Fireproofing our Love for God

There is a particular storyline from the film Fireproof that came to my mind today.  The main character, Caleb, is a firefighter who, due to the constant weariness of life, has become a hard working, though critical and unloving man.  Because of this, Caleb finds his marriage falling apart, even coming close to a divorce. It is then, when he is nearing the end of his wits, that his father challenges him to a daily devotional which is meant to encourage him to re-engage his wife over the course of forty days.

Over time, Caleb devotes himself to the Lord through prayer and Bible study.  As he grows in his devotion to the Lord, he begins to love his wife in a way that he never had.  The culmination of this is the apex of the movie.  For years, Caleb had been selfishly saving and hoarding money for his dream boat.  All the while, Caleb's wife's mother has been deathly sick and in desperate need of medical supplies.  So, in an act of pure love, Caleb quietly uses the money that he had been saving for years to pay for his mother-in-law's medical supplies. His love for the Lord expresses itself through his love for his wife and his mother-in-law.  This is one of the main points of the whole movie.

John the Elder, the disciple whom Jesus loved, has more to say about love than perhaps any of the other New Testament writers.  And while most remember that God loves us through Christ Jesus His Son, many neglect how we love God.  John answers that important and necessary question with this: "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us (1 John 4:12)."  And again, "Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God (1 John 4:7)."

In truth, John is indicating that loving others is how we exhibit our love for God.  In other words, we love God by loving those whom He loves.  This should not be overlooked or neglected ever.  Although worship, praise, and thankfulness are the essentials of loving God, loving others is also a vital and necessary component of that mixture.

This plays itself out in very practical ways.  For as we love others with humility and sacrifice, we are loving and serving God in the very manner that He has asked from us, which means that we will love others as He has loved us.  To be sure, this is not an altogether natural thing unless we pursue the Lord, because only by His empowering will we be able to love others in the way that He asks us to.  In the end, loving others is such a huge part of the Christian life that if we do not love others we are failing to love Him!  Let us then press on to love truly as He has loved us!

The Olympics of Life

Every couple of years, the Olympics take place and sets the whole world in a stir of competition as the world's greatest athletes compete for their respective countries and for the chance to be deemed the very best at their sport.  To win the gold medal at the Olympics is the crowning achievement for these athletes who have spent, in some cases, their whole lives preparing for a chance, usually only a single in their lifetimes, to win.

Think of the years of preparation for an event that can sometimes take mere moments to complete.  The 100m freestyle swimming event, for instance, is over within seconds, and a lifetime's worth of training comes to fruition.  But, as the pool settles and the water returns to its rest, the times come in to determine whether one is a winner or not.

It is at this season when two particular verses of Scripture continually come to mind: 1 Cor. 9:24-27 and Hebrews 12:1-2.  Both of these passages deal with the theme of perseverance and endurance for the purposes of godliness and sanctification.  There is a sense, for both Paul and the writer of Hebrews, that the Christian is to train for godliness so as to be prepared to run the long race that is the Christian life.

Paramount to this is to understand that while each one of us is running our own race, we each run it together; we are not running individually.  This may seem paradoxical, because we are competing both in an individual event as well as a team event.  However, our individual race is done with the power fo the Holy Spirit, who empowers us with the strength and stamina to fight the good fight and to stay true.  Additionally, the team event is the Church, both the global Church and the local church. Both are important, as we, as individuals, need to rely on each other continuously for strength and for encouragement.  Let us then heed the words of Hebrews and begin to take our training much more seriously, because our competitive event is life itself:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every sin and weight which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is marked out for us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:1-2)."

The True Witness that Testifies about Christ Jesus

During a criminal trial, testimony will often be given either to prove the defendant's innocence or confirm his/her guilt.  The validity of the testimony is based upon the character and the integrity of the witness.  For if the witness is known to be untrue or it can be shown that their character may lack, their testimony could be deemed questionable on that basis.

Christianity is also based upon a testimony.  And, like in a courtroom, the power and truth of that testimony is dependent upon the integrity and character of the witness.  It is, in fact, this very truth on which all Christian faith is built upon, for our witness is God Himself, and He is truth.

John writes, "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life (1 John 5:11-12)."  The testimony is God, but He is also the witness of that testimony.  It is God Himself that acts as the guarantor of the testimony about His Son.  It is for this reason that the truth about Christ is ultimately trustworthy and perfect.

God supports the message of Christ Jesus through power and Spirit.  As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, that he did not come with lofty words of wisdom, but with displays of the Spirit and of power so that the Gospel would not be based on the wisdom of man but on the very power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5).

In the end, the testimony of Jesus Christ is made sure and valid because of its witness, which is the Holy Spirit, God Himself.  Christianity is not based upon man's ability to receive God, nor is it based upon lofty argument or smooth-talking preachers.  No!  The valid witness of Christianity is God.  Therefore, we, as Christians, should not ever fear spreading the Gospel, for in the end we are not the witness of God, He is the witness of Himself.  We are just to be obedient in passing on that message.  Let us then share the testimony about Jesus Christ for in so doing the Holy Spirit will be testifying about the Son through us!

Christian Family Reunion

Today I am in Williston, North Dakota for a family reunion.  Because this reunion is for my wife's family, I find myself in a situation that lends itself to observation and contemplation.  Four generations of family are gathered together for the purpose of reconnection and recollection.  To be sure, the focus on reminiscence centers on the value of heritage and it brings to mind the importance of remembering the generations past.

Biblically speaking, the concept of heritage and ancestry is one of those pivotal but oft-neglected pieces of the biblical world.  For instance, most of the Old Testament deals with ancestry.  From Adam through the Patriarchs and the kings, ancestry is important.  There are a couple of reasons that understanding lineage is a good and necessary thing for every human being to delve into.

The first is for the value of information.  Having an understanding of our ancestors can go a long way in explaining ourselves. Everything from biology to intelligence to spirituality can be traced through our ancestry.  Our society values health history when making medical decisions.  We should also value heart history when dealing with spiritual decisions too.  maybe if we valued it more, we would not keep making the same mistakes from generation to generation.

Another reason that we should study our past is for the value it has in teaching.  Consider the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews.  The writer spends a considerable amount of literary real estate using the great persons of the past to explain faith and belief.  This should prompt us to look to those great figures of history as inspiration, for we are related through Jesus to all Christians past.  Let us never forget that reality.

When we read the Bible or the writings of great past Christians or even when we spend time learning about our own biological ancestry, we should take to heart the value that those who have come and gone before can have in directing, guiding, and inspiring our lives.  Let us then take the time to consider our pasts so as to be informed about our presents and to be inspired for our futures!

How We Know God

Consider that you do not know me.  How would you get to know me?  You could go into my house when I wasn't home.  You would be able to discern that I like to read, that I am a musician, and that I like to cook, but would that mean that you knew me?  Or you could talk to my wife and my family.  They would tell you things about me, but would you know me?  Obviously, to know me requires that you get to know me personally and through direct relationship with me.

To know God is the most important thing in all of life as a human being.  It forms the foundational proposition that presupposes every other thought and feeling.  Because of the significance of this monumental and bedrock point of knowledge, it is often subsumed to the degree that people assume to know God when they have no real idea of what that proposition entails.

A basic epistemological definition is in order.  Because we are referring to the knowledge of God, we are in fact dealing with a person.  This should not be overlooked, for much damage has been done when God has been referred to as an it or an entity instead of a person, a He.  This is a necessary place to start the discussion.

Because God is a He, knowledge is dependent upon relationship, i.e. knowing God in relationship.  The point here is intimacy.  Knowledge of God is more than knowledge about Him; it is knowledge of who He is.  This is the point made by God Himself when He introduces Himself to Moses in the desert. "I am who I am," is not merely a statement of God's self-existence, it is also a remark on how we are to know Him too.

