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This is some ramblings about things I think about or portions of my study notes as part of my quiet time with God using "Study Notes" from e-Sword.

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June 20, 2007

The Lamb deserves the reward of His sufferings:

From my daily study in scripture and the film "Revival Hymn"

Isa 60:21

the branch of My planting, the work of My hands,...

This is the work that Jehovah will bring about, ending their mourning (vs 20)making the people righteous and inheriting the land forever.  This cannot be done through man's effort.  Our best attempts are gone in a generation or two.  Only God will built an everlasting kingdom free from sin and death when He comes in judgement and vanquishes His foes. 

... so that I may be glorified.
The reason He will do this is for His Glory.  I watched a film with a number of audio clips from great men of the last century; I don't know who said it but he was a missionary to Africa who though had the best of intentions found out they were indeed humanism.  He didn't want to see people lost or living apart from God.  But he found people who loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil (Joh_3:19).  Wanting to quit he cried out to God and when he listened, he heard the witness of God's Spirit as a voice rejecting his motive but affirming God's. 
"The Lamb of God deserves the rewards of His suffering."   Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem lost sinners.  He deserves His reward:  Redeeemed lost sinners!

Pray therefore to the Lord of the Harvest that He may send laborers into the harvest. (Luk_10:12)

We wish to make everything about us; God made everything for Him.

May 13, 2007

Mother's day:
This Mother's day I would like to honor two women in my life who are special to me.  My Mom and the Mom of my children. Friday and Saturday we had a brief time with my parents visiting and helping to pack.  They are leaving my childhood home for a place much better suited to their current needs.  It was fun to sort and look through stuff from years "way" gone by but I am sure for my Mom it doesn't seem so long ago.  She has held on to some things we have long forgot and beamed with joy to see them.  We laughed and remember how we used to look.
It must have been hard having 5 kids so close in age but she did her best to make a shoestring bug stretch and stretch.  Today I want them to enjoy what they have, but it seems their children and grandchildren is what they cherish the most.  Happy Mother's day Mom.  I know you probably will not read this as you do not have a computer, but I wish you the best for all to read if anyone stumbles across this page.

For the Mom of my kids, my beloved wife I also which a joyous Mother's day.  We hope the weather stays nice to enjoy family time together outdoors.  Like my Mom,  Jannelle cherishes family time together and seems to be the catalyst for our times together.  She too is a special lady and sees things from a different perspective that graciously complements my own.  While I seemed called to complete my task list, she will seize the moment and make it special rather than letting it be trumped by the daily challenges of life.  I am so grateful to have had so many years together (22 so far).  I shed a tear Friday night as a you man sang "I will be here" by Stephen Curtis Chapman, the only song I ever sang solo at church (or for that matter anywhere but the shower) and that to her.  I am still here and plan to be as long as the Lord gives us time together.  May God richly bless you Jannelle!

Take time today (even if not Mother's day) to honor that special Mom you know or have.

His Only,
Tom
March 20, 2007

More Doctrinc in Hymns of Old...
There is more doctrine in some old hymns that in many modern evengelical sermons these days.  Some people avoid docrtine because it divides.  Without true doctrine to be unified around, we will all happily go together to Hell!  The truth is that God created us and in His unfathomable love, provided the only way to be saved from His wrath, the judgement of sins we committed against a holy God.

I was prompted in my spirit to find and read 2 Cor 3:18 this morning:    "But we all, with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord Spirit."  Doing a word study on face I looked up the Strongs definition:

G4383   πρόσωπον prosōpon pros'-o-pon
From G4314 and ὤψ ōps (the visage; from G3700); the front (as being towards view), that is, the countenance, aspect, appearance, surface; by implication presence, person: - (outward) appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men’s) person, presence.

The word visage reminded my of the hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded"  and remembered the use of the word "visage" and did not know what that meant.  It was refering to the countenance or face of our Lord and Savior Jesus.  It languished* under the sorrow of our sin at the cross:  Read slowly the words that follow:

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown; How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

The second verse contains the Gospel message NOT preached in "Positive, Upbeat" churches today who are afraid or the bitter reality of true Gospel, they rather tickle the ears of their flock to grow larger and more popular.

