Thankfulness

I was at a study today where the conversation was on being thankful. I had recently been reading from Daniel where, on two separate occurrences, they were asked to bow down to a foreign God and they refused to do so. The punishment? For Daniel it was being thrown into the lion’s den where, humanly speaking, he would become cat food. For Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, failure to bow down to the statue of the king would put them in a hot spot... a furnace. I treasure the words that one of them spoke stating that they knew that God was able to rescue them from the furnace, but even if He chose not to rescue them in this world, they knew they could not deny their Lord. I had to ask myself whether these four men had hearts filled with gratitude? I’d have to say yes, for none of them sought their own survival. If I am lifting myself up, my efforts would be to protect myself. If you don’t already know, God shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel was unharmed. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace and the king literally saw a divine figure who rescued these three men. There was definitely a lot of gratitude after they were rescued. The reality is that God calls us to be thankful in all things, not just in the things that we like. We can thank God in all situations because we know that God is always in control. If we are obedient and faithful, what happens to us will serve a greater purpose. Maybe, if I was in a car accident, which doesn’t seem to be the kind of thing to be thankful for, God has a great plan even there. We are looking for how God can use that situation to help us, but maybe our answer is not about us, but how God will use us to minister to someone else... fireman, law enforcement, medics, and even those we meet at the hospital. It is a very shallow thanksgiving if it is just tied to all God has done for us here. A true attitude of gratitude is thankful for who God is in spite of our circumstances. Does your life represent an attitude of gratitude? Do you turn most quickly to gossip and complaining, or will your heart be filled with joy and service? We paint a picture of how we think God should be helping us, when in reality, our faith needs reflect that Jesus is our Master and we serve Him. Father, forgive us for the many times we think in terms of what You can do for us. Fill us with a grateful servants heart. Amen

It Never Fails

I remember when we were younger, there was a company that made drinking glasses that were advertised as unbreakable. One day, one of those glasses fell to floor at the store and, you guessed it... it broke. Supposedly it wouldn’t fail, but it did. I have had friends that have promised not to fail concerning certain things, but they still failed... and I guess I have failed others before, too. So many things are advertised as something that would never fail. Is there anything that never fails? The obvious answer would be Jesus never fails, which is true, but I wanted to talk again about His word. In Isaiah 55 we read, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” We understand how the eco system works. Well, at least enough to know that rain comes down to water the earth and it evaporates, creating moisture in the sky once again. Isaiah is not just talking about the scientific process but pointing us even deeper to the One that sends the rains and causes the crops to grow and bear fruit. This produce then is used for food, all the while also providing seed for the next planting. God uses this cycle of life to describe His holy word. God not only sends the rains, but He sends His word into the world through prophets, priests, and you. The next sentence is where we normally mess up. When we share God’s word, we try to determine our success based on how well people respond. Where is the mess up? God says it will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. Our only job is to be faithful to share that word. God is the one that brings the growth. We are not responsible for the response. Thus, we share, encourage, pray for, and build others up because it is the right thing to do. No pat on the back is necessary. We serve God and thus are simply doing our duty. Our response to God’s word going out? “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you...” Lord, too often we long more for the accolades than a heart of obedience to You. Show us how we might reach out. Amen

Beyond our Knowledge

A family member had to downsize recently and so we were helping to sort things. There were still items to stay, items to consider, items to donate, and items to remove. On the items we were given to decide on, one brother would act like an auctioneer, trying to get family members to take things so they would have a home. One such item was a “canister” vacuum cleaner. As he described the vacuum in exaggerated tones and motions, he picked up the vacuum which was not plugged in and said, “All one has to do is flip this switch...” Before he finished the sentence, the vacuum cleaner roared to a start. My brother’s eyes looked halfway between a deer caught in the headlights and standing on the tracks with a locomotive bearing down on him. Needless to say, none of us realized it was battery operated. We laughed so hard. We were all familiar with vacuum cleaners, but we all were caught off guard by features we didn’t know existed. This is a fairly good picture of our daily walk with God. We know most of the ordinary things that we should be doing and what we understand God is doing. At times we talk a good talk about what God can do, but we don’t always expect it to happen. I think there are times that if God answered our prayers in a supernatural way, we might also be caught off guard. We’ve developed a very comfortable relationship with God, not expecting too much and not always giving too much. It’s like filling a bookshelf with amazing books and never reading them. God doesn’t need to be “plugged” in, coaxed, or bargained with. All power in heaven and earth have been given to Him. God wants to do so much more than we can even imaging and yet we remain quiet. We serve a God who created the whole world, flooded the world (saving only one family), caused the sun to stand still, a donkey to talk, the thick walls of Jericho disintegrated, miracles, a willing death and resurrection, and so much more. And what do we pray for? That we might have a nice day to accomplish what we desire. We might say the right words, but many never anticipate them being answered in a miraculous way. Why? Do we think he has changed or become weak? Don’t limit yourself to what you can do. Father, You are indeed an awesome God. Nothing is too great for You to accomplish. Lead us to do Your will. Amen

