You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).
What is a synecdoche? It is not a strange animal. It is not an alien from outer space. It is not a word for a bad politician, of which there seems to be many these days. A synechdoche is a figure of speech in which the part stands for the whole. I have nine hundred head of pigs in my pig barn. It would be a strange sight out of an old science fiction movie to walk into the barn and see only pig heads there. There are also plenty of loins, chops and hams too--that's what I see when I go into the barn. But it is the head that is the predominant feature of most any animal and that is why I have nine hundred head of pigs, not nine hundred loin of pigs. When a buyer buys my pigs he buys them with the full expectation that the loins, hams and chops will come along with the head.
So it is with faith. If a person truly believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the change in his/her life is a forgone conclusion. It will happen. Faith is the predominant feature of the Christian life. If a person says that he has faith, but there is no obedience and submission to the Lord, if he does not evidence a life of compassion and a desire to invest in the things of God, his faith is like one of my pigs with only a head and no body. A creature like that only happens in a bad science-fiction movie, otherwise it is dead.
Reading the context of James 2:24, one easily discovers that James is dealing with the believe-and-be-saved mentality that is so foreign to the scriptures. Texts like Acts 16:31 which say, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household" are synecdochial; the context demonstrates the synecdoche. Belief is not something that exists apart from obedience.
No one has perfect faith and thus no one has perfect trust, obedience and compassion, but one of our prayers should always be, "Lord Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief."
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
WE ARE BACK
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
Yesterday, my son, Paul married Jenny Franklin of Austin, MN. Helen and I, our children, grandchildren and in laws spent last week staying in the Log-Cabin Inn of Rose Creek, Minnesota vacationing as well as preparing for the wedding. The cabin was made of real twelve-inch logs; it was rustic yet very enjoyable and perfect for our family. On the wall of the cabin was a hanging which said, "Life is not the number of breaths you take, but it is the number of moments that take your breath away." An author wasn't credited on the hanging, but whoever wrote it gave us an important means of evaluating our lives.
We are home now, tired and weary, but it is a weariness that is good because of all of those good moments associated with it. Those moments took our breath away--what a blessing!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Yesterday, my son, Paul married Jenny Franklin of Austin, MN. Helen and I, our children, grandchildren and in laws spent last week staying in the Log-Cabin Inn of Rose Creek, Minnesota vacationing as well as preparing for the wedding. The cabin was made of real twelve-inch logs; it was rustic yet very enjoyable and perfect for our family. On the wall of the cabin was a hanging which said, "Life is not the number of breaths you take, but it is the number of moments that take your breath away." An author wasn't credited on the hanging, but whoever wrote it gave us an important means of evaluating our lives.
We are home now, tired and weary, but it is a weariness that is good because of all of those good moments associated with it. Those moments took our breath away--what a blessing!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Thursday, June 16, 2011
PROVIDING FOR YOUR FAMILY
If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (I Timothy 5:8).
With Father's Day on Sunday, and QE2 arriving on June 30th, I thought it necessary to share some of my thinking.
From the context of the verse, it is obvious that Paul is speaking of providing necessary material things for the family. Nevertheless, spiritual provision is a necessary provision for the family because, as Jesus said, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If a Christian man does not provide spiritual leadership in his home then he is not truly providing for his family.
The end of Quantitative Easing 2 is when the Fed stops printing money. Because of the financial crisis in Europe and the huge amounts of deficit spending at home, no one knows what will happen when the printing presses stop on June 30th. The mood of congress is for austerity measures and with a tighter money supply it might soon become very difficult to provide for one's family. Of course the reason that the U.S. is in this mess is precisely because there are many people who feel entitled to other people's money. There are many family members who can pay for the support of their family, but want the government to do it for them. When the basic law of providing for one's own family is violated then, eventually, a whole nation can be destroyed. Look what is happening in Greece--the U.S. is almost there.
My investment advisor (I subscribe an investment newsletter that will remain nameless) shared 3 things to prepare for QE2:
1. Hold plenty of cash; up to 40% of your investments.
2. Hold gold and silver bullion.
3. Sell risky stocks.
Obviously, if one doesn't have a lot of net worth (me), those three steps do not help a lot. However, it sure wouldn't hurt to stock up on basic necessities as a precaution. Ultimately, the Lord is our provider. Christians need to be ready to take hold of the opportunities that a loving Father provides his children so that they can provide for theirs.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
With Father's Day on Sunday, and QE2 arriving on June 30th, I thought it necessary to share some of my thinking.
From the context of the verse, it is obvious that Paul is speaking of providing necessary material things for the family. Nevertheless, spiritual provision is a necessary provision for the family because, as Jesus said, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If a Christian man does not provide spiritual leadership in his home then he is not truly providing for his family.
