursday, April 15, 2010
THE WORD BECAME FLESH
In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature . . .(Hebrews 1:1-3).
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . (John 1:14).
It is impossible to have a relationship without some kind of communication. Actually, it is impossible not to communicate because communication is not just words, it is what is done or not done that is a more trustworthy communication. Nonverbal communication is more that 60% of communication and is a more true indication of the heart than verbal communication. Jesus Christ is the true communication of the heart of the Father, communicating not only with his words, but in his life, death and resurrection.
Even though God is the Creator with infinite wisdom and knowledge, still, philosophers and theologians (we are all philosophers and theologians you know) could always argue that God's understanding of what it is like to be human was only hypothetical; it was not actual until the Word became flesh. God took that argument away in Jesus Christ, who fully experience what it is to be you and me! The Wonderful Counselor can empathize with us because he walked in our shoes!
By becoming flesh, God also revealed godliness in human form. He modeled love, humility, forgiveness, and anger. He showed us how to be compassionate and spread hope and joy. The question "What would Jesus do?" has become a cliche, but it is no less valid; Jesus is the model of godliness for you and me. We can see how God would deal with life if he were human.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . (John 1:14).
It is impossible to have a relationship without some kind of communication. Actually, it is impossible not to communicate because communication is not just words, it is what is done or not done that is a more trustworthy communication. Nonverbal communication is more that 60% of communication and is a more true indication of the heart than verbal communication. Jesus Christ is the true communication of the heart of the Father, communicating not only with his words, but in his life, death and resurrection.
Even though God is the Creator with infinite wisdom and knowledge, still, philosophers and theologians (we are all philosophers and theologians you know) could always argue that God's understanding of what it is like to be human was only hypothetical; it was not actual until the Word became flesh. God took that argument away in Jesus Christ, who fully experience what it is to be you and me! The Wonderful Counselor can empathize with us because he walked in our shoes!
By becoming flesh, God also revealed godliness in human form. He modeled love, humility, forgiveness, and anger. He showed us how to be compassionate and spread hope and joy. The question "What would Jesus do?" has become a cliche, but it is no less valid; Jesus is the model of godliness for you and me. We can see how God would deal with life if he were human.
Grace&Peace;
Tom
Sunday, April 11, 2010
JESUS, THE FIRST-BORN
And I will make him the first-born, the highest of the kings of earth (Psalms 89:27).
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15).
Psalms 89:27 is another of the Old Testament prophecies that was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Sometimes a thoughtful Bible student will ask, "What does it mean that Christ was the first-born of creation? Does that mean that Jesus was created?" In modern times we tend to think in more literal terms than the ancients. Sometimes, literal thinking can lead us to conclusions that are not true, as in this instance.
Taking a good concordance and looking up the term "first-born," one will find that it is used more than 110 times in the Bible. Most of the time the term can be taken quite literally, but there are a significant number of times when it does not mean first in order, but first in place or first in rank, being the absolute best or the absolute worst. For instance, Job 18:13 says, "By disease his skin is consumed, the first-born of death consumes his limbs," meaning that the worst kind of dying is consuming Job.
When the Bible speaks of Jesus as being the "first-born of all creation," it means that Jesus is preeminent over all creation--not that he was created, but that he is the creator and sustainer of the universe. So, imagine the Creator lying in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn, or, imagine the Creator some 33 years later, dying on a cross for you and me. To the wise of this world, it just doesn't fit, but: God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast (I Corinthians 1:27-29).
The name, "First-Born," was a prophesied title of the Messiah who bore very nature of God (Hebrews 1:3) and the nature of man. The most important question is, however, is Jesus Christ the Preeminent One in your life?
Grace&Peace;
Tom
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15).
Psalms 89:27 is another of the Old Testament prophecies that was fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Sometimes a thoughtful Bible student will ask, "What does it mean that Christ was the first-born of creation? Does that mean that Jesus was created?" In modern times we tend to think in more literal terms than the ancients. Sometimes, literal thinking can lead us to conclusions that are not true, as in this instance.
Taking a good concordance and looking up the term "first-born," one will find that it is used more than 110 times in the Bible. Most of the time the term can be taken quite literally, but there are a significant number of times when it does not mean first in order, but first in place or first in rank, being the absolute best or the absolute worst. For instance, Job 18:13 says, "By disease his skin is consumed, the first-born of death consumes his limbs," meaning that the worst kind of dying is consuming Job.
When the Bible speaks of Jesus as being the "first-born of all creation," it means that Jesus is preeminent over all creation--not that he was created, but that he is the creator and sustainer of the universe. So, imagine the Creator lying in a manger because there was no room for him in the inn, or, imagine the Creator some 33 years later, dying on a cross for you and me. To the wise of this world, it just doesn't fit, but: God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast (I Corinthians 1:27-29).
The name, "First-Born," was a prophesied title of the Messiah who bore very nature of God (Hebrews 1:3) and the nature of man. The most important question is, however, is Jesus Christ the Preeminent One in your life?
Grace&Peace;
Tom
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