"Mine, mine was the transgression"  The repetition forces emphasis on the second "mine"  as to almost shout.  Mine sin put Him their!  My sin put the nails in His hands and feet.  My sin put the thorns through His brow.  My sin caused the Father to look away and leave our savior to face the wrath.  I SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS PUNISHMENT! 

What response should that provoke in us?  "Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace".

It is godly sorrow that leads to repentance.   2 Cor 7:10  With this in mind I can't imagine a conversion of the heart in great sorrow and tears!   Does this sound like the Gospel taught in your church?  It is the Gospel of the Bible and Bernard of Clairvaux understood this in 1153. (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/s/osacredh.htm)

We can learn a lot from those old hymns.  Jesus has not changed the Gospel since He was lifted up into the clouds, neither should we.

* Websters 1828 Dictionary "4. To pine or sink under sorrow or any continued passion;"

Nov 28, 2006

The Offensive Gospel take II
Today's reading from Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest" shows how the Gospel is offensive to one's pride:

" The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom, I will give myself in consecration, I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

I remember back in 1977 when I questioned how could salvation be that simple?  I worked hard to be good and do all the stuff I thought would please God, and none of that mattered? 
"But no, rather, I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be dung, so that I may win Christ "  Phil 3:8

Paul was talking about his religious life before his encounter with Jesus.  He was quickly climbing the ranks of the religious clergy in his zeal.  He was very sincere but dead wrong on the person of Jesus Christ.  God mercifully humbled Paul and open his eyes to the truth.  The truth of his own depravity before God.  It did not matter what man thought of him, before God he was a wretched sinner as we all are.  We all deserve the wrath of God, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved)... Eph 2:4, 5

Nov 26, 2006

The Offensive Gospel
Rom 9:33  as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a Stumbling-stone and a Rock-of-offense, and everyone believing on Him shall not be put to shame."

Last night I was reading in chapter 5 of Bob DeWaay's book "Redefining Christianity", a book primarily debunking "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.  The contrast he made was between the biblical gospel which is an offensive gospel and a non-offensive gospel (which is not the gospel of Jesus) that is popularly preached today and received by the masses.  The first is God-centered, the second is man-centered.  The gospel of Rick Warren is based on his market research into non-churched persons "felt needs".  His conclusion ranks "purpose in life" as one of the chief needs and the lack thereof leads to many of the things that bring dissatisfaction in life.    According to this, finding ones purpose is in a relationship with God and to serve Him.  He says that God is desperate for our love , so much so that He died on the cross to prove it. (page 79 Purpose Driven Live [PDL])  Everyone who wants purpose in life needs only to "believe and receive" (page 58-59 PDL) to "enter the family of God, have the relation and the purpose.  Sounds noble enough, and most people accept this at face value.  But this is not what Jesus nor the Apostles taught and this doesn't sound like a Rock-of-Offense.

Jesus did not say "I love you this much!  I'd rather die than live without you" (page 79 PDL).  When facing the prospect of the cross in great agony in the Garden Jesus said "Take away this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will. " Mark 14:36  Our sin debt needed to be paid on the cross in order for God to truly be a just God.  This is why the Father sent Jesus.  When facing the task Jesus did not do it because he was  desperation to prove His love for us, He did it to obey the will of His Father.  Bob DeWaay compares Warren's idea to that of a man desperately trying to prove to an uninterested woman how much he loves her by doing something dramatic.  This is an altogether wrong view of the cross, it is also a unbiblical teaching about how people come to him.  Jesus says that people can only come to Him if the Father draws them to Himself. (John 6:335-37, 44, 65)  Jesus wasn't interested in being popular in fact turned many away that very day with His words.  If He was trying so hard to win them over, He failed miserably.  But that is not what He was doing, He was proclaiming the truth, and the truth was offensive and the result was:  "From this time many of His disciples went back into the things behind, and walked no more with Him. " (John 6:66)  There are several more example of how he turned away crowds and individuals away rather than catering to their felt needs.  His message was offensive, but it was the truth, it is part of the Gospel. 
The Gospel is offensive because it:  "commands all men everywhere to repent" Acts 17:30.  The 10 Commandments is God's law and we all have broken most if not all of it in deed or if not in deed in thought (see Matt 5).  We are sinners condemned by the law we have broken and we need to repent.  Most people like to compare themselves with others and think they are pretty good.  But we are not judged by that standard but by God's law.