While the purpose of this brief dialogue has been one of information, the implications of devotional.  Because knowing God is based on intimate relationship with Him, in order for us to know Him, we must be in relationship with Him. Therefore, for us to know God more we need to treat our relatioship with Him in a manner befitting relationships that matter to us.  For instance, we will talk with Him, think about how we can love Him, and spend time with Him.  These are the requisites of knowing God that if left undone will hinder our knowledge of Him.  Let us then devote ourselves to God so as to know God.

Be Careful When Praying for Patience

A mentor of mine tells a story about a particular instance years ago.  He was a pastor in Chicago and, like most pastors, had a week filled with meetings and visitations to the degree that Saturday had come  with the Sunday morning's sermon still unfinished.  Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that the sermon was barely started.

To remedy the situation, he locked himself in his church office for a couple of hours.  Yet despite his intentionality, he was distracted and struggling to stay focused.  Fed up with his lack of progress, my mentor went for a walk around the neighborhood to clear his head.  When he got back to the church, he went into his office, knelt down before his desk, and prayed: "Lord, please grant me the patience to do what I need to.  Lord, help me be patient.  Amen."

Just as he finished his prayer, there was a knock at his office door.  He went to the door and opened it to find the exact person needed for the job of distracting the pastor from writing his sermon.  Over the next two hours, the visitor chatted my mentor's ear off.  The whole time, my mentor was planning his escape and trying all the while to send his time-consuming visitor on his way.

Finally, the visitor leaves and my mentor is left alone, no closer to completing his sermon than he had been hours before.  Dejected at his progress, he sat down in his desk chair, trying to sink as far into the leather upholstery as he could.  It was now nearly dinner time and he still no sermon for his effort so he simply closed his eyes and breathed.  At this moment, he realized what just happened.

He had prayed for patience, expecting for God to instantly transform him into a man of patience.  Instead, God sent to him the very person to exercise his patience.  The visitor was the very thing God used to test and grow his patience.  My mentor understood this as a revelation from God, checked and confirmed it with Scripture, and the sermon was written in under an hour.

Patience is a tricky thing.  It is kind of like filling a bathtub as full as it can go but instead of pulling the drain plug, you keep the faucet on while the water flows over the side of the tub and pools into puddles on the tiled bathroom floor.  Being patient requires something or someone for us to be patient of.  For instance, you need patience when dealing with a long business deal, when handling difficult people or situations, and when overcoming illnesses.  Understanding that patience is how God would have us deal with difficult situations is key to recognizing when patience is needed and when we need to pray for God to help us.

Paul includes patience in his list of fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  This is an important distinction for two reasons.  The first is that the Spirit is the source of patience, and as such when we need patience, what we really need is the Holy Spirit.  This equates to prayer and devotion.  Secondly, fruit is different than a gift in that gifts are given ready for usage whereas fruits need to be grown over time.  Because of this, when we pray for patience, like my mentor, we should not be surprised when we suddenly find ourselves being tested.  Let us then seek after God to grow our patience just as He provides opportunities to be patient!

Rear-Ending Envy

A stylish young professional was driving around town in his brand new Ferrari.  As he stopped at the light, an old man driving a moped pulled up next to him.  The old man gazed at the sleek new car, eyes sparkling green with envy and he remarked, "That is a nice car, young man.  What kind of car is it?"  The young man proudly replied, "A Ferrari GTO."

The old man leaned in towards the car and asked, "Do you mind if I take a look at it?"  "No problem," answered the young man, "You won't see many of these driving around.  It cost more money than most people make in their entire lives."

"Why does it cost so much?" asked the old man.  "Because it goes over 200 mph.  It is the fastest street legal, production car you can buy in America."  The old man peered inside, lusting after the crisp leather seats and shining electronics before sitting back on his moped and howling with a smile, "Wooeee!  What a beautiful car!"

Just then the light turned green and the young man, having a captivated audience, decided to show off and slammed on the gas, going over 100 mph in a matter of moments.  The young man, feeling proud, looked back into his rear view mirror to see the old man in the distance but catching up.  Astonished by the speed of the moped, the young man slowed down slightly only to see the old man fly passed him.  The young man, feeling a bit competitive, hit the gas again to pull ahead of the old man to the next stop light.

As he stopped, the young man looked in his rear view mirror just as he heard a huge thud.  He quickly got out of his car to see the old man lying on the ground and the moped crunched into the back of his new car.  He ran over to the old man, "Hey man, you were flying.  Are you alright?  I'll call 911; is there anything I can do for you?"  The old man peered up from the pavement, "Yes...please...unhook... my suspenders...from you mirror."

Covetousness is a green monster that lurks around in wait to trap us in his snares.  Solomon says that, "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot (Pro. 14:30)."  It is no wonder why God commands us not to be envious of our each other but to be content with what we have: it is for our own good.  It is then no wonder why Paul would include covetousness in his list of character traits that we are to put to death (Col. 3:5-6).

What we admire and desire has a way of ensnaring and enslaving us.  We must be on guard against such ploys of the evil one to distract us from our purposes in God.  Additionally, God aks us to be content in Him.  When we are envious, we are in fact dissenting to the blessing of God.  This should not ever be so.  Let us then protect our minds and our hearts from the barbs of envy by remaining constantly vigilant in thanksgiving to the Lord!

How Jesus Summarized the Christian Lifestyle

Summing up the whole of the Christian life in a single phrase is no small feat.  Some Christians point to John 3:16 for this task, while others may point to Eph. 2:8-10, or even Romans 10:9-10.  But, luckily, we are not left to our own theological preference when it comes to summarizing Christianity, specifically in matters of living, for Jesus Himself summarized the Christian life for us.

As far as salvation is concerned, perhaps the Gospel of John has the most to say about faith and salvation.  While John's Gospel is unified in pointing to the efficacy of belief in receiving salvation, which is that grace of God enacted by Christ Jesus' work in life and death, it is how Jesus answers the sly questions of the slithering scribes in Matthew's Gospel that give us the best summary of how God desires believers to live.

The scene goes something like this: while in Jerusalem before his Passion, Jesus is having to deal with constant barraging attacks and theological traps set by the religious leaders who wish to destroy Him.  In one such inquisition, the Pharisees, seeking to trap Jesus, ask Him, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?"  Jesus, without a flinch or beat responds, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37)."

While this is a beautiful and easily memorizable passage the importance of it should not be lost due to its ease.  Jesus quoted directly from Deuteronomy in His reply (Deut. 6:4-5).  In doing so, not only did Jesus defend Himself by relying on the authority of Scripture, He also made clear to Christians that what God has asked from humans in history past is the same thing He asks of us now: utter and complete devotion.

This should be a convicting but comforting truth.  For God has not changed in what he requires of us: everything.  So, when Jesus responds to the testing traps of the Pharisees and leaders of the Law, He is not only answering them their question, He is answering us ours.  How far does God ask us to go in our devotion? All the way.  Every single crevice and nook is to be focused and filled with devotion to God.  This is the Christian life style in a nutshell straight from the mouth of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Choosing God before we have to Choose

Making decisions is just a part of life.  What you're going to wear or to eat are among a hundred other much more important choices face us daily.  Some decisions, like checking your Facebook page, are more superficial and relatively unimportant.  While other decisions, like who to marry or what your career will be, are more significant and life-determining decisions.

Because making decisions is just a part of life, it is no wonder that the Bible speaks quite directly to how we are to decide and choose.  What is interesting is that Scripture speaks of decision making in both a macro and a micro level, indicating that God is concerned with the minutiae of our lives as much as He is with the "bigger" things.

Most importantly, God wants us to seek Him and His guidance when facing decisions in our lives (Psa. 37:5; Jer. 6:16; 33:3).  In this way, godly decision making begins before decisions are made.  While this may seem obvious, consider the effect: if we pre-decide to commit ourselves to God's will before we have to make decisions, when the time comes for us to make the decision we will be more likely to make the right decisions.

