Behold, now is "The acceptable time," behold, now is "The day of salvation" . . . (2 Corinthians 6:2b)*
Do you know what status quo bias is? People tend to continue to what ever it is that they are doing unless there is a powerful dynamic that will make them take a new action. If we are faced with the slightest bit of effort to change and make new plans we will tend to continue in our old ways. We put off going to the doctor, getting perscriptions, or even taking them. That kind of procrastination costs the United States an estimated $100 billion a year in extra healthcare costs**
Though it is easy to put off needed changes, make the big push, make a new normal. Sometimes it is good to do nothing, but one must always assess the cost of doing nothing! The blessings of salvation in Christ are available to all right now, but many put off the decision to surrender to Jesus because it does mean a new life. Problem is that no one knows the future--tonight your soul could be required of you. Eternal punishment is too big a price for doing nothing! Are you willing to pay it?
Do it now!
Our Father's Love
Tom
*The bold emphasis is Paul's quote of Isaiah 49:8.
**Dr. David Eifrig Jr.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
REJECTING BAPTISM REJECTING GOD
When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John (Luke 7:29-30).
As I was doing my Bible reading this morning these two verses struck me. What a contrast, tax collectors and sinners, convicted by John's preaching were baptized by him, but the "finest" religious people of the day were not baptized. Luke says they rejected God's purpose by not being baptized. Those are very strong words!
I wonder, those who easily dismiss Christian baptism as being necessary for Christian conversion, are they rejecting God's purpose? We who teach bear more responsibility!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
As I was doing my Bible reading this morning these two verses struck me. What a contrast, tax collectors and sinners, convicted by John's preaching were baptized by him, but the "finest" religious people of the day were not baptized. Luke says they rejected God's purpose by not being baptized. Those are very strong words!
I wonder, those who easily dismiss Christian baptism as being necessary for Christian conversion, are they rejecting God's purpose? We who teach bear more responsibility!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, September 20, 2014
PROPITIATION: How to Deal with God's Wrath
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).
It has been said that one of the ways of killing discussion in a small group Bible study is for some one to use big theological words like "propitiation." Problem is, "propitiation" is a Bible word that is necessary to understand and it is not a difficult word to understand if you want to understand the Bible.
The gospel is both good news and bad. The bad is this; that sin brings the wrath of God. We are all sinners who are subject to God's wrath apart from Jesus Christ. The self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross appeases the wrath of God and assures those who follow Him salvation rather than damnation. Propitiation is the offering which appeases the wrath of God. The good news is that all those who belong to Jesus have Him as the propitiation of their sin.
The day of judgement is coming. Is Christ Jesus the propitiation of your sin?
Our Father's Love;
Tom
It has been said that one of the ways of killing discussion in a small group Bible study is for some one to use big theological words like "propitiation." Problem is, "propitiation" is a Bible word that is necessary to understand and it is not a difficult word to understand if you want to understand the Bible.
The gospel is both good news and bad. The bad is this; that sin brings the wrath of God. We are all sinners who are subject to God's wrath apart from Jesus Christ. The self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross appeases the wrath of God and assures those who follow Him salvation rather than damnation. Propitiation is the offering which appeases the wrath of God. The good news is that all those who belong to Jesus have Him as the propitiation of their sin.
The day of judgement is coming. Is Christ Jesus the propitiation of your sin?
Our Father's Love;
Tom
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
SOW JOY
Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy (Psalms 126:5)
I scheduled a crew to do some renovation on my swine finishing building this September. The month is rapidly going by and the crew had not come, so I decided to call the company that is doing the renovation and find out when they would be starting.
The name of the company is Sow Joy. Of course, a sow is a mother pig and is pronounced sou as in sourer. I typed Sow Joy into google for a search, and the name of the company did show up, but as well the Scripture reference Psalms 126:5 also showed up--interesting.
The English language is funny. Sow, in Psalms 126:5 is pronounced "soe" with a long O. Two words spelled the same, with different meanings and different pronunciations and show up in the same google search.
Anyways, Psalms 126:5 reminds us that even a life dedicated to the Lord is filled with heartache, but do not lose heart, there will be a harvest of JOY!
Oh, I have to say that the crew is here working even as I write this.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
I scheduled a crew to do some renovation on my swine finishing building this September. The month is rapidly going by and the crew had not come, so I decided to call the company that is doing the renovation and find out when they would be starting.