The exclusive nature of the Gospel is offensive: 
"Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me. " Joh 14:6 
"And one said to Him, Lord, are the ones being saved few? And He said to them, Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. For I say to you, many will seek to enter in and shall not be able." Luk 13:23,24 (see through verse 30, also Matt 7:13-14)

The popular view that "all roads lead to God" is held by people today in ignorance of scriptural teaching.  "You mean God will send people to hell who are sincerely following there religion?"  Yes, the Bible says so.  Even some that seek Him shall not be able to enter as we saw in the previous paragraph.   This is extremely offensive to many. I admit is is hard for me to accept, but I didn't make the rules.   Many will dismiss God and the bible over this issue, and do so to their peril.

The Gospel is offensive because it declares we are all under the wrath of God because of our sin unless we repent (declare our guilt before God and turn from our sins).  Jesus himself said "He who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him."  John 3:36  The apostle Paul adds:
"Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?  But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, do you treasure up wrath for yourself in a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God." Romans 2:4,5  No one today wants to talk about a wrathful God. "Why would anyone want to serve that kind of God".  People rather make up their own kind of image about God and Jesus that is nice, that will overlook sin and let everyone into heaven except for some REALLY bad people.  God talks about people fashioning gods from wood and stone as idols and the 2nd Commandment condemns this.  It is no different than fashioning a god from our own imagination (Acts 17:9) about what God is like.  If we don't want to believe what God has revealed to us about Himself, we will end up fashioning an idol.

God made the terms for how we are to come to them and He revealed them in His word, the Bible.  Appealing to felt needs of unbelievers is not the gospel.  How then do we reach our family,  friends, neighbors and coworkers for Christ?  The "Living Waters" link to the left is a useful resource for how to present the gospel.   But how do we take that first step?  Many  people don't want to talk about it.  It is uncomfortable,  is is offensive as we have seen, many are disinterested or have their own beliefs.  Some can be quite nasty if you bring up the subject and others dismiss you out of hand as "one of those ______ (fill in the blank)".  I wish I had the answer for this.  One thing we can do is pray that God would work in their hearts and draw them to Himself.  We are commanded by Jesus to pray that the Lord of the Harvest woudl send workers into thd harvest, but these workers face the same question.  Jesus said to "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven" Matt 5:16.  We can be sensitive to the Holy Spirit working in the lives of those who do not believe to draw them and be available to share.  I wish God put a big red tag on the persons who wanted to hear the gospel, but He doesn't.  It is our job to preach it.  We may be hated and despised like Paul and the other disciples and countless Christians throughout the ages, but that's what it may take to be obedient.  "...but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness. But to them, the called-out ones, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God."  I Cor 1:23-24

"Lord loose my tongue to proclaim the 'Good News' of the gospel."

Nov 20, 2006

Faithful to death
Isa 51:7  ...whose heart is My Law;...

This whole section of Isaiah starting with verse 1 is directed towards those who "pursue righteousness, and seek Jehovah" and who know rigtheousness, in whose heart is My Law (See Jer_31:31-34).  These are the ones who care deeply for the Words of God, to obey them and to follow God's ways.  
And what word of encouragement does God have for them?  "do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their revilings".  In the next verse He says what will be the end for those who persecute, but His salvation is forever.

Persecution will come to those who love the Lord and are willing to take a stand for righteousness.
(Mat_5:10-12, Mat_10:23, Luk_11:49, Luk_21:12, Joh_15:20-21, Rom_12:14, 2Ti_3:12)

The Word of God is under attack today again.  It always is by those who hate God, but from time to time it is ignored, watered down, questions "hath the Lord really said..."  or rewritten to soot the fancy of mens wisdom.  This is even done in the name of the gospel.

