Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:39-40 NASV).
In my daily Bible reading I am currently reading through John's gospel. Today I was reading through the 11th chapter about the death and resurrection of Lazarus. I emphasized a portion of verse 40. The thought came to mind after reading those words, "The conventional wisdom is, 'seeing is believing.' Jesus says, ' Believe and you will see.'"
I am not sure how far to go with that but the gospels do record that Jesus could not do many miracles in His home town because of their lack of belief. Perhaps it is true that our lack of blessings are due to our lack of faith. Something to think about if we are to pray audaciously.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
KEEP HELL IN PERSPECTIVE
If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell (Matthew 5:29-30 NASV).
Hell is a serious, sobering subject, so much so that Jesus said it is worth any sacrifice to stay out of it. Still, there are those who refuse to take it seriously and use it as a common swear word in every-day language.
There are many theological positions taken on the subject of hell, and whatever position one takes will not change the reality of what actually is. Jesus said there is a hell. One has in this life the opportunity to decide his eternal destiny, there are no second chances.
Distilled to the essence, the different teachings about hell can be summed up in two doctrines. One is that disbelieving, unrepentant sinners will spend eternity in unrelenting torment, or, number two, disbelieving unrepentant sinners will be annihilated in God's consuming fire. Both punishments are eternal, but that is about all upon which the two sides can agree while each side accuses the other of false teaching and heresy.
I must reiterate, what ever position one takes will not change the reality of what is. If it is possible, I take a middle position. I know credible scholars on both sides of the subject that I trust. It seems to me, however, that those who are invested in eternal torment think that fear of punishment will bring people to salvation more so than a loving God who gave His only begotten Son for us. Though fear is a motivating factor for some, there are many more who are drawn by the love of God.
The day is coming when we will stand before the Creator of the universe and the One who loves us so much that He paid the price of our redemption. What fools we would be if we threw away the eternal hope that we have in Him for the temporary pleasures of the flesh. Earthly pleasures rather than eternity with God, our Creator, Redeemer and Friend--how stupid!
Hell will serve its purpose, do not make it more important than relationship with the One who truly loves us!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell (Matthew 5:29-30 NASV).
Hell is a serious, sobering subject, so much so that Jesus said it is worth any sacrifice to stay out of it. Still, there are those who refuse to take it seriously and use it as a common swear word in every-day language.
There are many theological positions taken on the subject of hell, and whatever position one takes will not change the reality of what actually is. Jesus said there is a hell. One has in this life the opportunity to decide his eternal destiny, there are no second chances.
Distilled to the essence, the different teachings about hell can be summed up in two doctrines. One is that disbelieving, unrepentant sinners will spend eternity in unrelenting torment, or, number two, disbelieving unrepentant sinners will be annihilated in God's consuming fire. Both punishments are eternal, but that is about all upon which the two sides can agree while each side accuses the other of false teaching and heresy.
I must reiterate, what ever position one takes will not change the reality of what is. If it is possible, I take a middle position. I know credible scholars on both sides of the subject that I trust. It seems to me, however, that those who are invested in eternal torment think that fear of punishment will bring people to salvation more so than a loving God who gave His only begotten Son for us. Though fear is a motivating factor for some, there are many more who are drawn by the love of God.
The day is coming when we will stand before the Creator of the universe and the One who loves us so much that He paid the price of our redemption. What fools we would be if we threw away the eternal hope that we have in Him for the temporary pleasures of the flesh. Earthly pleasures rather than eternity with God, our Creator, Redeemer and Friend--how stupid!
Hell will serve its purpose, do not make it more important than relationship with the One who truly loves us!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
JESUS IS GOD
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you." (Exodus 3:14 NASV).
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:58 NASV).
The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures into Greek. At the time of the translation, three to two hundred B. C. Greek was generally the business language of the world; many of the Jews in the dispersion were losing the Hebrew language. Seventy scholars in Alexandria were commissioned to do the translation. Because of the dating, they certainly could not be accused of being Christian. This is important to the translation and interpretation of John 8:58.