Conversely, if we waver before we actually face the various available choices, then when the time comes for us to make decisions, we will likely be distracted from God's purposes by our own passions and desires.  Remember, the enemy lurks in waiting to devour (1 Pet. 5:8).  He, Satan, knows exactly how to tempt us away from God, so that when we stand at the crossroads of decision making we will not choose God's will but we will follow our fleshly desires that lead down the wide road of destruction.

Instead, we must determine which road we will choose to take long before we come to the fork of deciding.  In this way, we will be on-guard against being led astray.  Pre-deciding to follow Christ also helps to keep us focused on God and His will for our lives well before we are forced to make decisions.  Again, God is as concerned with being the guider of small decisions as He is with big ones.  Because of this, we should never grow weary of seeking His counsel, whether regarding what to eat for breakfast or when to make a career change.  Let us then seek after God first in all things so as to live in the center of His will!

A Story of Hidden Agendas that Aren't so Hidden

Daniel Pink tells a story in his book What Color is Your Parachute of his wife, Carol, a career counselor.  Carol had a client named George.  George had worked in the rubber industry for years and came to Carol for some help.  George explained on the first session that he wanted to get out of the rubber business.  In response, Carol gave George some homework and sent him on his way till their next session.


At the next session, George showed up with not one lick of his homework completed.  Carol looked at George, and point-blank asked him, "George, noticing that you haven't done this work, I have to ask: what will happen if you don't get out of the rubber industry?"  George answered back, "My wife will divorce me."  Carol, not missing a beat, asked, "George, do you want your wife to divorce you?"  
George just smirked.  He then shared with Carol that what he really wanted was a divorce, and that he would never change his job until he got that done first.  George's real agenda had nothing to do with a job, but everything to do with a divorce.  Because of that, he would never change.


People won't change unless they want to.  No amount of external prompting or orthodox teaching can affect someone to change if they do not desire to change.  For instance, there is a young man I know who swears till he's blue in the face that he would give anything to quit smoking.  But every time someone else lights a cigarette around him, he lights one up too.  He still buys pack of cigarettes, but always tells people that he's quitting; like this is his "last" pack, or that he only smokes when he drinks.  He claims to want to change, but his actual agenda is to feed his addiction.


There are many verses that speak to the need to put God first in our lives.  In fact, it could be said that the whole of Scripture is focused on this very thing.  Our sanctification is at stake.  We will never be able to transform by the renewal of our minds and the regeneration of our hearts if we do not want to. Because of this, we should check ourselves for any underlying sinful agendas that would distract us or inhibit our growth.  Let us then strip ourselves of agendas that hinder so as to come closer to God by His will!

Living for God or for Self

There were two women.  One of them, a driven young professional, planned her whole life.  She graduated from college, got her dream job, and worked hard her whole life, often sacrificing relationships to get herself ahead and to accomplish her goals.  When there were choices between doing something that furthered her goals or serving others, she would undoubtedly choose the former.  She built her life in the very way she wanted, never submitting to anyone's suggestions if they did not fit her agenda.

The other woman, the first's roommate in college, was an avid servant.  She would spend hours building relationships with the people she felt called to love.  She helped others move, she paid other people's rent if they couldn't make it, she even visited prison convicts.  She would volunteer at the local food shelf every weekend, which is where she met her husband.  They both felt called to help the needy and less fortunate, and so they decided to become missionaries to North Africa.  While their, he was killed while delivering medical supplies to a hospital and she was thrown in prison for teaching english to Muslim children.  She lived out the rest of her life in submission and service.

Both of the women died at the same time on the same day.  Jesus was there as they got to the gates of heaven.  He looked at both of them and smiled.  To the first woman, the missionary woman, Jesus hugged her close and said with a voice as gentle as velvet, "Welcome.  Come, step into my Kingdom.  For you have served Me with your whole life and for that you have received life eternal."  He then opened His arms and ushered her past Him into heaven.

Jesus the went to the other woman.  His expression changed to a somber one as He spoke sadly, "My child, you built your life upon yourself.  All that you did was for your own sake and for your own ambition.  Because you continually put your will before Mine, you have lived your life away from Me.  You served your goals and neglected what I had for you.  Because of this, you have forfeited your life and will spend eternity apart from me."  With that, Jesus turned away from her, leaving her sobbing in darkness for all eternity.

Jesus said in unambiguous language that, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take us his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done (Matt. 16:24-28)."

The point is priority.  What will we value: God or ourselves?  Our answer to this question will play itself out in how we live.  If we value God first, then we will live our lives focused on what He has for us.  Conversely, if we value ourselves first, then we will live our lives focused inward on what we think is best for ourselves.  To discover which one we may be, one need only look at the minutiae: if you continually see yourself behaving selfishly or looking to your own interests, then you probably are living a self-focused life.  Whereas if you find yourself seizing opportunities to love and serve others, then you are probably living a God-focused life.

While this may seem like a distant question, it is essential and has eternal weight to it.  In both of these cases, the relevant next-step is prayer and worship.  In order for us to start or keep submitting ourselves to the will of God, we need to be pursuing that will on a moment-by-moment basis.  Let us then come to Him in faith as to lay down our lives so as to pick up the life He has for us!

Using the Weekend to Rest

In 2000, George Clooney was interviewed for Mens Journal.  Much of the article dealt with Clooney's increasingly obsessive work ethic.  He would often miss sleep in order to keep up with his hectic and overstuffed schedule.  It was clear from the interview that Clooney was very concerned with his legacy as an actor to the degree that he often put his health in danger for the purposes of getting things done.  As a result, many of Clooney's friends were worried for him as he was often stressed, tired, and disheveled. Clooney had a real problem with the whole concept of rest.  Sadly, Clooney is not alone in his concern.

Once again, like the 51 other times of the year, the weekend has arrived.  For many, the weekend is that time of the week when the list of housing projects and other procrastinated tasks that have been compiled over the last weeks is whittled down.  For others, the weekend is an excuse to be cast of the reasonable responsibilities of adult life and to let the hair down to get a little wild.  But the weekend serves another purpose that is often neglected in contemporary life: rest.

Rest is one of those strange but necessary factors of life.  Our bodies need rest to function properly as much as they need food and water.  It is because of this necessity that rest was inaugurated at the beginning of time.  On the seventh day, God determined for there to be rest.  He did not and does not need rest because His strength and stamina is perfect and eternal.  Instead, God instituted a day of rest for our benefit.

Jesus also speaks of rest.  He says that He gives rest to the weak, the weary, and the burdened (Matt. 11:28).  Though Jesus is certainly speaking of rest in spiritual terms for the most part, He is also echoing Psalm 23, which depicts God guiding man to rest by His hand.  Truly, rest derives from God's gloriously faithful hand of providence.  When we recognize this truth, then we will understand that to not rest would be akin to rebellion from God's design.  Therefore, as another weekend comes and passes, let us take time to rest in the glory of God!

The Testing of God

A major aspect of growing up and maturating is testing.  Some testing is required by the life stage it is associated with, like the driver's exam, final papers in college, interviews for jobs, or the prodding of perspective spouses.  Testing is how we find out who we are, how we discover what we know or do not know, and how we measure growth over time.  But there is a testing of a higher kind altogether.

It is this concept of testing that Scripture speaks, of testing in a spiritual sense.  In regards to spiritual testing, the Scriptures say that God tests us.  Solomon speaks of God testing us in terms of refinement like the process of removing impurities from silver or fine metals (Pro. 17:3).  The prophet Jeremiah speaks prophecy that echoes this, "I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruits of his deeds (Jer. 17:10)."

In this way, it can be seen that the testing of God is not merely a matter of checking our status and quality, but it is about growth beyond who we are at the present.  More so, because God tests and weighs us, we should recognize that God knows us more intimately than even we know ourselves.  And because His knowledge is both perfect and eternal, He sees us as dynamic, growing beings who are capable of learning so as to develop into more refined people.