The Power of Prayer

As Christians, we speak of prayer all the time, but I've never heard anyone preach about the armor of God (Ephesians 6) that focused on prayer as a weapon, not a response... “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” This was included in the same section as putting on the shield of faith, helmet of salvation, belt of truth, etc. Immediately following this verse, Paul asks that they pray for him as well. Another passage goes something like this, that the prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot. Prayer is mentioned over and over again from Genesis on. It is not, however, to be taken lightly. I have heard some who became aware of a challenge in another’s life say, “I will pray for you”. I know sometimes they are faithful in prayer. I know sometimes they want to be faithful, but get distracted and are silent. I think there are many who say, “I will pray for you” that have no intention of actually doing it. It is a Christian response that is void of true meaning and power. I read a quote recently that said, “Prayer is not the preparation for battle... it is the battle”. I believe we make a mockery of God when we speak of the necessity of prayer, but fail do actually do it. Whether you are on a prayer chain, lifting up prayers of the church, or come privately before God in prayer, pray with a deep understanding of God’s ability and desire to answer it. If we pray for rain, do we bring an umbrella? When we pray for revival, do we then invite others to join us in worship? When we pray for healing, would we be surprised if someone was healed miraculously? I heard of someone recently that was healed of heart and back issues that he had suffered with for many years. Prayer is the communication God has given us to enter into the throne room of God to present our praises and petitions. Prayer is not for show, but to call on Almighty God. The Holy Spirit is able to lead us, even speaking to the Father on our behalf of things we can’t even put into words. Concerning prayer, we need to first lift our voices in praise and worship, without any strings attached. Second is praying for the church to be faithful. Next, I believe we should be calling on God for revival, including our own hearts. O Holy Spirit, stir in our hearts, giving us passion and compassion for the lost souls. Lead us each day into a deeper prayer life. Amen

Unusual Evangelistic Approach

I was listening to a comedian recently that was giving his testimony. He called himself an atheist and ended up treating the people around him badly. He wanted to change, but every time someone tried to point him to Jesus, he would always get mad and walk away. He went so far as to buy a bunch of self-help books, but they didn’t do too much for him either. One day a rich comedian (wealth from former occupation) was having a conversation with him and the dreaded topic came up. He brings up the bible. The atheist says, “Don’t give me that Bible. I don’t want to hear it.” The friend said, “What do you mean?” To which the first replied that he was an atheist and didn’t believe that garbage. So, the friend responded, “What is it in the Bible that you don’t think is true?” The atheist said, “I don’t know. I never read it.” To which the friend proclaimed, “You’re not an atheist. You’re a moron!” Asking him to explain himself, the friend responded, “A true atheist is not only a Bible scholar but is scholarly in all the faiths of the earth, and after a long intellectual journey has come to the conclusion that there is no God in the universe. You on the other hand want to circumvent the whole process and still come to the conclusion that there’s no God. That’s lazy and moronic”. I must admit I was rolling on the floor laughing. Although this approach may work with some, I would not recommend calling people names as a way to witness your faith in the living God. It does make an interesting point though that many atheists today do not do so from a point of knowledge, but from a place of lazy avoidance. It is a way to not have to deal with faith, God, or the meaning of life. I think understanding that many that don’t want to talk about their faith are not doing so from a place of understanding, but from a place of not wanting to understand. This is so heartbreaking because their unwillingness to listen and consider what God says in the Bible brings them to a verdict of guilty, having the depths of hell as their final destination. It’s not trying to get them to become members of our local church but desiring to see them as a people that have been redeemed and made new in the presence of God. Father, there are so many that don’t know You. Open our eyes to see the lost and searching. Use us to bring them to You. Amen