Islamists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and others cannot accept the fact that Jesus claimed Divinity. They claim that Christian translators are perpetrating a fraud. The problem for them is that the Septuagint translators translated the Hebrew into Greek in the same way that is written in the New Testament Greek Scriptures. Even though Jesus might* have spoken it in Aramaic, John, the apostle, understood it and wrote it in the same Greek as Exodus 3:14. Jesus quoted that Scripture.
Jesus is the eternal present.He did not say, "Before Abraham was, I was." Rather, the original grammar is in the present tense, "I am." Jesus quoted Exodus 3:14 as the Septuagint renders it; He did claim to be God! God has become flesh! He is our merciful High Priest! No one understands you like Jesus!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*I'm pretty sure that for the most part, Jesus did speak Aramaic. However, Jesus lived in a multi-lingual culture. Jesus was raised in a village not far from a trade route on which the caravans traveled. I'm pretty sure that he was conversant in several languages, but Greek was the business language of the world and many, many people spoke it.
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:58 NASV).
The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament Scriptures into Greek. At the time of the translation, three to two hundred B. C. Greek was generally the business language of the world; many of the Jews in the dispersion were losing the Hebrew language. Seventy scholars in Alexandria were commissioned to do the translation. Because of the dating, they certainly could not be accused of being Christian. This is important to the translation and interpretation of John 8:58.
Islamists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and others cannot accept the fact that Jesus claimed Divinity. They claim that Christian translators are perpetrating a fraud. The problem for them is that the Septuagint translators translated the Hebrew into Greek in the same way that is written in the New Testament Greek Scriptures. Even though Jesus might* have spoken it in Aramaic, John, the apostle, understood it and wrote it in the same Greek as Exodus 3:14. Jesus quoted that Scripture.
Jesus is the eternal present.He did not say, "Before Abraham was, I was." Rather, the original grammar is in the present tense, "I am." Jesus quoted Exodus 3:14 as the Septuagint renders it; He did claim to be God! God has become flesh! He is our merciful High Priest! No one understands you like Jesus!
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*I'm pretty sure that for the most part, Jesus did speak Aramaic. However, Jesus lived in a multi-lingual culture. Jesus was raised in a village not far from a trade route on which the caravans traveled. I'm pretty sure that he was conversant in several languages, but Greek was the business language of the world and many, many people spoke it.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
AN OVER-LOOKED REASON TO BE THANKFUL
Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!" (Luke 15:8-9).
I am writing this so that we can rejoice together. Sometimes I write a "bullet" just to record a significant event in my life, that is what this is about.
This past week end, Helen & I drove three and a half hours to pick up three of our grand children, Faith, Deacon and Parker, to spend the weekend with us. It was a very busy weekend as we also had the Harvest Festival to help with at church. We had a super, great time. When it was time to take the kids home I was in a hurry and left my billfold on the self-service gas pump in Sutherland. We were two hours on the road before I realized my forgetfulness.
These days it is dangerous to leave too much of one's identity out there for just anyone to pick up. I wasn't worried about the cash--I never carry very much, but it is the credit cards and driver's license that were troubling. Still, I wasn't too worried. Sutherland is mostly a community of honest people. The man who returned the billfold to me was one of those honest people. He told me that when he saw the billfold laying there he wondered, "Is this a test? Where is the camera?" We had a good laugh about that! It is such a blessing to live in a community where people are people of integrity and can be trusted.
If you live in such a community, thank God! I certainly was saved a lot of grief by one man's honesty and, to make a long explanation short, came by that honesty because of Jesus Christ.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*Thanks, Mike K.
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!" (Luke 15:8-9).
I am writing this so that we can rejoice together. Sometimes I write a "bullet" just to record a significant event in my life, that is what this is about.
This past week end, Helen & I drove three and a half hours to pick up three of our grand children, Faith, Deacon and Parker, to spend the weekend with us. It was a very busy weekend as we also had the Harvest Festival to help with at church. We had a super, great time. When it was time to take the kids home I was in a hurry and left my billfold on the self-service gas pump in Sutherland. We were two hours on the road before I realized my forgetfulness.