This is key.  Because God's testing involves both who we are in that moment but also who we can become by His grace through faith.  Therefore, in order for us to become the persons that He has for us, we are required to stay in Him who tests because if we are not privy to how we rate before the perfect testing of God, we will fail to reach what He has deemed for us.  In the end, this is about assessment and growth.  The assessment is God's, and the growth is made possible by Him as well.

Beginning to Know God Exists

A certain young man who was long overdue for a haircut decided to go to the local barber one day.  While sitting in the barber's chair the young man and the barber began conversing.  Near the end of the haircut, the conversation turned to the subject of God.  The barber, as nonchalantly as one with scissors can be, said, "I do not believe God exists."

The young man, being a believer, was taking aback at the barber's atheism and so he asked the barber, "Why do you say that?  What makes you believe that God doesn't exist?"  The barber paused mid-cut and, with gusto, replied, "Just look around, son. There is evil and sadness all over.  If God exists, then there shouldn't be any of that.  It seems so clear to me.  Maybe when you're a little older you'll understand."

The barber finished the cut and the young man paid him for his services, even leaving a nice tip.  While walking out the door, the young man turned back to the barber and said, "You know, I don't believe barber's exist.  I am sure of it that barber's just do not exist."  The barber, a little surprised, said, "How can you say that?  I just worked on you!"  The young man sharply replied, "But barbers can't exist because their are so many disheveled, messy, and long-haired people in the world, so barber's just can't exist."

The barber smirked, shooting back at the young man, "But barber's do exist!  That's just what happens when people do not come to me!" "Exactly!" harkened the young man, "That's exactly the point!  God does exist.  The pain and suffering and evil is just the evidence of a world that has not gone to Him for their trim!"  The young man turned and left, leaving the barber dumbfounded in his own disbelief.

How do we know God exists, really know that He is who He claims to be? This is a difficult but absolutely necessary question.  The consequences for neglecting it are dire and eternal.  For, if God is who He claims to be and Jesus is who He claims to be, then to know Him are of the utmost importance.  We are not left without testimony, though, in this discussion.  The Scriptures themselves attest to the knowledge of God.  And we should find comfort in their witness, for its truth is both self-attesting and authoritative.

At the onset of such a discussion, a brief note about knowledge must be made.  Knowledge refers to knowing someone or something.  True and definitive knowledge, though involving the intellect is a holistic endeavor, requiring all of the faculties of a person.  This is the necessary starting point for knowledge, particularly when discussing matter of spiritual and eternal significance.

While there are many verses to support the knowledge of God,  Paul's definition of spiritual knowledge in matter of receptive revelation in his first letter to the Corinthian church seems to cover the topic quite well (1 Cor. 2:6-16).  In this comprehensive statement Paul indicates that not only is the knowledge of God a spiritual ordeal, but more more importantly, it is revealed by the Holy Spirit. The relevance of such a truth is that although people, like the barber above, would prefer to use their physical sensory perceptions to know God, who is Spirit, the way to know God begins with the spirit of a person.

Additionally, unless we recognize that our knowledge of God is revealed and not earned, we will fail to know.  Because of this reality, we need to come to God in humility for Him to reveal Himself to us.  Paul, in his letter to the Romans, indicates that God has revealed Himself in creation, His eternal power and invisible qualities, and that the only appropriate response to such revelation is praise and thankfulness (Rom. 1:18-23).

In the end, the matter is a spiritual one.  Our knowledge of God is based on our spirit's malleability to be affected by the Holy Spirit revealing Himself in our hearts.  If we are hard of heart and deaf of ear, we will not receive that revelation, for to accept God's revelation one must first have faith that revelation is in fact possible.  But this knowledge is of a holistic and transformative nature, meaning that to know God forms the backbone of all knowledge.

Therefore, let us start the conversation of the existence of God where it needs to begin: in the spirit.  Starting there and working itself outward through every facet of our person, the knowledge of God will transform us.  But we must receive that revelation in order for it to take its affect within us.  But praise be to God that He has revealed Himself and that we can know Him!

Boasting in God

Muhammed Ali is one of the greatest boxers of all time.  He made his living beating boxing's best during the height of boxing's popularity.  Ali is well known for many things, including his epic fights, his religious name change, and even his political leanings.  However, more than almost anything else, Ali will be remembered for his wit and distinct ability to spin a memorable phrase.

Ali's perennial quotability has pervaded so much of society that even children of the digital generation say things like, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Or, "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was."  And, "I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest."  Needless to say, Ali understood the art of self-promotion that paved the way for generations of champions around the world.

To be sure, we live in a world of self-promotion.  One can barely spend anytime watching television or scanning the web without seeing some sort of self-exaltation or another.  And while it can be a funny thing to do in the company of friends, the idea of boasting about oneself is a serious ordeal that requires our attention.

The apostle Paul speaks about boasting to the Corinthian church.  Paul was addressing the Corinthian's propensity to boast about themselves when he wrote, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31; 2 Cor. 10:17)."  It would seem that the idea of arrogance and boasting was as significant an issue to the 1st-century Church as it is today.  Paul's point is that one cannot boast about themselves and God.  It is either one or the other.

But this concept did not originate with Paul.  The prophet Jeremiah, writing centuries before Paul, wrote this prophecy, "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these things I delight, declares the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24).'"

The heart of the matter is what do we boast in.  If we boast in ourselves or something other than God, then we are taking away what is so rightfully God's, namely our worship and praise.  Moreover, when we lift up ourselves or someone/thing else into the high place in our eyes, then we are usurping God's place at the center of our hearts and we are committing idolatry.

Boasting stems from worth.  We boast because we feel proud of something present within ourselves that we value.  If we understand boasting in this way, we will recognize that to boast in anything other than God and our knowledge of Him means that we are esteeming something that is less than He is.  To be sure, the thing of highest value in our lives is God.  Anything that would take that place is a counterfeit illusion.

Therefore, we should boast only of and in Him.  This is what Jeremiah and Paul are talking about.  So, when we would feel inclined to raise our hands at our own adulation and like Ali say, "I'm the greatest," may we pause to think of the reality of our words.  Let us then turn to God and only to God, and if we are to boast may it only be in Him!

Scripture: the Light for our Paths

It is a not an uncommon occurrence to need to search for something in the dark.  Think of hunting along the wall for the seemingly hidden light switch.  Or looking through the darkened garage when the light is out.  Or even foraging through the junk drawer for a candle and match during the most tempestuous of storms.  As anyone who has ever gone camping can attest, a light can be the most useful thing amidst darkness.

Life is full of darkness.  The bleak blackness and dark gloom of this world falls like a pall over life.  Fortunately, God has not left us without a bright and shining light to illuminate every step and to shimmer its godly glow to light out paths.  This heavenly light is the Word of God, the Scriptures which is to protect us from harm (Psa. 119:105; Pro. 6:20-24).

While the aforementioned verses are often memorized and quoted for their beauty, it is more important that we would live by the truth therein then to simply acknowledge it as true whilst neglecting the application.  If we are to apply the truth that God's Word is to light and guide our way, then there are some important things that must be pointed out.

First of all, if the Scriptures are to light the path of the Christian, then the Christian must be acquainted with them.  A flashlight is useless if the person does not know how to turn it on or if they fail to put the necessary batteries in it.  In other words, the Word will fail to be the light to our paths if we neglect learning how to wield it.

To be sure, this is all about Bible Study.  Unless we are in the Word, studying the Word and memorizing it, our paths will forever remain dark and shadowy.  But when we have sufficiently immersed ourselves in the Word and allowed it to permeate into the depths of our hearts, we will be sufficiently prepared and equipped for God's Word to light our life.

Additionally, letting the Word take its rightful place as the light to our paths is all about humility and submission.  For the Scripture to guide our every step, we must submit ourselves to its authority in our lives.  This is fundamental, foundational, and necessary.  Unless we turn over our very volition to that of the Word of God, we will continue to struggle in the darkness for lack of a sufficient light to our paths.  Let us then determine to depend on the Word and make it the very basis for our lives!