Gracious and Merciful

Last nights pondering may have been a little harsh in my examples, but I get so frustrated when people make statements as if God agreed with them when there are passages in the Bible that cast a shadow on their interpretation. What I never intended to say was that God is heartless. He is just, yes... heartless, no! Going back to the woman caught in adultery. Yes, what she did was wrong and Jesus does call it a sin. We must note that God is indeed merciful. What was really going on? Were they really seeking justice? Absolutely not. It was a way of trapping Jesus, for the law said that adultery was punishable by stoning them, but the Jews were not allowed to take a life without Roman approval. (This is why Jesus had to be taken before Pontius Pilate to get permission for the crucifixion.) The second key thing to note is that it takes two to commit adultery. Where is the man that was involved? Jesus also points out that not one person in the crowd was completely innocent. The woman was already terrified because of the charge against her. When the crowds left embarrassed, and the woman realized her culpability, I believe her heart was broken. When Jesus offered her freedom, it had a directive , “Go and sin no more”. In other words, if she didn’t repent and turn to God, she would find herself charged again only without help. As we get honest before God, we must all be aware of the wickedness of our sinful nature. Instead of someone else hauling us before God and accusing us, we must bring ourselves before God and fall down before Him to confess our sins. God is extremely merciful, but He is also equally just. By that I mean that an ungrateful heart will probably find no mercy. God’s justice - the wages of sin is death. God’s mercy - salvation to believers. Does God continue to be merciful? We wouldn’t be here if He wasn’t. I do, however, believe that there are many today that neither believe nor are grieved by their wretched life. As the author of Amazing Grace proclaims, I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind but now I see”. Are we as gracious to those we meet? May God’s grace overflow from our lives to others. Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your mercy and grace that keeps us going in this life and gives us a hope of what is yet to come. Amen

Context Is Everything

I have grown up hearing people say jokingly that they are a jack of all trades but master of none. I always assumed that the phrase meant that it wasn’t a good thing to not be master of anything. I assumed the real truth would have been the one who is successful will have mastered his trade perfectly. Then I ran across an article that attributed the original phrase to William Shakespeare, and the meaning is not at all what I had understood all my life. Let me give you the original quote - “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but often times better than a master of one.” It actually is not speaking negatively of the jack of all trades but is fairly complimentary. One who is well grounded knows the basics of a lot of skills can often times be more useful than the one who knows just one trade. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes being really good at one thing can be invaluable. For instance, an accountant should have fully mastered his trade. I remember growing up learning how to cook, how to change a flat tire, how to garden, how to do wood projects, how to fix plumbing, how to help in the kitchen, do basic electrical work, etc. Now, with YouTube, people can look up tutorials on how to do things, but we grew up learning a little of everything. The point isn’t what we should be teaching or whether or not a jack of one trade is sufficient. The real issue is how we can think we understand something correctly when we haven’t read the rest of the story. When it comes to God’s word, I hear people say that we shouldn’t judge others and that God accepted everyone. However, we find a crowd brings a woman caught in adultery and they ask Jesus what they should do because God’s word says that one caught in adultery should be stoned to death. Jesus' response is, “Whoever is without sin, throw the first stone.” Jesus was not withholding judgement but rather was casting some of that judgement on the crowd as well. After all, he tells the woman to go and sin no more. On a similar vein, the argument is made that since God is love, we should love and accept everyone. Was God defending the foreigner when he told his people to completely destroy Jericho or destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? Don’t pick and choose! Father, help us to learn all of Your word so that we don’t dishonor You. Amen

Is the Spirit Willing?

Yesterday, after taking my laptop to the library to send out the worship service on a faster internet connection, I forgot to bring it into the house. I was going to the office to work on a pondering for the evening. Suddenly it dawned on me that I forgotten to bring it in. The car was outside and it had been dark for some time. I didn’t really want to walk out to the car and we have had a skunk that has been a little busy in the yard after dark. I wasn’t excited about bumping into him or disturbing a bear. I chose to wait on my pondering. Started off running this morning and so I am getting around to it now. The thought that came to mind was from Matthew 26 where Jesus said that the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. I must admit that I wanted write about something, but my flesh was more concerned about aches, pains, and skunks. For that I am sorry, because if I didn’t go running out, of which I don’t think I am capable, there would likely be no issues. Also, my thought of this verse almost cheapens the phrase. The context is that Jesus is in the garden praying that if it is possible that He didn’t have to go to the cross, that would be His preference, but He followed it up with, “Not My will but Yours be done.” Then Jesus found the disciples sleeping and knowing the trials they would face upon His arrest, torture, and death, He pleaded with them to stay awake and pray saying, “...the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak.” I wasn’t facing that sort of trial, so why would that come to mind? That phrase isn’t just for the great trials in life. Sometimes the most dangerous obstacles aren’t the obvious attacks, but the slow spiritual disarming of God’s people through complacency. It often starts in the small betrayal and slowly causes us to fall away (backsliding). We often don’t see the danger until it is too late just as the disciples had no clue what was about to happen. We can and should try to avoid those things that cause us to stumble, but even more importantly is the need to follow Jesus’ advice to pray. It doesn’t matter how much we say we want to do God’s will, if we fail to humble ourselves before Him and seek Him in prayer, we will likely stumble more than we should and may never get back up. Father, help us to take Your words to heart, knowing that our flesh is indeed week. Put a new and right spirit within us. Amen