These days it is dangerous to leave too much of one's identity out there for just anyone to pick up. I wasn't worried about the cash--I never carry very much, but it is the credit cards and driver's license that were troubling. Still, I wasn't too worried. Sutherland is mostly a community of honest people. The man who returned the billfold to me was one of those honest people. He told me that when he saw the billfold laying there he wondered, "Is this a test? Where is the camera?" We had a good laugh about that! It is such a blessing to live in a community where people are people of integrity and can be trusted.
If you live in such a community, thank God! I certainly was saved a lot of grief by one man's honesty and, to make a long explanation short, came by that honesty because of Jesus Christ.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*Thanks, Mike K.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
BE A RISK TAKER
But his master answered and said to him, "You wicked, lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. "Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money with interest. "Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents (Matthew 25:26-28).
This week Helen and I drove to Austin, Minnesota to visit son Paul's family. Though it is only a 3 hour drive, it seems that we do not get to see grandson, Micah, enough.
While we were there we had the opportunity to watch our daughter-in-law, Jenny, rehearse with her orchestra for a concert the next day. The concert was in the Austin high school auditorium. After the rehearsal I was reading the plaques hanging on the wall of the commons area outside the auditorium. These plaques were hung in honor of the distinguished alumni of Austin high school. One of them stood out to me. His full name I have forgotten*, but his advice to the students of Austin high I have not. Here it is:
"Be a risk taker. Let your failures be your education and your successes be your legacy."
When one is committed to our Lord Jesus Christ our risks always pay off, either in education or in honor. What made the servant "wicked" in the parable of the talents was that he refused to take a risk.
So, take a risk for the Lord today--you can start small.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*I will try to post his complete name--it was Timothy something, from the class of '63.
This week Helen and I drove to Austin, Minnesota to visit son Paul's family. Though it is only a 3 hour drive, it seems that we do not get to see grandson, Micah, enough.
While we were there we had the opportunity to watch our daughter-in-law, Jenny, rehearse with her orchestra for a concert the next day. The concert was in the Austin high school auditorium. After the rehearsal I was reading the plaques hanging on the wall of the commons area outside the auditorium. These plaques were hung in honor of the distinguished alumni of Austin high school. One of them stood out to me. His full name I have forgotten*, but his advice to the students of Austin high I have not. Here it is:
"Be a risk taker. Let your failures be your education and your successes be your legacy."
When one is committed to our Lord Jesus Christ our risks always pay off, either in education or in honor. What made the servant "wicked" in the parable of the talents was that he refused to take a risk.
So, take a risk for the Lord today--you can start small.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
*I will try to post his complete name--it was Timothy something, from the class of '63.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
MANAGING FEAR
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love (I John 4:18).
Some people are by nature more anxious than others. The influence of genetic anxiety on our lives is major. I begin with this because it is important for a person to understand that managing his anxiety will always be important to his physical health, social, emotional and spiritual health. Anxiety does not make one a bad person. One of the reasons the Savior left Heaven to die for us was to help us deal with our anxiety.
In 1738, Charles Wesley was suffering from illness and dealing with doubts about his faith. He began to read the Bible and meditate on his reading. A sense of peace came over him. As a result of his experience he wrote the hymn, O For a Thousand Tongues. In the hymn is this verse that has helped me many times: "Jesus, the name that calms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease; 'Tis music in the sinner's ears; 'Tis life and health and peace."
1 John 4:8 tells us: "God is love." That short description of God is so full of meaning, but I will only touch on one facet of it. God loves you! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17). God's desire is not to punish, but to save!
Salvation is more than waiting it out to go to Heaven. Salvation begins now, trusting God to help with your fears: . . . casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Some people are by nature more anxious than others. The influence of genetic anxiety on our lives is major. I begin with this because it is important for a person to understand that managing his anxiety will always be important to his physical health, social, emotional and spiritual health. Anxiety does not make one a bad person. One of the reasons the Savior left Heaven to die for us was to help us deal with our anxiety.