Guitar Teaching, Practice, and Christianity

For the better part of the past decade, I have been giving guitar lessons.  I've taught 6-year-olds to 50-year-olds and everything in between.  Students come and students go as with the seasons, but over the course of my time as an instructor, it is been repeatedly confirmed what the single most important element that makes up a musician is: practice.

It consistently amazes me how this seemingly rudimentary method of repetition for the purpose of improvement and growth is so often neglected.  Out of every practicing guitar student there are ten that do not.  However, without fail the single determining factor in whether someone will be able to play the instrument or not has far less to do with their natural talent or abilities than with their willingness to practice.

Strangely enough, what is stunning about practicing as a concept is that it has such broad applications.   Someone who knows how to practice has the necessary tools for successful life that goes well-beyond the quest to learn an instrument.  It is for this reason that it seems fitting to put forth a method for practice.

The first thing to know about practice is that it is not a magic wand that offers instant change but is a time-worn method that causes dramatic change over time.  This is sometimes the misconception.  Instead, practice is based upon a methodological tripod: challenge, consistency, and repetition.

The Challenge aspect of practice could be described as a matter of direction.  This is what good teachers do.  Good teachers direct the student towards new areas of challenge for the purposes of growth.  This is the major reason that most people plateau because they do not know what to do next.  A good teacher can also help point out areas of weakness that may be blind to our eyes.  Additionally, if you are not being challenged you are not doing something new but re-hashing what you are already able to do.  This cannot be overlooked, because if we are not challenged, then we will not grow.

As for Consistency, it is a matter of forming habits.  Practice is not doing something one day a week.  No, practice is doing something several times a week, if not multiple times a day.  Think of the most effective workers in the work place: the consistency of working five days a week for years means that they have consistently practiced their work to the point that they excel at it and perform it with ease.  This idea can be easily translated to the weightier matters of life in the way of practice.

Lastly, and most importantly, is repetition.  This element of practice sometimes drives people crazy because of the inherent implications of monotony.  But the reality is that if someone is unable to repeat results then all that is being practiced is how to achieve poor results.  Repetition forces memorization and reinforces technique, both useful things in the achievement of goals.  Therefore, practice must include a healthy dose of repetition though it need not feel stale.  Rather, repetition can be made enjoyable when creativity is employed to modify the repeated thing, to add an element of competition, or simply to contextualize what is being repeated so as to recognize its usefulness.

Although practice is associated with sport or music, practice is at its most usefulness in regards to godliness.  As Paul exhorts Timothy to "train in godliness (1 Tim 4:7-8)."  What is it to train but to practice and grow?  Therefore, practice is something that must be applied to the spiritual life.  Some of the things that Christianity demands to be practiced is Bible study, godliness, humility, service, patience, and brotherly love, et al.

These traits do not come passively but are practiced and learned.  They take time and dedication to grow.  Community does not happen by chance but by practice.  Thus, we should apply these concepts of practice to our Christian life: challenge, consistency, and repetition.  Then we will grow in Christ and bear fruit by His power.  The most tragic thing is when an individual with vast potential never uses it because they get in their own way.  We do not want such a fate.  Let us then put practice into practice in our spiritual walks so as to grow, to be challenged, and to live out life as God has intended for us!

Hezekiah & What to do when your faith is Tested

Sometimes in life faith is tested.  Really tested.  When all the world seems poised against us and our core will be challenged.  In these moments, when the rubber meets the road and the strength and source of our faith is shaken, it is good to know that God is there, and He will show up in our greatest hour of need.

Although most of the Bible deals with this very thing; however, for the purposes of this brief discussion, only the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib will be examined.  This story is chronicled in both 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

Sennacherib is the king of Assyria, at their heights of power they were the most powerful and feared nation in all of the Ancient Near East.  Sennacherib was a fierce king, well-renown for his viciousness.  He had nearly conquered all of Israel during Hezekiah's reign over Judah, the southern kingdom.

Sennecharib had already destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel and shipped the northern tribes of Israelites as exiles back to Assyria when he sent a diplomatic envoy to Hezekiah to send him a message.  Sennacherib, in no ambiguous terms, told Hezekiah to surrender of his own volition.  The heart of the Assyrian king's message was that Hezekiah should not trust in his god, for none of the gods of the previously deposed nations had been able to stay their hand of destruction.

To be sure, Sennacherib called out Hezekiah.  But more importantly, Sennacherib called out God by thinking of God as just another deity who would fail to stop his conquest.  Sennacherib was wrong; dead wrong.  For after he made such an audacious and prideful message against the God of Israel, 185,000 of the Assyrians fell dead in one night.  And upon Sennacherib's retreat back to the Assyrian capital, his two sons assassinated him while he was in his temple worshiping his god.

What is striking about this story is that, following Sennecharib's challenge, Hezekiah tore his clothes and prayed.  This should be our posture when we are faced with the same sorts of challenges to our faith: pray and seek God's counsel.  Additionally, God did not sit by idly but He showed up in force to destroy Sennacharib for his pride.  This is a sound indication that God is the God of all the universe.  We should take the mind of Hezekiah and when life strikes us, we should fall prostrate in faith before the Holy Lord.  Praise be to God, who will support us when we seek His face and presence in humility and faith!

The Salt & Light Snowblower

Several years ago, Ned bought a new snow blower, which is a necessity for the snowy winters of Minnesota.  Previously he had always shoveled his driveway and it took over an hour.  But now, with that beautiful machine, he could get it done in less than five minutes.  The ease of snow-blowing took away the all-too familiar dread of having to shovel.  He even enjoyed doing the drive.

The second winter he had the blower, two elderly neighbors from California moved in across the street.  The couple both had heart problems and Ned noticed them struggling to shovel the drive after the first snow fall.  When he saw them wrestling with the snow, he simply started his blower, pushed it across the street, and did their's too.  It just became a part of the routine; twelve minutes for both drives.  Ned then also remembered that his other neighbor, Mike, left for work at 4:30 in the morning, so he bagan doing his too.  Another four minutes.

A few years later, his next door neighbor, Larry, passed away.  Because his widowed wife, Pearl, was also elderly, Ned just started doing hers too.  Another five minutes.  Later that same year, the neighbors down the block had a baby, so Ned added their's to his routine too.  By the end of that year, Ned was snow blowing about a half hour and doing five driveways.

Ned was happy to be the neighborhood plowman, relishing in the joy of caring for and serving his community.  One night, though, he fell deathly ill and had to be taken to the hospital.  Over the course of a two day bed-ridden, hospital stay he recovered and was eventually released.  As his wife was driving him home, he felt so bad because there had been a huge snowfall the night before.

However, as they arrived back in the neighborhood, he was astonished to see that all of the driveways were done.  To his amazement, Ned's wife told him that in the morning she looked out the front window to see one of their other neighbors, whom they had never even met, doing the driveways.  Ned nearly broke into tears. He never realized the affect that he had made over the past few years.

The point is example.  If we are to be the salt and light of the world, the very hands and feet of Christ, then we need to look at the needs around us and step in to fill them.  Jesus calls us to love as He loves us.  Think of that: He gave His very life, dying upon the cross to serve and to love all humankind.  Laying down our preference and our comfort in order to care for others is what being a Christian is all about.  Therefore, let us seek out opportunities to serve and then seize them for Him!

Heavenly Cure for Depression

The statistics are staggering.  Every year over that past several decades, more and more people, both young and old, are diagnosed with various forms of depression.  The prescription drug industry has ballooned into one of the largest in the world.  The truth is, depression has permeated throughout our culture that if you are not or have nto dealt with depression personally, you certainly have friends and loved ones who have.