I heard people talk about others as being "so heavenly minded they were of no earthly good".  But today it seems to be just the opposite, we are so "earthly minded that we are of no heavenly good". 

We must fix our love and hope in the God of heaven who revealed himself in His written Word.   We must love the things that He loves.  It starts with truth, righteousness, love and compassion that leads to action.  The first two cannot be ignored to the exclusion of the latter, nor can the latter to the exclusion of the first two.

But when we take a stand on the Word of God and proclaim "Thus sayeth the Lord" (reading directly from His Word of course)  we will be targeted as "narrow minded", "heartless", "mean spirited" and in the case of speaking out on the sin of homosexuality "homophobes".

This last issue has become a politcal hot potatoe with polical correctness forming the culture of intolerence of those who are intolerent, or its okay to believe and accept anything except a position that rejects something as morally wrong.   There is no more room for "Thus sayeth the Lord" so persecution is coming to those who do.  But the message of Isaiah is "do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their revilings".  Jesus said:  "Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life."  (Rev_2:10) Lord help us to remain faithful to the end. 


November 11, 2006

God's power is in God's method
A century or so ago these words were penned:

 “When we preach the historic facts of the life and death of Our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacramental, God uses them on the ground of His Redemption to create in those who listen that which is not created otherwise. If we preach the effects of Redemption in human life instead of the revelation regarding Jesus, the result in those who listen is not new birth, but refined spiritual culture, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in another domain. We have to see that we are in such living sympathy with God that as we proclaim His truth He can create in souls the things which He alone can do.” Oswald Chamber, from “My Utmost for His Highest” 11/9

 In “marketing” the church to the world today we have forgotten the supernatural power that can only accomplish the work of Redemption.  The Apostle Paul said “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.” I Cor 1:21

 We so do not wish to look foolish in the eyes of the world that we dare appeal to man’s felt needs to try to convince him the Christian way of life is what he needs.  He doesn’t need a new way of life, he needs NEW LIFE.  We can not give that to him, only God can give that to him.  God told us the way He wanted to get the message out, “by the foolishness of preaching”.   Any other appeal misses the mark entirely.  Do we want people to have a “refined spiritual culture” or new life, the life of Christ?

September 4, 2006

John The Baptist:  Uncompromised Messenger

(From Adam Clarke’s Commentary)

Mat 11:8

A man clothed in soft raiment? - A second excellency in John was, his sober and mortified life. A preacher of the Gospel should have nothing about him which savours of effeminacy and worldly pomp: he is awfully mistaken who thinks to prevail on the world to hear him and receive the truth, by conforming himself to its fashions and manners. Excepting the mere color of his clothes, we can scarcely now distinguish a preacher of the Gospel, whether in the establishment of the country, or out of it, from the merest worldly man. Ruffles, powder, and fribble seem universally to prevail. Thus the Church and the world begin to shake hands, the latter still retaining its enmity to God. How can those who profess to preach the doctrine of the cross act in this way? Is not a worldly-minded preacher, in the most peculiar sense, an abomination in the eyes of the Lord?

Are in kings’ houses - A third excellency in John was, he did not affect high things. He was contented to live in the desert, and to announce the solemn and severe truths of his doctrine to the simple inhabitants of the country. Let it be well observed, that the preacher who conforms to the world in his clothing, is never in his element but when he is frequenting the houses and tables of the rich and great.

But to what shall I compare to this generation?
(Matt 11: 16)
Our Lord goes on to compare it with children whose attitude is that no game is any good.  They find fault with this and that and do not wish to participate.  This whole chapter of Matthew 11 is a fascinating story with this verse as the crux.  The John was drew their attention but his message and life were too harsh.  Jesus comes with a softer tone to his message and his life was less austere and they are put off with that. Miracles are performed in abundance in their presence and they still find fault.  Nothing pleases them.