In 1738, Charles Wesley was suffering from illness and dealing with doubts about his faith. He began to read the Bible and meditate on his reading. A sense of peace came over him. As a result of his experience he wrote the hymn, O For a Thousand Tongues. In the hymn is this verse that has helped me many times: "Jesus, the name that calms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease; 'Tis music in the sinner's ears; 'Tis life and health and peace."
1 John 4:8 tells us: "God is love." That short description of God is so full of meaning, but I will only touch on one facet of it. God loves you! For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:16-17). God's desire is not to punish, but to save!
Salvation is more than waiting it out to go to Heaven. Salvation begins now, trusting God to help with your fears: . . . casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Sunday, October 05, 2014
THE RESULT OF HALF-HEARTED WORSHIP
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be . . . .holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
These days we are watching ISIS terrorize the Middle East. They have become a formidable adversary. One thing that has interested me is that they are able to recruit young people from the West into their ranks. We wonder, "How can this be? We have given them everything, care from cradle to grave and they renounce it all to fight with the enemy. How can this be?"
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Man does not live by bread alone . . ." It is absolutely true that you can give everything to a person that is necessary to physical life and he will not be happy. For a person to find fulfillment he needs to love and be loved and he has to find something worthwhile to do! For how many years have socialists sought to meet physical needs without meeting the metaphysical needs--the needs of the human spirit? Materialism does not fulfill the needs of the whole person! A culture cannot denigrate Christianity and Christian values and then be surprised that their young would run off and collaborate with the enemy. How could it be any other way. Every person is designed to have a sense of purpose, even if that purpose is evil.
We have come to this in part because the church has not stood strong for the truth. Our worship has been half-hearted and our prayers are filled with cliche`s. It has always been true that if there is congruence between what a parents says and what he actually does, the children generally will follow. I think it is as well true in church leadership, if we truly live out what we say we believe the church will generally follow along. If we are truly people of faith, the church will follow. If we say we trust God, but act as materialists, our flock will scatter.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
These days we are watching ISIS terrorize the Middle East. They have become a formidable adversary. One thing that has interested me is that they are able to recruit young people from the West into their ranks. We wonder, "How can this be? We have given them everything, care from cradle to grave and they renounce it all to fight with the enemy. How can this be?"
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Man does not live by bread alone . . ." It is absolutely true that you can give everything to a person that is necessary to physical life and he will not be happy. For a person to find fulfillment he needs to love and be loved and he has to find something worthwhile to do! For how many years have socialists sought to meet physical needs without meeting the metaphysical needs--the needs of the human spirit? Materialism does not fulfill the needs of the whole person! A culture cannot denigrate Christianity and Christian values and then be surprised that their young would run off and collaborate with the enemy. How could it be any other way. Every person is designed to have a sense of purpose, even if that purpose is evil.
We have come to this in part because the church has not stood strong for the truth. Our worship has been half-hearted and our prayers are filled with cliche`s. It has always been true that if there is congruence between what a parents says and what he actually does, the children generally will follow. I think it is as well true in church leadership, if we truly live out what we say we believe the church will generally follow along. If we are truly people of faith, the church will follow. If we say we trust God, but act as materialists, our flock will scatter.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
DO IT NOW!
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.
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.
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
Saturday, August 02, 2014
THOUGHTS ABOUT GRACE 4 (belief and repentance)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17).
Grace has been defined as "Unmerited favor." An acrostic definition of grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Certainly, God's grace is defined by His love--it is for ALL. The purpose of God's grace is more far-reaching than we can imagine; it certainly includes saving all people of all time. It is not God's desire to condemn anyone, but the truth is, there is a boundary to God's grace, belief/unbelief.
Repent, translated literally, means, "change mind." Coming to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior involves a change of mind about God, about Jesus Christ and His authority and sufficiency for salvation. When Paul spoke to the unbelieving Areopagites at Athens he said: Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Judgement is coming. Those who take this truth seriously will take God and His offer of grace seriously and think differently about Jesus Christ--they will follow Him. That is faith. That is repentance.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Grace has been defined as "Unmerited favor." An acrostic definition of grace is God's Riches At Christ's Expense. Certainly, God's grace is defined by His love--it is for ALL. The purpose of God's grace is more far-reaching than we can imagine; it certainly includes saving all people of all time. It is not God's desire to condemn anyone, but the truth is, there is a boundary to God's grace, belief/unbelief.