Depression, the whole ordeal of being depressed, is a introspective endeavor.  One becomes so engulfed with themselves that a deep, dark lens of discouragement and apathy falls like a pall over his or her life.  The affect is that the person is left helpless, hampered, and handicapped to live.  And be it self-destruction, self-loathing, seclusion, self-pity, self-love, or at the worst, suicide, a depressed person will inevitably seek refuge from somewhere for relief from their pain.

The answer to such a despondent search is God.  In the end, God and He alone, is the alleviator of depression.  He is love and the Comforter for all our ills.  If we or someone close to us is struggling with depression or the like, the only cure is God.  Although the step to that relief is easy in theory, it can be challenging in execution: humility.  Only when we stop spending all of our time thinking about ourselves and we humble ourselves before the Holy Lord will we be blessed with real relief and actual comfort, straight from the Lord Almighty.

The issue is: what do we do when we are feeling depressed?  The answer is clear and accessible: seek after God, the source of all joy, love, and comfort.  This is not brain surgery but it does take humility on our part.  Only when we fall prostrate before God Himself will we be able to stop looking at the imperfection of ourselves and start looking at that which is perfect: God.  Let us then take this to heart when dealing with such challenging issues as depression and to seek after God to light our paths during the dark times!

Just like Josiah

Imagine finding something earth-shatteringly important.  Like when looking through old paper work, you discover that years ago you inherited a mansion, or that you had a twin brother that was taken away at birth.  What would your reaction be?  Would you seek that thing out with every bit of energy you possess?  How far would you go to make sure that you had the information correct?  To what lengths would you go?

Something like this happened in ancient Israel.  For years, the kings of Israel had been drifting farther away from the Lord and towards syncretism, idolatry, and sin.  The kingdom that David had established had been divided after the death of Solomon and, while the northern kingdom had always been sinful, overtime, even the southern kingdom fell away from what God had desired of them.

In fact, the people had become so idolatrous and sinful that even the Torah, the Book of the Law, which was the foundation for all of their faith had been lost.  Not even the priests, the keepers of the Law, knew where the Book had gone.  Throughout the Book of the Kings (1 & 2 Kings), Israel and Judah become increasingly apathetic and apostasy, eventually being deported at the hands of the Assyrians, and later the Babylonians.  It is at this point in the nation's history when a young, God-fearing king ascends to the throne.  His name is Josiah and his story is told in 2 Kings, chapters 22 and 23.

Eight years old when he begins his thirty-one years reign in Jerusalem, the Word says that Josiah, "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left (2 Kings 22:2)."  He was a good, godly king.  In the eighteenth year of his reign, he decides to spend some money and for some much needed repair of the Temple.  It is at this time that while doing the repairs, the Book of the Law is found.

Although it is both shocking and appalling to think that the Israelites had become so idolatrous that they had actually "lost" the Book of the Law, what is remarkable about the story and about Josiah is his response to the Book's finding.  Josiah does two stunning things in reaction to discovering the Book of the Law that have immediate contemporary applications for us.

The first thing that Josiah did was to have the Book read in its entirety both to himself and to the whole nation.  Josiah understood immediately that the Law was God's Word for Israel and, though their forefathers had abandoned it, he intended to reinstitute it as the Book for Israel's faith.  He didn't do this half-heartedly.  No, he knew that God's Word demands full allegiance with no hint of turning.  Moreover, Josiah was excited and energetic to do this.  We should take a mind like this when we consider instituting God's Word in our lives.  And we should do so with as much fervent intent and energy as Josiah.

The second thing he did was to destroy all the idol worship that had pervaded Israel.  He destroyed altars, killed priests, and purged the nation of the sin of idolatry.  This is huge.  Think of the effect of such a decision.  Not only was his move bad for the economy, as idol worship was big business, but also it challenged all of the Israelite idol worshipers to get their act straight.  We should do this same thing, definitively purge the idolatry and sin both from within ourselves and from within our churches.  While we should do so with grace and gentleness, we are commanded to take seriously God's call to purity and holiness.

Again, the Old Testament should not be neglected for its antiquity but studied for its usefulness and worth.  All of Scripture speaks to the glory of God and Christ Jesus.  Therefore, we need to put on our miner's hats and interpreter's tool-belts to dig into the Scripture for the endless worth thereof, both practical and theological.  Let us then be like Josiah, exalting the Word of God and striving with all passion to live it out!

True Truth and False Teaching

There is an increasing notion, spreading pervasively throughout the world today, that an individual has the right and ability to decide truth for him or herself.  This concept has spread with such imperialistic force over the last half-century that not only is it subsumed within the culture, but it has foisted itself upon every element of society.  The common assertion, perhaps slightly oversimplified, states that every person is free to decide truth and to dictate reality as he or she sees fit.  Truth has been so irreverently reduced to a preference that truth has been removed of any actual content beyond its contextual usefulness.  In essence, this ideal would claim that truth is relative to the individual and can be anything, even if it opposes another's truth.

While the historical underpinning for this concept of multiple truths is postmodernism, the effect has been to make truth an individual, relativistic ordeal.  Absolute truth is considered impossible because everyone has their own version of truth.  The result of such a claim is two-fold.  First of all, any and every human being is made into a truth master, capable of creating and determining any truth and worldview that they could desire.  The second effect is that truth critiques and appraisals have been made wholly obsolete because, ultimately, all truths are esteemed as equally valid.  Such a claim does much to explain the torrent of relativism and immorality throughout the world today.

To be certain, it is wholeheartedly against Scripture and the teachings of Jesus to say that truth is relative.  Jesus spoke quite directly that He alone is the truth (John 14:6; 1 John 5:20).  And Scripture is particularly unified that truth is absolute and revealed.  The logic behind such an assertion stems from the source of truth: God.  Because God is the supreme source of Truth, in order for humanity to have access to truth, it must be revealed by God Himself.  The reality, then, is that truth is absolute because it is based on an absolute source.

Naturally, this flies in the face of the contemporary understanding of truth being a relative, individualistic endeavor.  For starters, this puts the person who would claim a certain truth under the authority of Scripture to weigh their particular truth assertion(s).  Additionally, and more importantly, a methodology must be put in place to assess the various and differing truth claims.  Luckily, Scripture is not silent in this regard.  For this, the New Testament authors and Jesus Himself, speak a good deal about truth and falsity, particularly in reference to false teachers and false prophets.

Jesus warns explicitly against false teachers (Matt. 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22).  Paul addresses falsity (2 Cor 11:13; Eph. 4:25; 2 Thess. 2:9; 1 Tim. 6:20).  James, Peter, and John also warn against false teachers and teaching (James 3:14; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1).  Needless to say, for such a united warning against falsity, it indicates that this was and is a serious problem in the world and in the Church.

To say that one thing is false is to define it as not true.  This means that what is false is inherently untrue.  Although this may seem like obvious semantic play, the essence of such an assertion should not be overlooked.  Think of the profound logic that the postmodern-world would neglect or dismiss: if something is true it is not false, and if something is false it is not true.  The world at large would view such logic as absolute, indefensible, and archaic.  Unfortunately, the idea that any conceivable idea can be true if someone believes it sincerely enough is an absolute statement that is not founded within its own system of thought.

The issue comes down to truth appraisal.  What rubric is to be employed when weighing various truth claims?  How do we assess truth as being true?  In the end, two simple assertions must be put forth. The first is the authority of Scripture.  Scripture, being the very written Word of God, is the authority that founds or trumps any and all truth claims.  This carries with it the necessity of Jesus, in very nature God, being the beginning and end for all truth assessment.  If any particular truth claim does not jibe with Christ Jesus or with Scripture then, plainly, it cannot be true.  Unfortunately, Christians have all-too-quickly accommodated to these divisive, individualistic, and relative definitions of truth.  Instead we need to consider the words of Paul in his letter to the Colossians:

"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Col. 2:8)."

The truth-ness of truth is in how it relies on Christ for its foundation, and how defensible it is from the standpoint of Scripture.  Let us then hold tightly to the Truth, which is God!