The Accuracy of God’s Word

Today, at Bible Study, we had a small discussion about prophetic words. These are words given by God directly to people through the vessel of a prophet, a spokesperson of God. Their accuracy level couldn’t be just close. If it was from God, it had to be 100% accurate. There were three different offices spoken of in the Bible - Prophet, Priest, and King. Usually, those called to serve would only operate within one of these offices. As I listened to a program today, I was reminded that David was a king, but he also spoke prophetically. Psalm 22 is classic example. I believe most scholars would agree that this was a foretelling of what would happen on the cross about a thousand years before it happened. So, what are some of the things that make this prophetic. Who is the focus? It refers to the Holy One, who we know as Jesus. As we dig further into Psalm 22, one might argue that Jesus could duplicate what was written to fulfill it rather than it being an actual prophetic truth. I give you verse 16, which says, “They have pierced my hands and feet”. This is significant, because in King David’s day when this Psalm was written, crucifixion was unheard of. They punished people through stoning. In other words, David speaks of a death that wasn’t even invented yet. Also, in verse 14 it speaks of his bones being out of joint... another outcome of a crucifixion. These verses speak of God’s truth and knowledge of past, present, and future. Yet another thing that is outside of Jesus’ control to re-enact that was prophesied is the guards casting lots for Jesus’ clothing. Then there are recorded words of the crowds that mocked Him and hurled insults at Him. It is hard to read Psalm 22 and then read the account of the crucifixion and not see the fulfillment. Also, if Jesus was trying to “make” the prophesies come true, who would willingly suffer an excruciating death on the cross and also remember the words to speak that fulfills these prophesies. I don’t know about you, but if I accidentally hit my finger with a hammer, I am not going to remember the right words to say. What is on my heart is what comes out... good or bad. Knowing then that God’s word is true, we need to faithfully learn and follow His leading. Father, protect our hearts and minds from all the attacks of the Devil, the world, and our own sinful nature that try to cause doubt. Amen

Value of Life

I know I have had this conversation before, but I heard it asked again today. It was about what happens to a serviceman who commits suicide. Even though these men and women have given so much of themselves for their country, no one gets a free pass... not even Peter, James, and John (some of Jesus’ disciples). To be honest, it doesn’t matter if it is a serviceman or a civilian, the end result is the same. The answer does not depend on who we are or what we have done. We cannot claim that they are all saved or they are all condemned. Sadly, there were some churches years ago (and still some today) that believed that committing suicide was an automatic ticket to hell. I want to state first that I believe that God hates suicide, for God is the giver of life, but then He hates all kinds of sin. On this side of heaven, none of us die innocent apart from the saving grace of Jesus. If our eternity was based on our best actions, none of us would be saved. We are saved by having a genuine living faith in Jesus and His sacrificial death for us on the cross. I believe (my words, not God’s) that some suicidal thoughts are caused by medication, some by extreme pain and PTSD, some by cowardice, some are premeditated, and there are other outside influences. This does not excuse the taking of life... just noting that there are outside influences. Some of those same influences cause people to sin in other ways. God alone is the judge of eternity, but the basis of salvation is in grace through faith in Christ. I think that assisted suicide, whether by medical staff or “civilian” is still taking a life God gave and would be a sin in God’s eyes. So, the question about Military suicides, just as it is in civilian suicides, is an issue of faith and action. No faith, according to God’s word, is condemnation. Suicide of a believer due to outside influences is judged by God alone. A better question or approach is to bring God’s word to the lost and hurting. Befriend someone who is serving or has served and be a spiritual encourager and a friend. Many deal with silent battles within. Support Christian outreaches. We may not always be aware, but God is able to draw hearts to Himself. Lord, as we celebrate our nation’s 250th Anniversary, may we never cease reaching out to those that have served. Amen