Repent, translated literally, means, "change mind." Coming to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior involves a change of mind about God, about Jesus Christ and His authority and sufficiency for salvation. When Paul spoke to the unbelieving Areopagites at Athens he said: Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Judgement is coming. Those who take this truth seriously will take God and His offer of grace seriously and think differently about Jesus Christ--they will follow Him. That is faith. That is repentance.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
GRACE 3 (Grace Teaches)
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11).
Grace is not just a theological concept, but it is a dynamic reality. Grace is not just about climate control, saving one from hell and getting one into paradise. Grace is the life-long experience of believers which grows them into the image of Christ. It has been said that there is no teaching, only learning; people who do not want to learn cannot be taught. Not all those who want safety from hell want to learn; grace is not irresistible. But, for those who truly value and treasure God's love, God's grace will train them as they live out their lives so that they will become more and more like Jesus (See 2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
The purpose of grace is not to indulge sinful behavior, it is to lead people to become more and more like Jesus.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Grace is not just a theological concept, but it is a dynamic reality. Grace is not just about climate control, saving one from hell and getting one into paradise. Grace is the life-long experience of believers which grows them into the image of Christ. It has been said that there is no teaching, only learning; people who do not want to learn cannot be taught. Not all those who want safety from hell want to learn; grace is not irresistible. But, for those who truly value and treasure God's love, God's grace will train them as they live out their lives so that they will become more and more like Jesus (See 2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
The purpose of grace is not to indulge sinful behavior, it is to lead people to become more and more like Jesus.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Monday, July 28, 2014
THOUGHTS ABOUT GRACE 2
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come . . . the king was enraged . . . Then he said to his slaves, "The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast. Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found , both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in there without wedding clothes?" And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen" (Be sure and read all of Matthew 22:1-14).
I believe this parable illustrates both the universe and the boundaries of God's grace. God's love extends to the farthermost star in the universe and all in this world benefit from it. The invitation to the feast is open to all, the good and the bad. It is in this way that God's grace has no limits--it extends to all.
Though the text does not say it, I have been told that it was customary for a wedding feast offered by a king in these times to include the wedding garment to each guest. It sounds reasonable because the very poor would have not been able to afford dress clothes. As well, it would have established each guest as being equal in value and importance. For the person who refused the wedding garment, he might have thought that his own garment was better than the king's garment, he might have thought himself to be more important than everyone else, but in any case it was a matter of disrespect to the king and the wedding. God offers the wedding garment, Jesus Christ, to all. Will you make the decision to wear it? Or, will you reject Him?
Our Father's Love,
Tom
But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, "Friend, how did you come in there without wedding clothes?" And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen" (Be sure and read all of Matthew 22:1-14).
I believe this parable illustrates both the universe and the boundaries of God's grace. God's love extends to the farthermost star in the universe and all in this world benefit from it. The invitation to the feast is open to all, the good and the bad. It is in this way that God's grace has no limits--it extends to all.
Though the text does not say it, I have been told that it was customary for a wedding feast offered by a king in these times to include the wedding garment to each guest. It sounds reasonable because the very poor would have not been able to afford dress clothes. As well, it would have established each guest as being equal in value and importance. For the person who refused the wedding garment, he might have thought that his own garment was better than the king's garment, he might have thought himself to be more important than everyone else, but in any case it was a matter of disrespect to the king and the wedding. God offers the wedding garment, Jesus Christ, to all. Will you make the decision to wear it? Or, will you reject Him?
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Saturday, July 26, 2014
THOUGHTS ABOUT GRACE
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
This summer the lovely and gracious Helen and I have had the privilege of hosting an intern. Daniel is a pastoral student working with the Sutherland Church of Christ, and we are enjoying having him stay with us.
One of the things we, the church, are having Daniel do is lead a Thursday evening worship service. We believe that a Thursday evening service might be helpful with evangelism and serving those who will not be available over the weekend. Daniel's theme for these Thursday evening worship services is 'The Living Room of God's Grace.'