 Many today are like those of this generation in our gospel soaked nation.  They find fault with the “harsh God” of the old Testament, but they know not of the tender/patient God he really is.  They like Jesus nice words but reject his exclusivity (I am the Way, The Truth, The Light, no one comes to the Father except by Me”) and know not of his harsh teachings and woes even in this chapter.  No nothing satisfies.  They sit in smug judgment of the Bible, the “light”, little realizing that they will be judged based on the basis of the light they have been given. 

 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the powerful acts which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes!  But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.   And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to the heaven, shall be brought down to hell.  For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.  Matt 11:21-24

 God has blessed our nation with founders of whom many were preachers of the Gospel.  The freedom of speech and to worship was fundamental in their thinking that nothing would inhibit the gospel. But though it is freely available, it is rejected with smugness.  A lady I met on a plain had every reason not to believe what the Bible clearly taught, but instead preferred a righteousness of her own.  Hers was superior in her own mind to that of her creator; superior to that of the only one who could save her.  Instead of bringing about repentance the light she was given brought about indifference and unbelief.

             “But to what shall I compare this generation?”

 August 20, 2006

The Cooperative Rebel

Jim Berg’s book “Changed into His Image”,( the title of which is taken from Romans 8:29)  talks in chapter 3 about rebellion that is at its root is caused from our sin nature we were born with.  He mentions several kinds.  We all think of what he terms the “Assertive Rebel” who is openly defiant, and has tended to become embraced by our culture as the independent spirit.   But the same underlying sin nature causes another type of Rebel he calls the “Cooperative Rebel”.  Jim writes:

Another type of cooperative rebel appears to be driven by a sense of duty: as a child he is often called a “really good kid,” seems to go out of his way to be helpful, never seems to be a problem, is sometimes perfectionistic and legalistic, and thinks, “I’;; do my best because I have learned that life works best this way” or “I’ll do my best because I like the image of being a great kid.”  Perhaps he has often seen a brother or sister who is an assertive rebel resisted by authority and doesn’t want the hassle.  He may even enjoy the limelight he gets when other compare him to his rebellious brother or sister.

Surprising as it may seem, there are many of us who really try to be good, not because we are allowing God to work in our lives to produce His fruit, but because it seems that life has fewer snags when we stay out of trouble.  We often achieve the accolades and image we want.  We can become smug around others who aren’t doing right and can become easily embittered during the times when we are being good and don’t get what we want.¹

Jim goes on to quote C.S. Lewis

            If you are a nice person-if virtue comes easily to you—beware!  Much is expected from those to whom much is given.  If you mistake for your own merits what are really God’s gifts to you though nature, and if you are contented with simply being nice, you are still a rebel:  and all those gifts will only make your fall more terrible, your corruption more complicated, you bad example more disastrous.  The Devil was an archangel once: his natural gifts were as far above yours as yours are above those of a chimpanzee. ²

These words pierced me and described the heart of much of my motivation, to be nice because it works and “life has fewer snags”.  This leads to pride and as Lewis put it “your fall more terrible”. 

What is the answer to this? In Luke 18:9-14.  Jesus tells a parable of two men, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector (really bad sinner in those days).  The Pharisee rejoiced in his ability to keep the law in his prayer to God, the other realized his sinfulness and pleaded for mercy for the only one who could help him.   For the one to whom living virtuously comes easy, we much remember the words of John Bradford: "But for the Grace of God, there go I."  We must recognize the rebel within us, the pride that thinks we can live up to God’s standard by our own natural strength and will. Throw yourself on the mercy of God.  Let him examine you (Psalm 139:23,24) and let His righteousness live through you.  Let him break your heart to see things as He does.  How can we do that?  Get in God’s Word everyday, pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit would make it clear to you, and then obey what God tells you through His Word.  Do not sit and judge God’s Word, let it be your judge.

 ¹ “Changed into His Image”  Jim Berg,  Page 52, 53
² C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity 180-181

From my Quiet time today:

 Isa 45:18-22  For so says Jehovah the Creator of the heavens, He is God, forming the earth and making it; He makes it stand, not creating it empty, but forming it to be inhabited. I am Jehovah, and there is no other.  19  I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, Seek me in vain. I Jehovah speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.  20  Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, escaped ones of the nations; those who set up the wood of their graven image, and those that pray to a god that cannot save. They know nothing.