Being Honest With Ourselves

The move continues. Trying to downsize what has been accumulated over the years is tough. Everything got moved, stored, donated, or removed. Now the process begins to find where each item belongs. In the process, there is more downsizing that must take place. I look at my own possessions and realize that I should be in that same mode... not because I have any plans to move, but I desperately need to downsize too... a lot. How do you go through everything that is so important for so many reasons and determine what stays and what goes. One of my fears is that as soon as I get rid of it, I will find a use for it. This should not shut down my ability to make the right choices... the hard choices... the healthy choices. Some people speak of spring cleaning, which is a good way to keep things somewhat orderly. I fear I need life cleaning. Speaking of life cleaning, how are things going in your life? No. I am not talking about surface things. I am talking about your faith, your desires, your spirituality. Have you allowed extra baggage to become a distraction or a drain? There was a question in the New Testament times about not burdening the new converts with the Jewish laws that just added burden. Is your faith the most important thing in your life, or have you allowed worldly ideas and influences to overwhelm you? Is your spiritual understanding from the foundation of God’s word or have you allowed ideas on the internet, the latest books on spirituality, or your own wants to cloud your judgement.

We probably all need to do some life cleaning where we must start determining, with the help of the Holy Spirit, what we really need. Everything we hang on to from the world is that much less spiritual richness we will know in the depths of our hearts. If you fill your bookshelf with novels, where will you keep the reference books and Biblical references. You can try building another bookshelf, but then it will just add more clutter and distraction. Choose carefully what you allow into your house (where the Holy Spirit dwells) for it will influence everything else that you do. Are you hoarding junk - anger, jealousy, bitterness, materialism, etc. Let it go! Father, create in me a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within me. Remove the trash from my life and fill the space with You. Amen

Attachments

I was helping to move someone to a different home, but it was going to be a smaller space. The new place didn’t have a full kitchen and there were far fewer places to store things. They had to downsize quite a bit. There are always attachments to the things we have. Some are object that help us remember loved ones, some are items that have been very useful over the years, and some are gifts that we treasure. There are probably many other ways that we get attached to things, but is that healthy? I would say yes, within reason. We all have different ways we experience loss and it is hard to let go of some of those things that have been part of our life over the years. I think that where the issue starts to play in is if our attachment to earthly things becomes a greater desire than knowing Jesus. If we can separate the earthly loss with our spiritual desires, we are probably doing ok. I’m not insinuating that we should not mourn the loss of those things that are near and dear to us, but just as scripture says about the death of a believer, we don’t mourn as one without hope. We can mourn, we can grieve, we can miss those things no longer in our life, but with it comes the opportunity to make new connections with the new people we meet. I wonder, however, if most people are as attached to God as they are to their possessions. Again, I am not shaming those that mourn the loss of part of their life in a move. Rather, I would hope that our attachment to God would supercede all these emotions. How is that connection to Jesus obvious in our lives? The hunger and desire that we have to be in God’s word, studying and taking in all that is said. This connection shows every time we invite someone to join us in worship or share what God means to us. I think our silence doesn’t show attachment, but rather embarrassment, uncertainty of what to say, or unbelief. If it is something else that we really love, we usually find a way of sharing it with those around us. We show Godly attachment by how much time we spend with God and whether it is quality time. If we are dating, we express our attachment by how we treat them, how we honor them, and by the way we talk about them. Are you more attached to things or to our Lord Jesus? Father, thank You for the many ways You are actively part of our lives. Help us to stay fully connected to You. Amen