Daniel's preaching about grace has spurred me to do some thinking about the universe and the boundaries of God's grace. First, I am going to share some thoughts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer, was a Lutheran pastor who was hung by the Nazis because of his vocal and active opposition to them and their policies when other Christian voices were virtually silent.
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without a cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.
Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I hope these quotes from Bonhoeffer have precipitated some thinking about grace. In the days to follow I will share some of my own thinking about grace in light of Daniel and Bonhoeffer.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
This summer the lovely and gracious Helen and I have had the privilege of hosting an intern. Daniel is a pastoral student working with the Sutherland Church of Christ, and we are enjoying having him stay with us.
One of the things we, the church, are having Daniel do is lead a Thursday evening worship service. We believe that a Thursday evening service might be helpful with evangelism and serving those who will not be available over the weekend. Daniel's theme for these Thursday evening worship services is 'The Living Room of God's Grace.'
Daniel's preaching about grace has spurred me to do some thinking about the universe and the boundaries of God's grace. First, I am going to share some thoughts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer, was a Lutheran pastor who was hung by the Nazis because of his vocal and active opposition to them and their policies when other Christian voices were virtually silent.
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without a cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.
Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: "my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I hope these quotes from Bonhoeffer have precipitated some thinking about grace. In the days to follow I will share some of my own thinking about grace in light of Daniel and Bonhoeffer.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Monday, June 23, 2014
A COMMUNION THOUGHT
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:35-36).
How is God kind to ungrateful and evil men? They enjoy the benefits of the sunshine and the rain. They enjoy talents, abilities, good looks, and the privileges that seem to go with them. God allows them to take another breath even though they use all they have in unGodly ways. Most important, God shows his love for the ungrateful and evil by becoming flesh, dying on the cross for our sins and conquering the grave in his resurrection.
What makes the righteous different from the evil? Perhaps not much except they are thankful for God's blessings and sacrifice for their sins. The righteous are very aware of their sinfulness and take time to thank God for the greatest gift and celebrate the Lord's Supper. The wicked do not care and therefore will be lost for eternity.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
How is God kind to ungrateful and evil men? They enjoy the benefits of the sunshine and the rain. They enjoy talents, abilities, good looks, and the privileges that seem to go with them. God allows them to take another breath even though they use all they have in unGodly ways. Most important, God shows his love for the ungrateful and evil by becoming flesh, dying on the cross for our sins and conquering the grave in his resurrection.
What makes the righteous different from the evil? Perhaps not much except they are thankful for God's blessings and sacrifice for their sins. The righteous are very aware of their sinfulness and take time to thank God for the greatest gift and celebrate the Lord's Supper. The wicked do not care and therefore will be lost for eternity.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Sunday, June 22, 2014
DO NOT LET THE CLIMATE PHOBES RULE
Learn not the ways of nations, nor be dismayed at the signs in the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are false (Jeremiah 10:2).
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing (Proverbs 28:1).
Climate change will be one of the major themes of election year politics for the foreseeable future. The purpose of making "climate change" a political issue is to elect politicians who will be extremely sympathetic to using unConstitutional means to stop the the "global climate emergency." There are a lot of climate phobes out there who are true believers that there is a climate crisis. Yes, there are horrendous storms, as we have seen in our area recently, but, statistically, we are no more likely to experience a severe weather event now than they were 50 to 100 years ago.
The century-long trend in hurricanes is slightly down, not up, according to the national hurricane center. As for tornadoes, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration says there has been no change in severe tornado activity over the past 55 years. Regarding extreme heat and cold temperatures, NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index of unusually hot or cold temperatures finds that over the last 10 years, five years have been below the historical mean and five years above the mean (Dave Bierman, Wallaces Farmer letter to the editor, June 2014).
America has always been "The land of the free and the home of the brave." This is no time to be frightened by the climatephobes, the pseudoscientists and the freedom-grabbing politicians. Certainly, we must always care for the environment, but in a way that guards the freedoms and jobs of the American people. Do not panic, the climate will be doing just fine when the Lord returns in 2060!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing (Proverbs 28:1).