The name of the company is Sow Joy. Of course, a sow is a mother pig and is pronounced sou as in sourer. I typed Sow Joy into google for a search, and the name of the company did show up, but as well the Scripture reference Psalms 126:5 also showed up--interesting.
The English language is funny. Sow, in Psalms 126:5 is pronounced "soe" with a long O. Two words spelled the same, with different meanings and different pronunciations and show up in the same google search.
Anyways, Psalms 126:5 reminds us that even a life dedicated to the Lord is filled with heartache, but do not lose heart, there will be a harvest of JOY!
Oh, I have to say that the crew is here working even as I write this.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
WHEN LIFE SUCKS . . . watchout
Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity! What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3).
Victor Frankl coined the term "existential vacuum" in an attempt to describe the meaninglessness that afflicts many today. I have written a couple of "Bullets" about EV, but yesterday I had a graphic demonstration of what too much vacuum can do. I have a 1500 gallon vacuum tank that I use to spread liquid manure and pump my own septic tank. The tank is quite old and the vacuum gage does not work so I do not know what the vacuum actually was, but as I was vacuuming the septic tank there was a sudden quietness and then a big boom. The vacuum tank imploded. It now looks like a wrinkled, empty water bottle. Immediately I thought of Victor Frankl.
The lesson is that meaninglessness in a person's life is not benign! The meaningless life does have its consequences. When life sucks, find your refuge in Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30).
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Victor Frankl coined the term "existential vacuum" in an attempt to describe the meaninglessness that afflicts many today. I have written a couple of "Bullets" about EV, but yesterday I had a graphic demonstration of what too much vacuum can do. I have a 1500 gallon vacuum tank that I use to spread liquid manure and pump my own septic tank. The tank is quite old and the vacuum gage does not work so I do not know what the vacuum actually was, but as I was vacuuming the septic tank there was a sudden quietness and then a big boom. The vacuum tank imploded. It now looks like a wrinkled, empty water bottle. Immediately I thought of Victor Frankl.
The lesson is that meaninglessness in a person's life is not benign! The meaningless life does have its consequences. When life sucks, find your refuge in Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30).
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
SELF MEDICATION IS NOT A SOLUTION
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew ll:28-30).
About a year ago our local phone company plowed in fiber-optic cable to all its land-line customers. Finally, this year, a three-man crew came and actually connected that cable to our houses and places of businesses. Two days ago was the day for our house. Though the performance of the phones and Internet is very good, it is not a huge "day and night" difference from the old copper wire.
I had an opportunity to carry on a conversation with one of the guys. I asked him where he was from and what he liked to do. He said that he worked hard during the week, but when the week end came, he liked to simply relax and drink. I really should have gone into my counselor mode because there were a couple of "red flags" that went up. One, that he did not want to be bothered on the weekends so he could drink; two, there were other activities he liked to do at one time, fishing and working on his car, but now he would rather relax and drink. These are classic signals that he is self-medicating anxiety and depression. He is dependent on alcohol--his problems will get worse rather than better.
The yoke of Jesus is a whole lot easier than the yoke of the world; he needs Jesus. I think I failed the guy by not talking about his faith in alcohol and not talking to him about faith in Christ. When one has faith in Christ, he doesn't have to live up to the expectations of the world, but only up to the love of Christ. Alcohol, and other psychotropics, will make your problems worse, but the yoke of Christ will bring rest and healing to your soul!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
About a year ago our local phone company plowed in fiber-optic cable to all its land-line customers. Finally, this year, a three-man crew came and actually connected that cable to our houses and places of businesses. Two days ago was the day for our house. Though the performance of the phones and Internet is very good, it is not a huge "day and night" difference from the old copper wire.
I had an opportunity to carry on a conversation with one of the guys. I asked him where he was from and what he liked to do. He said that he worked hard during the week, but when the week end came, he liked to simply relax and drink. I really should have gone into my counselor mode because there were a couple of "red flags" that went up. One, that he did not want to be bothered on the weekends so he could drink; two, there were other activities he liked to do at one time, fishing and working on his car, but now he would rather relax and drink. These are classic signals that he is self-medicating anxiety and depression. He is dependent on alcohol--his problems will get worse rather than better.
The yoke of Jesus is a whole lot easier than the yoke of the world; he needs Jesus. I think I failed the guy by not talking about his faith in alcohol and not talking to him about faith in Christ. When one has faith in Christ, he doesn't have to live up to the expectations of the world, but only up to the love of Christ. Alcohol, and other psychotropics, will make your problems worse, but the yoke of Christ will bring rest and healing to your soul!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
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