It’s a Small World

The other day I was returning from a church convention. My mom was celebrating a significant birthday, not that they are not all significant. I left the church gathering a little early so that I could make it to my mom's. I cut across the middle of the state where there were only tiny towns and trees... and trees... and trees. It was a beautiful drive and after connecting onto a larger road, I decided to stop for a break. I went into the gas station. Upon coming out of the bathroom, there was a couple that looked familiar. Then it dawned on me that he was one of the pastors from the convention. He had left two hours before me to do a little sight seeing and we both had a hotel stay that was close to a hundred miles apart from each other. He took a much more northern route and yet we stopped in the same town, at the same station, at the same time. I am always amazed at those connections and wonder how many times we miss someone by a few seconds or we walk past them without noticing. I don’t know why we connected, but since I am not aware of anyone else leaving the convention early, I have to wonder if it was intentional on God’s part. Our churches are nowhere near each other, but when we gather in October for the pastor’s conference, I’m sure we will visit a little longer due to this connection. It made me rethink how many times I have questioned how God could accomplish something by getting everything to happen at the right time and place. Then I look at what I experienced and figure that my issues are not an obstacle for God. As we serve the Lord, we don’t have to know all the details. We don’t have to know how God will accomplish through us what we have been called to do. We don’t even have to know what it is God wants us to do because God is already putting everything in place. What then should be expected of us? We need to be walking by faith, surrendered to God’s will, and open to accomplish what God sets before us. We assume everything that happens is for us, but maybe we are led to a certain place, time, and circumstance for the sake of someone else. Success is based on faith and obedience, not by the specifics of what is accomplished. Are you open and available to God? Father, may I always be available to do what You have called me to do. May Your priorities and will by my desire... always. Amen

Solomon’s Prayer

In 1 King 8, we hear King Solomon’s beautiful prayer connected to the temple of the Lord. In that prayer Solomon pleads that if the people face some disaster and then turn to the temple, the dwelling of God, and pray, that God would hear that prayer and answer it. After a rather lengthy prayer, he gets up from his knees and stretched out his hands towards heaven and blessed the people. His prayer is, “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.” Solomon turns their hearts toward God in praise for all His faithfulness, declaring that not one promise has failed that He gave through Moses. There have been many years and trials, but God remains faithful. Then we have a little bit of an odd statement, “May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.” Not the part about the Lord being with them, but the statement “may God never leave or forsake us”. The problem wasn’t that God left them, but that they left God through their disobedience and sin. As a matter of fact, we see in Psalm 23 that God’s goodness and mercy will follow (not give up on us) all the days of our lives. God turned His face from His people, but He didn’t forsake them. I think Solomon knew that for we hear his prayer continue, “May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers.” We can’t do it without the help of the Holy Spirit. Solomon is seeking God to turn or hearts and lead us according to His way and by His commands. This is no different today. If we hunger to have that intimate walk with God, it is because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We can choose to respond differently, but without the Holy Spirit, that is just an outward action. Our prayer should always be that God would change our heart to seek and honor Him. Then Solomon talks about God answering according to each days needs... not longing for tomorrow’s answers, but just what we need to today. Solomon closes this section insisting that the heart must be fully committed to Lord and that we would live daily to honor our God. Lord, we do okay asking for You to help us or others in hard times, but we don’t pray often enough for You to change our hearts. Amen

Security

I apologize for not writing a post for quite a while. I went to our national convention and took my computer with so I could get things done. When I tried to connect to the internet at the hotel, my computer informed me that the security needed updating and I needed a password to make that happen. I didn’t have the password with me, and I don’t like the idea of going on the internet without a little extra security online, so I wasn’t able to get any ponderings done. It always amazed me how many people refuse to do anything on the internet without security because they know about all the bad characters that are trying to steal their information or money. Well, that part doesn’t amaze me but rather how they don’t realize that without spiritual security they leave their eternity wide open for the Devil, the godless world, and their own sinful self. They're more concerned with protecting their earthly assets than they are in protecting their eternity. If there are bad people trying to steal their identity here on earth, why do they not recognize that same evil also attacks them spiritually. Now, I’d love to say that this is just an “outside the church” problem, but it’s not. I believe that there are many within the church that don’t connect our submission to God with our eternal security. It would be like me thinking that because I always use the same laptop that even if things change (like my computer security needing updating) my life will still be secure. I would never think that I am so good on the internet that I can avoid those trying to ruin me, and yet, many think that their work and lifestyle are enough to protect them... and it’s not. I would never think I could recognize every virus or scam on the internet and yet spiritually, people think they have nothing to fear. I would never think that because I scanned my computer for dangerous content last month that I don’t need to scan the computer again, yet, we put confidence in things we have done in the past to protect us from spiritual destruction today. If my account gets hacked, I will still survive and live to fight another day. If my spiritual life comes under the control of Satan, I am finished eternally. The Devil can’t do anything God doesn’t allow and by faith, God is my security. Have you allowed God in? Father, I give You complete control of my life, talents, and possessions. I need Your protection. Amen