Using Time to the Fullest

Much of Holy Writ is dedicated to the task of understanding wisdom.  Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the book of Job are all explicitly devoted to the quest for wisdom.  The particulars of wisdom are examined by pitting wisdom against folly.  The onset of the search for wisdom is the fear of God (Pro. 9:10).  Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom, and should guide every decision in every situation we may face.

Some of the most constant and challenging decisions we face is that of time usage.  Time is limited; there is only so much of it to do all of the things that need to be done.  Everyday, several times a day, we face decisions in how we will choose to devote our time.  As a result, a true test of wisdom is in how well we make use of the time we have been given because our time is so limited.  We should, then, strive to prioritize with wisdom so as to not let the time go along in uselessness.

Paul exhorts believers in Ephesians to live wisely by making the most use of the time, for the days are evil (Eph. 5:15-16).  Truly, this is the case.  For time passes whether we are aware of it or not.  And if we are not paying attention, it will be too late before we realize.  Paul echoes his exhortation in his letter to the Colossians (Col. 4:5), indicating that this is an important teaching and should not be quickly neglected.

Ultimately, godly time management and prioritization is a practice that takes effort, diligence, and discipline.  Often the trappings of the world have such a hook-like pull that distract us from the tasks we have been called to complete.  Think of all the time we've so easily spent online, in front of the television, or just sitting around doing nothing.  In the end, this should not be so.  Let us then press on in faith and obedience to make the best use of the blessed time that God has given us!

Doing the Will of Christ

The nature of the Christian life is one of devotion, of diligence, and of pursuit.  But above all else, the Christian life is a matter of practice.  Christians are called to be doers of the Word (James 1:22-23; 2:23-25).  If Christians would take to this task seriously, we would see far more fruit-bearing, Word-living, people-loving Christians.

Jesus says, quite directly, that it is not the hearers of the Word who will be blessed, but the doers (Matt. 7:24-27).  This should compel us to eschew simple indoctrination and to pursue living out the teachings of Christ.

Peter writes that Jesus has become our example (1 Pet. 2:21).  What is an example that isn't emulated.  In order for Jesus to actually be our example, we need to be doing what He taught.  This is an active ordeal.  Quite plainly, if we are not doing what Jesus has emulated, then we are not being obedient.  Thus, if we claim to be Christians we need to be doing the Word of Christ, actually fulfilling Christ's commandments within our lives.  

This is what planting the Word in our hearts is all about; this is what  growing fruit is all about; this is what abiding in Him is all about.  If, then, we who claim Christ are to grow in obedience we must be willing and committed to doing the Will of Christ.  Let us then commit to becoming doers of the Word who live out the teachings of the Word in word and deed!

Jeremiah: Necessary History

Christians have a tendency towards the New Testament.  This is a natural reaction to the fact that our faith is based on the life and work of Christ, which is chronicled in the Gospels and applied in the letters of Paul, Peter, John, James, Jude, etc.  However, as per Jesus' own words, He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to complete them (Matt. 5:17).  And if we, as Christians, are to have a greater understanding of Christ, we need to be willing to mine through the books of Old Testament for their worth, both in practical matters as well as theological.  The book of Jeremiah is one such book worth studying.  It is not only valuable for its significant contribution to prophecy about Christ but also for the history of Israel and Jeremiah himself.

Called to be a prophet as a young boy (1:6), Jeremiah grew up in a time in which Israel was in a maelstrom of tumult and turmoil (around 590 BC).  More than a century earlier, the northern kingdom, which included 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel, was conquered and taken into exile by the Assyrians.  The southern kingdom, however, based in Jerusalem, was protected by God.  The people responded in haughtiness, believing that God's providential hand could never be removed because of their covenant, despite the prophesies made by Isaiah indicting them for their sin.

As a result of such arrogance, the "prophets" of Jeremiah's time looked superciliously at the words of Jeremiah, which were prophesies of judgment to come at the hands of the Babylonian empire, newly revitalized under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar.  As a result of such disdain for his work, Jeremiah was ignored, mocked, beaten, and even thrown in prison.  Despite such harsh treatment, Jeremiah stayed perseverant to the call that God had given him and, in the end, his prophesies were proven when the Babylonians finally sacked Jerusalem, first in 597 and definitively in 587.

Jeremiah's contribution to the corpus of Scripture is twofold: first is in regards to judgement; second, in regards to redemption.  Jeremiah preached repentance to Judah in order to maintain the covenant that God had provided for them.  He prophesied judgement because of their increasing sin and lustful sin.  However, Judah turned in pride and self-delusion away from God and was punished justly for their conceited unbelief.  But that is not the whole story.  In Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah prophesies of a new covenant that God will inaugurate that surpasses the old covenant in its scope and its effect.  As Christians, we know this new covenant to be made in the blood of Christ and introduced at the Last Supper.

To be sure, this has been a brief introduction, a cursory synopsis, of some of the important points of note in regards to the book of Jeremiah.  The purpose has been to show the significance for Christians to study and to examine the books of the Old Testament because they speak of God, and of Christ Jesus.  We should be eager to learn more about them, then, because in doing so we will be growing in our knowledge of God.  Let us then dig into the Word so as to dig into God Himself!

Faith like Hannah

The story of Samuel is one of the greatest stories in all of Scripture.  His role in shaping the nation of Israel is unmistakable and remarkable.  The two books that bear his name tell the story of Israel transitioning from the time of the judges to a kingdom with a king, and he plays a major role in the transition.  And though the stories of Saul and David often overshadow the story of Samuel, it is a fertile one worth mining.

Hannah, Samuel's mother, was barren.  She had been praying to God for several years to have Him bless her with child by her husband, Elkanah.  Every year, Elkanah took Hannah and his other wife, Peninnah, to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the Lord.  Hannah would weep bitterly because of her barrenness that was exacerbated by Peninnah's chiding.

One year, Hannah was in the street one night in Shiloh during her families yearly pilgrimage when the priest, Eli, noticed her.  Eli thought Hannah was drunk and told her to leave for her debauchery.  But Hannah cried out that she was not drunk but stricken by her barrenness, explaining that she was troubled in spirit from her condition.  Eli blesses the woman and tells her that God will grant her petition because of her faith.

In response, the Lord blesses Hannah and she becomes pregnant with Samuel.  Hannah is overjoyed by God's faithfulness.  She determines to devote her son to the Lord and gives him to the service of Eli and to the work of the Lord.  Though she visits him yearly, she gives up her son to the Lord.  In doing so, she offers one of the most beautiful songs in all of Scripture, echoed by Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Gospels.

The point of the story is submission in thankfulness.  Though Hannah had been struggling her whole life in barrenness, waiting for a child, when God finally blessed her with a child, she offered the child up to God as a sacrifice and offering.  Hannah is an example of what true devotion looks like.  She gave her everything to the Lord with utter joy.  We should strive to take the same mind among us in offering our best to God with all thankfulness and faith.

Justice & Sin

Two men, similar in every conceivable way, are pulled over in their respective cars and immediately arrested.  They are taken to jail and, though they each repeatedly cry out for justice and that they were arrested for seemingly no reason, they are thrown into cells to await going before the judge the next morning.  Just after dawn the next morning, the two men are taken before the judge.

The judge looks boldly at each of the men and, one at a time, explains that they are both being charged for the countless crimes that they've committed and being sentenced to the death penalty.  One of the men immediately falls to his knees before the judge and cries out, "Judge, I am a sinner and I wish to repent.  I see that apart from your mercy I deserve the due penalty for my crimes.  I fall prostrate before your gavel and besiege your mercy upon my wretched state."

The judge steps down from his bench and leans over the kneeling man, lifts the man's chin with his hand, and says gently, "Young man, your slate is wiped clean.  Because of your penitent repentance you have been forgiven."  The man stands up crying and the judge hugs him, throws his robe over the man, and sends him out.