 21  Declare and bring near; yea, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this of old? Who has told it from then? Is it not I, Jehovah? And there is no other God besides Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me.   22  Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

 The appeal in this chapter is to all nations to see the folly in what they worship and trust in.  Jehovah is God and there is NO ONE else.  He declares the end from the beginning and even uses the heathen Kings (Cyrus, King of Persia) for His purposes.   Salvation is found in no other.  When Isaiah wrote this the Nation of Israel had not yet been hauled away into captivity in Babylon yet were they were to remain for 70 years before Cyrus would defeat them and return Israel to it land. 

 All other religions, believes, philosophies only deceive people from believing in the True God so as to be saved.  This is Satan's plan, let them believe in ANYTHING but the real deal and he will steal their soul.

 The gospel is exclusive.  In a day of tolerance reigning supreme, all beliefs are accepted with the exception of Biblical Christianity which is does not tolerate the "all paths lead to God" mentality.  For that true believers who speak the truth will be persecuted more and more.  But those who know this truth must have "your loins girded about with truth" Eph_6:14 and make up you mind resolutely who you will serve as Joshua did .

 And if it seems evil to you to serve Jehovah, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served Beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. Jos_24:15. 

 While it would be wonderful to think that all people who are reasonably nice, who follow their heart and "do what is right in there own eyes" will eventually lead them to God and heaven, the Bible does not allow us the luxury to say such things.  To not warn such people is "love" them away from God.

  "there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their own filth" Pro_30:12.

May we wake up and come to God on His terms rather than acting as gods ourselves and allowing Him in to our lives if it suits our needs. 

August 9, 2006
I knew my birthday was this week, but I didn’t think it was today until I got an e-card from an old friend.  Although age 47 is not regarded as a significant milestone, each one reminds me that my life is finite and there is more to look back on then forward too (unless I live to be as old as my Grandma Colle who died at 103!) and I already have some regrets.  I am learning from these and want to make the corrections now before I waste anymore years.

I just read a brief philosophy of the man who wrote “Rich Dad, poor Dad” and how the honest hard working but financially ignorant Christian man died leaving debts to his family while the rich worldly self-made man became the riches man in Hawaii. This guy writes for Yahoo finance and decided to follow his rich dad’s advice and he in turn became rich.  I disturb me how he downplayed the values of his poor dad and the only “Christian” advice he remembered is “God helps those who help themselves” (not a Bible quote). He said the only difference between God and Gold is the “l” and the “l” stands for lazy.  While I do feel hard work and investing wisely is Biblical, I couldn’t help but think of the verse “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Mat 16:26  This man has found what he sought but what good will it do him in 50 years? 

There is nothing sacred in being poor but there is great value in being “poor in spirit”.  In having a humble and dependant spirit who knows each breath is in the hand of his maker “…but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Heb 4:13.
My Dad (earthly) taught me about money too.  He prayed to God as a young man, not to be rich but to be able to pay his bills.  He knew riches can steal the soul if you let your guard down.  God honored that prayer. He is not rich but he has always paid the bills.  My other Dad (heavenly) taught me “Mat 6:19  Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.”  I have a lot to learn yet from my Heavenly Dad about this, but I feel more a sense of urgency about it as I get older. As for this world, David (the King not my Dad) said “I have been young, and am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging bread” Psa 37:25 

August 6, 2006

Today's sermon by Pastor Sam Horn was on Eph 3:10  " so that now to the rulers and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God"