The Straw Man

I don’t know if you are familiar with the concept, but it gets used a lot in politics. The person speaking creates a fictitious situation or idea, attributing it to the opposing side, and then proceed to dismantle it as if they have proven theirself and their position. The problem with this is that many of the “straw-men” are fictitious or unfairly paint the other in a negative light. It really only works for the side that created it because the opposition group is offended by the example. Why am I bothering to explain what politicians do? Because I believe that many in the church are doing the same thing and it does not bring unity. A Baptist tries to dismantle Lutheran theology without really understanding it. A Lutheran might try to cast the Catholic church in a very negative way. A Catholic church might... and so the endless circle of straw-men continues. Well, shouldn’t we try to defend our church? Actually, “No”. We should be defending the word of God. Now if you believe that your church is correctly understanding the word of God, then you defend that word. When we create a “straw-man” to tear apart another church body, we will lose the opportunity to witness to that “denomination” because they are offended by the false representation. If we took more time to understand the teachings of other churches, we may find that we are very close on multiple topics. In the areas we don’t seem to have agreement, we need to try to understand where the person is coming from before we begin to bring any judgement. Once we feel we understand their position and where they see that in Scripture, let us defend what we believe as of first importance rather than trying to tear another down. If we rightly understand God’s word, then let that word be the power behind any change that follows. I remember reading that during revivals, they often had a section where people were encouraged to go to commit their lives to Jesus. The problem is that many admitted that they used manipulation to get people there so that their record of conversions would look good. Coercing someone to change their position by focusing on winning the debate rather than winning the heart speaks to our ego and not a heart of humble service. Father God, help me to present the truth in love so that the hearer not only understands, but they hunger to grow in faith. Amen

Finality of a Will

There are a lot of legal documents that you might run across in life. Usually there is a date attached as to when it starts, or even when it ends. A Will, a document stating what will happen upon one’s death, has no pre-dated starting point. It isn’t something that one can borrow against. If I were to outlive all the beneficiaries (those who would inherit something), new names would have to be given or there is a legal order if there is no paperwork. The truth is, the Will doesn’t take effect until the one who wrote the Will passes away. So, why does this matter to you? We were looking at Luther’s Catechism concerning the Lord’s Supper. We hear the words, “Take and eat. This is the blood of the new covenant/testament shed for you for the forgiveness of sins”. The promise and assurance of this Sacrament took effect upon the death of Jesus. At this point, it cannot be withdrawn or altered. Jesus is not sacrificed over and over again, but the death He died, He died once and for all. The promise doesn’t need to be offered over and over again. The promises are made all the more sure when His will was put into place. The blood that assured the legality of the covenant was not symbolic. The blood of bulls and goats were not offered, as was spoken of in the law. This covenant was put into effect when Jesus’ shed blood sealed it. When we receive Holy Communion, we don’t just think of what Jesus did, but we claim the promise of forgiveness that was part of that covenant. Take and eat. Take and drink. Come in faith and be cleansed by that blood. A covenant was never made to be symbolic. It was an agreement between two parties and if one failed, the blood usually indicated death. In this covenant, our responsibility is to walk in faith and receive it with believing hearts... which by the way will cause us to desire to walk in righteousness all of our days. God, on the other hand, has taken both the responsibility of making the covenant and suffering the consequence of breaking that same covenant. Jesus doesn’t want us to remember His dying... He wants us to remember what He did so that we might live our lives fully... free from the law and the power of sin. It is more than remembering... it is receiving. Father, thank You for sending Your Son to pay a price we could not pay. Give us a true heart of faith. Amen

All People That On Earth Do Dwell

There was a hymn that came to mind today that I wanted to share with you. The rhyming is a little awkward, but the words are good. So often we are asking God for something. This hymn is stating who God is and what we owe. The first verse goes like this: “All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; Come ye before him and rejoice.” It is a call for us to come before God in worship. Not just some, but the whole earth should be lifting its voice to God. It is not a chore to come... we serve Him joyfully with praises on our hearts. The next verse say, “Know that the Lord is God indeed; Without our aid he did us make. We are his folk, he doth us feed, And for his sheep he doth us take.” Why should we serve Him and lift our voice in praise? Clearly because the Lord is God. Not a god. Not like god. Not one of many gods. The Lord we serve is God. He didn’t need us when the world was created. He made everything that exists today. Not only did He make us, but He has provided food for eating. It may take work, but God gives plants, animals, and the ability to produce more of each kind. The greatest of all that God has done is making us His sheep, belonging to Him and following Him. The third verse says, “Oh, enter then his gates with praise; Approach with joy his courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless his name always, For it is seemly so to do.” The author is leading us not just to acknowledge God, but to enter His gates... His temple... heaven itself with prayer and praise. Whether we are living daily in the world... whether we enter His house to lift our hearts in worship... whether we enter Heaven through prayer and praise, it is not something we need acknowledgment for, but rather our duty and privilege. Next we hear, “For why? the Lord our God is good: His mercy is forever sure; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure.” So the question comes up, “Why should we do all this? Simple. The Lord is God and God is good. As much as we are undeserving, He is all the more merciful. God has never wavered on His word or promise from the beginning. So we close, “To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom heav'n and earth adore, From us and from the angel host Be praise and glory evermore.