The other man, expecting a similar hearing and verdict, walks haughtily over to the judge and, with pride says, "Now judge, I didn't do anything wrong.  I've committed no crimes and I don't deserve this."  The judge looks plainly at the man and says, "You are guilty of crimes committed, sin both known and unknown, and you must pay the penalty.  Bailiff, take this man away, my verdict is guilty; the sentence is death."  The man is pulled out of the court room violently swearing and going on about his innocence and how unjust the verdict is.

In reality, we all face judgement for the lives we've lived.  And we have a choice: either we can fall prostrate in humility before the Holy Lord and cry out for His forgiveness, or we can stare at God with pride and altogether deny our sin.  The choice truly is ours.  This is a stark truth not to be taken lightly.  But our eternal life is dependent upon our willingness to be humbled before God, the Almighty Judge.

A Good Time like Jesus

Jesus' first miracle was at the wedding feast in Cana when He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11).  Although the sign can be interpreted allegorically, it is still astounding that the Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, would wield the power of God to make the finest vintage ever tastest for a wedding party.  His act of service to His mother's request and to the party guests reveals a King not so stuffy and prudish as some would like us to believe, but a man who enjoyed having a good time to the glory of God.


For further proof, think of Jesus' statement about John the Baptist and Himself, "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds (Matt. 11:18-19)."


Jesus was a guy who invested in people.  He related to them.  And in order to do that He had to spend time with people, hang out with them, and have fun with them.  This was a major part of Jesus' life and ministry. The key is that Jesus never sinned, which equates to responsibility and temperance.  This should not lead anyone to think that the Lord Jesus was by no means averse to a god time spent around some food and some wine.  On the contrary, He was a man who loved fellowship.


Jesus understood that the way to love people is to meet them where they're at, to spend time with them, and to do so with joy.  Ultimately, He must have been a fun guy to be around.  So, on a day like this, the 4th of July, we should not feel guilty about lounging around in a lawn chair, drinking a brew, and having a good chat with friends.  The important thing is to remember to always give thanks to God and to live in such a way fitting our Lord.  But this should not dissuade us from having a good time.  Praise be to the God of joy and fellowship!

Defilement is a Matter of the Heart

A man wearing pressed, designer slacks is walking from his downtown job to the car park.  His cologne is still pungent and the perfume is sweet to the smell.  His hair is combed just right and his facial hair trimmed perfectly.  On the way to his car, he passes a number of beggars and panhandlers that he chides and swears at in arrogant derision.  One after another he continued to chastise rudely anyone and everyone around him.

Turning the corner towards the parking ramp, he was stopped in his stride by the sight of a massive, glowing building he had never noticed before.  Outside of the doorway to the building, a neon sign buzzed and beamed, "All who enter the Kingdom through this narrow door will be blessed beyond measure with every spiritual blessing they could ever desire."  He gazed at the building's face before walking up to the stoop.

At the door was a doorman.  The doorman looked at the young, well-dressed professional and, without missing a breath, said, "Sorry, young man.  You may not enter.  You are simply too defiled for such a holy offer."  The young man is stunned.  He looks at his attire, checks his hair, examines his fingernails, and shoots back at the doorman, "You must me mistaken.  I am primped and totally clean.  I shower everyday.  Wash my hands several times a day, with soap.  You really must be mistaken; I am totally clean."  The doorman looks at the young man one more time and kindly says, "You don't understand.  It is not the externals that define defilement, but the state and nature of your heart.  If you wish to be clean, you must repent of your sin and your defiled mind."

Jesus says, as chronicled by Matthew, "It is not what goes into a person that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth (Matt. 15:11-cf. through verse 20)."  Often times humans think that if they've showered, shaved, and brushed their teeth that they are clean.  But Jesus made it clear that the dirtiness of a person is based on the state of a person's heart.  

Therefore, while many of us would esteem ourselves clean and undefiled on the outside, if we continually spew vile filth and criticism that is unloving from our mouths, we are still defiled in the sight of the Lord.  It is not enough for the outside of the cup to be clean, for it is the contents of the cup that God is concerned with.  Let us then take heed to watch our tongues with vigilance.

Whoever Wants Fruit Must Be Willing to Work With Seeds

A woman goes to the Farmer's Market to pick up some local flowers and fresh vegetables.  She moves leisurely through the market, chatting and conversing with each of the vendors, buying various herbs and flowers and some  lovely, fresh bell peppers.  The woman finally comes to a small stand that was manned by Christ Jesus Himself.

Jesus held out his hand and said, "I have the greatest of fruit in all of creation.  Anything you want, just ask me and I will give it to you."  The woman, without hesitation, bursts out, "I want joy, peace, faith, wisdom," and a slew of other things, adding, "Can I get enough for my neighbors and the whole world too?"

Jesus smiles gently and replies, "I don't think you understand, young lady.  I have seeds, which are the powerful Word of God.  But it is up to you to plant them and to care for their growth, though I will bless whoever is willing to commit to the work."  The woman walks away dejected because of her impatience.  She wanted the greatness of God now without the work it required.

One of Jesus' first parables is the Parable of the Sower; it goes something like this:

A sower went out to sow.  As he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell along the rocky ground, where the they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up because of the shallow soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched.  Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  While other seeds fell among good soil and produced grain.

Jesus is describing the Word of God takes root in the hearts of humans.  Like the woman at the stand, many of us would prefer the full-grown fruits of God and righteousness instead of a seed.  But God gives us the seed of His Word, and asks us to plant it within our hearts.  And though we would all assume that we are the good soil described in the parable.  But if we are not willing to plant, to till, and care for the seed, which equates to Spirit-led Bible study put into practice, then we take on the soil characteristics of the other soils. We should be sure to accept the reality of our responsibility to the cultivation of God's Word appropriated to our lives.  Let us then commit with diligence to the task of working the seeds in our lives.  And by the power of God working in us we will be blessed with godly fruits!

The Stonecutter

Once upon a time there was a stonecutter who lived alone.  He made his living by forming stone and cutting rocks into various forms and tools.  For years he worked tirelessly in his workshop along the main road of the city.  One day, as he was hammering granite he heard a crowd shouting cries of herald for the king.  He felt such envy and discontent that he cried out: "Oh if I could only be a king with subjects that shouted joys and praise to my greatness."

Immediately, he was transformed into a powerful king with a whole kingdom full of adoring subjects.    "This is power," he would often think to himself.  For weeks, the man enjoyed his new life until one day he realized that the sun was much more powerful than he was, casting its powerful gaze and light upon the whole world.  So, like before, he boldly asked, "If I could be the sun, then I would have all the power in the world and be content."  Instantly, he was the sun.

As the sun, the man enjoyed bringing warmth and light to all the world.  He relished in the fact that everything depended on his presence.  Until one day, a cloud broke his gaze and hindered him from shining his light upon the world.  He could not accept being stripped of his power, so he exclaimed, "If I could become a cloud, then I would be more powerful than the sun and be able to be content."  In a moment, he became a cloud.

As a cloud, he pooled all of his power to form a gigantic rain cloud.  Wherever he went he would pour down rain with such torrential force that the most powerful of men would hide from his presence.  Rivers were cut and grain was watered by him.  Everything was in awe at his power.  Only the massive rocks were unaffected by his power.  So, like the times before, he cried out in a loud voice, "I would like to be a huge rock and then I would be powerful and content."

As a rock, he was massive and powerful.  The sun and the rain did nothing to him at all.  He felt free and strong until one day, a man walked up to him with a chisel and hammer, and began to chip away at the rock.  The rock cried out, "I want to be a stonecutter!"  And he was transformed back into a stonecutter, living out the rest of his life content with making a living by forming stone and cutting rocks.

Sometimes it is easy to be discontent with our life or with our station.  But no matter where we go, there we are.  We should not try to leave the vocational stations that God has called us to but be joyous that God has made us for a specific reason.  As Paul writes, "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him (1 Cor. 7:17)."  Let us then be content in whatever God has called us to and to do it with absolute excellence!