Paul packs a lot in some of his sentences and this is no exception.  Pastor Horn did a great job of unpacking it.  Basically this verse is saying that God wanted to reveal His manifold wisdom to the rulers and powers in the heavenlies, all the angles of every ranks good and bad and he choose of all things the church in which to do it.  How else could God demonstrate His goodness, His holiness and also his mercy grace, justice and love.  Only by taking sinful man and redeeming them and giving them a new nature, that of Christ's could He do this!  That is the wisdom which seems so counterintuitive.
Below is a quote from the JFB commentary that explains that the church is like the actors in the theater and the angels are the audience, watching carefully the unfolding of the drama.
 Yet when we see the church not in its shining glory, but like the church of Corinth that Paul wrote to, we wonder how is God to be revealing His wisdom.  Pastor admonished us that as a church we get worship, we understand the need to reach the lost, we get the importance of doctrine, but we don't get is our relating to each other.  Where there is gossip, complaining, backbiting, unforgiveness, nit-picking, how do we make know the manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom of God.  
Pastor mentioned the story of the postal carrier James Todd who carried the Hope diamond mailed, yes mailed to the Smithsonian in a plain box wrapped in brown paper.   God's manifold wisdom shines like that diamond and he entrusted it to us to contain it.  Are w going to let it shine or left stuck in the dark of pettiness of our lives.   
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us; 2Co_4:7"
We are commanded by God to live Holy as He is Holy to demonstrate His manifold wisdom!  This means living a holy life on the horizontal plain of our relationships with each other and in the world.  Not only are Angels looking on with fascination, but so is a skeptical world.  They are looking for excuses not to believe.  When we live ungodly live before them we provide them with every excuse.  We love as Jesus did, the will see our lights shine and give glory to God.

July 22, 2006
I commend a former Elder of mine for reviewing the material on my website.  He did challenge a paragraph on the website that he was directly involved in regarding Jr. High.  After reviewing the material I wrote, based mostly on input from my daughter, I realized that I had my title wrong and was misleading.  I also pressed my daughter a bit on some of the issues and realized that though she had some real issues, I did not do due diligence to follow up on these things with the parties involved and so I have removed them from my website under the advice of my former Elder.  I do want to keep things correct and accurate to the best of my knowledge.  I thank this dear friend for his comments and advice.  We are still brothers and working to build the kingdom.

On a different subject, I have continued my re-reading of "The Seduction of Christianity" by Dave Hunt after a few weeks break.  I had loaned it out.  I first read this back in the late 1980's and wondered how any of this could affect the evangelical churches I have attended.  It is interesting now to see how a lot of it has happened.  Our culture has changed as we have entered  Post-Modernism.  Out has gone absolute truth and the spirit of "your truth works for you, my truth works for me" is a logical absurdity that is wholeheartedly embraced.  It is infiltrating the church.  Churches that resign themselves that this is the state of our culture, try to work within that framework, rather than confronting the lie head on.  This changes the meaning of the word "truth"  Logic dictates that if one thing is true and another thing is different, it cannot also be true.  Either one is true or the other.  This is the law of non-contradiction.  While post-modernist reject that law it is still fundamentally true and we are forced to live in a world that is under that law.  You cannot both have your cake and eat it too.  Jesus says "I am the way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father accept by me" John 14:6.   We must heed the words of Jesus, the Truth.  People want to call him a prophet, a good man, a teacher even a guru, but He is not a just a man, He is God the Son.  He speaks the Truth as He heard it from His Father.  John 14:21.  He didn't allow us the luxury of coming up with our own truth.  After challenging his disciples that they were to beware of false prophets that would come in sheep's clothing and that not everyone who says to Him "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of Heaven, he challenges them that they are to hear His words and DO them. Mark 7:26.

When we reach out to people with the message of the Gospel, we need to remember to speak the Truth in love.  Sometimes that truth will hurt and offend, but so does the surgeons knife that cuts out the infection that would kill.  Better to tell them up front and have them wrestle with it than to let them remain diluted into thinking they are following God when they want to follow a god of their own making. 

Another aspect is the redefining the words of scripture to mean something completely different than what they ever meant before.  While this used to be confined to the cults, it is pervasive in the writings of many in the church today.  I have too often supplied the correct definitions to things I have heard when the author meant something different.  This happened with some Mormon missionaries once.  They use Christian terms but have different meanings for them.  So it alls sounds good until you pry under the surface and ask what they mean by Jesus, atonement, sin, created etc.  We need to be diligent to find out what people mean by the Christian terms they use.  Another aspect of this is to use "new words" that are not so biblical because they might offend.  So substitute words are used.  I try to figure out what the real biblical word that it is being substituted for and can follow along, but how does the biblically illiterate know what it really means?  If biblical terms sound strange to modern ears then they need to be re-introduced with complete biblical explanations, otherwise we can be causing confusion and keep people in the dark.