Where to Go?

I was recently talking with family out in Washington state. They were talking about a beautiful pink flower that was growing there. Even though the computers said that it could grow almost anywhere as an annual flower (one that needed to be planted each year), it generally stayed on the West Coast and a little on the East Coast of the United States. It is a beautiful plant and it makes me wonder why I don’t see it grow around here in Northern Wisconsin. It then got me thinking of a beautiful plant we had in South Dakota called Pasque. I remember seeing one growing wild in a pasture and digging it up to plant it in our flower bed. It didn’t take more than a few days to figure out that it wouldn’t grow there. Isn’t that odd. It will grow in the wild, fighting to survive among all the grasses and weeds, but it cannot survive a domesticated life. It got me thinking about how we sometimes just need to grow where we are planted. Like the Pasque, if we try to take on a ministry or some service for God that we have not been called to, it may very likely not blossom. One person can preach in the inner city while another might fail, if they tried. If doesn’t matter how much we try to nurture something, it will likely not thrive if God’s hand is not on it. If, however, we grow where we are planted, using the gifts we have been given, and seek God’s direction often, I believer that we will see that ministry grow. I looked at a plant in the field and wanted it to grow in my garden. Likewise, I can’t be longing for the talents given to others. There have been many times I have thought... if only I could preach like that... if only I could know everything they know... if only I could not only see those in need, but have the gifts to assist them. I think we all have longed for things that are not ours. This also means that we might have to adjust what we are doing to match our changing abilities. Since I am having knee issues, I probably won’t be a good runner or being active on my feet, but there are still things I can do. Likewise, as your circumstances change, you might need to approach what you do and can do differently. First, pray that God would reveal His gifts in you and then ask God to show you how to use them for His glory. Father, Forgive me for the times that I long for things that are not mine to have. Help me to joyfully serve you with what I do have. Amen

I Love Photography

I enjoy the cameras and phones that are just point and shoot. They adjust all the settings and make sure the pictures turns out looking amazing. Even with this type of camera, it still takes a skill to find the right subject, the right background, and to frame it right. Some of it can be learned, but when one gets to the upper level, there is a part that is pure instinct. As much as I love the simplicity, I also enjoy the cameras that you can control the time the lens is open, how big that lens gets, and how sensitive the “film” is to light and darkness. The hard thing with the old fashioned film cameras was that you didn’t know how the picture turned out until it was taken to a photo shop and developed. You might wait days, weeks, months, and sometimes years to see what the picture turned out like. With digital camera, you can see instantly what you have. Also, with the old camera, the sensitivity of the film couldn’t be changed once the film was loaded. The digital camera allows it to be changed whenever you want. Going back to basics, you can change the composition of the picture by adjust sensitivity, size of opening, and length of time it is opened. If you make the lens opening big, it lets in a lot of light, so the picture has to be taken more quickly or it will be over-exposed. The big opening is so that the closer objects are clear and the background is fuzzy. A small lens opening doesn’t let in much light and so it must stay open longer. This setting allows for the background to be about as clear as the stuff in front. The new believer is like the camera with the big lens and fast shutter speed. We notice the things right near us, but everything else is fuzzy. We might focus on what is around us, but we are unaware of what else God is doing. A sudden burst of zeal only focuses on us and those near to us. This is not healthy long-term. The seasoned Christian is like the small lens hole over a longer time. It is patient so that we might have a better overall picture of what is going on. It works by making sure everyone is seen. The sensitivity of the film needs to change based on sun or darkness. The Holy Spirit is the one that sets the sensitivity of my heart and spirit. He helps me to stay steady and strong. Father, you are the photographer and we are the cameras. Help us to develop into the people You have called us to be. Amen