The end of Quantitative Easing 2 is when the Fed stops printing money. Because of the financial crisis in Europe and the huge amounts of deficit spending at home, no one knows what will happen when the printing presses stop on June 30th. The mood of congress is for austerity measures and with a tighter money supply it might soon become very difficult to provide for one's family. Of course the reason that the U.S. is in this mess is precisely because there are many people who feel entitled to other people's money. There are many family members who can pay for the support of their family, but want the government to do it for them. When the basic law of providing for one's own family is violated then, eventually, a whole nation can be destroyed. Look what is happening in Greece--the U.S. is almost there.
My investment advisor (I subscribe an investment newsletter that will remain nameless) shared 3 things to prepare for QE2:
1. Hold plenty of cash; up to 40% of your investments.
2. Hold gold and silver bullion.
3. Sell risky stocks.
Obviously, if one doesn't have a lot of net worth (me), those three steps do not help a lot. However, it sure wouldn't hurt to stock up on basic necessities as a precaution. Ultimately, the Lord is our provider. Christians need to be ready to take hold of the opportunities that a loving Father provides his children so that they can provide for theirs.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
HOME FROM CAMP 2
And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:13-14).
The legal definition of a child in the state of Iowa is a person under the age of 18. In the culture of Jesus' time a person was well into adulthood by the time he/she reached the age of 18. Even the 11 and 12 year-olds who Helen and I worked with at camp were older than the children Jesus was speaking about in this scripture text. But 11 and 12 year-olds still have some innocence about them because there is so much of life that is still new to them.
For some of them, the trust that should characterize the relationship they have to their parents is gone because the parents have pursued their own selfish agenda rather than what is best for their children. Trust is the most important characteristic of children that make them part of the Kingdom of Heaven. The picture Jesus paints here of children is not one of total depravity, but one of innocence, love and trust. Children become sinful because of the influence of the world, the flesh and the devil.
Another characteristic of a child that makes them dear to the Lord is that they see things in black and white. They make their decisions much more easily than adults who see everything in various shades of grey. Often, adults are so nuanced that they stand for nothing.
So, working with kids at church and at camp helps one to stay young. In them I see some of the things I have lost and need to get back. Lord, give me the strength to go back next year.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The legal definition of a child in the state of Iowa is a person under the age of 18. In the culture of Jesus' time a person was well into adulthood by the time he/she reached the age of 18. Even the 11 and 12 year-olds who Helen and I worked with at camp were older than the children Jesus was speaking about in this scripture text. But 11 and 12 year-olds still have some innocence about them because there is so much of life that is still new to them.
For some of them, the trust that should characterize the relationship they have to their parents is gone because the parents have pursued their own selfish agenda rather than what is best for their children. Trust is the most important characteristic of children that make them part of the Kingdom of Heaven. The picture Jesus paints here of children is not one of total depravity, but one of innocence, love and trust. Children become sinful because of the influence of the world, the flesh and the devil.
Another characteristic of a child that makes them dear to the Lord is that they see things in black and white. They make their decisions much more easily than adults who see everything in various shades of grey. Often, adults are so nuanced that they stand for nothing.
So, working with kids at church and at camp helps one to stay young. In them I see some of the things I have lost and need to get back. Lord, give me the strength to go back next year.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Saturday, June 11, 2011
HOME FROM CAMP
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).
Helen and I just returned from a week of being dorm parents for 5th and 6th graders at NEBOWA Christian Camp. It was a great time. The two hot days nearly did me in, and we are worn out now, but the investment in the lives of the young is worth it!!!
The children whom Jesus was talking about were probably younger than the 11 and 12 year-olds that Helen and I worked with, but there is still some of that "children" in them that Jesus was talking about. Life is new to children. As each phase of maturation is entered, it is an all new experience to them. They are creative and see life in a new way. Those who have said, "experience is the best teacher," are wrong. Sometimes experience teaches bad things, not good things. Sometimes experience hinders openness and curiosity. Part of the job description of a teacher/counselor is to help the child interpret the meaning of an experience so that he/she can grow from it, not be hindered by it. It was a privilege for me to be able to participate in that process at camp.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Helen and I just returned from a week of being dorm parents for 5th and 6th graders at NEBOWA Christian Camp. It was a great time. The two hot days nearly did me in, and we are worn out now, but the investment in the lives of the young is worth it!!!
The children whom Jesus was talking about were probably younger than the 11 and 12 year-olds that Helen and I worked with, but there is still some of that "children" in them that Jesus was talking about. Life is new to children. As each phase of maturation is entered, it is an all new experience to them. They are creative and see life in a new way. Those who have said, "experience is the best teacher," are wrong. Sometimes experience teaches bad things, not good things. Sometimes experience hinders openness and curiosity. Part of the job description of a teacher/counselor is to help the child interpret the meaning of an experience so that he/she can grow from it, not be hindered by it. It was a privilege for me to be able to participate in that process at camp.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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