Climate change will be one of the major themes of election year politics for the foreseeable future. The purpose of making "climate change" a political issue is to elect politicians who will be extremely sympathetic to using unConstitutional means to stop the the "global climate emergency." There are a lot of climate phobes out there who are true believers that there is a climate crisis. Yes, there are horrendous storms, as we have seen in our area recently, but, statistically, we are no more likely to experience a severe weather event now than they were 50 to 100 years ago.
The century-long trend in hurricanes is slightly down, not up, according to the national hurricane center. As for tornadoes, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration says there has been no change in severe tornado activity over the past 55 years. Regarding extreme heat and cold temperatures, NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index of unusually hot or cold temperatures finds that over the last 10 years, five years have been below the historical mean and five years above the mean (Dave Bierman, Wallaces Farmer letter to the editor, June 2014).
America has always been "The land of the free and the home of the brave." This is no time to be frightened by the climatephobes, the pseudoscientists and the freedom-grabbing politicians. Certainly, we must always care for the environment, but in a way that guards the freedoms and jobs of the American people. Do not panic, the climate will be doing just fine when the Lord returns in 2060!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
KEEPING YOUR LOVER
I am my lover's and my lover is mine . . . (Song of Songs 6:3).
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 areas, 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).
Change is not easy because it means changing who we are. Emotional maturity/immaturity is something we are born with--it is in our genes. Emotional maturity/immaturity is also something that is learned. One of the things I learned from ranching cattle was to select for temperament. To keep a highly reactive cow in the herd would make the whole heard reactive, so we would put wheels under the wild cow and would take her to market.
People are not animals. While I recognize that, because of genetics, it is harder for some to behave than others, I also know that God has made us as beings who can make choices and be responsible for those choices.
So what does this have to do with making marriage work? Emotional reactivity is destructive to a marriage. If there is constant anger and criticism it will be almost impossible to have a successful marriage. Your lover will not remain your lover very long if you are constantly trying to change his flaws--only he can change his flaws.
Remember these things that are true:
1. You are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Listen. Listening is for understanding--not for emotional reactivity. With conflicted couples emotional reactions block understanding. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactions on your lover and yourself.
3. There are no perfect relationships. Be THANKFUL for the good things your lover brings into the relationship.
4. Find a new voice. Nagging, angry voices are destructive. A positive, peaceful yet assertive voice is good.
5. Acknowledge good-faith efforts of your lover to contribute to relationship success. Maybe flowers and candy do not do much for you, but at least thank him for trying.
6. Have a team spirit--it is not all about you and your feelings. What can we accomplish together better than we can do apart?
Doing these things go a long way to keeping your lover as your lover.
Our Father's love,
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 areas, 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).
Change is not easy because it means changing who we are. Emotional maturity/immaturity is something we are born with--it is in our genes. Emotional maturity/immaturity is also something that is learned. One of the things I learned from ranching cattle was to select for temperament. To keep a highly reactive cow in the herd would make the whole heard reactive, so we would put wheels under the wild cow and would take her to market.
People are not animals. While I recognize that, because of genetics, it is harder for some to behave than others, I also know that God has made us as beings who can make choices and be responsible for those choices.
So what does this have to do with making marriage work? Emotional reactivity is destructive to a marriage. If there is constant anger and criticism it will be almost impossible to have a successful marriage. Your lover will not remain your lover very long if you are constantly trying to change his flaws--only he can change his flaws.
Remember these things that are true:
1. You are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Listen. Listening is for understanding--not for emotional reactivity. With conflicted couples emotional reactions block understanding. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactions on your lover and yourself.
3. There are no perfect relationships. Be THANKFUL for the good things your lover brings into the relationship.
4. Find a new voice. Nagging, angry voices are destructive. A positive, peaceful yet assertive voice is good.
5. Acknowledge good-faith efforts of your lover to contribute to relationship success. Maybe flowers and candy do not do much for you, but at least thank him for trying.
6. Have a team spirit--it is not all about you and your feelings. What can we accomplish together better than we can do apart?
Doing these things go a long way to keeping your lover as your lover.
Our Father's love,
Tom
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