Well I am rambling now so I will stop for now.  The best thing I can encourage the few that will read this is to dig deep into scripture and wrestle before God with it.  Let the Holy Spirit convict you of its meaning and truth.  If you don't know how to study the bible there are many good resources for doing this.  But above all, read the word in the context of sentences that surround them.  Remember that "text without context is pre-text".



July 12, 2006
Today's entry in Oswald Chamber's "My Utmost for His Highest included a comment in the second sentence that speaks to today's church.  It was written about a hundred years ago now but is up to date.  "The church ceases to be a spiritual society when it is on the look-out for the development of its own organization".  This devotion closes with a quote from an unknown source (at least to me) that is a challenge for us all.  Enjoy!

From my quiet time:
Isa 43:25

I am He who blots out your sins for My own sake...
July 4, 2006 (USA independence day)

The Lord has freed us from our sin that we may no longer be slaves to it (Rom_6:18).  That is we have gained independence from sin but we are now DEPENDANT upon righteousness (i.e. slaves of righteousness).   We are dependent upon the righteousness of Christ and his work on the cross.
Notice for whose sake He does this; "for My own sake".  God keeps His promises.  Despite Israel’s waywardness, He chose them to be the nation to bear witness of Him (vs 12).  He does it to show the His character of mercy.  He is showing that although they do not deserve forgiveness, yet He still forgives.  None of us deserve His forgiveness (vss 24, 26 &  27), that is why it is mercy, that it why it is grace (undeserved merit).

As a nation we are like Israel who "wearied Me with your iniquities" (vs 24).  Should God bless America this independence day?

God is a Holy God (vs 15)  He is our creator and King. Oh that we would acknowledge our sin as individuals and corporately as a nation.  Oh that we would humble ourselves before God and put away our idols and call upon the name of the Lord, for He is a merciful God as well.

July 3, 2006
I just listened to a shocking sermon preached to 5000 youth by missionary Mark Washer from a link on SliceOfLaodicia.com.  It was hard hitting to people who may be deluded by today's watered down gospel into complacency that they are saved when in all probability they never heard the true gospel that includes repentance nor saw evidence of conversion in a changed life.  It is worth every minute of the 58 minute length.  Is there someone you need to share this with?

June 28, 2006
On the plane ride home from a business trip I had the privilege to actually have someone ask me about my faith.  I was re-reading Dave Hunt's 1985 book "The Seduction of Christianity" (which he revised recently) and a lady sat down next to me and asked me about it.  I have heard that having some book with a catchy title is a great ice breaker.  I am not one to initiate conversation but ususally respond to someone who does.  I would like to change that but it something I need God to help me overcome the introverted tendency I have.  This lady was probably in her 60's, a Grandma and a scientist/world philosopher.  I think she understood the methods of the Spanish Inquisition as well.  As fast as she could she rapidly fired questions at me of such a wide range on every problem she had with Christianity from the "apparently" different God of the old and new testaments, creation/evolution, the failings of televangelists (Jimmy Swagert/Jim Baker), ecology, morality, death penalty etc. 
I knew within 30seeconds that my faith was on trial and prayed a quick prayer to God for wisdom, to not shrink back and to lovingly address her concerns.  It was a 45 min trip from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, but we packed 3 hours of conversation into. 
I don't know that anything I said persuaded her, indeed that is not my job, but I defended the faith and used scripture as much as possible to explain my believes.  I believe we have to use God's word when approaching people, even those who do not believe.  God said in Isa 55:11  "so shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do. "
I will let God's word do its convicting power to change a life. Either they will be hardened or they will be softened, but they will not remain the same.
We are to be prepared in mind and heart for any occasion to bear witness to God.
Col 4:6  "Let your speech be always with grace, having been seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. "